L.A.Times Crossword Corner: Darryl Gonzalez

Showing posts with label Darryl Gonzalez. Show all posts

Jan 16, 2022

Sunday January 17, 2022 Darryl Gonzalez

Theme: "I Have a Dream" - Last word in each theme entry can precede "free".

23. *Like one of two parents, often: STAY AT HOME. Home free.

32. *When many grab a bite: COMMERCIAL BREAK. Break free.

39. *Inverness native: HIGHLAND SCOT. Scot-free.

52. *Software design considerations: LOOK AND FEEL. Feel free.

66. *Cube in a bowl: LUMP OF SUGAR. Sugar-free.

79. *Bridge holdings sufficient to start the bidding with: OPENING HANDS. Hands free.

85. *Cardiologist's dietary concern: HYDROGENATED FAT. Fat-free.

98. End of an iconic speech ... and what the ends of the answers to starred clues can have?: FREE AT LAST.

So timely. Tomorrow is Martin Luther King Jr. Day

This reminds me of the FREE AT LAST puzzle Agnes and I made for the NYT a few years ago. Ours is a synonym approach.

Congrats on your Sunday LAT debut, Darryl! A big milestone.

Across:

1. Felt: WAS.

4. Snuck: CREPT.

9. Venomous snake: MAMBA. Can be black or green.

14. ER readouts: EKGS.

18. Env. insert: ENC. Enclosure.

19. Art movement since the '70s: HIP HOP. Tiny dupe with 81. Trendy type often parodied on "Portlandia": HIPSTER.

21. In different places: APART.

22. Sty fare: SLOP.

25. Turkish bread: LIRAS.

26. Correct the pitch of: TUNE.

27. Maria __ Trapp: VON.

28. Beyond repair: TOTALED.

30. Insurance giant: AETNA. Quite a few 5-letter choices: AFLAC, CIGNA or GEICO.

31. Drei squared: NEUN. 3/9.

35. Four-time Grammy-nominated metal band: PANTERA. Unfamiliar to me.

37. "Dies __": hymn: IRAE.

38. Amazon and others, locally: RIOS. Not E-tails.

42. Large green moth: LUNA.

43. Bio or chem: SCI.

46. Pre-revelry nights: EVES. I'll never forget Boomer's face when I visited him in the VA hospital on New Year's Day. Big, sweet smile.

47. Navel variety: INNIE.

48. Unchains: LIBERATES.

50. United: WED.

51. "... without trying to change me": AS I AM.

54. Makes less dense: THINS.

55. Break down: PARSE. Also a pricey restaurant.

56. Gram prefix: TELE.

57. Partaking of: HAVING.

59. Big celebrations: FETES. I made Boomer some walleye last Friday. He loved it.

60. Rio Grande city: LAREDO.

63. Green-skinned "Return of the Jedi" girl: OOLA.

64. Snacks: BITES.

65. Underground conduit: SEWER.

70. Credited in a note: CITED.

71. Windy City rail initials: CTA. The Chicago Transit Authority.

74. Wrestling foes: GRAPPLERS.

75. Iranian language: FARSI.

76. Many hybrid dogs, casually: POOS.

77. Jack or jenny: ASS.

78. Zest: TANG. Also the big dynasty in China. Tang's capital was Xi'an, which is still under a lockdown now. They had 8 new cases yesterday. But they don't need to have a COVID test every day. Andy is still cooped up at home, but at least, he can order veggies and other stuff again. The delivery services are back.

82. Eighteen-wheelers: RIGS.

83. Raison d'__: ETRE.

84. "You better believe I'll fight!": OH IT'S ON.

91. They know the ropes: PROS.

92. Ames native: IOWAN.

93. Bob Hope venue: USO TOUR. Did you know that Bob Hope was born in London?

94. Luke, to Darth: SON.

95. Sonny & Cher hit: DUET. I only know their "I Got You Babe".

96. "Chase those guys!": GET 'EM.

103. Mystery's Gardner: ERLE. Old regular.

104. Sunlit courts: ATRIA.

105. Fired at the table?: FLAMBE.

106. Once named: NEE.

107. On a pension: Abbr.: RET'D.

108. Rimes of country: LEANN.

109. Cool giant: S STAR.

110. Ecru relative: TAN.

Down:

1. Director Craven: WES.

2. Queen's subject: ANT. Good old clue.

3. Picked around in, as a junkyard: SCAVENGED.

4. English __: CHANNEL.

5. Slowing, to an orch.: RIT. Ritardando.

6. N.T. book: EPH. Ephesians.

7. Start to finish?: PHOTO. Photo finish.

8. May bouquet words: TO MOM.

9. Shopping area loiterer: MALL RAT.

10. Each: APIECE.

11. Lundi follower: MARDI. Monday/Tuesday.

12. Lingerie item: BRA. So many cute bralettes these days.

13. @@@: ATS.

14. Fragrant compounds: ESTERS.

15. 1971 Fonda/Sutherland film: KLUTE.

16. Plannin' to: GONNA.

17. Jargon ending: SPEAK. OK, like teenspeak.

20. Rodents on wheels, perhaps: PET MICE.

24. Some hostel visitors: YOUTHS.

29. Dynamic start?: AERO. Aerodynamic.

30. On the train: ABOARD.

31. None too worldly: NAIVE.

32. Food preservation method: CANNING.

33. Island that's the first word of The Beach Boys' "Kokomo": ARUBA. Also unknown to me.

34. Strong textile: LINEN.

35. "What a relief!": PHEW.

36. Gorp bit: RAISIN.

40. Genetic carriers: DNAS. Spell check does not like the plural form.

41. __City: computer game: SIM.

42. Facebook option: LIKE.

43. Knight's ride: STEED.

44. "Heart Blanche" rapper Green: CEELO.

45. Atoll, say: ISLE.

48. L in a box score: LOSS.

49. Word before party or math: AFTER.

51. Sushi-grade tuna: AHI. Our local Aldi carries ahi tuna.

52. "See ya": LATER.

53. Rock groups?: ORES. Great clue.

54. Sling on a phone: TV APP.

55. Animal rights org.: PETA.

57. Doctor's office posting: HOURS.

58. Salamanca souls: ALMAS. Spanish for "souls". Salamanca is a city in Spain. According to Wiki: The University of Salamanca, founded in 1218, is the oldest university in Spain and the third oldest western university."

59. Mulberry family fruit: FIGS.

60. "We should just skip it": LET'S NOT.

61. Barely clear of the bottom: AWEIGH.

62. __ state: RED.

63. First name in '70s Olympics gymnastics: OLGA. Korbut

64. Town: BURG.

65. Virtual name that means "beautiful woman who leads you to victory" in Norwegian: SIRI. Good to know.

67. Sales rep's upsell: OPTION.

68. Fannie of "Fried Green Tomatoes" fame: FLAGG. We had her before.

69. Feeling: SENSE.

70. Has the ability to: CAN.

71. One of 21, or sometimes 20: CONSONANT. Due to Y.

72. Brouhahas: TO-DOS.

73. Trade gp.: ASSN.

75. Get energy from: FEED OFF.

76. Girl Scout group: PATROL.

79. Den piece: OTTOMAN.

80. __-à-porter: ready-to-wear: PRET. This loom is similar to my grandma's. She would then make cotton bed sheets and shirts for us. It felt a bit rough on the skin.

82. For mature audiences: R-RATED.

83. Enter with caution: EASE IN.

85. It's quarry: HIDER. I was thinking of the stone pit quarry.

86. "Now __ talking!": YOU'RE.

87. Obsessed (on): DWELT.

88. __Sweet: sugar substitute: NUTRA.

89. Rolls and binds: FURLS.

90. Zones: AREAS.

96. Eight pts.: GAL. Gallon.

97. Tour de France saison: ETE. It's called Xia Ji in Chinese. So scrabbly.

99. Vitals checker, briefly: EMT.

100. Law school accrediting org.: ABA.

101. Cruiser's milieu: SEA.

102. Highest Scrabble tile point value: TEN.

C.C.

Boomer have 3 appointments next week with the the PT and the OT, then his radiation starts on 1/24. We'll go to VA on 1/8/2022 for an appointment regarding chemo infusion.

Thanks again for your caring email and cards. Your messages bring tears, love and encouragement to us. Thanks for supporting us during these challenging times.

C.C.

Jul 14, 2021

Wednesday, July 14, 2021, Darryl Gonzalez

Theme: OF COURSE!

17. *SofÌa Vergara's "Modern Family" role, to her nephews: AUNT GLORIA.

34. *Tree in a foyer: COAT RACK.

43. *Deletes: TAKES OUT.

11. *Highway warning: DANGER AHEAD.

24. *Conventioneer's stop on arrival: CHECKIN DESK.

62. Green course ... and what the start of each answer to the starred clues is?: MIXED SALAD.

OF COURSE! The first words are anagrams of a kind of salad. The word MIXED indicates these were anagrams - and even so it took me way too long to figure this out.

AUNT = TUNA
COAT = TACO
TAKES = STEAK
DANGER = GARDEN
CHECKIN = CHICKEN

Across:

1. Sudden sharp sensations: STABS. That cluing allows it to pass the breakfast test.

6. Place for a meal: CAFE. What's your favorite cafe?

10. Eldest "Bonanza" brother: ADAM. Portrayed by Pernell Roberts.

14. Oahu veranda: LANAI. AKA porch or veranda.

15. Mannheim mister: HERR. Conventional German title of respect and term of address for a man, corresponding to Mr. or in direct address to sir.

16. Still-life subject: VASE. Not enough letters for fruit.

19. Signs: INKS. Not pens.

20. Opening words: INTRO.

21. Western movie staples: STAGES.

23. Deliverers of 20-Acrosses, briefly: MCS. Master of Ceremonies.

25. Small amount: DAB.

26. Place for a meal: EATERY. Another place for a meal.

27. Emmy winner Christine: LAHTI.

29. Eye protector: LID.

31. Maple Leafs, on scoreboards: TOR. Hockey - TORonto, Canada.

32. "Paper Moon" co-stars: O'NEALS. Ryan and Tatum - father and daughter.

38. Muscle spasm: TIC.

39. Lummox: OAF.

41. Nothing: NIL.

42. Longtime Eur. realm: HRE. A bit obscure, this refers to the Holy Roman Empire, located in western and central Europe and including parts of what is now France, Germany, and Italy. Dissolved in 1806.

46. Summer TV staple: REPEAT.

48. Natural ending?: IST. Naturalist.

49. "The Matrix" hero: NEO.

51. Liquid-Plumr shelfmate: DRANO.

52. Bug-eyed prayer: MANTIS.

55. Units of wt.: LBS.

57. Shelley's "__ to the West Wind": ODE. Another obscure one ... poem written by Percy Bysshe Shelley in 1819.

58. Correct, perhaps, as a check: RE-DATE. For work I count and date (with a date stamp) incoming mail daily - sometimes over 100 in a single day. I tend to do this chore while watching Netflix, thus both re-counting and re-dating are regular activities.

59. Colorado's __ Park: ESTES.

61. Champagne brand: MOET. If you like prosecco (Italian sparking wine), try Ruffino - great price, too.

67. Start of Massachusetts' motto: ENSE. Is this Wednesday? Another obscurity. 'Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem,' which means 'By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty.'

68. Fateful March date: IDES.

69. Persistent attack: SIEGE.

70. Sounds of disapproval: TSKS.

71. Mouth off to: SASS.

72. SpongeBob's home: OCEAN. Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?

Down:

1. P. Hearst's captors: SLA. Symbionese Liberation Army

2. Cross-shaped letter: TAU.

3. __ Wilson, lead singer of Heart: ANN. Sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson.

4. Leader overthrown by Castro: BATISTA. Fulgencio Batista was president of Cuba from 1940 - 1944.

5. Highway exit feature: SIGN.

6. Like many holiday concerts: CHORAL.

7. Type of exercise: AEROBIC.

8. Part of TGIF: Abbr.: FRI. Thank Goodness it's Friday.

9. Rub off: ERASE.

10. Howard Hughes, e.g.: AVIATOR.

12. One with questions: ASKER.

13. Unkempt: MESSY.

18. Ford classic: LTD. What did it stand for?

22. Told all: TATTLED.

23. Craze: MANIA.

27. Politician Trent: LOTT. Author and former United States Senator from Mississippi.

28. Homework shirker's lame excuse: I LOST IT.

30. Spanish noble title: DON. A courtesy title placed before the 1st name of an older or more senior man/woman as a way of showing them your respect when talking to them or about them.

33. First word of some Brazilian cities: SAO.

35. __ conditioner: AIR.

36. Construction site sight: CRANE.

37. __ diet: high-fat, low-carb regimen: KETO.

40. Enjoyment: FUN.

44. Ritzy properties: ESTATES.

45. Old-fashioned messages: TELEXES.

47. Ordinary: PROSAIC. Having the style or diction of prose; lacking poetic beauty, commonplace; unromantic.

50. Persistently preoccupy: OBSESS.

52. N.L. mascot with a baseball head: MR MET.

53. Long times: AEONS.

54. Round before finals: SEMIS.

56. Part of CST: Abbr.: STD. Central Standard Time.

60. Standard Oil brand: ESSO.

63. Snake River st.: IDA. Idaho. The drainage basin covers part of six U.S. states: Washington, Oregon, Utah, Nevada, and Wyoming.

64. Jeans brand: LEE.

65. Ottoman title: AGA. Person of high rank or social position.

66. Pride's place: DEN.

Jun 15, 2021

Tuesday, June 15, 2021 Darryl Gonzalez

Vowel Progression.

16-Across. One who locks up: LAST TO LEAVE.

23-Across. Phrase used at a remembrance service: LEST WE FORGET.

36-Across. Resort website section that includes a pool and fitness center: LIST OF AMENITIES.

48-Across. Area to reclaim misplaced stuff: LOST AND FOUND.

58-Across. Existential passion: LUST FOR LIFE. In addition to being the title of an Iggy Pop song, it is the title of a 1934 biographical novel by Irving Stone about Vincent van Gogh.

Across:

1. Golf contemporary of Jack and Gary: ARNOLD. Arnold Palmer (Sept. 10, 1929 ~ Sept. 25, 2016), Jack Nicklaus (b. Jan. 21, 1940) and Gary Player (b. Nov. 1, 1935). They were born in different decades, however.

7. Diner order, briefly: BLT. As in a Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato sandwich.

10. Hullabaloo: ADO. Much Ado About Nothing: a play by Willie the Shakes.

13. Omelet maker's tool: BEATER.

14. Slangy "Agreed": YEAH.

15. Soda container: CAN.

18. Drive-__: outdoor movies: INS.

19. Important time: ERA.

20. Try to attract: WOO.

21. Chop finely: MINCE.

27. Lampoons: SATIRES.

30. Legal degs.: LLBs. As in a Bachelor of Law. In the United States, the degree is more commonly known as a Juris Doctor, or JD.

31. Chimp kin: ORANG.

32. Can. neighbor: USA. Hi, Canadian Eh! Apparently, Alaska is now a part of Canada.

33. Org. that issues drug recalls: FDA. As in the Food and Drug Administration.

41. N. or S. state: DAK. This explains why there are two Dakota States.

42. Gershwin brother: IRA. His brother was George. George (né Jacob Bruskin Gershowitz; Sept. 26, 1898 ~ July 11, 1937) and Ira (né Israel Gershowitz; Dec. 6, 1896 ~ Aug. 17, 1983) Gershwin collaborated on many popular songs; George was the composer and Ira was the lyricist. Sadly, George died young, but Ira carried on.

43. Vermouth name: ROSSI. It's first name is Martini.

44. Inventor Rubik: ERNŐ. Ernő Rubik (b. July 13, 1944) is a Hungarian architect. He is best known, however, for inventing the Rubik's Cube.

46. Adriatic country: CROATIA.

52. Indian, for one: OCEAN. Did you know that just this week, the National Geographic cartographers have determined that there is now a Southern Ocean. The waters surrounding Antarctica have their own distinct characteristics.

53. Archery skill: AIM.

54. Lacking color: WAN.

57. Had some lunch, say: ATE.

63. "The Simpsons" neighbor Flanders: NED.

64. Elevator name: OTIS. Elisha Graves Otis (Aug. 3, 1811 ~ Apr. 8, 1861) didn't actually invent the elevator, but he did invent a safety device that prevents the elevator fromm falling if/when the hoisting cables fail.

65. Places to perch: ROOSTS.

66. Pig's digs: STY.

67. Spider's trap: WEB.

68. "Who cares?": SO WHAT?

Down:

1. Proficient: ABLE.

2. Stern, at sea: REAR. Hi, Spitzboov!

3. Mars rover org.: NASA. Postcards from Mars.

4. '20s-'40s slugger Mel: OTT. Louisiana native Melvin Thomas Ott (Mar. 2, 1909 ~ Nov. 21, 1958) makes frequent guest appearances in the crossword puzzles. He was killed from injuries sustained in a car accident when he was only 49 years old.

5. "__ It Be": Beatles: LET.

6. Nod off: DROWSE.

7. Actress Arthur: BEA. Bea Arthur (née Beatrice Frankel; May 13, 1922 ~ Apr. 25, 2009) served in the Marine Corps Women's Reserve during World War II.

8. Loo: LAV. As in Lavatory.

9. Generic crime syndicate: THE MOB.

10. Killing it on the test: ACING.

11. Word after break or belly: DANCE.

12. First occurrence: ONSET.

14. "That's painful!": YEOW.

17. Homesites: LOTS.

22. Treasury Dept. org.: IRS. As in the Internal Revenue Service.

23. Dryer trap fuzz: LINT.

24. Cogito-sum link: ERGO. I think, therefore I am.

René Descartes (Mar. 31, 1596 ~ Feb. 11, 1650)

25. In addition: ELSE.

26. Eggy Spanish dessert: FLAN. Yummers!

27. Word after "Going twice": SOLD. Here is an interesting list of some of the most expensive pieces of art sold at auction.

28. "Carmen" solo: ARIA. You knew I couldn't resist including this aria.

29. Chore: TASK.

32. Thurman in films: UMA. Uma Thurman (née Uma Karuna Thurman; b. Apr. 29, 1970) starred in Pulp Fiction with John Travolta.

33. One of two bumped in friendship: FIST. The fist bump is also known as a Dap. Post-Covid, this may become the new handshake.

34. __ Arnaz, Jr., coverchild on the first TV Guide: DESI. Desi Arnez, Jr. (né Desiderio Alberto Arnaz IV; b. Jan. 19, 1953) appeared on the April 3, 1953 eddition of TV Guide, when he was less than 3 months old.