Thursday July 2, 2026 Ella Dershowitz

Ella Dershowitz followed in her father's footsteps and constructs crossword puzzles. Wait, that's not right. She's was inspired by her dad to become an actress! Hmm, that's not right either. Well, you can look up Alan Dershowitz, but in the meantime, Ella keeps providing entertainment for us.

11D. Engage in some strength training, or what this puzzle's circled letters do: LIFT WEIGHTS. The revealer sort of tells us that the WEIGHTS will LIFT i.e. spell vertically from the bottom up.

7D. Skeptical remark: YOU'RE NOT SERIOUS. STONE, from the Imperial System used Britain. 

9D. Key influencers?: PIANO TEACHERS. TON, from U.S. Customary and Imperial Systems. Also a great clue!

18D. Cartesian concept that questions the reality of waking life: DREAM ARGUMENT. GRAM, from the Metric System. A DREAM ARGUMENT is a philosophical thought experiment that questions whether we can distinguish waking reality from a highly vivid dream.

24D. "Can you believe this scam?": WHAT A RACKET. CARAT, from the Metric System specifically for gemstones.

This puzzle was hard enough with the hidden weights being presented vertically and upside down. It would've been near impossible without the circles. For instance, if you somehow caught the theme, you might confusingly note that 7D also has TON (part of STONE) inside of it.

On the plus side of the scale, I like how these units of mass are typically used to measure different things, from cargo to gems, and they range from very large to very small. I'd have liked her to toss in a DRAM (Apothecary) or GRAIN (Troy weight) to add a variety of measuring systems.

Let's see how the rest balances out:

Across:

1. Jazzy improvisation: RIFF. I wrote SCAT, and was off to a roaring stop!

5. Taylor-Joy of "The Queen's Gambit": ANYA. In the popular mini-series, ANYA played a pawn who was rooked. 

9. Whimper: PULE. Unknown, but PULE also refers to a rare Serbian cheese made from donkey milk, and is considered the most expensive cheese in the world. You'll whimper when you see the price tag.

13. Vulgar one: BOOR.

14. Bird on the Canadian dollar coin: LOON. These coins are often called Loonies.

15. Hard to erase, perhaps: IN INK.

17. "Today was rough": I NEED A HUG.

19. High cost for the Super Bowl: AD FEE. And up to $50k for great seats!

20. "... at the very least": OR MORE.

21. Dame introduction?: NOTRE. Have you met Our Lady, Notre Dame?

22. "Parks and Recreation" town: PAWNEE. From the popular TV show that served as a springboard for Chris Pratt, Aubrey Plaza, Nick Offerman and Aziz Ansari. 

25. Red friend of Cookie Monster: ELMO. Also, Natasha Lance Rogoff, author of Muppets in Moscow.

Have you also met my Red friend?

27. Was first: WON.

28. "Close enough": ISH. This clue is okayISH.

29. Yemen port that faces the Somaliland port Berbera: ADEN.

31. "I am in this meme": IT ME. I'll never get used to this.

33. Checkpoint for the terminally on line?: TSA. Fun clue #1. Transportation Security Administration at a terminal security line in an airport.

34. Banh mi spread: MAYO. 

35. Fashion week focus: DESIGN. This year, their focus was on the historic 100+ degree heatwave in Paris. Models were misted and given cooling towels, ice packs and folding fans to keep from passing out, especially when showcasing the winter collections.

"Hot" couture?

38. Health insurance giant: AETNA.

40. Update from a Lyft driver: ETA. Estimated Time of Arrival.

42. Big mad and not hiding it: AGGRO. A slang abbreviation for aggravation or aggression.

43. Floor connectors: STAIRS.

45. Architect's constraint, for short: SPEC. Specifications are important! 

47. Feminine pronoun: HER.

48. Meaty sauce: RAGU.

49. Engrave on glass: ETCH.

50. Kilt companion: TAM. They were plentiful on Miami Beach last week. Go USA!

51. HS fundraiser: PTA. A Parent Teacher Association may hold a high school fundraiser, such as a car wash or a bake sale.

53. Very, informally: UBER. This is a very nice taxi, usually.

55. Ocean escapades?: HEISTS. Danny Ocean's gang robbed casinos in the Ocean's Eleven film franchise. Ocean was originally played by Frank Sinatra, and later by George Clooney.

57. Command to attack: SIC 'EM.

59. Middle-distance runners: MILERS. 

61. Bracelet spot: ANKLE.

62. Potbelly that needs constant feeding?: COAL STOVE. Ye olde potbelly STOVE...or the family pig from Hooterville.

Arnold Ziffel on Green Acres

66. Oktoberfest souvenir: STEIN.

67. Bread for an Italian sandwich?: EURO. Fun clue #2. 

68. Boo-boo: OWIE. 

69. "Like, yesterday": STAT.

70. "The Pat McAfee Show" network: ESPN. Former NFL punter Pat McAfee highlights the day's top stories in sports.

71. Turow book set at Harvard: ONE L. OK, class. We went over this last Thursday and it'll be on this week's test.

Down:

1. Sac fly result: RBI. 

2. Atom with a sign: ION. IONS may be positive or negative, denoted by + and - signs.

Atom Ant with signs

3. Adversary: FOE.

4. Refrigerant trademark since the 1930s: FREON. DuPont Freon®. It's a gas, gas, gas!

The Stones are cool!

5. Tree-lined walkway: ALAMEDA. The Spanish word ALAMEDA can also mean a public promenade. The city of ALAMEDA, Calif. was the original west coast terminus of the Transcontinental Railroad, which could be thought of as America's first major cross-country promenade.

6. NYC nabe below Union Square: NOHO. The neighborhood North of Houston [Street] in Lower Manhattan, New York City.

7. [theme]

8. Figure in a halo: ANGEL. Figure in Halo: CHIEF, the most popular action figure from the Halo video game.

9. [theme]

10. Go back a step: UNDO. CTRL + Z on a PC keyboard, Command + Z on a Mac.

11. [theme]

12. First page of el calendario: ENERO. January is the first month on a Spanish calendar. 

16. Peachy follower: KEEN. Peachy (meaning excellent or fine) and KEEN (meaning enthusiastic or splendid), expressing a highly positive, cheerful state of being.

18. [theme]

22. Deli pockets: PITAS. Watch your pockets in Delhi! Street thieves frequent busy markets and train stations there.

23. Portfolio piece: ASSET.

24. [theme]

26. Prefix with day or way: MID. Like half-day or halfway, but one letter shorter.
 
30. __ shadow: EYE. 

32. Umami enhancer, briefly: MSG. MonoSodium Glutamate has generally been found to be safe and is healthier than table salt. It was stigmatized in 1968 when a doctor wrote a since debunked letter to a medical journal claiming he felt unwell after eating at a Chinese restaurant. I got sick after eating too much Easter chocolate as a kid. My mom thought it was some sort of reaction so she only got me white chocolate bunnies for years afterward while my brothers got the tasty real ones!

Don't bet on it!

36. Dane introduction?: GREAT. This clue is clechoISH with 21A. The Great Dane is a massive, gentle German breed renowned as the "Apollo of Dogs." Buster sometimes thinks he's a Greek god.

It's good to be the king!

37. Social rules: NORMS.

39. Actress Vardalos: NIA. NIA is a Canadian actress and screenwriter of Greek descent. You may remember her wedding.

41. Fitting: APT.

44. Long sammich: SUB.

46. Level of authority: ECHELON.

51. Spots for education?: PSAS. Fun clue #3. Public Service Announcements. 

52. Subtle hair dyes: TINTS.

54. Awards ceremony host: EMCEE. 

56. Childish comeback: IS TOO. There are a lot of childish comebacks on the crossword playground. 

58. Director Kazan: ELIA. Mr. Kazan was described by the NYT as "one of the most honored and influential directors in Broadway and Hollywood history."

60. Take part in an outdoor fantasy game: LARP. Live Action Role-Play ranging from murder mystery dinner parties to massive weekend-long fantasy campaigns with hundreds of participants.

63. Possess: OWN. 

64. Contend (for): VIE.

65. Nigiri topper never served raw: EEL. I prefer nigiri, just a slice of fresh fish on a small mound of rice, over rolled sushi.

Have a safe and happy 4th, everyone!

Be good. RB

Sunday August 3, 2025 Ella Dershowitz

Theme: "Kinetic Exercises" - Anagrams of various sports are hidden inside each theme entry. 

22. Series of musical tones that evoke sadness: MINOR SCALES. Lacrosse.

24. Weaponized food in a Hitchcock episode: LEG OF LAMB. Golf.

31. Desire to cause harm: MALICIOUS INTENT. Tennis.

37. Mathematical operation that may have a remainder: LONG DIVISION. Diving.

55. Scam: CONFIDENCE TRICK. Cricket.

64. Like some voting systems: WINNER TAKE ALL. Karate.

78. Lip product in a Katy Perry song: CHERRY CHAPSTICK. Archery.

92. Lean patty choice: TURKEY BURGER. Rugby. 

 99. July Fourth: INDEPENDENCE DAY. Dance.

115. Athletic record: SCORECARD. Soccer. 

Reveal: 

117. Party poopers, or what this puzzle's circled letters do: SPOILSPORTS.

Congrats, Ella, on your first LAT Sunday!

This is just brilliant construction. Some of the sports names are long, not easy to anagram. And we have 11 theme entries with one reveal. Normally we have 7 or 8. Ella is an actor. 

Ella Dershowitz

Across:

1. Romantic painter Francisco: GOYA.

5. "Is it ever!": AND HOW.

11. Lettuce variety: BIBB. Also called butter lettuce. Sweet and buttery.

15. Levy of "Schitt's Creek": DAN.

18. Copied: APED.

19. Copy illegally: PIRATE.

20. Taiwanese laptop brand: ACER.

21. Unlikely cat name: FIDO.

26. Main course: ENTREE.

27. Damage: MAR.

28. "Elsbeth" network: CBS. Wikipedia says "Elsbeth" is "a spin-off of "The Good Wife" (2009–2016) and "The Good Fight" (2017–2022)". 

29. Name-caller: MEANIE.

30. Artifact: RELIC.

34. __ as a pin: NEAT.

36. Add to, as an already big pile: HEAP ON.

43. Fixes, at the vet: NEUTERS.

49. Favor: PREFER.

50. Like mood lighting: DIM.

51. Inflation no.: PSI.

53. Gymnast Comaneci: NADIA. First gymnast to receive a 10.

54. Blood test liquids: SERA.

59. Bach production: SONATA.

62. Fairy tale first: ONCE.

63. Detest: LOATHE.

69. Cinder collector: ASH PAN.

73. Director Kazan: ELIA.

74. Colorful New Zealand fish: RED COD. Due to its color. 

83. Villainous Count of kid-lit: OLAF.

85. Handed (out): DOLED.

86. Feel ill: AIL.

87. German outburst: ACH.

88. Spanish grandmother: ABUELA. Po Po in Chinese.

90. Techie's major, for short: COMP SCI. Computer science. 

95. State where almost all of U.S. hazelnuts are grown: OREGON. I didn't know this. 

98. Check in spots?: ATMS. Meaning you can deposit a check at an ATM?

107. Counter: REBUT.

111. Spot for self-reflection?: MIRROR. Ha. 

112. Half an inning?: ENS. Three n's in inning.

113. Title for two Beatles: SIR.

114. Private sign?: SALUTE.

119. Unagi roll fish: EELS.

120. First name in whodunits: ERLE. Erle Stanley Gardner, creator of Perry Mason.

121. Like chinchillas: ANDEAN.

122. Olympian with a fighting spirit: ARES.

123. 31-Down countdown show: TRL. Total Request Live. 31. "Unplugged" network: MTV.

124. Bucks and does: DEER.

125. Invitees: GUESTS.

126. Nick Jr. explorer: DORA.

Down:

1. Minecraft streamer, e.g.: GAMER.

2. Give a take: OPINE.

3. Streisand musical: YENTL.

4. Groupie: ADORING FAN. Partnered with 75. Class list: COURSE LOAD. Not a lot of long fill due to the heavy themeage. 

5. Church nook: APSE.

6. Actor Cage, to fans: NIC.

7. Emmy category: DRAMA.

8. Haram counterpart: HALAL. We've yet to see HARAM in our LAT grid.

9. "Dog Man" voice actress Cheri: OTERI.

10. Director Craven: WES.

11. Fictional boxer for whom Philadelphia's Rocky Steps are named: BALBOA. AI Overview: The Rocky Steps are a set of 72 stone steps leading to the entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, made famous by the movie "Rocky".

12. Freezes over: ICES UP.

13. Ask and then some: BEG.

14. Hot tub chemical: BROMINE. To disinfect the water. Chlorine too.

15. Actress Keaton: DIANE.

16. One with extra online privileges: ADMIN.

17. "Check," in a casino: NO BET.

21. Like hair after removing a beanie: FLAT. 

23. Move back: RECEDE.

25. Bog: FEN.

28. Diez squared: CIEN. 100. 

32. Comic Margaret: CHO.

33. Genesis hedgehog: SONIC.

35. Element whipped into eggs to make meringue: AIR.

37. Collection at a listening bar, briefly: LPS.

38. Major finds for miners: ORES.

39. "Too Many Cooks" sleuth Wolfe: NERO.

40. Uniting words: I DO. Wedding. 

41. Transgression: SIN.

42. U.N. financial arm: IMF.

44. Indescribable: UNTOLD.

45. Olympic gold medalist Lipinski: TARA.

46. Cut and paste, say: EDIT.

47. Loaded: RICH.

48. Sushi bar drink: SAKE. Can't have sake or any alcohol due to the methotrexate. 

51. Demure kiss: PECK.

52. Giants legend Chris: SNEE. Didn't know him. Fresh clue angle.

55. Tuna holder: CAN.

56. Little letters?: IOTAS.

57. CSI stuff: DNA.

58. French fashion magazine: ELLE.

60. Nobels, e.g.: AWARDS.

61. __ houses: minimalist trend: TINY. This one looks nice.

65. Peach soda brand: NEHI.

66. Mideast airline: EL AL.

67. Tear (into): RIP.

68. Genesis boat: ARK.

69. Australian rock band: AC DC.

70. "Don't bug me!": SHOO.

71. Vessel control post: HELM.

72. Mise en place: PREP. Wikipedia gives this example: mise en place for a peanut brittle recipe.

76. Cassini of fashion: OLEG.

77. Small valley: DALE.

79. Pile of stones to mark a trail: CAIRN.

80. Pitch: TAR.

81. "So gross": ICK.

82. Revolutionary Guevara: CHE.

84. Miles away: FAR.

88. NYC dance co.: ABT. American Ballet Theatre.

89. Undeserved infamy, informally: BUM RAP.

91. Compelled: COERCED.

92. Oodles: TONS.

93. Coll. in the Research Triangle: UNC. Didn't know the Research Triangle, formed by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University and North Carolina State University. 

94. "Excellent news!": YAY.

96. English Channel swimmer Gertrude: EDERLE.

97. __ reveal party: GENDER.

99. "All good here": I'M SET.

100. Like party clothes compared to everyday clothes: NICER.

101. Oddly funny: DROLL.

102. Books a table for seven at 6 instead of six at 7, say: ERRS.

103. Macabre poet: POE.

104. Channel for college games: ESPNU.

105. The "D" of LED: DIODE.

106. Sign of spring: ARIES.

108. Small donkey: BURRO.

109. Say aloud: UTTER.

110. Thompson of "Westworld": TESSA.

114. Form W-2 digits: SSNS.

116. Is for many?: ARE.

117. Mattress malady: SAG.

118. Muscle useful in rock climbing: LAT.

C.C.

Friday, August 30, 2024, Ella Dershowitz

 Theme:  Sing it!

Constructor Ella Dershowitz gives us seven theme clues, each naming songs that are related by themes in the lyrics.  The punny theme answers are symmetically placed in the grid horizontally, and the first and last theme answers span the grid.  

Here are the theme clues and answers:

17. "Call Me Maybe" or "Operator (That's Not the Way It Feels)"?: TELEPHONE NUMBER. 

"Call Me Maybe" is a 2012 song by Carly Rae Jepsen.  "Operator" is a 1972 song by Jim Croce  Each song (or NUMBER) relates to using the phone, which makes it a TELEPHONE NUMBER.

27. "Popular" or "Fashion!"?: IN TUNE.  

"Popular" is a 1996 song by Nada Surf, and "Fashion" is a 1980 song by David Bowie.  Each song (or TUNE) relates to what's "in," which makes each song an "IN" TUNE, a phrase that usually means being at the correct musical pitch.

28. "Sound of da Police" or "The Artist in the Ambulance"?: SIREN SONG.

"Sound of da Police" is a 1993 song by KRS-One.  "The Artist in the Ambulance" is a 2003 song by the band Thrice.  Each song (yes, SONG!) mentions sirens, which makes each song a SIREN SONG.  A siren song is an alluring utterance, especially one that is seductive or deceptive.  In Greek mythology,  sirens were dangerous creatures who lured sailors with their music and voices to wreck their ships.

38. "Midnight Train to Georgia" or "Chattanooga Choo Choo"?: RAILROAD TRACK.

"Midnight Train to Georgia" is a song most famously performed by Gladys Knight & the Pips in 1973.  "Chattanooga Choo Choo" was originally recorded by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra in 1941.  Each song (or TRACK) mentions the railroad, which makes each of them a RAILROAD TRACK, usually meaning the structure on which a train's wheels roll.

48. "Sittin' in the Sun (Countin' My Money)" or "Can't Buy Me Love"?: BUDGET CUT.

"Sittin' in the Sun (Countin' My Money)" is a 1953 song by Louis Armstrong.  "Can't Buy Me Love" is a 1964 song by The Beatles.  Each song (CUT) mentions money, which relates to budget, which makes each of these songs a BUDGET CUT, usually meaning a planned reduction in expenditures.

50. "I'm Too Sexy" or "Summer in the City"?: HOT AIR.

"I'm Too Sexy" is a 1991 song by Right Said Fred.  "Summer in the City" is a 1966 song by The Lovin' Spoonful.  Each song (AIR) deals with being hot, although in the first case, the singer is sexy/hot, and in the second, he's just plain hot.  So there you have it:  HOT AIR, which usually means empty or boastful speech.

61. "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" or "Talkin' Baseball"?: LINE DRIVE SINGLE.

"Take Me Out to the Ballgame" is a 1908 song by Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer, often sung as part of the seventh-inning stretch of a baseball game.  "Talkin' Baseball" is a 1981 song by Terry Cashman. Each song (SINGLE) is about America's favorite pastime, making each a LINE DRIVE SINGLE.  It's risky for me to explain baseball lingo, but it seems to mean a batted ball that goes in a straight line, resulting in the batter getting to advance a single base.  You are welcome to improve on that explanation!

Here come the rest of the clues and answers.

Across:

1. Unflattering press for a celeb: BAD PR.  Celeb is short for celebrity; PR is short for Public Relations.

6. Fries, e.g.: SIDE.  Fries are a side dish.

10. Owned: HAD.

13. On a cruise: AT SEA.

14. Ridicule: TAUNT.

16. 2019 March Madness champs: UVA.  University of Virginia.  March Madness is an annual NCAA college basketball tournament.

17. [Theme clue]

20. BTS genre: K-POP.  BTS is a South Korean boy band, an example of Korean popular music, known as K-Pop.

21. Done deal: SURE BET.

22. Tony winner Hagen: UTA.  Uta Hagen (1919-2004) was a German-American actress and acting teacher.  

Uta Hagen

25. NFL three-pointers, for short: FGS.  Field GoalS in American football.

27. [Theme clue]

28. [Theme clue]

32. Figure, briefly: BOD.  A brief way to refer to the human figure, or body.

33. Lebanese capital: BEIRUT. 

34. Art stand: EASEL.

38. [Theme clue]

42. Griswold of the "National Lampoon's Vacation" films: CLARK.  Clark Griswold is the paterfamilias character played by Chevy Chase in the movies.  I could not have retrieved this from any part of my brain.  Perpendicular clues (perps) to the rescue!

Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold

43. Adidas addition: INSOLE.

45. Undecided initials: TBA.  To Be Arranged:  a nifty calendar abbreviation.

48. [Theme clue]

50. [Theme clue]

54. Antioxidant juice brand: POM.  I used to drink a lot of this!

"Wonderful" brand 100% Pomegranate juice

55. Some mantras: OMS.  According to the Times of India, "OM ... is a sacred symbol, sound and mantra of the universe. In many ancient scriptures, OM is described as the first sound of the universe, the vibration of which brought everything into existence."

56. Puzzles: ENIGMAS.

58. "Success!": TA-DA!  Mock fanfare.

61. [Theme clue]

66. Actress Ryan: MEG.  Meg Ryan is an American actress known for her quirky roles in romantic comedies.

Meg Ryan, famously faking an orgasm in "When Harry Met Sally"

67. Watch rim: BEZEL.  A bezel is a narrow rim that secures the clear cover on a watch, or that holds a gemstone in place (instead of prongs).  I kept thinking "bevel" because of the angled edge on some watch crystals.  The V wasn't helping me with 57 Down, coffee specification.  Changing the V to Z was my last move on this puzzle.

68. Wood finish: STAIN.

69. Equal: ARE.  Two and two ARE four.

70. Actor's compilation: REEL.  It makes sense that actors today compile video reels showcasing their acting skills.

71. Explored a national park, perhaps: HIKED.  John Muir was quoted as saying, "People ought to saunter in the mountains – not 'hike'!"  I'm happy to say that we are saunterers.

DH and I sauntering with my Mom earlier this month in the White Mountains.

Down:

1. Item used at home: BAT.  Oh, home plate!  Baseball bat.  

2. Used (up): ATE.

3. Fiber alternative: DSL.  Internet connection types:  while DSL uses copper phone lines to transmit data, fiber uses ultra-thin glass strands that carry light instead of electricity.

4. Cheat at cards, say: PEEK.

5. Reneé of the "Mean Girls" musical: RAPP.  Reneé Rapp is an American singer-songwriter and actress. She gained recognition for starring as Regina George in the Broadway musical "Mean Girls."  I Did Not Know (DNK) this one -- thanks, perps!

Reneé Rapp

6. Like bumper-to-bumper traffic: STOP GO.  Usually called stop-and-go traffic.  We have lots of that in Los Angeles.

7. "Amsterdam" novelist McEwan: IAN.  "Amsterdam" is a 1998 novel by British writer Ian McEwan, for which he was awarded the 1998 Booker Prize.

First edition, first printing, available from AbeBooks.com

8. Union __: DUES.

9. The blahs: ENNUI.  Word adopted from French for a feeling of tiredness and boredom.

10. Commotion: HUBBUB.  Noise made by a lot of people all talking or shouting at the same time.

11. Maker of Healthy Start Newborn skin products: AVEENO.  Didn't know, but not surprised.

Aveeno Daily Moisture Healthy Start Newborn Balm

12. Moved unpredictably: DARTED.

15. Spoil: TURN.   On our recent trip with Mom, DH told a restaurant staff member that the wine had TURNed.  The response:  Oh, how funny, another customer said the same thing about the same bottle yesterday!  Quickly followed by:  Let's open a new bottle!

18. Long Island university that has hosted several presidential debates: HOFSTRA.

19. Ran into: MET.

22. Common port type: USB.  USB, or universal serial bus, is a mechanism used to connect peripheral devices to computers.

23. Cake part: TIER.

24. Opera solo: ARIA.

26. Arrive quietly: SNEAK UP.

29. Actor Stoltz: ERIC.  Eric Stoltz is an American actor, director and producer.  DNK.

John Travolta and Eric Stoltz in "Pulp Fiction"

30. Void's partner: NULL.

31. Roam (about): GAD.

35. Bad marks: STIGMAS.

36. Sea eagle: ERNE.  A sea eagle or fish eagle (also called erne or ern) is any of the birds of prey in the subfamily Haliaeetinae of the bird of prey family Accipitridae.

I took this photo of an African Fish-Eagle -- eating a fish! -- in Botswana.

37. Not followed: LAST.  The last in a series is not followed by anyone or anything.

39. Crystal ball, e.g.: ORB.

40. Pixar film set on the Day of the Dead: COCO.  Lovely animated film highlighting Mexican culture.

41. Longtime "Project Runway" host Heidi: KLUM.  Beautiful and clever.

It would just be mean not to include a photo of Heidi Klum.

44. GRE org.: ETS.  The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is part of the admissions process for many graduate schools. The GRE is owned and administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS).

45. Title role for Geena Davis: THELMA.  From the 1991 movic, "Thelma & Louise."

46. Tougher to fillet, perhaps: BONIER.

47. Not much, colorwise: A TINGE.  I've seen a lot of interior decorating catalogs lately featuring just A TINGE of beige in the paint and furnishings.

49. "Spill!": DO TELL.

51. Period: AGE.  As in the Age of Dinosaurs, or the Viking Age.

52. Film trivia site: IMDB.  IMDb (an acronym for Internet Movie Database) is an online resource for information related to films, television series, podcasts, home videos, video games, and streaming content online.

53. More red: RARER.  This took me a while.  Oh, meat!  We're vegetarian.

57. Coffee specification: SIZE.  I needed DH to help me here.  I had SIvE, because I was stuck on BEvEL instead of BEZEL for 67 Across.  DH said SIZE immediately, and I realized that BEZEL is a thing.

59. "Spill!": DISH.  Do tell.

60. Averse to: ANTI.

62. Neckline shape: VEE.

63. Nickelodeon slime: GAK.  DNK.  My grandchildren concoct their own slime!

64. Fabrication: LIE.

65. Sew up: END.  A fitting way to END a puzzle.

The grid:

Did you hum along through this musical challenge?  

Or was it a STOP-and-GO experience rife with ENIGMAS?

NaomiZ