Theme: "Cold Shoulders"
The circled "shoulders" (or edges) of each theme answer spell out something icy cold.
My search of the L.A.Times Crossword Corner archives suggests that Emma Oxford has published six crossword puzzles in the L.A. Times during the last two years, the last of which also had circles in the grid. Today's puzzle is her first Sunday offering.
The theme clues and answers (all Across) are:
23. *Summertime activity that may precede piemaking: BERRY PICKING. The circles spell out BERG.
36. *Fictional space force satirized in John Scalzi's "Redshirts": STARFLEET. Redshirts is a 2012 novel by John Scalzi that satirizes Star Trek. The circles spell out SLEET.
43. *Casper, for one: FRIENDLY GHOST. The circles spell out FROST.
62. *Span needed for a system to return to equilibrium: RELAXATION TIME. The circles spell out RIME. Rime is a type of ice that forms when the moisture in fog freezes suddenly on an object.
69. *Nickname for a hotel in the middle of Lake Pichola: FLOATING PALACE. Lake Palace (AKA Floating Palace) is a former royal residence, now turned into a hotel, on an island in Lake Pichola, Udaipur, India. Popularly described as the Venice of the East, Lake Palace is made out of white marble. The circles spell out FLOE, a sheet of floating ice.
90. *Charming rogue: HANDSOME DEVIL. The circles spell out HAIL.
98. *"Take it slow": STEADY NOW. The circles spell out SNOW.
111. Starts a conversation, or what the answer to each starred clue does to its circled letters: BREAKS THE ICE.
Having broken the ice, let's skate through the rest of the clues and answers.
Across:1. Reveal: UNVEIL.
7. Antagonist of Rocky and Bullwinkle: BORIS.
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| Boris Badenov, from the cartoon TV series, "The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show" |
12. Check in point?: ATM. You can deposit checks at an Automated Teller Machine.
15. 43,560 square feet: ACRE.
19. "Angel" singer Jon: SECADA. Jon Secada is a Cuban-born American singer, songwriter and record producer. He has won two Grammy Awards and sold 15 million records, and recorded "Angel" in both English and Spanish. Beautiful song!
15. 43,560 square feet: ACRE.
19. "Angel" singer Jon: SECADA. Jon Secada is a Cuban-born American singer, songwriter and record producer. He has won two Grammy Awards and sold 15 million records, and recorded "Angel" in both English and Spanish. Beautiful song!
20. See 56-Down: A-RONI. Rice-A-Roni is a boxed mix that includes rice, pasta, and seasonings. Those of us who watched television in the 1960s have "The San Franciso Treat" jingle burned into our brains.
21. Cons: SWINDLES.
23. [Theme clue]
25. Emerges: COMES OUT.
26. Expressionless: BLANK.
27. Reigning: IN POWER.
29. Federal loan agcy.: SBA. The Small Business Administration is an agency of the United States government that provides support to entrepreneurs and small businesses.
30. Coily hairstyle: AFRO.
33. Letters with a green check mark at the airport: TSA PRE. The TSA PreCheck program expedites traveler screening through airport security checkpoints.
36. [Theme clue]
38. Tilts: LEANS.
40. Missouri River Native: OTOE.
41. "Piece of cake!": EASY.
42. Eclectic online digest: UTNE.
43. [Theme clue]
46. "Spider-Man: __ the Spider-Verse": ACROSS. A 2023 animated film.
38. Tilts: LEANS.
40. Missouri River Native: OTOE.
41. "Piece of cake!": EASY.
42. Eclectic online digest: UTNE.
43. [Theme clue]
46. "Spider-Man: __ the Spider-Verse": ACROSS. A 2023 animated film.
48. __ Arbor, Michigan: ANN.
49. Vicinity: AREA.
50. Fermi paradox subjs.: ETs. The Fermi paradox is the discrepancy between the lack of conclusive evidence of advanced ExtraTerrestrial life and the high likelihood of its existence.
51. "No probs!": ALL OK.
53. Corp. money managers: CFOs. Chief Financial Officers.
54. Word said when pointing to a map: HERE.
55. Impetuous: RASH.
56. Grenadine: RED. Grenadine syrup was originally prepared from pomegranate juice, sugar, and water, but today it's made from all kinds of drek. It's also become a color name: "Grenadine is a deep, muted, candy apple red with a ruby undertone."
59. Revolt: RISE UP.
62. [Theme clue]
65. Scent: ODOR.
66. Battery size: AAA.
67. Free (of): RID.
68. High point: ACME. We always need perpendicular entries to know if it will be ACME or APEX.
69. [Theme clue]
75. Wail: SCREAM.
77. Permit: LET.
78. Kitchen extension?: ETTE. As in kitchenette, a very small cooking area.
79. Woven silk projects: WEBS. Spiders produce silk and use it to make webs to trap prey, and to build cocoons for their offspring, among other uses.
80. Ventimiglia of "Gilmore Girls": MILO. While Milo Ventimiglia has had a successful acting career for almost 30 years, many of us here in the Corner sat up and took notice when, beginning in 2016, he starred opposite Mandy Moore in the NBC drama series "This Is Us," playing Jack Pearson, the patriarch of a middle-class family in late 1980s/early 1990s America.
49. Vicinity: AREA.
50. Fermi paradox subjs.: ETs. The Fermi paradox is the discrepancy between the lack of conclusive evidence of advanced ExtraTerrestrial life and the high likelihood of its existence.
51. "No probs!": ALL OK.
53. Corp. money managers: CFOs. Chief Financial Officers.
54. Word said when pointing to a map: HERE.
55. Impetuous: RASH.
56. Grenadine: RED. Grenadine syrup was originally prepared from pomegranate juice, sugar, and water, but today it's made from all kinds of drek. It's also become a color name: "Grenadine is a deep, muted, candy apple red with a ruby undertone."
59. Revolt: RISE UP.
62. [Theme clue]
65. Scent: ODOR.
66. Battery size: AAA.
67. Free (of): RID.
68. High point: ACME. We always need perpendicular entries to know if it will be ACME or APEX.
69. [Theme clue]
75. Wail: SCREAM.
77. Permit: LET.
78. Kitchen extension?: ETTE. As in kitchenette, a very small cooking area.
79. Woven silk projects: WEBS. Spiders produce silk and use it to make webs to trap prey, and to build cocoons for their offspring, among other uses.
80. Ventimiglia of "Gilmore Girls": MILO. While Milo Ventimiglia has had a successful acting career for almost 30 years, many of us here in the Corner sat up and took notice when, beginning in 2016, he starred opposite Mandy Moore in the NBC drama series "This Is Us," playing Jack Pearson, the patriarch of a middle-class family in late 1980s/early 1990s America.
 |
| Milo Ventimiglia |
81. Like $2 bills, compared to most bills: RARER.
82. [I'm a cow!]: MOO.
83. One on a quest: HERO. The hero's quest is a common template of stories involving a hero who goes on an adventure, is victorious in a decisive crisis, and comes home changed or transformed. A classic example is Odysseus in The Odyssey. The same story structure is used in modern novels and films.
84. "Waterfalls" trio: TLC. "Waterfalls" is a song by American hip-hop trio TLC, released in 1995. The song was an international hit, and spent seven weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. I'm more into "rock en español," but even I recognize this song!
87. Wages: SALARY.
90. [Theme clue]
93. Pub offerings: ALES.
94. Country where Farsi is spoken: IRAN.
96. Prefix with -plasm: ECTO. Ectoplasm is the thin, watery outer layer of a cell. Unless you're into ghosts, in which case, ectoplasm is a substance that comes from the body of someone communicating with the spirit of a dead person, allowing the spirit to have a form. In the Ghostbusters movies, it's called slime.
97. Brazilian dance: SAMBA.
98. [Theme clue]
101. If nothing changes: AS IT IS.
103. Sign of shock: GASP.
104. Bros: HEs. Bros are hes as in male persons? Sisters are shes?
105. One who asks too much: IMPOSER.
107. Helvetica alternative: ARIAL. Fonts.
109. Biometric security measure: IRIS SCAN. We had TSA PreCheck at 33 Across. Another expedited screening program at airports is the CLEAR program, which uses iris-scanning, fingerprint-checking, and facial recognition.
111. [Theme clue]
117. Government health program: MEDICARE.
118. Carried: BORNE.
119. Acela operator: AMTRAK. Crossword favorite Acela is Amtrak's passenger train service between Washington, DC and Boston, via 13 intermediate stops, including Baltimore, New York City and Philadelphia.
120. Inkling: IDEA.
121. Sow's spot: STY.
122. Brings around: SWAYS.
123. Used bookstore transaction: RESALE.
Down:
1. Computer connection letters: USB. Universal Serial Bus (USB) is an industry standard which allows data exchange and delivery of power between many types of electronics.
 |
| How do I connect thee? Let me count the ways. |
2. Formerly known as: NÉE. The French word née is a feminine adjective that means "born" and is used to indicate a woman's maiden name.
3. Old tape player: VCR.
4. Hammer or anvil: EAR BONE.
5. Pastoral poem: IDYL.
6. Drink like a cat: LAP AT.
7. Slangy term of agreement: BACK AT YA.
8. Mork's home: ORK. "Mork & Mindy" was a television sitcom that aired on ABC from 1978 to 1982. It starred Robin Williams as Mork, an extraterrestrial from the planet Ork, and Pam Dawber as Mindy, his human friend.
3. Old tape player: VCR.
4. Hammer or anvil: EAR BONE.
5. Pastoral poem: IDYL.
6. Drink like a cat: LAP AT.
7. Slangy term of agreement: BACK AT YA.
8. Mork's home: ORK. "Mork & Mindy" was a television sitcom that aired on ABC from 1978 to 1982. It starred Robin Williams as Mork, an extraterrestrial from the planet Ork, and Pam Dawber as Mindy, his human friend.
9. King of France: ROI.
10. Belly button type: INNIE.
11. Catcher's gesture to a pitcher: SIGN.
12. Broad ties: ASCOTS.
13. Bidirectional: TWO WAY.
14. One acting out?: MIMER.
15. Vlogger's revenue source: ADS. A vlog is a blog in video format. Both formats can be supported by advertising.
16. Not far from: CLOSE TO.
17. Corned beef sandwiches: REUBENS.
18. Pemberley and Mansfield Park: ESTATES. Pemberley is the fictional estate of Mr. Darcy in Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice." Mansfield Park is an estate in Jane Austen's novel of the same name.
22. Brand for indoor sports: NERF.
24. Shoe pads: INSOLES.
28. Hurdle for college-bound sophs: PSAT. Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test -- a trial run for the SAT that high school seniors take.
30. The "A" of NATO?: ALFA.
31. "Charlotte's Web" girl: FERN. Fern is a little girl in the novel "Charlotte's Web" by E. B. White. She pleads for the life of the runt of a litter of piglets, whom she names Wilbur. When Wilbur grows, he is destined for slaughter until a spider named Charlotte spells out praises of the pig in her web above his pen.
10. Belly button type: INNIE.
11. Catcher's gesture to a pitcher: SIGN.
12. Broad ties: ASCOTS.
13. Bidirectional: TWO WAY.
14. One acting out?: MIMER.
15. Vlogger's revenue source: ADS. A vlog is a blog in video format. Both formats can be supported by advertising.
16. Not far from: CLOSE TO.
17. Corned beef sandwiches: REUBENS.
18. Pemberley and Mansfield Park: ESTATES. Pemberley is the fictional estate of Mr. Darcy in Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice." Mansfield Park is an estate in Jane Austen's novel of the same name.
22. Brand for indoor sports: NERF.
24. Shoe pads: INSOLES.
28. Hurdle for college-bound sophs: PSAT. Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test -- a trial run for the SAT that high school seniors take.
30. The "A" of NATO?: ALFA.
31. "Charlotte's Web" girl: FERN. Fern is a little girl in the novel "Charlotte's Web" by E. B. White. She pleads for the life of the runt of a litter of piglets, whom she names Wilbur. When Wilbur grows, he is destined for slaughter until a spider named Charlotte spells out praises of the pig in her web above his pen.
32. Beach bummer: RAIN.
34. 1990s fad item: POG. My daughter played with pogs (flat cardboard milk bottle caps) in the '90s. The game involved stacking the discs face-down, and dropping a heavier object onto the pile. The player would keep face-up caps, and restack the face-down caps. Taking turns, eventually one player had more caps and would win.
35. Do a cobbler's job: RE-HEEL.
37. Read but never post: LURK. Welcome, lurkers! We are here for you.
39. Major mess-up: SNAFU. "Situation Normal: All Fouled Up," or stronger language to that effect.
41. Thames Estuary county: ESSEX.
44. Release, as new music: DROP.
45. Spanish "other": OTRA. Otra modifies feminine nouns. And another thing ... ! ¡Y otra cosa...! The masculine form is Otro.
46. "Another thing ... ": ALSO. Hey, I just said that.
47. ESPN anchor Linda: COHN. Linda Cohn is an American sportscaster who has anchored ESPN's SportsCenter since 1992. That's a long run!
 |
| Linda Cohn |
51. Saul Rubinek's "Warehouse 13" role: ARTIE. "Warehouse 13" was a science fiction TV series that ran from 2009 to 2014 on the Syfy network. Saul Rubinek as Artie Nielsen was the Special Agent in Charge at Warehouse 13, a storehouse for artifacts that have become charged with energy that can give them dangerous powers if misused. Seems quite obscure! Any fans here?
52. Set, as a table: LAID. Brits are more likely to say "lay the table." Americans usually say "set the table."
53. Michael of "Sacramento": CERA. "Sacramento" is a 2024 comedy film starring Michael Angarano, Michael Cera, Kristen Stewart and Maya Erskine. It's about a couple of guys who take an impromtu road trip from Los Angeles to Sacramento. Has it even hit the theaters yet?
54. Pile: HEAP.
56. With 20-Across, "The San Francisco Treat": RICE. See 20 Across.
57. Actress Thompson: EMMA.
58. Believe: DEEM.
59. "Ur 2 funny!": ROFL. Texting abbreviation for Rolling On Floor Laughing.
52. Set, as a table: LAID. Brits are more likely to say "lay the table." Americans usually say "set the table."
53. Michael of "Sacramento": CERA. "Sacramento" is a 2024 comedy film starring Michael Angarano, Michael Cera, Kristen Stewart and Maya Erskine. It's about a couple of guys who take an impromtu road trip from Los Angeles to Sacramento. Has it even hit the theaters yet?
54. Pile: HEAP.
56. With 20-Across, "The San Francisco Treat": RICE. See 20 Across.
57. Actress Thompson: EMMA.
58. Believe: DEEM.
59. "Ur 2 funny!": ROFL. Texting abbreviation for Rolling On Floor Laughing.
 |
| Emoticon for ROFL |
60. Not doing much: IDLE.
61. Flue dust: SOOT.
62. Killer party: RAGER.
63. Rainbows, e.g.: ARCS.
64. Staple in the Pacific Islands: TARO. Taro is a root vegetable, and is a food staple in African, Oceanic, East Asian, Southeast Asian and South Asian cultures.
66. Penny-__: ANTE.
70. Little rip: TEAR.
71. "All in a day's work": I TRY.
72. "That's disappointing!": AW MAN.
73. R&B singer Bridges: LEON. Todd Michael "Leon" Bridges is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. His work has been nominated for four Grammy awards, and he won the most recent in 2019 for Best Traditional R&B Performance for the song "Bet Ain't Worth the Hand."
61. Flue dust: SOOT.
62. Killer party: RAGER.
63. Rainbows, e.g.: ARCS.
64. Staple in the Pacific Islands: TARO. Taro is a root vegetable, and is a food staple in African, Oceanic, East Asian, Southeast Asian and South Asian cultures.
66. Penny-__: ANTE.
70. Little rip: TEAR.
71. "All in a day's work": I TRY.
72. "That's disappointing!": AW MAN.
73. R&B singer Bridges: LEON. Todd Michael "Leon" Bridges is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. His work has been nominated for four Grammy awards, and he won the most recent in 2019 for Best Traditional R&B Performance for the song "Bet Ain't Worth the Hand."
 |
| Leon Bridges |
74. Domiciles: ABODES.
75. King's address: SIRE.
76. Lumps of earth: CLODS.
80. Personal accounts: MEMOIRS.
81. Tabula __: RASA. Latin phrase that means "blank slate" or "smooth or erased tablet."
83. Thrown-together bits of commentary: HOT TAKES.
84. "Better Call Saul" rating: TV-MA. Mature Audience; may be unsuitable for children under 17.
85. Ad __: improvises: LIBS.
86. Thunder sound: CLAP.
87. Sushi kin: SASHIMI. Sashimi is raw fish or meat sliced into thin pieces. By contrast, sushi is made with seasoned rice, either shaped into mounds and topped with items such as raw or cooked seafood, or rolled in sheets of seaweed called nori around fillings of seafood, vegetables and other items. The essential difference is that sushi always includes rice, whereas sashimi is simply animal flesh.
 |
| Sashimi vs Sushi |
88. Changed: ALTERED.
89. Sheltered place: LEE SIDE.
90. Hems and __: HAWS.
91. Physics dept.: SCI.
92. Aerie hatchlings: EAGLETS. Aerie (a variant of eyrie) is the nest of an eagle, falcon, hawk, or other bird of prey.
 |
| I photographed this osprey on its huge nest atop a post in the middle of a Minnesota highway in 2023. |
94. Sort of: IN PART.
95. "Normal People" author Sally: ROONEY. Sally Rooney is an Irish author who has published four novels: Conversations with Friends (2017), Normal People (2018), Beautiful World, Where Are You (2021), and Intermezzo (2024). The first two were adapted into television miniseries.
99. 34-Down, for one: DISC. Ah, yes, pogs.
100. Some workout spots: YMCAs.
101. Turn-only lane symbol: ARROW.
102. Indian lute: SITAR.
106. Falls back: EBBS.
108. Wistful sigh: AH ME.
110. "Breathe Me" singer: SIA. "Breathe Me" is a 2004 song by Australian singer Sia featured on the album "Colour the Small One." All I can say is, thank goodness for perpendicular entries.
112. Regency, for "Bridgerton": ERA. Any Bridgerton fans here? I prefer my historical dramas to be a little more historical.
113. "__ luck?": ANY.
114. 401(k) kin: IRA.
115. Ripken of baseball: CAL.
116. __ out a victory: EKE.
95. "Normal People" author Sally: ROONEY. Sally Rooney is an Irish author who has published four novels: Conversations with Friends (2017), Normal People (2018), Beautiful World, Where Are You (2021), and Intermezzo (2024). The first two were adapted into television miniseries.
99. 34-Down, for one: DISC. Ah, yes, pogs.
100. Some workout spots: YMCAs.
101. Turn-only lane symbol: ARROW.
102. Indian lute: SITAR.
106. Falls back: EBBS.
108. Wistful sigh: AH ME.
110. "Breathe Me" singer: SIA. "Breathe Me" is a 2004 song by Australian singer Sia featured on the album "Colour the Small One." All I can say is, thank goodness for perpendicular entries.
112. Regency, for "Bridgerton": ERA. Any Bridgerton fans here? I prefer my historical dramas to be a little more historical.
113. "__ luck?": ANY.
114. 401(k) kin: IRA.
115. Ripken of baseball: CAL.
116. __ out a victory: EKE.
Here's the grid:
Did you love it? Or did you give it the Cold Shoulder?
NaomiZ
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