Sunday September 23, 2018 Gail Grabowski

Theme:  "Go Figure"- ADD spans across each theme entry.

23. Usually retrospective assessment: BAD DECISION.

25. Cop (to), as a lesser charge: PLEAD DOWN.

35. Brazen crime time: BROAD DAYLIGHT.

46. It's often designed to rise: BREAD DOUGH.

65. South Beach, say: FAD DIET.

79. Tire measurement that can be checked by the "penny test": TREAD DEPTH.

92. Place to buy a train ticket: RAILROAD DEPOT.

106. Buffet stack item: SALAD DISH.

Reveal:

108. Combine ... and a hint to what's hidden in eight long answers: ADD TOGETHER

This puzzle has a perfect reveal and perfect title!

Gail is my crossword hero. Her themes are always so simple yet never-been-done. So much hard work and thorough Cruciverb database search behind Gail's puzzles.

Across:

1. Abacus unit: BEAD. I'm probably the only one who used abacus in primary school.

5. Brother of Lucrezia Borgia: CESARE. Wiki says "Lucrezia Borgia was an Italian noblewoman of the House of Borgia who was the daughter of Pope Alexander VI and Vannozza dei Cattanei."

11. Lipstick shade: RUBY.

15. Insignificant: MERE.

19. Drivetrain component: AXLE.

20. Rhododendron variety: AZALEA. Augusta!

21. Sport with masks: EPEE.

22. "Cake Boss" competitor, at times: ICER.

27. Service that manages network messages: EMAIL HOST. So who hosts Gmail?

28. Ingenuous one: NAIF.

29. Kemper who plays Kimmy Schmidt: ELLIE.

30. Feed a line: CUE.

31. "About time!": AT LAST.

34. Grabs with a toothpick: SPEARS.

40. Palate-cleansing serving: SHERBET. Never had sherbet.

41. Way to go: ROUTE.

42. Winds into rings: COILS.

43. Common scale extreme: TEN. Oh, on a scale of one to ten.

44. Cathedral section: APSE.

45. Shade of pink: CORAL.

53. Pull in: NET.

54. Zebra mom: MARE.

55. Sound quality?: SANITY. Nice clue.

57. First Nations tribe: CREE.

58. Cash or credit, e.g.: NOUN. NOUN and VERB are always fun to clue.

59. California county or its seat: NAPA. Also the cabbage in Kimchi.

60. Pub orders: STEINS.

62. Kilt features: PLEATS.

68. Ribs: TEASES.

69. It isn't negotiable: SET FEE.

70. "That's not true!": LIAR.

71. Go over: SPAN.

72. Barcelona-born muralist: SERT. MIRO too.

73. Lightly washed: RINSED.

75. Comedy club sound: ROAR.

76. Old school dance: HOP.

82. "I Hated, Hated, Hated This Movie" author: EBERT.

84. "Arbitrage" actor: GERE.

85. Apples run on it: IOS.

86. Bush, for one: PLANT. Great mislead.

87. Where van Gogh painted "Sunflowers": ARLES. We have this on our wall.

88. Letter writing, sadly: LOST ART.

95. Fifth-century conqueror: ATTILA.

96. Washington airport: SEA-TAC. Seattle–Tacoma.

97. Sushi bar offering: ROE.

98. Put away for later: STORE.

99. Unveiling shout: TA DA.

100. Showbiz honors: OSCAR NODS. Sparkly fill.

110. Had to fork over: OWED.

111. Letters before a viewpoint: IMHO.

112. Lowlife, slangily: CREEPO.

113. Actress Watson: EMMA. Argyle loved her.

114. Pollster's enc.: SASE. I do take on-line poll from time to time. Not other forms.

115. Ravioli filling: MEAT.

116. "Hear me out": LISTEN.

117. Resale caveat: AS IS.

Down:

1. Sonny & Cher's "I Got You __": BABE.

2. Class struggle?: EXAM. Another fun clue.

3. "Same Time, Next Year" actor: ALDA.

4. Inscribe personally: DEDICATE.

5. Hidden: CACHED.

6. Basso Pinza: EZIO.

7. Fresh words: SASS.

8. Carrier with a hub in Fiumicino: ALITALIA. Fiumicino is the home of  Da Vinci Airport. Learning moment for me.

9. 1906 Runabout, e.g.: REO. Looks like this.

10. Suffix with Jacob: EAN.

11. Meal: REPAST.

12. Illuminated indirectly: UP-LIT.

13. Complaint: BEEF.

14. Word of support: YEA.

15. "The Rose" singer: MIDLER.

16. Big name in food safety: ECOLAB. Headquartered here in St. Paul, Minnesota.

17. Do some electrical updating: REWIRE.

18. Gallo family brother: ERNEST.

24. Lose, as a tail: ELUDE.

26. Be contingent (on): DEPEND.

28. "Doubt it": NAH.

32. Cash holders: TILLS.

33. Some HDTVs: LGS.

34. Place for a rototiller: SHED. This "roto" makes me sad. Don't ever use Roto-Rooter!

35. Fiber source: BRAN.

36. Boxing ring boundary: ROPE.

37. Kick out: OUST.

38. Nut with a hat: ACORN. Such a visual clue.

39. Time long past: YORE.

40. Stick it out: STAY.

45. Protest principle: CAUSE.

46. __ B'rith: B'NAI.

47. Smelly: RIPE.

48. Nouveau-Mexique, par exemple: ETAT.

49. Vast expanse: OCEAN.

50. "Topaz" novelist: URIS (Leon)

51. Code carrier: GENE.

52. Company with toy trucks: HESS.

54. Sunbeam floater: MOTE.

56. Watts at a keyboard: ANDRE.

58. 1990s trade acronym: NAFTA.

60. Annual parade VIP: ST PAT.

61. Sign of remorse: TEAR.

62. Subtle summons: PSST.

63. Look the wrong way?: LEER.

64. Raison d'__: ETRE.

65. Wig out: FLIP.

66. "It __ Necessarily So": Gershwin song: AIN'T.

67. Smidgen: DASH.

71. More or less, informally: SORTA.

73. Interval of inactivity: REST.

74. "Don't You Know?" singer Reese: DELLA.

75. City near the California-Nevada border: RENO.

76. Pitch in: HELP.

77. Cookie with a Thins Bites variety: OREO. Look at these new flavors in Asia.

78. Bug or brat: PEST.

80. Increased in intensity, with "up": DIALED.

81. Kid-vid explorer: DORA.

83. Lines at the grocery: BAR CODES.

84. Beverage with antioxidants: GREEN TEA. And 92. Sizzling: RED HOT.

86. Sizable hole: PIT.

87. Really fancy: ADORE. Verb "fancy".

88. Catchers on the range: LASSOS.

89. North American capital, or its river: OTTAWA.

90. Some wraps: STOLES.

91. Vehement speech: TIRADE.

93. Battery choice: AAA.

94. Jackie Paper's imaginary friend is one: DRAGON. "Puff, the Magic Dragon".

96. Recent White House daughter: SASHA.

99. Smartphone display: TIME. I chuckled reading last Sunday's comments. Those who still own flip phones are super-cool. Like Irish Miss, Yuval Noah Harari does not even own a cell phone.

101. Newsroom cancellation: STET.

102. Roll with the punches: COPE. Boomer still coaches the kids at his old high school despite his intense back pain. He's just incredible. 

103. Electrical units: OHMS.

104. Patrick's "Ghost" co-star: DEMI. The unforgettable "Ditto".  I like "As You Wish" better though.

105. Ladies of Sp.: SRAS.

107. Barely lit: DIM.

108. Knee injury initials: ACL.

109. Nike's __-FIT fabric: DRI.

Sunday July 1, 2018 Gail Grabowski

Theme: "Cool Comfort"- AC spans across each theme entry.

23A. Bottom of a pie: PIZZA CRUST.  Trade Joe's has nice pizza dough.

25A. Quality bedding material: PIMA COTTON.

46A. Where Petaluma is: SONOMA COUNTY. Wiki says "Petaluma is a transliteration of the Coast Miwok phrase péta lúuma which means hill backside and probably refers to Petaluma's proximity to Sonoma Mountain."

65A. Room in some posh residences: MEDIA CENTER.

88A. Tex-Mex dipper: TORTILLA CHIP.

112A. Oakland-based environmental group: SIERRA CLUB.

114A. 2009 Meryl Streep role: JULIA CHILD.

37D. Struggling student's option: EXTRA CREDIT.

42D. Game player's purchase: SEGA CONSOLE.

Reveal entry:

115D. Coolers, briefly, that span two words in the nine longest answers: ACS.

Another simple and fresh offering from the legendary Gail. Timely too.

On average, we have about 13 days of 90s or above in the Twin Cities every year. We've had 9 days so far. Hit 99 on Friday, even our Asiatic lilies felt too hot to remain in the bud. So they opened up. So pretty, TTP, I bet you and Katie have them in your garden also. Had to put a fence around because of the rogue rabbits.

Across:

1. Tip off: TELL.

5. Iridescent stones: OPALS.

10. Broadway restaurant founder: SARDI (Vincent). Sardi's is the birthplace of the Tony award.

15. Fancy window feature: ARCH.

19. Bizet's "Habanera," e.g.: ARIA.

20. Frequent co-star of Sly: TALIA. "Rocky".

21. From the top: AGAIN.

22. Large volume: TOME.

27. Gourmet gastropod: SNAIL. Buttery, garlicky and parsley-y escargots.

28. Puts at risk: IMPERILS.

30. Ring components: ONIONS.

31. Fish caught in pots: EELS.

33. Stock ending?: ADE. Stockade. And 74. Road closing?: STER. Roadster.

34. Historic 1804 contest: DUEL. Burr-Hamilton duel.

35. Texas city in the film "Friday Night Lights": ODESSA.

38. Org. with a New London academy: USCG. We have a New London here in MN.

41. Sites with jets: AIR BASES.

45. Leading the line: NEXT.

50. Switchboard connection: Abbr.: EXT.

51. Mil. driller: SGT.

52. For hire to sire: AT STUD.

53. It may be a lot: ACRE.

54. Wistful remark: OH GEE.

56. Burn the toast, say: ERR.

57. How much sautéing is done: IN OIL.

58. Hate the idea of: DREAD.

59. Org. founded on the 100th anniversary of Lincoln's birth: NAACP. Good to know.

60. "Dark of the Moon" poet: TEASDALE (Sara)

62. Hummus scooper: PITA.

63. Fam. tree member: DESC. Descendant.

64. Religious faction: SECT.

69. Made off with: TOOK.

72. Barely done: RARE.

75. Amazon predator: ANACONDA. Great fill.

77. Brand with a Creamy Vodka sauce: PREGO.

79. 1954 Ford debut: T-BIRD.

81. Great Plains tribe: KIOWA. And 104. Like parts of the Great Plains: SEMI-ARID.

82. Unc, to Dad: SIB.

83. "It's not my first __!": RODEO. Is this a regional saying?

84. Choral part: ALTO.

85. Teaching model: MOCK UP.

86. Hugs, on cards: OOO.

87. Manning of football: ELI.

91. Botch: FLUB.

92. Carriers of carriers: PET SHOPS. Nice clue.

94. Pre-college, briefly: EL-HI. Every 21*21 grid has a few gluey entries.

95. Female folklore fiend: OGRESS.

97. Scoffing sounds: HAHS.

98. Rel. title: REV.

100. "She Believes __": Kenny Rogers hit: IN ME.

101. Lash out at: ASSAIL.

108. Invited: ASKED.

116. Author Dinesen: ISAK. "Out of Africa".

117. Ruin, with "up": LOUSE.

118. Part of PGA: Abbr.: ASSOC.

119. Singer on a 2007 Black Heritage postage stamp, familiarly: ELLA.

120. Is just right: FITS.

121. Bring to a boil: ANGER. Fun clue.

122. Lots of paper: REAMS.

123. Overly curious: NOSY.

Down:

1. Pub hardware: TAPS.

2. Shillelagh's land: ERIN. Not familiar with this place.

3. "__ With a 'Z'": 1972 TV special: LIZA.

4. Like the most summery day: LAZIEST.

5. Non-Rx: OTC.

6. City awarded the 2024 Summer Olympic Games: PARIS.

7. Donor drive target: ALUM.

8. Sylvester's problem: LISP.

9. Fill completely: SATE.

10. Palatable: SAPID. This word sure does not look flavorful.

11. Well-coordinated: AGILE.

12. Super Bowl XXXIV champs: RAMS.

13. 24 horas: DIA.

14. On trial: IN COURT.

15. Fifth-century Roman Empire foe: ATTILA. The Hun.

16. Revolution prefix: ROTO.

17. "Seriously?": C'MON.

18. They're often cooped up: HENS.

24. Pub round: ALES.

26. Separately: ONE BY ONE.

29. Mumbai melody: RAGA.

32. Altar sacrifice, at times?: LAST NAME. Ha ha.

34. Enjoyed some courses: DINED. Carmen just emailed me these two dishes in a Guangzhou restaurant: passionfruit with chicken wings. Orange pork ribs.

35. Initial stages: ONSETS.

36. College offering: DEGREE.

38. Freed, in a way: UNTIED.

39. iTunes Store category: SOUL.

40. Mil. authority: CMD. OK, command.

41. Intangible quality: AURA.

43. Suit: EXEC.

44. Part of a plan: STEP.

47. "__ Mio": O SOLE.

48. 2002 Nobel Peace Prize laureate: CARTER.

49. View from much of U.S. Highway 101: OCEAN.

52. Samaritan's offering: AID.

55. Can't get out of it: HAS TO.

58. Like many soup veggies: DICED. Cantonese soup normally does not have celery, onions or other diced veggies. Just big slices of lotus roots, carrots, a few herbs (Goji berries, sliced mountain yam, ginger, etc).

61. Performer's place: STAGE.

62. Keep the beat?: PATROL.

63. Use, as one's resources: DRAW UPON.

66. Last Supper question: IS IT I.

67. Meditative discipline: TAI CHI. I used to think this is for old people. Alas, I've come to this age.

68. Long, thin mushroom: ENOKI. You can find this in most Asian grocery stores.

70. Awful: ODIOUS.

71. Barbecue fare: KABOBS.

73. Water-absorbing plant part: ROOT HAIR. New term to me.

76. Tube top: CAP.

77. Kitchen job: PREP.

78. Cast assignment: ROLE.

79. Protection from the elements: TARPS.

80. Short orders?: BLTS.

81. "Mayor" author: KOCH.

85. Prefix with ware: MAL.

89. "C'est magnifique!": OOH LA LA.

90. Big name in casual garb: LEVI. I love this pair of Levi's. So stretchy and comfy. Sturdy too. I've had it for 11 years.

May 25, 2018

91. Air out: FRESHEN.

93. Predatory fish with an acute sense of smell: SHARKS. The big boss used to treat us with shark fin soup at our annual Spring Festival dinner. Now I can't even remember the taste.

96. Former car-financing org.: GMAC.

98. Green word?: RE-USE.

99. Glowing piece: EMBER.

100. Beat around the bush, e.g.: IDIOM.

101. "Get real!": AS IF.

102. Response to un capitán: SI SI.

103. Administrative hub: SEAT.

104. Wallop: SLUG.

105. Just shy of shut: AJAR.

106. Trojan Horse, for one: RUSE.

107. Rick's "kid": ILSA.

109. Drug bust unit: KILO.

110. Some annexes: ELLS.

111. 1944 turning point: D-DAY.

113. Rip off: CON.

 

Thanks for the sweet birthday wishes. They mean a lot to me. We went to Mall of America on Thursday. I claimed my free birthday gift from Sephora. Got below cleansing balm I've been eyeing for months. The birthday meal yesterday was also lovely: baked walleye, rosemary-roasted potato wedges, roasted bell peppers (wish we had cumin on hand), steamed broccoli and cauliflowers. Then we had a walk in our Central Park where a live band was performing. Just a perfect day.

C.C.

Sunday May 27, 2018 Gail Grabowski

Theme: "Suppressed Urges" - YEN spans across each theme entry.

25A. No-fuss course: EASY ENTREE. Surprised to see ENTREE and ENTRY (104A). Thought they have the same root. 

27A. "Spin" that really doesn't affect the ball: BODY ENGLISH. Is this a golf term?

44A. Invitation enclosure: REPLY ENVELOPE.

83A. "Curious though it may seem ... ": FUNNILY ENOUGH. Lovely debut answer.
    

99A. Fairy tale feature: HAPPY ENDING.

104A. Frank account, e.g.: DIARY ENTRY. Anne Frank.

35D. Focusing completely: FULLY ENGAGED.

40D. Military construction expert: ARMY ENGINEER.

Reveal:

107. Urge hidden in this puzzle's eight longest answers: YEN.

YEN is trapped in the middle, hence "suppressed".

Simple but never-done theme from Gail. That's her hallmark. Looks easy, but it's not. The grid design is also very Gail, with six in Across and two in Down slot.

Across:

1. Read digitally: SCAN.

5. Songs in Bollywood soundtracks: RAGAS. Don't think I know any Indian song.

10. Stopped stalling: ACTED.

15. Nincompoop: BOOB.

19. __ Bell: fast-food chain: TACO.

20. Donovan of "Clueless": ELISA.

21. 45 player: PHONO.

22. Alternative to de Gaulle: ORLY.

23. Back up on a job?: ABET. We also have 34. Help dishonestly: LIE FOR

24. On the take: DIRTY.

30. Motive: REASON.

31. Berkshire jackets: ETONS.

32. Cardiology concern: AORTA.

38. Floods: SPATES.

41. Katz of "Hocus Pocus": OMRI.

42. Rural expanse: PASTURE.

43. Rarity for a duffer: PAR. Not hard to get a par on a short par 3 though.

49. Inc. relative: LLC.

50. Governing gp.: ADMIN. Ah, no comments have been forwarded to my email since Thursday night. Widespread Blogger glitch.

52. Property attachment: LIEN.

53. Signs often numbered: EXITS.

54. Entreaty: PLEA.

55. "You wouldn't dare!" response: TRY ME.

56. Wood-shaping tool: ADZ.

57. Apothecary's measures: DRAMS.

58. Like some early hieroglyphics: MAYAN.

59. Trickle: SEEP.

60. They may rest on sills: Abbr.: ACS. What temp do your set your thermostat in summer? Ours is 76.

61. Wine label first name: CARLO.

62. Gift: TALENT.

63. "Affliction" actor: NOLTE (Nick). Never saw the movie.

65. Key next to F: G FLAT.

66. Cheney's successor: BIDEN.

67. Document often framed: DEGREE. I've only seen them framed at the doctor's office.

69. Landlord's sign: TO LET.

70. Surfer's shade?: TAN. Here's the master. Kai Lenny.

71. Eligibility factors: AGES.

74. Skips past: OMITS.

75. Cope: GET BY. Do you guys sleep on your side or on your back? I wonder if sleeping on the back will relieve Boomer's shoulder pain. But that's not a comfortable position. He's used to sleeping on his left side.

76. Part of LGBTQ: GAY.

77. Texas tourist spot: ALAMO.

78. Gimlet options: GINS.

79. Language group that includes Swahili: BANTU.

80. Lengthy lunch?: HERO. Sweet clue.

81. "Night Moves" singer: SEGER (Bob)

82. L, at times: Abbr.: LGE.

86. Sinus dr.: ENT.

87. By and by, to a bard: ERELONG. We also have 28. Perpetual, poetically: ETERNE.

89. Needing a nap: BEAT.

90. Feuding (with): AT ODDS.

92. He pardoned Richard: GERALD

93. Syrian leader: ASSAD.

95. "Li'l Abner" critter: SHMOO.

97. Miss the beginning: BELATE. I've only used "Belated". (Added later: BE LATE. Thanks, Lemonade and D-Otto.)

108. Sarcophagus holder: CRYPT.

109. Bonkers: LOCO.

110. Parcel measure: ACRE.

111. Bring together: UNITE.

112. One in training, perhaps: HIREE.

113. City near Vance Air Force Base: ENID. Unaware of this trivia.

114. Test release: BETA.

115. Mixed nuts tidbit: PECAN.

116. Dubai dignitaries: EMIRS.

117. Attitude: SASS.

Down:

1. Shot in the dark: STAB.

2. Baja resort: CABO.

3. Completed with a stroke: ACED.

4. "Have patience": NOT YET.  Hopefully the Blogger team can solve the Comments forwarding glitch soon.

5. Common cold sign: RED NOSE.

6. Square up: ALIGN.

7. Some Little Leaguers: GIRLS.

8. Wine city near Turin: ASTI.

9. Ends a prayer: SAYS AMEN.

10. Make fun of: APE.

11. Plan, as a course: CHART.

12. Where sailors go: TO SEA.

13. "A Day Without Rain" New Ager: ENYA.

14. Exercises in a pool: DOES LAPS. Nice fill.

15. Invasive spam spreader: BOTNET.

16. Hockey immortal: ORR.

17. Shout after un pase: OLE. So I googled "un pase", this showed up.  Pass.

18. Playoff pass: BYE.

26. __ pollution: NOISE.

29. Road warning: HORN.

33. Semiaquatic rodent: RIVER RAT. Another great fill.

36. "The Orchid Thief" author Susan: ORLEAN. Hahtoola probably read this book.

37. Go back on one's word: RECANT. Followed by 38. Words with friends?: SPATS. Cute word play.

39. Base adviser: PADRE.

41. Courtroom cry: OYEZ.

42. Piles of chips: POTS. Oh, poker.

45. __ mat: PLACE.

46. Starbucks stack: LIDS.

47. Glorify: EXALT.

48. Long ride?: LIMO.

51. Corona and Tsingtao: IMPORTS. I worked at Lai Yang for a short period of time. Traveled to Tsingtao frequently. Amazing seafood there.

54. Light beer?: PALE ALE. Great clue/fill.

57. Mayor before Emanuel: DALEY.

58. Boiling: MAD.

60. Worked on a course?: ATE. Gimme for our regulars.

61. Spiral-shaped light sources, briefly: CFL BULBS. Consonants-rich.

62. Old star makeup: TIN. Tin star.

64. Guitarist Paul: LES.

65. '80s-'90s crime boss: GOTTI.

66. Louisiana wetland: BAYOU.

67. Fairway challenge: DOGLEG. What's your best round, Gary?

68. Asylum seeker: EMIGRE.

69. Home to Dollywood: Abbr.: TENN.

70. Islands staple: TARO.

72. Fix text: EMEND.

73. Puts in order: SORTS.

75. Our __: GANG.

76. Refined chap: GENT.

77. He plays Steve in "Jobs": ASHTON. Kutcher.

79. "It's cold out there": BUNDLE UP.

80. Big pain: HEADACHE.

83. Scott of "Scandal": FOLEY. I first learned his name while watching "Felicity". That's the annoying Ben on the left.

84. Fist-pump cry: YEAH.

85. Reproductive cells: GAMETES.

88. Attraction in L.A.'s Hancock Park: LA BREA.

91. Tons: OODLES.

93. Web site: ATTIC.

94. Perfect Sleeper, e.g.: SERTA. We bought this for summer. Alas, there's no gel. It's not cool.

95. "Heidi" author: SPYRI (Johanna). I forgot. We had her before.

96. Excited to the max: HYPER.

98. Celebrity chef Burrell: ANNE. Always bubbly.

100. Proper partner: PRIM.

101. Macbeth's burial isle: IONA.

102. CBS military drama: NCIS.

103. Jupiter and Mars: GODS.

104. Small application: DAB.

105. Word with pack or pick: ICE.

106. Creative works: ART.

C.C.

Tuesday, May 8, 2018 Bruce Venzke & Gail Grabowski

"Strong Persuasion"

17. "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool" singer: BARBARA MANDRELL.



25. David Bowie genre: GLAM ROCK.


32. Bourbon-making process: SOUR MASH.    TinBeni's favorite answer today.

42. Electromagnetic radiation unit: GAMMA RAY.

49. Cost per night, in hotels: ROOM RATE. Got a great room rate and free upgrade at the Hampton Inn in Pauls Valley, OK on our drive down to Texas.   Thirteen hours drive from Chicago.    Enough for one day.

And the reveal:
58. Using coercion, as shown in this puzzle's circles: TWISTING ONE'S ARM.   Arm was "twisted" in each of the five theme answers.


Across:

1. Swampy spots: BOGS.   Fens.

5. Hopeless case: GONER.

10. Zoo structure: CAGE. 

14. Pinza of "South Pacific":  EZIO.

15. Verdi aria translating to "It was you": ERI TU.

16. Gem from Australia: OPAL.

20. Flying nocturnal predator: OWL.   DW was driving and I was reading clues.  She guessed bat. 

21. Good, in Grenoble: BON.

22. "Makes sense to me": I SEE.

23. Decide not to use: PASS ON.

29. Israeli port: HAIFA.  The other three major seaports are Ashdod, Elat, and Hadera.

31. Sneezer's need: TISSUE.

35. Charlemagne's realm: Abbr.: HRE.  Holy Roman Emperor, 800-814

36. Pampered: DOTED ON.

37. Part of EDT: EASTERN Daylight Time.

41. Juillet's season: ETE.   French for summer or summertime.

44. Online financial site: E-TRADE.

48. Cuba __: rum drink: LIBRE.    TinBeni's favorite clue today. 

51. "The party's been canceled": IT'S OFF.

55. Cocktail party spread: PATE.  pâ·té

56. Seagoing pronoun: HER.

57. Extinct emu-like bird: MOA.

Flightless Birds at Lostzoo.com

63. Northern neighbor of Chile: PERU.

64. "This I Promise You" band: NSYNC.
NSYNC received its name after Justin Timberlake's mother commented on how "in sync" the group's singing voices were. The group's name is also a play on the last letter of each of the initial members' names: JustiN, ChriS, JoeY, JasoN, and JC. (Wikipedia)



65. First chip in: ANTE.

66. Escalator part: STEP.

67. Storied granter of wishes: GENIE.

68. Neither winning nor losing: TIED.

Down:

1. Charlie Parker jazz genre: BEBOP.

2. Longtime Boston Symphony conductor: OZAWA.  Seiji

3. Brownies, e.g.: GIRLS.

4. Weep loudly: SOB.

5. Apache chief: GERONIMO.

6. Algerian port: ORAN.  One of nine major seaports in Algeria, but the one we see most often in crossword puzzles.

7. Matchstick-removing game: NIM.   I'd never heard of this game, except for in crosswords.

8. Internet sales, collectively: E-TAIL.

9. Rushes toward: RUNS AT.

10. Apple pie-making gadgets: CORERS.

11. Wild way to go: APE.

12. Four qts.: GAL. Four quarts make a gallon.   Four fifths make 80 %.

13. Building add-on: ELL.

18. On the ferry: ABOARD.

19. Moore of "Ghost": DEMI.

24. Actress Elisabeth: SHUE.

25. Grill fuel: GAS.

26. Irish actor Milo: O'SHEA.

27. Spicy Indian dish: CURRY.

28. Excited about, with "on": KEEN.  Fervent. 

30. Vampire tooth: FANG.

32. __ voce: softly: SOTTO.

33. Southern New Mexico county: OTERO.

34. Prefix with sphere: HEMI. 

36. Woodland grazer: DEER.

38. Atmosphere, as of a restaurant: AMBIENCE.   Had the best Chicken Genovaise I've ever had at DiBZ in Temple, Texas on Friday evening.  My sister finds the best restaurants.  She says, "I can't cook."   I think she confuses don't and can't. 

39. French existential dramatist: SARTRE.

40. "__ chic!": TRES.

43. Many a micro brew: ALE.

45. Excites: AMPS UP.

46. "Doggone it!": DRAT.

47. Enjoying the bistro, say: EATING.

50. Needing a chill pill: TENSE.

52. Muscat native: OMANI.  Muscat is the capital city of Oman. 

Oman is about the size of Kansas.
"The inhabitants of the area of Oman have long prospered from Indian Ocean trade. In the late 18th century, the nascent sultanate in Muscat signed the first in a series of friendship treaties with Britain. Over time, Oman's dependence on British political and military advisors increased, although the Sultanate never became a British colony. In 1970, QABOOS bin Said Al-Said overthrew his father, and has since ruled as sultan, but he has not designated a successor. His extensive modernization program has opened the country to the outside world, while preserving the longstanding close ties with the UK and US. Oman's moderate, independent foreign policy has sought to maintain good relations with its neighbors and to avoid external entanglements."  Source: CIA World Factbook

53. Strong point: FORTE.  Lake Charles born, Slidell, LA. raised Matt Forte played played running back for the Tulane Green Wave before having a highly productive career in the NFL with the Chicago Bears.   He retired this year.   JJM's daughter studies at Tulane.

54. Widely known: FAMED.

56. Hägar's daughter: HONI.

58. Adorns with Angel Soft, briefly: TPs. Adorns with toilet paper ?  Made me smile.  Fun clue.  Anonymous T, did you get your TPS Report submitted on time ?... with the right cover letter ?

59. Freshly painted: WET.

60. Hothead's emotion: IRE. 

61. MD for women: GYN.

62. Took it easy: SAT.

Vising in Texas.  That's all from me.  See all y'all later n'at !

Here's the grid:

Tuesday, Apr 10, 2018 Gail Grabowski & Bruce Venzke

Firm Beliefs

18. "This Kiss" country singer: FAITH HILL

26. Swindler's swindle: CONFIDENCE GAME

47. Important percentage to a prosecutor: CONVICTION RATE

61. Heir's financial security: TRUST FUND

"Faith, Confidence, Conviction and Trust."   How beautiful is that ?   It just sounds nice as it rolls off the tongue.   Each of those four words is synonymous with having firm belief.  

ACROSS:

1. Stick a toothpick in: SPEAR

6. Former auto financing co.: GMAC.  GMAC became Ally Financial.  The auto financing arm of GM is now GM Financial. 

10. Get smart with: SASS.   As the kid who was stopped for speeding rolled down his window, the police office said 'I've been waiting for you all day.'  The kid replied, 'Yeah, well I got here as fast as I could.'

14. "The Chew" co-host Hall: CARLA.   "With love, Carla Hall"
 

15. Dinghy steering tools: OARS

16. Award coveted on "Mad Men": CLIO.  Advertising award.  "... annual award program that recognizes innovation and creative excellence in advertising, design and communication."

17. In the sky: ALOFT

20. City near Scottsdale: MESA.  Zoom in, zoom out. 

21. Cookbook maven Rombauer: IRMA.  Joy of Cooking fame.

22. Childish retort: AM TOO. Am not. Am too. Am not. Am too.  Am not. Am too.

23. Freeway division: LANE

25. Go quickly, quaintly: HIE

33. Pain-relieving drug: OPIATE

34. Sailor: TAR  Here's Popeye the Sailor starring in an oater, "Tar With A Star"
 

35. "__ Tide!": Alabama cheer: ROLL ESPN "Roll Tide" Commercial

37. Derby-wearing Addams cousin: ITT.

 38. Soaked in hot water, as a tea bag: STEEPED

41. "Argo" spy gp.: CIA

42. Blaze: FIRE

44. Braying beast: ASS

45. Nautical measure: FATHOM.  As a noun, a unit of measure, equal to 6 feet.  

50. Animation still: CEL

51. First Nations tribe: CREE.   First Nations refers to the indigenous peoples of Canada, south of the Arctic Circle.  Cree Indians are a First Nations tribe.  Today, there are over 135 bands (James Bay Cree, Woodland Cree, Plain Cree Indians, etc.) in Canada alone, and over 200,000 Cree Indians in North America.  Source: Indians.Org and Wikipedia.     

52. Hawke of "Training Day": ETHAN

55. RR station posting: SKED.   Personally noticing this more often as an abbreviation for schedule.

57. Save, with "away": SOCK

63. Scrabble 10-pointer: Z TILE.  The Q tile is another 10-pointer.  QI is the single most played word in Scrabble tournaments according to Merriam-Webster.  We see it as CHI in crossword puzzles.

64. PetSmart purchase: CAGE

65. Environs: AREA

66. Metallic mixture: ALLOY

67. Gps. requiring copays: HMOs. That clue and answer almost ran rife with abbreviations. 

68. Abound (with): TEEM

69. Younger siblings, at times: PESTS

DOWN:

1. Bogus offer: SCAM.   Like a swindler's swindle.

2. Light in color: PALE.  Ashy

3. Arrow shooter of myth: EROS

4. "Our Gang" kid with spiky hair: ALFALFA

5. Chinese zodiac animal: RAT.  The first in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac.  We are currently in the year of the Dog.

 What Does Your Chinese Zodiac Sign Say About Your Personality?

6. Be released: GO FREE

7. Respectful address: MAAM.  Ma'am.  

8. Song often sung in Italian: ARIA

9. Ill. clock setting: CST. We are currently using CDT.

10. Bagel spread: SCHMEAR

11. Touched down: ALIT

12. Where feed can be stored: SILO.  In a different sense,  these can be empirical structures that often hinder organizational growth and business objectives in mid and large-sized corporations.  We called the people that created these de facto silos "Empire builders." 

13. Unaided: SOLO

19. Reagan's first secretary of state: HAIG. Alexander M. Haig.  He was also the Chief of Staff for both Nixon and Ford. 

21. With all the fine points: IN DETAIL

24. River isles: AITs.  

 Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge

25. British cattle breed: HEREFORD. 10 native British cattle breeds and how to recognize them

26. Salon do: COIF

27. __ nerve: OPTIC

28. Explosive liquid, briefly: NITRO

29. Modern mil. treaty violation: N-TEST.  Nuclear testing

30. Keep from going higher: CAP.  A golfing buddy sold electrical supplies to commercial and residential contractors.  He worked untiringly for his customers.  Their success meant his success.  It could become annoying on the golf course when he took calls, but his customers and work came first.  He left the distributor after the owners capped his "going-forward" commission rate following a string of very successful sales years.  In short time, so did many on his customers.  The small business learned that when you sell products that are considered commodities, the difference between failure and success often boils down to the people you hire, the relationships and goodwill developed with customers, and the levels of service provided.    

31. Starbucks flavor: MOCHA

32. "Adam Bede" novelist George: ELIOT

36. Like a weak excuse: LAME

39. Changed-my-mind key: ESCape. 

40. Great __: big dog: DANE. Very large lap dogs. Irish Miss, Misty and Pat are fellow dog lovers.


43. Crates up: ENCASES

46. Railroad bridge framework: TRESTLE

48. Opening for air: VENT

49. Winter river blockage: ICE DAM. 

52. Make a fine impression?: ETCH

53. Monorail transport: TRAM

54. Award for Isaac Asimov: HUGO.  Literary awards "...given annually for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year."   Way back when, I read Asimov, Pohl, Clarke, Heinlein and others.  A brother and sister were avid readers of Sci-fi, and I got hooked for a few years.  Do you remember the vivid cover art on the paperbacks ?   

55. "By all means!": SURE

56. Replaceable joint: KNEE

58. Masseur's supply: OILS

59. Coagulate: CLOT

60. Door openers: KEYS

62. Liposuction target: FAT

63. Heat in a microwave: ZAP

I have Faith, Confidence, Conviction and Trust that Argyle will return to the Corner as soon as he is able.  

See all y'all later n'at !