Tuesday, January 21, 2025 Janice Luttrell

Haute Couture, or the creation of exclusive high-end fashion.  The letters in the circles spell out sewing terms.  Seams and Hems can be found in just about all clothing, high fashion or not.  Darts are found in women's dresses, blouses, and many styles of pants.

20-Across. Studio co-founded by Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and others: UNITED ARTISTS. DARTs are folds (tucks coming to a point) sewn into fabric to take in ease and provide shape to a garment, especially for a woman's bust.  United Artists was founded in February 1919.

24-Across.  Like Vera Wang and I.M. Pei:  CHINESE AMERICAN.  A SEAM is the joining of two or more layers of fabric held together with stitches.  Vera Wang (née Vera Ellen Wang; b. June 27, 1949) is an American fashion designer, so she is quite familiar with the sewing terms in this puzzle.  I. M. Pei (né Ioeh Ming Pei; Apr. 26, 1917 ~ May 16, 2019) was an especially creative architect. Two of his iconic designs are the Kennedy Library in Boston, Massachusetts and the Dallas City Hall.  was born in Guangzhou, China.  He moved to the United States when he was 17 to attend college.  He became a naturalized citizen in 1954.  He was 

43-Across. Completely unplanned: SPUR OF THE MOMENT.  In sewing, a HEM is the finished edge of a piece of cloth.  It often refers to the bottom of a skirt or the legs of pants.

And the unifier:

49-Across. Social groups that work on embroidery projects, or what can be found three times in this puzzle?: SEWING CIRCLES.  The circles in the puzzle are necessary for this clue and answer to fully make sense.  Additionally, an embroidery CIRCLE is a necessity for embroidery projects.

Across:

1. Taken __: surprised: ABACK.

6. Oscar winner Guinness: ALEC.  That's Sir Alec to you.  Alec Guinness (né Alec Guinness de Cuffe; Apr. 2, 1914 ~ Aug. 5, 2000) was an English actor.  He began his stage career in 1934, then made the transition to a film career.  He is best known to me as portraying Obi-Wan Kenobi in the original Star Wars movies.

10. Think (over): MULL.

14. Heartless: CRUEL.

15. Showroom sample: DEMO.

16. Length x width: AREA.

17. Soup scoop: LADLE.

18. "Sunflowers" and "Water Lilies": PAINTINGS.  Vincent Van Gogh (né Vincent Willem van Gogh; Mar. 30, 1853 ~ July 29, 1890) made numerous paintings of sunflowers.  Claude Monet (né Oscar-Claude Monet; Nov. 14, 1840 ~ Dec. 5, 1926) was fond of painting the water lilies in his garden in Givenry, France.

Some of Van Gogh's Sunflowers

Monet's Water Lilies

22. Eggy holiday drink: NOG.

23. Air traffic org.: FAA.  As in the Federal Aviation Administration.

33. Luxury watch brand: ROLEX.

34. The red planet: MARS.  Did you know that Mars named after the Roman god of war because its red color reminded them of blood?

35. The "A" of IPA: ALE.  As in India Pale Ale.  The backstory of India Pale Ale.

36. Numbered musical composition: OPUS.

37. Manicure targets: NAILS.

39. Fencer's handful: HILT.

40. Telluride or Escalade: SUV.  Both are Sports Utility Vehicles.  The Telluride is made by Kia and the Escalade is made by Cadillac.

41. Fireplace stack: LOGS.

42. Muscular strength: SINEW.

47. Always, poetically: EER.

48. Soak (up), as gravy: SOP.

56. Careful examination: CLOSE LOOK.

58. __ and kicking: ALIVE.

59. Assistant: AIDE.

60. Folk tales: LORE.

61. Gymnast Comaneci: NADIA.  Nadia Elena Comăneci (b. Nov. 12, 1961) is a five-time Olympic gold medalist, all in individual events.  In 1976, at the age of 14, Comăneci was the first gymnast to be awarded a perfect score of 10.0 at the Olympic Games.  In 1996, she married fellow gymnast Bart Conner (b. Mar. 28, 1958).

62. Paella vegetables: PEAS.  Yummers!

63. Absolut rival: SKYY.  There are lots of brands of vodkas out there.  Here is one man's review of many vodka brands.

64. Beginning stage: ONSET.  This is becoming a crossword staple.

Down:

1. First Amendment advocacy gp.: ACLU.  As in the American Civil Liberties Union.  The ACLU was founded on Jan. 19, 1920.

2. High-fiber cereal ingredient: BRAN.

3. German auto: AUDI.  A history of the Audi.  This car manufacturer also makes SUVs.

4. Gael, for one: CELT.

5. Facial tissue brand: KLEENEX.  Kleenex is a registered trademark of Kimberly-Clark Corporation. The generic term for Kleenex is facial tissue.  "Kleenex" has become so commonly used that it's now considered interchangeable with the generic term "tissue".

6. Newspaper income source: AD PAGE.

7. Shakespearean king with three daughters: LEAR.  King Lear is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare.  It is loosely based on the mythological Leir of Britain.  As King Lear approached his old age, he divides his power and land between his daughters Goneril and Regan, who pay homage to gain favor, feigning love.  Our friend, Old Man Keith could have told us a lot about this Shakespearian play.

8. Give off: EMIT.

9. Many Christmas trees: CONIFERS.  Conifers produce cones instead of flowers or fruit.  The name "conifer" comes from the cones that produce seeds.

10. Rum and Curaçao cocktail: MAI TAI.  Yummers!  One version of how the drink came into being.

11. Large coffee dispensers: URNS.

12. Table support: LEG.

13. __ Vegas: LAS.  Las Vegas, Nevada was founded in 1905 as a railroad stop in the desert between Salt Lake City and Los Angeles.  It wasn't until the 1940s that it became the gambling mecca that it is known for today.

19. Former Russian rulers: TSARs.  The term tsar, a form of the ancient Roman imperial title caesar.  The title was first used by Ivan IV, (b. Aug. 25, 1530 ~ Mar. 1584) when he proclaimed himself as Tsar.  He was also known as Ivan the Terrible.

Tsar Ivan IV

21. Spanish two: DOS.  Today's Spanish lesson.

24. Symbol of Christianity: CROSS.  Apparently there are various versions of the cross and its history pre-dates Christianity.

25. Invitation to a dog while patting the bed, perhaps: HOP UP.

26. Candy heart words: I LUV U.

27. Super Mario Bros. console: NES.

28. Barn-raising sect: AMISH.

29. "Bad" prefix: MAL-.

30. "Alfie" star Michael: CAINE.  That's Sir Michael to you.  His given name is actually Maurice Joseph Micklewhite (b. Mar. 14, 1933).

31. "The Bear" Emmy winner Jeremy __ White: ALLEN.  Jeremy Allen White (b. Feb. 17, 1991) portrays Carmy Berzatto, a chef inherits his family's Italian beef sandwich shop after the death of his older brother.  He is left to deal with his brother's unresolved debts, a rundown kitchen, and an unruly staff, while dealing with his own pain and family trauma.   The Bear is considered a "psychological comedy-drama."

32. Food package abbr.: NET WT.  As in Net Weight.

37. Without any extras: NO FRILLS.

38. Simon Cowell's competition show, briefly: AGT.  As in America's Got Talent.

39. He/__ pronouns: HIM.

41. "My Fair Lady" composer Frederick: LOEWE.  Frederick Loewe (né Friedrich "Fritz" Löwe; June 10, 1901 ~ Feb. 14, 1988) was an American composer.  He collaborated with lyricist Alan Jay Lerner (Aug. 311, 1918 ~ June 14, 1986) on many of Broadway musicals, including Brigadoon and Camelot, as well as My Fair Lady.

42. Opera heroine, often: SOPRANO.

44. Big name in peanut butter candy: REESES.  Yummers!

45. "Get me outta here" button: ESC KEY.

46. "Pretentious? __?": MOI.

49. Fountain drink: SODA.

50. Alcove: NOOK.

51. Unpleasant, as details: GORY.  Cartoonist Edward Gorey (Feb. 22, 1925 ~ Apr. 15, 2000) often created gory cartoons.  His name was very appropriate.

52. Family: CLAN.

53. Tupperware toppers: LIDS.  Tupperware containers were invented in the 1940s by Earl Tupper (né Earl Silas Supper; July 28, 1907 ~ Oct. 5, 1983).

54. Pop singer Sands: EVIE.  Evie Sands (b. July 18, 1946) is probably best known for her 1967 song, Angel of the Morning.

55. Airplane assignment: SEAT.

56. Ballplayer's hat: CAP.

57. Fib: LIE.

Here's the Grid:

חתולה

Many thanks to Anon-T and Naomi Z for filling in on Tuesdays while I was away down under.

Businesses closed due to Snow!

Notes from C.C.:

1) Welcome back, Hahtoolah!

2) Happy 77th birthday to Madame DeFarge! Hope you're doing well, Janice, we miss your presence on the blog.

 

From L To R: Abejo, WikWak and Madame DeFarge

 

3) Happy birthday to sumdaze, our creative and loving Monday Sherpa. Renee is also a triathlete, who runs, bikes and swims long distance. 

4) Happy 17th birthday to our blog! Thank you so much for visiting and commenting.

Tuesday, December 17, 2024 Susan Gelfand

The Main Squeeze.  The answer to each theme clue is something that can be squeezed.

18-Across. Iced tea garnish: LEMON WEDGE.

23-Across. Art class staple with a bovine logo: ELMER'S GLUE.  So why the bovine logo?  Well, Elmer's Glue first came onto the scene in the late 1940s by the Bordon Company, which was dairy company.  Well, when you consider that the first formula of the glue was casein, a protein in milk, it makes sense that the dairy company developed and sold glue.

52-Across. Handheld tension reliever: STRESS BALL.

58-Across. Bathtime floater: RUBBER DUCK.

37-Across. Coerce, or what can be done to 18-, 23-, 52-, and 58-Across: PUT THE SQUEEZE ON.  

There is a juice bar near me called The Big Squeezy, a pun on The Big Easy, one of the nicknames of New Orleans.  I have never been there, so can't attest to their cold-pressed (squeezed) juices.

Across:

1. Mount Etna outflow: LAVA.  This volcano on Sicily frequently erupts.

5. Some Dropbox files, informally: DOCs.  As in Documents.

9. After-dinner coffee choice: DECAF.

14. Atop: UPON.  Once UPON a time ...  //  And 66-Across. "... and they all lived happily __ after": EVER.

15. Whack, as a fly: SWAT.

16. Express a view: OPINE.

17. Jell-O shaper: MOLD.

20. Book jacket summary: BLURB.

22. Classical form of poetry: EPODE.

26. Clean air org.: EPA.  As in the Environmental Protection Agency.  The EPA is the AQI monitor (See 5-Down in last Friday's puzzle).  The EPA was formally created 54 years ago this month.

29. Fish eggs: ROE.

30. Soccer match chant: OLÉ.  A crossword staple.

31. Trudged: PLODDED.  You can PLOD through the Presidents and learn lots of interesting facts about American presidents in this podcast.

34. Vodka brand, for short: STOLI.  It's formal name is Stolichnaya.

36. Bump in the night, e.g.: NOISE.

42. Japanese cartoon genre: ANIME.

43. Flair: STYLE.

44. "That's a lie!": NOT TRUE!

47. Once named: NEÉ.  Today's French lesson.  The French née is the feminine past participle of naitre, "to be born."  Né is the masculine version of the word.

48. Place to luxuriate: SPA.

51. That, in Toledo: ESO.  Toledo, Spain, not Toledo, Ohio.  Don Quixote began his travels in Toledo.

Picasso's interpretation of Don Quixote.

55. Magazine edition: ISSUE.  Many magazines have both print and on-line versions of their issues.

57. Leafy starter: SALAD.  We had many tasty SALADs featured in a puzzle last week.

63. Cry from a forgetful performer: LINE.

64. Shake hands (on): AGREE.

65. Actor Morales: ESAI.  Esai Manuel Morales Jr. (b. Oct. 1, 1962) makes frequent appearances in the puzzles.

67. "__ for dinner?": WHAT'S.

68. Email button: SEND.

69. "Phooey!": RATS.

Down:

1. Wood planks: LUMBER.

2. Moon program of the 1960s and 1970s: APOLLO.

3. Remote control adjustment: VOLUME.

4. Braugher of "Brooklyn Nine-Nine": ANDRE.  Andre Braugher (né Andre Keith Braugher; July 1, 1962 ~ Dec. 11, 2023) also portrayed Detective Frank Pembleton on the Homicide: Life on the Street, which aired in the 1990.  That drama series was a far cry from his portrayal as Captain Raymond Holt in the  police comedy series Brooklyn Nine-Nine.  Sadly, Braugher died a year ago of lung cancer at age 61.

5. Broadband initials: DSL.  As in Digital Subscriber Line.

6. Run a tab: OWE.

7. Desert beast: CAMEL.

8. Clog: STOP UP.

9. Pulitzer-winning columnist Maureen: DOWD.  Maureen Dowd (née Maureen Brigid Dowd; b. Jan. 14, 1952) is an opinion columnist for the New York Times.

10. Fencing sword: ÉPÉE.  Another crossword staple.

11. Legendary Spanish knight El __: CID.  Everything you wanted to know about El Cid but never thought to ask.

12. Director Lee: ANG.  Ang Lee (b. Oct. 23, 1954) is a Taiwanese filmmaker.  The 1994 film, Eat Drink Man Woman, was the first Ang Lee film I saw.

13. Broker's charge: FEE.

19. Christmas carol: NOEL.  'Tis the Season.

21. Epson competitor: BROTHER.  Both are companies that manufacture printers.

24. Plumlike fruit: SLOE.

25. Comes together well: GELS.

26. Actress Falco: EDIE.  Edie Falco (née Edith Falco; b. July 5, 1963) is probably best known for portraying Carmela Soprano on the Sopranos.

27. Colombian currency: PESO.  Did you know that there are 8 countries that use the Peso as their monetary unit?  *

28. Yemen coastal city: ADEN.  We visit this city often in the puzzles.

32. Almost as many: ONE LESS.

33. Catch some z's: DOZE.

34. Acct. summary: STMT.  As in Statement.  I am not sure I have ever seen this abbreviation before.

35. Brainpower nos.: IQs.  As in Intelligence Quotient.

The sign on the door says "Pull to Open."

37. Window section: PANE.

38. Deep-dish pizza chain, informally: UNO'S.  Yummers!  We ate at the original Uno's restaurant when we were in Chicago last summer.

39. Mambo legend Puente: TITO.  His full name was Ernest Anthony Puente Jr. (Apr. 20, 1923 ~ June 1, 2000).  He was also known as “El Rey de los Timbales, ” or “The King of the Timbales."

40. Alternative magazine name: UTNE.  Its issues (55-Across) are now all online.

41. Peepers: EYES.

45. Letters on outdated maps: USSR.  In Russian, "USSR" is written as "СССР" which is an abbreviation for "Союз Советских Социалистических Республик" (Soyuz Sovetskikh Sotsialisticheskikh Respublik), meaning "Union of Soviet Socialist Republics" in English.

46. Many Chopin piano pieces: ÉTUDES.  More of today's French lesson.

48. Mouth moistener: SALIVA.

49. Mars or Mercury: PLANET.  Alternatively,  a candy and a car.

50. Birch family trees: ALDERS.  Alders are trees and shrubs in the birch family and are native to the north temperate zone and some parts of Central America and the Andes. They are known for their distinctive woody fruiting bodies that look like small, brown pinecones.

53. Find a new purpose for: REUSE.

54. Hay bundle maker: BALER.

55. "Yeah, sure!": I BET.

56. Observes: SEES.

58. Uncooked: RAW.

59. "Yuck!": UGH.

60. Bali garment: BRA.  Nice misdirection.  Bali is a company that makes lingerie.

61. Soup holder: CAN.

62. Jest: KID.

Here's the Grid:

* The countries that use the Peso are: Argentina, Chile, Columbia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, the Philippines, and Uruguay.

חתולה

I will be taking a brief travel hiatus.  Happy Chanukkah and Merry Christmas.  This year the two holidays converge.  I wish you all a Happy New Year and will "see" you in 2025.