Thursday, November 16 2017 Jason Chapnick and C.C.Burnikel

Theme: Beer me up, Scottie! The beer part of the boilermaker is highlighted:

18A. News provider in front of a camera : TV REPORTER

This is the cleanest example of TV Reporter incidents I could come up with. Google "TV Reporter Fail" and you'll see what I mean.

24A. 1993-2002 Ford-Nissan minivan : MERCURY VILLAGER

40A. Banish : CAST OUT

51A. Many a Poe work : HAIR-RAISING TALE

60A Half a boilermaker ... and what's aptly hidden in 18-, 24-, 40- and 51-Across : BEER CHASER

Whisky shot, beer to back it up. Purdue University are nicknamed The Boilermakers, and have a game shout "Boiler Up", which I always find comical. Go Irish! Go Blue! Fight On! Woo Pig Sooey! Those are shouts I can get behind. Boiler Up? What the heck is that all about?

A corner duo today with Lemonade (Jason) and C.C. - the first joint effort was back in 2014. Neat theme, I've just started a new job with a company who's offices provide free draft beer - five varieties - in the common area. Next time I'm in the office I'll "cheers" you all with as many of the theme beers I can find. Forget the free coffee, I'm going for the Pilsner.

Across:

1. El Misti's land : PERU. What? I asked my Peruvian friend who was conveniently sitting next to me, it's a volcano.

5. Want as a price : ASK

8. Debit card action : SWIPE. Less common now, more INSERT with the chip thing.

13. Shock jock Don : IMUS. I think Howard Stern out-shocked him.

14. Invoice stamp : PAID

16. Schumer's "Trainwreck" co-star : HADER. I was so close to a personal Natick with HADER crossing PEELE. The "E" seemed the most likely.

17. Attend : COME

20. Takes too much, briefly : OD'S

22. Field mouse : VOLE. Is a vole a mouse? I thought they were different beasts.

23. Head light : HALO. Fun clue.

28. Status symbol suit : ARMANI. I have an Armani blazer, I never thought of it as a status symbol. I bought it in a thrift store in Toluca Lake for peanuts and I wear it often.

29. Pull : TOW

30. Lion's home : LAIR

31. Squad : TEAM

35. Cut corners : SKIMP. I majorly skimped on the blog last week, as in I didn't write it up at all. C.C. was so generous with my faux pas.

39. Subj. for many an au pair : ESL. I dated a Danish au pair many moons ago in London. She was a classic Danish blonde, smoked a pipe, drank LAGER and drew a lot of attention in the pub. Her English as a Second Language what just what you would expect from a Scandinavian. I was a mess at "Hello". She was working for the family of a great musician, she married a guitarist in a huge rock band. I could never compete with the riffs. Happy memories.

42. __-wop : DOO

43. Best Picture Oscar nominee directed by Ava DuVernay : SELMA

45. Little chirp : PEEP

46. Big name in banking : CITI

47. __ de Triomphe : ARC

49. Musical works : OPUSES. OPERA is the plural in Latin. Irregular.

57. MLB playoff event : ALCS. Hi, C.C! American League Championship Series

58. Like webs : SPUN

59. Bailed-out insurance co. : AIG

63. Avian crop : CRAW. Something to get food stuck in. Pheasants eat little pebbles to avoid the sticking problem. I know this from dressing wild pheasant back in the old country.

66. Like Wrigley Field's walls : IVIED

67. Fraught with danger : DIRE

68. Luke's sister : LEIA. I always struggle with the Star Wars clues. I know all the names, I never know who is related to whom.

69. Works behind, as a bar : TENDS. I was a bartender in an Irish bar in London as my evening job when I first moved to the Smoke when I was 18. Filing marine insurance claims during the day, earning minimum wage, pouring Guinness and whiskey (with the "E") and be quick about it. I really enjoyed it. I can still pour a perfect pint of the black stuff. That was the Irish boilermaker along with a shot of Jameson's.

70. List-ending letters : ETC

71. Reef dwellers : EELS

Down:

1. Many a JPEG file : PIC. Technically every JPEG is a picture.

2. Expressive rock genre : EMO. Usually miserably expressive. I'd post a musical link here to The Smiths but I'd only depress you all.

3. Means of spreading dirt? : RUMOR MILL. Located next to the water cooler.

4. Wheels with a history : USED CAR. I wanted all kinds of varieties like FERRIS or MODEL-T and found nothing would fit. Eventually the cent dropped.

5. On the mark : APT. An apt remark, an apt comment.

6. Shrewdly informed : SAVVY

7. Former name of the Mariinsky Ballet : KIROV. Learning moment, thank you. I didn't know that the Kirov underwent a name change.

8. "Shameless" network, briefly : SHO. Had the "O". Went with HBO. Was wrong.

9. Bellicose sort : WAR HAWK. The WAR part was new to me. I know Hawk and Dove to describe the two opposing opinions.

10. Pet pendant : ID TAG

11. Comedy duo Key & __ : PEELE. See Natick note at 16A

12. Computer warning : ERROR

15. Sub station : DELIcatessen

19. Hide : PELT

21. One rising at dawn : SUN

24. Guys : MALES

25. Clear data from : ERASE

26. Actress Wilson of "Sleepless in Seattle" : RITA. Wanted OWEN and then read the clue properly.

27. Without a clue : LOST

32. Clairvoyance letters : ESP Both ESL and ESP today.

33. Put away the dishes? : ATE. Because "Empty the dishwasher, polish and replace in the cupboard" doesn't fit.

34. Stooge with bangs : MOE

36. Contrarian's reply : I DISAGREE

37. Econo Lodge, e.g. : MOTEL

38. Composure : POISE

40. Oakland Raiders' quarterback Derek : CARR. Oakland have had about five thousand QB's. It's hard not to have been a Raider quarterback.

41. Informed about : UP ON

44. Color that isn't an Earth tone? : MARS RED

46. Manicure concern : CUTICLE

48. Twenties, say : CASH

50. Vardon Trophy org. : P.G.A. The USA's Professional Golfer's Association award to the year's leader in scoring average. There's also a Harry Vardon Trophy in Europe too, awarded by the European Tour for a completely different reason just to muddy the issue. The P.G.A. Championship, the year's final major, awards the Wanamaker Trophy to the winner. Confused yet?

51. Order clothes : HABIT

52. Advil alternative : ALEVE

53. Strand at a chalet, maybe : ICE IN

54. Apple tablet : IPAD

55. Girl in "Calvin and Hobbes" : SUSIE. I loved the Calvin and Hobbes strip, I was surprised didn't remember her name

56. Like argon and krypton : INERT. And me, after a long day.

61. Burnable media : CD'S

62. TiVo button : REC. REC/REW - wait for the cross.

64. Feel sick : AIL

65. "That __ close!" : WAS 

Well, here's the grid, and I'm on my way to blog redemption. I'm no longer the Cal Ripken Jr. of the corner! Sorry, C.C!

I'm off back to the UK tomorrow for a vacation over Thanksgiving week before I dive into my new job; so next week's Turkey Day blog will have an English accent. Quite ironic, really.

Steve

Notes from C.C.:

1) Congratulations on your new job, Steve! Sounds like a fun company. Do you still need to travel a lot?

2) Here are the two pictures Abejo (Bradley) took yesterday. Make sure you read his comments here. What a fun encounter. Nice to "see" you, Madame DeFarge!

  Madame DeFarge's License Plate

3) For those who are new on the blog, you can click here to see all the pictures of blog regulars. Please email me crosswordc@gmail.com if you want your picture included in the Blog Pictures archive also. I snipped some of yours from your blog Comments, Picard. I hope you don't mind.

Tuesday, June 28, 2016 Jeffrey Wechsler and Jason M. Chapnick

Theme: Birthday Boy - Tribute to a one of a kind.

17A. *1977 Hitchcock parody : "HIGH ANXIETY"

60A. *1976 parody of pre-talkies : "SILENT MOVIE"

3D. *With "The," 1968 parody of dishonest Broadway financiers : "PRODUCERS"

23D. *With 25-Down, 1974 Western parody : "BLAZING" 25D. See 23-Down : "SADDLES"

35D. Born 6/28/1926, director of the answers to starred clues : MEL BROOKS. Director, Producer, Writer, Actor, Composer, Singer(?) and certified NUT.

Argyle here with a new diabolical duo. We can be sure to hear from at least one half of the constructors. An interesting pinwheel grid. This could be difficult for those who are not a fan of this movie genre.

Across:

1. Official on a baseline : UMP.

4. "Cheers" mixologist : WOODY. 13. "Cheers" location : BAR

9. Warehouse club with 652 locations : SAM'S. Sam's bar : "Cheers".

14. Place for a queen : THRONE. There is often a place for a queen in a Mel Brooks movie.

15. Request : PLEA

16. Alter __ : EGO

19. Turn in for cash : REDEEM

21. Smooth transitions : SEGUEs

22. Laptop port letters : USB. (Universal Serial Bus)

23. Air gun shot : BBs

26. "Wrong!" : "NOT SO!". Your classier play ground retort.

27. Muslim holy city : MECCA

29. Go for eagerly, as a chance : LEAP AT. Not JUMP AT.

31. "All bets __ off" : ARE

32. Tanzania neighbor : RWANDA

34. Self-satisfied : SMUG

38. Broadcast : AIR

39. As if in shock : DAZEDLY

41. Ambient music pioneer Brian : ENO

42. Suburb of Phoenix : MESA

44. Remington 700s, e.g. : RIFLES

45. British "Inc." : LTD.. Incorporated/Limited.

46. Journalist Chung : CONNIE

48. Boxcar stowaways : HOBOs

50. Amassed, as debts : RAN UP

53. Fast sports cars : GTs

54. Incoming flight info: Abbr. : ARRival

55. Hams it up : EMOTEs. Great clue for today.

57. Green Giant's "Little Green" buddy : SPROUT

64. Tip jar bill : ONE

65. Slanted type: Abbr. : ITALic

66. Insult : OFFEND

67. Kipling's young spy : KIM. It was first published as a serial.

68. The Big Apple, in addresses : NY, NY

69. Rides the breeze : WAFTS

70. Gas additive brand : STP

Down:

1. Transportation network app : UBER. Modern alternative clue.

2. Ancient sorcerer : MAGE

4. Caprice : WHIM

5. Email suffix : .ORG

6. "Awesome!" : "OOH!". Warming up for the Fourth.

7. Paternity suit evidence, briefly : DNA

8. Longings : YENS

9. Cask outlets : SPIGOTS

10. Alaskan native : ALEUT

11. Allots, with "out" : METES

12. Authority : SAY SO

14. Shakespearean nickname : THE BARD

18. TV princess played by Lucy Lawless : XENA

20. PC "oops" key : ESC

24. Dental coverage, e.g. : BENEFIT

27. Address to a lady : MA'AM

28. Buffalo's county and lake : ERIE

30. Washed-out : PALE

33. Alert : WARN

36. Golden rule word : UNTO

37. Saturn and Mars : GODS

40. Like a fork in the road : Y-SHAPED

43. With keen perception : ACUTELY

47. Welcoming store window sign : OPEN

49. Hockey great Bobby : ORR

50. Pine secretion : RESIN

51. Island in "Jaws" : AMITY

52. Strikeout king Ryan : NOLAN

56. Put in a hold : STOW

57. Transgressions : SINS

58. Mile or minute : UNIT

59. Weather Channel stat : TEMP. stat and TEMP are both shortened words.

61. Juilliard deg. : MFA. Master of Fine Arts

62. Inaccurate : OFF

63. Boxer fixer : VET. A boxer dog.

 Argyle

Note from C.C.:

This is the first collaboration between our own Lemonade and Jeffrey Wechsler. In fact, this is Jeffrey's very first collaboration. Congratulations, guys!

Lemonade and his lovely wife Oo, Dec 21, 2014

David Liben-Nowell, Cathy Long (David's friend), Tom Pepper, Jeffrey Wechsler, David Hanson & C.C. 
June 12, 2016

Tuesday, April 8, 2014 Jason Chapnick and Marti DuGuay-Carpenter

Theme: President Nixon - Rhyme time for cartoon characters.

17A. High-maintenance Gonzales? : NEEDY SPEEDY

62A. Overeating bird tempting Sylvester? : MEATY TWEETY

11D. Bullwinkle pal who's been working out? : STOCKY ROCKY

25D. Fussy Disney mouse? : PICKY MICKEY

Argyle here...with friends. A nice pinwheel puzzle with a pinch of pizazz.

Across:

1. Parking lot attendant : VALET

6. False friends : USERs

11. Brillo competitor : S.O.S

14. St. Teresa's home : ÁVILA. NW of Madrid.

15. Just beginning to learn : NEW AT

16. Demolition need : TNT

19. Native Nebraskan : OTO. Today the Otoe Tribe is based in Red Rock, OK.

20. Power co. service : ELEC.

21. Pitcher Maglie : SAL

22. Dove call : COO

23. Off-the-cuff stuff : IMPROV. (improvisation)

26. Took a chance on : RISKED

28. Cinque e uno : SEI. Italian. (six, we had seven on Sunday)

29. Naps, say : RESTS

33. Versatile bean : SOY

34. Fond du __, Wisconsin : LAC. (bottom of the lake)(the outlet of the lake)

35. Like a blue moon, in old Rome : RARA

36. Hand-holding group dances : HORAs

39. Sacred synagogue cabinets : ARKs

41. Muse of poetry : ERATO

43. Forum robe : TOGA

44. Rahm Emanuel, vis-à-vis Chicago : MAYOR. When you put it that way, I can remember him.

46. Felipe or Matty of baseball : ALOU

47. Outdated PC monitor : CRT. (cathode ray tube)

48. Curly tormentor : MOE. The Three Stooges.

49. December drop-in : SANTA. Who?

51. __ to the city : KEY

52. Bee bites : STINGS. Sign of spring, the wasps are waking up.

55. One in the game : PLAYER

57. Curved part : ARC

58. Feverish : ILL

60. In need of sharpening : DULL

61. Round-bottomed cooker : WOK

67. Eden outcast : EVE

68. Spooky : EERIE

69. "Sesame Street" roommate : ERNIE and Bert.

70. "L.A. Law" co-star Susan : DEY

71. Sports page data : STATS

72. Sporty sunroofs : T-TOPS

Down:

1. Airport shuttle, often : VAN

2. Many a Monopoly prop. : AVE.

3. More than a fib : LIE. Just semantics?

4. Respected village figure : ELDER

5. President after Polk : TAYLOR. Zachary Taylor was our 12th President. He died sixteen months into his term.

6. Like "stewardess" nowadays, briefly : UN-PC

7. "I __ what you did there" : SEE

8. Meadow moms : EWEs

9. Storm-tracking device : RADAR

10. In vogue : STYLISH

12. En pointe, in ballet : ON TOE

13. Waited in line, say : STOOD

18. Harsh : SEVERE

23. Muslim religion : ISLAM

24. Stiller's partner : MEARA

27. Smudge on 49-Across's suit : SOOT

30. Poet Teasdale et al. : SARAs

31. Refrain syllables : TRA LA

32. Kept under wraps : SAT ON

37. Shake hands (on) : AGREE

38. Mythical man-goat : SATYR

40. "It won't be long" : "SOON". "Are we there yet?"

42. Yield : OUTPUT

45. Periods of power : REGIMEs

50. Way off base : ALL WET

52. Cut, as logs : SAWED

53. Valuable stash : TROVE

54. Driving hazard : SLEET

56. Bright-eyed : ALERT

59. Actress __ Flynn Boyle : LARA

60. Salon supplies : DYES

63. __ for tat : TIT

64. Record producer Brian : ENO

65. Gratuity : TIP

66. "Right!" : "YES!"

Argyle

Note from C.C.: Jason is our Friday blogger Lemonade, who just had his IPO (Initial Puzzle Offering, a la Spitzboov) last Sunday. Marti, our Thursday blogger, used HeartRx in her daily blog Comments. Congratulations, you two, sweet puzzle!

Sunday April 6, 2014 Jason Chapnick & C.C. Burnikel

Theme: "The Living End" - The last word is a living spot. 

23A. 50 different ones were released over a 10-year period starting in 1999 : STATE QUARTERS

29A. Get no laughs, as a joke : FALL FLAT

35A. Brillo, for one : SCOURING PAD

48A. Archeological sites : FOSSIL DIGS. Getting this is a key in our theme set search. Not many * DIGS phrases to work with.

68A. Everywhere : ALL OVER THE PLACE

90A. Electronics chain : RADIOSHACK. The only one-word entry.

97A. It merged with Penguin in 2013 : RANDOM HOUSE

105A. Bed with bars : BABY CRIB. Lemonade's original clue. Sweet!

Reveal entry:

117A. Embroidery slogan, and an alternative title for this puzzle : HOME SWEET HOME

Jason is Lemonade, our witty & hard-working Friday Sherpa since March 2010. This is his debut puzzle, and I'm so happy to be part of his effort. Congratulations, Charlotte's grandpa!

Lemonade's granddaughter Charlotte

Lemonade originally came up with 4 phrases with 2 work places and 2 living spots (PRESCRIPTION PAD (sorry for the typo earlier) & STUDIO APARTMENT). I proposed we narrow down to living spaces only & tighten up the set with answers where the last word has a non-living context (so out * APARTMENT phrases ) and use "HOME SWEET HOME" as a reveal entry.

Lemonade liked my suggestions, so together we worked out this current set. He did not have Compiler at the time (now he does & happily works at his own grids), so I filled the grid. He then did the most time-consuming part of a Sunday puzzle: cluing. 

I knew how much he loves words and wordplay, but I was still amazed by his creativity and brillance. You can see his original clues here. I changed a slightly few & submitted this final version. Just to add a new "Now-ness" & avoid duping previously used clues.

Today's title is Rich's. We had Lemonade's "Main Domain" in our submission.

Across:

1. Start bubbling, perhaps : BOIL

5. 2004 Grey Goose acquirer : BACARDI. Also owns Dewar's, favorite of Irish Miss.

12. Feels a strong need (for) : STARVES

19. Wise leader? : OTHER. Otherwise. Lemonade's creation, of course!

21. Red-hot : ON A TEAR

22. Fancy-sounding bedroom piece : ARMOIRE

25. Paper in a frame : DIPLOMA

26. New England swimmer : COD

27. Clucks of disapproval : TUTS

28. Brew choice : ALE. Lemonade's son (left) brews his own beer.

Lemonade & Montana, Denver, 2013

30. Final Four org. : NCAA

32. Salinger title 13-year-old : ESME. "For  Esmé - With Love and Squalor".

34. Two-time U.S. Open winner Trevino : LEE. He talks 150 miles/hour.

41. Baja bear: OSA

43. California nine, in sports crawl lines : LAA. Los Angeles Angels.

46. Brest milk : LAIT

47. Forum talk was in it : LATIN

52. Include : ADD IN

54. Chocolate Mr. : GOODBAR. Never had it.

56. Slide subjects : AMOEBAS

57. King Minos, e.g. : CRETAN

59. Sochi no : NYET. Now Sochi has become a past.

60. Guidelines : CRITERIA

61. Mauna __ : KEA

62. Number of hills di Roma : SETTE. 7.

65. Enjoy Olive Garden, say : EAT OUT

67. Dancer Sally with just a few fans? : RAND. Rich polished a bit of  Lemonade's lovely clue.

71. City on Utah Lake : OREM

74. Trap setter, when it works : SNARER

75. Deal with : SEE TO

76. Yosemite Sam's "Scram!" : GIT

79. OneStep 600 producer : POLAROID

81. -y to the max : IEST.  Very bad. And I know it. Just could not get better fill here.

83. Break indicator : EM DASH

85. It may involve pasting : EDITING

86. Back : ENDORSE

89. Ball queen : BELLE. I can picture Yellowrocks dancing away in her college days.

92. One of the Allman Brothers : DUANE

94. Skelton's Kadiddlehopper : CLEM

95. Wheel spinner's buy : AN "E"

96. However, briefly : THO

99. Short smoke? : CIG. Anon-T uses e-cig.

102. Pharaoh's cross : ANKH

104. Criticize : CARP

109. Wall St. locale : NYC

111. Lummoxes : APES

113. Faux __ : PAS

116. Thoroughbred ancestor : ARABIAN

120. Mortgage feature? : SILENT T.  I made a change to Lemonade's "Castle feature" since I saw the "Castle" clue in another puzzle.

121. Built : ERECTED. Isn't this lovely? Splynter built it.

122. Swiss calculus pioneer : EULER

123. Do stuff : HAIR GEL

124. 2002 Adam Sandler role : MR DEEDS

125. "Lohengrin" heroine : ELSA

 

Down:

 1. Slender-necked pear : BOSC. Have any of you tried Asian pears? Very juicy. Pricey too. I only buy one at a time.

2. "The Simpsons" bus driver : OTTO. Gimme for D-Otto! Was the tax season over for you?

3. "Who knew?" : I HAD NO IDEA

4. Court call : LET

5. Ring event : BOUT

6. Santa __: offshore winds : ANAS

7. Garage unit : CAR

8. "__ girl!" : ATTA

9. Pulled (in) : REELED

10. Challenges : DARES

11. Form letters? : IRS. Nice clue. Rich's creation.

12. Thompson of "Family" : SADA. I don't know why her name is so hard to remember.

13. Sound from a nest : TRILL

14. More than enough : AMPLE

15. Pocahontas' spouse : ROLFE (John)

16. Fretted fiddle : VIOL

17. Aunt with a "Cope Book" : ERMA

18. It's often reserved : SEAT

20. Pave over : RE-TAR

24. Bird in a covey : QUAIL.Quail eggs are quite popular in Southern China. I miss Guangzhou so so much.

29. Admit, with "up" : FESS

31. Make the grade : CUT IT

33. Secure with lines : MOOR

35. Play in a line : SLACK. I don't get this clue.

36. Leadership nucleus : CADRE

37. Badger : NAG

38. Classic muscle car : GTO

39. Trailblazer : PIONEER

40. Writer Rooney : ANDY. Can you imagine he blogged a crossword puzzle? He'd be kvetching all the time.

42. In most cases : AS A RULE

43. Many an October baby : LIBRA

44. "Encore!" : AGAIN

45. Syrian leader : ASSAD. Surprised he's still in power.

48. Palestinian political party : FATAH

49. Copy : IMITATE

50. Garage alternative : LOT

51. John on the farm : DEERE

53. Minnesota United FC org. : NASL (North American Soccer League). Holy Guacamole, Rich! Click here. Their stadium is not far from our home.

55. Visibly embarrassed : BEET RED

58. Wrestling holds : NELSONS

60. Deal : COPE

63. "West Side Story" duet : TONIGHT

64. Plug in the den? : TV AD. Nice "Plug" mislead.

66. Beta release, e.g. : TEST RUN

68. Maker of old strings : AMATI

69. Sign again : RE-INK. I'm always amazed by  by the high pain threshold of those with tattoos.

70. Vanity item : COMB

71. Verdi creation : OPERA

72. Sometime ally of Godzilla : RODAN

73. Say somethin', say? : ELIDE

76. Collector of views : GALLUP POLL. Rich's clue.

77. Key chain : ISLES

78. Central idea : THEME

80. Where agua flows : RIO

82. Party supply : SODA

84. Martha Stewart Living topic : DECOR

86. Bus. course : ECON

87. Blue : SAD

88. "Microsoft sound" composer : ENO (Brian). He composed with his Mac.

91. Melville tyrant : AHAB

93. Roast host : EMCEE

97. Matched shirts and skirts? : RHYMED. Oh, I had "Like shirts and skirts" originally. Lovely 85A.

98. Waste creator : HASTE

99. __ Monday: post-Thanksgiving event : CYBER

100. Cupcake cover : ICING

101. Prepare, as Parmesan : GRATE

103. Big name in packaged soups : KNORR

105. Big party : BASH

106. Met solo : ARIA. Can you see "Met solo" on the windows? Steve our Foodie dined at their tapas restaurant.  

107. Indonesian island on its own sea : BALI

108. Like LAX : INTL

110. Gospel singer Winans : CECE

111. Blown away : AWED

112. Anti-doping targets, briefly : PEDS (Performance-Enhancing Drugs). Glad Rich used this clue.

114. Iowa city : AMES

115. Evening at Lake Como : SERA

117. Shut (in) : HEM

118. Canonized mlle. : STE

119. Peach or cherry : HUE. Two of my favorite fruits.

C.C.