Wednesday, October 14, 2026, Joe Rodini

  Well, the theme is obviously in The Reveal: TAG Lines.

The Reveal:

59. Across.  Marketing slogans, or what the answers to the starred clues are?: TAG LINES.

But, what makes these themers so Tag Worthy?

17. Across. *Black Friday enticement: LOW PRICE.

Hmm, I wonder if C.C. would let me make some money doing these write ups...

(I work cheap...)

Um, CE:D here,, none of the other volunteers would stoop this low...

24. Across. *Words with a WWII-era doodle: KILROY WAS HERE.

If you visit the WWII memorial in Washington D.C.

Be sure to walk around the back,

Where you will find etched into the granite,

"Kilroy Was Here!"

They say there are two, I have yet to find the second one..

39. Across. *Shout on a playground: YOU'RE IT.

50. Across. *Introductory phrase: HELLO MY NAME IS.

I once accompanied DW to her High School reunion,

And everyone had to wear a name tag...

So I wrote on mine, "No One You Need To Know."

As I never attended this school,

And for some reason, people thought it was hilarious...

Hmm, I dunno, I am having trouble describing this theme. 

Perhaps we should let a professional do it...

Um, ok, let's get on with then, shall we...

Across:
1. No-frills supermarket chain: ALDI. There is quite a story about the two brothers quarrel that split Aldi and Lidl into two grocery chains, and then one brother bought Trader Joe's... I will let you Google it as I get enough of this stuff because DW watches Real Wives (of wherever) while I hide in another room...

5. Receipt fig.: AMT. (figure/amount)

8. Puzzle: BEMUSE. (Not enigma...)

14. Weaver's machine: LOOM.

In the coming apocalypse, you may find this useful.

Just try and remember how without Wi-Fi or YouTube...

15. "Pshaw!": HAH.

16. Perfect alignment: UNISON.

Nah! I don't see it happening...

17. [Theme.]

19. Peak with a name from Koyukon: DENALI. This is where I got stuck doing the write up, I mean, we did this before. In a site all about words, what's the point if you keep changing them....?

20. "The Matrix" hero: NEO. Um,, should I post the clip where A.I. glues  his mouth shut?  (Nah, I 'm just trying to censor myself...)

21. Wee bit: A TAD. ( it was just a little Vodka,,, I swear...)

23. Left in a cave, as some cheese: AGED. Jeez, that explains it, I was cheesed...

24. [Theme.]

28. Mardi Gras song originally called "Jock-A-Mo": IKOIKO. Um, ok, i know I'm supposed to explain all this, but WTF is IKOIKO supposed to be? Really? Dang! I have to look this up? (This is going to take more Grey Hairs than I can affford... ) 

Ok, a week later,, I finally got up the courage to look this dang thing up,,, and it's supposed to be IKO IKO. 

I dunno CC, maybe im too old to do this ...

29. Fabled race day napper: HARE. And fabled puzzle reviewer: CE:D...

30. "I'll shake on that!": DEAL. Are we talking about a nap?

31. Berra with a record 10 World Series rings as a player: YOGI. When you come to the fork, take it...

34. Centipede releaser: ATARI. Hmm, it's a good thing this was a game, because I would be tap dancing all over this ala Fred Astaire...

38. Family guy: DAD. Ok, but this could have been anybody...

39. [Theme.]

41. Pod of whales: GAM. Dang! I am still trying to pencil in "Pod" here...

42. "Do the Right Thing" actor Davis: OSSIE. (Did he ever get stuck in a gam of whales?)

44. Stint in office: TERM.  I dunno, lately this could have been "sentence..."

45. Much Duchamp work: DADA. Um, I will let you look this up Here, as when I looked it up, it made me want to go to the bathroom...

46. Pitch setter: CLEF. If you want to know how to draw one... personally, I have a hard time staying in one clef, I guess it's a side affect of being scatterbrained...

48. Superhot, as wing sauce: ATOMIC. Personally, I did not like this clue/answer, As it could have been anything...  now, if the perps were friendly, I could stomach this... (were the perps friendly for you?)

(I need some pepto bismol...)

50. [Theme]

53. Stepped heavily: TROD.

55. Grammy winner India.__: ARIE. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

56. Sudden flight: LAM. Nah, I'm too old for this. Question, what would you call a sudden flight with some one with a walker? 

Ok, I'm ready!

57. Demolish: BUST UP. Look out! I'm walking thru here!!'

59. [Theme Reveal.]

63. Does some tailoring on: ALTERS. Hmm, so many possibilities, ,,

64. "Fearless" or "Lover," for Taylor Swift: ERA. ( why is everything an Era with her...? ) jeez girl, lighten up...

65. Iditarod terminus city: NOME. Um, if you want to be uplifted by a true story, 

May I suggest Balto...

Also,  may I suggest the animated version if you don't want to freeze your toes off...

66. Thrift store transaction: RESALE.

67. Sketch show with celebrity 50-Down, for short: SNL. 

Jeez, what do you have to do to get on this show?

68. Flakes: SNOW. I dunno, I'm partial to Idahoan potato flakes myself, and I hate the cold... so this clue/answer that should have been easy, kind of got me into a, hmm, whattaya call it? Not quicksand, but an oatmeal/ porridgey kind of mess to finish the acrosses...  at least, with Idahoan, you never get Lumps...

Down:
1. __ too soon: ALL. Ack! What a way to start the downs! ( I feel like I'm falling!)

2. Lav: LOO. (Whew! What a relief to land here..,)

3. Gets off the web: DOWNLOADS. Hmm, used to be easy , now It's work... (see George Jetson for intel...)

4. Put at risk: IMPERIL. "Be careful what you download!"

5. Pacific tuna: AHI. Word origin can be found here

6. Large parrot that forms a pair bond: MACAW. 

If you are going to keep birds,

Always get two...

7. Angle symbol, in geometry: THETA. 

Um, I tried to find a definition of the geometric meaning of Theta for you,

But it was  Greek to me...

8. Subject of a 49-foot bronze statue in Nara, Japan: BUDDHA. 

9. WSW opposite: ENE. (I hate it when crosswords get  me all turned around...)

10. Mosque tower: MINARET.

11. Utility bill data: USAGE.

12. Foot part: SOLE. Not inch, arch, or...

13. "Wednesday" werewolf: ENID. Ok, I know nothing about what happened to The Addams Family after  Raul Julia passed away.., But here is more if interested 

18. Chess piece in castling: ROOK. Not King!

22. More pale: ASHIER.

24. Little buddy: KIDDO. Hmm, how would you clue this? (Roo-ey?, goat offspring something or other?) I am lost on this one...

25. Stores with Småland play areas: IKEAS. I dunno, I think the whole place is a giant fire hazard... but I do like the meatballs...  (have you ever tried to navigate thru IKEA?)

26. Fluctuate wildly: YOYO. (Technically, yo-yo is a hyphenated compound word. But can be one word in informal usage...)

27. Basic Latin verb: ERAT. (I dunno, it's Greek to me...)

32. Determined to get: OUT FOR. Hmm, this seems out of place for a Wednesday puzzle. It's almost like the constructor was out to get us...

33. Test for some srs.: GRE. Everything you ever wanted to know...

35. Leader of the Greek army during the Trojan War: AGAMEMNON.

I always liked how he was portrayed by Sean Connery in The Time Bandits.

If you want to be to know more, ask Kevin...

36. Diameter halves: RADII. (Pronounced EeEye... I think I have it half right...)

37. Apple desktops: IMACS. Yes, it's one word, even when plural...

39. Talk over the clamor: YELL.

40. "Ms. Marvel" star Vellani: IMAN. 

43. Pure Leaf beverage: ICED TEA. 

Never heard of it...

45. Realms: DOMAINS.

47. Pass by: ELAPSE.

49. Starbucks size: TALL. If you are willing to pay upwards of 4 bucks for a coffee, you also get A ridiculous size terminology  for your overpayment...

Hmm, I could have sworn he said can you spare a dime for a cup of Joe...

50. Members of 67-Across's Five-Timers Club, e.g.: HOSTS. Arrows and banjo's optional...

51. Tiny arachnids: MITES.

52. Pine (for): YEARN.

53. Type of ski lift: T BAR. They tried a J bar, but it was a pain in the A**.

54. Hold the throne: RULE.

58. Web address: URL.

60. Actress Gadot: GAL. 

61. Angsty rock: EMO.

62. Do some tailoring on: SEW.

The Grid.

P.S. Here is 8 minutes more on Kilroy was here, if interested...

Anywho, that's all I've got.  But  I can't help but think I missed something...

So, now it's up to you, in the comments, to find what I missed!

TAG! Your it!...

CE:D out...

≽^•⩊•^≼ ₊˚⊹♡

Friday, December 26, 2025, Joe Rodini

Good Morning, Cruciverbalists.  Malodorous Manatee here with the recap of a Friday Puzzle by Joe Rodini.  Unlike the puzzle of two weeks ago, the theme of this one is quite straightforward.  Let's start with the reveal (and the clue even uses that word - nice touch):

38 Across . Revealing garment, or how to make 17-, 23-, 49-, and 53-Across match their clues: CROP TOP.

A CROP TOP is a sleeveless or short-sleeved garment that is cut short to show the midriff.  However, in the case of todays puzzle we are required to crop, as in to cut or remove, the letters T O P (or the word TOP, if you prefer) from four filled-in answers in order to make that fill properly answer its respective clue.

17 Across.  Can't and won't: CONTRACTOPTIONS.  Contract Options being an acceptable term for choices in an agreement.  However, crop the top, and we are left with CONTRACTIONS.  Can't, of course being a contraction for can not and won't being a colloquial contraction for will not.

23 Across.  Respectful title in "Bridgerton": TOPHERGRACE.  Topher Grace is an actor who was in That 70's Show (among other gigs).  Crop the top and we are left with the title HER GRACE - a form of address for royalty.

49 Across.  Tribute band's set list: COVERTOPS.  Covert Ops (operations) are a form of intel gathering.  Crop the top and we are left with COVERS.  When a band plays a song that was popularized by another band it is called a COVER of that song.  Below, the Grateful Dead at Woodstock performing a COVER of Merle Haggard's song "Momma Tried".

53 Across.  Decorator'ssamples: STOPWATCHES.  SWATCHES  A stop watch is a timer.  Crop the top and pieces of cloth, or SWATCHES, appear.

 

This is how things appear in the grid:

Here are the rest of the clues and answers:

Across:

1. Personal space, perhaps: BLOG.     A BLOG is a website that allows users to reflect, share opinions, and discuss various topics in the form of an online journal where readers may comment on posts.  Does this sound familiar?

5. 1950s politico Stevenson: ADLAI.

10. Wax-coated cheese: EDAM.  Often eaten in our puzzles.

14. All that's left of a spent apple: CORE.  Spent as in used up.  Apple, Inc (the giant tech company paid Apple, Corps (the Beatles company) over $600,000,000 to settle a trademark dispute.

15. Rings up: DIALS.  A reference to the days when telephones looked like this:

16. Chianti o pinot grigio: VINO.  Lezione di italiano di oggi.  Chianti and Pinot grigio are both wines.  VINO in Italian.

20. Absolut rival: STOLI.   A vodka reference.

21. Actor Watanabe: KEN.  Ken Watanabe's Wiki page

22. Call off a romance: END IT.  Weird Al said it best:

26. Oracle: SEER.  A man goes to consult a SEER.  He knocks on the door and from the inside the seer shouts "Who is it?"  Disillusioned, the man walks away.

27. "__ all adults here": WE'RE.  We are?

28. Jelly bean dispenser opening: SLOT.  Remember these?

31. Reiteration opening: I SAID.  Anything I say here will be redundant.

33. Take off politely: DOFF.

37. Babe: HON.  Terms of endearment.

40. __ culpa: MEA.  Literally, my fault or my mistake.

41. Eco-friendly beauty brand: AVEDA.  Known to this solver only through crosswords.

43. To the __ degree: NTH.

44. "Army of Darkness" director Sam: RAIMI.

46. Insulation resistance tester's unit: MEGOHM.  MEG - is a slightly shortened prefix for mega, which is 1x10 6; - OHM is the basic unit of resistance, which is represented by the Greek letter omega (Ω). A megohm, therefore, is an impedance measurement that represents one million OHMs.

48. Doorway: PORTAL.  To another dimension?

55. Photo session: SHOOT.  A bit of slang derived from "to shoot a photograph".  The verb morphs into a noun.

57. Half and half?: ONE.  Basic math

58. Put into effect: ENACT.  As, for example, a law.

61. Sliced fruit in some salads: PEARS.

62. Metric weights, casually: KGS.  Kilograms.  Kilo, or sometimes "ki" (pronounced key),  was a word commonly heard in the '60s.

63. Florida city that hosts an annual Pirate Festival: TAMPA.

64. Shows curiosity: ASKS.  Why didn’t 4 ASK out 5?  Because he was 2²

65. Match component: SET.  A tennis reference - game, SET, match.

66. Sudden and jarring transition: LEAP.  As in "a LEAP of faith".

Down:

1. Covertly includes on an email: BCCS.  Blind Carbon Copy.  Remember carbon paper?

2. Booty: LOOT.  Buttocks would not fit.

3. "Welp, never mind": OR NOT.

4. "Amscray!": GET LOST.

5. Orthodontist's org.: ADA.

6. Hall of Famer Eric who was NFL rushing yards leader four times in the 1980s: DICKERSON.  A football reference.

7. "Peace": LATER.  Both are slang for "goodbye".

8. Accompanied by: ALONG WITH.

9. Web gateway co.: ISP.  Internet Service Provider

10. Made plain to see: EVINCED.

11. Part of LED: DIODE.  Light Emmitting DIODE.  As in LED lamps.

12. Years of Caesar's reign: ANNI.  Latin for years.

13. Guinness superlative: MOST.  A reference not to the stout (beer) but to:

18. Stinky: RIPE.  Slang

19. Wardrobe malfunction: TEAR.  Wardrobe malfunction is a term (and a bit of a euphemism) popularized by an incident involving Janet Jackson.

NSFW ?

24. Beneficiary: HEIR.

25. Mulligan: REDO.  The use has broadened from the origin in golf where a mulligan is a  shot not counted as part of the score, granted sometimes in informal play after a poor shot is made.

28. Ersatz: SHAM.  Which alcoholic drink can give you the illusion that you're hurt?  Sham-pain.

29. Not just fancy: LOVE.  Fancy as in the British English sense - to like something.

30. Universal donor's type, briefly: O-NEG.  A reference to blood typing.

32. Germane: APT.  Fitting.

34. Leave out: OMIT.

35. Disaster relief org.: FEMA.

36. Come to nothing: FAIL.  What is it called when your knee transplant FAILs?  Irony.

38. Partnership, informally: CAHOOTS.  As in "to be in CAHOOTS with someone".

39. Oracle: PROPHET.  ‘Atheism is a non-prophet organization.’ - George Carlin

42. __ Without Borders: DOCTORS.  A reference to the group providing charity medical care around the world.

45. Tottenham's opponent in the North London derby: ARSENAL.  A soccer reference.

47. Letters for a GOAT, perhap: MVP.  Goat, in this case does not refer to an animal.  Greatest Of All Time = Most Valuable Player

48. Abbreviation that refers to many racial identities: POC.  Person Of  Color

50. Tree hut dwellers on Endor: EWOKS.  A "Star Wars" reference.

51. Kitchen fixture: RANGE.  Something you might use to provide the heat for cooking.

52. Statistical tool for comparing means: T-TEST.  All You Might Want To Know

53. Water down, say: SOAK.

54. "Me too": SAME.

55. Self-care destination: SPA.

56. Chaps: HES.  Not what a cowgirl might wear.  Chaps being slang for men.

59. Busy bee in Apr.: CPA.  Certified Public Accountant

60. Draft source: TAP.  In this clue it is a reference to beer as in  "cold beer on TAP"

Well, that will wrap things up for this Friday.  A belated Merry Christmas to all and, if Tom Lehrer is correct about when to start plugging a song, then today would be the day to start:

__________________________________________________

Sunday July 27, 2025 Joe Rodini

Theme: "Three-point Line" - Each theme entry consists of three identical words with three different meanings. 

22. Cosmetics case designed to hold a concise agreement?: COMPACT COMPACT COMPACT.

34. Variety of thoughtful people?: KIND KIND KIND.

54. Give the gift of the moment?: PRESENT PRESENT PRESENT.

75. Prevailing attitude about electric flow?: CURRENT CURRENT CURRENT.

92. Precise penalty that works OK?: FINE FINE FINE.

111. Neurosis caused by a group of labyrinthine apartments?: COMPLEX COMPLEX COMPLEX.

All the meanings are distinct of course. Always including both noun and adjective senses. Layered. 

Four of the theme entries are grid-spanners. A bit challenging to fill. Yet Joe managed still two pairs of paralleled 10's, all sparkling. Congrats on your first LAT Sunday, Joe!

XWord Info

Across:

1. Speed reader?: RADAR. Fun clue to start.

6. "What a shame!": ALAS.

10. Service call: LET.

13. Garden retreat: ARBOR. Our Arb. 

18. Marry on a whim: ELOPE.

19. "The Firebird" outfit: TUTU. And 36. "The Firebird" composer Stravinsky: IGOR.

20. Crimson Tide, to fans: BAMA.

21. __ firma: TERRA.

26. Iconic Munch painting: THE SCREAM. Partnered with 108. Out of control situation: GOAT RODEO.

27. "Who am __ say?": I TO.

28. Group that's really on the ball?: OFFENSE. Football, right?

29. Western alliance since 1948: Abbr.: OAS. The Organization of American States.

30. Largest Chinese ethnic group: HAN. I'm one. We also have 55 ethnic minorities, including Koreans, Russians and Mongols. I grew up loving the Korean pickled veggies. 

31. Notre-Dame's river: SEINE.

33. Spills the __: TEA.

38. Freddy Krueger's haunting loc.: ELM ST.

42. Unanimously: AS ONE.

44. Freud's "The __ and the Id": EGO.

45. 48-Across nutrients, for short: CARBS. 48. Quaker grains: OATS.

47. Absorbed, as a cost: ATE.

49. Fireside treats: S'MORES. 

52. Langley org.: CIA.

53. "Don't Matter" singer: AKON.

59. __ the line: TOE.

60. Plunder: LOOT.

61. New Mexico art community: TAOS.

62. En __: together: MASSE.

63. Heidi Gardner's show, for short: SNL. Here with Michael Che.

64. Nile viper: ASP.

65. Buds: CHUMS.

67. Chill (out): VEG.

68. Yellowfin tuna: AHI.

70. Matchmaking app that asks "Do you keep kosher?": JDATE.

72. "This Film Is Not Yet Rated" subj.: MPAA.

73. Actress Skye: IONE.

74. Sitting room: DEN.

80. Together, in scores: A DUE.

81. Phoenix cager: SUN.

82. Pacers point guard Haliburton: TYRESE. Learning moment for me. Two-time NBA All-Star.

83. Othello's false friend: IAGO.

84. "Moonstruck" studio: MGM.

85. Kentucky college that doesn't charge tuition: BEREA. I wonder if it accepts international students.

87. __ de plume: NOM.

88. French city near the Belgian border: LILLE.

90. Nutty green sauce: PESTO.

96. "Notorious" SCOTUS justice: RBG.

98. Punch bowl item: LADLE.

99. Mens __: REA.

100. "20/20" network: ABC.

103. Poolside recliners: CHAISES. Been hot here in Minnesota. 

107. Vientiane language: LAO.

114. Santiago's country: CHILE.

115. Succumbs to gravity: SAGS.

116. __ rug: AREA.

117. Speak one's mind: OPINE.

118. Sat for a portrait: POSED.

119. Like some grins: WRY.

120. Hankerings: YENS. Finally tried Yami. They have all kinds of Chinese food for a decent price. 

121. Attire worn over pajamas: ROBES.

Down:

1. Page facing a verso: RECTO.

2. Word on a postcard from Hawaii: ALOHA.

3. Indoor stadium tops: DOMES.

4. Intro courses?: APPS. Appetizers. 

5. Defensive basketball foul: REACH-IN. I don't watch basketball. This is reach-in?

6. Go to: ATTEND.

7. Pixar film set on the Mediterranean coast: LUCA.

8. Elementary building block: ATOM.

9. Dim __: SUM.  Also 12. Tex-Mex street fare: TACO.

10. Brief: LACONIC.

11. BP checker: EMT.

13. Extra dough in bread boxes?: ATM FEES. Great fill/clue.

14. The 21st Amendment, e.g.: REPEAL.

15. Fiber source: BRAN.

16. Tolkien monsters: ORCS.

17. Insurance quote: RATE.

20. A dyeing art?: BATIK. Use wax and dye.

23. Paper bird: CRANE.

24. Colorfully blotchy: PIED.

25. Frequently, in verse: OFT.

31. "Bo-ring!": SNORE.

32. Turns into law: ENACTS.

34. Big name in headphones: KOSS.

35. Tidily arranged: KEMPT. Unkempt is more common.

37. Plumbing problem: DRIP.

39. Shakes on it: MAKES A DEAL. And 40. Megaliths in Wiltshire, England: STONEHENGE. And 42. Yankees slugger who wears No. 99: AARON JUDGE. 43. Metal percussion instruments: STEEL DRUMS. Stunning gridwork here. 

41. Pitcher's concern?: TENT. Not baseball pitcher. 75. Sleep in a 41-Down: CAMP.

46. Drinks list: BAR MENU.

48. Chooses: OPTS.

49. "Uncle!": STOP.

50. Place where salt and fresh water mix: ESTUARY.

51. Clothing label spot: SEAM.

53. Equine worker: ASS. And 109. Bovine workers: OXEN. Indeed "workers".

55. Fill with delight: ELATE.

56. What poorly written instructions make: NO SENSE.

57. Sudoku figs.: NOS.

58. Champing at the bit: EAGER.

65. PC data base: CPU.

66. Hind counterpart: HART.

67. Sotto __: VOCE.

69. A big fan of: INTO.

71. "We __ Family": ARE.

72. __ Laboratories: Tylenol developer: MCNEIL. Learning moment also. Named after the chemist Robert McNeil, father of this guy.  

73. "I'm here!": IT'S ME.

76. Stomping ground: TURF.

77. 123 Sesame Street resident: ERNIE.

78. Gas used in lasers: NEON.

79. Nettle: RILE.

85. Winter team racer: BOBSLED.

86. Illuminating comparison: ANALOGY.

88. Deceive: LIE TO.

89. Wearing chain mail: IN ARMOR.

91. __ Crown: TRIPLE.

93. Red-coated cheeses: EDAMS.

94. Hit's opposite: FLOP.

95. Donnybrook: FRACAS.

97. "My word!": GEE.

100. Deviate from the script: AD LIB.

101. Designer Geoffrey: BEENE.

102. Directs a crew, informally: COXES. Rowing crew. 

103. Initials on Yuri Gagarin's helmet: CCCP.

104. Hostess snack: HO HO.

105. Bordeaux buddies: AMIS.

106. Austin festival, briefly: SXSW. South by Southwest.

108. "Chicago" star Richard: GERE.

110. Intel on a campaign rival: OPPO. Opposition. 

112. Road runner?: CAR.

113. Install, as tiles: LAY.

C.C.

Thursday, June 19, 2025 Joe Rodini

 Theme: I GET A ROUND.  The first word of each theme entry homophonically represents a factor in the formula for the circumference of a circle.

And, in honor of Brian Wilson, who left us a few days ago, here is today's theme song.

17 A. Annoyingly shrewd: TOO CLEVER BY HALF.  A bit of smart-assery, perhaps.  Note the first word.

37 A. Unrealistic enterprise: PIE IN THE SKY.   Something that is pleasant to contemplate but is very unlikely to be realized.  Note the first word.

I hated this song when it came out in 1959, but it was very popular, so I must be wrong.

Yeah - I still hate it.

42 A. "Hello?": ARE YOU THERE?    A common phrase used to check if someone is present, listening, or available to respond.  Note the first word.

58 A. Returns to the beginning, as suggested by the phonetic formula found at the starts of 17-, 37-, and 42-Across: COMES FULL CIRCLE.  Returns to a past position or situation, especially in a way considered to be inevitable.  Or more literally, scopes the circumference.

OK.  Let's put this together [Nobody promised there wouldn't be any math.]. And I won't give you the run around. The formula for the circumference of a circle is 2*π*r, phonetically represented here by TOO, PIE and ARE.  The value of π  is 3.14159 and r is the radius.  Thus, we COME FULL CIRCLE.  But wait -- there's more!

24 D. Sundial three, and a loose depiction of the last part of the geometry formula hinted at in this puzzle: III.  To understand this subtle clue, you have to think about the center of the grid in a way that is literally figurative.  Note that the black squares inscribe a circle about as perfectly as can be done in this medium.  The vertical I-I-I then represents a radius [r] of that circle.  I have seldom been this impressed by a puzzle feature.  Bravo!

Hi Gang, JazzBumpa here to lead us on this circuitous route.  

Across:

1. Package closer: TAPE.   Sticky ribbon that seals the box shut.

5. Closed, as drapes: DREW.  I drew my drapes, then drew my bath, then put away my colored pencils.

9. Skilled: ABLE.   Having a certain skill set.

13. "You beat me": I LOSE. Concession of defeat.

15. Second helping: MORE.  If the first wasn't enough.

16. Place for some finger painting?: NAIL.  Clever clue, leading us to a nail salon. 

20. "Well, aren't you fancy!": OO-LA-LA.  An interjection that expresses surprise, admiration, or excitement, often with a playful or suggestive connotation. It's a French-derived expression, though it's not a direct translation of a common French phrase.  In my experience, there is always a suggestion of something at least risqué, and probably inappropriate.

21. Understand: SEE.   I got it.

22. Basketball Hall of Famer Bob: PETTIT.   Robert Lee Pettit Jr. [b. 1932] is an American former professional basketball player. He played 11 seasons in the NBA, all with the Milwaukee/St. Louis Hawks. In 1956, he became the first recipient of the NBA's Most Valuable Player Award and he won the award again in 1959. He also won the NBA All-Star Game MVP award four times.

26. Reunion attendees: AUNTS.  Mom's or dad's sisters.

30. Wine shop order: CASE.  A box, usually of 12 bottles.

33. __ away from: SHIES.  Avoids something because of fear, nervousness, or dislike.

35. SeaWorld performer: SEAL.   Any of numerous carnivorous marine mammals (families Phocidae and Otariidae) that live chiefly in cold regions and have limbs modified into webbed flippers adapted primarily to swimming.

36. Invoice no.: AMT.  Amount, per item, and total due.

39. Singer Flack: ROBERTA.  Roberta Cleopatra Flack [1937-2025] was an American singer and pianist known for her emotive, genre-blending ballads that spanned R&B, jazz, folk, and pop and contributed to the birth of the quiet storm radio format.  She also won record of the year for 1973 and '74.  Sadly, she left us in February.

This might be her most famous song.

41. Tried to win over: COURTED.   Attempted to win someone's favor, affection, or attention, often with the intent of forming a romantic or committed relationship. It can also mean to try to please or improve relations with someone, often to achieve a specific goal. 

44. London facilities: LOO.   What we politely call the rest room or comfort station.  I would have clued this as "John in London."

45. Grow dim: FADE.  Lose luster, strength or brightness.

46. Pink perennial: PEONY.  Peonies are a genus of flowering plants, belonging to the family Paeoniaceae, and are known for their large, showy flowers. They are popular garden plants, especially in temperate regions, and are also widely cultivated as cut flowers.  They come in a wide range of colors, including red, pink, purple, white, and yellow. 

47. __ shui: FENG.   An ancient Chinese practice focusing on aligning environments with the natural world to promote harmony and balance. It involves arranging objects and spaces to optimize the flow of qi (vital energy). The practice aims to create a positive and beneficial environment for occupants. 

48. To-be: ELECT.  In politics, a candidate who hs been elected, but not yet inaugurated.

50. Not wholesale: RETAIL.  Wholesale is the pricing level used between suppliers and commercial sellers.  The sellers' pricing is retail.

52. Chest bone: RIB.   Each of a series of slender curved bones articulated in pairs to the spine (twelve pairs in humans), protecting the thoracic cavity and its organs.

54. MLB sluggers: RBI MEN.  Batters who generate RBIs [runs batted in] This is accurately descriptive, but I'm not aware of this as an in-the-language phrase.

64. Mystique: AURA.   The distinctive atmosphere or quality that seems to surround and be generated by a person, thing, or place.

65. Like the center space on a bingo card: FREE.   Purpose: The free space acts like a "wild" square or a "joker". It doesn't have a number, but it's automatically considered marked for all players from the start of the game.  It's free in the sense that player did nothing to earn it

66. Wild guesses: STABS.   Making attempts or tries, especially when you might not be very confident about succeeding. It implies a willingness to try despite potential challenges or lack of certainty.   This describes me playing Wordle.

67. Hat part: BRIM.    The projecting edge at the bottom of a hat.

68. __ machine: SLOT.  A coin-operated gaming machine that generates random combinations of symbols on a dial, certain combinations winning varying amounts of money for the player.

69. "Make it snappy!": STAT.   Without delay : immediately — used chiefly in medicine. Get this patient to the operating room, stat!

Down:

1. Salsa star Nieves: TITO.   Humberto "Tito" Nieves [b. 1958] is a Puerto Rican-born, bilingual salsa singer and actor with a career spanning over four decades. Born in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico, Nieves started his professional career in 1975 with Orquesta Cimarrón, replacing Rafael De Jesus. 

2. Saag __: spinach and potatoes dish: ALOO.  Saag aloo is a popular Indian and Pakistani side dish made with saag (a variety of greens, including mustard greens), potatoes and spices.

3. Hotel amenity: POOL.   For swiming.

4. Slip away: ESCAPE.   Break free from confinement or control.

5. Real ID issuer: DMV.  Department of Motor Vehicles.

6. Caviar: ROE.  Processed eggs from a large fish, such as a sturgeon, considered a delicacy.  I had shad roe once.  Once.

7. Drop the ball: ERR.  Fail to complete something, or live up to expectations.

8. Halloween decor: WEBS.  Suggestive of spiders.

9. Busch brewing partner: ANHEUSER.  Famous for their horses.

10. Call to Bo Peep: BAA. They cried out, sheepishly.

11. Short, for short: LI'L.   So to speak

12. One with a pole position?: ELF.   North pole laborer.  Well played!

14. Allure competitor: ELLE.  Fashion magazines

18. Falls for something hook, line, and sinker: EATS IT UP.  Something fishy here.  Still - going for something in a big way.  Alternatively, enjoying something immensely, like attention or entertainment 

19. Favorable vote: YEA.  As opposed to neigh - the usual response from horses.

23. Staging area: THEATER.   Usually this means a location in which people, vehicles, equipment, or material are assembled before use.  Here it a place where plays are produced.  Clever mis-direction.

25. Like paperback novels, once: TEN CENT.  Once, long, long ago, they cost one thin dime.  But not any time in my memory, and I'm old.

27. Toll House chocolate chips maker: NESTLE.    A Swiss multinational food and drink processing conglomerate corporation headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland. It has been the largest publicly held food company in the world, measured by revenue and other metrics, since 2014

28. Acquire: TAKE ON.  Take on has many meanings, from hire an employee to accept a task or meet an adversary, to accept a thing or responsibility.

Marginally relevant.  Maybe.

29. Foxy one: SLY DOG.  A person who is very secretive and sly about their activities, though the creatures in the clue and fill are both canines.

30. Wine bar order: CARAFE.   An open-topped glass flask typically used for serving wine or water.

31. Unprincipled: AMORAL.  Lacking a moral sense; unconcerned with the rightness or wrongness of something.

32. "Venerable" monk of Eng. history: ST. BEDE.  Bede [672-735] was an English monk, author and scholar. He was one of the most known writers during the Early Middle Ages, 

34. Multiepisode narrative: STORY ARC.  This is inexact.  It is the overarching structure and progression of a story, guiding the sequence of events and plot progression.  It can also relate to a single episode of a TV series, a movie, novel or even a short story. 

37. Maven: PRO.  One with expertise in a certain field.

38. Tinge: HUE.  Tinge refers to a slight degree of coloration in something, while hue is a specific color or shade.  They don't seem equivalent.

40. Application for crow's-feet: EYE CREAM.  A specialized skincare product formulated to target the delicate skin around the eyes.

43. Turn the soil: HOE.  To labor with a long-handled gardening tool having a thin metal blade, used mainly for weeding and breaking up soil.  Careful, though - Santa might laugh at you.

47. Toys (with): FLIRTS.  Behaves as though attracted to or trying to attract someone, but for amusement rather than with serious intentions.  Seems rather heartless.

49. Poetic contraction: 'TIS.  Meaning "It is."

51. Everglades bird: IBIS.  A large wading bird with a long down-curved bill, long neck, and long legs.

53. Lifetime pals, briefly: BFFS. Best Friends Forever

55. Future doc's exam: MCAT.  The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a standardized, computer-based exam used by medical schools in the United States and Canada to assess applicants' problem-solving, critical thinking, and scientific knowledge. 

56. Idris of "The Wire": ELBA.   Idrissa Akuna Elba OBE  [b. 1972] is an English actor and musician. He has received a Golden Globe Award as well as nominations for three BAFTA Awards and six Emmy Awards. He was named in the Time 100 list of the Most Influential People in the World in 2016. His films have grossed over $9.8 billion at the global box office, making him one of the top 20 highest-grossing actors.

57. Twigs digs: NEST.  A domicile constructed from small tree parts?  It's for the birds!

58. Uber alternative: CAB.  Modes of urban vehicular transportation - the modern and the traditional.  Either way, you pay.

59. First word of the Lord's Prayer: OUR.  I think we all know this.

60. Source of inside info?: MRI.  An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan is a non-invasive medical imaging technique that uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed pictures of the body's organs and tissues - the "inside information."   

61. Dot-com address: URL.   Universal Resource Locator.

62. Sign for most of August: LEO.  The fifth sign of the zodiac, typically spans from July 23rd to August 22nd. It's associated with the constellation Leo and is symbolized by the lion. Leos are known for their confidence, charisma, and natural leadership abilities. They are often described as passionate, loyal, and creative individuals. 

63. Tennis call: LET.   A "let" occurs when a serve hits the net but still lands within the service box. This results in the serve being replayed, according to various tennis resources. Essentially, a let means the point is replayed, offering the server a second chance at serving. 

And with that, we have come FULL CIRCLE.

As usual, I had my nits, but overall, this is a superb puzzle.

Special thanks to those gave me technical and temporal assistance.  You know who you are.

If you're in Plymouth, MI this evening, come to the Concert Band Performance at 7:00 pm in Kellogg Park.  Say hi to me before or after, and I'll buy you an ice cream.

The weekend is almost upon us.  Hope we all get around to having some fun.

Cool regards, 

JzB