Saturday, November 23, 2024, Jeanne Breen, John Lieb

 Themeless Saturday by Jeanne Green & John Lieb

Jeanne and John served up a tough pre-Thanksgiving event for me. The fun fill of I'M HERE ALL WEEK was a big speed bump but after hunting and pecking around the edges, I earned a big DOH! when I finally figured it out. As you can see by the graphic, the red cells show the unique fill for this puzzle.

 

John shared this picture of him as Elvis in an outfit he wore for a special day at his school a few years ago when I did his first LA Puzzle.

 

Across:

1. Vittles: CHOW.

5. Schools that don't play in bowl games: IVIES - Columbia pulled a huge upset in 1934 Rose Bowl but the IVIES, who give no athletic scholarships and have high academic standards, quit going to bowls in 1945.

10. Blown away: AWED.

14. Bring on: HIRE - Schools are always looking to HIRE more substitute teachers 

15. Classic infomercial brand: GINSU.

16. "That's ... really off the mark": UH NO.

17. Team that went to the NBA Finals with Durant, Harden, and Westbrook, familiarly: OKC THUNDER.

Durant      Westbrook               Hardin

19. Part of some cleansing rituals: SAGE.

20. Naval garb: PEACOATS.

21. Further: FOSTER - C.C. worked with me years ago to FOSTER my blogging skills

23. Attraction north of Syracuse: ETNA.

24. Category on a spa menu: FACIALS.

25. Product with Ground Ball Grape and Wild Pitch Watermelon flavors: BIG LEAGUE CHEW - So young kids could emulate MLB players who used to be able to "dip"

29. Key chain?: ATOLL.

30. Hit makers?: EPEES 😀

31. Backing: AID - Candidates require a lot of backing or AID to run

34. "¡__ mío!": DIOS - Add "Oh" and you have the Spanish version of OMG

35. Take to task: SCOLD.

36. Petrol choice: ESSO - This Canadian petrol costs $1.62/litre 

37. Cap. of America: USD 1 U.S. Dollar is $1.39 in Canada

38. Goes over: SPANS - The Royal Gorge bridge that SPANS the Arkansas River in Colorado is the scariest structure I have ever walked on

39. Aromatic hydrocarbon: ESTER.

40. Alternative to a rim shot: I'M HERE ALL WEEK - What a comedian might hear or say if a joke goes over big

 

43. Taxonomy rank: SPECIES.

45. Bye line: TATA.

46. Source of pain for some runners, familiarly: IT BAND - Iliotibial band

47. "Right ... hadn't thought of that": AH GOTCHA.

51. Athlete also known as "Fräulein Forehand": GRAF.

52. Placed: RECOGNIZED - I have trouble placing or recognizing most of my 14,000 former students.

54. Wizard: MAGE - We are more accustomed to them in plural form

55. "I'm free to help": USE ME.

56. Scruff of the neck: NAPE.

57. Architectural area whose name comes from the Greek for "vault": APSE - from the Latin apsis, "arch or vault," and the Greek root hapsis, "arch or loop." ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

58. Inquired (into): NOSED.

59. Shiraz locale: IRAN.

Down:

1. Baltimore __: infield hit with a high bounce: CHOP.

2. State park activity: HIKE.

3. One may catch some rays: ORCA - I suppose Shamu might have a ray over for lunch

4. Electrochemistry devices: WET CELLS - When I started teaching, the science store room only had these horrible Bell System dry cells that hadn't been used in many years.

5. Williams title reptile: IGUANA - If you look closely you can see Tennessee Williams' name on this poster.

6. Some collectibles from the Roaring Twenties: VINTAGE CARS.

7. Some voters, briefly: IND'S - Teddy Roosevelt got the most electoral votes running as an INDependent (Progressive) candidate in the 1912 presidential election.

8. -speak: ESE - We speak crosswordESE here

9. Arose: SURFACED.

10. Oz dweller: AUSSIE - Australia is sometimes called "Oz" because the first three letters of  when pronounced make a hissing sound like OZ.

11. Cry over spilled milk?: WHAT A WASTE.

12. Georgia of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show": ENGEL - I think you all know the cast below

13. People of action: DOERS.

18. Suite spot: HOTEL 😀

22. Folk singer Phil: OCHS - I remember the folk music era so well. My favorite song of Phil's was There But For Fortune - There But For Fortune

24. Is completely comfortable: FEELS AT HOME - Our Lily

25. Singer Erykah: BADU - ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

26. "Really?": IT IS.

27. Signs that the party's over?: GOODIE BAGS.

28. Clinging to a lead: UP ONE.

32. "Clearly": I SEE.

33. Diary writer in a Rachel Renée Russell series: DORK ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

35. Gamer's mad dash to complete a level: SPEED RUN - Speedrunning is the act of playing a video game, or section of a video game, with the goal of completing it as fast as possible. We have solvers here that do the same with our puzzles.

36. Africa's last absolute monarchy: ESWATINI - ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Changed from Swaziland in 2018.

38. Area guarded in many sports: SHIN.

39. John with an EGOT: ELTON.

41. Computer security brand: MCAFEE.

42. Fell behind: LAGGED.

43. Scylla's head?: SIGMA - Σκύλλα A meta gimmick but done in Greek this time

44. Plumbing piece: P-TRAP 

47. Fab: ACES.

48. House of Fabergé patron: CZAR - Nicholas III commissioned the House of Fabergé to make an Easter egg as a gift for his wife in 1885

49. __ filter: HEPA.

50. "Rectify" star Young: ADEN ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

53. Spanish "that": ESO - Paul Anka always saves me for this cluing

Sunday October 27, 2024 John Lieb

Theme: "Interview With the Vampire" - Each common phrase contains a vampire-related word and rephrased as Vampire's answer to an question. 

 23. "What is your least favorite form of advertising?": CROSS PROMOTIONS.

 34. "What pricing advice do you have for garden centers?": RAISE THE STAKES.

 51. "What aspect of your personality are you working on?": SELF-REFLECTION.

 68. "What would you wear, say, when spending St. Patrick's Day in Madrid?": CAPE VERDE.

 85. "Not to put you on the spot, but who is your favorite pet?": BAT ONE THOUSAND.

 97. "What investment do you recommend to your fellow creatures of the night?": CRYPTOCURRENCY.

115. "Above all else, what must your minions be?": DOWN FOR THE COUNT.

We've seen a few Vampire puzzles in the past, but none with this approach. Perfect title. I'm sure this puzzle starts the title first. I don't recall a Sunday grid with two 15-letter non-theme fill. Stunning. John is a great themeless constructor.

I mentioned before that John (upper left) runs the Boswords. The guy on the upper right is Andrew Kingsley. And you all know the third guy.

Across:

1. Texas A&M athlete: AGGIE. Agnes's niece calls her "Aunt Aggie".

6. Foldable dish: TACO.

10. Study like mad: CRAM. You need 14. Nightstand lights: LAMPS and 19. Hotel bookings: ROOMS.

20. Wrinkle remover: IRON.

21. Georgetown athlete: HOYA.

22. Words of empathy: I CARE.

26. Edible Arrangements bit: MELON. Not famliar with Edible Arrangements.

27. Australian hub, for short: SYD. Sydney Airport.

28. Starters: A TEAM.

29. March Madness openers?: EMS. Starting letters of March Madness.

30. Last part: TAIL END.

32. Procedures: WAYS.

37. Les États-__: UNIS.

39. High pts.: MTS.

40. Spanish gold: ORO.

41. Depends (on): RELIES.

44. She, in Lisbon: ELA.

46. Phillies slugger Harper: BRYCE. Boomer would have proudly told you that he owned Harper's rookie card. We also have 42. Pitcher's stat: ERA. 99. BoSox rivals: YANKS.

48. HDTV choice: LCD.

55. Domed homes: IGLOOS.

57. Help at a wedding, informally: USH.

58. Took a spill: ATE IT.

59. Former SCOTUS monogram: RBG. Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

60. Sunscreen: PARASOL. I probably would have added ?

61. Garish: LOUD.

63. Does harm to: INJURES.

65. Pink cat in "Garfield": ARLENE.

66. "Tomorrow" musical: ANNIE.

70. Aquarium fish: TETRA.

73. Soy-based meat alternative: TEMPEH. Not fond of its taste. 

75. Inorganic: MINERAL.

77. Sealed: SHUT.

78. Rum cocktails: MAI TAIS.

80. Finish with zero cards in Uno, say: WIN.

81. Couldn't stand still, say: PACED.

83. Musician Brian: ENO.

84. Throat part: TONSIL.

88. Math subj.: ALG.

89. 1970s Renault model: LE CAR.

91. Fútbol cheer: OLE.

92. Pan-fried: SAUTED.

93. Sis or bro: SIB.

94. "It's __-brainer!": A NO.

96. Missives: Abbr.: LTRS.

105. Trickster of the 109-Across: LOKI. 109. Norse pantheon: AESIR.

107. Title girl in a No. 1 song by the Knack: SHARONA.

108. Poetic contraction: OER. And 111. Poetic contraction: TIS.

114. __ grigio: PINOT.

119. Oft-taped joint for athletes: ANKLE.

120. Alan of "Bridge of Spies": ALDA.

121. Running shoe brand: AVIA.

122. Actress McDonald with six Tony Awards: AUDRA. She also has two Grammys.

123. Bouquets, at a vineyard: NOSES.

124. Articulates: SAYS.

125. "Roundball Rock" composer John: TESH.

126. Guide: STEER.

Down:

1. Shuttlecock paths: ARCS.

2. Like some horror movies: GORY.

3. Film with the Boston-accented line "How do you like them apples?": GOOD WILL HUNTING. Such a good movie. Partnered with a great 48. "Enough with your sass!": LOSE THE ATTITUDE.

4. Some online exchanges, briefly: IMS.

5. Composition: ESSAY.

6. Run out of steam: TIRE.

7. Like a cheering crowd: AROAR.

8. Grammatical pause: COMMA.

9. Musician Yoko: ONO. 12. Author Rand: AYN. 16. Oscar winner Rami: MALEK. 82. "Dance the Night" singer Lipa: DUA. All regulars in our grids.
 
10. Wind __: CHIMES.

11. Perch: ROOST.

13. Virtuosity: MASTERY. People were often surprised when I told them that Boomer had 20 perfect games. He would have turned 77 today. This photo was taken in 2002. Myrtle Beach.

14. Maximum or minimum: LIMIT.

15. Northeast Corridor train: ACELA.

17. Given (to): PRONE.

18. Elates: SENDS.

24. NBA stat: Abbr.: PTS.

25. "This is only a __": TEST.

31. Standoffish: ASOCIAL.

33. "Yeah, right!": AS IF.

35. Apple desktop: IMAC.

36. Shofar, e.g.: HORN. Shofars are used for Jewish religious purposes, according to Wikipedia.

37. "The Little Mermaid" witch: URSULA.

38. Liam of "Taken": NEESON.

43. Org. looking for alien life: SETI.

44. Seder prophet: ELIJAH.

45. Relent: LET UP.

46. Peaty wetland: BOG.

47. Everglades bird: EGRET.

49. Murmur: COO.

50. Broadband letters: DSL.

52. Yard dividers: FENCES.

53. Golf great Lee: TREVINO. He used to be here for the 3M Championship. Always in the same group as Jack Nicklaus & Gary Player.

54. "Peer Gynt" playwright: IBSEN.

56. Highway divisions: LANES.

60. Deliver a sermon: PREACH.

62. Meal plans: DIETS.

64. Send payment: REMIT.

65. Classified stat: AD RATE.

67. Inbox message: EMAIL.

69. Drive off: REPEL.

71. Athlete in a triathlon's last leg: RUNNER.

72. Holding conflicting views: AT ODDS. With.

74. Supplies additional criticism: PILES ON.

76. Many August babies: LEOS.

78. NYC subway org.: MTA.

79. Early ISP: AOL.

80. "One, two, three, four, I declare a thumb __!": WAR.

85. Hindu "sir": BABU.

86. Midday: NOON.

87. Brood: SULK.

90. Noisy insects: CICADAS. Tasty when fried. 

94. Sports venues: ARENAS.

95. Foam toy material: NERF.

97. Channel created as a community service: C-SPAN.

98. Thick-skinned herbivore: RHINO.

100. Member of the working class: PROLE. Short for proletariat.

101. "For sure!": TOTES.

102. Rambunctious: ROWDY.

103. Make one's mark, in a way: CARVE.

104. Legendary Himalayans: YETIS. Called "Xue Ren" in Chinese, literally "snowman".

105. Tell tales: LIE.

106. Black-and-white whales: ORCAS.

110. Deposed Iranian ruler: SHAH.

112. Memo starter: IN RE.

113. Coveted symbol in Dr. Seuss's "The Sneetches": STAR.

116. Lisbon greeting: OLA.

117. Cheerios grain: OAT.

118. Tennis call: OUT.

I'd like to recommend this puzzle book to you guys. You can read this blog post from Brooke Husic. I don't remember solving a puzzle book with constructor notes. Quite a few LAT constructors have a puzzle in the collection. Just from my puzzle answer sheet page, I see Rafa Musa, Darby Ratliff and Adam Aaronson (yesterday's constructor).

C.C.