Theme: Debut Too~!!
Words: 72 (missing J,Q,V,X,Z)
Blocks: 31
So another new constructor for our Saturday struggle~! I did not see
Kyle's name on the list of authors for the LA Times, and I am not a
regular solver of the NYT. Whenever I see a new name, I realize that I
have no experience with their puzzles, and this cuts both ways - is this
going to be brutal, or a breeze~!? Nothing terribly intimidating about
the grid - triple 8x5s and 9x6s constitute the longest answers. A little
heavy on the proper names again, but I did get through without a look
up or red letters. One from each corner;
17a. Criminology concerns : PATTERNS
14d. "Piece of cake" : EASY PEASY - ah, not "AS PIE"
65a. French for "stick" : BAGUETTE
32d. The Na'vi in "Avatar," for one : ALIEN RACE
OlgaWARD~!
ACROSS:
ACROSS:
1. "You're kidding, right?" : "WAIT, WHAT~?"
9. Will matter : ESTATE - First thought, late fill
15. "I give up" : IT'S NO USE - took a moment to parse this, having "NOUS" in the middle
16. Onomatopoeic dance : CHA-CHA - there was a time when I knew how to do this dance
18. Weapons used on mounts : LANCES - big help in the NE
19. "Out of the Blue" band : ELO - total WAG, but then again, three-letter bands....
20. Beyond harmful : LETHAL
22*. Pabst brand originally brewed in Washington, familiarly : OLY - not a brand I am familiar with; filled via perps
23. They're slow to pick things up : SLOBS - I prefer neat and tidy, unless I am in the middle of a project; then it gets a bit cluttered; my bathroom project just had a deadline added - but a good one if there ever was such a thing
26. Weaken : ABATE
27. Runner's distance : LAP
28. Fall deliveries? : LIBRAS - fresh way to clue astrological signs
30. Play or school follower : MATE - playmate, schoolmate
31*. Alouette 1 satellite launcher : CANADA - Sounded Frawnche, so I put FRANCE in; Canada is "half" French, so I was close....
34. Catch : NAB - waffled in the middle here, had SPY, then GET
36. "Good __!" : IDEA - not LUCK
37*. Oakland's county : ALAMEDA - guessed from A --- A
39. Like some beaches : TOPLESS - all beaches are topless, for guys....
9. Will matter : ESTATE - First thought, late fill
15. "I give up" : IT'S NO USE - took a moment to parse this, having "NOUS" in the middle
16. Onomatopoeic dance : CHA-CHA - there was a time when I knew how to do this dance
18. Weapons used on mounts : LANCES - big help in the NE
19. "Out of the Blue" band : ELO - total WAG, but then again, three-letter bands....
20. Beyond harmful : LETHAL
22*. Pabst brand originally brewed in Washington, familiarly : OLY - not a brand I am familiar with; filled via perps
23. They're slow to pick things up : SLOBS - I prefer neat and tidy, unless I am in the middle of a project; then it gets a bit cluttered; my bathroom project just had a deadline added - but a good one if there ever was such a thing
26. Weaken : ABATE
27. Runner's distance : LAP
28. Fall deliveries? : LIBRAS - fresh way to clue astrological signs
30. Play or school follower : MATE - playmate, schoolmate
31*. Alouette 1 satellite launcher : CANADA - Sounded Frawnche, so I put FRANCE in; Canada is "half" French, so I was close....
34. Catch : NAB - waffled in the middle here, had SPY, then GET
36. "Good __!" : IDEA - not LUCK
37*. Oakland's county : ALAMEDA - guessed from A --- A
39. Like some beaches : TOPLESS - all beaches are topless, for guys....
41. Gimlet flavor : LIME - I tried MINT; thinking Julep - must be a Kentucky Derby thing....
42*. 2011 World Golf Hall of Fame inductee : ELS - about the only three-letter golfing name I know
44. By the fire, say : TOASTY - I might be getting toasty by the fake fireplace in less than two weeks - I'll keep you posted~!
42*. 2011 World Golf Hall of Fame inductee : ELS - about the only three-letter golfing name I know
44. By the fire, say : TOASTY - I might be getting toasty by the fake fireplace in less than two weeks - I'll keep you posted~!
45. Sediment : LEES - familiar with this because I made my own beer in college - potent stuff
46. Programming language named for a comedy group : PYTHON - don't know the language, but I do know the comedy
I move...for no man
48*. "The world's an __": Dryden : INN - perps
49*. Mexican painter Frida : KAHLO
51*. Teamsters president James : HOFFA - ah. Clued as "Jimmy", I would've known
55. Gp. with carriers : NRA - gun club - packing heat
56. Like old timers? : ANALOG - got it
look closely....
58. Word in many Mexican place names : LAS - tried SAN - that was 100% 33.3% correct; or, 67% correct 33.3% - you tell me, D-otto
59. Egg, perhaps : GAMETE
61. More than one can handle : A BIT MUCH
64. Stuck at a chalet, maybe : ICED IN - run away Tin~!!!
66. Fit one within another : NESTED
Russian Matryoshka
DOWN:
1. Babies"R"Us buys : WIPES
2. Even a little : AT ALL
3. Half a playground exchange : IS TOO~!
4. Stuff that goes kablooey : TNT
5. Trouble : WOE
6. Give a good toss : HURL
7. Equally close : AS NEAR - on the UK show Top Gear, Jeremy would frequently say "as near as makes no difference..." referring to a car's 200mph, 700hp, etc.
8. 1996 treaty subject : TEST BAN
9. Panache : ECLAT
10. Fissile rock : SHALE
11. Light shade ... or avoid the shade? : TAN - the adjective and the verb; here's the noun ;7))
12. Praise : ACCOLADES
13. Gossip's stock-in-trade : THE LATEST
21. Goes after : HAS AT - see above, 46a, @ 4:05 for an example
24. Holds accountable : BLAMES
25. Perspective : SIDE
29. Ordered : BADE
30. Pepperidge Farm treat : MILANO
13. Gossip's stock-in-trade : THE LATEST
21. Goes after : HAS AT - see above, 46a, @ 4:05 for an example
24. Holds accountable : BLAMES
25. Perspective : SIDE
29. Ordered : BADE
30. Pepperidge Farm treat : MILANO
31. Joining the radio show : CALLING IN - I went with PHONING in, and that messed up the whole SW corner
33. Rat : NAME NAMES - the verb in this instance
35. "Ice cream or cake?" response, perhaps : BOTH
38. Highest-ranking : ALPHA
40. Bear with a "thotful spot" : POOH
43. Educational outlines : SYLLABI
47. "Poor baby!" : "TOO BAD~!"
49*. Holmes of "Touched With Fire" : KATIE
50. Words spoken after coming to? : AN END - today's write-up is "coming to an end"
52. High wind? : FLUTE - not fooled, knew we were looking for an orchestra instrument
53. They can be hard to face : FACTS
54. Grill leftovers : ASHES - eh. More like fire leftovers; grill to me implies food
57*. 1951 title role for Audrey : GIGI
60. Abbr. on a Miami itinerary : EDT - I am anticipating an airport arrival soon, and they, too, will have Eastern Daylight Time stamped on their paperwork
62. Pull : TUG
63. Marseille sight : MER - and we come to an end with more Frawnche
33. Rat : NAME NAMES - the verb in this instance
35. "Ice cream or cake?" response, perhaps : BOTH
38. Highest-ranking : ALPHA
40. Bear with a "thotful spot" : POOH
43. Educational outlines : SYLLABI
47. "Poor baby!" : "TOO BAD~!"
49*. Holmes of "Touched With Fire" : KATIE
50. Words spoken after coming to? : AN END - today's write-up is "coming to an end"
52. High wind? : FLUTE - not fooled, knew we were looking for an orchestra instrument
53. They can be hard to face : FACTS
54. Grill leftovers : ASHES - eh. More like fire leftovers; grill to me implies food
57*. 1951 title role for Audrey : GIGI
60. Abbr. on a Miami itinerary : EDT - I am anticipating an airport arrival soon, and they, too, will have Eastern Daylight Time stamped on their paperwork
62. Pull : TUG
63. Marseille sight : MER - and we come to an end with more Frawnche
Splynter