Friday, December 8, 2023 - Lynn Lempel

Theme: "Cesium the day!" (Cs) or C ==> S

One of Lynn's entries that didn't make the cut? CLUE: When images of Lucky Charms are dancing in your head?: CEREAL TIMES (SURREAL TIMES)

If the THEME were K ==> N, then this cartoon would be appropriate:

Puzling thoughts:

More Friday wordplay as Ms. Lempel produces 5 homophonic phrases in which each of the homophones has a "C-word" that should begin with an "S" for the more common phrase or expression. Lynn Lempel's reputation as a Crossword puzzle constructor more than precedes itself. Having more than 100 puzzles @ the NY Times places her in a rareified class of puzzle producers

Hmm ... another wordplay just creeped into MY jumbled brain ... CLUE: Successor who lives above 10,000 feet?: RAREFIED HEIR

So let's examine each of the 5 phrases, "won" at a "thyme" ...

17 across. Odd remedy for an overhead crack?: CEILING WAX. Let's come clean for a second ... my first entry was CEILING FAN before realizing that this puzzle was heading in a homophonic direction. CEILING WAX isn't anything I'm aware of, but SEALING WAX most certainly is ... notice the red wax on the bottle below; it is hand-dipped at the distillery in Loretto, KY

25 across. Pennies that are a dime a dozen?: COMMON CENTS. "Let's throw in an idiom, too", said Lynn, as the phrase "dime a dozen" = COMMON; and after using a bit of COMMON SENSE, the Chairman (me) figured this one out

37 across. Percussion instrument for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir?: RELIGIOUS CYMBAL. This one calls for a Moe-ku:

Zildjian has special
Religious collection that
Features creche cymbals

52 across. Sacrifice of some data storage space?: CLOUD CEDING. The most subtle in terms of humor of the five ... I am very familiar with the CLOUD for data storage: [wikipedia] "Cloud storage is a model of computer data storage in which the digital data is stored in logical pools, said to be on "the cloud". The physical storage spans multiple servers, and the physical environment is typically owned and managed by a hosting company"

CLOUD SEEDING is: [wikipedia] "... a type of weather modification that aims to change the amount or type of precipitation that falls from clouds by dispersing substances into the air that serve as cloud condensation or ice nuclei, which alter the microphysical processes within the cloud". Or maybe, this:

61 across. Jewelry in the shape of a swan?: CYGNET RING. THIS was my favorite of the 5. Very clever. A CYGNET is a juvenile male swan. A SIGNET is a small seal (usually on the face of a stone on a ring) that authenticates; this, e.g.:

As opposed to this:

Here is a singular of (1 across. Short shot: PIC) showing today's completed grid; this will also show where I made my mistakes (see the crossing of 44a and 39d, as well as 35a and 27d). Due to the number of theme entries, the puzzle grid had to contain a large number (22) of 3-letter words. Adding together the time I spent solving and the complexity of today's puzzle (for me) puts this @ 8.2 on the MOES hardness scale. Well done Lynn! Hope you'll stop by and say hello!

Across:
5. Shocks: JOLTS; and its singular "clecho" (20 across. Shock:) STUN.

10. Gum balls?: WADS. When I was a kid, many baseball players chewed tobacco. They always had a distinctive WAD in their cheek. I "aped" that - in a way - by cramming multiple sticks of bubble gum into my mouth. Might be a good reason why all of my molars had cavities ...

14. Shade in a neutral palette: ECRU.

15. Nebraska rail hub: OMAHA. CSO to our Saturday blogger and daily poster, Husker Gary

16. Actor Guinness: ALEC.

19. Speak effusively: GUSH.

21. Rejections: NOS. And two additional homophones: NOSE and KNOWS

23. "You can't mean me!?": MOI.

24. Go downhill fast: SKI.

30. Super __: PAC.

31. Met favorites: ARIAS.

32. Truism: AXIOM.

33. Sundance Film Festival state: UTAH.

35. Club kin: BLT. This one got me, as I didn't associate "club" with a sandwich, and I didn't recognize the name in the crossing word clue (27 down. Ventimiglia of "This Is Us":) MILO, even though I watched all of the "This is Us" series' episodes. MILO played Jack Pearson. Worth watching if you haven't seen it

36. __ carte: A LA.

43. "Hardly!": NOT.

44. Same old same old: RUT. My mistake here was using the word "ROT" instead of RUT. My inner Norm Crosby must've appeared

45. Rational: SANE.

46. CX-5 and CX-50 automaker: MAZDA. Anyone else try HONDA first?

49. Olympian and actress Sonja: HENIE; and conveniently, Lynn Lempel found this (2 down. Gear for 49-Across: ICE SKATE) to complement

51. Decline: SAG.

54. Prefix with friendly: ECO.

55. Tanqueray product: GIN. Not the brand I normally drink; here is one of my (and Margaret's) current favorite:

56. Tofu, basically: SOY.

57. Munch Museum city: OSLO.

59. Really distasteful: ICKY. Glad this wasn't a five-letter answer ... 

66. Committed perjury: LIED.

67. Gochujang origin: KOREA. I love using this on fried or scrambled eggs, or in an omelete

68. Red's friend in "The Shawshank Redemption": ANDY. This filled in with perps as I did not remember the character's names; played by Tim Robbins

69. Boys: LADS.

70. More confident: SURER.

71. Baseball gripping point: SEAM. How to throw and two-seam fastball:

Down:
1. Delt neighbor: PEC. If this were a fraternity or sorority based clue, could the answer have been "EPS"?

3. Decisive: CRITICAL.

4. Chekov colleague: SULU. Original Star Trek, so technically it's not a CSO to Picard

5. Garfield's human: JON. The comic strip Garfield; not the US President. Any guesses as what Jon's last name is?? A LA Husker Gary, I will mention it at the end of my blog*

6. "Daaaang!": OMG. Text speak; Oh My Go...

7. Kim Wexler's field on "Better Call Saul": LAW. Am I the only one here who hasn't watched "Better Call Saul"? Thankfully, LAW was easy to perp into this spot. Reflecting back on ALL of the 3-letter's today, they were very fair

8. Marvel villain who collected the Infinity Stones: THANOS. I actually got this one, as Margaret introduced me to the Marvel Universe when we became a couple in late 2019. The Infinity Stones colors represent: Purple for Space, Yellow for Reality, Red for Power, Blue for Mind, Orange for Time, and Green for Soul. The stone colors were updated in the Marvel Legacy series to match the film versions. Here is an image of this dude with the 6 Infinity Stones:

9. Early invader of Great Britain: SAXON. Earlier invader of Great Britain: ANGLO. Otherwise, how else could they merge??

10. Jokester: WAG. See 9 down; that's Chairman Moe trying to be a WAG

11. Many college donors: ALUMNI. Many blood donors: O NEGATIVE

12. Bygone Chrysler: DESOTO. Bring back any memories?

13. Rupture in a church group: SCHISM. [Wikipedia] "A schism is a division between people, usually belonging to an organization, movement, or religious denomination. The word is most frequently applied to a split in what had previously been a single religious body, such as the Great East–West Schism or the Western Schism"

18. Native of Peru's Urubamba Valley: INCA. [Wikipedia] "The Sacred Valley of the Incas or the Urubamba Valley, is a valley in the Andes of Peru, north of the Inca capital of Cusco"

22. Like a bass or a boa: SCALY. It's homoNYM time with the clues ... clearly, not these two:

24. Urge (on): SPUR. GOAD or PROD fits, too

26. Planetary path: ORBIT. Or if the clue were to somehow use a transitive verb we could have this Moe-ku:

Do we know planets
Are circular in shape? Or
Did we just ORB IT?

28. Ripened: MATURED. Margaret often tells me that I have not yet MATURED, but occasionally tells me that I am RIPE ... 藍

29. Chances to determine proficiency: EXAMS. I always liked multiple guess questions on EXAMS

34. Holi celebrant: HINDU. Another homonymic clue ... HOLI and HOLY are pronounced the same but have different meanings. [Wikipedia] "Holi is a popular and significant HINDU festival celebrated as the Festival of Colours, Love, and Spring. It celebrates the eternal and divine love of the deities Radha and Krishna. Additionally, the day signifies the triumph of good over evil, as it commemorates the victory of Vishnu as Narasimha over Hiranyakashipu"

If I were a betting man I would guess that Picard has some photos of this celebration to share with us today ...

36. Get credit for?: ACT IN.

38. Urges on: GOADS. Hmm ... didn't I just see this a few clues ago?? A plural clecho ...

39. Olympic gymnast Lee: SUNI. One of my two Naticks today. I didn't know this person, but her routine is pretty incredible:

40. Court boundary: BASELINE. This link provides several references to the term "BASELINE"

41. World's heaviest snake: ANACONDA. Now THIS boa is pretty SCALY

42. Component of some small castles: LEGO. Perps to the rescue but quite fair (and clever) as a clue

46. Montreal university: MCGILL. CSO to CanadianEh! Perhaps they can give us a bit more info on this fine institution

47. Garza who co-founded the Black Lives Matter movement: ALICIA. [Wikipedia] "Alicia Garza is an American civil rights activist and writer known for co-founding the Black Lives Matter movement. She is a recognized advocate for social and racial justice, with a particular focus on issues affecting marginalized communities, including Black women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and immigrants"

48. Utterly exhausted: ZONKED.

49. "Oh, hi!": HEY YOU.

50. Versatile celeb's achievement: EGOT. EGOT is becoming a very popular Crossword Puzzle entry

53. Roosters: COCKS.

58. Some Mex. spouses: SRAS. CSO to Lucina

60. Quilting qty.: YDS. Nice alliterative clue

62. "Why, I oughta ... ": GRR.

63. Name-clarifying word: NEE. My screen name is Chairman Moe, NEE Moe Vedre ... feel free to ask why

64. Otoscope target: EAR. Friday-like clue

65. Workout spot: GYM. An easy one to finish on

Hope y'all liked the puzzle and the wordplay. Please comment below ... see ya again just before Christmas ... *ARBUCKLE

 

Note from C.C.:

Happy 77th birthday to dear Jazzbumpa (Ron)! Ron is taking the December off, but he'll be back in January. Ron has been our faithful Wednesday Sherpa since January 2011.

 

 

 

Monday July 17, 2023 Lynn Lempel

 

Hello Cornerites!

sumdaze here. Today's grid delivers 4 themers plus a reveal. Let's take a closer look:

16 Across. Bed that may have a canopy: FOUR POSTER.  

22 Across. Prize announcement that often involves ping pong balls: LOTTO DRAWING.  

37 Across. Many a writing exercise in a fiction class: CHARACTER SKETCH.

How to Write One

49 Across. Spotted pattern appropriate for a catsuit: LEOPARD PRINT. 

He's quite the catch.

60 Across. Bizarre, and what the ends of 16-, 22-, 37-, and 49-Across are when redecorating: OFF THE WALL.  Def.: (adj.) highly unusual; strange or very different, often intentionally.  

It is also the slogan for Vans shoes. OFF THE WALL was a term coined when skateboarders in the mid '70s were landing new tricks in empty pools by literally skating OFF THE WALL.

I see the connection between POSTER, DRAWING, SKETCH, and PRINT. However, for me, it is less clear how OFF THE WALL connects. It does make me think of my teenage bedroom. I had so many posters on my walls (e.g., Rocky, Devo, Let's Boogie, the 'Hang in There' cat, Yosemite's Half Dome) that I ran out of space. I had to resort to tacking posters on my ceiling. Perhaps Lynn is reminding us of when the POSTERs/DRAWINGs/SKETCHes/PRINTs of our youth eventually came OFF THE WALL to make room for a more sophisticated décor. Everyone has to grow up sometime....

Let's see what else the Queen of Mondays prepared for us today.

Across:

1. Goes halfsies with, say: SHARES.  cute clue

7. Chat at length: GAB.

10. Yield to gravity: SAG. Congratulations if you have no idea what this means!

13. Sneak attack: AMBUSH.  The gray cat shows how it is done:  

14. Pollution-fighting org.: EPA.  "Organization" is abbreviated, so is "Environmental Protection Agency".

15. "Aladdin" parrot named for a Shakespeare villain: IAGO.  Sparknotes calls IAGO (from Othello) "possibly the most heinous villain of Shakespeare."

18. Grouchy one: CRAB.  

19. "¿Cómo __ usted?": ESTA.  Muy bien, gracias.

20. Tattle (on): RAT.  

21. News outlets: MEDIA.  "MEDIA" is a collective noun so it can be singular or plural.

26. Soup cooker: POT.  

29. U-turn from NNW: SSE.

30. Sioux City citizen: IOWAN.  Sioux City was founded in 1854. Its elevation is 1,201 ft (366 m.) and its population in 2021 was 85,617. Some famous Sioux City citizens are Fred Grandy (Gopher on The Love Boat), Jerry Mathers (Beaver on Leave it to Beaver), and the advice columnist twins Ann Landers & Abigail Van Buren, neither of whom has a rodent moniker.

31. Soil: EARTH.  and  58 Down. Clump of dirt: CLOD.

33. Pea sheller's discard: POD.

34. Celestial Seasonings products: TEAS.  Anyone who has taken the Celestial Seasonings factory tour in Boulder, CO will remember going into the Mint Room!  

41. Japanese wrestling: SUMO.  To win a match, the wrestler must push his opponent out of the 15 ft. diameter (4.54 m.) ring or make him fall down to the ground. This usually only takes a few seconds but there is a lot of lead-up. You can read more here.

These athletes are much more limber than one might think.
It looks like the wrestler on the left will fall down to the ground first.

42. Bounce: HOP.

43. Put pen to paper: WRITE.  

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss sing Please Read the Letter (1998).

44. Sat for a photo: POSED.  How to Pose: 7 Easy Adjustments for More Flattering Photos

48. Govt. intel group: NSA.  "Government" is abbreviated, so is "National Security Agency".

53. Bowler's hangout: ALLEY.  Um, actually.....

54. West Coast sch. with the most Rose Bowl wins: USC. The University of Southern California Trojans have the most appearances (34) in the Tournament of Roses Football Game, giving them an advantage on the record for most wins (25). more stats

55. Oil cartel acronym: OPEC.  Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries

59. Commotion: STIR.  

63. Family lads: SONS.  I wish they still did TV show opening credits like this one for My Three Sons (1960 - 1972).

64. File that might be e-signed: PDF.  Portable Document Format  

65. "Still ... ": EVEN SO.  

66. Dollar bill: ONE.  As in, "I threw a couple of ONEs into the tip jar."

67. Endeavor: TRY.  Also, a British TV detective drama (2012 - 2023). Set in Oxford from 1965 - 1971, it is a prequel to the Inspector Morse series (1987 - 2000). Endeavor does a good job of recreating the fashion, settings, and cultural zeitgeist of the times.

Shaun Evans and Roger Allam star as
young Inspector Morse and Fred Thursday, respectively.

68. Like most pretzels and chips: SALTED.  I had SALTy --> SAvory --> SALTED

Down:

1. Spot for valuables: SAFE.  Jeff Sitar won the Lockmaster's International SAFEcracking Competition eight times! You can meet him in this 2:17 min. video:  

2. Managed care gps.: HMOS.  "Groups" is abbreviated and plural, so is "Health Maintenance OrganizationS". This webpage explains the difference between an HMO and a PPO.

3. Lie alongside: ABUT.

4. Like a farming community: RURAL.  Speaking of TV shows with fun opening credits, how about this show featuring RURAL life?  

Green Acres (1965 - 1971)

5. Clairvoyant's claim: ESP.  A clairvoyant is someone who claims to have a supernatural ability often called ExtraSensory Perception.  

6. Summer attire: SHORTS.

7. Reach: GET TO.

8. Nonhuman primate: APE.

9. Soap unit: BAR.

10. Packed can of fish: SARDINE TIN. Yes, there have been many 3-letter fills today. I suppose that is the price one pays to fit in this pleasing fill, along with its symmetrical partner at 28 Down.  

This is a mesmerizing video of Pacific SARDINEs, sea turtles, and tuna in a one million gallon tank at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, a building which was once a SARDINE factory on Cannery Row. The last cannery closed in 1973.

Note:  I recommend muting the sound to eliminate audio distractions.

11. From the top: AGAIN.  This clue made me think of my musician grandfather's favorite TV show.

With a-one and a-two....

12. Portable evacuation kit: GO BAG.  Here is a list of things to pack in your GO BAG.

15. Cold zero-calorie drink: ICE WATER. This was another amusing clue, along with its symmetrical partner at 32 Down.

17. Fill to the max: SATE.

21. Cavernous opening: MAW.  Def: (noun) the receptible into which food is taken by swallowing; the throat, gullet, or jaws especially of a voracious animal; something suggesting of a gaping maw.

23. Org. that collects workplace injury data: OSHA.  "Organization" is abbreviated, so is "Occupational Safety and Health Administration".

24. Designer Christian: DIOR.  

This ensemble is from Christian DIOR's Fall 2023 Ready-to-Wear collection.

25. Fishing poles: RODS.

26. Muscles above abs: PECS.  

27. Waikiki's island: O'AHU.

28. Acrobat's springboard: TRAMPOLINE.  TRAMPOLINE is an Olympic event.  

32. Highway officers: TROOPERS. Not all States use this term. In some States, these officers are called State Police, Highway Patrol, or State Patrol.

33. Vitality: PEP.

35. Plays a part: ACTS.

36. __ butter: moisturizer in L'Occitane products: SHEA.

38. One-named "Believe" singer: CHER.  Believe is the title track from her 22nd studio album, which was released in 1998.

39. Chuck of "Meet the Press": TODD.  Last month he announced he will be leaving the show to spend more time with his family.

40. "Crazy Rich Asians" novelist Kevin: KWAN.  Kevin KWAN is a Singapore-born American author.  

45. Give voice to: SAY.  With only 3 letters, there were not a lot of options.

46. Formerly, quaintly: ERST.

47. Wealth: RICHES.  Kevin KWAN's literary realm

49. Coach Ted played by Jason Sudeikis: LASSO.  Annon-T recommends this show. I want to watch it but first I need to get HULU.

50. "Tiny Dancer" singer John: ELTON.  This one always tricks me. I first think, "John ___."

51. Somewhat swollen: PUFFY.  

puffer jackets

52. Low-tech hair dryer: TOWEL.  I liked this clue -- possibly because it appealed to my dry sense of humor.

ba-dum-TSSH

56. Gasp for breath: PANT.  and  57 Down. Otherwise: ELSE.

60. Elect (to): OPT.

61. WPA creator: FDR.  "Works Progress Administration" is abbreviated, so is the name of the president who enacted it, Franklin D. Roosevelt.

I recently visited a WPA art exhibit. I was previously unaware of this program from the 1930s.

62. "Searching for Mexico" host Longoria: EVA.  This is a travel & food TV show which first aired on March 26, 2023.

Here is the grid. You may or may not choose to PRINT it out and POST it on your WALL.

That's all for today. I look forward to reading your thoughts!

Tuesday, February 14, Lynn Lempel

I get by with a little Help from my Friends!  The first word of each theme answer is the surname of a singer or actor and the second word provides "support" for the celebrity.  Note that the first and last theme answers are males and the middle two names are females; and the first two are musicians, and the last two are actors.

For those who don't like seeing names in puzzles, here's your due warning that this puzzle might not be for you, since the theme itself is all 22-Down.

17-Across. Support group for singer-songwriter Neil?: YOUNG PEOPLE.  [Name # 1.]  In addition to a solo career, Neil YOUNG  (né Neil Percival Young; b. Nov. 12, 1945) has been associated with the band Buffalo Springfield and on and off with Crosby, Stills & Nash, making the later to be sometimes known as Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.  Sadly, his sometimes bandmate, David Crosby (né David Van Cortlandt Cosby; Aug. 14, 1941 ~ Jan. 18, 2023) died last month.

David Crosby (left) and Neil Young

28-Across. Support group for singer-songwriter Ruthie?: FOSTER FAMILY.  Ruthie FOSTER (née Ruthie Cecelia Foster; b. Feb. 10, 1964) is known for her blues, gospel, and folk music.  Her birthday was last Friday.  [Name # 2.]

49-Across. Support group for actress Glenn?: CLOSE FRIENDS.  Glenn CLOSE (née Glenda Veronica Close; b. Mar. 19, 1947) has been in numerous movies, but I mostly associate her with the 1987 movie, Fatal Attraction.  [Name # 3.]

65-Across. Support group for actor Jude?: LAW PARTNERS.  Jude LAW (né David Jude Heyworth Law; b. Dec. 29, 1972) has also been in numerous movies as well as television series, including The Young Pope and The New Pope.  [Name # 4.]

And here is a bonus "hint" to today's puzzle:

22-Down. First entry on many a form: NAME.

Across:

1. So last year: PASSÉ.

6. Home on the "I" page of many ABC books: IGLOO.  This clue threw me for a moment, until most of the letters were filled in by the perps.

11. Beer cask: KEG.  //  And 18-Down. Places with cold drafts: PUBS.  The latter is a nice misdirection.

14. Communion site: ALTAR.  Also the site of many weddings.

15. __ of salt: GRAIN.

16. Nest egg acronym: IRA.  As in an Individual Retirement Account.

19. Pen tip: NIB.

20. Mailed: SENT OUT.

21. Burns a bit: SINGES.

23. Reggae-like genre: SKA.  Everything you wanted to know about Ska, but didn't know to ask.

24. One who tweets a lot: BIRD.

27. Beaver creation: DAM.

33. Scatter, as seeds: STREW.

36. Route word: VIA.

37. LGBT rights activist Windsor: EDIE.  Edie Windsor (née Edith Schlain; June 20, 1929 ~ Sept. 12, 2017) was the lead plaintiff in the 2019 Supreme Court case of United States v. Windsor, which held that      Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act was unconstitutional and that the federal government could not discriminate against married gay couples for the purpose of determining federal benefits and protections. [Name # 5.]

38. Shepherd's __: PIE.  Yummers!

39. Writing tablet: NOTE PAD.

43. Every bit of: ALL.

44. Fashion designer Schiaparelli: ELSA.  Elsa Shaiaparelli (née Elsa Luisa Maria Schiaparelli; Sept. 10, 1890 ~ Nov. 13, 1973) was a contemporary of Coco Chanel (née Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel; Aug. 19, 1883 ~ Jan. 10, 1971).  Her designs were avant garde and she collaborated with artists such as Salvador Dalí (May 11, 1904 ~ 1989). [Name # 6.]

46. In favor of: FOR.

47. Greek fable writer: ÆSOP.  He appeared in last Tuesday's puzzle, too.  [Name # 7.]

53. Veto: NIX.

54. Emperor during the Great Fire of Rome: NERO.  Nero probably didn't fiddle while Rome burned.   [Name # 8.]

55. Slangy "How's things?": 'SUP.

58. Balanced state: STASIS.

61. Revolts: RISES UP.

64. Coif flattener: HAT.

68. Most of a snow cone: ICE.

69. Make official, as a statute: ENACT.

70. Estate units: ACRES.

71. Sci-fi escape vehicle: POD.  So that's what that thing is in front of my neighbor's house.

not my actual neighbor.

72. Sealy rival: SERTA.  Both are mattress companies.

73. Under attack from all sides: BESET.

Down:

1. Foots the bill: PAYS.

2. Medicinal houseplants: ALOES.  This has become a Tuesday staple.  Aloe has appeared in the last 3 Tuesday puzzles.

3. Did horribly: STUNK.

4. New Mexico's capital: SANTA FE.  Anyone here from New Mexico?

5. "So, logically ... ": ERGO.

6. "No need to elaborate": I GET IT.  I first tried I Got It.

7. Miracle-__: gardening brand: GRO.

8. Spot for a napkin: LAP.

9. Cooking liquids that may be herb-infused: OILS.

10. Lake near Syracuse, New York: ONEIDA.  //  And 12-Down. Lake near Buffalo, New York: ERIE.  The latter is one of the Great Lakes.  The former is the largest lake that is entirely within the State of New York.

11. Ruler with a golden touch: KING MIDAS.  King Midas is a Greek mythological character.   [Name # 9.]

13. Chews the fat: GABS.

25. Daydream: REVERIE.

26. Slow leak: DRIP.

29. Part of MYOB and BYOB: OWN.  Mind Your OWN Business and Bring Your OWN Booze.

30. Safe skies agcy.: FAA.  As in the Federal Aviation Administration.

31. Disney's "__ & Stitch": LILO.  This was a 2002 animated film.  [Name adjacent.]

32. Kennel cry: YELP.

33. On __: without a contract: SPEC.

34. Cash register: TILL.

35. Struck a chord: RESONATED.

40. Not quite right: OFF.

41. Of two minds: TORN.

42. Father: DAD.

45. Tag sale caveat: AS IS.

48. Basic quality: ESSENCE.

50. Banishes: EXILES.

51. List of editorial goofs: ERRATA.  Today's Latin lesson.  This is the plural of Erratum, which is just one mistake.

52. Pinot __: red wine choice: NOIR.  Everything you wanted to know about Pinot Noir, but didn't know to ask.

56. Patrons: USERS.

57. Blender setting for making baby food: PURÉE.

58. Carnival vessel: SHIP.  Kathy Lee Gifford used to be the spokeswoman for the Carnival ship line.

59. Tex-Mex order: TACO.

60. Rational: SANE.

62. Dueler's injury: STAB.  Some famous sword fights.

63. Soft summons: PSST.

66. Realm of Ares and Mars: WAR.  Ares is the god of war and Mars is the Roman counterpart.  [Name adjacent]

67. Fractional amt.: PCT.  As in Percent, although our friends on the West Coast might think of the Pacific Crest Trail, which is a hiking trail. 

Here's the Grid:

חתולה

Happy Valentine's Day!