"Boot Up" is the reveal and makes for an apt title. And
heads up, it's an LA Times Crossword debut for Margaret.
Hi
all ! Anonymous T(tp) here, subbing for Hahtoolah. No
cartoons, but I did hide three Easter eggs. Can you find them ?
This
puzzle was a real doozy. Let's get right at it.
The reveal
is BOOT UP.
Read the starred clues from the bottom up, and look for a famous boot
name.
6. *Small child, facetiously: ANKLE BITER. The first
one is the heralded RE-TIB, made by ELK, NA. These boots are
commonly known as Wapitits because of the company name. They
feature two hooves in the front, and sport the instantly recognizable big
white rump on the back of the heel. The TIB was original men's
version. The redesigned RE-TIB model shed the decorative antlers
after numerous product liability lawsuits were filed. Not my
cuppa, in either the original or redesigned version.
10.
*Endangered cat that turns white in winter: SNOW LEOPARD. Boot #
2 is the equally famous DRAPO EL WONS. I got a pair of these
stylish winter boots for Christmas, and let me tell you, yes, they are
"As-advertised." They are the warmest winter boots I've ever
had. These heavily lined boots were originally made near the
lowlands of Mont Blanc and marketed heavily in the French newspaper LE MONDE,
using the French word drapeau, meaning woolen cloth maker. I think
they were a little too clever targeting an international market, combining
French, Spanish and English. It's been debated as to whether the
intent was to be "The Winners" or "The Ones." Regardless, look
for these at high-end retailers.
Wait. Cool your
jets. Hold the phone. This just in. That's not what's
going on here. Not even close.
Just read the first word (the "Up" word) in each of the theme answers, and add
Boot to it.
6. *Small child, facetiously: ANKLE BITER. - Ankle Boot
10. *Endangered cat that turns white in winter: SNOW LEOPARD. - Snow
Boot
16. *Salad of corn and black-eyed peas that originated in Texas:
COWBOY CAVIAR. - Cowboy Boot.
26. *Sleeping option that lacks a box spring: PLATFORM BED. -
Platform Boot.
32. *Cinnamon roll with currants: CHELSEA BUN. - Chelsea Boot.
62. Start, as a computer, and what each answer to a starred clue has?:
BOOT UP.
That makes a lot more sense. Down running theme answers, and the up (first, top) word is a style of boot. I knew each of the styles by name except for Ankle and Chelsea.
15 x 16 grid today. A fine puzzle, Margaret. Feel free to
comment.
Across::
1. Enclosure for changing into a swimsuit: CABANA. You
might find one poolside when you take some time off to spend at at a relaxing
resort in the southern climes.
7. One of the original Seven Sisters schools: VASSAR. The Hudson
Valley college in Poughkeepsie that was named for a brewer.
13. Roused from sleep: AWOKEN. Disturbed.
14. French daily paper: LE MONDE. It's read at Notre Dame.
The one in Paris.
15. Mostly shaved hairstyle: MOHAWK. DeNiro's haircut in
"Taxi Driver."
16. Commutes with co-workers: CARPOOLS. HOV lane users.
17. __-mo replay: SLO. The instant replay feature that often
takes too long to review.
18. Arm joints: ELBOWS. They're brutally effective in hand to
hand combat and self defense.
20. Foolish sort: TWIT.
21. Like some GameStop merchandise: PRE-OWNED. Used.
23. Units of wt.: LBS. My New Year's resolution was to lose
ten of them. Only twelve more to go.
24. Home screen array: APPS. Applications shown on your phone or
browser.
27. __ and weaves: BOBS. How a boxer moves to avoid getting
hit.
28. Issa of HBO's "Insecure": RAE. No relation to Norma.
30. __ monster: GILA. The venomous lizard of the Sonoran
desert. Venomous, but not normally fatal to healthy adult
people. Any stories, Yuman ? Or anyone that's been to
that desert ?
31. Ad abbr. for "seeking": ISO. Do you think that
... ? Is it true ... ? Am I SO out of touch I
don't know what ISO means ? In search of.
32. Uses crayons: COLORS. Stay between the lines. Thems the
rules.
35. Travel discount provider: AAA. And a small battery size.
36. Courtroom fig.: ATTY. A professional in briefs.
37. Many a Woodstock attendee: HIPPIE. I believe Lemonade
said he was there.
Yasgur's farm,
Bethel, N.Y.
38. Chant: INTONE. Enunciate slooowly.
40. Prompted on stage: CUED. The forgetful
actor was fed a line.
42. Get on in years: AGE. Mature. Maybe. Maybe
not.
43. "That's cheating!": NO FAIR. "I was robbed!"
44. The Hawks, on scoreboards: ATL anta. I must commend
ATLGranny for always projecting such a positive attitude. Not to take
away from the other positive minded people here; it's just that I had that
opening with ATL.
45. __ and proper: PRIM. Like many schoolmarms ?
46. Greenlights: OKS. Approves. Thumbs up !
47. Numbered rds. in a city: AVES. Not so much in
Chicago. Generally, avenues here are named.
48. Stirs in: ADDS. Combines. The verb. Not the
generic name of the harvesting equipment.
49. Time off, briefly: RNR. Rest and R (elaxation, ecuperation,
ecreation, ...) Pick one.
51. Completeness: ENTIRETY. The whole kit and caboodle.
54. Rhythmic foot: IAMB. The metrical foot in poetry.
56. Hebrew prophet: ISAIAH. Michelangelo painted him on the
Sistine Chapel ceiling.
57. Relaxing resort: SPA. A place to get some RNR.
60. "I expect more from you": DO BETTER. "Improve, or else!"
64. Retired, as a professor: EMERITA. Honored in academia.
65. Orders for regulars: USUALS. The regular customers, and
what they'll order.
66. 2022 documentary about actor and activist Poitier:
SIDNEY. Great actor. The documentary is on
Apple TV+
67. Weed with stinging hairs: NETTLE. Plan on 30 to 45
minutes of stinging pain if you come in contact with a Texas Bull
Nettle. Click the pic for a close up.
Down:
1. Pic takers: CAMS. Incredible overhead shots of the
Argentinians celebrating. I'm happy for Messi.
2. GI sought by MPs: AWOL. I knew a few that received an Article
15 under the Uniform Code of Military Justice for not reporting for duty, but
never knew anyone that got written up for the much more serious charge of
being AWOL. That's Article 87 of the UCMJ. I just looked it up.
3. __-chic: 37-Across-influenced style: BOHO. Boho-chic.
Bohemian stylish. "While boho and hippie fashions have certain things in common, boho is
more about encouraging a more romantic appearance and a more nomadic way
of living. Hippie and boho fashions both attempt to break away from
conventional dress. Boho fashion, in contrast to hippie fashion, has no
political roots." - All news to me.
4. Alias letters: AKA. As in, "Chicago, aka the Windy City, the
City of Big Shoulders, or the Second City, is noted for ..."
5. Next gen: NEWER. Next gen has become a marketing buzzword, and
may or may not represent any real improvement or advancement in a product or
service offering. So it's often only hype, but it sells better than
using descriptors like last gen or old gen.
7. Song segment: VERSE.
Second verse, same as the first.
8. Concert device: AMP.
The Story of the Marshall Amp. Thanks, Dash T !
9. Chimney grime: SOOT. How does Santa's suit stay so clean ?
11. Improvise on stage: AD LIB. Spontaneous remarks or
actions. Riffing. Sometimes by the forgetful actor that wasn't
cued.
12. Takes five: RESTS. A five minute RNR ?
14. Grassy yards: LAWNS. A coworker who was also a neighbor
relocated here from Arizona, and hated mowing his large back yard, and also
hated paying to have it mowed. He hired a landscaping company to spray
with a non-selective systemic herbicide, and then had them blanket the whole
kit and caboodle with truckload after truckload of stones and rocks.
Apparently it wasn't enough to remind him of home, or maybe it was the
winters, because as soon as he retired he moved back to Arizona.
19. Helpful push upward: BOOST. Physical, emotional or
career wise.
21. Anti-vaping spot, for short: PSA. Public Service
Announcement. The current PSA encourages parents to "Get your head out
of the cloud, and to talk to your kids about vaping." Just so you know,
nicotine is the third most addictive substance behind heroin and cocaine.
22. Sci-fi robot: DROID. Abbreviated from android, I suppose.
24. "Can you repeat that?": AGAIN. I said,
"abbreviated from android, I suppose."
25. Baby grand, e.g.: PIANO. Unlike baseball, the active player
sits on the bench.
29. Swiss mountain: ALP.
33. Inflexible: RIGID. Are we talking about a character
trait, or are we describing the physical properties of certain materials
? I suppose the clue and answer works either way.
34. Looks like: SEEMS.
Seems to me, you just turn your pretty head and walk away.
36. Licoricelike herb: ANISE. Depending on the dish, a
little goes a long way.
39. Acorn tree: OAK. Squirrels love them.
41. Wombs: UTERI. Gestation stations.
45. Pick up the tab: PAY. Treat.
47. Completely confused: AT SEA. Is anyone puzzled by this
?
49. Uber offerings: RIDES. Cedar Point attractions:
Rollercoasters. Rides.
50. Model Campbell: NAOMI. Not just model. 1990s
Supermodel.
52. __-gritty: NITTY. The essentials. The crux of the
matter. "Let's skip the chit chat and get down to the nitty
gritty." Brass tacks.
53. That and that: THOSE. Them ones. No, that's not
correct. It's them thar ones.
55. Swiss capital: BERN. Zoom in, zoom out. The ALPs
shown in 29D are southeast of Bern.
57. Sports fan's datum: STAT istic.
58. Injure, as a muscle: PULL. Been there, done that.
59. Cathedral recess: APSE. The view from a pew.
61. Even score: TIE. Baseball games rarely end in
one.
63. Not at home: OUT. Gone fishin', perhaps. I'm
out. Next time I'll try to do better.
