Theme:
Happy Monday, everyone! sumdaze here with a fresh and fun puzzle idea from Mary Crane. As far as I can tell, this is a debut for Mary at the LA Times. (Her NY Times debut was last July.) Congratulations, Mary!
Unfortunately, your puzzle fell on a Monday and this Monday blogger is not a fan of MAYOnnaise. I avoid all of your themed foods. Nevertheless, I am a fan of your puzzle! Well done!
The four themed answers all feature mayonnaise (a.k.a. MAYO) as a prominent ingredient:
17 Across. Hors d'oeuvre often seasoned with paprika: DEVILED EGG.
28 Across. Picnic side dish: POTATO SALAD.
36 Across. Creamy dip for buffalo wings: RANCH DRESSING.
43 Across. New England seafood sandwich: LOBSTER ROLL.
And the reveal:
59 Across. Minnesota medical center, or where one might learn how to prepare 17-, 28-, 36-, and 43-Across?: MAYO CLINIC. The Mayo Clinic is the largest integrated, not-for-profit medical group practice in the world.
1. Military academy enrollee: CADET.
2. Name said to activate an Amazon Echo Dot: ALEXA.
3. Fastener in a girder: RIVET.
4. Kick out: EVICT.
5. Oscar winner Benicio __ Toro: DEL. He won for Traffic (2002).
6. Not showy: MODEST.
7. Actor Robert who hosts the podcast "Not Today, Pal" with former co-star Jamie-Lynn Sigler: ILER. ESP. The extra-long clue makes me think nobody expected us to know this one.
8. Envelope-pushing: EDGY. It's a peculiar saying because what could be less hip than an envelope?
9. Opposite of pos.: NEG.
10. Expensive nut from Hawaii: MACADAMIA. So 'ono ("delicious" in Hawaiian)!
11. Advance slowly: INCH ALONG. Def.: to move by small degrees.
12. Fish-to-be: ROE. I loved this sushi-less angle!
13. Conclude: END.
18. Sauteing acronym: EVOO. Rachael Ray fans know this is Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
22. Director Craven: WES. He's one of my FAVs ... oh, wait, NO! WES Anderson is one of my FAVs. Oh well, it all worked out in the end.
24. Oil cartel acronym: OPEC. Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
25. "The Brady Bunch" trio: SONS. I got this one with a little "more than a hunch". 🎵
26. Dance that takes two: TANGO.
27. NYC summer hrs.: EDT. New York City summer HouRS are Eastern Daylight Time.
29. TV station, e.g.: AIRER. and 55 Down. Watchful sort: EYER. These two feel a bit too crosswordese to me (more common in crosswords than in language).
30. Shoe front: TOE.
31. Wrinkle-resistant synthetic fabric: ORLON. DuPont created the first acrylic fibers in 1941 and trademarked them under the name ORLON. It was first developed in the mid-1940s but was not produced in large quantities until the 1950s.
32. Hoodwink: BAMBOOZLE. I'm going to take this opportunity to share a song I love: Red is Blue by Ben Folds from the animated movie Hoodwinked (2005). The film is a Little Red Riding Hood derivative.
33. Winning game after game: ON A STREAK. Awesome fill!
37. Makes haste: HIES. Sure thing, Willy Shakes.
38. Binge-watcher's device: DVR.
39. River sediment: SILT.
40. PC key near the space bar: ALT.
44. Casual shirt: TEE.
45. Like a kiwi: OBLONG. An OBLONG is a shape that is longer than it is wide. We can get pedantic about weather or not "roundness" is a requirement and 2D vs. 3D. In the end, I think we knew what the constructor was going for.
46. Not of the clergy: LAIC.
49. Utter nonsense: TRIPE.
50. Lightweight fabric: LINEN.
51. Formal decree: EDICT.
52. Cruise ship levels: DECKS.
54. Singer Grohl who founded the Foo Fighters: DAVE. This is Dave on vocals and guitar in Best of You (2005).
57. __ and haw: HEM. To HEM and haw is to hesitate, to be indecisive.
58. Hoppy beer: ALE.
59. Disorderly crowd: MOB.
60. 1960s hallucinogen, for short: LSD.
That's a wrap for today. I think I'll go make a sandwich....
The themed clues were straightforward and without wordplay. However, revealing MAYO CLINIC as an instructional class on how to prepare recipes which contain MAYOnnaise was a delightful spin! I only wonder how Mary managed to leave out XWD favorite "aioli".
The other clues:
Across:
1. Gave a darn: CARED.
6. Personal bearing: MIEN. Def.: a person's look or manner, especially one of a particular kind indicating their character or mood.
1. Gave a darn: CARED.
6. Personal bearing: MIEN. Def.: a person's look or manner, especially one of a particular kind indicating their character or mood.
MIEN likely came to English from a French word meaning "expression".
BTW, mein is a German possessive pronoun meaning "my".
10. Spongy earth: MIRE.
14. __ and kicking: ALIVE.
15. Like a quaint shoppe: OLDE.
16. Unknown author, for short: ANON.
10. Spongy earth: MIRE.
14. __ and kicking: ALIVE.
15. Like a quaint shoppe: OLDE.
16. Unknown author, for short: ANON.
Destiny's Child ~ Say My Name (1999)
19. Looped in, on email: CC-ED. I liked how this was an almost-reflection across the black square.
 |
| See the full grid below. |
20. Corp. VIP: EXEC. "Corporation" and "Very Important Person" are abbreviated, so is "EXECutive".
21. Quite: VERY. Our constructor Mary is quite clever.
22. Infant's cry: WAH.
23. Skin pictures: TATTOOS.
21. Quite: VERY. Our constructor Mary is quite clever.
22. Infant's cry: WAH.
23. Skin pictures: TATTOOS.
"A rad little tidbit you may not know, the word “tattoo” actually comes from the Samoan word "tatau" which was an onomatopoeia for the sounds that were made when turtle shells tapped boar's teeth loaded with ink into the flesh. Now you know." source
25. Calm and dignified: SEDATE.
25. Calm and dignified: SEDATE.
Ramones ~ I Wanna Be Sedated (1978)
I've heard this song in my head during the last eight miles of every marathon I've ran.
31. Double-reed woodwind: OBOE.
34. Charged particle: ION.
35. Helena's st.: MONT.
40. __ mater: ALMA.
41. "__ moved on": I'VE. ...and so should you.
42. Parrot in Disney's "Aladdin": IAGO. He was voiced by Gilbert Gottfried in the 1992 movie. (Robin Williams voiced the genie in the lamp.)
47. Securities backed by the govt.: T-NOTES. Since we are in tax season, I will remind you that interest income from U.S. Treasury bills, notes, and bonds is subject to federal income tax but is exempt from all state and local taxes. Make sure to subtract this income from your state returns! IRS site
48. Fought: BATTLED.
53. Raw mineral in a mine: ORE.
54. Supermarket area with fresh cheeses: DELI. This was a fresh take on an old staple ... and a possible Easter egg. What do you think, C-Eh! ?
56. Hitchhiker's hope: RIDE. Remember your towel! After all, it "is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have."
57. Foggy state: HAZE.
61. Scat legend Fitzgerald: ELLA.
62. Brick __ pizza: OVEN.
34. Charged particle: ION.
35. Helena's st.: MONT.
 |
| where you can see Canada from your front porch |
40. __ mater: ALMA.
41. "__ moved on": I'VE. ...and so should you.
42. Parrot in Disney's "Aladdin": IAGO. He was voiced by Gilbert Gottfried in the 1992 movie. (Robin Williams voiced the genie in the lamp.)
47. Securities backed by the govt.: T-NOTES. Since we are in tax season, I will remind you that interest income from U.S. Treasury bills, notes, and bonds is subject to federal income tax but is exempt from all state and local taxes. Make sure to subtract this income from your state returns! IRS site
48. Fought: BATTLED.
53. Raw mineral in a mine: ORE.
54. Supermarket area with fresh cheeses: DELI. This was a fresh take on an old staple ... and a possible Easter egg. What do you think, C-Eh! ?
56. Hitchhiker's hope: RIDE. Remember your towel! After all, it "is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have."
57. Foggy state: HAZE.
61. Scat legend Fitzgerald: ELLA.
62. Brick __ pizza: OVEN.
63. Tiny spot: SPECK. 
64. Overly compliant: MEEK.
65. Floating ice chunk: BERG.
66. Auto body blemishes: DENTS.
Down:
65. Floating ice chunk: BERG.
 |
| This is what hail can do to cars in Colorado. |
Down:
1. Military academy enrollee: CADET.
2. Name said to activate an Amazon Echo Dot: ALEXA.
3. Fastener in a girder: RIVET.
4. Kick out: EVICT.
5. Oscar winner Benicio __ Toro: DEL. He won for Traffic (2002).
6. Not showy: MODEST.
7. Actor Robert who hosts the podcast "Not Today, Pal" with former co-star Jamie-Lynn Sigler: ILER. ESP. The extra-long clue makes me think nobody expected us to know this one.
8. Envelope-pushing: EDGY. It's a peculiar saying because what could be less hip than an envelope?
9. Opposite of pos.: NEG.
10. Expensive nut from Hawaii: MACADAMIA. So 'ono ("delicious" in Hawaiian)!
11. Advance slowly: INCH ALONG. Def.: to move by small degrees.
12. Fish-to-be: ROE. I loved this sushi-less angle!
13. Conclude: END.
18. Sauteing acronym: EVOO. Rachael Ray fans know this is Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
 |
| She usually says, "Add a tablespoon of EVOO," as she pours in half a cup. |
22. Director Craven: WES. He's one of my FAVs ... oh, wait, NO! WES Anderson is one of my FAVs. Oh well, it all worked out in the end.
24. Oil cartel acronym: OPEC. Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
25. "The Brady Bunch" trio: SONS. I got this one with a little "more than a hunch". 🎵
26. Dance that takes two: TANGO.
27. NYC summer hrs.: EDT. New York City summer HouRS are Eastern Daylight Time.
29. TV station, e.g.: AIRER. and 55 Down. Watchful sort: EYER. These two feel a bit too crosswordese to me (more common in crosswords than in language).
30. Shoe front: TOE.
31. Wrinkle-resistant synthetic fabric: ORLON. DuPont created the first acrylic fibers in 1941 and trademarked them under the name ORLON. It was first developed in the mid-1940s but was not produced in large quantities until the 1950s.
32. Hoodwink: BAMBOOZLE. I'm going to take this opportunity to share a song I love: Red is Blue by Ben Folds from the animated movie Hoodwinked (2005). The film is a Little Red Riding Hood derivative.
33. Winning game after game: ON A STREAK. Awesome fill!
37. Makes haste: HIES. Sure thing, Willy Shakes.
38. Binge-watcher's device: DVR.
39. River sediment: SILT.
40. PC key near the space bar: ALT.
44. Casual shirt: TEE.
45. Like a kiwi: OBLONG. An OBLONG is a shape that is longer than it is wide. We can get pedantic about weather or not "roundness" is a requirement and 2D vs. 3D. In the end, I think we knew what the constructor was going for.
 |
| (l to r) kiwi bird, kiwi fruit, Kiwi actor Jemaine Clement |
49. Utter nonsense: TRIPE.
50. Lightweight fabric: LINEN.
51. Formal decree: EDICT.
52. Cruise ship levels: DECKS.
 |
| Julie, Doc, Gopher, and Isaac will meet you here. |
54. Singer Grohl who founded the Foo Fighters: DAVE. This is Dave on vocals and guitar in Best of You (2005).
57. __ and haw: HEM. To HEM and haw is to hesitate, to be indecisive.
 |
| Homer, hemming & HAWing |
58. Hoppy beer: ALE.
59. Disorderly crowd: MOB.
60. 1960s hallucinogen, for short: LSD.
