Tuesday, May 24, 2016 Melissa Brown and C.C. Burnikel

Theme: "Don't Look, Tinbeni!" - ICE slipped amidst the starred answers.

58A. Unemotional, and a hint to the hidden word in the answers to starred clues : COLD HEARTED

17A. *Menace to society : PUBLIC ENEMY

40A. *Command to an attack dog : SIC 'EM

27D. *Add zest to : SPICE UP

11D. *Beverage-named Denver arena : PEPSI CENTER

25D. *Many a news story, alas : TRAGIC EVENT

not melissa here. She's over here with C.C. giving us a spiffy pinwheel with the theme dead center. Plus, ICE is centered exactly in the heart of the theme entries.

Across:

1. Shoot for the stars : GO BIG or stay at home. Similar to fish or cut bait.

6. Group of musical notes : CHORD

11. Buddy : PAL

14. Get off the couch : ARISE

15. Part of a mechanic's bill : LABOR

16. Green prefix : ECO. Indicating something ecological.

19. Pod veggie : PEA

20. Between Europe and America, say : ASEA. I thought ASIA at first.

21. Permeates : SOAKS IN

23. Three-letter sandwich : BLT. (Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato) w/ fresh from the garden tomato, oh my!

26. Belmont Stakes racer : HORSE

28. J or D, for J.D. Salinger : INIT. (initial)

29. Musical sense : EAR

30. w/o delay : ASAP. "as soon as possible"

31. Gator kin : CROC

32. Apple desktops : iMACs

34. Fodder holder : SILO

36. Gael, for one : CELT

39. Wild (over) : GAGA

41. Joint for a dummy : KNEE. Not a crash test dummy but a ventriloquist's dummy.

42. The Emerald Isle : ERIN

43. Rodriguez of the Yankees : ALEX. A-Rod

44. Starter for 007's car? : ASTON - Martin

45. First name in perfume : COCO

47. __ Bator : ULAN

49. Conclusion : END

50. Actor Lugosi : BELA

51. Sudden gush : SPURT

52. Dorm VIPs : RAs. (Resident Assistant)

53. Tropical plain : SAVANNA

55. Spat : TIFF

57. Needle aperture : EYE

63. Came in first : WON

64. Pedro's January : ENERO

65. Brings in at harvest time : REAPs. Time to sow what you hope to reap. (like tomatoes)

66. Pecan or almond : NUT

67. Short-straw picker : LOSER

68. Win an Olympics prize : MEDAL. Verb usage.

Down:

1. Opening : GAP

2. Tulsa sch. with a Prayer Tower : ORU. (Oral Roberts University)

3. Highchair user's protector : BIB

4. Cuba, por ejemplo : ISLA. I'm curious; does anyone have plans for a visit?

                           Manzanillo, Cuba

5. Kimono-clad entertainers : GEISHAs. And we all know what sash holds their kimono closed.

6. Maker of Ultra acne treatments : CLEARASIL

7. Sci-fi pilot Solo : HAN. Viral video.

8. Having lots to lose : OBESE

9. Quarterback Tony : ROMO. Dallas Cowboy. I knew ... a name like Tony his last name had to end w/ a vowel. - Anonymous T

10. Low-humidity environment : DRY AIR

12. Crush the midterm : ACE IT

13. Cash advance : LOAN

18. Corp. heads : CEOs. (Chief Executive Officer)

22. Criticizes : KNOCKS

23. Latte-colored : BEIGE

24. Ex-NBA star Odom : LAMAR. He played for several teams.

31. Cousin of org : COM.

33. Corn oil alternative : CANOLA. Good or Bad?

35. Foe in "Batman v Superman" : LEX LUTHOR. Jesse Eisenberg portrayed Lex Luthor.

37. Hotelier Helmsley : LEONA

38. Looks after : TENDS

40. __ Paulo : SAO. Brazil

44. Colony with tunnels : ANT FARM

46. Call off : CANCEL

48. "Acoustic Soul" artist India.__ : ARIE

50. Crawfish habitat : BAYOU

51. After-Christmas specials : SALES

53. Attached using thread : SEWN

54. Texting while driving, e.g. : NO-NO

56. Release : FREE

59. Dr. of hip-hop : DRE. One of the few I remember.

60. Smidgen : TAD

61. Pollution-monitoring org. : EPA. (Environmental Protection Agency)

62. ISP alternative : DSL. An Internet service provider (ISP) is an organization that provides services for accessing and using the Internet. Digital subscriber line (DSL; originally digital subscriber loop) is a family of technologies that are used to transmit digital data over telephone lines.

Argyle

Sunday, May 15, 2016 Melissa Brown and C.C. Burnikel

Title: SECRET RETREAT

Husker Gary gladly caddying for C.C. and Melissa B today! These lovely ladies have hidden the word SPA in nine fills. You know, SPAS, where you can have various parts of your body wrapped, waxed, peeled, exfoliated, hydrated, stoned and rubbed. Sounds like a hoot!

THEME FILLS - All the theme fills were horizontal and SPA was split between the two words where the first word ended in S and the second word began with PA. A true model of consistency, not to mention wit from C.C. and Melissa B.

23. "Time for a shindig!" : LET'S PARTY

25. "Common Sense" pamphleteer : THOMAS PAINE - Count me in as honest, Tom!

37. Remarkable thing, in old slang : CAT'S PAJAMAS - Or luxury cat accommodations in Lincoln

54. Where to get the score : SPORTS PAGE - It had to kill the Seattle Times to give the score of Super Bowl XLIX on what may be the most stupid play call in history

71. Resort with a Forum Tower : CAESAR'S PALACE - What else are you going to name your towers there? 

89. Very slow motion : SNAIL'S PACE - Finally a running shop that "get's me"!

105. Brewery product since 1777 : BASS PALE ALE - The famous Bass Red Triangle Label in Manet's 1882 A Bar at the Folies-Bergère

123. Reporter's entrée : PRESS PASS - I don't know this actor but everything else seems right

120. Acid test substance : LITMUS PAPER - We pitched the papers and used this

...and the three-letter reveal

125. Retreat hidden in nine puzzle answers : SPA - Do you see a hint that this SPA is located in Hershey, Pennsylvania?

Okay, I'll try not to rub you the wrong way as we massage this puzzle's wonderful content:

Across

1. Playground provocation : DARE - A brass statue in Hammond, IN (home of author Jean Shepherd who inspired A Christmas Story) dedicated to a famous movie DARE 

5. Campus org. founded in 1906 : NCAA

9. Existing : BEING

14. Capers : LARKS

19. Religion of most Iranians : SHIA

20. Stops allowing : BANS

21. Complete : UTTER

22. Greenland native : INUIT - Where they were/are 

27. Chichén Itzá builder : MAYA

28. Basque city with a Guggenheim Museum : BILBAO - In northern Spain. Uh, not TOLEDO!

30. Make up your mind : OPT

31. "Bus Stop" playwright : INGE - He said the play was based on people he met in Tonganoxie, Kansas

32. Juice unit : AMP

34. Knitting choices : PURLS - Oh, now I get it! Yeah right!

35. People's Choice Award winner for Favorite TV Drama, 2008-2011 : HOUSE MD

41. Winged stingers : WASPS

43. __ Plaines River : DES

44. Off-road ride, for short : ATV - High center of gravity, narrow base and idiocy make these so dangerous 

45. Muchos meses : ANOS - Many months = Years (in español)

46. Dealer's query : YOU IN?

48. SEC concern : IPO - Initial Public Offering 

50. Yemeni capital : RIAL - A Big Mac meal in Sana'a costs 1,833 ﷼ (RIALS)

52. Palm products : DATES - An ingredient in grandma's great Christmas cookies

59. Sicilian skiing attraction : ETNA - Who needs snow? Here's summer skiing on Etna's powdery volcanic ash

60. They may be about nothing : ADOS

61. Jacket material : SUEDE

62. Drops the ball : ERRS - Wes Welker does just that in Super Bowl XLVI and super model Gisele Bundchen famously said of her QB husband Tom Brady, "He can't f____ing throw the ball and catch it too!"

63. Top story : ATTIC

65. Move a muscle : STIR

67. Some might vote in it : ABSENTIA - Love this cluing

70. Time of life : AGE

75. CBS forensic series : CSI

76. Sammy Davis Jr.'s only #1 hit, with "The" : CANDY MAN 

78. Short staffer? : ASST

79. Send payment : REMIT

81. Weymouth of Talking Heads : TINA - Bassist TINA and drummer husband Chris Frantz formed Talking Heads in 1971 and have been married for almost 40 years

82. Like clarinet music : REEDY

84. Clarinet kin : OBOE

87. "Drinks are __!" : ON ME - "I am very messy!"

92. Dishwasher handle? : AMANA

93. Simon of Broadway : NEIL - I can't pick a favorite NEIL Simon play. You? My daughter was a great Corie in this classic

94. Match part : SET

95. Big name in Russian ballet : KIROV- The KIROV Ballet Company declined greatly when Nureyev, Makarova and Baryshnikov defected to the West during the Cold War

97. Coal unit : LUMP

99. L.A. Galaxy's group : MLS - Major League Soccer

100. Gardner of film : AVA

103. Chinese menu assurance : NO MSG - The Mayo Clinic says there is no direct link to illness and MSG

108. "I don't think so" : NICE TRY - If he says "I don't think so", he'll never say "NICE TRY"

110. Whence Saint Teresa : AVILA - A 16th century Spanish Saint who is the patron saint of headache sufferers

111. Phone book no. : TEL - Ours was 132-J when we had to tell an operator

112. Ship stabilizer : KEEL

113. Unruly do : MOP

115. Spartan serfs : HELOTS

117. Its initials became its name in 1999 : AARP

126. Great Lakes natives : ERIES -What? I thought they lived around Lake Crossword! :-) 

127. Novelist's list, perhaps : IDEAS - JK Rowling's hand-written spreadsheet notes to create Harry Potter. How'd that book do?

128. Fertilizer ingredient : PEAT

129. Lose it : SNAP

130. Holy, to Henri : SACRE - SACRE' bleu (Sacred Blue) became a common sound-alike for  SACRE' Dieu (Sacred God) which was considered blasphemous 

131. Theatrical device : ASIDE - A frequent device in House Of Cards

132. Use one's outside voice : YELL

133. Grammy winner James : ETTA

Down

1. Surfing letters : DSL - Digital Subscriber Line is now passé 

2. Small clearing? : AHEM - Cute

3. Beatles girl : RITA - The Lovely Meter Maid

4. Piece-of-cake courses : EASY A'S

5. Magic org. : NBA - Orlando pro basketballers

6. Concern for some losers : CARB

7. Ristorante course : ANTIPASTO - From the Latin: ANTI (before) PASTUS (meal). Served at the SPA?

8. Safe haven : ASYLUM

9. "Furthermore, however, ... " : BUT ALSO

10. Cultural spirit : ETHOS

11. Judge in 1995 news : ITO - Some think Johnnie Cochran was in charge of the OJ trial

12. Pixar protagonist : NEMO - In 2016 Pixar is now finding NEMO'S friend

13. Boardroom props : GRAPHS

14. Edge : LIP - Where some putts go to die

15. "Delta of Venus" author Nin : ANAIS - Common fare here at the Crossword Cafeteria

16. Beyond repair : RUINED

17. Checkers speech? : KING ME

18. Renaissance fair rides : STEEDS

24. Argentine plain : PAMPA

26. Restraining order? : STOP IT

29. Donkeys' cries : BRAYS

33. How to watch Mei Xiang and Bei Bei : PANDA CAM - Very appropriate so close to Mother's Day

36. Delivery letters : USPS

37. Close attention : CARE

38. Like political foes, frequently : AT IT AGAIN - "My opponent is a thespian and a masticator!" 

39. Dish forerunner : TV ANTENNA 

40. Steinbeck hero Tom : JOAD - "Wherever they’s a fight so hungry people can eat, I’ll be there."

41. Erase completely : WIPE

42. Battery terminal-related : ANODAL - On the positive side

47. Seizes illegally : USURPS

49. Welcoming sign : OPEN

51. GPS figure : LAT - I live at 41˚North LATitude in eastern Nebraska, same as Rome, Italy. Uh, not the same weather!

53. She, in Sicily : ESSA

55. First name in country : REBA

56. Aesthetic film genre : ART CINEMA - I don't dig subtitles 

57. Grain processor : GRIST MILL - A beautiful one in West Virginia

58. Morales of "The Brink" : ESAI

61. Actress Spacek : SISSY

64. Like a "daggers" look : ICY

66. Wall Street regular : TRADER - Politicians campaign against them but still take their money

68. Dress down in a big way : SCREAM AT

69. Broad shoe size : EEE 

70. Book following the Gospels : ACTS

72. Holliday friend : EARP 

73. Devious ones : SNEAKS

74. Splittable bit : ATOM

77. Place for a speaker : DAIS

80. Cal. column : MON - Unfortunately this month has 5 MON's

83. Smokeless smoke, briefly : E-CIG

85. Fast-growing sapling : BALSA TREE - Now that's my kind of logging!

86. "Movin' __": "The Jeffersons" theme : ON UP

88. Otherwise : ELSE

90. Fast time? : LENT - Cute again

91. Rages : STORMS

92. Be of use : AVAIL

96. FDR's side, on a dime : OBVERSE - Generally the larger, main image as opposed to the reverse side of a coin, medal, flag, etc

98. Ardent requests : PLEAS

100. They're just over two feet : ANKLES - Cute some more

101. Former moderator of "The View" : VIEIRA

102. Vinegary : ACETIC

104. Reason for spectacles : MYOPIA - Nearsightedness

106. __ Joe : SLOPPY - Named after a cook named Joe at a Sioux City, IA restaurant who added tomato sauce to his loose meat sandwich

107. Tick away : ELAPSE

109. Wascally wabbit wival : ELMER

110. Best way to leave Vegas : AHEAD - Take the money and RUN!

114. Mice move on them : PADS

116. Official emblem : SEAL

118. Emotional blog entry : RANT

119. Natl. Merit Scholarship qualifying exam : PSAT

121. Find a job for : USE

122. Canada's smallest prov. : PEI

124. Airport NW of the Gateway Arch : STL

Only someone in a Fool'S PAradise would skip your comments that follow:

The Grid

Notes from C.C.:

Congratulations to our beautiful Melissa on her L.A. Times debut! Melissa and I have been kicking around various puzzles ideas for a few years. So happy we persisted and finally made it. It's a joy and comfort working with Melissa, who constantly inspires me with her strength, tenacity & incredible poise.

Left to Right: Melissa's daughter, Melissa's mom Barbara B, Melissa

The title is Rich's. It captures the hidden gimmick much better than our original "Hot Spot". Click here to see our originally submitted grid. Rich took time and redid our 38D & 39D area. He was concerned that GIRLY MAN (76A) maybe seen as pejorative by some. Rich also caught our SPAN (49D) goof, as it has SPA in it. So we redid the right middle.