Monday December 7, 2020 Matt McKinley

Theme: WOODY ALLEN FILMS. (37. What the answers to starred clues are (their creator turned 85 this month):

17. *The City, to New Yorkers (1979): MANHATTAN.

21. *Surprise hit (1973): SLEEPER.

50. *Cream pie fruit (1971): BANANAS.

58. *Concerns of some decorators (1978): INTERIORS.

Boomer here.

I only know of one other whose name is Woody.  His last name is Woodpecker. I proposed similar themes to C.C. before, she rejected them as "too listy".

Across: 

1. __-ran: loser: ALSO.

5. Hop-jump connection: SKIP. Minnesota's favorite son SKIP Humphrey was a son of Hubert and Muriel and served as Minnesota's Attorney General years ago. 

9. Crossing the keel: ABEAM.

14. Casual greetings: HEYS.  Never liked it, sounds like Hay.

15. Give the job to: HIRE.  It seems the Detroit Lions will be looking to HIRE a coach.

16. Full of sediment: SILTY.

19. Unisex designer fragrance: CK ONE.  Calvin Klein stuff - too expensive for me.

20. Fugitive: ESCAPEE.  "The Fugitive" a great movie - made Harrison Ford a few dollars.

23. On __ way: sent: ITS.      

24. 52-Acrosses, often: INSETS.  I used to put my baseball cards IN SETS.

25. "Help me out, buddy": BE A PAL.  We got a thing from Pay PAL today offering some kind of credit card.  That's one of the last things I need.

29. Like paper clips: BENT.

31. Wedding site: ALTAR.

32. Roof edge: EAVE.  Holding on to the gutters.

33. Bridal party's platform: DAIS.  Been a long time for me.  Do they still play "Here comes the Bride"?

40. Gloss targets: LIPS.

41. Los Angeles NFLers: RAMS.  8 wins so far - Pretty good!

42. Knight's "shining" protection: ARMOR.

43. Depend (on): RELY.  RELY on - I think it's a Credit Union in Texas.

44. T-bones, e.g.: STEAKS.  I've been eating turkey for a week.  Looks like a ham for Christmas.

45. Mental sharpness: ACUMEN.

49. Speedometer abbr.: MPH.  This new Santa Fe we bought has a big round instrument in the dashboard panel.  Besides a traditional speedometer needle though, It just pops my speed up in big numbers.

52. Local traveler's aid: AREA MAP.  I am not sure if they are still around.  I think folks just use their phones.

57. Come up: ARISE.  "All RISE" Aaron Judge is coming to bat.  Back in the day, Harmon Killebrew's nick name was the Killer.  I think All Rise is one of the best nicknames in baseball.

60. One of two in "George": SOFT G.  One of three of Seinfeld's friends.

61. Costa __: RICA.

62. Spreadsheet contents: DATA.

63. "Family Ties" mother: ELYSE. Keaton - No relation to Buster.

64. How many TV shows air: IN HD.  I can never tell the difference.  Maybe my set is too old, like me.

65. Editor's "Leave it in": STET.

Down:

1. Sighed words: AH ME.  Win a door prize at a bowling banquet and it's AAHHH ME!!

2. Pastures: LEAS.

3. Match, as sound and video: SYNC.  A place to wash dishes. I never was too good at spelling.

4. Workplace standards org.: OSHA. "Occupational Safety and Health Act".  Made a big difference in Graybar warehouses nationwide.

5. "Fiddler on the Roof" village: SHTETL.

6. Windy day toys: KITES.  Yep, I had one or two every Spring.  We went up to the baseball field, away from KITE eating trees.  We never saw Charlie Brown there.

7. Nest egg letters: IRA.  Still waiting for it to hatch.

8. Ink holders: PENS.  Also pig holders

9. Journey up the mountain: ASCENT.  Elevator -"Going Up ?"

10. Workout equipment with pedals: BIKES.

11. Wed in Vegas, perhaps: ELOPE.  Never had time. Too busy at craps.  C.C. would not like a crappy wedding anyway.

12. Where many tennis winners are hit: AT NET.  I thought they had to go OVER the net.

13. Austin Powers portrayer Mike: MYERS.

18. Collection of beehives: APIARY.  Becoming scarce in Minnesota.  Bees do not like our weather.

22. Tablecloth material: LINEN.

25. Chastise, with "out": BAWL.  Change the A to an O and go out. 

26. "The Time Machine" post-humans: ELOI.

27. Perched on: ATOP.

28. Knee protectors: PADS.  I have a Copper Fit to wear when I bowl or play golf.  Not really a pad, more like a stiff brace. 

Boomer with his Copper Fit

29. Mild, as weather: BALMY.  I would not call it BALMY, but Minnesotans have been lucky this year. Most days are still above freezing.

30. Days before holidays: EVES.  Christmas and New Year's.  I did not hear of Veterans or Thanksgiving Eve.

32. Airline with an all-kosher menu: EL AL.

33. Desperate: DIRE.

34. __ mater: ALMA.

35. Assurance from one who's not hurt: I'M OK.  I'M OK to golf and bowl.  Doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt though.

36. Old pol. divisions: SSRS.  Super Seniors - That's me.

38. Big sports venue: ARENA.  We have a "Target Center" for the Wolves, and "Target Field" for the Twins.  I wonder how much Target paid to have their name there. Target is a spin off from retail Dayton's owned by the family of former Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton.  Dayton's was acquired by Macy's so now it's too expensive for us.  We still go to Target.

39. Sire: FATHER.

43. Go back (on): RENEGE.

44. Butter or jam: SPREAD.  Or Peanut Butter on Ritz crackers.

45. Put down nastily: ABASE. Or slid into nastily by Jackie Robinson and others.

46. Song sung house-to-house: CAROL.  "It came upon a midnight clear, that glorious song of old."

47. Bring together: UNIFY.  Those old time Christmas Carols bring many families together. 

48. Crow's nest holders: MASTS.

49. Fire starter: MATCH.

51. Rival of Alexa?: SIRI.  Hey SIRI - Where can I get a vaccine?

53. Lends a hand: AIDS.

54. Castle trench: MOAT.

55. Works in un museo: ARTE.  Mr. Johnson on Laugh-in. Loved Goldie Hawn.

56. 10th-grader's exam, for short: PSAT.

59. Diarist Anaïs: NIN.

Boomer

Notes from C.C.:

Chairman Moe (Chris) and I made today's WSJ puzzle. You can click here to solve. Congrats on your WSJ debut, Chris!

Monday November 30, 2020 Kurt Krauss

Theme: Phrases with numbers at the start are literally itemized.

17. Big burger chain, literally?: GUY GUY GUY GUY GUY. Five Guys.

27. "I Can't Help Myself" R&B group, literally?: TOP TOP TOP TOP. Four Tops.

44. Many a sports car, literally?: SEATER SEATER. Two-seaters

58. Exec's dressy suit, literally?: PIECE PIECE PIECE. Three-piece.

Boomer here. "Eight Days a Week" - The Beatles - Day Day Day Oh never mind.  I only do the blog comments on one or two days.  Hope your Thanksgiving went well.    

Across:

1. Two-wheelers: BIKES.  Yes I had one. Years ago "Two wheeler" was a common term when one graduated from a tricycle.

6. Haunted house sound: MOAN.  I am old.  Does not MOANing aches and pains count?

10. Stick a fork in: STAB.  Between the "R" Tab and the "T" Tab.

14. Standing at attention, say: ERECT.  Or build a metal Ferris Wheel with your set.  I could never do it.

15. Oscar winner Paquin: ANNA. Won Oscar at 11 for "The Piano".

16. Soft drink nut: KOLA.  Odd looking and terribly expensive.  I get cashews at Fleet Farm.

20. Yale student: ELI. 

21. Homes for bears: DENS.  I was a young Cub Scout back when IKE was President.  We had meetings in the den of the pack leader's home.

22. Con jobs: SCAMS.

23. __ strength: ability to withstand stretching: TENSILE.

25. On the briny: ASEA.  "We sail the ocean blue, in our saucy ships of beauty."  Gilbert and Sullivan.

32. Honors with a fancy party: FETES.

35. "Wild Blue Yonder" mil. group: USAF.  I was in the Army.  I suppose I would have to serve more than two years in the Air Force to get a jet.

36. __ de Janeiro: RIO.  Home of the 2016 Olympics.

37. Dutch cheese: EDAM.  On the river between the "D Dam" and the "F DAM". 

38. Worker in a shaft: MINER.

40. Curve in a road: BEND.

41. Round Table title: SIR. "How do you thank someone, who has taken you from crayons to perfume?" - Lulu.

42. Locker room powder: TALC.  This is the stuff that Johnson and Johnson is getting sued about.  Maybe they can make it up by selling vaccine.

43. Walrus features: TUSKS. "I am the egg man, they are the egg men, I am the Walrus goo goo g'joob."  The Beatles.  I had to Google the last three words.  I thought it was "coo, coo, kachoo."

48. Floor space calculation: AREA.  Length times width.

49. Sticks around: LINGERS.

53. Big rigs: SEMIS.

56. Bowling targets: PINS.  And on LANES not ALLEYS.

57. Animal doc: VET.

62. One of 12 in a foot: INCH.

63. Farm size unit: ACRE.

64. Confess: OWN UP.  I confess - I forgot what a bowling target was.  The only time I have picked up a ball since last March was to get at my golf clubs.  Where is that vaccine everyone is talking about?

65. Classic grape soda: NEHI.  I believe RADAR on M*A*S*H drank it.

66. Hair colorings: DYES.

67. Handy carryalls: TOTES.

Down:

1. Procreate: BEGET.

2. "Go, me!": I RULE.

3. Enter, as data: KEY IN.  We used to call it typing.

4. Cardio readout: ECG.  AKA EKG.

5. Small apartments: STUDIOS.  Sleep in the living room - between the TV and the computer.

6. Wall calendar : nail :: shopping list : __: MAGNET.

7. Burden: ONUS.  Some times a puzzle becomes a burden ON US.

8. "__ further discussion?": ANY.  Yeah, we have more clues to kick around.

9. Old horse: NAG.

10. Airport porter: SKYCAP.  They were busy last weekend, even though governors asked people not to go.

11. Forum wear: TOGA.  Did someone say "Animal House"? 

12. High school reunion attendee, briefly: ALUM.  Skipped my 55th.  It was cancelled due to virus.

13. Howls at the moon: BAYS.  I used to love fishing in these parts of our 10,000 lakes.  Water was calm and fish were always biting.

18. Puppy's cry: YELP.  Also a company in San Francisco that spies on businesses.

19. Make __: employ: USE OF.

24. Flower holder: STEM. Or VASE.

25. Semicircular cathedral area: APSE.  I often wonder why Catholic Churches have really high ceilings.  This is Minnesota.  The buildings are impressive but heat in winter and AC in summer are not cheap. 

26. Lead actor or actress: STAR.

28. Postal scale unit: OUNCE.

29. "__ bien!": TRES.  "Je ne sais pas". 

30. Sty cry: OINK.  That's the way we spell it, not the way pigs yell it.

31. Snow pea holders: PODS.

32. Come clean, with "up": FESS.  "Davy, Davy Crockett, King of the wild frontier."  FESS Parker.

33. Falco of "The Sopranos": EDIE.

34. Butler's quarters?: TARA. Rhett Butler. "Gone With the Wind".

38. Female horse: MARE.  The old gray one "Ain't what she used to be".

39. "Casablanca" heroine: ILSA.

40. Town: BURG.

42. Wasting few words: TERSE.

43. Sawbuck: TEN SPOT.  "Sawbuck" is a bit of an insult to Alexander Hamilton.  We call a $100 a Benjamin, we call a $20 a Jackson, and we call a $50 bad luck in Las Vegas.

45. Meditative martial art: TAI CHI.

46. Restaurant in an Arlo Guthrie hit: ALICE'S.  "You can get anything you want" there.  And you can get a year older if you can recite the entire ditty.

47. Fork prong: TINE.

50. Discus or pole vault: EVENT.

51. Prompt, as a forgetful actor: RECUE.

52. Staircase divisions: STEPS.  Down is no problem but I have to take my time going up.

53. "Wheel of Fortune" choice: SPIN.

54. German article: EINE.  Rhymes with WINE.  Only 50 cents a bottle over there in 1969.

55. Kind of drawing: Abbr.: MECH. Mechanical.

56. Dijon dad: PERE.

59. Note-taking aid: PAD.  I don't think anyone uses them any more.  Just record the note on a phone.

60. Aloof: ICY.  Anyone who think ICY is aloof, never landed on their butt taking the garbage can out to the street in the winter.

61. __ Jima: IWO.

 I didn't know I have friend with friends in high places.

Janet Yellen with Graybar CEO Kathy Mazzarella. Kathy with Boomer

Boomer

Monday November 23, 2020 Joseph A. Gangi

Theme: STRING TRIO (61. Ensemble playing in this puzzle's circles) - String of letters in each theme entry form a string instrument.

17. Sacred, as a promise: INVIOLABLE.

36. University leader: CHANCELLOR.

42. High-ranking foreign diplomat: AMBASSADOR.

Boomer here. Congrats to Joseph A. Gangi's LAT debut.

VIOLA was a Twins pitcher in the 1987 World Series. My ticket stubs from that event are now CELLO wrapped.  And BASS is a popular Minnesota fish. Stay stay safe for the holidays ahead.

Across:

1. Archaeological sites: DIGS.

5. Farm trough contents: FEED.  Pigs will gather around.

9. Gambler's calculation: RISK.  I think Kramer and Newman battled at this game with cheating optional.

 

13. "Right now!" letters: ASAP.  If you say so, I thought it meant as soon as possible,

14. Home for monks: ABBEY.  I loved the Beatles "Abbey Road" album cover where they walked in single file in a crosswalk.

16. Lake with Canada's southernmost point: ERIE.  The Great Lakes are a wonder of the world.  It is amazing how they wind their way from Minnesota to New York.

19. Labyrinthine: MAZY.

20. How a sharp incline rises: STEEPLY.  Start at the top and it becomes a ski slope.

21. Steak orders: T BONES.

23. Confer knighthood on: DUB.  Don't make fun of my golf game.  Thanks.

24. Homer's story of 67-Across: ILIAD. 67. Helen's city: TROY.

26. __ XING: crosswalk sign: PED.  Railroad crossing look out for the cars.  Can you spell that without any Rs?

29. Full of attitude: SASSY.  There is a gluten- free restaurant in Minneapolis called SASSY Spoon.  I've never been there though.  I like gluten.

31. Appear: SEEM.

34. Woodshed tools: AXES.  Paul Bunyan Land in Brainerd, MN has one of his AXES. 

39. Join (in): PARTAKE.  Minnesota has limited the number of folks to PARTAKE with family for Thanksgiving.  Please stay safe.

41. Be worthy of: DESERVE.  I am sure that none of us DESERVE the coronavirus.

44. Bump off: DO IN.

45. Part of GPS: Abbr.: SYST.

46. Goes on a tirade: RANTS.  Billy Martin never liked umpires much.

48. "__-haw!": YEE.  I think it's supposed to be HEE.  I've seen a few shows.

49. 28-Down entrant: HORSE.  His name was not Mister Ed. 

51. "Ready, __, fire!": AIM.  Ready, AIM, Bowl. Vaccines are coming.

53. "Our thoughts are with you": WE CARE.

56. Museum contents: FINE ART. C.C. and I visited a museum in Minneapolis years ago.  Not my favorite thing to do, sorry. 

60. Swear to be true: AVOW.

64. Storm relief org.: FEMA.  I am sure they had plenty to do at our Gulf Coast this year.

65. Woven fabric: TWILL.

66. TV award: EMMY.  I vote for Seinfeld.

68. Carry out instructions: OBEY.

69. Dark or marble breads: RYES.  Great for Reuben sandwiches.

Down:

1. Orator's platform: DAIS.

2. "__ that special?": ISN'T.  Thank you for that, Church Lady.

3. Contributed to the cause: GAVE.  I donated some decent food to the Hyundai dealer and did not ask for a lower price. Isn't that special ??

4. Did undercover work: SPIED.

5. Alternative plans: FALL-BACKS.  FALL has arrived in Minnesota and snow is BACK. 

6. Online auction site: EBAY.  I used it a lot with baseball cards and other collectibles 15 years ago.  Now it has become a bit more complicated and postage is really high.

7. Retreat, as the tide: EBB.

8. Md. neighbor: DEL.  " What did DELaware, she wore her brand New Jersey. 

9. Updated, as a kitchen: REMODELED.

10. Tehran's land: IRAN.  If I RAN the zoo sad young Gerald McGrew, I'd make a few changes and here's what I'd do.  Dr. Suess.

11. 7 or 11, say, in shoes: SIZE.  Wouldn't fit me, I have big feet.

12. Piano's 88: KEYS.  I do not think that even Liberace used all 88 of them.

15. Aptly named brand of coolers: YETI.

18. 27, for Beethoven's "Moonlight": OPUS.

22. Bags on a diamond: BASES.  Who's on First, What's on Second, I don't know's on Third.  Abbott and Costello.

24. "This __ test": IS A.  "If it had been an actual emergency we would have advised you to lie in the mud and crawl."

25. President before Richard: LYNDON.  "Guess who all was there on my date with Lucy Baines. 12 of Linda's Roomates, 11 LIFE reporters. 10 Texas Rangers, 9 Supreme Court Judges, 8 Sting Ray salesman, 7 Secret service, 6 Guided Missiles --- LYNDON B Himself.  4 Beatles 3 congressmen 2 baptizing clergy.  Lucy Baines and me.  Chad Mitchell Trio.

26. Nickname for Hemingway: PAPA.  LYNDON was Lucy'S PAPA.

27. Finals, say: EXAMS.

28. Annual Kentucky race: DERBY.  I have never been there in person, however we have Canterbury Downs Southwest of the city and they simulcast the DERBY so you can lose your money without driving so far.  We do not have OTB.

30. Wool clippers: SHEARS.

32. Youngest Jetson: ELROY.  ELROY Face pitched for the Pirates before my time.

33. Motion picture: MOVIE.  Minnesota Governor Tim Walz paused the MOVIE theaters for at least a month last Friday.  Bowling centers, bars and restaurants went down also.  However restaurants may still be open for takeout and delivery.

35. Set aside for later use: STASH AWAY.

37. "Of course!": CERTAINLY.  "A horse is a horse, of course, of course." Mr. Ed.

38. "The Son of Man" painter Magritte: RENE.

40. Noted fur tycoon: ASTOR. Yeah but he also smuggled opium into China.

43. "Lost" actor Daniel __ Kim: DAE.

47. Perform in a choir: SING.  Yes I did.  I think MTA was my best.  Kingston Trio.

50. Take a breather: REST.  Okay, I will.

52. Taxi calculator: METER.  We found out it was an expensive way to travel in Las Vegas a few years ago.

53. Float, as an aroma: WAFT.

54. Happily-after link: EVER.

55. Crooner Perry: COMO. My older sister's favorite.  Remember "Hot Diggity" ??

56. Put in a folder: FILE.

57. Force to be reckoned with: ARMY.  Yes I was in there too.  But you never had to reckon with me I reckon.

58. Frosty coating: RIME.

59. Mattel specialty: TOYS.  Christmas is coming, How about LEGO ?

62. Tango need, so they say: TWO.

63. Spare bone?: RIB.  Spare RIBS sound good, but Turkey even better.  HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE.  Stay safe and wear a mask.

Boomer

Monday November 16th, 2020 Mark McClain

Theme: RECYCLE SHOP (54. Earth-friendly retailer ... and a hint to the circled letters) -SHOP is scrambled inside each theme answer, moving one letter at a time.

 17. "Fingers crossed!": HERE'S HOPING.

 24. American addition to Chinese cuisine: CHOP SUEY.

 34. Vessel carrying soldiers: TROOP SHIP.

 46. Steph Curry hoops specialty: JUMP SHOT.

Boomer here. 

It's a little early for Christmas SHOPping but "Black Friday" will soon be upon us.  I believe it got the name when retailers profits got into the black on that day. Might be a long SHOP (I mean long shot) this year .

Across:

1. Wedding party escort: USHER.  Unfortunately these parties are being blamed for a lot of positive COVID tests.

6. Witch's incantation: SPELL.  "I'll get you my pretty, and your little dog too!"  As much as I liked Costner's "Bull Durham", "Wizard of Oz" is still my favorite.

11. Image file suffix: JPG.

14. Garden-guarding spirit: GNOME.  We have a couple of glass owls to scare the squirrels.  They don't do the job however.

15. Free-for-all: MELEE.  Vikings verses Bears tonight ?? 

16. Poetic "before": ERE.  "And I heard him exclaim ERE he drove out of sight."

19. Golf starting point: TEE.  You get to the TEE and put your TEE in the ground then TEE off.

20. Cattle identifier: EAR TAG.  Female cattle get rings.

21. Puts dressing in, as a turkey: STUFFS.  Coming soon to a Thursday near you.

23. Painter or sculptor: ARTIST.

26. Face cover: VEIL.  These days we might just call it a MASK.

27. Hawaii's Mauna __: LOA.

28. Watch over: TEND.

29. Shakespearean rumpus: ADO.  "Much ADO about nothing."

30. Sad on the Seine?: BLEU.  This word refers to BLEU cheese also.  Cheese is not Blue so if you spell it blue, you BLEW it. 

32. Migratory salmon: SMOLTS.  Reminds me of Braves pitcher John Smoltz.

 

36. Directs (to), as a specialist: REFERS.

39. Fibbed: LIED.

40. __ moment: revelation: AHA.  I know you don't yell it, but many of you think it when you fill a word that you were stumped on.

43. Yemeni port: ADEN.

44. Bumped into: MET.  New York's AMAZIN' players in 1969.

45. Hoity-toity sort: SNOB.

49. Draw idly: DOODLE.  "I'm a Yankee DOODLE Dandy !"

51. College grounds: CAMPUS.  I have only seen a few, but they all seem very elite.

52. Lighthearted banter: LEVITY.  Sure, I get to 52-Across and get called a word.

53. See 53-Down: PAL.53. With 53-Across, money transfer app: PAY.

57. Consumed: ATE.  The same letters are EAT.  Thanksgiving is coming.

58. Stay away from: AVOID.  AVOID too much turkey and stuffing. Pumpkin pie is okay.

59. Offends the nose: REEKS.

60. "Spot on!": YES.

61. Dots on a map: TOWNS.  Timberwolves Karl Anthony TOWNS - AKA KAT.

62. Doctrinal belief: TENET.

Down:

1. "This tastes awful!": UGH.

2. Smiled with disdain: SNEERED.

3. Fictional captain Hornblower: HORATIO.

4. "Bam!" chef: EMERIL.

5. Takes ten: RESTS.  Bowls a strike, then rests.

6. Air quality issue: SMOG. Our suburban Minneapolis air is pretty fresh.  But occasionally full of white stuff.

7. __ talk: team motivator: PEP.

8. "Happy Endings" actress Cuthbert: ELISHA.  ELISHA GRAY along with Enos Barton founded  Western Electric which became Graybar in 1929 when the employees purchased the distribution and sales portion of the company.  I owe them a lot! 

9. Largo relative: LENTO.

10. Assistance, with "a": LEG UP.

11. Propellant for a flying fighter: JET FUEL.  Is it unleaded ?

12. Roll call response: PRESENT.  Or you may start purchasing some on Black Friday.

13. "Who knew?": GEE.  WHIZ.

18. __ trick: hockey player's three goals in a game: HAT.  And everyone tosses theirs on the ice.

22. SLR setting: F STOP.

23. "Selma" director DuVernay: AVA.  Also Ms. Gardner.

24. Rhyming pair: COUPLET.

25. NFL stats: YDS.  Viking Dalvan Cook has a bunch.

27. Zodiac feline: LEO.  I was once in a bowling league with LEO Mann.  The guy was a PBA member but once in awhile I might sneak out a win. 

30. "Turn on the heat!": BRR.  We had warm weather a couple of weeks ago, but this week it's "Welcome to Minnesota". 

31. __ Angeles: LOS.

32. "... __ loves me not": SHE.

33. Prefix with night: MID.

34. Local news hr.: TEN PM.  Also Five and Six. More commercials for us all.

35. Obedience school command: SIT.  I like the lactose free milk commercials where the guy says "If it wasn't real milk then those aren't real cows."  Then he tells them to "SIT ... I said SIT. "

36. Friend of TV's Sheldon and Leonard: RAJ.

37. Provide schooling for: EDUCATE.  This is a real hassle for schools this year.  Especially with the recent spike in cases, I'm not sure I would send school age kids to school.  I do coach bowling to High School kids but that has been delayed until spring, Or maybe next year.  Pfizer has hinted that a vaccine is coming, but needs to be stored at minus 80 degrees C.  Wow???

38. Ewes and does: FEMALES.

40. "Subsequently ... ": AND THEN.  "AND THEN Along came Jones"  - Ray Stevens.

41. Mount __: oldest Seven Sisters college: HOLYOKE.

42. Civil War prez: ABE.  back when Minnesota was a new state. 

44. Red Square city: MOSCOW.

45. "It's pretty obvious": SO I SEE.

47. Nursery rhyme dieter: SPRAT.  "Jack SPRAT could eat no fat"

48. Spanish omelet ingredient: HUEVO. Egg.

49. Joe Biden's st.: DEL.  What did DELAWARE - She wore a brand NEW JERSEY.

50. Unconcealed: OVERT.

52. Certain TV screens: LCDS.

55. Yang's counterpart: YIN.

56. Wash. winter hours: PST.  State, not D.C.

Boomer

Monday November 9, 2020 Kurt Krauss

Theme: GIVE ME A SIGN (36. Plea for divine guidance ... and hint to the ends of the answers to starred clues)

 17. *Doctor's visit, back in the day: HOUSE  CALL. Call sign.

 23. *Perry Mason's secretary: DELLA STREET. Street sign.

 49. *Rural station at which trains need to be flagged down: WHISTLE STOP. Stop sign.

 59. *Expatriate American poet who was a WWII fascist collaborator: EZRA POUND. Pound sign.

Boomer here. 

After a long week, Monday has arrived. You would not believe Minnesota's November weather.  We had highs in the 60s most of last week, and tripped the 70s for a couple of days. We did not use our furnace or air conditioner at all.  Neither did I use the money we saved on golf or bowling.  New cases of the nasty COVID are around 5000 daily.

Across:

1. Tooth trouble: ACHE.  Not for me any longer.  Just toss them in a cup before bed and glue them in tomorrow.

5. Omar of "In Too Deep": EPPS.

 

9. Place to exchange vows: ALTAR.  

14. Debit card reader opening: SLOT.  It's incredible how nearly every business large or small has a reader for a debit or credit card.  Seems that cash might be a virus spreader.  Doesn't bother me because I get a few pennies back from the card company for the purchase.

15. Nasty: MEAN.  I MEAN really MEAN.

16. Chili con __: CARNE.  Not sure "Y" Jackie Gleason's buddy Art has anything to do with Chili.

19. "Good grief!": EGADS.  Please Charlie Brown.  Don't say EGADS.  Thank you.

20. "The Tomorrow Show" host Tom: SNYDER.  "The sun'll come out, Tomorrow". (Annie)

21. Many a psychedelic T-shirt: TIE DYE.

22. Was in first place: LED.  Being an electrical retired person, I thought about Light Emitting Diodes. We installed an LED fixture in our kitchen after I broke the refractor of the one we had. These LED fixtures are amazing.  

26. Takeoff ests.: ETDS.  Bad memories. Sun Country delayed our departure by over six hours last February on our flight to Las Vegas.  We are not going next year. but if we ever go again it will NOT be on Sun Country.

28. Bone-dry: SERE.

29. Rehab symptoms, for short: DTS.

30. Chemical relative: ISOMER.

33. From the __: at the start: GET GO.  I think if you pass it, you get $200.

39. Golf gimme: TAP IN.  There are no gimmes on the PGA tour except in stuff like the Ryder Cup.  For me it's a bit of "give and take."

40. Mama Cass __: ELLIOT.  "All the leaves are brown, and the sky is gray".  (California Dreamin' Mama' and the Papas.)

 

43. "Send help!" message: SOS.  Many people think this stands for "Save our Ship".  But really it is just a distress signal that can be easily sent by Morse code.  

46. Brings to a close: ENDS.

48. Beige look-alike: ECRU.

54. German "a": EIN.  The first word we GI's learned when we landed in Germany.  The second word of course was bier.

55. Fragrant compounds: ESTERS.

56. Rise into view: EMERGE.  "When the morning sun, streaks across my room, and I'm wakin' up from another dream of you."  "You know I love you", - Dolly Parton - Kenny Rogers.

58. Like many attics: DUSTY.  We have a very small attic, with just a fair amount of insulation.  There is no T206 Honus Wagner card up there.  I checked.

62. Muse of poetry: ERATO.

63. Dutch South African: BOER.

64. Mega- or giga- unit: BYTE.  I have no way of knowing how many bytes are in this blog.

65. New Jersey's __ Hall University: SETON.  Elizabeth Ann SETON was the first U.S, citizen to be canonized a Saint in the Catholic religion.

66. Mannerless one: BOOR.

67. To be, in Latin: ESSE.

Down:

1. Baseball bat wood: ASH.  Yup, I used the Louisville Sluggers in my youth baseball career.  Then along came slow pitch softball and aluminum.

2. Coat-hanging places: CLOSETS.  Comes with a shelf to store baseball cards.

3. Elvis classic: HOUND DOG.  You ain't nothin' but 

4. Website for artisans: ETSY.

5. Show host: EMCEE.

6. Oyster gems: PEARLS.  I never found one.  Of course around here we only have clams.

7. Amigo: PAL.  My buddy Jorge calls me AMIGO.

8. NBC's "Weekend Update" show: SNL.  I wonder what they will do now that the election is over.

9. Nail the test: ACE IT.  Or make a hole-in-one.

10. Popular beer: LAGER.  Not the kind that they sold in Germany.

11. Swapped: TRADED.  Sometimes, MLB TRADED players, sometimes we TRADED cards.

12. "But still ... ": AND YET.  Rich YETT pitched one game for the Twins but then was traded to Cleveland for a five or six year career.

13. Turns back, as a clock: RESETS.  Yup, we did that last week,  Still getting used to the new hour.

18. Onetime Leno announcer Hall: EDD.

21. Scary African fly: TSETSE.

22. Island garland: LEI.  Oahu to you too.

24. Stories of the Loch Ness Monster, e.g.: LEGENDS.  I am surprised that one of these professional sports teams with offensive names has not switched to LEGENDS,

25. Side squared, for a square: AREA.

27. Struck, old-style: SMIT.  Never knew this was a word.  I've heard of smitten.

31. Actress Longoria: EVA.  Not to be confused with EVAN Longoria of the Rays or Giants.

32. Drives back: REPELS.

34. Hodges of the Dodgers: GIL.  Great First Baseman for Brooklyn and LA.  Finished his career as manager of the Mets.

35. Eye wolfishly: OGLE.

37. Coal site: MINE.  The stuff we use in a barbecue is called charcoal and is not real coal.

38. They "finish last," per the title of Leo Durocher's autobiography: NICE GUYS.  "May have been about Gil Hodges' Mets."

41. Points in the right direction: ORIENTS.  Northwest once became Delta.

42. Wine cask: TUN.  Never heard this word, but if you did not like EIN BIER you could get a TUN of wine for two marks.

43. Stockholm natives: SWEDES.  Yah sure!

44. "Yeah, right!": OH SURE.  Yah sure! again.

45. Occupies, as a desk: SITS AT.

47. Sound investment?: STEREO.  Tell that to Charles Schwab.

50. Small squabble: SETTO.

51. Check for fit: TRY ON.

52. Horoscope columnist Sydney: OMARR.  Pretty close to our 5th District Representative Ilhan who gets her name in the paper a lot.

53. Gusto: PEP.  Once in awhile as I coach high school bowling a PEP talk may be in order.  This year the season is delayed until spring. I only hope, because we seem to be getting 100,000 COVID positives per day nationally right now.

57. After-bath wear: ROBE.

59. Tidal recession: EBB.

60. Place to observe animals: ZOO.  Something told me it's all happening at the ZOO. Simon and Garfunkel.

61. Actor Billy __ Williams: DEE.

Boomer

 

Monday November 2, 2020 George Jasper

 

Theme: YOU SEE (50. "It's like this," and a phonetic hint to the five longest Across answers) - Each theme pattern is in the pattern of U* C*:

18. 1980 Travolta/Winger film set in Texas: URBAN COWBOY

23. Aristocracy: UPPER CLASS.

39. Previously owned auto: USED CAR.

53. Pandemonium: UTTER CHAOS.

59. Where a quarterback may line up: UNDER CENTER.

Boomer here. UNDER COVER from Minnesota. You see, we had a problem with our DirecTV. After the snow cancelled everything for a day, when we got it back, we could not receive about half of the channels.  DirecTV sent out a technician and installed a new satellite dish, a new receiver box and a new remote.  The cost was 0.00!  I guess our monthly bill will cover it in a few months.

Bad news from Big Easy.  At least the tree did not fall on your house, but these storms are ravaging Southeastern U.S. like crazy this year.

Across:

1. Brutus' 300: CCC.  Boomer's 300 - X X X X  X X X X X X X X. The first four are all 300 rings from different years. The fifth one (blue color) is a 299 ring. The next one is another 300 ring. Next to it is an 800 Series ring. The last one is 1987 Twins World Series replica ring

4. Florida city on its own bay: TAMPA.  Tampa's MLB team still has a mascot RAY swimming outside the outfield fence.

9. Actor Charlie or his dad Martin: SHEEN.  Martin is now in some goofy RX commercials.  You would think he could retire and does not need a new job.

14. "Oh, I get it now!": AHA.

15. Schoolbag measuring stick: RULER.  Measuring stick ???  I was hit once or twice by the Christian Brothers.

16. Overly theatrical: HAMMY.  Not for Thanksgiving.  You need a TURKEY.

17. "Frozen" collectible: CEL.  Happens here in Minnesota.  I have baseball cards in the garage.

20. Asian island capital: TAIPEI.

22. Bring to mind: EVOKE.

26. Fateful March day: IDES.  Julius Caesar was assassinated Mar 15, 44 B.C.

29. London district: SOHO.

30. NBA tiebreakers: OTS. Our "Row the Boat" Gophers played one of them last Friday in a 45-44 loss to Maryland.  I guess they are competing with the Vikings for the worst record this year.

31. Agassi of tennis: ANDRE.  I remember "Andre the Giant" - a professional wrestler.  He seemed to be tough and a bit overweight.  He died at age 47.

32. Cat burglar's undoing: NOISE.  WHAT!!

35. Con artist's target: PIGEON.

36. Fond du __, Wisconsin: LAC.  A bit south of Green Bay and Oshkosh B'Gosh on Lake Winnebago

41. Fla. summer hrs.: DST.  Did Y'all turn your clocks back last Saturday?

42. Top NFL player: ALL PRO.  I don't think any Vikings will make the list this year.

44. More out of sorts: ILLER.  Beware of Covid-19.

46. Smelly emanations: ODORS.  Or Rangers Roughned's family.

47. Tulsa sch. named for an evangelist: ORU.  Named for Oral Roberts.  I don't know what position he played though.

48. "Avalon" author Seton: ANYA. And more: 66. Novelist Deighton: LEN. 10. "A Brief History of Time" author Stephen: HAWKING.

52. Freelancer's encl.: SASE. Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope.

56. Cybermoney: E CASH.  Heard about it, never used it.  I prefer green paper with pictures of Presidents on it.

58. Chickpea dip: HUMMUS.

63. Language suffix: ESE.

64. Like a nasty remark: SNIDE.  Remember Rocky and Bullwinkle?  Snidely Whiplash was 
Dudley Do Right's arch enemy.

65. Waze suggestion: ROUTE.  Get your fix, on ROUTE 66

67. Trait carriers: GENES.  Then there are leg carriers called JEANS.

68. Editorial second thoughts: STETS.

69. Up until now: YET.  Not YET!

Down:

1. Plant seen in Road Runner cartoons: CACTUS.  Did the coyote ever catch him?  meep, meep.

2. Bargain-basement: CHEAPO.  We have three CHEAPO Records stores in the Metro.  I have a few CDs and LP Records but they are heirlooms for me.  Not for sale.

3. Islamic leader: CALIPH.

4. More factual: TRUER.  TRUER words were never spoken.

5. Bond foe Goldfinger: AURIC.  James Bond (Sean Connery) Rest in Peace, Age 90, October 31.

6. Org. with A's and O's: MLB.  I get it, but TWINS does not have an A or O.

7. Veggie in a pod: PEA.

8. James of "Gunsmoke": ARNESS.  James, "Marshall Dillon" was born in Minneapolis in 1926.

9. "Beat it!": SHOO.  Did you know that there is a SHOO SHOE Store in Milwaukee, WI.

11. Attached to a military unit, as a journalist: EMBEDDED.  Normally pests. They should SHOO them.

12. Angsty music genre: EMO.

13. Bronx team, initially: NYY.  I hear they had someone named Ruth playing for them.

19. Walgreens rival: CVS. I get my prescription meds in the mail.  Over- the-counter stuff is usually a bit high priced at the drug stores.  We go to Target or Walmart.

21. Low-level laborer: PEON.  I do not like that clue or word.  I was a caddie at the Country Club, A counter guy at a 15 cent hamburger place, and a pizza delivery guy.  It paid for my 1955 Olds.

24. Drop, as weight: LOSE.

25. Was humbled: ATE DIRT.

27. Bow-wielding god: EROS.

28. Mailed: SENT.  We sent our absentee ballots to the state over three weeks ago.  Minnesota laws were generous.  I feel sorry for those in the TV reports standing in line for hours.

31. Billion suffix: AIRE.

33. Yours and mine: OURS.  In our home, everything is OURS.  Except C.C. doesn't use my bowling balls.

34. Personal ad "looking for": ISO. In Search Of.

35. Good buddy: PAL. First name PAY?

36. East Asian country: LAOS.

37. Alan of "M*A*S*H": ALDA.  "The game of life is hard to play, You're gonna lose it anyway."

38. Approached for a raid: CLOSED IN.

40. Board game with a candlestick: CLUE.  I think it was done in the hall, by Miss Scarlet, with the rope.

43. Lead up to: PRECEDE.

45. Former Chicago mayor Emanuel: RAHM.  Or really good golfer on the PGA Jon.

47. "Plays well with __": OTHERS.  My Monday golf league was excellent and I enjoyed many different old duffers like myself.  Looking forward to April.

49. For instance: NAMELY.

51. Agree: ASSENT.  I usually just nod my head.

53. Sch. near Hollywood: USC. University of Southern California .

54. Scarlett's Butler: RHETT.  I've heard of him but I think it was before my time.  I think he's Gone with the Wind.

55. Heals: CURES.

57. Greek war god: ARES.

59. Post-Civil War pres.: USG.  I used to think President Grant's first names were United States until about the fifth grade.

60. SSW's opposite: NNE.

61. "__ on my watch!": NOT.

62. U.S. Election Day: Abbr.: TUE.  The Sun'll come out TOMORROW,   Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow, There'll be sun. Andrea McCardle.

Boomer

Monday October 26, 2020 Jeff Stillman

Theme: TRAIL MIX (61. Backpacker's snack, and a hint to the circled letters) - Anagrammed letters of TRAIL span across each theme entry.

17. Astral-shaped wildflower of the American West: STAR LILY.

30. Business sector involving merchandise: RETAIL TRADE.

44. Lionel products: MODEL TRAINS.

Boomer here. Heading down the TRAIL of a Monday crossword.  

We had a little Minnesota problem last week. Eight inches of wet snow clogged our satellite dish, but shoveling used up some of TV time anyway.  Weather person reported that our average temperature this time of year is 56 degrees.  My golf clubs are safe and dry in the garage.

Across:

1. June honorees: PAS.  Some are grand!

4. Hissed "Hey!": PSST.

8. Tool for curved cutting: JIGSAW.  These puzzles are better than crosswords.  I have put together dozens.

14. Devoured, say: ATE.  How many eggs did you have for breakfast, Brute ??  I ATE eight.

15. State bordering Lake Erie: OHIO.  It's a big lake.  I think Michigan and New York are in the mix, but too many letters.

16. Dress like a justice: ENROBE.  "All Rise".

19. Whatsit: DOODAD.  I have thousands of boondoggle and baseball cards.  Will those count?

20. Really impressive, in slang: SICK.

21. Asking for a saucer of milk, maybe: MEOWING.

23. Soft fly ball: BLOOP.  It doesn't get any higher.

25. Utmost degree: NTH.  It doesn't get any higher than that either.

26. Helpful hint: TIP.  Or a few dollars to our newspaper delivery guy.  The news was on our front step around 5:00 AM.  Lot of snow on the ground and driveway at that time.  Plus there is not a lot of traffic on our street.  Low priority for the plows.  

29. Veer off course: YAW.

35. Performing in person: LIVE.  Live from New York, It's Saturday Night!

36. Walking on water, as Jesus did: MIRACLE.  Also a WHIP salad dressing.

37. Take for granted: ASSUME.  Makes an ASS out of U and ME.

40. Speak under one's breath: MUTTER.

41. Heated dispute: RHUBARB. A lot grown in the summer here.  We used to eat the stalks with a little salt.  Moms used to make a pie out of it.

 

43. Clark's coworker: LOIS.  "In Penny LANE there is a barber showing photographs." Beatles.

46. Koothrappali on "The Big Bang Theory": RAJ.

49. "Undoubtedly": YES.  "You say YES, I say NO, you say why, and I say I don't know"  Magical Mystery Tour - The Beatles again.

50. Key next to the space bar: ALT.

51. New Zealand native: MAORI.

53. Cite for speeding: WRITE UP.  I got a couple of these when I was young and stupid.  Now I am old and slow, but still stupid.

57. Advise of danger: WARN.

58. "Love" concoction: POTION.  I took my troubles down to Madame Rue.  You know that Gypsy with the Gold capped tooth.  She sold Love POTION number nine.  The Searchers.

63. First in a playoff series: OPENER.  World Series Tampa Bay Rays cannot sell beer at the ballpark because they lost the OPENER.

64. Biology lab gel: AGAR.

65. Genesis fruit eater: EVE.  The devil made her do it.

66. House speaker Nancy: PELOSI.  Two of my sisters live in her district in SF.

67. Ritual flammable pile: PYRE.

68. Checkers color: RED.  Not enough spaces for BLACK.

Down: 

1. Elapse, as time: PASS BY.

2. Number one Hun: ATTILA.  I don't know much about him but I don't want to either.

3. Underwater herbivore: SEA COW.  I have seen the SEA and I have seen a COW.

4. D.C. insider: POL.  Many many scramblers this week to keep their jobs.

5. Wedge-shaped leveling piece: SHIM.

6. End of Jane or June?: SILENT E. Letter E in Jane or June.

7. RAV4 automaker: TOYOTA.  Sorry, we went with a Santa Fe.

8. "Star Wars" warrior: JEDI.  I think my son, Bret, had the first three movies memorized.

9. A party to: IN ON.  "How do I know, I read it in the Daily News." Tom Paxton.  And you thought I only liked the Chad Mitchell Trio.

10. Pirate's rum drink: GROG.  "Away, away with rum by gum, the song of the temperance union."  Chad Mitchell Trio.

11. Nursery buy: SOD.

12. Lawyer's org.: ABA.  I will say nothing about this.  I don't want to get sued.

13. Exchange marriage vows: WED.  Middle of the week day.

18. Old MGM rival: RKO.  We had an RKO Orpheum movie theater in downtown Minneapolis years ago.

22. Sudden fancy: WHIM.

24. Kind of scream: PRIMAL.

26. Diplomacy: TACT.

27. Not scheduled to play, as a pro team: IDLE.  When the Santa Fe IDLES, it seems like the engine dies.

28. Look intently (at): PEER. I have no PEERS, they are all better than I.

31. Three-time Wimbledon winner Chris: EVERT.  Tennis is kind of a back and forth.  Not my favorite.

32. Spanish citrus fruit: LIMON.  I think this is a lemon spelled wrong.

33. Obvious observation: TRUISM.

34. Stinkers: RATS.  "Good Grief Charlie Brown!"

35. Garage job: LUBE.

37. Football rival of Navy: ARMY.  I thought this used to be a Thanksgiving game.  It has been moved to December 12, 2020.

38. A tree helps it keep its shape: SHOE.  As long as it's not high heeled.

39. Soap bubbles: SUDS.  When you say Budweiser...

42. Obnoxious tyke: BRAT.  Sounds like a sausage to me.

43. Arrangement of church services: LITURGY.  My church still does not want old people with health conditions.  Something about Covid-19.

45. Brewpub fixture: ALE TAP.  I still drink the Canada Dry Ginger type.  It's not on tap.  It comes in cans.

46. Aimless sort: ROAMER.

47. Hit the big time: ARRIVE.  Last Sunday a famous sportswriter for the Minneapolis Star Tribune Sid Hartman (Age 100) passed away and hit the big time.  The Monday paper had about 12 pages of tribute obituary.  The Sports section also had a three page obit on the Vikings.

48. Brought bad luck to: JINXED.

52. Hole-making tool: AWL.

53. Skid row denizen: WINO.  Not me.  When I was allowed to consume, it was a VO Manhattan on the rocks with cherry juice.  After two of them I quit because I could not say that anymore.

54. Some reddish deer: ROES.

55. Crucifix letters: INRI.

56. Jack who preceded Carson on late-night TV: PAAR.  Yes I am old enough to remember Jack.

58. Burst: POP.  Diet Pepsi please.

59. Reveal, in verse: OPE.

60. Business card abbr.: TEL.

62. Embitterment: IRE.

Boomer