Monday April 1, 2024 Patti Varol

  

Happy Monday, everyone! sumdaze here with a golden puzzle to celebrate April Fools' Day. It has a holiday theme, just-right Monday level, and a factor of fun. For these reasons, it earns the title:  

We will begin with the themed clues:

17 Across. Matching cups, saucers, sugar bowl, etc.: TEA SERVICE.  

22 Across. Colorful hard confection: RIBBON CANDY.  

This is RIBBON CANDY. It is popular at Christmastime.

50 Across. Legumes in some chili recipes: KIDNEY BEANS.  

They are so named because of their kidney-like shape and their color.
Actually, thinking of them that way makes them sound far less appetizing.

57 Across. Mojave Desert yucca: JOSHUA TREE.  

Some say they inspire images of the biblical Joshua
reaching out his arms towards God.

Here is the reveal:

36 Across. Apt time for pranksters to do the starts of 17-, 22-, 50-, and 57-Across?: APRIL FOOLS' DAY.

"The starts of 17-, 22-, 50-, and 57-Across" are all things pranksters do:  TEASE, RIB, KID, and JOSH.  

All four of the themers are two-word phrases. "TEASE" spans both words while the other three are the first syllables of the first words. 

Something about this puzzle felt familiar. Did you feel that way, too? Perhaps I was recalling this November 29, 2023 puzzle by Jeanne D. Breen (blogged by Anonymous T) with the reveal ALL KIDDING ASIDE.

I like that Patti gave us a special puzzle to mark today's date. Perhaps she thought, "Well, if no one is going to submit an April Fools' Day puzzle than I will just have to create one."

Across:

1. Low on a spiciness scale: MILD.  

5. Presidential thumbs down: VETO.  Cue School House Rock:  

9. Future JD's exam: LSAT.  To be admitted into a Doctor of Jurisprudence program, one must first pass the Law School Admission Test.

13. Over again: ANEW.

14. Villainous: EVIL.  

Jace Everett   Bad Things (2005)

This was the theme song to the TV show True Blood (2008-2014).

15. Commuter boat: FERRY.

16. Post-it scribble: NOTE.  

19. Starting point: ONSET.  Think "time" as opposed to "location".

21. "Luncheon of the Boating Party" painter Pierre-Auguste: RENOIR.  The painting is on display at The Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C.

(1880-1881)
Renoir later married the model in the bottom, left.

25. "Bowwow!": ARF.  

dog noises in nine languages  (32 sec.)

28. Fr. holy woman: STE.  I know this one from doing XWDs. "French" is abbreviated and so is something about a nun.

29. Pep squad cheer: RAH.

30. Alex Morgan's sport: SOCCER.  She is an American athlete born on July 2, 1989 who plays forward for the United States' women's national soccer team and the San Diego Wave.

32. Back, at sea: ASTERN.  Without the comma, one might try to think of words meaning "to return to the sea".  

This diagram helped me see the difference between "stern" and "astern".

35. "Good heavens!": OH MY.  

40. Antioxidant berry in fruit bowls: ACAI.

41. Tranquil: SERENE.

42. Not exactly: KIND OF.

45. Mariska Hargitay series, familiarly: SVU.  Law & Order:  Special Victims Unit  (1999 - present)  

This is Mariska posing in front of a SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle).

46. Small amount: BIT.

49. Citrus drink suffix: -ADE.

54. Extra charge for a sci. class, e.g.: LAB FEE.  Science class

56. Quick bite: SNACK.  

61. Share a side with: ABUT.  But, wait! We also have 62A....

62. Anticipate: AWAIT.

63. Rhyming tributes: ODES.

64. Train segments: CARS.  

I was standing on a pedestrian overpass when I took this picture of train CARS loaded with coal.

65. Terrarium pet: NEWT.  

Learn more about this Luristan NEWT here.

66. Norway's capital: OSLO.     and     34 Down. Like Vikings: NORSE.

67. Job: TASK.

Down:
1. Grand homes: MANORS.

2. Part of the plot: IN ON IT.  

3. Doesn't interfere with: LETS BE.  

The Beatles  Let It Be  (1970)

4. Uncool sort: DWEEB.     and     52 Down. Uncool sorts: NERDS.

5. Nov. 11 honoree: VET.  "November" is abbreviated, so is "VETeran".

6. Festive night, often: EVE.

7. Prom queen's crown: TIARA.

8. Elizabeth of "WandaVision": OLSEN.  Elizabeth is the younger sister of the OLSEN twins from Full House (Mary-Kate and Ashley). This is the trailer for her show.  👍👍  

9. Jeans maker Strauss: LEVI.  

10. Hot sauce often mixed with mayonnaise: SRIRACHA.  Knowing this one and knowing how to spell it are two different challenges.

This is for those of you who have been following the SRIRACHA drama.

11. Path of a lobbed ball: ARC.

12. Sheridan who plays young Cyclops in the "X-Men" films: TYE.  his IMDb page

15. Soft serve ice cream alternative, casually: FROYO.  

18. Wraps up: ENDS.  

20. Upper bodies: TORSI.  The plural of torso is torsos or TORSI. 

Gaddi Torso  (2nd Century BCE)
The artist is unknown. "Gaddi" is the family name of a previous owner.

23. Countrywide: Abbr.: NAT'L.  National

24. Gourmet cooks: CHEFS.     and     26 Down. "Ratatouille" rat: REMY.     and     27 Down. Cook in hot oil: FRY.

2007 Disney movie

31. Programmer's output: CODE.

32. Dry as a desert: ARID.

33. Fish eggs: ROE.

36. Battery fluid: ACID.  your battery acid questions answered

37. Carpentry tool that cuts plywood sheets: PANEL SAW.  

How to Panel Saw

I like how the tape measure is built into the saw.

38. Tax: LEVY.  When they tax the jeans in 9D it is called a Levi LEVY.  😉

39. Oscar season oversights: SNUBS.  Def.:  (verb) rebuff, ignore, or spurn disdainfully. 

This was a timely clue because for the last two weeks, the internet has been sending me links to articles about who was snubbed by the Oscars. 

Ke Huy Quan won an Academy Award in 2023
 for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in
Everything Everywhere All at Once.

40. Sometimes called, for short: AKA.  It stands for Also Known As and is pronounced ay-kay-ay.

43. "True. However ... ": OK, BUT.

44. World Cup org.: FIFA.  Fédération Internationale de Football Association

Founded in 1904, it is the governing body for many international soccer tournaments, most notably the World Cup.

46. "__, black sheep ... ": BAA BAA.  Have you any wool?  

John Anderson released Black Sheep in 1983.

47. Acquires, as debts: INCURS.     and     58 Down. Have bills to pay: OWE.

48. "Tut-tut" kin: TSK TSK.  I was not familiar with "tut-tut". According to Merriam-Webster, it is used to express disapproval or disbelief.

51. Half a "Star Wars" droid name: DETOO.  Wookieepedia agrees that R2-D2 is sometimes spelled Artoo-Detoo.

53. Put into effect: ENACT.

55. Take __: lose money: A HIT.

57. First mo.: JAN.  

59. Long fish: EEL.

60. That, in Spanish: ESO.  If it feels like the answer to this one keeps changing, it is because it does -- depending on gender, proximity, and number.

Well, almost....

I kid you not, this is the correct grid:  

Have a wonder-fool day, everyone!

P.S.:  Before you alert me to an incorrect link in my first paragraph, please read this explanation of rickrolling.  Gotcha!

Monday March 25, 2024 Amy Johnson

  

Happy Monday, everyone! sumdaze here. My calendar is telling me today is a XWD favorite holiday -- Holi. Best wishes to all who celebrate!

Veteran constructor Amy Johnson recently collaborated with Katie Hale on this Sunday puzzle. Today she is back with a solo contribution I am calling: 

Wishful Thinking

All is explained at the reveal:

56 Across. Words said over a lit birthday cake, and upon the start of 17-, 26-, or 42-Across: MAKE A WISH.  

Isn't she fun to watch?!

17 Across. Box office attraction: STAR POWER.  Jiminy Cricket sang about this in Pinocchio (1940).  

(Watch at 1:19 min. there are side-by-side pictures of crooner Cliff Edwards 

next to his animated alter ego.)

26 Across. Ancient vintner's quaff: DANDELION WINE.  

Why People Wish on Dandelions

42 Across. Makeup bag contraption: EYELASH CURLER.  If you see an eyelash on your friend's face, you can put it on the tip of your finger and tell your friend to make a wish then blow it away.

If you didn't know, this is an EYELASH CURLER.
No wonder eyelashes want to flee after being caught in one of these contraptions!  

The three themers give us three things upon which we can make a wish:  STAR, DANDELION, EYELASH. Amy did a fine job of crafting her idea into a 9-13-13-9 pattern grid. Let's see what else she included:

Across:
1. "The __ of the Furious": film sequel also known as "F8": FATE.  Hand up for filling this with FAST then later looking at 1-Down and thinking, "Huh?"

How did I miss the F+8=FATE ? I obviously went too fast. 

5. Orange juice bits: PULP.

9. Former Speaker of the House Pelosi: NANCY.  Nancy Patricia Pelosi (b. March 26, 1940) served as the 52nd Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 2007-2011 and 2019-2023.

14. Atmospheric glow: AURA.

15. Teri's "Young Frankenstein" role: INGA.  Here is Teri Garr reminiscing about making the 1974 film with director Mel Brooks and co-stars Gene Wilder, Marty Feldman, and Madeline Kahn.

16. Honolulu hello: ALOHA.  

19. Like an area with many farms: RURAL.

20. Tee or cami: TOP.

21. Suffix with oct-: -ANE.  so much more info.

22. Letters sent by plane: AIRMAIL.  

24. Scott Turow work: ONE L.  

25. Timely blessing: BOON.

31. __ and pestle: MORTAR.  Mine gets a lot of use grinding flax seeds to add to the bread I bake. My tip is to add whatever salt a recipe calls for to the MORTAR at the same time.  

32. Dr. Jekyll creator's monogram: RLS.  Robert Louis Stevenson was born in Edinburgh on November 13, 1850 and died 9,460 miles away in Samoa on December 3, 1894.  

33. Celestial sphere: ORB.

35. Belgium money: EUROS.

36. Heaven knows where, for short: MIA.  Missing In Action  

37. Subway in Washington, D.C.: METRO.  

I rode the Orange line to the Farragut West station for three years.

39. Flight safety org.: TSA.  

40. Casual hellos: HIs.

41. Lox fish: SALMON.  Lox is a fillet (or strip) of brined SALMON. Brining means to cure food with salt.  lox-a more about lox

46. Part of speech: NOUN.

47. Classic TV role for Ron Howard: OPIE.  Ron talks in depth about this period of his life in his book The Boys: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family (2021).

48. Millennium Falcon pilot: HAN SOLO.  Anyone with an iota of Star Wars background knew this one.

Harrison Ford, back in the day
BTW, Harrison Ford and Ron Howard acted together in American Graffiti,
a 1973 George Lucas film about cruising in Modesto, CA.

51. Surgery ctrs.: ORS.  Operating Rooms

52. Gain a lap: SIT.  This was my FAV clue today!  Not a lap on the track!

55. Renowned baseball family: ALOUS.  Here is the story of how three brothers from the Dominican Republic made MLB history by forming the first all-brother outfield back in 1963.  

59. Word after dime or dollar: STORE.

60. Early school yrs.: ELEM.  "Years" is abbrevieated, so is "ELEMentary".

61. __ and hearty: HALE.

62. Game piece: TOKEN.  

63. County fair attraction: RIDE.

64. Sign of the future: OMEN.

Down:

1. "The __ and the Furious": action film franchise: FAST.

2. Car: AUTO.  

AUTOs in The Fast and Furious  (2001)

3. U-shaped part of a drainpipe: TRAP.  

4. Spot for an AirPod: EAR.

5. Trailblazer: PIONEER.

6. Not feeling up to par: UNWELL.

7. Size up from med.: LGE.

8. Curve in algebra class: PARABOLA.  

This diagram shows why we say a PARABOLA is a conic section 
(the curve you get when a plane intersects a cone's surface).

9. Not wide: NARROW.

10. School reunion attendees: ALUMNI.

11. "Julie & Julia" writer/director Ephron: NORA.  

12. Spiced tea brewed in milk: CHAI.

13. Southern collective pronoun: Y'ALL.  I hope Y'ALL got this one correct today.

18. Bamboo-eating bears: PANDAS.  

23. Atomic particles that carry charges: IONS.

24. Hardly fooled by: ONTO.  ONTO is a preposition that can mean on top of or fully aware of.  

26. Drench: DOUSE.  This is that disgusting MAYO video we were talking about last week.  WVU coach gets DOUSEd in MAYO after bowl win

27. Wide variety: ARRAY.

28. From Donegal: IRISH.  CSO to our lovely IM☘

29. "Get anyone else": NOT ME.

30. Infielder's blunder: ERROR.

31. "Have we __?": MET.  

34. "__ voyage!": BON.

36. Inappropriate handle: MISNOMER.  The slang definition of "handle" is a person's name or nickname. We all use one on The Corner.

37. Oscar winner Tomei: MARISA.  She won for My Cousin Vinny in 1993.  

Love this styling!!

38. French feminine pronoun: ELLE.

40. Heist booty: HAUL.

41. Highest in rank: SUPREME.  

Stop! In the Name of Love

The Supremes (1965)

43. Big name in nutritional shakes: ENSURE.  

44. Undo a bit, as a tie: LOOSEN.

45. Not raw: COOKED.

48. Biblical verb: HAST.  archaic second person singular present of "have"

49. Voice range for some boys: ALTO.

50. Cozy reading spot: NOOK.  31 Dreamy Reading Nook Ideas to Curl up with a Book in 2024

52. Thailand, once: SIAM.  CSO to Lily, Husker Gary's SIAMese cat.  

53. Cruise ship stop: ISLE.

54. Back in the day: THEN.

57. "Sting like a bee" boxer: ALI.

58. "Doctor __": BBC series starring Ncuti Gatwa: WHO.  Ncuti was born on October 15, 1992 in Rwanda. He is the 15th incarnation of the Doctor. Here he is with the latest sonic screwdriver.  

Here's today's completed grid:

Thanks in advance for your comments! I'll be off-line this week but I'll see you next Monday. I wish you a good day!