Thursday, August 21, 2025 Sean Ziebarth

 Theme:  Let's make some NOISE!

Prolific constructor Sean Ziebarth is a high school English teacher, surfer, and DJ.  In today's puzzle, he gives us a push in the right direction with some good advice, and suggests we make some noise in the process, hearing a little snap, crackle, and pop in common English phrases.  The theme clues and answers are:

17-Across. "Turn that frown upside down": CRACK A SMILE.  

30-Across. "Get your head on straight": SNAP OUT OF IT.

45-Across. "Get on that stage and wow the crowd": KNOCK 'EM DEAD.

61-Across. Words of wisdom, and what 17-, 30-, and 45-Across could be called?: SOUND ADVICE.

In addition to giving these phrases a fresh hearing, Sean has placed the theme entries in symmetrical rows Across.  Neato!  I'll bet it's fun to be in his class.

What else can we learn from Sean today?  Let's look at the rest of the clues and answers.

Across:

1. Best effort: A GAME.  One's highest level of play or performance.

6. Fools: CLODS.  I wasn't fond of this one, thinking that a clod is an oaf.  When I looked up synonyms of FOOL and of CLOD for today's blog, neither word listed the other.  But idiot is listed as a synonym for both clod and fool, so I suppose that if A=C and B=C, then A=B.

11. Make a mend: SEW.

14. Like much of central Illinois: RURAL.

15. "The Raven" writer, briefly: E A POE.  Edgar Allan Poe.

16. "Better. Guaranteed." gadget brand: OXO.  Favorite crossword utensils.

17. [Theme clue]

19. Whopper: LIE.

20. Luau performance: HULA.

21. Medium ability: ESP.  Extrasensory perception is an ability claimed by persons who say they are mediums, able to facilitate communication between the living and the dead.

22. Notes equivalent to C sharps: D FLATS.  These notes are the same black key on the piano (between the white keys C and D), and produce the same pitch.  The note will be written one way or the other depending on the key of a musical composition.

24. Immediately following: UPON.  "Upon hearing the news, she burst into tears."

26. Earlier: PRIOR.

27. Word with shell or shore: SEA.

30. [Theme clue]

34. Late: TARDY.

36. Sleep acronym: REM.  Rapid eye movement sleep is the stage of sleep where most dreams happen.

37. Peel: PARE.

38. Naan flour: ATTA.  If we ever have a Crossword Corner party, we are going to make naan with ATTA.  And eat many varieties of Oreos.  What else should be on the menu?

39. Addresses timeline errors, perhaps: EDITS.

41. Timeline units: ERAS.

42. Like much 1980s fashion: NEON.

43. "C'est la __!": VIE.  French for "That's life!"

44. Fess up (to): ADMIT.

45. [Theme clue]

49. __ as a fox: SLY.

50. Brand of riding mowers: DEERE.

51. YouTube journal: VLOG.  Video blog.

53. Too: OVERLY.

55. Needlework on a sleeve, for short: TAT.  A tattoo sleeve.

56. Turkey neighbor: IRAN.

60. Burrito option: WET.  A "wet burrito" is served covered in sauce, and must be eaten with a fork and knife.

61. [Theme clue]

64. Melissa of "The Fighter": LEO.  Melissa Leo is an American actress, and the recipient of a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and two Critics' Choice Awards.  In 2010, she won several awards for her performance in the film The Fighter, including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.  DNK.

Melissa Leo

65. Come next: ENSUE.

66. Moves closer: NEARS.

67. Cheap tix option: SRO.  Standing Room Only.  No seat for you!

68. "The Wild Swans at Coole" writer: YEATS.  "The Wild Swans at Coole" is a poem by Irish poet William Butler Yeats (1865-1939), first published in 1917.

The first stanza of the poem:

The trees are in their autumn beauty,

The woodland paths are dry,

Under the October twilight the water

Mirrors a still sky;

Upon the brimming water among the stones

Are nine-and-fifty swans.

69. Selling point: ASSET.

Down:

1. Foot part: ARCH.

2. Hindu teacher: GURU.

3. North __ Sea: Central Asian lake: ARAL.  The Aral Sea was once the world’s third largest lake.  It started shrinking in the 1960s when the Soviet government diverted two of its main inlet rivers, the Syr Darya and the Amu Darya, to irrigate the surrounding desert region. The North Aral Sea was separated from the South Aral Sea in 1987-88 as water levels dropped.  Independent Kazakhstan has addressed environmental degradation by again allowing the Syr Darya River to flow into the lake.

4. Hong Kong neighbor: MACAU.  Macau is an autonomous region on the south coast of China, across the Pearl River Delta from Hong Kong. A Portuguese territory until 1999, it is said to be the most densely populated region in the world. Its giant casinos and malls have earned it the nickname, "Las Vegas of Asia."

5. Utah's state animal: ELK.

6. General aviation company owned by Textron: CESSNA.  Textron Aviation sells Beechcraft and Cessna-branded aircraft, and supports older Hawker aircraft with parts and service.

7. Lava __: LAMP.  Lava lamps have been manufactured since 1963.

Cool array next to your water bed.

8. Maker of Talk to the Hand press-on nails: OPI.  OPI is a popular brand of nail polish, so this was an easy guess.

Hard to see, but the package says TALK TO THE HAND in the upper left corner.

9. Blues: DOLDRUMS.

10. Find appropriate: SEE FIT.

11. Green energy sources in some desert regions: SOLAR FARMS.

12. Way out: EXIT.

13. Heartaches: WOES.

18. Very long time: AEON.  Aeon is the more popular spelling in Britain.  On our side of the pond, a very long time is usually an eon.

23. Like a lasso: LOOPED.

25. Therapist's maj.: PSY.  A therapist's major course of study is psychology.

26. 68-Across, for one: POET.  Ah, yes, YEATS again.

27. Performed terribly: STANK.  Past tense of stink.  "The place stank like a sewer."  Or in slang, to be very bad at something.  "He stank at golf."

28. All gone: EATEN.

29. Luke Skywalker's loyal droid: ARTOO-DETOO.  Also written as R2-D2.

This vehicle with R2-D2 on the back was seen regularly in our neighborhood of Westchester, Los Angeles, when the kids were growing up.

31. Snooped around: PRIED.

32. Letter-shaped beam: I-RAIL.  An I-shaped rail.  Apparently used for things from curtains to trains.

33. On edge: TESTY.

35. Wearer of tap shoes: DANCER.

39. With no exceptions: EVERYONE.

40. Small coin: DIME.

44. Scene: ADO.

46. Plum who was the WNBA All-Star Game MVP in 2022: KELSEY.  Kelsey Plum is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association. She is a four-time WNBA All-Star and was named the WNBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player in 2022.

Kelsey Plum

47. Sidesteps: EVADES.

48. Baja's opposite: ALTA.  Spanish low and high.

52. Caves in: GIVES.

53. Parliament birds: OWLS.  A group of owls is called a parliament, reflecting their perceived wisdom.

54. Suddenly shift direction: VEER.

55. Letter-shaped fastener: T-NUT.  T-nuts are threaded fasteners with prongs that dig into the material when tightened.  First I-rail, now this!  What am I, a gearhead?

57. Coastal inlets: RIAS.

58. Part of a plot: ACRE.

59. Small tree house: NEST.

62. Jenny Thompson's team: USA.  Jenny Thompson is a former competitive swimmer.  She is one of the most decorated Olympians in history, with twelve medals, including eight gold medals, earned in the 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004 Summer Olympics.

Jenny Thompson

63. Genetic blueprint: DNA.

Here's the grid:

How did EVERYONE do today?

Did you SNAP OUT OF your DOLDRUMS and KNOCK 'EM DEAD?

Or was the puzzle OVERLY difficult, so that success EVADEd you?

Let us know in the comments.

-- NaomiZ

Thursday, August 14, 2025, Kathy Lowden

 Theme:  Staggering stories.

Today's puzzle appears to be Kathy Lowden's 6th for the LA Times, and her first Thursday offering.  Welcome to Thursday, Kathy!  Mind the steps!

Very likely the first thing you noticed about today's puzzle is the circles.  Say what you will about circles in the crossword puzzle, it's an impressive puzzle within the puzzle, and would certainly not have been discernible without the circles.  Let's start with the reveal, which is a grid spanning entry.

39-Across. Common midcentury modern suburban home, or what is depicted by each set of circled letters: SPLIT-LEVEL HOUSE.  A split-level house is a house in which the floor levels are staggered. There are typically two short sets of stairs, one running upward to a bedroom level, and one going downward toward a basement area.  It was a popular building style in the 1950s and 60s.

The circles spell out types of houses, which are all split onto three rows (or levels) of the puzzle:

Starting at 9-Across:  VILLA

Starting within 17-Across:  COTTAGE

Starting within 51-Across:  MANSION

Starting at 61-Across:  RANCH

Now that Kathy has made you feel at home, let's pull back the curtain on the rest of the clues and answers.

Across:

1. Picnic spoilers: ANTS.

5. Dad jokes, often: PUNS.

9. Hardly reticent: VOCAL.

14. Zoom call button: JOIN.

15. Privy to: IN ON.

16. Works the soil: TILLS.

17. With the bow, in music: ARCO.  This notation on a musical score tells string instrument players to use the bow (Italian "arco"), as opposed to plucking the strings ("pizzicato").

Pluck, then bow.

18. Muppet who refers to himself in the third person: ELMO.

19. Detective Holmes: ENOLA.  The Enola Holmes Mysteries is a series of detective novels by Nancy Springer, starring Enola Holmes as the teenage sister of Sherlock Holmes, twenty years her senior.  The books inspired a 2020 film and 2022 sequel, with a third movie in the works.

20. Slow-cooked rice dishes: RISOTTOS.  I used to think the constant stirring of risotto on the stove would make it too difficult to attempt at home.  I was wrong.  It's a favorite now.

22. Loosen, as shoelaces: UNKNOT.

23. Sorts projects by priority: TRIAGES.

25. CGI invaders: ETs.  Computer-generated imagery is used in films to represent extraterrestrial characters, who sometimes invade the earth.  An abbreviation in the clue calls for an abbreviation in the answer.

26. Summitt in the Basketball Hall of Fame: PAT.  Pat Summitt (1952-2016) was a women's college basketball coach and college basketball player. She served as head coach of the University of Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team from 1974 to 2012 and is considered one of the greatest basketball coaches of all time.  Go Vols!

Pat Summitt

29. "__ of discussion": END.

30. Oxidize: RUST.

33. Iridescent gems: OPALS.

35. "Ugly Betty" actress: ANA ORTIZ.  Ugly Betty was a television series on ABC from 2006 to 2010. It was based on a Colombian telenovela, Yo soy Betty, la fea.  You may remember America Ferrera, who starred as Betty.  Ana Ortiz played Betty's sister.

Ana Ortiz in Ugly Betty

39. [Theme clue and reveal -- see above.]

42. Cadillac SUV: ESCALADE.

43. Puts money in: ANTES.

44. Steep-walled formation: MESA.

45. Off-rd. ride: ATV.  An off-road ride (or vehicle) is an all-terrain vehicle.  An abbreviation in the clue calls for an abbreviation in the answer.

47. Game, __, match: SET.  "Game, set, match" is a phrase used in tennis to announce the end of a match and the winner's victory. It signifies that a player has won the final game of the final set. The expression can be used to indicate a final victory in any context. 

48. Org. for locavores: CSA.  Community Supported Agriculture is a way to buy local food directly from a farmer.  The farm delivers boxes of seasonal goods on a regular basis.  We tried this once, but I didn't know what to do with the odd assortment:  one beet, a couple of carrots, and so on.  We go to our local farmers' market instead.  Does that make us locavores?  Once again, an abbreviation in the clue calls for an abbreviation in the answer.

51. Rahm who was U.S. Ambassador to Japan until 2025: EMANUEL.  Rahm Emanuel is an American politician, diplomat, and former investment banker who served as United States ambassador to Japan from 2022 to 2025.  He represented Illinois in the U.S. House of Representatives for three terms from 2003 to 2009.  He was the White House chief of staff from 2009 to 2010 under President Barack Obama and served as Mayor of Chicago from 2011 to 2019.

Rahm Emanuel

54. First-stringers: A-TEAMS.  In sports, the first-stringers or A-teams are the starting players who are considered most valuable and who consistently see the most playing time.

57. Legendary reptile with a fatal gaze: BASILISK.  In European bestiaries and legends, a basilisk is a serpent king, who causes death to those who look into its eyes.  Today, the common basilisk is a lizard endemic to Central and South America, where it is found near rivers and streams.  It is also called the Jesus Christ lizard for its ability to run on the surface of water.

I took this photo of a relatively harmless basilisk lizard in Costa Rica.

61. Back in style: RETRO.

62. Google __: DOCS.  A file sharing application.  In our family, it's used to share photos and videos that are too large to be emailed.

63. Not twice: ONCE.  "Thrice" doesn't fit.

64. Judges' seats: BANCS.  "En banc" is a French term meaning "on the bench."  It signifies a full court hearing, involving all active judges of a specific appellate court. 

65. Pernicious: EVIL.

66. Rip-off: SCAM.

67. Big hit: SMASH.

68. Target of CRISPR editing: GENE.  CRISPR gene editing is a new technology that allows for targeted modifications to the DNA of living organisms.  It offers potential treatments for genetic disorders and advancements in crop engineering.  

69. 50+ group: AARP.  AARP is the American Association of Retired Persons.  It's an organization that focuses on issues affecting people aged 50 and older.  And you don't have to be retired to join.

Down:

1. Partly open: AJAR.

2. Seaweed wrapper on Spam musubi: NORI.  Spam musubi is a Hawaiian food item made of fried Spam (canned meat) on a block of rice, wrapped together with a strip of nori (dried red algae seaweed). 

3. Small spasms: TICS.

4. Snob: SNOOT.

5. Tart pan: PIE TIN.

6. Vent frustration: UNLOAD.

7. Claim on some ramen packets: NO MSG.

8. __-Caps: SNO.  

9. Powerful engine: V-TEN.  A V10 engine is a ten-cylinder piston engine where two banks of five cylinders are arranged in a V configuration around a common crankshaft. 

V10 engine

10. Porcine noise: OINK.

11. Exact copy: CLONE.

12. Apportion: ALLOT.

13. Exams for future AGs: LSATs.  If you'd like to be an Attorney General someday, you'd best become an attorney first.  That process usually begins with the Law School Admission Test.

21. Railroad support: TRESTLE.  A trestle bridge is a bridge composed of a number of short spans supported by closely spaced frames, usually carrying a railroad line.

Trestle bridge with train

22. Normal: USUAL.

24. Sea eagle: ERNE.  A sea eagle or fish eagle (also called erne or ern) is any of the birds of prey in the subfamily Haliaeetinae of the family Accipitridae.  There are 10 species of erne, including the Bald Eagle.

26. Cat or cow, e.g., in yoga: POSE.

27. Starters, casually: APPS.  Appetizers.

28. Soft mineral: TALC.

31. "Me too": SO HAVE I.

32. 1982 film set inside a mainframe: TRON.  I enjoyed this movie at the time!  Haven't seen it since, but it did appear in Tuesday's puzzle.  Did any of our solvers like the film?

TRON

34. Actor Neeson: LIAM.

35. Wide st.: AVE.  Street / Avenue.  An abbreviation in the clue calls for an abbreviation in the answer.

36. Sounds of rebuke: TUTS.

37. "Understood": I SEE.

38. Key lime pie garnish: ZEST.

40. Cuts with a beam: LASES.

41. Semisoft cheese: EDAM.

45. Big name in headache remedies: ANACIN.  Anacin is an over-the-counter pain reliever that combines aspirin and caffeine.  Throw in some acetominophen and you've got Excedrin Migraine.

46. Scuffle: TUSSLE.

48. Nutrients eschewed on Atkins: CARBS.  The Atkins diet limits carbohydrates and emphasizes consumption of fat and protein.  This can lead to weight loss, and also to heart disease and cancer.  I'll have the pasta.

49. Momentum: STEAM.

50. Insurer owned by CVS Health: AETNA.

52. On top of: ABOVE.

53. Literature Nobelist Mario Vargas __: LLOSA.  Peruvian novelist Mario Vargas Llosa (1936-2025) is considered to have been one of the most significant Latin American writers of his generation.  He won the 2010 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Mario Vargas Llosa

55. Story lines: ARCS.

56. __ pit: MOSH.  A mosh pit is an area at a live music concert, typically in front of the stage, where people dance in a way that involves pushing and shoving.  

Shall we dance?

58. Machu Picchu native: INCA.

59. Mark that may be emotional or physical: SCAR.

60. Dole's 1996 running mate: KEMP.

62. Ph.D., for one: DEG.  A Ph.D. (philosophiae doctor, or doctor in philosophy) is a degree that usually indicates the highest level of academic achievement in a given discipline.  And, as I don't have to tell you, an abbreviation in the clue calls for an abbreviation in the answer.

Here's the grid:

Fellow solvers, did you enjoy today's inventory of SPLIT LEVEL HOUSEs?

Did you UNLOAD some TUTS upon the EVIL circles?

Or did you attack the puzzle with ZEST and decide the whole thing was a SMASH in the END?

Let us know in the comments.

-- NaomiZ

Thursday, August 7, 2025, Joe Marangell

Theme:  Schoolwork.

Constructor Joe Marangell teaches us to read five familiar phrases as if they pertained to schoolwork.  The theme answers are placed symmetrically in Across rows, with one spanning the grid.  Very clever!  Give this man an A!  The theme clues and answers are:

17-Across. Biology course content?: LIFE LESSON.  A life lesson is a piece of wisdom gained through experience -- or in this case, a course of study in biology, which is the scientific study of life and living organisms.

26-Across. Aviation course content?: PILOT STUDY.  A pilot study is a small-scale, preliminary research project conducted to assess the feasibility of a larger study or project -- or in this case, study materials for someone learning to pilot an aircraft.

38-Across. Basic training course content?: PRIVATE PRACTICE.  A private practice is a professional business (such as that of a lawyer or doctor) that is not controlled by the government or a larger company -- or in this case, the training course for an army recruit of the lowest rank.

46-Across. Government course content?: POWER DRILL.  A power drill is a handheld tool that uses an electric motor to rotate a drill bit or screwdriver tip -- or in this case, a training session in the use of authority, influence, or control.

57-Across. Sports management course content?: COACH CLASS.  Coach class is economy seating on an aircraft or train -- or in this case, a curriculum for persons responsible for the direction, instruction, and training of a sports team or athlete.

Across: 

1. Tiffs: SPATS.

6. Gym sets: REPS.  Repetitions of an exercise, usually called "reps" in a gymnasium.

10. "Pygmalion" playwright: SHAW.  Pygmalion is a 1913 stage play by George Bernard Shaw.  It is named for the Greek mythological figure Pygmalion, who fell in love with one of his sculptures, which then came to life.  You may be more familiar with the 1964 American musical comedy film My Fair Lady which is based on Shaw's play.

Pygmalion and Galatea by Elisabeth Caren

14. "Is it really?": NO LIE.  A conversational response that I have never heard used.

15. Waikiki home: OAHU.  The island of Oahu is home to the neighborhood of Waikiki within the city of Honolulu.

16. Slim margin of victory: HAIR.  "Win by a hair" is an idiom meaning to win by a very small margin.

17. [Theme clue]

19. Slick: OILY.

20. Strength: ASSET.  One definition of asset is a useful or valuable thing, person, or quality, which could also be considered a strength.

21. Nerdy 1990s sitcom character: URKEL.  Steve Urkel was a fictional character on the ABC/CBS sitcom Family Matters, portrayed by Jaleel White.  Originally slated for a single appearance, he became the show's most popular character and its protagonist.

Jaleel White as Steve Urkel

22. Engineered crops, for short: GMOs.  Genetically Modified Organisms are plants, animals, or microorganisms whose DNA has been altered, often by introducing genes from another organism or by altering existing genes, to express desired traits. 

26. [Theme clue]

28. Arrive onshore, as clouds: ROLL IN.

Time to head home, kids!

30. "Affirmative": YES.

31. Actor Quinn: AIDAN.  Aidan Quinn is an Irish-American actor. He has starred in over 80 feature films as well as in several television series.

Aidan Quinn

32. Candy Land surface: BOARD.

35. Go on the __: LAM.  Escape or run away, especially from the police.  The English pickpockets who created the expression did not leave notes about its etymology.

38. [Theme clue]

41. "__ Haw": HEE.  Hee Haw was a TV variety show featuring country music and humor, which aired on CBS from 1969 to 1993.  "Hee haw" can be the sound a donkey makes, or a loud laugh.  Given the capitalization in the clue, the TV show is probably meant here.

42. Arial, Times New Roman, etc.: FONTS.

43. Sailing: AT SEA.

44. Best New Artist Grammy winner Lipa: DUA.  A frequent crossword vocalist.

45. Josh of the "Dune" films: BROLIN.  Josh Brolin is an actor, and son of actor James Brolin.  Josh had early success with his role in The Goonies (1985), and then saw his career decline until he starred in the film No Country for Old Men (2007).  Since then, he's enjoyed a stellar career.

Josh Brolin

46. [Theme clue]

52. Furry companions: PETS.

53. "Success is counted sweetest" poet Dickinson: EMILY.  "Success is counted sweetest" is a poem by Emily Dickinson, written in 1859 and published in 1864. The poem uses images of a victorious army and one dying warrior to suggest that only one who has suffered defeat can understand success.

Success is counted sweetest,

By those who ne’er succeed.

To comprehend a nectar

Requires sorest need.

Not one of all the purple Host

Who took the Flag today

Can tell the definition

So clear of Victory

As he defeated – dying – 

On whose forbidden ear

The distant strains of triumph

Burst agonized and clear!

54. Great Plains people: OTOES.  A Native American tribe that lived in the Central Plains region, specifically along the Missouri River in parts of what are now Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, and Missouri.

 
56. Toddler's pop: DADA.  Babies often say "dada" or "mama" as part of their early babbling, typically between 6 and 12 months of age.  The sound "dada" usually precedes "mama," which seems like a great survival mechanism for a mewling infant.

57. [Theme clue]

62. Nautical greeting: AHOY.

63. Puerto Rico, e.g.: ISLA.  The Spanish word for "island," pronounced EES-la.

64. Ed of "Lou Grant": ASNER.  Ed Asner (1929-2021) was an American actor, most noted for portraying Lou Grant on the sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970–1977) and on the drama Lou Grant (1977–1982).  He is the most honored male performer in the history of the Primetime Emmy Awards, having won seven.

Ed Asner

65. Statutes: LAWS.

66. Texter's "Bye for now": TTYL.  Talk To You Later.

67. __-frutti: TUTTI.  Tutti frutti (Italian for 'all fruits') is a mixture of candied fruits, often used to flavor ice cream.  The mixture may include cherries, watermelon, raisins, and pineapple.  That doesn't sound so great, but you know what does?  Little Richard's song "Tutti Frutti" (1957).

Tutti Frutti

Down:

1. Chloe Fineman's show, familiarly: SNL.  Chloe Fineman is an American actress and comedian. She became a featured player on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live in 2019, and was promoted to repertory status in 2021.

Chloe Fineman

2. Luau dish: POI.  Poi is a staple food in the Polynesian diet, made from the root vegetable taro.  It shows up frequently at Hawaiian luaus.

Mashing taro to make poi.

3. Fuzzy 1980s sitcom character: ALF.  ALF is the title character of the American television series ALF, and its animated spin-offs.  ALF is short for Alien Life Form. Paul Fusco created and played ALF, and provided the voice for the character.  Here's another cultural touchstone that I've missed.

ALF

4. Twist __: TIE.  The bit of wire in a paper or plastic wrapper that you use to close a plastic bag.

5. Actress Ward: SELA.  Sela Ward is an American actress known for her work in TV series including the Fox medical drama House, and the CBS police procedurals CSI: NY and FBI.  She has also played supporting roles in a number of films.  

Sela Ward

6. Martini partner: ROSSI.  Chill gin in the freezer, pour into a cold glass, add a few drops of this extra dry vermouth, and call it a martini.  Add a twist of lime or a few olives if you like.

7. Canvas stand: EASEL.

8. Pic: PHOTO.

9. Phoenix pro: SUN.  The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They compete in the NBA as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference.

10. Warm-weather wear: SHORTS.

11. Japanese poem: HAIKU.  A haiku is a form of Japanese poetry characterized by its three-line structure and specific syllable count: 5-7-5.

Words weave secret paths,

Meaning cloaked in clever clues—

The grid slowly speaks.

12. Felt unwell: AILED.  What some of us did after last weekend's wedding in the woods.  My brother in law apparently brought the gift of COVID from Florida.

13. With irony: WRYLY.

18. "Baseball Tonight" airer: ESPN.

21. Kelley Blue Book listing: USED CAR.  Kelley Blue Book Co., Inc. (www.kbb.com) is an American vehicle valuation and automotive research company.  Great site to check if you are buying or selling a used car.

22. Sales meeting visual aid: GRAPH.

23. Wavy pattern: MOIRÉ.  In mathematics, physics, and art, moiré patterns are interference patterns produced when a partially opaque ruled pattern with transparent gaps is overlaid on a similar pattern. For the moiré interference pattern to appear, the two patterns must not be completely identical, but rather displaced, rotated, or with slightly different pitch.  I know the word from the silk fabric with a rippled appearance.  Moiré, or "watered textile," is made by pressing two layers of the textile when wet. The similar but imperfect spacing of the threads creates a wavy pattern which remains after the fabric dries.

Moiré interference pattern

Moiré fabric

24. Many a karaoke favorite: OLDIE.

25. Croat or Serb: SLAV.

27. Supermodel Banks: TYRA.  Tyra Banks is an American model, television personality, producer, writer, and actress. She began her career as a model at the age of 15 and was the first Black American woman to be featured on the covers of GQ and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, on which she appeared three times. By the early 2000s, Banks was one of the world's top-earning models, and she continues to act on television and in films.

Tyra Banks -- not in a moiré pattern, but equally eye catching!

29. Enraged: IN A FURY.

32. London's Big __: BEN.  Big Ben is a nickname for the clock and tower which stand at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, England.  It was completed in 1859.

Big Ben

33. Choose: OPT.

34. Talk Like a Pirate Day sounds: ARS.  International Talk Like a Pirate Day is a parodic holiday created in 1995 by John Baur and Mark Summers of Albany, Oregon, who proclaimed September 19 each year as the day when everyone in the world should talk like a pirate (that is, in English with a stereotypical West Country accent).  Here's a little vocabulary for you:

• Ahoy! Hello, a greeting.
• Avast! – "stop" or "pay attention."
• Aye! – "yes."
• Aye aye! – Often acknowledging an order.
• Arrr! – A versatile expression for excitement, anger, or agreement.
• Matey – A friend.
• Walk the plank – Who ate me last pickled egg?! Walk the plank!
• Me hearties – Refers to sailors or pirates as "my crew."
• Scallywag – A playful term for a rogue.
• Landlubber – A term for someone not skilled at sea; a non-sailor.
• Buccaneer – Another word for pirate, especially in the Caribbean.
• Plunder – To steal goods, often by force, in piracy.
• Swashbuckler – A daring, adventurous pirate or sailor.
• Davy Jones' locker – The bottom of the sea! (a euphemism for death at sea.)
• Bilge rat – An insult for someone seen as despicable.
• Booty – Treasure taken by pirates.
• Shiver me timbers! – An exclamation of surprise.
• Dead men tell no tales – A warning against betrayal.
• Parley – A request to negotiate, used in conflicts.
• Scurvy dog – An insult for someone seen as contemptible.

35. Cotton thread: LISLE.  Lisle is a lightweight, tightly twisted thread, typically made from long-staple cotton.

36. Earn a perfect exam grade: ACE IT.

37. Statistical averages: MEANS.

39. Pond hopper: TOAD.

40. Roof option for a classic Corvette: T-TOP.

Corvette T-Tops were produced 1968-1982.

44. Airport snags: DELAYS.

45. "Gross!": BLEH.

46. Piano part: PEDAL.

47. Nebraska city with four Fortune 500 companies: OMAHA.  To wit, ConAgra Foods, Union Pacific Railroad, Mutual of Omaha, and Kiewit Corporation.  Easy for me, as I can't think of any other cities in Nebraska.

48. "Black __": Marvel film directed by Cate Shortland: WIDOW.  Black Widow is a 2021 film based on Marvel Comics featuring the character of the same name.  The title character is played by Scarlett Johansson.

49. Bird's perch: ROOST.

50. Sophia Loren's birthplace: ITALY.

51. Nearby: LOCAL.

55. "Shoo!": SCAT.

57. Op. __: footnote abbr.: CIT.  Op. cit. is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase opus citatum or opere citato, meaning "the work cited."  It refers to a work previously cited.

58. Baton Rouge sch.: LSU.  Louisiana State University, known to me because of LSU's rivalty with DH's Tennessee Volunteers.

59. Colony insect: ANT.

60. Complete collection: SET.

61. __ Lanka: SRI.

Here's the grid:

AHOY there, me hearties!

Did you attack this puzzle and ACE IT?

Or did it leave you IN A FURY?

Let us know in the comments.  TTYL!

-- NaomiZ