Friday, May 9, 2025 - Noelle Griskey

 Theme:  Waiting for the big BUILD-UP

Puzzling thoughts:

Hmm ... where to begin today ... do we talk about the theme (based on the reveal in 25-down)?  Do we talk about having another "easy Friday" solve?  Do we talk about some rather hackneyed entries/clues?

I address them all, so don't worry about any big "build-up" in today's puzzle re-cap

First - the theme:  25-down. Create high expectations for, or an apt description of the first part of the answer to each starred clue: BUILD-UP (note that the first word of each entry answer below is highlighted in red)

Second - the ease of solving:  I solve the puzzles using "Across Lite" software.  This software contains a timer, separate from the grid.  I don't type nearly as quickly as I solve, and I often have to backspace and/or erase rogue letters I've entered.  I also like to take a sip of coffee (or another beverage) whilst solving, so I will never win a prize for being the fastest.  But today, I managed to get this in about 7 minutes:30 seconds.  That, to me, is not what a "Friday puzzle" should "feel like"

Third - the hackneyed entries (and clues):  I will address these within the text of my recap below

Can we all agree that whenever we solve a crossword puzzle - regardless of the venue - we have a certain "build-up" of expectation?  Are we wondering on what clever corridor the constructor took us?  I know I do.  I am always looking for the "aha" moment when the final letter is placed in the grid, and/or the reveal is, well, revealed. So, if anyone had trouble sussing this today, please allow me to "emarf" my answer.  Here are the "theme entries":

5-down. *Snappy dresser: NOIHSAF PLATE. The word "FASHION" is inverted and/or built "UP" in the puzzle grid

11-down. *Many a rejection notice: MROF LETTER.  The word "FORM" is inverted and/or built "UP" in the puzzle grid

23-down. *Pillar of society: LEDOM CITIZEN. The word "MODEL" is inverted and/or built "UP" in the puzzle grid

29-down. *Mutate: EPAHS SHIFT.  The word "SHAPE" is inverted and/or built "UP" in the puzzle grid

FASHION, FORM, MODEL, and SHAPE are all synonyms of the word "build" (when used as a verb)

This is Noelle's third puzzle @ LA Times.  Her two previous ones were in 2024 and appeared on a Monday and Tuesday.  I think that this one, too, should have been featured on an early-in-the-week day

Level of difficulty (Mohs hardness scale rating): 2.5 out of 10

Let's examine the grid and then the rest of the entries:

The Grid

Across:

1. Country made up of 14,125 islands: JAPAN.  This was a learning moment (for me) but also my first choice.  I sneaked a peek at 1-down and knew that it had to start with a "J" 🗾

6. Vegetable with a lacinato variety: KALE.  Odd clue / odd vegetable; solved with a perp or two

10. License issuers, for short: DMVS.  Plurals of abbrs are not my favorite entries

14. Budget, in brand names: ECONO.  Budget is also a brand name of a rental car company

15. Storm centers: EYES.  How "un-Friday like" a clue/answer 

16. Part of the HOMES mnemonic: ERIE. How "un-Friday like" a clue/answer 

17. Italian luxury brand: FENDI.  "Posh", on steroids

18. "Cool!": NEAT.  How "un-Friday like" a clue/answer 

19. Ingredient in some barbecue sauce: COLA.  Learning moment for me.  Here is a recipe

20. Anew: FRESHLY.  This is a good and proper Friday word entry.  According to Crossword Tracker, this is just the fourth usage of the word freshly - well chosen, Noelle!

22. Fried chickpea bite: FALAFEL. 🐤🫛

24. Bygone Swedish auto: SAAB.  Moe-ku #1:

        Founder of Swedish

        Car was brought to tears when he

        Told his SAAB story

        
26. Relate: TELL.

27. Microbrewery fixture: ALE TAP.  This answer might soon become hackneyed 

31. Secondhand: USED.  How "un-Friday like" a clue/answer

33. Pitching stat: ERA.  How "un-Friday like" a clue/answer

36. On __ the world: TOP OF.  Can you be "on top of the world" and "over-the-moon" at the same time?

37. Tech boss: CIO.  How "un-Friday like" a clue/answer

38. Rice cooker brand: OSTER.  Well, I suppose if the clue read "Blender brand" I could pan it as being too easy for a Friday! 😜

40. Forever __: STAMP.  Speaking of "BUILD UP", check out the increasing prices of the Forever Stamp since its inception in 2007

41. "__ see myself out": I'LL.  This would've been a fun clue and entry @ 64-down!

42. Dull, in a way: MATTE.  As in a matte finished photo, e.g.

43. "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" singer Waters: ETHEL.  Acceptable; a non-acceptable clue would've referred to erstwhile singer/actress Merman

44. Bother: ADO.  

45. Family friendly: CLEAN.  I wanted to use "RATED G" but there weren't enough spaces

46. Small batteries: AAS.  Plurals of abbrs are not my favorite entries

47. Six-time MLB All-Star Moises: ALOU.  Speaking of hackneyed clues/entries

49. Letter before Tango: SIERRA.  My last recap contained a reference to the NATO alphabet

50. Make full: SATE. How "un-Friday like" a clue/answer

52. Novel idea?: PLOT.  Clever clue and answer 📖

54. Reach, as a goal: ACHIEVE.  I tried SUSTAIN first

57. Pink Floyd album with the songs "Dogs" and "Sheep": ANIMALS.  This 1977 studio-album release from Pink Floyd was loosely based on George Orwell's Animal Farm - the entire album is downloaded below (41 minutes in length).  More about it from Wikipedia

62. __-back: LAID.  Not usually a descriptor used for yours, truly

63. Fair, in a way: EVEN.  Not according to the Thesaurus-saurus

Not "EVEN" mentioned

65. "Not another sound!": ZIP IT. 🤐

66. Small transverse flute: FIFE.  A fife is played in a position transverse to the flute.  I wonder if anyone needed a perpendicular to solve this?  That would be fitting, wouldn't it?? 😜

67. "The thing is ... ": LOOK. 👀

68. College athletics airer: ESPN U.

69. Picnic pests: ANTS. How "un-Friday like" a clue/answer 🐜 🐜 🐜

70. Trinitron developer: SONY. Sony Trinitron history

71. Snooped: NOSED.  I tried SPIED first and then changed it

Down:

1. TV host Probst: JEFF.  He, of the CBS virtual reality show, "Survivor"

2. Big name in laptops: ACER.  DELL also fits

3. Southern cake: PONE. How "un-Friday like" a clue/answer

4. "No ifs, __, or buts": ANDS. How "un-Friday like" a clue/answer

[5. 1st Entry]

6. "Out of Africa" setting: KENYA.  If you had to take a wild guess, there are eight African countries that have a 5-letter name:  BENIN, EGYPT, GABON, GHANA, KENYA, LIBYA, NIGER, and SUDAN

7. Yeoman's yes: AYE. How "un-Friday like" a clue/answer

8. Part of the Apple logo: LEAF.

9. Manor: ESTATE. How "un-Friday like" a clue/answer

10. Parking permit, perhaps: DECAL.

[2nd Entry

12. Wicked: VILE.  Its anagram - EVIL - also fits 😁

13. Make airtight: SEAL. How "un-Friday like" a clue/answer 🦭

21. Napkin holder: LAP.  Moe-ku #2:

        (folded) Napkins at strip club

        Were quite the hit.  They performed

        Origami LAP dance

[23. 3rd Entry]

[25. - Reveal]

27. Sailing: AT SEA. How "un-Friday like" a clue/answer

28. Led Zeppelin's "Whole __ Love": LOTTA. One of my favorites; this iconic Led Zeppelin hit song: 

Another of my favorite Led Zeppelin hits:

[29. 4th Entry]

30. Hefty volume: TOME. How "un-Friday like" a clue/answer

32. Aria, for one: SOLO. How "un-Friday like" a clue/answer

34. Do some roof repairs: RE-TAR. How "un-Friday like" a clue/answer

35. Hockey venue: ARENA. How "un-Friday like" a clue/answer

37. Parting word: CIAO.  [my use of "how un-Friday like" is starting to get hackneyed]😄 So, I will not use this again ... 

39. "Going out of business" event: SALE.  What else could it be?

48. Takes to the ground: LEVELS.  I remember when a few of the older casinos in Vegas were imploded ...

 

49. Bart, to Homer: SON.  Monday clue/entry

51. Hill workers: AIDES.  As in "Capitol Hill" (assistants to senators and representatives in Washington, D.C.)

53. Long and lean: LANKY.

 

54. Letter before Bravo: ALFA.  My last recap contained a reference to the NATO alphabet; today's recap contains two

55. "Mildred Pierce" novelist: CAIN.  Acceptable; a non-acceptable clue would've referred to a family member in the Book of Genesis

56. Vinaigrette acronym: EVOO.  This answer might soon become hackneyed 

58. Japanese soup base: MISO.  This answer might soon become hackneyed 

59. Home screen array: APPS. This answer might soon become hackneyed 

60. Part of a script: LINE.  My last recap used this as the clue: Actor's "What am I supposed to say?": LINE.  

Is it me or have my recaps been made redundant?  Or are they, too, becoming hackneyed?

61. Wall support: STUD.

64. Countless lifetimes: EON.  No comment ... 

OK, final thoughts as I wrap this up:

a)  Note to the editor(s) - Friday puzzles should be more difficult than this.  Please invite Barry                Silk and/or Jeffrey Wechsler to re-submit a puzzle for a Friday inclusion

b)  Noelle Griskey- if you happen to see/read this recap please accept this constructive tip:                    maintain symmetry in your clues.  Too many were too easy for a Friday puzzle.  If this puzzle                was meant to be an early week submission, your clues were just fine ... BTW, are you the Noelle          Griskey who has an ETSY site, and is from Pittsburgh?

Monday, June 10, 2024, Noelle Griskey

(Note from C.C.: I'm excited to tell you that NaomiZ has joined our blog. Welcome on board, Naomi!)

Theme: Swell!  Groovy!  Boss!  Chill! 

Today's dandy offering from Noelle Griskey is so far out, it's lit! 

As revealed at 60 Across, the STARTs of 17-, 26-, and 44-Across are synonyms for fabulous and trendy. 

17A. Low-slung jeans: HIP HUGGERS.  THEME CLUE #1.  HIP as in groovy.  I thought these pants were so cool in high school. 

26A. 1993 film about the Olympic bobsled team from Jamaica: COOL RUNNINGS.  THEME CLUE #2.  COOL as in groovy, but also as in icy. 

44A. Magazine with tips and techniques for anglers: FLY FISHERMAN.  THEME CLUE #3.  FLY as in groovy.  My father was a FLY FISHERMAN; he made lures from feathers and cast them with a hollow line to fool trout into thinking they were flies on the water.  In old age, he removed the barbs from his hooks to release the fish more easily.  In older age, he preferred to watch the fish rather than to hook them. 

60A. New beginning, and a feature of 17-, 26-, and 44-Across: FRESH START.  THEME CLUE #4. FRESH as in groovy, START as in the the first word of each answer to a theme clue. 

Across:

1. Taj Mahal city: AGRA.

The Taj Mahal

5. Hors d'oeuvres spread: PATE.

9. Type of ski lift: TBAR.

13. Greet the day: ARISE.

15. Clever thought: IDEA.

16. Cogito __ sum: ERGO.  "I think, therefore I am."  A clever thought from René Descartes. 

19. Semimonthly tide: NEAP.

20. Hit the gas: SPEED UP.

21. Term of endearment: PET NAME.

23. Mega Stuf cookie: OREO.  I talk myself out of these every trip to the supermarket. 

25. Helped out: AIDED.

32. "Just Mercy" actor __ Jackson Jr.: OSHEA.  Wikipedia says, "He is the oldest son of Ice Cube and, in his feature film debut, portrayed his father in the 2015 biopic Straight Outta Compton."  DNK!

33. __ leches cake: TRES.  I believe blog etiquette requires me to say, "Yummers!" 

34. Quiet "Quiet!": SHH.

37. Landed on a perch: ALIT.  Often said of my avian friends. 

38. "The Road Not Taken" poet Robert: FROST.  "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood."  DH and I went leaf peeping on the Robert Frost Interpretive Trail in Vermont. 

40. Clever tactic: PLOY.

41. Brit's washroom: LOO.

42. Get ready, for short: PREP.  This is what I do when DH cooks. I also wash the boards and bowls as he goes along. 

43. Within the __ of possibility: REALM.

47. "I feel the same": ME TOO.

50. Some 30-Down employees: Abbr.: CPAS.

51. Like some sandals: OPEN TOE.

54. Up for discussion: AT ISSUE.

59. N, on a French map: NORD.  On our honeymoon, DH and I took the "Chunnel" train from London to Paris, arriving at the Gare du Nord.  I was surprised when a French woman offered to help us with directions at the station.  Everyone was so kind to us!  It was shortly after 9/11. 

62. Beige hue: ECRU.

63. Mattress specification: FIRM.

64. Dramatic ballroom dance: TANGO.

65. Quaker's "you": THEE.

66. Sail the seven __: SEAS.

67. Adolescent: TEEN.

Down:

1. Spa sounds: AAHS.

2. Subject of a basic golf lesson: GRIP.

3. Like a fragrant melon: RIPE.

4. Wimbledon winner Arthur: ASHE.

5. "Peanuts" character in a cloud of dirt: PIG PEN.

6. Suffix with lemon and Gator: ADE.

7. Maryland athlete, for short: TERP.  Wikipedia says, "The Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I competition."  Strangely, I was familiar with this team. 

8. Reduce, as anxiety: EASE.

9. Sport for 4-Down: TENNIS.

10. Sourdough or rye: BREAD.

11. Best competitive effort, informally: A GAME.

12. Cordoned (off): ROPED.

14. Pulitzer-winning novelist Welty: EUDORA.

18. Hindu spiritual mentor: GURU.

22. Identifies on social media: TAGS.

24. Pertinent to the discussion: ON TOPIC.

26. Mined fuel: COAL.

27. Norway home of the Munch Museum: OSLO.  Easy guess. 

28. Cleveland's state: OHIO.

29. Allow: LET.

30. Tax-collecting org.: IRS.

31. After expenses: NET.  After the IRS! 

34. Bang shut: SLAM.

35. "Hi, amiga!": HOLA.

36. Church choir song: HYMN.

38. Cook in a wok: FRY.

39. NFL official: REF.

40. Part of mph: PER.

42. Parcel of land: PLOT.

43. Fight against: RESIST.

44. Dish with melted cheese or chocolate: FONDUE.

45. Muscle cramps, e.g.: SPASMS.

46. Owns, biblically: HATH.

47. Impressionist painter Claude: MONET.  Here are DH and I in Claude MONET's garden.

48. Noteworthy time period: EPOCH.

49. Pied-à-__: secondary residence: TERRE.  One residence is trouble enough for me, but I wouldn't really mind a pied-à-terre in Paris. 

52. Trade-__: concessions: OFFS.

53. Cleveland's lake: ERIE.

55. Sports page datum, for short: STAT.

56. Of sound mind: SANE.

57. Encourage: URGE.

58. School near Windsor Castle: ETON.

61. Noteworthy time period: ERA.

Here's the grid:

I am thrilled to contribute my first blog entry anywhere to the best little Corner on the internet. 

NaomiZ

Tuesday, January 23, 2023 Noelle Griskey

Any Which Way But Loose.  The letters in the circles are currently arranged any which way but correct.  Rearrange the letters and they will spell a compass direction.

18-Across. Wall Street fluctuation: MARKET SWING.  West

23-Across. Unpaved side of the road: SOFT SHOULDER.  South

49-Across. Boundary of a black hole: EVENT HORIZON.  North

56-Across. Overly cute "So cute!": TOTES ADORBS.  East

And the unifier:

37-Across. Take a different route, and a hint to the circled letters: CHANGE DIRECTION.

Across:

1. Mike and __: fruit-flavored candy: IKE.  Everything you wanted to know about Mike and Ike but didn't know to ask.

4. Spanish small plates: TAPAS.  Everything you wanted to know about Tapas but didn't know to ask.  There is a Tapas restaurant near me, which serves very good food.  The problem is you tend to order many, many dishes, so it can be rather expensive.

9. Bungling: INEPT.

14. Supervillain Luthor: LEX.  The archnemesis of the superhero Superman.  //  And 11-Down. Like a supervillain: EVIL. [Name # 1, Fictional.]

15. On one's toes: ALERT.

16. Fourth prime number: SEVEN.  A prime number is defined as having only two positive factors. Number 1 is not a prime number because the number of positive divisors or factors is only one i.e. 1 itself. The number 2 is the smallest number that satisfies the definition of prime numbers.  Primes:  2, 3, 5, 7... 

17. Fish-throwing Muppet __ Zealand: LEW.  I don't remember this Muppet.  [Name # 2, fictional.]

20. Sambuca flavor: ANISE. Everything you wanted to know about Sambuca but didn't know to ask.

22. Spanish grandmother: ABUELA.  Today's Spanish lesson.

27. Patella place: KNEE.

28. Common first section of a menu, familiarly: APPS.  As in Appetizers.  Not to be confused with Tapas.

29. Food Network host Garten: INA.  Ina Garten (née Ina Rosenberg; b. Feb. 2, 1948) is also known as the Barefoot Contessa, which was also the name of her television cooking show.  [Name # 3.]

32. Jeans accent: RIVET.  They actually serve a purpose.

34. Architect's creation: DESIGN.

41. Grumble over: BEMOAN.

42. Swamp reptile, for short: GATOR.  A few years ago, my sister and I went to Avery Island to view the gardens.  We came across an unexpected visitor there.

This critter was a little too close for comfort.

43. "lol oops": SRY.  Textspeak for Sorry.

44. Exceedingly: OH, SO.  Meh!

45. Mountain climber's goal: ACME.  Hand up if you tried Peak first.

53. See where one's coming from: RELATE.

55. Like a couch potato: INERT.

60. Business VIP: CEO.

61. Country singer Gill or writer/producer Gilligan: VINCE.  Although I have heard of Vince Gill (né Vincent Grant Gill; b. Apr. 12, 1957), I don't always know the names of screenwriters and producers, such as Vince Gilligan (né George Vincent Gilligan Jr.; b. Feb. 10, 1967).  The latter is known for writing and directing both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul.  [Names # 4 and 5.]

62. Deceitfulness: GUILE.

63. Meat in a Dr. Seuss title: HAM.  I do not like Green Eggs and Ham.  I do not like them, Sam-I-Am.  I have the Hebrew version of this book, which is called Green Eggs No Ham.

64. Shutter strips: SLATS.

65. Les __-Unis: ETATS.  Today's French lesson.

66. Player coming off the bench, for short: SUB.

Down:

1. "Let me find out": I'LL ASK.

2. Passionate about: KEEN ON.

3. Post-divorce party: EX-WIFE.  Not a party with cake and balloons, but a party to the divorce proceeding.

4. Brings under control: TAMES.

5. Styled after: À LA.  As in Pie à la mode.

6. "As __ our agreement": PER.

7. Noah's boat: ARK.

8. Fantastic deals: STEALS.

9. Debate topic: ISSUE.

10. More contemporary: NEWER.

12. Former MLB catcher Tony in the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame: PEÑA.  Tony Peña (né Antonio Francisco Peña Padilla; b. June 6, 1957) was born in Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic.  In 2016, he was inducted into the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame.  He played professional baseball for almost 30 years: beginning in 1980 with Pittsburgh Pirates until 1997, retiring with the Houston Astros.  He also had brief stints with several other teams, including the Boston Red Sox.  [Name # 6.]

13. "Star Trek" series, for short: TNG.  The Next Generation.

19. Not yet scheduled: Abbr.: TBD.  To Be Determined.

21. Fondue fuel: STERNO.

24. Safe space: HAVEN.

25. Persuasive column: OP-ED.  A crossword staple.  The term is short for "opposite the editorial page", referring to the practice of newspapers placing op-eds on the opposite side of their editorial page.

26. High-strung: UP-TIGHT.  //  And 44-Down. High-strung: ON EDGE.

29. Sundial three: III.

30. Private aid gp.: NGO.  Non-Governmental Organization.

31. "I Hope You Dance" singer Lee __ Womack: ANN.  Lee Ann Womack (b. Aug. 19, 1966) is primarily a country music singer.  [Name # 7.]

33. Tennis player Swiatek: IGA.  I am not up on my professional players.  Iga Natalia Świątek (b. May 31, 2001) was born in Razsyn Poland.  [Name # 8.]

34. Half a droid name: DETOO.  The droid's full name is Artoo-Detoo, or R2-D2.  [Name # 9, fictional.]

35. Prefix with system: ECO-.  Ecosystem.

36. Use a colander: STRAIN.

37. "Ghosts" network: CBS.  If you haven't seen Ghosts, you should seek it out.  It is really funny.  The series began as a British series, and now there is also an American series.

38. Yonder lass: HER.  Meh!

39. Minnesota senator Klobuchar: AMY.  Amy Klobuchar (née Amy Jean Klobuchar; b. May 25, 1960) has been a Senator from Minnesota since 2007.  [Name # 10.]

40. Poison ivy reaction: RASH.

46. Prague residents: CZECHs.  Prague is a beautiful city.

47. "The Island of Doctor __": H.G. Wells novel: MOREAU.  The Island of Doctor Moreau is a 1869 science fiction novel about a mad scientist (Dr. Moreau) who experiments with animals.  The novel addresses the moral ethics of animal dissection.  [Name # 11, fictional.]

48. Bury: ENTOMB.

49. Put in power: ELECT.

50. Bouquet holders: VASES.

51. Pilot's update, briefly: ETA.  Estimated Time of Arrival.  A crossword staple.

52. Reacts to yeast: RISES.

53. Bubble and churn: ROIL.

54. One of four active volcanoes in Italy: ETNA.  The volcano is on Sicily.

56. Den sets: TVs.

57. Not trendy: OUT.

58. Fjord kin: RIA.

59. Simple sammie: BLT.  Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato Sandwich.

Here's the Grid:

חתולה