Sunday December 24, 2023 Robin Stears

Theme: "Reindeer Games" - Part of each common phrase is a reindeer.

23. Men's clothing retailer: HABERDASHER.

28. Elton John hit with the misheard lyric "Hold me closer, Tony Danza": TINY DANCER.

49. Fitness method with "a springy, rhythmic way of moving forward": PRANCERCISE. Unfamiliar to me.  

 58. Mythological fox destined never to be caught: CADMEAN VIXEN. Also new to me.

82. Celestial object next visible from Earth in 2061: HALLEY'S COMET.

92. Connie Francis hit with a rhyming title: STUPID CUPID.

115. Thor's son in the role-playing game Scion: ERIC DONNER.

122. German roadster that once held the world speed record: BLITZEN BENZ.

Timely theme from Robin. A bit name-heavy, but it's the nature of this theme. I'm amazed that she found a full set. 

 Across:

1. Monastery head: ABBOT.

6. Unrefined: CRUDE.

11. Devilish creatures: IMPS. Spitzboov was one.

August 23, 2014, Washington County Fair

15. Like some reports: ORAL.

19. Swap: TRADE.

20. More vast: HUGER.

21. Awkwafina's real first name: NORA. Nora Lum. Lum is the same character as Lin, meaning "forest".

22. Fried cornbread: PONE.

25. Action in Uno: DRAW.

26. Sicilian volcano: ETNA.

27. 2-Down accompaniers: OVATIONS. 2. "Great show!": BRAVO.

30. Not the worst: SO SO.

31. "__ I say more?": NEED.

33. Give comfort to: REASSURE.

34. Lunch hours, e.g.: MEALTIMES.

37. Messy handwriting: SCRAWL. Mine is so messy.

41. Teakettle output: STEAM. I invited the nice church couple Bill and Margret to our home for a Christmas lunch last week. They loved my matcha. Bill said my almond-crusted walleye was "perfection". They also enjoyed my wild rice salad. I put in black olives, sun-dried tomatoes, roasted bell peppers, sliced green onions and the amazing mixed nuts Agnes gifted to me. So good. Sure wish Agnes lived closer by.

44. Hanover Ivy: DARTMOUTH.

48. __ alai: JAI.

53. UPC bar code developer: IBM. Great trivia.

54. Public persona: IMAGE.

56. Cereal grain: OAT.

57. "Orinoco Flow" singer: ENYA.

61. Circle widths: DIAMETERS.

64. Agnus __: DEI.

65. Org. created by the 1957 Treaty of Rome: EEC.

66. Suffix akin to -ule: ETTE.

67. Physicist Newton: ISAAC.

69. Permanent marks: SCARS.

72. Longtime PBS "Mystery!" host Diana: RIGG.

76. Digital asset: Abbr.: NFT. Non-Fungible Token.

78. Dent or scratch: MAR.

80. Office supplier: STATIONER.

88. Sign: OMEN.

89. Singer DiFranco: ANI.

90. "Middlemarch" novelist: ELIOT.

91. Polish tennis champ Swiatek: IGA. Currently the No. 1 player. She was born in 2001.

95. Wall St. takeover: LBO.

96. Some errand runners on a yacht: CABIN BOYS.

99. Starts a fresh pot: ANTES.

100. Tungusic people of northeast China: MANCHU. I did not know the word "Tungusic". Wikipedia says they are "native to Siberia, China, and Mongolia". They're called "man zu" in China. Chinese map is shaped like a rooster.

102. Cat hair, pollen, dust mites, etc.: ALLERGENS.

106. One held for questioning: DETAINEE.

110. Plastic shoe wearer: DOLL.

111. __ Bora: Afghan region: TORA.

118. Greeted with a ceremonial bow: SALAAMED.

120. Dublin Murder Squad series novelist French: TANA.

121. "Shining Vale" actress Sorvino: MIRA.

125. Trains for a marathon, say: RUNS.

126. U.S. passport holder: AMER.

127. Flood defense: LEVEE.

128. Tank nuisance: ALGAE.

129. "What __ can I say?": ELSE.

130. Turner and Knight: TEDS.

131. Stadium levels: TIERS.

132. Marsh ducks: TEALS.

Down:

1. Aramis companion: ATHOS.

3. Rum-soaked cakes: BABAS.

4. Tribute in "Antigone": ODE TO MAN.  Sophocles tribute. Learning moment for me.

5. Hatcher of "Lois & Clark": TERI.

6. Fashion house whose logo is two interlocking C's: CHANEL. Their most iconic bag.

7. Oft-baked potato: RUSSET.

8. "That's gross!": UGH.

9. Low grade: DEE.

10. Make the team's blooper reel, perhaps: ERR.

11. Home to more than 1.4 billion people: INDIA.

12. Eves' counterparts: MORNS.

13. Appeals to a higher power: PRAYS.

14. Carpentry debris: SAWDUST.

15. Game 1: OPENER.

16. Campus mil. group: ROTC.

17. Celebrity chef Burrell: ANNE. Known for her spiky hair.

18. King who says to Cordelia, "Nothing can come of nothing": LEAR.

24. Portuguese title: DONA.

28. End-of-unit classroom event: TEST.

29. Gmail option: ARCHIVE.

32. "Rugrats" mom: DIDI. Pickles.

33. Go back to Chapter 1: RE-READ.

35. Ceremony host: EMCEE.

36. Counterpart of fem., in grammar: MASC.

38. "Stronger than dirt" brand: AJAX.

39. Payment for labor: WAGE.

40. Property claim: LIEN.

41. Name in fine china: SPODE.

42. Eye color, e.g.: TRAIT.

43. Trouble: EAT AT.

45. Does impressions: MIMICS.

46. Honor given by HM King Charles III: OBE. Order of the British Empire.  HM (His Majesty) suggests an Abbr.

47. Actress Thurman: UMA.

50. Thing: ENTITY.

51. Some deli loaves: RYES.

52. Irene of "Fame": CARA.

55. Extremely small: MICRO.

59. __ Moines, Iowa: DES.

60. Fit snugly inside: NESTED.

62. __ Park: Edison lab site: MENLO. New Jersey. The Facebook HQ is Menlo Park, CA.

63. Polynesian language: SAMOAN.

68. Word with sky or spy: CAM.

70. Upon: ATOP.

71. Malek of "Oppenheimer": RAMI.

73. Hardly appropriate: INAPT.

74. "Your wish is my command" speaker: GENIE.

75. Formula 1 starting positions: GRIDS.

77. Went to collect: FETCHED.

79. Fix a worn-out shoe: RESOLE.

81. Quechua speaker: INCAN.

82. Command post: HELM.

83. "Dark Angel" star Jessica: ALBA.

84. King of the jungle: LION.

85. Member of the fam: SIB.

86. Like the dinos in "Jurassic Park": CGI. Computer-Generated Imagery.

87. Texter's "I'm out!": TTYL.

93. Thrift shop condition: USED.

94. Not firmly fixed: UNSTABLE.

97. Bygone coin-op eatery: AUTOMAT.

98. Boxer Max: BAER. Have not seen this name for a long while.

101. Jewel box: CD CASE.

103. List: ROSTER.

104. Sugarcoats: GLAZES.

105. Vogue rival: ELLE.

107. "Demon Slayer" genre: ANIME.

108. How Santa dresses, mostly: IN RED. Our Santa.

109. Approaches: NEARS.

112. Luxury timepiece: OMEGA.

113. Kidney-related: RENAL.

114. Carving tools: ADZES.

115. Raison d'__: ETRE.

116. "The Addams Family" actor Julia: RAUL.

117. Road-trip stops: INNS.

119. Future dr.'s class: ANAT.

122. Diner fave: BLT.

123. Luau neckwear: LEI. Probably the most delicate gift I've ever received. JimmyB had it delivered from Hawaii directly the day our puzzle was published. So beautifully wrapped. Jim still solves the LAT every day.

124. "__ seen worse": I'VE.

Merry Christmas, everyone. I hope you're with your loved ones and your house is full of love.

C.C.

Friday September 29, 2023 ~ Robin Stears

Leader of the Puns?
Lead-off Punner?
Pun with Leaders?

Attila the Pun!

Robin delivers a Fabulous Friday. The theme is tight with leaders' titles used homophonically in the fill. If you like silly word-play like I do, you're in for a treat. Let's play.

17a. Official portraitist for a Mongolian leader?: KHAN ARTIST. Con Artist.

25a. Condiment for an Ottoman leader?: SULTAN PEPPER. Salt and Pepper. A couple of us from the office walked to The Galleria for lunch Wednesday and guess what I saw...

Sult'an Pepper.com

42a. Paltry stipend for a Middle Eastern leader?: EMIR PITTANCE. A mere pittance.

56a. Humble abode for an Arab leader?: SHEIK SHACK. Shake Shack.  There is also one of these at The Galleria.
 

ShakeShake.com

Across:
1. Some twitches: TICS.

5. Cicada predators: WASPS.

10. Challenges for nannies: IMPS. Or Lighting Bugs, Lucina?

14. Compatriot: ALLY.

15. Bracelet spot: ANKLE.

16. "Smashing!": NEAT.

17. [See: theme]

19. "Water for Elephants" novelist Gruen: SARA.

20. Sinus infection woes: EAR ACHES.

21. Sheer: UTTER.

22. Suddenly become alert: SNAP TO.

23. Tone down: EASE.

25. [See: theme]

31. __ curls: BICEP.

34. Tends to a draft: EDITS.

35. Paris street: RUE.

The hotel at this intersection is our fav.

36. R&B singer Redding: OTIS.
 

Chained and Bound [7:39]

37. Hitches: SNAGS.

38. Cartoon girl who often says "Swiper, no swiping" to a masked fox: DORA.

(L to R) Swiper, Boots, and Dora

39. Web: NET.

40. Afternoon hr.: ONE PM.

41. Creator of a cocky hare: AESOP. Tex Avery, et.al. didn't fit.

42. [See: theme].

45. Scoreboard count: OUTS.

46. Effect: IMPACT.

50. Thrones: SEATS.

The Throne

53. Alcoves: RECESSES. Also my best school subject.

55. Stretched to the max: TAUT.

56. [See: theme]

58. Hobby farm measure: ACRE.

59. Horror or mystery: GENRE.

60. Haitian friend: AMIE.

61. Comparison word: THAN.

62. Jacket wool: TWEED.

63. Coat with gold leaf: GILD. [See: 50a commode]

Down:
1. Points of view: TAKES.

2. Omar of Congress: ILHAN.

Omar Represents Minnesota's 5th

3. Civil War nurse Barton: CLARA.
 

Founder Red Cross

4. Automatic transmission parts?: SYNAPSES.

5. Pop art icon played by Bowie in "Basquiat": WARHOL. Pop-art & Bowie gave it away.

Trailer

6. Chip in a new pot: ANTE.

7. Goes downhill fast: SKIS.

8. "__ fix thx!": PLS.

9. Complete group: SET.

10. Keeping up (with): IN STEP.

11. Impossible Burger's lack: MEAT.

12. Peel: PARE.

13. Lead: STAR.

18. Cause trouble: ACT UP.

21. Exploits: USES.

23. "The Imitation Game" encryption machine: ENIGMA.

Wikipedia

24. Some 2BR listings: APTS. Two bedroom apartment(s).

26. Creeds: TENETS.

27. Go with the flow: ADAPT.

28. Aces: PROS.

29. Italian bread?: EURO. I inked Lira.

30. Use a scythe on: REAP.

31. Hip hop's __ Thugs-n-Harmony: BONE. No clue. I Googled so you don't have to.

Crossroads [4:43]

32. Thing: ITEM.

33. Big name in credit cards: CITI. I almost Swiped (38a) my VISA.

37. Huffy state: SNIT.

38. High-pile carpet style: DEEP SHAG.

40. Numbered piece: OPUS.

41. High spots: ACMES.

43. Raising a stink?: ROTTEN.

44. Barely cut: NICKED.

47. "Ditto," more formally: AS AM I.

48. Poet Day-Lewis who wrote the Nigel Strangeways detective novels as Nicholas Blake: CECIL. A sample of poetry.

49. Expressed disapproval: TSKED.

50. RBI or ERA: STAT. The STATistics Runs Batted In or Earned Run Average. #Baseball

51. A pop: EACH.

52. Vibe picked up by a psychic, supposedly: AURA.

53. Russo who plays Frigga in Marvel's "Thor" films: RENE.

54. Dún Laoghaire's land: EIRE.

56. Rank above cpl.: SGT. Sergeant outranks a corporal.

57. Fell: HEW.

The Grid:

The Grid

WO: Lira -> EURO
ESPs: SARA (as clued), BONE
Fav: c/a for SYNAPSES.

Cheers, -T

Coda

Monday May 1, 2023 Robin Stears

 

Happy May Day Cornerites!

sumdaze here with today's puzzle:        Daily Fiber Intake  

What? Not that type of fiber? Erm...how about these?

17. Street art involving knitted wool: YARN BOMBING.

New to me. Here is the definition:  the action or activity of covering objects or structures in public places with decorative knitted or crocheted material, as a form of street art.

Here are 3 examples of YARN BOMBING.

28. Internet troll who takes over a discussion: THREAD JACKER.

I had THREAD hACKER until the O'JAYs fixed things. I have not heard of this term but it makes sense if you think of a carJACKER as someone who 'takes over' someone else's car.

44. Concept in particle physics: STRING THEORY. Proposed in 1968 by Italian theoretical physicist Gabriele Veneziano, STRING THEORY provides a theoretical framework in which all particles, from photons to quarks, are one-dimensional strings as opposed to zero-dimensional points.    MasterClass explanation

xkcd comic

58. Access points for some treehouses: ROPE LADDERS.  

YARN, THREAD, STRING, ROPE. The first word in each of 4 long entries is in the 'twine family'. Today's solve lacked starred clues, reveals, and circles. It was a clean, Monday-level puzzle with a congruity that could help out, should one need a hint. Thanks, Robin Stears !

Across:
1. Mother's nickname: MAMA.

5. Wound: INJURE.

11. Leopard or lynx: CAT.  

a leopard and a Canadian lynx

14. Actor Alda: ALAN.  

Hawkeye (ALAN Alda) needs help with a crossword puzzle. M*A*S*H  (31 secs.)

15. Oklahoma athlete: SOONER.  Oklahomans earned this nickname when the Oklahoma Territory was opened for settlement through land claims races in 1889. Each race began with a pistol shot. Those who jumped the gun were called SOONERs.

16. The Grand __ Opry: OLE.  The last time this word was in a puzzle I blogged, I went to their website so I could report on who was performing that day. I've been getting pop-up ads from them ever since....

19. Can. lawmakers: MPS.  Members of Parliament  (Hi CanadianEh!)

20. "ru 4 real!?": OMG. Both could be a texting reply to outlandish news.

21. Famous __ cookies: AMOS.  Hawaiians have unofficially adopted Wally AMOS. He was stationed at Hickam AFB on Oahu from 1954-1957. Years later, and after selling his Famous AMOS company, he started The Cookie Kahuna shops in HI.

22. Remainder: REST.  Nice angle! No time for a nap now as I still have to respond to the remainder of the clues.

23. Bird that may wake up the farm every morning: ROOSTER.  Mine crowed throughout the day.

25. Minnesota neighbor: IOWA.  Their border is along 43º 30′ N.

"...Iowa voters preferred a state whose greatest length would be between the Mississippi River on the east and the Missouri and Big Sioux Rivers on the west. Once Congress accepted these rivers as boundaries, it limited Iowa’s northern extent. Congress decided on 43º 30′ because it was near the divide between the watersheds of the southward-flowing Des Moines and Iowa Rivers and the northward-flowing Blue Earth River." source

33. At the right moment: ON CUE.

In the movie Funny Farm (1988), Chevy Chase and Madolyn Smith are out of their element when they buy a farm in Vermont. In this scene, they are now jaded and are trying to sell it to another optimistic couple. (1:06 min.)

I hear these words in my head whenever I see something stereotypically idyllic.

"CUE the deer."

36. Insufficiently: MEAGERLY.

37. Close by: NEAR.  

38. Fresh as a __: DAISY.  and 38 Down. Kennel barkers: DOGS.

My neighbor has a Jack Russell Terrier named DAISY. For some reason, DAISY has decided she does not like my DOG. OTOH, my DOG is neutral about DAISY.

40. Smart-mouthed: WISE.  and 51 Down. Smart-mouthed: SASSY.

41. Dangling pieces of jewelry: EAR DROPS. I have not heard earrings called this before.

43. Brewery shipments: CASES.  

47. Young woman: LASS.

48. Cleans one's teeth, in a way: FLOSSES.  Only FLOSS the ones you want to keep!

52. Pottery wheel material: CLAY.

55. Panorama: VIEW. 

How birds see the world (Larson)

56. 401(k) kin: IRA.  Both are ways to save for retirement.

57. Chest bone: RIB.  

62. "It's __ good": ALL.  

Bob Dylan's It's All Good (2009)

63. Pancake mixture: BATTER. Up!

64. Self-images: EGOS.

65. "Toodles!": BYE.

66. Like a lawn: GRASSY.  

67. Extremely: VERY.

Down:
1. Big city bigwig: MAYOR.  Not just "big cities" but small cities and fast food restaurants can have MAYORs, too!

2. San Antonio landmark: ALAMO. I have visited there but did not get to see the basement. #Pee-wee's Big Adventure

3. Emmy-winning actress Martindale: MARGO.  

I did not recognize her name; but, after seeing her photo, I realize I have seen her in many dramas.
This is a photo from The Americans. DH liked her in Justified.

4. __ Arbor, Michigan: ANN.

5. Chemically related compound: ISOMER.  Def:  one of two or more compounds that have the same chemical formula but different arrangements of the atoms within the molecules, which may result in different physical/chemical properties.

6. "That'll do": NO MORE.  It's what parents say to kids who are acting silly.

7. ZipRecruiter listings: JOBS.  website

8. Bi- minus one: UNI.  Think "number of wheels on a cycle".

UNIcycle stunts (3 min.)

9. Darth Vader's grandson Kylo __: REN.  Darth Vader is Princess Leia's bio-dad and Ben Solo, aka Kylo REN, is Leia's son. Here is a family tree:

P.S.  The actor who plays Kylo REN is Adam Driver, a former US Marine.

10. Rowing machine, familiarly: ERG. I need to memorize this one -- along with Opi nail polish, Eli Yale student, and British singer Rita Ora.

11. Beckoning word: COME.  The Japanese hand gesture to beckon someone to COME closer is with the palm facing down. This is why Manaki-neko (Beckoning Cat) has his paw facing downward.  

12. Swiss ski destination: ALPS.

13. Exam: TEST.

18. Wash: BATHE.

22. IndyCar venues: RACEWAYS.

24. In a way that's meant to last: STURDILY.

25. "Beware the __ of March": IDES.

26. Member of the "Love Train" soul group: O'JAY.

Love Train was released in 1972.

It reached #1 on both the R&B Singles and Billboard Top 100 charts.

This video is of their 2006 performance on Letterman.

They still got it!

27. Tail movement: WAG.  

29. Horse-and-buggy sect: AMISH.

30. Singer Kristofferson: KRIS.  He starred with Barbara Streisand in the 1976 remake of A Star is Born. This is the steamy album cover for the movie's soundtrack.

31. "If all __ fails ... ": ELSE.  

32. Some deli loaves: RYES.

33. Tip jar bills: ONES.  Tipping - World Map

34. Nicely organized: NEAT.  like today's puzzle

35. "Virgin River" novelist Robyn: CARR.  There seem to be several books in this series.

39. Some rentals, for short: APTS.  APartmenTS

42. Genetic material whose first letter stands for "ribo": RNA.

43. Stadium throng: CROWD.

45. Submits tax returns online: E-FILES.

46. Name associated with the Great Chicago Fire: O'LEARY.  They said it was her cow that kicked over a lantern.  

O'LEARY's Cow by Johnny Horton

49. Prolonged battle: SIEGE.

50. Shortstop's blunder: ERROR.

52. Grumpy sort: CRAB.

53. __ of the valley: LILY.  

As it turns out, this is the birth month flower for May.

54. Skilled: ABLE.

55. Pet docs: VETS.  Has anyone seen Dr. Oakley, Yukon Vet? She is VERY skilled/ABLE.

58. Supreme Court justice known as "Notorious," initially: RBG.  Ruth Bader Ginsberg (3/15/1933 - 9/18/2020)

59. Boat blade: OAR.

60. School support gp.: PTA.  "Group" is abbreviated, so is "Parent-Teacher Association".

61. Actor Patel: DEV.  DEV is a 33 year-old British actor. His breakout role was in 2008 as the lead in Slumdog Millionaire.

Here's the grid:

Time to cut the cord! Have a great week, everyone!

Sunday March 12, 2023 Robin Stears

Theme: "Excuses, Excuses!" - One word in each common phrase is replaced by its homophone or soundalike, befitting the excuse by the profession in each clue.

23. "I always wanted to be a ballerina, but I ... ": JUST DIDN'T GET THE POINTE. Point.

34. "I always wanted to be a baker, but I ... ": HAVEN'T GOT WHAT I KNEAD. Need.

53. "I always wanted to be a Gregorian monk, but I ... ": NEVER GOT THE CHANTS. Chance.

73. "I always wanted to be a perfumer, but I ... ": HAD NO COMMON SCENTS. Sense.

91. "I always wanted to be a gardener, but I ... ": COULDN'T FIND THE THYME. Time.

109. "I always wanted to be a wedding officiant, but I ... ": DON'T KNOW THE RITE PEOPLE. Right.

RITE is not the last word, but 109A is such a fun excuse.

Great to see Robin Stears ventured into a Sunday grid. 140-word no less. Click here to read her interview.

Across:

 

1. Jorts fabric: DENIM. Jorts = Jean shorts.

 

6. North Africa's __ Mountains: ATLAS.

11. Cranberry sites: BOGS.

15. TV ads for good causes: PSAS.

19. One who may live by the Strait of Hormuz: OMANI.

20. Go: LEAVE.

21. Old Testament twin: ESAU.

22. Actress Wilson of "His Dark Materials": RUTH. She's British.

27. Specimen for a volcanologist: ASH.

28. Gown: DRESS.

29. Long Beach's location, informally: SOCAL.

30. "I __": Election Day sticker: VOTED. Voted for the first time in 2010 after I became a US citizen.

31. North Carolina university: ELON.

32. Uniform accessory: SASH.

33. Ambulance wailers: SIRENS.

40. __ bar: DIVE.

41. German article: EINE.

42. Northeastern octet: IVIES.

43. Show clearly: EVINCE.

46. Small tastes: SIPS.  And 16. Beverage brewed with solar energy: SUN TEA.

48. Vega, e.g.: STAR.

49. Phony: SHAM.

57. Undefeated boxer Laila: ALI.

58. Means of access: DOORS.

59. Goatee spot: CHIN.

60. Key of Beethoven's "Eroica": E FLAT.

62. Soy-based frozen dessert brand: TOFUTTI. I never had this or soy yogurt.

65. Think of, as a solution: HIT ON.

67. "__ Place": 1990s TV drama: MELROSE.

69. Classic Windows catchphrase: I'M A PC. Feels like ages ago.

70. Bygone Dodge subcompact: OMNI.

71. Messy scuffle: MELEE.

72. Customizable Wii Sports avatar: MII.

81. French infinitive: ETRE.

83. Give more than a darn?: CUSS. Fun clue.

84. Midday: NOON.

85. On the clock: AT WORK.

86. Setting for many Stephen King novels: MAINE. King was born in Portland, Maine.

88. After the whistle: LATE.

90. Wallpaper hanger's calculation: AREA.

98. Sugar shack surrounders: MAPLES.

99. Actress Mireille: ENOS. "The Killing". She's also in "Hanna".

100. MLB stat: RBIS. Also 9. Batting stat: AVG.

101. Massive old computer: ENIAC.

102. Amazon crime series based on Michael Connelly novels: BOSCH. Detective Bosch. Played by Titus Welliver.

104. Fanny pack's spot: WAIST.

106. Needle a bit: SEW.

113. Not aweather: ALEE.

114. Canine pal of Nermal and Garfield: ODIE.

115. British elevators: LIFTS.

116. Pie feature: CRUST.

117. Young 67-Down: LADS. 67. Guys: MEN.

118. Batik artist: DYER.

119. Sherwin-Williams product: PAINT.

120. Toast opener: HERE'S.

Down:

1. "Say So" singer __ Cat: DOJA.

 

 

2. Some Down Under sprinters: EMUS.

3. Graham in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: NASH. Crosby, Stills & Nash.

4. QB misfire: INT.

5. __-of-the-road: MIDDLE.

6. Pasta specification: AL DENTE.

7. Till stack: TENS.

8. Muscles near delts: LATS.

10. Vacillate: SEESAW.

11. "You __!": "Yep!": BETCHA.

12. Dept. of Labor arm: OSHA.

13. Fine __: Irish political party: GAEL. From Wikipedia: It's "a liberal-conservative and Christian-democratic political party in Ireland." Learning moment for me. 

14. Dine by candlelight, maybe: SUP.

15. "The Canterbury Tales" character: PRIORESS.

17. Go to: ATTEND.

18. Gets rid of: SHEDS.

24. Appliance in some hotel room closets: IRON.

25. Reggae pioneer Peter: TOSH. The Wailers.

26. Like a ram or a lamb: OVINE.

31. Balanced: EVENED UP.

32. Curry of the NBA's "Splash Brothers": STEPH.

33. Bypass: SKIRT.

34. Home with cells: HIVE.

35. Tel __, Israel: AVIV.

36. Main points: GISTS.

37. Taking action: ON IT.

38. Captain of industry: TITAN.

39. Novelist Turgenev: IVAN. He wrote "Fathers and Sons".

40. Family room: DEN.

44. Pants part: CROTCH.

45. Award quartet for John Legend, for short: EGOT.

47. Grapefruit wedge: SECTION.

48. __ guard: SHIN.

50. Lighting effect: HALO.

51. "Poor, pitiful me!": ALAS. Just had another scary allergy episode with tuna.

52. Puny parasite: MITE.

54. "... __ quit!": OR I.

55. Sulu player John: CHO. Korean name. It's spelled as Zhao in Chinese. Chao in Cantonese.

56. Choose: SELECT.

61. Routes without tolls: FREEWAYS.

62. Person of the Year designator: TIME.

63. Skip over: OMIT.

64. So-so: FAIR.

65. Some med. plans: HMOS.

66. Company abbr.: INC.

68. "Frozen" sister: ELSA.

70. Advent: ONSET.

71. Ramadan, e.g.: MONTH. 9th month of the Islamic calendar.

74. Essential fatty __: ACIDS.

75. Brooks's country music partner: DUNN.

76. Gets into shape?: MOLDS. Great clue. These are similar to the one my grandma used.

77. Castle trench: MOAT.

78. Standard: NORM.

79. Koala hangout: TREE.

80. Genre of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones: SKA. Ska punk band.

82. Tries to live up to: EMULATES.

87. Smart __: ALECK.

89. Most uncanny: EERIEST.

91. Cooking oil option: CANOLA.

92. Weighed in: OPINED.

93. "The Addams Family" uncle: FESTER.

94. Foot part: INCH. I told my friend Adam about the 70+inches of snow we got this season in Minnesota. He sent me this picture of his son clearing the roof. He lives in Lapland now.

95. Totally worthless: NO HELP.

96. Recipe amt.: TBSP.

97. Built for NASA, say: HI-TECH.

98. Athlete's award: MEDAL.

102. Soul mate?: BODY.

103. Scrape covered with a Paw Patrol bandage, e.g.: OWIE.

104. Library convenience: WIFI.

105. Memo abbr.: ATTN.

106. Cowpoke's poker: SPUR.

107. "Will there be anything __?": ELSE.

108. Dampens: WETS.

110. Drift off: NOD.

111. Fjord kin: RIA.

112. One of five principal resources in the game Catan: ORE.

C.C.