Monday September 9, 2024 Sala Wanetick and Emily Biegas

  

Happy Monday, everyone! sumdaze here. Today we have DOUBLE the fun from collaborators Sala Wanetick and Emily Biegas. This is their fourth LA Times puzzle.

Theme:  

Each of the starred clues consists of two words such that the word PARK can be placed after each word to give a new concept. One might say the result is a DOUBLE PARK. Let's take a look:

16 Across. *DieHard product: CAR BATTERY.  

DieHard is a CAR BATTERY brand, not to be confused with the 1988 Bruce Willis film, Die Hard.
CAR PARK is Britspeak for "parking lot".
BATTERY PARK ( a.k.a. "The Battery") is a 25-acre public park located at the southern tip of Manhattan Island in New York City. It faces New York Harbor.

23 Across. *Presence in a pet-friendly workplace: OFFICE DOG.  

On the left is an OFFICE DOG hard at work.
An OFFICE PARK is an area where a number of office buildings are built together on landscaped grounds.
On the right is my dog, Meadow, exploring a DOG PARK when we lived in Colorado.

32 Across. *Los Angeles neighborhood in many John Singleton films: SOUTH CENTRAL.

Unknown to me but a few perps made it easily sussable. This is JS's IMDb page. We have some Cornerites from L.A. Perhaps they can tell us some of the area's better-known landmarks.  

On the left is a map of SOUTH CENTRAL Los Angeles.
SOUTH PARK is an animated TV show that first aired in 1997. It is still running and has been renewed through 2027.
New York's CENTRAL PARK is a world-famous public park, created in 1858 to address the recreational needs of a rapidly growing city. It was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux.

44 Across. *University in Muncie, Indiana: BALL STATE.

Again, not on my RADAR; but once I clocked the theme, it fell into place.  

BALL STATE University was founded in 1918.
A BALLPARK is a stadium where ball games are played. It is also a range given in an estimate.
The photo on the left is of Tahquamenon Falls STATE PARK, located in YooperPhil's neck of the woods.

Here is the unifier:

52. Leave one's vehicle in a traffic lane, and an apt description of the answers to the starred clues: DOUBLE-PARK.  This means to park one's vehicle beside a row of vehicles already parked parallel to the curb. The FedEx truck is DOUBLE-PARKed in the picture below.  

Here are the remaining clues:

Across:

1. Roof spots for holiday lights: EAVES.  Martha May Who (Christine Baranski) has the perfect tool for this job. (2 min.)  

How the Grinch Stole Christmas  (2000)

BTW, that is Molly Shannon playing Betty Lou Who.

6. Trims, as grass: MOWS.

10. Highs: UPS.  think "moods"

13. Swindler's accomplice: SHILL.  This is a person who acts as a decoy for a gambler or pitchman so bystanders (prey) are more apt to believe the con.

14. Milky birthstone: OPAL.

15. "The baby is sleeping!": SHH....

18. __ culpa: MEA.  Forgive me if I am repeating myself. "MEA culpa" is a noun which comes to us from Latin meaning, "through my fault".

19. Sinks, as an easy putt: TAPS IN.  

I think this usually refers to a golf ball -- not an alligator!

20. Vampire tooth: FANG.  Here's a quick clip of Vincent Price with Kermit the Frog.  

21. Debtor's letters: IOU.

26. Muzzles: SNOUTS.

29. Learning institution: ACADEMY.

30. Soccer superstar Lionel: MESSI.  Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi (b. June 24, 1987) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for and captains both the Major League Soccer club Inter Miami and the Argentina national team.  

31. Drippy ice cream choice: CONE.     and     43 Across. Thawed: MELTED.  

37. Et __: and others: ALIA.  The Latin phrase, et alia means "and others".  I was surprised to read Merriam-Webster's entry saying its first known use in English was in 1953.

38. Exposed: BARED.  

40. Lavish: OPULENT.  This would not be a good adjective to describe 20-Down. On the other hand, it fits another crossword favorite, Art Deco.  

46. Nickname of the 34th president: IKE.     and     39 Down. Initials of the 34th president: DDE.

47. Disability Pride Month: JULY.  

48. Keyboard instruments: PIANOS.

51. Stately tree: ELM.

56. Sch. whose alumni include Anthony Bourdain and Roy Choi: CIA.  Both are chefs who attended the Culinary Institute of America. Click here to see about making a reservation at a CIA restaurant.

57. Competent: ABLE.

58. Muppet who sings to his rubber duckie: ERNIE.

59. Full complement of players, in men's lacrosse: TEN.  ESP. I am at a loss when it comes to lacrosse. 😜 I did not even know the clue was asking for a number.

60. Kitchen protector: MITT.  

61. High-end hair dryer manufacturer: DYSON.  "High-end" indeed. Their supersonic hair dryers run from $430 to $600.

Down:

1. Key for exiting full-screen mode: ESC.

2. "I've got it!": AHA.

3. Accomplished musician: VIRTUOSO.     and     11 Down. Young sensation: PHENOM.

A VIRTUOSO excels at the technique of an art. A PHENOM is a young person of phenomenal ability or promise. Mozart was both. Here is Rondo Alla Turca (Turkish March) played on a 48-Across.  

4. "Zootopia" voice actor Idris: ELBA.  He voiced Chief Bogo in this 2016 animated film.

Hi Lucina!

5. High-five sound: SLAP.  

Maverick and Goose  ~  Top Gun ~  1986

6. Repeating design: MOTIF.  This explains it better than I can.

7. Like some sandwiches: OPEN FACE.  They do not have tops. Use your napkin.

8. Two-person card game: WAR.

9. Probably plotting: SLY.  cute

10. Sporting a union label, perhaps: U.S. MADE.  Did anyone else think of these TV commercials from the late 70s/early80s ?

12. Like the coats of most sheepdogs: SHAGGY.  

Underneath all that hair, Old English Sheepdogs weigh 60-100 lbs.

17. General __ chicken: TSOS.  I think my neighbor might be cooking this tonight. Something smells good!

20. Architectural style that flourished after the American Revolution: FEDERAL.  I am linking an article from This Old House plus information on the Hamilton Grange National Monument (as in "Alexander Hamilton").  

Geometrical designs are a common 6-Down of the FEDERAL style.

21. Ideological suffix: -ISM.

22. Singles: ONES.  dollars

24. Symbol: ICON.

25. "No way": CAN'T BE.  Or can it?

27. Most of the time: USUALLY.  

28. Filmography list: TITLES.  You can find these on the IMDb website.

33. Clue: HINT.  I had the "H" so I entered "Help" which did not help with the SW (my trickiest area today).

34. Boulder-hurling weapon: CATAPULT.  Poor Wile E.! He forgot to read the fine print. (2:30 min.)

35. Craftspeople: ARTISANS.  You can find these on the Etsy website.

36. Chive kin: LEEK.  I like to put cooked LEEKs on my pizza.

40. Item: OBJECT.

41. Rocky's best friend in the "Rocky" films: PAULIE.  "Adrian" also has six letters. Paulie Pennino was Adrian's brother.   

this Rocky's friend     ...     not     that Rocky's friend

42. Comedian Tracey: ULLMAN.  Tracey Ullman (born Trace Ullman; 30 December 1959) is a British-American actress, comedian, singer, dancer, screenwriter, producer, and director. She starred in The Tracey Ullman Show (1987-90) and, more recently, as Irma Kostroski on Curb Your Enthusiasm. Perhaps you have heard that The Simpsons famously first appeared on The Tracey Ullman Show. 

43. Supper, e.g.: MEAL.

45. Neighbor of Nepal: TIBET.  

49. Necessity: NEED.  "The mother of invention" did not fit.

50. Nashville's Grand Ole __: OPRY.

52. Beaver creation: DAM.

53. __-Wan Kenobi: OBI.  Star Wars

54. __ de Janeiro: RIO.  Oklahoma City, U.S.A. is a sister city to Rio de Janeiro.  I wonder what they have in common.

55. "Jeopardy!" host Jennings: KEN.  Both Ken and Idris were in yesterday's puzzle.

CSO to Tehachapi Ken, who I hope is on the mend! 

Feel free to do a double take on today's grid:

Did you enjoy today's walk in the PARK puzzle? Thanks to Sala and Emily for this MEMORIAL THEME!

Tuesday, May 14, 2024 Emily Biegas and Sala Wanetick

Stick(y) Figures:

20-Across. Specialized curriculum in a public school: MAGNET PROGRAM.  Technically a magnet is anything that carries a static magnetic field around with it.  Here's a scientific definition of why things STICK to a magnet.

35-Across. Expand one's horizons: BRANCH OUT.  Why is this clue/answer different from all other theme clues/answers? *

40-Across. Pet with separation anxiety, perhaps: VELCRO DOG.  I had never heard the phrase Velcro Dog, but apparently it's a thing.  Here's the history of Velcro.

And the unifier:

52. Complicated discussion topic, and an apt description of the start of 20-, 35-, or 40-Across?: STICKY SUBJECT.

Across:

1. Joni Mitchell's "Both __ Now": SIDES.  [Name # 1.]

6. Dano of "The Fabelmans": PAUL.  I wasn't familiar with the 2022 film, The Fablemans, which is apparently a coming-of-age film, which stars Paul Dano (né Paul Franklin Dano; b. June 19, 1984) as Burt Fableman.  I was also not familiar with the actor's name, however, I do recognize his photo.  [Name # 2.]

10. Performances: ACTS.

14. Buzzing: ALIVE.

15. Cuatro y cuatro: OCHO.  //  And 49-Across. Uno y uno: DOS.  A double dose of today's math and Spanish lesson.

16. Pad see ew cuisine: THAI.  Yummers!  Pad see ew is a stir-fried noodle dish that is commonly eaten in Thailand.

17. Breathable fabric: LINEN.

18. Wharton biz school home: PENN.  The Wharton Business School is at the University of Pennsylvania.   [Name adjacent.]

19. Nightstand light: LAMP.

23. YouTube spots: ADs.

24. Merry: GAY.

25. Mahalia Jackson's genre: GOSPEL.  Mahalia Jackson (née Mahala Jackson; Oct. 26, 1911 ~ Jan. 27, 1972) was born in New Orleans.  There is a beautiful theater in New Orleans that is named after her: The Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts.  [Name # 3.]

28. Yoga surface: MAT.

29. Bouncy gait: TROT.

31. Quartz suffix: -ITE.  More than you will ever want to know about Quartzite.

32. Conspiring clique: CABAL.

37. Mining yields: ORES.  A crossword staple.

38. Sir Michael of acting: CAINE.  Michael Caine (né Maurice Joseph Micklewhite; b. Mar. 14, 1933) appeared in over 160 films during his acting years.  He became Sir Michael in 2000.  [Name # 4.]

39. Overturn: UNDO.

42. "A Doll's House" playwright Henrik: IBSEN.  A Doll's House is a 1879 play by Henrik Johan Ibsen (Mar. 20, 1828 ~ May 23, 1906).  It was quite radical for its time.  It's about the fate of a married woman, who lacked reasonable opportunities for self-fulfillment in a male-dominated world.  One could argue that not that much has changed in the ensuing 150 years.  [Name # 5.]

43. Class for some immigrants: Abbr.: ESL.  As in English as a Second Language.

44. Masterpiece: OPUS.

45. Coast Guard rank: Abbr.: ENS.  As in Ensign.  In case you have ever wondered about the ranks in the Coast Guard, check out this site.

46. Comfy cozy: TOASTY.

48. Texter's "No idea": IDK.  I Don't Know what this means.  **

56. Fuzzy fruit: KIWI.  Also a flightless bird found in New Zealand.

58. AFB truant: AWOL.  As in Absent WithOut Leave.

59. Bass of 'N Sync: LANCE.  Lance James Bass (b. May 4, 1979) was one of the 5 members of the boy band 'N Sync.   [Name # 6.]

Lance Bass is on the far left.

60. "As far as __ tell ... ": I CAN.

61. Snatch: TAKE.

62. Like draft beer: ON TAP.

63. NBA two-pointer: DUNK.

64. SimCity console, in brief: SNES.  As in Super Nintendo Entertainment System.  Hand up if you knew this.

65. Overflows (with): TEEMS.

Down:

1. Actress Hayek Pinault: SALMA.  She is best known as Salma Hayek (née Salma Valgarma Hayek Jiménez; b. Sept. 2, 1966).  [Name # 7.]

2. Trojan War epic by Homer: ILIAD.  Homer was an ancient Greek poet.  Two of his epic poems are known today: the Iliad and the Odyssey.  He didn't have a surname, so shouldn't be confused with Homer Simpson.  [Name # 8.]

3. Demerits: DINGS.

4. Not odd: EVEN.

5. Westernmost country of continental Africa: SENEGAL.  The official name of Senegal, is the Republic of Senegal.  The country was in the news last week when a plane in Dakar skidded off the runway and caught fire.

6. California's state flower: POPPY.  The state flower of Louisiana is legally the Magnolia (see La. R.S. 49:154).  What is your state's flower?

7. Dell competitor: ACER.

8. "Never gonna happen": UH, NO.

9. Of the distant past: LONG GONE.

10. Geography book: ATLAS.

11. Victors: CHAMPIONS.

12. Scottish cap: TAM.

13. Small drink: SIP.

21. Tit for __: TAT.

22. Campus mil. group: ROTC.  As in Reserve Officer Training Corps.

26. Piano exercise: ÉTUDE.  Today's French lesson.

27. Disclose: LET ON.

28. Not fem. or neut.: MASC.  Masculine is neither Feminine nor Neutral.

29. Some jazz groups: TRIOS.

30. Pealed: RANG.

32. Really, really want: COVET.

33. "You __ busted!": ARE SO.

34. Edward Cullen's love interest in the "Twilight" series: BELLA SWAN.  [Names # 9 and 10, fictional.]

35. "Queen of Neo Soul" Erykah: BADU.  Her given name is Erica Abi Wright (b. Feb. 26, 1971).  [Name # 11.]

36. Centers of activity: HUBS.

38. Mimics: COPY CATS.

41. Round flatbread: ROTI.  A flatbread found in Indian cuisine.

42. Rorschach pattern: INK BLOT.

45. School URL ending: EDU.

47. Big to-do: STINK.

48. Tahiti and Bora Bora: ISLES.

49. Al __: firm, as pasta: DENTE.  Today's Italian lesson.  The phrase Al Dente literally means to the tooth.  Pasta cooked al dente is firm when bitten without being hard.

50. Philosopher who espoused simple explanations: OCCAM.  William of Ockham (1287 ~ 1347) wasn't a barber, but he does have a razor named in his honor.  Occam’s Razor is the principle that says that if you have two competing ideas to explain the same phenomenon, you should prefer the simpler one.  [Name # 12.]

51. Fitness tracker units: STEPS.

53. "Rich People Problems" novelist Kevin: KWAN.  Kevin Kwan (b. Nov. 8, 1973) is a Singapore-born American novelist. He wrote a trilogy of satirical novels Crazy Rich Asians, China Rich Girlfriend, and Rich People Problems.  Crazy Rich Asians was also made into a movie.  [Name # 13.]

54. Oxen harness: YOKE.

55. Actress Fonda: JANE.  In addition to being an actress, Jane Seymour Fonda (b. Dec. 21, 1937), is the daughter of actor Henry Fonda (May 16, 1905 ~ Aug. 12, 1982), and sister to Peter Fonda (Feb. 23, 1940 ~ Aug. 16, 2019).  [Name # 14.]

The family Fonda.

56. Young goat: KID.

57. Hospital dept.: ICU.  As in Intensive Care Unit.

Here's the Grid.

*  On Passover, we ask, "Why is this night different from all other nights?"  We know, of course, what the answer is.  My question about why the Branch / Stick was intended in the same vein.  The answer is "different" because a Branch is literally a Stick, whereas with the other two answers, something can Stick to Magnet and Velcro.

**  Yes, I do know that the letters IDK actually stand for I Don't Know.

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