Sunday May 28, 2023 Rose Sloan & Shannon Rapp

Theme: "Secret Ingredients" - Eight different spice are anagrammed and spanned across two words.

23. Pony car since 1964: FORD MUSTANG. Mustard.

34. Flavor with Oreos: COOKIES AND CREAM. Anise.

52. Association for former classmates: ALUMNI CLUB. Cumin.

58. Genre satirized in "Only Murders in the Building": TRUE CRIME. Turmeric.

72. "Back to the Future" vehicle: TIME MACHINE. Mace.

86. Rom-com mainstay: LOVE SCENE. cloves.

89. Bank job necessity: GETAWAY CAR. Caraway

110. Information often included in a bridal shower invitation: WEDDING REGISTRY. Ginger.

Reveal:

123. Mixes such as garam masala and ras el hanout, and what are found in this puzzle's circles?: SPICE BLENDS.

Not famliar with ras el hanout. Google shows that it's a Morocco spice with salt, cumin, ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, etc. It's used in tagines, soups, rice dishes, and vegetables.

 

Notice how consistent the theme entries are. All of the key letters span across two words. Some are inspiring finds.

Congrats on your LAT Sunday debut, Rose!

Across:

1. West African capital: ACCRA. Ghana.

6. Page with many views?: OP-ED.

10. Veg out: LOAF.

14. Grads-to-be: SRS.

17. Root beer treats: FLOATS.

19. Apple's counterpart of 3-Down: SIRI. And 3. Microsoft's counterpart of 19-Across: CORTANA. Who still uses Cortana?

20. Sportbacks, e.g.: AUDIS. Not famliar with Sportbacks.

22. Morita of "The Karate Kid": PAT.

25. Game option featuring cutscenes: STORY MODE. We had this fill a few months ago.

27. Jazz legend James: ETTA.

28. Kelly Clarkson's "Since U __ Gone": BEEN.

29. Pilot: STEER.

31. Cellphone giant: NOKIA. Hugely popular in Guangzhou in early 2000s.

32. Green sold in rainbow bunches: CHARD. How do you make it tasty?

37. Language class subject: TENSES.

39. Grabs a chair: SITS.

40. PreCheck org.: TSA.

41. Just: ONLY.

42. Govt. ID issuer: SSA.

43. Comice, e.g.: PEAR.  Wikipedia says it's a "French pear variety first cultivated in the 19th century." 

46. Word with care or aware: SELF.

48. D&D monster with a beak attack: ROC.

50. Some alfresco dates: PICNICS.

61. Get older: AGE.

62. Baggy: LOOSE.

63. Take turns: ROTATE.

64. __ science: DATA.

68. Guys: LADS.

70. Ranch grazer: COW.

71. Thanksgiving side dish: YAMS. Here's some purple yam cake.

76. Dad: PAPA.

77. Altar-ed words?: I DO. Ha.

78. Convoy rig: SEMI.

79. Squirrel's home: TREE.

80. Many a campaign ad: MAILER.

82. Some second-generation Americans: NISEI. Japanese. The first generation is ISSEI. Sei = Generation. Sansei is third. San = Three. Same in Chinese.

84. Egyptian viper: ASP.

92. Passes on, as knowledge: IMPARTS.

93. __ Minella: vest-wearing Muppet chimpanzee: SAL.

94. Crochet need: YARN.

96. Mix: STIR.

97. Gp. for those who putter around a lot?: PGA. Oh I like this new clue.

100. Maumee River endpoint: ERIE.

103. Battery size: AAA.

106. Mama's mama: NANA.

108. Gets to the point?: TAPERS. 121. Long series of romances?: SOAP OPERA. Great clues.

115. Bowling sites: LANES.

116. Kodiak Island resident: ALEUT.

117. Rook kin: RAVEN. I did not know rook is a bird.

118. Soph, probably: TEEN.

120. __-pedi: MANI.

126. "¿Qué __?": Spanish "What's up?": TAL.

127. Mountain nymph: OREAD.

128. Norsk Folkemuseum city: OSLO.

129. Melodious: DULCET.

130. Ones making alterations, for short: EDS. Editors.

131. Sunrise dirección: ESTE.

132. Butter chicken bread: NAAN. Uyghur-style. Lots of Muslims in Xi'an.

133. Some Scots: GAELS.

Down:

1. Has an influence on: AFFECTS.

2. Outfit: CLOTHES.

4. Location tools: RADARS.

5. Bread box?: ATM.

6. Bone-related prefix: OSTEO.

7. Steinways, e.g.: PIANOS.

8. Directional suffix: ERN.

9. Paleontologist's workplace: DIG SITE. Paleontologists study fossils. Sounds old.

10. Permanently removes hair, perhaps: LASES.

11. Devour more than: OUT-EAT.

12. Decks out: ADORNS.

13. Christmas purchase kids know about before Santa comes: FIR.

14. Already claimed, with "for": SPOKEN.

15. Tire type: RADIAL.

16. Like a good romance novel: STEAMY. Her name is Chiung Yao, the most popular romance novelist in Chinese language.

18. Hero: SUB.

21. Lip-__: SYNC.

24. Dry designation: SEC.

26. African country nearest Spain: MOROCCO. Where the ras el hanout is widely used, as I learned today.

30. Inventor Nikola: TESLA.

33. Create an image of: DEPICT.

35. Peck: KISS.

36. "Aw, heck": DARN.

38. Work like a gland: SECRETE.

44. Singer DiFranco: ANI.

45. Canyon edge: RIM.

47. Miami's st.: FLA.

49. Many Monets: OILS.

50. Aloo mutter ingredients: PEAS.

51. Give up: CEDE.

53. Jamaican tangelo brand name: UGLI. Yesterday I brought some lychees for Tom Pepper and Connie. Tom said they "taste like grapes but a lot more work." He can't stand durians.

54. Have in mind: MEAN.

55. Setting: LOCALE.

56. Annual Queens sporting event: US OPEN. Alright: Nick Kyrgios and Iga Świątek.

57. "Watch out!": BEWARE.

58. Having a go: TRYING.

59. Band aide: ROADIE. Good old clue.

60. Of the __ importance: UTMOST.

65. Tsp., e.g.: AMT.

66. Pothole filler: TAR.

67. Star starter: ACE.

69. Flaw: DEMERIT.

73. "Perhaps": I MAY.

74. Catchall file abbr.: MISC.

75. Nautical wheel: HELM.

76. "__ or it didn't happen": PICS.

78. "Dance Moms" dancer JoJo: SIWA. Much older now. But I really like this pic.

81. Starlike: ASTRAL.

83. Softened: EASED UP.

85. Fork over: PAY.

87. Photo __: OPS.

88. Brewery container: VAT.

90. Actor Tudyk: ALAN. He plays Dr. Harry Vanderspeigle in "Resident Alien"

91. Mountain chain: RANGE.

92. Stops along the way: INNS.

95. Sours, as a parade: RAINS ON.

97. Act of contrition: PENANCE.

98. Beowulf foe: GRENDEL.

99. Stockton's NBA record 15,806: ASSISTS. John Stockton.

100. Discarded tech products: E WASTE.

101. Click a circular arrow, say: RE-LOAD.

102. Core values: IDEALS.

104. Thinks the same: AGREES.

105. Turkish mount consisting of two volcanic cones: ARARAT. Did not know this trivia.

107. __ the Hun: ATTILA.

109. Adlon of "Better Things": PAMELA.

111. "__, sing America": Hughes: I TOO.

112. Sidestep: EVADE.

113. Intel job: RECON.

114. "__-haw!": YEE.

119. "Don't worry abt it": NBD.

122. Ante-: PRE.

124. "The More You Know" spot, e.g.: PSA.

125. Tote (around): LUG.

C.C.

 

Wednesday, May 10, 2023 ~ Emma Lawson & Shannon Rapp

Who Let the Dogs Out?

Happy Wednesday folks! Anon -T here reporting for duty.

Emma and Shannon Rapp (aka Norah Sharpe) bring us three breeds of "Rover" that "Range" across the fill (in the circles) and unifies it with an SUV that will likely fit all the pups (but,... it's not a Subaru :-)).

17. Dog relaxing across a foam flotation device?: POOL NOODLE. Poodle. Pick which second O gets the circle.

//Here's where I got my wires crossed for a bit. I though "POOL POODLE; theme is dog-breeds with the first few letters making another first or second word."
You try to think of a breed that begins with TRI at second themer fill - ain't gonna work.
Anyway, when I got to the reveal, I realized the dogs are in the circles (which were light on my printout - I'll add toner to my Amazon cart), fixed my pOODLE to NOODLE, and filled the rest of the grid lickety-split.

28. Dog traveling through a mysterious section of the North Atlantic?: BERMUDA TRIANGLE. Beagle.
 

Our favorite Beagle

49. Dog spreading out at a minimal performance venue?: BLACKBOX THEATER. Boxer.

63. High-end SUV, and an apt description of each set of circled letters?: RANGE ROVER.

Cute and much more simple that I was trying to make it. Thanks Emma & Shannon for the entertaining puzzle.

Across:
1. "Between Two Ferns" host Galifianakis: ZACH.
 

Obama played along for ACA

5. German woman: FRAU.
 

Cloris Leachman played along.

9. Brief "Don't know yet": TBD. To Be Determined.

12. __ mutter: potatoes and peas dish: ALOO. I think we've all learned this by now - foreign (not French) potatoes == ALOO.  Don't get me wrong - I love a good Indian dish but never understand them as printed.  I make Youngest order -- she grew up Montessori, knows Indian food, and knows what I like.

13. "Birmingham" sculptor Simone __: LEIGH. Perps. I Googled so you don't have to. Chicago artist born in '67. Amazing work!

15. Trick or treat: VERB. Ha!! "Fool" or "buy for." Also, noun: (magic) trick; (sweet) treat.  Halloween is only 173 days away.

17. [see: theme]

19. Garden need: SOIL. "Fence" to keep out the critters was too long.

20. Respected figure: ELDER. Am I an ELDER yet? I've waited 52 years...

21. Round Table titles: SIRS. Trust me, I'm holding myself back from linking yet another Monty Python clip.

23. Cavaliers sch.: UVA. University Virginia.

24. Way out: EXIT. The egress.
 

Believe it or Not - That's how Ripley got 'em out the door.

26. Realms: EMPIRES.

28. [see: theme]

32. What "will be" will be: ARE. Cute. Very cute.

33. Window part: SASH. Pane also fit :-(

34. Short pants?: TROU. Short for Trousers.

35. 2019 documentary about fatherhood: DADS. Sussable.

37. "Designated Survivor" actor Penn: KAL. I Googled for an image and... "Kalpen Suresh Modi, known professionally as Kal Penn, is an American actor, author, academic lecturer, and former White House staff member in the Barack Obama administration." Fandom Link.

39. Robin's residence: NEST.
 

Robin, aka Mork, resided here with Mindy.

42. Spanish house: CASA.

45. Court dividers: NETS. Tennis courts not basketball nets.

48. __ of Tranquility: SEA. Lunar geography and Apollo 11's landing site.

49. [see: theme]

53. Expression of love that doesn't quite land?: AIR KISS. Didn't land the kiss? Tsk. Tsk.

54. Stitches: SEWS.

55. Car care brand: STP.   Scientifically Treated Petroleum. Or, if you visit STP's website: Science. Technology. Performance. Not to be confused with a Stone Temple Pilots' performance.

56. Fold: TUCK.

58. Pronoun pair: HE/HIM.  You'll see this on some folks' Social Media profile -- pronouns to be used when addressing.

61. Call-and-response response: AMEN. #Church

63. [see: theme]

66. Renaissance fair instrument: LUTE.

67. Dentist's tool: DRILL.  Open wide.

68. Angry outburst: RANT.

69. Opposite of NNE: SSW. Points on a compass rose.

70. Octagonal sign: STOP.

71. Codas: ENDS.

Down:
1. Comic book onomatopoeia: ZAP. Onomatopoeia - a word that sounds like what it means. But y'all knew that.

2. Soothing succulent: ALOE.

3. Like early spring weather: COOL.

4. Poker variety: HOLD 'EM. How to play.

5. Home of Everglades National Park: FLORIDA.

6. __ Speedwagon: REO. The car or the band from Champaign, IL? We should be told.

7. Helps: AIDS.

8. Less appealing: UGLIER.
 

UGLIer fruit

9. Best Buy wallful: TVS. Have y'all seen some of the new TVs? I don't think I want to watch News Hour with that kind of definition.

10. "Beauty and the Beast" song: BE OUR GUEST.
 

Classic fun animation.

11. Tripe: DRIVEL. [see: this expo]

14. __ crab: HERMIT.
 

Hermit Crab Changes Shells

16. Nonchalant: BLASE. I think I spelled it with a "Z" first 'cuz there's extra ink in that square.

18. Connection: NEXUS.

22. Trade jabs: SPAR. Boxing.

25. Undertaking: TASK.

27. Party to: IN ON. Privy didn't fit.

28. Billie Eilish's "__ Guy": BAD. If you're so inclined. //It's not that BAD.

29. Notable slice of time: ERA.

30. Fancy places to see the stars?: RED CARPETS. Planetarium didn't fit //and there's no Pink Floyd at the RED CARPET.

31. Quick note of appreciation: THANX. Saves only one letter typed. Thx is what I use - saves three keystrokes.

36. Bag of potatoes: SACK.

38. "Shall we?" response: LET'S. Do it!

40. "Told ya!": SEE.

41. Roof goo: TAR.

43. Comic vignette: SKIT.

44. Ridiculous: ABSURD. Inane. //CED came to mind ;-)

46. Viola Davis film whose tagline was "Change begins with a whisper": THE HELP.
 

Trailer

47. Ninja Turtle home: SEWER.
//want a story? As undergrads, DW would do some babysitting for extra cash.
Being an educator, she'd teach the kids literature and art.
She introduced one kid (about 7yrs old) to Michelangelo.
"Mrs. K, I didn't know he painted too!"
He was talking about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

49. Rudimentary: BASAL.

50. Chemistry paper?: LITMUS.  Stick in the stick and ph will show acid or base via color. Always fun to have a handful of these on hand for playing with, erm teaching, the kids.

51. 2023 awards for "Everything Everywhere All at Once": OSCARS.

52. On land: ASHORE.

57. Make mittens, say: KNIT.

59. Tennis star Lendl: IVAN.

60. Repair: MEND.

62. Just out: NEW.

64. __ Worm: 1980s bedtime toy: GLO.
 

My lil' Sis had one of these.

65. Shares again, on Twitter: RTS. RE -Tweets.  Honestly, I've never gotten the hang of the TwitterVerse and I probably make myself look like an old dude when I RT a response.  Frankly, Musk is making it worse (NPR & BBC #StateAffiliated. Really?). I'm still waiting on BlueSky to accept my "Let me play, please!" request. //end RANT

The Grid:
 

The Grid

WOs: noun->VERB, TanK, pane->SASH, BASic -> BASAL
ESPs: LEIGH, IVAN (as clued), KAL.
Fav: Trick or treat == noun or VERB

Well, another expo in the books here at The Crossword Corner. Hope y'all had fun too.
Looking forward to y'alls take and expo corrections / additions.

Cheers, -T

Thursday April 20, 2023 Shannon Rapp & Dan Schwartz

 

 Today's constructors are LAT veterans and sometime collaborators Dan Schwartz and Shannon Rapp, aka Norah Sharpe, who invite us to enter the crossworld of benign Diplopia ...

Seeing Double

... but don't worry, you'll get over it.  Their theme was pretty obvious from the get go and made solving this one pretty easy.  Here are the two word themers, all identified by the trailing "?"  If you got enough perps in either word you could guess them both:

17A. Double bond?: PROMISES PROMISES.  This clue might refer to a covalent bond (sort of the chemical equivalent of community property) and the fill could be the name of a Broadway musical,with the title song sung here by the Divine Dionne Warwick:

26A. Double check?: TESTING TESTING.  Performed by the sound gal (or guy).

43A. Double fault?: EXCUSES EXCUSES. The refs words to John McEnroe's in clue 17A on March 16, 2023.

58. Double jump?: SURPRISE SURPRISE. I suppose this means to get a jump on someone, or it could be a checkers move, but by the time you got to this clue nothing would SURPRISE you.

REVEAL?  Who needs a REVEAL?

Here's the grid ...
 

Here's the rest ...

Across:

1. Book that presents world views?: ATLAS. 

6. Plus-one, say: GUEST.

11. Mo. town: STL.  A CSO to inanehiker I believe ...

14. Finned predator: SHARK.

15. Spicy Korean cabbage: KIMCHI.  Here's a recipe.

Kimchi
(nice pot too!)

16. "I've got it!": AHA.

17. [Theme clue]

20. Shady, in gamer lingo: SUS.  Short for SUSPICIOUS.

21. Novelist Deighton: LEN.  Leonard Cyril Deighton born 18 February 1929) is a British author. His publications have included cookery books, history and military history, but he is best known for his spy novels. His first spy novel was The IPCress File.

Len Deighton
He looks like a tough cookie

22. Early Canon auto focus camera: SURE SHOT.  Surprise Surprise, there are still other cameras besides the iPhone, e.g. the Sure Shot Supreme.

23. Cutting edge: BLADE.

25. Numeric prefix: TRI.

26. [Theme clue].

32. Creates a lot of drama?: EMOTES.

34. "Double Indemnity" novelist: CAIN.  James Mallahan Cain (July 1, 1892 – October 27, 1977) was an American novelist, journalist and screenwriter. He is widely regarded as a progenitor of the hard boiled school of American crime fiction.  Also a Marylander.  Here's a trailer for the 1944 film Double Indemnity.  Who knew that Fred MacMurray played bad guys? ...

A clecho for all our themers?.

35. "What __ care?": DO I.  The anthem of our era.

36. Splash against gently: LAP AT.

37. __ Whip: frozen pineapple treat: DOLE.  Also a former Senate Majority Leader and later a spokesperson for the little blue pill.
 

Robert Joseph Dole
(July 22, 1923 – December 5, 2021)

38. Lofty living spaces?: BARNS.

40. __ Lanka: SRI.  A standin for Kerala, India in the remarkable series The Good Karma Hospital starring the incomparable Amanda Redman ...

41. Explorer with a talking backpack: DORA.  The case of the missing backpack ...

42. "O churl, drunk all, and left no friendly drop / To help me after!" speaker: JULIET.  This line is spoken in Act 5 Scene 3 of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.  In prior acts ROMEO has been banished to Mantua for killing Tybalt, but before he leaves, Friar Lawrence has secretly married the young couple.  To forestall a forced marriage to Romeo's rival Paris, the Friar has concocted a scheme for Juliet to take a sleeping potion that will make her appear dead, and she will then be laid in a tomb by her family.  The messenger that the Friar sent to Romeo to inform him of this scheme has been delayed and Romeo first hears news that she has died.  He buys poison from an apothecary and rushes to Juliet's tomb to die with her.  When he arrives and sees her lifeless body, Romeo takes the poison, and dies.  Juliet then awakes and finding her poisoned husband, she berates him in the line above for leaving "no friendly drop" for her, and then stabs herself with his dagger (this clip may seem a little dark, but then it IS filmed in a tomb - oh and it's quiet, so turn up the sound) ...

43. [Theme clue]

47. Lil Wayne's "__ Block Is Hot": THA.  I'm afraid Margaret said "Tsk, tsk ..." to this one.

48. Gridiron units: YARDS.

49. Challenged, as a verdict: APPEALED.

54. Emmy-winning sportscaster Buck: JOE.  Had this been four letter fill the answer would have been JACK, his father.  JOE Buck worked for Fox Sports from its 1994 inception through 2022, including roles as lead play-by-play announcer for the network's National Football League and Major League Baseball coverage. He served as the play-by-play announcer for the World Series from 1996 to 2021, with the exceptions of 1997 and 1999, when Bob Costas called those particular World Series for NBC.

Joe Buck

55. Dish with yellow or red lentils: DAL.  A staple of Indian cuisine.  Here's a recipe for DAL and potato soup, one of our favorites.

Dal and Potato Soup

58. [Theme clue]

61. Anger: IRE.

62. Many a "Grey's Anatomy" character: INTERN.  There's a new crop every Summer.

63. Indian, for one: OCEAN.

64. Cook in oil: FRY.

65. Market where an amphora may be found: AGORA.  A Greek container in a Greek market. Here's fancy one with the classic black and red terra sigillata slip glaze depicting scenes of the gods Hermes and Dionysus ...

Amphora ca. 540-530 BCE
Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, MD

66. __ Bay Rays: TAMPA.

Down:

1. Nile vipers: ASPS.

2. Drive-__: THRU.

3. Landlocked country on the Mekong: LAOS.  LAOS, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic is in the heart of the Indochinese Peninsula.  It is bordered by Myanmar and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the southeast, and Thailand to the west and southwest. Its capital and largest city is Vientiane.

Laos

4. Pitcher's asset: ARM.

5. All one can do: SKILL SET.  A PITCHER needs not only a good ARM,  but the ability to read the catcher's signs, throw strikes, field line drives hit straight at him, and pick off runners who stray too far from first base.

6. Base figs.: GIS.  Not the one's in the previous clue.

7. Strike callers: UMPS. 

8. Linen color: ECRU.

I think our forgetful Triceratops left out TAUPE.

9. Cut: SHORTEN.

10. Speed chess equipment: TIMERS.  Chess timers consist of two adjacent clocks with buttons to stop one clock while starting the other, so that the two clocks never run simultaneously.  Chess clocks are used in chess and other two-player games where the players move in turn.  A CSO to -T.

Chess Clocks

11. Merit badge holder: SASH.

12. __ James of "The White Lotus": THEO.  Theodore Peter James Kinnaird Taptiklis (born 16 December 1984), known professionally as Theo James, is an English actor. He is best known for portraying Tobias "Four" Eaton in The Divergent Series film trilogy. He has starred in the horror films Underworld: Awakening (2012) and Underworld: Blood Wars (2016) and the science fiction film Archive (2020). In television, he has appeared in the crime drama series Golden Boy (2012), the romance series The Time Traveler's Wife (2022), and the dark comedy series The White Lotus (2022).

Theo James

13. Have legs: LAST.

15. "Antiracist Baby" author Ibram X. __: KENDI.  Antiracist Baby is a 2020 children's book written by Ibram X. Kendi and illustrated by Ashley Lukashevsky. The book, inspired by the author's 4-year-old daughter, was conceived as a tool for discussing racism with young children.  I think this is a conversation that all people of color eventually have to have with their children.  Perhaps it's a conversation that all parents should have with their children.

 Ibram X. Kendi   Ashley Lukashevsky

18. Parking spots?: SEATS.  Places to park your tush?

19. "Really, though?": IS IT.  Apparently.

23. __ carotene: BETA.  β-Carotene (beta-carotene) is an organic, strongly colored red-orange pigment abundant in fungi, plants, and fruits.  It is a biochemical precursor to Vitamin A.

24. Request that rhymes with "One more!": ENCORE.   French for AGAIN, i.e. "play it again"  As the clue doesn't specify what to repeat, how about Yuga Wang playing Chopin's Waltz in C sharp minor, Opus 64 No. 2 ...

26. Debate issue: TOPIC.

27. Andromeda, e.g.: GALAXY.  Hand up if you had NEBULA first?  Messier 31 is one of the few GALAXIES that can be seen with the naked eye, but before the invention of the telescope it appeared in the night sky as a patchy cloud (nebula in Latin) in the constellation Andromeda.  It is the nearest galaxy to our galaxy, the Milky Way.

The Andromeda Galaxy, M31
with satellite galaxies M32 (center left above the galactic nucleus)
and M110 (center right below the galaxy)

28. Connection: TIE.

29. "Cats" star Elba: IDRIS.  IDRIS isn't solely to blame, but in case you're wondering why Rotten Tomatoes scored CATS a solid 19%,  ...

30. Squat: NONE.

31. Main idea: GIST.

32. Alternatively: ELSE.

33. Brothers known for "Duck Soup" and "Animal Crackers": MARX.  A CSO to Chairman Moe.  You know I couldn't let this opportunity pass ...

37. Hairstyles: DOS.  Or today's Spanish lesson #1?.

38. Where to hang on the line?: BUS DEPOT.

39. Some craft beers: ALES.

41. Handing out, as cards: DEALING.

42. Judgmental type?: JUROR.

44. Southwest sch. with architecture inspired by Bhutan: UTEP.  A learning moment for me. The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is a public research university and a member of the University of Texas System. UTEP is the second-largest university in the United States to have a majority Mexican American student population (about 80%) after the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.  On October 29, 1916, a devastating fire destroyed the main building of the University of Texas El Paso , prompting its relocation. In 1917, the new school facility was constructed on its present site above Mundy Heights at the Paso del Norte, with the land donated by several El Paso residents. In a period when United States architects were designing in styles adopted especially from Europe, Kathleen Worrell, wife of the university's dean, was attracted by photographs of the Kingdom of Bhutan in a 1914 issue of National Geographic magazine, which showed the dzong architecture style of its Buddhist monasteries.  Many of the features of that style are incorporated into the buildings and layout of the UTEP campus.
 

University of Texas El Paso

 

Tashichho Dzong, Bhutan

45. Islamic law: SHARIA.  SHARIA (Arabic: شريعة,) is a body of religious law that forms a part of the Islamic tradition.  It is derived from the religious precepts of Islam and is based on the sacred scriptures of Islam, particularly the Quran and the Hadith.

46. Louisiana cuisine: CAJUN.  Here's a recipe for Cajun Shrimp and Rice.

Cajun Shrimp and Rice

49. "Ew! No!": AS IF.  A rebuff to a come on?

50. Sound of a happy tabby: PURR.  Sounds like a Tuesday clue.

51. Seals, to a 14-Across: PREY.  It turns out that 14-Acrosses have bigger appetites than was previously thought.

52. Spanish "this": ESTO.  Spanish lesson #2

53. Stag or doe: DEER. 

55. Latin day: DIEM.  Today's Latin Lesson.  Often used in the expression "Carpe Diem" ("seize the day") or more commonly YOLO ("you only live once").   Or maybe not.

56. "Right away" letters: ASAP.  "As Soon As Possible", as opposed to a medical term that a 62A learns right way: STAT ("IMMEDIATELY!").
 
57. Singer Horne: LENA.  Lena Mary Calhoun Horne (June 30, 1917 – May 9, 2010) was an American dancer, actress, singer, and civil rights activist. Horne's career spanned more than seventy years, appearing in film, television, and theatre.  Here she sings The Lady is a Tramp, but I think the lady has a lot of class ...

59. Mme., in Mallorca: SRA. Spanish lesson #3.  This definitely calls for a CSO to Lucina.  It also reminds me of the drama series The Mallorca Files about Max and Miranda, a classic pair of mismatched detectives thrown together on the (beautiful!) Spanish island of Mallorca ...

The picture above is misleading - after two seasons he still hasn't kissed her.   But the series has been renewed for a third season, so there's always hope.

60. Early TV brand: RCA. A CSO to Misty.

Cheers,
Bill

As always, thanks to Teri for proof reading, for her constructive criticism.

waseeley

Tuesday, January 10, 2023 Dan Schwartz and Shannon Rapp

What's the connection?  The theme answers have absolutely Nothing in Common with each other.  The circles show us that the connection is just NADA.

17-Across. 1965 Beach Boys hit whose B side was "Please Let Me Wonder": DO YOU WANNA DANCE.

29-Across. "Just part of the job": ALL IN A DAY'S WORK.

49-Across. Fruity cocktail: BANANA DAIQUIRI.

And the unifier:

63-Across. Lack of similar interests, and what the three long answers with circled letters have?: NOTHING IN COMMON.

Here's the Grid, so you can see for yourself that the three long answers have Nothing In Common (aka NADA).

Across:

1. __ off: gets smart: WISES.  I wanted Mouth off, but the second part of the clue indicates a plural answer.

6. Online customer service option: CHAT.

10. Actor Daniel __ Kim: DAE.  Daniel Dae Kim (b. Aug. 4, 1968) was born in Busan, South Korea.  He moved with his family to the United States when he was just 1-year old.  [Name # 1.]

13. Quaking trees: ASPENS.

15. Honolulu's island: OAHU.

16. Mos. and mos.: YRS.  Months and Months add up to Years and Years.

20. Cry of disgust: UGH.

UGG.

21. Field of greens?: GOLF.

22. "L'shanah __": Rosh Hashanah greeting: TOVAH.  Technically, this phrase means "for a good year".  Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year.

23. Stage accessory: PROP.

25. "Thor" role for Anthony Hopkins: ODIN.  Although Sir Anthony Hopkins (né Philip Anthony Hopkins; b. Dec. 31, 1937) played Odin in Thor, he is probably best known as Hannibal Lecter in The  Silence of the Lambs.   [Name # 2.]

27. "__ and Juliet": ROMEO.  My father was a member of the ROMEOs (Retired Old Men Eating Out).  [Name # 3.]

32. Honey liquor: MEAD.  I wonder if Margaret Mead (Dec. 16, 1901 ~ Nov. 15, 1978) liked Mead?

33. Uber status: ETA.  As in Estimated Time of Arrival.  This answer usually refers to plane schedules.

34. Method: Abbr.: SYS.  As in System.

35. Depilatory brand: NAIR.

38. Job detail, briefly: SPEC.

41. "__ your imagination!": USE.

44. Animated pic: GIF.  As in Graphics Interchange Format.

46. Protective trench: MOAT.

54. Bonus: EXTRA.

55. Khaki alternative: ECRU.  Both are shades of brown.

56. Simply must have: NEED.

58. Greek letter between rho and tau: SIGMA.

60. Slog away: TOIL.

62. Director DuVernay: AVA.  Ava DuVernay (née Ava Marie DuVernay; b. Aug. 24, 1972) is probably best known for her 2018 film A Wrinkle in Time.  [Name # 4.]

66. Letter opener?: ELL.  As in the letter "L".  I am not keen on this type of clue and answer.

67. Rex Stout sleuth Wolfe: NERO.  Nero Wolfe was/is a fictional private detective created in 46 mystery stories written by Rex Stout (né Rex Todhunter Stout; Dec. 1, 1886 ~ Oct. 27, 1975).  Stout's mysteries were later adapted into a television series that starred William Cannon (1920 ~ 1994).   [Name # 5.]

68. "Cobra Kai" practice: KARATE.  Cobra Kai is a martial arts comedy drama television series.

69. Digit on a foot: TOE.

70. Peabody-winning journalist Ifill: GWEN.  Gwen Ifill (Sept. 29, 1955 ~ Nov. 14, 2016) hosted Washington Week in Review.  She was the first African-American woman to host a nationally televised US public affairs program.  Sadly, she died young of cancer.  [Name # 6.]

71. Fees for overdue library books, e.g.: FINES.  I have 2 overdue books from my local library that should have been returned when I was away.  Oops!

Down:

1. Crumple into a ball: WAD UP.

2. Map line connecting points of equal value: ISOGRAM.

3. Small security opening in a door: SPY HOLE.

4. Job listing abbr.: EEO.  As in Equal Employment Opportunity.

5. Warm and cozy: SNUG.

6. Disclose: CONFIDE.

7. __ Chinese: world's largest ethnic group: HAN.

8. At the drop of __: A HAT.

9. Some houses with exposed-beam exteriors: TUDORS.

10. Big bundles of energy: DYNAMOS.  Also the name of the professional soccer team in Houston.

11. Target sport: ARCHERY.

 

12. Opposite of WNW: ESE.  Points on the compass.

14. Faint: SWOON.

18. "Bridge of Spies" actor Alan: ALDA.  Alan Alda (né Alphonso Joseph D'Abruzzo; b. Jan. 28, 1936) is best known for his role as Hawkeye Pierce on M*A*S*H.  He'll celebrate his 87th birthday later this month.  [Name # 7.]

19. Declare bluntly: AVOW.  A crossword staple.

24. Strategize: PLAN.

26. Battle of the Beltways MLB team: NATS.  [Name adjacent.]

28. Approves: OKs.

30. Mont. neighbor: IDA.  Idaho is adjacent to Montana.

31. Shrill bark: YAP.

36. Swiatek ranked world No. 1 by the WTA in 2022: IGA.  [Name # 8.]  Hand up if you are familiar with Iga Natalia Świątek (b. May 31, 2001).  She is a Polish professional tennis player.

37. Uber service: RIDE.

39. CGI bird in Liberty Mutual ads: EMU.  I'll spare you these annoying adverts.

40. Nickel or dime: COIN.

 

41. Purple yam from the Philippines: UBE.

42. Moment to shine at a jazz recital, perhaps: SAX SOLO.

43. Authorize: ENTITLE.

45. Political subgroup: FACTION.

47. Nameless local guy in The Onion headlines: AREA MAN.  Total guess.

48. 50-50 in the Senate, say: TIE VOTE.  Hmm...  No politics on this blog.

50. Exasperated cry: ARGH!

51. New pet owner's task: NAMING.

 

52. Wrinkle remover: IRON.

53. "Hurry up!": QUICK.

57. "Homeland" Emmy winner Claire: DANES.  Claire Danes (née Claire Catherine Danes; b. Apr. 12, 1979) got her start in the teen drama My So-Called Life.  In 2011, she began her role as CIA agent Carrie Mathison on Homeland.  [Name # 9.]

59. From the top: ANEW.

61. Bread shape: LOAF.

63. Pickleball court divider: NET.  Everything you need to know about Pickleball, but didn't know to ask.

64. Test for aspiring profs: GRE.  As in the Graduate Record Examinations, which of often required for admission into graduate school.

65. CT scan kin: MRI.

חתולה

Many thanks to Anonymous T for filling in for me for the last several weeks while I had the opportunity to explore in Southeast Asia.  Below are a few photos from my travels.

The Royal Palace Complex in Phnom Penh

The Royal Palace Complex in Phnom Penh

The Royal Palace

Angkor Thom

Angkor Wat

At the Udon Monestery