Tuesday, December 11, 2012 Steven J. St. John

Theme: Not anyone else - Inside the themes is the word SELF.

17A. Eponymous son of auto pioneer Henry : EDSEL FORD

30A. Truck stop purchase : DIESEL FUEL

46A. Colorful coral reef dweller : DAMSELFISH

62A. True nature, and, literally, what can be found in 17-, 30- and 46-Across : INNER SELF

Argyle himself here. All the themes have an ELF hiding inside. Oops, that is SELF, the ELF is out in the open. This like a Monday solve/Tuesday construction. Nice vertical stacks in two corners, with some long and sparkly fill. Plenty of clechoes (clue echoes).

Across:

1. “Now!” in the ICU : "STAT!"

5. Rm. near the ICU : EMER.

9. Topping enjoyed after blowing out candles : ICING. It gets tasted while putting on the candles. You can't help but get some icing on your finger tips, right?

14. Something made before blowing out candles : WISH

15. Actress Olin : LENA. IMDb

16. 1976 Olympics star Comaneci : NADIA. and crossword favorite.

19. Easy gaits : TROTS

20. Overexercise, as a privilege : ABUSE and 21A. Like a right not exercised : WAIVED

23. It’s everything, so they say : TIMING

25. Kind of warfare or fighter : GUERILLA. Also with two R's.

29. Leaf part : STEM

32. Catalog biggie : SEARS. Still?

34. Otherwise : IF NOT

35. Lively Irish dance : JIG. Rare footage of Yellowrocks and Irish Miss in their younger days. Clip.

 

 38. Legislative assent : AYE. We had NAY yesterday. We'll have ABSTAIN tomorrow.

39. Prohibit : BAN

41. Year, in Spain : AÑO

42. “__ directed”: medication warning : USE AS

44. Hockey disks : PUCKS

49. Shoreline protection gp. : USCG. (United States Coast Guard)

53. Handshake words : "IT'S A DEAL"

54. Magazine bigwig : EDITOR. Crossword bigwig, too.

56. In exactly this way : JUST SO

58. Open-air lobbies : ATRIA

59. Ancient storyteller : AESOP

64. Insurance spokeslizard : GECKO. If you haven't seen the Geico gecko before, you don't need to see him now but it's a sheltered life you lead.

65. Lo __: noodle dish : MEIN. [Yum!]

66. Run into : MEET

67. Not from around here : ALIEN Link. Even the Russian Prime Minister has met them.

68. Performing __ : ARTS

69. ORD postings : ETD's. (Chicago's O'Hare Airport)

Down:

1. Gym duds : SWEATS

2. Snippet of gossip : TIDBIT

3. Presuppose : ASSUME

4. Game with virtual suburbanites : THE SIMS. Any players here?

5. Munchkin kin : ELF

6. Cat’s complaint : MEOW. A purr would be a compliment.

7. Makes really angry : ENRAGES

8. Half a diameter : RADIUS

9. Connect, as chain parts : INTERLINK

10. Capital of Wales : CARDIFF

11. Altar oath : "I DO"

12. “Picked” complaint : NIT

13. Nitrogen or helium : GAS

18. Sportscaster Berman : LEN

22. Geese flight formation : VEE

24. Aussie greeting : G'DAY

26. Roman moon deity : LUNA

27. Ponce de __ : LEON. He came to Florida looking for the Fountain of Youth (or was that Dennis?).

28. Voice below soprano : ALTO

31. Wrath : IRE

33. Gave more freedom to : EASED UP ON

35. Dench of Bond movies : JUDI

36. Words before stake or risk : IS AT

37. Precious stones : GEMS

39. Train alternative : BUS

40. Throb : ACHE

43. Facetiously : AS A JOKE

44. Pale lager beer : PILSNER

45. “No problem with that” : "SUITS ME"

47. “__ Misérables” : LES

48. Daughter of Muhammad : FATIMA. Strange it wasn't clued to Our Lady of Fátima, a more Tuesday friendly clue.

50. “Sesame __” : STREET

51. Like a Slinky : COILED

52. Skin transplants : GRAFTS

55. Patriotic women’s org. : DAR. (Daughters of the American Revolution)

57. Handling the job : ON IT

59. Turkish bigwig : AGA

60. Electric swimmer : EEL

61. Poli __ : SCI. Oh oh. I thought of Polident first.

63. USN rank : ENS. (Ensign)

Argyle

Sunday Nov 18, 2012 Steven J. St. John

Theme: "Flipping Out" - A (Verb) THE B (Noun) is flipped into B (Verb) THE A (Noun)

24A. Pay attention to a word game? : MIND THE BOGGLE. I find Boggle difficult. Scrabble is more fun. Boggle the mind.

38A. Ask, "Is this really diet?" : QUESTION THE POP.  Pop the question.

57A. Trade with Marineland? : DEAL THE SEAL. Seal the deal.

59A. Find out whether a strikeout king is doping? : TEST THE ACE. Ace the test. Don't know whether I should trust Roger Clemens.

72A. Advertise some prime real estate? : MARKET THE CORNER. Corner the market.

90A. Present a styling award? : HONOR THE DO.  Gisele's hair is to be honored. Do the honor. I use the plural "honors" though. Do the honors.

93A. Fill a cargo bay? : LINE THE HOLD. Hold the line.

108A. Move a chess piece? : POSITION THE MAN. So I googled Man the position, and was surprised by what came up.

127A. Redecorate a castle? : CHANGE THE KEEP. Keep the change.

Lots of work went into this puzzle. Steve had to mine all the A THE B phrases and eliminated entries like "Bite the bullet" where B can't be a verb or does not make surface sense when flipped.

The grid design is also masterful. Heavy themage & cheater-free. Look at the 16 seven-letter entries in this grid, esp those stacked in upper left/middle & lower middle/right & the intersecting entries. Just beautiful. BRIOCHE!

The clues are also entertaining. My favortie is PUN (80A. "Doing a crossword with a broken pencil is pointless," for example).

 

Across:

1. Psychiatrist's diagnosis : COMPLEX. Excellent 1-Across entry.

8. Biblical patriarch : ABRAHAM

15. Jet set : ELITE. So that's how military brass connect with the local community. Valet parking!

20. How shrimp cocktail may be served : OVER ICE

21. Period named for an element : IRON AGE

22. Flash lamp gas : XENON

23. Join, as a lucrative deal : GET IN ON

26. Culinary tide-me-over : SNACK. What's your favorite snack? By the way, Michele, I like Miso soup also.

27. __-ran : ALSO

29. Critic, at times : HATER

30. "Stand" band : R.E.M.

31. Mentalist's claim : ESP. I told Boomer on the morning of Nov 7th that we needed a big scandal, since the election was over and I had nothing to be occupied with. Boom! The Petraeus Gate broke. I'm amazing!

33. Like Charles Bronson : MACHO. OK, then.

36. Fellowship : SOCIETY

44. Sympathetic : KIND

45. Lines at the market? : UPC. Like ATM, this answer is fun to clue.

46. Where many races are seen, briefly : OTB (Off-Track Betting)

47. Evergreen shrubs : ERICAs. New to me.

49. High roller's quarters : SUITE. Brilliant clue.

52. "Stupid __ stupid does": Forrest Gump : IS AS. Gary Sinise, Lt Dan in the movie, is a workhorse for the wounded soldiers.

54. Picnic remnants : COBS

62. Has permission to : MAY

63. Loose things to tie up : ENDS

64. One might be significant : OTHER. Significant other.

65. Busts : BOSOMS

69. Little rascal : IMP. That's Spitzboov!

71. Inventing initials : TAE. Thomas Alva Edison.

77. Yang counterpart : YIN. Ginger is Yang, so are dates. Cucumber is Yin.

81. It may share a kit with a 113-Down : TOM TOM. And 113. Percussion pair : HI-HAT

82. Djokovic rival : NADAL (Rafael). Man, I'm glad we don't need to fill in DJOKOVIC.

86. Cicero's love : AMOR

88. "Gimme a __" : SEC

98. Corduroy feature : PILE

99. Delay cause : SNAG

100. With 116-Across, noted finger-pointer : UNCLE. 116. See 100-Across : SAM. Love this poster Marti created.

101. Sands of Chad : SAHARA

103. Connections : INs

105. Texter's "two cents" lead-in : IMO (In My Opinion)

106. Made haste : HIED

112. So on : WHAT NOT

115. Godzilla creator, in the story : H-BOMB

117. Suffer : AIL

118. Baldwin and Guinness : ALECs

121. Somber genre : NOIR

123. Jewish teacher : RABBI

131. Ruling periods : EMPIRES

133. West of hip-hop : KANYE. Dating Kim K.

134. Payback : REVENGE

135. Butcher's array : FILLETS

136. Amusing zoo creature : OTTER

137. Indulged at Thanksgiving : ATE A TON. I'm good at pigging out on authentic Wonton noodles & Rice noodle rolls, not Thanksgiving food.

138. Skeptic's retort : SAYS WHO

Down:

1. Minor players : COGS

2. Item most frequently heated up for dinner? : OVEN. Our oven is underused. Stove is often enough for me.

3. Intro to physics? : META. Metaphysics.

4. Comparison shopper's data : PRICES

5. Connects with : LINKS TO

6. "Baudolino" author : ECO (Umberto). Has anyone read the book? Irish Miss?

7. Gabrielle's rescuer : XENA

8. Targets : AIMS AT

9. Café pastry : BRIOCHE. Have some!

10. Howard of Hollywood : RON. 35. 10-Down played him : OPIE

11. "So?" : AND

12. Possesses, biblically : HATH. This reminds me of the Mo Tzu we had on Thursday. See, in modern China, we use Pin Yin system, so it's Mo Zi, not Mo Tzu. The other philosopher is Lao Zi, not Lao Tzu. Wade–Giles romanization of Chinese is old & outdated & Cantonese heavy, since Wade lived in south China in the 19th century.

13. Ottoman VIP : AGHA

14. Assembles : MEETS

15. Cast out, as demons : EXORCISE

16. Relay race part : LEG

17. Piece of the pie? : INGREDIENT. Great clue.

18. Sign of a clean apartment? : TO LET. Another great clue.

19. Opposition : ENEMY

25. "It's going to __" : BE OK

28. K-O connection : L M N. Alphabetically.

32. Selling technique : PITCH. Very classy for Rick Porcello to agree to trade his No. 48 to Torii Hunter and donate the money to Hurrican Sandy relief.

34. Do the impossible with cats, proverbially : HERD

37. Restroom door sign : IN USE

38. Capital at 9,350 feet : QUITO. Capital of Ecuador. La Paz even higher.

39. Improbable win : UPSET

40. PayPal currency : E-CASH

41. Wind in a pit : OBOE

42. Andean staple : OCA. Like this. 

43. Hurricane-resistant tree : PALM. Wow, I did not know this. Palms are never uprooted?

48. It takes you up and down but never moves : STAIR. In case you think of elevator.

50. "Look!" : TA DA

51. Besides : ELSE

53. Apple projection : STEM. Real apple!

55. Infant : BABE

56. Big name in paper products : SCOTT. Argyle's real name. Here is young Scott and his dog Rags.

58. Choir selection : HYMN

60. It may be laid or set : TRAP. I find "It may be this or that" type of clue challenging.

61. This, in Seville : ESTO. ESTA too.

66. Unit of resistance : OHM

67. Christian denom. : METH. Steve/Rich  probably does not like the drug reference.

68. Parlor utensil : SCOOP

70. Restricted, with "up" : PENT

73. Exhilarated reaction : RUSH

74. Many pray on them : KNEES. When I was a kid, we had to kneel down to pay respect to old relatives. How things have changed.

75. Potent start? : OMNI. Omnipotent.

76. Bleachers support : RAHS

77. Chinese border river : YALU. Between North Korea and China. Literally "Duck Green". Ya =Duck. Lu = Green.

78. "Sign me up!" : I'M IN

79. Careless? : NONCHALANT. Great clue/Answer.

83. Biker's fabric : DENIM

84. "Battlestar Galactica" commander : ADAMA. No idea.

85. Enter one's credentials : LOG ON

87. Ignited again : RE-LIT

89. Dry and crack : CHAP

91. Actress Lena : OLIN

92. Allows to use temporarily : RENTS

94. "Glee" extra : TEENAGER. The show gives us the beautiful LEA Michele. Ewe can forget the "Grazing area".

95. "Well now!" : OHO

96. Lid hair : LASH. Oh eyelid.

97. Bit : DRIB

102. In a single attempt : AT ONE GO. Can't parse my answer.

104. How the riot act is usually read : SHARPLY

107. 1996 runner-up : DOLE (Bob). "Easy, Boy!"

109. "Nothing on my calendar" : I'M OPEN

110. Asian sash : OBI

111. Weightless correspondence? : EMAILS. Enlighten me, I'm not seeing anything clever here with the ?.

112. Not firing on all cylinders : WACKO

114. Aquarium favorite : TETRA

119. Jazzman Baker : CHET

120. Golfer Ballesteros : SEVE. Excellent short game.

122. Ones on the field who aren't team players? : REFs

124. Coffee or tea : BREW. Tea please!

125. "Little Women" woman : BETH

126. Playground rebuttal : IS SO

128. Science guy Bill : NYE

129. Mauna __ : KEA. Literally "White", so "White mountain". LOA means "Long".

130. Tolkien tree creature : ENT

132. Fla. airport : MIA. Steve lives around this area, I think.

C.C.

Happy Birthday to dear Jimbo! I miss your comments. How's bowling this year?

Left to right, Jimbo's son, Jimbo's granddaugter, his grandson and Jimbo

Tuesday, October 23, 2012 Steven J. St. John

Theme: Best Sellers - Best selling books by a doctor-turned-novelist that became successful films.

17A. 57-Across best-seller made into a 1971 film, with "The" : "ANDROMEDA STRAIN". Discretion is advised.

26A. 57-Across best-seller made into a 1993 film : "JURASSIC PARK"

37A. 57-Across best-seller made into a 1995 film : "CONGO"

43A. 57-Across best-seller made into a 1997 film : "THE LOST WORLD"

57A. Doctor-turned-novelist born 10/23/1942 : MICHAEL CRICHTON

Argyle here. For some, this was a walk in the park and others, it was fill in the slats in the picket fence until you get the "A-Ha!". Thick corners and two spanners make for a good looking grid. A pangram.

Let the discussion begin.

Across:

1. Athenian with harsh laws : DRACO. The way I read the Wiki article, he instituted a better system but went overboard with the punishments.

6. Sink-cleaning brand : AJAX. Originally an abrasive scouring powder.

10. Greenish-blue : AQUA

14. Put one's feet up : RELAX

15. Olympics sled : LUGE. Ahh, relaxing with her feet up.

16. Expressions of disapproval : TUTs. and tsks.

20. Golf club now made of metal : WOOD. The long distance clubs.

21. Line on a graph : AXIS

22. Move crab-style : SIDLE

23. Heredity unit : GENE

25. Lake formed by the Aswan Dam : NASSER. The lake is named after Gamal Abdel Nasser, one of the leaders of the Egyptian Revolution of 1952, and the second President of Egypt, who initiated the High Dam project. (Wiki)

31. Japanese cartoon art : ANIME. The kids can tell you about it.

32. Exposes : OUTS

33. Shortest mo. : FEB.

36. Despicable : VILE

39. Tear go-with : WEAR

40. Chopper : AXE

41. Head of the manor : LORD

42. Windy City airport : O'HARE. Chicago. The airport took the name Orchard Field Airport, the source of its three-letter code ORD.

46. Across the sea : ABROAD

49. Accessories for a "Just Married" sign : CANS. To make as much noise as possible. (plastic containers won't work)

50. Plumbing woes : DRIPS

51. Not real : FAUX

53. Ref's call : "TIME!"

60. Concept : IDEA

61. Turn sharply : VEER

62. Stunned : DAZED. After taking the below, perhaps.

63. It may be standardized : TEST

64. "Don't get excited" : "EASY"

65. Sports page figures : STATS

Down:

1. Deadlock : DRAW

2. Gambling mecca near Carson City : RENO. You know, the city west of Los Angeles.

3. Fashion's Gucci : ALDO. Quite a few people's names in the Down section.

4. Bridge, e.g. : CARD GAME

5. Tic-tac-toe dud : O X O

6. Former Soviet premier Kosygin : ALEXEI. In office October 1964 – October 1980.

7. Dench of "Iris" : JUDI. I'm not familiar with "Iris"(2001) but, oh, the other roles she's had. IMDb.

8. "Jumpin' Jack Flash, it's __ ...": Rolling Stones lyric : A GAS. Clip.(3:35) I love the scene in the movie, "Jack Flash", where Whoopi is listening to this song and yelling, "Speak English, Mick".

9. Symbolic signatures : XES

10. Vulnerable : AT RISK

11. Campus courtyards : QUADS. Because the housing is laid out in quadrangles.

12. Practical : UTILE

13. Ed of "Lou Grant" : ASNER

18. Controls, as a helm : MANS

19. Nicholas and Peter : TSARS

24. Houston-to-Miami dir. : ESE

25. Bosnia peacekeeping gp. : NATO

26. Mud in a cup : JAVA. Add it to my collection from October 2, battery acid, brew, caffeine, café, café au lait, café noir, cappuccino, decaf, decoction, demitasse, espresso, forty weight, hot stuff, ink, jamocha, java, joe, mocha, mud, mud in a cup, perk, varnish remover.

27. Operating system on many Internet servers : UNIX. (from Wiki) In 1970, Peter Neumann coined the project name Unics (UNiplexed Information and Computing Service) as a pun on Multics, (Multiplexed Information and Computer Services). Unics could eventually support multiple simultaneous users, and it was renamed Unix. (Gee, I love a pun but...)

28. Agitate : RILE

29. Time-share unit : CONDO

30. Flat-nosed dog : PUG. "I'm ready for my close-up."

33. Dread : FEAR

34. Banjoist Scruggs : EARL. Unreal! Clip.(2:45)

35. Reared : BRED

37. Not just for males : COED

38. Basketball's Magic, on scoreboards : ORL. (Orlando Magic)

39. Question of identity : "WHO'S THAT?". "I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Tat."

41. Tibetan capital : LHASA

42. MYOB part : OWN

43. Astaire/Rogers musical : "TOP HAT". From RKO.

44. Flee, mouse-style : SCURRY

45. Curbside call : TAXI

46. Ticket word : ADMIT

47. Bouquet tosser : BRIDE

48. Reduces to small pieces, as potatoes : RICES. Pieces the size of a grain of rice, hence the name.

51. __ circus : FLEA

52. Hard-to-hit pitchers : ACES

54. Chichén __: Mayan ruins : ITZÁ

55. Champagne brand : MOET. "She keeps Moët et Chandon in a pretty cabinet..."

56. Finishes : ENDS

58. Holiday lead-in : EVE

59. DJ's assortment : CD's

Argyle

Notes from C.C.:

Here is a beautiful photo of JD's happy family. They celebrated Truman's 5th birthday on August 29. 
 

Front Row (Left to Right: JD is holding grandsons Cameron (son of Shelby & Joe) & Grady (Son of Corie & Derek); Bob (JD's husband) is holding grandson Truman (big brother to Grady). 

Back Row (Left to Right: Joe (Shelby's husband); Shelby (JD's oldest daughter); Corie (JD's youngest daughter) & Derek (Corie's husband)

Click here, you'll see most of the family photos JD has kindly shared with us.

Thursday, Septermber 20, 2012 Steven J. St. John

Theme: Grand Crus

SJSJ gives us a homophone puzzle today:

20A. GM compact that replaced the Cobalt : CHEVROLET CRUZE. Here is the 2012 model.

25A. Teams of fliers : AIRLINE CREWS. Your trusty servants.

41A. "Vanilla Sky" actress : PENELOPE CRUZ. Your trusty actress...beautiful!

48A. Ocean holiday : PLEASURE CRUISE. Ahhh, Old man rhythm! 2:46

Well, if the theme isn't self-evident by now, I don't know if I can expand any more!

Marti here, to expound on the rest of this one...

Across:

1. Former Astros, A's and Mets manager Art : HOWE. Art Howe, this guy.

5. Arabian Peninsula title : EMIR

9. Nonpaying rail rider : HOBO

13. "Skip me this time, thanks" : I PASS

15. Princess once allied with Hercules : XENA. Yes, quite "allied".

16. Each : A POP

17. Mattress brand : SERTA. "Sealy" or "Serta"? Always a WAG...

18. Finished : PAST

19. Laugh-a-minute type : RIOT

23. Soft spreads : OLEOS

24. Asserted : CLAIMED

28. Loss by #1, say : UPSET

29. Opposite of 1-Down : HERS. Arrgh...cross-referential clue that doesn't give you a chance. And 1-Down. Opposite of 29-Across : HIS

30. B.C. Lions' org : CFL. "Canadian Football League". "British Columbia Lions".

33. School-to-be? : ROE

34. Does some impromptu singing : SCATS. Nobody does it like Ella! 6:36

36. Mineral in a wall, perhaps : ORE

37. Super Bowl highlights, for many : ADS. I love this kid!

38. Dortmund's region : RUHR. Map. And 31-Down. 38-Across spouse : FRAU

39. It's a wrap : SARAN

44. Prepare for a bath : DISROBE

47. Hobbyist's cutting brand : X-ACTO

51. Student aid : LOAN

52. Beatles meter maid : RITA.  You remember this one? 2:43

53. Stirs up : ROILS

55. DOD branch : USMC. Department of Defense. United States Marine Corps. Semper Fi!!

56. D'back, for one : NLER. "National Leaguer". Diamondback, Arizona Major League Baseball team.

57. Diplomat : ENVOY

58. Eyelid concern : STYE

59. Part of CBS: Abbr. : SYST. Central Broadcasting System. (updated @ 8:00 AM: It is the Columbia Broadcasting System)

60. Email button : SEND

Down:

2. The UAE has been a member of it since 1967 : OPEC. United Arab Emirates. Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

3. Cavalry carriers : WAR HORSES. Have you seen the movie? Outstanding!

4. George's mom on "Seinfeld" : ESTELLE. Funny clip. 

5. Make public : EXPOSE. Like this?

6. Dessert preceder : MEAL. Barry G., were you looking for something Saharan? and 8-Down. Desert dangers : RATTLERS. They don't usually eat dessert!

7. How backroom deals are sealed : IN SECRET

9. Ed of "Apollo 13" : HARRIS. Great movie - after all these years, this scene still makes me choke up! 3:24. And 21-Down. "Apollo 13" director : RON. Howard.

10. ___ den : OPIUM

11. Drink in a belt : BOOZE. Have a "belt" of booze. Do you think the explanation here makes sense?

12. Chose : OPTED

14. "Don't throw that away" : SAVE IT. Are any of you married to pack rats?

22. Sounds near the ears : CAWS. "Ears" of corn, that is!

25. ___ of invincibility : AURA

26. Song-holding gadget : IPOD

27. 2011 Masters champ Schwartzel : CHARL. Great finish: birdie-birdie-birdie-birdie!

30. Like and etcher's aid : CORROSIVE

32. Emmy winner Kay : LENZ. Old picture that is more recognizable to me...

34. Aloe targets : SUNBURNS

35. With a smile on one's face : CHEERILY

38. Speed Wagons, e.g. : REOS. The band members, or the cars?

39. Stable : SECURE

40. Lawsuits : ACTIONS

41. Frolic : PRANCE

42. Vehicle pulled by bovines : OXCART

43. 72 for 18, often : PAR. On a golf course. How often do you make that number, Husker G.?

44. Passing grade that won't please parents : D-PLUS

45. Words of defeat : I LOST

46. Sordid : SEAMY

49. Seine summers : ETES

50. North Carolina school : ELON. Any graduates here at the corner?

54. Pink Floyd guitarist Barrett : SYD. And we finish with one of his worst nightmares...

Answer grid.

'Til next week!

Hugs,
Marti

Note from C.C.:

Click here and here to see 2 photos of deer taking their afternoon "break" in Spitzboov's backyard yesterday (9/19/11), after the rain stopped. No deer in our yard, only squirrels.

Friday, August 10, 2012, Steven J. St. John

Theme: C. C. where are you? Oh there you are, at the beginning of the first word in each of the four theme answers (and twice in one!) right before a word beginning with "L." Our friend and part time visitor SJ SJ is back with a Friday offering just right to set the mood for the weekend, one Q short of a pangram. Steven lives and teaches in Orlando, which is where my youngest (who graduated from U. of Central Florida) and I started our journey with the 26 foot truck on the way to Denver. This is a very nice tight puzzle with low word count and lots of originality, nice long fill, punny theme pictures, but it reminds me why I do not try this. Welcome to Fridays SJ, sorry I missed marti, C.C. and Jeff Chen, but now to dissect this war on my neurons after my week off for my cross-country trek.

20A. Problem for French Open tennis officials? : CLAY ON THE LINE.(13) Lots of fun stuff here, but you need to know they play on the red clay at Roland Garros, the only major tennis event left on clay. SJ laid it on the line for us today. (my marti nit; why is it not CLAY ON THE CLINE, maybe clued with Aiken sings Patsy?)

30A. Challenge for an aspiring vascular surgeon? : CLOTS TO LEARN (12). Blood clots being a big part of that surgery, and certainly must be learned.

38A. "Come on-a My House" and "Hey There"? : CLOONEY TUNES (12). Aunt ROSEMARY not George; no cartoons here.

49A. Daily chore for Travolta? : CLEFT CLEANING (13). Great visual, though I do not believe Scientologists are at all liberal.

Across:

1. Mouth part : JAW. My first thought was, really? Then my jaw dropped, and it was all good.

4. Pay a call : STOP IN. SJ seems to have taken up the mantle of the late Dan Naddor in using these word combo answers.

10. 2011 NBA MVP Derrick : ROSE. The Chicago Bull STAR. (4:37).

14. Big time : ERA. Nice change on an old word.

15. Legalese adverb : HERETO. hereinafter, heretofore ad nauseam.

16. Dark, in verse : EBON. Like Othello.

17. It can be placed at a window : BET. At the track; nice clue.

18. While : EVEN AS. See, another one.

19. Much : A LOT. Some grammer gramma? LINK.

23. Deserves a treat, perhaps : BEHAVES. I did my Austin Powers' link last time.

25. Niamey is its capital : NIGER. The only thing I know about this COUNTRY is that it is not Nigeria, but next to it.

26. Number from the past : OLDIE. Musical number, nice!

27. Some columnists : BLOGGERS. Hmm, right next to oldie, I wonder if he was thinking of me?

33. 23-Down holder : KEG. with 23D. Dark quaff : BOCK. Nice Friday word (quaff) in the clue and a BEER shout out for my aspiring brewer son.

34. Bikini event, briefly : H TEST. Not my first thought of a bikini, i do not like it atoll. See below.

35. Spill-handling org. : EPA. Environmental Protection Agency.

42. Ran last in : ANCHORED. very Olympic friendly; did you all see this RACE? (1:13).

45. Converse : SPEAK.

46. Word in some font names : SERIF. INFORMATION.

47. Chums : COHORTS. This stems from the Roman fighting unit within their army.

53. St. ___: Rose's Minnesota home town on "The Golden Girls" : OLAF.

54. Top with no back : HALTER. I like how this crosses 40D. Concert mementos : T SHIRTS.

55. Hypotheticals : IFS.

58. Longtime Eastern European leader : TITO. The Yugoslavian leader, who like Franco is still dead. (SNL anyone?)

59. Words of exhaustion : I'M BEAT. How did he know I am so tired; loading driving 1,991 miles, unloading; whew!

60. Wild scene : ZOO.

61. Discovered : SEEN.

62. Choice examples : PEARLS. Wisdom, often comes before SWINE. Please see the August 9 edition. Lois, Carol, Jeannie?

63. Abbr. on a business card : EXTension.

Down:

1. Bush from Florida : JEB. The youngest brother, initially.

2. "___ you happy now?" : ARE. I hope so, I am working hard here.

3. Burglar alarm alternative : WATCHDOG. Another nice clue.

4. Rural bundles : SHEAVES. More nice fill, perfect Friday Fodder.

5. Musical milkman : TEVYE. Did you recall he was a MILK MAN?(7:34)

6. 100-year-old treats : OREOS. Man, those must be really stale by now.

7. Eponymous 17th-century settler : PENN. This Quaker wanted to name the state Sylvania for its lush forests.

8. "Do ___ once!" : IT AT.

9. Light chow : NOSH. Is this Yiddish word in the language?

10. Work on wheels, perhaps : REALIGN. More good long fill.

11. Make beholden : OBLIGE. SJ SJ makes us beholden for his fine entertainment.

12. Better, to an impatient boss : SOONER. Or later.

13. Appears onstage : ENTERS. Am I the only one who thought of Snagglepuss?

21. Café supply : LAIT. French for Milk. Au lait, ole!

22. Caltech grad, perhaps: Abbr. : ENGR. Engineer. which is nearby 35D. Command from Captain Kirk : ENERGIZE which appeals to me.

24D. Cover girl McPherson : ELLE. A better bikini image.

27. Many a wine : BLEND. The dirty rats!

28. Suffix with Congo : LESE.

29. Like some cereal : OATY. Which is near 32D. Tribe met by Lewis and Clark : OTOE. We drove over the trail.

31. 2011 superhero film starring Chris Hemsworth : THOR. The MOVIE. (2:33)

36. Gardener's supply : PEAT. Not Erle Stanley.

37. Shows curiosity : ASKS.

38. Elegant fabric : CHIFFON. SHOP?

39. Artistic digs : LOFT.

41. "Once ___..." : UPON. Likely story.

42. Sporty ties : ASCOTS. Named for the British race course where they were (are) worn proudly. Maybe.

43. First name in circumnavigation : NELLIE BLY, the famous reporter, who liked Jules Verne. LINK.

44. Be artistic : CREATE.

47. Do lunch? : CATER. Almost neighboring anagrams.

48. Center with an MBA : O'NEAL. Not an honorary one, but earned by SHAQUILLE.

50. Circuit holder : CHIP. Likely micro.

51. Hobbled : LAME, or many of my jokes.

52. Largest island in the Tuscan archipelago : ELBA. We have learned much about this little place.

56. Deceive : FOX. Well I hope SJ did not out fox you today, and make you turn to drink, and become...

57. Inebriate : SOT. Anyway, on that note, time to mosey on out of here. Nice to be back. Thank you Mr. Sinjin, and thank you all for being there.

Answer grid.

Lemonade

Note from C.C.:

John Lampkin constructed today's NYT. It's his first themeless. Congrats, John!