Sunday, May 12, 2024, Dennis Nullet

"To the Contrary"

 
24. Zombie armada?: UNDEAD IN THE WATER.

31. Bad press?: UNCOMPLIMENTARY COPY.

49. Scary place?: UNNERVE CENTER.

69. Square dance halls?: UNHIP JOINTS.

88. Faulty method?: UNSOUND SYSTEM.

102. Instruction for putting away fishing tackle?: UNHOOK LINE AND SINKER.

113. Wash gardening clothes?: UNDO THE DIRTY WORK.

The prefix UN is added to the first word of each of the common phrases.  Generally,  un means not.  The clues are written to define the new phrases.

Yet another debut at the LA Times.  Congratulations, Dennis!

C.C. is having issues with her internet service provider. 

Happy Mother's Day!

Across:

1. Letters and such: MAIL.

5. S. Korean gaming spot: PC ROOM.   New to me.   PC Room and PC Bang are South Korean terms for an internet cafe that is used for gaming.   

11. Boxing __: RING.

15. Manager: BOSS.

19. Patron saint of sailors: ELMO.

20. Responsible (for): LIABLE.

21. Pay (up): ANTE.  Pay to play.

22. Doozy: LULU.  A poser, perhaps.

23. Toys that may improve dexterity: TOPS. 

27. Make grooves in: STRIATE.

29. Baby's noise: COO.

30. Winged figure in Christian art: ANGEL.

38. Marsh plant: SEDGE.

40. Salivation stimuli: AROMAS.

41. Book after Joel: AMOS.

42. Rhubarb dessert: PIE.

43. Object of veneration: IDOL.    Object of respect.

44. New York Dolls genre: GLAM.   Other Glam rockers included Alice Cooper,  KISS,  Queen, T-Rex,  Gary Glitter,  along with Elton John and David Bowie (at times). 

45. Dog's bane: FLEA.  Yes, fleas can torment a dog.   Dogbane (one word) is a weed that looks very much like milkweed.  It is highly toxic to animals and was once used to poison dogs.

55. Ultra-devoted fans: ZEALOTS.   Made me think of Swifties.  -  "Swifties are the fandom of the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. Regarded by journalists as one of the largest, most devoted and influential fan bases, Swifties are known for their high levels of participation, creativity, community and fanaticism." - Wikipedia.

57. Fetch: RETRIEVE.

58. Like a fashionable arrival: LATE.

60. Shred: RIP UP.   That's a standard def for shred.   Another standard def would be a very small amount.   The slang meaning for shred is to ski, skateboard, surf or bike in a highly skilled or showy manner.

61. Grandmother, affectionately: NANA.

62. Elk: WAPITI.

65. Get in the way of: IMPEDE.

66. Mandible: JAW.

72. Lounging spot: DEN.

73. Good for growing: ARABLE.

76. Elite groups: A-LISTS.

77. Disney queen whose powers are similar to Jack Frost's: ELSA.  Never saw the movie, but the answer can easily be inferred from the clue.

80. Traveler's annoyance: DELAY.

81. Actress Jessica: ALBA.

82. Stay active: KEEP BUSY.

86. Implore: ENTREAT.  Beg, if the answer is only 3 spaces

92. Discombobulate: DAZE.

93. Bryn __: first U.S. college to offer graduate degrees to women: MAWR.   A learning moment. 

95. Lhasa __: APSO.

96. Many a noir hero: TEC.   Sam Spade?  Phillip Marlowe?  Mike Hammer?

97. Top spot in Formula One: POLE.   Belgian Max Verstappen has dominated FI racing for the last three years.  He's not always had the fasted cars, but he's often the fastest driver, leading to securing the  pole position in many Grand Prix races.  
Incredibly,  he won nine Grand Prix in row before having to quit the Australian race in March when his brakes caught on fire.  He took pole for the race in Miami last weekend, but finished second.  The next race will be televised early morning on Sunday, May 19th.  It is the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix from Imola, Italy on the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari racetrack.  

98. Says "hi" to: GREETS.

100. Word with rock or space: OPERA. 

108. Tres plus cuatro: SIETE.   Three + four: Seven

109. Irish actor Stephen: REA.   A fine actor whose last name works well in crosswords.  We get his last name often in conjunction with "The Crying Game."  

Every once in a while we get a clue for the singer/songwriter Chris Rea.   He penned this touching Top 40 song in 1978 for his young teenage sister.   She was devastated after being dumped by her boyfriend.
 

110. Color of corroded iron: RUST RED.

120. Capital of Fiji: SUVA.   Thank you, perps.

Zoom in or out, or show satellite imagery (lower left).


121. "Bridgerton" actor __-Jean Page: REGE.   Ditto.

122. Like a class presentation: ORAL.

123. Evening affair: SOIREE. 

124. Place to tie up: PIER.

125. C in C: PRES ident.   Commander in Chief

126. Yard border, perhaps: WALL.

127. Hit on the green: PUTTED.

128. Sister of King Charles III: ANNE.
 

Down:

1. Squad whose colors match the New York City flag: METS.   The Mets are a Major League Baseball team.

"The Mets' colors are Dodger blue and Giant orange, symbolic of the return of National League baseball to New York after the Dodgers and Giants moved to California." - MLB.com

2. Scads: A LOT.   We get REA scads A LOT.

3. Like jumping without looking: IMPRUDENT.  

4. On the wrong end of the score: LOSING.

5. Subject of a 2006 demotion: PLUTO.   
 

6. Movie theater: CINEMA.

7. "Totally gnarly!": RAD.   "Dude was shredding!"

8. Honor for David and Victoria Beckham: Abbr.: OBE.   Order of the British Empire. The famous footballer, and his wife - the one-time Spice Girl known as "Posh Spice."

9. Iberian "Hello": OLA.

10. Rx order: MED. 

11. Monopolized a conversation: RAN ON.

12. With everything counted: IN TOTAL.   All in all.

13. Higher power?: NTH.

14. "Golly!": GEE.

15. Mel who voiced Bugs Bunny: BLANC.   Was he the best, or what?

16. Intake opposite: OUTGO.

17. Idle computer state: SLEEP. 

18. Belligerent: SURLY.

25. Finishes with buttercream, perhaps: ICEs.  An activity usually done by an ICER, according to crossword clue  writers.  

26. __ and means: WAYS.   Methods and resources. 

28. Hotshot: ACE.  Pittsburgh Pirate Paul Skenes made his MLB debut against the Chicago Cubs on Saturday after being promoted from Triple A Indianapolis.  Here's a recap and post-game interview. 

32. Exchange value: PRICE.

33. Miner's dream: LODE.

34. "Break a leg!" preceder: I'M ON.

35. Milk sweetener: MALT.

36. Elicit an "OMG!": AMAZE.

37. "Gladiator" setting: ROME.  Gladiator - in quotation marks - would refer to the movie. 

38. Prod: SPUR.   Urge.

39. German "a": EINE.  German one: EINS

44. Free: GRATIS.   On the house.  Complimentary.

45. Resell quickly: FLIP.

46. Ran with ease: LOPED.

47. Many a musical composition by Czerny: ETUDE.

48. Colorado town near Snowmass: ASPEN.  Where down-hillers shred.

50. Bald eagle, e.g.: ERN. 

51. Coastal inlet: RIA.

52. Happening place?: VENUE.

53. Actor Peters of the "X-Men" franchise: EVAN.   Thank you, perps.

54. "Silas Marner" author: ELIOT,  George.    Not T.S.

56. Humerus locale: ARM.   The singular bone from your shoulder to your elbow.  Descending from there, the next two are the radius and the ulna - from the elbow to the wrist.  The "funny bone" is not a bone at all.  It is the ulnar nerve.  If you hit it just so, there is nothing humorous about it.  Been there, done that.

59. Malleable metal: TIN.

62. Wright brother: WILBUR.   Wright brother: Orville

63. Like many drones: APIAN.  Bees.  A drone bee has no stinger and does not gather nectar.   It is not a worker bee, although it does have one job.

64. Sleepover duds, for short: PJs.   Comfy clothes. 

65. British __: ISLES.  Some 6000+ islands around Great Britain and Ireland. 

66. Sour from experience: JADED.

67. Big 52-Down: ARENA.

68. Strauss piece: WALTZ.

70. Actor Holbrook: HAL.

71. Got ready to drive: TEED.
 

74. Minimal: BARE.  Bare in the sense of mere, and nothing else.   The room I rented in a rundown hotel not far from Piccadilly Circus had the bare necessities - a bed, a night stand with a lamp, and a small dresser.  The bathroom was at the far end of the hallway.  It was the best I could do at the time.

75. Strong alkaline solution: LYE.

78. Job for many an action hero: SPY.

79. Sit-up muscles: ABS.

81. In the least: AT ALL.  I didn't care at all about the sparsely furnished room.  I was there to see the Abbey, the bridge, No 10, and as many of the rest of the sights I could manage to see during my short stay.   Now I regret that I didn't go to Kew Gardens.

82. Elements in live edge wood slabs: KNOTS.

83. Complete devastation: UTTER RUIN.

84. Soothsayer: SEER.

85. Village People song covered by the Minions: YMCA.
 

87. Wild and crazy: AMOK.

89. First name in the freezer aisle: SARA.  Last name in the freezer aisle: Lee.

90. Perform first: OPEN. 

91. Not new: USED.

94. "Straight Outta Lynwood" singer: WEIRD AL.  "Weird Al" Yankovic's parody album that was inspired by N.W.A.'s "Straight Outta Compton" album.    N.W.A. founding member Easy-E was part of a theme answer in the Friday, May 8 puzzle that Chairman Moe reviewed.

97. Ballad penner: POET.

98. Gym closet contents: GEAR.

99. "Yes __!": SIRREE.

100. Gives the go-ahead: OKs.

101. Poodle pampering place: PET SPA.

102. Grab power: USURP.

103. NFLer supported by Sourdough Sam: NINER.    Sourdough Sam is the mascot of the San Francisco 49ers. 

104. Yard border, perhaps: HEDGE.

105. Natives of the Central Plains: OTOES.

106. Sam of "Jurassic Park": NEILL.  Watched about 5 minutes of it, then changed the channel.   Again, thank you perps.

107. Microwaved: NUKED. 

111. "I can't __": EVEN.

112. Show gumption: DARE.

114. "Please explain": HOW.

115. Time often named for a leader: ERA.

116. Baking soda amt.: TSP.

117. "__ do __": YOU.    Be yourself.

118. Bon mot deliverer: WIT.

119. Morsel: ORT.

Sunday May 5, 2024 Katy Steinmetz & Rich Katz

Theme:  "Name That Tune" - Each song is rephrased fitting the "what line" in the clue.

23. Power line?: WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS.

33. Life line?: I WILL SURVIVE.

49. Party line?: LET'S GET IT STARTED.

68. Opening line?: I'VE GOT A BLANK SPACE BABY.

91. Time line?: YOU CAN'T HURRY LOVE.

107. Dividing line?: GO YOUR OWN WAY.

119. Shore line?: UNDER THE BOARDWALK.

Not sure about 68A. Is it a song title? I only know it's a line from Taylor Swift's "Blank Space". 

Otherwise, I really like this theme set. We've seen "... line" rephrase theme before, but not with the extra song layer. Congrats on your Sunday debut, Katy and Rich!

Across:

1. "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" novelist Jamie: FORD. His debut novel. He's half Chinese.

 

5. Low-end speaker: BASS. And 18. One throwing out the first pitch?: OBOE.

9. Emulate successfully: PASS AS.

15. Cooling units, for short: ACS.

19. __ research: some dirt-digging: OPPO. Opposition research.

20. Baseball level just below the Majors: TRIPLE A. And 22. Hall of Fame slugger Mel: OTT. 86. One of Nolan Ryan's record seven: NO-HIT GAME.

26. Parched: DRY.

27. Two-time Best Female Golfer ESPY winner Ko: LYDIA. Kiwi. She was born in Korea.

28. Leaf wrangler: RAKE.

29. Bewitch: ENTHRALL.

31. Fright: TERROR.

37. Like some candles: SCENTED.

39. Home of many Goyas and El Grecos: PRADO.

40. "Fire" gemstone: OPAL.

41. Unlikely duo?: ELS. The two L's in "Unlikely"

42. "The Boy and the Heron" genre: ANIME.

44. Gifts at some Honolulu hotels: LEIS.

46. The blue in blue cheese, e.g.: MOLD.

54. Follower of up, down, and mid: TOWN.

56. Shake: LOSE.

57. Ireland, to the Irish: EIRE.

58. Like some adoption records: SEALED.

60. "The Matrix" hero: NEO.

61. Train cos.: RRS.

64. Prehistoric: OLD.

66. Data on dashboards: MILEAGES.

75. Yoga asana that requires balance: TREE POSE.

76. MSNBC journalist Cabrera: ANA.

77. Like this clue's number: ODD.

78. "Am __ time?": I ON.

79. Require: ENTAIL.

82. High point of the "Odyssey"?: OSSA. Mount Ossa.

85. Meter or liter: UNIT.

89. Dirty: SOIL.

95. Swap __: MEET.

97. Room in una casa: SALA.

98. HS course covering the facts of life: AP BIO.

99. Curse: HEX.

100. Guides with keys: MAPS.

103. __-panky: HANKY.

105. Writer of pastoral poems: IDYLIST. Spell check does not like this word.

111. Didn't cook, but didn't order in: ATE OUT.

112. Totalitarianism, metaphorically: IRON RULE.

113. Villain's hangout: LAIR.

115. Rims: EDGES.

118. Relieved (of): RID.

124. Female deer: DOE.

125. Spring agricultural machines: SEEDERS.

126. Beauty spot?: ULTA. Mecca of beauty products.

127. "That could work for me": I MAY.

128. "Weekend Update" show, casually: SNL.

129. Restoration poet dubbed "Glorious John": DRYDEN.

130. Headed to overtime: TIED.

131. __ pool: GENE.

Down:

1. Duck or goose: FOWL.

2. Comply: OBEY.

3. Consumer Reports tasks: ROAD TESTS.

4. "Merci" response: DE RIEN.

5. Social media annoyance: BOT.

6. Goddess of love who had five children with the god of war: APHRODITE. One of the kids is Eros.

7. Fishing tool: SPEAR.

8. "__ it to me!": SOCK.

9. Old school crowdfunding org.?: PTA.

10. Branch: ARM.

11. Wee drink: SIP.

12. Pitch: SPIEL.

13. Mets slugger Pete nicknamed "Polar Bear": ALONSO. New York Mets. Patti's team.

14. Mocked: SENT UP.

15. Vietnamese tunic: AODAI. Pretty. China's qipao is pretty too.

16. PC paste shortcut: CTRL V.

17. Flair: STYLE.

21. Place for a spiritual retreat: ASHRAM.

24. Livestock marker: EAR TAG.

25. Successor: HEIR.

30. KOA option: RV LOT.

32. Actress Russo: RENE.

34. Mickey's co-creator: WALT.

35. Brainstorming output: IDEAS.

36. French wine valley: LOIRE.

37. Go like hotcakes: SELL.

38. Egyptian queen, familiarly: CLEO. Cleopatra.

39. Gas, across the pond: PETROL.

43. Nintendo avatar: MII.

45. Snail mail need: STAMP.

47. Piece of cake?: LONG A. The A in "cake".

48. Square peg in a social circle?: DWEEB. Ha.

50. Durable twill fabric: SERGE.

51. Ward with two Emmy Awards: SELA.

52. Director Kazan: ELIA.

53. Big name in car batteries: DELCO.

55. Snoopy: NOSY.

59. Heroic act, say: DEED.

62. Tug of war need: ROPE.

63. Full of rocks: STONY.

65. Genetic letters: DNA.

67. Pop star Paula who was once a Lakers cheerleader: ABDUL. I did not know this.

68. "Can confirm": IT IS.

69. Noise made while playing with a Matchbox car: VROOM.

70. "__ Meenie": 2010 pop single: EENIE.

71. Regarding: AS TO.

72. Quaint baes: BEAUS.

73. Two half hitches, maybe: KNOT.

74. Verb that comes from a corruption of the ballet term "chassé": SASHAY. Another fun trivia.

80. Mogul Carl: ICAHN.

81. Former TV drama about SoCal attorneys: LA LAW.

83. "How's it hangin'?": SUP.

84. Get in the middle of, in a way: ARBITRATE.

87. Currier and __: IVES.

88. Words on a page: TEXT.

90. __ juice: LEMON.

92. Gran: NANA.

93. Log flume, e.g.: RIDE.

94. Went up and down, say: YOYOED.

96. Many a spring birth: TAURUS.

101. Cut back: PRUNED.

102. Machine shop alloy: SOLDER.

104. Six-time NBA All-Star Lowry: KYLE.

106. __ van Beethoven: LUDWIG.

107. Supports: GIRDS.

108. Constellation with a belt: ORION.

109. Sound that comes from on high: YODEL.

110. Like some unkempt gardens: WEEDY.

111. Garlicky sauce: AIOLI. This one seems to have egg yolks.

114. Border: ABUT.

116. Flair: ELAN.

117. Ione of "La Brea": SKYE.

120. __ velvet: RED.

121. Green Day drummer __ Cool: TRE.

122. Channel for bargain hunters: HSN.

123. "Gnarly": RAD.

Sunday April 28, 2024 Chandi Deitmer

Theme:  "Obviously!" - Each common phrase is clued as if IT does not exist.

23A Poorly put together trays?: CRUDITE PLATTERS.

39A. Donkeys who got caught in the rain?: WET BURRITOS.

51A. Pews?: PRIORITY SEATING.

83A. Khaki work uniform?: TITAN OF INDUSTRY.

92A. Request from one who prefers dry mashed potatoes?: ZERO GRAVITY.

115A. Energy supplies that are just OK?: FINITE RESOURCES.

Reveal:

65. "We all see the obvious here, right?," and how to make six long answers in this puzzle match their clues?: IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING.

Sometimes we have themes where letter or letter string appear in the theme entries but ignored in the clues. We could just have wacky theme answers instead. But today is a good example of why the letter should be included. Perfect reveal and rationale.

Got this picture of when I googled Chandi. She's lower left. Looks who's on upper right? Patti!

Across: 

1. Luminescent gems: OPALS.

6. Fish head?: CRAW. OK, Crawfish.

10. "Who Let the Dogs Out" group __ Men: BAHA. The only Baha Men song I know.

14. Act extempore: AD LIB.

19. Lear daughter: REGAN. Have to mention our local girl Regan Smith.

20. Breakfast scramble: HASH.

21. Some deleted contacts: EXES.

22. Enlightenment philosopher Thomas: PAINE.

26. Mary-in-mourning piece: PIETA.

27. Marshmallow Man in "Ghostbusters": STAY-PUFT. Learning moment for me.

28. Capital of Tibet: LHASA.

29. Literary whaler: PEQUOD. "Moby-Dick".

30. Start and end of a faceoff?: EFS. Letter F.

31. __ of strength: FEAT.

32. Boyfriend: BEAU.

33. Rap's Snoop __: DOGG.

37. God destined to slay the sea serpent Jörmungandr: THOR.

45. "Snowy" bird: EGRET.

47. Ice rink leap: AXEL.

49. Self-satisfied: SMUG.

50. Bankrupt: RUIN. Verb "bankrupt".

54. Sacred text: BIBLE.

55. Bob in the Basketball Hall of Fame: PETTIT. No idea. Wikipedia says he's NBA's first MVP.

56. Dutch painter Frans: HALS.

57. Pat Benatar's "Love __ Battlefield": IS A.

59. Historic space station: MIR.

60. Stern direction?: AFT. Stern of a boat.

61. Stinging insect: WASP.

62. Dorky one: DWEEB.

64. Picnic pest: ANT.

70. Citrusy suffix: ADE.

71. Piccata bud: CAPER. Lots of buds.

72. Marine mammal in a matrilineal group: ORCA.

73. Anti-fraud org.: BBB.

74. Bear's lair: DEN.

75. Reddit forum for inquiries: AMA. Ask Me Anything.

76. Early educ.: PRE-K.

77. Potent potion: ELIXIR.

81. Purple or green herb: BASIL. Never had purple basil. Cilantro is the only herb used in Chinese cooking.

88. Checkout unit: ITEM.

89. Waffle __: IRON.

90. Identical: SAME.

91. Spine-chilling: EERIE.

96. 95-Down beds, maybe: COTS. 95. Steppes tent: YURT.

98. Talk back to: SASS.

99. Yule tune: NOEL.

100. "No problem!": SURE.

102. Spy org.: CIA.

104. Surreptitious one: SLY FOX.

107. French composer Gabriel: FAURE. Another learning moment.

109. Former police procedural starring Kathryn Morris: COLD CASE.

114. Jazz great Armstrong: LOUIS.

117. "You mean a lot to me": I CARE.

118. "This __ fair": ISN'T.

119. Pool table fabric: FELT.

120. Tempts: BAITS.

121. Yearned (for): PINED.

122. Flight nos.: ETAS.

123. Takes a load off: SITS.

124. "Thus ... ": AND SO.

Down:

1. Fantasy baddies: ORCS.

2. Impudent: PERT.

3. Tlaxcala water: AGUA.

4. Pop's __ Gaga: LADY.

5. Dig (at): SNIPE.

6. Toque: CHEF'S HAT. Dim sum chef wears this type of tall hat.

7. Paying strict attention: RAPT.

8. Comm. system with visual cues: ASL.

9. Beluga, e.g.: WHALE.

10. Gets feedback from an early audience: BETA TESTS.

11. Weapons thrown at targets, in some social settings: AXES.

12. Greek goddess of childbirth: HERA.

13. Beast of burden: ASS.

14. Seem (to be): APPEAR.

15. Rum cocktail: DAIQUIRI. Named after a Cuban iron mine, according to Wikipedia.

16. In __ of: LIEU.

17. Engrossed by: INTO.

18. Drop of sweat: BEAD.

24. Clump of hair: TUFT.

25. Defrost: THAW.

29. Word that may be replaced by a slash: PER.

31. NPR show hosted by Terry Gross: FRESH AIR. Used to listen to her faithfully at 8:00pm our time.

32. Open carriages: BUGGIES.

33. Lily-Rose __ of "The Idol": DEPP. Just had her last Sunday. 

34. Fantasy baddie: OGRE.

35. Determination: GRIT.

36. Location metadata: GEOTAG.

38. Skin care brand: OXY.

40. "Ew, stop sharing": TMI.

41. Steamed bite: BUN.

42. Abolitionist Harriet: TUBMAN.

43. Conditioning, as a bamboo cutting board: OILING.

44. Hägar's dog: SNERT.

46. Like some glasses: TRIFOCAL.

48. Path of __ resistance: LEAST.

52. Gp. concerned with crashes: IT TEAM. Hey, we have IT here. A few other short words also.

53. Swiss instrument traditionally made from red pine: ALPHORN. Ricola.

54. Pastel shade: BABY BLUE.

58. Ocean floor: SEABED.

61. "Raw" org.: WWE.

62. Puckered expression in a selfie: DUCK FACE.

63. Iga Swiatek's org.: WTA.

65. Conceptualize: IDEATE.

66. More on edge: TENSER.

67. __ awareness: SPATIAL.

68. Twistable cookies: OREOS.

69. Birds mummified in ancient Egypt: IBISES.

70. Madison Ave. industry: AD BIZ. 78. Bonus, in 70-Down lingo: XTRA.

76. Ensembles associated with Hillary Clinton: PANTSUITS.

79. "Bearded" flower: IRIS.

80. Marbled breads: RYES.

82. "Try to stop me now!": I'M ON FIRE.

84. Nickname that drops -ing: IRV.

85. French pronoun: TOI.

86. "TBH" kin: IMO. To be honest.

87. Actual expenditures: NET COSTS.

93. Gave a boost: GOOSED.

94. Film critic Reed: REX.

97. Rural tower: SILO.

101. Underwater ecosystems: REEFS.

103. "Mrs. America" Emmy winner Uzo: ADUBA.

104. Marina space: SLIP.

105. Centers: LOCI.

106. Currency also known as the renminbi: YUAN. Renmin = People. Bi = Currency.

107. Rock, in Rock, Paper, Scissors: FIST.

108. __ Mae Bullock: Tina Turner's birth name: ANNA. Did not know this.

109. Gaul or Breton: CELT.

110. Ocean Spray prefix: CRAN.

111. Base's chemical opposite: ACID.

112. Complete groups: SETS.

113. Provincial petrol provider: ESSO.

115. Old-timey "ugh": FIE.

116. Camping gear co-op: REI. Stands for Recreational Equipment, Inc.

C.C.

Sunday April 21, 2024 Julian Kwan

Theme: "Getting in the Way" - two letters are added to each common phrase. Those letters orderly spell out photobombing.

23. Ode to a much-loved Galaxy?: SOME PHONE LIKE YOU. Someone Like You.

40. Magical ottoman?: ENCHANTED FOOTREST. Enchanted forest.

58. Constantly thinking about escaping?: BREAKOUT OBSESSION. Breakout session.

80. Intention of one without morals?: DOOM THE RIGHT THING. Do the right thing.

98. Must-haves for a fashion doll?: BARBIE NECESSITIES. Bare necessities.

116. Converse with one more party guest?: GO THE EXTRA MINGLE. Go the extra mile.

Another Sunday debut. Congrats, Julian! Kwan is the Cantonese spelling of Mandarin Guan. Same character as the Quan (Vietnamese) in Ke Huy Quan, the director of "Everything Everywhere All at Once".

Hope the circles show up in your local paper. Otherwise, you might have missed the message in this puzzle.

Across:

1. Aural danger for Odysseus: SIREN.

6. Snit: HUFF.

10. Slow Churned ice cream brand: EDY'S. 27. Slush Puppie maker: ICEE.

14. High-and-mighty: SMUG.

18. Edge or Firefox alternative: OPERA. Never used Opera browser.

19. Camembert kin: BRIE.

20. Penn State's Nittany __: LIONS.

22. Fabled second-place finisher: HARE.

26. Actress Kurylenko: OLGA. She's a Bond Girl.

28. Camera type, for short: SLR.

29. Bygone news source: TOWN CRIER.

31. Pessimist's word: CAN'T.

33. Political cartoonist Thomas: NAST. The guy who designed the Republican elephant and Democratic donkey. I wonder why he did not pick up tiger or lion.

36. Had tea, to a Brit: ATE.

38. "Cat __ your tongue?": GOT.

39. Solo homer result: RBI.

47. Unsure sounds: UHS.

48. Restrain, as one's enthusiasm: BATE.

49. Poetic preposition: O'ER.

50. Experienced veteran: OLD TIMER.

51. Traditional fare of Japanese New Year: MOCHI. Sticky rice. Same thing in Chinese Tang Yuan.

Mochi Soup

Tang Yuan

53. Rockefeller Center's "American Progress" muralist: SERT.

55. Breeze (by): SAIL.

57. Division symbols: OBELI. Plural of obelus.

62. HIIT unit: REP. HIIT =  High-Intensity Interval Training .

63. "The Idol" star Lily-Rose: DEPP. Daughter of Johnny Depp.  She looks more like her mom.

64. Scrooge outburst: BAH.

65. Word after door or lock: STEP.

66. Computer clickers: MICE. I'm experiencing big Blogger glitch at this moment. Suddenly I can't save or access the blog Drafts folder. (One hour later: TTP came to the rescue. I can access the Drafts now,  but picture embed remains a problem. Sigh. Blogger!)

67. Treasure __: CHEST.

69. Give guidance: EDIFY.

71. Slanted: ATILT.

73. Co. founders, often: CEOS.

74. Level in a loyalty program: TIER.

77. Easter preceder?: NOR. Nor'easter.

78. Upper arm muscles, briefly: TRIS.

79. Football stat: ATT.

86. "The Cloister and the Hearth" author: READE. Charles Reade.

88. Learned: WISE.

89. Handle with __: CARE.

90. "Ciao!": LATER.

91. Avenue next to Reading Railroad: ORIENTAL.

93. __ date: DUE.

95. Tennis great with a namesake stadium: ASHE.

97. Kid's cry: MAA.

101. Raiding org.: ATF. And 102. Screening org.: TSA.

103. Equals: ARE.

104. Robe securer: SASH.

105. Unit of speed that's approximately 1.15 mph: KNOT.

106. Latte server: COFFEE BAR.

111. Gingerbread __: MAN.

113. Thought: IDEA.

115. One side of a sports bet: OVER.

122. Rose bowl?: VASE. Sweet clue.

123. SEC athlete in orange and blue: GATOR. Florida Gators. 

124. Garish: LOUD.

125. How to play without knowing the score?: BY EAR.

126. "Above all __ ... ": ELSE.

127. Uses a touchscreen: TAPS.

128. Squeezed (by): EKED.

129. Barracks VIP: SARGE.

Down:

1. "Mamma Mia!" duet for Pierce Brosnan and Meryl Streep: SOS.

2. Stock market debut letters: IPO.

3. Talk about the good old days: REMINISCE. Carmen came here a few weeks ago and bought some delicious snacks. I used to live here. Very old part of Guangzhou.

4. Assemble, as a Lego tower: ERECT.

5. Necklace clasp spot: NAPE.

6. "The Last of Us" network: HBO.

7. Catering dispenser: URN.

8. Cinco de Mayo celebration: FIESTA.

9. Chop down: FELL.

10. State animal of Utah: ELK.

11. Tried a nutrition program: DIETED.

12. Spinning toy on a string: YO-YO.

13. Frosty's makeup: SNOW. Snow on our yard when I woke up this morning, but all gone now.

14. Slow-cooked beef piece: SHORT RIB.

15. Bamako's country: MALI.

16. Push (to): URGE.

17. Climber's backpack filler: GEAR.

21. Apollo or Ra: SUN GOD. RA is the Egyptian sun god.

24. Temporary tattoo medium: HENNA.

25. Raging: IRATE.

30. Second wedding anniversary material: COTTON.

31. Cookie leftover: CRUMB. Carmen bought these. Almond cookies on the upper left.

32. Loathe: ABHOR. Sad to get a text from my sweet neighbor Valerie that she's planning to move to Fridley. This scared both of us. This is where we live.

34. Seeks attention, maybe: ACTS UP.

35. Linen closet item: SHEET.

37. Straight to the point: TERSE.

40. Urban transport options: E-BIKES.

41. "Could be better": NOT BAD.

42. Inflict (upon): FOIST.

43. Skateboard stunt: OLLIE.

44. Chef Lagasse: EMERIL. "Kick it up a notch!"

45. Highlight, as text: SELECT.

46. Absolute rubbish: TRIPE.

52. Underworld king: HADES.

54. Julia of "Leave the World Behind": ROBERTS.

56. Mesopotamian civilization: ASSYRIA.

59. Go for: OPT TO.

60. Stand out: SHINE.

61. Moving image?: OP-ART.

66. Baryshnikov nickname: MISHA.

67. Latin for "the rest": CETERA. Et.

68. Balloon filler: HOT AIR.

70. Push and pull, in physics: FORCES.

72. Mr. and Mrs.: TITLES.

73. Ingredient in some vegan brownies: CAROB. I've never had brownies.

75. Hawkeye: IOWAN.

76. Novelist Zola: EMILE.

78. Ph.D. requirement: THESIS.

80. Fitness instructor Austin: DENISE.

81. Jon of "Napoleon Dynamite": HEDER.

82. Persona non __: GRATA.

83. Head of servers?: IT MANAGER. IT service. 

84. "Crackerjack!": NEATO.

85. Obtain illegally: GRAFT.

87. Ideal way to graduate: DEBT-FREE.

92. Asian snack steeped in spices: TEA EGG. Five-spice powder. Lesley loved these. 

94. "I'm here to help": USE ME.

96. Pronoun duo: HE/HIM.

99. Sonic waiter: CARHOP.

100. Could be better: ISN'T OK. Do dislike this new Blogger format. 

105. Tanzania neighbor: KENYA.

106. Sheltered inlet: COVE.

107. Shape of a powerful office: OVAL.

108. Admit, with "up": FESS.

109. Full house, in poker slang: BOAT.

110. Flour for some flatbread: ATTA.

112. Toll unit: AXLE.

114. "That one's mine!": DIBS.

117. Triage ctrs.: ERS.

118. Québec street: RUE.

119. Contribute (to): ADD.

120. Streaming annoyance: LAG.

121. Before, once: ERE.

C.C.