Sunday November 17, 2024 Ricky J. Sirois

Theme: "Cards on the Table" - Each theme answer starts with a card game.

22. Temptation for Hansel and Gretel: GINGER BREADHOUSE.

38. Place to take a long drive?: WARNING TRACK.

47. Highly suspenseful: HEART-STOPPING.

67. Song for Snow White: WHISTLE WHILE YOU WORK.

85. Infield feature: PITCHER'S MOUND.

92. Role that earned Renée Zellweger her first Oscar nomination: BRIDGET JONES.

115. "Time to play!," and what could be said about 22-, 38-, 47-, 67-, 85-, and 92-Across: LET THE GAMES BEGIN.

Fresh take on the card game theme. I don't recall seeing this approach before.

I think this is our constructor. He's an accomplished Scrabble player.

Across:

1. More predictable: TAMER.

 6. Quite a few: MANY.

10. Extensions: LIMBS.

15. __ card: smartphone insert: SIM.

18. Atlanta university: EMORY.

19. Early Ron Howard role: OPIE. "The Andy Griffith Show".

20. Roast host: EMCEE.

21. Trillion, in computer storage: TERA. Mega, giga, tera.

25. Celebrated one: IDOL.

26. The 13 of PG-13: AGE.

27. Informal French pronoun: TOI. As to "vous".

28. Tweet: CHIRP.

29. Layered Italian dessert: SPUMONI. Layered gelato. With cherries and pistachios.

31. Hesitant: NOT SO SURE.

34. Tidy the garden: WEED.

36. Drive-in chain with carhops: SONIC.

37. En __: as a group: MASSE.

41. Farley of "Tommy Boy": CHRIS.

44. Wind up: COIL.

46. Airport destination: GATE.

52. Gallo Winery city: MODESTO.

57. "Dead Wake" author Larson: ERIK

58. Janelle of "Glass Onion": MONAE.

59. Otherwise: ELSE.

61. Singe: CHAR.

62. Voice artist Blanc: MEL.

63. "Whatcha __?": DOIN.

64. __ circus: FLEA.

65. Ornamental style: ROCOCO.

72. "I need grub!": FEED ME.

73. Maryland blue, e.g.: CRAB. This is huge.

74. Test-drive: SPIN.

75. "CrazySexyCool" R&B trio: TLC.

77. Even, in France: EGAL.

78. Headliner: STAR.

79. Very pale: ASHEN.

81. Spirit: BRIO.

82. Tattoos and such: BODY ART.

88. Half-moon tide: NEAP.

90. Citation abbr.: ET AL.

91. Longtime Celtics GM Danny: AINGE. Unfamiliar with this guy.

98. 64-Down tellers: LIARS. 64. Bit of baloney: FIB.

101. Eagle's nest: AERIE.

102. Irritable state: SNIT.

103. Reservation taker: CONCIERGE.

107. Name associated with two types of cups: STANLEY. The hockey cup and this type.

110. "Gesundheit" elicitor: ACHOO.

112. Beauty: GEM.

113. Amount to: ARE.

114. Donkey __: KONG.

119. Yale alumni: ELIS.

120. Sarge's superior: LOOIE.

121. Soul legend Redding: OTIS.

122. Congregational calls: AMENS.

123. Sixers for the Niners, briefly: TDS. I like this clue angle. And 78. 123-Across, e.g.: STAT.

124. Boutiques: SHOPS.

125. Tabloid fare: DIRT.

126. Like soapy hands: SUDSY.

Down:

1. __ and Sara: Canadian pop duo: TEGAN.

 

 

2. Buddy, in Bolivia: AMIGO.

3. "Rouen Cathedral" painter: MONET.

4. Energy unit: ERG.

5. Canapé option: RYE TOAST.

6. __ strip: mathematics model used in the NASCAR Hall of Fame design: MOBIUS.

7. Loan fig.: APR.

8. Nephew's sister: NIECE.

9. "Totes": YEAH.

10. Musical satirist Tom: LEHRER. "The Elements".

11. "Throw it to me!": I'M OPEN.

12. Superhero franchise initials: MCU. The Marvel Cinematic Universe.

13. First lady after Eleanor: BESS.

14. Move like water in a percolator: SEEP.

15. Arizona home of Cathedral Rock: SEDONA. Stunning view.

16. Unexpectedly apt: IRONIC.

17. Wendie of "Just Shoot Me!": MALICK. Sometimes we see MALEK (Rami).

21. Divided island of Southeast Asia: TIMOR.

23. "American Fiction" actress Tracee Ellis __: ROSS.

24. Hindu festival celebrated over five days: DIWALI. When I was a kid, Chinese New Year lasted at least 15 days. It's the only time I got new clothes.

30. Formal Spanish pronoun: USTED.

32. Smug look: SMIRK.

33. Meet up with old friends: RE-CONNECT.

35. Archaeological site: DIG.

38. Moist towelette: WIPE.

39. "__ your price": NAME.

40. Classic Pontiac: GTO.

41. Sci. class with a lab requirement: CHEM.

42. "Brace yourselves!": HERE WE GO.

43. End of the line, perhaps: RAILHEAD.

45. Joyful cry at a Greek wedding: OPA. Let's see if this video works.

48. Struck down, biblically: SMOTE.

49. Slog away: TOIL.

50. Tony winner Carter: NELL.

51. TV musical with 207 songs on the Billboard Hot 100: GLEE.

53. Danish shoe brand: ECCO.

54. Immediate future: SHORT RUN. Or a 3-mile trot to Renee. 

55. Taking on, as a challenge: TACKLING.

56. Spanish treasure: ORO.

60. Offers a greeting: SAYS HELLO.

63. Psych. handbook: DSM. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. 

65. Archaeological site: RUINS.

66. Possess: OWN.

68. Without thinking: IDLY.

69. Sandwich option: WRAP.

70. Mata __: HARI.

71. Pay phone abbr.: OPER.

72. Shortest mo.: FEB.

76. Program: CODE.

79. Goes for it: ACTS.

80. Doo-wop syllable: SHA.

81. Home of the NCAA's Broncos: BOISE. Boise State Broncos.

 

83. Nativity play role: ANGEL.

84. Food writer Drummond: REE.

86. Get a bite?: TEETHE. Fun clue.

87. Xylophone kin: MARIMBAS.

89. Comfy outfit: PJS.

92. Picnic container: BASKET.

93. Like stories of days gone by, often: RE-TOLD.

94. Tehran natives: IRANIS.

95. Small imperfections: DINGS.

96. Using inside info, perhaps: ON A TIP.

97. Cozy spots: NICHES.

99. Eat: INGEST.

100. Las Vegas WNBA team: ACES.

103. Animal also known as the hog-nosed raccoon: COATI.

104. Stormed: RAGED.

105. Sly expressions: GRINS.

106. Itty-bitty: EENSY.

108. What always ends well?: ELLS. The two letters.

109. Michelle of "Everything Everywhere All at Once": YEOH. Hokkien spelling of the Chinese name Yang. Hokkien is the largest Chinese dialect in Malaysia.

111. Psalm starter: O GOD.

116. As well: TOO.

117. Bygone space station: MIR.

118. Cassowary relative: EMU. We have ostriches in our local Como Zoo. 

In case you missed it, Husker Gary met with Inanehiker (Nina) and her friend Marla last Wednesday. I love seeing our blog regulars meet in real life. This picture made me so happy.

Nina, Gary and Marla

Sunday November 10, 2024 Chandi Deitmer

Theme:  "Things That Go Bump in the Night" - Four monsters are hidden under four beds.

24. Thought experiment illustrating special relativity: TWIN PARADOX.

27. Dish garnish: MICROGREEN. Ogre under Twin.

44. Ryan Gosling's role in "The Fall Guy": BODY DOUBLE.

52. Italian blue cheese: GORGONZOLA. Gorgon under Double.

86. Wonderland resident who starts out as a chess piece: WHITE QUEEN.

94. Arrived nonchalantly: STROLLED IN. Troll under Queen.

115. Big name in baking products: KING ARTHUR.

119. Conway Twitty ballad covered by Blake Shelton: GOODBYE TIME. Yeti under King.

Reveal:

66. Common childhood fear, examples of which may jump out at you four times in this puzzle?: THE MONSTER UNDER THE BED.

See the answer grid below.

Each monster has the same letter count as the bed it's hidden. This makes Chandi's theme entry choices super tight.

 

Across:

1. Dandy: FOP.

4. Taiwanese laptop brand: ACER. Their monitor is pretty good.

8. Repeats a mantra, perhaps: CHANTS.

14. Out of bed: ASTIR.

19. Big day for a startup, briefly: IPO.

20. "__ might say ... ": SOME.

21. Zimbabwe's capital: HARARE.

22. Maestro Zubin: MEHTA. Born in Bombay. We also have 50. Conductor's reference: SCORE.

23. Printer tray abbr.: LTR.

26. Opponent: ENEMY.

29. Plant also known as a strangler fig: BANYAN TREE.

31. Dijon darling: CHERI.

32. Crew team's workout machines: ERGS. Rowing ergometers.

34. Italian hard cheese, briefly: PARM.

35. Humble poker hand: PAIR.

36. Candy with unique dispensers: PEZ.

39. Caesar lettuce: ROMAINE.

42. Like the Vatican's Bramante Staircase: SPIRAL.

48. Add new audio: DUB.

49. Skin opening: PORE.

54. Gobs: LOADS.

56. Shape sometimes made by a comfy cat: LOAF.

57. Couture monogram: YSL.

58. Paris runway spot: ORLY.

59. Routine: ACT.

60. Like sesame seeds in furikake, typically: TOASTED. My favorite is the nori furikake.

63. Not-so-powerful chess piece: PAWN.

74. Floors: AWES.

75. "Well, isn't that fancy!": OOH LA LA.

76. Blonde, brown, or red drink: ALE.

77. Symbol on many a flag: STAR. Chinese flag has five stars.

80. Comic Margaret: CHO.

83. Penicillin origin: MOLD.

84. Singer Zayn: MALIK.

90. JV player's goal: A TEAM.

92. Gin flavorer: SLOE.

93. Buccaneer's cry: ARR.

96. Worth-y things: ASSETS. And 2. Vision-ary?: OPTIC. Nice clues.

98. Evidence board need: PUSHPIN.

100. "Case of the Ex" R&B singer: MYA.

101. Big name in brut: MOET.

102. Diamond overlay?: TARP. Another great clue. Baseball field.

103. Farm-centric org.: USDA.

107. Capital on the Svislach: MINSK.

109. Sound judgment: HORSE SENSE.

118. Newspaper sect.: OBITS.

121. Poem of tribute: ODE.

122. Runs like a gazelle: LOPES.

123. Dig into an issue: GO DEEP.

124. Songwriter Sands: EVIE.

125. Geologic span: EON.

126. Basic question type: YES-NO.

127. Kumquat color: ORANGE.

128. Neptune's domain: SEAS.

129. Retired jet: SST.

Down:

1. Polaroid need: FILM.

3. One looking for on-deck loot: PORCH PIRATE. Hope it's not a problem in your area.

4. Queens neighborhood on the East River: ASTORIA.

5. Women who "don't cry," per a Brooks & Dunn song: COWGIRLS.

6. Leader in Kuwait: EMIR. 10. Like a 6-Down: ARAB.

7. Rapp of "Mean Girls": RENEE.

8. Momofuku founder David: CHANG. Try his chili crunch.

9. Chuckle syllable: HAR.

11. __ colada: tropical mocktail: NADA.

12. Disney movie set inside a computer: TRON.

13. Hot: SEXY.

14. Fervent agreement: AMEN AMEN.

15. Nissan sedan: SENTRA.

16. Lobster __: THERMIDOR. A la Wikipedia, it's a "French dish of lobster meat cooked in a rich wine sauce, stuffed back into a lobster shell, and browned". Never had this.

17. [Puts finger to nose]: IT ME.

18. "My 21st Century Blues" singer: RAYE. British singer.

25. Word in a ratio: PER.

28. Raised: REARED.

30. Speed skater Ohno: APOLO.

33. Mole: SPY.

37. Daring, in a way: EDGY.

38. Hectic spots: ZOOS.

39. "On the Basis of Sex" monogram: RBG. Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
 
40. Invalid: NULL.

41. Online marketplace: EBAY.

42. Sound of slime hitting the ground: SPLAT. And 65. Collision sound: WHAM.

43. Pupper: POOCH.

44. Extra helping hand: BOOST.

45. Pontificate: ORATE.

46. Leave for later: DEFER.

47. Bus. card address: URL.

51. Refinement: CLASS.

53. Comfort __: ZONE.

55. Put away: STOW.

61. Protozoan cell count: ONE.

62. Spokesowl who celebrates app streaks: DUO. Duolingo's owl mascot Duo.

63. Red carpet designer: PRADA.

64. Trap music city, briefly: ATL.

67. Gas station shop: MART.

68. Vagabond: NOMAD.

69. Wrapped South Asian garment: DHOTI.

70. Former Liberian president __ Johnson Sirleaf: ELLEN.

71. Help for getting to the pointe: BALLET SHOES.

72. Poet Thomas Stearns __: ELIOT.

73. Hockey ruses: DEKES.

77. Trade: SWAP.

78. Drive-__ window: THRU.

79. Taxi spots?: AIRSTRIPS. Aviation "taxi".

80. Corp. leader: CEO. And 81. Leader's spot: HELM.

82. "__ Murders in the Building": ONLY.

85. Go-ahead: ASSENT.

87. Strong coffee: ESPRESSO.

88. Some swabs: Q-TIPS.

89. Caterer's teapot: URN.

91. ABBA jukebox musical: MAMM MIA.

95. Contents of un lac: EAU.

97. Fancy fetes: SOIREES.

99. Rush: HASTEN.

104. Videoconferencing app: SKYPE.

105. Sputter out: DIE.

106. Puts money in: ANTES.

108. Accolades: KUDOS.

109. "__ mackerel!": HOLY.

110. Instrument similar to a suona: OBOE. Chinese instrument. I just call it laba.

111. Breakfast brand: EGGO.

112. American-born Jordanian royal: NOOR.

113. Fizzy drink: SODA.

114. Pristine place: EDEN.

116. Be generous: GIVE.

117. Monopoly payment: RENT.

120. Ask for more puppy chow: BEG.

Happy 78th birthday to Husker Gary's wife Joann and her twin sister Joyce. Here they're with their mom Martha, who passed away in August last year at the age of 100. 

C.C.

Sunday, November 3, 2024, Emma Oxford

Theme:  "Cold Shoulders"

The circled "shoulders" (or edges) of each theme answer spell out something icy cold.

My search of the L.A.Times Crossword Corner archives suggests that Emma Oxford has published six crossword puzzles in the L.A. Times during the last two years, the last of which also had circles in the grid.  Today's puzzle is her first Sunday offering.

The theme clues and answers (all Across) are:

23. *Summertime activity that may precede piemaking: BERRY PICKING.  The circles spell out BERG.

36. *Fictional space force satirized in John Scalzi's "Redshirts": STARFLEET.  Redshirts is a 2012 novel by John Scalzi that satirizes Star Trek.  The circles spell out SLEET.

43. *Casper, for one: FRIENDLY GHOST.  The circles spell out FROST.

62. *Span needed for a system to return to equilibrium: RELAXATION TIME.  The circles spell out RIME.  Rime is a type of ice that forms when the moisture in fog freezes suddenly on an object.

69. *Nickname for a hotel in the middle of Lake Pichola: FLOATING PALACE.  Lake Palace (AKA Floating Palace) is a former royal residence, now turned into a hotel, on an island in Lake Pichola, Udaipur, India.  Popularly described as the Venice of the East, Lake Palace is made out of white marble.  The circles spell out FLOE, a sheet of floating ice.

90. *Charming rogue: HANDSOME DEVIL.  The circles spell out HAIL.

98. *"Take it slow": STEADY NOW.  The circles spell out SNOW.

111. Starts a conversation, or what the answer to each starred clue does to its circled letters: BREAKS THE ICE.

Having broken the ice, let's skate through the rest of the clues and answers.

Across:

1. Reveal: UNVEIL.

7. Antagonist of Rocky and Bullwinkle: BORIS.

Boris Badenov, from the cartoon TV series, "The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show"

12. Check in point?: ATM.  You can deposit checks at an Automated Teller Machine.

15. 43,560 square feet: ACRE.

19. "Angel" singer Jon: SECADA.  Jon Secada is a Cuban-born American singer, songwriter and record producer. He has won two Grammy Awards and sold 15 million records, and recorded "Angel" in both English and Spanish.  Beautiful song!

20. See 56-Down: A-RONI.  Rice-A-Roni is a boxed mix that includes rice, pasta, and seasonings.  Those of us who watched television in the 1960s have "The San Franciso Treat" jingle burned into our brains.

21. Cons: SWINDLES.

23. [Theme clue]

25. Emerges: COMES OUT.

26. Expressionless: BLANK.

27. Reigning: IN POWER.

29. Federal loan agcy.: SBA.  The Small Business Administration is an agency of the United States government that provides support to entrepreneurs and small businesses.

30. Coily hairstyle: AFRO.

33. Letters with a green check mark at the airport: TSA PRE.  The TSA PreCheck program expedites traveler screening through airport security checkpoints. 

36. [Theme clue]

38. Tilts: LEANS.

40. Missouri River Native: OTOE.

41. "Piece of cake!": EASY.

42. Eclectic online digest: UTNE.

43. [Theme clue]

46. "Spider-Man: __ the Spider-Verse": ACROSS.  A 2023 animated film.

48. __ Arbor, Michigan: ANN.

49. Vicinity: AREA.

50. Fermi paradox subjs.: ETs.  The Fermi paradox is the discrepancy between the lack of conclusive evidence of advanced ExtraTerrestrial life and the high likelihood of its existence.

51. "No probs!": ALL OK.

53. Corp. money managers: CFOs.  Chief Financial Officers.

54. Word said when pointing to a map: HERE.

55. Impetuous: RASH.

56. Grenadine: RED.  Grenadine syrup was originally prepared from pomegranate juice, sugar, and water, but today it's made from all kinds of drek.  It's also become a color name:  "Grenadine is a deep, muted, candy apple red with a ruby undertone."

59. Revolt: RISE UP.

62. [Theme clue]

65. Scent: ODOR.

66. Battery size: AAA.

67. Free (of): RID.

68. High point: ACME.  We always need perpendicular entries to know if it will be ACME or APEX.

69. [Theme clue]

75. Wail: SCREAM.

77. Permit: LET.

78. Kitchen extension?: ETTE.  As in kitchenette, a very small cooking area.

79. Woven silk projects: WEBS.  Spiders produce silk and use it to make webs to trap prey, and to build cocoons for their offspring, among other uses.

80. Ventimiglia of "Gilmore Girls": MILO.  While Milo Ventimiglia has had a successful acting career for almost 30 years, many of us here in the Corner sat up and took notice when, beginning in 2016, he starred opposite Mandy Moore in the NBC drama series "This Is Us," playing Jack Pearson, the patriarch of a middle-class family in late 1980s/early 1990s America.

Milo Ventimiglia

81. Like $2 bills, compared to most bills: RARER.

82. [I'm a cow!]: MOO.

83. One on a quest: HERO.  The hero's quest is a common template of stories involving a hero who goes on an adventure, is victorious in a decisive crisis, and comes home changed or transformed.   A classic example is Odysseus in The Odyssey.  The same story structure is used in modern novels and films.

84. "Waterfalls" trio: TLC.  "Waterfalls" is a song by American hip-hop trio TLC, released in 1995.  The song was an international hit, and spent seven weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.  I'm more into "rock en español," but even I recognize this song!

87. Wages: SALARY.

90. [Theme clue]

93. Pub offerings: ALES.

94. Country where Farsi is spoken: IRAN.

96. Prefix with -plasm: ECTO.  Ectoplasm is the thin, watery outer layer of a cell.  Unless you're into ghosts, in which case, ectoplasm is a substance that comes from the body of someone communicating with the spirit of a dead person, allowing the spirit to have a form.  In the Ghostbusters movies, it's called slime.

97. Brazilian dance: SAMBA.

98. [Theme clue]

101. If nothing changes: AS IT IS.

103. Sign of shock: GASP.

104. Bros: HEs.  Bros are hes as in male persons?  Sisters are shes?

105. One who asks too much: IMPOSER.

107. Helvetica alternative: ARIAL.  Fonts.

109. Biometric security measure: IRIS SCAN.  We had TSA PreCheck at 33 Across.  Another expedited screening program at airports is the CLEAR program, which uses iris-scanning, fingerprint-checking, and facial recognition.

111. [Theme clue]

117. Government health program: MEDICARE.

118. Carried: BORNE.

119. Acela operator: AMTRAK.  Crossword favorite Acela is Amtrak's passenger train service between Washington, DC and Boston, via 13 intermediate stops, including Baltimore, New York City and Philadelphia. 

120. Inkling: IDEA.

121. Sow's spot: STY.

122. Brings around: SWAYS.

123. Used bookstore transaction: RESALE.

Down:

1. Computer connection letters: USB.  Universal Serial Bus (USB) is an industry standard which allows data exchange and delivery of power between many types of electronics.

How do I connect thee?  Let me count the ways.

2. Formerly known as: NÉE.  The French word née is a feminine adjective that means "born" and is used to indicate a woman's maiden name.

3. Old tape player: VCR.

4. Hammer or anvil: EAR BONE.

5. Pastoral poem: IDYL.

6. Drink like a cat: LAP AT.

7. Slangy term of agreement: BACK AT YA.

8. Mork's home: ORK.  "Mork & Mindy" was a television sitcom that aired on ABC from 1978 to 1982. It starred Robin Williams as Mork, an extraterrestrial from the planet Ork, and Pam Dawber as Mindy, his human friend.

9. King of France: ROI.

10. Belly button type: INNIE.

11. Catcher's gesture to a pitcher: SIGN.

12. Broad ties: ASCOTS.

13. Bidirectional: TWO WAY.

14. One acting out?: MIMER.

15. Vlogger's revenue source: ADS.  A vlog is a blog in video format.  Both formats can be supported by advertising.

16. Not far from: CLOSE TO.

17. Corned beef sandwiches: REUBENS.

18. Pemberley and Mansfield Park: ESTATES.  Pemberley is the fictional estate of Mr. Darcy in Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice."  Mansfield Park is an estate in Jane Austen's novel of the same name.

22. Brand for indoor sports: NERF.

24. Shoe pads: INSOLES.

28. Hurdle for college-bound sophs: PSAT. Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test -- a trial run for the SAT that high school seniors take.

30. The "A" of NATO?: ALFA.

31. "Charlotte's Web" girl: FERN.  Fern is a little girl in the novel "Charlotte's Web" by E. B. White.  She pleads for the life of the runt of a litter of piglets, whom she names Wilbur.  When Wilbur grows, he is destined for slaughter until a spider named Charlotte spells out praises of the pig in her web above his pen.

32. Beach bummer: RAIN.

34. 1990s fad item: POG.  My daughter played with pogs (flat cardboard milk bottle caps) in the '90s.  The game involved stacking the discs face-down, and dropping a heavier object onto the pile.  The player would keep face-up caps, and restack the face-down caps.  Taking turns, eventually one player had more caps and would win.

35. Do a cobbler's job: RE-HEEL.

37. Read but never post: LURK.  Welcome, lurkers!  We are here for you.

39. Major mess-up: SNAFU.  "Situation Normal: All Fouled Up," or stronger language to that effect.

41. Thames Estuary county: ESSEX.

44. Release, as new music: DROP.

45. Spanish "other": OTRA.  Otra modifies feminine nouns.  And another thing ... !  ¡Y otra cosa...!  The masculine form is Otro.

46. "Another thing ... ": ALSO.  Hey, I just said that.

47. ESPN anchor Linda: COHN.  Linda Cohn is an American sportscaster who has anchored ESPN's SportsCenter since 1992.  That's a long run!

Linda Cohn

51. Saul Rubinek's "Warehouse 13" role: ARTIE.  "Warehouse 13" was a science fiction TV series that ran from 2009 to 2014 on the Syfy network.  Saul Rubinek as Artie Nielsen was the Special Agent in Charge at Warehouse 13, a storehouse for artifacts that have become charged with energy that can give them dangerous powers if misused.  Seems quite obscure!  Any fans here?

52. Set, as a table: LAID.  Brits are more likely to say "lay the table."  Americans usually say "set the table."

53. Michael of "Sacramento": CERA.  "Sacramento" is a 2024 comedy film starring Michael Angarano, Michael Cera, Kristen Stewart and Maya Erskine.  It's about a couple of guys who take an impromtu road trip from Los Angeles to Sacramento.  Has it even hit the theaters yet?

54. Pile: HEAP.

56. With 20-Across, "The San Francisco Treat": RICE.  See 20 Across.

57. Actress Thompson: EMMA.

58. Believe: DEEM.

59. "Ur 2 funny!": ROFL.  Texting abbreviation for Rolling On Floor Laughing.

Emoticon for ROFL

60. Not doing much: IDLE.

61. Flue dust: SOOT.

62. Killer party: RAGER.

63. Rainbows, e.g.: ARCS.

64. Staple in the Pacific Islands: TARO.  Taro is a root vegetable, and is a food staple in African, Oceanic, East Asian, Southeast Asian and South Asian cultures.

66. Penny-__: ANTE.

70. Little rip: TEAR.

71. "All in a day's work": I TRY.

72. "That's disappointing!": AW MAN.

73. R&B singer Bridges: LEON.  Todd Michael "Leon" Bridges is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer.  His work has been nominated for four Grammy awards, and he won the most recent in 2019 for Best Traditional R&B Performance for the song "Bet Ain't Worth the Hand."

Leon Bridges

74. Domiciles: ABODES.

75. King's address: SIRE.

76. Lumps of earth: CLODS.

80. Personal accounts: MEMOIRS.

81. Tabula __: RASA.  Latin phrase that means "blank slate" or "smooth or erased tablet."

83. Thrown-together bits of commentary: HOT TAKES.

84. "Better Call Saul" rating: TV-MA.  Mature Audience; may be unsuitable for children under 17.

85. Ad __: improvises: LIBS.

86. Thunder sound: CLAP.

87. Sushi kin: SASHIMI.  Sashimi is raw fish or meat sliced into thin pieces.  By contrast, sushi is made with seasoned rice, either shaped into mounds and topped with items such as raw or cooked seafood, or rolled in sheets of seaweed called nori around fillings of seafood, vegetables and other items. The essential difference is that sushi always includes rice, whereas sashimi is simply animal flesh.

Sashimi vs Sushi

88. Changed: ALTERED.

89. Sheltered place: LEE SIDE.

90. Hems and __: HAWS.

91. Physics dept.: SCI.

92. Aerie hatchlings: EAGLETS.  Aerie (a variant of eyrie) is the nest of an eagle, falcon, hawk, or other bird of prey.

I photographed this osprey on its huge nest atop a post in the middle of a Minnesota highway in 2023.

94. Sort of: IN PART.

95. "Normal People" author Sally: ROONEY.  Sally Rooney is an Irish author who has published four novels: Conversations with Friends (2017), Normal People (2018), Beautiful World, Where Are You (2021), and Intermezzo (2024). The first two were adapted into television miniseries.

99. 34-Down, for one: DISC.  Ah, yes, pogs.

100. Some workout spots: YMCAs.

101. Turn-only lane symbol: ARROW.

102. Indian lute: SITAR.

106. Falls back: EBBS.

108. Wistful sigh: AH ME.

110. "Breathe Me" singer: SIA.  "Breathe Me" is a 2004 song by Australian singer Sia featured on the album "Colour the Small One."  All I can say is, thank goodness for perpendicular entries.

112. Regency, for "Bridgerton": ERA.  Any Bridgerton fans here?  I prefer my historical dramas to be a little more historical.  

113. "__ luck?": ANY.

114. 401(k) kin: IRA.

115. Ripken of baseball: CAL.

116. __ out a victory: EKE.

Here's the grid:

Did you love it?  Or did you give it the Cold Shoulder?

NaomiZ

Sunday October 27, 2024 John Lieb

Theme: "Interview With the Vampire" - Each common phrase contains a vampire-related word and rephrased as Vampire's answer to an question. 

 23. "What is your least favorite form of advertising?": CROSS PROMOTIONS.

 34. "What pricing advice do you have for garden centers?": RAISE THE STAKES.

 51. "What aspect of your personality are you working on?": SELF-REFLECTION.

 68. "What would you wear, say, when spending St. Patrick's Day in Madrid?": CAPE VERDE.

 85. "Not to put you on the spot, but who is your favorite pet?": BAT ONE THOUSAND.

 97. "What investment do you recommend to your fellow creatures of the night?": CRYPTOCURRENCY.

115. "Above all else, what must your minions be?": DOWN FOR THE COUNT.

We've seen a few Vampire puzzles in the past, but none with this approach. Perfect title. I'm sure this puzzle starts the title first. I don't recall a Sunday grid with two 15-letter non-theme fill. Stunning. John is a great themeless constructor.

I mentioned before that John (upper left) runs the Boswords. The guy on the upper right is Andrew Kingsley. And you all know the third guy.

Across:

1. Texas A&M athlete: AGGIE. Agnes's niece calls her "Aunt Aggie".

6. Foldable dish: TACO.

10. Study like mad: CRAM. You need 14. Nightstand lights: LAMPS and 19. Hotel bookings: ROOMS.

20. Wrinkle remover: IRON.

21. Georgetown athlete: HOYA.

22. Words of empathy: I CARE.

26. Edible Arrangements bit: MELON. Not famliar with Edible Arrangements.

27. Australian hub, for short: SYD. Sydney Airport.

28. Starters: A TEAM.

29. March Madness openers?: EMS. Starting letters of March Madness.

30. Last part: TAIL END.

32. Procedures: WAYS.

37. Les États-__: UNIS.

39. High pts.: MTS.

40. Spanish gold: ORO.

41. Depends (on): RELIES.

44. She, in Lisbon: ELA.

46. Phillies slugger Harper: BRYCE. Boomer would have proudly told you that he owned Harper's rookie card. We also have 42. Pitcher's stat: ERA. 99. BoSox rivals: YANKS.

48. HDTV choice: LCD.

55. Domed homes: IGLOOS.

57. Help at a wedding, informally: USH.

58. Took a spill: ATE IT.

59. Former SCOTUS monogram: RBG. Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

60. Sunscreen: PARASOL. I probably would have added ?

61. Garish: LOUD.

63. Does harm to: INJURES.

65. Pink cat in "Garfield": ARLENE.

66. "Tomorrow" musical: ANNIE.

70. Aquarium fish: TETRA.

73. Soy-based meat alternative: TEMPEH. Not fond of its taste. 

75. Inorganic: MINERAL.

77. Sealed: SHUT.

78. Rum cocktails: MAI TAIS.

80. Finish with zero cards in Uno, say: WIN.

81. Couldn't stand still, say: PACED.

83. Musician Brian: ENO.

84. Throat part: TONSIL.

88. Math subj.: ALG.

89. 1970s Renault model: LE CAR.

91. Fútbol cheer: OLE.

92. Pan-fried: SAUTED.

93. Sis or bro: SIB.

94. "It's __-brainer!": A NO.

96. Missives: Abbr.: LTRS.

105. Trickster of the 109-Across: LOKI. 109. Norse pantheon: AESIR.

107. Title girl in a No. 1 song by the Knack: SHARONA.

108. Poetic contraction: OER. And 111. Poetic contraction: TIS.

114. __ grigio: PINOT.

119. Oft-taped joint for athletes: ANKLE.

120. Alan of "Bridge of Spies": ALDA.

121. Running shoe brand: AVIA.

122. Actress McDonald with six Tony Awards: AUDRA. She also has two Grammys.

123. Bouquets, at a vineyard: NOSES.

124. Articulates: SAYS.

125. "Roundball Rock" composer John: TESH.

126. Guide: STEER.

Down:

1. Shuttlecock paths: ARCS.

2. Like some horror movies: GORY.

3. Film with the Boston-accented line "How do you like them apples?": GOOD WILL HUNTING. Such a good movie. Partnered with a great 48. "Enough with your sass!": LOSE THE ATTITUDE.

4. Some online exchanges, briefly: IMS.

5. Composition: ESSAY.

6. Run out of steam: TIRE.

7. Like a cheering crowd: AROAR.

8. Grammatical pause: COMMA.

9. Musician Yoko: ONO. 12. Author Rand: AYN. 16. Oscar winner Rami: MALEK. 82. "Dance the Night" singer Lipa: DUA. All regulars in our grids.
 
10. Wind __: CHIMES.

11. Perch: ROOST.

13. Virtuosity: MASTERY. People were often surprised when I told them that Boomer had 20 perfect games. He would have turned 77 today. This photo was taken in 2002. Myrtle Beach.

14. Maximum or minimum: LIMIT.

15. Northeast Corridor train: ACELA.

17. Given (to): PRONE.

18. Elates: SENDS.

24. NBA stat: Abbr.: PTS.

25. "This is only a __": TEST.

31. Standoffish: ASOCIAL.

33. "Yeah, right!": AS IF.

35. Apple desktop: IMAC.

36. Shofar, e.g.: HORN. Shofars are used for Jewish religious purposes, according to Wikipedia.

37. "The Little Mermaid" witch: URSULA.

38. Liam of "Taken": NEESON.

43. Org. looking for alien life: SETI.

44. Seder prophet: ELIJAH.

45. Relent: LET UP.

46. Peaty wetland: BOG.

47. Everglades bird: EGRET.

49. Murmur: COO.

50. Broadband letters: DSL.

52. Yard dividers: FENCES.

53. Golf great Lee: TREVINO. He used to be here for the 3M Championship. Always in the same group as Jack Nicklaus & Gary Player.

54. "Peer Gynt" playwright: IBSEN.

56. Highway divisions: LANES.

60. Deliver a sermon: PREACH.

62. Meal plans: DIETS.

64. Send payment: REMIT.

65. Classified stat: AD RATE.

67. Inbox message: EMAIL.

69. Drive off: REPEL.

71. Athlete in a triathlon's last leg: RUNNER.

72. Holding conflicting views: AT ODDS. With.

74. Supplies additional criticism: PILES ON.

76. Many August babies: LEOS.

78. NYC subway org.: MTA.

79. Early ISP: AOL.

80. "One, two, three, four, I declare a thumb __!": WAR.

85. Hindu "sir": BABU.

86. Midday: NOON.

87. Brood: SULK.

90. Noisy insects: CICADAS. Tasty when fried. 

94. Sports venues: ARENAS.

95. Foam toy material: NERF.

97. Channel created as a community service: C-SPAN.

98. Thick-skinned herbivore: RHINO.

100. Member of the working class: PROLE. Short for proletariat.

101. "For sure!": TOTES.

102. Rambunctious: ROWDY.

103. Make one's mark, in a way: CARVE.

104. Legendary Himalayans: YETIS. Called "Xue Ren" in Chinese, literally "snowman".

105. Tell tales: LIE.

106. Black-and-white whales: ORCAS.

110. Deposed Iranian ruler: SHAH.

112. Memo starter: IN RE.

113. Coveted symbol in Dr. Seuss's "The Sneetches": STAR.

116. Lisbon greeting: OLA.

117. Cheerios grain: OAT.

118. Tennis call: OUT.

I'd like to recommend this puzzle book to you guys. You can read this blog post from Brooke Husic. I don't remember solving a puzzle book with constructor notes. Quite a few LAT constructors have a puzzle in the collection. Just from my puzzle answer sheet page, I see Rafa Musa, Darby Ratliff and Adam Aaronson (yesterday's constructor).

C.C.