Sunday, October, 15, 2017, C.C. Burnikel

TITLE: EATS UP

Husker Gary here, reporting  on the Sunday Edition of Puzzles With C.C. Today our peerless leader has given us a nice gimmick where the circles you see below in the puzzle contain hidden EATS that are running UP the grid:

Her reveal is not in the puzzle but rather in the title of EATS UP. Clever and fun.

Here are the Theme Answers where I decided to picture the inclusive activity as I'm certain you're familiar with the EATS that I will put in black boxes:

3. Track activity, to Brits : MOTOR RACING

6. Lava : MOLTEN ROCK - Who would be stupid enough to run up MOLTEN ROCK? Wait a minute...

11. "Lucky Guy" was her last play : NORA EPHRON - Famous for her "Chick Flicks"

14. Minnesota's annual one is held in Falcon Heights : STATE FAIR - It's about an hour's drive south of C.C.'s house

38. Time-out at work : COFFEE BREAK - Even in France

72. Boston Marathon Expo display : RUNNING GEAR - How 'bout strobe lights for visibility? 

76. "Tsk tsk" : THATS A PITY - One option

78. Pet shelter's concern : ANIMAL CARE - Too much?

82. Topper made from the jipijapa (hee pee HAH puh) palm : PANAMA HAT - The leaves of the palm with this beautiful flower

Now let's feast on the rest of C.C.'s bounteous word banquet:

Across  

1. Octopus octet : ARMS

5. Pro-__: fundraisers : AMS - Hey if you're Matt Lauer and playing in a PRO-AM, you're pretty happy to get paired with Michelle Wei!

8. Looks over quickly : SCANS

13. "Hey, you!" : PSST

17. Backyard raft : POOL FLOAT

BORZOI

20. Russian wolfhound : BORZOI and 12. PBS "Science Kid" : SID made up my one bad cell as I went with a Y instead of the I. 

21. Jazz home : UTAH - NBA team

22. "Just kidding" : NOT REALLY

23. On deck : ABOARD

24. Pasta sauce brand : RAGU - Created by Alberto Alvisi, the cook for the Cardinal of Imola, in the late 18th century 

25. Pandora genre : EMO

26. Annoyed : NETTLED

28. The Heart of Dixie: Abbr. : ALA 

29. They have strings attached : KITES

30. Comparable to a beet : AS RED

32. Gave the once-over : EYED

33. Driver's reservation? : TEE TIME - Also a putter's reservation

35. Run the country : REIGN

37. CDs and LPs : REC'S - We don't have an LP player anymore but I think our CD player works

40. Like two peas in __ : A POD

41. Supplied in a comedy skit, as straight lines : FED - Nobody did it better than George

44. The Pac-12's Golden Bears : CAL

45. LAX abbr. : ARR

47. Pitch indicator : NOTE - Knowing the NOTE doesn't mean you can 79. Carry __: sing on pitch : A TUNE

49. Supply with fluid : HYDRATE 

51. Safari runners? : MACS - As you can see, I am using the Safari Browser to blog this puzzle on my MacBook Pro

52. The puck stops here : GOAL - It's dangerous and scary when they go into the stands

54. Reasons for missing school : FEVERS

56. Article in Der Spiegel : EINE

57. Pink Floyd label : EMI

58. Iridescent shell lining : NACRE (NAY ker) - It can be beautiful

59. Biceps, for one : FLEXOR - Each FLEXOR requires an extensor

60. Soho stroller : PRAM

61. Perfect __ : TENSE

63. "The Piano" actor : KEITEL

65. Like a locked bathroom : IN USE

67. "Mmm, delish!" : SO GOOD - Yeah, that's what I thought of first too!

69. Japan is in it : FAR EAST

71. Fire starters : SPARKS

75. Team up : UNITE

77. Brand for cold sores : ABREVA



80. Was visibly moved : WEPT - Shortest verse in the Bible

83. Begin successor : SHAMIR - Yitzahk SHAMIR

85. Harry's love : GINNY - Harry Potter's main squeeze

87. Negative link : NOR

88. "Dies __" : IRAE - A true vet of the crossword wars

89. Tell the teacher : TATTLE

90. Where the Indus flows : ASIA - From the Himalayas to the Arabian Sea 

91. Org. for the Sky, the Stars and the Sun : WNBA

92. Went wild : RAN RIOT - New to me but makes sense



94. Sign of approval : SEAL - The siding on my house has this famous SEAL of approval

96. Chum, in Cherbourg : AMI

97. __ Majesty : HIS

98. Pueblo pronoun : ESA

99. -ish, after a number : OR SO 


101. Old theaters : RKOS - It appears a lot of sailors are at the RKO in Rochester, NY in 1964 to see Ensign Pulver

103. Firing offense? : ARSON

105. Big Sky Brewing Company home : MONTANA - I wonder if our blogger Montana has had a Big Sky product during the drought up there

108. PC key used in combinations : CTRL - I was wearing out CTRL+ALT +DEL when was was using PC products

110. Zoo keepers : CAGES

113. Lasting marks : SCARS - Some are not visible

115. Bench for a flock : PEW

116. "Casablanca" setting : MOROCCO - This is how Bogie could seem as tall as Ingrid Bergman in that setting

118. Kaplan Test Prep focus: Abbr. : GRE - Graduate Record Exam

119. "Funny joke!" : HA HA

120. Loud insect : CICADA - We have had a noisy fall with them






122. Flat across the pond? : APARTMENT - 

125. Classic game consoles : ATARIS - Pong was very addictive when it came out

126. "This looks bad for us!" : WE'RE TOAST

127. Shelter adoptees : PETS - Our Lily's former home

128. Heat-resistant glass : PYREX

129. Drops at dawn : DEW

130. "Symphony in Black" artist : ERTE  - Said to be his most famous painting and the one most indicative of his style. Yeah, I knew that! 😏


Down

1. Temporary lack of inspiration? : APNEA - C.C. at her clever best! Inspiration here, of course, means breathing in

2. Shangri-La offerings : ROOMS

4. 35mm camera type : SLR

5. Wings, in zoology : ALAE - Plural of ALA (wing)

7. Like miso, typically : SALTY

8. Cry out loud : SOB

9. Many a University of Zagreb student : CROAT

10. Augusta National shrub : AZALEA - The AZALEAS at Augusta tell you spring is here!

13. Holiday in the month of Adar : PURIM

15. Guru : SAGE - Here's one (see the subtitle) that has a house 30 min. from me

16. As a result : THUS - Sic Semper Tyrannis (THUS always to tyrants)

18. Luxury handbag : FENDI - I know C.C. likes nice purses

19. President between Harrison and Polk : TYLER - He became president when Tippecanoe (William Henry Harrison) died a month into the office

20. Spoiled : BAD

27. Adam's garden : EDEN

29. Captain of the Adventure Galley : KIDD - Captain KIDD's boat was called the Adventure Galley or simply the Adventure

31. Sushi fish : EELS

34. Former FAO Schwarz parent : TOYS R US

36. Lady of pop : GAGA

39. Outstanding : STELLAR - There's this lady in Minneapolis who is a STELLAR puzzle constructor 

42. Sicilian hot spot : ETNA

43. View as : DEEM


44. Engraved jewelry item : CAMEO which is an  124. 44-Down shape : OVAL

46. Perfect game, e.g. : RARE FEAT - Baseball fans will immediately think of Don Larsen in 1956

48. Adam's love : EVE

50. Run over : REPEAT

51. Team covered at amazinavenue.com : METS - It's been a while since the METS have been amazin' 

53. Princess with a twin brother : LEIA

55. Permit to leave : EXIT VISA

58. Night light : NEON

62. Sotomayor replaced him : SOUTER - There's an ideological struggle rather than a legal one when replacements are named 


64. Mobile home : TRAILER - This would seem to be a tough city in which to sell mobile homes

66. Fix, as a pet : SPAY

68. Twist : DISTORT

70. Genesis creator : SEGA

73. Drawer openers : KNOBS

74. Toxin fighters : SERA

80. Finish line : WIRE

81. Mound stats : ERAS

84. K2 and Hood: Abbr. : MTS

86. Wax Ready-Strips maker : NAIR

91. "Easy there!" : WHOA

93. Charged bits : IONS

95. Bonkers : LOCO

100. Garage capacity : ONE CAR - Barely...

102. Juice bar freebie : STRAW

104. "Dilbert" creator Adams : SCOTT

106. Doctoral hurdles : ORALS

107. In the know : AWARE

109. Drew (in) : ROPED - I don't think I could be ROPED into buying the painting below

111. Max of Dadaism : ERNST - He and ERTE were only one year apart in age but their art seemed far apart

112. Sicilian seven : SETTE

113. Hit the mall : SHOP

114. Way into the mountain : CAVE

116. More, to Miguel : MAS - After being taunted by Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran reportedly said NO MAS and quit

117. Backstage staff : CREW

120. Limit : CAP

121. Fort in New Jersey : DIX - One M*A*S*H episode had all the crew pose for a picture to try to convince Klinger's mother that he was at Fort Dix not Korea 

123. Toon bartender Szyslak : MOE

After you ATE UP C.C.'s puzzle, let's hear your savory comments: 

Sunday October 8, 2017 Paul Coulter

 Theme: "Top This!" - Seven food items and their toppers are stacked.

18. Know one's __: master a subject : ONIONS

22. It's not a teeny wienie : FOOTLONG HOTDOG

24. Gusto : RELISH

27. Cookout favorite : HAMBURGER

43. Lively Cuban dance : SALSA

50. Crunchy snack choice : TORTILLA CHIP
 
60. Big __ : CHEESE

66. Trattoria selection : SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS. Grid spanner is not easy to maneuver for a 21*21 grid.

 
81. Green shade : LIME

86. Beef on the patio : GRILLED STEAK
 
99. "Drab" color : OLIVE

109. Dorm breakfast, maybe : COLD PIZZA
  
112. Nabisco noshes : OREOS

116. Dessert with syrup : ICE  CREAM SUNDAE - Dessert is saved as the last themer. How fitting.

Six of the toppers are clued as non-food related. OREOS is an exception. There are just no other ways to clue OREOS.

This type of stacked theme is notoriously hard to pull it off cleanly. Hence Paul's extra four black squares in this grid.
 
Across:
      
1. Seabird related to the booby : GANNET. Wiki says "Gannet" is derived from Old English ganot "strong or masculine". It does look very strong.

7. Bold & Crispy Fries maker : ORE-IDA. We also have a few other food items: 58. Hero : SUB. 102. Deli bread : RYE. 103. Saigon soup : PHO.  19. "The one who makes it, takes it" breakfast brand : EGGO.  78. Juicy fruit : PEAR. 111. Pasta choice : ZITI
  
13. Rural "reckon" : S'POSE

19. It's intoxicating : ETHANOL

20. Willow twigs : OSIERS. Our old friend.

25. Place to put down stakes?: Abbr. : OTB. Nice clue as well.

26. Learned ones : SAGES

29. Marsh growths : REEDS

32. For, to Fernando : POR

33. Org. that does searches : TSA

35. "The Kiss" sculptor : RODIN

36. Seine feeder : OISE. EURE as well.

38. Chain that sells Grand Slam breakfasts : DENNY'S. Boomer would love this.

40. Masterpieces : GEMS

45. New Zealand native : MAORI

47. The Beatles' "__ Mine" : I ME

49. One-eighty : UIE Also 50. Eighty-six : TOSS

52. Confident solver's choice : PEN. Pen and Wite-Out here.


53. Gardner of mystery : ERLE. Gimme for regulars.

54. Major work : OPUS

55. "Et voilà!" : TA DA

56. Three-time NFL rushing yards leader Adrian : PETERSON. He was with the Vikings for a long time.

 59. Some sodas : RCs

65. "Big Blue" : IBM. Hi there, T!
 
73. Unagi or anago : EEL

74. Antenna housing : RADOME. Learning moment to me.

75. Parisian pronoun : ILS. They.

76. Federation in OPEC : UAE

77. Please : APPEAL TO

83. Magazine founder Eric : UTNE

84. Stink : REEK

85. "Exodus" hero : ARI

90. Canal locale : EAR

91. Seoul soldier : ROK. Republic of Korea. Chinese military force is called PLA (People's Liberation Army).

92. Closely packed : DENSE. Also 124. Bright circle? : MENSA. Those not in the "Bright circle" are in the less bright DENSA.

93. Rwandan people : TUTSI

94. Oil acronym : ARCO. Atlantic Richfield Company.

96. Some polytheists : PAGANS

98. "Coriolanus" setting : ROME
 
105. High-quality : PRIME

114. Reverse pic : NEG

115. Serious plays : DRAMAS
 

121. Take back to the lab : RE-TEST. I've relapsed in my quiet for more iron-rich food.
 
122. Stretched to the limit : TENSEST. Also  126. Least ingenuous : SLYEST. Most puzzles' bottom edges are S-rich.
 
123. Gets in shape : TRAINS
 
125. Worthy principles : IDEALS

 Down:

1. Enjoy : GO FOR

2. Make __ of: write down : A NOTE

3. Weeper of myth : NIOBE. She was turned into a stone.


4. Excluding : NOT

5. Blowup: Abbr. : ENL

6. Chinese menu possessive : TSO'S. Chicken does taste better when breaded and fried.

7. Catchall category : OTHER

8. P's on frat jackets : RHOs

9. Dig in, so to speak : EAT. Tiny clue dupes with 61. Ate : HAD

10. Lake Mich. state : IND

11. He played Scotty on "Star Trek" : DOOHAN. Forgot.

12. Pond growth : ALGA


13. TV's Hercules Kevin __ : SORBO.  I forgot his name also.

14. Pretentious sort : PSEUD

15. Offshore equipment : OIL RIG

16. Feudal lords : SEIGNEURS. New word to me.

17. Language that gave us "plaid" : ERSE
 
21. Nasdaq unit: Abbr. : SHR

23. Pickup place? : NAPE. Pet.

28. Hook's mate : MR. SMEE

30. Knuckleheads : DOLTS

31. Amigo's assent : SI SI

33. Garr of "Mr. Mom" : TERI

34. Impertinent sort : SNIP

37. Dispenser made obsolete by the shaker : SALT CELLAR. So many nice salts and salt shakers at Bed Bath & Beyond.

38. Cry from Homer : D'OH

39. Winner's cry : YIPPEE

41. Cat pal of Otis : MILO

42. Caught in the act : SEEN


43. Absorb : SOP UP

44. Its capital is Oranjestad : ARUBA

45. "Spy vs. Spy" magazine : MAD

46. Mimosa family tree : ACACIA

48. Eligible for : ENTITLED TO

51. At the back of the pack : LAST

53. Aunt with a "Cope Book" : ERMA

57. Drops off : EBBS

59. Seehorn of "Better Call Saul" : RHEA. Don't know her.

62. "Another Green World" musician : ENO

63. Oilers, on NHL scoreboards : EDM (Edmonton)

64. Seems suspicious : SMELLS

67. Nerd : GEEK

68. Horse-drawn vehicle : TROIKA

69. Parisian lover's word : AIME

70. Fretted instruments : LUTES

71. Hawaiian island : LANAI. Owned by Steve's boss Larry Ellison.

72. Hunt for : SEEK

77. Carpeting calculation : AREA

79. Brew, in a way : PERCOLATE

80. Saint-__: French Riviera resort : TROPEZ

82. Martinique, par exemple : ILE

83. Complete : UTTER

86. Aussie greeting : G'DAY

87. Mathematician Descartes : RENE

88. Election winners : INs

89. Water collection pit : SUMP

95. "No Country for __" : OLD MEN. Directed by the Coen Brothers.

97. Adorned : GRACED

98. One of nine Clue cards : ROOM

100. Bridge declaration : I PASS

101. Windows XP successor : VISTA

103. Cider maker : PRESS. Honeycrisp season. $1.99/lb at our local Cub Foods.

104. Recipe verb : HEAT

106. Many a Sundance film : INDIE

107. Stands for : MEANS

108. Discharge : EGEST

109. USN officer : CDR. Our Spitzboov retired as a Commander. Also 120. Stubborn sailor's response : NAY. 

110. City near Provo : OREM

112. Baseball's Hershiser : OREL

113. Retired fliers : SSTS

117. Charlotte-to-Raleigh dir. : ENE

118. Civil War letters : CSA

119. Modern address : URL

Here is a picture I grabbed from Misty's Facebook. It's from her 55th high school reunion. She's with her classmates Irene and Bonnie.

Left to Right: Misty, Irene & Bonnie

Happy birthday to dear Jayce, who's been with our blog for eight years. Jayce reads every blog post and comment carefully and his posts are always thoughtful and caring.

Jayce also speaks fluent Chinese, hence his unique way of understanding my quirks. Off the blog, he's a great friend. Always there to help me when I' need his advice on blood pressure, diet, or any problem I might encounter.

Jayce, June 2013, Santa Barbara