Sunday April 14, 2019 Jeffrey Wechsler

Theme: "I Candy"- A is replaced by AI in each theme entry, and short A sound becomes long A sound.

23A. Ryder Cup two-man team?: PAIR FOR THE COURSE. Par for the course.

34A. Locally organized event with rides and games?: FAIR FROM HOME. Far from home.

 

66A. Signpost signaling farmland?: PLAINS AHEAD. Plans ahead.

93A. Source of Capitol Hill water?: CONGRESS MAIN. Congressman.

112A. Overworked employee at a desert diner?: HOT RUNNING WAITER. Hot running water.

 

16D. Periodical for some Downton Abbey employees?: MAID MAGAZINE. Mad magazine.

59D. Only bucket you'll ever need?: LIFELONG PAIL. Lifelong pal.

D-Otto caught the extra short A to long A sound change. He said "Pair" sounds like "Payer". But to me and Agnes, "Pair" just sounds like "Pare".

The great Jeffrey confirmed D-Otto's observations. It is common practice for clues and titles of puzzles to be edited. Because Jeffrey thought the given title might not have touched on the full extent of his theme (suggesting only the addition of an "I"), he offered the comment placed at the end of the review.


Jeffrey is an expert in letter addition/removal/substitution themes. There's always something extra in his theme, extra layer. Or long strings of letter gimmick others would not even imagine.

The grid design is also very Jeffrey. Stacks of 8's and 7's on tops rather than our standard 4's and 5's.

Across:

1. Stationery item with printed margin lines: LEGAL PAD.

9. Arrive with a flourish: SWEEP IN.

16. Artistic dynasty: MING. Vases! Tang Dynasty is more artistic. Golden age in Chinese civilization. Greatest period of poetry, painting, woodblock printing, etc.  Its capital was in Xi'an.

20. Haydn's "The Creation," for one: ORATORIO.

21. Casual beer order: TALL ONE.

22. Suzette's gal pal: AMIE.

25. Othello deceiver: IAGO.

26. MLB info: STATS.

27. Virus' protein shell: CAPSID. Learning moment for me. Looks like teeth.

28. Moved with effort: TRUDGED.

30. Bunk array: COTS.

31. Cinque e uno: SEI.

33. Gooey treat: S'MORE.

41. Photogenic expanse: VISTA.

44. Copied, old-style: DITTOED.

45. Wilder's "__ Town": OUR.

46. Occultist symbol: PENTAGRAM. Five-pointed star.

50. Lazy ones: IDLERS. And 51. Little ones: TOTS.

52. Look too closely?: OGLE.

53. Rhyme scheme in Frost's "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening": AABA.

54. Boop frame: CEL.

55. Blunt, as reality: STARK. Not HARSH.

57. Zagreb native: CROAT.

58. Biblical mount: ZION.

59. Cad: LOUSE.

60. Pass: ENACT.

62. Don of talk radio: IMUS.

63. Choir group: ALTI.

70. Evening, in ads: NITE.

71. Kale unit: LEAF.

72. Memorial __ Kettering: NYC hospital: SLOAN.

73. Less than right?: ACUTE. Nailed it.

75. Unthreatening: TAME.

76. Sewing cases: ETUIS.

78. Brush brand: ORAL-B.

79. Rock bass supplier?: AMP.

82. "The __ that men do lives after them": Antony: EVIL.

83. Wang of fashion: VERA. Wang means "king" in Chinese. #1 surname in China. Simple to write. See?

84. Some beer orders, initially: PBRS.

86. Immature insects: LARVAE.

88. Moved: RELOCATED.

90. Okinawa okay: HAI. Same in Cantonese.

91. "Just watch me!": HERE I GO. Sparkly fill.

92. More clement: NICER.

95. Europe's longest river: VOLGA.

98. Vulcano of "Impractical Jokers": SAL. No idea. But I like the new clue angle.

100. Stare open-mouthed: GAWP.

101. Frozen treats: ICE POPS.

104. City near Mount Rainier: YAKIMA.

106. Exemplar of corporate malfeasance: ENRON.

111. Medical lab liquids: SERA.

116. Wells people: ELOI. "The Time Machine".

117. Words of desperation, perhaps: I NEED IT.

118. Metaphorical scrutiny, in modern lingo: DEEP DIVE. Thorough analysis.

119. Nursery staple: SOIL. Still lots of snow in our yard.

120. Charge for using: LEASE TO.

121. Took stock of: ASSESSED.

Down:

1. Cut: LOP.

2. Times to remember: ERAS.

3. Track pace: GAIT.

4. Big name in razors: ATRA.

5. Hit in the 7-Down: LOFT. 7. See 5-Down: AIR.

6. They know the ropes: PROS.

8. Many a late '90s startup: DOTCOM.

9. Leaves the office for a bit: STEPS OUT. VA Radiation Department has a "No Smoking in This Area" sign outside the entrance. Alas, you could still find someone smoking there before or after their session.

10. WWII females: WACS.

11. Plaza Hotel imp: ELOISE.

12. Get away from: ELUDE.

13. __ favor: POR.

14. Part of MIT: Abbr.: INST.

15. At no time, poetically: NEER.

17. Mature insect: IMAGO.

18. Neighbor of Chad: NIGER.

19. Crystal-bearing rock: GEODE.

24. One holding a derby?: HAT HOOK. Great clue/fill.

29. Open org.: USTA.

30. Fish-and-chips fish: COD. Boomer now eats fish every Friday and goes to church every Sunday. He's a good Catholic now, after lapsing for many many years.

32. "No need to shout": I'VE GOT EARS. Not a phrase I use. I'll answer this to Boomer next time.

34. Banking org. since 1933: FDIC.

35. One might run an errand: AIDE.

36. "__ take a while": IT'LL.

37. GPS datum: RTE.

38. "Too little payment __ great a debt": Shak.: FOR SO.

39. Relax between games: REST UP.

40. Union title?: MRS.

42. Visiting the Griffith Observatory, say: IN LA.

43. Editor's mark: STET.

46. Place for a rocker: PORCH.

47. Spider-Man films director: RAIMI (Sam). I thought he was married to Kate Winslet before. Nope. It's Sam Mendes, who directed the "Skyfall" and "Spectre".

48. In the area of: ABOUT.

49. Cleric's residence: MANSE.

51. They work on books: TREASURERS.

56. How to talk to the hand?: Abbr.: ASL.

57. "The Godfather" actor: CAAN (James). Hotheaded Sonny Corleone

60. Genesis grandson: ENOS.

61. Clandestine org.: NSA.

63. Transmogrify, e.g.: ALTER.

64. Get going: LEAVE.

65. Sri Lankan people: TAMIL.

67. Homeric epic: ILIAD.

68. 2010 health law: Abbr.: ACA.

69. Airport serving Washington: DULLES.

74. Ski resort helpers: T BARS.

76. Pre-hurricane emergency op: EVAC.

77. Footballer's tool, in France: TETE.

78. Literally, "folding paper": ORIGAMI.

79. Sports shoe brand: AVIA.

80. Star trek figures?: MAGI. Lovely clue.

81. Low-level laborer: PEON.

84. Saigon soup: PHO. They were inspired by Cantonese rice noodles. No basil latter though. We tend to sprinkle sliced green onion or cilantro on top of noodles.

Vietnamese Pho

Cantonese Beef Noodle

85. Ram: BANG INTO.

87. Sleep stage: REM.

89. "See you later!": CIAO.

91. Old-school "cool": HEP.

93. Artist Monet: CLAUDE.

94. Its capital is Kigali: RWANDA. Thankfully KIGALI is not the answer.

95. Carpentry shop gadgets: VISES.

96. Kitchen sponge brand: OCELO.

97. The king of France?: LE ROI.

99. Old-time actor Lew: AYRES.

102. February forecaster from Punxsutawney: PHIL.

103. Sound measure: SONE.

105. Make woolens, say: KNIT. And 106. They're woolly: EWES.

107. Travel pillow spot: NAPE.

108. Clears (of): RIDS.

109. Redding of blues: OTIS.

110. "Party of Five" actress Campbell: NEVE.

113. In-flight drink option: TEA.

114. Some appliances: GES.

115. Like most of Denmark's flag: RED.

C.C.

Note from Jeffrey:

"I’ve become particularly alert to this type of situation ever since Jeff Chen reviewed a NYT puzzle by me and thought the theme gimmick was rather weak. Upon learning that the theme was a bit more complex than he originally thought (it also involved the consistent pairing of one letter with another added letter), he edited his comments to be much more positive about the theme. My Sunday puzzle’s gimmick is comparable to that of the NYT puzzle, so it is susceptible to precisely the same partial interpretation. Of course, this may seem like (and probably is, to most people) a rather small matter. But we crossword constructors are an unusual bunch, and such niceties are part and parcel of our attempts at creativity" 

Jeffrey and Mike Alpern, ACPT, 3/23/2019

Sunday April 7, 2019 Paul Coulter

Theme: "Just Desserts" - One word in each common phrase is replaced by a soundalike dessert.

22A. Sure sign that Spot got into today's dessert?: PUDDING ON THE DOG. Putting on the dog.

35A. Krispy Kreme rep's agenda?: DOUGHNUT CALL LIST. Do Not Call list.

52A. Ice cream order toppings?: SUNDAE SUPPLEMENTS. Sunday supplements. I call it "Sunday magazines".

77A. Final roadside stop for an eggy treat?: CUSTARDS' LAST STAND. Custer's Last Stand.

92A. "You've made the Heath bar perfectly!"?: THAT'S A REAL TOFFEE.

113A. "Nice apple tart, Christopher"?: GOOD PIE, COLUMBUS. Goodbye, Columbus.

Is the original phrase for 92A "That's a real doozy"?
 
Paul is a very creative constructor who loves food and find inspirations in his food. Remember this "Top This" puzzle? See how he approaches his food themes so differently.

Paul Coulter/Matt G Contest

Across:

1. "Beat it!": SCAT.

5. Rubberneck: GAWK.

9. Preserve, in a way: SALT. You all know I love pickled veggies. Herrings too.

13. Grammar topic: USAGE.

18. "East of Eden" director Kazan: ELIA.

19. Only part of Egypt in Asia: SINAI.

20. Brio: ELAN.

21. Bedouin, e.g.: NOMAD.

25. Doubtful story: FABLE.

26. Cause of a stir?: TEASPOON. Nice clue.

27. Nutritious beans: SOYAS. Countable?

28. Metaphorical fate of a hatchet?: BURIAL. Bury the hatchet.

29. HuffPost owner: AOL.

30. Prefix with phobia: ACRO.

31. Damage: MAR.

32. APO mail recipients: GIS.

43. Medicinal plants: SENNAS. Laxative.

45. Beams: RAYS.

46. Give birth to: HAVE.

47. Boris Godunov, for one: TSAR.

48. Broadcast sign: ON AIR.

49. NFL six-pointers: TDS.

50. Kopf, across the border: TETE. German/French for "head".

51. Agitate: RILE.

58. Prof's aides: TAS.

59. Appear that way: SEEM SO.

60. Record holder: LINER.

61. Rose garden pests: APHIDS.

63. Run out, as a subscription: LAPSE. We need our local Star Tribune. Important part of our morning routine.

65. NYSE debut: IPO.

66. Request before a shot: SMILE.

68. Remain at home: STAY IN.

71. Coil of yarn: SKEIN.

73. Passes: ENACTS.

76. Campaign trail pro: POL.

82. Ness, for example: LOCH.

84. Soviet news acronym: TASS. Xinhua for China. Literally "new China". Largest news agency in the world.

85. Double curve: ESS.

86. One washing off the driveway: HOSER.

87. Langston Hughes poem: I TOO.

88. Light-seeking flier: MOTH.

89. Slew: SCAD.

91. __ Beach: South Carolina resort: MYRTLE. Boomer and I went there for a golf trip hundreds of years ago.

96. One of two in seven: Abbr.: SYL. Syllable.

97. Exist: ARE.

98. Blows it: ERRS.

99. Bygone Ford: LTD.

101. Tropical lizard: IGUANA.

105. "The __ Witch Project": BLAIR.

107. Italian almond biscuits: AMARETTI. Never had it.

112. Boy with a bow: CUPID.

115. Chip away at: ERODE.

116. It's sometimes enough: ONCE.

117. They're not idlers: DOERS.

118. "Buddenbrooks" author: MANN.

119. One tweaking pitches: TUNER.

120. Style: VEIN.

121. "As I Lay Dying" father: ANSE. Regular in our old Tribune Media days.

122. Q.E.D. part: ERAT.

Down:

1. Half of quatorze: SEPT. 14/7 in French.

2. Whodunit game: CLUE.

3. "O patria mia" singer: AIDA.

4. Young boys: TADS.

5. Paid male escort: GIGOLO. I learned this word from the Richard Gere movie.

6. Like some quotes: Abbr.: ANON.

7. Pale: WAN.

8. Like plastic pink flamingos: KITSCHY.

9. "Later": SEE YOU.

10. "The West Wing" actor: ALDA.

11. Golden Triangle country: LAOS. They eat long-grain sticky rice every day. In China, we mostly use sticky rice (short grain) in desserts.

12. Sci-fi spin-off before "DS9": TNG. The Next Generation.

13. Roll out: UNFURL.

14. Enjoy a view from on high: SOAR.

15. Both: Pref.: AMBI.

16. Big party: GALA.

17. Henry James biographer Leon: EDEL. Another old regular.

19. Hair holders: SNOODS.

23. Draft pick: IPA.

24. They're heard in jams: HORNS. Traffic jams.

28. Barn bundle: BALE.  Spitzboov grew up on a farm.

30. Dumbfounded: AGASP.

31. Expert: MAVEN.

32. Classification between family and species: GENUS.

33. Absurd: INANE.

34. Dudley's toon foe: SNIDELY. Where's our Dudley?

36. Hindustani language: URDU.

37. English assignment: THEME.

38. Does a reception job: CATERS.

39. Env. enclosure: LTR.

40. Query in Matthew: IS IT I.

41. Food at a bar: SALAD. Have any of you tried lotus root salad? Delicious! Lotus roots are hard to harvest and are very expensive here in our Asian stores.

Harvesting Lotus Roots

42. Head lock: TRESS.

43. "Help!": SOS.

44. Biblical language: ARAMAIC.

49. Chinese menu possessive: TSO'S.

50. Mortise inserts: TENONS.

53. "College Football Live" channel: ESPNU.

54. Grasping tool: PLIERS.

55. Fat, e.g.: LIPID.

56. Corrupt: TAINT.

57. Ostentatious: SPLASHY.

62. Bullies: HECTORS.

64. Focus of an heir war?: ESTATE. Air war.

67. Clutter: MESS.

68. Small Champagne bottle: SPLIT. Learning moment for me.

69. Zipper part: TOOTH.

70. Big name in kitchen foil: ALCOA.

72. Buckwheat porridge: KASHA. I need to try this some day.

74. "Yum!": TASTY.

75. Fishhook fastener: SNELL.

78. Supply: STORE.

79. Flips (through): LEAFS.

80. Typist's left hand home keys: ASDF. Sunday grids need a few gluey entries.

81. "__ Day": 1993 rap hit: DRE.

83. All the rage: HOT.

88. Kate of "The Martian": MARA.

89. Bacon portion: STRIP.

90. Contest with picadors: CORRIDA.

91. Iron and zinc: METALS.

93. Carpenter's need: SANDER.

94. Dull gray, as winter skies: LEADEN.

95. "Get Shorty" novelist __ Leonard: ELMORE. Terry Gross had a terrific interview with him.

100. R&B group __ Hill: DRU.

101. "Rhyme Pays" rapper: ICE-T.

102. Expert: GURU.

103. Informed about: UPON.

104. Right hand: AIDE.

105. Cram, with "up": BONE.

106. Centers of activity: LOCI.

107. First-rate: ACES.

108. Plus-size supermodel: EMME.

109. Alpine transport: T BAR.

110. Toon Charlie, memorably: TUNA.

111. "This __ working": ISN'T.

113. Statehouse VIP: GOV.

114. Long, long time: EON.

C.C.

Sunday March 31, 2019 Ed Sessa

Theme: "Pardon My Yiddish" - One word in each familiar phrase is replaced by a soundalike Yiddish word.

23A. Bar mitzvah celebratory drink?: MAZEL TOV COCKTAIL. Molotov cocktail.

36A. Incompetent drivers?: SCHLEMIELS ON WHEELS. Meals on Wheels.

50A. Where decent people buy decent clothes at honest prices?: MENSCH STORE. Men's store.

66A. Cream cheese promotion?: SCHMEAR CAMPAIGN. Smear campaign.

84A. Trash-talking broadcaster?: SCHLOCK JOCK. Shock jock.

93A. Trudged through a nudist camp?: SCHLEPPED IN THE BUFF. Slept in the buff.
 
115A. Disaster for a figure skater?: KLUTZ PERFORMANCE. Clutch performance.

What a fun puzzle! So many unusual consonant combos in Yiddish, esp SCHLM/SCHL. Scrabbly too.

Mr. Ed gave us 7 entries. All of them are quite long. We have total 105 theme squares with some inconvenient letter pattern. But nothing fazes our Ed, who is one of the few constructors who make both themeless and themeless grids. Ed had a rare "Mr. Ed. Sessa" byline when his "HELLO I'M MISTER ED" puzzle was published by the New York Times a few years ago.

Across:

1. Tricks that treat: MAGIC.

6. Dalí contemporary: ARP (Jean).

9. Shame: ABASH.

14. Corp. bigwigs: CFOS. Still remember this guy?

18. Raspy-voiced Cooper: ALICE.

19. Protein provider: MEAT. Tofu for me. Mostly.

21. Evergreen bean: CACAO. The tree is evergreen.

22. Road division: LANE. So I marveled at a big maple tree in our neighborhood last week and asked Boomer "If you could be a tree, what tree would you like to be?" He said "I don't want to be a tree. I want to be a bowling ball".

26. "Roots" author Haley: ALEX.

27. Current gauge: AMMETER. Not ADAPTER.

28. Body wrap venue: SPA.

29. Jed Clampett, for one: HILLBILLY. Derogatory.

31. Sault Ste. Marie's __ Locks: SOO.

32. "That __ fact!": IS A.

33. Ring ruling: TKO.

35. Two in a canoe: OARS.

44. Seaweed product: AGAR. These are incredible mooncakes. The yellow centers are eggs, then red adzuki beans, then flour with green matcha. Reminds me of the mung bean cakes I had when I was a kid.

Mooncakes

Mung Bean Cakes

47. Howard of old comedy films: MOE.

48. Hereditary ruler: DYNAST.

49. Thumbs-up letters: A OK.

55. Lay idle: SAT.

56. Light sparkling wine: ASTI. Have any of you tried champagne vinegar?

57. Lodging with a "keeper": INN.

58. Bank job: HEIST.

59. Collectible print, briefly: LITHO.

61. Dark marks: BLOTS.

62. Stranger things: EXOTICA.

64. Officer Kalakaua's group, familiarly: FIVE-O. Never watched "Hawaii Five-0". Here is Officer Kalakaua.

65. Rainforest vine: LIANA.

70. Sapling support: STAKE.

72. Coordinate (with): TIE IN.

73. Traffic warning signal: FLASHER.

77. Means of access: DOORS.

78. Trouble from all sides: BESET.

79. Gumbo thickeners: OKRAS. Plurable?

81. Label for some Elton John albums: MCA.

82. Son of Seth: ENOS.

83. Web address letters: URL. Glad you noticed our blog URL C.C. logo, D-Otto! It's been there since Nov 2011 though :-)

87. Pickable point: NIT.

88. Confounded: DARNED.

91. Joey's mom: DOE.

92. "Gotcha": I SEE.

99. Sport with mallets: POLO.

100. Metric introduction?: GEO. Geometric.

101. Blood classification letters: ABO.

102. Tubular pasta, for short: MAC.

105. U.K. utility cost limitations: PRICE CAPS. Also a term we use here.

110. Blow away: AWE.

112. Sufi Muslim ascetic: DERVISH. Whirling dervishes.

114. Bull's partner, in a story?: COCK. Cock-and-bull story.

118. Musical diner fixture, for short: JUKE.

119. Like Poe pieces: EERIE.

120. It ends at the gutter: ROOF.

121. Choir voices: ALTOS.

122. Nap: REST.

123. __ Haute: TERRE.

124. Letters on a Sun Bum container: SPF. Never tried this brand. 

125. Scientific methods: TESTS.

Down:

1. Some baby rockers: MAMAS. Rock-ers.

2. Legendary mission: ALAMO.

3. Rube Goldberg device, e.g.: GIZMO.

4. Brand written in frosty letters: ICEE.

5. Irish musical ensemble __ Woman: CELTIC.

6. Unprincipled: AMORAL.

7. Short spin?: REV. Short for Revolution. Nice clue.

8. D.C. fundraisers: PACS.

9. "That's awful!": ACK.

10. Whole or half home unit: BATH.

11. Smoothie berry: ACAI.

12. Wind catcher: SAIL.

13. Valleys: HOLLOWS.

14. Danes of "Homeland": CLAIRE. Her husband Hugh Dancy is going to be on the last season of "Homeland".

15. When many TV shows debut: FALL SEASON.

16. Like Nash's lama: ONE-L.

17. Steamy: SEXY.

20. Of the highest quality: TOP TIER.

24. "A Deeper Faith" musician: TESH (John)

25. It's iced and sliced: CAKE. We call that western cake. Chinese cakes can be sweet or salty, like these turnip cakes Cantonese eat during spring festival. You can find them at dim sum place also. Taro cakes are similar.

30. Thai currency: BAHT. Also 53. "The King and I" kingdom: SIAM. So Lemonade, does Oo make Nam-Pla Wan at home or just buy a jar from the Asian store? This sauce is very Thai. It's a mix of hot red pepper, dried shrimp, fish sauce, shallot and palm sugar. Then people dipping sweet apple or mango slices into the sauce.

34. Overused, jokewise: OLD.

36. Yearbook gp.: SRS.

37. Ambulance pros: EMTS.

38. Of no consequence: MOOT. Point.

39. Bettor's strategy: SYSTEM.

40. After one bounce, in baseball lingo: ON A HOP.

41. Warsaw Pact counterpart: NATO.

42. Host of, in slang: LOTTA.

43. Slope gear: SKIS.

44. François's friend: AMIE.

45. Millennials' folks: GEN X.

46. A year in Caesar's time: ANNO.

51. Peepers: CHICKS.

52. Anne of 1998's "Psycho": HECHE.

54. Brings out: ELICITS.

56. Arkin and Menken: ALANS.

60. "Terrible" despot: IVAN. 63. 60-Down et al.: TSARS.

61. No small favor: BIG ASK. That's a big ask. Ask is a noun.

64. Given away: FREE.

65. Fragrant shrub: LILAC.

67. Endless, in verse: ETERNE.

68. Organized like big stores: AISLED.

69. Jimi Hendrix do: AFRO.

70. Drive-in with skating carhops: SONIC.

71. Sticks with the Swedish meatballs: TOOTHPICKS. Boomer and I went to our local Ikea ages ago. We got hopelessly lost.

74. Med. group options: HMOS.

75. Behold, to Pilate: ECCE.

76. Dirt smoother: RAKE.

77. Red fox holes: DENS.

78. Possible result of swallowing air: BURP.

79. "Didn't expect that": OH OH.

80. Swiss painter Paul: KLEE.

85. Jewel case storage unit: CD TOWER.

86. Peter Pan rival: JIF. My favorite. Chunky.

88. Editor's mark: DELE.

89. "... __ full of rye": A POCKET. Long partial.

90. Archaeological site: DIG.

94. Tiny portrait holder: LOCKET.

95. Type of tide: NEAP.

96. In money trouble, say: BAD OFF.

97. It dropped "Cab" from its name in 2011: UBER. Lyft just went public.

98. Document details: FORMAT.

102. Diner freebies: MINTS.

103. Tied accessory: ASCOT.

104. Game with a mate: CHESS.

105. '80s IBM flop nicknamed "Peanut": PC JR.

106. Don Juan: ROUE.

107. Mariner's direction: ALEE.

108. Sound from a lynx's larynx: PURR.

109. To-do: STIR.

111. God with a bow: EROS.

113. Poetic lowland: VALE.

116. Slice of pizza?: ZEE. Pizza.

117. Dandy: FOP.
 

Here is a picture of Will Shortz and Mike Alpern at the Cru dinner. You can find more pictures here. Hopefully Rich will make it next year.  Below is a picture of Jeffrey Wechsler and Mike.

Cru Dinner Celebrities, Will Shortz and Mike Alpern

 

Jeffrey Wechsler and Mike Alpern, ACPT, 3/23/2019

C.C.

Sunday March 24, 2019 Jason Mueller

Theme: "Pollination" - BEE sits on top of each flower.

23. *Henry James heroine: DAISY MILLER. And 18. Hardwood tree: BEECH.

29. *Hip-hop artist with the 2014 #1 hit "Fancy": IGGY AZALEA. And 26. "Three Tall Women" Pulitzer playwright: ALBEE.

42. *Youngest NBA player to win the MVP: DERRICK ROSE. And 37. "Cold one over here, please": BEER ME.

67. *Bashful one: SHRINKING VIOLET. The only flower with BEES on top. See 60. 2007 IHOP acquisition: APPLEBEE'S.

93. *"Under the Net" novelist: IRIS MURDOCH. And 87. Designer Geoffrey: BEENE.

109. *Looney Tunes girlfriend: PETUNIA PIG. And 99. Borscht veggie: BEET.

117. *Add unneeded ornamentation: GILD THE LILY. And the reveal on top: 114. Creature found atop the apt part of each answer to a starred clue: BEE.

I love this theme!

Don G and I had the same idea a few years ago. But ours is only a weekday grid. I'm amazed at the amount of theme entries Jason put in this grid. The fill is really good, despite the challenges of those paralleled BEEs.

Across:

1. "Behind the __ I'll convey myself": Polonius: ARRAS.

6. Base near home: THIRD. FIRST too. We also have 6. Target Field team: TWINS. And 34. Pitcher Hershiser: OREL.

11. EMT skill: CPR.

14. Judge's seat: BANC.

19. Fail to make use of: WASTE.

20. WC: LOO.

21. Prayer opening: O LORD. Boomer has been going to church faithfully since last November. Making friends with God.

25. Top of a scepter, perhaps: ORB.

27. German university city: ULM. University of Ulm. Albert Einstein's birthplace.

28. Initial payments: ANTES.

31. Pays attention: LISTENS.

34. Delivery pros: OB/GYNS. Baby delivery.

35. One taking a selfie: CELL.

36. AP rival: UPI.

40. Campaign funding org.: PAC.

46. Big risk taker: DAREDEVIL. Great fill.

52. Happening: EVENT.

53. Studio supporter?: EASEL.

54. Remote, as a road: LONESOME.

55. Dwindle: FADE AWAY.

57. Divested (of): RID.

58. Bird in Saint-Saëns' "The Carnival of the Animals": SWAN. Learning moment for me.

59. 1912 Olympic legend: THORPE (Jim).  Native American.

66. Barrett of Pink Floyd: SYD.

71. "NCIS" was spun off from it: JAG.

74. Key movie scenes: SET PIECES.

75. 60-year-old Mattel classic: BARBIE.

79. Since: AS OF.

81. D.C. VIP: SEN.

82. Pocatello natives: IDAHOANS.

84. Korean rice dish: BIBIMBAP. Literally "mixed rice". Various julienned veggies and sliced beef or other meat on top of steamed rice. And an egg in the middle. Koreans like featuring an egg in their dishes. See their iconic cold noodles below.

Bibimbap

Korean Cold Noodles. The stuff under the egg is sliced Korean pears.

90. Keats, for one: ODIST.

91. "These go to eleven" band: SPINAL TAP.

95. Prefix with Pen: EPI.

96. Nab: ARREST.

98. Pocatello-to-Provo dir.: SSE.

102. Approached: NEARED.

105. Go back in: RE-ENTER.

111. "The way I __ ... ": SEE IT.

115. Pine Tree State campus town: ORONO. Alma mater of dear Hahtoolah. 

116. __ Diego: SAN.

120. Some, in Stuttgart: EINES.

121. Bit of work: ERG.

122. Saying: ADAGE.

123. Big fight: MELEE.

124. Palindromic Latin verb: ESSE. And 126. Palindromic court star: SELES.

125. Rehab woe: DTS.

127. Creases: FOLDS.

Down:

1. "Idol" judge replaced by DeGeneres: ABDUL.

2. "Around the Horn" host Tony: REALI.

3. French coronation city: REIMS.

4. Coolers in windows, briefly: ACS.

5. Timid: SHY.

7. Cease: HALT.

8. Bermuda, e.g.: ISLE.

9. GPS data: RTES.

10. Aachen article: DER.

11. Blocked, as a drain: CLOGGED.

12. Gershwin title lover: PORGY.

13. One-named Swedish pop singer: ROBYN. Guess what? She was born Robin.

14. Ruth's husband: BOAZ. Total stranger to me.

15. Allowing admittance anywhere, as a pass: ALL ACCESS. Another great fill.

16. Highborn: NOBLE.

17. Angler's basket: CREEL. Also 107. Caught congers: EELED.

22. Reason to shake: DEAL. Nice clue.

24. Overexcited: MANIC.

29. Watson creator: IBM. They have a woman CEO. She probably knows a regular on our blog.

30. Vail alternative: ASPEN.

32. Tina and Lana: TURNERS.

33. Mel Blanc's "That's All Folks" et al.: EPITAPHS.

37. Donkey sound: BRAY.

38. Dawn deity: EOS.

39. Linguistic suffix: ESE. And 41. Citrus suffix: ADE.

42. Skillful: DEFT.

43. Cole Porter's "Well, Did You __?": EVAH.

44. Make over: REDO.

45. Mauna __: KEA. Not LOA.

47. Suspect's story: ALIBI.

48. Copland ballet with a hoedown: RODEO.

49. Gives one's word: VOWS.

50. "It could happen": I MAY.

51. Allow to use: LEND.

56. "The Way We __": WERE. Such an idealistic movie. 

57. Guns: REVS.

60. Like, with "to": AKIN.

61. Dessert option: PIE.

62. __ Park: Pirates' field: PNC.

63. Part of XL: Abbr.: LGE.

64. Site of Napoleon's exile: ELBA.

65. Fish in the genus Hippocampus: SEAHORSE.

68. Where __: IT'S AT.

69. Hip-hop's Salt-__: N-PEPA.

70. Walked-on: TRODDEN.

71. Some punches: JABS.

72. Take __ of: taste: A SIP.

73. Mongolian desert: GOBI. You can still see part of the old Great Wall.

76. Scott of "Charles in Charge": BAIO. Some  #MeToo trouble as well.

77. Etched: Abbr.: INSC.

78. Bk. read at Purim: ESTH.

80. Tweaks: FINE-TUNES.

82. Research ctr.: INST.

83. JFK, say: DEM.

85. Plan, with "out": MAP.

86. Pancakes sometimes served with caviar: BLINI. Here is a plate of Chinese pancakes. Popular breakfast food. Do you like cong you bing, Jayce?

87. What Superman first looked like?: BIRD.

88. Prior to, in poems: ERE.

89. Grafton's "__ for Evidence": E IS.

92. Sliced-off parts: PARINGS.

94. "He that __ many words shall be abhorred": Eccl.: USETH.

97. Coffee order: Abbr.: REG.

99. Fraternal org.: BPOE

100. Strange: EERIE.

101. Preppy jackets: ETONS.

103. Abated: EASED.

104. Aside (from): APART.

105. Ceremonies: RITES.

106. Govt. security: T-BILL.

108. Judy of "Devious Maids": REYES. Another learning moment.

110. Support for glasses: NOSE.

111. Facet: SIDE.

112. Israeli airline: EL AL.

113. Margin: EDGE.

117. Energy metaphor: GAS.

118. "Unbelievable" rock band: EMF.

119. Celestial lion: LEO.

 

C.C.