Tuesday, February 13, 2018 ~ Brian Gubin

Theme: Weather Report - no precipitation coming down as sleet at least.

4. Baseball overtime: EXTRA INNINGS. Rain.

8. Bellyache: STOMACH AILMENT. Hail.

14. "We're trapped in here!": "THERE'S NO WAY OUT!". Snow.

22. Frank Lloyd Wright house built around multiple cascades, and what's literally found in this puzzle's circles: FALLING WATER

Argyle here. Brian gave us downward dog in December and now rain is coming down. Can cats be next? A plethora of people today. 

Across:

1. Suffix with silver or glass: WARE

5. 1980 Dom DeLuise film: "FATSO"

10. Cry noisily: SOB

13. Acme: APEX

14. This evening, on marquees: TONITE

15. Actress Longoria: EVA

16. Fiction's opposite: FACT

17. Drag race racer: HOT ROD

18. Women's __: LIB

19. Trick-taking game: ÉCARTÉ. The rules seem worthy of Calvin and Hobbes.

21. "Stay With Me" singer Smith: SAM

22. A-OK: FINE

23. Fixes: REPAIRS

25. Does harm to: DAMAGES

27. Prefix with gram or graph: IDEO-

28. Earth sci.: ECOL. (ecology)

29. World's largest cognac producer: HENNESSY

33. Cry of distress: "HELP ME!"

37. Economist Greenspan: ALAN. Former Chairman of the Fed.

38. Marilyn Monroe's first name at birth: NORMA

40. Pakistan neighbor: IRAN

41. Game piece with pips: DOMINO

43. Refused: SAID NO TO

45. Former House leader Gingrich: NEWT

47. Gurgling sound: [GLUG]

48. BBC TV series about cars: "TOP GEAR"

51. "You don't have to tell me": "I'M AWARE"

55. Kia subcompacts: RIOs

56. '60s-'80s Red Sox nickname: YAZ. Carl Yastrzemski.

58. Makes happy: ELATEs

59. Raised railroads: ELs

60. Really tired: DONE IN

62. President before Wilson: TAFT. William Howard Taft.

63. Nintendo's Super __: NES. (Nintendo Entertainment System)

64. Steam shovel scoop: BUCKET

65. The "E" in the HOMES mnemonic: ERIE. (Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior)

66. Dr. with Grammys: DRE

67. Jouster's horse: STEED

68. Ceremony: RITE

Down:

1. Kit Kat layer: WAFER

2. Quickly: APACE

3. Brief summary: RECAP

5. Egg __ yung: FOO

6. Carpenter insects: ANTS

7. Rant: TIRADE

9. Multivolume ref. work: OED. (Oxford English Dictionary)

10. Former baseball commissioner Bud: SELIG

11. Sheeplike: OVINE

12. Innocents "in the woods": BABES

20. It ebbs and flows: TIDE

24. "Meh": "SO-SO"

26. "The Simpsons" beer server: MOE. Moe Szyslak.

29. Fooled: HAD

30. "Xanadu" gp.: ELO. (Electric Light Orchestra) Here is Rush doing their version of Xanadu.(11:09) (It would have been linked later anyway.)

31. '60s war zone: NAM

32. Coll. periods: YRs

34. For: PRO

35. Gym cushion: MAT

36. Musical Brian: ENO

39. Nativity trio: MAGI

42. Formerly, in bridal announcements: NÉE

44. Two-part: DUAL

46. Hypnotic state: TRANCE

48. General tendency: TREND

49. Refueling ship: OILER

50. Old West outlaw chasers: POSSE

52. Video game pioneer: ATARI

53. Equip anew: REFIT

54. Cosmetician Lauder: ESTÉE

57. "The Wizard of Oz" farmhand: ZEKE. Portrayed by Bert Lahr.

Dorothy wakes up with Professor Marvel, 

Hickory, Hunk and Zeke watching over her.

60. Sound units, briefly: dBs. (Decibel)

61. Mil. roadside hazard: IED. (improvised explosive device)

Argyle

Tuesday, February 6, 2018 ~ C.C. Burnikel

Theme: Wet Borders - Names of border lakes in the circles. The circles are on the borders of the entries.

17A. Cold dish topped with hard-boiled egg: CHEF'S SALAD. Lake Chad, borders Chad, Cameroon, Niger, and Nigeria

25A. Longtime Susan Lucci soap role: ERICA KANE. Lake Erie, borders Canada and the United States.

38A. It clicks on the dance floor: TAP SHOE. Lake Tahoe, border between California and Nevada.

50A. Appear intermittently: COME AND GO. Lake Como, Italy and near the Swiss border.

61A. It may be a boundary between neighboring countries ... or what each set of circles depicts?: BORDER LAKE

Argyle here. Lake Como seems to be the outlier here. It's 5 minutes by train from Como to the Swiss border. So many beautiful pictures, so I didn't choose any.

Across:

1. Jazz singer Simone: NINA. The Animals version was a cover of this Nina Simone original.

5. Colorado ski resort: ASPEN

10. Apple computer with a Magic Keyboard: iMAC. Why Magic?

14. Ambulance-calling situation: Abbr.: EMER.. "911, what is your emergency?"

15. Take off: LEAVE

16. Fizzy drink: COLA. 44A. Fizzy drink: POP

19. Grasp: HOLD

20. Sent to the canvas: KO'd. Knocked out.

21. Japanese beef city: KOBE

22. Wisdom tooth, e.g.: MOLAR. 41A. Crown installer's org.: ADA. (American Dental Association)

23. Having many curves: SNAKY. Better to be SNAKY than snarky.

28. Bully's warning words: OR ELSE

30. A cat may climb one: TREE

31. Beginning: ORIGIN

32. Skater's surface: ICE

33. Tiny amount: DRIB. Partner of drabs.

37. Place for pillow talk: BED

42. Picked out of a lineup, briefly: IDed. (identified)

45. "Here's the deal ... ": "LISTEN ... "

47. Metal in steel: IRON

49. Hire, as a lawyer: RETAIN

54. Nocturnal calls: HOOTS

56. Wonderland visitor: ALICE

57. Simplify: EASE

59. Tiny insect egg: NIT

60. Bread for a gyro: PITA

64. Nights before: EVEs

65. Confess: ADMIT

66. Radar screen spot: BLIP

67. Take a break: REST

68. Medicinal amounts: DOSES

69. Flies on a fast plane: JETS

Down:

1. Mandolin parts: NECKS

2. Bit of gratitude from an award recipient: "I'M HONORED"

3. Driver's invitation: "NEED A RIDE?"

4. [I want a treat!]: [ARF!]

5. As well: ALSO

6. Naval builder: SEABEE

7. Not as tanned: PALER

8. Juan Perón's wife: EVA

9. Homer Simpson's friend Flanders: NED

10. "The pressure was too much for me": "I CHOKED"

11. Greenbacks: MOOLA

12. Hunter Quatermain of "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen": ALLAN. Not the character on the soap opera General Hospital.

13. Close-knit group: CADRE

18. Like greenhouses: SKYLIT

22. West of old films: MAE

24. Brewery container: KEG

26. Rash symptom: ITCH

27. New Orleans cuisine: CREOLE. Just Sunday we had Creole vs Cajun.

29. Attach with a click: SNAP ON. And a lot of moola.

31. Back-tied sash: OBI

32. Co. for Web users: ISP. (Internet service provider)

34. Underlying reason: RATIONALE

35. Police artist's composite pic maker: IDENTI-KIT

36. Blackball: BAN

39. Duck's habitat: POND

40. "Your choice": EITHER

43. Like many metal toys: DIECAST

46. __ Tomé: SÃO. São Tomé is the capital city of São Tomé. Its name is Portuguese for "Saint Thomas".

48. Singer Carly __ Jepsen: RAE

49. Rock band's helper: ROADIE

50. Zany adventure: CAPER

51. Martini fruit: OLIVE

52. Tiny parasites: MITES

53. Causes of illness: GERMS

55. Fitbit units: STEPS. Fitbit: wearable technology.

58. Film backdrops: SETS

61. No longer edible: BAD

62. Prefix with meter: ODO

63. Prez whose library is in Austin: LBJ

Argyle

Tuesday, January 30, 2018 ~ David Liben-Nowell

Theme: Basketball Stat - Three phrases that graphically represent this desirable B-ball statistic.

54A. Ten or more points, rebounds and assists in one game, in hoops lingo ... and a literal feature of 20-, 33- and 43-Across: TRIPLE DOUBLE

20A. Played the Samaritan: DID A GOOD DEED

33A. Ones who once shared quarters: FORMER ROOMMATES

43A. Love sugary snacks, say: HAVE A SWEET TOOTH

Argyle here. Rows: 16, Columns: 15. David's second puzzle for us. The gimmick was obvious but needed the reveal to make sense of it.

Across:

1. Vulgar: LEWD

5. Cancel, as a mission: ABORT

10. Leave in a hurry: BAIL

14. Gobi Desert continent: ASIA

15. Calf-roping event: RODEO

16. "The __ Duckling": UGLY

17. Writer Ayn: RAND

18. Harmless garden slitherer: GREEN SNAKE

22. Italian automaker: FIAT

23. "The Big Bang Theory," for one: SITCOM

27. Big bang: BLAST

29. Rock band staple: AMP

32. Gush: SPURT

36. Juicy Fruit, e.g.: GUM

37. Cause of shrinking beaches: EROSION

38. Delivers the news: REPORTS

40. Cup o' mud: JOE

48. Up in the air: ALOFT

49. Ukr., until 1991: SSR. Ukraine, a former Soviet Socialist Republic.

50. Many Middle Easterners: ARABs

51. More alluring: SEXIER

53. App symbol: ICON

60. Minor infraction: PETTY CRIME

63. Special forces mission: RAID

64. Ointment additive: ALOE

65. Fertile desert spot: OASIS

66. Thomas __, 9/11 Commission chairman: KEAN. Former Governor of New Jersey.

67. Snowy day toy: SLED

68. Hilton rival: HYATT. Hotels.

69. Poet Pound: EZRA. List of his works.

Down:

1. Cooking fat: LARD

2. Morales of "NYPD Blue": ESAI

3. Collection of energy-producing turbines: WIND FARM

4. Avant-garde art movement: DADAISM

5. Specialized jargon: ARGOT

6. NYC division: BORO. (borough)

7. Took too much, briefly: ODed

8. Clarinet insert: REED

9. Shades of color: TONES

10. Baker's ring-shaped mold: BUNDT PAN

11. Turkish honorific: AGA

12. Type: ILK

13. Caustic chemical: LYE

19. Earthquake prefix: SEISMO

21. Garden entrance: GATE

24. Piece of the action, or a shout that stops the action: CUT. Best entry, IMHO.

25. Valuable underground find: ORE

26. Peaks: Abbr.: MTs

27. 2016 film based on a Roald Dahl novel, with "The": BFG. "Big Friendly Giant"

28. Baseball's Gehrig: LOU

29. Archery ammo: ARROWS

30. Poet Marianne and actress Julianne: MOOREs. Unlikely pairing.

31. Dorm decoration: POSTER

34. Workout count: REPS. Short for repetitions.

35. Waterfall spray: MIST. CSO Niagara Falls.

38. Updated, as factory equipment: REFITTED

39. Diner, drive-in or dive: EATERY

40. 1969 Woodstock folk singer: JOAN BAEZ. I can't say as if I ever heard this one before.

41. Gambling venue letters: OTB. (Off Track Betting)

42. "I didn't hear you" sounds: EHs?

43. Gives birth to: HAS

44. Pub brew: ALE

45. __ populi: popular opinion: VOX

46. Food truck fare: TACO

47. Political satirist P.J.: O'ROURKE

52. Copier maker: RICOH. Japanese multinational imaging and electronics company.

53. That is, in Latin: ID EST

55. Ask for divine guidance: PRAY

56. Pop singer Loeb: LISA. I prefer the Cass Elliot version. The first recording was done by Ozzie Nelson! Give a listen.

57. Discharge: EMIT

58. Perjurer: LIAR

59. Writer Ferber: EDNA

60. __ de deux: PAS. (in ballet) a dance for two people.

61. Pipe bend: ELL

62. Digit on a foot: TOE

Argyle

Tuesday, January 23, 2018 ~ Michael Dewey

Theme: If It's Tuesday, This Must Be ... - some European city.

20A. 1666 conflagration that destroyed St. Paul's Cathedral: FIRE OF LONDON. Capital of England.

28A. Raphael fresco depicting Greek philosophers, with "The": SCHOOL OF ATHENS. Capital of Greece

48A. Gypsum used for casts: PLASTER OF PARIS. France's capital.

54A. Pope: BISHOP OF ROME. Italy’s capital.

Argyle here. I say, what a capital idea for a puzzle. Michael hasn't had a puzzle here for over a year. I hope he doesn't stay a stranger.

Across:

1. Daily bread?: WAGE

5. Convenient bag: TOTE

9. Flower that's a Buddhist symbol of purity: LOTUS

14. Unattributed, as a quote: Abbr.: ANON

15. Prof.'s employer: UNIV.

16. Stupefy: AMAZE

17. Checkout line unit: ITEM

18. Actress Russo: RENE

19. Words to live by: MAXIM

23. Military abbr. on a Beatles album: SGT. Pepper.

24. NYC subway line: IRT. (Interborough Rapid Transit)

25. Pup squeak: [YIP!]

33. "__-ching!": CHA

34. Venison source: DEER

35. Sunny feeling: WARMTH

36. Seventh-day activity, in the Bible: REST

38. __ Gone: gunk-cleaning product: GOO

40. Repeated Doris Day song word: SERA. 'Que Sera, Sera'. 'Whatever will be, will be'

41. Gave the slip: ELUDED

44. Indian bread: NAAN

47. At this moment: NOW

51. Subj. for immigrants: ESL. (English as a second language)

52. Color gradation: HUE

53. Coastal inlet: RIA

60. Complete chaos: HAVOC

63. Each: A POP

64. Rapper whose name sounds like a drink: ICE T

65. Plato's marketplace: AGORA

66. Fodder storage tower: SILO

67. Not this: THAT

68. Wooden peg: DOWEL

69. Informal greetings: HEYs

70. "Star Wars" guru: YODA

Down:

1. Many a Dickens child: WAIF and maybe 46D. Innocent soul: NAIF

2. Prefix with social: ANTI

3. Suffix with party: GOER. An antisocial partygoer sounds like a fun sponge.

4. Catch in a net: ENMESH

5. Sports injury on an artificial surface: TURF TOE

6. First-year law student: ONE L

7. Former Yankee slugger Martinez: TINO

8. Should it arise that: EVEN IF

9. De Niro's "Raging Bull" role: LAMOTTA. Giacobbe "Jake" LaMotta, middleweight champion boxer.

10. Arabian Peninsula nation: OMAN. Khasab Fort.

http://www.khalidkharusi.com

11. Payroll deduction: TAX

12. Action film weapon: UZI

13. College yr. division: SEM. (semester)

21. Prayer opener: "O, GOD ... "

22. Sketch: DRAW

25. Native of Sana'a: YEMENI

26. Emcees' duties: INTROs

27. "Horsefeathers!": "PSHAW!"

28. Beachcomber's finds: SHELLS

29. Like some Friday work attire: CASUAL

30. Meet portion, or portion of meat: LEG. One LEG of a relay race at a track meet.

31. Maine college town: ORONO

32. Store posting: Abbr.: HRs. (hours)

33. Parisian pancake: CRÊPE

37. NFL six-pointers: TDs. (touchdowns)

39. Dolt: OAF

42. Virtuous: ETHICAL

43. Latin god: DEUS

45. At just the right time: APROPOS

49. Go over again: REHASH

50. Uncommon thing: RARITY

54. Droning lecture, e.g.: BORE

55. Freckled boy of old TV: OPIE. Little Ronnie Howard.

56. Roly-__: POLY

57. Eight, in Ecuador: OCHO

58. Renaissance faire quaff: MEAD. Fermented honey.

59. Jazzy James: ETTA. Something different.

60. "I've been __!": HAD

61. Back in time: AGO

62. Pledge: VOW

Argyle

Tuesday, January 16, 2018 ~ Roger & Kathy Wienberg

Theme: Petty Theft - Synonyms.

17. Delayed show of surprise: DOUBLE TAKE

23. "Frumious" beast in "Jabberwocky": BANDERSNATCH

38. Cosmetic surgery that removes bags: EYE LIFT

48. Eight-ball call: CORNER POCKET

60. Indicate willingness to date someone, on Tinder ... and an apt hint to the last part of 17-, 23-, 38- and 48-Across: SWIPE RIGHT. Words on the right are synonyms for SWIPE.

Argyle here and I have an alibi. I don't have a device that can be swiped. Can you swipe with a mouse?

Across:

1. Soaking spots: BATHS

6. Wile E. Coyote's supplier of iron bird seed: ACME. I'm not kidding. The Illustrated Catalog Of ACME Products.

10. Car ad no.: MSRP. (manufacturer's suggested retail price)

14. Cry during a winning streak: "I'M HOT!"

15. Stick in one's __: cause resentment: CRAW. Idiom.

16. Home furnishings giant: IKEA

19. River sediment: SILT

20. "Happy Motoring" company: ESSO

21. Philosopher Descartes: RENÉ

22. "Hamlet" courtier: OSRIC. A young courtier at Claudius's court. Rich and little more, he is affected in his speech and manner.

26. Suave: URBANE

29. Long, wriggly swimmers: EELS

30. "Rock-a-bye Baby" tree limb: BOUGH

31. "From the __ of Montezuma ... ": HALLS. Semper Fi.

34. Q's neighbor, on most keyboards: TAB

37. Tolkien creature: ELF

40. Program file ending: EXE

41. NFL official: REF

42. Graphic showing 50 sts.: US MAP

43. Central Florida city: OCALA

45. To be, to Caesar: ESSE

47. Wound like S-curves: SNAKED

53. Stubble remover: RAZOR

54. Big name in skin care: OLAY

55. Playbill listings: BIOs. SE corner gave me fits.

59. "Am __ early?": I TOO

62. Transmitted: SENT

63. Actress Campbell: NEVE. Quite active on the Corner of late.

64. Word before and after "de la": CRÈME. Best of the best.

65. Quarry: PREY

66. Tram loads: OREs

67. Madison Ave. pro: AD REP. AD MAN slowed me up.

Down:

1. __ one's time: wait: BIDE

2. "Famous" cookie man: AMOS. There is a short bio if you watch it on YouTube.

3. Therefore: THUS

4. Large, bindle-shaped purse: HOBOBAG. For all you bindlestiffs.

5. Abbr. on a Cardinal's cap: STL

6. Performed on stage: ACTED

7. "Whooping" marsh bird: CRANE

8. Manufacturer: MAKER

9. Flock female: EWE

10. Mass book: MISSAL. A missal is a liturgical book containing all instructions and texts necessary for the celebration of Mass throughout the year. - Aug 11, 2010 and Jan 30, 2014 Crossword Corner.

11. Beef often used in stir-fry: SKIRT STEAK

12. Thing of the past: RELIC

13. Pothole repair: PATCH

18. Fish-eating bird: ERNE

22. Brit's 14-pound equivalent: ONE STONE

24. Busch partner in beer: ANHEUSER

25. Starter starter: SELF

26. Lyft competitor: UBER

27. Playbill listing: ROLE

28. Minimal-conflict area: BUFFER ZONE. NOT the spot where you take your car after it has been washed and waxed.

31. Garment border: HEM

32. First state, alphabetically: Abbr.: ALA. Alabama

33. Impudence: LIP

35. Rod between wheels: AXLE

36. Necklace sphere: BEAD

39. River of Flanders: YSER

44. __ seat: advantageous spot: CATBIRD. Idiom.

46. High-and-mighty: SNOOTY

47. Breed of terrier: SKYE

48. Fruity dessert: CRISP

49. Wild West film: OATER

50. Remote button: POWER

51. Fruit that's black when fully ripe: OLIVE. Canned black olives have often been artificially blackened and may contain the chemical ferrous gluconate to improve the appearance. Acme olives?

52. Lighthouse locales: CAPES

56. Disney CEO Robert: IGER

57. "Good heavens!": "OH ME!"

58. Part of a recovery program: STEP

60. __-Caps: candy: SNO

61. Color TV pioneer: RCA

Argyle

Tuesday, January 9, 2018 ~ Bruce Venzke & Gail Grabowski

Theme: TCOB - "Taking Care of Buisness"

17A. *Crimes of violence, e.g.: SERIOUS OFFENSES. Serious business.

23A. *Jungle gym: MONKEY BARS. Monkey business.

37A. *Not-so-humorous humerus spot: FUNNY BONE. Funny business.

54A. *Young boy's role model: BIG BROTHER. Big business.

61A. Fledgling enterprise ... and what the first word of the answers to starred clues can literally do: START-UP BUSINESS

Former businessman Argyle here. Great puzzle from Bruce and Gail. Two spanners and triple seven letter columns in all the corners. A few nuggets to crunch on.

Across:

1. Groups of orcas: PODs

5. Quaint "Holy moly!": "EGAD!"

9. Teases: JIVES. 1928, "to deceive playfully", like gibe but not as mean.

14. Scott Turow memoir: ONE L. Crossword staple, "The Turbulent True Story of a First Year at Harvard Law School"

15. Stubborn critter: MULE

16. Calendario page: ENERO. Spanish for this month, the one named after Janus.

20. School sport, or its setting: TRACK

21. Inheritance recipient: HEIR

22. "Singin' in the Rain" dance style: TAP. What a production number! I found this tidbit: "The title number, filmed on a street set two blocks long on the MGM backlot, took seven days to film, with six hours of fake rain each day. The water was mixed with milk to make it show better on camera, but the mixture made Kelly’s wool suit shrink. The perpetually drenched Kelly had a bad cold and fever the whole time. Dancers Gwen Verdon, Jeanne Coyne, and Carol Haney dubbed Kelly’s tap sounds and splashing noises in post-production." >Huffington Post<

  

26. Operatic princess: "AIDA". Verdi opera.

27. Mo. with no holidays: AUG. (August) But there are some observances. Link

28. Patriotic org. since 1890: DAR. (Daughters of the American Revolution)

29. Lightly colored: TINGED

31. Fraction of a min.: NSEC. (nanosecond) A very small fraction of a minute, I'd say.

33. Go quickly: RUSH

36. Golden __: seniors: AGERS

40. Formal will?: SHALL. A small misdirection, following 'seniors'.

43. Trampled (on): TROD

44. Doesn't keep up: LAGS

48. Lightweight straw hat: PANAMA

50. Swiffer product: MOP. Any personal reviews?

52. Divide before the deal: CUT

53. Departure notice?: OBIT

58. Game with matchsticks: NIM. Link

59. "Catch a Falling Star" singer Perry: COMO

60. Verdi opera "__ Miller": LUISA. Not seen here nearly as much,if at all, as "Aida". Wiki link.

65. __ limits: extremes: OUTER

66. The life of Riley: EASE

67. Folk singer Burl: IVES. Too late for one of his many Christmas songs.

68. Snorkeling spots: REEFs

69. Inventor's spark: IDEA

70. Formally surrender: CEDE

Down:

1. One who "rings twice," in an old film: POSTMAN. The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946 film) A short clip.

2. Burdensome: ONEROUS

3. Drive up the wall: DERANGE

4. Smooth-talking: SLICK

5. Avian Aussie: EMU

6. Astronaut Grissom: GUS

7. "Welcome to Oahu!": "ALOHA!"

8. Schedule for later: DEFER

9. Boo and hiss: JEER

10. Stopover with a "keeper": INN

11. Slight trace: VESTIGE

12. Barnes &amp; Noble Nook, for one: E-READER

13. Steel wool scrubbers: S.O.S PADS

18. Gave one's blessing to: OKed

19. It may be pumped in victory: FIST

24. Knitting need: YARN

25. Full force: BRUNT

26. Well-behaved tot: ANGEL

30. English golfer Poulter: IAN. Leaving no doubt he's English.

32. Key equivalent to B: C FLAT

34. Damascus is its cap.: SYR. (Syria)

35. Weapon in a 1952 test: H-BOMB

38. Einstein's birth city: ULM

39. Baking-soda-in-the-fridge target: ODOR

40. One buying time, perhaps: SPONSOR

41. Regular patron: HABITUÉ

42. Bring to life, as cartoons: ANIMATE

45. Accomplish: ACHIEVE

46. Acted desperately on "Jeopardy!," perhaps: GUESSED

47. German street: STRASSE

49. "__ Ben Adhem": ABOU

51. __ sci: POLI

55. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame architect: I.M. PEI

56. Spoil: GO BAD

57. Roman garment of yore: TUNIC

59. NBA big men: Abbr.: CTRs. (centers)

62. Whistler between baskets: REF

63. Take advantage of: USE

64. Beach house view: SEA

Argyle