Wednesday, April 1, 2026 - Tara Holland

 

Theme:  "Fool me once, shame on you.  Fool me twice? ... "

 

Puzzling thoughts:

 

Whom else but the resident "Stooge" should be the reviewer of this raucously, racy, risque rhapsody of rapport?  I can't think of anyone.  And who's fooling who?  Have I (46-across: MOI) ever led you folks down the path of presumptive prevarication?  Pshaw!

 

So, let's have at it!  Who's ready to be played the fool? I'll fill you in while describing the "fill"

 

BTW, kudos to Tara Holland - the puzzle constructor - who's been seen published at the LA Times twice in 2025

Across:
1. Tops (off): CAPS.  As in limits the amount of in a drink/alcoholic beverage? 😕

5. Shopping aids: LISTS. A must for this Stooge when he goes grocery shopping

10. Loops in on the sly: BCCS.  I am not that "sly", nor do I have a family stone

14. Tons: A LOT.  I think I was approached by a realtor who once said: "I have tons for sale in this new housing development ..."

15. Foe: ENEMY.  I don't think you could substitute the word enemy into the folktale when the Giant encounters Jack at the beanstalk: "Fee, Fi, [enemy]... I smell the blood of an Englishman"

16. "Excuse me ... ": AHEM.  Pardon my interruption 

17. "That's the last time!": NEVER AGAIN.  But what about the first time? 

19. __ monster: GILA.  The "G" is pronounced like an "H"

20. Standard: NORM.  Or, how about cluing it as a bar "fixture" at Cheers!?

21. Bright: CLEVER.  Witty, perhaps; I don't think of "bright" with being clever

23. The Proclaimers hit subtitled "500 Miles": I'M GONNA BE.  Never heard of this tune before

28. Watchful: ALERT.  3 cups of coffee in the morning makes Moe alert

29. D.C. figure: POL.  I tried SEN first, but to no avail

30. Yardstick, e.g.: RULER.  My ruler only went 12" in length, but I always was the shortest person in my class

32. Top no. in a blood pressure reading: SYS.  Short for SYStolic Pressure - which measures the force in your arteries when your heart beats

33. Baby's bodysuit: ONE-SIE. I hear that the designers of these began making two-sies for parents who had twins

37. Some high-end insulated mugs: YETIS.  A brand name for a drinking vessel, but literally, wouldn't a Yeti in the wild also have an insulated "mug"?  See the "hairy expression" insulating this beast's mug:

39. Is apathetic: DOESN'T GIVE A HOOT.  This reminded me of an old ad, featuring an owl that promoted good citizenship and environmental responsibility when he said: "Give a hoot; don't pollute!"

44. __ squash: ACORN.  Hand's up from anyone who's been reading this blog so far, and thinks that Moe is just completely "nutty" today??

45. Balanced: STEADY. Getting more and more difficult for me as I progress through my seventies

46. Pronoun for Miss Piggy: MOI.  Already used in my intro

49. "West Side Story" role for Rita and Ariana: ANITA.  Actors Moreno and Grande played the role of Anita in the movie adaptation (original and remake).  I thought MARIA was the role, but I was incorrect.  According to a source I found on the Internet: "Anita's the girlfriend of Maria's older brother, Bernardo, the leader of the Sharks, the Puerto Rican street gang at war with the Jets. The Jets are the white gang that was co-founded by Tony, Maria's love interest and the Romeo figure. Anita is Maria's friend and confidante, like an older sister to her"

51. With it, once: HEP. Hmm ... no Moe-ku's so far?  Ok, let's try this one - if no one else gets it I know that my fellow blogger Splynter will:

        Old-time hockey star

        Will suss out the cool dudes, by

        Giving (them) a HEP check 

52. Bank nos.: ACCTS.  My checking account number and SSN are the same: 123 45 6789

54. "Should've listened to me!": TOLD YOU SO.  This could've been clued as the title of a Randy Travis hit song: "(I) Told You So"

58. Markets: STORES.  See 5-across for what I bring to markets/stores.  BTW, do you call the facility where you buy food items a supermarket or a grocery store?

60. One of many, in a string of pearls: BEAD.  Don't let this one fool you

61. "Song of Solomon" novelist Morrison: TONI. She shows up a lot in crossword puzzles

62. [reveal] - save for later

68. Many a four-hour film: EPIC.  I can barely stay alert for a two-hour movie

69. Actor Davis - known for "A League of Their Own": GEENA.  Don't let this one fool you

70. Japanese wheat noodle: UDON. Or this one

71. [reveal] - save for later

72. Go-between: ENVOY. Or this one

73. [reveal] - save for later

Down:
1. Country with the world's largest moose population: Abbr.: CAN.  CSO to CanadianEh! Can you attest that there are more moose in CANada than anywhere else in the world?  Have you any moose encounters you care to share with us?

2. Craft brewer's brew: ALE.  Let me tap into this one ...

3. Perspective, for short: POV.  Point Of View

4. Courtroom fig.: STENO.  Makes me think back to the old TV courtroom show, Perry Mason

5. Take in, in a way: LEARN.  This clue/answer made me rethink my response to 21-across (CLEVER).  I wonder if anyone else saw that a four-letter word for "take in" is in the word "learn"

6. Director Bergman: INGMAR.  Note:  The clue read "Director" Bergman, not Actor Bergman.  Did anyone try to sneak Ingrid into the "grid"?  Fun Fact:  Ingmar Bergman is not related to the actor, Ingrid Bergman, but he did marry a woman named Ingrid ...

 

7. Body of water: SEA.  

8. "That's enough!" letters: TMI. Too Much Information

9. Lip-__: SYNC.  Here is a video that you might want to lip-sync the lyrics to

10. Bread traditionally boiled then baked: BAGEL.  My favorite bagel is an onion one, toasted, and then adorned with some smoked salmon and a schmeer of cream cheese - capers, too, if available 

11. Scallion relatives: CHIVES.  Who else thought ONIONS fit here?

12. The "log" in the snack ants on a log: CELERY.

 

13. Really stings: SMARTS.  As someone who has been stung by a baby scorpion I can attest that this REALLY, REALLY smarts

18. Actor Perlman: RON. I knew that Rhea could not be the answer as it had one too many letters in the name.  Fun fact:  Are Ron and Rhea Perlman related? "No, Rhea Perlman and Ron Perlman are not related. Despite sharing a last name, they are two separate actors with no family connection. Rhea Perlman is known for her role in Cheers and for being married to Danny DeVito, while Ron Perlman is known for Hellboy and Sons of Anarchy" [random Internet source provided by AI]

22. Ring in a rodeo ring: LARIAT. 

23. Apple gadget: IPOD.  Is an iPod really a "gadget"?

24. Part of MSG: MONO. Want to learn more about MonoSodium Glutamate? Click here

25. Merriment: GLEE.  Chorus groups were originally called "Merriment Clubs" but someone shortened the name to Glee Club

26. Accept the truth of: BUY INTO. Heh, heh, heh ... 😈<== impish Moe.  Are you buying into my blog, so far?

27. Mtn. stat: ELEV.  Moe-ku:

 

        French student mountain

        Climber enjoys wordplay: They're

        [an] Elev Élevé

31. Summers in France: ETES. Speaking of French ... 

34. Govt. ID issuer: SSA.  Again, mine is 123-45-6789.  Feel free to use it

35. To be safe: IN CASE. But, just in case that SSN does NOT work please don't try it again .. 😀

36. __ mess: classic English dessert: ETON.  New clue for me.  This concoction:

38. Pronoun for Miss Piggy: SHE.  Clecho - see 46-across

40. Moxie: GRIT.  

41. Island known as "The Gathering Place": OʻAHU.  It's also a place where lucky tourists get lei'd

42. Words of appreciation: ODES. This is almost a Friday-like clue

43. Form instead of from, e.g.: TYPO. The autocorrect feature on my technology devices gets a lot of work

46. Ibsen's "The __ Builder": MASTER.  Moe-ku:

        Renowned fisherman

        Taught course on lures and hooks: He's

        A MASTER baiter

47. Cuttlefish cousins: OCTOPI.  With so many arms, why aren't they called a "cuddle" fish? 😏

48. Legendary: ICONIC.  When something is iconic, what comes to mind for you?  

 

50. An all-white animal with pink eyes, maybe?: ALBINO.  Don't be (53-down. Treat alternative:) TRICKed by this clue and answer

55. Airport flight condition: DELAY.  Don't be (53-down. Treat alternative:) TRICKed by this clue and answer

56. Initialism of Young Adult Fiction: YAF. Or this one

57. "Smell" in Scotland: ODOUR. Or this one

59. Herb or spiritual mentor: SAGE. Did this one fool you?

63. What only the most capable crossword puzzle solvers use: PEN. Surely you jest, Moe! "No, I don't, and please don't call me Shirley" <== Famous quote in the movie "Airplane"

64. Part of RPM: REV. I am so confused, Moe ... WTF is going on???

65. Dashboard image that is located between the Tach and the MPH dials: ODO. Is this just some kind of green paint??

66. A fitting text message that Moe sent to his alter ego while blogging this puzzle: LOL!

67. A TV show that would probably have classic 62-across skits: SNL

62 - across. What Chairman Moe did to his audience today: APRIL FOOLS!

71 - across. With 73-Across, classic internet prank pulled by this puzzle's longest answers: RICK.

73 - across.  See 71-Across: ROLL.

WHAT?  This grid didn't appear in your newspaper or AcrossLite / online edition??? 

Ok, Moe.  You had your fun with us.  Ha! Ha!  Can you please give us the REAL version and explanation?

Well, since you asked politely, here goes.  First, the real clues/fill that Tara used, and that I substituted for to make an alternate puzzle:

60-across. Like a turkey burger: LEAN.  My burgers have an 80% LEAN / 20% FAT ratio.  Turkeys are a holiday meat - for me, anyway

62-across. Began to relax: LOOSENED UP.  Moe-ku:

 

        Camper told his shrink

        He dreamt of tepee and yurt.

        Guess he's just two tents 

 

69-across. Made a 43-Down, say: ERRED.

 

70-across. Pre-migraine experience, for some: AURA. 

 

72-across.  Financial obligations: DEBTS. 

 

50-down. "Ready?": ALL SET. 

 

55-down. Monopoly cards: DEEDS. 

 

56-down.  Celebrity chef Martin: YAN.

 

57-down.  Like some headphones: ON EAR. The only kind that Moe will wear

59-down. Vehicle often steered with the feet: SLED.  LUGE fits, too

63-down. Underground rock: ORE.  I hear a good place to find ore is in ORE.

 

64-down. Round figure?: ORB. 

65- down. Twosome: DUO. 

 

66-down. Clickable link: URL.  Part of today's prank

 

67-down. Bestie: PAL.  BFF was tried and failed

 

71 - across. With 73-Across, classic internet prank pulled by this puzzle's longest answers: RICK.

73 - across.  See 71-Across: ROLL.

What in the heck is going on here???

 

When you tried to click on all of the hyperlinks I used in my recap today, you were rickrolled.  As [Merriam-Webster] defines: 

"Rickrolled" (or rickroll) is an internet slang verb and prank where a user is tricked into clicking a disguised hyperlink that leads to the music video for Rick Astley's 1987 hit song, "

Never Gonna Give You Up". It is a bait-and-switch tactic designed to annoy or humorously surprise the viewer

 

The five longest answers in the puzzle progressively "pull"/spell out the title in this song:  

 

NEVER AGAIN 

I'M GONNA BE

DOESN'T GIVE A HOOT

TOLD YOU SO 

LOOSENED UP   

 

And that's about as simple a way as I can explain it!

 

I highlighted below the left-to-right progression of the key words to the Rick Astley tune you heard today, ad nauseam, provided you clicked on the links. This  puzzle was a real "hoot".  The words used were all in-the-language and well-clued. The reveal was at first unknown to me, but when I googled the phrase "rickroll" it all made sense

 

Kudos again to Tara Holland for providing this blogger with his most favorite puzzle to date! This was truly amazing - I hope you all enjoyed both the real and the April Fools puzzles today

 

Here is the REAL grid!   

 

Wednesday, March 25, 2026, Mat Holmes

Good Morning, Cruciverbalists.  Malodorous Manatee, here, with the recap of a Wednesday puzzle by Mat Holmes.  Mat has had puzzles published previously in other venues (The Atlantic, Universal, Defector) but I believe that this is his LAT debut.  Congratulations, Mat and welcome to the asylum (er, community).

This morning's puzzle offering is perfect for those of you who are always looking for new ways to get your kicks.  Now, despite the "spoiler" above, you might be thinking something along the lines of:

Paul Revere and the Raiders - Kicks

Or, perhaps:

Asleep At The Wheel - Route 66

Or, perhaps, the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes or even a couple of Nissan automobiles.

But, no.  KICKS here is used in the slang connotation of athletic shoes (Silver Kicks?).  Perhaps not as much fun as any/all of the above but it works very well for the puzzle.  Let's start with the unifier:

59 Across:  Trusted companions, or what the sets of circled letters in this puzzle literally are: SIDEKICKS.  

At five places in the grid Mat has place brand names for sneakers/tennis shoes/athletic shoes.  These are referred to as KICKS in contemporary slang and each name abuts a side of the puzzles.  Get it?  Side kicks.  To help us out, or to irk those who profoundly dislike them, circles have been utilized to help us see what is fairly obvious once the theme is grokked. . . if one is familiar with the brand names involved.

Here are the places where the gimmick is employed (deployed?):

16 Across:  Mark Twain lad who falls in love with Becky Thatcher: TOM SAWYER.

22 Across:  Exclamation in "Tommy Boy": HOLY SCHNIKES.  This solver was not familiar with this exclamation.  "Tommy Boy" is a 1995 buddy flick starring Chris Farley and David Spade.

32 Across: Some family vehicles: MINIVANS.

40. Wonder Woman publisher: DC COMICS.

47 Across:  Talk to: CONVERSE WITH.  When this solver was in Junior High School, CONVERSE All Stars were the cool (neat, bitchen) shoe to have.

This is how everything lays out in the grid:

Here are the rest of the clues and answers:

Across:

1. Opera star Nellie with a peach dessert named for her: MELBA.  Nellie MELBA (Helen Porter Mitchell) took the pseudonym Melba from her hometown of Melbourne, Australia.

6. Commercial flop: DUD.  Edsel was too long.  So was BOMB.

9. Outer layer: RIND.  As on a watermelon.

13. Celestial hunter: ORION.  The constellation.

14. Squeeze bunt result: RBI.  A baseball reference.  Run Batted In

15. "Same here": ME TOO.  We all got this one.

18. English derby town: EPSOM.  Those of you who watched Rocky & Bullwinkle might remember this:

19. U.K.-based global bank: HSBC.  All You Might Wish To Know

20. __ Lingus: AER.

21. Seat of power: THRONE.  Both figuratively and literally.  Also slang for toilet.

25. Big name in BoSox history: YAZ.  

28. Chance to stand for a spell?: BEE.   Spelling BEE.

29. Keep out of sight: HIDE.  If you HIDE well enough then folks will find neither hide nor hair of you.

30. Cover story: ALIBI.  Not as in the cover story of, say, Time Magazine.  A CYA story.

36. "The Biggest Little City in the World": RENO.  Self-proclaimed.

37. Umami, for one: TASTE.

39. Furry Endor denizen: EWOK.  A Star Wars reference.  Specifically a reference to the fictional planet Endor.  EWOKs aren't meant to be left outside......they're Endor pets.

42. Japanese beer brand: ASAHI. KIRIN would also have fit the allotted space.  Sapporo was too long.

43. Topple (over): KEEL.  The phrase "KEEL over" originates from nautical terminology, referring to a ship capsizing or rolling so far on its side that its keel is visible.

44. Ocean Potion no.: SPF.  Number is abbreviated as no. in the clue, so . . .   A Sunscreen reference with a rhyming clue.  Do we have a motion to salute that notion?

46. __ Kippur: YOM.  The Day of Atonement.  All You Might Want to Know

52. Chances for a hit: AT BATS.  Another baseball reference.

53. Actor Kingsley: BEN.  Actor #1

54. Facility: EASE.  In 1953, Tom Lehrer used the word FACILITY in a similar context in the lyrics of this song:

58. "If __ Street Could Talk": film based on a James Baldwin novel: BEALE.

61. Pianist Schnabel: ARTUR.  All You Might Want To Know

62. Scrape (out): EKE.

63. Elba of "Cats": IDRIS.  A frequent visitor.  Actor #2

64. In real time: LIVE.

65. Meditative discipline: ZEN.  What did the ZEN master say to the hot dog vendor?  Make me one with everything.

66. Connect with: TIE TO.

Down:

1. Grown-up silkworm: MOTH.

2. Greek Cupid: EROS.

3. Life partner?: LIMB.  Not your soulmate.  As in the expression:

4. KitchenAid alternative: BOSCH.  Maybe not the first name to come to mind.  Amana and Miele would both have fit the space.

5. "Blonde" star de Armas: ANA.  Actor #3

6. Visine target: DRY EYE.

7. Rides with surge pricing: UBERS. 

8. S, SW, or SSW: DIR.  DIRection

9. Temporary stays: REPRIEVES.

10. Gentle reply to an apology: ITS OK.  Several not-so-gentle replies come to mind.

11. Terrible turnout: NO ONE.  The turnout cannot get much more terrible than this.

12. Geodesic structures: DOMES.

Buckminster Fuller

15. Body art that uses henna: MEHNDI.  New to this solver.  Thankserps.

17. Corduroy rib: WALE.

21. Yours, once: THINE.  This above all....

23. __-Wan Kenobi: OBI.  Another "Star Wars" reference

24. Debit slip: CHIT. 

25. Football unit: YARD.  An American Football reference.

26. Sir __ Guinness: ALEC.  Actor #4

27. Nutrient in oysters: ZINC.  The crossing YAZ helped.  If y0u did not know that one then perhaps you tried IRON?

31. Car seller's concern: BOOK VALUE.

32. Ed.'s stack: MSS.  Abbreviation for ManuScriptS

33. Not home: AWAY.

34. Nabe in L.A. and NYC: NOHO.  Nabe = neighborhood.  Abbreviated clue.  Abbreviated answer.  NOrth of HOuston Street in New York City.  NOrth HOllywood in Los Angeles.

35. Take a little off the top: SKIM.  Not a haircut reference (TRIM).  A monetary (or milk) reference.

37. Ranking groups: TIERS.  There can't be a TIER list for knots because they would all be tied.

38. Knee parts commonly viewed with MRIs: ACLS.  Abbreviated clue . . .   Plural clue . . .

41. Limo driver in the airport, e.g.: MEETER.  Cute.  Someone who meets someone at the airport.  For some reason, MEETER made me think of greeter which led me to think of this Tim Hawkins song:

42. Astern: AFT.  A nautical reference.

44. Norway neighbor: SWEDEN.  It had to be either SWEDEN, Finland or Russia.

45. Evergreen tree: PINE.

47. Plotting group: CABAL.  What do you call a secret CABAL of strippers who surreptitiously control the adult entertainment industry?  The Illumi-naughty.

48. "SNL" alum Cheri: OTERI.  Five letters, three of which are vowels.  A constructor's friend.  Actor #5

49. Channel for hoops fans: NBA TV.   Hoops being a slang term for the game of basketball.

50. Motorized ride: E-BIKE.

51. Supermodel Klum: HEIDI.  Actor #6

55. Farm unit: ACRE.  1 ACRE of land for sale, no house.  That’s a lot.

56. Funny sketch: SKIT.

57. Canadian gas brand: ESSO.  Derived from the initials of Standard Oil.  S O 

59. "__ who?": SEZ.  Oh yeah?

60. Footballer's uniform: KIT.  In the soccer world (or football as most of the world outside the USA calls soccer) KIT means the uniform that they players wear.  So, the answer to this clue is "by definition" once one figures out the global nature of the clue.

Well, that will wrap things up for today.  As it is a Wednesday, and not a Tuesday or a Thursday, I can take a day off from this:

_____________________________________

MM Out

Wednesday, March 18, 2026 Aaron Ullman

heme: STRINGING ALONG or FACING THE MUSIC, or FEELING PLUCKY.  The last word of in the language phrases is repurposed to suggest a guitar players activities.

 

 20 A. *Some fruity sandwich spreads: RASPBERRY JAMS.  Fruit jam is a spread made by cooking fruit, sugar, and lemon juice (for pectin and acidity) together until thick. It can be made with fresh, frozen, or foraged fruits, providing a concentrated sweet fruit flavor.  In music a JAM session is a planned or impromptu event characterized by improvisation, that can exist in a variety of music genres, including those that feature guitars.   

27 A. *Criticize harshly: RIP TO SHREDS.   This means to severely tear or destroy a physical object, or to harshly criticize a person, argument, or performance. It indicates intense damage or total dismantling of something. It is also commonly used to mean completely refuting someone’s ideas in a harsh way.  SHRED also means to play electric guitar with extreme speed, technical precision, and high-intensity, often using techniques like rapid alternate picking, sweep-picking, tapping, and legato. 

36 A. *Long-handled, long-toothed combs: AFRO PICKS.  Specialized, wide-toothed combs designed to lift, volumize, and shape curly, coily, and afro-textured hair from the roots.  They were symbols of black power/excellence, especially in the 70s as a rejection of euro beauty standards and showing acceptance and empowerment for black beauty standards and unity.  

 

Also, a PICK, or plectrum, is a small, typically triangular, flat tool held in the hand to pluck or strum stringed instruments.  

49 A. *Hollow floaties: POOL NOODLES.    Cylindrical pieces of flexible, buoyant polyethylene foam. Pool noodles are used by people of all ages while swimming.

NOODLING on guitar [or trombone, c'mon] is the act of playing aimlessly, improvising, or messing around on the instrument without a specific goal, structure, or song in mind. 

56 A. Stirs emotions, or how a guitarist might interpret the ends of the answers to the starred clues?: STRIKES A CHORD.   As defined - affect or stir someone's emotions, or perhaps invoke a memory.  The idiom originated in the early 19th century from music, metaphorically referring to striking a chord on a stringed instrument to produce a resonant, harmonious sound that mirrors human emotions.  Here is how you strike 3 basic guitar chords.

Hi Gang - JazzBumpa here - as always, delighted to have a music-related theme to conduct. [Though I must admit the guitar thoroughly defeated me.]  So let's tune up and get playing.

Across:

1. Tend the garden: WEED.  Here, WEED is a verb, meaning to remove weeds from the garden and reduce the competition for soil nutrients.

5. Wound covers: SCABS.  A protective, dried blood clot that forms over a wound within hours, acting as a natural, temporary biological dressing, it keeps out germs and debris while allowing new skin cells to form underneath.

10. Spanish 23-Across: NIÑO.  A child - most likely a boy.  A girl would be a niña.

14. Sicilian volcano: ETNA.  An active stratovolcano found on the east coast of Sicily, Italy, in the Metropolitan City of Catania, between the cities of Messina and Catania, and in many crossword puzzles. It is located above the convergent plate margin between the African Plate and the Eurasian Plate. 

15. Crème de __: CACAO.  A sweet, cocoa-flavored liqueur commonly used in cocktails, typically containing 20–25% ABV (40–50 proof) and made from cacao beans, vanilla, and sugar. It comes in white (clear) or dark brown varieties, 

16. Superstar: IDOL.   A person or thing that is greatly admired, loved, or revered.

17. Savoir faire: TACT.  The ability to act or speak appropriately in social situations.

18. "Just Mercy" actor __ Jackson Jr.: O'SHEA. O'Shea Jackson Jr., [b. 1991] also known by the stage name OMG, is an American actor, rapper and songwriter. He is the oldest son of Ice Cube and, in his feature film debut, he portrayed his father in the 2015 biopic Straight Outta Compton.

19. Unhip type: NERD.   A person passionately devoted to intellectual, technical, or specific niche pursuits, often characterized by high expertise in fields like technology, academics, or gaming. While historically used as an insult for someone socially awkward or unstylish, the term has evolved into a badge of pride for intense, knowledgeable enthusiasm.

23. Lad: BOY.    A male child or youth [niño] originating from 14th-century Middle English boy/boye (servant, knave). 

25. Pod unit: PEA.   A pulse or fodder crop, but the word often refers to the seed or sometimes the pod of this flowering plant species. Peas are eaten as a vegetable. 

26. Bother a lot: EAT AT.    To gradually destroy, erode, or consume something, or to cause persistent worry and anxiety. 

32. WSW opposite: ENE.  Compass directions : west-south-west and east-north-east.

33. Informal "but": ALTHO.  "Altho" is an informal, simplified spelling of the conjunction although, meaning "in spite of the fact that," "even though," or "though". It is primarily used in informal, casual writing or sometimes in American English, acting as a shortcut for the standard spelling.

34. Hawthorne Heights music genre: EMO.   A style of rock music resembling punk but having more complex arrangements and lyrics that deal with more emotional subjects.   Hawthorne Heights is an American rock band formed in Dayton, Ohio, in 2001. 

35. Cold War initials: USSR.  The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until its dissolution in 1991. It was the world's third-most populous country, largest by area, and bordered twelve countries.  A diverse multinational state, it was organized as a federal union of national republics, the largest and most populous being the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. In practice, its government and economy were highly centralized. As a one-party state governed by its Communist Party, it was the flagship communist state. Its capital and largest city was Moscow.

40. Throw out a line: CAST.  To throw, fling, or propel something with force, in this case a baited hook, lure, or fly out over the water using a fishing rod and reel.

43. Number of orbits around the sun Neptune has completed since its discovery: ONE.  The eighth and farthest known planet from the Sun, located about 2.8 billion miles (4.5 billion km) away. It is a vibrant blue ice giant with a thick, windy atmosphere composed of hydrogen, helium, and methane, featuring supersonic wind speeds up to 1,200 mph.  Discovered in 1846, it was the first planet located through mathematical predictions rather than regular observation.  Neptune takes approximately 165 Earth years (about 60,190 days) to complete one revolution around the Sun.  It completed its first full orbit since its discovery in 1846 only in 2011. 

44. Beer ingredient: YEAST.   Yeast is a, if not the, crucial, single-celled microorganism in brewing that converts sugars in wort into ethanol (alcohol), carbon dioxide (carbonation), and aromatic compounds. The two main types are top-fermenting Ale yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) for warmer, faster fermentation and bottom-fermenting Lager yeast (Saccharomyces pastorianus) for cooler, slower, and cleaner fermentation.

48. Not cool: OUT.   "Out" can indicate something is no longer in style, in stock, or currently available.

52. Carne option: ASADA.   Spanish term meaning "grilled," "roasted," or "barbecued," commonly referring to thinly sliced, marinated beef (carne asada) in Mexican cuisine. 

54. Middle-earth denizen: ENT.  Ents are a race of ancient, sentient, tree-like beings in fantasy, most notably J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, known as "Shepherds of the Trees". Created to protect forests from dwarves and orcs, they are tall, deliberate, long-lived, and resemble the trees they guard. The name derives from an Anglo-Saxon word for "giant"

55. __ of luxury: LAP.   In conditions of great comfort and wealth.

61. Hardy title character: TESS.   Tess of the d'Urbervilles is a tragic novel by Thomas Hardy, first published in 1891, about a poor young woman, Tess Durbeyfield, who is victimized by two men, Alec d'Urberville and Angel Clare, and ultimately destroyed by the rigid social and sexual morals of Victorian England.

62. Dwarf planet in the Kuiper belt: PLUTO.  Pluto is a cold, distant dwarf planet in the Kuiper Belt with a surface of nitrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide ice. It has an average temperature of approximately --56 F.  Its surface features a massive heart-shaped glacier (Sputnik Planitia) and mountains. With 5 moons, Pluto's gravity is very low, about 6% of Earth's gravity.

63. "Why the heck not" hashtag: YOLO.   You Only Live Once - so why not do something profoundly stupid?  It will make a good story when you get out of the hospital.

66. Actor Stoltz: ERIC.   Eric Cameron Stoltz [b.1961] is an American actor, director, and producer. He's known for his roles as sensitive misfits in films like Mask, Kicking and Screaming, and The Waterdance. His portrayal of Rocky Dennis in Mask earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

67. Potpourri piece: PETAL.   Potpourri is a mixture of dried petals and spices placed in a bowl or small sack to perfume clothing or a room.   Petals are each of the segments of the corolla of a flower, which are modified leaves and are typically colored.

68. "The Celts" singer: ENYA.  Enya, born Eithne Pádraigín Ní Bhraonáin, [b. 1961] is a familiar crossword denizen and also an Irish singer and composer who has sold an estimated 80 million albums worldwide. Her distinctive style blends folk melodies, classical motifs, and synthesized backdrops, creating a sound that's closer to new age than her initial folk and Celtic influences.   Here is MAY IT BE, from The Fellowship of the Ring.

The story behind it.

69. City near Tahoe: RENO.   Reno is a city in the northwest section of the U.S. state of Nevada, along the Nevada–California border. It is the county seat and most populous city of Washoe County. 

70. Shape of some cocktail picks: SWORD.   Swords are bladed weapons designed for cutting or thrusting, historically used for combat, self-defense, and as symbols of status.   Cocktail swords usually hold olives or pieces of fruit.

Bar Products

 

Shards of Narsil

 71. Hunt for: SEEK.   Attempt to find or obtain something.

Down:

1. Burrito option: WET.  This is a standard burrito smothered in red or green enchilada sauce and melted cheese, requiring a fork and knife to eat. Often filled with ground beef, rice, and beans, it is baked until the sauce is bubbly, creating a saucy, comfort-food twist on the handheld version. 

2. Landing hr.: ETA.   Estimated Time of Arrival at the air port.

3. Secure, as 4-Down, perhaps: ENCRYPT.   Convert information or data into a cipher or code, especially to prevent unauthorized access.

4. Facts and figures: DATA.  Raw, unorganized facts, figures, and symbols (e.g., numbers, text, audio, images) that, when processed, provide meaningful information for decision-making and analysis. 

5. Checks (out) in advance: SCOPES.    To examine, investigate, or assess something carefully, particularly to gain information, evaluate a situation, or prepare for a task. It is commonly used informally to mean looking over a place or situation to understand it.

6. "Rock the __": hit song for The Clash: CASBAH.    A traditional North African fortress, citadel, or fortified quarter within older cities, notably in Algeria and Morocco. Historically, these served as residential and defensive structures, often with labyrinthine, car-free streets.   I decided not to link the vid from 1982.  You can find it on Youtube if you're interested.

7. Hurt: ACHE.   A continuous or prolonged dull pain in a part of one's body.

8. Boxer Max: BAER.   Maximilian Adelbert Baer Sr. [1909 - 1959] was an American professional boxer and the world heavyweight champion from June 14, 1934, to June 13, 1935. He was known in his time as the Livermore Larupper and Madcap Maxie. Two of his fights were rated Fight of the Year by The Ring magazine.  He also acted in several movies and made many TV appearances, including his own variety show.

9. Take to the sky: SOAR.  Let's fly away.

10. Big name in small appliances: NINJA.  Ninja products are made by SharkNinja, an independent, publicly traded company that designs and sells innovative kitchen appliances, outdoor cooking gear, and other household items, known for popular brands like the Ninja Foodi and Shark vacuums, with manufacturing primarily in Southeast Asia. 

11. Conceptualizes: IDEATES.   Forms an idea of something; imagines or conceives.

12. Conquerors of England in 1066: NORMANS.   The Normans were a medieval people who originated from Norse (Viking) settlers in Northern France, establishing the Duchy of Normandy in 911 under Rollo. They adopted French language, culture, and Romanesque architecture, becoming fervent Christians. Famous for the 1066 Norman Conquest of England led by William the Conqueror, they also established kingdoms in Southern Italy, Sicily, and fought in the Crusades.

13. Golden-ager: OLDSTER.   An older person.  Older than what or whom is not specified.  At any rate, I qualify.

21. Parody: SPOOF.   A humorous imitation of something, typically a film or a particular genre of film, in which its characteristic features are exaggerated for comic effect.

22. "Absolutely!": YES.  For sure!

23. Honeylove purchase: BRA. They make several types of clothing and intimate apparel.

24. Substance in the Hanukkah miracle: OIL.   The miracle of the oil, central to Hanukkah, tells that when the Maccabees rededicated the Temple, they found only one small jar of pure oil, enough for one day. Miraculously, this oil burned for eight days, allowing enough time to prepare new oil, representing the triumph of light and faith.

28. Yonder thing: THAT.  Used to identify a specific person or thing observed by the speaker.

29. Deter: REPEL.  Drive or force an attack or attacker to back or away.

30. Queen's record label: EMI.    EMI Group/Records was a major British music conglomerate (the "Big Four") that launched the Beatles, Queen, and Pink Floyd. Following its 2012 breakup, its assets are now held by Universal Music Group (recorded music) and Sony Music Publishing.

31. Grumpy friend: DOC.  Grumpy and Doc are two of Disney's Seven Dwarves from the Snow White movie.  Tolkien hated them, and anything Disney.  Still, a nicely misdirecting clue.

35. Like most Facebook Marketplace items: USED.   I believe the preferred term is "pre-owned."

37. Piglet pal: ROO.   From the Winnie the Pooh stories.   More Disney.

38. Subject of the song "Oh Yoko!": ONO.  Yoko Ono [b 1933] is a Japanese artist, musician, activist, and filmmaker who has influenced the international art scene since the 1960s. A pioneer in performance and conceptual art, Ono's work often challenges perceptions of beauty, sexuality, and femininity. 

39. Former capital of Japan: KYOTO.   Kyoto, once the capital of Japan, is a city on the island of Honshu. It's famous for its numerous classical Buddhist temples, as well as gardens, imperial palaces, Shinto shrines and traditional wooden houses. It was founded in 794.

40. Bar mat: COASTER.  A small tray or mat placed under a bottle or glass to protect the table underneath.

41. Spartan: AUSTERE.  Severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance.

42. Leads the cast of: STARS IN.  Said of the skilled performer who has the most prominent roll in a production.

45. "Ta-da!": ALL DONE.  The project is finished.

46. Lighthouse view: SEA.   The ocean, possibly with ships.

47. Abbr. on a measuring spoon: TSP.  Teaspoon.

49. Intl. cricket powerhouse: PAK.   Pakistan.  Cricket in Pakistan has a history predating the creation of the country in 1947. The first ever international cricket match in Karachi was held on 22 November 1935 between Sindh and Australian cricket teams. The match was seen by 5,000 Karachiites. Following the independence of Pakistan in 1947, cricket in the country developed rapidly and Pakistan was given Test match status at a meeting of the Imperial Cricket Conference at Lord's in England on 28 July 1952 following recommendation by India,[

50. Drink of the gods: NECTAR.   This refers to ambrosia and nectar, the fabled food and drink granting immortality in Greek mythology. It is commonly used as a metaphor for an exceptionally delicious drink.

51. Waiting for a representative, say: ON HOLD.   The bane of anyone seeking customer service by telephone.

53. __ fries: poutine kin: DISCO.   A classic New Jersey diner comfort food, consisting of crispy French fries smothered in melted mozzarella cheese and hot brown gravy. Popularized in the 1970s as a late-night snack for people leaving clubs, this dish is similar to Canadian poutine but uses shredded mozzarella instead of cheese curds.

57. Comedian Mike of "The Upshaws": EPPS.   Michael Elliot Epps [b. 1970] is an American actor, stand-up comedian, and philanthropist. He's known for his roles as Day-Day Jones in Next Friday and Friday After Next, and "Black Doug" in The Hangover films. Epps is also a boxing fan who recently partnered with former World Heavyweight Champion Lamon Brewster to open a boxing gym in Indianapolis. The gym aims to use boxing's fierceness and footwork to help young men and teens find new paths. 

58. Boatload: SLEW.  It is used informally to mean a large quantity, often with "a," e.g., "a slew of issues."

59. Part of an insurance bundle: AUTO.  Sometimes bundled with home owner's insurance.

60. Marbled loaves: RYES.  Marble rye is a visually striking, artisan-style bread made by twisting or layering light rye and dark pumpernickel doughs together to create a distinctive marbled swirl. Known for its mild, earthy flavor and chewy texture, it typically features caraway seeds and is a favorite for reuben sandwiches, toasted with butter.

64. Soap chemical: LYE.   Lye, primarily sodium hydroxide  or potassium hydroxide, is a strong, highly caustic alkaline compound crucial for soap making, drain cleaning, and food processing like curing lutefisk, pretzels, and ramen noodles. It is a white, corrosive solid that dissolves fats, requiring strict safety measures, including gloves, goggles, and ventilation.

65. Barrel wood: OAK.   Oak is favored for barrels due to its structural strength, ability to bend without snapping, and unique porosity, which allows for controlled micro-oxygenation. It is watertight, durable against warping, and imparts desirable flavor compounds like vanilla, spice, and coconut to wine and spirits. It also mellows tannins over time.

Well, that it's for another Wednesday.  This puzzle hit all the right notes, and had  both a bit of astronomy and a Tolkien based min-theme.  Hope it didn't give you anything to fret about.

Cool regards!

JzB