Tuesday, April 23, 2024 Matthew Stock and Wendy L Brandes

Home is where the heart is.  The last word of each theme clue describes a type of living space.

16-Across. Digs for a member of a string quartet?: CELLO SUITE.  Suite:  a set of rooms designated for one person's or family's use or for a particular purpose.

26-Across. Digs for a gym rat?: MUSCLE BUILDING.  Building:  a structure with a roof and walls, such as a house, school, store, or factory.

42-Across. Digs for a Greek mythology buff?: OEDIPUS COMPLEX.  Complex:  A building complex consists of a large building or series of interconnected buildings that fulfill a specific purpose.

56-Across. Digs for a dancer?: BALLET FLAT.  Flat:  A term predominantly used in the United Kingdom to describe a self-contained housing unit that occupies only part of a building.  The etymology of flat originates from the Old English word “flett,” dating back to the 1300s.  The term means level and in one plane.  Hence, the term flat is used to describe a one-level apartment.

Across:

1. Dynamism: PEP.

4. Eatery with a chalkboard menu: BISTRO.  Bistro: a small, casual restaurant with a relatively inexpensive, simple menu. Though often a French restaurant, it doesn't have to be, and not every bistro serves French food.  I was just reading something about the defeat of Napoleon and learned about the word Bistro came into the French language.  It was first used in the early 1800s following the 1814 occupation of Paris by Russian soldiers.  It seems that it was a mispronunciation of a Russian word that meant hurry.  Russian soldiers would shout Hurry at restaurant owners while waiting for their food.  Small restaurants began to pop-up that could quickly serve food ~ the original fast food restaurants!

10. Free TV spot: PSA.  As in Public Service Announcement.

13. "Origin" writer/director DuVernay: AVA.  Ava Marie DuVernay (b. Aug. 24, 1972) is an American filmmaker, screenwriter, and producer.  She has been involved in many movies, including Selma, and A Wrinkle in Time.  Origin is based on Isabel Wilkerson's book, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. [Name # 1.]

14. Off-the-cuff performance: IMPROV.  Short for Improvisation.

15. Final push?: CRAM.  Cram:  Study intensively over a short period of time just before an examination.

18. Roll-call call: HERE.

19. "At Wit's End" writer Bombeck: ERMA.  Erma Bombeck (née Erma Louise Bombeck; Feb. 21, 1927 ~ Apr. 22, 1996) was an American humorist.  She wrote over 4,000 newspaper columns which gave a humorous view on family life.  She also published 15 books.  At Wit's End, her first publish book, came out in 1967. [Name # 2.]

20. Spherical body: ORB.

21. "Ant" on a celery "log": RAISIN.

23. Scand. land: NOR.  Norway is a Scandinavian country.

25. Flakes on plans: BAILS.  This clue appeared in last Tuesday's puzzle as Flake (on): Bail.  [See 68-Across in last week's puzzle.]

32. Lauder in the cosmetics aisle: ESTÉE.  Estée Lauder (née Josephine Esther Mentzer; July 1, 1908 ~ Apr. 24, 2004) makes frequent guest appearances in the crossword puzzles.  She was an American businesswoman. She and her husband, Joseph Lauter co-founded her eponymous cosmetics company.  [Name # 3.]

33. Measurement given in degrees: ANGLE.

34. __ Lanka: SRI.  Sri Lanka is the tear-drop island off the south-east coast of India.

36. OPS or RBI: STAT.  Both OPS (On-base Plus Slugging) and RBI (Runs Batted In) are baseball Statistics.

37. Prunes: TRIMS.

38. Sparks or Fire: TEAM.  The Los Angeles Sparks are a WNBA Team and the Chicago Fire is a soccer Team.  This clue is immediately followed by 39-Across. Like sparks and fire: HOT.

40. __ Monica Pier: SANTA.

41. Mazda roadster: MIATA.

45. Entrepreneur __ C.J. Walker: MADAM.  According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Madam C J Walker (née Sarah Breedlove; b. Dec. 23, 1867 ~ May 25, 1919) was the first female self-made millionaire in America.  That's a pretty amazing feat considering she was an African-American woman who born in Louisiana a year before the State was readmitted into the Union.  Her older sibling were all born enslaved.  She made her fortune by developing and marketing a line of cosmetics and hair care products for black women.  [Name # 4.]

46. Language in which to order larb: LAO.  Larb is certainly not a Tuesday word.  Larb is a spicy and sour meat salad and is the national dish of Laos.

47. Puts one's feelings on display: EMOTES.

49. Woebegone: SAD.  //  And 52-down. Woebegone word: ALAS.

51. Hand-held coolers: FANS.

55. Checkout lane purchase: TOTE.

59. Starchy snack bites, for short: TOTS.  Think of Tater Tots.  Yummers!  //  And 40-Down: 59-Across, perhaps: SIDE.

60. Tennis star Andre: AGASSI.  Andre Kirk Agassi (b. Apr. 29, 1970) was briefly married to actress Brooke Shields (b. May 31, 1965) in the 1990s.  [Name # 5.]

61. Periodontists' gp.: ADA.  As in the American Dental Association.

62. "Without further __ ... ": ADO.

63. Like some work from home: REMOTE.

64. "__ your piece": SAY.

Down:

1. Four-minute mile, for one: PACE.

2. CCR's "Have You __ Seen the Rain": EVER.  This song was first released in 1971 by Creedence Clearwater Revival.  Can it really be over half a century ago?

3. Acai tree, e.g.: PALM.

4. Info on a profile page: BIO.  As in a Biography

5. Post-triathlon lament: I'M SORE.

6. Barrel racer's accessory: SPUR.

7. Chi-Town paper: TRIB.  As in the Chicago Tribune.  Film critic and journalist Gene Siskel (1946 ~ 1999) wrote for the Tribune.

8. Turn brown, maybe: ROT.

9. Clothes with bibs and braces: OVERALLS.

10. Film similar to cling wrap: PRESS'N SEAL.  A bit unfair, since cling wrap is a generic term and the answer is the name of a product.

11. Garment that may be nine yards long: SARI.

12. Grace ender: AMEN.

15. Cook-off entry: CHILI.

17. Small surgical knife: LANCET.  Another déjà vu from last Tuesday.  Also the name of a medical journal.  The Lancet, which was founded in England in 1823, is one of the oldest medical journals.  [See 30-Down from last week.]

22. Congressional staffer: AIDE.

24. "Rah," in fútbol: OLÉ.  Today's Spanish lesson.

25. Signature Golden Arches offering: BIG MAC.  I understand it has a special sauce.

26. Sports bib material: MESH.

27. "We totally agree": US, TOO.

28. "Liberty and Prosperity," for New Jersey, e.g.: STATE MOTTO.  Louisiana's state motto is Union, Justice and Confidence.  What's yours?

29. Bailey's circus partner: BARNUM.  As in P.T. Barnum (né Phineas Taylor Barnum; July 5, 1810 ~ Apr. 7, 1891) and James Anthony Bailey (né James Anthony McGinnis; July 4, 1847 ~ Apr. 11, 1906).  [Names # 6 and 7.]

30. Curriculum parts: UNITS.

31. Shred, as cheese: GRATE.

35. Big big-screen format: IMAX.

37. Eatery with small plates: TAPAS BAR.  A tapa is an appetiser or snack in Spanish cuisine. Tapas can be combined to make a full meal, and can be cold or hot. In some bars and restaurants in Spain and across the globe, tapas have evolved into a very sophisticated cuisine.  Yummers!

38. WNBA game start: TIP OFF.

41. UFC sport: MMA.  As in Mixed Martial Arts and Ultimate Fighting Championship.

43. eHarmony matches: DATES.

44. Like Yellowstone, among National Parks: OLDEST.  Yellowstone National Park was established by and Act of Congress and President Ulysses S Grant () signed it into law on March 1, 1872.  Not only is Yellowstone National park the first National Park in the United States, but it is also believed to be the first national park in the world.

47. "At Last" singer James: ETTA.  Etta James (née Jamesetta Hawkins; Jan. 25, 1938 ~ Jan. 20, 2012) makes frequent guest appearances in the crossword puzzles.  [Name # 8.]

48. Atmosphere: MOOD.

49. Shut with a bang: SLAM.

50.  Additionally: ALSO.

53. Nothing at all: NADA.

54. "Hang around a bit longer!": STAY.

57. Just a number, for some: AGE.  Age is just a number.  It might be a big number, but it is just a number.

58. Cause for overtime: TIE.

Here's the Grid:

חתולה

Happy Passover for all who celebrate.  Enjoy the Second Seder tonight.

Wednesday, March 13, 2024 Wendy L. Brandes

Theme:

17. Has a contagious smile, say: LIGHTS UP THE ROOM.

28. Parties like there's no tomorrow: RAISES THE ROOF.

47. Gets ready for action: CLEARS THE DECK.

Reveal:

63. Remodeling projects, or a tongue-in-cheek title for this puzzle: HOME IMPROVEMENT.

 

 

Across:

1. Went 60 in a 30, say: SPED.

5. Expression of anger, maybe: SLAP.

9. Deli device: SCALE.

14. __ stick: POGO.

15. Double agent: MOLE.

16. Sense of __: HUMOR.

20. Whitlock Jr. of "Cocaine Bear": ISIAH.

21. Seal Beach's location, informally: SOCAL.

22. Self-care destination: SPA.

23. Gym top: TEE.

24. Prefix with Pen: EPI.

26. Italian bubbly: ASTI.

34. Feature of some kaleidoscopes: PRISM.

35. Google Maps suggestion: ROUTE.

36. Resting on: ATOP.

39. Mary Roach book subtitled "The Curious Life of Human Cadavers": STIFF.

42. "Good going!": NICE.

43. Keep from expiring: RENEW.

45. R&B singer Braxton: TRACI.

51. Enjoy: LIKE.

52. Spanish "that": ESA.

53. __-Ida Tater Tots: ORE.

56. Get older: AGE.

59. Airport postings: TIMES.

61. Turkey neighbor: SYRIA.

66. Nepali or Laotian: ASIAN.

67. Country singer McCann: LILA.

68. Bird house: CAGE.

69. "Dunno" gesture: SHRUG.

70. Social sci. major: ECON.

71. Auth. unknown: ANON.

Down:

1. Gymnastics move: SPLIT.

2. Equanimity: POISE.

3. Like challah, compared to white bread: EGGIER.

4. Qatar's capital: DOHA.

5. Texting tech: SMS.

6. Worst: LOUSIEST.

7. Dog food brand: ALPO.

8. Willow, to the Biden family: PET CAT.

9. Bus stop fixture: SHELTER.

10. Hostile dog: CUR.

11. Famous __ cookies: AMOS.

12. Coaster feature: LOOP.

13. Bombeck who said, "If you can't make it better, you can laugh at it": ERMA.

18. Nonbinary possessive: THEIR.

19. Word with tag or mark: HASH.

25. Trident-shaped letters: PSIS.

27. Like a big dog named Tiny: IRONIC.

29. Attraction: APPEAL.

30. Singer Patti who wrote the memoir "Just Kids": SMITH.

31. Arles aye: OUI.

32. How homeopathic remedies are sold, for short: OTC.

33. Shipping charge: FEE.

36. Path of a three-pointer: ARC.

37. Contact no.: TEL.

38. Small number: ONE.

40. Climb El Capitan without ropes, say: FREE SOLO.

41. Crazes: FADS.

44. Putting pen to paper: WRITING.

46. Come to an end: CEASE.

48. Milk choice: SKIM.

49. The Pantheon, e.g.: TEMPLE.

50. Like kimchi: KOREAN.

54. Drummer Starr: RINGO.

55. Consumed: EATEN.

56. Cries of clarity: AHAS.

57. "Oh, golly": GOSH.

58. Gulf States title: EMIR.

60. Writer/illustrator Carle: ERIC.

62. Party song title spelled out with gestures: YMCA.

64. __ Claire, Wisconsin: EAU.

65. Moving vehicle: VAN.

Wednesday December 6, 2023 ~ Wendy L. Brandes & Taylor Johnson

What's My Line?

What's My Line?

(Elizabeth Taylor (1954) [@16:13 of 25:44])

Happy Wednesday, Cornerites. Today, Wendy and Taylor provide us some "folks on a LINE." Let's take a look:

17. Sure-footed circus performer: TIGHT ROPE WALKER. A person who walks the high-wire, er LINE.

26. Gridiron position: DEFENSIVE END. A DEFENSIVE LINEman (in football)

41. Call center worker: TELEMARKETER. Someone on a TELEphone LINE interupting dinner.

54. Web-based group, or a collective descriptor of 17-, 26-, and 41-Across?: ONLINE COMMUNITY. Hey, that's us at The Corner!

Impressive execution with two grid-spanners and some fun fill. Let's let the fill "lay it on the line" to ensure we get a nice Wednesday Puzzle.

Across:
1. Thai cuisine herb: BASIL.

Thai Basil

6. Therefore: THUS. Ergo.

10. Surrounded by: AMID.

14. Beyoncé venue: ARENA.

15. Stockings: HOSE.

16. Mauna Loa flow: LAVA.

Floor is Lava

17. [See: Theme]

20. More intoxicating: HEADIER.

21. Hotel patron: GUEST.

22. Pipe bend: ELL.

23. List of spa services, e.g.: MENU.

25. Tall instrument with strings and pedals: HARP.

26. [Seed: Theme]

30. Fiscal execs: CFOS. Chief Financial Officer(s)

32. Sole: LONE. All by my self.

33. Source of remote power?: AAA. Small batteries for the clicker.

34. Irrelevant: MOOT.

35. Deke: FEINT.

37. Phisher's plan: SCAM.

38. "Law & Order" spinoff, familiarly: SVU. Special Victims Unit. I watched maybe 1/3 of a show before shutting it off 'cuz, "eww yuck."

39. Big pistachio exporter: IRAN. California was too long.

40. Carriage: MIEN. Synonyms.

41. [See: Theme]

45. "It's __ a Minute": NPR podcast hosted by Brittany Luse: BEEN. I listen to this show every week; Brittany took over as host in '22.

Brittany Luse

46. Iditarod racer: SLED. Iditarod is a dog race thorough Alaska (which I'm told is beautiful - but only for the lead dog).

47. Convenience store convenience: ATM.

50. Small crown: TIARA.

52. Ultimate tool?: FRISBEE.

I played it a lot in HS. Fun.

54. [See: Theme]

58. Money drawer: TILL.

Cha-Ching

59. Green sage of film: YODA. Star Wars.

60. Familia member: MADRE. Spanish.

61. Marketplace with handmade gifts: ETSY.

62. Unimprovable place: EDEN.

63. Piece of broccoli or asparagus: SPEAR.

Down:
1. Soak: BATHE.

2. Redheaded Disney princess: ARIEL.

Ariel

3. George of "Just Shoot Me!": SEGAL.

4. Presented with great resolution: IN HD.

5. "Discover the West Coast Perspective" pub.: LA TIMES. I was thinking pub == brew-house for far too long #SierraNavadaBeer ;-)

6. Sportscaster Gary who called Orioles games from 2007 to 2020: THORNE.

7. Compete in a potato sack race, say: HOP.

8. Put to work: USE.

9. Suture, say: SEW.

10. Seductive power: ALLURE.

11. Come to terms (with): MAKE PEACE.

12. Pulitzer-winning composer Charles: IVES. Here's the WikiP.

13. Tavern projectile: DART.

18. Snorkeling site: REEF.

19. Tequila source: AGAVE.

24. Disconnects: UNLINKS.

25. Soupçon: HINT.

26. Half a colon: DOT. Also half a semicolon.

27. Junior: SON.

28. Bread served with saag paneer: NAAN.

Recipe

29. Salmon ladder spot: DAM.

30. Beach recess: COVE.

31. Souvenirs caught at stadiums: FOUL BALLS. In 40 years of going to basaeball games, I've never caught an MLB FOUL.

34. Taos winter hrs.: MST. Taos, New Mexico is in Mountan Standard Time zone during DST (Daylight Standard Time).

35. SAG-AFTRA president Drescher: FRAN. She was oft in the news over the summer.

She played "The Nanny"

36. Maize unit: EAR.

37. Title for Mo Farah: SIR.

39. "Just to clarify ... ": I MEAN. "I mean, I mean, [...] I'm sittin here on the Group W bench 'Cause you want to know if I'm moral enough join the army [...] after bein' a litterbug." -Arlo Guthrie

40. Ouija users: MEDIUMS.

42. In a spooky way: EERILY.

43. Film composer Danny: ELFMAN.

44. Glossary entry: TERM.

47. Tolerate: ABIDE.

48. Aquarium fish: TETRA.

49. "Twilight" author Stephenie: MEYER.

50. Nature Conservancy giveaway: TOTE.

51. Still alive for the semis, say: IN IT.

53. Lose one's cool: SNAP.

55. Look at: EYE.

56. Cape __: COD.

57. O'Shaughnessy poem that begins, "We are the music makers, / And we are the dreamers of dreams": ODE.

Yep, a nice Wednesday puzzle with no intersecting names ;-). Post your puzzling thoughts below.

The Grid:

The Grid

WOs: I ink'd only one M in COMMUNITY for a second
ESP: MIEN, THORNE, ELFMAN, MEYAR
Fav: Ultimate FRISBEE

Cheers, -T

Notes from C.C.:

Happy 86th birthday to Lucina! Here's a 2011 picture of Lucina and our old California blog regulars JD, Chickie, Clear Ayes and Garlic Gal and Dodo. Our deepest condolences for the loss of your niece, Lucina.

L-R back row: Chickie, Clear Ayes, Garlic Gal
   Front: JD, Lucina, Dodo (June 23, 2011)

Friday Septmber 1, 2023 Wendy L. Brandes

Theme: NO HESITATION (57. "Proceed with confidence!," and how to make the answers to 20-, 31-, and 43-Across match their clues) - Three 2-letter hesitant syllables are ignored.

20. Pouch for collecting cobs?: CORNER POCKET.

31. Source of inspiration for a candlemaker?: WAX  MUSEUM.

43. Cry of dismay from a sailor?: AHOY MATEY.

C.C. here. Steve probably forgot to move his write-up from his blog to the Corner. Will publish his when he wakes up.

Across:

1. Gets moving: PRODS.

6. One inch = one mile, e.g.: SCALE.

11. Gym unit: REP.

14. Edible flower whose bulb has a toxic core: TULIP.

15. More washed out: PALER.

16. Brief qualifier: IMO.

17. "In sum ... ": AND SO.

18. Worrier's intro: I FEAR.

19. "NCIS" airer: CBS.

23. Slobbery smooch: WET ONE.

26. Inflammation reducers: STEROIDS.

27. "2 Fast 2 Furious" actress Mendes: EVA.

28. Swiper of "Dora the Explorer," for one: FOX.

30. ISP choice: DSL.

35. Culturally pretentious: ARTY.

39. Paragon: IDEAL.

40. The Nature Conservancy, e.g., briefly: NGO.

41. Only state to adopt a state seal designed by a woman: IDAHO.

42. Swift's home: NEST.

45. Short address: URL.

48. Summit: TOP.

49. Angsty music genre: EMO.

50. Spike: INCREASE.

55. Transcript components: GRADES.

59. St. crosser: AVE.

60. Saw: ADAGE.

61. Pop in on: VISIT.

65. Tiny: WEE.

66. Downtimes: LULLS.

67. Play to the cheap seats: EMOTE.

68. Yellowstone resident: ELK.

69. Olympic blades: EPEES.

70. Like flourless chocolate cake: DENSE.

Down:

1. School gp. that sponsors book fairs: PTA.

2. Jog: RUN.

3. Out-of-date: OLD.

4. Pop band Panic! at the __: DISCO.

5. Sugar amount, per Mary Poppins: SPOONFUL.

6. Test-drive: SPIN.

7. Bistros: CAFES.

8. Fully caffeinated, say: ALERT.

9. Jumped: LEAPED.

10. Crossword clues that don't match their answers, e.g.: ERRORS.

11. Documentary filmmaker Stern: RICKI.

12. Battle zone journalist: EMBED.

13. Fence supports: POSTS.

21. Some antique cars: REOS.

22. Piña __: COLADA.

23. Victorious cry: WE WIN.

24. Dodge: EVADE.

25. Strains: TAXES.

29. TV's warrior princess: XENA.

32. Fully grown: MATURE.

33. Repulsed reaction: UGH.

34. No longer relevant: MOOT.

36. Like books on goodreads.com: RATED.

37. __ park: THEME.

38. Vacillates: YOYOS.

41. Got better: IMPROVED.

44. Meditation expert: YOGI.

46. Goal of many eBayers: RESALE.

47. Out of commission: LAID UP.

50. Bowled over: IN AWE.

51. "Mrs. Dalloway" or "The Hours": NOVEL.

52. __ by jowl: side by side: CHEEK.

53. Overused: STALE.

54. Two under par: EAGLE.

56. "Naruto" genre: ANIME.

58. Poet Gallagher: TESS.

62. Lenny Kravitz, to Roxie Roker: SON.

63. "__ not what you think": ITS.

64. Gym shirt: TEE.

C.C.

Saturday, August 19, 2023, Wendy L. Brandes

 Saturday Themeless by Wendy L. Brandes

Wendy has had several puzzles in the LA Times but they were all weekday or collaborative puzzles. Today is her first LA themeless Saturday. 

Wendy is a lawyer, professor and children’s book author. Her puzzles have appeared in the Inkubator, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Boswords and Universal Crosswords. When she is not thinking about crosswords, she can be found knitting, engaging in vicious games of Catan, or rooting on the Yankees, Rangers, Giants and Swarthmore Garnet.   

All in all it was very doable and a fun solve for this camper. Let's jump in and see what Wendy has for us today.

Across:

1. Bulb that rarely needs to be replaced: TULIP - This was my first thought but I waited for crossings.

6. Steel (oneself): GIRD - I knew the fill and was glad to learn the origin of the phrase.

10. Verge: CUSP.

14. Weigh in: OPINE.

15. Mideast leader: EMIR.

16. Purnell of "Yellowjackets": ELLA.

17. Repetitive sonata movement: RONDO - The RONDO is a musical form that contains a principal theme which alternates with one or more contrasting themes. Fur Elise has been called the "ultimate RONDO" and is illustrated in both auditory and visual fashion here:

18. Shuriken: NINJA STAR - A shuriken is a Japanese concealed weapon that can be used as a hidden dagger. 

20. Topping: ONE UPPING - Betty Hutton and Howard Keel sing a song with this theme in Annie Get Your Gun. (3:00)

22. Fixes holes in hose: DARNS 😀

23. Where to save for a rainy day?: CLOUD STORAGE 😀 - I guess "rainy day" is a metaphor for when your computer loses something you had stored. Hopefully, your work is saved/stored "in the cloud".

25. Makes a difference: MATTERS.

28. Alley-__: OOP.

29. Too green: UNRIPE.

30. Film lengths: RUN TIMES - Cleopatra - Run Time: 4 hrs, 8 min. However, Dick and Liz's stormy relationship ran for years.

35. Spot for a toaster?: STOOL  😀 - Oh, a bar STOOL!

36. Simple bed: COT - A lesser blogger might write, "The unfaithful soldier got caught in the COT!"

37. Square things: ATONE.

38. Stella alternative: HEINEKEN.

40. Modest response to compliments: OH STOP.

41. Melody: AIR.

42. Member of a sorority founded at Boston University, familiarly: TRIDELT - Maybe so, but meanwhile on SNL...

43. Mark of a decent student: B-PLUS AVERAGE.

48. Kicked off the covers, say: AROSE.

49. "Riverdance" numbers: IRISH JIGS.

53. Airport transport, maybe: LIVERY CAB - Livery rides and fares must be prearranged and may not be street-hailed. Does this sound somewhat like Uber to you?

55. W-2 information: WAGES.

56. Palm reader: SEER - Ed McMahon's introduction: "And now, the great SEER, soothsayer, and sage, Carnac the Magnificent."

57. Simplicity: EASE.

58. Stave off: AVERT.

59. Puts two and two together: ADDS - Yesterday we had ADDENDS

60. Cold drafts: ALES.

61. Steppes tents: YURTS - A luxury one

Down:

1. Rafael Nadal's logo: TORO.

2. Atop: UPON.

3. Prompter's cue: LINE - If an actor has a memory lapse, he might call out, "LINE, LINE?" to a prompter

4. Entry to the Hall of Fame, e.g.: INDUCTION - Worst MLB players to be INDUCTED into baseball's HOF

5. One who may find it hard to say no: PEOPLE PLEASER and 7. Rare response from a 5-Down: I MIND. Sometimes you have to say no.

6. Bar tender at an Apple Store: GENIUS.

8. Tolls: RINGS OUT - The first and last lines of this Donne poem are very familiar

9. Hall of Famer whose no. was retired by the Nets and the Sixers: DR J - Julius Irving

10. France : __ :: United States : Oscar: CESAR - All you want to know.

CESAR                         OSCAR

11. To the nth degree: ULTRA.

12. "Dope" and "gucci," e.g.: SLANG - Both slang for good, cool, great

13. Pick apart, in a way: PARSE - A daily chore for us puzzlers

19. Own the road?: ADOPT A HIGHWAY.

21. Sponge feature: PORE.

24. Long or short amount: TON - If you must know why there's a difference 

25. Soft stuff: MUSH.

26. Penny-__: ANTE - Very low stakes poker

27. Riker's spouse on "Star Trek: TNG": TROI - Okay...

30. "Game 7, 1986: Failure and Triumph in the Biggest Game of My Life" memoirist Darling: RON.

31. "I've been here before": IT'S DEJA VU.

32. Dust in the wind?: MOTE.

33. Hydroxyl compound: ENOL - If you must

34. Equinox mo.: SEPT - On Sat, SEPT 23, 2023 at 1:49 AM (CDT) the sun will be directly over the equator.

36. Neck-related: CERVICAL.

39. Forte maker: KIA.

40. Hours, in Italy: ORAS - TV shows usually last an hour. (I programmi TV di solito durano un'ORA.)

42. Clans: TRIBES.

43. Model material: BALSA - I had many a BALSA Testors™ airplane in my yute.

44. Got a bit too personal: PRIED.

45. Thought the world of: LOVED.

46. App purchasers: USERS.

47. Backspace over: ERASE - Our typing teacher would get upset if she saw a backspace/strike over "correction" in our work on a manual typewriter.

50. Disney CEO Bob: IGER.

51. "Runaways" superhero Yorkes: GERT.

52. Flightless birds?: SST'S - Frequent fliers in our puzzles but no longer in the skies

54. Floor support?: YEA 😀