Monday January 15, 2024 Zachary Schiff

  

Theme:                Sweater Shopping

Happy MLK Jr. Day, everyone! sumdaze here. If you have ever browsed through a clothing catalog, you have probably noticed that sweaters are rarely labeled using a Kindergarten color. Instead, a PURPLE sweater is MULBERRY or LAVENDAR or EGGPLANT.  Constructor Zachary Schiff turned that idea into a puzzle.

20 Across. Thoroughfare in New York City's Little Italy: MULBERRY STREET.  Lonely Planet info. for tourists

25 Across. Hit single from Taylor Swift's "Midnights": LAVENDER HAZE.

ALAS, I am not a Swiftie, but after a few perps I remembered this clue from a Sunday puzzle last month 12/17/23:

113 Across. Word after "Lavender" and "Purple," in song titles: HAZE.

43. Meatless cheesy entree, familiarly: EGGPLANT PARM. (parmesan)

Plus the reveal:

49 Across. 2023 musical film produced by Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg, and an apt title for this puzzle: THE COLOR PURPLE.  

Many of us remember the original movie released in 1985. This is the official trailer for the 2023 remake:

All three of the themers are composed of two-words. The gimmick remained hidden (to me) until I made my way down to it as neither MULBERRY nor EGGPLANT immediately struck me as synonyms for PURPLE. I like when that happens.

Across:
1. Campus gp. with a Greek name: FRAT.  "Group" is abbreviated, so is "FRATernity".

5. Eyelid hair: LASH.  

Lady Gaga at the Met Gala in 2019
Too much???

9. End: STOP.

13. __ slaw: COLE.

14. Aptly named cooler brand: IGLOO.  You can put your COLE slaw in it.

16. Ocean motion: TIDE.  

another "ocean motion" view

17. "Neat!": COOL.

18. Place to store valuables: VAULT.  

Seinfeld  (18 secs.)

19. Father and son authors Kingsley and Martin: AMIS.  Sir Kingsley William Amis and his son Martin Amis

23. Nerf missile: DART.  

24. Central cooling systs.: ACS.  "Systems" is abbreviated, so is Air Conditioners. I don't suppose yours is turned on at the moment.

32. Commonplace: LOWLY.

35. Unethical one: LOUSE.  

36. Limo passenger: VIP.  

37. "Sad to say ... ": ALAS.

38. Choreographer de Mille: AGNES.  (1905-1993)

Notice her shadow on the wall.

39. Chromosome part: GENE.

40. Goofy drawing?: CEL.  This is a perfect example of how a clue-writer can take advantage of the capitalize-the-first-letter convention. "Drawing of Goofy" would not be as deceiving.  

41. "Farewell, cherie": ADIEU.  You do not have to speak French to translate the chorus of this song. 😃  

song details

42. River vessel: BARGE.

46. Bum __: unfounded accusation: RAP.  

That reminds me...the fireplace guy was here the other day.

47. City near Anaheim: BREA.  I resisted this, thinking it was La BREA but apparently that is the name of the tar pits, not its city.

56. Have a strong 52-Down: REEK.   and   52 Down. Hamper emanation: ODOR.  

57. Love: ADORE.

58. Neeson of the "Taken" films: LIAM.  There have been three Taken movies, 2008, 2012, and 2014.

Liam Neeson in the phone call scene.

60. Actress Hathaway: ANNE.

61. Rosebud __: "Schitt's Creek" location: MOTEL.  Schitt's Creek is a 2015 TV show that lasted six seasons. It was filmed in Toronto. "Rose" was the surname of the main characters so this might be an Easter egg. Perhaps a fan of the show can tell us more?

62. Land measure: ACRE.  It seems like forever ago but I once lived on the million-ACRE MC Ranch, headquartered in Adel, OR. This article ran in Western Horseman Magazine in 1979, several years before I was there. It had not changed much except that the cattle were no longer straight Herefords like in those pictures. The cow boss let me ride with the crew as long as I was more help than harm. Good times! The ranch has since sold and has been broken up into smaller parcels.

63. Hissed "Over here!": PSST.

64. Kelly of morning talk TV: RIPA.     and     5 Down. Broadcast with minimal tape delay: LIVE TV.  

Click to enlarge.
Since April 2023, Kelly Ripa's co-host is her husband Mark Consuelos.

65. Hornet home: NEST.  Hornets are one of Mother Nature's PEST controllers. They will eat unwanted garden pests like aphids.

Down:
1. Airwaves-regulating govt. agency: FCC.  "Government" is abbreviated, so is the Federal Communications Commission.

2. Part of a suite: ROOM.

3. Audibly: ALOUD.

4. Candid memoirs: TELL-ALLS.  I recently read Henry Winkler's memoir. He talked a lot about how his severe dyslexia shaped his self-image. Reading the book was like hearing Gene Cousineau's voice (the character he played in Barry), saying the words ALOUD in my head. <not a bad thing>

6. Food thickener made from seaweed: AGAR.

7. Enunciate poorly: SLUR.

8. Sacred: HOLY.

9. Fabric stiffener: STARCH.  They put potatoes on clothes???

(You don't have to  explain this one to me. I know....)

10. Shortcut, hopefully: TIME SAVER.  

11. Drooling dog in "Garfield": ODIE.  

12. Gnat, e.g.: PEST.  Frogs, reptiles, small mammals, birds, fish, spiders, and other insects think of gnats as "dinner", not pests.

15. Bonus sports periods, for short: OTS.  Overtimes

21. Imitate a donkey: BRAY.  

22. Weight adjustment factor: TARE.  Last week a nurse forget to reset the TARE on the scale so she miscalculated my friend's newborn grandson's weight. This mistake caused an incorrect diagnosis and considerable stress. Fortunately the next shift identified the problem.

26. Baylor in the Basketball Hall of Fame: ELGIN.  NBA Legends Profile

27. Group of nine: NONET.  It seems NONET usually refers to a group of musicians.  

Lee Konitz Nonet     If You Could See Me Now     (1977)

28. In the on-deck circle: DUE UP.  today's giant leap award winner  

29. Strong start?: ESS.  "Strong" starts with the letter S.

30. Oomph: ZING.

31. Sword with a blunted tip: EPEE.

32. Frilly material: LACE.

33. Designer Cassini: OLEG.  (1913 - 2006)  

How can she pose like the bust behind her without cracking up?

34. CVS rival: WALGREENS.

38. Org. on a bottle of mouthwash: ADA.  American Dental Association

Listerine, a mouth rinse composed of a mixture of essential oils, was created in 1879 and was originally formulated as a surgical antiseptic. In spite of its known antimicrobial properties it was thought of as a product in search of a use and promoted as a deterrent for halitosis and as a floor cleaner. source

39. Coach's strategy: GAME PLAN.  

I like the look on Dewey's face.

41. Gravy Cravers pet food brand: ALPO.

42. "I'm f-f-f-reezing!": BRRR.

44. Single serving of sugar: PACKET.  

45. Tia's madre: ABUELA.  Spanish for "your aunt's mother is your grandmother"

(I've been refreshing my Spanish on Duolingo as PREP for a trip to Spain this summer.)

48. "The Brady Bunch" housekeeper: ALICE.  

We all know that Alice was much more than a housekeeper.

Alice Learns to Ski (54 sec.)

Ann B. Davis played Alice Nelson from 1969 to 1974 (plus special extras).

49. Lint collector: TRAP.

50. Farm cluckers: HENS.  We had the braying donkey so it is only fair we give this girl her time to shine.  

51. Go on the __: LAM.  to try to escape or hide from someone ... usually the police

53. Unleavened bread similar to naan: ROTI.

54. Make ready: PREP.

55. AirPods holders: EARS.

59. Ran into: MET.  

Get it? They're crash test dummies. Haha!

Here's another fun song before we go:  

The Purple People Eater by Sheb Wooley (1958)

...and the grid:

Have a great week, everyone!

Sunday July 16, 2023 Zachary Schiff & Shannon Rapp

Theme: "You Don't Belong Here" - U is added to each famliar phrase.

21. Paid one's respects to Charlie Brown and Snoopy?: SALUTED PEANUTS. Salted peanuts.

31. Good name for a salon offering a sweet treat with every haircut?: DOS AND DONUTS. Dos and don'ts.

45. Tech for toddlers to play with?: FAUX MACHINES. Fax machine.

62. TV pilots that soar?: OUTSTANDING DEBUTS. Outstanding debts.

81. Like the birthday money from Grandma to a responsible kid?: SAVINGS BOUND. Savings bond.

96. Nice vengeful spirits?: FRENCH FURIES. French fries.

108. Discussion board with topics like "How to get back to your home planet"?: ALIEN LIFE FORUM. Alien life form.

To me, "You Don't Belong Here" suggests that "U" is removed from each phrase. Plus, we also have "Dos and Don'ts" as a theme entry. 

This might be our constructor. Congrats on your LAT debut, Zach!

Across:

1. Paintball garb: CAMO.

5. Mason jar, in a pinch: VASE.

9. Cape __: COD.

12. Pink quaff, informally: COSMO. Cocktail. And 17. Blonde brews: ALES.

18. Tightwad: MISER.

19. "Absolument!": OUI.

20. Playful back-and-forth: BANTER.

24. DeBose of "West Side Story": ARIANA. In yellow skirt. Also a talented singer.

25. Confessional music genre: EMO.

26. Low-power mode: SLEEP.

27. Bruins great Bobby: ORR.

28. Mete out: ALLOT.

29. Sack of old clothes, perhaps: DONATION. The mantra: Does It Spark Joy?

35. Profit opposite: LOSS.

36. Dakar's locale: SENEGAL.

37. "Save me __": A SEAT.

38. Trees used to make some Fender guitars: ALDERS.

41. Reggae kin: SKA.

42. Complete, as a PDF contract: E-SIGN.

44. General with a chicken dish: TSO. Try "lo mai gai". It's wrapped in lotus leaf. So good. Gai is Cantonese for "chicken".

49. Lawyer's gp.: ABA.

50. Link letters: HTTP.

51. Disney role for Kristen Bell: ANNA.

52. Loophole: OUT.

53. Select with care: CULL.

55. "Elf" actress Deschanel: ZOOEY.

57. Rapper MC __: REN. N.W.A (gangsta rap). "Straight Outta Compton". Dr. Dre and Ice Cube were in that group also.

58. "Better Call __": AMC drama: SAUL.

60. "I smell trouble": OH NO.

61. Goes "vroom": REVS.

67. "The Five Second Rule," e.g.: MYTH.

68. Fullness of flavor: BODY.

69. Dorm unit: ROOM. And 77. Not single-sex: CO-ED.

70. Balancing pro: CPA.

73. Exceptional: SUPER.

75. Cow house: BARN.

76. Calico coat: FUR.

78. "Language!" elicitor: CUSS.

79. Insurance market reform law, initially: ACA.

85. "Ready when you __!": ARE.

86. Is too sweet: CLOYS.

88. Sumi-e medium: INK. Sumi-e  is Japanese ink painting.

89. Takes in: LEARNS.

90. Soul singer Hutson: LEROY. Learning moment for me.

92. Blotchy: MOTTLED.

95. Journeys home?: MALL. Never visited this store.

98. Monty Python's "The __ of Silly Walks": MINISTRY.

102. Team race: RELAY.

103. "How bizarre": ODD.

104. Glue: PASTE.

105. Break ground?: HOE. OK, verb.

106. Cream container: CARTON.

111. Wilts: DROOPS.

112. The Guardians of the MLB, on scoreboards: CLE. Hi there, Janice! We also have 4. Brutus Buckeye's sch.: OSU. Also 63. Diamond experts: UMPS.

113. Sturdy: SOLID.

114. Glam gala: FETE.

115. Preserves, as beef: CORNS.

116. Slow start?: ESS. Slow.

117. Skin concern: CYST.

118. Many a new driver: TEEN.

Down:

1. Scoped out for a heist: CASED.

2. Budget rival: ALAMO.

3. Fruit served with prosciutto: MELON. Never had this. Cantaloupe?

5. TikTok uploads: VIDEOS.

6. Roaring Fork River city: ASPEN.

7. Ooze: SEEP.

8. Bullpen stat: ERA.

9. Tasting menu unit: COURSE.

10. "This is an __!": OUTRAGE.

11. Put down: DIS.

12. Aid in obtaining a Passport?: CAR LOAN. Honda Passport.

13. Soffritto ingredient: ONIONS. From Google: "Soffritto is an aromatic mix of diced onions, carrots, and celery gently cooked in olive oil or butter. In fact, the Italian word soffritto means “slightly-fried”. Sounds like the Louisiana holy trinity.

14. Oscar, for one: STATUETTE.

15. All eleven of "Ocean's Eleven": MEN.

16. British singer Rita: ORA.

18. Actress McCarthy: MELISSA.

20. Like worn-out tires: BALD.

22. Noisy weather event, briefly: T-STORM. If not for the Canadian wildfires, our weather here would have been perfect. Hazy at times.

23. Hands-up time: NOON.

28. Respond in an improv class: AD LIB.

30. Amazon Echo assistant: ALEXA.

31. Academic VIP: DEAN.

32. __ spray: NASAL.

33. Delicious: TASTY. I still dream of Liang Pi from time to time. Have not had it for over 21 years. Popular street food in my hometown Xi'an.

34. "Enough!": STOP.

36. Burlesque bit: SKIT.

38. Not even close: AFAR.

39. Road division: LANE.

40. "Beats me": DUNNO.

41. Only NFL coach with a perfect season: SHULA (Don)

43. Garden structure: GAZEBO. My neighbor has a gazebo in his yard.

46. Well-mannered: COUTH. Uncouth is more common.

47. Egg-laying mammal: ECHIDNA.

48. Like a beach-friendly day: SUNNY.

50. Podcast presenter: HOST. Don't always agree with Sam Harris, but I like him.

54. Roleo surface: LOG.

56. Egg cell: OVUM.

58. Eye sore: STYE.

59. Celestial: ASTRAL.

60. Stenches: ODORS.

61. Result of a corp. audit, perhaps: RE-ORG.

64. Org. that pits Grizzlies against Pelicans: NBA.

65. "__ on You": Luke Bryan hit: DRUNK.

66. Use a Brillo pad, say: SCOUR.

71. Ivy in Philly: PENN.

72. Puts into the mix: ADDS.

73. More reliable: SURER.

74. Problem not caused by the computer: USER ERROR. Nice fill.

75. Catfish habitat: BAYOU.

76. Discover: FIND.

77. Fire-walking materials: COALS. I just don't get this. Crazy.

78. Soleus muscle location: CALF.

80. Like jammies: COMFY.

82. Strives (for): VIES.

83. Not on the level: SLANTED.

84. Conviction: BELIEF.

86. One-eyed monster: CYCLOPS.

87. Goes for a walk: STROLLS. Windhover might visit me next year. He's 77 now. He and his wife Irish are still farming. Incredible!

91. Pickup capacity: ONE TON.

93. Straightens (up): TIDIES.

94. Journo's article opening: LEDE.

95. Fish out of water: MISFIT.

97. Composer Zimmer: HANS.  From Wikipedia: "Since the 1980s, Zimmer has composed music for over 150 films. He has won two Academy Awards for Best Original Score for The Lion King (1994), and Dune (2021). His works include Gladiator, The Last Samurai, the Pirates of the Caribbean series, The Dark Knight trilogy, Inception, Man of Steel, Interstellar, Dunkirk, and No Time To Die."

98. Sends off: MAILS.

99. Midafternoon: THREE.

100. Waze suggestion: ROUTE.

101. Red Sea country: YEMEN.

104. Cunning ruse: PLOY.

106. Yellow Book org.: CDC.

107. Like one in a queerplatonic relationship, for short: ARO. Short for "aromantic". The short form of "asexual" is ACE.  OK, from Google: Queerplatonic relationships may involve some forms of physical affection such as hand-holding, cuddling, kissing, or occasionally having sex. Sounds romantic to me.

108. Big name in bandages: ACE.

109. Foreign policy gp.: NSC.

110. Many a time, in verse: OFT.

C. C.