Well at least these ants did not spoil any picnics. Each of the four theme answers take in the language two word phrases, with the second word ending ANCE, and replaces that ending with ANTS, creating a homonym and a very different and visually creative new phrase. I do not recall any prior puzzles by Mr. Margolis, nor did I see him in the NY Times database, so if this is his maiden effort, congratulations; starting on Friday is a challenge. We have a few California references so perhaps he is a rare west coast constructor. Overall, a conventional grid layout and an entertaining exercise.
20A. Valets who get no tips? : POOR ATTENDANTS (13) Perhaps if they came to work more often and did not have poor attendance, they would get more money. Of course Bates would never take a tip anyway.
25A. "Block that kick!" and "Dee-fense!"? : SPORTING CHANTS. (14) If you filled this in, you had a sporting chance to suss the theme.
43A. Masked marathon runners? : SECRET ENTRANTS. (14) Why marathon, for the alliteration? We made a secret panel in our bedroom by taking apart the tongue and groove knotty pine, and then putting it back very carefully, but not skillfully. Well we were three boys and we needed Splynter there to help but it was too many years before he was born.
48A. Temporarily contribute helpers? : LEND ASSISTANTS.(13). The most similar phrase, as the basic meaning is the same.
And now the rest.
Across:
1. Powerful swimmer : MAKO. Wow, another tough start thrown in the Shark Tank.
5. Pipe part : STEM. Who knew there were so many PARTS. Bowl also fits.
9. Distinguished : GREAT. The whole top row is a Friday.
14. "Not a chance!" : AS IF. As if I would get discouraged.
15. Trusted underling : AIDE. Why trusted?
16. Variety : REVUE.
17. Soft mineral : TALC. The softest.
18. Dart : FLIT.
19. Modify : AMEND. We file lots of amended pleadings.
.23. Alliance led by Nasser: Abbr. : UAR. A confusing and short lived alliance. LINK.
24. Overseas assent : OUI. You say non, non but your lips say oui, oui.
33. It may be perfect : TENSE. Or even pluperfect!
34. Pursue : TRAIL. Johnny always trailed behind his big brother.
35. MapQuest request: Abbr. : RTE. Route.
37. City near Presque Isle State Park : ERIE. Here is a YELP.
38. Performed a jeté : LEAPT. A homemade HOW TO (1:54). Have you all seen the poor child who burned her hair with the curling iron?
39. Kind of a drag? : MAIN. Sound familiar?
40. Delt neighbor : PECtoral. The muscle abbreviation.(Deltoid).
41. Hershey's competitor : BOSCO. Chocolate syrup for your milk, very big when I was young.
42. Creature : BEING.
46. Loser to DDE : AES. Adlai E. Stevenson, the divorced egghead of my youth.
47. Poetic period : E'EN. Evening.
56. Sensory stimuli : ODORS. If they are good they are fragrant, if they are not it is my children.
57. "...a Loaf of Bread..." poet : OMAR. Khayyiam. We miss you CA!
"A Book of Verses underneath the Bough,
A Jug of Wine, a Loaf of Bread--and Thou
Beside me singing in the Wilderness--
Oh, Wilderness were Paradise enow!"
58. Got a load of : EYED. Well, it is okay, because if someone says get a load of the bazonkers on that young lady, the person will have eyed, so...
60. Principle : TENET.
61. ___ Valley: Reagan Library site : SIMI. Als the home of his remains.
62. Fix, in a way : SPAY. Talk about your oxymorons, yes we fixed our dog so he can no longer reproduce. Aren't you glad dogs cannot return the favor?
63. Head lock : TRESS. By making it two words, we have the punny clue.
64. Wallet fillers : ONES. I wish you all Benjamins not Georges.
65. Like some losers : SORE. Not me, I am carrying on to the second half.
Down:
1. Welcoming sight? : MAT. Cute visual.
2. "Stat!" cousin : ASAP. As soon as possible.
3. Bust unit : KILO. Not Dennis' kind, but drug busts.
4. "Naturally" : OF COURSE.
5. The Beach Boys' "Surfin' ___" : SAFARI. They are still out there putting on SHOWS.(2:09).
6. Be a little cockeyed, maybe : TILT.
7. Computer menu option : EDIT.
8. Dole : METE.
9. Bit-by-bit : GRADUAL. You might say STEP BY STEP (7:06)
10. Tarry : REMAIN. Really stay longer than you planned.
11. Knotted up, sportswise : EVEN. Tied also fits, and did not help overcome a slow start up top.
12. Em, for one : AUNT. Really tricky for anyone who has solved puzzled for 50 years plus as EMS and ENS, the measures, were big crossword fodder.
13. Kennedy et al. : TEDS. Meh, there are so many Kennedys, and there are so many sheds.
21. Charge with a time component : RATE. I charge $0.00 per for my work here.
22. Like seven Ryan games : NO HIT. Nolan Ryan, baseball trivia, about the most prolific pitcher to hold the opposition without any hits in a game.
25. Increase, with "up" : STEP. In Probate, if you inherit something of value, you get the stepped up basis, which helps if you ever sell.
26. Netanyahu's predecessor : PERES; now Israel's PRESIDENT.
27. Cold and ready : ON ICE. Keep the champagne....even Tinman would agree to that ice?
28. Explosive trial : N-TEST. Not the Scopes trial but Nuclear Test.
29. Supper preceder : GRACE. All you wanted to know, and more. LINK.
30. Chef's fowl : CAPON. I put this in without hesitation, but I am still not sure why. We also have, 41D. Fowl options : BREASTS.
31. Commuting option : TRAIN. When I was a kid, it was great thrill to take the train into NYC with all the commuters.
32. Hitch : STINT.
36. Some Caltech grads: Abbr. : ENGS. Engineers like Wolowitz.
38. Fertile soil : LOESS. We have not seen this fill since 2008, LINK.
39. Parsimony : MEANNESS.
42. Spanish tar : BREA. As in the famous ones, La Brea, our third California clue.
44. Inner circles : CADRES.
45. Game designed by Alexey Pajitnov : TETRIS. I bet Sheldon knows this, I did not and will not keep it in my mind.
48. Senate Republican leader before Frist : LOTT. You all remember TRENT.
49. River to the Fulda : EDER. For KAZIE, SB, miss m and all the others.... VERBINDUNG.
50. Inventory extreme : NONE. Yes having none is certainly one end of the inventory spectrum.
51. "Meh" : SO SO. This is too easy...this clue was...oh never mind..
52. "Let's do it" : I'M IN.
53. Word heard before and after old : SAME.
54. Proof goof : TYPO. We love whimsical rhyming clues for easy fill.
55. Scorch : SEAR. Do shop at Scorches?
59. Salon job : DYE. She does color to die for!
Another Month is here, 2 gone already for 2013 and a new constructor to join all of the new people commenting here. Like the daffodils, a sure sign of spring even if we are going to suffer through our wintry 48 degree night this week end. Keep up the good work Dan and newbies and I will be back next week, GWATCDR.
Lemonade out.
Note from C.C.:
ACPT
(American Crossword Puzzle
Tournament) will be held in NY next weekend. Rich Norris will be there,
so will our Marti and John Lampkin. For those who attend, I hope you won't miss the Cru Dinner
organized by Mike Alpern. The dinner officially kicks off the
tournament and is a great opportunity to meet with constructors (esp our Marti!) and
fellow solvers.
| Rich, Mike & Kim, 2008 ACPT |
