Theme: I almost MIST the theme.
Another blast from the past constructor returns. SJSJ, who pumped out 12 puzzles for the LAT and then disappeared for a few years. He gives us an usual grid with four down fill including the reveal as the theme. You can read his 2013 INTERVIEW in which he expressed his desire to do innovative themes. Many you may have only a HAZY memory of his prior efforts, but I do not thinks this one was too MURKY. What it does feature are some great sparkly fill: EMOTERS, AT LEAST, SASSOON, TRAILER, HAIRPIN, NEUTRAL, CLUSTERED TOTAL LOSS, HUMILIATE, UNFREEZES and two which are longer than the theme answers: SWEET AS HONEY, HIGH SPIRITED. Getting all of these and using a minimum of three letter fill was excellent. Let's look.
3D. Suspected of misdeeds : UNDER A CLOUD (11). Brings to mind this from my childhood.
8D. Spent : OUT OF STEAM (10). I am too, I cannot pick any link.
29D. Psychedelic rock classic of 1967 : PURPLE HAZE (10). We start this week with Purple Rain and now we are in a Haze.
And the reveal:
23D. State Department neighborhood ... and what 3-, 8- and 29-Down all have? : FOGGY BOTTOM (11). There is a STORY about this name. I wonder how many knew this trivia? I got the fill from the perps, not sure if I would have recalled the name. Time for a tune.
1. Fry : SAUTE. We are starting out with another puzzle that Steve would enjoy. This is from the French for Jumped, I guess because the oil is so hot?
6. Kung __ chicken : PAO. In which the meat is sauteed!!
9. Market Fresh sandwich and salad seller : ARBY'S. Three food clues to begin, wow.
15. Unevenly distributed, in a way : CLUSTERED.
17. Brought on : LED TO.
18. Write-off : TOTAL LOSS. March 15, business tax return day is fast approaching.
19. Charming : SWEET AS HONEY. This was hard and took a lot of perps but is very fresh fill.
21. D.C.'s Walter __ National Military Medical Center : REED. I learned of this hospital when Eisenhower had his heart attack.
22. Mennen lotion : AFTA.
23. Govt. mtge. insurer : FHA. Federal Housing Administration
26. One hoping to provide many happy returns? : CPA. Certified Public Accountant (I wonder what they call private accountants?).
28. Hammer number : RAP. MC Hammer that is.
30. Big name in hairstyling : SASSOON. Vidal.
32. Hyperbola part : ARC.
33. Sudden stream : SPURT.
35. Pull on : TUG AT.
36. Flee : BOLT.
38. Adjudicates : TRIES. And the companion 31D. Seek redress : SUE.
40. Maple syrup target : EGGO. The waffles. Food!
41. Nearly : ABOUT.
43. Take badly? : POACH. Tricky clue and a cooking term.
45. Taoist complement : YIN. Love the compliment complement deception.
46. Uncommitted : NEUTRAL.
48. Farrow of film : MIA. She was young once (PEYTON PLACE) and caught the eye of Frank and other older men.Sinatra. Her mother was Maureen O'Sullivan who went to school with Vivian Leigh in England.
49. Ottoman title : BEY.
50. Tack on : ADD.
51. "A Death in the Family" author : AGEE. One of many who died young from hard living in the 1950s. LINK.
53. Relative of Rex : FIDO. More Rover, Rex and Fido talk?
55. Energetic and enthusiastic : HIGH SPIRITED. Great long fill and never used before.
59. Run up the score on : HUMILIATE. I bet the New England fans did not like this ARTICLE.
62. Place for a Char-Broil : PATIO.
63. Removes restrictions on, as funds : UNFREEZES. Freezing assets is a very powerful tool for law enforcement.
64. Hole __ : IN ONE. Golf.
65. Third-longest African river : NIGER. behind the Nile and the Congo; 14th longest in the world.
66. Uncertain no. : EST.
67. Handles : NAMES.
Down:
1. "Do the Right Thing" pizzeria : SAL'S. The downs too start with food.
4. Certain student : TUTEE.
5. Hams : EMOTERS. I think they are really over-emoters.
6. First-serve figs. : PCTS. Tennis percentage which are "in."
7. Island reception : ALOHA.
9. If nothing else : AT LEAST. Or maybe at the very least.
10. Depend : RELY.
11. Pal : BRO.
12. Start of an engagement? : YES. Really cute clue for a simple fill as it is accurate that the engagement starts when he/she says yes.
13. '60s protest org. : SDS. Students for a Democratic Society. This GROUP was very active during my college days.
16. Big bag carrier : SANTA. A nice CSO to Argyle. Do you carry one of these BAGS?
24. Philly trademark : HOAGIE. Food again!
25. "They that have done this deed are honourable" speaker : ANTONY. Our Friday dose of Shakespeare. JULIUS CAESAR Act 3, Scene 2.
26. Changing place : CABANA. A familiar site for all Floridians.
34. Brazilian-themed Vegas hotel, with "The" : RIO. Home of the WSOP.
39. Nebula Award genre : SCI FI.
42. One may begin with "In a world ... " : TRAILER. Movie trailer. LINK
44. U-shaped, more or less : HAIRPIN.
47. Longhorn rival : AGGIE. Texas rival Texas A&M.
52. Adlai's running mate : ESTES. In JFK wanted the nomination as VP and Stevenson wanted him but the delegates picked KEFAUVER. He served with Al Gore's father and made many enemies by being against segregation.
54. 1997 Elton dedicatee : DIANA.He redid his tribute to Marilyn.
55. "Spenser: For __" : HIRE. I really enjoy the books created by Robert PARKER.
56. Annoyance : PEST.
57. Hessian article : EINE.
58. Achieves : DOES.
59. Fifth-century conqueror : HUN. ATTILA anyone?
60. Athlete's wear, for short : UNIform. Not to be confused with university in the English speaking world.
61. It increases during plant growth: Abbr. : MFG. I love this clue, as manufacturing clearly increases when a plant gets bigger.
Welcome back SJ squared. Thanks for the ride. Italian festival week end here.
Enjoy all. Lemonade out.
