Thursday, June 18, 2015 Robert E. Lee Morris

Theme: (I don't even have to wrack my brain for a theme, because it was handed to me by Mr. Morris) 33-Down. Bar freebie, and this puzzle's theme : MIXED NUTS.

24-Across. As hidden in 17-Across, one of this puzzle's 33-Down : CASHEW.
17-Across. 1996 Fox launch : NEWS CHANNEL.

37-Across. As hidden in 57-Across, one of this puzzle's 33-Down : PECAN.
57. Seattle landmark : SPACE NEEDLE.

47-Across. As hidden in 11-Down, one of this puzzle's 33-Down : ALMOND.
11-Down. He and Don Shula share the NFL record of 36 playoff games coached : TOM LANDRY.

24-, 37- and 47-Across were icing on the cake - the puzzle could stand nicely on its own without them.

Across

1. Military decoration : MEDAL. Like many of the answers today, this was my first thought.

6. Supporting structure : TRUSS.

11. Leading : TOP.

14. Solitary : ALONE.

15. Silent brother of comedy : HARPO. Did you know, they got their nicknames in a poker game?

16. Valuable deposit : ORE.

19. NFL players, e.g. : MEN. OK, I know it's Thursday and we have to have vague clues.  But still...

20. Cozy lodge : INN.

21. Fail, in slang : TANK.

22. Only city on California's Catalina Island : AVALON. Just 26 miles across the sea.

26. Netherlands city near the Belgian border : BREDA. Map.

27. Mork's planet : ORK.

28. Italian mathematician who was a contemporary of Euler : LAGRANGE.

31. "Good Will Hunting" actor : DAMON. One of my favorite movies with Matt DAMON and Robin Williams.

34. Flightless birds : EMUS.

35. Small amount : DAB. "Just a little DAB'll do ya!"

36. Landed : ALIT.

39. Rice-shaped pasta : ORZO. I often serve this with a shrimp  & fennel dish that I make. Here's the recipe. (You could also substitute gorgonzola for the feta.)

40. Latin law : LEX.

41. Aloe __ : VERA. Difficulty could have been ramped up for a Thursday by clueing it as Designer Wang.

42. "Breaking Bad" star Cranston : BRYAN.  He's a real baddie.

43. Restaurant freebie : ICE WATER.

45. One of the Pep Boys : MOE. Manny, MOE and Jack are the iconic figures in the logo.

46. Breaks bread : DINES.

51. 1976 Olympics decathlon gold medalist : JENNER. Caitlyn née Bruce.

53. Parched : ARID.

55. Stop working : DIE.

56. __ Claire : EAU. Wisconsin.

60. D.C. clock setting : EST. Eastern Standard Time.

61. Spa offering : SAUNA.

62. Guide : STEER.

63. Legal thing : RES. More Latin.

64. California pro : ANGEL. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Go figure.

65. Not likely to run on : TERSE.


Down

1. Highly excited : MANIC.

2. Justice Kagan : ELENA.

3. Eats : DOWNS.

4. T or F, maybe : ANS.wer.

5. Speaker's stand : LECTERN.

6. "Better late __ ..." : THAN...never.

7. General, e.g. : RANK. Filled it in without even thinking about it.

8. Coffee container : URN.

9. Fishing tool : SPEAR GUN.

10. Crossword enthusiasts : SOLVERS. Gimme for everyone here, right?

12. Creme-filled treat : OREO.

13. Ivy League school : PENN. I already had the P from TOP, so this was a gimme, too.

18. Swooping predator : HAWK.

23. Oral health org. : ADA. American Dental Association.

25. Real card : HOOT.

26. The Crimson Tide : 'BAMA. Gimme. DH's old rivals.

28. Aptly named Renault : LECAR.

29. __ Strip : GAZA.

30. Black, to a bard : EBON.

31. "The Persistence of Memory" artist : DALI. Melty watches. Gimme.

32. Actor Baldwin : ALEC.

37. Broadway flier : PETER PAN. Were you thinking pamphlets and playbills?

38. Cockney toast starter : 'ERES.

39. Utah city : OREM.

41. "Colors of the Wind" singer Williams : VANESSA. Pretty song from Disney's animated film "Pochahontas."

42. Most daring : BOLDEST.

44. Take the checkered flag : WIN.

45. Chief : MAIN.

48. Farther out? : ODDER.

49. Frasier's brother : NILES. He was so good in that show.

50. Big name on the farm : DEERE.

51. Catcall : JEER.

52. Comfort : EASE.

53. Cause of adolescent angst : ACNE.

54. Unfeigned : REAL.

58. Summer mo. : AUG.ust. And we end with a partial clecho:
59. Somme summer : ETE.

Toodles!
Marti

Note from C.C.: 

Kazie and her husband Barry traveled to China last month. They visited all the top traveling stops in China, including my hometown Xi'an. The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda (3rd picture here) is not far from my own home.

Kay said:

"Our general direction was from Beijing to Xi'an, to Guilin, to Shanghai. Also, I need to say everything there was fascinating--such a learning experience for us both. We were in a small group of only 17 people until Shanghai, when there were only 6 of us. The others stayed behind to cruise the Yangtze for several days, the week before the terrible sinking of another boat similar to the one they took!

All in all, I would recommend this trip to anyone! Incidentally, our national guide was also from Xi'an, probably about your age, very nice, and extremely good at explaining everything."

Here are a few pictures. Please click here for more. 

Kay and Barry ride in a rickshaw to the Hutong district in Beijing

Barry and Kay in front of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests at the Temple of Heaven

Kay in front of the Buddhist Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi’an. China has four main religions: Buddhism, Muslim, Christianity and Taoism 

Family outing? We couldn’t believe this!