Friday, June 7, 2013, Jim Holland

Theme: Is she out there? Letter in.

Or, this LINK.(1:03).

Each of the four theme answers are recognizable two-word phrases with a single letter inserted and attached to the final word to create a new and whimsical phrase. The second words are all words starting with a single letter. I just had one of Mr. Holland's puzzles in April where he entertained us with a punny one; this time he has an add-on with four solid entries. To accomplish that we have many more than a Friday worth of 3,4 and 5 letter fill. I liked OBSOLETE, DOODLER, STEAMS UP and some others but there there were some really hard short ones. Let's explore.

17A. Spontaneous camera adjustment? : SUDDEN F-STOP. (11). A quick stop becomes the misunderstood action which basically controls how much light comes in through the lens.

26A. Electronic device for some singles? : BACHELOR I-PAD. (12). The single man's cave becomes his tablet. Makes sense after that 90 square foot apartment.

43A. Oversized cleaning tool? : GENEROUS Q-TIP (12). Just keep it out of your ear.

57A. Kid's sport played in costume? : MASKED T-BALL. (11). My favorite one as I picture all the little kids in their masks swinging away.

Across:

1. Brown shade : ECRU.  Continuing my shade theme from last week.

5. Authentic : LEGIT.

10. Yale Law students, until 1918 : MEN. He tried tricking you into putting in ELI.

13. Move furtively : SLINK.

15. Muse for Byron : ERATO. A repeat performance from yesterday, and not the only one as we also have, 38D. Belligerent son of Zeus : ARES. War god.    

16. Cry of support : OLE. This is a lot of bull.

19. URL ending : GOV. You have to wait for peeps.

20. Unemployed? : OBSOLETE. This was not easy clued this way. And we have an antoclecho 45D. Employed : USED.

21. Car buyer's choice : COUPE. DeVille?  DeVil? Laugh?

23. In one's cups : LIT.

24. One at a dull meeting, perhaps : DOODLER. I doodle at all opportunities.

31. Alberta NHLer : OILER. Edmonton, Alberta Canada, which suggests Mr. Holland has some ties as he also includes, 8D. 1989 World Champion figure skater : ITO. She also won the OLYMPIC gold (6:48)  in Alberta, Canada. Every figure skating clue brings back fond memories of dear CA and our other past posters who skated. We miss you dear Clear Ayes.

Clear Ayes & Granddaughter Rachael

32. It often includes a bio : OBIT. Uary

33. Unfavorable : BAD. Not my first thought.

36. "The Man Show" co-host Carolla : ADAM.

37. Ship's anchor hole : HAWSE. I love the definition in the dictionary, "Where the hawsehole is on the ship." Apparently from Old Norse for neck? Jerome, SB?

39. Decree : RULE. Which is also a Law which rhymes with

40. Green : RAW.

41. Gun barrel measurement : BORE. Which has nothing to do with 26D. Tusked mammal : BOAR.

42. Like staying in the Bates Motel : EERIE. If you do not know the movie Psycho, they have a TV series now.

46. Lets out early : PAROLES. Last day of school in Florida, so the traffic gets better.

49. Halifax hrs. : AST.In Nova Scotia, more Canada, and Atlantic Standard Time, 1 hour earlier than EST.

50. Something to aspire to : IDEAL.

51. Angers : STEAMS UP. Nice fresh fill.

56. Captain's record : LOG. How many have seen the new Star Trek movie, I still have not gone, but I can always here Shatner's voice, "Captain's Log, stardate..."

60. Jazz ___ : ERA. Which was when JzB?

61. Dangerous snake : ADDER. My favorite is the BLACK (2:42) one.

62. "...could ___ lean" : EAT NO. Poor Mrs. Sprat.

63. Retreat, perhaps : DEN. Unless it one of iniquity...I think they are now media rooms, or family rooms.

64. Pries (into) : NOSES. Such a nice literal usage, as you see people actually inserting their face, nose first...

65. Ticket word : SEAT.

Down:

1. Exxon, previously : ESSO. Classic crosswordese.

2. Bridge ___ : CLUB. I used to play often, but not in a long while.

3. Clears : RIDS.

4. Command following a mistake : UNDO.

5. Gave, as in a will : LEFT TO. To many legal terms slowed me down here.

6. Gaelic tongue : ERSE.

7. Rod : GAT. Hard boiled detective fiction words, Mickey Spillane, etc.

9. Fall wear : TOP COAT.

10. Trump, for one : MOGUL. I will avoid comment on this man except to ask if anyone has seen the ESPN show where Trump is credited with destroying the USFL?  I know his attorney from those days.

11. Use a ladder stereotypically : ELOPE.

12. "___ My Love": 1967 hit : NEVER. My teenage years from the ASSOCIATION.(2:46).

14. Sullivan's student : KELLER.  I have always been fascinated by the story of HELEN.(2:59). The Movie the Miracle Worker was also wonderful.

18. Diamond on many charts : NEIL. He was at Fenway Park to support Boston after the Marathon Massacre.

22. Vegas bet : ODD. You will never get even betting just odd; gambling is not that Black or Red.

24. Informal claim : DIBS. Like the ubiquitous call, "shotgun."

25. Expectant father in "Return to Mayberry" : OPIE. A reunion show, with all the old characters, including a married Ron Howard; here is the entire SHOW. (1:36:08).

27. "O patria mia" singer : AIDA. How many opera fans do we have?

28. Nail that's often curved : CLAW. Kitty lovers?

29. Moment of hesitation : HEM. Haw, he got them.

30. Trireme mover : ROWER. The three rows of oars in this ancient VESSEL. Very hard fill.

33. Eponymous beekeeper Shavitz : BURT. This was very obscure, while the company kept his name, he sold out to his partner who made a success of BURT's BEESWAX products. I did not know his last name but do recall when all they sold was candles..

34. Et ___ : ALII. You say ALII I say ALIA.

35. Serious : DEEP. Like all those conversations in college where we were able to....

37. Fine-tune : HONE. are seductive ways.

39. What an asterisk means on some forms: Abbr. : REQ. Uired. You can't finish the form unless you fill it in.

41. Luggage lugger : BELL MAN. Bell Cap?

42. Fancy spread : ESTATE. Not food, dirt.

43. India's smallest state : GOA. I had no clue, but perped it in.

44. Some of their scenes were filmed in deserts : OATERS. I knew this immediately was referring to old westerns.

46. In a stack : PILED.

47. Be gaga over : ADORE.

48. Lear daughter : REGAN. Clearly Goneril and Cordelia would not do.

51. Arcade game word : SKEE. Balls!

52. Work force entrants' assets, briefly : MBAS. Master of Business Administration.

53. Fill to capacity : SATE.

54. Prismatic bone : ULNA. I never really thought about PRISMS.

55. Scheme : PLOT.

58. Flurry : ADO.

59. Radical campus org. : SDS. Students for a Democratic Society.

Well another Friday done and an odd experience, with some very hard fill in a grid with primarily short words but a very clever theme. Until next time, I am either in a storm or playing in golf tournament as you read this; live long and prosper. Lemonade out.

Thursday, June 6, 2013 Jeffrey Wechsler

Theme: "Double trouble..." 2:52

18A. Double : CARBON COPY. Remember the mimeograph machines in grade school?

21A. Double : IDENTICAL TWIN. Remember the twins from this gum commercial? (C'mon, you can sing it aloud!)

40A. Double : DOPPELGANGER.  Who's the guy on the left??

62A. Double : SPITTING IMAGE. This is an excellent explanation of the origin of the phrase, with a bonus mention of the next one:

67A. Double : DEAD RINGER. If you clicked on "dead ringer" in the previous link, you will know why I am posting this picture:

You "got" the theme, right? So, we have a 16 x 15 grid today, but I bet few of you even noticed that. The reason is the even-numbered central entry DOPPELGANGER. It's always odd-numbered at a 15*15. The stacked theme entries at 18-21 Across and 62-67 Across is quite impressive, I might add!! Plus some nifty phrases on the downs, just to keep it interesting: SLOW LEARNER, I DIDN'T FIT IN.

Marti here, to have fun with the rest...

Across:

1. Uncivilized : SAVAGE. Ah, but try music! "Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast..."

7. Short "and so on" : ETC. etcetera, etcetera! 2:54 (Translation, please?!?)

10. Marine layer phenomena, at times : MISTS.

15. King Arthur's resting place : AVALON.

16. Itinerary word : VIA. I often travel to Vienna VIA Zurich. On Lufthansa/Austrian Airlines. Best service in the business!

17. Give out : ALLOT.

20. Hotelier Helmsley : LEONA.

23. "Rights of Man" author : PAINE.

26. Tijuana tots : NENES.

27. Played the first card : LED.

28. What putting one's pen down in Final Jeopardy! usually means : I'M DONE. I bet Rich watches "Jeopardy!" every night...

30. White-collar worker? : PRIEST. Really fun clue!

33. Key econ. indicator : CPI. I wanted GDP, then checked perps. Nope...must be Consumer Price Index. This site will explain everything for you.

34. Worked undercover : SPIED.

39. Sister of Calliope : ERATO.

44. Jams : BINDS. (Because "Smuckers products" wouldn't fit...)

46. Planet earth : GLOBE.

47. Rest of the afternoon : NAP. Fun clue!

50. Promoting a new album, possibly : ON TOUR.

52. Former Sandanista leader : ORTEGA.

55. One lacking grace : OAF.

56. Food writer James : BEARD. Nailed it.

61. Bobbled grounder, e.g. : ERROR. Bobbled it.

66. Pledge from the faithful : TITHE.

71. ___ Sports Bureau, baseball's official statistician : ELIAS. No clue - n-e-e-d-e-d...e-v-e-r-y...p-e-r-p!!

72. Like mil. volunteers : ENL.isted.

73. Suffer : ENDURE.

74. Manhattan has many high ones : RENTS. Head scratching clue - how do "skyscrapers" fit into five letters???

75. Toper's trouble : DTS. A "toper" is a lush/sot/drunkard, etc. Delirium tremens. (Latin for "shaking frenzy.") If you go to the Huyghe Brewery in Belgium, you can have one of their signature "Delirium Tremens" beers.

76. Assent : SAY YES. "...to the dress!" (Inside joke.)

Down:

1. Animal pouch : SAC.

2. Charlton's "Earthquake" co-star : AVA. I went to the set at Universal Studios, and was one of the audience who was selected to appear in the escalator scene. They had a "green screen" behind us, so we couldn't see what was happening. But the audience was watching the actual dubbed version. With fake foam "rocks" raining down on me, I had to pretend that I was terrified as the building collapsed around me.

3. Alt. spelling : VAR.iation.

4. Sans melanin : ALBINO.

5. Mets pitcher who was 1984 N.L. Rookie of the Year : GOODEN. T-o-o-k...e-v-e-r-y...s-i-n-g-l-e...p-e-r-p!!

6. -ess kin : ENNE. As in adultrESS and comediENNE, signifying female roles. Not PC any more.

7. Electronic ballot : E-VOTE. I thought I had heard all the E-words!

8. Short basket : TIP IN. Not a big fan of basketball since Larry Bird retired.

9. Psychic Edgar : CAYCE. Nailed it. I actually have read "The Sleeping Prophet."

10. Retail haven : MALL.

11. "Would ___ you down?" : I LET.

12. One in need of a tutor : SLOW LEARNER. Like me, when it comes to baseball!

13. Most stylish : TONIEST.

14. Get ready, in military lingo : STAND TO. I wanted "stand by," but that would be TV lingo, right?

19. "AC360º" channel : CNN. WAG.

22. Indiana Jones terrorizer : ASP. He hates snakes! 1:22

23. Flick : PIC.

24. Band aid? : AMP. Fun clue. Rock band.

25. "That wasn't the group for me" : I DIDN'T FIT IN. Hard to suss.

29. Forward-looking claim : ESP. Extra Sensory Perception.

31. Fill-up choice: Abbr. : REG.ular.

32. Anger : IRE.

35. "___ o' My Heart": 1913 song : PEG. So many versions to choose from...2:21

36. Bugged by a bug : ILL.

37. Mediator's challenge : EGO.

38. Delicately apply : DAB.

41. "Star Trek: DSN" changeling : ODO. Bullying scene...1:38

42. Sch. in Oregon's most populous city : PSU. Portland State University. Not to be confused with Pennsylvania State University, which seems to have gone out of favor as a clue since the scandal. Or, the lesser known Plymouth State University in Massachusetts.

43. Prefix with natal : NEO.

44. Rah-rah fan : BOOSTER.

45. Like dirty laundry : IN A PILE. Yes, I have A PILE of it downstairs!

48. Previously : AGO.

49. 3, 4 or 5, usually : PAR. Rich is an avid golfer.  Husker G., you in?

51. Box score stat : RBI. Runs Batted In. Does Hank Aaron still hold the record?

53. Saskatchewan's capital : REGINA.

54. Now : TRENDY. Took a while to get past "at once."

57. Drew to a close : ENDED.

58. Go-between : AGENT. His challenge might be an EGO.

59. Tehran bread : RIALS. Remember two weeks ago? Orani, Irani and Yemenis?

60. Driller's letters : DMD. Doctor of Dental Medicine.  So why is is not DDM?

63. Yonder item : THAT. I paused for a while, thinking I should enter "THAr."

64. Hardy lass : TESS. "Tess of the D'Urbervilles: A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented" is the complete title.

65. Mars, to Greeks : ARES. Greek and Roman gods of war. Mars is the son of Zeus and Hera.

68. Dude : GUY.

69. Before, before : ERE.

70. Second notes : REs. Do, re mi fa sol la ti do! 5:33

And with that note, I shall leave you until next time!

Hugs,

Marti

Wednesday, June 5, 2013 Gareth Bain

theme:  EXTREME SPORTS (35A. X Games activities, and, in a way, what can be found in this puzzle's circle) - The ends (extremes) of each theme entry is a type of sport.

17A. For example, to Juan : POR EJEMPLO. spanish. Polo.  

25A. Idol worshipped in Exodus : GOLDEN CALF. Golf.

49A. Casserole holder, perhaps : SQUARE DISH. Squash. 

58A. Armchair quarterback's speed? : SUPER SLO MO.  Sumo.

melissa here. this is solidly filled grid with 5 theme answers. nice chunks of corners. 

across:

1. "Naughty!" : TSK

4. Zealous crusades : JIHADS

10. "Choosy __ choose Jif" : MOMS

14. Physician's org. : AMA. american medical association.

15. Leopardlike critter : OCELOT. stunning.

16. Subj. for a vet : ANAT anatomy.

19. Okla., on old maps : TERR. 

20. Ersatz butter : OLEO. why anyone would want a replacement for butter is beyond me.

21. Gin maker Whitney : ELI. cotton gin.

23. Books expert: Abbr. : CPA. certified public accountant. accounting books.

24. Web prog. code : HTML

29. Reactions to revelations : AHAs

30. Acapulco gold : ORO. more spanish.

31. Preakness horse's age : THREE. don't follow horse racing, had no idea. wiki.

32. Orbiter until 2001 : MIR. russian space station. wiki says mir means peace or world.

33. Fox's title : BRER. from uncle remus.

34. Seam-y stuff? : ORE. cute.

40. Help out : AID

41. Drummer Ulrich : LARS. from metallica.

42. "The Chocolate __": classic young-adult novel : WAR

44. Stars, in Latin : ASTRA

47. Anti-pollution org. : EPA

48. Krakow native : POLE

52. Did garden work : HOED

53. Crude abode : HUT

54. '70s extremist gp. : SLA. kidnappers of patty hearst.

55. Spare targets : PINS. bowling.

56. Big bank : CITI

63. Philodendron's plant family : ARUM

64. Lack of vitality : ANEMIA

65. "China Beach" setting : 'NAM. vietnam.

66. Team that moved from New Jersey to Brooklyn in 2012 : NETS

67. Uncompromising : STRICT

68. One of RSA's 11 official languages : ENG. republic of south africa.

down:

1. Faucet : TAP

2. Blended beverage : SMOOTHIE

3. "The Communist Manifesto" co-author : KARL MARX

4. Mojo __: "Powerpuff Girls" villain : JOJO. no idea.

5. Arctic abundance : ICE

6. Skirt border : HEM

7. Jungfrau, e.g. : ALP. gorgeous.

8. Handed (out) sparingly : DOLED

9. Made off with : STOLE

10. Bath accessory : MAT

11. Like some garages : ONE-CAR

12. Christie heroine : MARPLE. agatha christie, miss marple.

13. Attack from the air : STRAFE

18. Sinuous fish : EELS

22. Openings : INTROS

24. Amateur radio operator : HAM. i never knew this.

25. Wounded by a warthog, say : GORED. ouch.

26. Utah County city : OREM

27. Rhine siren : LORELEI. interesting.

28. Chastity's mother : CHER. bono.

33. Prickly plants : BRIARS

34. Host who had a "Favorite Things" segment on her show : OPRAH

36. Estate near Twelve Oaks : TARA. didn't remember this.

37. Suckers : SAPS

38. Fast break advantage, in basketball : TWO ON ONE

39. Pro pitcher? : SALESMAN

43. Checkers side : RED

44. Garbage collector : ASH CAN

45. Future knight : SQUIRE

46. "Naughty!" : TUT TUT

48. Dr. made popular by 34-Down : PHIL

50. "__ Dream": Wagner aria : ELSA'S

51. Cow : DAUNT. synonyms - new to me. one meaning of cow is to browbeat or intimidate.

55. H.S. junior's exam : PSAT

57. AOL chats : IM'S

59. __ capita : PER

60. Brit. record co. : EMI

61. Guitarist Ocasek : RIC. of the cars.

62. Texter's "Holy moly!" : OMG

melissa

Note from C.C.:

1) Marti's UNPLUG (Render powerless?) is Paul's "Clever Clue of the Month" for May. Congratulations, Marti!

2) Happy 19th wedding anniversary to dear Misty and her husband! Misty loves James Joyce and has written a few books on Joyce's work. Her husband was a molecular biologist and biochemist who taught Genetics until his retirement. Misty said "Before his stroke he did the LA Times puzzle every morning (after bringing me coffee and the paper in bed!). I inherited the morning after his 2008 stroke."

This photo was taken in 2009 at their 15th anniversary party.

Tuesday, Jun 4, 2013 David Poole

Theme: Do You Do Windows? - Go to the back of the theme entries with your Windex.

18A. Need after a bank job : GETAWAY CAR

23A. Business that cuts locks : BARBER SHOP

38A. "Know what I mean?" : "GET THE PICTURE?"

50A. Jamaican resort : MONTEGO BAY

57A. Classic Hitchcock film, and a hint to the end of 18-, 23-, 38- and 50-Across : REAR WINDOW. Here is a compilation of TV takes on the movie. LINK

Argyle here and I don't do windows. Did it seem like a lot of déjà vu today? If there is, it's Rich's doing; David would have no way of knowing. A nice solid Tuesday with some interesting side trips.

Across:

1. King or queen, but not a prince : CARD

5. Coffeehouse connection : WI-FI

9. Carnival features : RIDES

14. Once again : ANEW

15. Breezed through : ACED

16. "99 44/100 % pure" soap : IVORY. "It floats."

17. Staff symbol : NOTE

20. Partner of true : TRIED

22. Veg (out) : CHILL

26. Change People, say : EDIT. People, the magazine.

30. Just manage, with "out" : EKE

31. The Brewers, on scoreboards : MIL (Milwaukee) (From C.C.: Here is a fun picture of Kazie, her husband Barry and son David with Brewers' Racing Sausages at Miller Park in August 2010.)

32. Gal pal of Jerry and George : ELAINE

34. Church get-together : SOCIAL

37. Sikorsky and Stravinsky : IGORs. (helicopters and compositions)

41. Blender setting : PURÉE

42. Paste back together : REGLUE

43. 8-Down, to Mexicans : ESTADO. (state) 8D. Southern neighbor of British Columbia : IDAHO. Also, to Mexicans, 53D. Sunset dirección : OESTE. (west)

45. Ben-__ : HUR

46. Spot for a shot : ARM. Yeah, I had BAR and like other bars, it messed me up for a while.

49. Tabloid twosome : ITEM

54. Ancient Aegean region : IONIA

56. Kind of question with only two possible answers : YES/NO

62. "No __ luck!" : SUCH

63. Paddled boat : CANOE

64. Movie "Citizen" : KANE. (Orson Welles, 1941) and  67A.  64-Across's Rosebud : SLED

65. In good shape : TRIM

66. Put up with : STAND

68. Current event? : EDDY. Tricky but not, once you have it.

Down:

1. "That's impossible!" : "CAN'T BE!". Not for everybody, can't be. Janis Joplin - I Need A Man To Love. (4:57)

2. Arctic pullover : ANORAK

3. Call it a night : RETIRE

4. Nerdy type : DWEEB

5. Shake, as a tail : WAG. 7D. Command to Fido : FETCH

6. Mixologist's bucketful : ICE. At the place for a shot that I was thinking of.

9. Iranian currency : RIAL

10. Harvard and Yale are in it : IVY LEAGUE

11. Leader of the Dwarfs : DOC

12. Stat for Jered Weaver : ERA. Starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (earned run average)ERA

13. Country W of Iraq : SYR. (Syria)

19. Clean with a rag : WIPE

21. Knocked down a peg : DEMOTED

24. Rolling in dough : RICH

25. More shrewd : SLIER. More shrewd = more dough.

27. A-line designer : DIOR

28. Legal memo's "concerning" : IN RE

29. Parisian possessive : TES. (your)

33. Religious ritual : LITURGY. From Greek, for public service.

34. Household gadget used on a board : STEAM IRON

35. Big brute : APE

36. Traffic controller : LIGHT

38. Short burst of wind : GUST

39. Art Deco designer : ERTE. Good old "RT"

40. Game with suspicions and accusations : CLUE

41. Canada's smallest prov. : PEI. (Prince Edward Island)

44. Luxury hotel chain : OMNI

46. Preposterous : ABSURD

47. Causing serious nose-wrinkling : RANCID

48. "Good heavens!" : "MY, OH, MY!". What the cook said when she discovered the butter was rancid.

51. Cries in sties : OINKS. No, oinks aren't cries but for the sake of alliteration, let it stand.

52. Spanish tennis star Rafael : NADAL. Worth a watch.

55. Needed to pay : OWED

57. Pepsi alternatives : RC's. (Royal Crown)

58. Put away some dishes? : EAT

59. California's Santa __ : ANA

60. Small bill : ONE

61. United : WED

Argyle

Monday, June 3, 2013 Michael Dewey

Theme: And The Beat Goes On - The theme entries conclude with parts of the circulatory system.

20. Siblings, sons, daughters, etc. : FLESH AND BLOOD

29. "Along related lines ..." : "IN THE SAME VEIN ..."

47. Main thoroughfare : CENTRAL ARTERY

56. Have the song memorized : KNOW IT BY HEART

Argyle here. We also have two incidentals, SKIN and FLESH. Is it a Monday or Tuesday puzzle, YES/NO? In any case, Michael(Boston College,'91) has his usual strong fill AND no 'A' word.

Across:

1. Ran a towel over : WIPED. I held off of putting in DRIED.

6. Free stuff at a party, in slang : SWAG. "I thought it was free," said the swagman.

10. Throws in : ADDS. ...and he stowed that jumbuck in his tucker-bag.

14. Have because of : OWE TO

15. Supergirl's Krypton name : KARA. (Kara Zor-El)

16. Munich Mrs. : FRAU

17. "Great taste. Less filling" beers : LITEs

18. Srs.' nest eggs : IRA's

19. Keister : RUMP

23. 35mm camera type : SLR. (single-lens reflex)

24. Anxious med. condition for TV's Monk : OCD. (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)

25. Actor McKellen : IAN. Has been known to talk to ents.

26. Onetime telecom giant : GTE. (General Telephone and Electronics Corp. 1959-1982)

33. Cosmetician Lauder : ESTÉE

34. Like sorted clean socks, hopefully : PAIRED

35. More than half : MOST

38. Push-up muscle, briefly : PEC. (pectoralis)

40. Greek sandwich : GYRO

41. Desk compartment : DRAWER

44. Simple question type : YES/NO

50. They're two sizes above M's : XL's

51. Out __ limb : ON A

52. "The Raven" monogram : EAP. (Edgar Allan Poe)

53. AQI monitor : EPA. Air Quality Index / Environmental Protection Agency

60. Goose egg : ZERO

62. "Are you __ not?": "Joining us?" : IN OR

63. "Kim" actor Flynn : ERROL. Kim is a 1950 adventure film based on the classic novel by Rudyard Kipling.

 64. Gung-ho : AVID

65. Old Italian coin : LIRA

66. Half a Washington city : WALLA

67. __ de foie gras : PÂTÉ

68. Negotiator's goal : DEAL

69. Eyelid woes : STYEs

Down:

1. Gulps (down) greedily : WOLFs

2. "Count on me" : "I WILL"

3. "Great" Russian czar : PETER I

4. Summers in Paris : ÉTÉS

5. Toss back jiggers of liquor : DO SHOTS. (1.5 US fluid ounces)

6. Superficial, as beauty : SKIN DEEP

7. Fend (off) : WARD

8. Saudi __ : ARABIA

9. Streetlight of old : GAS LAMP. A musical interlude. The Old Lamplighter(2:21)

10. Jackson 5 hairdo : AFRO

11. Grunt work : DRUDGERY

12. Flood control structure : DAM

13. Eat dinner : SUP

21. German's eight : ACHT

22. Most-draftable status : ONE A

27. Wedding cake section : TIER

28. Prefix with plasm : ENDO. A central, less viscous portion of the cytoplasm.

30. Food packaging fig. : NET WT.. The weight of the actual food.

31. "Later, gator" : "SEE YA'"

32. Energy : VIGOR

35. 17th-century year when Henry Hudson entered his bay : MDCX. 1610 (History)

36. Baseball's Hershiser : OREL

37. Literary language of India : SANSKRIT

39. __ cortex: outermost brain tissue : CEREBRAL. Pleasantly taxed today.

42. Suffix with sock or switch : EROO

43. Went on a rampage : RAN WILD. It seems once a week it happens somewhere.

45. "Freeze, Fido!" : "STAY!". Cute alliteration.

46. Sibling's sons : NEPHEWs

48. Actress Kazan : LAINIE. "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" 2002

49. Once every 12 months : YEARLY

54. Worker, briefly : PROLE. A member of the proletariat.

55. Book of maps : ATLAS

57. Lymph __ : NODE

58. __ Bora: Afghan region : TORA

59. Part of Q.E.D. : ERAT

60. Reheat quickly : ZAP

61. Perón of Argentina : EVA

Argyle

Sunday June 2, 2013 Mark Bickham

Theme: "Hair Majesty" - The first word in each theme entry is a hairstyle.

24A. Leader of the Wild Bunch gang : BUTCH CASSIDY

26A. Plush floor covering : SHAG CARPET

53A. Greet from a distance : WAVE HELLO

93A. Dreaded musician? : BOB MARLEY. Dupe with 4D. Hopes it never happens : DREADS THE DAY

118. Low-altitude delivery agent : CROP DUSTER

122. Fetal metaphor : BUN IN THE OVEN

17. One way to decide : FLIP A COIN

40D. Scenic Massachusetts route : MOHAWK TRAIL. Remember the NASA Mohawk guy?

68D. Four Corners nickname : BEEHIVE STATE

  

84D. Rams : BANGS INTO. My ex-boyfriend is crazy about Jane Birkin. She has the most famous bangs in the world.

Amazing grid design. Loved how MOHAWK TRAIL crosses two Across theme entries in the grid. The four other pairs intersect as well. It really takes luck and skill to make this work.

Across:

1. Profitable venture : GOLDMINE. Great start. We don't often see a 8-letter 1-Across.

9. Bombay bigwigs : RAJAHS

15. Fox role : MCFLY (Marty).  "Back to the Future". Michael J. Fox,

20. "My pleasure!" : I SURE CAN

21. Region north of Morocco : IBERIA

22. Finnish architect Alvar __ : AALTO. Stranger to me. Eero Saarinen is Finnish too. So many vowels in their names.

23. Punkish accessory : NOSE RING. Boomer's daughter-in-law Sherie has a nose ring.

28. Asian region, with "the" : EAST. "The East is Red" woke me up every morning in my childhood. Our reveille.

29. Lhasa __ : APSO

30. Wilmington's st. : DEL

31. Short : SHY

32. "Silent Spring" subj. : DDT

33. "Bossypants" writer Fey : TINA. Someday she'll change her mind and host the Oscar.

35. Loses one's cool : SEES RED

39. She played Molly in "Ghost" : DEMI. Oh, I loved "Ghost".

41. Ready to shoot : IN FOCUS

44. Contact, nowadays : TEXT

45. Walton of Walmart : SAM. Say what you want about Walmart. They've always paid their taxes, unlike Apple (!!!), Microsoft & Google.

47. Two bells, in the Navy : ONE AM. Got it, Dave?

50. Old pool ball material : IVORY

51. Oahu's __ Stadium : ALOHA

56. Hotel team : MAIDS

57. Apportioned, with "out" : METED

58. Nickname for Margaret : GRETA. Wow. I thought it's Meg or Peggy.

59. Start of something big? : MEGA

61. Devotee : NUT

62. Safari sightings : PRIDES. Lion packs.

64. Is aware of : KNOWS

66. Star : CELEB

69. Notes comprise them : SCALES

71. It's over a foot : ANKLE. Clever clue.

73. Amazingly enough : NO LESS

76. Mythical giants : YETIs

78. Newspaper section : STYLE. And 95. Common newspaper name : TIMES

80. Hardly a guffaw : TEE HEE

82. Graceful male swimmer : COB. Male swan. I can't swim. You?

85. Aware of : IN ON

87. Double-check : RE-ADD

89. Burns a bit : CHARS

90. "Our Gang" series creator Hal : ROACH. New to me as well.

96. Bother : ANNOY

97. Video game pioneer : ATARI
 

98. Site of heavy traffic, with "the" : NET

100. Wind indicator : VANE

101. City on the Tigris : BAGHDAD

103. Acronym that includes middle sch. : EL HI. It just won't go away. Too useful a letter combo.

106. Tinactin alternative : DESENEX. For Athlete's Foot.

108. Evidently are : SEEM

109. Engine housing : POD

111. Takes too much : ODs

113. Xi preceders : NUs. Not An.

114. "Madama Butterfly" wardrobe items : OBIs

116. Did perfectly : ACED

125. Uncommon thing : RARA AVIS

127. Playground rejoinder : IS TOO

128. Company promoted by a nine-month-old financial wizard : E-TRADE. The E-Trade Baby has his own Twitter account.

129. Theft target : IDENTITY

130. Beach shoe : THONG. The Bikini wear is more appealing than a single shoe.

131. Pastry-making aid : ZESTER

132. Like some loafers : TASSELED

Down:

1. Sling ingredient : GIN. Singapore Sling, right?

2. Zoo animales : OSOS. Bears.

3. Like some lawns : LUSH

5. Big deal : MERGER. So simple in retrospect.

6. Winter spikes : ICICLES

7. "Peter Pan" pooch : NANA

8. Many Caltech grads : ENGRS. Both Spitzboov & Splynter graduated from RPI.

9. Outback order : RIB EYE

10. Be next to : ABUT

11. Fast flier : JET

12. Like a parabola : ARCED

13. Percussion kit item : HI-HAT

14. Egg holders : SACS

15. Parental nicknames : MAs

16. Eponymous 18th-century adventurer : CASANOVA. Womanizer.

18. Old Fords : LTDs

19. Toy on a string : YO-YO

25. Envelope abbr. : ATTN

27. Postgrad degree : PhD

32. More than just eat : DINE

34. "__ any judge of character ..." : IF I'M. Sometimes partials are not easy for me to see.

35. Philatelist's find : STAMP

36. Catchers with pots : EELERS

37. Strikingly strange : EXOTIC

38. "Hi and Lois" pooch : DAWG

41. Daughter in Shakespeare's "Cymbeline" : IMOGEN. No idea.

42. Pakistani language : URDU. Still waiting for Anony-Mouse (aka Vidwan) to answer my Urdu question.

43. Part of CBS: Abbr. : SYST

46. Blemish : MARK

48. Lumber tree : ELM. Hard to clue ELM in a new way.

49. Blind-from-birth pianist Templeton : ALEC. Never heard of him. 

52. British singer with the age-related albums "19" and "21" : ADELE. Pure talent.

54. __ cava : VENA

55. Berkshire jackets : ETONs

60. Almost all the time : A LOT

63. "The X-Files" org. : SETI (Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence)

65. More sneaky : SLYER

67. Put in power : ELECT

70. Sailor from Basrah : SINBAD. I always use Basra.

72. It has both Hebrew and English letters on its planes : EL AL

74. Medicine man : SHAMAN

75. Still : SERENE

77. Stains on a red suit? : SOOT. Santa!

79. Perfect place : EDEN

81. Cambridgeshire neighbor : ESSEX

82. Grump : CRAB

83. O'Neill's daughter : OONA. Long time no see!

86. Pistons' org. : NBA. Detroit Pistons.

88. Added highlights to, in a way : DYED

91. Strong team quality : COHESION

92. Stevenson villain : HYDE. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

94. TV role for Bamboo Harvester : MR. ED

99. Grants academic security to : TENURES

102. Latin trio member : AMAT. Amo, amas, amat.

104. Good boy of verse : HORNER. Little Jack Horner. "What a good boy am I".

105. Response known to preclude its question : I DO.

107. Lazy __: trays : SUSANs

109. Golfer Calvin : PEETE. He cleared the fairway for Tiger Woods. Golf pioneer.

110. Reasons to clean : ODORS

112. Sail-extending pole : SPRIT. New word to me.

114. Late notice? : OBIT

115. Foundation plant : BUSH

117. Stylish eatery word : CHEZ. I bet it's all tasty Chez D-Otto's. He seems to be a great cook.

118. Give up : CEDE

119. Anti-art movement : DADA

120. Bad doings : EVIL

121. Altar event : RITE

123. Holiday quaff : NOG

124. Piece of winery equipment : VAT

126. Guitarist Barrett : SYD. Pink Floyd.

C.C.