google.com, pub-2774194725043577, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 L.A.Times Crossword Corner

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Mar 9, 2010

Tuesday March 9, 2010 Mangesh Sakharam Ghogre

Theme: Spread 'Em - Theme answers are all breakfast spreads.

17A. Sweet toast topper: STRAWBERRY JELLY. Only strawberry jam in our fridge.

29A. Fruity bread topper: APPLE BUTTER. I've never made apple butter myself. Looks delicious.

50A. "Schmeared" bagel topper: CREAM CHEESE. And lox. Heavenly sandwich!

65A. Waist woe (caused, perhaps, by overindulgence in 17-, 29- and 50-Across): MIDDLE-AGE SPREAD. I wonder why the constructor let go of the straightforward BREAKFAST SPREAD. It has 15 letter too, and sums up the other three entries perfectly. Maybe not as sparkly as MIDDLE-AGE SPREAD?

Mangesh also sprinkled a few more food related entries in the grid:

1D. 1/16 of a cup: Abbr.: TBSP

12D. Bubbly drink: COLA. Symmetrically placed against DIET (57D. Try to reduce 65-Across).

39D. Container at an afternoon service, maybe: TEA CADDY. Defined as "a box, jar, canister or other receptacle used to store tea". I can't believe I've never heard of this term.

63D. Sugar source: CANE. Or BEET.

How did it feel to solve a puzzle made by a non-native English speaker? Something amiss?

Across:

1. Silently understood: TACIT. As in tacit approval.

14. "Well done!": BRAVO.

15. Early Yucatán dweller: MAYA. Ah, the mysterious Maya calendar and the dooming Apocalypse 2012.

16. Nebraska tribe: OTOE. Sometimes it's OTO.

21. Cancel: UNDO

22. Book of maps: ATLAS. Named after the Greek mythical figure Atlas, who is depicted as holding the world on his shoulders.

25. __-shanter: Scottish cap: TAM O. Tam O'Shanter. Odd breakdown partial.

27. State with 13-Down: Abbr.: FLA. And KEYS (13D. Largo, West, et al.).

36. Group of bits, in computer storage: BYTE

37. Other half, so to speak: SPOUSE. And IVANA (4D. A former Mrs. Trump).

40. Wood-dressing tool: ADZ. Penned in AWL.

42. Init. response team: EMTS

43. Complaint of "the weary": NO REST. No rest for the weary.

46. Kick into a net: GOAL. Initially thought the clue is asking for a verb.

49. Quilting party: BEE. Where are our quilting Barb B & KittyB?

52. Wimbledon do-over: LET

53. Made the scene: CAME

54. Terse order to a chauffeur: HOME. I wanted GO, GO!

56. Model of excellence: IDEAL

59. Assign stars to: RATE

61. Place for a beret? TETE. I sure need "béret" or some sort of French hint.

62. Leadership org. for females: YWCA (Young Women's Christian Association)

68. Hang in the balance: PEND

69. Schedule opening: SLOT

70. Without letup: ON END. Why do I always want NO END?

71. Hang around: STAY

72. Move cautiously: EDGE

73. Enjoys a kiddie pool: WADES

Down:

2. Greek city on its own gulf: ARTA. I've never heard of this city. What is it famous for?

3. Politician in a political cartoon, e.g.: CARICATURE. Awesome entry.

5. Garage service: TOW

6. Word of agreement: AMEN

7. The __ of Avon: BARD. Shakespeare.

8. Boring way to learn: BY ROTE

10. Direct, as a confrontation: TOE-TO-TOE. Nice entry too.

11. "__ cost you!": IT'LL

18. Like roads with many potholes: BUMPY

19. Copier problem: JAM UP. Oh, I see "jam" now.

26. "Washboard" muscles: ABS

27. Old Cannes cash: FRANC. Alliteration again.

28. Repair bill line: LABOR. Parts & labor.

30. School support org.: PTA

31. Rock climber's stop: LEDGE. Loved the "Rock On" Jazzbumpa linked last week.

32. Windblown desert plant: TUMBLEWEED. Why "desert"? We have tumbleweed here too.

34. Odometer button: RESET

41. Playwright Akins: ZOE. She wrote the screenplay for "How to Marry a Millionaire". Her name escaped me. We had this entry before.

44. Lowercase: SMALL

45. Cable sta. for old films: TCM (Turner Classic Movies)

47. Hibachi residue: ASHES

48. Summer sign: LEO. Zodiac sign.

51. Proclaim: HERALD

55. Loy of "The Thin Man": MYRNA

58. Ferber or Best: EDNA. Not familiar with Edna Best. Spotted her in Mangesh's list. Ha ha.

60. Popeyed: AGOG. Popeyed is a real word? Only know Popeye the Sailor.

64. Puts two and two together? ADDS. I figured out immediately that constructor wants the mathematical ADDS.

67. Sock-in-the-jaw sound: POW!

Answer grid.

Now I am hungry. What's your favorite breakfast spread? I love honey.

C.C.