theme: I'M DOWN
this seemed more like a thursday level to me, a bit of a workout. an unusual looking grid, too, fitting the COLUMNS theme. i like puzzles that have down theme answers, i guess just because it's unusual.
5d. *"Break Like the Wind" band : SPINAL (COLUMN) TAP.
10d. *TV drama narrated by a teen blogger : GOSSIP (COLUMN) GIRL. does anyone watch gossip girl?
26d. *Double-date extra : FIFTH (COLUMN) WHEEL. "third wheel" is the more common phrase. fifth column definition.
34d. *Chemical connection that involves a transfer of electrons : IONIC (COLUMN) BOND. an ionic column is a greek architectural feature.
22. The answers to starred clues start with kinds of them, and are arranged in them : COLUMNS
across
1. Unapproachable : OFFISH. a stretch-ish.
7. Heavy shoe : BROGAN. wikipedia: "a term generally applied to any heavy, ankle-high shoe or boot …".
13. Like Steven Wright's delivery : DEADPAN. "I went for a walk last night and she asked me how long I was going to be gone. I said, "The whole time."
15. Fragrant hybrid bloom : TEA ROSE. created by cross-breeding two types of roses. so pretty.
16. Unusually large : OUTSIZE
17. They enjoy being cruel : SADISTS
18. GPS display : RDS. global positioning system / roads.
19. Scottish refusal : NAE
20. Melodic passages : ARIOSOS. new to me.
21. Cabbage head? : HARD C. can't fool me with that any more.
23. E. __ bacteria : COLI
24. Hug : ENFOLD. enfolds and kisses.
27. Buckeyes' sch. : OSU. ohio state university.
29. Blunt blade : EPEE
32. Main idea : POINT
33. Defensive story : ALIBI
35. "I hate when you do that!" : GRR
36. Balkan Peninsula capital : SOFIA
37. Profit share : CUT
38. Heavenly hunter : ORION. constellation.
40. Prov. on Lake Superior : ONT. ontario, canada.
41. Tottenham tot toters : PRAMS. tottenham is an area in london, and pram is a british word for a baby carriage.
43. Squares : NERDS
44. Grape soda brand : NEHI
46. A in German class : EIN
47. Light spectrum extreme : VIOLET
48. L.A. Sparks' org. : WNBA
50. Contractor's details : SPECS
52. Ones with a common heritage : ETHNICS
55. Eyeball : ORB
56. "Grimm" network : NBC. no idea. looks interesting.
59. Put away, as a hunting knife : SHEATHE
60. More apt to pout : MOODIER
62. Many a Nickelodeon watcher : PRETEEN
63. Exalt : ENNOBLE
64. Astonishingly enough : NO LESS
65. Carol opener : ADESTE. christmas carol, adeste fideles, aka o come all ye faithful. it's that time again already. here's BNL's version of a different classic carol:
down
1. Air Wick target : ODOR
2. It can go on for years : FEUD
3. Dieter's count : FATS
4. Picks from a lineup : ID'S. identifies - no indication of abbreviation, i suppose ID is common enough.
6. Thin ice, say : HAZARD
7. Berenstain youngster, e.g. : BEAR CUB. children's book series, the berenstain bears.
8. Active beginning? : RADIO. radioactive.
9. Maryland state bird, for one : ORIOLE. why 'for one'?
11. Apropos of : AS TO
12. Storied loch : NESS
14. Can't be without : NEED
15. Bag-checking agcy. : TSA. the butt of so many jokes.
21. Hägar's daughter : HONI. never remember this.
24. Canon rival : EPSON. printer makers.
25. Worst possible turnout : NO ONE. aw.
28. Tries to please a master, perhaps : SITS. "if you can sit quietly after difficult news, if in financial downturns you remain perfectly calm, if you can see your neighbors travel to fantastic places without a twinge of jealousy, if you can happily eat whatever is on your plate, if you can love those around you unconditionally and fall asleep after a day of running around without a drink or a pill, if you can always find contentment just where you are … you're probably a dog."
30. Diminish by degrees : ERODE
31. Arp contemporary : ERNST. jean arp (1886-1966) and max ernst (1891-1976) - both german painters, sculptors and poets.
33. Trendy healthful berry : ACAI
39. Classic autos : REO'S
42. Is guilty of a dinner table no-no : REACHES
45. Congenital : INNATE
47. Shakespearean setting : VERONA. romeo and juliet, and the two gentleman of verona.
49. Falls for a joke : BITES
51. Fleshy fruit : POME
52. "Mike and Mike in the Morning" broadcaster : ESPN
53. Via, briefly : THRO
54. China's Sun Yat-__ : SEN. did not know this.
56. Calligrapher's points : NIBS
57. Seat restraint : BELT
58. Hudson Bay native : CREE
61. Forest female : DOE
melissa
melissa
