Theme: "Don't Move" - S is changed to P in each common phrase.
24. Legume that helps quell anxiety?: PEA OF TRANQUILITY. Sea of Tranquility.
31. "My mind is often in the gutter ... "?: I'M NOT REALLY PURE. I'm not really sure.
58. Device that blocks all commercial endorsements?: PLUG REPELLENT. Slug repellent.
66. Basic needs for preserving a walnut?: HAMMER AND PICKLE. Hammer and sickle.
80. Ruling by a British finance minister?: POUND JUDGMENT. Sound judgement.
104. Dine and dash?: GO WITHOUT PAYING. Go without saying.
115. Citrus juicer's downfall?: REVENGE OF THE PITH. Revenge of the Sith.
124. Word on a red sign, and, when parsed in three parts, a hint to this puzzle's longest answers: S TO P.
This reminds me of the S to P puzzle Dennis and I made for the New York Times ages ago. We ended up with a simpler approach, though this letter change idea also came to us. You all know I'm bad at this letter addition/deletion/change gimmick.
I chuckled at some of the theme answers and clues. Fun. Outstanding fill from Rafael. He's really good with grids.
Across:
1. __ Punk: "Get Lucky" duo: DAFT.
5. Regard highly: ESTEEM.
11. Sand dune conveyance: SLED.
15. Spanish "Look!": MIRA.
19. Spaghetti __ puttanesca: ALLA. Puttanesca is a red sauce with
an interesting origin. Google yourself, but don't put the word on the
blog. I don't want another Google warning.
20. Myocardium, e.g.: MUSCLE.
21. Sprinkler hookup: HOSE.
22. Heaps: ATON.
23. Places (down): LAYS.
27. Horror film director Aster: ARI. His latest movie is "Beau Is Afraid".
28. Divest (of): RID.
29. __ Chef: meal kit company: HOME.
30. Runaway hit: SMASH.
37. Crush, in gamer slang: PWN.
38. Elation: GLEE.
39. Ethiopia's Selassie: HAILE.
40. Looked forward to: AWAITED.
44. Humanitarian/chef Andrés who founded World Central Kitchen: JOSE. He was born in Spain.
46. Bonobo, e.g.: APE.
47. Shiny fabric: SATIN.
49. "I __ you one!": OWE.
50. Mattel game with 108 cards: UNO.
51. Decennial survey: CENSUS.
54. Charge: ACCUSE.
55. Go toe-to-toe: VIE.
56. Mayor Tishaura Jones's city: Abbr.: STL. Not famliar with the mayor, sorry!
57. Ergonomic kitchen gadget brand: OXO.
61. Participated: TOOK PART.
64. Garlands that symbolize friendship: LEIS.
65. Assns.: ORGS.
72. Alan of "The Aviator": ALDA.
75. Discovery org.: NASA.
76. Bangkok currency: THAI BAHT. "One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble ..."
86. Journalist Kasparian: ANA.
87. __ milk: SOY.
88. Race in place: REV. I don't get this clue.
89. Holy Week ender: EASTER.
90. More effortless: EASIER. Ah, guys, I've been struggling with flutter kicks. I kick like crazy, but I just don't move anywhere with the kick board.
92. Drench: SOP.
93. She sheep: EWE.
94. "Ciao!": ADIOS.
95. South Bend's st.: IND.
96. Ride in a velodrome: BIKE. I'm told that bikers and runners often struggle with flutter kicks.
97. Predetermined schedule: SET PLAN.
99. Actor Taye: DIGGS.
101. E pluribus __: UNUM.
103. Portable bed: COT.
110. Finnish telecom giant: NOKIA.
112. Snitch (on): NARC.
113. CIA forerunner: OSS. The Office of Strategic Services.
114. Mauna __: LOA.
120. __-serif: SANS.
121. Assert: AVER.
122. Inflatable float: RAFT.
123. Estevez of "The Breakfast Club": EMILIO.
125. Gendered possessive: HERS.
126. Kennel cacophony: ARFS.
127. Court calendar: DOCKET.
128. "Queer Eye" stylist Jonathan Van __: NESS.
Down:
2. Sleep interrupter: ALARM.
3. Acting on one's own: FLYING SOLO. Great fill.
4. Some future profs: TAS.
5. Ashanti, for one: EMPIRE. West African empire until 1901.
6. Leather with a fuzzy finish: SUEDE. Did you know that the eggplant leaves are very fuzzy also?
7. Water bottle confiscator: Abbr.: TSA.
8. Logical lead-in: ECO.
9. Rivendell resident: ELF.
10. CH3, chemically: METHYL.
11. Longtime orca performer: SHAMU.
12. Solitary sort: LONER.
13. Atty.'s title: ESQ.
14. Cidade de __: Rio neighborhood: DEUS.
15. Lilongwe's country: MALAWI. Capital of Malawi.
16. "I've still got fight left in me!": IT ISN'T OVER.
17. __ IRA: ROTH.
18. "__ questions?": ANY.
25. Tug-of-war need: ROPE.
26. Form, as a jury: IMPANEL.
28. GPS option: RTE.
32. Real Madrid cheer: OLE.
33. Cries of understanding: AHAS.
34. Eagerly accept, as praise: LAP UP. And 36. "Dinner is getting cold!": EAT UP.
35. Von Trapp sister: LIESL.
41. Sage: WISE.
42. Basketball Hall of Famer Patrick: EWING. The New York Knicks.
43. Particulars, informally: DEETS.
44. Fair: JUST.
45. Suspicious of: ONTO.
47. Rx: SCRIP.
48. Does a great job: ACES IT.
51. Club in a Manilow hit: COPA.
52. Test: EXAM.
53. Average: NORM.
54. Like sharp cheddar: AGED.
59. Elbow-wrist connectors: ULNAE.
60. "Stay" singer Lisa: LOEB.
62. __ Academy: educational nonprofit: KHAN.
63. Watch over: TEND TO.
67. Erupts in anger: RAGES.
68. Pleasant tingling sensation, initially: ASMR. Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response.
69. __ latte: spiced tea with steamed milk: CHAI.
70. Longtime Lucci role: KANE.
71. "You made that up!": LIAR.
72. After, in Arles: APRES.
73. Spanish luxury fashion house: LOEWE. This is their iconic raffia tote bag. You've probably seen it.
74. Bedding choice: DUVET COVER.
77. Absorb: ASSIMILATE.
78. Catchy melody: HOOK.
79. Use a key to enter?: TYPE.
81. Gave a hand: DEALT IN.
82. Actress __ Pinkett Smith: JADA.
83. Employing: USING.
84. Horse's "Hey!": NEIGH.
85. Argentine dance: TANGO.
91. California sch. just north of Tijuana: SDSU. San Diego State University.
96. Believe: BUY.
98. Fireplace tools: POKERS.
99. Scuttlebutt: DIRT.
100. Had a bite, perhaps?: ITCHED. Mosquito bite. Also love these two clues: 105. Power positions?: ON OFF. And 116. Hear here: EAR.
101. Outcome: UPSHOT.
102. "If I Ruled the World" rapper: NAS.
106. Drifts, as an aroma: WAFTS.
107. Comedian Fields: TOTIE.
108. Taboos: NO-NOS.
109. Reacts to a plot twist, perhaps: GASPS.
110. Actress Campbell: NEVE.
111. City on the Yamuna river: AGRA.
115. Big cheer: RAH.
117. Punk subgenre: EMO.
118. Insta post: PIC.
119. Type: ILK.
120. Fig. on a blue card: SSN.
C.C.
