Theme: It's a STEAL
20A: Steal books?: PALM READERS
27A: Steal produce?: BAG GROCERIES
50A: Steal coins?: PINCH PENNIES
58A: Steal gym equipment?: LIFT WEIGHTS
Are you a kleptomanaia? Were you Born to Steal? Well, if you want to steal, why not ENDEAR (8D: Make beloved) yourself to ENYA (33A: One-named New Ager) and steal her heart? She is still available.
Does the "READERS" in 20A refer to "READERS' Digest" or what? I have difficulty understanding the clue.
I like this puzzle a lot, esp the theme concept. But I went through a hard time at the AQI corner. I often hear this Air Quality Index on the radio/TV, but the abbreviated AQI simply refused to unveil itself to me this morning. I had no idea who the Turn-of-the-century muckraker (JACOB RIIS) was, what an unique surname! And the impossible Gulf of AQABA! Where are "U"? This word needs a "U" for God's sake, water, water, AQUA, how can you be a gulf without water?
EINS, zwei, drei, let's go!
ACROSS:
1A: B-o-r-ing!: YAWN. "Never YAWN in front of a lady"!
9A: Lowest point: NADIR. A NADIR moment for Hillary's last night. She still refused to concede. ABUILIA problem?
33A: One-named New Ager: ENYA. "Who can say where the roads go, where the day flows, only time..."
43A: Delhi appetizer: SAMOSA. No idea. Wikipedia says it's a popular SNACK(S ) (34A: Noshes) in India. Could be both savory and sweet, see here, looks like it's fried.
46A: Pyramid, e.g.: TOMB. The Terra Cotta Museum in my hometown (Xi'An) is also a big TOMB.
53A: Pack: JAM INTO
56A: Greek cross: TAU. Greek letter T, after Sigma. I've never heard of TAU Lepton, have you?
57A: EPA pollution measure: AQI (Air Quality Index). Such a tough crossing with AQABA.
64A: Is the ability ours?: CAN WE. This clue feels very strained to me. How about Michael Bolton's "How CAN WE Be Lovers"? Right now I am listening to this song while typing in today's blog, "show me what you feel"!
66A: Casino game: FARO
67A: Barnyard butter: GOAT. John Underwood's GOATS (What kids grow up to be) clue is Paul's Clever Clue of May.
68A: Verbal digs: BARBS
72A: Half a zwei: EINS. Or Drei minus zwei. And another essential German phrase you should know is "Ich Liebe Dich".
DOWN:
4D: Eggnog topper: NUTMEG. Not cinnamon? I only had once and I disliked the taste.
8D: Make beloved: ENDEAR. I like how ENDEAR intersects ARON (15A: The King's middle name).
9D: Male anchors: NEWSMEN. Can you call Chris Matthews an anchor? Or is he simply a host?
12D: Mind business: IDEAS. Does this clue sound OK to you?
22D: Turn-of-the-centuray muckraker: RIIS. And 53D: First name of 22A: JACOB. Completely unknown to me. Here is more information. Wikipedia says there is also JACOB RIIS Park in Queens.
27D: Men of the future?: BOYS. I love BOYZ II Men. Not very fond of their "On Bended KNEE (36D: Patella location) though. I listen to their "End of the Road" when I feel AIMLESS (25A: Undirected). For those who want to get LEI'd (49A: Wahine wear), click here, then " close your eyes, make a wish... all through the night."
29D: Light weight: GRAM
30D: Charisse of "Singin' in the Rain": CYD. No, not familiar to me at all. I pieced this answer together by across clues.
35D: Colombia city: CALI. And 51D: Columbian export: COFFEE
39D: Kachina doll makers: HOPI. Or Zuni. Saw a Kachina doll at the Flea Market last Sunday. I don't think it's authentic though.
44D: Without transgressions: SINLESS
45D: Prefix with trust or matter: ANTI
48D: __B'rith: B'NAI. Got it from across clues. B'NAI means "Sons of" in Hebrew.
52D: Denver pro: NUGGET
54D: Red Sea Gulf: AQABA. Here is the map. See Gulf of AQABA? It's in the far south of Jordan.
59D: Rikki-Tikki-__: TAVI. I have no idea what this is. I strung it from the across clues. This Rikki-Tikki kind of reminds me of Günther and the Sunshine Girls' Tutti Frutti song.
61D: Putting target: HOLE. I just hate USGA for the US Open setup. How can any one HOLE a shot if you keep the green that fast?
65D: Arachnid structure: WEB. Let's meet Wilbur the Pig, from "Charlotte's WEB".
C.C.
20A: Steal books?: PALM READERS
27A: Steal produce?: BAG GROCERIES
50A: Steal coins?: PINCH PENNIES
58A: Steal gym equipment?: LIFT WEIGHTS
Are you a kleptomanaia? Were you Born to Steal? Well, if you want to steal, why not ENDEAR (8D: Make beloved) yourself to ENYA (33A: One-named New Ager) and steal her heart? She is still available.
Does the "READERS" in 20A refer to "READERS' Digest" or what? I have difficulty understanding the clue.
I like this puzzle a lot, esp the theme concept. But I went through a hard time at the AQI corner. I often hear this Air Quality Index on the radio/TV, but the abbreviated AQI simply refused to unveil itself to me this morning. I had no idea who the Turn-of-the-century muckraker (JACOB RIIS) was, what an unique surname! And the impossible Gulf of AQABA! Where are "U"? This word needs a "U" for God's sake, water, water, AQUA, how can you be a gulf without water?
EINS, zwei, drei, let's go!
ACROSS:
1A: B-o-r-ing!: YAWN. "Never YAWN in front of a lady"!
9A: Lowest point: NADIR. A NADIR moment for Hillary's last night. She still refused to concede. ABUILIA problem?
33A: One-named New Ager: ENYA. "Who can say where the roads go, where the day flows, only time..."
43A: Delhi appetizer: SAMOSA. No idea. Wikipedia says it's a popular SNACK(S ) (34A: Noshes) in India. Could be both savory and sweet, see here, looks like it's fried.
46A: Pyramid, e.g.: TOMB. The Terra Cotta Museum in my hometown (Xi'An) is also a big TOMB.
53A: Pack: JAM INTO
56A: Greek cross: TAU. Greek letter T, after Sigma. I've never heard of TAU Lepton, have you?
57A: EPA pollution measure: AQI (Air Quality Index). Such a tough crossing with AQABA.
64A: Is the ability ours?: CAN WE. This clue feels very strained to me. How about Michael Bolton's "How CAN WE Be Lovers"? Right now I am listening to this song while typing in today's blog, "show me what you feel"!
66A: Casino game: FARO
67A: Barnyard butter: GOAT. John Underwood's GOATS (What kids grow up to be) clue is Paul's Clever Clue of May.
68A: Verbal digs: BARBS
72A: Half a zwei: EINS. Or Drei minus zwei. And another essential German phrase you should know is "Ich Liebe Dich".
DOWN:
4D: Eggnog topper: NUTMEG. Not cinnamon? I only had once and I disliked the taste.
8D: Make beloved: ENDEAR. I like how ENDEAR intersects ARON (15A: The King's middle name).
9D: Male anchors: NEWSMEN. Can you call Chris Matthews an anchor? Or is he simply a host?
12D: Mind business: IDEAS. Does this clue sound OK to you?
22D: Turn-of-the-centuray muckraker: RIIS. And 53D: First name of 22A: JACOB. Completely unknown to me. Here is more information. Wikipedia says there is also JACOB RIIS Park in Queens.
27D: Men of the future?: BOYS. I love BOYZ II Men. Not very fond of their "On Bended KNEE (36D: Patella location) though. I listen to their "End of the Road" when I feel AIMLESS (25A: Undirected). For those who want to get LEI'd (49A: Wahine wear), click here, then " close your eyes, make a wish... all through the night."
29D: Light weight: GRAM
30D: Charisse of "Singin' in the Rain": CYD. No, not familiar to me at all. I pieced this answer together by across clues.
35D: Colombia city: CALI. And 51D: Columbian export: COFFEE
39D: Kachina doll makers: HOPI. Or Zuni. Saw a Kachina doll at the Flea Market last Sunday. I don't think it's authentic though.
44D: Without transgressions: SINLESS
45D: Prefix with trust or matter: ANTI
48D: __B'rith: B'NAI. Got it from across clues. B'NAI means "Sons of" in Hebrew.
52D: Denver pro: NUGGET
54D: Red Sea Gulf: AQABA. Here is the map. See Gulf of AQABA? It's in the far south of Jordan.
59D: Rikki-Tikki-__: TAVI. I have no idea what this is. I strung it from the across clues. This Rikki-Tikki kind of reminds me of Günther and the Sunshine Girls' Tutti Frutti song.
61D: Putting target: HOLE. I just hate USGA for the US Open setup. How can any one HOLE a shot if you keep the green that fast?
65D: Arachnid structure: WEB. Let's meet Wilbur the Pig, from "Charlotte's WEB".
C.C.
