Theme: Settle "Down"
4D: Down: FINE FEATHERS
8D: Down: NOT FUNCTIONING
14D: Down: SWALLOW QUICKLY
23D: Down: GRIDIRON PLAY
I am glad "Bear market's heading" is not part of the theme answers. It would definitely make me feel DOWN.
I think it would be very hard to make an ACROSS themed puzzle. Lots of possiblities with CROSS though: Symbol of Christianity; Peeved; X mark; Betray, etc.
Nice theme. Too many abbreviations for my taste. Some of them can be easily avoided:
10A: Pampering, briefly: TLC. I think this trio TLC is famous enough for a clue.
19A: Can. province: QUE. How about "What" in Spanish/French?
I like the clue for GRAINS (62A: Wood patterns). But the WHEAT clue (37A: Flour grain) definitely needs to be reworded.
Across:
1A: Pitch indicators: CLEFS. I was picturing a baseball catcher using his fingers to indicate the pitch location.
13A: Pinesap: ROSINS. Never know when to put ROSINS and when to put RESINS.
17A: Informercial tagline: ACT NOW. Lots of compound words today. I like I'M OK (39A: Reassuring response).
18A: Bill killer: VETO. I was thinking of Uma Thurman in "Kill Bill".
20A: Middle-of-the-road: MODERATE. This word reminds me of Tim Russert. I think a verb clueing would have pleased him.
22A: Diagram: FIGURE. Rather dull clue, isn't it? How about FIGURE Skating?
32A: Art style of '20s and '30s: DECO. ERTE is often clued as "Art DECO artist".
41A: Math text abbr.: QED
42A: State since '48: ISRAEL
44A: French waters: EAUX. The same with gâteau/chapeau/château, just add letter X for the plural form. The pronunication remains the same.
47A: Spanish pianist Jose: ITURBI. I forgot about him completely. Linked his Chopin Fantaisie-Impromptu last time. Wikipedia says that he played himself in the movie "Anchors Aweigh".
51A: Lung compartment: AIR SAC
52A: Election day survey: EXIT POLL
59A: Journalist Bly: NELLIE. How can I remember her name? I shudder everytime I see a "Bly" clue.
60A: Garment with straps: BRA. What's your favorite brand? I like Wacoal. Her body shape looks surreal.
63A: Japanese honorific: SAN. Just add SAN to the end of their given name or surname, regardless of gender or age.
Down:
3D: Cornerstone abbr.: ESTD
10D: Brimless hat: TOQUE. Do you know why chefs wear tall TOQUE?
11D: Gene Tierney classic: LAURA. I guessed. Have never heard of this movie before. The plot sounds interesting.
26D: Pinochle combo: MELD. Got the answer from the across fills. Not familiar with "Pinochle". I only played a very simple Chinese card game with my families during holiday seasons. My Dad liked to cheat.
29D: Minor League level: AAA. I like this clue. Much better than "Battery type" or "Motorist's org.". Rochester Red Wings Triple A is Twins affiliate.
30A: Half of UTEP: EL PASO. Maybe I will like this clue on another day. I got headache seeing so many abbreviations today.
33D: Online read: EMAG. The clue needs an abbreviation hint.
43D: Roofing specialists: SLATER. This reminds me of TILER. Our editor likes to clue it as "Masonic doorkeeper" rather than "Flooring specialist".
47D: Poetic feet: IAMBS. Is the B silent in pronunciation?
49D: Type of sprawl or renewal: URBAN
54D: "The Mod Squad" character: LINC. Got this name after I googled NELLIE Bly. Not familiar with "The Mod Squad". That girl looks so pretty.
55D: Reduced by: LESS. I believe in "Less is More". So many things are better left unsaid.
C.C.
4D: Down: FINE FEATHERS
8D: Down: NOT FUNCTIONING
14D: Down: SWALLOW QUICKLY
23D: Down: GRIDIRON PLAY
I am glad "Bear market's heading" is not part of the theme answers. It would definitely make me feel DOWN.
I think it would be very hard to make an ACROSS themed puzzle. Lots of possiblities with CROSS though: Symbol of Christianity; Peeved; X mark; Betray, etc.
Nice theme. Too many abbreviations for my taste. Some of them can be easily avoided:
10A: Pampering, briefly: TLC. I think this trio TLC is famous enough for a clue.
19A: Can. province: QUE. How about "What" in Spanish/French?
I like the clue for GRAINS (62A: Wood patterns). But the WHEAT clue (37A: Flour grain) definitely needs to be reworded.
Across:
1A: Pitch indicators: CLEFS. I was picturing a baseball catcher using his fingers to indicate the pitch location.
13A: Pinesap: ROSINS. Never know when to put ROSINS and when to put RESINS.
17A: Informercial tagline: ACT NOW. Lots of compound words today. I like I'M OK (39A: Reassuring response).
18A: Bill killer: VETO. I was thinking of Uma Thurman in "Kill Bill".
20A: Middle-of-the-road: MODERATE. This word reminds me of Tim Russert. I think a verb clueing would have pleased him.
22A: Diagram: FIGURE. Rather dull clue, isn't it? How about FIGURE Skating?
32A: Art style of '20s and '30s: DECO. ERTE is often clued as "Art DECO artist".
41A: Math text abbr.: QED
42A: State since '48: ISRAEL
44A: French waters: EAUX. The same with gâteau/chapeau/château, just add letter X for the plural form. The pronunication remains the same.
47A: Spanish pianist Jose: ITURBI. I forgot about him completely. Linked his Chopin Fantaisie-Impromptu last time. Wikipedia says that he played himself in the movie "Anchors Aweigh".
51A: Lung compartment: AIR SAC
52A: Election day survey: EXIT POLL
59A: Journalist Bly: NELLIE. How can I remember her name? I shudder everytime I see a "Bly" clue.
60A: Garment with straps: BRA. What's your favorite brand? I like Wacoal. Her body shape looks surreal.
63A: Japanese honorific: SAN. Just add SAN to the end of their given name or surname, regardless of gender or age.
Down:
3D: Cornerstone abbr.: ESTD
10D: Brimless hat: TOQUE. Do you know why chefs wear tall TOQUE?
11D: Gene Tierney classic: LAURA. I guessed. Have never heard of this movie before. The plot sounds interesting.
26D: Pinochle combo: MELD. Got the answer from the across fills. Not familiar with "Pinochle". I only played a very simple Chinese card game with my families during holiday seasons. My Dad liked to cheat.
29D: Minor League level: AAA. I like this clue. Much better than "Battery type" or "Motorist's org.". Rochester Red Wings Triple A is Twins affiliate.
30A: Half of UTEP: EL PASO. Maybe I will like this clue on another day. I got headache seeing so many abbreviations today.
33D: Online read: EMAG. The clue needs an abbreviation hint.
43D: Roofing specialists: SLATER. This reminds me of TILER. Our editor likes to clue it as "Masonic doorkeeper" rather than "Flooring specialist".
47D: Poetic feet: IAMBS. Is the B silent in pronunciation?
49D: Type of sprawl or renewal: URBAN
54D: "The Mod Squad" character: LINC. Got this name after I googled NELLIE Bly. Not familiar with "The Mod Squad". That girl looks so pretty.
55D: Reduced by: LESS. I believe in "Less is More". So many things are better left unsaid.
C.C.
