Theme: WIMBLEDON (55A: Annual English sports event that begins today, and a hint to this puzzle's theme)
18A: Grand Theft Auto, e.g.: VIDEO GAME
27A: Sterling afternoon serving pieces: SILVER TEA SET
44A: Ideal mate: PERFECT MATCH
I don't know why Grand Theft Auto is so popular. Orgy of violence. I've never had tea in a silver cup. I like my Twins' mug. Many beautiful things are often imperfect, including your mate.
Nice timely theme. I hope Roger Federer gets his 15th Grand Slam title. Must be painful for LENDL (41D: Tennis great Ivan) to see his name crosses WIMBLEDON. He never won there.
I am not fond of the clue for OBAMA (14A: McCain beater). It brought to mind an unpleasant image of Senator McCain being beaten and tortured in Vietnam.
Smooth sailing today. Rich Norris said this eased-up phase will last at least a few months.
Across:
1A: Humped beast: CAMEL. Some has two humps. The Arabian CAMEL has only one.
21A: General __ chicken: Chinese dish: TSO'S. I think I mentioned this before, TSO or its Mandarin spelling Cao is also the Chinese F word. Intonation can totally change the word meaning.
23A: Stateroom: CABIN. On Cruise ship.
25A: Nine-to-five grind: RAT RACE. The movie "Nine to Five" is very silly.
31A: Tense: ON EDGE
33A: A/C capacity meas.: BTU
36A: Best poker pair: ACES. Too bad it's not clued as tennis related.
37A: Dew's chilly cousin: FROST
39A: Rachel's sister: LEAH. Two other Biblical figures: ABEL (60A: 52D-Down son) & ADAM (52D: Sixth-day creation).
40A: Golfing standard: PAR. Ricky Barnes is going to win the US Open today!
42A: Actor Danny: AIELLO. I liked him in "Léon: The Professional". Can never remember his surname.
52A: Highest-ranking USN officer: ADM (Admiral)
62A: Bucky Beaver's toothpaste: IPANA. Wiki says IPANA is a leading toothpaste in Turkey. I learned this brand from doing Xword.
64A: Toy dog, briefly: PEKE
Down:
1D: Chilly: COOL. Wanted COLD.
5D: Final race segment: LAST LEG
6D: Frolic: CAVORT. FROLIC will be a great fill, with C at the end.
7D: Hertz competitor: AVIS. Named after its founder Warren AVIS.
10D: "The African Queen" costar: BOGART. He drank/smoked too much.
13D: New Hampshire city: KEENE. Got the answer from Across fills. What is KEENE famous for?
22D: Foolproof: SURE-FIRE
24D: Some men's underwear: BVDS. Just learned that it stands for Bradley, Voorhees & Day, the original three founders.
25D: Actress Charlotte and explorer John: RAES. The other RAE is Actress RAE Dawn Chong. "The Crying Game" actor is Stephen REA.
26D: Per what was previously mentioned: AS STATED
27D: Suds source: SOAP. S, s & S.
33D: Suspenders alternative: BELT. Do you like the decorative BELTS on her skirt?
38D: Gridiron zebras: REFS
43D: Put in danger: IMPERIL
44D: Zuni or Hopi home: PUEBLO. Spanish for "people", or "town"/"village", according to dictionary.
47D: "Survivor" unit: TRIBE. "Zuni or Hopi" would be a great clue too, right?
45D: Recoil in fear: CRINGE
53D: "Flintstone" pet: DINO
54D: Ghostly sound: MOAN. "Ecstatic sound" too.
Answer grid.
I'm going to change my blog title into "LA Times Crossword Corner" soon. To those who find me every day by googling "Star Tribune Crossword Corner", please simply bookmark the blog site (www.crosswordcorner.blogspot.com) and put it into your Favorites list.
C.C.
18A: Grand Theft Auto, e.g.: VIDEO GAME
27A: Sterling afternoon serving pieces: SILVER TEA SET
44A: Ideal mate: PERFECT MATCH
I don't know why Grand Theft Auto is so popular. Orgy of violence. I've never had tea in a silver cup. I like my Twins' mug. Many beautiful things are often imperfect, including your mate.
Nice timely theme. I hope Roger Federer gets his 15th Grand Slam title. Must be painful for LENDL (41D: Tennis great Ivan) to see his name crosses WIMBLEDON. He never won there.
I am not fond of the clue for OBAMA (14A: McCain beater). It brought to mind an unpleasant image of Senator McCain being beaten and tortured in Vietnam.
Smooth sailing today. Rich Norris said this eased-up phase will last at least a few months.
Across:
1A: Humped beast: CAMEL. Some has two humps. The Arabian CAMEL has only one.
21A: General __ chicken: Chinese dish: TSO'S. I think I mentioned this before, TSO or its Mandarin spelling Cao is also the Chinese F word. Intonation can totally change the word meaning.
23A: Stateroom: CABIN. On Cruise ship.
25A: Nine-to-five grind: RAT RACE. The movie "Nine to Five" is very silly.
31A: Tense: ON EDGE
33A: A/C capacity meas.: BTU
36A: Best poker pair: ACES. Too bad it's not clued as tennis related.
37A: Dew's chilly cousin: FROST
39A: Rachel's sister: LEAH. Two other Biblical figures: ABEL (60A: 52D-Down son) & ADAM (52D: Sixth-day creation).
40A: Golfing standard: PAR. Ricky Barnes is going to win the US Open today!
42A: Actor Danny: AIELLO. I liked him in "Léon: The Professional". Can never remember his surname.
52A: Highest-ranking USN officer: ADM (Admiral)
62A: Bucky Beaver's toothpaste: IPANA. Wiki says IPANA is a leading toothpaste in Turkey. I learned this brand from doing Xword.
64A: Toy dog, briefly: PEKE
Down:
1D: Chilly: COOL. Wanted COLD.
5D: Final race segment: LAST LEG
6D: Frolic: CAVORT. FROLIC will be a great fill, with C at the end.
7D: Hertz competitor: AVIS. Named after its founder Warren AVIS.
10D: "The African Queen" costar: BOGART. He drank/smoked too much.
13D: New Hampshire city: KEENE. Got the answer from Across fills. What is KEENE famous for?
22D: Foolproof: SURE-FIRE
24D: Some men's underwear: BVDS. Just learned that it stands for Bradley, Voorhees & Day, the original three founders.
25D: Actress Charlotte and explorer John: RAES. The other RAE is Actress RAE Dawn Chong. "The Crying Game" actor is Stephen REA.
26D: Per what was previously mentioned: AS STATED
27D: Suds source: SOAP. S, s & S.
33D: Suspenders alternative: BELT. Do you like the decorative BELTS on her skirt?
38D: Gridiron zebras: REFS
43D: Put in danger: IMPERIL
44D: Zuni or Hopi home: PUEBLO. Spanish for "people", or "town"/"village", according to dictionary.
47D: "Survivor" unit: TRIBE. "Zuni or Hopi" would be a great clue too, right?
45D: Recoil in fear: CRINGE
53D: "Flintstone" pet: DINO
54D: Ghostly sound: MOAN. "Ecstatic sound" too.
Answer grid.
I'm going to change my blog title into "LA Times Crossword Corner" soon. To those who find me every day by googling "Star Tribune Crossword Corner", please simply bookmark the blog site (www.crosswordcorner.blogspot.com) and put it into your Favorites list.
C.C.
