Theme: Loose Lady. Or rather RUN AROUND SUE (120A. 1961 #1 hit for Dion, and a literal hint to this puzzle's hidden theme) - Letters SUE are running loose, bookending each theme entry.
23A. Seafood restaurant starter: SHRIMP BISQUE. Yummy creamy!
38A. Heirloom quality: SENTIMENTAL VALUE. What's the most treasured heirloom in your family?
54A. Acid rain component: SULFUR DIOXIDE
84A. Literally, "with highest praise": SUMMA CUM LAUDE
101A. The world's longest crosses Japan's Akashi Strait: SUSPENSION BRIDGE. The Akashi Kaikyō Bridge. Unknown to me.
16D. Nickname heard in Manhattan: SUNFLOWER STATE. I was in NY direction. Did not know there's a city named Manhattan in Kansas.
50D. June observance: SUMMER SOLSTICE
I have never heard of the song "Runaround Sue". The lyrics says "She took my love then ran around with every single guy in town...". Hence "Loose Lady" theme title I suppose.
Most of the theme clues for our Sunday puzzles seem to have question marks and involve some sort of wordplay or out-of-the-box thinking. Today's theme clues are honest and straightforward. Nice to have a change.
How's your solving experience today? I felt quite challenged by the geography trivia. Had to peek at the cheat sheet a few times.
Across:
1. Have the final turn: GO LAST. Very seldom did 1-Across come to me immediately. Today was not exception.
7. Kin of ibid.: OP. CIT. Both footnote abbrs.
12. Plenty: A LOT
16. Alastair of "A Christmas Carol": SIM. He played the Scrooge. His name was not stored in my brain shelf.
19. Since way back when: IN AGES
20. Moonshine: HOOCH. Illicit liquor.
21. Convertible, maybe: SOFA. "Maybe" did not prevent me from thinking of car.
22. Game whose name must be spoken during play: UNO
25. Toned down: SOFTENED
27. Drops by Niagara Falls?: MIST. I fell into "drops by" verb trap.
28. Sweep's target, perhaps: SOOT
29. Hard worker's output: SWEAT
31. Actress Woodard: ALFRE. She campaigned hard for Obama, and of course she scored a precious seat at the last state dinner.
32. Mountain nymph: OREAD (AW-ree-ad)
34. Follow: TAIL
36. Will Smith title role: ALI. Someday he's going to play Obama in a biopic.
37. Swabs: SALTS. Both slang for "sailors".
43. "Nothing __!" TO IT
44. Unsavory pair of options: EVILS. The lesser of two evils.
46. Entrance: GATEWAY
48. "The Big Chill" director: KASDAN (Lawrence). Unknown to me. Wikipedia says he wrote "The Bodyguard".
51. Heavy weight: TON. I like the clue.
52. Ill-gotten gains: LUCRE. Filthy lucre.
53. Tulsa sch. named for an evangelist: ORU (Oral Roberts University)
60. Monopoly buys: Abbr.: RRS
63. Gives pieces to: ARMS. "Pieces" here refer to guns.
66. Old knowledge: LORE. I associate LORE with tales rather than knowledge.
67. Palace abroad: ELYSEE. The Élysée Palace. The French "White House".
69. Prom night rentals: LIMOS
71. Indic language: URDU
73. Smooth in the shop: SAND
75. Shining: LIT UP
76. Portrait photographer Richard: AVEDON. Oh, so he shot this famous snake picture.
78. Major in astronomy?: URSA. Ursa Major.
80. Old Italian bread: LIRA. "Bread" here refers to money.
82. History: PAST
83. Sun. discourse: SER. And SEM (5D. Theological inst.)
88. Driving aid: TEE. Golf drive.
89. Hot day refuge: SHADE
91. "The Partridge Family" actress: DEY (Susan)
92. Disquiet: UNREST. Always thought "disquiet" is a verb.
94. Expand: BROADEN
96. City ESE of Mocha: ADEN. In Yemen. Tricky new clue.
98. French noble: COMTE. French for "count". "Comte de Monte-Cristo" (The Count of Monte Cristo) is a fantastic read.
107. Party leaders: HOSTS. Was thinking of the political leaders.
109. Milk units: Abbr.: QTS
110. Queens stadium: ASHE. And LENDL (40D. Frequent McEnroe opponent). Ivan Lendl.
111. Vast, in verse: ENORM
112. When a teen's curfew may be: AT TEN
113. Did some after-dinner work, maybe?: BUSED. Excellent clue.
115. Extended: LONG. Adjective "extended".
117. Fair-hiring org.: EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission)
118. Gist: MAIN IDEA
123. Duke's gp.: ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference)
124. Character __: FLAW
125. Tarnish: TAINT
126. Songlike: ARIOSE. Same root with Aria?
127. Jeanne d'Arc, e.g.: Abbr.: STE (Sainte).
128. Squealer: FINK. Rat.
129. They may follow dogs: SLEDS. Nailed it.
130. Seeded: RANKED
Down:
23A. Seafood restaurant starter: SHRIMP BISQUE. Yummy creamy!
38A. Heirloom quality: SENTIMENTAL VALUE. What's the most treasured heirloom in your family?
54A. Acid rain component: SULFUR DIOXIDE
84A. Literally, "with highest praise": SUMMA CUM LAUDE
101A. The world's longest crosses Japan's Akashi Strait: SUSPENSION BRIDGE. The Akashi Kaikyō Bridge. Unknown to me.
16D. Nickname heard in Manhattan: SUNFLOWER STATE. I was in NY direction. Did not know there's a city named Manhattan in Kansas.
50D. June observance: SUMMER SOLSTICE
I have never heard of the song "Runaround Sue". The lyrics says "She took my love then ran around with every single guy in town...". Hence "Loose Lady" theme title I suppose.
Most of the theme clues for our Sunday puzzles seem to have question marks and involve some sort of wordplay or out-of-the-box thinking. Today's theme clues are honest and straightforward. Nice to have a change.
How's your solving experience today? I felt quite challenged by the geography trivia. Had to peek at the cheat sheet a few times.
Across:
1. Have the final turn: GO LAST. Very seldom did 1-Across come to me immediately. Today was not exception.
7. Kin of ibid.: OP. CIT. Both footnote abbrs.
12. Plenty: A LOT
16. Alastair of "A Christmas Carol": SIM. He played the Scrooge. His name was not stored in my brain shelf.
19. Since way back when: IN AGES
20. Moonshine: HOOCH. Illicit liquor.
21. Convertible, maybe: SOFA. "Maybe" did not prevent me from thinking of car.
22. Game whose name must be spoken during play: UNO
25. Toned down: SOFTENED
27. Drops by Niagara Falls?: MIST. I fell into "drops by" verb trap.
28. Sweep's target, perhaps: SOOT
29. Hard worker's output: SWEAT
31. Actress Woodard: ALFRE. She campaigned hard for Obama, and of course she scored a precious seat at the last state dinner.
32. Mountain nymph: OREAD (AW-ree-ad)
34. Follow: TAIL
36. Will Smith title role: ALI. Someday he's going to play Obama in a biopic.
37. Swabs: SALTS. Both slang for "sailors".
43. "Nothing __!" TO IT
44. Unsavory pair of options: EVILS. The lesser of two evils.
46. Entrance: GATEWAY
48. "The Big Chill" director: KASDAN (Lawrence). Unknown to me. Wikipedia says he wrote "The Bodyguard".
51. Heavy weight: TON. I like the clue.
52. Ill-gotten gains: LUCRE. Filthy lucre.
53. Tulsa sch. named for an evangelist: ORU (Oral Roberts University)
60. Monopoly buys: Abbr.: RRS
63. Gives pieces to: ARMS. "Pieces" here refer to guns.
66. Old knowledge: LORE. I associate LORE with tales rather than knowledge.
67. Palace abroad: ELYSEE. The Élysée Palace. The French "White House".
69. Prom night rentals: LIMOS
71. Indic language: URDU
73. Smooth in the shop: SAND
75. Shining: LIT UP
76. Portrait photographer Richard: AVEDON. Oh, so he shot this famous snake picture.
78. Major in astronomy?: URSA. Ursa Major.
80. Old Italian bread: LIRA. "Bread" here refers to money.
82. History: PAST
83. Sun. discourse: SER. And SEM (5D. Theological inst.)
88. Driving aid: TEE. Golf drive.
89. Hot day refuge: SHADE
91. "The Partridge Family" actress: DEY (Susan)
92. Disquiet: UNREST. Always thought "disquiet" is a verb.
94. Expand: BROADEN
96. City ESE of Mocha: ADEN. In Yemen. Tricky new clue.
98. French noble: COMTE. French for "count". "Comte de Monte-Cristo" (The Count of Monte Cristo) is a fantastic read.
107. Party leaders: HOSTS. Was thinking of the political leaders.
109. Milk units: Abbr.: QTS
110. Queens stadium: ASHE. And LENDL (40D. Frequent McEnroe opponent). Ivan Lendl.
111. Vast, in verse: ENORM
112. When a teen's curfew may be: AT TEN
113. Did some after-dinner work, maybe?: BUSED. Excellent clue.
115. Extended: LONG. Adjective "extended".
117. Fair-hiring org.: EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission)
118. Gist: MAIN IDEA
123. Duke's gp.: ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference)
124. Character __: FLAW
125. Tarnish: TAINT
126. Songlike: ARIOSE. Same root with Aria?
127. Jeanne d'Arc, e.g.: Abbr.: STE (Sainte).
128. Squealer: FINK. Rat.
129. They may follow dogs: SLEDS. Nailed it.
130. Seeded: RANKED
Down:
1. Doodads: GISMOS. GIZMOS is more commonly used.
2. Available for work: ON HIRE
3. Only World Series perfect game pitcher: LARSEN (Don). Gimme. Game 5 of the 1956 World Series.
4. Worked up: AGITATED
6. Cup's 48: Abbr.: TSPS. One cup has 48 teaspoons. I was thinking of bra.
7. Natives of Lima or Toledo: OHIOANS. Gimme for the Pollo-ed out Jazzbumpa, I am sure. But I did not know there's a Lima in Ohio.
8. Popular yellow office product: POST-IT. From 3M.
9. __ au vin: COQ. Cock in French. Needs MOREL mushroom for extra flavor.
10. Hosp. areas: ICUS
11. It's caused by standing fans: THE WAVE. Lovely clue/answer.
12. Tear into: ASSAIL
13. Plunder: LOOT. Verb or noun.
14. Vacationing: OFF
15. Breezy farewells: TATAS
17. Couch potato quality: INERTIA
18. "The only sure bait when you angle for praise": Lord Chesterfield: MODESTY. Not familiar with this quote. Modesty is very valued in Asia.
24. Waterside inn: BOTEL. Bo(at) + (ho)tel. New to me.
26. One who gets you up: ELATER. Not excited about any ER suffix word.
33. Celebrated singers: DIVAS
35. Workers: LABOR. This S-less style entry often stumps me.
39. Less: MINUS. Verb.
41. Wrinkly fruit: UGLI. It's quite sweet.
42. __ Cologne: EAU DE. What are you using? I love my husband's Polo Sports.
47. Immune system lymphocyte: T-CELL
48. Eucalyptus eaters: KOALAS
49. Show up: ARRIVE
51. Arctic plain: TUNDRA. Minnesota is sure a tundra at this time of the year.
55. Bud's bud: LOU (Costello). Bud Abbott. "Who's on First?" fame.
56. Discussion site: FORUM
57. Aegean island: IOS. Island where Homer is supposed to be buried.
2. Available for work: ON HIRE
3. Only World Series perfect game pitcher: LARSEN (Don). Gimme. Game 5 of the 1956 World Series.
4. Worked up: AGITATED
6. Cup's 48: Abbr.: TSPS. One cup has 48 teaspoons. I was thinking of bra.
7. Natives of Lima or Toledo: OHIOANS. Gimme for the Pollo-ed out Jazzbumpa, I am sure. But I did not know there's a Lima in Ohio.
8. Popular yellow office product: POST-IT. From 3M.
9. __ au vin: COQ. Cock in French. Needs MOREL mushroom for extra flavor.
10. Hosp. areas: ICUS
11. It's caused by standing fans: THE WAVE. Lovely clue/answer.
12. Tear into: ASSAIL
13. Plunder: LOOT. Verb or noun.
14. Vacationing: OFF
15. Breezy farewells: TATAS
17. Couch potato quality: INERTIA
18. "The only sure bait when you angle for praise": Lord Chesterfield: MODESTY. Not familiar with this quote. Modesty is very valued in Asia.
24. Waterside inn: BOTEL. Bo(at) + (ho)tel. New to me.
26. One who gets you up: ELATER. Not excited about any ER suffix word.
33. Celebrated singers: DIVAS
35. Workers: LABOR. This S-less style entry often stumps me.
39. Less: MINUS. Verb.
41. Wrinkly fruit: UGLI. It's quite sweet.
42. __ Cologne: EAU DE. What are you using? I love my husband's Polo Sports.
47. Immune system lymphocyte: T-CELL
48. Eucalyptus eaters: KOALAS
49. Show up: ARRIVE
51. Arctic plain: TUNDRA. Minnesota is sure a tundra at this time of the year.
55. Bud's bud: LOU (Costello). Bud Abbott. "Who's on First?" fame.
56. Discussion site: FORUM
57. Aegean island: IOS. Island where Homer is supposed to be buried.
58. How much medication is taken: ORALLY. I am sure Dennis has other clue on mind.
59. City near Dayton: XENIA. No idea. Another city in Ohio. Wikipedia says Xenia means "hospitality" in Greek.
62. Deadly sins, e.g.: SEPTET
64. Earth: SOD
68. Kennel sound: YIP. More commonly seen in crossword than YELP.
70. "What a pity": SO SAD
72. Sch. with a record 33 Rose Bowl appearances: USC (University of Southern California)
74. Joanne of film: DRU
77. Ones who can barely be seen?. NUDES. Nudes are bare. My favorite clue today.
79. "The Age of Anxiety" Pulitzer winner: AUDEN. Poet W.H. Auden.
81. "What __ idea!": "How stupid!": A DUMB
85. Course list: MENU. Meal course.
86. Smart set: MENSA. "Stupid" in Spanish.
87. __ nous: ENTRE. Literally "between" in French.
90. Pick up the pace: HASTEN
93. Kept under control: REINED IN
94. Atlantic commonwealth: BAHAMAS. Have you been there?
95. Reading in a disorderly class?: RIOT ACT. Got the answer with the Across help.
96. 2-BR listings, perhaps: APTS
97. Strands: DESERTS. Can you come up with 2 sentences in which the two words are exchangeable grammatically?
98. Pals: COHORTS
99. Bridge bid, for short: ONE NO. No problem this time.
102. Bellyache: SQUAWK. And GROUSE (105D. Bellyache).
103. Large-kitchen feature: ISLAND. Our kitchen is rather small.
104. Manages: DOES OK. Alas, my multi-word woe.
106. Ran the show: EMCEED
108. Get a whiff of: SNIFF
113. Noodle: BEAN. Both slang for "head".
116. __ gum: thickening agent: GUAR. Have never used it.
119. Mid sixth-century date: DLI. Roman numeral 551.
121. Never, in Nuremberg: NIE. "No, in Nuremberg" is NEIN.
122. Strong D.C. lobby: NRA
Answer grid.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to Audrey and all the LAT Sunday solvers!
C.C.
