Theme: NIGHT OWLS (54A. Hard-to-see critters lurking in 20-, 28-, 33- and 43-Across) - OWL is embedded in each two-word theme entry.
20A. Indoor gardener's tool: GROW LIGHT. Its emitted light spectrum is similar to that from the sun, allowing indoor growth with outdoor conditions, a la Wikipedia.
28A. Big drinker's "secret": HOLLOW LEG. New idiom to me. Also big eater's "secret", isn't it?
33A. Tutor's charge: SLOW LEARNER. I am one.
43A. Golden retriever?: YELLOW LAB. Labrador. Yellow is the same as "Golden"?
Great rhyming symmetry with the antonymous LIGHT and NIGHT. I don't get the unifier though. Why the addition of "NIGHT"? Just to form a symmetric partner to GROW LIGHT? Aren't all owls hard to see in the evenings?
Lots of excellent Down fill today. My favorite is ROE V. WADE (38D. 1973 landmark case). Also adored the overall cluing today. Very much to my liking.
Across:
1. Ivory alternative: DIAL. Plunked in DOVE.
5. Lumps of earth: CLODS
10. They're full of beans: PODS. Nailed it. Sometimes I just rock!
14. In that event: IF SO
15. Center: HEART
16. Stat start: RHEO. Rheostat. Got me.
17. What the hyphen in an emoticon represents: NOSE. In the emoticon :-)
18. Like many microbrews: ON TAP
22. Vigilant: ALERT
23. "Eek!" elicitor: BOO
24. __ Vandelay, recurring fake "Seinfeld" character who turns out to be a real judge in the final episode: ART. I do recall Vandelay. Can't remember his given name.
25. Reagan court appointee: SCALIA (Antonin). Appointed in 1986.
26. Wing, perhaps: ANNEX
31. Greenish blue: TEAL
32. Come down hard: POUR. Nice clue too.
39. Churlish sort: BOOR
40. Piano, to a pianist: SOFT. Piano can mean "soft" or "softly". Stumper.
48. __ d'Alene: COEUR
49. Hardy and North: OLLIES
50. It brought Hope to the troops: Abbr.: USO. Capitalized H. Bob Hope was actively involved in USO tours. Brilliant clue.
52. Sign of peace: VEE
53. Dr. J's alma mater: U MASS (University of Massachusetts). No idea.
57. Milquetoast: WIMP
58. String quartet part: VIOLA. And OBOES (34D. Wind section)
59. Like Granny Smith apples: TART
60. Wrath, in a classic hymn: IRAE. "Dies Irae", literally "Day of Wrath".
61. Played a part: ACTED
63. Former OTC watchdog: NASD (National Association of Securities Dealers). Who knows?!
64. Visibly moved: TEARY
65. Give up: CEDE
Down:
1. Birdbrain: DINGBAT. Archie's name for Edith.
2. Start of an opinion: I FOR ONE. And OH WELL (11. Words of resignation) & YOU WIN (43. "I give up"). Great entries.
3. Right after: AS SOON AS
4. Movie mogul Marcus: LOEW. MGM cofounder.
5. Gospel singers: CHOIR
6. Pool measure: LENGTH. Five consonants.
7. Curse: OATH
8. "Curses!": DRAT. Nice consecutive "Curse/Curses!".
9. NASCAR sponsor: STP
10. Course for a budding DA: PRE-LAW
12. Sweetheart: DEARIE
13. "In America" novelist Susan: SONTAG
21. Loose: LAX
22. Squash variety: ACORN. Love freshly baked acorn squash.
25. Talk like thish: SLUR. And LISPED (46. Talked like thith). Good pair.
27. Pipe fitting: ELL
29. "William Tell," e.g.": OPERA
36. Cybercackle: LOL
37. Pedro's "that": ESO
41. Nuclear reactor component: FUEL ROD. Not a familiar term to me. Maybe our rod expert Lois knows.
42. Amtrak canyon crosser: TRESTLE. Didn't come to me readily. I am used to the "Bridge support" clue.
44. New York city where Mark Twain is buried: ELMIRA. Unknown to me also.
45. Pack animals: LLAMAS
47. Base player?: BUGLER. Military base. Fooled me last time. Fooled me again.
48. Base bunk: COT. Again, loved the base echo.
51. Not on the up and up: SHADY
54. "Good one!": NICE
55. Scintilla: IOTA
56. Narc suffix: OTIC. Narcotic.
58. Vintner's container: VAT
Answer grid.
C.C.
20A. Indoor gardener's tool: GROW LIGHT. Its emitted light spectrum is similar to that from the sun, allowing indoor growth with outdoor conditions, a la Wikipedia.
28A. Big drinker's "secret": HOLLOW LEG. New idiom to me. Also big eater's "secret", isn't it?
33A. Tutor's charge: SLOW LEARNER. I am one.
43A. Golden retriever?: YELLOW LAB. Labrador. Yellow is the same as "Golden"?
Great rhyming symmetry with the antonymous LIGHT and NIGHT. I don't get the unifier though. Why the addition of "NIGHT"? Just to form a symmetric partner to GROW LIGHT? Aren't all owls hard to see in the evenings?
Lots of excellent Down fill today. My favorite is ROE V. WADE (38D. 1973 landmark case). Also adored the overall cluing today. Very much to my liking.
Across:
1. Ivory alternative: DIAL. Plunked in DOVE.
5. Lumps of earth: CLODS
10. They're full of beans: PODS. Nailed it. Sometimes I just rock!
14. In that event: IF SO
15. Center: HEART
16. Stat start: RHEO. Rheostat. Got me.
17. What the hyphen in an emoticon represents: NOSE. In the emoticon :-)
18. Like many microbrews: ON TAP
22. Vigilant: ALERT
23. "Eek!" elicitor: BOO
24. __ Vandelay, recurring fake "Seinfeld" character who turns out to be a real judge in the final episode: ART. I do recall Vandelay. Can't remember his given name.
25. Reagan court appointee: SCALIA (Antonin). Appointed in 1986.
26. Wing, perhaps: ANNEX
31. Greenish blue: TEAL
32. Come down hard: POUR. Nice clue too.
39. Churlish sort: BOOR
40. Piano, to a pianist: SOFT. Piano can mean "soft" or "softly". Stumper.
48. __ d'Alene: COEUR
49. Hardy and North: OLLIES
50. It brought Hope to the troops: Abbr.: USO. Capitalized H. Bob Hope was actively involved in USO tours. Brilliant clue.
52. Sign of peace: VEE
53. Dr. J's alma mater: U MASS (University of Massachusetts). No idea.
57. Milquetoast: WIMP
58. String quartet part: VIOLA. And OBOES (34D. Wind section)
59. Like Granny Smith apples: TART
60. Wrath, in a classic hymn: IRAE. "Dies Irae", literally "Day of Wrath".
61. Played a part: ACTED
63. Former OTC watchdog: NASD (National Association of Securities Dealers). Who knows?!
64. Visibly moved: TEARY
65. Give up: CEDE
Down:
1. Birdbrain: DINGBAT. Archie's name for Edith.
2. Start of an opinion: I FOR ONE. And OH WELL (11. Words of resignation) & YOU WIN (43. "I give up"). Great entries.
3. Right after: AS SOON AS
4. Movie mogul Marcus: LOEW. MGM cofounder.
5. Gospel singers: CHOIR
6. Pool measure: LENGTH. Five consonants.
7. Curse: OATH
8. "Curses!": DRAT. Nice consecutive "Curse/Curses!".
9. NASCAR sponsor: STP
10. Course for a budding DA: PRE-LAW
12. Sweetheart: DEARIE
13. "In America" novelist Susan: SONTAG
21. Loose: LAX
22. Squash variety: ACORN. Love freshly baked acorn squash.
25. Talk like thish: SLUR. And LISPED (46. Talked like thith). Good pair.
27. Pipe fitting: ELL
29. "William Tell," e.g.": OPERA
36. Cybercackle: LOL
37. Pedro's "that": ESO
41. Nuclear reactor component: FUEL ROD. Not a familiar term to me. Maybe our rod expert Lois knows.
42. Amtrak canyon crosser: TRESTLE. Didn't come to me readily. I am used to the "Bridge support" clue.
44. New York city where Mark Twain is buried: ELMIRA. Unknown to me also.
45. Pack animals: LLAMAS
47. Base player?: BUGLER. Military base. Fooled me last time. Fooled me again.
48. Base bunk: COT. Again, loved the base echo.
51. Not on the up and up: SHADY
54. "Good one!": NICE
55. Scintilla: IOTA
56. Narc suffix: OTIC. Narcotic.
58. Vintner's container: VAT
Answer grid.
C.C.
