Theme: "Dog Days of Summer" - The first word in each theme entry is just "hot".
23A. Cozy sensations : WARM FUZZIES. Every time bad girl Lois stops in.
33A. Turkey site : ROASTING PAN. Marti used this clue for ASIA once, I think.
49A. One may be set in a race : BLISTERING PACE. Alas, no medal for Phelps (yet).
91A. Stock held by a fence : HOT MERCHANDISE
105A. Place for future cookies : BAKING SHEET. I've been craving date cookies.
121A. Mae West attribute : SULTRY VOICE. Well, subjective.
3D. Crucial topic : BURNING ISSUE
66D. Critical threshold : BOILING POINT
Amazing grid. Look at the theme intersections here. Very impressive.
Here is my guess at how the puzzle was created:
1) Gail came up with the theme idea (Her name came up first in the byline);
2) Bruce liked it, then they brainstormed for the full set of the theme answers;
3) Bruce did the grid design;
4) They each filled in half the grid;
5) Gail clued the whole grid, since Bruce is not fond of cluing.
Across:
1. Sussex sword : SABRE. Saber here.
6. Full : SATED
11. On its way : SENT
15. Make comparisons at the mall, say : SHOP. I fell in love with Bruno Mars' "Just the Way You Are" while shopping in a mall last year. This kid is amazing.
19. Challenge to __ : A DUEL
20. Amazed : IN AWE
21. Reebok rival : AVIA
22. Manage : COPE
25. Cat named for its island origin : MANX. CrossEyedDave is a cat expert. Ask him if you have any cat problem.
26. Part of AMA: Abbr. : AMER
27. Feminine suffix : ENNE. So is ETTE.
28. "Brighton Beach Memoirs" playwright : NEIL SIMON. Nice to see his full name.
30. Deal sealer : AGENT
31. Source of athletic rage, briefly : ROID. Roid rage. Too much steroids.
32. Union agreements : I DOs
36. Peeples and Vardalos : NIAs
38. Look closely : PEER
40. "Most likely ..." : ODDS ARE
41. Darling : ANGEL. So lately I've been listening to Neil Young's rock version of "Oh Susanna" (that kid smokes later on), though I don't understand why Susanna will cry. I'll be crying if my love leaves me, not when he's visiting me.
43. Fussy sort : PRIG
45. Letter-shaped track : T-SLOT
48. MLB execs : GMs
52. What a password provides : ACCESS
55. '50s political monogram : AES
56. Make changes to : EDIT
57. Field standouts : SILOs. Not the "field" I had in mind.
58. Chicken, in a Chinese dish : GAI. I mentioned last time that hookers are called "wild chicken" in Chinese.
59. Play mates? : CAST. Stage play.
61. Miss roll call, say : GO AWOL
63. Available without a scrip : OTC
65. Top banana : MR BIG
69. Throne grabber : USURPER
71. Cabin fever, e.g. : ANGST
73. Daily sorting criterion : ZIP CODE. For the mailmen.
75. Take the wrong way? : STEAL. Great clue.
76. Arabic "son of" : IBN
78. List : ROSTER
80. Isn't up to snuff : AILS
81. Blue : SAD
83. When cocktails may be served : AT SIX
85. Tiptop : ACME
87. Net grazer, at times : LET
88. Nymph pursued by Apollo : DAPHNE. Literally "Laurel". She turned into a laurel.
94. Land in la mer : ILE. Both Lemonade and Marti have a French mother.
95. Safari boss : BWANA. Haven't heard from JD for a whole.
97. Classic wheels : REOs
98. Colors lightly : TINTS
99. Prevails against, in slang : ACES OUT
102. Waterfall feature : MIST. Hi there Misty!
104. "Walkabout" director Nicolas : ROEG
108. Prime Cuts in Gravy maker : ALPO. No idea. We don't own dogs.
111. Flow with force : SPEW
114. Victor Vasarely's "Zebras," e.g. : OP-ART. See here. Never heard of that guy.
115. Stubborn : TENACIOUS
117. Capitol cap : DOME
118. It might be pierced : LOBE
119. State firmly : AVER
123. A party to : IN ON
124. Actress Virna : LISI. Total stranger to me. Great eyelashes.
125. Mediterranean tourist attraction : CRETE
126. Possessed : OWNED
127. Bus. bigwigs : CEOS
128. French spread : PATE
129. Catkin bearer : ALDER
130. Enters into a deal? : ANTES
Down:
1. Carpenter, at times : SAWER. Want a beautiful deck, call Splynter!
2. Hersey's bell town : ADANO. "A Bell for Adano".
4. Puts right : REMEDIES
5. Seasonal sprite : ELF
6. Judged, with "up" : SIZED. Are you a good watermelon picker?
7. 1944 Italian beachhead : ANZIO
8. Dramatic decline : TAILSPIN
9. Fleecy meadow grazers : EWES
10. Long for : DESIRE
11. Island group near Fiji : SAMOA
12. '70s-'80s Red Sox star Dwight : EVANS. I'll leave him to Husker Gary/LaLaLinda to comment. I might have his baseball cards.
13. "Collages" novelist : NIN (Anaïs). I read the first few stories of her "Delta of Venus". Similar experience as PK. Couldn't finish the book.
14. Invoice add-on : TAX
15. "Lido Shuffle" singer Boz : SCAGGS
16. Website entry point : HOME PAGE
17. Welcoming sight? : OPEN ARMS. Quite a few nice long entries in this puzzle.
18. Saucy behavior : PERTNESS
24. Canberra colleges : UNIs
29. Human being : MORTAL. Yellowrocks, nope, I'm not aware of the code word "Little Secretary", though sleeping with the boss doesn't seem to be too uncommon for secretaries, even in western countries,
30. Also : AND
34. Also : TOO
35. One might dangle from your neck : ID TAG. Mine is a silver cross. It's magical!
37. Adjective for Adenauer : ALTE
39. Encourages : EGGS ON
41. Ancient adder : ABACUS. The clue always makes me feel old.
42. Baseball div. : NL EAST
43. A __: logician's term : PRIORI
44. Pinup Hayworth : RITA
46. Skedaddles : SCOOTS
47. "__ we forget" : LEST
50. Advantage : EDGE
51. Plymouth Colony settler : PILGRIM
53. Roughing-it spot : CAMP
54. About : CIRCA
60. Destroy : TRASH
62. Uncalled-for : WANTON
64. Composer Dvorák et al. : CZECHS. Boomer has Polish blood. We had Polka dance at the family gathering a few weeks ago.
67. Least busy : IDLEST
68. Beaux __: noble deeds : GESTES
70. Opposite of improvise : PLAN
72. Bobby __ : SOXERS
74. Early Shirley role : IRMA. "Iram la Douce".
77. Island band The __ Men : BAHA. The annoying "Who Let the Dogs Out".
79. Folded food : TACO
82. Fix, as software : DEBUG
84. Where to find the anther : STAMEN. So, where is anther?
86. Inner: Pref. : ENTO
88. Outrageously wicked : DIABOLIC
89. Symbol of Prohibition era lawlessness : AL CAPONE. I remember watching "The Untouchables" in Chinese, with Roberto. I did not really understand the plot. Now I do.
90. Face-covering game : PEEK-A-BOO
92. Sold : RETAILED
93. Loses steam : DIES DOWN
96. Mg. and kg. : WTS
100. Chase scene sounds : SIRENS
101. Niagara Falls prov. : ONT
103. Source of the Mississippi : ITASCA. Here in MN.
104. Looking up : ROSY
106. '50s blast, briefly : H-TEST
107. Uncanny : EERIE
109. Austrian singer Lenya : LOTTE
110. More virtuous : PURER
112. Dais VIP : EMCEE
113. Bed intruders : WEEDS. Garden bed. I'm disturbed by the clue.
116. Weightlifter's rep : CURL
119. Mont Blanc, e.g. : ALP. The pen name is Montblanc, one word.
120. Itinerary word : VIA
122. Intl. broadcasting initials : VOA
Answer grid.
C.C.
23A. Cozy sensations : WARM FUZZIES. Every time bad girl Lois stops in.
33A. Turkey site : ROASTING PAN. Marti used this clue for ASIA once, I think.
49A. One may be set in a race : BLISTERING PACE. Alas, no medal for Phelps (yet).
91A. Stock held by a fence : HOT MERCHANDISE
105A. Place for future cookies : BAKING SHEET. I've been craving date cookies.
121A. Mae West attribute : SULTRY VOICE. Well, subjective.
3D. Crucial topic : BURNING ISSUE
66D. Critical threshold : BOILING POINT
Amazing grid. Look at the theme intersections here. Very impressive.
Here is my guess at how the puzzle was created:
1) Gail came up with the theme idea (Her name came up first in the byline);
2) Bruce liked it, then they brainstormed for the full set of the theme answers;
3) Bruce did the grid design;
4) They each filled in half the grid;
5) Gail clued the whole grid, since Bruce is not fond of cluing.
Across:
1. Sussex sword : SABRE. Saber here.
6. Full : SATED
11. On its way : SENT
15. Make comparisons at the mall, say : SHOP. I fell in love with Bruno Mars' "Just the Way You Are" while shopping in a mall last year. This kid is amazing.
19. Challenge to __ : A DUEL
20. Amazed : IN AWE
21. Reebok rival : AVIA
22. Manage : COPE
25. Cat named for its island origin : MANX. CrossEyedDave is a cat expert. Ask him if you have any cat problem.
26. Part of AMA: Abbr. : AMER
27. Feminine suffix : ENNE. So is ETTE.
28. "Brighton Beach Memoirs" playwright : NEIL SIMON. Nice to see his full name.
30. Deal sealer : AGENT
31. Source of athletic rage, briefly : ROID. Roid rage. Too much steroids.
32. Union agreements : I DOs
36. Peeples and Vardalos : NIAs
38. Look closely : PEER
40. "Most likely ..." : ODDS ARE
41. Darling : ANGEL. So lately I've been listening to Neil Young's rock version of "Oh Susanna" (that kid smokes later on), though I don't understand why Susanna will cry. I'll be crying if my love leaves me, not when he's visiting me.
43. Fussy sort : PRIG
45. Letter-shaped track : T-SLOT
48. MLB execs : GMs
52. What a password provides : ACCESS
55. '50s political monogram : AES
56. Make changes to : EDIT
57. Field standouts : SILOs. Not the "field" I had in mind.
58. Chicken, in a Chinese dish : GAI. I mentioned last time that hookers are called "wild chicken" in Chinese.
59. Play mates? : CAST. Stage play.
61. Miss roll call, say : GO AWOL
63. Available without a scrip : OTC
65. Top banana : MR BIG
69. Throne grabber : USURPER
71. Cabin fever, e.g. : ANGST
73. Daily sorting criterion : ZIP CODE. For the mailmen.
75. Take the wrong way? : STEAL. Great clue.
76. Arabic "son of" : IBN
78. List : ROSTER
80. Isn't up to snuff : AILS
81. Blue : SAD
83. When cocktails may be served : AT SIX
85. Tiptop : ACME
87. Net grazer, at times : LET
88. Nymph pursued by Apollo : DAPHNE. Literally "Laurel". She turned into a laurel.
94. Land in la mer : ILE. Both Lemonade and Marti have a French mother.
95. Safari boss : BWANA. Haven't heard from JD for a whole.
97. Classic wheels : REOs
98. Colors lightly : TINTS
99. Prevails against, in slang : ACES OUT
102. Waterfall feature : MIST. Hi there Misty!
104. "Walkabout" director Nicolas : ROEG
108. Prime Cuts in Gravy maker : ALPO. No idea. We don't own dogs.
111. Flow with force : SPEW
114. Victor Vasarely's "Zebras," e.g. : OP-ART. See here. Never heard of that guy.
115. Stubborn : TENACIOUS
117. Capitol cap : DOME
118. It might be pierced : LOBE
119. State firmly : AVER
123. A party to : IN ON
124. Actress Virna : LISI. Total stranger to me. Great eyelashes.
125. Mediterranean tourist attraction : CRETE
126. Possessed : OWNED
127. Bus. bigwigs : CEOS
128. French spread : PATE
129. Catkin bearer : ALDER
130. Enters into a deal? : ANTES
Down:
1. Carpenter, at times : SAWER. Want a beautiful deck, call Splynter!
2. Hersey's bell town : ADANO. "A Bell for Adano".
4. Puts right : REMEDIES
5. Seasonal sprite : ELF
6. Judged, with "up" : SIZED. Are you a good watermelon picker?
7. 1944 Italian beachhead : ANZIO8. Dramatic decline : TAILSPIN
9. Fleecy meadow grazers : EWES
10. Long for : DESIRE
11. Island group near Fiji : SAMOA
12. '70s-'80s Red Sox star Dwight : EVANS. I'll leave him to Husker Gary/LaLaLinda to comment. I might have his baseball cards.
13. "Collages" novelist : NIN (Anaïs). I read the first few stories of her "Delta of Venus". Similar experience as PK. Couldn't finish the book.
14. Invoice add-on : TAX
15. "Lido Shuffle" singer Boz : SCAGGS
16. Website entry point : HOME PAGE
17. Welcoming sight? : OPEN ARMS. Quite a few nice long entries in this puzzle.
18. Saucy behavior : PERTNESS
24. Canberra colleges : UNIs
29. Human being : MORTAL. Yellowrocks, nope, I'm not aware of the code word "Little Secretary", though sleeping with the boss doesn't seem to be too uncommon for secretaries, even in western countries,
30. Also : AND
34. Also : TOO
35. One might dangle from your neck : ID TAG. Mine is a silver cross. It's magical!
37. Adjective for Adenauer : ALTE
39. Encourages : EGGS ON
41. Ancient adder : ABACUS. The clue always makes me feel old.
42. Baseball div. : NL EAST
43. A __: logician's term : PRIORI
44. Pinup Hayworth : RITA
46. Skedaddles : SCOOTS
47. "__ we forget" : LEST
50. Advantage : EDGE
51. Plymouth Colony settler : PILGRIM
53. Roughing-it spot : CAMP
54. About : CIRCA
60. Destroy : TRASH
62. Uncalled-for : WANTON
64. Composer Dvorák et al. : CZECHS. Boomer has Polish blood. We had Polka dance at the family gathering a few weeks ago.
67. Least busy : IDLEST
68. Beaux __: noble deeds : GESTES
70. Opposite of improvise : PLAN
72. Bobby __ : SOXERS
74. Early Shirley role : IRMA. "Iram la Douce".
77. Island band The __ Men : BAHA. The annoying "Who Let the Dogs Out".
79. Folded food : TACO
82. Fix, as software : DEBUG
84. Where to find the anther : STAMEN. So, where is anther?
86. Inner: Pref. : ENTO
88. Outrageously wicked : DIABOLIC
89. Symbol of Prohibition era lawlessness : AL CAPONE. I remember watching "The Untouchables" in Chinese, with Roberto. I did not really understand the plot. Now I do.
90. Face-covering game : PEEK-A-BOO
92. Sold : RETAILED
93. Loses steam : DIES DOWN
96. Mg. and kg. : WTS
100. Chase scene sounds : SIRENS
101. Niagara Falls prov. : ONT
103. Source of the Mississippi : ITASCA. Here in MN.
104. Looking up : ROSY
106. '50s blast, briefly : H-TEST
107. Uncanny : EERIE
109. Austrian singer Lenya : LOTTE
110. More virtuous : PURER
112. Dais VIP : EMCEE
113. Bed intruders : WEEDS. Garden bed. I'm disturbed by the clue.
116. Weightlifter's rep : CURL
119. Mont Blanc, e.g. : ALP. The pen name is Montblanc, one word.
120. Itinerary word : VIA
122. Intl. broadcasting initials : VOA
Answer grid.
C.C.
