Theme: Peace!
20A. Game with a windmill, usually : MINIATURE GOLF. It's the creepy clowns that get to me...
31A. Uncle Remus rogue : BR'ER RABBIT
41A. Insect honored on a 1999 U.S. postage stamp : DUNG BEETLE
And the revealer:
53A. Literally meaning "driving enjoyment," slogan once used by the maker of the ends of 20-, 31- and
41-Across : FAHRVERGNUGEN. From the German "fahr" (driving) and "vergnugen" (pleasure). The Volkswagen models in the theme entries are highlighted in red.
Easiest Thursday puzzle in a long time. Donna Levin's puzzles are always so smooth. I suppose "Fahrvergnugen" is not a Monday-friendly word, otherwise this puzzle could easily qualify. The clues seemed all straightforward, with not a lot of misdirection.
Across:
1. They sit at stands : CABS
5. Check out with nefarious intent : CASE. As in, "Case the joint".
9. Gyneco-'s opposite : ANDRO. I am from Venus, and you are from Mars?
14. Really cruel guy : OGRE
15. ABA member : ATTY. America Bar Association.
16. Man-trap : SIREN
17. Grievously wound : MAIM
18. Approach : NEAR
19. Thirteenth Amendment beneficiary : SLAVE
23. "___ takers?" : ANY
24. Big shots : VIPS
25. Requiring an adult escort : R-RATED
28. Big London attraction? : BEN. The bell, not the clock, in "Queen Elizabeth Tower".
29. Handy set : KIT. Remember Handy Andy tool kits?
30. Former despot Amin : IDI
36. Big butte : MESA. (Does this plain make me look fat?)
37. Bootcut Skinny brand : LEVIS. (Do these jeans make me look fat?)
38. PC interconnection : LAN
39. Like proofed dough : RISEN
40. Dueler's choice : EPEE
43. Make a booboo : ERR
44. ___ Lingus : AER.
45. Article in Der Spiegel : EIN
46. Not at all out of the question : DOABLE
48. "Shucks!" : DANG
50. Friend of Francois : AMI
56. Popular household fish : TETRA
58. Princess with an earmuff-like hair style : LEIA (Whatever was she thinking?)
59. Lose color : FADE
60. "If ___ Would leave You" : EVER I. From Camelot. 3:10
61. Sea decimated by Soviet irrigation projects : ARAL
62. Done : OVER
63. Removal of govt. restrictions : DEREG
64. Lucie's dad : DESI. Didn't we just have her?
65. Boarding pass datum : SEAT
Down:
1. "I, Claudius" feature : COMMA. Because "autobiographical novel" wouldn't fit...
2. Piano teacher's command : AGAIN.
3. Like pickle juice : BRINY
4. Big rig : SEMI
5. Ensenada bar : CANTINA
6. Devoured : ATE UP
7. Headlines : STARS
8. Rochester's love : EYRE
9. Categorize : ASSORT
10. Nabisco cookie brand : NILLA
11. Most in need of insulation : DRAFTIEST
12. Gun : REV. Rev the engine.
13. Individual : ONE
21. Declares : AVERS
22. Spunk : GRIT
26. Four-wheeled flop : EDSEL
27. Title name in Mellencamp's "little ditty" : DIANE. Great ditty! 4:31
28. Runny fromage : BRIE. Not exactly "runny", per se. Just really soft. "Fromage" is French for "cheese."
29. Powerful pair of checkers : KING. "King me!"
31. Run, as colors : BLEED
32. Copy, for short : REPRO
33. Eternally : EVER AFTER
34. Get fuzzy : BLUR. Like things get after a few beers?
35. Prohibition : BAN
36. Appearance : MIEN
39. Run the country : REIGN
41. Antelope playmate : DEER. "Where the deer and the antelope play..."
42. Language of South Asia : BENGALI
44. Secretary of state after Ed Muskie : AL HAIG
47. Support for practicing pliés : BARRE
48. Farmers' John : DEERE. Maker of tractors, not the outhouse.
49. Diva specialties : ARIAS
50. Sonoran succulent : AGAVE
51. Jason's jilted wife : MEDEA. Play by Euripides.
52. Like helium : INERT
54. "Impaler" of Romanian history : VLAD
55. Sci-fi staples : UFOS
56. Rocker Nugent : TED.
57. Night before : EVE.
Answer grid.
That's all I have for this week! As I said, straightforward puzzle and clues that didn't really need any help from me.
Hugs,
Marti
