Theme: Drag Queens
17A. Illusionist's effect : PUFF OF SMOKE. "Can I have a drag of your cig?"
31A. Major bore : SNOOZE FEST. "This play is a drag!"
37A. County fair competition : TRACTOR PULL. "My Deere can out-drag your Deere!"
47A. Many towns have one : MAIN STREET. "Let's check out the main drag."
And the unifier:
60A. 1967 #1 hit for The Buckinghams, which can describe 17-, 31-, 37- or 47-Across : KIND OF A DRAG. Immediate ear worm warning. 2:02
Marti here, in my comfy Thursday nook. This seemed much easier than a typical Thursday, with mostly straightforward clues. With three 11-letter theme entries and two 10-letter entries, there is not much leeway in grid design. And this grid has stacked 10-11-7-7-letter words as well. Very impressive. The downside is a lot of three-letter fill, with plenty of abbr. Let's see where it goes.
Across:
1. Treehouse feature : LADDER. Because "No girls allowed sign" wouldn't fit...
7. Matured, as cheese : AGED. Immature cheese. 0:31
11. Some condensation : DEW.
14. For one : A PIECE.
15. One who's all action : DOER.
16. Eggs in a clinic : OVA. This answer made me automatically write "DONATE sperm..." for 11-Down.
19. Bushranger Kelly : NED. To some Aussies, Ned Kelly was somewhat of a folk hero, while others just thought of him as a cold-blooded killer. Kazie might know more about him.
20. Novelist Wiesel : ELIE. A Holocaust survivor, Nobel Prize winner, and author of "Night," which recounts his experiences at Auschwitz and Buchenwald.
21. "Days of Thunder" org. : NASCAR. The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing. Not to be confused with DRAG racing, which comes under the National Hot Rod Association.
23. Duck : SHUN.
26. Diplomat's forte : TACT. Tinbeni's Thumper link is the height of diplomacy!
28. Feeds without needing seconds : SATES.
30. Arrive : LAND.
33. Pull (for) : CHEER.
35. Kicked oneself for : RUED.
36. BBQ heat rating : BTU. Because Scoville wouldn't fit. British Thermal Units.
41. Flooring wood : ASH.
43. Busy time for a cuckoo clock : NOON. Cute clue!
44. Italian soccer star Maldini : PAOLO. Yowza, he's a keeper!
51. "Voulez-___": 1979 ABBA album : VOUS. Have I heard this one before? 5:03
52. Big name in foil : ALCOA.
53. Make a fine impression : ETCH.
54. Outer limit : EDGE.
55. Discipline involving slow, steady movement : TAI CHI. C.C. thinks this exercise is only for old people.
57. Toppled, as a poplar : HEWN.
59. Goose egg : NIL.
65. Traditional London pie-and-mash ingredient : EEL. It doesn't look very appetizing...
66. New newts : EFTS. Another nice clue.
67. Stereo knob : TREBLE.
68. Funny, and a bit twisted : WRY. The state of Virginia had a special "Kids First" license plate to help prevent domestic violence against children. You might find some wry humor in this one. The Virginia DMV, not so much...
69. One way to run : RIOT.
70. Nine-ball feature : STRIPE.
Down:
1. Slurp (with "up") : LAP.
2. "Who Needs the Kwik-E-Mart?" singer : APU. You don't really want me to link that, do you?
3. "Makes no ___" : DIF.ference.
4. Lawyer, at times : DEFENDER.
5. Renewable energy subj. : ECOL.ogy.
6. Equips afresh : REFITS.
7. Nelson, e.g.: Abbr. : ADM.iral.
8. Hit the road, musically : GO ON TOUR.
9. "___ mouse!" : EEK! A. Not to be confused with eekanomics.
10. In one's Sunday best : DRESSED UP.
11. Make a bank deposit? : DONATE BLOOD. (Not sperm...)
12. Top of the world : EVEREST. It is named for Sir George Everest. However, he pronounced his name EEV'-rist, not ev'-rest.
13. Lump : WAD.
18. He played James : SEAN. Connery. Bond. James Bond.
22. Half-___: coffee order : CAF.feine.
23. 2002 Olympics host, briefly : SLC. The XIX Games at Salt Lake City.
24. "As if!" : HAH.toolah. She always has a great QOD for us...
25. How shysters practice : UNETHICALLY.
27. Small crown : CORONET.
29. Onetime Beatles bassist Sutcliffe : STU. Because we just had our daily dose of "The Simpsons" at 2-Down. Otherwise, we might have been subjected to "The Simpsons disco guy" for the clue.
32. Led ___: "Stairway to Heaven" group, to fans : ZEP.pelin.
34. One who turns a place upside down : RANSACKER.
38. Foldable sleeper : COT.
39. Blasted : TORE INTO.
40. Purple hue : LAVENDER.
41. Org. with an oft-quoted journal : AMA. American Medical Association.
42. More racy, as humor : SALTIER. Like Salty Shakers?
45. Tote : LUG.
46. Sugary suffix : OSE. Sucr-, gluc-, fruct-.
48. "Oh ___ won't!" : NO I.
49. Tunnel effect : ECHO.
50. Five-finger discounts, so to speak : THEFTS.
56. Audiophile's setup : HI-FI.
58. Witch costume stick-on : WART. At first, I was wondering where you would stick the broom, but you don't want to go there...
59. Wet behind the ears : NEW.
61. "Spring forward" letters : DST. Daylight Savings Time.
62. One of four in a grand slam : RBI. Runs Batted In. Yay! A baseball clue that I could figure out!
63. Wildspitze, for one : ALP. I believe it is the highest peak in this photo that I took at Obergurgl a couple years ago, but I'm not 100% sure.
64. "___ willikers!" : GEE. Are we done already?? OK, see you next week, then!
Hugs,
Marti
Note from C.C.:
Happy Birthday to dear Bill G, who always brings us fantastic links, esp those animal slides.
Happy Birthday to dear Bill G, who always brings us fantastic links, esp those animal slides.
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| Bill G & Grandson Jordon, Oct 18, 2012 |
