18A. Governor's pet projects? : STATE PORK. We all know about pork barrel politics. State park.
29A. Utensil that gives you ideas? : CREATIVE SPORK. When you need to backpack light, but creatively. Creative spark.
43A. Bully's secret shame? : FEAR OF THE DORK. Biff's private stigma? Fear of the dark.
56A. Say "Come in, Orson!" e.g.? : QUOTE MORK. Nanu nanu! Quote mark.
OK, so this has to be one of my all-time favorite theme types, with a simple letter change. Other than stork/stark, can you come up with any other solid themers? I think Gareth has covered them all!
This was a speed run for me, and seemed more Tuesday than Thursday-ish. Your experience may vary.
Across:
1. One who's always on the go? : NOMAD.
6. Pear that's good for poaching : BOSC. What a pair!
10. Glass sheet : PANE.
14. Superior to : ABOVE.
15. Member of the opposition : ANTI.
16. One on a pedestal : IDOL.
17. Pick-me-up : TONIC.
20. Like one who forgot the Dramamine : SEASICK.
23. Nutritionist's recommendation : DIET.
25. Causes to quail : DAUNTS. Funny word, "quail." A small, migratory gallinaceous game bird.
32. Take to task : SCOLD.
34. Cock or bull : MALE.
35. Blues-rocker Chris : REA. Probably my favorite of his is this one. 2:37
36. Clothes : TOGS.
37. Alex Haley classic : ROOTS.
39. Abarth automaker : FIAT.
41. Talent : GIFT.
42. Precipitation : HASTE.
47. Day spa offering : FACIAL. My face is beyond help...
48. First name in fashion : YVES. St. Laurent.
49. Pundit's piece : OP ED.
51. Olympic Airways founder : ONASSIS.
60. Empty room population? : NO ONE.
61. Poetic lowland : VALE.
62. Iroquoian people : ERIE.
63. Compass dirección : NORTE.
64. Rep on the street : CRED.
65. "Law & Order" org. : NYPD. New York Police Department.
66. Composer Bruckner : ANTON. He was described by Mahler as "half simpleton, half god." Listen to some of his best here.
Down:
1. Expos, since 2005 : NATS. Washington D.C. baseball team.
2. High wind : OBOE. Nice misdirection.
3. Pulitzer poet Van Duyn : MONA. Her "Near Changes" won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1991. Maybe YR can share something from the collection.
4. Budget alternative : AVIS. I sooooo wanted "spree."
5. Ruled : DECIDED.
6. Hoops score : BASKET.
7. London's prov. : ONT.ario
8. Shot in the dark : STAB.
9. Fortresses : CITADELS.
10. Find one's voice : PIPE UP.
11. Stir : ADO.
12. Eur. kingdom : NOR.way
13. Antlered bugler : ELK.
19. Take out : ERASE.
21. "Charlie Wilson's War" org. : CIA. Great movie.
24. Recipient of two New Testament epistles : TIMOTHY. First and second epistle to Timothy in the New Testament.
26. Without a downside : NO RISK.
27. Pet's reward : TREAT. My cats love Greenies.
28. Use the rink : SKATE.
29. After-dinner drink : COGNAC. For Tin, it is at sunset.
30. Jekyll creator's initials : RLS. Robert Lewis Stevenson.
31. Distillery vessel : VAT.
32. Things : STUFF. My favorite routine by George Carlin. 5:09
33. Chick of jazz : COREA. More music. 3:25
37. Winchester wielders : RIFLEMEN. Chuck Connors, for one.
38. Frequently, in verse : OFT.
39. Hardy's "__ From the Madding Crowd" : FAR.
41. Freak out : GO APE.
.42. Liturgical shout of praise : HOSANNA.
44. Was revolting? : RIOTED. [chuckle]
45. Brought to mind : EVOKED.
46. Place for a wide-screen TV : DEN.
50. Fishing boat : DORY.
52. In short order : SOON.
53. Spreadsheet function : SORT.
54. Liking quite a bit : INTO.
55. Not hidden : SEEN.
56. Home shopping channel : QVC. "Quality, Value, Convenience."
57. Nasser's confed. : UAR. United Arab Republic.
58. Cry for a picador : OLE.
59. Fashionable jeans feature : RIP. And may today's blog rest in peace...
'Til next week!
Marti
Note from C.C.:
Happy Birthday to Allen, Marti's Ole Miss husband.
2) If you revisit the web pages associated with Crosswords with Friends ... of the University of Minnesota Libraries puzzle, or its explanation, you can now find links to the full presentation (one-and-a-half hours) that Will Shortz made on September 12, 2013.
