17-Across. Holy woman sculpted by Bernini : SAINT TERESA. (of Avila)
25-Across. It may call for lateral thinking : BRAIN TEASER . Here's an apt one for this puzzle:
" There are six eggs in the basket. Six people each take one of the eggs. How can it be that one egg is left in the basket?" (*Answer at the end)
48-Across. Many a sofa : THREE SEATER.
And the reveal:
57-Across. Words spoken often this time of year, one of which is anagrammed four times in this puzzle : HAPPY EASTER. Very tight theme, with the last word of each entry an anagram of EASTER.
Across
1. Sweet Spanish wine : MALAGA. From Andalusia. Gimme.
7. Work unit: Abbr. : FT LB. Foot Pound (libra).
11. Mendel's sci. : BOT. I wanted "Genetics" at first, but that science came about as a result of Mendel's work with pea plants in the field of BOTany.
14. Place to surf : THE NET. Gimme.
15. Washbowl partner : EWER.
16. Protein-building molecule : RNA.
19. Battleship letters : USS. Spitzboov!
20. Self-conscious question : IS IT ME?
21. Preceder of old age? : RIPE. "He lived to the RIPE old age of 95."
22. Peoria-to-Decatur dir. : SSE.
28. Iconic figure with an anchor tattoo : POPEYE.
30. Tenochtitlán natives : AZTECS. It was their capital city, complete with floating islands.
31. Zenith : APEX.
32. Chanted phrase : MANTRA.
41. Hostile advance : INROAD. I don't always associate them with being "hostile." You?
42. Toe loop kin : AXEL.
43. Not around much : SCARCE.
46. Campaign ad urging : VOTE NO. "...on Question 2."
52. Common animal in "The Far Side" comics : COW. Gary Larson has pleaded with people not to infringe on the copyrights of his cartoons by copying them and displaying them on websites. I bow to his request.
54. Holey reef dweller : SPONGE.
56. Give __: pay attention : EAR.
62. Whirlpool site : SPA.
63. __ nitrate : AMYL. I have to confess, this was my first thought. But I wondered how well known the compound is to the average puzzle solver?
64. Allow : ENABLE.
65. Lush : SOT.
66. In the wrong business? : NOSY. Ha ha!!
67. Scone fruit : RAISIN.
Down
1. High pts. : MTS. Mountains.
2. "So that's the answer!" : AHA.
3. Island souvenir : LEI.
4. Years in the Roman legion : ANNI. Latin years, that is.
5. Manages : GETS BY.
6. It's worn : ATTIRE.
7. Physics Nobelist of 1938 : FERMI.
8. Typical "Divergent" reader : TWEEN. I take offense - we did the book for our book club last year!
9. Guitar man Paul : LES.
10. Beach top : BRA.
11. Banana blemish : BRUISE.
12. How many artists work : ON SPEC.
13. Police weapons : TASERS.
18. Greek vowel : ETA.
21. Gangster film sound effect : RAT-A-TAT.
22. Cross words : SPAT.
23. Junior-to-be : SOPH.omore.
24. Sport with double touches : ÉPÉE. They must occur within 40 milliseconds of each other, in order to count as a "double touche."
26. Museum that awards the Turner Prize : TATE. Awarded to an artist under the age of 50.
27. Biblical scribe : EZRA.
29. No longer valid : EXPIRED.
32. "Nixon in China" tenor role : MAO. Which reminds me of this incredible video I found this week. 3:59
33. __ moment's notice : AT A.
34. Auction bid, often : NOD.
36. Formerly : ONCE.
37. Half of seis : TRES.
38. Board member, usually : EXEC.
39. Slots spot : RENO.
40. Impede : SLOW.
43. Overachiever's concern : STRESS.
44. Chintzy : CHEAPO.
45. Turkish peak : ARARAT.
46. Thin layer : VENEER.
47. "Star Wars" surname : ORGANA.
49. Best Angler and Best Jockey, e.g. : ESPYs. Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly.
50. Ask (for), as a job : APPLY.
51. First car, for many : TOY.
55. Actor Morales : ESAI.
57. Harrison role : HAN.
58. Ovid's "I love" : AMO.
59. CNN launcher : TBS.
60. Wearer of a "Y" sweatshirt : ELI. Y for Yale, not "the" Y.
61. Stimpy's chum : REN. Ren is the psychotic chihuahua, and Stimpy is the dimwitted cat.
*Answer: The sixth person took the basket, with his egg in it.
That's all for now!
Marti
