Theme: Where did he hide that jumble?
Well I am back on Thursday to blog the 5th published LAT by our own Thursday Steve (3 collaborations with C.C.) Today we have the wonderful reveal of PLOT TWIST which tells us the letters in PLOT are rearranged. It did not tell us how they are hidden in the theme fill, but that came out early, even before the reveal. They use lots of 2 and 3 word fill and include RAT TRAPS, SILK TIES and ADIOS AMIGOS as long sparkly ones. Adios amigos is ten letters which is longer than two of the theme answers which some solvers do not like, but to me that is just a 1A. It is always extra fun to blog one of our own. I will stop talking and go to solving.
17A. Drop the original strategy : GO TO PLAN-B (9). Not Plan 9.
21A. Nickname for Basketball Hall of Famer Maravich : PISTOL PETE (10). An LSU star who averaged 44 point per game!!!!!
36A. One always looking up : ETERNAL OPTIMIST (15). Watch out for birds and keep your mouth closed.
49A. Shield bearers : RIOT POLICE (10). Very common in the late 60s on college campuses.
Across:
1. Quibble : NIT. A bit of an inside joke to begin.
4. Like the NCAA basketball three-point line : ARCED. The NBA uses a more complicated grid.
9. Phantom's place? : OPERA. Well for me, it was the comics page for many years. But I am familiar with the MUSICAL. Is that the delightful Emmy Rossum now on SHAMELESS?
14. Toothpaste tube letters : ADA. American Dental Association.
15. Chevy SUV : TAHOE. They have others but this is the only one with 5 letters.
16. Honeydew, for one : MELON. Food.
19. Printing heavyweight : EPSON.
20. Aspersion : SLUR.
23. Euler's forte : MATH.
25. Commencement opening? : CEE. Not the speech or the event, just the word.
26. Online reminders : E-NOTES. I do not like the E words.
28. Dilapidated digs : RAT TRAPS. Where even the rodents want out.
33. Attribute to, as blame : PIN ON. One of many two word fills that require skill.
34. Fish order : SOLE. Do you like this RECIPE? Food.
35. "What __ care?" : DO I. DK DC.
40. Zeta follower : ETA. In the Greek Alphabet.
41. Soccer followers? : MOMS.
43. High-end neckwear : SILK TIES.
46. Declines to raise : PASSES. The term for me is 'checks'.
47. Bard's bedtime : EEN. I get a teeny drop of Shakespeare.
48. Machu Picchu denizen : INCA.
55. Leave out : OMIT.
58. Hot : IRATE.
61. Cardinal, e.g. : TITLE. Not baseball football or birds, but religion.
62. "Friend Like Me" singer in "Aladdin" : GENIE.
63. Author Talese : GAY. A respected author and journalist who just celebrated his 84th birthday, Sunday. Perhaps most famous for this BOOK.
64. Fire sign : ASHES.
65. Gladiator's milieu : ARENA.
66. Olive shaped like a stick : OYL. Tricky. Popeye's girl. For Splynter: LINK.
Down:
1. Complainers : NAGS.
2. "People" person : IDOL. The magazine.
3. She beat out Madeline Kahn, with whom she shared the screen, for Best Supporting Actress : TATUM O'NEAL. Who did not love Paper Moon.
4. Org. that publishes weekly player rankings : ATP. Tennis anyone?
5. Lauren et al. : RALPHS. Also a food market in LA.
6. Tazo choice : CHAI. Foodish. Available in K-cups.
8. Collector's target : DEBT.
9. Filled, folded fare : OMELET. Food.
10. Sneeze cause : PEPPER. Foodish.
11. Ultimatum word : ELSE.
12. Jícama or ginger : ROOT. Ginger is big at my house. Foodish.
13. Actress Hathaway : ANNE. So many different looks. /Anne%20Hathaway/Anne-Hathaway-91-v_th.jpg)
18. Stumper? : ORATOR. Tricky, someone who gets up on a stump and talks to you.
22. Rowing crew, perhaps : OCTET. There are 8 of them plus the coxswain.
24. St. formed from the Southwest Territory : TENN. How times change.
26. Duel tools : EPEES. And its a sport too!!!!!!
27. "The Untouchables" gangster : NITTI. My favorite actor to play the part.
29. View from Lake Geneva : ALPS. I wonder if marti is there now schussing away?
30. Chihuahua "Ciao!" : ADIOS AMIGO. Well, the friend part is added, but this is a fun fill.
31. Oater group : POSSE.
32. Locations : SITES.
34. Sour fruit : SLOE. Foodish.
37. Acid type : AMINO.
38. Bowie's bride : IMAN. Timely but sad reminder of his recent passing.
39. __ Mule: vodka cocktail in a copper mug : MOSCOW. It is amazing how many things I do not know.
44. Hot whistler : KETTLE.
45. Plains homes : TEPEES. I wanted teepee (1.6MM google hits).
46. Tart container : PIE TIN.
49. Cosby of "Inside Edition" : RITA. She is most IMPRESSIVE but I have no awareness of her.
50. Place for a pupil : IRIS. I had my eye on you.
51. Pledge : OATH.
52. Rolex Player of the Year-awarding org. : LPGA. Ladies Professional Gold Association. They just played last week in Ocala where yet another South Korean won. She had a hole in one on a par 4 the week before.
53. "The Sopranos" actor Robert : ILER. After playing Tony Jr., he has disappeared though apparently he is part of a new project out of Las Vegas call The Four Kings.
54. Gelato holder : CONE. I always use a dish. Foodish.
57. Texter's toodle-oo : TTYL. Talk To You Later.
60. Dim sum beverage : TEA. Green tea most likely. It is so perfect that a Steve puzzle end with food.
It has been a while since I had to blog a Thursday to avoid self-analysis (this time by Steve) but it is a nice change. Nothing too difficult -a nice work out. Hope you enjoyed as much as I did. See you next time, Lemonade pinch hitting, out.
Note from C.C.:
This is the very first puzzle Steve
(aka Steamed Red Mullet) and I made. It was accepted in June 2014. We
figure Rich must have quite a few anagram puzzles in queue. Thanks for
the inspiration and fun, Steve. You seriously rock!
Steve also gave me a tip on how to make creamy scrambled eggs. You can click here for details. You need to cook the eggs in really low heat. So good with chives sprinkled in.
Steve also gave me a tip on how to make creamy scrambled eggs. You can click here for details. You need to cook the eggs in really low heat. So good with chives sprinkled in.
