Theme: Name Games - two famous (?) names combine to form a third ... thing.
17A. Rich and Chris in a capital? : LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas. Rich Little. Chris Rock.
23A. Billy and Minnie on a road? : SUNDAY DRIVER. We've all experienced a few of these. An international phenomenon too, in my experience. Billy Sunday. Minnie Driver.
38A. Vida and John in a ballpark? : BLUE JAY. Toronto diamond denizens. Vida Blue. John Jay.
49A. Karen and Adam on a hill? : CARPENTER ANT. They like to nest in dry wood. Not good for our timber-framed homes here in California. Karen Carpenter. Adam Ant.
59A. Eddie and Arsenio in a concert venue? : ALBERT HALL. More correctly the "Royal Albert Hall". A landmark music venue in London, it was named by Queen Victoria in honor of her late husband, Prince Albert. I saw Eric Clapton and Elvis Costello play there, but it's more usually a classical music venue. Eddie Albert. Arsenio Hall.
Thursday already? I'm up in the air over ... somewhere en route from New Jersey heading back to LA. I'm not sure about anyone else but I scored about 50% on name-recognition with this puzzle. Thank goodness for solid crosses.
I went back to look up who I didn't recognize one jot (four) and one who I think I'd vaguely heard of (one). I now know I need to brush up on my impressionists, my evangelical preachers, my left-handed baseball pitchers, my Chief Justices and actor/activists.
The center section gave me conniptions - I didn't know either of the theme names, and some seemingly impossible letter-progressions had me staring at a big white space. Finally, the penny dropped with "NOBLE" and that was the key for me.
Here's one of the aforementioned theme people in celebration of what was quite startling videopop back in the early 80's.
And .. let's see what else we've got.
Across:
1. See 44-Across : BABA. Something to peeve the cross-reference-haters right off the bat. Barry already had one on Tuesday this week.
5. Bremen or Hamburg, locally : STADT. Thank you, high school German classes. "City".
10. Fast-food order : SODA
14. Joie de vivre : ÉLAN
15. Circus Maximus attire : TOGAS. Pedantically, it might be quibbled that it might be TOGAE.
16. Pizza chain started in Chicago, informally : UNO'S. Formally, Uno Pizzeria and Grill. New York pizza lovers, avert your eyes - here's the original deep-dish version from the original Pizzeria Uno.
19. Pond denizen : NEWT. A man walks into a bar with a large newt on his shoulder, orders a drink and glass of water "for Tiny, here". The bartender asks him why he calls him "Tiny". "Because he's my newt".
20. Stumped : AT SEA
21. Fragrant hybrid : TEA ROSE
27. Pub order : ALE
30. Cause harm : DO ILL
31. Capt.'s direction : E.S.E.
32. Family member : SON
33. "__ Mir Bist Du Schoen": Andrews Sisters hit : BEI. High school German classes didn't include the Andrews Sisters. "To me, you're beautiful".
34. Come out : EMERGE
37. i follower : POD
40. i follower : PAD
41. Nicks on albums : STEVIE
43. 1980s-'90s gaming console : N.E.S. Stood for Nintendo Entertainment System.
44. With 1-Across, woodcutter who stole from thieves : ALI
45. River island : AIT. Also Eyot. I lived close to Chiswick (pronounced "chissik") Eyot (pronounced "eight") in London. Awkward place for tourists asking directions. It's a reference point on the annual 4 1/4 mile Boat Race contested each year between crews from Oxford and Cambridge Universities, the eyot coming just past the half-way mark
46. "I gotta run!" : SEE YA!
48. Animal in the Chinese zodiac : RAT
53. Eellike fish : LAMPREY
54. Brand with classic "beep beep" commercials : AAMCO. Popped up a couple of times recently.
58. Forte : AREA. Hmmm. I get it, I just don't like it. I don't think you really describe someone's forte as their "area".
63. Scams : CONS
64. __ firma : TERRA
65. Exam type : ORAL
66. Some honored Brits: Abbr. : KNTS. No. I don't care what you can dig up from online dictionaries, the abbreviation differs according to which honor you are awarded and none of them are "KNT". The closest are either a Knight Bachelor, or "Kt" or a Knight of the Order of the Thistle (KT). Take your pick from KG, KT, Kt, KCB, KCMG, KCRO or KBE.
67. Aerosol targets : ODORS
68. Europe's highest volcano : ETNA. Etna's Italian buddy Vesuvius is the only active volcano on mainland Europe.
Down:
1. Composer Bartók : BELA
2. Settled down : ALIT
3. Cricket equipment : BATS. One flat side, usually made of willow. Here's the legendary West Indies batsman Gordon Greenidge showing the England team how to use one. I'd explain the rules to you, but it would take me two weeks and you still wouldn't really understand.
4. Starting stakes : ANTES
5. Jeanne d'Arc, e.g.: Abbr. : STE. French. St. Joan of Arc, Ste. Jeanne d'Arc.
6. Craggy crest : TOR
7. Earlier : AGO
8. Three-syllable foot : DACTYL. Did a pterodactyl have a three-syllable foot? Probably not.
9. Expressed disdain for : TSK'ED
10. Often photogenic event : SUNRISE
11. A round of 73, usually : ONE OVER PAR. A classic 18-hole golf course is par-72 (Four par 5's, four 3's and 10 4's).
12. Use a divining rod : DOWSE
13. Fall flower : ASTER
18. Acclaim : LAUD
22. "You __ Destiny" : ARE MY. A song written and first performed by Paul Anka.
24. To the manor born : NOBLE. My key to unlocking the middle of the puzzle.
25. Dijon deity : DIEU. French saints and gods today.
26. Property recipient, in law : ALIENEE. The dictionary tells me this is a dated term for grantee. I'll file it away for future reference, dated or no.
27. Nile threats : ASPS. Cleopatra famously committed suicide with one.
28. Hot stuff? : LOOT
29. Affection : ENDEARMENT
34. Campus breeze : EASY A. This is a tough one to parse, especially when it's clued a little obscurely.
35. It might be a big benefit : GALA
36. Cut and paste, say : EDIT
38. Muzzle wearer, probably : BITER. Do they make muzzles for asps?
39. Derisive shout : JEER
42. One way to get backstage : VIP PASS
46. Worked in a salon : STYLED
47. Art major's subj. : ANAT. Anatomy.
49. Rattling sound : CLACK
50. Golden calf maker, in Exodus : AARON. Thank you crosses.
51. "Peachy-keen!" : NEATO
52. Second-deepest U.S. lake : TAHOE
55. Trading center : MART
56. Feud faction : CLAN
57. Clay crock : OLLA. There's a traditional Spanish dish named charmingly named "olla podrida", "rotten pot" which is a stew of pork, beans and garbanzos.
60. Good bud : BRO. BFF went in, came out.
61. Guess wrong : ERR
62. Dorm deputies: Abbr. : RA'S. Resident Assistants.
That should do it for me - and heeere's the grid!
Steve
Notes from C.C.:
17A. Rich and Chris in a capital? : LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas. Rich Little. Chris Rock.
23A. Billy and Minnie on a road? : SUNDAY DRIVER. We've all experienced a few of these. An international phenomenon too, in my experience. Billy Sunday. Minnie Driver.
38A. Vida and John in a ballpark? : BLUE JAY. Toronto diamond denizens. Vida Blue. John Jay.
49A. Karen and Adam on a hill? : CARPENTER ANT. They like to nest in dry wood. Not good for our timber-framed homes here in California. Karen Carpenter. Adam Ant.
59A. Eddie and Arsenio in a concert venue? : ALBERT HALL. More correctly the "Royal Albert Hall". A landmark music venue in London, it was named by Queen Victoria in honor of her late husband, Prince Albert. I saw Eric Clapton and Elvis Costello play there, but it's more usually a classical music venue. Eddie Albert. Arsenio Hall.
Thursday already? I'm up in the air over ... somewhere en route from New Jersey heading back to LA. I'm not sure about anyone else but I scored about 50% on name-recognition with this puzzle. Thank goodness for solid crosses.
I went back to look up who I didn't recognize one jot (four) and one who I think I'd vaguely heard of (one). I now know I need to brush up on my impressionists, my evangelical preachers, my left-handed baseball pitchers, my Chief Justices and actor/activists.
The center section gave me conniptions - I didn't know either of the theme names, and some seemingly impossible letter-progressions had me staring at a big white space. Finally, the penny dropped with "NOBLE" and that was the key for me.
Here's one of the aforementioned theme people in celebration of what was quite startling videopop back in the early 80's.
And .. let's see what else we've got.
Across:
1. See 44-Across : BABA. Something to peeve the cross-reference-haters right off the bat. Barry already had one on Tuesday this week.
5. Bremen or Hamburg, locally : STADT. Thank you, high school German classes. "City".
10. Fast-food order : SODA
14. Joie de vivre : ÉLAN
15. Circus Maximus attire : TOGAS. Pedantically, it might be quibbled that it might be TOGAE.
16. Pizza chain started in Chicago, informally : UNO'S. Formally, Uno Pizzeria and Grill. New York pizza lovers, avert your eyes - here's the original deep-dish version from the original Pizzeria Uno.
19. Pond denizen : NEWT. A man walks into a bar with a large newt on his shoulder, orders a drink and glass of water "for Tiny, here". The bartender asks him why he calls him "Tiny". "Because he's my newt".
20. Stumped : AT SEA
21. Fragrant hybrid : TEA ROSE
27. Pub order : ALE
30. Cause harm : DO ILL
31. Capt.'s direction : E.S.E.
32. Family member : SON
33. "__ Mir Bist Du Schoen": Andrews Sisters hit : BEI. High school German classes didn't include the Andrews Sisters. "To me, you're beautiful".
34. Come out : EMERGE
37. i follower : POD
40. i follower : PAD
41. Nicks on albums : STEVIE
43. 1980s-'90s gaming console : N.E.S. Stood for Nintendo Entertainment System.
44. With 1-Across, woodcutter who stole from thieves : ALI
45. River island : AIT. Also Eyot. I lived close to Chiswick (pronounced "chissik") Eyot (pronounced "eight") in London. Awkward place for tourists asking directions. It's a reference point on the annual 4 1/4 mile Boat Race contested each year between crews from Oxford and Cambridge Universities, the eyot coming just past the half-way mark
46. "I gotta run!" : SEE YA!
48. Animal in the Chinese zodiac : RAT
53. Eellike fish : LAMPREY
54. Brand with classic "beep beep" commercials : AAMCO. Popped up a couple of times recently.
58. Forte : AREA. Hmmm. I get it, I just don't like it. I don't think you really describe someone's forte as their "area".
63. Scams : CONS
64. __ firma : TERRA
65. Exam type : ORAL
66. Some honored Brits: Abbr. : KNTS. No. I don't care what you can dig up from online dictionaries, the abbreviation differs according to which honor you are awarded and none of them are "KNT". The closest are either a Knight Bachelor, or "Kt" or a Knight of the Order of the Thistle (KT). Take your pick from KG, KT, Kt, KCB, KCMG, KCRO or KBE.
67. Aerosol targets : ODORS
68. Europe's highest volcano : ETNA. Etna's Italian buddy Vesuvius is the only active volcano on mainland Europe.
Down:
1. Composer Bartók : BELA
2. Settled down : ALIT
3. Cricket equipment : BATS. One flat side, usually made of willow. Here's the legendary West Indies batsman Gordon Greenidge showing the England team how to use one. I'd explain the rules to you, but it would take me two weeks and you still wouldn't really understand.
4. Starting stakes : ANTES
5. Jeanne d'Arc, e.g.: Abbr. : STE. French. St. Joan of Arc, Ste. Jeanne d'Arc.
6. Craggy crest : TOR
7. Earlier : AGO
8. Three-syllable foot : DACTYL. Did a pterodactyl have a three-syllable foot? Probably not.
9. Expressed disdain for : TSK'ED
10. Often photogenic event : SUNRISE
11. A round of 73, usually : ONE OVER PAR. A classic 18-hole golf course is par-72 (Four par 5's, four 3's and 10 4's).
12. Use a divining rod : DOWSE
13. Fall flower : ASTER
18. Acclaim : LAUD
22. "You __ Destiny" : ARE MY. A song written and first performed by Paul Anka.
24. To the manor born : NOBLE. My key to unlocking the middle of the puzzle.
25. Dijon deity : DIEU. French saints and gods today.
26. Property recipient, in law : ALIENEE. The dictionary tells me this is a dated term for grantee. I'll file it away for future reference, dated or no.
27. Nile threats : ASPS. Cleopatra famously committed suicide with one.
With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate
Of life at once untie: poor venomous fool
Be angry, and dispatch.
Of life at once untie: poor venomous fool
Be angry, and dispatch.
- —Cleopatra, Act V, scene II
- Anthony and Cleopatra
28. Hot stuff? : LOOT
29. Affection : ENDEARMENT
34. Campus breeze : EASY A. This is a tough one to parse, especially when it's clued a little obscurely.
35. It might be a big benefit : GALA
36. Cut and paste, say : EDIT
38. Muzzle wearer, probably : BITER. Do they make muzzles for asps?
39. Derisive shout : JEER
42. One way to get backstage : VIP PASS
46. Worked in a salon : STYLED
47. Art major's subj. : ANAT. Anatomy.
49. Rattling sound : CLACK
50. Golden calf maker, in Exodus : AARON. Thank you crosses.
51. "Peachy-keen!" : NEATO
52. Second-deepest U.S. lake : TAHOE
55. Trading center : MART
56. Feud faction : CLAN
57. Clay crock : OLLA. There's a traditional Spanish dish named charmingly named "olla podrida", "rotten pot" which is a stew of pork, beans and garbanzos.
60. Good bud : BRO. BFF went in, came out.
61. Guess wrong : ERR
62. Dorm deputies: Abbr. : RA'S. Resident Assistants.
That should do it for me - and heeere's the grid!
Steve
Notes from C.C.:
1) Happy Birthday to Rainman (Ray Hedrick). What's up, Ray? Still playing tennis daily?
2) For those who prefers Blogger rather than Google +, please read Tuesday's comments section. TTP, who saved this blog from Google hell a few years ago, gave detailed instructions there in his various posts, esp the 5:06pam one. Read Anon T and aka Themla's comments also.
Or if you want to have a blue Blogger account with an avatar picture like most regulars here on our blog, their tips help also, esp Dave's link here. oc4beach turned blue quickly. This old post I wrote 7 years ago still has some valid points as well.
3) TTP has a created a specific post on how to have a blue Blogger account. Please click here.
Or if you want to have a blue Blogger account with an avatar picture like most regulars here on our blog, their tips help also, esp Dave's link here. oc4beach turned blue quickly. This old post I wrote 7 years ago still has some valid points as well.
3) TTP has a created a specific post on how to have a blue Blogger account. Please click here.
