Theme: "Hybrid Crossings" - Each Down theme entry crosses the hybrid word it forms. Like so:
22A. Without 3-Down, artful deception : SMOG (Smoke + Fog) AND MIRRORS. 3D. Driving hazard : FOG. Original phrase is "smoke and mirrors"'
37A. Without 32-Down, stinging insects : ORANGE (Yellow + Red) JACKETS. 32D. __ alert : RED. Yellow jacket.
52A. Without 30-Down, separate matter altogether : MULE (Horse + Donkey) OF A DIFFERENT COLOR. 30D. Critter orchestrally imitated in Grofé's "Grand Canyon Suite" : DONKEY. Horse of a different color. Both DONKEY and SPOON intersect two themers.
73A. Without 76-Down, arrive where one must decide between options :
COME TO A SPORK (Spoon + Fork) IN THE ROAD. 76D. Aid in a stirring experience : SPOON. Come to a fork in the road.
90A. Without 90-Down, be evasive : SKORT (Skirt + Shorts) THE ISSUE. 90D. Golfer's garb : SHORTS. Skirt the issue. = Skort.
110A. Without 100-Down, classic children's novel : CHARLOTTE'S BLOG (Web + Log) 100D. Shipboard account : LOG. Charlotte's Web.
Heavy
themage. Grid spanners are OK for 15*15, but somehow they're tougher to
deal with for a Sunday puzzle. And Paul has added pressure of making
the intersection work.
You might think those Down
themers are short and won't present too much problem for the
constructor. But they must intersect with the hybrid words. FOG cannot
cross the O in MIRRORS. RED can not cross the E in JACKETS.
Brilliant construction. I'm totally in awe.
Across:
1. Personal ad abbr. : SWF. The movie is scary.
4. Dry and crack : CHAP
8. Film rating org. : MPAA
12. Muse of comedy : THALIA. Needed crossing help.
18. 1986 Gene Hackman film : HOOSIERS. What's your favorite Gene Hackman movie?
20. Paths for three-pointers : ARCS
21. "The Truth About Cats & Dogs" genre : ROM-COM
24. Gone : USED UP
25. Usher's creator : POE. Googled afterwards. Not familiar with the short story "The Fall of the House of Usher".
26. Actress Hatcher : TERI
27. Left end? : IST. Leftist.
28. "The X-Files" extras : G-MEN. Normally a clue for ETS.
29. Shallow crossing point : FORD
31. Dress : ENROBE
33. Cocktail hour array : DIPs. Was picturing drinks.
34. Prefix meaning "bee" : API
41. Bit of public relations deception : SPIN. Also 70. Trickery : DECEIT
42. Discussion group : PANEL
44. Ran quickly : DARTED
45. Others, on the Orinoco : OTRAS. Or OTROS.
46. Revealing, as some gowns : BACKLESS. So pretty.
49. Name again : RE-APPOINT
57. Maker of ProX skin products : OLAY. Gimme for ladies.
58. Where balls are often caught : MIDAIR
59. Catch but good : NAIL
60. Engine part : CAM
61. "The Waste Land" monogram : TSE
63. The King : ELVIS
65. "Errare humanum __" : EST. Latin for "to err is human".
66. Poll no. : PCT (Percent)
69. Ratted : TOLD
72. Field of study : AREA
80. Original model : ARCHETYPE. Great entry.
81. It counts : NEATNESS. Not abacus.
82. Gave a darn : CARED
83. Lazy : OTIOSE. Not a word I use.
88. Repeated phrase in Ecclesiastes : A TIME. Stumped me.
89. Latin wings : ALAE
94. U.K. award : OBE. Or MBE.
95. Vulnerable bone for a catcher : SHIN
96. Uncommon : SCARCE
97. Poet Silverstein : SHEL
101. Valhalla VIP : THOR
102. Cholesterol initials : LDL
103. "Momo" author Michael : ENDE. Have any of you read the book?
106. Winner's medalla : ORO
107. Unlike golf, as a rule : INDOOR. We had a indoor driving range near Fleet Farm. Gone now. Also 98D. Stroked into the cup : HOLED
114. Absolute ruler : DESPOT
115. Native Rwandan : HUTU
116. Religious dissensions : HERESIES
117. Little hooters : OWLETS
118. Blood type, briefly : O NEG
119. Giant great : MAYS (Willie). Quite a few baseball references in this puzzle.
120. Poem originally performed with music : ODE
Down:
1. Stubby-legged Capp critter : SHMOO. Forgot. We had him before. Wiki says "Shmoos are delicious to eat, and are eager to be eaten."
2. Beau : WOOER
4. Theater : CINE
5. "The Birds" actress : HEDREN (Tippi)
6. Strong-__ : ARMING
7. Telepathy, e.g. : PSI. I don't get it. I wanted ESP.
8. Popular chocolate treat : MARS BAR
9. Defend from attack : PROTECT
10. Spanning: Abbr. : ACR (Across)
11. Biblical beast : ASS
12. One-ups : TRUMPS
13. Takes to the cleaners ... or cleans : HOSES. Great clue.
14. "Right on!" : AMEN
15. Readout using polarized light, briefly : LCD
16. Chit : IOU
17. Band aid : AMP. Great clue also.
19. Rested, in a way : SAT
22. Sunscreen letters : SPF
23. Spanish wine region : RIOJA. Got via crosses.
28. "Scram!" : GIT
33. Pfeiffer of TV's "Cybill" : DEDEE. Sister of Michelle Pfeiffer.
34. Patriots' Day month : APRIL
35. Bench site : PIANO. Piano bench.
36. Orch. component : INSTR. OK, instrument. Gluey entry.
38. Move, to a Realtor : RE-LO
39. Hebrew leader? : ALEF. First Hebrew letter.
40. LPGA star Cristie : KERR. She's Boomer's favorite LPGA player.
41. Happy hour seat : STOOL
42. Zahn of TV news : PAULA. Lots of names in Downs. Besides the above HEDREN, KERR, DEDEE, we also have 50. Actress Bening : ANNETTE. 54. Three-time Masters winner : FALDO (Nick). 56. Former NBA center Dampier : ERICK. 75. Hal of the 1985 World Champion Kansas City Royals : MCRAE. 77. Czech hockey player Nedved : PETR. 78. Lukas of "Witness" : HAAS. 110. Comic Margaret : CHO. Korean CHO is same as Chinese Zhao or Chao (as in Elaine Chao).
43. "That shut her up like __": Tennessee Williams : A CLAM
45. Footnote abbr. : OP. CIT.
46. Bowl game star, briefly : BMOC. "Big Man on Campus"
47. Like some service : SAME DAY
48. Reagan prog. : SDI (Strategic Defense Initiative)
51. Fund-raising gps. : PTAs
53. Chemical suffix : IDE
55. Half a sawbuck : FIVER
61. Schlepped : TOTED
62. Place for a coin : SLOT. Boomer was solving the NYT crossword in our local paper, then told me that Will Shortz made a big mistake in the clue for GRANT [50s president]. He said Grant's presidency was in 60s and 70s. Ha ha.
64. Tre + tre : SEI
66. Preface : PROEM. Not INTRO.
67. Break off : CEASE
68. Small amounts : TADs
69. Little laugh : TEHEE
71. Setting for Dickens : INN
72. __ Army: links group : ARNIE'S. Finally met with Jack Nicklaus last summer. He was so easygoing.
73. Tree with pods : CACAO
74. GUM rival : ORAL B
79. Disbelieving accusation : ET TU
84. Words said while stretching, maybe : IT'S LATE. Great clue/fill.
85. Non-Rx med : OTC DRUG. Four consonants in a row.
86. Formal will : SHALL. Got me last time.
87. Always, in verse : E'ER
91. White wine aperitif : KIR
92. Summer cooler : ICE TEA. I've started to use ICE TEA rather than ICED TEA. Easy to say without the extra D in ICED.
93. Halter? : SENTRY. Halt-er.
95. Photograph : SHOOT
99. Uneven, as a leaf's edge : EROSE
101. Drink too much : TOPE
104. Odd couple? : DEES. The two letters.
105. Letter with curves : ESS
107. Altar avowal : I DO
108. Green : NEW
109. Internet access letters : DSL
111. Follower of Attila : HUN
112. Omega, to a physicist : OHM
113. Many a Wikipedia article : BIO
Happy
Birthday to dear TTP, who saved this blog from Google Hell a few years
ago. TTP is a computer expert, also a sports nut. He has astonishing
knowledge on baseball & football & bowling. He and his wife are
avid golfers and gardeners. TTP also does his own home improvement
projects. He's also a great cook. Now, Dave, find that perfect cake!
C.C.
