google.com, pub-2774194725043577, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 L.A.Times Crossword Corner

Advertisements

Jun 22, 2016

Wednesday, June, 22, Ellen Leuschner and Mary Lou Guizzo

Title: TOPPING OFF

Ellen and Mary Lou have generated a lovely Wednesday puzzle in which they have selected ten compound words or phrases wherein both words can be "CAPPED" (preceded) by the word WHITE to produce two more compound words or phrases. The effect is further enhanced by having all the theme entries appear vertically and thus the word CAP becomes even more apropos as you can see in the grid below! Wonderful!


Theme Reveal:

40. Bit of ocean chop ... or, literally, what each part of 3-, 8-, 10-, 34- and 38-Down can have : WHITECAP - Here is Tom Hanks fighting through WHITECAPS to try to get to his VB friend Wilson



Theme answers: (Yes, I know there is more than one possible answer for some entries) 

3. Privy : OUTHOUSE - Rural restrooms and 

WHITE OUT - Where football could still be played 



WHITE HOUSE - 1600 Pa. Ave in not quite a white out




8. Home builder's purchase : WALLBOARD - Wall covering or

WHITEWALL - Remember when they were stylish tires and cost more than blackwalls? 



WHITEBOARD - A work space for Sheldon and Leonard


10. Equine-like fish : SEAHORSE - Marine creature where the father gives birth or

WHITE SEA - A Russian Sea unbeknownst to me near Archangel'sk 



WHITE HORSE - Prince Charming's ride



34. Award for excellence in the field : GOLD GLOVE - Given to MLB player who is the best fielder at his position or

WHITE GOLD - Gold alloyed with silver or other white metals



WHITE GLOVE  - Attire for Liz which I'm sure she uses to check her dusting! :-) 




38. Fritos snack : CORN CHIP - Longtime nosh in a bag or

WHITE CORN  - A sweet corn option 




WHITE CHIP - Usually lowest value poker chip

Now for the fun remainder of Ellen and Mary Lou's puzzlement:

Across

1. Physics building block : ATOM

5. Barbecue side : SLAW

9. Run-of-the-mill : USUAL

14. Track tipster : TOUT - My favorite is Nicely-Nicley Johnson (Stubby Kaye) in Guys And Dolls



15. "How's it goin'?" : HI YA

16. Grammar topic : TENSE - Piece 'o cake, right?



17. Folk story : MYTH

18. Autobahn auto : OPEL

19. British peers : EARLS - As in the EARL of Grantham

20. It may be coiled in the grass : HOSE

22. Frozen drinks : SLUSHIES - A minor side effect



24. Brownstone entrances : STOOPS - We call 'em porches here

26. Hebrew : Ben :: Arabic : __ : IBN

27. "... that golden key / That __ the palace of eternity": Milton : OPES - Liza Doolittle OPES her key OPES her door

28. "For real?" : YOU DO

29. Alias in a landmark case : ROE - v. Wade

30. Auctioned wheels : REPO

31. Unlikely replies from sycophants : NOS

32. Get dolled (up) : TOG - Merriaman-Webster: To dress especially in fine clothing —usually used with up or out

35. Atlantic and Pacific, in Monopoly: Abbr. : AVES

37. Prefix with magnetic : ELECTRO - A modern source of ELECTROMAGNETIC radiation 



39. Subscriber's order : RENEWAL

43. Like some coffee tables : OVAL

44. Biological building block : DNA

45. "Veep" network : HBO - The first place I heard the "F-word" from a TV.

46. Henry VIII's sixth wife Catherine : PARR - Mnemonic: 
Divorced, beheaded, died
Divorced, beheaded, survived



49. Public health org. : CDC

51. Sends : MAILS

53. Chef's chamber : OVEN

54. NYC airport : LGA

55. Brahms' Opus 18, for one : SEXTET - 2 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos

56. Messenger bags : SATCHELS

58. Bend at a barre : PLIE - A PLIE complemented by dumbbell arm raises for your delts!



59. Nobelist Root : ELIHU

60. Kentucky border river : OHIO

62. Publisher Adolph : OCHS

65. Samurai without a master : RONIN - In modern Japan it means "between employers" or a grad student not yet admitted to a university

66. Nix : VETO



67. Wailuku's island : MAUI 

68. Speaks harshly : SNAPS

69. Endor villager : EWOK

70. Design detail, for short : SPEC


Down

1. All-hrs. cash source : ATM

2. Fisher-Price product : TOY

4. Ore. skiing destination : MT HOOD - Wonder Carpet has replaced rope tow on MT HOOD's bunny slope there



5. Crocs, e.g. : SHOES - They're ugly or cool depending on your perspective

6. Guff : LIP

7. "Yes, cap'n!" : AYE SIR

9. Salt Lake City team : UTES - Not the JAZZ

11. Not ready for harvesting : UNRIPE

12. Catching some z's : ASLEEP - Kitty is fighting it!



13. To a smaller degree : LESS SO

21. Commercials on the tube, in adspeak : SPOT TV

23. In need of leveling : UNEVEN

24. Holiday song ender : SYNE

25. Level, e.g. : TOOL - I'm never without one!



33. Ancient source of prophecy : ORACLE

36. Nail polish : ENAMEL - We used Windex to get it out of our carpet successfully



41. Up to it : ABLE

42. Too far off the trail : LOST

46. Tough questions : POSERS

47. Land of Arthurian legend : AVALON

48. Eye part with rods and cones : RETINA - Ah, it's the teacher in me!



50. Kidney-shaped nut : CASHEW

52. Geometry rules : AXIOMS - Transitive AXIOM -  I have two legs. George Clooney has two legs. Ergo, I am George Clooney!

55. Hobgoblin : SPOOK

57. Followers of Attila : HUNS

61. Skater Midori : ITO

63. Palette shade : HUE



64. Incite to go after, with "on" : SIC

Ah yes, at one time our state's low taxes make it this. Oh well, lets move on to comments: