Theme: GG
Words: 70 (missing G,J,Q,V,W,Z)
Blocks: 28
This
was a truly enjoyable solve - I was talking to the same customer at
each of
the restaurants twice this week, as he was attempting to do a crossword
in the newspaper. I mentioned that I blogged the Saturday puzzle
for the LA Times; he claimed that he drew the line at Thursday, finding
every paper's puzzle to be too difficult on Friday and Saturday.
Today's construction had what felt like a lot of vague cluing, but
in the end, with just a few tweaks I got the ta-DA~! No Google, no
red-letter, no cheating; I might have done better for knowing
some answers straight up, but in the end, no sponges in this fun~! Triple 9's all around;
6a. Where many leading males may be seen? : BALLROOMS - my one big gaffe was putting in "ACRES" for "BALES"; which led me to look for ACTOR - something here
54a. Russian Orthodox church feature : ONION DOME - how to build one, here
1d. Courses around courses : CART PATHS - misread this on the first pass as "courses AND courses"
31d. Bag lady? : KATE SPADE - I knew where this "?" clue was going, but the only expensive bags I could think of were Prada and Gucci
1d. Courses around courses : CART PATHS - misread this on the first pass as "courses AND courses"
31d. Bag lady? : KATE SPADE - I knew where this "?" clue was going, but the only expensive bags I could think of were Prada and Gucci
GonGward~!
(How did GG NOT have any G's in the puzzle~?)
ACROSS:
1. Prepares to strike, in a way : COILS
- I have mentioned this before; once had a Ball Python that ate live
mice - and it would stealthily coil up before striking; fascinating
example of nature
15. Nocturnal problem, usually : APNEA
16. Source of some sauce : APPLE TREE - oh applesauce~! ACRES did me in here, too
17. Lets : RENTS
18. Help : LEND A HAND
19. Chic modifier : TRÉS
20. Advertisers say it sells : SEX - love those classic Hanes ads
21. Mother of Huey, Dewey and Louie : DELLA - all perps and one WAG
22. Service providers : PARSONS - Sunday service, that is
24. Hall of Fame NHL coach Roger : NEILSON - I knew this one, as he was once a NY Rangers coach - just didn't know the correct spelling at the start
26. Small power source : AA CELL
27. Paragon : MODEL - sometimes words I read in books make sense in the context, but stand-alone in a crossword, and I'm stumped; this is one of those words. I went with MORAL first
28. Took a shot at : TRIED
29. Sticks : BOONDOCKS - ah, to be out in the sticks, which you could say of my present living situation, and I happen to like it - great water view
33. Google goal : HIT
34. "Semper Fidelis" composer : SOUSA - total WAG on my first pass, but it fit
35. "I like that!" : "AAH~!"
36. Encouragement before a shot : "SAY CHEESE~!"
39. Millions can play it at once : LOTTO
41. Frequent Greenstreet co-star : LORRE - Sydney Greenstreet, before my time; it's good to read that he got his start in films at age 62
42. Olympics competitor since 1896 : FENCER - France fit, too; 1896 was the year of the first "modern" Olympic games
43. To the extent that : AS FAR AS
46. Quaint inn room upright : BEDPOST - I went with SPINNET, but was pretty sure I had too many "N"s
47. Adjust one's sights : RE-AIM
48. Get even with : TIE
49. Pic Sans Nom, par exemple : ALPE - ah. "pic" here is Frawnche for "peak", and the translation is "nameless peak"; I considered "ANON", but since the whole clue was foreign....
50. Pet identification aid : MICROCHIP
53. Come up with __ : A PLAN
55. "Christie Johnstone" novelist : READE - again, all perps and one WAG
56. Got back to one's office? : RE-ELECTED
57. Threw wide, say : ERRED
DOWN:
2. Bellini's "Casta diva," for one : OPERA ARIA
3. Metropolitan area : INNER CITY
4. Muser's words : LET'S SEE
5. Nordic carrier : SAS
6. Agricultural units : BALES - dah~! Not ACRES, as I had ---ES to start
7. Culmination : APEX - ACRES led me to try CRUX here, which seemed to make sense
8. MD's employee : LPN
9. George Washington received an honorary one from Harvard U. : LL.D.
10. Prepared : READIED
11. Play that inspired an opera : OTHELLO - and the opera inspired the game~?
12. Grueling grillings : ORALS
13. __ Park, Calif. : MENLO - I spelled Neilson as Neilsen, so I couldn't make this correct answer fit
14. Impala, e.g. : SEDAN - Chevrolet model of a four-door car; still searching for my used silver Dodge Grand Caravan
20. Subj. of some "Bossypants" chapters : SNL - Tina Fey's biography, and Saturday Night Live - great fresh clue for a common crossword answer
23. Like some timers? : OLD
24. Ominous oater symbol : NOOSE
25. "Hairspray" mom : EDNA - I had IRMA to start, and it didn't sound right
27. Logitech product : MOUSE - Nailed it, but then again, my mouse IS a Logitech
29. Transvaal settlers : BOERS
30. It may have a bell on it : CAT COLLAR
32. Cut : SHORTENED - made me think of editing a film
34. Shot contents : SERA
37. Maker of AgeDefy products : CLAIROL - again, I knew we were looking for some sort of "beauty" company, but it turns out to be hair color - I was close....
38. Insulin, for one : HORMONE - learning moment; most often when I hear insulin, I think 34D. and Diabetes
39. Preceded : LED
40. Theoretically : ON PAPER - I remember there being this 'clever' idea on a Pontiac Gran-Am of the 90s that used the inside of the glove compartment door as a cup holder - and it worked great until you started driving; looked good ON PAPER, I am sure....
42. Lawyer's charge : FEE
43. Defensive covering : ARMOR
44. It flows through Troyes and Melun : SEINE - a sensible Frawnche WAG
45. Prima __: self-evident : FACIE - I hear this all the time on "Law & Order"
46. Ostrich, for example : BIPED - Two feet, though not necessarily two LEFT feet
48. iPhone display : TIME - I had the "T", but hesitated; too easy~?
51. Agcy. concerned with drug-resistant bacteria : CDC
52. In : HOT
53. Equals : ARE - twelve items are/equals a dozen
15. Nocturnal problem, usually : APNEA
16. Source of some sauce : APPLE TREE - oh applesauce~! ACRES did me in here, too
17. Lets : RENTS
18. Help : LEND A HAND
19. Chic modifier : TRÉS
20. Advertisers say it sells : SEX - love those classic Hanes ads
22. Service providers : PARSONS - Sunday service, that is
24. Hall of Fame NHL coach Roger : NEILSON - I knew this one, as he was once a NY Rangers coach - just didn't know the correct spelling at the start
26. Small power source : AA CELL
27. Paragon : MODEL - sometimes words I read in books make sense in the context, but stand-alone in a crossword, and I'm stumped; this is one of those words. I went with MORAL first
28. Took a shot at : TRIED
29. Sticks : BOONDOCKS - ah, to be out in the sticks, which you could say of my present living situation, and I happen to like it - great water view
34. "Semper Fidelis" composer : SOUSA - total WAG on my first pass, but it fit
35. "I like that!" : "AAH~!"
36. Encouragement before a shot : "SAY CHEESE~!"
39. Millions can play it at once : LOTTO
41. Frequent Greenstreet co-star : LORRE - Sydney Greenstreet, before my time; it's good to read that he got his start in films at age 62
42. Olympics competitor since 1896 : FENCER - France fit, too; 1896 was the year of the first "modern" Olympic games
43. To the extent that : AS FAR AS
46. Quaint inn room upright : BEDPOST - I went with SPINNET, but was pretty sure I had too many "N"s
47. Adjust one's sights : RE-AIM
48. Get even with : TIE
49. Pic Sans Nom, par exemple : ALPE - ah. "pic" here is Frawnche for "peak", and the translation is "nameless peak"; I considered "ANON", but since the whole clue was foreign....
50. Pet identification aid : MICROCHIP
53. Come up with __ : A PLAN
55. "Christie Johnstone" novelist : READE - again, all perps and one WAG
56. Got back to one's office? : RE-ELECTED
57. Threw wide, say : ERRED
DOWN:
2. Bellini's "Casta diva," for one : OPERA ARIA
3. Metropolitan area : INNER CITY
4. Muser's words : LET'S SEE
5. Nordic carrier : SAS
6. Agricultural units : BALES - dah~! Not ACRES, as I had ---ES to start
7. Culmination : APEX - ACRES led me to try CRUX here, which seemed to make sense
8. MD's employee : LPN
9. George Washington received an honorary one from Harvard U. : LL.D.
10. Prepared : READIED
11. Play that inspired an opera : OTHELLO - and the opera inspired the game~?
13. __ Park, Calif. : MENLO - I spelled Neilson as Neilsen, so I couldn't make this correct answer fit
14. Impala, e.g. : SEDAN - Chevrolet model of a four-door car; still searching for my used silver Dodge Grand Caravan
20. Subj. of some "Bossypants" chapters : SNL - Tina Fey's biography, and Saturday Night Live - great fresh clue for a common crossword answer
23. Like some timers? : OLD
24. Ominous oater symbol : NOOSE
25. "Hairspray" mom : EDNA - I had IRMA to start, and it didn't sound right
27. Logitech product : MOUSE - Nailed it, but then again, my mouse IS a Logitech
29. Transvaal settlers : BOERS
30. It may have a bell on it : CAT COLLAR
32. Cut : SHORTENED - made me think of editing a film
34. Shot contents : SERA
37. Maker of AgeDefy products : CLAIROL - again, I knew we were looking for some sort of "beauty" company, but it turns out to be hair color - I was close....
39. Preceded : LED
40. Theoretically : ON PAPER - I remember there being this 'clever' idea on a Pontiac Gran-Am of the 90s that used the inside of the glove compartment door as a cup holder - and it worked great until you started driving; looked good ON PAPER, I am sure....
42. Lawyer's charge : FEE
43. Defensive covering : ARMOR
44. It flows through Troyes and Melun : SEINE - a sensible Frawnche WAG
45. Prima __: self-evident : FACIE - I hear this all the time on "Law & Order"
46. Ostrich, for example : BIPED - Two feet, though not necessarily two LEFT feet
51. Agcy. concerned with drug-resistant bacteria : CDC
52. In : HOT
53. Equals : ARE - twelve items are/equals a dozen
Splynter
