Almost as if planned, JzB lauded puzzles which use different definitions for the same word on Wednesday. So like magic, C.C. and Husker Gary are here with a classic example of that type of puzzle. Actually there are many other meanings for bridge - part of a musical composition - part of a guitar - and the above referenced nose. This team picked two grid spanners and two 13s to pack in the theme. All four definitions are fair and took time to come up with the symmetrical fill. They managed some fun fill like INGEST, GO FAST, G-SUITS, TOSTADA, THE WIRE, I GOTTA RUN and DUDE RANCH. As always with a C.C. monitored puzzle there are some great clues. Let's get to work!
17A. Bridge : CARD GAME FOR FOUR (15). One of my favorite card games.
23A. Bridge : HELMSMAN'S POST (13). The Captain often is there as well, ask Sulu.
52A. Bridge : RIVER CROSSING (13). We still have a few covered bridges in Connecticut. LINK.
62A. Bridge : DENTAL APPLIANCE (15). I had one that fell out.
Across
1. Carnival Cruise Line headquarters : MIAMI. The ultimate gimme for me; I live in South Florida and I have been to their offices having owned a travel agency.
6. Net gain? : GOAL. Punny!
10. One often taking a bow : GIFT. Yes, this time it is BOW (o) not BOW (ow).
14. How many crosswords are solved : IN PEN. In ink, with a pen? Or maybe they are referring to incarcerated people.
15. Plot to plow : ACRE. nice!
16. Creepy look : OGLE.
20. Young Skywalker's nickname : ANI. He was played by a boy named Jake Lloyd. As Dr. Frak N. Furter would say " FAME is fleeting..."
21. "At Wit's End" columnist Bombeck : ERMA.
22. Like Cheerios : OATEN. Entering the food zone.
27. Liked a lot, with "up" : ATE.
28. Taqueria order : TOSTADA. See three foodies in a row. I think the word just means "Toasted."
31. A3 or Q7 : AUDI.
34. Leave : DEPART.
37. Whistle-blower : REF. Very cute clue.
38. Way around the block? : SHUNT. Wonderful, how to avoid an arterial blockage.
40. Luau band : LEI. How many have been to Hawaii?
41. Meatball medium : SAUCE. Food. Gravy to many Italians.
43. Roll in the yard : SOD. Again nice phrasing.
44. Inn crowd option : RAMADA. More puns.
47. Cause of some closings : SNOW.
48. HBO drama set in Baltimore : THE WIRE.
50. __ Friday's : TGI.
.
58. Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque prayer : OMANI. One from Oman. Oman is an absolute monarchy. The Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said has been the hereditary leader of the country since 1970. Sultan Qaboos is the longest-serving current ruler in the Middle East, and sixth-longest current-reigning monarch in the world.
60. Sci-fi navigator : SULU. I told you could ask him.
61. Gen __ : XER.
66. Number of times a horse can enter the Kentucky Derby : ONCE. As a three year old.
67. "Dies __" : IRAE.
68. Copy, in a way : TRACE.
69. Essen's region : RUHR.
70. Celebrate an anniversary, say, with "out" : DINE.
71. Secretly watch : SPY ON.
Down:
1. Hebrew prophet : MICAH. ONE of 12 minor prophets in Judaism, but embraced by Christianity.
2. Absurd : INANE.
3. __ fool : APRIL.
4. Club __ : MED. All inclusive vacation, now with 68 locations, including LINK.
5. Take in : INGEST.
6. Harmful ray type : GAMMA. Just ask Bruce Banner!
7. More than 70% of Earth's surface : OCEAN.
8. Lab greeting : ARF.
9. "Ars gratia artis" is written in an arc around his head : LEO. MGM Lion.
10. Zoom along : GO FAST.
11. "Time for me to split" : I GOTTA RUN.
12. Smoke passage : FLUE.
13. Gull relative : TERN.
18. Carrying, so to speak : ARMED.
19. Hen holders : ROOSTS.
24. Common street name : MAIN.
25. Strait-laced : STAID.
26. __ ejemplo : POR. For example...not too hard
29. Geometric art style : DECO. Art is always fun. LINK.
30. Several : A FEW.
31. Start of a subordinate title: Abbr. : ASST.
32. "You meant 8 p.m. not a.m.?" : UH OH.
33. Vacation spot with horseback riding : DUDE RANCH.
35. Toon often seen in a hunting hat : ELMER.
36. Shelled veggie : PEA.
39. "Jeopardy!" staple : TRIVIA.
42. Flaws and all : AS IS. Many homes and used cars are sol this way.
45. Is for everyone? : ARE. Really cute clue.
46. Bikini in the Pacific, e.g. : ATOLL. Well used by the military.
49. It starts a bit before Christmas : WINTER. 4 days, C.E.
51. Astronauts' gear : G-SUITS. From our resident astronaut we have an anti-gravity garment worn by fighter pilots. When they are pulling positive G's, the suit inflates and prevents blood from pooling in their feet and legs which would cause them to lose consciousness. NASA astronauts also wear g-suits when they experience Orthostatic Intolerance. LINK
53. Channel with a "Congressional Chronicle" online archive : C-SPAN.
54. Kolkata cash : RUPEE. No more Calcutta.
55. Slangy refusal : IXNAY. Pig latin...
56. Wafer brand : NECCO. HG? Those of us of an age...
57. Place to find a flag : GREEN. Another HG moment with a golf course clue.
58. Le Pew's defense : ODOR. Pepe.
59. Dish list : MENU.
63. Limit : LID. Put a lid on it!?!
64. Jackie O's second : ARI. Aristotle Onassis.
65. "Shirt Front and Fork" artist : ARP. Jean Arp or Hans Arp (16 September 1886 – 7 June 1966) was a German-French sculptor, painter, poet, and abstract artist in other media such as torn and pasted paper. When Arp spoke in German he referred to himself as "Hans", and when he spoke in French he referred to himself as "Jean".
