Theme: "Kinda Sorta" - ISH is added to each theme entry.
23A. Snow in southwest England? : CORNISH FLAKES. Corn flakes.
36A. Golf-loving priest's dream? : PARISH FOR THE COURSE. Par for the course.
48A. Pastry with a metallic taste? : STEELY DANISH. Steely Dan.
66A. Result of certain radar screens conking out? : WEATHER VANISHES. Weather vanes.
86A. Media outlet in Pennsylvania Dutch country? : AMISH FM RADIO. AM/FM radio.
94A. General-use gesture? : ALL-PURPOSE FLOURISH. All-purpose flour.
112A. Cause of an origami flaw? : FOLDING MISHAP. Folding map.
Three first word changes. Four second word changes. No odd man out.
The new words and the old words share no root. Jeffrey is truly the master of letter addition theme.
1. JFK's 109 : PT BOAT
7. Gives in : BENDS
12. Egg white protein : ALBUMIN
19. Ronzoni rival : BARILLA. Here in Minnesota, Creamette is very popular.
20. Open, as an aspirin bottle : UNCAP
21. Quarters and halves : COINAGE
22. It's often written in stone : EPITAPH. Headstone.
25. Snack : EAT. Verb.
26. Hayseeds : HICKS
28. Salad bar container : CRUET
29. EKGs may be done in them : ERs. Also 83. CPR provider : EMT. Also 99. Source of brain research data: Abbr. : EEG
30. Nice : PLEASANT. Like our regulars on the blog. You guys are the best!
33. Waikiki wreaths : LEIS
34. Rte. finder : GPS
43. Cal. locale of the Latino Walk of Fame : EAST LA. Guessable.
46. Bottom-row key : ALT
47. Fixed : IMMOBILE
52. Steamed : MAD
53. Boodles, for one : GIN. Learning moment for me.
54. Renaissance painter della Francesca : PIERO. Forgot. We had him before.
55. Auto body problem : RUST
56. Eye layer : UVEA
59. "Gracious!" : OH MY
60. Since Jan. 1, in accounting : YTD
61. Start of many a riddle : WHAT
63. Ben Gurion carrier : EL AL. Don't know how Steve puts up with the constant flying hassles.
64. Freight unit : CRATE
70. Ski resort aids : T-BARS
72. Mishmash : OLIO
73. "M*A*S*H" roller : JEEP. Here is a Chinese military jeep.
74. Dec. setting in Denver : MST
77. Lea sounds : BAAS
78. Rum-and-water drink : GROG
79. Tusker hunted as game : BOAR
81. Hostile calls : HOOTS
84. Brazilian map word : SAO
89. '90s golf club-making innovation : TITANIUM. Boomer bought a Big Bertha at the 2nd Swing a few years ago. I don't remember the LOFT (13. It's measured in degrees for golf clubs).
92. Coughing, perhaps : ILL. Try Robitussin cough drop. It worked for me. Such a tough flu.
93. Provides fare for : CATERS
100. Unresponsive (to) : DEAF
101. Like delicate fabric : FINE-SPUN. My childhood clothes were all made from the cloths my grandma wove. Rough fiber.
105. The Jungfrau, e.g. : ALP
107. Makeup malfunction : SMEAR
109. Take as one's own : CO-OPT
111. Binary code basic : ONE
116. "Just like us!" : SO ARE WE
119. Genteel café relative : TEA ROOM. Now I'm like Abejo. I bring my own loose jasmine tea with me.
120. Conclude : CEASE
121. Feeling guilty : ASHAMED
122. Charming small-town street array : AWNINGS
123. Old lab heaters : ETNAs
124. Became less hostile : THAWED
Down:
1. Like decrees from Francis : PAPAL
2. Overused : TRITE
3. It might come from the horse's mouth : BIT
4. Portuguese hi : OLA. No suffix today.
5. Nuclear decay emission : ALPHA RAY. Got via crosses.
6. Sesame seed paste : TAHINI. You can get it at Trade Joe's.
7. Rudolph's dad, e.g. : BUCK. Oh, the reindeer.
8. Baseball Hall of Famer Slaughter : ENOS
9. ATM maker : NCR
10. See 51-Down : DANCER. And 51. With 10-Down, Waikiki entertainer : HULA
11. Scrooge visitor : SPIRIT
12. Flu symptom : ACHE
14. Fed. budget unit : BIL. We also have 79D. Tell what's due : BILL and 27D. Small change: Abbr. : CTS
15. Merkel of "Destry Rides Again" : UNA
16. Fixes : MAKES RIGHT. Sparkling fill.
17. Eisner's successor at Disney : IGER
18. Fabled loch : NESS
19. Attraction for a cartoon coyote : BEEP
24. Dish using seaweed : SUSHI. I'll tackle the eel roll first.
31. More to the point : APTER
32. Less healthy-looking : SALLOWER
33. Auction array : LOTS
34. "I approve" : GOOD
35. Stout server : PUB
37. Pediatrician Asperger : HANS. I did not know his given name.
38. Move like a moth : FLIT
39. Poet Lazarus : EMMA
40. Entertainer of the Year org. : CMA. Garth Brooks is a multiple winner.
41. Muck : SLIME
42. Child's counting word : EENY
43. Notice : ESPY
44. Feuding : AT IT
45. Acorn, functionally : SEED
49. "Phooey!" : DRAT
50. Name on a spine : AUTHOR. Book spine.
57. Mayflower roller : VAN
58. Prophet associated with Passover : ELIJAH
59. Western alliance: Abbr. : OAS (Organization of American States)
62. Is down with : HAS
63. Bolivian president Morales : EVO. Since 2006. Wiki says he is "widely regarded as the country's first president to come from the indigenous population".
64. Role in "Evita" : CHE
65. Put another way : REPHRASE
66. Existed : WAS
67. Symphonic rock gp. : ELO
68. European capital on its own gulf : RIGA. Also 80. European capital : OSLO
69. Feudal peasant : SERF
70. Sri Lankan people : TAMIL
71. Armed forces strategy : BATTLE PLAN. Another great fill.
74. Manner : MODE
75. Commotion : STIR
76. General __ chicken : TSO'S
77. Head of Byzantium? : BETA. Just the first letter.
78. Rise : GO UP
82. Court declarations : OATHS
84. Warm and comfy : SNUG
85. "The __ bites shrewdly; it is very cold": Hamlet : AIR
87. Annoy : MIFF
88. Eponymous apple grower : MCINTOSH
90. Mimic : APE
91. Web surfing tool : MODEM
95. North Atlantic navigation worry : SEA ICE
96. Part of a telemarketer's gear : EAR SET. I just call it earphone.
97. "The X-Files" sighting : UFO
98. Attacks, as a wrapped gift : RIPS AT
102. Vichy verse : POEME. Also a Lancome fragrance.
103. Matchless? : UNWED. Ha ha.
104. Requirement : NEED
105. Aqua Velva alternative : AFTA
106. Movie mogul Marcus : LOEW. See also 108. Theaters associated with 106-Down: MGMS
107. Neck, in Nottingham : SNOG
109. Acapulco abode : CASA
110. Unlocks, in verse : OPES
113. Wash'n __ towelettes : DRI
114. Charged thing : ION
115. Dynasty after the Qin : HAN. Zhou, Qin, Han, Tang are four dynasties whose capital was Xi'an. Most of you know how I got my Mandarin name Zhouqin.
117. "Eureka!" : AHA
118. Cold and rainy : RAW
The 41st American Crossword Puzzle Tournament (March 23-25, 2018) will be held at the Stamford Marriott in Stamford, Connecticut. For those who attend, don't miss the Cru Dinner organized by the great Mike Alpern.
The Cru Dinner officially kicks off the tournament and is a great opportunity to meet with constructors and fellow solvers. Our own Jeffrey Wechsler stopped by there last year. He's been ACPT judge for a few years.
The space is limited, so be sure to contact with Mike (alpernm@aol.com) as soon as possible.
C.C.
