Theme: FINAL TOUCH (63A. Last detail that makes things perfect ... and what each answer to a starred clue has?) - Synonym theme.
16A. *Question to the bartender: WHAT'S ON TAP?.
38A. *Subject of a neighborhood flier: LOST PET.
10D. *Master perfectly: GET DOWN PAT.
28D. *Daring action: BOLD STROKE.
Boomer here.
Happy
Monday to one and all! Not much to report this week. I bowled lousy
last Monday and played a very, very difficult golf course Tuesday.
Saturday I spent a few hours watching the Twins play the Texas Rangers
and I had a puzzle word moment when Texas second baseman Rougned ODOR
faced Twins pitcher Jake ODORizzi. I'm afraid Jake was not able to
finish the second inning. His performance stunk.
Across:
1. Viking tales, say: SAGAS. Viva, Las Sagas !
6. Actress Rooney or Kate: MARA.
10. Empty talk: GAS. Fill 'er up. Price in Minnesota has settled around $1.75 per gallon. How is it where you live ?
13. __ Lodge: motel chain: ECONO. Is this one of those on the stupid bodabook bodaboom commercials ?
14. Tiny particle: ATOM.
15. Dropped in the mail: SENT.
18. "The Simpsons" bus driver: OTTO.
19. Rogen of "Steve Jobs": SETH.
20. Kumquat peel: RIND. I know watermelon has a rind. I don't think I have ever even seen a Kumquat.
21. Demand from the judge: ORDER. All Rise, Demand from Yankee fans for Aaron Judge.
22. Bean product?: IDEA. Someone might have to explain this to me. The only four letter bean product I can think of … never mind
24. Fragrant hybrid bloom: TEA ROSE. So, do you boil the leaves to make tea?
26. Computer cord: CABLE.
Have you ever ridden the Cable Cars in San Francisco? A little scary
going downhill, but still a fascinating experience. "If you're going to
San Francisco, be sure to wear a flower in your hair." Maybe a tea
rose ?
29. Tight braid: CORNROW.
Here in Minnesota, in the fall, many cornfields are turned into mazes,
(not maize) and for a small fee, guests try to work their way through.
31. Coral rings: ATOLLS.
33. Mango seed: PIT.
34. Org. for the Minnesota Lynx: WNBA.
C.C. and I met Lindsey Whalen once at a sports card show. Great player
and nice lady. She is now doing double duty, playing for the Lynx, and
coaching the Gopher women's team.
37. Brooks of "High Anxiety": MEL. My favorite was "Blazing Saddles", especially the scene with the bean idea.
41. Chum: PAL. With PAY, famous internet paying method
42. Salon foot treatment, briefly: PEDI. Wouldn't this be a pedicure?
44. It's burned during workouts: FAT. Not mine, It's burned when I broil a steak.
45. New version of an old movie: REMAKE. And they never seem to be as good as the original.
47. Orange Crush, e.g.: SODA POP. Good stuff. I am hooked on Diet Pepsi. (So I don't have to burn fat.)
50. Hotel postings: RATES. Golf courses usually post them on websites. Seniors usually get deals on weekdays. My golf - Every day is a weak day.
51. Belgian seaport known for its diamond shops: ANTWERP.
53. "Dream on!": AS IF.
55. Countrified: RURAL. You can find those corn mazes in rural Minnesota.
56. Colossal: HUGE. Better get to the gym or switch to Diet Pepsi.
58. Spring flower: IRIS.
62. Golfer's chipping club: IRON.
Irons are numbered from one to nine and seldom are used for a chip
shot. Most players use a wedge, which is an iron, or a club that looks
like a putter but has a little elevation in the head.
65. Questions: ASKS.
66. Home of leprechauns: ERIN.
67. __ Lauder: ESTEE
68. Big name in jeans: LEE. I remember Lee Majors, the Six Million Dollar Man, married to Charlie's Angel Farrah Fawcett, but not for long.
69. Dampens: WETS.
70. Snooped (around): NOSED.
Down:
1. Works with thread: SEWS.
2. Ibuprofen target: ACHE. Generic aspirin etc. Wish I could find some that really works.
3. Nanny or billy: GOAT. There's a winding road and a tall pine tree, by the tall pine tree, she waits for me. Oh, yes, she waits in the little green house that sits on top of Billy Goat Hill.
4. Mound built by insects: ANTHILL. Not as big as a Billy Goat one.
5. Mariner's "Help!": SOS.
6. Superfan to the max: MANIAC.
7. Address label abbr.: ATTN.
8. Traveling for away games: ROAD TRIP. These are fun. C.C. and I went to Miller Park one year to watch a Twins Brewers Game.
9. Band booster: AMP. Short for amplifier. But I am an electric guy. Amp is also short for Ampere, a measure of current load.
11. Poker prepayments: ANTES. Years ago, at the caddy shack, we played nickel ante.
12. Strip mall unit: STORE.
15. One cause of tears: SORROW. "All my sorrows, soon be over" RIP Argyle.
17. It's mined and refined: ORE. Product of Hibbing, MN, boyhood home of Robert Zimmerman. You may know him better as Bob Dylan.
21. Blade making waves: OAR. I have pulled many oars, but never made a wave with one.
23. Lenovo competitor: DELL. People may one day see this puzzle in a Dell magazine, or a Penny Press. (same thing)
25. Cross the threshold: ENTER.
26. Sleep in the woods, maybe: CAMP.
27. Suit to __: A TEE. This word (s) frequently appears in a crossword puzzle. Let's not be afraid to call it what it is.
30. Decide one will: OPT TO. Opt to Three four, your left, your left, your left right.
32. Up to now: SO FAR. Up to Three four. your left, your left, your left right.
35. Cook in the oven: BAKE.
36. Nanobrewery beverages: ALES.
39. Blue birthstone: SAPPHIRE. September stone. Sapphires are not all blue, but blue is the most sought after.
40. Polo of "The Fosters": TERI.
43. Dubuque natives: IOWANS.
"River City, next stop ! Cash for the chickens and the pickin's and the
flypaper, whaddya talk. You can talk you can bicker, you can talk you
can bicker, you can talk, talk, talk, bicker, bicker, bicker. You can
talk all you wanna but it's different than it was. No it Ain't but you
gotta know the territory!"
46. Underworld family member: MAFIOSO.
48. California's Marina __ Rey: DEL.
49. Some polytheists: PAGANS.
51. Easy-to-read font: ARIAL. We probably have 30-40 fonts available in our word software. I just wonder who named them all.
52. Sip slowly: NURSE. Could be a doctor's helper.
54. Pinch from le chef: SEL.
57. Knot or pound: UNIT.
59. Road grooves: RUTS. Boy do we have them here up north. I-35 is closed and traffic is awful.
60. Slushy drink brand: ICEE.
61. Backyard shelter: SHED.
63. Not a lot: FEW.
64. Hamilton's bill: TEN. - Bo Derek's number also.
Boomer
