17. Smartphone condition resolved by recharging: LOW BATTERY. My cell phone only works when it is plugged in.
32. Unable to see because of reflected sunlight: SNOW BLIND. Dr Bruce Haight might diagnose this condition as photokeratitis, but I'm guessing he probably doesn't see many cases in his southern California practice.
38. "The West Wing" actor: ROB LOWE.
46. Martin Waddell book about birds missing their mother: OWL BABIES.
61. Baker's staple, and a hint to this puzzle's circles: MIXING BOWL.
My site search of the Corner suggests that MaryEllen doesn't construct for the LA Times very often but when she does, it's always pleasant, and fresh. I enjoyed the cluing and seeing some answers we don't encounter very often.
Across:
1. Like a pendulum's path: ARCED.
6. Tinted: HUED.
10. Loading platform: DOCK.
14. Question before "Yes, you!": WHO ME ? Simple but lovely.
15. Gumbo pod: OKRA.
16. Dark purple berry: ACAI. ah-sigh-EE. Today I learned that they are dark purple and how to pronounce the word.
19. Geeky type: NERD. I have geeky tendencies that came with the career.
20. Succulent plant genus: ALOE.
21. Went out in the sloop: SAILED. I can't help but think of John B when I read that word. It's the only association this landlubber has for it.
23. Not quite closed: AJAR. Hahtoolah has a joke for this word that is rated G - All Audiences.
26. Antlered grazers: ELKS.
29. Brawl: MELEE. Often seen in Ice Hockey games. Field Hockey, not so much.
30. Short-legged Welsh dog breed: CORGI. The Queen's favorites.
34. Quimby girl of kid-lit: RAMONA. "...when Cleary wrote from Ramona's point of view, all of the little girl's actions made perfect sense."
36. "The Time Machine" race: ELOI. H.G. Wells popularized the enduring Sci Fi trope of time travel, just as Mary Shelley popularized the motif of mad scientists in Frankenstein.
37. Letters after ems: ENS. Plurals of the 13th and 14th letters of the English alphabet. I doubt we would see a similar clue for the 16th letter.
40. Press into service: USE.
43. __ history: ORAL.
44. Buy eagerly, as discount goods: SNAP UP.
51. One getting private instruction: TUTEE. Tutor/tutee. Mentor/mentee.
52. Pottery remnant: SHARD.
53. What snakes' tongues sense: ODOR.
55. Take a nap: DOZE. Anonymous T ! Wake up !
56. Brunch cocktail: MIMOSA. Tinbeni can wet his whistle if he likes champagne with his brunch.
58. Hawaiian feast: LUAU. Poi, pig, poke, pineapple and punch, and hopefully some music to set the mood.
60. Mishmash: OLIO. Hodgepodge.
67. Texter's button: SEND. Please don't text while driving. Spread the word.
68. __ out a living: EKED.
69. Bee product: HONEY.
70. Neither calm nor collected: EDGY.
71. Loch __ monster: NESS. Nellie.
72. Cell terminal: ANODE. The other terminal is the cathode. I ordered a new battery for my cell phone.
Down:
1. Tool for making eyelet holes: AWL.
2. P-like Greek letter: RHO.
An iconic advertising campaign that started with a pair of rebel cows painting a billboard.
4. Trade restriction: EMBARGO.
5. Word with fair and square: DEAL. And real.
6. Lodging spots: HOTELS.
7. 58-Across instrument: UKE. Good choice for a luau.
8. Go wrong: ERR. I don't know whether the ad agency was promoting the dress or the clutch, but I'm pretty sure that mirrors don't work that way.
9. Common work shift: DAYS.
10. Explorer Boone: DANIEL.
11. Eyelike spots: OCELLI. Not your common Tuesday crossword word.
The Peacock's 'Tuneful' Tail Feathers
12. Tilt dangerously around corners: CAREEN. A Google site search indicates this word has been an answer in only three LA Times crosswords since C.C. started this blog.
13. Teased: KIDDED.
18. Sock part: TOE.
22. Atmospheric kind of music: AMBIENT. We had ambience as an answer in Bruce Haight's puzzle last Thursday, and it is an uncommon answer, but we've seen ambient as an answer even less. We mostly see it as a clue, as in "Ambient music pioneer Brian ___."
23. Plot measure: ACRE.
24. Author Didion: JOAN. Author, The Year of Magical Thinking
25. Weaponry: ARMS.
27. Tolled mournfully: KNELLED. A rare answer in LA Times crossword puzzles. The only occurrence I could find was a Jeffrey Weschler Friday puzzle in 2014.
28. By oneself: SOLO.
31. Sudden attacks: INROADS. 2nd definition. I think more in terms of the 1st: Bits of progress, advancements.
33. Dazzles: WOWS.
35. 50-50 choice, perhaps: A OR B.
39. Scott of "Happy Days": BAIO. He played Chachi.
40. __-the-minute: UP TO. I'm jaded by the major news TV outlets and all of the "Breaking News" headlines that are anything but.
41. Canal in a 1956 dispute: SUEZ.
42. Fencing sword: EPEE.
45. Society named for an ornithologist: AUDUBON. The only occurrence I could find was a Pam Amick Klawitter Friday puzzle in 2016.
46. Seep slowly through: OSMOSE. Another rare answer. A Brad Wilber Saturday and a Bruce Haight Wednesday.
47. Caused to pass (away), as time: WHILED. A Google site search proved to me that I've never seen this in a clue or an answer for LA Times crossword puzzle. Only in comments.
48. Causing to limp, say: LAMING. Pretty much the same as above, but as far I can tell, no one has ever used this word even in the comments section.
49. Feeling depressed: BROODY. We've seen the word in clues, but I couldn't find it as an answer.
50. Geometric category: SOLIDS.
54. Sprint: RUN.
57. "Yes indeed!": AMEN. You can say that again.
59. Muslim honorific: AGHA.
62. '50s White House nickname: IKE. DDE becomes CIC of the country.
63. Simple signatures: XES.
64. Yoko from Tokyo: ONO.
65. United in marriage: WED.
66. Cleaning chemical: LYE.
It's not as if there wasn't a lot of common crossword fill. There was, and that's not unusual for a Tuesday puzzle. But I was struck by the uncommon answers, and it added to my enjoyment. I hope you enjoyed it as well.
