Games in a Time of Pandemic. Gather 'round, kids. It's Family Time!
17-Across. * The opportunity to be successful again: A NEW LEASE ON LIFE.
24-Across. * "I'd do the same thing again": NOT SORRY.
33-Across. * "Stupid superstition," for one: TONGUE TWISTER.
47-Across. * "Don't be so oblivious": GET A CLUE!
And the Unifier:
54-Across. Evening with the kids, or when the ends of the answers to starred clues might be played: FAMILY GAME NIGHT.
Across:
17-Across. * The opportunity to be successful again: A NEW LEASE ON LIFE.
24-Across. * "I'd do the same thing again": NOT SORRY.
33-Across. * "Stupid superstition," for one: TONGUE TWISTER.
47-Across. * "Don't be so oblivious": GET A CLUE!
And the Unifier:
54-Across. Evening with the kids, or when the ends of the answers to starred clues might be played: FAMILY GAME NIGHT.
Across:
1. Bay Area force: Abbr.: SFPD. As in the San Francisco Police Department.
5. Leaves at the altar: JILTS.
10. News story opening: LEDE. I learned the spelling of this word from doing the crossword puzzles. This spelling of Lede is relatively new in Merriam-Webster's dictionary.
14. Words with bow or knot: TIE A.
15. Eye-boggling work: OP ART.
16. Foreboding sign: OMEN.
20. Defunct luxury New York department store: BARNEYS. An interesting background of Barneys.
21. Chinese leader who said, "Women hold up half the sky": MAO. For whatever reason, Andy Warhol painted a series of silk-screened portraits of Mao.
22. Ruby, for one: GEM. Rubies are my favorite gem stones. It is the birthstone of July.
23. Admission of deceit: I LIED.
26. Swedish soprano Jenny: LIND. Jenny Lind (née Johanna Maria Lind; Oct. 6, 1820 ~ Nov. 2, 1887) was a Swedish opera singer. She was known as the Swedish Nightingale. In 1850, she made a tour in the United States, sponsored by none other than P.T. Barnum.
27. Beast with tusks: BOAR.
29. Color tones: HUES.
Hues of Red
30. Natl. population, e.g.: EST. As in Estimate, I suppose.
31. Swiss high point: ALP.
32. Director Craven: WES. Wes Craven (né Wesley Earl Craven; Aug. 2, 1939 ~ Aug. 30, 2015) was a film director best known for his horror films, such as the Nightmare on Elm Street series. He died of a brain tumor shortly after his 76th birthday.
39. Like some jokes: OLD.
40. + or - particle: ION. Today's chemistry lesson.
41. "You betcha": YEP!
43. Jones of the Monkees: DAVY. The Monkees was a band that was originally created for a sit-com. Davy Jones (né David Thomas Jones; Dec. 30, 1945 ~ Feb. 29, 2012) was the British member of the band. The other three were American. Sadly, Davy died of a heart attack at age 66.
The Monkees. Davy Jones is the "cute" one. You decide.
45. "Ultimate Driving Machine" vehicles: BMWs.
46. Soccer immortal: PELÉ. Pelé (né Edson Arantes do Nascimento; b. Oct. 23, 1940) is a retired Brazilian Soccer (Football outside the US) player.
49. Propose, as a theory: POSIT.
50. Musician Yoko: ONO. Yoko Ono (b. Feb. 18, 1933) makes frequent guest appearances in the puzzles.
51. Stick in a boat: OAR. Fun clue.
52. Capital of Georgia (the country): TBILISI. Tbilisi is in the far south east.
57. New Haven collegians: ELIs. Yale students are called Elis after Elihu Yale (Apr. 5, 1649 ~ July 8, 1721). He was a major benefactor of the Collegiate School, which was later named Yale University in his honor. The name of the university has come under controversy recently because Elihu Yale made a good portion of his wealth in the slave trade.
58. Raze: LEVEL.
59. Friend's pronoun: THEE. Quakers are known as Friends. Quakers are known for "plain speaking" and use of the words "thee" and "thy."
60. Like creamy desserts: RICH.
61. "__ you sweet!": AREN'T.
62. Nos. on an airport board: ETDs. As in Estimated Times of Departure.
Down:
1. Unmoving Calder work: STABILE. Sculptor Alexander Calder (July 22, 1898 ~ Nov. 11, 1976) was best known for his innovative stationary mobiles. Many of his pieces are outdoor artworks in major cities. The one below is in Chicago.
2. Last round contestant: FINALIST.
3. Scrutinize using, as a microscope: PEER INTO.
4. Became clear to, with "on": DAWNED.
5. Baby marsupial: JOEY.
6. Some beers: Abbr.: IPAs. We often imbibe on India Pale Ales in the morining crossword puzzle.
7. __ Vegas: LAS. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.
8. Quake aftershock: TREMOR.
9. Brown ermine: STOAT.
10. "OMG, funny!": LOL. Textspeak for Laughing Out Loud. It is now a crossword staple.
11. Asylum seeker: EMIGRE.
12. Postpones: DEFERS. I initially tried Delay.
13. Foe: ENEMY.
18. Headed up: LED.
19. Grabs a snack: NOSHES. From the Yiddish word נאַשן, meaning "to nibble on".
24. When toddlers snooze: NAP TIME. Be sure to wake them up in time for Family Game Night.
25. Cast out: OUST.
27. Data transmission unit: BAUD. According to Webster's, Baud is a "unit of transmission speed equal to the number of times a signal changes state per second. For one baud is equivalent to one bit per second." All clear?
28. Cry after un gol: ¡OLÉ!
32. Carries the day: WINS.
34. Bright star: NOVA.
Chevy Nova
35. Ethylene __: antifreeze: GLYCOL.
36. "That's big news!": WOW!
37. Optometrist's concern: EYESIGHT. What is the lowest line you can read?
38. Completely enjoyed: RELISHED.
42. Small sizes: PETITES.
43. North America's highest peak: DENALI. Mt. Denali has a summit elevation of 20,310 feet above sea level. The mountain had been known as Mt. McKinley, after President William McKinley, but was chnaged to Denali in the 1970s. Denali is based in the Koyukon name of the Mount which means "the high one".
44. Type of energy or reactor: ATOMIC.
45. Backyard barbecue staple: BURGER.
46. Considerate: POLITE.
47. One picking up the staff lunch order, perhaps: GOFER.
48. Clapton classic: LAYLA. I love this song.
49. Wrestler's goal: PIN.
52. Feds under Ness: T-MEN.
53. Sing (out) loudly: BELT.
55. Kinda: -ISH.
56. Latin greeting: AVE.
Here's the Grid:
