Monday November 23, 2020 Joseph A. Gangi

Theme: STRING TRIO (61. Ensemble playing in this puzzle's circles) - String of letters in each theme entry form a string instrument.

17. Sacred, as a promise: INVIOLABLE.

36. University leader: CHANCELLOR.

42. High-ranking foreign diplomat: AMBASSADOR.

Boomer here. Congrats to Joseph A. Gangi's LAT debut.

VIOLA was a Twins pitcher in the 1987 World Series. My ticket stubs from that event are now CELLO wrapped.  And BASS is a popular Minnesota fish. Stay stay safe for the holidays ahead.

Across:

1. Archaeological sites: DIGS.

5. Farm trough contents: FEED.  Pigs will gather around.

9. Gambler's calculation: RISK.  I think Kramer and Newman battled at this game with cheating optional.

 

13. "Right now!" letters: ASAP.  If you say so, I thought it meant as soon as possible,

14. Home for monks: ABBEY.  I loved the Beatles "Abbey Road" album cover where they walked in single file in a crosswalk.

16. Lake with Canada's southernmost point: ERIE.  The Great Lakes are a wonder of the world.  It is amazing how they wind their way from Minnesota to New York.

19. Labyrinthine: MAZY.

20. How a sharp incline rises: STEEPLY.  Start at the top and it becomes a ski slope.

21. Steak orders: T BONES.

23. Confer knighthood on: DUB.  Don't make fun of my golf game.  Thanks.

24. Homer's story of 67-Across: ILIAD. 67. Helen's city: TROY.

26. __ XING: crosswalk sign: PED.  Railroad crossing look out for the cars.  Can you spell that without any Rs?

29. Full of attitude: SASSY.  There is a gluten- free restaurant in Minneapolis called SASSY Spoon.  I've never been there though.  I like gluten.

31. Appear: SEEM.

34. Woodshed tools: AXES.  Paul Bunyan Land in Brainerd, MN has one of his AXES. 

39. Join (in): PARTAKE.  Minnesota has limited the number of folks to PARTAKE with family for Thanksgiving.  Please stay safe.

41. Be worthy of: DESERVE.  I am sure that none of us DESERVE the coronavirus.

44. Bump off: DO IN.

45. Part of GPS: Abbr.: SYST.

46. Goes on a tirade: RANTS.  Billy Martin never liked umpires much.

48. "__-haw!": YEE.  I think it's supposed to be HEE.  I've seen a few shows.

49. 28-Down entrant: HORSE.  His name was not Mister Ed. 

51. "Ready, __, fire!": AIM.  Ready, AIM, Bowl. Vaccines are coming.

53. "Our thoughts are with you": WE CARE.

56. Museum contents: FINE ART. C.C. and I visited a museum in Minneapolis years ago.  Not my favorite thing to do, sorry. 

60. Swear to be true: AVOW.

64. Storm relief org.: FEMA.  I am sure they had plenty to do at our Gulf Coast this year.

65. Woven fabric: TWILL.

66. TV award: EMMY.  I vote for Seinfeld.

68. Carry out instructions: OBEY.

69. Dark or marble breads: RYES.  Great for Reuben sandwiches.

Down:

1. Orator's platform: DAIS.

2. "__ that special?": ISN'T.  Thank you for that, Church Lady.

3. Contributed to the cause: GAVE.  I donated some decent food to the Hyundai dealer and did not ask for a lower price. Isn't that special ??

4. Did undercover work: SPIED.

5. Alternative plans: FALL-BACKS.  FALL has arrived in Minnesota and snow is BACK. 

6. Online auction site: EBAY.  I used it a lot with baseball cards and other collectibles 15 years ago.  Now it has become a bit more complicated and postage is really high.

7. Retreat, as the tide: EBB.

8. Md. neighbor: DEL.  " What did DELaware, she wore her brand New Jersey. 

9. Updated, as a kitchen: REMODELED.

10. Tehran's land: IRAN.  If I RAN the zoo sad young Gerald McGrew, I'd make a few changes and here's what I'd do.  Dr. Suess.

11. 7 or 11, say, in shoes: SIZE.  Wouldn't fit me, I have big feet.

12. Piano's 88: KEYS.  I do not think that even Liberace used all 88 of them.

15. Aptly named brand of coolers: YETI.

18. 27, for Beethoven's "Moonlight": OPUS.

22. Bags on a diamond: BASES.  Who's on First, What's on Second, I don't know's on Third.  Abbott and Costello.

24. "This __ test": IS A.  "If it had been an actual emergency we would have advised you to lie in the mud and crawl."

25. President before Richard: LYNDON.  "Guess who all was there on my date with Lucy Baines. 12 of Linda's Roomates, 11 LIFE reporters. 10 Texas Rangers, 9 Supreme Court Judges, 8 Sting Ray salesman, 7 Secret service, 6 Guided Missiles --- LYNDON B Himself.  4 Beatles 3 congressmen 2 baptizing clergy.  Lucy Baines and me.  Chad Mitchell Trio.

26. Nickname for Hemingway: PAPA.  LYNDON was Lucy'S PAPA.

27. Finals, say: EXAMS.

28. Annual Kentucky race: DERBY.  I have never been there in person, however we have Canterbury Downs Southwest of the city and they simulcast the DERBY so you can lose your money without driving so far.  We do not have OTB.

30. Wool clippers: SHEARS.

32. Youngest Jetson: ELROY.  ELROY Face pitched for the Pirates before my time.

33. Motion picture: MOVIE.  Minnesota Governor Tim Walz paused the MOVIE theaters for at least a month last Friday.  Bowling centers, bars and restaurants went down also.  However restaurants may still be open for takeout and delivery.

35. Set aside for later use: STASH AWAY.

37. "Of course!": CERTAINLY.  "A horse is a horse, of course, of course." Mr. Ed.

38. "The Son of Man" painter Magritte: RENE.

40. Noted fur tycoon: ASTOR. Yeah but he also smuggled opium into China.

43. "Lost" actor Daniel __ Kim: DAE.

47. Perform in a choir: SING.  Yes I did.  I think MTA was my best.  Kingston Trio.

50. Take a breather: REST.  Okay, I will.

52. Taxi calculator: METER.  We found out it was an expensive way to travel in Las Vegas a few years ago.

53. Float, as an aroma: WAFT.

54. Happily-after link: EVER.

55. Crooner Perry: COMO. My older sister's favorite.  Remember "Hot Diggity" ??

56. Put in a folder: FILE.

57. Force to be reckoned with: ARMY.  Yes I was in there too.  But you never had to reckon with me I reckon.

58. Frosty coating: RIME.

59. Mattel specialty: TOYS.  Christmas is coming, How about LEGO ?

62. Tango need, so they say: TWO.

63. Spare bone?: RIB.  Spare RIBS sound good, but Turkey even better.  HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE.  Stay safe and wear a mask.

Boomer