Monday April 18, 2022 Doug Peterson

Theme: FRESH START (60. New beginning, and what the first words of the answers to the starred clues can literally have)

17. *Mobile game with a variety of blades: FRUIT NINJA. Fresh fruit.

23. *Inked designs on one's chin and cheeks, e.g.: FACE TATTOOS. Fresh face.

39. *Summer cooler: AIR CONDITIONING. Fresh air.

48. *Meghan Markle's husband: PRINCE HARRY. Fresh Prince.

Boomer here. This is the first L.A. Times crossword edited by Patti Varol. And a themed puzzle from the themeless expert Doug Peterson. A fresh start.

Patti & Doug (Thanks, Husker Gary)

 

I had a FRESH dose of chemo last Thursday. Speaking of air conditioning, we had 4-5 more days of winter, so our air did not need to be conditioned yet.

Across:

1. "Thor: Ragnarok" actress Thompson: TESSA.

 

 

6. Traditional dress of India: SARI.  Guys wear tunics and long jackets

10. Apples reviewed on tech sites: MACS.  Also a big hamburger.

14. The NCAA's Huskies: U CONN.  Basketball home of Paige Bueckers.  She grew up in Hopkins Minnesota and played for Hopkins High.  I also grew up in Hopkins but went to a catholic High School in a nearby suburb.

15. Actor Dorsey of "Queen Sugar": OMAR.  Ilhan OMAR is a Minnesota representative in Congress.

16. Sonic rebound: ECHO.

19. "Better late __ never": THAN.  But better never late.

20. Surf's partner: TURF.

21. "Looking for," in personal ads: ISO.  In Search Of

22. Like a smokestack: SOOTY.  We quit using our basement fireplace. Too SOOTY.

27. Convenience called a "cashpoint" in the U.K.: ATM.  We quit using ours. Too criminally controversial.

30. Luau instrument, briefly: UKE.  Tiny Tim's choice of musical.

31. Comic Margaret: CHO.

32. Obedient puppy's reward: TREAT.

34. Mexican cruise port: ACAPULCO.  I never got past Tijuana.

42. Fit together nicely: DOVETAIL.  If your tee shots do this, change your golf ball.

43. Venomous snake: VIPER.

44. Big coffee vessel: URN.  Normally in restaurants.

45. Honeybunny: BAE.

47. Fr. holy title: STE.

53. Literature Nobelist Munro: ALICE.  Wonderland lady

54. PC "oops" key: ESC.  C'mon, I don't make Misstackes.

55. Approx. landing hours: ETAS.  Better late than never, but better never late.

59. Insurance quote: RATE.  Never cheap.

63. Great Sphinx locale: GIZA.

64. Adequately skilled: ABLE.  If I could get my legs back, I may be ABLE to bowl again.

65. Spotted horse: PINTO.  A vintage compact Ford.

66. Black gemstone: ONYX.

67. Soft drizzle: MIST.  We just had five more days of winter last week in Minnesota.  More than a MIST, it was that white stuff.

68. Off-kilter: ASKEW.

Down:

1. Small clump: TUFT.  DIVOT had too many letters.

2. Light beige: ECRU.

3. Whiskey cocktail: SOUR.  Terrible.  Back in my days I normally had ONE VO Manhattan with cherry juice. One was always enough.

4. Scratch and __: SNIFF.  Like a lottery ticket.

5. Tiny crumb carrier: ANT.  I have mentioned them before.  They find a little hole in our driveway and dig in their home.

6. "Evidently": SO I SEE.  Said the blind man, but he really didn't.

7. "Are too!" response: AM NOT.

8. "The Big Bang Theory" character: RAJ.

9. Nest egg letters: IRA.  Retirement venture. 25. Pt. of 9-Down: ACCT. Account.

10. Silence-breaking women's movement: ME TOO.

11. "Bless you!" trigger: ACHOO.  I generally get a sneezing attack every morning.

12. Makes small talk: CHATS.

13. Walkman developer: SONY.  Never owned one of them.

18. One of the Jonas Brothers: NICK.  Also a Saint in a red suit that comes once a year.

22. Drop by: STOPOVER.

24. Pitch-correcting vocal effect: AUTO-TUNE.

26. Som tam cuisine: THAI.

27. Just barely: A TAD.

28. The Chicks, e.g.: TRIO.  Chad Mitchell guys were my favorite.  But I know you new that.  After Chad left to go on his own, John Denver got his start.

29. "Jeopardy!" creator Griffin: MERV.  I watch most episodes every night.  Sometimes I know an answer or two to some of those questions called answers.

33. Card with one pip: ACE.

34. Feel rotten: AIL. Oddly, after four shots of chemotherapy, I still do not feel rotten.

35. Verse starter?: UNI.

36. ''My __ are sealed!'': LIPS.  MISS HOT LIPS on M.A.S.H.

37. Tech review site: CNET.

38. Brute of folklore: OGRE.

40. Cop after dealers: NARC.

41. Eat in style: DINE.  I hope a pizza counts.

45. Droopy-eared hound: BASSET.

46. St. Louis landmark: ARCH.  I have seen this when I went to a World Series game at Busch Stadium in 1987.  But I did not take the trip up inside it.

48. Not fancy: PLAIN.

49. Very fancy: RITZY.  I eat their crackers with peanut butter.

50. Alpine climbing tool: ICE AX.  Tiger Woods bathing tool

51. Dressy footwear: HEELS.  I just put my HEELS in the footwear.

52. Bigfoot relatives: YETIS.

53. Cornstarch brand in yellow-and-blue containers: ARGO.

56. Aquarium: TANK.  Our Twins TANKED two games to Seattle but then came back to even the series.  Followed by 4 days of winter. 

57. Works in un museo: ARTE.

58. Pack away: STOW.

60. Sibs, 'rents, etc.: FAM.

61. Stat in softball: RBI.  Also in baseball.  Major leagues has begun.  I've been a Twins fan since 1961.  But I respect all of you home team rooters.

62. Self-care getaway: SPA.  Never used one.  I heard Tiger Woods puts ice in his.

Boomer