Saturday, April 15, 2023, C.C. Burnikel

Themeless Saturday by C.C. Burnikel

Our beloved blogmistress (and very pretty honorary Cornhusker) has another Saturday challenge for us. I had one bad cell in the same location as last week. 8 Across and 8 Down cost me a "got 'er done". My vowel coin flip came up wrong.

Across:

1. Green edges: FRINGES - C.C. had to steer this golfer away from green dress fringes to golf green FRINGES.

Can you see the ball on the FRINGE?

8. Art form also known as "kado," or "way of flowers": IKEBANA.

15. African country whose flag is similar to Old Glory: LIBERIA.

16. Sheep from Spain: MERINOS - I guessed correctly on the M

17. Get better with time: AGE WELL.

18. Wall Street figure: ANALYST - The ones on TV can really get it wrong!

19. Soft touches: PATS.

20. Victoria Arlen's cable channel: ESPN.

22. "Les Misérables" escape route: SEWER.

23. Close: NEAR.

24. 2020 NL batting champion Juan: SOTO - In the Covid year where he played only 47 games.

25. Largest moon of Saturn: TITAN.

28. Is behind, perhaps: OWES.

32. "This Is Us" Emmy winner __ Cephas Jones: RON.

33. Bar mixer: TONIC.

34. Minute: SMALL.

35. Cold case evidence: DNA.

36. "Big congrats!": I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU - This was my first long fill that helped unlock the puzzle 

39. Pin cushion?: MAT.

40. Ingredient in some crusts: OREOS.

41. Part of the inn crowd: GUEST 😀

42. "What's ur __?": ETA - Police code, "What's your 10-77?"

43. Brief periods: SECS.

44. Lipstick type: MATTE.

45. Policy maven: WONK - My granddaughter just accepted a big time job in D.C. where she will be well on her way to using her love of being a WONK.

47. Close (to): AKIN.

49. Destination for the last flight?: ATTIC - 😀 and 58. Place for playthings: TOY ROOM - Here the last flight of stairs end up in the ATTIC TOY ROOM.

51. Knock harshly: SLAM.

52. X6 and i4 cars: BMWS - Here's an X6

56. Seedy place: RAT TRAP.

60. Record in advance: PRE-TAPE - These days, I am recording the old Perry Mason shows from the 50's and 60's that feature some of the most beautiful cars ever made.

61. Emphatic denial: I SAID NO - No means no!

62. Hold a grudge: STAY MAD.

63. Old money neighborhood in "The Great Gatsby": EAST EGG.

Down:

1. Wing it?: FLAP - 😀

2. Birthplace of Mikhail Baryshnikov and Mikhail Tal: RIGA - Ballet and Chess masters were born in Latvia

3. Skeptical reply: I BET.

4. Paper product?: NEWS - I still get some NEWS from the Omaha World Herald after I do the cwd

5. Test for some srs.: GRE.

6. Collins who was the first woman Space Shuttle commander: EILEEN and 14. Space Shuttle commander, e.g.: ASTRONAUT.

7. __ verde: SALSA - Even I know verde is Spanish for green.

8. "Ms. Marvel" star Vellani: IMAN.

9. Mental perception: KEN - Knowledge of the woman above is beyond my KEN

                                 ken

1. one's range of knowledge or sight.

   "such determination is beyond my ken"

10. Significant stretches: ERAS.

11. Gymnast named Time's Athlete of the Year in 2021: BILES - Her TRIPLE DOUBLE was featured in Monday's puzzle

12. Request for an update: ANY WORD YET.

13. Like the traditional Maori greeting known as the Hongi: NOSE TO NOSE - With then Prince Charles

21. Senior's big ask: PROMPOSAL - Portmanteau of PROM and PORPOSAL

23. Chips on the table: NACHOS and 46. Chips on the table: KITTY - 😀

  
 

25. Tangy pastry: TOMATO TART.

26. Quick beverage: INSTANT TEA - I can't imagine C.C. drinking this 😒

27. Nico Márquez, to Dora the Explorer: TIO - Can you find Uncle Nico?

29. Routes: WAYS.

30. Jon Favreau holiday film: ELF - Good luck finding Jon's name

31. Commercial line: SLOGAN.

33. Sci-fi anomalies: TIME WARPS - Is that how Marty McFly made it Back To The Future? 😀

34. Contractor's detail, briefly: SPEC.

37. Amount to: ARE.

38. Tire track: RUT - They can cause great damage on a golf course

44. Bottomless brunch drink, often: MIMOSA.

48. Journalist Couric: KATIE.

50. Quick study?: CRAM.

51. Apt rhyme of "fled": SPED.

52. Many a theatre attendee: BRIT.  - "theatre"

53. Gamer's choice: MODE - The USA Today Puzzle allows to you to choose between Casual or Expert MODE

54. King, in Cantonese: WONG - C.C. gave me the okay on these ways of writing it.

55. Hazy stuff: SMOG.

57. "I Still Believe" actor KJ __: APA.

59. "Love it!": YAS.