google.com, pub-2774194725043577, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 L.A.Times Crossword Corner

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Oct 13, 2023

Friday October 13th, 2023 ~ Doug Peterson

Got Style?

Fashion Don'ts

Doug Peterson is a veteran constructor who, when not in the LAT, I oft spot in Southwest Airline's Spirit magazine. No matter where I find him, his puzzles are always a treat. Today, he teases me with something I've never been accused of... Let's see what I mean:

17. *Refrain from walking on the lawn?: SKIRT GRASS. "It takes six feet of dirt to grow that grass and two feet to kill it. And those two feet are yours, private!" -Drill Sgt.
Grass Skirt

22. *Doesn't pay enough in island taxes?: SHORTS BERMUDA. Isn't that where you headquarter to short Uncle Sam on taxes?
Extra pockets added later ;-)

46. *Gives the third degree to the decorator?: PUMPS DESIGNER
 
Not A Torture Device(?)

52. *Put a limit on wash time?: CAP BATHING. Oy, the girls in my house will empty the water heater and timer soaking it up.
Retro!

34. With 37-Across, up on the latest trends, and a fitting description of the answers to the starred clues?: FASHION.

37. See 34-Across: FORWARD.

FASHION FORWARD -- conforming to, attuned to, or characterized by the latest trends in fashion or, in this puzzle, putting the clothes before the style.

Much to DW's chagrin, I put function & comfort over form. I did read Cargo Shorts are back - so, I'm hep again ;-)

Across:
1. __ Griffin Way: street in Beverly Hills: MERV.  Named for MERV Griffin - the creator of Wheel of Fortune & Jeopardy.

5. "Superfudge" writer: BLUME. Judy Blume wrote Y-A (Young-Adult) literature before there really was such a category. Are You There God? It's Me Margret is Blume's book I most remember.

10. Completely level: RAZE. //Story:
I was 9yrs old on the roof of the 5 story Trifty Drug Building at 5th & Monroe with Pop and Gramps (who were sippin' beers) to watch the Hotel Abrahham Lincoln get RAZEd (hope that Facebook link works). The State-Journal Register carried the story (and I carried their paper).

14. Lip balm additive: ALOE.

15. AL and NL divisions: EASTS. American League and National League both have an East, Central, and West divisions. #Baseball.

16. In history: EVER. Well, I nEVER!

17. [See: Theme]

19. Recital highlight: SOLO. Only if it's your kid singing.

20. Unassuming: MEEK.  They will inherit the Earth.

21. Some invisible inks: ACIDS. I'm assuming etching and not secret messages that burn through the paper. //though, um, lemon juice makes good invisible ink and it is an acid.

22. [See: Theme]

27. Traffic jams: TIE UPS. Loop 610 between I-69 and I-10 is among the worst in Texas and is part of my daily commute.
 
Entry ramp to 610S & I-69 (nee US59).

28. Hacienda material: ADOBE.
 
Adobe Abode

29. Single section: UNIT. The Hacienda above looks like a single UNIT.

30. Nimble: AGILE.

31. Alternative to OAK: SFO. Oakland, CA and San Francisco, CA are nearby airports with respective FAA codes.

34. [See: Theme]

37. [See: Theme]

39. __ for tat: TIT. You know the limerick...

40. Dapper: NATTY. An Easter Egg bonus. NATTY: current in style in both dress and manners.
Dapper - See: Poirot.
David Suchet played it best, Oui?

42. Creme-filled snack: OREO.

43. Less risky: SAFER.

44. Business news: MERGER.

46. [See: Theme].

49. "Start the music!": HIT IT.

50. Bunches: ALOT.

51. __ interview: EXIT.

52. [See: Theme]

58. Many an Olympic event: RACE.

59. One-fourth of a 45-Down: AWARD.

60. Result of cogitating: IDEA.

61. ThirdLove garments: BRAS. ThirdLove is a lingerie company that somehow I knew about.

62. Circuit device: RELAY. Also, a song by The Who.
 

The Who - Relay [5m]

63. Shows drowsiness: NODS. Hopefully not you, dear reader, at this point.

Down:
1. More, in Mexico: MAS. Is that Spain-Spanish too? I ask for Youngest who will spend next semester in Madrid but learned Spanish in Texas, er, Tejas.

2. Caribou kin: ELK.

3. Financial performance measure, for short: ROI. Return On Investment.

4. Martini ingredient: VERMOUTH. I like wet-martinis (2:1 gin:vermouth); MIL likes 'em dry - "Just pass the cork over the glass," she says.

5. Fathers: BEGETS. Present tense of begat. Pop says most every DIY project turns into the "begat system." Go to fix a pipe and find the valve doesn't work begets replacing the valve which begets going to hardware store to buy a curb-key to cutoff water to the house.  True story.
 
Curb-Key

6. Merry escapades: LARKS. Sprees didn't fit.

7. NATO member: USA. United States of America is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

8. Pts. of a range: MTS. Mountain ranges.

9. Cornering challenge: ESS.
 
Stock Photo

10. Get out of a jam: RESCUE.

11. Keep clear of: AVOID.

12. Writer Fitzgerald: ZELDA.

13. Consort of Psyche: EROS.

18. UMD athlete: TERP. University of Maryland.

21. Honey-colored: AMBER.

22. Red Sea peninsula: SINAI.

23. "Money __": Spanish Netflix crime series: HEIST.

24. Skittles package: BAG.

25. Spiritually enlighten: EDIFY.

26. Chocolate-and-caramel candy: ROLO.
 
Delicious

27. Clump on a lawn: TUFT.

30. Got in on the deal: ANTED.

31. Noncom nickname: SARGE. Non-Commissioned Officer; E-5 and above. 
 
That Tracks

32. Less restricted: FREER.  Meh - it's a word but I don't have to like it.

33. Baking soda target: ODOR.

35. Poorly chosen: INAPT.

36. Clods: OAFS.

38. Grown less appealing: WORN THIN.

41. Uno e due: TRE. Italian math: I + II = III.

43. Strikes down: SMITES. Old Testament God seemed to smite aplenty.

44. Word said with a curtsy: MILADY.

45. Impressive entertainment acronym: EGOT. Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony but not HDTV ;-). All, save my first thought, are performance AWARDS as per 59a.

46. "Soul" studio: PIXAR.
 

Soul Trailer

47. City near Rome: UTICA.

48. Hummus brand: SABRA.
If you don't have time to make your own - not bad.

49. Kitchen garden plant: HERB. My herbs are out in the garden and I use all my garden plants in the kitchen. //Oh, except the flower-garden plants -- now I get it.

52. Electric __: CAR.

53. Bowl over: AWE.

54. Playmate: PAL.

55. Phrase preceding "By the power vested in me ...": I DO. One more I DO and then kissing before begetting ;-)

56. Evangelical character on "The Simpsons": NED.
 
Hi Diddly Ho!

57. Island purchase: GAS. Kitchen-island gas range or petrol-station pump islands? We should be told.

The Grid:

 
The Grid


The TL;DR:
WOs: escapE -> RESCUE which begat coda->SOLO. BEGaT-> BEGET, Siani -> SINAI #untie!
ESP: ZELDA
Fav: Learning what NATTY means.

There you have it. Doug HIT IT out of the park again. That's it from me.  Y'all have a great weekend!
Cheers, -T