Hey Bartender!
19. "New Miserable Experience" pop band: GIN BLOSSOMS. I nailed it sans perps - I have the CD.
Hey Jealousy
25. Pepper named for its resemblance to a tam-o'-shanter: SCOTCH BONNET.
 |
| Recipe |
52. Role for Jason Derulo in 2019's "Cats": RUM TUM TUGGER.
63. British desserts similar to cannoli: BRANDY SNAPS.
41. "Now you're talking!," and what can be said about the ts of 19-, 25-, 52-, and 63-Across: THATS THE SPIRIT.
That was (hic!) a bit (hic!) of fun, no? (hic!) Let's check the fill...
Across:
1. Range across eight European countries: ALPS. Those countries being France, Switzerland, Monaco, Italy, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, and Slovenia.
5. Plays the kazoo, say: HUMS.
9. Pet also called a rainbow fish: GUPPY. I was thinking a tetra.
14. Look at: VIEW.
15. Best: ONE UP.
17. Really loud: AROAR.
18. "You are something __!": ELSE. The nerve!
19. [See: Theme]
21. Yelp user, e.g.: RATER. Yelp lets users RATE a service. Look at the 3 & 2-star comments to get a better idea. //my $0.02
23. Actor Hemsworth: LIAM.
 |
| LIAM |
24. "Pagoda Fruit" artist Jean: ARP.
 |
| That's a "fruit?" |
25. [See: Theme]
29. UPS alternative: DHL. German company founded in 1969 by Americans Adrian Dalsey, Larry Hillblom, and Robert Lynn.
31. Bangs on the head?: HAIR. In the UK, it's called a fringe.
32. Annual awards: NOBELS. I prefer the Ig Nobels.
34. NNW opposite: SSE. North-northwest is opposite south-southeast.
36. Soda brand that turned 125 in 2023: PEPSI.
40. Ranted and __: RAVED.
41. [See: Theme]
44. Boscs and Bartletts: PEARS. Learned this years ago from crosswords.
45. Book list entry: TITLE.
46. San Jose Earthquakes org.: MLS. The Earthquakes are a Major League Soccer team.
47. Some mattresses: SERTAS.
49. Pond organism: ALGA.
51. Variety: ILK.
52. [See: Theme]
59. "More info soon" letters: TBA.
61. FaceTime alternative: ZOOM. Covid put this company on the map.
62. Drum kit component: SNARE.
 |
| A drum kit. Wanna hear Neil Peart? [Letterman] |
63. [See: Theme]
67. Actress __ Rachel Wood: EVAN.
 |
| Evan Rachel Wood |
68. Yogurt-based dip: RAITA.
 |
| Recipe |
69. Microwave feature: TIMER.
70. French head: TETE. Today's French lesson.
71. Made a choice: OPTED.
72. "Arrivederci!": CIAO. Today's Italian lesson.
73. Sluggish: SLOW.
Down:
1. Swears up and down: AVERS.
2. Purple hue: LILAC.
3. Herbaceous sauce: PESTO. Herbaceous? That's a new word on me.
 |
| I do love me some basil pesto |
4. Honey: SWEET HEART. I had SWEETie pie.
5. Biker's ride: HOG. Did you know that's the stock-ticker symbol for Harley Davidson?
6. Singular prefix: UNI.
7. __ Park, California: MENLO.
8. Join the game as a replacement: SUB IN.
9. 5-Down fuel: GAS.
10. Major in astronomy?: URSA. Cute - the Great Bear constellation.
 |
| There must not have been much light pollution for them to get a bear out of this |
11. Pitiable person: POOR DEVIL.
12. Printed handouts: PAMPHLETS.
13. Jr. and sr.: YRS. Not son & father but 3rd & 4th years of high-school or collage (aka UNI).
16. Scheme: PLAN.
20. Sign of things to come: OMEN.
22. Classic TV brand: RCA. Hi Misty!
26. Hula Hoop movers: HIPS.
27. "Ted Lasso" actor Goldstein: BRETT.
 |
| He played SWEET HEART foul-mouthed Roy Kent on Ted Lasso and his stand-up is funny but NSFW / this Blog. |
28. Pop singer Amos: TORI.
30. Psychopharmacology initials: LSD. Lysergic acid diethylamide - ask your parents about Timothy Leary.
33. Objects that attract iron filings: BAR MAGNETS. How is this not part of the theme? :-)
34. Good memory, metaphorically: STEEL TRAP. My mind is a steel trap... rusted shut.
35. Nickname given to Nemo by the Tank Gang: SHARK BAIT.
37. __ Beta Kappa: PHI.
38. Cohesive group: SET.
39. Imam's faith: ISLAM.
42. Russian ruler, once: TSAR.
43. Attack with water balloons, say: PELT.
44. Inflation letters: PSI. Pounds per Square Inch. And here I was thinking Consumer Price Index until, with ESP, the V-8 can hit.
48. __ Sheep: Peppa Pig's best friend: SUZY. A buddy of mine is trying to learn Mandarin by watching the Chinese version of Peppa Pig. Also, fun bit, Peppa Pig is giving American toddlers British Accents.
50. Gloomy guy: GUS.
53. More than half: MOST.
54. Elixir: TONIC. Add a lime & GIN for a G&T //theme adjacent?
55. Savory flavor: UMAMI. Added to tastes sweet, salty, sour, & bitter in 1907 by Dr. Kikunae Ikeda of Japan after an especially good bowl of miso (er, kombu dashi - aka, seaweed & tofu to us 'Mericans).
56. Judge's hammer: GAVEL.
57. Muse of poetry: ERATO.
58. Sign up for another season: RENEW. I can't tell you how many streaming services we have (no really, I don't know!) and they magically renew.
60. Two chips, say: ANTE. Do Brits sweeten the pot with crisps? ;-)
63. Certain sib: BRO. I have two. And two SISes.
64. Papa: DAD. Pop is the DAD of all five (5) of us.
65. Wasabi-coated snack: PEA.
66. Sellout letters: SRO. Standing Room Only. I've been to a few SRO games; tell you what - even if you had a seat, you'd be standing out of excitement at every pitch.
The Grid:
 |
| The Grid |
WOs: SWEETie pie
ESPs: SCOTCH BONNET, RUM TUM TUGGER, EVAN
Fav: BAR MAGNETS and TONIC are other Easter Eggs.
That was a lot to swill. But, S.O.B., gimme a drink before I get the Night Sweats.
Cheers, -T
