Happy Monday, everyone! sumdaze here with a golden puzzle to celebrate April Fools' Day. It has a holiday theme, just-right Monday level, and a factor of fun. For these reasons, it earns the title:
We will begin with the themed clues:
17 Across. Matching cups, saucers, sugar bowl, etc.: TEA SERVICE. 
22 Across. Colorful hard confection: RIBBON CANDY.
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| This is RIBBON CANDY. It is popular at Christmastime. |
50 Across. Legumes in some chili recipes: KIDNEY BEANS.
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| They are so named because of their kidney-like shape and their color. Actually, thinking of them that way makes them sound far less appetizing. |
57 Across. Mojave Desert yucca: JOSHUA TREE.
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| Some say they inspire images of the biblical Joshua reaching out his arms towards God. |
Here is the reveal:
36 Across. Apt time for pranksters to do the starts of 17-, 22-, 50-, and 57-Across?: APRIL FOOLS' DAY.
"The starts of 17-, 22-, 50-, and 57-Across" are all things pranksters do: TEASE, RIB, KID, and JOSH. 
All four of the themers are two-word phrases. "TEASE" spans both words while the other three are the first syllables of the first words.
Something about this puzzle felt familiar. Did you feel that way, too? Perhaps I was recalling this November 29, 2023 puzzle by Jeanne D. Breen (blogged by Anonymous T) with the reveal ALL KIDDING ASIDE.
I like that Patti gave us a special puzzle to mark today's date. Perhaps she thought, "Well, if no one is going to submit an April Fools' Day puzzle than I will just have to create one."
Across:
1. Low on a spiciness scale: MILD.
9. Future JD's exam: LSAT. To be admitted into a Doctor of Jurisprudence program, one must first pass the Law School Admission Test.
13. Over again: ANEW.
14. Villainous: EVIL.
Jace Everett Bad Things (2005)
This was the theme song to the TV show True Blood (2008-2014).
15. Commuter boat: FERRY.
16. Post-it scribble: NOTE.
19. Starting point: ONSET. Think "time" as opposed to "location".
21. "Luncheon of the Boating Party" painter Pierre-Auguste: RENOIR. The painting is on display at The Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C.
25. "Bowwow!": ARF.
16. Post-it scribble: NOTE.
19. Starting point: ONSET. Think "time" as opposed to "location".
21. "Luncheon of the Boating Party" painter Pierre-Auguste: RENOIR. The painting is on display at The Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C.
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| (1880-1881) Renoir later married the model in the bottom, left. |
25. "Bowwow!": ARF.
dog noises in nine languages (32 sec.)
28. Fr. holy woman: STE. I know this one from doing XWDs. "French" is abbreviated and so is something about a nun.
29. Pep squad cheer: RAH.
30. Alex Morgan's sport: SOCCER. She is an American athlete born on July 2, 1989 who plays forward for the United States' women's national soccer team and the San Diego Wave.
32. Back, at sea: ASTERN. Without the comma, one might try to think of words meaning "to return to the sea".
35. "Good heavens!": OH MY.
40. Antioxidant berry in fruit bowls: ACAI.
41. Tranquil: SERENE.
42. Not exactly: KIND OF.
45. Mariska Hargitay series, familiarly: SVU. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999 - present)
46. Small amount: BIT.
49. Citrus drink suffix: -ADE.
54. Extra charge for a sci. class, e.g.: LAB FEE. Science class
56. Quick bite: SNACK.
61. Share a side with: ABUT. But, wait! We also have 62A....
62. Anticipate: AWAIT.
63. Rhyming tributes: ODES.
64. Train segments: CARS.
65. Terrarium pet: NEWT.
66. Norway's capital: OSLO. and 34 Down. Like Vikings: NORSE.
67. Job: TASK.
Down:
1. Grand homes: MANORS.
2. Part of the plot: IN ON IT.
3. Doesn't interfere with: LETS BE.
29. Pep squad cheer: RAH.
30. Alex Morgan's sport: SOCCER. She is an American athlete born on July 2, 1989 who plays forward for the United States' women's national soccer team and the San Diego Wave.
32. Back, at sea: ASTERN. Without the comma, one might try to think of words meaning "to return to the sea".
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| This diagram helped me see the difference between "stern" and "astern". |
35. "Good heavens!": OH MY.
40. Antioxidant berry in fruit bowls: ACAI.
41. Tranquil: SERENE.
42. Not exactly: KIND OF.
45. Mariska Hargitay series, familiarly: SVU. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999 - present)
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| This is Mariska posing in front of a SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle). |
49. Citrus drink suffix: -ADE.
54. Extra charge for a sci. class, e.g.: LAB FEE. Science class
56. Quick bite: SNACK.
61. Share a side with: ABUT. But, wait! We also have 62A....
62. Anticipate: AWAIT.
63. Rhyming tributes: ODES.
64. Train segments: CARS.
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| I was standing on a pedestrian overpass when I took this picture of train CARS loaded with coal. |
65. Terrarium pet: NEWT.
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| Learn more about this Luristan NEWT here. |
66. Norway's capital: OSLO. and 34 Down. Like Vikings: NORSE.
67. Job: TASK.
Down:
1. Grand homes: MANORS.
2. Part of the plot: IN ON IT.
3. Doesn't interfere with: LETS BE.
The Beatles Let It Be (1970)
4. Uncool sort: DWEEB. and 52 Down. Uncool sorts: NERDS.
5. Nov. 11 honoree: VET. "November" is abbreviated, so is "VETeran".
6. Festive night, often: EVE.
7. Prom queen's crown: TIARA.
8. Elizabeth of "WandaVision": OLSEN. Elizabeth is the younger sister of the OLSEN twins from Full House (Mary-Kate and Ashley). This is the trailer for her show. 👍👍
9. Jeans maker Strauss: LEVI.
10. Hot sauce often mixed with mayonnaise: SRIRACHA. Knowing this one and knowing how to spell it are two different challenges.
5. Nov. 11 honoree: VET. "November" is abbreviated, so is "VETeran".
7. Prom queen's crown: TIARA.
8. Elizabeth of "WandaVision": OLSEN. Elizabeth is the younger sister of the OLSEN twins from Full House (Mary-Kate and Ashley). This is the trailer for her show. 👍👍
9. Jeans maker Strauss: LEVI.
10. Hot sauce often mixed with mayonnaise: SRIRACHA. Knowing this one and knowing how to spell it are two different challenges.
This is for those of you who have been following the SRIRACHA drama.
11. Path of a lobbed ball: ARC.
12. Sheridan who plays young Cyclops in the "X-Men" films: TYE. his IMDb page
15. Soft serve ice cream alternative, casually: FROYO.
18. Wraps up: ENDS.
20. Upper bodies: TORSI. The plural of torso is torsos or TORSI.
23. Countrywide: Abbr.: NAT'L. National
24. Gourmet cooks: CHEFS. and 26 Down. "Ratatouille" rat: REMY. and 27 Down. Cook in hot oil: FRY.
11. Path of a lobbed ball: ARC.
12. Sheridan who plays young Cyclops in the "X-Men" films: TYE. his IMDb page
15. Soft serve ice cream alternative, casually: FROYO.
18. Wraps up: ENDS.
20. Upper bodies: TORSI. The plural of torso is torsos or TORSI.
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| Gaddi Torso (2nd Century BCE) The artist is unknown. "Gaddi" is the family name of a previous owner. |
23. Countrywide: Abbr.: NAT'L. National
24. Gourmet cooks: CHEFS. and 26 Down. "Ratatouille" rat: REMY. and 27 Down. Cook in hot oil: FRY.
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| 2007 Disney movie |
31. Programmer's output: CODE.
32. Dry as a desert: ARID.
33. Fish eggs: ROE.
36. Battery fluid: ACID. your battery acid questions answered
37. Carpentry tool that cuts plywood sheets: PANEL SAW.
32. Dry as a desert: ARID.
33. Fish eggs: ROE.
36. Battery fluid: ACID. your battery acid questions answered
37. Carpentry tool that cuts plywood sheets: PANEL SAW.
How to Panel Saw
I like how the tape measure is built into the saw.
38. Tax: LEVY. When they tax the jeans in 9D it is called a Levi LEVY. 😉
39. Oscar season oversights: SNUBS. Def.: (verb) rebuff, ignore, or spurn disdainfully.
This was a timely clue because for the last two weeks, the internet has been sending me links to articles about who was snubbed by the Oscars.
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| Ke Huy Quan won an Academy Award in 2023 for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once. |
40. Sometimes called, for short: AKA. It stands for Also Known As and is pronounced ay-kay-ay.
43. "True. However ... ": OK, BUT.
44. World Cup org.: FIFA. Fédération Internationale de Football Association
Founded in 1904, it is the governing body for many international soccer tournaments, most notably the World Cup.
46. "__, black sheep ... ": BAA BAA. Have you any wool?
46. "__, black sheep ... ": BAA BAA. Have you any wool?
John Anderson released Black Sheep in 1983.
47. Acquires, as debts: INCURS. and 58 Down. Have bills to pay: OWE.
48. "Tut-tut" kin: TSK TSK. I was not familiar with "tut-tut". According to Merriam-Webster, it is used to express disapproval or disbelief.
51. Half a "Star Wars" droid name: DETOO. Wookieepedia agrees that R2-D2 is sometimes spelled Artoo-Detoo.
53. Put into effect: ENACT.
55. Take __: lose money: A HIT.
57. First mo.: JAN.
60. That, in Spanish: ESO. If it feels like the answer to this one keeps changing, it is because it does -- depending on gender, proximity, and number.
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| Well, almost.... |
I kid you not, this is the correct grid:
P.S.: Before you alert me to an incorrect link in my first paragraph, please read this explanation of rickrolling. Gotcha!
