Sunday June 2, 2024 Sid Sivakumar

Theme: "Is There an Echo in Here?" - The last two words are homophones.

24. Gold, silver, or bronze?: OLYMPIC MEDAL METAL.

32. Candy heart, chocolate rose, or red velvet cupcake?: HONEYMOON SUITE SWEET.

61. Corn dog, blooming onion, or caramel apple?: COUNTY FAIR FARE.

68. Erratum, appendix, or reader testimonial?: SECOND EDITION ADDITION.

80. Crack, streak, or fingerprint?: WINDOW PANE PAIN.

106. Venmo balance, PayPal account, or Google Wallet funds?: ELECTRONIC CASH CACHE.

118. Crane, hard hat, or cement mixer?: BUILDING SITE SIGHT.

I pronounce "medal" and "metal" differently, how about you? The others are total homophones to me. Love the theme cluing style today.

So happy to see Sid's byline. This is only his second LAT, but he's a very accomplished constructor. He made the final puzzle for the ACPT this year. Here he is with the winner Paolo Pasco and Will Shortz.

Across:

1. Application fig.: GPA.

4. "Passing" actress Thompson: TESSA.

9. Hindi film star __ Rukh Khan: SHAH. Wikipedia shows he's huge in India.

13. Guitar clamps: CAPOS.

18. Rowboat propeller: OAR.

19. 2019 animated Christmas film: KLAUS.

20. Push to act: IMPEL.

22. Anti-inflammatory brand: ALEVE. 31. Under the weather: ILL.

23. "And whatnot" abbr.: ETC.

27. Snare: TRAP.

29. NBA great Curry: STEPH. Here with his brother Seth.

30. Viscous stuff: GOOP.

38. Tick away: ELAPSE.

39. Pledge in court: OATH.

40. White-water conveyances: RAFTS.

43. "Just in case" option: PLAN B.

46. Not street-smart: NAIVE.

49. Ermine in its summer coat: STOAT.

50. Philosopher Descartes: RENE.

53. Nobel-winning physicist Paul: DIRAC.

56. "River Spirit" author Aboulela: LEILA. Learning moment for me. She grew up in Sudan.

58. Address in a bar: URL.

59. At a distance: APART.

65. Thanks, in French: MERCI.

66. Bill of "Barry": HADER. He's dating Ali Wong. They're super cute together.

67. Middle-earth monster: ORC.

77. __ Speedwagon: REO.

78. Eucalyptus dweller: KOALA.

79. College softball airer: ESPNU.

86. Charmin rival: SCOTT.

87. Lass: GAL.

88. Kelly of "3 Body Problem": MARLO. Another learning moment.

89. Serpent: SNAKE.

91. Hullabaloos: ADOS.

92. Stayed still: IDLED.

95. "I aspire to that" hashtag: GOALS.

97. Theater array: SEATS.

99. High-speed internet connection: FIBER.

100. Berenstain Bear in a blue dress: MAMA.

102. Small handbag: CLUTCH.

113. U.K. mil. branch: RAF. David was with the Royal Air Force. Here he is with his grandma.

115. Home of the Himalayas: ASIA.

116. Poppycock: TRIPE.

117. Princess raised on Alderaan: LEIA.

124. Psychedelics study subj.: LSD.

125. Bellybutton type: INNIE.

126. Lasagna layer: SAUCE.

127. Activist's focus: CAUSE.

128. Novelist Harper: LEE.

129. Animal evoked by a chess knight: STEED.

130. Viewed: SEEN.

131. Without stopping: ON END.

132. Nikon choice, briefly: SLR.

Down:

1. "Faust" playwright: GOETHE.

2. See 69-Down: PATROL. 69. With 2-Down, DC Comics superhero team: DOOM.

3. Esoteric knowledge: ARCANA.

4. MMA ref's call: TKO.

5. Logical conclusion?: ELL.

6. Final word: SAY SO.

7. Reach, as a total: SUM TO.

8. Tree native to the Rockies: ASPEN.

9. Spicy Chinese cuisine: SICHUAN. Also 28. Berry in a mill: PEPPERCORN. Xi'an cuisine is spicy too. We're neighboring Sichuan.

10. [strokes beard]: HMM.

11. Tailless primate: APE.

12. Maze border, maybe: HEDGE.

13. People spending the night out?: CAMPERS.

14. Pub quaff: ALE.

15. Bite-size cake: PETIT FOUR.

16. Cameo shape: OVAL.

17. Promote: SELL.

21. Thailand neighbor: LAOS.

25. __ facto: IPSO.

26. Like a bass: LOW.

33. CC or LV competitor: YSL.

34. Viking drink: MEAD.

35. Birthplace of espresso: ITALY.

36. One taking things badly?: THIEF. And 37. Put away leftovers?: EAT. 50. Butters on a farm?: RAMS. 63. One side of a diner?: FRIES. Quite a few fun clues in this grid.

41. Scale button: TARE.

42. WashU's city: STL. Washington University in St. Louis. Sid's studying here.

44. Not wide-ranging: NICHE.

45. Wide-ranging: BROAD.

47. With a layover in: VIA.

48. Yale student: ELI.

51. Electric fencing equipment?: EPEE.

52. Snitch (on): NARC.

54. Automaker whose name means "listen" in Latin: AUDI.

55. Site to consult before buying new tech: CNET.

57. Former Yankee slugger, familiarly: A-ROD.

60. Like a fork: TINED.

62. Preschooler's wheels: TRIKE.

64. Plays it cool: ACTS CASUAL. And 81. "Don't worry about me": I'LL BE FINE. Love these two Downs.

70. "My b!": OOPS.

71. Flatbread made with maida: NAAN. Did not know the meaning of maida, super-refined wheat flour.

72. Username, perhaps: ALIAS.

73. Thanks, in German: DANKE.

74. Old earbuds hookup: IPOD.

75. Not deceived by: ONTO.

76. Bar bowlful: NUTS.

80. Desert valley: WADI.

82. Tail motion: WAG.

83. __ rata: PRO.

84. San Antonio landmark: ALAMO.

85. "Interstellar" director: NOLAN.

87. Emoji alternative: GIF.

90. "To __ their own": EACH.

93. Fish in baam machli ka salan: EEL. Not famliar with this dish. Not into curries.

94. Had a bad feeling about: DREADED.

96. Struck by Cupid's arrow: SMITTEN.

98. Extra special attention, for short: TLC.

101. Lot of farmland, maybe: ACRE.

103. Immune system constituents: T CELLS.

104. Sculptor's tool: CHISEL.

105. Soccer shot not taken with the feet: HEADER.

107. CBS forensic franchise: CSI.

108. Mint containers: TINS.

109. Much sitar music: RAGAS.

110. Tech giant whose logo depicts the Golden Gate Bridge: CISCO. Wow.  Never knew this.

111. All abuzz?: APIAN.

112. Transition: SEGUE.

113. Box score stat: RBIS.

114. Dad's sister: AUNT.

119. "Today's Wordle word is TRUE," e.g.: LIE.

120. Bring a suit: SUE.

121. Granita bits: ICE. Watermelon granita.

122. QVC sister channel: HSN.

123. AFC Richmond coach Lasso: TED.

C.C.