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| Aurora, IL Party Animals |
It took me a second for the party-penny to drop but each creature is proceeded by a type of party.
17. Vegetable patch pest: GARDEN SNAIL. Garden Party.
25. Feline who lives indoors: HOUSE CAT. House Party.
37. Workplace companion: OFFICE DOG. Office Party.
52. New York City rodent that went viral in 2015: PIZZA RAT. Pizza Party.
In case you missed the viral video
62. Really fun person, or an apt descriptor of 17-, 25-, 37-, and 52-Across?: PARTY ANIMAL.
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| My kids loved this book. |
Across:
1. Pool or polo: GAME. Pool as in billiards not swimming.
5. Groups of troops: ARMIES.
11. Understood, as a joke: GOT.
14. Persian Gulf country that borders Armenia: IRAN.
15. Noggin: NOODLE. Brain.
16. NPR host Shapiro: ARI. He also plays with Pink Martini.
17. [See: Theme]
19. "Mm-hmm": YEP.
20. Lawyer's org.: ABA. American Bar Association (the antithesis of AA ;-))
21. Unwilling (to): LOATH.
22. Band bookings: GIGS.
23. Native Costa Ricans, informally: TICOS.
25. [See: Theme]
28. Anthem heard in Nova Scotia: O CANADA. (Hi C, Eh!)
31. Olympic gymnast Biles: SIMONE. She grew up in Spring, TX.
And is Amazing!
32. Vanity Fair publisher Condé __: NAST. Publisher of The New Yorker, GQ, Wired, [see: clue], Vogue, etc.
33. Tooth's outer layer: ENAMEL.
36. Neither's partner: NOR.
37. [See: Theme]
40. Cable network with many reruns: TBS. Turner Broadcasting System.
43. "Good enough": IT'LL DO.
44. Job inspection org.: OSHA. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
48. Baltimore ballplayer: ORIOLE.
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| You know #8 |
50. Walked stealthily: SNEAKED.
52. [See: Theme]
55. Mixes: STIRS.
56. School support orgs.: PTAS.
57. Coral producer: POLYP.
60. Combat sport, briefly: MMA. Mixed Martial Arts.
61. Ad-__: improvise: LIB.
Two of the best at Ad-libbing.
62. [See: Theme]
65. Subj. for some new immigrants: ESL. English as a Second Language.
66. Zoo section with birds: AVIARY.
67. Actress Russo: RENE.
68. __/her pronouns: SHE.
69. Prime-time soap opera set in Texas: DALLAS.
70. Commotions: ADOS.
Down:
1. Unit of explosive force: GIGATON. ~50 megatons is biggest nuclear bomb tested; a gigaton is on the order of a mile-wide asteroid's impact.
2. Coffee bean variety: ARABICA. Arabica beans are grown in high-altitudes and have a smoother, sweeter, and more complex flavor than other coffees.
3. Seed-filled percussion pair: MARACAS.
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| I read these are not found in Spain but in Mexico / S.A. because of the African slave trade. |
4. Stop: END.
5. __ Domini: ANNO.
6. Civil rights activist Parks: ROSA.
7. Calendar viewing option: MONTH.
8. Washington neighbor: IDAHO.
9. Former quarterback Manning: ELI.
10. Salt, in French: SEL.
11. Judy Garland or Cher: GAY ICON.
12. Herb in Italian seasoning: OREGANO.
13. Bettor's adviser: TIPSTER.
18. Anna's sister in "Frozen": ELSA.
22. Precious stone: GEM.
24. Not fooled by: ONTO.
26. Applied to: USED ON.
27. Storage tower: SILO.
29. More adroit: DEFTER. ? I'd say more deft.
30. Deep blue dye: ANIL.
34. Oft-torn knee pt.: ACL. Austin City Limits, er... anterior cruciate ligament.
35. Rx items: MEDS.
38. Seoul-based athleisure brand: FILA.
39. Billy __: GOAT.
40. Brings down: TOPPLES.
41. "The Great __ Baking Show": BRITISH.
42. Quite large: SIZABLE.
45. Read quickly: SKIMMED. Cute - past tense.
46. Spanish brother: HERMANO. Just learned this on Duolingo.
47. Revenue source for magazines: AD SALES.
49. Parts of lbs.: OZS. Pounds / Ounces.
51. "SportsCenter" network: ESPN.
53. Earth Day time: APRIL.
54. Add up to: TOTAL.
58. Harp-shaped constellation: LYRA.
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| If you say that's a harp, um, OK. |
59. Celebratory shouts: YAYS.
62. Cushion: PAD.
63. Filmmaker DuVernay: AVA.
64. Nest egg letters: IRA.
The Grid
 |
| The Grid |
The WOs, ESPs, etc. will have to wait; I left my original grid at the office.
Cheers, -T
