Happy Monday, everyone! sumdaze here with our theme:
Today we are back in the garden. (You might recall a tomato-themed puzzle from three weeks ago.) It is July now so more vegetables are ready for harvesting. Let's look for these plants in the four themers:
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| PEAs, YAMs, CORN, and KALE |
17 Across. Anti-war demonstration: PEACE MARCH.
25 Across. Talks incessantly: YAMMERS ON. To YAMMER is to talk in an exhausting, tedious, and lengthy manner, especially about something trite or meaningless. 
51 Across. Local watering hole: CORNER BAR.
62 Across. "The Big Bang Theory" actress who voices Harley Quinn: KALEY CUOCO.
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| Kaley played Penny on TBBT (2007-2019). (Apparently her character did not have a last name until she married Leonard Hofstadter.) Harley Quinn is a DC Comics character. |
The reveal is found center-grid:
38 Across. Person who doesn't eat meat, informally, and a feature of 17-, 25-, 51-, and 62-Across: VEGHEAD (sometimes spelled VEG-HEAD or VEG HEAD).
While I cannot say I have never heard VEGHEAD, it is not a term either I or my friends use. YMMV (your mileage may vary). Nevertheless, I like Brian and Amie's clever idea of finding VEGetables hidden at the HEAD (at the front of) common, two-word phrases.
They get 5 carrots! 🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕
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| VEGEGHEADs (lt. to rt.) Too creepy?, Too cutesy?, Too much?, a classic! |
Lettuce now move along to the other clues:
Across:
1. "Marriage Story" actor Alan: ALDA. How fun would it be to be Alan Alda, always seeing your name in XWDs!
5. Indian flatbread: ROTI.
9. Lhasa __: APSO.
13. Tournament rank: SEED.
14. Makes level: EVENS.
16. Sty supper: SLOP.
19. Didn't discard: KEPT.
20. Ejectable part of a computer tower: CD TRAY.
21. Rove: ROAM.
23. Tuna type: AHI.
24. Phoenix's birthplace: ASHES.
27. James of jazz: ETTA.
29. Respect: ESTEEM.
30. "Hold your horses!": STOP. Whoa seemed a better fit for horses but did not perp.
33. Abbr. on a business card: INC. INCorporated
35. __ salts: EPSOM.
37. Carpool lane initials: HOV. High Occupancy Vehicle
1. "Marriage Story" actor Alan: ALDA. How fun would it be to be Alan Alda, always seeing your name in XWDs!
5. Indian flatbread: ROTI.
9. Lhasa __: APSO.
13. Tournament rank: SEED.
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| Jannik Sinner is the #1 SEED for Men's Singles at Wimbledon this year. June 24 - July 14 |
16. Sty supper: SLOP.
19. Didn't discard: KEPT.
20. Ejectable part of a computer tower: CD TRAY.
21. Rove: ROAM.
23. Tuna type: AHI.
24. Phoenix's birthplace: ASHES.
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| Hand up if this is your tattoo. (just kidding!) |
27. James of jazz: ETTA.
29. Respect: ESTEEM.
30. "Hold your horses!": STOP. Whoa seemed a better fit for horses but did not perp.
33. Abbr. on a business card: INC. INCorporated
35. __ salts: EPSOM.
37. Carpool lane initials: HOV. High Occupancy Vehicle
Do you remember the TV show Carpoolers (2007-08)? Here is a 30 sec. clip. Watch closely right at the beginning to see how they are speeding through the HOV lane while the other lanes are at a standstill. You can sort of see it through the car's windows, too. It was a running gag throughout the show. California's commuter traffic was a snarl but the HOV lanes were wide open.
the Phil Collins clip
41. 401(k) kin: IRA.
42. Doglike scavenger in Africa: HYENA.
44. Old AOL exchanges: IMS. Instant MessageS
45. Steep, as tea: BREW.
46. "Now!": PRONTO.
49. "Ah, gotcha": I SEE. This is not the "tricked ya" gotcha. It is more like, "I understand what you are trying to say."
53. British strollers: PRAMS.
57. "Rugrats" grandpa: LOU. Rugrats is a children's animated TV show that first aired 33 years ago. David F. Doyle (1929-1997) originally voiced Grandpa Lou. You might remember him as Bosley from Charlie's Angels.
58. Vend: SELL.
59. Cocktail with lime juice: GIMLET.
60. Not busy: IDLE.
64. Pest on a pet: FLEA. cute
65. Marvel superhero who can control the weather: STORM. She is a member of the X-Men. It is a gimme for X-Men fans but still sussable (weather) even if you do not have specific knowledge of the reference. Props to the clue's writer!
66. Art __: DECO. This architectural style emerged around 1920. The video below is a song called Art Deco, co-written and performed by crossword puzzle personality, Lana Del Rey. It was featured on the soundtrack for the 2013 movie, The Great Gatsby, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The video includes Art Deco elements from the movie.
67. Suffix with love or nerd: -FEST.
68. Emoji that may mean "Don't miss this": EYES.
69. "Don't delay" letters: ASAP.
Down:
1. Pet rescue org.: ASPCA. I was surprised to learn that the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is not an umbrella organization for the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). They are not affiliated with each other. Your local SPCA relies on local donations.
2. West Yorkshire city: LEEDS.
3. "Till __ do us part": DEATH.
4. Spread of commercial marketing into new spaces: ADCREEP. In Mark Bartholomew's book about ADCREEP, he posits that the average American is exposed to over 3,000 advertisements each day. That seems high, but I probably easily hit that number just watching 30 min. of Tour de France highlights.
5. __ Martin cognac: REMY. Cognac is a variety of brandy named after the commune of Cognac, France. It is a bit too strong for me but I do love a sweeter pear cognac.
6. Lab eggs: OVA.
7. __ cotta: TERRA. Terra-cotta is a type of ceramic made from fired clay that is usually porous. These pots are terrific in my neck of the woods because they absorb water then release it back into the soil during dry spells.
8. Wages: INCOME.
9. Inquire: ASK.
10. Start of Oliver Twist's request: PLEASE SIR.
11. 10th grader: SOPHOMORE. Most U.S. SOPHOMOREs are 15-turning-16-years old.
42. Doglike scavenger in Africa: HYENA.
44. Old AOL exchanges: IMS. Instant MessageS
45. Steep, as tea: BREW.
46. "Now!": PRONTO.
49. "Ah, gotcha": I SEE. This is not the "tricked ya" gotcha. It is more like, "I understand what you are trying to say."
53. British strollers: PRAMS.
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| Catherine, Princess of Wales, looking natty with her PRAM |
57. "Rugrats" grandpa: LOU. Rugrats is a children's animated TV show that first aired 33 years ago. David F. Doyle (1929-1997) originally voiced Grandpa Lou. You might remember him as Bosley from Charlie's Angels.
58. Vend: SELL.
59. Cocktail with lime juice: GIMLET.
60. Not busy: IDLE.
64. Pest on a pet: FLEA. cute
65. Marvel superhero who can control the weather: STORM. She is a member of the X-Men. It is a gimme for X-Men fans but still sussable (weather) even if you do not have specific knowledge of the reference. Props to the clue's writer!
66. Art __: DECO. This architectural style emerged around 1920. The video below is a song called Art Deco, co-written and performed by crossword puzzle personality, Lana Del Rey. It was featured on the soundtrack for the 2013 movie, The Great Gatsby, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The video includes Art Deco elements from the movie.
67. Suffix with love or nerd: -FEST.
68. Emoji that may mean "Don't miss this": EYES.
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| emoji that may mean "I don't know" |
69. "Don't delay" letters: ASAP.
Down:
1. Pet rescue org.: ASPCA. I was surprised to learn that the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is not an umbrella organization for the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). They are not affiliated with each other. Your local SPCA relies on local donations.
2. West Yorkshire city: LEEDS.
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| I visited Leeds, England in 2012. This indoor market was filled with small stalls selling everything from A to Zed. |
3. "Till __ do us part": DEATH.
4. Spread of commercial marketing into new spaces: ADCREEP. In Mark Bartholomew's book about ADCREEP, he posits that the average American is exposed to over 3,000 advertisements each day. That seems high, but I probably easily hit that number just watching 30 min. of Tour de France highlights.
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| 1 out of 3,000 |
5. __ Martin cognac: REMY. Cognac is a variety of brandy named after the commune of Cognac, France. It is a bit too strong for me but I do love a sweeter pear cognac.
7. __ cotta: TERRA. Terra-cotta is a type of ceramic made from fired clay that is usually porous. These pots are terrific in my neck of the woods because they absorb water then release it back into the soil during dry spells.
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| my ALOE plant in a TERRA-cotta planter (I think I might have shared this picture in a previous blog.) |
8. Wages: INCOME.
9. Inquire: ASK.
10. Start of Oliver Twist's request: PLEASE SIR.
11. 10th grader: SOPHOMORE. Most U.S. SOPHOMOREs are 15-turning-16-years old.
SOPHOMORE can also be an adjective. In that case, it means being or associated with the second in a series. Example: Let's Go is the lead-off track on The Cars' SOPHOMORE album, Candy-O (1979).
12. Sign up for newsletters, perhaps: OPT IN.
15. Fancy pillow covers: SHAMS.
18. West's opposite: EAST. It does not get any more Monday than this, folks.
22. Doled (out): METED.
25. Bowen of "SNL": YANG. Bowen was born in 1990 in Brisbane, Australia. He became a writer for SNL in 2018 and a cast member the following year. Here's a sample:
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| Waldo chooses to OPT out. |
15. Fancy pillow covers: SHAMS.
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| I know that you are not supposed to use them when you sleep, but I do not know what you are supposed to do with them while you sleep. |
18. West's opposite: EAST. It does not get any more Monday than this, folks.
22. Doled (out): METED.
25. Bowen of "SNL": YANG. Bowen was born in 1990 in Brisbane, Australia. He became a writer for SNL in 2018 and a cast member the following year. Here's a sample:
Warning: He says the A-word and the B-word.
26. Sales agt.: REP. Agent and REPresentative
28. Link (to): TIE.
30. "Quiet you!": SHH.
31. Curly-haired dog that fits in a purse: TOY POODLE.
28. Link (to): TIE.
30. "Quiet you!": SHH.
31. Curly-haired dog that fits in a purse: TOY POODLE.
The term “TOY” simply pertains to the size of the dog, but this classification can span a variety of different breeds, each with its unique attributes and histories.
32. Uses veto power: OVERRULES. This puzzle had four 9-letter bonus words. (See 10-, 11, 31-, and 32-Down.)
34. The WNBA's Sky, on scoreboards: CHI. CHIcago
32. Uses veto power: OVERRULES. This puzzle had four 9-letter bonus words. (See 10-, 11, 31-, and 32-Down.)
34. The WNBA's Sky, on scoreboards: CHI. CHIcago
I recently heard an interview on WWDTM with Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child. She is a native of Rockford, IL and a minority owner of the Chicago Sky. Very cool!
Michelle Williams
Sun Will Shine Again (2002)
36. Gaping mouth: MAW.
38. Rooftop spinners: VANES. Last month I was relaxing in a plaza in Spain when I looked up to see this VANE depicting Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. ¡Perfecto!
39. Gulf States ruler: EMIR.
40. Stubborn animal: ASS.
43. Opposite of "oui": NON. French
45. Island with a namesake Triangle: BERMUDA. The BERMUDA Triangle is a region in the western part of the N. Atlantic Ocean in which ships, planes, and people are alleged to have mysteriously vanished. Read more here.
47. Expeditions: TREKS.
48. Not perfectly round: OBLATE. Def.: (adj.) flattened or depressed at the poles.
50. Massive in scale: EPIC.
51. Steep drop-off: CLIFF.
52. Stainless steel, e.g.: ALLOY.
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| This image is from a comic book series. |
38. Rooftop spinners: VANES. Last month I was relaxing in a plaza in Spain when I looked up to see this VANE depicting Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. ¡Perfecto!
40. Stubborn animal: ASS.
43. Opposite of "oui": NON. French
45. Island with a namesake Triangle: BERMUDA. The BERMUDA Triangle is a region in the western part of the N. Atlantic Ocean in which ships, planes, and people are alleged to have mysteriously vanished. Read more here.
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| My neighbor had this board game when we were growing up. |
47. Expeditions: TREKS.
48. Not perfectly round: OBLATE. Def.: (adj.) flattened or depressed at the poles.
50. Massive in scale: EPIC.
51. Steep drop-off: CLIFF.
52. Stainless steel, e.g.: ALLOY.
A metallic solid or liquid that is composed of a homogeneous mixture of two or more metals or of metals and nonmetal or metalloid elements, usually for the purpose of imparting or increasing specific characteristics or properties: Brass is an alloy of zinc and copper.
54. Houseplants with healing properties: ALOES. See 7-Down.
55. Muslim pilgrim's destination: MECCA.
56. Entrance porch: STOOP. Here is the STOOP scene from When Harry Met Sally (1989).
54. Houseplants with healing properties: ALOES. See 7-Down.
55. Muslim pilgrim's destination: MECCA.
56. Entrance porch: STOOP. Here is the STOOP scene from When Harry Met Sally (1989).
Warning: Meg throws out an F-bomb.
59. Fitness centers: GYMS.
61. "I could __": "I'm not not hungry": EAT.
63. Before, in verse: ERE.
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| Sonnet 73 |
Time for the grid:
