Theme: "I Like Your Style" – Each theme clue includes a hairstyle-related word, but the answer puts a twist on it by interpreting that word in a non-hair context.
23. Figure likely to wear a beehive?: WINNIE THE POOH. Honey.
33. Ace with a flattop?: NAVAL AVIATOR.
41. Formal arrangements of bangs?: TWENTY-ONE GUN SALUTES.
70. Product for those who like fades?: ACID-WASHED JEANS.
98. One traditionally consulted for extensions?: SWITCHBOARD OPERATOR. Hair extensions.
106. Person to see about a blowout?: AUTO MECHANIC.
120. Suppliers of color and highlights?: SPORTSCASTERS.
I like this spin. The answers are fun and so unexpected. Xword Info said Michael is "Schlossberg is a doctor at St. Charles Medical Center, in Bend, Ore., specializing in internal medicine."
Quite a lot of 3-letter words. Seems like Patti is flexible with 3-letter fill now.
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| Xword Info pic |
1. Panthera onca, familiarly: JAGUAR. Panthera is Latin for "Panther".
7. How apartment space is measured: IN AREA.
13. Bub: MAC.
16. Favoritest pal: BFF.
19. God whose symbol is a lyre: APOLLO.
20. Syllabus units: TOPICS.
21. Subzero suds: ICE BEER. And 62. Unfiltered and unpasteurized brew: REAL ALE.
25. With determination: STOUTLY. And Stout.
26. Bobbing along, maybe: ASEA.
27. Suffer from a cold: AIL.
28. The Eagles, on scoreboards: PHI.
29. Lowland: DALE.
30. Part of many a baby split in bowling: THREE PIN. Usually pins 2 & 7, or 3 & 10.
38. Vaccine pioneer: SALK.
39. Take down a few notches: ABASE.
40. Gush: SPEW.
48. Like muesli: OATY.
49. Burgundy of "Anchorman": RON.
50. Capital of Texas?: TEE. Texas.
51. Peter or Paul, but not Mary: APOSTLE.
54. Remove adhesive from: UNTAPE. The double-sided tape on my wall mirror took the paint off.
57. Dreidel, e.g.: TOP.
59. Text-skimming letters: TL; DR.
61. Marsh duck: TEAL.
64. Advance: LOAN.
67. 58-Down spot: BLOG. 58. Publish on social media: POST.
69. Dashboard fig.: RPM.
74. __ carte menu: A LA.
78. God whose symbol is a hammer: THOR.
79. More than weary: DRAINED.
83. California __: ROLL.
85. Fashion logo pt., perhaps: INIT.
87. Fresh: NEW.
89. Brosnan TV role: STEELE. Remington Steele.
90. Huge statues: COLOSSI. Plural of colossus.
92. "Big Blue": IBM.
95. Sushi fish: AHI. Ahi tuna.
97. Form field, typically: NAME.
103. Actress Rowlands: GENA.
104. Garlicky mayonnaise: AIOLI.
105. Michael of "Superbad": CERA.
109. Mexican resort destination: ACAPULCO.
114. Paw: MITT.
115. Coastal Indian state: GOA.
116. Santa __, California: ANA.
117. Drudge: PEON.
118. Discard from memory: UNLEARN.
126. Fumes: SEES RED.
127. Pumpkin seed: PEPITA.
128. Pester: NOODGE. Not a word I use.
129. Tiny bit: TAD.
130. Classic Pontiac: GTO.
131. Dress-down occasion, perhaps: FRIDAY.
132. Answers for a mistake: OWNS IT.
Down:
2. Gorillalike: APISH.
3. Hopeless case: GONER.
4. Comrades in arms?: ULNAE. Chuckled at the clue.
5. Comedian Wong: ALI.
6. Blini topper: ROE.
7. "Au contraire!": I THINK NOT. Also loved these few long entries: 16. Bug hunter of sorts: BETA TESTER. 22. Capital with many thermal baths: BUDAPEST. 76. "That's that": ALL SETTLED.
8. Yuletide: NOEL.
9. Telegram, e.g.: APP. Never used Telegram.
10. __ Bravo: RIO.
11. Logical opening: ECO.
12. Vesuvius fallout: ASH.
13. "Supernatural" actor Collins: MISHA.
14. When Portia says, "The quality of mercy is not strained": ACT IV. "The Merchant of Venice".
15. Biz bigwig: CEO.
17. Gent: FELLOW.
18. Greasy spoon fixture: FRYER. I miss Youtiao sticks.
24. Customize: TAILOR.
28. "Hear me out!," e.g.: PLEA.
31. Contractor's no.: EST.
32. Pony up: PAY.
33. Hound, or a horse: NAG. 35. Wind instrument?: VANE. 82. Fast buck?: DEER. 101. Time share?: ERA. 108. Complex structure?: CONDO. All great clues.
34. Border on: ABUT.
36. Liquid or fixed commodity: ASSET.
37. Colon's meaning in an analogy: IS TO.
41. Stint overseas: TOUR.
42. No longer wax: WANE.
43. Jazzy James: ETTA.
44. African antelope: NYALA. Sure glad I don't have those horns on my head.
45. Netflix detective Holmes: ENOLA.
46. Scooped, as soup: LADLED.
47. Rumpuses: UPROARS.
52. Seatbelt spot: LAP.
53. Hedgerow tree: ELM.
55. D.C. gps.: PACS.
56. Snoot: ELITIST.
60. Great Society pres.: LBJ.
63. Heavenly: EDENIC.
65. "That feels great!": AHH.
66. Element between fluorine and sodium on the periodic table: NEON.
68. Pest in a cloud: GNAT.
71. "All Quiet on the Western Front" subj.: WWI.
72. Heebie-jeebies: DREAD.
73. Tuscan city with 17 subdivisions: SIENA.
74. "The __ of the moral universe is long ... ": MLK: ARC.
75. Brit's bathroom: LOO.
80. "Dandy": NEAT.
81. Tricycle-riding Muppet: ELMO.
84. Bummers: LOW NOTES.
86. Ankle joint bone: TIBIA.
88. "Beats me": WHO CAN SAY.
91. "The King and I" land: SIAM.
93. Blessing: BOON.
94. Timbuktu's country: MALI.
96. Discontinued poison treatment: IPECAC. Have you guys seen "Into the Wild"?
99. "Very funny": HA HA.
100. Cars singer Ocasek: RIC.
102. Knock: RAP.
103. __ pig: GUINEA.
106. Required: A MUST.
107. "Snowy" wader: EGRET.
110. Writer Sinclair: UPTON. I confused him with Sinclair Lewis, who's from Minnesota.
111. English university city: LEEDS.
112. Welsh breed: CORGI.
113. Earliest phase: ONSET.
116. "__ girl!": ATTA.
119. 2022 World Cup champs, briefly: ARG. Argentina.
120. Letters on some makeup bottles: SPF.
121. Each: PER.
122. Nail art brand: OPI.
123. Purge (of): RID.
124. What makes mist moist?: AN O.
125. Scatter: SOW.
Special treat today from the ACPT in Connecticut.
Tom Pepper, talented constructor and friend of the blog, snapped a great selfie with Patti Varol and Mike Alpern.
Patti, of course, is our LA Times Crossword editor, shaping the puzzles we solve together every day. Mike has been a central figure in the community for years, known especially for hosting the annual Cru Dinner. Fun to see these familiar names and faces from the crossword world all in one frame!
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| Tom Pepper, Patti Varol and Mike Alpern |
