L.A.Times Crossword Corner

May 31, 2025

Saturday, May 31, 2025, Stella Zawistowski

Themeless Saturday by Stella Zawistowski

Seeing our weight-lifting crossword aficionado from Brooklyn as the author can indicate we have a workout ahead. However, this puzzle provided for a very nice solve. Solving is greatly facilitated when the long fills come into focus. BTW, The Omaha World Herald carries her Commuter Crossword Puzzle everyday.

At the left you can see Stella with two trophies she won at an ACPT event and she said of herself:

I was a "Constantly-About-to-Throw-Up Nervous Wreck." I did manage to make a trip to the hardware store with my second fifth-place finish in a row and first place in NYC (the latter made easier since Andy Kravis was attending a wedding):

Across:

1. "Paradise Lost" figure: SATAN.

6. Hamburger __: MENU - Not something you would see at McDonalds. It is set of shortcut icons that can be used in user interfaces. The name comes from the resemblance of some the icons to triple hamburger patties. More

10. Ennea- minus one: OCTO.

14. Honolulu Marathon landmark: ALOHA TOWER.

16. Blank space: VOID.

17. Step after reentry: SPLASH DOWN - Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins return to Earth on July 24, 1969.

18. Supermodel who wrote the kids book "What Are You Hungry For?": EMME.

19. Turf: SOD.

20. Is on the hunt: SEEKS.

21. Globally available sweets: OREOS - Just when you think you have read every clue for OREOS...

22. Renege (on): BAIL.

23. Question of desire: WANT IN - My one bad cell was where WANT I_ crossed TIMO_ 12. Shakespearean Athenian: TIMON. I first put WANT IT and TIMOT. 🤨

25. Really clean: SCOUR.

27. "Inside the Actors Studio" host: LIPTON - Here he is trying to deal with Robin Williams

28. Rogan josh accompaniment: NAAN.

29. Slow roller across the infield: TARPAULIN 😀 It's a slow roller but you can get caught under it.

32. Word before mirabilis or horribilis: ANNUS - I think you can infer what annus horribilis would mean

34. Stylist's selection: HUE.

35. Miu Miu parent company: PRADA - I did find a Miu Miu purse online that was marked down to $4,200. 😳

36. Versatile rides: TEN SPEEDS.

38. Avalon, for one: ISLE - The Isle of Avalon is a mythical island featured prominently in Arthurian legends, often associated with healing, magic and the afterlife.

39. Slips: ERRORS.

40. Wasabi product: PASTE.

42. "Grief Is for People" memoirist Crosley: SLOANE - ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

43. Short curls?: PERM - The curls can be short and are short-lived. 😀

44. French greeting: SALUT.

45. Unmoving: INERT.

47. End: AIM.

50. Nutrient in shellfish: IRON.

51. Heinz product: STEAK SAUCE.

53. Brie feature: RIND - the answer below is yes. It's a natural, bloomy rind that develops during the cheese-making process, and it's a key part of the cheese's flavor and texture.

54. One who is just not having it: PICKY EATER 😀

55. Winged goddess: ISIS.

56. Sets as a price: ASKS.

57. "Which ones?": THOSE.

Down:

1. Flip response: SASS.

2. Purina brand: ALPO.

3. Related: TOLD.

4. "I knew you were bluffing!": AHA.

5. Capital on New Providence: NASSAU.

6. Virtual representation: MODEL.

7. Tree hut dweller on Endor: EWOK.

8. Up-to-the-minute media: NEWS WIRES - Newspapers are not up-to-the-minute.

9. Tapped container: URN.

10. Strain on local infrastructure: OVER TOURISM.

11. Get outdone by everyone: COME IN LAST - "Finished Last" worked at first.

13. Metered tributes: ODES.

15. Sometimes-singular possessive: THEIR.

21. Draftable?: ON TAP.

22. Game show extras: BONUS ROUNDS.

24. Messenger, e.g.: APP.

25. Sound: SANE.

26. Mexico : enchiladas :: Italy : __: CANNELLONI.

27. Heaps praise on: LAUDS.

28. 2019 W.S. champ: NAT - Then they traded away the heart of the team. In two years they were 65 - 97. First to worst.

29. "Just as I predicted": THERE IT IS.

30. Unmoving, perhaps: IDLE.

31. Scottish denial: NAE.

33. Lean cuisine consumer of yore: SPRAT 😀

37. Unimaginable span: EON.

40. Up a lot?: PERKY - I'm not a fan of morning TV

41. Creativity-inspiring gift: ART SET - So many ways for me to fail 😗