Theme: "WE DID IT!" - We is added to each theme entry.
22. Motto of an intrepid cotton farmer?: I WILL FEAR NO WEEVIL. I will fear no evil.
33. Presentation on professorial fashion trends?: TWEED TALK. Ted talk.
38. Light lunch in a haunted cafe?: COBWEB SALAD. Cobb salad.
66. Like text anyone is allowed to edit?: YOURS FOR THE TWEAKING. Yours for the taking.
96. Data from a middle school track meet?: TWEEN SPEEDS. Ten-speeds.
100. "I like the cut of your jib!"?: SWEET SAIL. Set sail.
117. Take new profile pics at the gym?: SWEAT FOR A PORTRAIT. Sat for a portrait.
So happy to see the great Jeffrey back! It's been over two years since we saw his byline.
Jeffrey
is a master in this type of letter addition/deletion/swapping theme.
Today is another strong example of his craftsmanship.
Across:
1. Some neutral tones in a designer's palette: GRAYS.
6. Jokers: WITS.
10. The "B" of RBG: BADER. The Notorious RBG.
15. "Dear old" family member: DAD.
18. Shakespeare hero in the lyrics of Taylor Swift's "Love Story": ROMEO. 49. Last words of 18-Across: I DIE. Then he died.
19. French cap: BERET.
20. Nimble: AGILE.
21. Patterned after: A LA.
25. "Fresh Air" broadcaster: NPR.
26. Abandons all hope: DESPAIRS.
27. Stuns: AMAZES.
28. Feathery, perhaps: AVIAN.
30. Hardly encountered: RARE.
31. Apple product: MAC.
32. For one: A PIECE.
42. Small crowns: TIARAS.
43. "Or so": ISH.
45. Gulliver of "Gulliver's Travels": LEMUEL. Don't think we had him before.
46. Paris's Paris's Musée d'__: ORSAY. Home to many Impressionist masterpieces.
47. Thing that may be open and shut: CASE.
49. Things: ITEMS.
50. Adages: SAWS.
54. Some guinea pigs: PETS.
55. Component of some firm-textured fabrics: WORSTED.
57. Turns red, say: DYES.
59. Sportage maker: KIA.
60. Matthew of "Stranger Things": MODINE. He played Dr. Martin Brenner.
62. First word of "Simple Gifts": TIS.
64. Winemaker's concern: AGING.
72. Thicket: COPSE.
73. __ milk: SOY.
74. Fencing sword: RAPIER. 70. Fencing sword: EPEE.
75. Assent asea: AYE.
76. Wise one: SAGE.
80. Harvested: GLEANED.
82. Accomplishes: DOES.
86. __ salt: ROCK. Lots of Chinese desserts feature rock sugar.
88. "Great performance!": BRAVO.
90. Lyft service: RIDE.
91. Concentrated: DENSE.
92. Act as an intermediary: LIAISE.
94. Big flower pot: URN.
95. Life, for one: CEREAL.
103. Bring back: REVIVE.
104. Grocery payment sys.: EBT. Electronic Benefits Transfer.
106. "What __ is new?": ELSE.
107. Goddess of peace: IRENE.
108. Angelic being: SERAPH.
111. With 116-Across, useful tool for some crossword solvers: ERASABLE. And116. See 111-Across: PEN.
120. __ Alamos, New Mexico: LOS.
121. Yankee manager between Showalter and Girardi: TORRE (Joe) 1996-2007. We also have 19. Yogi in the Hall of Fame: BERRA. That's Whitey Ford in the middle.
122. Transmit: RELAY.
123. Marsh wader: EGRET.
124. Brian of Roxy Music: ENO.
125. One-for-one deals: SWAPS.
126. Silly sort: TWIT.
127. Summer of disco: DONNA.
Down:
1. Crossword component: GRID.
2. Mike of "Dirty Jobs": ROWE. Some dirty jobs pay very well.
3. French friends: AMIS.
4. Site for maligning poor dining: YELP.
5. Basis for standard timekeeping: SOLAR DAY.
6. Ferret kin: WEASEL.
7. Not perfect, as mdse.: IRR. Irregular.
8. Midmorning hr.: TEN AM.
9. Tolerate: STOMACH.
10. Folk legend Joan: BAEZ.
11. "The African Queen" screenwriter James: AGEE. The original novel is written by C. S. Forester.
12. Pts. of sports leagues: DIVS. Divisions.
13. Yale grad: ELI.
14. Setback: RELAPSE.
15. Webster who had a way with words: DANIEL.
16. Andes grazer: ALPACA.
17. "Well, I'll be __!": DARNED.
23. Authoritative orders: FIATS.
24. Baylor University city: WACO.
29. Little bottles: VIALS.
32. Treat quite poorly: ABUSE.
33. Former Corvette option: T-TOP.
34. Send a telegram: WIRE.
35. Memphis-to-Chattanooga direction: EAST.
36. "In Praise of Folly" writer: ERASMUS. Google says Erasmus wrote the work in about a week while staying at Sir Thomas More's estate in England.
37. Mugs: KISSERS.
39. Alphabetical order?: BLT.
40. Garden invader: WEED.
41. "The Bear" award: EMMY. "Yes, Chef!"
44. Good to go: SET.
47. Do: COIF.
48. River of Florence: ARNO.
51. Similar (to): AKIN.
52. Improvise, with "it": WING.
53. Submit to gravity: SAG.
55. Dict. entries: WDS.
56. __ alcohol: ETHYL.
58. Sushi pairing: SAKE. We've also seen SOJU in the gird. It's the Korean liquor.
61. Useful minerals: ORES.
63. Uses a colander: STRAINS.
65. Skyscraper beams: GIRDERS.
66. Cellist Ma: YO-YO. Yo means "friend" in Chinese. Ma means "Horse".
67. Cartel founded in Baghdad in 1960: OPEC.
68. Like food truck orders: TO GO.
69. Lip gloss applicator: WAND.
71. Help: AID.
72. Saturn or Mercury: CAR.
77. Demean: ABASE.
78. Climber's asset: GRIP.
79. Fluency: EASE.
81. "To __ is human ... ": ERR.
83. Draft status: ONE A.
84. Actor Morales: ESAI.
85. Hawk: SELL.
87. Vox co-founder Ezra: KLEIN. He has a popular podcast.
89. Capital of Vietnam?: VEE. Vietnam.
91. Couldn't stand: DETESTED.
93. Takes stock?: INVESTS. Literally.
94. Basic interface for a PC: USB PORT.
95. Civil rights activist Chavez: CESAR.
96. Big hit: TRIPLE.
97. "It's time, everyone! Break a leg!": WE'RE ON.
98. "Despite that ... ": EVEN SO.
99. Part of CODA: DEAF. Child Of Deaf Adult.
101. Shed tears over: WEEP AT.
102. Judy Jetson's brother: ELROY.
105. Lost on purpose: THREW.
108. Organic fluids: SERA.
109. Wyatt of Tombstone: EARP.
110. GPS offerings: RTES.
112. Golden Fleece ship: ARGO.
113. Rural structure: BARN.
114. Bank claim: LIEN.
115. "Tell Mama" singer James: ETTA.
118. "Incredible!": WOW.
119. Journalist Velshi of MS NOW: ALI.
C.C.
