Theme: "Youth Group" - LAD spans across each theme entry.
23. Warning during a snowstorm: TRAVEL ADVISORY.
32. Octane booster: FUEL ADDITIVE.
46. High naval rank: FULL ADMIRAL.
67. One who can't put down the phone?: DIGITAL ADDICT.
86. Founding Father found in a bar?: SAMUEL ADAMS.
102. Common login component: EMAIL ADDRESS.
113. Shelter mission: ANIMAL ADOPTION.
Reveal:
116. Youth found in this puzzle's seven longest answers: LAD.
Very consistent *L AD* span. Simple but never-done theme. This is Gail's hallmark.
Gail
is also careful with her fill also. You won't find a plethora of names
in her grids. Or odd abbreviations. She never wants to stump solvers.
Across:
1. Informal demand for propriety: ACT NICE. Great 7-letter start.
8. Choice bit: MORSEL.
14. Group with similar interests: CIRCLE.
20. "I always lie," e.g.: PARADOX.
21. Illinois city west of Chicago: AURORA. Gail lives in Peru, Illinois.
22. Filled, folded fare: OMELET.
25. Wyndham-owned chain: RAMADA. Not familiar with Wyndham, you? Wiki says "It has locations in China". Ramada does have many hotels in China.
26. Seashore raptor: ERNE.
27. Watch readout abbr.: LCD.
28. Discontinuation phrase: NO LONGER.
30. Quote qualifier: SIC.
31. Last stroke, usually: PUTT. Also 36. Disc golf starting points: TEE PADS.
38. German title: HERR.
39. Geological stretch: EON.
40. Goose egg: NIL.
41. Wild way to go: APE.
42. NYC tourist attraction: MOMA. Oh, Starry, Starry Night, Paint your palette blue and green...
43. Slim predatory swimmer: CONGER EEL.
50. Doesn't need: HAS.
51. Jazz singer Jones: ETTA.
52. Physicist's study: ATOM.
53. "Chopped" utensil: PAN. We also have 54D. Celebrity chef Bobby: FLAY. I like Jamie Oliver. Who's your favorite?
54. On-call volunteer, perhaps: FIREMAN.
57. Reported story: NEWS ITEM.
60. See 17-Down: BELL. And 17D. Instrument with a flared 60-Across: CLARINET.
62. Source of a draft: ALE TAP.
66. A third of nove: TRE. Nove is 9.
71. Vichy vacation time: ETE.
72. Studio apartment accommodation: AIRBED.
74. Crafts website: ETSY.
75. Indian brew: ASSAM TEA. Black tea.
77. "The Blues Brothers" fashion accessories: RAYBANS.
80. Made a fast stop?: ATE. Great clue.
81. Like some folklore: ORAL.
82. "David Copperfield" girl: EM'LY. Little Em'ly.
85. Student leader?: ESS. Just the first letter in Student.
90. Debate focal point: MAIN ISSUE.
93. Senior's highlight: PROM.
94. Eligibility factor: AGE. I'm going to be eligible for senior discounts soon. Amazing.
95. Big bucks, briefly: MIL.
96. Aloha shirt go-with: LEI.
97. Truck maker with a bulldog logo: MACK.
98. Casual Friday adjective: TIELESS.
106. Eliot title hero: BEDE.
107. Disappoint, with "down": LET.
108. Arranged, as a deal: BROKERED.
109. Put the kibosh on: END.
110. Brad's role in "Inglourious Basterds": ALDO. No idea. But I like the new clue angle.
111. Hat of Ecuadorian origin, oddly: PANAMA.
118. She outwitted a witch: GRETEL.
119. Puget Sound city: TACOMA.
120. Like candy canes: TWO-TONE. And 123. Poor Yelp rating: ONE STAR.
121. Not easily ruffled: SERENE. D-Otto! Such a calm and reassuring presence in our life. We also have 68D. Far from relaxed: TENSE. 103D. Ready to explode: IRATE.
122. Angled: SLOPED.
Down:
1. Most fitting: APTEST.
2. King's first published novel: CARRIE.
3. Daze: TRANCE.
4. Cathedral section: NAVE.
5. Ending with fluor-: IDE.
6. Conspired: COLLUDED. No collusion.
7. Calls for: EXACTS.
8. Big D hoops pro: MAV.
9. Tokyo : hai :: Paris : __: OUI. I've mentioned a few times. "hai" is also Cantonese for "yes".
10. Commuting options: Abbr.: RRS.
11. With less delay: SOONER.
12. Weasley family owl: ERROL. "Harry Potter".
13. Clapton classic: LAYLA.
14. County fair fare: CORN DOG.
15. "Just think ... ": IMAGINE.
16. Held another session: RE-MET.
18. Headed up: LED.
19. Weather-sensitive hr.: ETA.
24. EPA-banned pesticide since 1972: DDT.
29. Danish seaport: ODENSE. Hans Christian Andersen's birthplace.
31. Bear with a too-hard bed: PAPA.
32. Storm relief org.: FEMA.
33. Region in the Eurasian Steppe: URAL.
34. Nam lead-in: VIET.
35. "Enchanted" film title girl: ELLA.
37. Coconut sources: PALMS. And 42. Coconut Grove setting: MIAMI.
38. Road warning: HORN.
43. Jack Reacher creator Lee __: CHILD.
44. Stroked tool: OAR.
45. Russo of "The Intern": RENE. She is Frigga in "Avengers: Endgame".
46. Fruity soda: FANTA.
47. Development areas: UTERI.
48. Farther down: LOWER.
49. Compressed video format: MPEG.
55. Apple.com array: MACS.
56. Resort near Snowbird: ALTA.
58. Planning session product: IDEA.
59. Fairly large, sumwise: TIDY.
60. Louisville Sluggers, e.g.: BATS. I think we still have a couple of mini bats in our garage.
61. Golf's "Big Easy" Ernie: ELS. Our Big Easy was close to him a few times. George volunteers for Zurich Classic every year.
63. Aquarium favorite: TETRA.
64. Subs aren't on it: A TEAM.
65. Sounds of thunder: PEALS.
69. Matter of fact: DATUM.
70. "So that's it!": I SEE.
73. __ Mawr College: BRYN. The only way to clue this entry.
76. Pose in fancy clothes, say: MODEL. This supermodel (fancy Dolce & Gabbana dress) is from my hometown. Her name is Xiao Wen Ju.
78. Abutting: BESIDE.
79. Sch. with a Phoenix campus: ASU.
80. Wild way to run: AMOK.
82. Former "Fashion Emergency" host: EMME.
83. Severely harm: MAIM.
84. 19-y'ar-old comics character: LIL ABNER.
86. Seaweed wrap purveyors: SPAS.
87. Hammer-throw trajectories: ARCS.
88. Gave up, as arms: LAID DOWN.
89. "A Death in the Family" author: AGEE. James.
91. It's a bad sign: ILL OMEN.
92. Broad-leafed maritime plant: SEA KALE.
97. Doc: MEDICO.
98. Look after: TEND TO.
99. 2009 Tony-winner "Billy __ the Musical": ELLIOT.
100. Site of Arizona's Red Rock State Park: SEDONA.
101. Type that can't stay off the grass?: STONER. Drug.
104. Mild oaths: DRATS.
105. Kidney-related: RENAL.
106. Co-star of Betty, Rue and Estelle: BEA.
110. Case workers: Abbr.: ATTS.
111. Some movie ratings: PGS.
112. "All bets __ off": ARE.
114. Swiffer product: MOP. Hope it's all dried up, D-Otto!
115. Soul, to Sartre: AME.
117. Author of macabre tales: POE.
Happy Mother's Day to all the moms on our blog!
C.C