Hello Cornerites!
sumdaze here. C.C. asked me to pitch hit today. It is my pleasure to walk you through this fun and challenging puzzle from Wendy L. Brandes. I will do my best to not let you down.
Today's theme is AL Has Left the Building.
Each of the 3 themed answers come from common phrases in which the letters A and L have been removed to create a new phrase. Additionally, all of the "al"s are removed from the ends of the first words of a 2-word phrase. We have:
17. Across * Desire to dress in Victorian era garb and sip tea daintily?: PRIMal URGES.
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| very PRIM & proper |
23. Across * One who helps fix a banged-up car?: DENTal ASSISTANT. One works on cars, the other on your teeth.
49. Across * Fine print about a knee replacement?: LEGal DISCLAIMER. They can deny responsibility if you have problems with your LEG after the surgery
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| knee replacement |
59. Across. Favorite time of the school day for some teachers and students, or a two-word hint for the answers to the starred clues: DISMISSAL or DISMISS AL. "Al" technically counts as a word if we think of it as a proper name. So Al is being dismissed (sent out). Are you feeling a bit dazed & confused? Perhaps this video clip from the movie Dazed and Confused (1993) will help.
Across:
1. The "sheet" in "three sheets to the wind": ROPE. A tricky start. To be "three sheet to the wind" is to be very drunk. I always thought the "sheet" was the sail. Today I learned that the "sheet" is the line (ROPE) that holds the sail. If the ropes are loose (flapping in the wind), the ship is out of control.
5. European wine region: ASTI. Always a good guess for a 4-letter wine region in Europe. Try "Napa" if in California.
9. Daily crossword review sites, e.g.: BLOGS. This is my first one!
14. "Downton Abbey" title: EARL. He was not invited to the tea party pictured above.
15. One who tweets a lot: BIRD. This is a fun misdirection clue, playing on bird noises and the Twitterati.
16. Sirius business: RADIO. Not "serious" business.
Sirius XM Holdings Inc. is an American broadcasting company headquartered in Midtown Manhattan, New York City that provides satellite radio and online radio services operating in the United States.
19. "Inside the NBA" analyst: O'NEAL. Shaquille O'Neal. There is a small hint in this clue with "NBA" to stimulate thoughts of all the famous basketball players one might know... about 5 for me.
20. "Just a __": SEC. At first I had "just a SIP" but perps changed it to SECond.
21. Zip: NONE.
22. "Volunteers?": ANYONE. I have to go with Ferris Bueller (1986) on this one:
19. "Inside the NBA" analyst: O'NEAL. Shaquille O'Neal. There is a small hint in this clue with "NBA" to stimulate thoughts of all the famous basketball players one might know... about 5 for me.
20. "Just a __": SEC. At first I had "just a SIP" but perps changed it to SECond.
21. Zip: NONE.
22. "Volunteers?": ANYONE. I have to go with Ferris Bueller (1986) on this one:
26. Anorak part: HOOD. An Anorak is a waterproof jacket, typically with a hood, of a kind originally used in polar regions.
27. Docking spot: PIER. I first tried "moor". "Quay" is another 4-letter option. It cannot be "dock" because that is part of the clue.
28. Spin: TWIRL.
30. Out of juice: DEAD. The batteries died.
32. Hummus and baba ghanouj: DIPS. Hummus is mostly garbanzo beans (AKA chick peas). Baba ghanouj is mostly eggplant. I'll take one of each!
36. Whiskey barrel wood: OAK.
37. Rock equipment: DRUM SET. ♪♪♪
40. "Surely you don't mean me?": MOI.
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| Miss Piggy |
41. Seeing things: EYES. This time "seeing" is not a verb. It is an adjective (present participle) modifying the noun "things".
43. Withdraws, with "out": OPTS.
44. Winter X Games host city: ASPEN. Here's a shocker: according to Wikipedia, the X-Games has never carried out drug testing on its competitors.
46. Simplicity: EASE.
48. Barbecue crust: CHAR.
54. Fish that spawns in fresh water: SALMON. Ballard Locks is a must-see when you go to Seattle. All fish, including endangered salmon, must pass through the locks, spillway or the fish ladder to move between Lake Washington and Puget Sound. Click Here for Ballard Locks Info
55. "Don't move!": HALT. Who goes there?
56. Bishopric: SEE. Friday-level clue. Click here for Bishopric synonyms
58. Furry swimmer: OTTER. I hope Misty likes this pic:
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| otter mom & pup |
61. Make amends: ATONE.
62. Pt. of IMF: INTL. INTernationaL Monetary Fund. Abbreviations in the clue mean the answer will also be abbreviated.
The International Monetary Fund is a major financial agency of the United Nations and an international financial institution.
63. Muscles near delts: PECS. You can work them with REPS (1 Down).
64. Lets: RENTS. I think most of you know these lyrics from King Of The Road by Roger Miller:
63. Muscles near delts: PECS. You can work them with REPS (1 Down).
64. Lets: RENTS. I think most of you know these lyrics from King Of The Road by Roger Miller:
Trailers for sale or rentRooms to let, 50 centsNo phone, no pool, no petsI ain't got no cigarettes.
65. Prone to prying: NOSY.
66. US Open stadium: ASHE. 4-letter stadium with a tennis reference -- try "ASHE"
Down:
1. Crunch units: REPS. Ab excercieses.
2. Worked in a galley: OARED.
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| Galley Slaves |
3. Consumer concern: PRICE HIKE. Have you seen the price of green onions lately?!
4. With 7-Down, blight victims: ELM and TREES
5. Overseas: ABROAD.
6. Talks with one's hands, maybe: SIGNS. Sign Language
7. See 4-Down: TREES.
8. Some badges: IDS. IDentification badgeS
9. Heathcliff creator: BRONTE. Heathcliff is a fictional character in Emily Brontë's 1847 novel Wuthering Heights. At first I could only think of the cartoon cat ... very embarrassing.
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| creator: George Gately (1973) |
10. Summer camp project: LANYARD. Hand up for making these while at 4-H camp.
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| basic lanyard |
11. "__ Melancholy": ODE ON.
Wiki: "Ode on Melancholy" is one of five odes composed by English poet John Keats in the spring of 1819, along with "Ode on a Grecian Urn", "Ode to a Nightingale", "Ode on Indolence", and "Ode to Psyche".
12. Oracle Park player: GIANT. San Francisco Giants. Years ago, I used to go with my family to see the Giants play at Candlestick. One time there was a small commotion when a group of men in suits sat down in the seats just below us. My dad explained to me that they were moving then SF mayor George Moscone to our section (cheap seats) because people kept coming up to him in his regular seat and he could not enjoy the game. Later that year my dad told me that someone shot Mayor Moscone.
13. Lone: SOLE.
18. Incalculable: UNTOLD.
12. Oracle Park player: GIANT. San Francisco Giants. Years ago, I used to go with my family to see the Giants play at Candlestick. One time there was a small commotion when a group of men in suits sat down in the seats just below us. My dad explained to me that they were moving then SF mayor George Moscone to our section (cheap seats) because people kept coming up to him in his regular seat and he could not enjoy the game. Later that year my dad told me that someone shot Mayor Moscone.
13. Lone: SOLE.
18. Incalculable: UNTOLD.
"Untold millions are still untold." John Wesley
22. Off-mic comment: ASIDE. The LA city councilmembers can probably explain this to you better than I can.
24. Scand. land: NOR. Scandinavia is abbreviated -- so is NORway.
25. "Not interested": I PASS.
28. Sock part: TOE.
29. Method: WAY.
22. Off-mic comment: ASIDE. The LA city councilmembers can probably explain this to you better than I can.
24. Scand. land: NOR. Scandinavia is abbreviated -- so is NORway.
25. "Not interested": I PASS.
28. Sock part: TOE.
29. Method: WAY.
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| for The Mandalorian fans |
Side note: If you are not familiar with The Mandalorian, it is a series in the Star Wars universe, available on Disney+. IMHO, it has made its way into CW puzzles because it is where we first meet Baby Yoda (actually a baby of Yoda's species), a character recognized on every continent and generally considered super-cute by people of all ages.
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| Grogu in The Mandalorian |
30. Copies, briefly: DUPES. "Briefly" is a hint that the answer will be shortened. DUPlicatES.
31. CPR expert: EMT. Emergency Medical Technician
33. Dazzles: IMPRESSES.
34. "Tamerlane" poet: POE. I suspect the English majors among us are enjoying today's puzzle.
35. Break a commandment: SIN.
38. Ballet shoe application: ROSIN. We've seen this with baseball pitchers and fiddle players. I wonder who else uses it.
39. South Seas island: TAHITI.
42. Part: SEGMENT.
45. Heughan of "Outlander": SAM. I read that Sam says he is passionate about Scotland, whisky, and fitness ... and newbie crossword bloggers who like to ride bicycles.
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| Sam Heughan |
47. Loves to pieces: ADORES. See 45D.
48. Without panicking: CALMLY.
49. Foamy pick-me-up: LATTE.
50. Taron's "Rocketman" role: ELTON. Sir ELTON John.
48. Without panicking: CALMLY.
49. Foamy pick-me-up: LATTE.
50. Taron's "Rocketman" role: ELTON. Sir ELTON John.
I saw this movie (Amazon Prime) but still did not recognize "Taron". "Rocketman" was a big help!
51. Twill fabric: CHINO. CHINO pants are made of CHINO fabric.
52. Has a long shelf life: LASTS. Here are 22 healthy foods that do not spoil easily.
53. Part of a boxer's "tale of the tape": REACH.
51. Twill fabric: CHINO. CHINO pants are made of CHINO fabric.
52. Has a long shelf life: LASTS. Here are 22 healthy foods that do not spoil easily.
53. Part of a boxer's "tale of the tape": REACH.
"REACH refers to the total length of a fighter's arms from one fingertip to the other. Think of it like a boxer's wingspan. This is not to be confused with arm length, which only measures from shoulder to fist in one arm."
I thought it was the latter. Learning moment.
54. Rise above it all: SOAR. My favorite Disney ride is SOARin' Over California.
54. Rise above it all: SOAR. My favorite Disney ride is SOARin' Over California.
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| It makes you feel like you are hang gliding. |
57. "What __ Can I Do?": "Encanto" song: ELSE.
59. Racket: DIN. Noise.
60. Spot for a mud bath: SPA.
Here's the grid:
That's all for today. I look forward to reading your thoughts.
Thank you, C.C. for your encouragement & guidance!
Notes from C.C.:
I'm very happy to tell you that Sumdaze (Renee) has joined our blogging team. She'll blog once a month to start with. Can you believe this is only her first blog post? She's just incredible!
