Happy Monday, everyone! sumdaze here. Today's theme is:
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| not that this is a test or anything.... |
20 Across. Place to see some spectacles?: GLASSES CASE. A bit of misdirection is always fun. Perhaps you were thinking of a spectacular display? 
25 Across. "Abbott Elementary" star: QUINTA BRUNSON. Congratulations to you if this one was a gimme. It was ESP for me. I checked our archives. Quinta's full name was a themed answer on 10/22/24; she appeared in a clue on 5/29/25; and she was mentioned in the write-ups on 10/25/23 and 10/29/24. It is time for me to remember her name.
42 Across. Coach at a health club: PERSONAL TRAINER.
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| You could say that Mr. Miyagi was a PERSONAL TRAINER for the Karate Kid (1984). |
52 Across. Manager who opens up a shop, or an apt description of 20-, 25-, or 42-Across: KEY HOLDER. I was not familiar with this title. As the clue indicates, it is an employee with added responsibilities, such as arriving early to unlock a business.
Also, the circles spotlight three KEYs of another variety -- computer KEYs. Furthermore, the KEYs are held within the themed answers: ESC, TAB, and ALT. I liked how our puzzle setter placed all the KEYs so that they span the two word answers. I noticed that these three keys are in the top-to-bottom order that matches my keyboard. I wonder if that was intentional.
Next, we will enter the other clues & answers:
Across:
1. Fashion mag known for quizzes: COSMO. Magazine is shortened, so is COSMOpolitan.
6. Dog's foot: PAW.
9. Fan out, as toes: SPLAY. When dogs lay with their legs SPLAYed, it is called splooting.
14. Proprietor: OWNER. OWNERs are usually KEY HOLDERs.
15. Prefix with system: ECO-.
16. Self-assurance: POISE.
17. Media watchdog org. that focuses on queer inclusivity: GLAAD. This organization was founded on November 14, 1985. website
18. Big boat that held animal pairs: ARK.
19. Answers an invite, briefly: RSVPS.
23. Korean car company: KIA.
24. Pizzeria order: PIE. Dean Martin sang about one in 1953.
6. Dog's foot: PAW.
9. Fan out, as toes: SPLAY. When dogs lay with their legs SPLAYed, it is called splooting.
14. Proprietor: OWNER. OWNERs are usually KEY HOLDERs.
15. Prefix with system: ECO-.
16. Self-assurance: POISE.
17. Media watchdog org. that focuses on queer inclusivity: GLAAD. This organization was founded on November 14, 1985. website
18. Big boat that held animal pairs: ARK.
19. Answers an invite, briefly: RSVPS.
23. Korean car company: KIA.
24. Pizzeria order: PIE. Dean Martin sang about one in 1953.
When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza PIE, that's amore. ♪♪
32. Mom's sister: AUNT.
33. Neckwear worn by Mickey Mouse at Aulani Resort: LEI. This is a Disney resort on the island of Oahu's leeward side. Their website says aulani means "messenger of a chief".
34. Ladybug feature: SPOT. Cute clue! A ladybug's spots are not random. They serve as a deterrent to predators. more about ladybug's spots
36. Laser tag sound: PEW.
37. Runs at full speed: GALLOPS. It is surprising how smooth it feels on a horse's back at full gallop.
41. "__ bit confused": I'M A.
45. Digital counterpart: ANALOG.
46. Beat in a hot dog contest, e.g.: OUT EAT. This answer has four vowels and two T's.
47. Spots for facials: SPAS.
48. Tax season helper: Abbr.: CPA.
51. "__ la vie!": C'EST. That's life! (French)
55. Opposite of 39-Down: ANTI. and 39 Down. In favor of: PRO.
58. Major fad: MANIA.
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| Beetlemania came to mind. |
63. Vanilla __: BEAN. It takes 9 months from pollination to bean; 9 months to cure the bean; and 9 months to enhance the flavor in a humidor.
64. Humidor item: CIGAR. "Vanilla BEAN" did not fit.
65. __ sago: tapioca dessert served hot or cold: TARO. Google says this is a Cantonese dessert.
66. Karaoke selection: SONG. Karaoke translates to "empty orchestra" in Japanese.
67. Came to the surface: AROSE.
68. Dutch semisoft cheese: EDAM. made in the Netherlands
Down:
1. Gear tooth: COG.
2. Hooting bird: OWL. I have always been fond of burrowing OWLs. They are less than 10 in. (25.4 cm.) tall and are active during the day. This video was made by someone with a trail camera. Burrowing Owl Facts
3. Catch (on): SNAG. It took me a bit to catch on that this was like when your sweater catches on a bench splinter.
4. HelloFresh product: MEAL KIT. HelloFresh delivers meal components to your house.
5. Confer holy orders upon: ORDAIN.
6. Samosa vegetables: PEAS. During the fall I stock up on Trader Joe's mini spicy pumpkin samosas; however, those do not have PEAS in them.
2. Hooting bird: OWL. I have always been fond of burrowing OWLs. They are less than 10 in. (25.4 cm.) tall and are active during the day. This video was made by someone with a trail camera. Burrowing Owl Facts
3. Catch (on): SNAG. It took me a bit to catch on that this was like when your sweater catches on a bench splinter.
4. HelloFresh product: MEAL KIT. HelloFresh delivers meal components to your house.
5. Confer holy orders upon: ORDAIN.
6. Samosa vegetables: PEAS. During the fall I stock up on Trader Joe's mini spicy pumpkin samosas; however, those do not have PEAS in them.
7. Land measure: ACRE.
8. Pans that might require special burners: WOKS.
9. Wrist injury: SPRAIN.
10. To have or to hold: POSSESS. I like this allusion to wedding vows.
11. "I will never __ this down!": LIVE.
12. Nile snake: ASP.
13. "I accept!": YES.
21. Stayed put: SAT.
22. Apple core, for short: CPU. This apple is a computer with a Central Processing Unit.
25. Largest borough of New York City: QUEENS. I just needed one perp to guess at this one.
26. Open, as a present: UNWRAP.
27. Penne __ vodka: ALLA.
28. Bike signal: BELL. I have a bell on all of my bikes. I use them to notify other Rec Trail users that I am about to pass but they are usually too busy looking at their phones to hear me.
29. Barrel of laughs: RIOT.
30. Weighs in: OPINES.
31. Vegetarian restriction: NO MEAT.
32. Dad, in Korean: APPA.
35. Like sourballs: TART.
37. Canadian honker: GOOSE. I recently learned about how the Artic Barnacle GOOSE builds its nest on a high cliff then the goslings do a freefall to meet their parents at the bottom. Apparently their bones are soft enough to survive the fall during a 36-72 hour window. This video is bananas!
40. Sriracha, for one: SAUCE.
43. Satisfying, as thirst: SLAKING. Def. (verb) (1.) <archaic> Subside; abate. (2.) crumble.
44. Say over and over: ITERATE. Is "reiterate" redundant?
48. Seat at the table: CHAIR. Literally.
49. Father of many, many puppies in "101 Dalmatians": PONGO. I pulled this one out of the punchbowl!
50. Ms. Marvel, for Kamala Khan: ALIAS.
53. Org. with a pool, often: YMCA.
54. Truth alternative in a party game: DARE.
55. Crunch muscles: ABS.
56. Prefix with classical: NEO-.
57. Beach vacation souvenir: TAN. My old boss used to say that a vacation's good vibes fade at the same rate as the TAN.
60. Steamed: MAD.
61. Notable span: ERA.
62. Snack, cutesily: NOM.
8. Pans that might require special burners: WOKS.
9. Wrist injury: SPRAIN.
10. To have or to hold: POSSESS. I like this allusion to wedding vows.
11. "I will never __ this down!": LIVE.
12. Nile snake: ASP.
13. "I accept!": YES.
21. Stayed put: SAT.
22. Apple core, for short: CPU. This apple is a computer with a Central Processing Unit.
25. Largest borough of New York City: QUEENS. I just needed one perp to guess at this one.
26. Open, as a present: UNWRAP.
27. Penne __ vodka: ALLA.
28. Bike signal: BELL. I have a bell on all of my bikes. I use them to notify other Rec Trail users that I am about to pass but they are usually too busy looking at their phones to hear me.
29. Barrel of laughs: RIOT.
30. Weighs in: OPINES.
31. Vegetarian restriction: NO MEAT.
32. Dad, in Korean: APPA.
37. Canadian honker: GOOSE. I recently learned about how the Artic Barnacle GOOSE builds its nest on a high cliff then the goslings do a freefall to meet their parents at the bottom. Apparently their bones are soft enough to survive the fall during a 36-72 hour window. This video is bananas!
Spoiler alert: the chick survives!
38. "Life of Pi" director Lee: ANG.40. Sriracha, for one: SAUCE.
43. Satisfying, as thirst: SLAKING. Def. (verb) (1.) <archaic> Subside; abate. (2.) crumble.
44. Say over and over: ITERATE. Is "reiterate" redundant?
48. Seat at the table: CHAIR. Literally.
49. Father of many, many puppies in "101 Dalmatians": PONGO. I pulled this one out of the punchbowl!
50. Ms. Marvel, for Kamala Khan: ALIAS.
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| Canadian actress Iman Vellani played Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel in the 2022 Disney+ series. |
53. Org. with a pool, often: YMCA.
54. Truth alternative in a party game: DARE.
55. Crunch muscles: ABS.
56. Prefix with classical: NEO-.
57. Beach vacation souvenir: TAN. My old boss used to say that a vacation's good vibes fade at the same rate as the TAN.
60. Steamed: MAD.
62. Snack, cutesily: NOM.
Here's the grid. We do not usually see vertical symmetry on Mondays.
Two notes before I close:
- Thanks to RustyBrain for covering for me last week!
- Please join me in wishing our blogmistress C.C. a very happy birthday! 🎂
