Theme: CEES (59D. They're hard in across answers and soft in down ones) - The 14 Cs (Record is 18) are hard sound in Across answers and soft sound in Down ones. Like Don's "Hard G" and B -29 puzzles, the four two-word theme answers (with initials C.C. and second C falling into the very middle of the long theme answers) are nominal and serve to cohere the letter C theme:
16A. French Open surface : CLAY COURT. According to Wikipedia, the French Open is the premier clay court tennis tournament in the world. Clay courts are made of crushed shale, stone or brick. Francesca Schiavone said about how the clay court tasted: "It was good. So good."
22A. Cramming session : CRASH COURSE
51A. Joker on the line : CRANK CALLER
61A. Just fall short : COME CLOSE
34D. Piano benchmark, and a feature of 16-, 22-, 51- and 61-Across: MIDDLE C. Today's constructor Don Hard-G Gagliardo (with wife Barbara) is a piano technician.
Melissa Bee here.
Notice the C lands appropriately in the middle of COME CLOSE? Brilliantly executed, Don, and what a perfect tribute to our leader C.C. and her Crossword Corner creation! (See Don's note at the bottom.)
Additional hard C (Across) entries:
8. Strip in the paper : COMIC
31. 1944 Normandy battle site : CAEN. Western France. Battle map.
54. Sway on a curve : CAREEN
58. Actor Cage, casually : NIC. Nicolas Cage.
60. Where to learn une lecon : ECOLE. French. une lecon = a lesson. ecole = school.
Additional soft C (Down) entries:
1. It's sold in cakes : RICE. I wanted soap.
2. Interweave : ENLACE
3. Regatta action: BOAT RACING
5. Prey (on), cat-style : POUNCE. Great word.
8. Makes reference to : CITES
12. Disney Store sales : CELS
17. Rain storage reservoir : CISTERN. My grandmother and her sisters had a smaller version of this to collect rainwater. In some states it's illegal to divert and collect rainwater. Insanity.
46. Domestic-looking wildcat : OCELOT. Beautiful.
48. Old cold-block bringers : ICE MEN
54. Give up : CEDE
55. Sharp : ACID
61. '70s-'80s Dodger third baseman Ron : CEY.
Across:
1. Self-titled 2000s sitcom : REBA. Something about her voice … I can't listen.
5. Missal site : PEW. From Wiki: A missal is a liturgical book containing all instructions and texts necessary for the celebration of Mass throughout the year.
13. Part of, as a surprise party plan : IN ON
14. Mitchell of music : JONI
15. Blown away : IN AWE. As i am of this puzzle.
18. Innsbruck is its capital : TYROL. In Western Austria. Had no idea. Brrrr.
19. Knock off a sub? : EAT. Sandwich. Great clue.
20. "There __ 'I' in 'team'" : IS NO. teiam. Problem solved.
21. Odessa natives : TEXANS
25. China is in it, with "the": EAST. So easy it was hard.
26. Disbelieving dying words : ET TU. And you, Brutus? Shakespeare quote from Julius Caesar, used in western culture to signify the utmost betrayal.
27. Coat on the slopes : SNOW. Parka wouldn't fit.
33. Look : SEEM. Got me for a sec, i wanted a verb.
35. Lamb's mom : EWE
36. Sot's milieu : SKID ROW. Sot = drunkard.
39. Fixed income STIPEND
41. Letter writer? : PEN. Nailed it.
42. Makizushi wrapper: NORI. Makizushi is literally "rolled sushi". Maki = Rolled. Wrapped in nori seaweed.
44. Took much more than one should have : OD'ED. Overdosed.
45. Legendary Greek vessel : ARGO
47. Francesca of "Collateral Damage" : NERI. Pretty.
49. Meat source : DELI
57. Ballesteros on the links : SEVE. Spanish professional golfer, former World No. 1.
63. Prehistoric beasts, briefly : DINOS. Dinosaurs.
64. Urgent care abbr. : EMER. Emergency.
65. "It's crystal clear" : I SEE
66. Online social appointment : E-DATE
67. Craving : YEN
68. Catfish Row opera heroine : BESS. Gershwin's instrumental adaptation of scenes from his 'Porgy and Bess.' We miss you, Clear Ayes.
Down:
4. Some : ANY. Would you like some/any?
6. Implants deeply : ENROOTS. New word for me.
7. Amusing quality : WIT
9. Colorful quartz varieties : ONYXES. Beautiful red onyx.
10. Wellington __, New York Giants co-owner for 45+ years : MARA. Died in 2005.
11. Arms-up declaration : I WON
14. Kid around : JOSH
21. Faithfully following : TRUE TO
23. "Sing __ Song": Merle Haggard hit : A SAD.
24. Salt Lake City university team : UTES
28. Like some pliers : NEEDLE NOSE. These could hurt.
29. Hold title to : OWN
30. Make an honest man of, so to speak : WED
32. Reagan biographer Peggy : NOONAN. Here they are.
36. Place to get naked, perhaps : SPA. I can vouch for that.
37. Flooey lead-in : KER. Usually we see KERPLOP.
38. Birdhouse bird : WREN. So dainty.
40. Zest in a cocktail : PEEL. Cheers.
43. Dander-raising : IRKSOME
50. Showy spring bloomers : IRISES
52. Baseball's Pee Wee : REESE
53. Affirm confidently : AVER
56. TV tabloid pioneer Barrett : RONA
62. Women's __ : LIB
Note from the constructor:
"Like my last puzzle, the inspiration for this puzzle comes from Crossword Corner. When I was reminded about my Hard G Soft G puzzle, I thought I should do a follow-up with the letter C. All the across C’s are hard, all the down C’s are soft. The theme phrase words begin with C as well, and I apologize to Jeff Chen if it appears that I copied his CC puzzle. This puzzle was actually conceived well before that, and took forever to complete. I had much difficulty with it, especially the fill. Rich insisted that I not use abbreviations for the letter C, so I had to design the puzzle very carefully to get the letter C to fall into ideal locations, particularly the down soft C’s. I added one little wrinkle to this puzzle, in case solvers were patting themselves on the back for getting the theme early on in the solving process. I arranged the theme answers so that the second C fell exactly in the center. I call attention to it with the MIDDLE C answer. We’ll see if any one notices that!"
Answer grid.
Melissa
Answer grid.
Melissa
