Theme: Back to Basics.
Your basic "definition" type theme, that is. But with a cute twist at the end. And I like the way the NUTS and BOLTS clues alternate.
17-Across. NUTS : ARDENT FANS.
24-Across. BOLTS : FABRIC ROLLS.
33-Across. NUTS : OFF ONE'S ROCKER.
48-Across. BOLTS : HIGHTAILS IT.
57-Across. NUTS AND BOLTS : ESSENTIALS.
For some reason, I just thought this was really fun, and actually giggled at 57-Across. Am I NUTS?
Marti here, to check out what else Matt has served up today.
Across:
1. Turn near home : AT BAT. Bamboozled on the first entry, I started looking at the downs immediately. I got the first "A" from those, and nothing else. Moving on...
6. Boxers' sounds : ARFS. Ahh, one I can fill.
10. ___ Said: Suez Canal harbor : PORT. Ooh, ooh, another one!
14. Watson's creator : DOYLE. ...is this really a Thursday puzzle?
15. Veggie that leaves a purple stain : BEET. OK, I know I am going to get slammed down south. This is starting out too easy...
16. Playfully roguish : ARCH. (skip it and come back later)
19. End of an old boast : VICI. Veni, vidi, vici.
20. It's après après-midi : SOIR. French for "evening," which comes after afternoon.
21. Part of the inn crowd? : MAID. ...not fooled.
22. Elevator stop : FLOOR. Gimme.
23. Spike TV, once : TNN. The Nashville Network, then The National Network, and now Spike.
26. Sells out : RATS ON.
28. Dive into, as a pile of correspondence : HAVE AT.
29. Take into custody? : ADOPT.
30. County bordering Galway : MAYO. Hold it!
39. Heavy load : ONUS.
40. "Hill Street Blues" regular Veronica : HAMEL. I wasn't a big fan. She played Joyce Davenport.
42. Red choice : CLARET. "Merlot" also fit. Just sayin'...
47. Advice-and-consent body : SENATE. I always mistakenly thought it was "Advise" because of this novel.
52. Felix or Morris, e.g. : CAT.
53. Pal of D'Artagnan : ATHOS. So what are Porthos and Aramis, chopped liver?
54. Squeal : SING.
55. "How the Other Half Lives" author Jacob : RIIS. He became a social activist in New York, exposing the life of poverty and desperation in the slums. Interesting that the next clue hints at where he was born.
56. Dutch burg : STAD. If you know that a German city is called a "stadt" it wouldn't be too difficult to suss the Dutch word.
59. Differently : ELSE.
60. Money guru Orman : SUZE. This section with SUZE and PETR crossing LISZT could be a bear for some. (Not moi!!)
61. Name on a bottle of Pleasures : ESTÉE. Why, yes, there it is. Right at the top. However, "pleasures" is never capitalized.
62. Sinks out of sight : SETS.
63. '80s-'90s tennis star Korda : PETR. All perps and wags.
64. Farm machinery giant : DEERE.
Down:
1. To the stars, in mottos : AD ASTRA. Many mottos include those Latin words. I imagine this corner might also give some people fits, with Latin, an old car and a tricky phrase, all starting off 1-2-3.
2. Olds luxury model : TORONADO. Jay Leno has a 1000hp one.
3. Owing to : BY DINT OF. DINT is used only in this phrase, and means "force." By dint of hard work, they were able to finish the job on time.
4. 11-down, e.g., briefly : ALER. American Leaguer.
5. Royal flush part : TEN. Had to be ace or TEN.
6. Britcom with Edina and Patsy : AB FAB. Short for "Absolutely Fabulous." I believe Lemony is a fan of this show.
7. Run over : RE-AIR.
8. Upscale handbag : FENDI. I love this one. But not $2,890 worth of love...
9. Canonized gp. : STS. Saints. I didn't know that the NOLA team had been canonized!?! (^0^)
10. 1904 Nobel-winning physiologist : PAVLOV. Instant reflex to fill this in.
11. Camden Yards player : ORIOLE. My mind was somewhere over in England. I finally remembered this ballpark.
12. Dr Pepper alternative : RC COLA, which can quench your...
13. Desire : THIRST.
18. Fed. investigator : T-MAN. Treasury Man. I always have to wait for perps before deciding whether to put T- or G-.
22. Monk's address : FRA.
24. Snap, in ads : FOTO. Go ape? Zing? E-Z? My mind definitely was not on "pics."
25. Half a little train? : CHOO...choo.
27. Bain de Soleil abbr. : SPF. Sun Protection Factor. I always wondered why it isn't called "Skin" protection factor. After all, that's what needs protection, not the sun!
30. The Beatles and the Stones, e.g. : MEN.
31. Sun Devils' sch. : ASU. Arizona State University. A gimme for Thelma and Lucina.
32. Timeline nos. : YRS. Years.
34. "___ problem!" : NOT A.
35. Jazzman Baker : CHET. A brilliant musician with a very checkered career.
36. Kal ___: Iams rival : KAN.
37. Make gaunt : EMACIATE.
38. Merchant : RETAILER.
41. Thoughtful words : LET'S SEE...(where was I?)
42. Goes after : CHASES. Warning - this chase scene might cause dizziness! 1:03
43. Unimportant : LITTLE.
44. Overcome with shock : AGHAST.
45. Scholarship founder : RHODES.
46. Many "Star Trek" characters, briefly : ETS. Extra-terrestrials.
47. Billboard, say : SIGN.
49. Thing to resolve : ISSUE.
50. Composer who wrote piano transcriptions of Beethoven's nine symphonies : LISZT. Here is one of my favorite pieces...1:29
51. Evil look : SNEER.
55. Climb : RISE.
57. Psychic letters : ESP. Extra-sensory perception.
58. "How I Met Your Mother" narrator : TED. I still don't know how he met her, but this is the final season for the show.
Time for me to BOLT outta' here. See you next week!
Hugs,
Marti
