Friday, August 16, 2013 Jean O'Conor

Theme: Bee all that you can Bee, one clue will do.

Well it is Friday and we are presented with our second consecutive Friday single clue, five theme answer puzzle. This is our 4th puzzle from Ms. O'Conor (Don't you want to get her a second N?) since her first published LAT in January. It is impressive watching new constructors get going once they the first one is in print. Structurally, this is a classic Friday, low blocks and word count, and longer words, as well many new or infrequently used clues. Some of the nice fill that jumped out for me included ONE CARAT,  RED SAUCE, GETS USED TO,  TURKEY TROT; these multiple word answers made the solving a challenge in places, but let us compare our answers.

17A Buzz: BEEHIVE HUM.(10). When I first saw this answer, I thought maybe it was going to have "HO" removed from every clue. Our onomatopoetic fill.

24A Buzz: LATEST RUMOR.(11). Many local news channels call their gossip segment the BUZZ.

33A Buzz: ASTRONAUT ALDRIN.(15). The second man to walk on the moon and the feistiest of all out astronauts. LINK. He is now promoting the colonization of Mars.

46A Buzz: ARMY HAIRCUT. (11). This is my meh  theme clue, as really aren't they really called buzz cuts?

54A Buzz: COFFEE RUSH. (10). I imagine more of us will think of alcohol as the cause of a BUZZ.

Across:

1 Preppy clothing brand: IZOD. Alligators and ex-partner of Lacoste.

5 1996 A.L. Rookie of the Year: JETER. He is trying to come back,  but 17 years have passed very quickly.

10 __ club: GLEE. Who would ever believe this would become a hit TV show. Also, a reminder of the price of fame, with the suicide of this young man and the contestant from the Bachelor.

14 It’s frowned upon: NO NO.

15 Slangy event suffix: ORAMA. Saleorama, cyclorama; not one I use or hear anymore, not to be confused with OBAMA.

16 Forever and a day: EONS.

19 Just as it should be: TO A T. One which can be hard to parse, what is a toat, does it rhyme with goat?

20 Patterned cotton cloth: CALICO. With this audience a Tabby would have been more popular.

21 Words said with an eagerly raised hand: ASK ME. I recall more, Me, Me, Me.

22 Three-time Boston Marathon winner Pippig: UTA. A change from  Ms. Hagen. I wonder how many of our New England contingent recall her, and her giving new meaning to the winner trotting HOME.

27 Monopoly player?: CARTEL. This was a struggle because, as intended, all I thought about was the game.

29 __ Palace: CAESARS. My favorite casino. 35 black.

30 Kona cookout: LUAU.

31 Dome cover: TOUPEE. You see so many terrible toppers, are there no mirrors?

39 Some discount stores: K-MARTS. They are closing their stores slowly in Florida.

40 Squeal: TELL. My father was very strict in punishing any one of us who squealed on our brothers.

41 Fixes the weatherproofing on, say: RESEALS.

44 Vicky in the Nixon White House: POODLE. I only recall Checkers, the Cocker Spaniel.

49 Pre-1991 atlas initials: SSR

50 She played Ninotchka: GRETA. Garbo. The movie was pitched because the haughty, aloof actress laughed often in the movie.

51 Moon of Jupiter: EUROPA. One of four big moons, but the astronomers now have counted 67 MOONS

53 Coal-rich valley: SAAR. This is information I learned doing the LAT.

58 Quito questionnaire catchall: OTRO. Other in Spanish. Capital of Ecuador.

59 Treads the boards?: SURFS. This was really tricky, as the phrase is so attached to actors in the theater in my mind.

60 Bounce back: ECHO. How appropriate for an all CLECHO themed puzzle.

61 Thomas who drew Santa: NAST. An extremely influential political cartoonist who did redesign Santa. LESSON.

62 Hush-hush hookup: TRYST. I just love this word, as it makes clandestine romance sound so fun.

63 They hold the answers: KEYS.

Down:

1 Schubert’s unfinished “Symphony No. 8 __ Minor”: IN B.

2 Saldana of recent “Star Trek” films: ZOE. They are making an Avatar 2. She was Uhura in the ST remake.

3 Like some diamonds: ONE CARAT. How big were your engagement rings ladies?

4 Qatar’s capital: DOHA. How cool, a shout out to our Doc.

5 Good-humored: JOVIAL. More Santa?

6 Put up: ERECT. Nope, not going there.

7 Chevy K5 Blazer, since 1995: TAHOE. Do you ever wonder who picks the car names?

8 Swift-running bird: EMU. For all the golfers out there, Tom Morris and his CADDIE.

9 Push firmly: RAM.

10 Learns to cope with: GET'S USED TO. Such an odd string of letters until you break them up.

11 “No hands!” lead-in: LOOK MA. The bicycle ritual.

12 Enthrall: ENAMOR. I am not in love with using an "EN" clue and an "EN" fill.

13 Beer-flavoring compounds: ESTERS. I need one of my brewing boys to write this, but I will let you read this LINK if you are interested.

18 __-et-Vilaine: French department: ILLE. and 37D Misfortunes: ILLS.

21 Tottering: AREEL: An A word!

22 Pac-12 school: UCLA.

23 Cross-shaped letters: TAUS. The Greek T.

25 Rabbits’ tails: SCUTS. A Gareth Bain type of clue; all stubby tails like rabbits and deer are called SCUTS. Also the Santa Clara college Rugby team are known as the SCUTS.

26 Taberna snack: TAPA. Spanish, we have our Taberna here in Hialeah, the word is like our Tavern and if you do not know, TAPAS are like snacks or appetizers.

28 Ragtime round dance: TURKEY TROT. I hope you are up on your dances from the 20's.(2:56).

31 Tibia neighbors: TARSI. The seven bones in the ankle which connect the leg (Tibia) to the foot.

32 Dead to the world: OUT.

34 Home of ConAgra Foods: OMAHA. Another Corner shout out, this time to the golfing legend HG.

35 Simba’s love: NALA. Can you feel the Love TONIGHT? (3:32).

36 Marinara, e.g.: RED SAUCE.

38 Nat or Phil: NLER.

41 Teases relentlessly: RAGS ON. Another tricky multiple word fill.

42 List of slips: ERRATA. Coincidental Steve?

43 Window washer’s concern: SMEARS. I would worry only about the scaffolding and falling.

44 Least spoiled: PUREST. Who among us?

45 Chiwere speaker: OTOE. A new clue for a staple, all perps.

47 Toss back into the hot oil: REFRY. Beans!

48 Perp’s bracelets: CUFFS. The other perp and his handcuffs, if he gets caught.

52 Nursery sch.: PRE-K.

54. Manitoba hrs. CST. Manitoba is just west of Ontario and is in the Central time zone.

55 “__ House”: CSNY hit: OUR. Took me a while to translate Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.

56 Reserved: SHY. Yup, me too.

57 5-Down laughs: HOS. Second week in a row for this fill in a Friday puzzle, but I was feeling psychic after my BEEHIVE (HO) HUM thought.

Well we managed another one, and really diverse cluing, not too many proper names, not too many obscurities, but lots of different areas, which should give you all something to talk about and CED plenty of topics for linking. This has been a fun mostly easy week, and I hope you enjoyed this one. Thank you Jean and all of you old and new posters.

Lemonade out.

Note from C.C.:

Happy Birthday to Doha Doc, originally Vegas Doc who is now in Doha (no easy beer)  for a business assignment. 

Thursday, August 15, 2013 Neville Fogarty

Theme: Going in circles

18A. Poof : UP IN SMOKE.

23A. "Danger, Will Robinson!" sci-fi series : LOST IN SPACE.

37A. "Lincoln" director : STEVEN SPIELBERG.

53A. Gilbert and Sullivan work subtitled "The Lass That Loved a Sailor" : HMS PINAFORE.

And the unifier:

59A. Washing machine phase graphically shown in this puzzle's circles :  SPIN CYCLE.

I really like the progression, where the "S" moves from the end position, one at a time, pulling the rest of the word along with it. But I have the feeling I have seen this theme recently...no?

The fill seemed like a Monday romp to me.  I made one pass across and down, and was done. How was your experience?

Across:

1. Nine-time Grammy winner Mary J. ___ : BLIGE. Introduced to her from crosswords. But I do like her Mary Jane (All Night Long).

6. Honeyed quaff : MEAD.

10. High point : ACME. Or, a Road Runner supplier.

14. Pine product : ROSIN. Used often on my violin bow, in my ute...

15. Nobel Peace Prize city : OSLO.

16. Mount color : ROAN.

17. Kind of elephant : ASIAN.

20. Wide-headed fasteners : T-NUTS.

22. Peppy and then some : HYPER.

28. Big jerk? : TUG.

29. Actress Thurman : UMA. I loved her "Kill Bill" series.

30. ___ cotta : TERRA.

31. Frequent award for Tiger Woods : ESPY. Nice change from "Catch sight of" clue. Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly award.

32. Christmas buys : GIFTS. Santa Argyle, who are you gifting with coal this year?

35. River mammal : OTTER.

43. Godly : PIOUS.

44. Group scuffle : MELEE.

45. Layered haircut : SHAG. Like Mike Myers'?

48. Get a giggle from : AMUSE. Does he amuse you?

51. "Inferno" author Brown : DAN. He is a big crossword aficionado.

52. Prosciutto, e.g. : HAM.

56. Difficult high school sci. course : AP BIO. Advanced Placement Biology. One of my courses in H.S.

58. Solitary soul : LONER.

63. Private account : DIARY.

66. One still maturing : TEEN.

67. "___ go bragh!" : ERIN.

68. Common Sundance entry : INDIE. I always wondered why India was such a big presence at the Sundance film festival. But I finally learned that the name stands for "Independent" films.

69. Author Radcliffe and a cape : ANNS. Huh? An author and a Massachusetts cape?

70. Russian refusal : NYET.

71. Preppy collars : ETONS.

Down:

1. Strapped support : BRA. I bet Alessandra Ambrosio gets a lot of support from her fans.

2. UCLA article : LOS. Los Angeles ("The" Angels.)

3. "Can I come out now?" : IS IT SAFE?

4. Really big : GIANT.

5. Bordeaux boredom : ENNUI. Not sure why "Bordeaux" is in the clue. It's the same word in English.

6. Chocolate treat : MOUSSE.

7. Purported ability : ESP. "Purported" because it is not scientifically proven.

8. 2001 boxing biopic : ALI. Starring Will Smith.

9. Step into, as a pair of slacks : DON. Wha?  Why not clue it as "Half of the Crossword Corner Dynamic Duo"???

10. West Point team : ARMY. My nephew is the athletic trainer for them.

11. Appropriates : CO-OPTS.

12. Facial cosmetics : MAKEUP.

13. Cabinet department created under Carter : ENERGY.

19. Lady's pronoun : SHE.

21. "Falling Skies" network: TNT. Never saw it. Any good?

23. Schleps : LUGS.

24. Replace with an ellipsis : OMIT...

25. Supports : PROPS UP.

26. Drawing intro : ART I.

27. Oscar winner Blanchett : CATE. "The Aviator" was one of my favorite films that year. She did a great job portraying Katharine Hepburn.

31. Kathryn of "Law & Order: C.I." : ERBE. No clue. Lots of ladies in this puzzle.

33. Freq. sitcom rating : TV PG.

34. Sicilian six : SEI. Had to sharpen up my Italian counting skills when I went to Italy in June. Uno, due, tre, quattro, cinque, sei...

36. Stately shader : ELM.

38. Author Chomsky : NOAM. From M.I.T. He's waaaay over my head!

39. Column enders : SUMS.

40. Mythical city of gold : EL DORADO.

41. Duff : REAR.  Was thinking "golf" here! So, kick me in the butt!

42. DNA component : GENE.

45. Soda born at the base of a California mountain : SHASTA.

46. Go down, so to speak : HAPPEN. It's what's happening!!

47. Insomniac's prescription : AMBIEN.

49. Like one "k" in "knuckle" : SILENT.

50. Byrne's "Strange Overtones" collaborator : ENO. Brian, of elevator music fame.

53. Ad ___ committee : HOC.

54. Bill's "Groundhog Day" co-star : ANDIE. MacDowell. And Bill Murray. He is a regular visitor to my town. I have even had drinks with him at the local watering hole.

55. False move : FEINT.

57. Places to stay : INNS.

60. Craving : YEN.

61. Howl or bark : CRY.

62. Tell a tale : LIE.

64. "A Dog of the Regiment" dog ___ Tin Tin : RIN.

65. "Without a doubt!" : YES. I believe we are done here!

And that's it for this week. Till next time!

Marti