Friday, March 8, 2013, David Steinberg and David Phillips

(Note from C.C.:

To online solvers, whenever you see a "-" sign in a grid, it means there's no clue/clue number for that entry. Puzzle software does not allow empty clues, hence editors often use "-" as a signal. Your on-line clue numbers will be different from Lemonade's write-up number.

Today's grid should look like this:

THEME: Water falls. Some of the fill does as well.

Each of the six theme answers requires the word WATER presented top to bottom connected with across fill to complete the fill for the clue. As the Friday Master of Ceremonies, I get these visually creative, but outre puzzles where much of the fill is in un-clued space. When we had Ian Livengood's version back in January, he had the words be read backwards, this time you have to picture the entire answer and figure out what spaces to grab to put it all in. The symmetry of effort is wonderful blending the across  and down part of each theme answer, keeping the long fill at 15. This effort is from David Phillips (?) and David Steinberg, one of the wunderkinds of construction, still in high school I think. You can read all about him on his own LINK. let us get right to the puzzle, because like Lucy, I got a lot of 'splaining to do, especially if the online sites numbered wrong again.

1A. Perennial Oscars staple : PRICE W, - No Clue D. : WATER. - No Clue A. : R HOUSE.  PRICE WATERHOUSE.  (15). We all know this accounting firm tabulates the Oscar votes and places the winner's name in a sealed envelope, to be opened on stage. (Also the basis of Johnny Carson's Mayonnaise jar). Anyway, a very tough way to begin, with 1A unfillable without the perps.

6A. Canoeist's challenge : WHITE W. - No Clue D. : WATER. WHITE WATER (10). I can only think of Deliverance and will never go in a river again.

31A. Prevent that sinking feeling? : TREAD W. - No Clue D. : WATER. TREAD WATER (10). A literal and figurative clue.

45A. Best Picture of 1954 : ON THE W - No Clue D. : WATER. - No Clue A. : R FRONT. ON THE WATERFRONT. (15) The wonderful Brando, Rod Steiger movie. 

19 D : WATER. - No Clue A : R VAPOR. WATER VAPOR (10). This clued steamed me.

42 D. River phenomena (or what literally happens six times in this puzzle) : WATER.  - No Clue A. : R FALLS. WATER FALLS (10).

Across:

11. Game with pelotas : JAI ALAI. The hard rubber ball used in the fronton, caught in the cesta.

13. Maria ___, the last House of Habsburg ruler : THERESA. Your history LESSON.

14. They're found in bars : SPIRITS. This is doubly true, as alcohol is known as spirits, and I imagine a lot of ghosts haunt the bars.

15. Most comfortable : HOMIEST. This was difficult for me, but I had already committed to doing down clues first, so...

16. Breed canines? : TEETHE. Really fun clue, I could not think of anything which passed the breakfast test.

18. "Peter Pan" character : SMEE. Classic crosswordese.

19. Erase, as from memory : WIPE. The NEURALIZER.(0:56).

24. Ukr., once : SSR. Ukraine was once one of the the Republics.

25. Honey Bear portrayer in "Mogambo" : AVA. Gardner, reprising the role first done by Jean Harlow in Red Dust. LINK. (4:17) Clark Gable, Grace Kelly, what more do you want.

26. Like some labor : MENIAL. Interestingly from the Latin word for house, which is also the root for maison in French and Mansion in English. It referred to 'house workers' who were also called menials.

28. Emotionally strained : TAUT.

30. Cabinet dept. created under LBJ : HUD. Part of his Great Society legislation the Housing and Urban Development  Department was created to protect home buyers and foster home ownership and urban growth.

34. Intertwines : ENLACES. Like your fingers in the church/steeple.

36. Pygmalion's statue : GALATEA. Not the Eliza Doolittle story but the wonderful Greek MYTH.

37. Course number : PAR. This clue was average, par for the course.

38. Touched : FELT.

39. "A Tale of Love and Darkness" author : AMOS OZ. This BOOK about the early days of Israel.

41. Native Coloradan : UTE.

42. Financial Times rival, briefly : WSJ. Wall Street Journal.

46. Train with dukes? : SPAR. Not from Downton, but put up your dukes and box.

47. "I hate to interrupt, but..." : AHEM. Not to be confused with 7D. Shut (in) : HEM.

49. Strasbourg's region : ALSACE. This city is the capital of a region that is between German and France and has changed hands often.

51. In a defensable manner : TENABLY.Last week tenable, this week the LY.

54. Biological reversion : ATAVISM. The human tail which is quite evident in a fetus is the classic example.

58. Newborn raptors : EAGLETS. Birds were dinosaurs.

59. Progress by directed effort : TELESIS. A very Friday word and concept, from the Greek, LINK.


Down:

1. Retiree's attire? : PJS. Just pajama's retiring to bed, not from work, unless you are Hugh Hefner.

2. Knock : RAP. Knock music has no ring to it.

3. "Revenge of the Sith" episode number : III. The last of the prequels. VII is supposedly in the works.

4. Café reading : CARTE. Our French lesson Lolita, for menu.

5. Peace Nobelist two years after Desmond : ELIE. Wiesel. The entire LIST.

6. Time-traveling Doctor : WHO. Who?

8. Pupil controller : IRIS. I love explaining EYES.

9. Swarms : TEEMS.This puzzle teems with tough clues.

10. Scoreless trio? : ESSES. Classic misdirection, look at the clue, don't define it.

12. Formation meaning "neck" in Greek : ISTHMUS. It connects to large bodies, either land or in the body connecting larger parts, such as the Thyroid Isthmus. Not  a happy word if you lisp.

13. N.Y.C. country club? : THE UN. Country Club, really cute, but when I first read this I had already filled it in and was thinking of my friend Michael Theun form wrestling in High School.

17. Broke ground : HOED. They are forever breaking new grounds.

20. Co-tsar with Peter I : IVAN V. Love the co-star anagram pun. LINK. Fun stuff you can learn here.

21. TV cook Deen : PAULA. She gets enough publicity without me.

22. Prominent instrument in "Paint It, Black" : SITAR. The psychedelic instrument of choice. LISTEN. (3:40).

23. British nobleman : EARL. Robert Crawley.

27. Biblical cover-up : LEAF. In the garden of Eden after the apple.

29. Snack in un bar : TAPA. We have lots of places serving tapas in SoFla. They are not all Spanish THEMED.

30. Leggy wader : HERON. For Splynter WATCH.(1:55)

32. Couldn't get enough of : ATE UP.

33. American rival : DELTA. Airlines, not countries.

35. "It's Impossible" crooner : COMO. He ended up living in Jupiter, Florida, SONG.(3:14)

36. Watches with wonder : GAZES AT.

37. Sci-fi writer Frederick : POHL. Wonderful imagination, he married his wife when he was 65.

40. Legal orders : STAYS. Hard one, as there are so many Orders, though Stays especially of execution are important.

43. Harvest sight : SHEAF

44. Tower-building game : JENGA. Remember WHEN? (1:44)

46. Cut off : SEVER.

48. Suburban symbol : MALL.

50. Pasture newborn : CALF.

52. ___ canto : BEL.  Opera term, HOW TO.(7:32).

53. Mil. ranks : LTS. Lieutenants.

55. Prefix with propyl : ISO.

56. It might be original : SIN. Did you SEE? (1:16).

57. Boulder hrs. : MST. Mountain Standard Time and the time zone where my youngest lives and time for me to wrap this up. So what do you all think of this style of puzzle. Rich does not allow a rebus puzzle, how about ones without conventional structure?

Again thanks to all who enjoyed my Charlotte. i also want to send Marti to the ACPT with our best wishes.


Lemonade out.

Thursday, March 7, 2013 Joel Lafargue

Theme: "What's in a name?"

17A. See 60-Across : MALE CAT OR TURKEY. "Tom"

26A. See 60-Across : SLANG FOR A SLEUTH. "Dick"

46A. See 60-Across : BOTHER ENDLESSLY. "Harry"

60A. Trio suggested by the answers to 17-, 26- and 46-Across : TOM, DICK AND HARRY.

Other than the cross-referential clues, this puzzle seemed like a Monday level to me.  Four grid spanners make a nice theme-rich puzzle, with a low three-letter count. For those counting "cheater squares," see the square before 35-Across, and at the end of 43-Across.

Marti here, to see what else is on our plate today.

Across:

1. Theme : MOTIF.  I am most familiar with "MOTIF Number 1," which is located in Rockport, MA and is the most commonly painted scene in the country. It was destroyed in the Blizzard of '78, but subsequently rebuilt.

6. Woody's "Annie Hall" role : ALVY. I finally forced myself to watch "Annie Hall" just last week, so this was a gimme.

10. Slash mark? : SCAR. Ouch!

14. NBC's "Weekend Today" co-anchor Hill : ERICA. Pretty lady.

15. Some parasites : LICE. Anyone have a nit to pick about that?

16. Marching band instrument : TUBA.

20. "Viva el matador!" : OLE.

21. Has the stage : IS ON.

22. Winter airs : NOELS. Not bleak, nippy or polar. The kind of "airs" you sing.

23. Plastic ___ Band : ONO. Oh no...not her again.

24. Summoning gesture : BECK. Yes, it's a real word. For any nose scrunchers out there, think of being at someone's "beck and call."

34. Big name in banking : CITI.

35. Nick-named actor : NOLTE. Cute clue for Nick Nolte.

36. Miss Piggy, to Miss Piggy : MOI. "Who...MOI??"

37. Neglects to mention : OMITS.

39. Communication no one hears: Abbr. : ASL. American Sign Language.

40. Cabbage salads : SLAWS. I just tried a new recipe with savoy cabbage and a dressing made with peanut butter, rice wine vinegar, vegetable oil, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger. Yummm!

42. At an angle: Abbr. : OBL.ique.

43. Leg bone : TIBIA. "...the tibia's connected to the patella" just doesn't have the same ring, does it?

45. Applications : USES.

50. "...to market, to buy ___ pig..." : A FAT.

"To market, to market, to buy a fat pig,

Home again, home again, dancing a jig.

To market, to market, to buy a fat hog,

Home again, home again, jiggety jog."

- Mother Goose

51. Smudge on Santa's suit : ASH.

52. Snowman's accessory : SCARF.

55. Hearing subject : SUIT.

57. Summer shade : TAN.

64. Sword with a guarded tip : EPEE. I just learned that the reason an EPEE has a groove is to "drain away the blood."  (Blood, did you say blood???)

65. Kept: HELD.

66. Shah's fate : EXILE.

67. "Buddenbrooks" novelist : MANN.  Thomas MANN won a Nobel Prize in literature for the book.

68. Wild about : IN TO.

69. Provide room for growth, perhaps : REPOT. Thanks for the reminder - it's getting to be that time of year!

Down:

1. Jogging instrument? : MEMO. Not an i-pod worn while jogging, but a means to "jog" your memory! (Memo to self: REPOT plants.)

2. Unwritten test : ORAL.

3. Roofer's purchase : TILE.

4. Hard water? : ICE. I can attest that ice is very hard water, especially when you land on your keister on it! Then we have 47-Down. Become pitiless : HARDEN.

5. Going up against : FACING.

6. Part for a singer : ALTO.

7. Oz visitor : LION.

8. TiVo ancester : VCR. Boy, do I feel ancient!

9. So far : YET.

10. It precedes "Substituted Ball" in the Definitions section of the "Rules of Golf": STROKE. STR comes before SUB alphabetically. HG, do you carry a set of the rules in your golf bag?

11. Pickled veggie : CUKE. Hands up for "okra?"

12. First family member : ABEL. Because Barack, Michelle, Malia or Sasha wouldn't fit...

13. Tropicana Field team : RAYS. The Tampa Bay Rays, originally called the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, of MLB.

18. Date-setting phrase : AS OF.

19. Rich relatives? : UNCLES.

23. "Count ___!" : ON IT.

24. Story-telling song : BALLAD.

25. Handyman's approx. : EST.imate. I wonder what the estimate was for Splynter's church ramp?

26. Shaggy's pal, to Shaggy : SCOOB.y-Doo

27. Unsettled state : LIMBO.

28. Not straight up : ATILT.  Hands up for those who wanted "on ice"? (Put your hand down, Tin. I know you'd never even think of "on ice"!!)

29. With money at stake : ON A BET.

30. Violinists supply : ROSIN.

31. Member of the Five College Consortium, familiarly : U-MASS. The other five are Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke and Smith College.

32. Swimmer's need : TOWEL. Water would be nice, too...

33. Temper tantrum : HISSY.

38. World No. 1 tennis player between Martina and Monica : STEFFI. Navratilova, Seles and Graf.

41. Abundant, plantwise : LUSH.

44. Tax shelter letters : IRA. Individual Retirement Account.

48. Ascribed, as blame : LAID.

49. Old Testament queen : ESTHER. Queen of Persia.

52. Mushroom piece : STEM.

53. Club where "music and passion were always the fashion," in song : COPA. I'll let someone else link the ear worm...

54. "Right on!" : AMEN.

55. Fries seasoning : SALT.

56. Menu choice after an "oops" : UNDO. Cute clue.

57. Dancing blunder : TRIP. Oops!

58. Folksy Guthrie : ARLO.

59. Rostov rejection : NYET. Here's a beautiful image of ROSTOV, located about 175 km NE of Moscow.

61. Sox, in line scores : CHI.cago. (I wanted "BOS.")

62. Boy toy? : KEN. LOL!!

63. Send packing : AXE. OK, OK, I'm out of here. No need to get out the axe!

'Til next week!

Hugs,
Marti

Note from C.C.:

Marti will be competing at the ACPT this weekend. Let's wish her good luck! Say Hello to Marti and her husband Allen if you're there too.

Wednesday, Mar 6 2013, Robin Stears

theme: what a DODO!

17A. __ Sam: 49ers mascot : SOURDOUGH. san francisco.

24A. Lake Geneva water fountain : JET D'EAU. famous landmark, french for 'water jet.'

34A. Fun Factory clay : PLAY-DOH

51A. Mystery man : JOHN DOE. name used to refer to a male whose identity is unknown, or being withheld.

58A. Olympic sport since 2000 : TAE KWON DO. korean martial art.

melissa here. pretty straightforward today, raced right through with few sticky spots. it did make me wonder where our DODO is - anyone know?

across:

1. __ polloi : HOI

4. Prom gown material : SATIN

9. Jitter-free java : DECAF. shortened form of decaffeinated is routinely used.

14. ShopNBC competitor : QVC.  televised home shopping.

15. Gulf State native : OMANI. one from oman.

16. Start of a historic B-29 name : ENOLA. enola gay. 

19. Obie contender : ACTOR. annual off-broadway theater awards.

20. It comes straight from the heart : AORTA. fresh clue.

21. Fate who spins the thread of life : CLOTHO. youngest of the three fates in greek mythology.

22. Of main importance : PRIMAL

25. Some Korean imports : KIAS. cars.

26. Maker of Touch of Foam hand wash : LYSOL. had never heard of it.

28. Old-style "once" : ERST

29. Hipbone-related : ILIAC. seemed like it should be iliaL.

31. Ape who rescues baby Tarzan : KALA. as johnny used to say, i did not know that.

33. Filled (in), as a questionnaire box : XED. 

37. Back (out) : OPT. doesn't seem quite right - assuming we're talking contract talk - you can back out - but you can opt in or out.

40. Unsteady gait : LIMP

41. Debate : ARGUE

43. Caesar's "Behold!" : ECCE. needed perps here.

47. Appearances : MIENS. here, too.

50. Napoleon's exile isle : ELBA

53. Jigger's  1½€ : OUNCES. a jigger is 1.5 ounces.

55. High society types : ELITES

56. Firth or fjord : INLET

57. Infant ailment : COLIC. and parent's nightmare.

62. Fool : TRICK

63. S-shaped moldings : OGEES

64. Slice of history : EON

65. Boneheads : ASSES

66. Hot, spicy drink : TODDY. don't really think of a hot toddy as spicy.

67. Where the wild things are : ZOO

down:

1. Command ctrs. : HQS. headquarters.

2. Egg head? : OVO. prefix meaning egg.

3. Post-op setting : ICU. intensive care unit.

4. Doomed city in Genesis : SODOM

5. Indifferent to right and wrong : AMORAL

6. How tense words are spoken : TAUTLY

7. "Young Frankenstein" seductress : INGA. played by teri garr in the film. 

8. Govt. medical research org. : NIH. national institutes of health.

9. Handed out hands : DEALT. cards.

10. Protect from a cyberattack, say : ENCODE

11. Fastening pin : COTTER

12. Lei Day greetings : ALOHAS. we got lei'd again.

13. "Like, wow, man!" : FAR OUT. i'm hearing this expression again.

18. __ Gorbachev, last first lady of the USSR : RAISA

21. String quintet instrument : CELLO

22. Stack : PILE

23. "Kills bugs dead!" spray : RAID

24. Family name in "The Grapes of Wrath" : JOAD

25. Brooks of country music's Brooks & Dunn : KIX

27. Video chat choice : SKYPE. so popular.

30. Sgt.'s subordinate : CPL

32. Sound of a light bulb going on? : AHA. nice.

35. Long rides? : LIMOS

36. Jacques's significant other : AMIE. female friend.

37. Look like a creep : OGLE. great clue.

38. Guinness servers : PUBS

39. Darjeeling, e.g. : TEA

42. Right-hand page : RECTO

43. Volcanic spewings : EJECTA. perps please.

44. Black and tan : COLORS. 

45. Restaurant chain with a hot pepper in its logo : CHILI'S

46. Inveigle : ENTICE. what a great word.

48. "Thanks, already did it" : NO NEED

49. Stewed : SULKED

52. Cruise ship levels : DECKS

54. Like long emails from old friends : NEWSY

56. "I hate the Moor" speaker : IAGO. from othello.

58. Playpen player : TOT

59. Pince-__ : NEZ. style of glasses that pinch the nose, like this:

60. Scrappy-__ : DOO. scooby's nephew.

61. Beatle wife : ONO. yoko.

melissa

Tuesday, March 5, 2013 Mel Rosen

Theme: Vowel Progression - Five two-word entries; first word starts P_TT with a vowel progressing from A to U. Added bonus, the added vowels are all of the short variety.

18A. Singer called the "Godmother of Punk" : PATTI SMITH. (She doesn't seem to have any short songs!)

23A. Misdemeanor : PETTY CRIME

38A. Set in opposition to : PITTED AGAINST

50A. One given to bad language : POTTY MOUTH

57A. Finishing the 18th, say : PUTTING OUT. (Awkward phrasing, to my ear.)

Argyle here. I've got nothing to say. C.C.?

From C.C.: Here is a picture of today's constructor Mel Rosen and his wife Peggy at the 2002 ACPT tournament. Mel coined the phrase Cruciverbalist, meaning "crossword aficionado".

Across:

1. Politicos Reagan and Paul : RONs

5. Do some healing : MEND

9. Mallorcan seaport : PALMA. Spanish name for Majorca.

14. Lit sign in a dark theater : EXIT

15. Operatic song : ARIA

16. Regions : AREAs

17. Playground frolicker : TYKE

20. Not getting any younger : AGING

22. Mozart's "Così fan __" : TUTTE. Overture(4:22)

26. Reheat leftovers, in a way : NUKE

30. "Bambi" doe : ENA. (Bambi's aunt)

31. Pep rally yell : RAH

32. Grabbed at will : SEIZED

34. Triangular Indian pastry : SAMOSA. Wash it down with a Mimosa?

37. Bufferin targets : PAINS. Aspirin with an antacid buffer made by Novartis.

41. Land, in Le Havre : TERRE On the English Channel. Map

42. Puts into office : ELECTS

43. Enthusiastic reply to "Who wants ice cream?" : "I DO! I DO!"

45. Classical lead-in : NEO

46. Involuntary sign of nerves : TIC

49. Color for a panther? : PINK. Earwig warning. Theme(2:39)

54. Movie reviewer Roger : EBERT

56. China's Zhou __ : ENLAI

62. Caplet or gelcap : PILL. Bufferin comes only as a tablet.

63. Dentist's insertion : CROWN. A more straightforward clue than the other day.

64. Where the clergy sit, in many churches : APSE

65. Mayberry boy : OPIE. Another Ron.

66. It's found in veins : BLOOD. Still, there might be iron in those veins.

67. Tiny time div. : NSEC. (nanosecond)

68. MADD ads, e.g. : PSA's. (Mothers Against Drunk Driving/public service announcements)

Down:

1. Put on a new cassette : RETAPE. Iffy.

2. Roughly 21% of the atmosphere : OXYGEN

3. "La Femme __" : NIKITA. Trailer with subtitles.

4. Angioplasty implant : STENT. A stent is a small mesh tube that's used to treat narrow or weak arteries. They have had their problems.

5. "You are here" document : MAP

6. Timeline time : ERA

7. Capone cohort Frank : NITTI. He's been making an appearance frequently.

8. Factual tidbit : DATUM

9. Yesterday's tense : PAST

10. Azerbaijani's neighbors : ARMENIANS. As the map shows, Armenia is landlocked.

11. Welcoming wreath : LEI

12. Welcoming floor covering : MAT

13. Bit of fire evidence : ASH

19. Adherents: Suff. : ITEs

21. Danced wildly : GYRATED

24. Amounted (to) : CAME

25. __ Island : RHODE

27. Weapons from Israel : UZIs

28. Mild-mannered fictional reporter : KENT. Clark

29. L.A. Times staffers : EDs. (editors)

33. Exemplification : EPITOME

34. Ump's call : "STRIKE TWO!"

35. Erie Canal mule : SAL. She's a good ole gal.

36. Athlete's promoter : AGENT

38. Mani partner, salonwise : PEDI. (manicure and pedicure)

39. Laundry room tool : IRON

40. __-deucy : ACEY. (card game)

41. Advice at the track : TIP

44. Pop one's cork? : OPEN

46. Blooms from bulbs : TULIPS. Soon.

47. Home to Firenze : ITALIA. Both Italian spellings.

48. __ rellenos: stuffed Mexican dish : CHILES. Yum!

51. Church keyboard : ORGAN

52. Sporty car roofs : T-TOPS

53. Seuss's "Hop __" : ON POP

55. Difficult situation : BIND

57. Pollutant banned by Cong. in 1979 : PCB. An oil formerly used in transformers.

58. www address : URL

59. On top of everything else : TOO

60. Employ : USE

61. Investigator, slangily : TEC

Argyle

Note from C.C.:

1) You can click here (MENSA website) to solve the puzzle in old format.

2)Here are three adorable pictures of the 4-month-old Charlotte, Lemonade's granddaughter.

Hello, Crossword Corner!

Monday March 4, 2013 Peter Koetters

Theme: WANTED: Nursery Rhyme Characters (All Males)

 17A. WANTED: Dimwitted loiterer, for pie-tasting without intent to buy : SIMPLE SIMON

 23A. WANTED: Boy on the run, for unwanted kissing : GEORGIE PORGIE

 35A. WANTED: Delinquent minor, for breaking curfew and inappropriate dress : WEE WILLIE WINKIE

 49A. WANTED: Musical shepherd, for sleeping on the job : LITTLE BOY BLUE

 58A. WANTED: Merry monarch, for smoke pollution with his pipe : OLD KING COLE

C.C. here, giving Argyle a break. I had thought Cruciverb might experience their monthly no-new puzzle glitch again.

Five theme entries (63 squares) is a lot for a Monday, or any day of the week. But as I mentioned before, filling is trickier for Monday/Tuesday puzzles as constructors can't have difficult words in the grid.

This grid is just perfect.

 

Across:

1. Rebounding sound : ECHO. Easy start.

5. Early newspaper magnate : HEARST. "Citizen Kane"!

11. "So-o-o cute!" sounds : AWS

14. Vietnam neighbor : LAOS

15. List of printing mistakes : ERRATA

16. Game, __, match : SET

19. __ urchin : SEA

20. Año Nuevo month : ENERO

21. Popular exercise choice : JOGGING

27. Fun and games : PLAY. So I was reading Whitey Bulger's bio earlier. Was surprised that he talked, in the end.

29. Uncle's mate : AUNT

30. Singles : ONES

31. Dart thrower's asset : AIM

32. Turn off, as the lights : KILL. Never used this expression before. Kill time, yes.

33. Crime lab evidence, briefly : DNA

41. Isn't missing : HAS

42. Bump into : MEET. Who's the famous person you've ever met?

43. __ sequitur: illogical conclusion : NON

44. Church recess : APSE

47. Up to the task : ABLE

48. Do bar work : TEND

53. Harrison Ford's "Star Wars" role : HAN SOLO. And 44. "Java" trumpeter : AL HIRT. All full names. They appear often due to their friendly letter combo. Ed Asner is another one. (Thanks for the correction, Misty!)

54. Dispenser of theater programs : USHER

57. Pasta suffix : INI. Like Rotini. Speaking of food, I've never baked those pre-made steamed buns, Pas de Chat. I suppose you could give it a try. As for Jayce's Fish ball yesterday, Irish Miss, I think the key ingredient is Kao Fu (wheat gluten), then they add fish flavor. Mock meat is normally made of either wheat gluten or Tofu.

62. Mythical giant bird : ROC

63. Takes care of : SEES TO

64. Charity donations : ALMS

65. "For shame!" : TSK

66. Came next : ENSUED

67. Digs made of twigs : NEST

Down:

1. Otherwise : ELSE

2. Brother of Abel : CAIN

3. Dodger Stadium contest, to the Dodgers : HOME GAME. Peter must be a Dodgers' fan, like Bill. 

4. Fish hawk : OSPREY

5. Half a giggle : HEE

6. "Thinking, thinking ..." sounds : ERs

7. Onassis nickname : ARI. I think Maria Callas really loved him.

8. Type of missile engine : RAMJET

9. Small, raised porch in front of a door : STOOP

10. Dramatic ballroom dance : TANGO

11. Designate, as a seat : ASSIGN

12. Hot dog : WEENIE. I never acquired the taste for hot dogs or sausages.

13. Oater transports : STAGES

18. Lav in Leeds : LOO

22. "Ouch!" relative, in response to a pun : GROAN

24. Train tracks : RAILS

25. Noisy shorebird : GULL

26. Left hanging : IN LIMBO

27. Tiger's foot : PAW

28. Untruth : LIE

32. Sorento automaker : KIA

33. Nerd : DWEEB

34. Picayune point to pick : NIT. Triple alliteration.

36. Sharpens, as a knife : WHETS

37. Wriggly : EELY

38. Space under a desk : KNEEHOLE

39. Electrified particle : ION

40. Finish : END

45. Baby grands, e.g. : PIANOS

46. Jolly old Xmas visitor : ST NICK

47. Homes : ABODES

48. Florence native, for one : TUSCAN. Qli liked "Under the Tuscan Sun".

50. Free from restraint : LOOSE

51. Funny DeGeneres : ELLEN. Love her. So authentic.

52. Haul : LUG

55. Big shade trees : ELMS

56. Break at the office : REST

59. Sunflower St. school : KSU (Kansas State University). The Wildcats. Kent State is also known as KSU, right?

60. Suffix with Israel : ITE

61. Silently assent : NOD

C.C.

Sunday March 3, 2013 Elizabeth C. Gorski,

Theme: "Invitees" - T is inserted into each common phrase.

23A. Heavenly ruler? : ST. PETER'S T-SQUARE. St Peter's Square. So I listened to John Thavis interview with "Fresh Air" the other night. Wow, was I disillusioned. Corruption, turf battle. 

35A. Game with swinging and dancing? : DISCO T-BALL. Disco ball.

43A. Theban king's dinosaur? : OEDIPUS T. REX. Oedipus Rex. King of Thebes.

69A. Economy-boosting govt. issue? : STIMULUS T-BILL. Stimulus bill. Been more than 4 years.

96A. Steaks served at roasts? : FUNNY T-BONES. Funny bones.

102A. Contraption that gives skiers a lift in more ways than one? : COFFEE T-BAR. Coffee bar.

118A. Motto for the Untouchables? : STAND BY YOUR T-MAN. "Stand by Your Man".

Neat to see those stalwart T* words we often see in Xwords elevated into theme entries today. Very clever gimmick.

Liz Gorski also constructed one of the puzzles for the coming ACPT. That's truly an All-Star lineup.

Across:

1. Sympathy seekers : MARTYRS. Thought of that Tunisian guy who set himself on fire. Without him, there probably would not have been Arab Spring.

8. Spring title on a beefcake calendar : MR. MAY.  To me, Dave Winfield is the "Mr. May". Steinbrenner wanted a "Mr. October" (Reggie Jackson). Like Paul Molitor, Winfield was born in St. Paul.

13. Chills out : RESTS

18. Almond-flavored liqueur : AMARETTO

20. Ocean floor : SEA BED

22. Strain : EXERT

25. "The War Between the Tates" author Alison : LURIE. Not familiar with the book or the author. 

26. Cub with many dingers : SOSA. He'll never make the Hall.

27. Wight or Man: Abbr. : ISL

28. Party org. : DNC. Or RNC.

29. Alarm : STARTLE

31. Best-selling physician : DR. SPOCK

37. "I'm responsible" : BLAME ME. How nice!

40. Cohn played by Pacino in "Angels in America" : ROY.  Is it as good as "City of Angels"?

42. Sea eagles : ERNES

46. Bond girl Ekland : BRITT. No memory of this girl. She's in "The Man with the Golden Gun". Splynter's kind of girl.

47. Hubbub : ADO

50. Polish targets : NAILS. I still maintain that a man who's fully capable of taking care of himself should not visit a nail salon.

51. Surfer's gadget : REMOTE

53. Stereo on one's shoulder : BOOMBOX

55. Handed down, in a way : ORAL. Like folklore.

56. Still in the game : ALIVE

58. Kemo __ : SABE

60. The Green Wall of China is designed to slow its expansion : GOBI. Oh I read it "The Great Wall of China" and said "What?". This project started in 1978. Will be completed in 2050, supposedly. Lots of trees have been planted along the desert line.

61. City whose police cars sport a witch logo : SALEM. New trivia to me.

63. __ Nostra : COSA

64. Surpassed : OUTDID

66. Klutz : OAF

73. Bootery spec : EEE

74. Absolutely awful : STINKO

76. Writer Bagnold : ENID

77. Crimean Peninsula city : YALTA

79. Ripped : TORE

80. Fedora feature : BRIM

81. Pond flower : CALLA. Calla lily.

83. Sweet'__: drink additive : N LOW. Fake sugar.

87. As a group : EN MASSE

90. Prefix with -crat : TECHNO

92. "Revolutionary" Chopin work : ETUDE

93. Object in court : RES

94. Parishioner's obligation : TITHE

99. Pianist known for his Beethoven interpretations : ARRAU (Claudio). Chilean pianist.

100. See 62-Down : FOR. 62. With 100-Across, petition : ASK. 

101. Freaky to the max : EERIEST

106. City in Pennsylvania Dutch country : LEBANON. Gimme for Yellowrocks.

109. Like some back roads : ONE LANE
 

110. Goat's cry : MAA

112. Golden, in Paris : D'OR. As in Palme D'or.

113. Poetic dusks : EENS

117. VersaVac maker : ORECK

123. Grammy-winning Gorme : EYDIE

124. Persian Gulf sight : TANKER

125. Warned : ON NOTICE

126. Overhaul the lawn : RE-SOD

127. Low voice : BASSO

128. Getty of "The Golden Girls" : ESTELLE

Down:

1. Sunday ritual : MASS. Boomer is a Catholic. He does not go to Church on Sundays.

2. "__ to PM": 2001 Christina Milian hit : AM TO. Typo in clue. Song title is  simply "Am to Pm" (Argyle.)

3. Eschews the doorbell : RAPS
 

4. Purchases that give you a run for your money? : TREADMILLS. Great clue.

5. "Not __" : YET

6. Bus driver's course: Abbr. : RTE

7. Zebra patterns : STRIPES 

8. Bks. in progress : MSS

9. Like some coll. courses : REQ'D. Like my Marxism/Leninism. Totally useless.

10. Cleansing rite associated with Easter : MAUNDY. Thursday.

11. Collectible calculators : ABACI

12. "__ out!" : YER

13. Empathize with : RELATE TO

14. Prosperous outlying areas : EXURBS

15. Mattress brand : SERTA

16. Flutist's warble : TRILL

17. __ wool : STEEL

19. __ buco : OSSO

21. Paint a picture of : DESCRIBE.  "Paint my love, You should paint my love..."

24. Patient attention, briefly : TLC

30. Riding sidekick : TONTO

32. Workout count : REPs

33. The Mustangs of the NCAA's Conference USA : SMU. Southern Methodist University.

34. Doughnut box word : KREME

36. Sun. talk : SER

37. U2 frontman : BONO. Really love this.  I like The Corrs.

38. Ill-fated king : LEAR

39. 1998 Sarah McLachlan hit : ADIA

41. Tic-tac-toe loser : OXO

44. More fit : TRIMMER

45. Increase, with "up" : REV

46. Wild animal : BEAST
 

47. Humble home : ABODE

48. Maynard's pal in '50s-'60s TV : DOBIE.  I can never remember this. "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis".

49. Rust, e.g. : OXIDE

52. General __ chicken : TSO'S. What's your favorite Chinese dish?

54. Corp. jet group : MGT

56. Choir member : ALTO

57. Worn wreath : LEI

59. Hanging Gardens site : BABYLON

63. Chewed stuff : CUD

64. Ceramic pot : OLLA. I wonder what they use the ollas for.

65. Max. : ULT

66. Sunbeam brand : OSTER

67. Make amends : ATONE

68. Tones (up) : FIRMS. My abs, your arms.

70. Marry : UNITE

71. Pie fruit : LIME

72. Potent conclusion? : IAL. Potential.

75. Teachers' org. : NEA

78. Louis XVI's queen : ANTOINETTE (Marie). Lovely entry.

80. Software development phase : BETA TEST. Annette is John Lampkin's beta solver.

81. Boor : CHURL
 

82. King Kong's love : ANN

84. Debussy's "Clair de __" : LUNE. French for "moon". Lune de miel. Honeymoon. Where did you spend yours?

85. Wordsworth works : ODES

86. Popular 19th-century heading : WEST.

88. Barely ran? : STREAKED. Nailed it. We've seen this clue before.

89. Fire truck device : SIREN

91. Money-managing exec : CFO

92. River of Spain : EBRO. Spain's longest river.

95. Where the action is : HUB

97. Timeline beginning : YEAR ONE

98. Widely used base : TEN. Base 10. Hard clue for me, though the concept is the same in Chinese.

99. Largest U.S. union org. : AFL-CIO

100. Ballpark staples : FRANKS

102. Dove : COOER

103. Sandwich order : ON RYE

104. Nourishes : FEEDS

105. Name on a range : AMANA. "Range" often refers to "Kitchen appliance" in Xwords.

107. Ice cream maker Joseph : EDY

108. Aussie lad : BOYO. New to me.

111. Lemony drinks : ADES. Hello, Lemonade!

114. German painter Nolde : EMIL. No idea. Wiki said he was an expressionist, and "Golden yellows and deep reds appear frequently in his work". Kind of like van Gogh's bright yellow. Lucina saw my compact mirror. It's van Gogh's bedroom.

115. Salt in a lab : NaCL

116. Knife of yore : SNEE

119. Bar bill : TAB

120. "My man!" : BRO

121. Young __ : UNS

122. Break down : ROT

C.C.