Sunday, May 15, 2016 Melissa Brown and C.C. Burnikel

Title: SECRET RETREAT

Husker Gary gladly caddying for C.C. and Melissa B today! These lovely ladies have hidden the word SPA in nine fills. You know, SPAS, where you can have various parts of your body wrapped, waxed, peeled, exfoliated, hydrated, stoned and rubbed. Sounds like a hoot!

THEME FILLS - All the theme fills were horizontal and SPA was split between the two words where the first word ended in S and the second word began with PA. A true model of consistency, not to mention wit from C.C. and Melissa B.

23. "Time for a shindig!" : LET'S PARTY

25. "Common Sense" pamphleteer : THOMAS PAINE - Count me in as honest, Tom!

37. Remarkable thing, in old slang : CAT'S PAJAMAS - Or luxury cat accommodations in Lincoln

54. Where to get the score : SPORTS PAGE - It had to kill the Seattle Times to give the score of Super Bowl XLIX on what may be the most stupid play call in history

71. Resort with a Forum Tower : CAESAR'S PALACE - What else are you going to name your towers there? 

89. Very slow motion : SNAIL'S PACE - Finally a running shop that "get's me"!

105. Brewery product since 1777 : BASS PALE ALE - The famous Bass Red Triangle Label in Manet's 1882 A Bar at the Folies-Bergère

123. Reporter's entrée : PRESS PASS - I don't know this actor but everything else seems right

120. Acid test substance : LITMUS PAPER - We pitched the papers and used this

...and the three-letter reveal

125. Retreat hidden in nine puzzle answers : SPA - Do you see a hint that this SPA is located in Hershey, Pennsylvania?

Okay, I'll try not to rub you the wrong way as we massage this puzzle's wonderful content:

Across

1. Playground provocation : DARE - A brass statue in Hammond, IN (home of author Jean Shepherd who inspired A Christmas Story) dedicated to a famous movie DARE 

5. Campus org. founded in 1906 : NCAA

9. Existing : BEING

14. Capers : LARKS

19. Religion of most Iranians : SHIA

20. Stops allowing : BANS

21. Complete : UTTER

22. Greenland native : INUIT - Where they were/are 

27. Chichén Itzá builder : MAYA

28. Basque city with a Guggenheim Museum : BILBAO - In northern Spain. Uh, not TOLEDO!

30. Make up your mind : OPT

31. "Bus Stop" playwright : INGE - He said the play was based on people he met in Tonganoxie, Kansas

32. Juice unit : AMP

34. Knitting choices : PURLS - Oh, now I get it! Yeah right!

35. People's Choice Award winner for Favorite TV Drama, 2008-2011 : HOUSE MD

41. Winged stingers : WASPS

43. __ Plaines River : DES

44. Off-road ride, for short : ATV - High center of gravity, narrow base and idiocy make these so dangerous 

45. Muchos meses : ANOS - Many months = Years (in español)

46. Dealer's query : YOU IN?

48. SEC concern : IPO - Initial Public Offering 

50. Yemeni capital : RIAL - A Big Mac meal in Sana'a costs 1,833 ﷼ (RIALS)

52. Palm products : DATES - An ingredient in grandma's great Christmas cookies

59. Sicilian skiing attraction : ETNA - Who needs snow? Here's summer skiing on Etna's powdery volcanic ash

60. They may be about nothing : ADOS

61. Jacket material : SUEDE

62. Drops the ball : ERRS - Wes Welker does just that in Super Bowl XLVI and super model Gisele Bundchen famously said of her QB husband Tom Brady, "He can't f____ing throw the ball and catch it too!"

63. Top story : ATTIC

65. Move a muscle : STIR

67. Some might vote in it : ABSENTIA - Love this cluing

70. Time of life : AGE

75. CBS forensic series : CSI

76. Sammy Davis Jr.'s only #1 hit, with "The" : CANDY MAN 

78. Short staffer? : ASST

79. Send payment : REMIT

81. Weymouth of Talking Heads : TINA - Bassist TINA and drummer husband Chris Frantz formed Talking Heads in 1971 and have been married for almost 40 years

82. Like clarinet music : REEDY

84. Clarinet kin : OBOE

87. "Drinks are __!" : ON ME - "I am very messy!"

92. Dishwasher handle? : AMANA

93. Simon of Broadway : NEIL - I can't pick a favorite NEIL Simon play. You? My daughter was a great Corie in this classic

94. Match part : SET

95. Big name in Russian ballet : KIROV- The KIROV Ballet Company declined greatly when Nureyev, Makarova and Baryshnikov defected to the West during the Cold War

97. Coal unit : LUMP

99. L.A. Galaxy's group : MLS - Major League Soccer

100. Gardner of film : AVA

103. Chinese menu assurance : NO MSG - The Mayo Clinic says there is no direct link to illness and MSG

108. "I don't think so" : NICE TRY - If he says "I don't think so", he'll never say "NICE TRY"

110. Whence Saint Teresa : AVILA - A 16th century Spanish Saint who is the patron saint of headache sufferers

111. Phone book no. : TEL - Ours was 132-J when we had to tell an operator

112. Ship stabilizer : KEEL

113. Unruly do : MOP

115. Spartan serfs : HELOTS

117. Its initials became its name in 1999 : AARP

126. Great Lakes natives : ERIES -What? I thought they lived around Lake Crossword! :-) 

127. Novelist's list, perhaps : IDEAS - JK Rowling's hand-written spreadsheet notes to create Harry Potter. How'd that book do?

128. Fertilizer ingredient : PEAT

129. Lose it : SNAP

130. Holy, to Henri : SACRE - SACRE' bleu (Sacred Blue) became a common sound-alike for  SACRE' Dieu (Sacred God) which was considered blasphemous 

131. Theatrical device : ASIDE - A frequent device in House Of Cards

132. Use one's outside voice : YELL

133. Grammy winner James : ETTA

Down

1. Surfing letters : DSL - Digital Subscriber Line is now passé 

2. Small clearing? : AHEM - Cute

3. Beatles girl : RITA - The Lovely Meter Maid

4. Piece-of-cake courses : EASY A'S

5. Magic org. : NBA - Orlando pro basketballers

6. Concern for some losers : CARB

7. Ristorante course : ANTIPASTO - From the Latin: ANTI (before) PASTUS (meal). Served at the SPA?

8. Safe haven : ASYLUM

9. "Furthermore, however, ... " : BUT ALSO

10. Cultural spirit : ETHOS

11. Judge in 1995 news : ITO - Some think Johnnie Cochran was in charge of the OJ trial

12. Pixar protagonist : NEMO - In 2016 Pixar is now finding NEMO'S friend

13. Boardroom props : GRAPHS

14. Edge : LIP - Where some putts go to die

15. "Delta of Venus" author Nin : ANAIS - Common fare here at the Crossword Cafeteria

16. Beyond repair : RUINED

17. Checkers speech? : KING ME

18. Renaissance fair rides : STEEDS

24. Argentine plain : PAMPA

26. Restraining order? : STOP IT

29. Donkeys' cries : BRAYS

33. How to watch Mei Xiang and Bei Bei : PANDA CAM - Very appropriate so close to Mother's Day

36. Delivery letters : USPS

37. Close attention : CARE

38. Like political foes, frequently : AT IT AGAIN - "My opponent is a thespian and a masticator!" 

39. Dish forerunner : TV ANTENNA 

40. Steinbeck hero Tom : JOAD - "Wherever they’s a fight so hungry people can eat, I’ll be there."

41. Erase completely : WIPE

42. Battery terminal-related : ANODAL - On the positive side

47. Seizes illegally : USURPS

49. Welcoming sign : OPEN

51. GPS figure : LAT - I live at 41˚North LATitude in eastern Nebraska, same as Rome, Italy. Uh, not the same weather!

53. She, in Sicily : ESSA

55. First name in country : REBA

56. Aesthetic film genre : ART CINEMA - I don't dig subtitles 

57. Grain processor : GRIST MILL - A beautiful one in West Virginia

58. Morales of "The Brink" : ESAI

61. Actress Spacek : SISSY

64. Like a "daggers" look : ICY

66. Wall Street regular : TRADER - Politicians campaign against them but still take their money

68. Dress down in a big way : SCREAM AT

69. Broad shoe size : EEE 

70. Book following the Gospels : ACTS

72. Holliday friend : EARP 

73. Devious ones : SNEAKS

74. Splittable bit : ATOM

77. Place for a speaker : DAIS

80. Cal. column : MON - Unfortunately this month has 5 MON's

83. Smokeless smoke, briefly : E-CIG

85. Fast-growing sapling : BALSA TREE - Now that's my kind of logging!

86. "Movin' __": "The Jeffersons" theme : ON UP

88. Otherwise : ELSE

90. Fast time? : LENT - Cute again

91. Rages : STORMS

92. Be of use : AVAIL

96. FDR's side, on a dime : OBVERSE - Generally the larger, main image as opposed to the reverse side of a coin, medal, flag, etc

98. Ardent requests : PLEAS

100. They're just over two feet : ANKLES - Cute some more

101. Former moderator of "The View" : VIEIRA

102. Vinegary : ACETIC

104. Reason for spectacles : MYOPIA - Nearsightedness

106. __ Joe : SLOPPY - Named after a cook named Joe at a Sioux City, IA restaurant who added tomato sauce to his loose meat sandwich

107. Tick away : ELAPSE

109. Wascally wabbit wival : ELMER

110. Best way to leave Vegas : AHEAD - Take the money and RUN!

114. Mice move on them : PADS

116. Official emblem : SEAL

118. Emotional blog entry : RANT

119. Natl. Merit Scholarship qualifying exam : PSAT

121. Find a job for : USE

122. Canada's smallest prov. : PEI

124. Airport NW of the Gateway Arch : STL

Only someone in a Fool'S PAradise would skip your comments that follow:

The Grid

Notes from C.C.:

Congratulations to our beautiful Melissa on her L.A. Times debut! Melissa and I have been kicking around various puzzles ideas for a few years. So happy we persisted and finally made it. It's a joy and comfort working with Melissa, who constantly inspires me with her strength, tenacity & incredible poise.

Left to Right: Melissa's daughter, Melissa's mom Barbara B, Melissa

The title is Rich's. It captures the hidden gimmick much better than our original "Hot Spot". Click here to see our originally submitted grid. Rich took time and redid our 38D & 39D area. He was concerned that GIRLY MAN (76A) maybe seen as pejorative by some. Rich also caught our SPAN (49D) goof, as it has SPA in it. So we redid the right middle.

Saturday, May 14th, 2016, John Lampkin

Theme: JL

Words: 68 (missing J,Q,Z)

Blocks: 31

  So pleased to get a John Lampkin puzzle, and this, if I am not mistaken, is his first Saturday publishing, at least for the LA Times.  I have enjoyed his Sunday constructions, and I find his cluing to be fresh and humorous - and today was no exception.  To find out more about John, his interview is here.  Of course, no grid would be complete if he didn't include some animal references - and I was determined to get 1 across, no matter how long it took.  As it turned out, the whole thing took about 30 seconds longer than my personal allotted time, and I have to admit to one red-letter; see 60 down.  Triple 10-letter across corners, triple 9s in the downs;

17a. Hammers home : REITERATES - my first read was "hammer's home", as in TOOL BOX, which wasn't going to work; this is the verb, not the noun

12d. At ten, say : ON THE HOUR - simple, and yet difficult to see in the 'down'

62a. Leftovers dish, perhaps : COTTAGE PIE - never heard of it; had --PIE, and the rest was perps and a WAG

31d. Short putt : TWO-FOOTER

ACROSS:

1. What separates the gulls from the buoys? : WEBBED FEET - it took most of the time to get the NW corner to fill, because I was stuck at 1a. thinking "something ---NET"; this is just plain clever

11. Red number : LOSS - I tried DEBT

15. Come fashionably? : ARRIVE LATE

16. 20 fins : ONE C - I did the math; 20 x 5 = 100, but couldn't fit "C-NOTE"

18. Nail target : ITCH - I had the "B" first, so I tried STUD; can you tell I'm stuck in carpentry mode~?

19. Chemical formerly used in carbonless copy paper manufacture : PCB - Polychlorinated Biphenyl; more from Wiki

20. Challenges : RIGORS

21. "Go away!" : "SHOO~!" - had it in, took it out....

22. Mayan pyramid feature : STEP

24. Threw on : DONNED

26. Self-described "non-musician" : ENO - oops, I had EMO first

27. Portent : OMEN

29. It can be before you : ARE

30. Checkup result letters : HDL - cholesterol number

31. Nut features : THREADS

This would make a good "john" sign, too

34. Experimental habit? : LAB COAT - I totally nailed this; and yet I did not get "oodles" at 55a.

36. They can be frustrating : WAITS - I lack patience, most definitely

37. Enterprise officer : UHURA - I always misspell this with a third "U" at the end

38. Eponymous Seminole leader : OSCEOLA - all perps, and a WAG at the "L"

41. Kiwi genus : APTERYX - once I had the "P", I knew that birds were "pter", and flightless ones were "A-pter"; the "YX" seemed good taxonomic Latin

43. Disgusted word from Lady Macbeth : "FIE~!"

44. Rest : NAP - I take one every day, roughly between 12-2pm

45. Rest poorly : TOSS

46. Kind of trading, briefly : OTC

47. Pabst brand : STROH'S - a little history lesson

49. Big Ten player since 2014 : TERP - Maryland Terrapins - another animal reference

53. Epps of "House" : OMAR

55. Gobs : OODLES

57. Good name for a London washroom attendant : LOU - lou/loo

58. Net : TAKE

59. Zip : SPEED ALONG - I considered "NOT A THING" kind of zip, but it didn't fit

61. Apple site : EDEN - not the computer ( e.g. DESK ), and not TREE

63. Leftovers : REST - a clecho from 62a., another JL cluing stlye

64. Valuation : ASSESSMENT

DOWN:       

1. Twists : WARPS - common in wood boards, especially 1x lumber

2. Straight up : ERECT - ah.  Not LEGIT

3. Crooked bread? : BRIBE - ah. ah.  Not LUCRE, but I was on the right wavelength

4. Boring piece : BIT - and more carpentry

5. Lasting start : EVER - everlasting

6. Knocked : DERIDED

7. Spouted containers : FLAGONS

8. Big name in stationery : EATON - perps

9. Lasting : ETERNAL

10. Mosaic piece : TESSERA - learned from doing crosswords

11. __ Chiles, portrayer of Dr. Holly Goodhead in "Moonraker" : LOIS

13. Lesser : SECONDARY

14. Homeowner's burden : SCHOOL TAX - my "U" from Uhura was leading me to "something TUB"; again, I'm in the middle of building a bathroom, so....

23. Baudelaire, par exemple : POETE - Les Frawnche

25. Times to come out : DEBUTS

28. Plinth course layers : MASONS - ah, the worker, not the stratum

32. Is set : HAS IT MADE

33. Generally gluten-free snacks : RICE CAKES

35. Tea __ : CHEST

39. Play that inspired Puccini : La TOSCA - filled via perps; the Wiki

40. Fitting : APROPOS

41. Fit figure, usually : ATHLETE

42. Impersonated : POSED AS - my kind of pose

48. "Sweet Smell of Success" co-screenwriter : ODETS - perps and WAGs

50. Slip to tie a knot? : ELOPE

51. Masterless samurai : RONIN - learned from an episode of "The X-Files"

52. Sound named by George Vancouver : PUGET - funny, I've been reading the making of Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back, so I was thinking of the noise sound, not the body of water sound.  I took a vacation to Seattle, and saw the sound - or is that an oxymoron~?

54. Torn : RENT

56. Weakens : SAGS

60. Rover's kin? : LEM - dah~!!  I went with LAM - as in 'going on the lam', which I think is similar to someone 'roving'....and John ends his clues with "kin", I might add....

Splynter