Saturday, September 5, 2020, Greg Johnson

 Saturday Themeless by Greg Johnson 

Greg's Saturday puzzle was a real speed run for me as he and I were simpatico all the way through.

Across:

1. Have plenty of force: PACK A PUNCH - Hurricane Laura comes to mind

11. Hardly any: A BIT.

15. Common Creamsicle float ingredient: ORANGE SODA.

16. Bausch + Lomb brand: RENU - People who wear contact lenses with a face mask probably don't have fogging issues

17. Light rail predecessors: STREET CARS.

18. Body shop concern: DENT - Using suction to repair your own

19. Pitchfork features: TINES.

20. French meat stew: POT-AU-FEU - Literally "pot on the fire". I first thought of Ratatouille

22. Groundwater-fed puddle: SEEP - SEEP as a noun. My golf course abuts the Platte River and has a very high water table, so we see these on occasion.

23. Dire destiny: DOOM a mouse's fate when they 25. Ride the wind: SOAR overhead

26. On the wrong side (of): AFOUL - One is said to have "run AFOUL of propriety"  when one 28. Impulsively utters, with "out": BLURTS out something offensive (even/especially if it's the truth) without thinking

30. "I've got you": HOLD ON TO ME.

34. Starting course: SOUP.

35. Ship's dir.: ENE - Or direction from Accra, Ghana to Lagos, Nigeria

36. Carousel riders: BAGGAGE - Michael Richards as Kramer, hurt himself in this carousel stunt but jumped right up and finished the scene

38. It has one team in Can.: NBA - The NBA Champion Toronto Raptors

39. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group since 2003: AC/DC - I looked up their top 20 hits and didn't know any. 

41. "The Nutcracker" marcher: TOY SOLDIER - On the other hand, I am very familiar with this piece of music and loved the brilliant choreography

14. "The Nutcracker" sight: TUTU - The Sugar Plum Fairy certainly wears one

43. Crack, perhaps: DECODE - When he/she says ____, he/she really means____.

45. Calf-roping loop: NOOSE.

46. G-rated word of annoyance: DARN.

47. Give conditionally: LEND.

48. __ work: menial labor: SCUT - Being assigned SCUT duty was punishment on Grey's Anatomy

52. Casual question after "We took pictures": WANNA SEE - Sometimes the answer is no but you shouldn't just BLURT that out

54. See 3-Down: ASADA and 3. With 54-Across, grilled Mexican dish: CARNE - CARNE ASADA (meat grilled) has some lovely vowels 

55. Prepare for a surprise, perhaps: HIDE.

56. Expressed remorse, say: MADE AMENDS - My rule for kids, "Admit it was your fault, say you're sorry and fix it"

59. "First Lady of Song": ELLA - Fitzgerald

60. Toy featured in the 2002 film "The Man Who Saved Christmas": ERECTOR SET - The story of A.C. Gilbert who reluctantly quit making toys like his ERECTOR SET to make munitions for WWI but then convinced the government to let him start remaking toys

61. They're light-sensitive: EYES.

62. "That's all she wrote": END OF STORY - Husker FB this fall?

Down:

1. Message board entries: POSTS - Yours are a highlight of my day

2. Fitting name for a gallery patron?: ARTIE - Now that's fun!

4. Skateboarder's protector: KNEE PAD.

5. Suitability word on some games: AGES - The puzzle box said 2 - 6 years but it only took me three days

6. Stroke: PET.

7. Pac-12 member: USC.

8. Words indicating lack of offense: NO APOLOGY NEEDED.

9. Format for older computer games: CD ROM - The CD ROM's in this series saw a lot of use at our houses

10. "And __ thou slain the Jabberwock?": HAST.

11. Difficult: ARDUOUS.

12. Chef Boyardee product: BEEFARONI.

13. Waterslide aid: INNER TUBE and 52. Waterslide cry: WHEE.

21. Handy communication syst.?: ASL - Reagan Thibodeau, using American Sign Language in Maine, is very expressive during COVID-19 press conferences 

23. Campaign website option: DONATE.

24. Expenditure: OUTGO.

27. Key ring thing: FOB.

28. Valediction reminder: BE GOOD - His show depended on people who did not follow his valediction 

29. Practice in a ring: SPAR.

30. Melon, facetiously: HEAD.

31. Dosage instruction: ONCE DAILY.

32. Flameless light source: LED CANDLE - Put away the matches and get out the batteries

33. Stone __: MASON.

37. Two-time U.S. Open champ: ELS.

40. Transparent 61-Across parts: CORNEAS.

42. Ending course: DESSERT.

44. Bad thing to leave at a crime scene: DNA - Uh, number 2, we'd like to visit with you

47. Pick up: LEARN - We bloggers are trying our best to LEARN the new Blogger language

49. Playground retort: CAN SO.

50. Milk container: UDDER.

51. "Delish!": TASTY.

53. Barrie's nonconformist pirate: SMEE - I'll bet you can pick him out

54. Book after Joel: AMOS.

57. Tourist opening?: ECO - Tulum is a small town on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula 

58. Fed gp. fighting certain illegal trafficking: ATF - The new American Government started taxing spirits in 1789 to pay for the revolution and this was the birth of what became the ATF. Washington learned that Americans did not take kindly to this.

Comment below:

Friday, September 4, 2020 Paul Coulter

 Theme: Beware of Star Warts

I am back for week three of my most recent activity as Friday sherpa, which for an unknown reason, I predicted last Friday. Tom F., who does so much for the blog and the bloggers has decided to retire from blogging which leaves you all stuck with me. This will help those who were getting their "thank yous" wrong. At least until Chairman Moe gets to his first Friday frolic. 

I enjoy Paul, his puzzles, his visits, and his family updates. I am puzzled by this puzzle which has a decidedly Monday/Tuesday feel. 53 of the 78 words are 3 or 4 letters long, separated with 40 black squares. I love humor 'from pun' puzzles, but these seemed a bit forced, speaking of which I think this would have fit better with STAR WARS DAY, May the 4th. On the other hand, this should keep you all happy on a Friday, so off we go. 

The puns are all consistent with the first word a sound-alike to a Star Wars character. Like the famous latex and corn syrup hero

I found them to be a stretch. It did not take away from enjoying the solve, but it required more imagination. Let's look at the themers.

17A. Solo's favorite sandwiches?: HAN BURGERS (10). The Millenium Falcon skipper and father of Kylo. 

27A. Vader's favorite treat?: DARTH CHOCOLATE (14). An example of the use of "TH" to replace "K" not!

47A. Wookiee's favorite dessert?: CHEWIE BROWNIES (14). Chewbacca gets the only nickname.

63A. Hutt's favorite beverage?: JABBA JUICE (10). A slight variation as this character is "the Hutt," not Jabba Hutt. I was not sure how well known the juice franchise is, but they are almost everywhere. LINK.

While we already have Darth, there is a dearth of long fill HOUSEPLANT, PARTICULAR, REDCOATS, and TEETOTAL being the crop. 

Across:

1. Ticket category: ADULT. Not an infraction.

6. Goggle: GAPE. There are lots of G words for this.

10. Request to a prospective guest: RSVP. Respondez S'il Vous Plait.

14. "Paint It Black" instrument: SITAR. The song is older than my wife. They dropped the Sitar over the years.

15. "That's a shame": ALAS. For our Friday Shakespeare quotation, we could clue ______ poor Yorick.

16. "East of Eden" director Kazan: ELIA. His birthday will be Monday. 

19. "The Persistence of Memory" painter: DALI.

20. 1914 battle river: YSER. It was a turning point for the Belgian soldiers and part of the inspiration for Hercule Poirot.

21. Side in some all-star games: EAST. They have also been known to West, North, and South.

22. Didn't dawdle: ACTED.

23. __ loss for words: AT A.

25. Digging: INTO. Like music, man!

34. Automne preceder: ÉTÉ.

35. Refrain: CHORUS. Don't stop, but sing along.

36. Cabeza, across the Pyrenees: TÊTE.

38. Busy, busy, busy: AT IT.

40. "Friendly Skies" co.: UAL. United AirLines.

41. X-rated material: SMUT. 

42. Jasmine __: RICE. The lifeblood of Thailand.

43. Not on the level: ASLANT. The A word...

46. BlackBerry, e.g.: PDA. Personal Digital Assistant.

50. Protective cover: TARP.

51. Canapé topper: ROE. Fishy...

52. Hit gently: TAP ON. 

55. Actor Hemsworth: LIAM. LIAM

58. Soak up the sun: BASK.

62. Rapper with a beverage-like name: ICE-T. All 457 episodes. Odaphin

65. No ally of Asta: FLEA. Don't feel bugged by all the references to this dog?

66. Uptight: ANAL. Be still my, heart that is a scandalous word. Does anyone watch the mini-golf show HOLEY-MOLEY?

67. Put to rest: ALLAY. Your fears.

68. What "F" may mean: FULL. On a gas tank.

69. Modest response to praise: I TRY. My mantra when I do my write-up.


70. Brigantine's pair: MASTS.

Down:

1. Far from ruddy: ASHY. At least it isn't Arthury...

2. "Buenos __": DIAS. Bon Jour. Guten Tag.

3. "Cure Ignorance" online anthology: UTNE. Very popular in the CW world.

4. Unwitting test taker: LAB RAT. That seems unfair. They may know what is going on but like the treats.

5. Capote nickname: TRU. True. 

6. "Born This Way" Lady: GAGA.

7. Tavern pours: ALES. 

8. Hard to please: PARTICULAR. Such a gentle way yo say a pain in the ass. Again, reminds me of MONK.

9. Double curve: ESS.

10. Revolutionary soldiers: REDCOATS. Wearing a bright red coat as you were marching through the forests which were New England does not seem to be a good plan.

11. Deck chair piece: SLAT. 

12. Beneath contempt: VILE.

13. Treated: PAID.

18. Part of a boxer's "tale of the tape": REACH. From the tip of your finger to the tip of the finger when your arms are akimbo.

22. The NHL's Thrashers: ATLanta.

24. Cannabis compound: THC. TeteraHydraCannibol, or some such.

26. Discouraging words: NOS. Where never is heard, a discouraging word...

27. Honey: DEAR. Sweet. 

28. Room at the top: ATTIC.

29. 1990s Labor secretary: REICH.

30. Boston fern, e.g.: HOUSE PLANT. They are hard to kill, and a common house warming gift. When I started practicing law, I attracted a young lady who ended up moving in with me. The senior partner's wife gave us a Boston Fern. When they came to visit, I was horrified to see the plant very dead. 

31. Sonicare rival: ORAL-B. Tooth stuff.

32. Piano practice concerns: TEMPI. The plural of Tempo, a semi-clecho with ...

33. Piano practice piece: ETUDE.

37. Share-a-ride updates, briefly: ETAS.

39. Stay dry: TEETOTAL. The use in temperance jargon was first noted in September 1833 in a speech advocating total abstinence (from beer as well as wine and liquor) by Richard "Dicky" Turner, a working-man from Preston, England. Total abstinence.

43. Balloon filler: AIR.

44. Bellini opera: NORMA.

45. Wee hour: TWO.

48. Blanched: WAN. Ashy?

49. One of six awards for Ursula Le Guin: NEBULA. Science fiction author.

52. Minor argument: TIFF.

53. Free speech org.: ACLU.

54. Zest: PEEL. What you get from an orange, lime etc to add to food or drink.

56. Support beam: I-BAR.

57. Well: ABLY.

59. Is home sick, maybe: AILS. Two words, not missing home.

60. "Go on, git!": SCAT.

61. Custodian's ringfull: KEYS. Very nice picture.

63. __ alai: JAI. Followed by another J

64. Improv session: JAM. 

I am tired, busy at work, and out of practice doing this three weeks in a row. I hope you enjoyed Paul's puzzle and the tour. Lemonade out.

Thursday, September 3rd 2020 David Poole

Theme: Group Sprint - as the reveal explains:

55A. 1973 triple-platinum album by Wings ... and what each of three answers to starred clues is, literally: BAND ON THE RUN. The theme entries are literally names of bands atop types of runs. Neatly done. 

The cover artwork of the album features Paul & Linda McCartney and Denny Laine from the band, along with six other well-known faces in the UK - talk show host Michael Parkinson, actors Christopher Lee and Charles Coburn, singer Kenny Lynch, boxer John Conteh and humorist & MP Clement Freud.

A nice theme and reveal, so let's dig into the details. The theme entries are:

19A. *Wizard revealer: TOTO. Sitting on top of RACE. It's too tempting not to link a heavy-metal version of Toto's best known hit "Africa" recorded by Norwegian Leo Moracchioli at his home studio assisted by music chums Hannah and Rabea. PG warning for thrash metal and eardrum danger, but I love this.

28A. *Electrically flexible: AC/DC. Underneath is DASH.

40A. *Aerie nesters: EAGLES. Placed above SPRINT.

Across:

1. Starbucks rival owned by a fast-food chain: MCCAFÉ. I confess that I didn't know McCafé was a thing - I just thought it was the brand name for coffee sold in McDonald's. I've never seen a storefront of a McCafé, but the all-knowing Wikipedia tells me there are around 1500 in the world. So yes, it's a thing.

7. Josh of "Frozen": GAD. 

10. Spots for toddlers: LAPS.

14. Automatic reaction: REFLEX.

15. Reproductive cells: OVA.

16. Cookie shaped like two of its letters: OREO. Now I think the crossword gods are toying with me in my plea to put OREO fill on hiatus for a little while. It seems every puzzle I blog has the word in it now.

17. Welcome words to a dishwasher: I'LL DRY. Better words: "You go and put your feet up, I'll wash and dry".

18. Moving wheels: VAN.

20. Classic 1779 hymn: AMAZING GRACE. It's become pretty much a standard at funerals, much as "Canon in D" is at weddings.

23. Rock's __ Fighters: FOO. Much music in the puzzle today.

26. Lassitude: INERTIA.

27. Dale's guy: ROY. Roy Rogers and his wife Dale Evans. I had to look that up.

30. "The Jungle Book" python: KAA.

31. Flight safety org.: T.S.A.

33. "The Thin Man" author Hammett: DASHIELL.

35. 20 fins: C-NOTE. A fin is a five dollar bill. Twenty of them make up a hundred, or a c-note. A five-pound note in the UK is colloquially known as a Lady Godiva.

39. Plaza Hotel girl: ELOISE. Children's books and a 2003 made-for-TV movie. Thank you, crosses, I had no clue.

41. Red-and-white suit wearer: SANTA.

42. Proofer's find: MISPRINT.

44. "Sammy the Seal" writer Hoff: SYD. More crosses, thank you. 

46. World games org.: I.O.C. International Olympic Committee.

47. Coupling device: YOKE.

48. Big club: ACE.

51. Weeks in Oaxaca: SEMANAS.

54. Old atlas abbr.: SSR. Soviet Socialist Republic.

58. __ one's time: BIDE.

59. Tijuana aunt: TIA. A smattering of Spanish today. I like the Tijuana/Tia alliteration.

60. Titans: GIANTS.

64. Bow-toting god: EROS.

65. USN VIP: ADM. Admiral of the Fleet.

66. Home of the Senators: OTTAWA.

67. Center of N.Y.C.?: YORK.

68. Escape: LAM. 

69. Disc golf starting point: TEE PAD.

Down:

1. Hosp. test in a tube: M.R.I.

2. Hanna-Barbera collectible: CEL. I met Joe Barbera in his office at the Hanna-Barbera building in Los Angeles. The building was modern, with some nice touches (the reception desk was a Jetsons-inspired piece) - Joe's office, or suite, was modeled after an English stately home, complete with study & fireplace, library, sitting room and ... a butler to bring you tea or coffee.

3. Montreal Alouettes' org.: C.F.L. Canadian Football League. 

4. "The Aviator" (2004) Oscar nominee: ALDA. Best Supporting Actor.

5. Manhattan Project physicist born in Rome: FERMI.

6. Derek Jeter, e.g.: EX-YANKEE. I tried "N.Y .YANKEE" at first, even though as I was filling it in I was noting that there was no abbreviation in the clue to suggest "N.Y."

7. Spread quickly online: GO VIRAL.

8. __-garde: AVANT.

9. "Blast!": DANG IT!

10. Middle-earth trilogy, to fans: LOTR. Lord of the Rings. 

11. Cheering loudly: AROAR.

12. Retailer offering sitting and walking services: PETCO. I didn't know this, but it wasn't hard to guess.

13. Farm call: SOOEY. I actually knew this from watching college football - the Arkansas Razorbacks fans chant "Woo Pig Sooie" - same sound, different spelling. 

21. Enthusiasm: ZEAL.

22. Tank top: GAS CAP.

23. Dims: FADES.

24. City near Orlando: OCALA. 

25. Eats way too much of, briefly: OD'S ON.

29. Debt vouchers: CHITS.

32. Sore: ANGRY.

34. Parental "explanation": I SAY SO.

36. Mishmashes: OLIOS.

37. Some charity runs, informally: TEN K'S. More RUNS.

38. Aromatic compound: ESTER.

40. Gastropod on a brasserie menu: ESCARGOT. Food! I love 'em. Garlic butter, lemon and parsley dressing, what's not to like?

42. 2007 National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee: MIA HAMM.

43. "Say Anything..." actress Skye: IONE.

45. Insurance that covers canines: DENTAL. Fun misdirection. With the earlier "Petco" entry, I was on the pets wavelength.

48. Westminster attraction: ABBEY. I lived in London for more than 25 years, I passed the abbey pretty much every day on my commute, and I've never been inside. Terrible in hindsight.

49. City near the Heliopolis Palace: CAIRO.

50. Home of the Ewoks: ENDOR. I got this! I've been catching up on my Star Wars movies.

52. Crete's highest pt.: MT. IDA. You don't immediately associate a Grrek island in the middle of the Mediterraean between Europe and Africa as a place for snow-capped peaks, but Mt. Ida surprises.

53. Posh hotel option: SUITE.

56. Newsroom post: DESK.

57. "Mom" actor Corddry: NATE. More crosses. I don't keep up with my actors, but crosses are usually fair in cases like these.

61. Snooze: NAP. I can't nap. I wake up feeling like my head is full of glue and it takes me ages to shake off the grogginess.

62. Former flier: T.W.A. Trans-World Airlines. Howard Hughes connects this entry and "The Aviator" at 4D.

63. Like one texting ":-(": SAD.

And there we have it. The puzzle gets a :-) happy face from me today. Here's the grid with the bands and the runs highlighted for clarity.

Steve.

Wednesday, September 2, 2020, Pamela Amick Klawitter

Woof! Woof!

Nyuk Nyuk! Double your pleasure! Quintuple your fun! Pam Amick Klawitter gave this new blogger a double treat today, cleverly combining ten different "dogs" into five answers. Chairman Moe, here. I DOUBLE DOG DARE you to not like this recap! So let's get started, you knuckleheads!

17. Pirates' offensive: SEA ATTACK. SEA DOG, aka seal --> not to be confused with THIS Seal. ATTACK DOG. Examples: Rottweiler. Originally people bred these dogs for cattle protection. Bullmastiff. Dogs of this breed are known for their physical strength. German Shepherd. These dogs are bold, confident, powerful, and fearless.

23. Tour amenity: GUIDE SERVICE. GUIDE DOG / SERVICE DOG. Kind of one in the same, no?

32. Homing pigeon, e.g.: DOMESTIC BIRD. DOMESTIC DOG / BIRD DOG Though I am not a hunter, I owned a Springer Spaniel once, and she was primarily a domestic dog with great birding skills. Fireworks and thunder scared the crap out of her, though .... literally

41. Newlyweds' adventure, maybe: HOUSE HUNTING. HOUSE DOG / HUNTING DOG. Is this another example of "doubling" in this puzzle?

51. Happy ending to a kidnap saga: POLICE RESCUE. POLICE DOG / RESCUE DOG many Police Dogs are German Shepherds. My favorite RESCUE DOG has a treat for me!

And the unifier: 61. Schoolyard dare intensifier ... and a hint to the five other longest: DOUBLE DOG And away we go ...!!  

Across:

1. Protective wear for swimmers: VEST.

5. Disaster response gp.: FEMA. They are johnny-on-the-spot to assist after natural disasters

9. Jessica of "The Politician": LANGE.

14. Turner and a president: IKES. "I like Ike" was a popular campaign slogan back in the 1950's

15. Cockpit calculations, briefly: ETAS.

16. Think tank output: IDEAS. These puzzles usually provide me (and OKL, I presume) the IDEAS for our poems, limericks, and haikus. And even Ray-O-Sunshine, too, with his witty, homonymic puns!

19. "Drop it!": LET GO.

20. Popular ISP: AOL.

21. Fabled broom rider: HAG. She doesn't resemble a HAG, to me:

22. Trees with light wood: BALSAS. As a kid, I used to build model airplanes using this wood

27. Sicilian mount: ETNA.

28. Copy room purchase: REAM. 500 sheets. My printer paper is 99.99% jam-free. Not sure about whether it's peanut butter-free ...

29. Sign of spring: BUD. Was thinking Aries or Robin

37. Pioneer in canned soft drinks: RC COLA. Did not know this. More info on Wikipedia.

40. Pool toy: NOODLE. Is this better than a VEST?

45. Emotional poem: ODE.

46. Cat's back shape, at times: ARCH. I prefer this ARCH myself

47. Wanders (about): GADS. GADS? Gadzooks!

55. Gambling spot: CASINO. They are much different nowadays with social distancing

58. Tot's little piggy: TOE. And this little piggy cried

59. USDA section: Abbr.: AGR.

60. Drama Desk Award cousins: OBIES. Would you wear one of these when receiving this award?

64. Starbucks offering: LATTE. I drink my coffee black, thank you.

65. Rubik's __: CUBE.

66. Trig function: SINE.

67. Trick alternative: TREAT.

68. Hawkish god: ARES.

69. Gives a bit: SAGS. As I get older, the sagging is more pronounced. I've got "Dunlop's Disease": My belly Dunlop-ped over my belt

Down: 

1. Face: VISAGE. According to dictionary.com, the usage of this word is increasing. Really??

2. Barely manage: EKE OUT. This wouldn't be a C Moe recap without a haiku!

After seeing mouse
The poor woman had trouble
Getting the EKE OUT

3. Keep from escaping: SEAL IN. When I worked for 3M, we always used tape

4. Org. using wands: TSA. Haven't been on an airplane since last fall

5. Greek salad toppings: FETAS. We had FETA yesterday. FETAS today. Can we please have a different cheese tomorrow??!

6. Tchotchke stand: ETAGERE. Perps filled this one in for me. Tchotchke? Etagere? No comprende ...

7. It's big at the Golden Arches: MAC. iPhone? Yes. MAC? No. PC for me

8. "That's a big __": ASK. When C.C. "ASKed" yours truly to join the blog team, I said "Yes"!

9. Spring scent: LILAC. We had a lilac bush growing up next to our house ... hmm ... Yellowrocks: That doesn't sound right. Please help me with the grammar here!!

10. "Rolling in the Deep" singer: ADELE.

11. Barclays Center hoopsters: NETS.

12. Bonkers: GAGA. I guess there were enough proper name clues already. LADY ____ could've worked

13. Those, in Taxco: ESOS. In case you wanted to know where this is

18. Start of many Grisham titles: THE. I guess there were!

22. Chain in the Bahamas: BIMINI. We usually hear of these islands during tropical storm season

24. Workshop grooves: DADOS. We hear that Bugs Bunny prefers rabbet grooves

25. Hi-__ audio: RES.

26. Dye holder: VAT. I might have guessed T-Shirt if the solve was 5 letters instead of 3

.

29. Bit of eBay input: BID. Less popular than "Buy it Now"??

30. It might be bookmarked: URL.

31. '50s pres. monogram: DDE. Another double from PAK? See 14 across

33. Yolanda's "Yay!": OLE. A complete WAG; Yolanda? Anyone care to explain??

34. Hawaiian thanks: MAHALO. If you use the words MAHALO and ALOHA in Hawaii, you might not be thought of as a HAOLE*

35. Trick: CON.

36. MLB Hall of Famer Wade: BOGGS. Hall of Fame third baseman who played for both the Red Sox and Yankees. I'm guessing that Wilbur Charles and Tinbeni can fight over which team he helped more

37. Pi follower: RHO. ... Sigma, Tau, Upsilon, ... Pie follower: an antacid!

38. Fish with chips: COD. I've fished with worms and lures before, but not chips

39. Signal to enter: CUE. I wonder if you'd use a CUE to let your opponent know it's their turn, when shooting pool??

42. Ocean State sch.: URI.

43. __-1701: Starship Enterprise markings: NCC.

44. London Underground: THE TUBE.

48. Park near Bar Harbor: ACADIA. Beautiful part of the NE. Can't wait to see Picard's photos from here!

49. Manatee cousin: DUGONG. Perps filled in this. For more info on the difference, check out this

50. Suit fabrics: SERGES. Do sergeants wear serge?

51. Michelangelo work in St. Peter's: PIETA.

52. Start: ONSET.

53. Bedroom closet hangers: ROBES. My better half prefers it when I wear one of these around the house. But even they are pretty confining when it's 80 degrees inside, and 110 degrees outside. TMI?

54. Sushi bar fare: EEL. aka "Unagi"

55. Wild West weapon: COLT. As in Colt Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company. Founded by Samuel Colt in Hartford CT in the mid 1800's. Not this:

56. It's often walked into in jokes: ABAR. A termite walked into a saloon and asked: "Is the bartender here?"

57. Browsing target: SITE.

61. Reagan Airport code: DCA. Cockpit view of a landing at DCA. Full Flaps!

62. Word for us: OUR.

63. Soft opening?: ESS.

*A mainlander.

Well, hopefully you all had as much fun with this puzzle as I. Looking forward to poking a few eyes out as one of your new Crossword Bloggers!

Chairman Moe

Our Past Bloggers

Here are the sherpas who used to guide us.

1) Al (2009 - 2010) - Thursday blog.

Al is a database administrator based in Green Bay, WI.

2) Marti  - Thursday blog 

Left to Right: Marti, Dudley, Hondo & Montana

 Marti is based in MA. She has her own company. She loves skiing.

 3) Splynter (2012 to 2018) - Saturday blog.- Rejoined on June 19, 2023.

 Splynter is based in NY. He loves hockey and music.

4) Argyle (2008 to 2019) - Monday and Tuesday

Spitzboov & Argyle

Argyle was our dear Santa. He passed away on April 30, 2018.

5) Steve (2012- 2020) - Thursday blog. Rejoined on June 16, 2023 for a few posts.

Steve and Jill, June 12, 2016

Tea at The Queen Mary

Steve is a Brit based in LA. Adventurous foodie. World traveler.

6) Lemonade (Jason) - Friday blog (2012-2023). His passion for crossword blogging is unrivaled.

Lemonade and his Wife Oo

 7) Boomer (2018-2022) - Monday blog. He blogged until he was too weak to use the keyboard.

Boomer & Tony Oliva

Boomer obit here.

8) Waseeley (Bill) - Thursday blog, Dec 2020 - March 2025.

Bill (waseeley)

Thank you for the hard work, guys!

C.C. & the Team