Tuesday, September 15, 2020 Bruce Haight

Climbing the Food Chain:  Today we have a word ladder as our puzzle.  One letter is changed from each of the stared answers as we climb down the ladder from BREAD as the first Across spot to TOAST in the final Across spot.  I love word ladders, but I don't know if I have seen one in a crossword puzzle before.  I have highlighted each letter change.

1-Across. *   Dough (and start of a word ladder): BREAD.

15-Across. *   Bit of luck: BREAK.

16-Across. *   Dismal: BLEAK.

22-Across. *   Sheepish remark?: BLEAT.

57-Across. *   Made holy: BLEST.

64-Across. *   Fabulous time: BLAST.

66-Across. *   Dispense with modesty: BOAST.

71-Across. *   Doomed, slangily (and end of the ladder): TOAST.

And the unifier:

37-Across. Apt description of the sequence suggested by the answers to starred clues?: FOOD CHAIN.

Across:

6. "__ it ain't so!": SAY.



9. Pop's bros: UNCs.  Short for Uncles.  Not sure I have ever used this term.

13. Insurance giant: AETNA.  Various logos throughout the years.

14. Paul Bunyan tool: AXE.  Despite what people in Minnesota say, Paul Bunyan was actually born in Bangor, Maine.

17. Itinerary word: VIA.

18. Poetic feet: IAMBI.

19. __ Lingus: AER.  The airline of Ireland.

20. Horse-and-buggy sect: AMISH.

23. Interoffice PC connection: LAN.  As in Local Area Network.

24. Carnival city: RIO.  Short for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  The Mardi Gras carnival in Rio (and elsewhere across the world that celebrates) is on Tuesday, February 12, 2012.  You can celebrate both Abraham Lincoln's birthday and Mardi Gras at the same time next year!

25. "You bet!": YES!

27. "Seats all taken" sign: SRO.  As in Standing Room Only.  The Fire Marshal might have something to say about that.

28. Abbr. on a B-52: USAF.  As in the United States Air Force.  This plane, manufactured by Boeing, continues to operate in the country's armed services.

30. Not nice at all: CRUEL.  When it's spelled as Crewel, it is fancy needlework.

32. Hillside home asset: VIEW.

33. Author Wiesel: ELIE.  Elie Wiesel (né Eliezer Wiesel; Sept. 30, 1928 ~ July, 2, 2016) has become an old friend in the crossword puzzles.  He was born in Romania and survived both Auschwitz and Buchenwald concentrations.  He went on to write about his experiences in the Holocaust and became a political activist.  He was the recipient of hte 1986 Nobel Peace Prize.

35. Blood work and such: LAB TESTS.

40. Partygoer, say: ATTENDEE.

43. Target's target, say: LOGO.  This one almost stumped me.  I laughed when the answer came to me.

46. Some August babies: LEOs.

47. Third of eight: EARTH.  Cute clue.  In school, I learned there were 9 planets.  That was before poor Pluto was demoted.

50. Intertwine: MESH.

52. Under the weather: ILL.  I wanted Ail.

53. Also say: ADD.

54. What a suspect tries to beat, with "the": RAP.

56. "That's more than I need to know": TMI.  Text speak for Too Much Information.  Also, the abbreviation for the Three Mile Island nuclear reactor that had a partial meltdown in March 1979.

59. Musical set in Argentina: EVITA.  Don't cry for me.

61. Family guy: SON.

62. "Me too!": AS DO I!

63. Bigwig: VIP.  As in a Very Important Person.

67. Uncommon sense: ESP.  As in ExtraSensory Perception.

68. Justice Sotomayor: SONIA.  Sonia Maria Sotomayor (b. June 25, 1954) makes frequent appearances in the crossword puzzles.  She was nominated to the High Court in May 2009 and joined the Court in August of that year.

69. A.D. part: ANNO.  As in Anno Domini.  The phrase is medieval Latin and means "In the Year of the Lord".

70. Vote against: NAY.

Down:
1. Ricky's signature song on "I Love Lucy": BABALU.

2. Word after news or press: RELEASE.  As in a New Release or a Press Release.

3. Everlasting: ETERNAL.

4. Santa __ winds: ANA.

5. Senegal's capital: DAKAR.  Dakar is a port city on the Atlantic Ocean, mid-way between the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator.

6. Rescuer: SAVIOR.

7. x or y, on graphs: AXIS.

8. "Sure, sure": YEAH! YEAH!

9. Eurasian border river: URAL.  The river flows through Russia and Kazakhstan and empties into the Caspian Sea.

10. Usually successful opponent: NEMESIS.

11. Musical set at the Kit Kat Klub: CABARET.



12. Winter lifts: SKI TOWS.

Using a Rope Tow.

15. Tots' spill catchers: BIBS.

21. Karaoke singer's tool: MIC.

26. Isle of Napoleon's exile: ELBA.  The Smithsonian Magazine had a article about Napoleon's life on Elba.  The island looks beautiful.  There would be worse places to be exiled.

29. Piccolo relatives: FIFES.

31. Gastric woe: ULCER.

32. Cobra's weapon: VENOM.

34. Long, long time: EON.  A crossword staple.

36. "Open __ 9 p.m.": store sign: 'TIL.  Don't you just hate these signs?

38. Pigged out (on), briefly: OD'ED.

39. All square: DEAD EVEN.

40. Storied cave opener: ALI BABA.  A reference to Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.  It is one of the stories from Persian tales found in One Thousand and One Nights.

41. Exposes: TELLS ON.

42. Holy city resident?: TOLEDAN.  A resident of Toledo.  Hi, JazzBumpa!  Oops. Wrong Toledo.  A Toledan is a resident of Toledo, Spain.  Toledo was a major center of Catholics, Muslims and Jews in the middle ages.  Holy Toledo!  Who knew?

44. Nails the test: GETS AN A.

45. Absorption process: OSMOSIS.

48. Psychedelic: TRIPPY.

49. Fez or fedora: HAT.  Hi, Abejo!  Sending you prayers for a speedy recovery.

51. Suggest: HINT AT.

53. Go __: fight: AT IT.

55. Brewery that co-distributes Not Your Father's Root Beer: PABST.  Who knew?

58. Just passable: SO-SO.

60. Mastercard rival: VISA.

65. WC: LOO.  Possible theories on the origin of the word LOO.

Here's the Grid:

Notes from C.C.:

Thanks for the feedback yesterday, everyone. Looks like all cellphone users are affected. TTP has figured out a way for our team to manually remove the video embed glitch. Hopefully the Blogger team will solve this problem soon.

Monday September 14, 2020 Craig Stowe

Theme: AUTOMATES (63. Streamlines, as a factory ... or, when read as two words, what the beginnings of the answers to starred clues are) - Auto can precede the first word of each theme entry.

17. *Smartphone download: MOBILE APP. Automobile.

25. *Sheet for plotting: GRAPH PAPER. Autograph.

39. *Mr. Lube service jobs: TUNE UPS. Auto-tune.

50. *Sample set of buyers used in market research: FOCUS GROUP. Autofocus.

Boomer here. 

I always call my vehicle a van or car.  but carmobile, cargraph don't make sense.  Sometimes I watch cartunes.  Rocky squirrel and Porky Pig are favorites.

Across: 

1. Old Hollywood sex symbol West: MAE.  "Why don't you come up and see me sometime"

4. Hooded winter coat: PARKA.  I have gone through about ten of these over the years.  There is still one in our hall closet.

9. Flinch or gasp, say: REACT.

14. Computer giant whose motto is "THINK": IBM.  There was just a question on a quiz show "What does IBM stand for."  None of the contestants knew International Business Machines.

15. Go-to crew: A TEAM.  The show made Mr. T Famous; and he made the term "Sucka" famous. 

16. One-named "Hello" singer: ADELE.

19. Bricklayer: MASON.

20. Chris of "The Avengers" (2012): EVANS.  I am also old enough to remember Roy Rogers sidekick Dale.

21. "... to __ it mildly": PUT.  Add a "T" and leave it short.

23. Prefix meaning "one": MONO.

24. Feudal worker: SERF.

28. Variety show: REVUE.

30. "Delish!": YUM.

31. Barbecued pork snack: SPARE RIB.  I think Adam had one of these.

34. Rain more gently: LET UP.  Actually I am sure the west coast would prefer a downpour.

38. Platform for Siri: IOS.

42. "If you ask me," to a texter: IMO.  In My Opinion I am proud to say I have never texted.

43. Basil-and-pine-nuts sauce: PESTO.

45. Ideal wheels: DREAM CAR.  Take your pick.  Corvette, Thunderbird. Jaguar XKE

47. Observe: SEE.  My sister works for See's Candies.  Once you see it you eat it.

49. Rid of vermin: DERAT.  "You dirty RAT" !! James Cagney.

55. Deep cut: GASH.

58. Persian Gulf sultanate: OMAN.

59. Statehouse VIP: GOV.  Every state has one battling the virus.

60. Roast host: EMCEE.

61. Part of USNA: NAVAL.  Our guy Spitzboov did his part.

Spitzboov

66. Recurring motif: THEME.  I sometimes have trouble finding the puzzle THEME.  Need help from C.C.

67. Soccer shoe gripper: CLEAT.  I never had soccer shoes.  Baseball and football shoes were called spikes. My golf shoes used to have metal spikes, but now they are plastic. Maybe that's why my handicap is 36.

68. Has too much, briefly: ODS.  Not me, I drove home and never threw up.

69. __ Hawkins Day: SADIE.  Coming soon on November 13 this year.  Al Capp would be proud.  Not me, no girl ever asked me for a date on this day.

70. Learns (of): HEARS.

71. Eagle or evil organ: EYE.  Or the EYE of a needle, which I could never get the thread through.

Down:

1. Performers often "trapped" in imaginary boxes: MIMES.

2. Overhead: ABOVE.  I looked over my head and I did not see a BOVE.

3. Humiliate: EMBARRASS. Wondering if the KC Chiefs will EMBARRASS the NFL again this season.

4. Close friends: PALS.

5. Dug in, at dinner: ATE.  I had fish, pasta salad, Tater Tots, and fruit salad.

6. Irish actor Stephen: REA.

7. Phi Beta __: KAPPA.

8. Increase the intensity of: AMP UP.  AMP is an electrical word (Ampere) and if you Amp up you might burn your house down. 

9. Ewe's beau: RAM.  "Once there was a silly old RAM, thought he could bust a hole in a dam.  He had high hopes.

10. Sushi soybean side dish: EDAMAME.

11. "The Frog and the Fox" fabulist: AESOP. The turtle beat the fox because the FOX was stupid.

12. Replicate genetically: CLONE.

13. Barbershop quartet voice: TENOR.  I was in one, however I was a Bass.  Pronounced Base, not a fish.

18. Deduce: INFER.

22. Biblical "your": THY.  "THY kingdom come, THY will be done."

25. Expert: GURU.

26. Harness strap: REIN.  "Rudolph the red nose REINdeer" 

27. Star that's also a source of radio waves: PULSAR.

29. Presidential rejections: VETOES.

31. Nurse, as a drink: SIP.  Then "Down the Hatch".

32. "The Raven" poet: POE.

33. B and B's first B: BED.  second one may be bath, breakfast, or bill.

35. Game with x's and o's: TIC- TAC- TOE.  Always ends in a tie.

36. Thurman of "The Avengers" (1998): UMA.  Famous for many movies and a strange name. 

37. __ favor: POR.

40. Pakistani language: URDU.

41. "Not a __ out of you!": PEEP.  Okay, then I'll HOLLER !!

44. Tidal wave cousin: TSUNAMI.  These are destructive, but not as bad as the terrible West Coast fires.

46. Igneous rock, once: MAGMA.  I cannot imagine how hot is a burning rock.

48. Omelet ingredient: EGG.  Don't forget the ham and cheese.

50. Roman and Comic Sans: FONTS.

51. Nebraska city near Boys Town: OMAHA.  I've been through OMAHA once or twice on my way to Reno or San Francisco.  I remember years ago when OMAHA had a minor league baseball team in the American Association that played the Minneapolis Millers in the 50s.

52. Gave in: CAVED.  Twins have an outfielder, Jake CAVE, who CAVED a few pitches over the fence.

53. Exterminator's target: ROACH.

54. Reproductive cell: OVULE.

56. Like dive bars: SEEDY.  Never been to one.  The Bar I used to go to was part of a bowling center and very clean.  No more though, I stay away from Covid 19 factories.

57. "Siddhartha" author: HESSE.

60. CPR pros: EMTS.  I get confused.  I know that this means emergency medical tech, but I always see it as electrical metallic tubing. 

62. Jeans label: LEE.

64. Leaves in hot water?: TEA.  "Tea for Two" - C.C.'s thirst quencher.  I like it ICED.

65. Rowboat rower: OAR.  I think I had this last week.  Replaced with a 5 HP Johnson.

Boomer

Notes from C.C.:

Questions for iPhone/iPad users, can you tell us in the Comments section whether you can play below video clip on your mobile device. Please also let us know what browser you're using. Safari or Chrome? 

We presume Android users have no problem watching the clip. If you do, let us know also.

 

Sunday September 13, 2020 C.C. Burnikel

Theme: "On the Horizon" - SIGHT bookends each theme entry.

23. Problem for an aspiring thespian: STAGE FRIGHT.

29. "The Mask of Zorro" scene: SWORD FIGHT.

35. "My bad": SERVES ME RIGHT.

50. Help explain, with "on": SHED SOME LIGHT.

65. Real predicament: SORRY PLIGHT.

83. NBC debut of 1975: SATURDAY NIGHT.

 95. Discovery voyage: SHUTTLE FLIGHT.

102. Tucking-in wish: SLEEP TIGHT.

Reveal:

112. Visible ... or, literally, where most inner letters of this puzzle's eight other longest Across answers are situated: WITHIN SIGHT.

Can you find another theme entry with the SIGHT bookend pattern?

 

The title is Rich's, as usual. He is a masterful wordsmith and one of the best constructors in this country. Though we don't see Rich's byline these days, but most of clues in our daily puzzles are his creations. Some theme entries are his also. Every day you're matching your knowledge against Rich's plan.

Rich and his wife Kim

Across:

 

1. Scratches (out): EKES.

5. Serving perfectly: ACING.

10. Bargain bin caveat: AS IS.

 

14. Really stands out: POPS.

18. Amethyst hue: LILAC. Very pretty.

20. Really sore: IRATE.

21. Org. for women drivers: LPGA.

22. Sunscreen additive: ALOE.

25. Bird clumsy on land: LOON.

26. Brightly colored: NEON.

27. Handspeak.com subj.: ASL.

28. Acknowledge silently: NOD TO.

31. Bothered a lot: ATE AT. Don't know how we would have survived the blog conversion without Anon-T and TTP. 

32. "New Rules" author Bill: MAHER. Too extreme at times.

34. Paper mate?: PEN.

39. Like in many ways, with "to": SIMILAR.

43. Survey choice: OTHER.

44. Barilla alternative: RAGU. Boomer like their meat sauce.

45. Story-telling dance: HULA.

46. Panamanian pronoun: ESA.

47. Superclean, as surgical tools: STERILE.

54. Energizer specification: AAA.

55. Prestige: CACHET.

57. Resistance units: OHMS.

58. Hirsch of "Into the Wild": EMILE. Loved the movie. So sad.

59. "Tik Tok" singer: KESHA. I don't use TikTok. But my lifeline to China is WeChat. Sure hope they change their mind on this banning stuff.

60. Art class adhesive: GLUE.

61. Did a farrier's work: SHOED.

62. Prado display: ARTE.

70. Cameo stone: ONYX.

71. Athlete's road to recovery: REHAB.

73. Country bordering Vietnam: LAOS. Sticky rice is their staple food.

74. Leavening agent: YEAST.

76. Mother of Eric and Donald Jr.: IVANA.

77. "Ghostbusters" (2016) director Paul: FEIG.

 

78. Instagram logo image: CAMERA.

80. Meat in a typical Denver omelet: HAM.

86. Reveal: LAY BARE.

88. "Spare me the deets": TMI.

89. Nordstrom rival: SAKS.

90. Aparicio of Cooperstown: LUIS. Boomer once pulled an 1/25 autograph of him.

92. It may be negotiable: PRICE.

93. 4 or 5 is a good one for a coll. hopeful: AP SCORE.

99. First animal in the Chinese zodiac: RAT. Ox next year. I'm a pig. I'm always told that pigs get along with most people, except snake (those born in 1954, 1965, 1977, etc.)

100. Sharp: ACUTE.

101. Parisian gal pals: AMIES.

106. One in a Sun Salutation sequence: ASANA.

107. Lady in a flock: EWE.

110. "Sup": HI YA.

111. Isaac's eldest: ESAU.

115. Part of a list: ITEM.

116. Sources of quick cash: ATMS.

117. Agent's collection: INTEL.

118. Noses out: EDGES.

119. Suffix denoting quality: NESS.

120. "The Simpsons" watering hole: MOE'S. Not our Moe's.

121. Winter Palace rulers: TSARS.

 

122. Japanese video game giant: SONY.

Down:

1. Queen of Arendelle: ELSA.

2. Handy collections: KITS.

3. Mideast airline: EL AL. Super-friendly letter.

4. Give a little: SAG.

5. Another name for a car's spoiler: AIR DAM.

6. Beastie: CRITTER.

7. "Othello" flag-bearer: IAGO.

8. Ultimate degree: NTH.

9. Figure out: GET.

10. Not even close: ALL WET.

11. Animal trail: SPOOR. Is this word obscure to you?

12. Composer Stravinsky: IGOR.

13. Construction site convenience: SAND PILE.

14. Sorrento sandwiches: PANINI. I bought one at the US Women's Open years ago. 

 

15. Designer Cassini: OLEG.

16. Bear who loves "hunny": POOH.

17. Text status: SENT.

19. Face-off spot: CENTER ICE.

24. Those opposed: FOES.

29. "Zip it!": SHH.

30. Sow and cow: FEMALES.

31. State as fact: AVER.

32. Could possibly: MIGHT.

33. Shivering fit: AGUE.

35. He hit 60+ homers three times without leading the league: SOSA. Rich's clue. Great trivia.

36. Sundance's sweetie: ETTA.

37. Bird hunted by gauchos: RHEA.

38. Level, in Liverpool: RASE.

39. Totals: SUMS.

40. Multitude: LEGION.

41. Large furniture chain: ASHLEY.

42. For adults only: RATED X.

45. Family workout place: HOME GYM. Gyms are all open in Xi'an now. They don't have any new cases for months. Life is pretty much normal now.

48. Glaswegian girl: LASS.

49. Amazon smart speaker brand: ECHO.

51. One in a tiny house: DOLL.

52. Feng __: decorating philosophy: SHUI.

53. "Crack a window, will ya?": I'M HOT.

56. Road hogs: HARLEYS.

59. Reeves of "John Wick": KEANU.

60. Lost driver's aid, briefly: GPS.

62. __ Nashville: country record label: ARISTA.

63. Overhaul: REVAMP.

64. To wit: THAT IS.

66. Drops in a forecast: RAIN.

67. Hindu mystic: YOGI.

68. Lab order?: HEEL. Dog.

69. Fictional Georgia spread: TARA. My submitted clue is [Voice actress Strong]. Rich probably does not think she's famous enough.

 

72. Coast in a tub?: BAR SOAP.

75. "Ask nicely": SAY PLEASE.

77. Fraudulent: FAKE.

78. Water slide: CHUTE.

79. Bickering: AT IT.

80. Nixon's last chief of staff: HAIG. "I'm in charge here".

81. Part of a foot: ARCH.

82. Bump into: MEET.

84. Group in a pub competition: DART TEAM.

85. Excess: GLUT.

87. Ritual for some eight-day-olds: BRIS.

91. "Friday the 13th" horror genre: SLASHER.

94. Trounces: CREAMS.

95. Downhill ski run: SCHUSS.

96. Castaway's shelter: HUT.

97. Buildups for many returning vacationers: EMAILS.

98. Resident on the Gulf of Bothnia: FINN.

100. Athlete's best effort: A GAME.

102. Place for a pad: SHIN.

103. Lo-cal: LITE.

104. Spider's eight, usually: EYES.

105. What ":" can mean: IS TO.

106. "That's the" shorthand: ATTA. Wow, I never know this. Atta girl. That's the girl.

107. Toaster Swirlz brand: EGGO.

108. Question of time: WHEN.

109. Amazon Handmade rival: ETSY.

112. Quick quality: WIT.

113. Seat winners: INS.

114. Points to, maybe: IDS.

 

A few things:

1) I'm very excited to tell you that Malodorous Manatee (Joseph) has agreed to share Thursday blogging duty from now on. MM will debut on Thursday. He never had a blog before, but he's a fantastic learner, just like Chairman Moe.

2) I still need an extra blogger who can share Thursday duty and pinch-hit occasionally on Wednesdays. Please email me crosswordc@gmail.com if you're interested. 

3) The Atlantic has been running a Sunday 15*15 for a while. Today's puzzle is by me. Give it a go when you have time. It's edited by Caleb Madison.

C.C.

Saturday, September 12, 2020, Peter Wentz

 Saturday Themeless by Peter Wentz

Pete Wentz, wife Alyx
with son Simon

Today's constructor is Pete Wentz. Here is his response to my request for information on him and this puzzle. 

This is a picture of me, my  lovely wife Alyx and the toddler asleep on my back is our son Simon. I'm an architect living in Raleigh, NC. Outside of crosswords, I'm an avid fan of podcasts, ultimate frisbee (whenever it's safe again), and walks around town.

It should be no surprise to anyone that this grid was seeded at 3-Down and continued on from there. I'm glad it found a home in the LA Times. I don't have much else to add on the puzzle itself, other than to highlight Daniel INOUYE. He's not as well-known as many long-serving senators of his era, but consistently being on the right side of history is perhaps of less interest to popular media. I'm hoping this helps undo that trend in some small way.

Congrats on a fun Labor Day! We spent most of the day in the state museum park ourselves. I go by both Peter & Pete, so it's whatever you prefer. 

Thanks everyone, and hope you enjoyed the solve!

I really enjoyed the solve and laughed hard at Pete's "seed entry". Goat cheese was new learning and  Pete's baseball mini theme was a very welcome feature. 

Let's see what our architect has drawn up for us today:

Across:

1. Gibberish: BABBLE - or Jibber Jabber

7. Out of breath: PUFFING.

14. Hawaiian senator in six decades: INOUYE - From 1963 - 2012. He was also a decorated WWII veteran who lost an arm in combat

15. Honeybunch: CUTIE PIE.

16. Revolting person?: RIOTER.

17. A rainout might be rescheduled on one: OPEN DATE - MLB games can remain uplayed if the results would have no affect on the season

18. Neutral areas, briefly: DMZS - Thousands take this tour to the Korean DMZ each year

19. Mad man's comment: I'M UPSET - not to be confused with the last clue 60. More than enthusiastic: MAD 

21. "Wayne's World" rejoinder: WAY

22. Jocund: MERRY - Have you ever dropped this word into conversation?

23. Flies high: SOARS.

Add caption

27. Dramatist Edward with three Pulitzers and three Tonys: ALBEE.

29. Parts of lunch combos: SIDES - Hmmm... I'm at the 36. Diner seating option: COUNTER and have to choose between French fries and broccoli

31. One often paid to talk: RAT.

32. Herd or host: THRONG - I love blogging here for a host of reasons

34. Sheltered area: COVE.

35. 2011 film set in Brazil: RIO

38. It's higher when it's colder: GAS BILL 

40. Caucasian native: HUN.

41. Truculent god: ARES - A god of war would probably be "eager or quick to argue or fight; aggressively defiant." I've never used this word in conversation either.

43. Goat cheese: CHEVRE.

44. Key used to stop: ESC.

45. Engendered: LED TO.

47. Situation for a sac bunt, maybe: ONE ON 

48. Try to get clean: REHAB.

50. Oil-free salad dressing property: NO FAT - LO FAT held up my solve

52. Pat: DAB.

53. Some near homers: FLY OUTS - Talk about getting robbed!

55. Mythical Spartan queen: LEDA - Here 'ya go

56. Family meal entrée: POT ROAST.

59. Former Sears Holdings holdings: K-MARTS - Only 95 total Sears and K-Mart stores still open

61. Greek courtier associated with a symbolic sword: DAMOCLES - Is COVID-19 a sword of DAMOCLES hanging over our heads?

62. Bespectacled friend of Peppermint Patty: MARCIE.

63. Checked legs for arms?: FRISKED - Gotta love this clue, Pete! Joe Friday FRISKED many a suspect to see if he was carrying any arms (weapons).

64. Whirlpools: EDDIES.

Down:

1. Cardinal fan, say?: BIRD WATCHER - My family has a HOST of St. Louis Cardinal baseball fans. At our house we just love to see them visit our feeders. Male and female always appear together. 

26. Lou Brock's 938: STOLEN BASES - A favorite among my family's St. Louis Cardinal fans. 

2. Delta Tau Chi, in a 1978 film title: ANIMAL HOUSE - It cost $3M to make and returned $160M

3. Spirited midday meal?: BOOZY BRUNCH - Pete's seed entry? 😉

4. Reservations: BUTS.

5. Cleaning chemical: LYE.

6. Like "Halloween" music: EERIE - 30 seconds of the one I always think of

7. Litter member: PUPPY DOG.

8. Salt Lake City players: UTES - JAZZ had to be put back on the bench 

9. Delicate chip, e.g.: FINESSE SHOT - The best I've ever seen!

10. Gave, as a script line: FED TO - "...or not to be"

11. Home brewer's creation: IPA and 42. Darker-than-amber brews: STOUTS.

12. Minor matter: NIT.

13. "Well, look at that!": GEE.

15. Longtime "Today" co-anchor: COURIC - Her first day

20. Title less common nowadays: MRS - My granddaughter is getting married in two weeks. I wonder if she will stay Emma Craig or become MRS. Colten White.

22. Creation hurdle: MENTAL BLOCK - O.K., she follows the yellow brick road to Oz and now what?

24. Overseas "Later!": ARRIVEDERCI - Literally means "until we meet again" The song  ARRIVEDERCI Roma was inspired by the legend that tossing a coin into the Trevi Fountain means you will return to Rome. I did. I haven't.

25. Track support: RAILROAD TIE - Buster Keaton solves a RAILROAD TIE problem 

28. Long division?: EON - Oh, division of time

30. Fire chief's concern, briefly: EVACuation of a building

33. "Unfaithful" actor: GERE.

 
37. Facial description in a classic holiday song: RED NOSED - An old pun about a communist weather forecaster has the punchline, "Rudolph The Red knows rain dear"

39. Golfer Crenshaw: BEN.

46. Bard's "frequently": OFT - I had to memorize Mark Antony's speech in 1963 and I still remember pieces of it

49. Locks that are picked: AFROS.

51. Tour guide's badge words: ASK ME.

54. Maya Lin's alma mater: YALE.

55. Hog product: LARD - This is what set my MIL's apple pies off from any others I have ever eaten

56. Adobe doc suffix: PDF - Here ya go

57. Silently propel: OAR - Oar, Oar Oar your boat, gently down the stream

58. Sarcastic "Thanks for sharing": TMI - "Wow, those are great pictures from your colonoscopy!", said no one ever.

Comments welcome:

 

Note from C.C.:

  

Happy 61st birthday to dear Steve, our faithful guide for so many years. He's also an amazing foodie. Last time I mentioned my discovery of shio koji, which is already a fixture in Steve's cooking.

 

Steve and Jill, June 12, 2016

Tea at The Queen Mary