Tuesday, January 12, 2021 Paul Coulter

It's Party Time!  Each word in each theme answer can be paired with the word Party to give us a new concept, so let's Party like it's 1999!

17-Across. *   Afternoon social that may include a waltz or three: TEA DANCE.   Tea Party and Dance Party.

Tea Party

Dance Party

38-Across. *   Brewery container: BEER KEG.  Beer Party and Keg Party.

Oktoberfest Beer Party

Keg Party

11-Down. *   Growing business?: GREEN HOUSE.   Green Party and House Party.  The Green Party is a political party.

Green Party

House Party

28-Down. *   Monster.com activity: WORK SEARCH.  Work Party and Search Party.

Work Party

Search Party

And the unifier:

59-Across. Like the U.S. political system, and a hint to the answers to starred clues: TWO PARTY.  No further comment necessary.

Across:

1. Playfully shy: COY.

4. Cooled with cubes: ICED.

8. Shrubs arranged as barriers: HEDGES.

Keep of the Lawn!

14. Anger: IRE.

15. It has three numbers and two slashes: DATE.  In the United States, today would be denoted as 1/12/21.  In Europe, it would be 12/1/21.

16. Staves off: AVERTS.

19. Stay close to: BE NEAR.

20. Start of a pirate's refrain: YO HO HO!

21. Matching tops worn together: TWIN SET.  Twin sets were quite popular a few years ago.

23. Phobos, to Mars: MOON.

25. Cry after a golfer's ace: IT'S IN!

26. "Even __ speak ... ": AS WE.

29. Goldarn: DANG.  Mild cussing.

31. [None of the above]: OTHER.

34. New Mexico art community: TAOS.

35. Wall St. takeover: LBO.  As in a Leveraged BuyOut.

36. Tom, Dick or Harry: ANYONE.

37. U.K. continent: EUR.  The United Kingdom is located in Europe.

40. Arg. neighbor: URU.  Uruguay is a neighbor of Argentina.

41. Hopping joints?: ANKLES.

43. Elton John's title: SIR.  When Elton John (né Reginald Kenneth Dwight; b. Mar. 25, 1947) was knighted in April 1998, he added Hercules as his middle name.

44. Chinese menu possessive: TSO'S.  I wonder if General Tso minds that people eat his chicken.

45. Used a stun gun on: TASED.

46. Jared of "Panic Room": LETO.  Jared Joseph Leto (b. Dec. 26, 1971) was born in Louisiana.  He was so good in Dallas Buyers Club, but he often looks a little demonic.

47. Russo of "Ransom": RENE.  Rene Marie Russo (b. Feb. 17, 1954) makes frequent guest appearances in the puzzles.  Ransom was a 1996 film.

48. Panache: ÉCLAT.

50. "Giant" author Ferber: EDNA.  Edna Ferber (Aug. 15, 1885 ~ Apr. 16, 1968) is probably known for her novel Show Boat, which was made into a musical that is still played.  The Houston Grand Opera performed it a couple of years ago.

52. "The Piano Lesson" painter Henri: MATISSE.  Henri Matisse (né Henri iÉmile Benoît Matisse; Dec. 31, 1869 ~ Nov. 3, 1954) painted several versions of piano lessons.  This is probably the most well known.

54. Depends (on): RELIES.

58. Summer TV fare: RERUNS.

61. Hush-hush: SECRET.

62. Deep sleep: COMA.  Also the name of Robin Cook's 1977 medical thriller.

63. B&B, maybe: INN.  The Seven Gables Inn in the Monterey, California area is one of our favorites.

64. 1896 and 2004 Olympics setting: ATHENS.

65. Command to a dog: HEEL.

66. Anatomical pouch: SAC.

Down:

1. Part of SLC: CITY.  As in Salt Lake City.

2. Sundae-topping cookie: OREO.  A crossword staple treat.

3. "All right!": YEAH.

4. "Famous Potatoes" state: IDAHO.  Maine is another state known for its potatoes.  My sister had a boyfriend from Aroostook County and every time he would return from his family's farm, he would bring my parents a 50 pound bag of potatoes.  

5. Does some necking: CANOODLES.

6. "Yada, yada, yada" letters: ETC.

7. Tick repellent: DEET.  Or, more formally, it is known as N, N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide.

8. Hard thing to kick: HABIT.

9. Vespers: EVENSONG.

10. Population statistic: DENSITY.

12. Coup d'__: ÉTAT.  Hmm ...  Today's French lesson.  The term means Blow of State, and is the overthrow or removal of an existing government from power.  It usually involves violence.  

13. Ukr. or Est., once: SSR.  Ukraine and Estonia were two of the countries that made up the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

18. Stadium toppers: DOMES.

New Orleans Superdome

22. Barrister's topper: WIG.  I am glad these are not used in American courts.

24. Local theater, briefly: NABE.  Slang for Neighborhood.

26. Bothered big-time: ATE AT.

27. Hot spot: SAUNA.  A brief history of the Sauna.

30. Swedes' neighbors: NORSE.

32. Noted 2001 bankruptcy: ENRON.  I can't believe it's been 20 years already!

33. Word in a green trio?: REUSE.

36. British landing facility: AERODROME.  Today's British English lesson.  What is the difference between an Aerodome and an Airport?

38. Sheets and pillowcases: BED LINEN.

39. Sky box?: KITE.

42. Professor's address: LECTURE.

44. Singing syllables: TRA LA.

46. Capt.'s underlings: LTs.  Captains and Lieutenants.

49. Helpers: Abbr.: ASSTs.

51. Sherpa's country: NEPAL.  Nepal has a most unusual flag.

52. Convene: MEET.

53. Carve in stone: ETCH.  The outer wall of the great Library in Alexandria, Egypt is etched with over 120 scripts and ancient alphabets.  Visiting the library is well worth the visit.

55. Colored eye part: IRIS.

Anatomy of the Eye.

56. Italian peak: ETNA.  Our friendly volcanic crossword staple, which is found in Sicily.

57. Match audio and video: SYNC.

58. Mandela's land: Abbr.: RSA.  As in the Republic of South Africa.

60. Tales of __: misfortunes: WOE.  Alas, we have come to the end of the puzzle.

Here's the Grid:

חתולה

Monday January 11, 2021 Jeffrey Wechsler

Theme: Looks Similar - The first word is a present participle. The second words are plural nouns which share the same string of letters as the first word.

20. Providing post-bath garb to red-breasted singers?: ROBING ROBINS.

31. Doing poorly in baking class?: MUFFING MUFFINS.

39. Growing dried grapes?: RAISING RAISINS.

54. Recording easy putts?: TAPING TAP-INS.

Boomer here. It's certainly an intricate theme for a Monday puzzle.  I was definitely not smart enough to figure it out.

In another ballpark, I have been patiently waiting for a vaccine. The VA contacted me twice but I don't feel closer to returning to the lanes yet. Age 73 with diabetes and cancer is not needy enough yet.  Then I picked up the morning paper last week and there is a story about a convicted criminal in a Minnesota prison getting his shot at age 53.  Praise the Lord and pass me another mask.

Dates like today, I always wonder if there is any history.  I am thinking of 910 years ago.  I wonder if there was free gold nuggets given away on 1-11-1111.     

Across:

1. Story like "Roots": SAGA.  The story was definitely bone-chilling.  It made me feel guilty living in a country that once condoned slavery.

5. K9 Advantix II targets: FLEAS.  Dogs have them and markets are named after them.

10. Dance that tells a story: HULA.  My memory does not remember the dance as much as the HOOPS.

14. Capturing device: TRAP.  It only took about eight of these in our home, but we FINALLY got the little bugger in a glue TRAP in our basement room.

15. Cuba __: rum cocktail: LIBRE.  With a name like this they should be free.

16. Former Lacoste partner in sportswear: IZOD.  Interesting crocodile logo.

17. Taj Mahal city: AGRA.  Minnesota is a big potato in AGRA business.

18. 5,000 feet, roughly: ABOUT A MILE.  Walk it in my shoes.

22. Keep a roomie awake, maybe: SNORE.  Not me, I stayed awake all last night and did not hear myself SNORE once.

23. Letters before an alias: AKA.  Also Known As.

24. Window sticker: DECAL.  I don't like them.  They mess up car windows for sure.

28. Surg. areas: ORS.  ORS in southern California are filled with COVID victims.  I hope things get better for them soon.

30. Chocolate-filled cookie: MILANO.

 

36. Became the champ: WON.  There did not seem to have all the attention that college bowl games usually attract.  Maybe next year?

37. Farm bleaters: GOATS.

38. Like many SSA payment recipients: RET.  That would be me.  And I received a big enough raise this year to pay for two games of bowling.  Now all I need is a vaccine.

44. Mischievous doings: ANTICS.

45. Jaguar XK-E, e.g.: CAR.

46. Tomato concentrate: PASTE.  We went through gallons when I was a pizza cook.

47. Hope/Crosby film destination: RIO.

50. Make roar, as an engine: REV UP.  I don't know why people do this, except in Indianapolis.

57. "That's slightly inaccurate": NOT EXACTLY.

60. Bluesy James: ETTA.

61. Put one __ on: fool: OVER.  Peter Graves surname in "Airplane" - Only I think he spelled it Oveur.

62. Gadget used on an apple: CORER.

63. Ace, as a test: NAIL.  Or a Hole in One in Golf.  Sorry, I've never had one.  Came close twice. Six inches.  Once actually rimmed the hole and turned ninety degrees to the right!

64. High roller's rolls: WADS.  I enjoy a craps table or machine, but not enough to carry a WAD. 

65. The ones over there: THOSE.

66. Abound (with): TEEM.

Down:

1. Overhead twinklers: STARS.  I often wonder if they are like the sun and have planets around them.

2. One of the noble gases: ARGON.

3. Actress Greta: GARBO.  A Swedish Actress Don'tcha know.

4. Two that match, as socks: A PAIR OF.  Golf shoes, bowling shoes.  But A PAIR OF pants is not really a pair.  I am waiting for a PAIR OF shots in the arm!!

5. Flier on a pole: FLAG.

6. Heavenly scales: LIBRA.  We used to visit our LIBRAry years ago. 29. 6-Down and 11 others: SIGNS.

7. Kindle download: E BOOK.  There were not any E BOOKS in it.

8. Dutch-speaking Caribbean island: ARUBA.

9. Alien-seeking org.: SETI.

10. "And he ... HE __! ... The Grinch carved the roast-beast!": HIMSELF.

11. Israeli weapon: UZI.

12. Enthusiastic online "Ha-ha!": LOL.  I seldom use this acronym. I do not laugh at my computer.

13. Beverage suffix: ADE.  LemonADE in the shADE.

19. "__ I don't?": challenging words: AND IF.

21. Foam-based ball: NERF.  Are they still around ??

25. Piled-stones memorial: CAIRN.

26. Authors Rice and Tyler: ANNES.  And a lady from Green Gables.

27. Suffered defeat: LOST.  I think our Vikings are 0-5 in Super Bowls.  At least I do not have to worry about them getting to 0-6 this year.

30. Beethoven's love: MUSIC.

31. Polynesian Disney princess: MOANA.

32. Watts and volts: UNITS.  I know a bit about these.  Lately I have been adding an LED bulb to the same circuit that has regular incandescent bulbs on it and the LED will not light.  I guess it was prejudice.

33. Rich holiday drink: NOG.  Holidays are over and once again I passed on that stuff.

34. Long-nosed fish: GAR.

35. L.A. commuter org.: MTA.  I thought Boston had the MTA.  The Kingston Trio told me.  Poor old Charlie. Did he ever return ??

36. Rolled-up sandwich: WRAP.

40. Paid tot minders: SITTERS.  While I was selling hamburgers for 15 cents, my older sister was minding tots for 25 cents per hour.  Now she is still doing it in San Francisco, but I think she charges a bit more. 

41. Mountaineer's tool: ICE AX.  We fished through ICE on a lake, but we used an auger to get through the ICE. 

42. Lee whom nobody doesn't like: SARA.  "Everybody doesn't like something ... but"

43. Sinner's atonement words: I REPENT.

47. Copier brand: RICOH.

48. MC's opening words: INTRO.  No visit to Las Vegas this year (next  month).  I always look forward to the MC's INTRO for me and I get to go onstage and see if I can make my friends laugh.  

49. Looks untowardly toward: OGLES.

51. Curriculum __: résumé: VITAE.

52. Loosen, as a knot: UNTIE.

53. Song of worship: PSALM.  I don't hear them much in church anymore.

55. Treaty: PACT.

56. Spare in a Brit's boot: TYRE.

57. Currently: NOW.

58. Egg cells: OVA.  That's a YOKE on you.

59. Talking stuffed bear of film: TED.

Boomer