Tuesday, April 20, 2020 Craig Stowe

Beef: It's What for Dinner.  The circled letters spell out a cut of beef.

17-Across. Routinely approve: RUBBER STAMP.  Rump.

24-Across. Betty White's "The Golden Girls" role: ROSE NYLUND.  Round.

38-Across. Assures, as an interest rate: LOCKS IN.  Loin.

52-Across. .eps or .txt, e.g.: FILE FORMAT.  Filet.

And the unifier:

63-Across. Butchers' stock literally found in this puzzle's circles: SIDES OF BEEF.  A butcher explains the cuts of meat. 

Across:

1. Unisex dos: SHAGS.  This side of the pond anyway.

6. It beats rock, in a game: PAPER.  Rock, Paper, Scissors explained.

11. "Quiet, please!": SHH!

14. Bat mitzvah reading: TORAH.  Bat Mitzvah means Daughter of the Commandment, and the term applies to the person, not the event.  The ritual celebrations of the Bat or Bar (Son of the Commandment)  Mitzvah have been challenged in the age of Covid.

15. Photographer's concern: ANGLE.  Common photographer's mistakes and how to avoid them.

16. Concert souvenir: TEE.  I went to the concert, but skipped the Tee.

19. Chicken-king connection: À LA.  Chicken à la King is a dish of diced chicken in a creamy sauce and typically served over noodles or rice.

20. Recently: AS OF LATE.

21. On the trail of: AFTER.

23. "Now, where __ we?": WERE.

27. Crystal ball gazer: SEER.

29. Isn't elected: LOSES.

30. Nick of "Warrior" (2011): NOLTE.  Nick Nolte (né Nicholas King Nolte; b. Feb. 8, 1941) played  a recovering alcoholic named Paddy Conlon in this film.

33. Hold a session: SIT.

34. Shade of blue: AQUA.  Some shades of blue.

37. Dude: BRO.

42. Coffee server: URN.

43. 2017 Best Animated Feature Oscar winner: COCO.

45. Timid: SHY.

46. Raw meat concern: E. COLI.  It's formal name is Escherichia coli.  Got questions?  CDC has answers.

Image is larger that found in nature.

48. Came up: AROSE.

50. Augur: BODE.

55. Turkish coin: LIRA.  Also comes in the paper version.

59. __ God: tornado, e.g.: ACT OF.

60. Respected: ESTEEMED.

62. T'ai __: CHI.

66. Woolen cap: TAM.

67. Wipe out: ERASE.

68. Buy and sell stock: TRADE.

69. Canonized Mlle.: STE.  Today's French lesson.  Joan of Arc is an example of a Sainte.

70. Worldview view: TENET.

71. Have a sneaking suspicion: SENSE.

Down:

1. Scarecrow stuff: STRAW.

2. Word with party or guest: HOUSE.

3. Leafy recess: ARBOR.

4. Gossipy gathering: GAB-FEST.

5. "A Boy Named Sue" writer Silverstein: SHEL.  Shel Silverstein (né Sheldon Allan Silverstein; Sept. 25, 1930 ~ May 10, 1999) wrote the poem, but the song was made famous by Johnny Cash (né J.R. Cash; Feb. 26, 1932 ~ Sept. 12, 2003).

6. Right one for the rite job?: PASTOR.  Cute clue.

7. Chips in a pot: ANTES.

8. Golf tour letters: PGA.  Professional Golfers' Association.

9. National Mall tree: ELM.  So beautiful.

10. Makes good on: REPAYS.

11. The way things are: STATUS QUO.  From the Latin.

12. Mirren of "Trumbo" (2015): HELEN.  That's Dame Helen Lydia Mirren (b. July 26, 1945) to you.  She also starred in the 1989 film The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover, which is a really disturbing film.

13. Caught wind (of): HEARD.

18. Like valuable coins: RARE.  This 1 oz Canadian palladium Maple Leaf coin, which has a face value of $50, is worth over $3,000.

22. __ market: FLEA.  Why would you want to buy fleas?

25. Fans of college sports' Bulldogs: ELIs.  As in the Yale bulldogs.

26. "Moi?": NOT I!

28. Slim fish often smoked: EEL.  Yummers!

30. "This Is Us" network: NBC.  I have heard of this show, but never watched it.  Apparently it has been running since 2016.

31. Olímpicos goal: ORO.  Today's Spanish lesson.  Go for the Gold!  Will the Olympics be played this summer?

32. Announcement before landing: LOCAL TIME.

33. Feature of many seascapes: SKY.

35. Surfer's link: URL.  As in the Uniform Resource Locator.  Interesting that this clue followed the Seascape, even though we are surfing on a different medium.

36. Singer DiFranco: ANI.  Ani DiFranco (née Angela Marie DiFranco; b. Sept. 23, 1970) had released more than 20 albums.

39. __ buco: veal dish: OSSO.  This has become a crossword staple.

40. "Mermaids" co-star: CHER.  Cher (née Cherilyn Sarkisian; b. May 20, 1946) portrayed Mrs. Flax in this 1990 film.

41. Mustachioed guy on "The Simpsons": NED.

44. Longtime Hydrox rival: OREO.  Another crossword staple.  The interesting origin of the name of the Hydrox.

47. Cause __: megastar: CÉLÈBRE.  From the French.

49. Counteract: OFFSET.

50. Short-legged hound: BASSET.  Such a mournful looking dog.

51. Director Preminger: OTTO.  Otto Ludwig Preminger (Dec. 5, 1905 ~ Apr. 23, 1986) was born in present-day Ukraine.  He immigrated to the United States in 1935 and became a citizen in 1943.

52. They're hard to argue with: FACTS.  Apparently Jack Webb never actually said "Just the facts, Ma'am."

53. Former Apple messaging app: iCHAT.

54. Reagan attorney general Ed: MEESE.  Edwin Meese, III (b. Dec. 2, 1931) served as United States Attorney General from February 1985 until August 1988.

56. "That is ... ": I MEAN.

57. Wetlands growths: REEDS.

58. Website revenue: AD FEE.

61. Young newts: EFTs.  Cute little critter.

64. Outrage: IRE.

65. Sports radio host Patrick: DAN.  Since I don't listen to sports radio, I am not familiar with Daniel Patrick Pugh (b. May 15, 1956), who is known professionally as simply Dan Patrick.

Here's the Grid:

חתולה

Monday, April 19, 2021 Jana Persky

Theme: All in Place - Fitting its grid placement!

17A. Well-suited to a person's abilities: UP ONE'S ALLEY.

62A. Unpretentious: DOWN TO EARTH.

11D. "Correctamundo!": RIGHT YOU ARE.

25D. Made certain: LEFT NO DOUBT.

Boomer here. Congratulations to Jana Persky on her debut. 

First, to clarify, C.C. and I live in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. It is a northern suburb of Minneapolis and borders Brooklyn Center. Our city was under curfew in the evenings and many businesses have boarded up their glass windows, but we have been safe and free of the Daunte Wright protests. 

On to the puzzle. First, you pick UP a ball and roll it DOWN the LANE.  If you are getting oil conditions like I am this Spring you need to roll it hard to the RIGHT because it is sure to hook LEFT.  

A couple of Mondays ago we had a very nice 80 degree day and I got in nine holes on the course that hosts our league.  Not too good lately as we are having trouble hitting 50s recently in Minnesota.  My newspaper shows a map of the U.S. and it seems we are not alone.  I hope things will warm up for all of you in the northern half of the U.S.

Across:

1. Pats down in a weapons search: FRISKS.  I suppose we are safe from this due to Covid.  I wonder if police use a metal detector.

7. Gather, as crops: REAP.  It's almost time in MN to plant a few vegetables in our back garden.  We will be REAPing in August and September. I hope.

11. Theater ticket word: ROW.  I guess theaters are open now.  C.C. and I have not been to a theater for many years.

14. __ Beach: Southern California city: LAGUNA.

15. Memorable lioness: ELSA.  Not to be confused with Elsie, the Borden's cow.

16. Imprecise suffix: ISH.  This may also be a word if you are served fish stew.

19. Pontiac muscle car: GTO.  "Little GTO you're lookin' fine.  Three dueces and a four speed, and a 389".  Ronnie and the Daytonas.

20. One-named "Tik Tok" singer: KESHA.

 

21. College-level HS science course: AP CHEM.

23. Bundle of hay: BALE.

26. Kid's riddle: "Why is six afraid of seven?" "Because seven __ nine!": ATE.

28. Range above 41-Down: ALTO. 41. Range below 28-Across: TENOR.

29. Gift giver's eager urging: OPEN IT.  Unless it is moving.

32. Hire: EMPLOY.

34. Like Beethoven's "Pastoral Symphony": IN F.

35. Arrow controlled by a mouse: CURSOR.  Some folks may become CURSER when the mouse doesn't work.

37. Little piggies: TOES.  One went to market, one stayed home, one had roast beef, and one went bowling on a LANE.

40. Salad green: LETTUCE.  And the last little piggy dropped a bunch of LETTUCE at the casino.

42. LinkedIn user's quest: JOB HUNT.

44. Of sound mind: SANE.  Change the "E" to an "O" and you have a Twin hitting .100.

 

 

45. Fancy fish eggs: CAVIAR.  CAVIAR is made from fish eggs, mostly found in sturgeon.  Sturgeon are found in Minnesota but I never caught one.  Most are heavier than a bowling ball.

47. Shapiro of NPR: ARI.

48. Punctual: ON TIME.  A new baseball season!  Most games start ON TIME and then go on past my bed time.

50. __ of honor: wedding party VIP: MATRON.

52. Smell: ODOR.  Our boy Rougned ODOR is now with the Yankees.  I'll leave him alone.

53. Late-night NYC show: SNL.

55. Tenant's payment: RENT.  I lived in an apartment for ten years.  Rent is okay I guess, but you do not build up equity.

56. Like bouquets of roses: FLORAL.  We also have a garden in front of our home.  I will add some color if the weather ever warms up.

58. Dining room piece: TABLE.  We have one of those.  Great for breakfast cereal and newspaper reading in the morning.

61. Former soccer phenom Freddy: ADU.

67. Pen tip: NIB.  I remember these things that were made of licorice.

68. Reverberate: ECHO.  HELLO - hello hello.

69. Science journal since 1869: NATURE.

70. Obtain: GET.

71. Lion's warning: ROAR.  I never hear it when the Detroit football team comes to town.

72. What there may not be "in the house" during a tearjerker: DRY EYE.

Down:

1. Annual shot target: FLU.  I never got a flu shot.  The VA gave me two of those Pfizer Covid shots and now we are getting the same for C.C.

2. Knock (on): RAP.

3. "Here __ again!": I GO.  Here I GO again with the down clues.

4. Submerged: SUNKEN.

5. Joint above the ankle: KNEE.  Lately the cancer medicine has cost me some knee strength.  Bowling average is down about 30 pins.

6. Cheeky talk: SASS.  Shut up and roll the ball!

7. Tells, as a story: RELATES.

8. Building wing: ELL.

9. On the ocean: ASEA.  I believe Spitzboov spent some time there.

10. Online remittance app: PAYPAL.  I used to use this a lot when I was active on eBay.  Not so much anymore but it's a good account to have.

12. Bone: Pref.: OSTEO.

13. "To __ it may concern": WHOM.

18. "Figured it out!": AHA.  I'm sure all of you puzzle masters have figured this out.

22. Fabric: CLOTH.

23. Reaches 212 degrees Fahrenheit: BOILS.  That would be 100 degrees Centigrade.

24. Sleep disorder: APNEA.  The Twins have been on the west coast for a couple of days.  They do not give me APNEA. I fall asleep watching.

27. Expressive online image: EMOJI.

30. RN's workplace: ICU.  Covid has kept them busy for over a year.

31. Stanley of "The Hunger Games": TUCCI.

 

33. Golf tournament kickoff: PRO AM.  I was never good enough to play in one.  I was in several PRO AM bowling tournaments though. 

36. Paper purchases: REAMS.  500 sheets in case you are on Jeopardy and some one asks.

38. Disgraced energy firm: ENRON.  There's a name out of the past.  I still have some ENRON golf balls that I bought on eBay awhile ago.  Collector's items.

39. Period of work: STINT.

43. Half a bikini: BRA.

46. Only "V" Monopoly avenue not named for a state: VENTNOR.  Yellow - the light blue Vermont Avenue would be the other "V".

49. __ Joe's: TRADER.  We've been there often. I tried the frozen pizza.  Not as good as I make by hand.  I like their dough and sauce and I still make a great pizza.

51. Peace agreement: TREATY.

52. Song from the past: OLDIE.  But Goodie.

54. Chin-up muscle, briefly: LAT.

56. Vampire tooth: FANG.

57. Not of sound mind: LOCO.  Okay, I admit it.

59. "007" James: BOND.

60. Kind of jet: LEAR.  I don't see these much anymore.  I think Tiger tried to turn an SUV into a LEAR in California.

63. "Huh!?": WHA.

64. Regret: RUE. Ms. McClanahan - one of the Golden Girls.

65. The old college __: TRY.

66. Giggle sound: HEE.  Hee Haw! Another stupid show I watch sometimes.

Boomer

 

Sunday, April 18, 2021 Jerry Miccolis

Theme:  "Diamond Jubilee" - Six long theme entries are made up of baseball teams.

23. With 32-Across, stately sailors fearlessly face full-bodied fish?: ROYAL MARINERS.

32. See 23-Across: BRAVE GIANT MARLINS.

52. With 66-Across, public park patrollers faced feathered facsimiles?: NATIONAL RANGERS.

6. See 52-Across: MET TWIN BLUEJAYS.

74. With 92-Across, energetic New Englanders filch furry fledgling felines?: ATHLETIC YANKEES.

92. See 74-Across: PIRATE TIGER CUBS.

109. Dugout denizens: BASEBALL TEAMMATES.

125. Contrived competition ... and what the 109-Across comprise in this puzzle?: FANTASY LEAGUE.

What a great title! I think this is Jerry Miccoli's LAT debut. Congrats, Jerry!

We've seen themes with baseball teams in a non-baseball setting, but none weaved a story as interesting as this one. Plus, look at the F* alliterative clues. Very Agnes.

A few more baseball bonus:

31A. Dodger great Hodges: GIL.

103A. Pitching stat: ERA.

6D. Go deep or go yard: HOMER.

102D. Phillies' div.: NLE. Nation League East.

Across:

1. "Yummy!": DELISH.  Yummers from Anon-T and Hahtoolah.

7. "Bein' Green" singer: KERMIT.

13. Best bro: MAIN MAN.

20. Cry from a balcony: O ROMEO. Juliet's balcony.

21. "Whatever works": I'M EASY.

22. Fats Domino's first name: ANTOINE. Other people names we have: 28. Actor Epps: OMAR. 45. DDE opponent: AES. Adlai Ewing Stevenson. 58. Yale founder Yale: ELIHU. 64. "Amazing" magician: RANDI. 87. Eponymous obstetrician Fernand: LAMAZE.  119. Astronaut Shepard: ALAN. 8. Novelist Zola: EMILE. 10. West of Hollywood: MAE. 15. Addams cousin: ITT. 8. Williams of "Happy Days": ANSON. 43. Writer Wiesel: ELIE. 48. Seder prophet: ELIJAH. 54. Emmy-winning portrayer of Gary Walsh in "Veep": TONY HALE.104. "The Joy Luck Club" novelist: AMY TAN.107. W.J. Clinton successor: G W BUSH 114. Polynesian Disney heroine: MOANA. 122. Composer Schifrin: LALO.

25. A, to Morse: DOT DASH.

26. Lots: A TON.

27. Place for un étudiant: ECOLE. And 30. Monsieur's mine: A MOI.

36. It can follow land or sea: SCAPE.

38. Sea eagle: ERN.

39. "__ silly question ... ": ASK A.

40. Made foam: SPUMED.

47. Courtroom art: SKETCH. The Wells Fargo, Shell gas station in our street corner are still boarded up due to the Daunte Wright protests. The ATMs of Wells Fargo were burglarized.

59. Saigon soup: PHO. You can make an easy stock with five-spice powder.

60. Cowboy's catcher: LARIAT.

61. Port abuser, say: WINO.

63. Press: IRON.

70. Hirsute Himalayan: YETI.

72. A, in Austria: EIN.

73. Mosque holy man: IMAM. Also 4. Somali supermodel: IMAN. OK, here's another beautiful supermodel: Imaan Hammam.

82. Scam with spam, say: PHISH.

85. Munich Mrs.: FRAU. 111. Stuttgart starter: SALAT. German for "salad".

86. Texter's "As I see it ... ": IMHO.

89. Title for Tom Jones: SIR.

90. Loses one's head?: BALDS. Ha. Prince Williams was just crowned the sexiest bald man alive. Stanley Tucci fans were not happy.

96. Address: SPEECH.

98. "Livin' Thing" gp.: ELO.

99. Court chroniclers: STENOS.

100. Really long time: AEON.

105. Cell alerts: RINGS.

118. Big-eyed bird: OWL.

120. "Mon __!": DIEU.

121. Super Mario's dinosaur: YOSHI.

122. Garage job: LUBE.

123. Middle East economic center: TEL AVIV. 11. Home of 123-Acr.: ISR.

129. Hurricane warning responder, maybe: EVACUEE.

130. School skipper: TRUANT.

131. Finally: AT LAST.

132. Hunting dogs: SETTERS.

133. Medicinal shrubs: SENNAS.

134. Like some grins: TOOTHY.

Down:

1. Hip-hop tops: DO-RAGS. Just had DO-RAG last Sunday.

2. Steamy: EROTIC.

3. Name associated with Jesuit schools: LOYOLA. Wiki says St. Ignatius Loyola founded the Society of Jesus, which the Jesuits belong.

5. Poivre partner: SEL. Oh have any of you tried acacia honey?

7. Former name of the Mariinsky Ballet: KIROV.

9. Weasel out: RENEGE.

12. Company that makes Ball Park Franks: TYSON. No Tyson plants in Minnesota.

13. Polite titles: MADAMS.

14. Arctic parkas: ANORAKS. Never had one. Boomer got me a nice coat when I arrived here 20 years ago. Workhorse in my wardrobe.

16. Bump-related: NODAL.

17. AmericanAirlines Arena city: MIAMI.

19. Classic sodas: NEHIS.

24. 2010 health law: Abbr.: ACA.

29. NYC subway org.: MTA.

32. "Mind your manners": BE POLITE.

33. Present-day Persia: IRAN.

34. Rare blood type, for short: A NEG.

35. Croupier's tool: RAKE. Saw quite a few Asian croupiers in Las Vegas.

37. Trident-shaped letter: PSI.

41. A, in Argentina: UNA.

42. School closing?: MARM. Schoolmarm.

44. "Darn!": DRAT.

46. In stitches: SEWN.

49. Dessert made with mascarpone cheese: TIRAMISU.

50. Bok __: CHOY. Shanghai bok choy.

51. Attila's army: HUNS.

52. "All Things Considered" network: NPR.

53. "Eureka!": AHA.

55. Enjoying crumpets, maybe: AT TEA. Mentioned to you before that Cantonese, esp retirees, like to "yum cha", literally "drinking tea". They share dim sum items and tea with their friends/family.

56. Kid: RIB.

57. NBC show since 1975: SNL.

62. "Certainement!": OUI.

65. Fool: DELUDE.

67. Pitching stat: WIN.

68. Trimming tape: INKLE. Learning moment for me.

69. Large penguins: EMPERORS.

71. "Lord, is __?": IT I.

74. Andrews and Edwards: Abbr.: AFBS.

75. Subtle stratagem: TRAP.

76. Diminutive devil: IMP.

77. Greek X: CHI. Means "breath" in Chinese. Tai chi.

78. Time long past: YORE.

79. Grub: EATS.

80. Send out: EMIT.

81. Stuffing stuff: SAGE.

83. Member of the fam: SIB.

84. Time sheet abbr.: HRS.

88. Buddhist discipline: ZEN. That character on the upper left means "Zen".

91. Sign of healing: SCAB.

93. Protected, at sea: ALEE.

94. Afghanistan's __ Bora: TORA.

95. Show with Miami and NY spin-offs: CSI.

97. More intoxicating: HEADIER.

101. Martini garnishes: OLIVES.

106. Main Milky Way makeup: NOUGAT. Great clue.

108. Wintry, in a way: SLEETY.

109. Creepy film motel: BATES.

110. Motrin alternative: ALEVE. Finally got my first Pfizer shot at the VA last Wednesday. My left arm was a little sore and then itchy for a couple of days. No other side effects. Sorry for your woes,  Anon-T.  Also hope TTP's ordeal ends soon.

112. Pass: ENACT.

113. Clumps: TUFTS.

115. Aides: Abbr.: ASSTS.

116. Prayer possessive: THY.

117. Red Sea resort: EILAT. Regular in our old Tribune Media Daily days.

124. Saturn SUV: VUE.

126. Exist: ARE.

127. Sister: NUN.

128. DDE's WWII command: ETO.

C.C.