Tuesday, May 11, 2021 Tom Locke

No Ifs, Ands, or Butts?  The last word of each theme answer refers to one's tushie.  

17-Across. *   Youthful blush, say: ROSY CHEEKS.

26-Across. *   Idler at the shore: BEACH BUM.

53-Across. *   Parlor piece: LOVE SEAT.

62-Across. *   Frank holders: HOTDOG BUNS.

And the unifier:

37-Across. Hit from behind ... and what the answers to starred clues are?: REAR ENDED.  A bit of a racy theme, don't you think?

Across:

1. Urges to attack, with "on": SICs.

5. Actor Hawke: ETHAN.  Ethan Hawke (b. Nov. 6, 1970) has appeared on the Big Screen, television and live theater.  His first wife was Uma Thurman (b. Apr. 29, 1970).

10. Chew (on): GNAW.

14. Help out during exercises, as in a gym: SPOT.

This is why there are women-only health centers.

15. LP player: PHONO.

16. One of a model's repertoire: POSE.  Before he was an actor, Ted Danson (b. Dec. 29, 1947) was a model.

19. Common country suffix: -STAN.  Think of Afghanistan; Turkmenistan; Uzbeckistan; Tajikistan; Pakistan ...

20. Palindromic magazine: ELLE.  This magazine is often found in the crossword puzzles.

21. __ Alamos, NM: LOS.  Los Alamos is best know for being the home of the atomic bomb.

23. Oil field?: ART.  Cute clue.

24. Look up to: ESTEEM.

28. Double-crosser: RAT.

29. Lavish bash: FÊTE.

31. Spanish rice dish: PAELLA.  Yummers!  I had some fantastic paella when I was in Barcelona.  I have never tried to make it, but here is a recipe.

32. Not commissioned, after "on": SPEC.

34. Author Jaffe: RONA.  Rona Jaffe (June 12, 1931 ~ Dec. 30, 2005), was a prolific author.  I read a lot of her work when I was in college. 

36. Like Lady Liberty's crown: RAYED.

40. Farrier: SHOER.  Technically, although not just any shoer.  A farrier is essentially a podiatrist for a horse and does more than just shoe horses.

43. Quite a distance: AFAR.

44. Cocksure: SMUG.

48. Coming from the heart?: AORTAL.

50. "Your guess __ good ... ": IS AS.

52. Solver's cry: AHA!

55. Docking places: WHARFS.

57. Cold War mil. program: SDI.  As in the Strategic Defense Initiative, also known as the Star Wars Program.

58. Gate announcement, briefly: ETD.  Think of the gate at the airport.  Estimated Time of Departure.

59. Modern mining target: DATA.

60. Cantina cooker: OLLA.

67. Causing yawns, often: DULL.

68. Archer's weapon: ARROW.

69. Mine entrance: ADIT.  This word is derived from the Latin aditus, which means entrance.

70. Central Iowa city: AMES.  Ames, Iowa is the home of Iowa State University.

71. Watch partner: LEARN.

72. Peter or Paul (but not Mary): TSAR.  Peter I, Tsar of Russia (June 9, 1672 ~ Feb. 8, 1725) was known as Peter the Great.  Paul I, Tsar of Russia was the son of Catherine the Great.  He was not so great and was later murdered.

Down:

1. Cold War state: Abbr.: SSR.  As in the Soviet Socialist Republics.

2. Wall St. news: IPO.  As in Initial Public Offering.

3. "Les Misérables" girl: COSETTE.  There are so many versions of this Victor Hugo classic.

4. Bob or weave: STYLE.  As in a hair style.

5. Collectibles like ticket stubs and matchbooks: EPHEMERA.  These are things that are enjoyed for a short period of time.  Actually, if they are collectibles, don't they last and last?  The ticket may be used for a short period of time, but you can keep the stub forever.

6. Not just any: THE.  Meh!

7. Gardening tool: HOE.

8. Bracelet site for one on house arrest: ANKLE.

9. "Outta luck!": NO SOAP!  The phrase "No Soap!" apparently first appeared in publication in a nonsense poem in 1755.  You can read the poem here.

10. Docs who don't specialize: GPs.  As in General Practitioners.

11. Especially: NOTABLY.

12. Usually: AS A RULE.

13. Lost it: WENT MAD.

18. Musical pitch indicator: CLEF.

Treble, Bass, Alto, and Tenor Clefs

22. Close call: SCARE.

24. Trauma ctrs.: ERs.  As in Emergency Rooms.

25. Maple extract: SAP.

26. Perk from work: BENEFIT.

27. Two of them are better than one: HEADS.

30. When tripled, a 1970 WWII film: TORA.

33. Minotaur's island: CRETE.

35. Santa __: dry winds: ANAs.

38. Clear the board: ERASE.

39. Deplete, as a bank account: DRAW DOWN.

40. Grill-cleaning solution: SAL SODA.  I had never heard of Sal Soda.  Apparently it is a sodium salt of carbonic acid.

41. Gangster: HOODLUM.

42. One of the Wright brothers: ORVILLE.  Wilbur (Apr. 16, 1867 ~ May 30, 1912) and Orville (Aug. 19, 1871 ~ Jan. 30, 1948) Wright were aviation pioneers.  Because Wilbur died many years before his brother, Orville, Orville may have revised history to give himself a greater role in flight than his brother.

Orville, left; and Wilbur, right

45. Plunders: MARAUDS.

46. Old TV dial letters: UHF.  As in Ultra High Frequency.

47. Really good time: GAS.

49. Deadly: LETHAL.

51. Heavy carpet: SHAG.  Also a hair style.

54. Put on a pedestal: ADORE.

56. Facing the pitcher: AT BAT.

61. "Happy Days" diner: AL'S.

63. __-la-la: TRA.

64. Palme __: Cannes award: D'OR.  The Palme d'Or (French for Golden Palm) is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Films Festival.

65. Actress Long: NIA.

Nia Talita Long (b. Oct. 30, 1970)

66. Philharmonic sect.: STR.  As in Strings.

Here's the Grid:

חתולה

Monday May 10, 2021 Andrea Carla Michaels

 

Theme: THE FOUR TOPS (62. "I Can't Help Myself" Motown group ... and what's comprised by 18-, 24-, 39- and 52-Across' starting words?)

18. Cloak-and-dagger spy: SECRET AGENT. Top secret.

24. Typically yellow tangy fruit: BANANA PEPPER. Top banana.

39. *Accessory metaphor for an accomplishment: NOTCH ON ONE'S BELT. Top notch.

52. Spaghetti-in-a-can icon: CHEF BOYARDEE. Top Chef.

Andrea Carla Michaels, Tom Pepper, C.C. and Boomer, 2015

Boomer here.  

A great photo.  Three extremely outstanding crossword constructors, and one old guy in a "National Senior Games" Bowling shirt from 2015.  I finished 6th in my division and got a ribbon.

TOP of the morning to all of you.  I did not receive a NOTCH on my belt for eating a BANANA but I do remember the Four Tops !  Told you I was an old guy.

Across:

1. Prefix with bar: ISO.  BEER did not fit.

4. Purple color named for a flower: LILAC.  I thought Green grows the LILACS all sparkling with dew.

9. Kind of minister or suspect: PRIME.  Or cut of beef.

14. Habit wearer: NUN.  The good sisters of St. Joseph taught grade school to me.

15. "Mutiny on the Bounty" captain: BLIGH. Captain William Bligh.

16. "Star Wars" director George: LUCAS.

17. Two-base hit: Abbr.: DBL.  Double. Also two strikes in a row on the lanes.

20. Heroic tale: EPIC.

22. Direction of the dawn: EAST.

23. Easter egg coloring: DYE.  Easter is in the rear view mirror.  Looking forward to Memorial Day.

29. Quivery vocal effect: TREMOLO.

30. Spanish eight: OCHO.  Gesuntheit

34. Of an arterial trunk: AORTAL.

38. Belle's suitor: BEAU.  Also son of President Biden.  RIP.

44. Gas leak giveaway: ODOR.  Rougned Odor is with the Yankees now. But on the DL at the moment.

45. "I'm clueless": NO IDEA.

46. City near Tahoe: RENO.  Home of the National Bowling Stadium, and some of my money.

47. Whiner: CRYBABY.  Yup I was a whiner instead of a winner.

57. Emails a dupe to: CCS.

60. Goddess for whom a month is named: MAIA.  Goddess of spring.

61. Theater segments: ROWS.  I still have not heard much about theaters.  Baseball parks are allowing 10,000 customers and the PGA golf courses have been crowded.  C.C. and I have still stayed away.

67. Frito-__: LAY.

68. Old toga wearer: ROMAN.  Also the frat guys in "Animal House".

69. Frighten: SCARE.  BOO!  5 1/2 months until Halloween

70. Start for fab or fix: PRE.

71. Pinocchio's problem: LYING.  Your nose will grow!

72. Roll of the dice: THROW.  My favorite way to lose money in Nevada.  No wonder they named it Craps. 

73. "__ the DJ, I'm the Rapper": 1988 album: HE'S.

Down:

1. Behind on bills: IN DEBT.  I used to be.  Then I retired.

2. Not up to snuff: SUBPAR.  Not many SUBPAR rounds last weekend at the Wells Fargo PGA tournament.

3. Browsing the Web, say: ON LINE.

4. Scale units: Abbr.: LBS.  I am less than 200 LBS, even holding my bowling ball with me on the scale.

5. Land in la mer: ILE.

6. DMV certificate: LIC. License.

7. Go along (with): AGREE.  I tend to agree with Minnesota Governor Walz on Covid restrictions.  Seems things are opening a little too early and why does our state only have 52% vaccinated last time I looked?

8. Tightfisted: CHEAP.  There is no charge for the shots.  Can't get any cheaper.

9. Table setting item: PLATE.

10. Snug bug's place?: RUG.

11. Covered, as a cake: ICED.  Summertime is ICED tea weather in Minnesota.  No need to stock up.  Summer is very short up here.

12. Numerous: MANY.  How many putts did you take today, Boomer??

13. Punta del __, Uruguay: ESTE.

19. Recipe abbr.: TSP.

21. Cell pic taker: CAM.  I do not know how to do this.  C.C. helps.

25. Ark builder: NOAH.  "Right, What's a cubit ?" Bill Cosby.

26. Crazy as __: A LOON.  I think Minnesota's state bird is A LOON.  Maybe we are all crazy 

27. X-rated stuff: PORNO.

28. Lynda Bird's married name: ROBB.  "Lucy Baines, she is no Jackie but then who complains, she may be tacky but she is the brains behind our foreign policy"  Chad Mitchell Trio.

31. Average grade: CEE.  I got plenty of those.

32. Actor Holbrook: HAL.

33. Not in the office: OUT.  Hit 'em OUT, Byron Buxton.  Strike OUT Miguel Sano.

35. You, in French: TOI.

36. With unnamed partners, in bus. names: AND CO.

37. Suspicious (of): LEERY.

39. Neither's partner: NOR.  You cannot have a Neither without a NOR.

40. Wordsworth's "__ to Duty": ODE. It was the third of June, Another sleepy, dusty, Delta day.   (Bobbie Gentry)  "ODE to Billie Joe."

41. Trucker's unit: TON.  125 - 16 LB. Bowling balls

42. Gator kin: CROC.   Someone not telling the truth.

43. "Don't __ word!": "Shh!": SAY A.  Or say AAHH and have a Doctor put a stick down your throat.

48. "I'm freezing!": BRR.

49. Brewer Coors: ADOLPH.

50. Sign warning word about a watchdog: BEWARE.

51. "Absolutely!": YES YES.

53. Chinese ethnic group: HMONG.

54. Water, in Cannes: EAU.  EAU CLAIRE is a city east of us in Wisconsin.

55. At the head of the line: FIRST.  The old Washington Senators. "FIRST on land, FIRST on sea, and Last in the American league.  This team moved to Minneapolis in 1961 and are now trying to uphold that tradition.

56. Cookie baker's lot: BATCH.  "Please sir, may I have one"

57. Bottom-corner PC key: CTRL.

58. Bok __: Chinese cabbage: CHOY.

59. 18-wheeler: SEMI.  I always end up behind one on the highway.  I would not call it a SEMI though.  It looks like a whole truck to me.

63. One cheering for the team: FAN.  Most stadiums are limited to 10,000 FANs.  They may be lifting restrictions soon.

64. Sculler's prop: OAR.  When I was a kid we had a small boat on North Star Lake near Marcell Minnesota.  We replaced the OARS with a 5 horsepower Johnson.

65. Whiz: PRO.  I am no whiz, but I did bowl one senior PRO bowling tournament at Village North in Brooklyn Park around 1998.  10 games of qualifying and I averaged 207.  Not good enough to cash, but I was in the same tournament as a guy named Dick Weber. 

66. Stitch together: SEW.

Boomer

Sunday May 9, 2021, Gary Larson

Theme: "Forcing the Issue" - Common phrases with magazine names in are punnily clued.

22. Celebrity magazine employee?: PEOPLE PERSON.

26. Using a lifestyle magazine to cool off?: ELLE FANNING. Clue sounds stretched to me.

42. Found a child-rearing magazine?: BIRTH PARENTS. The "establish" found, not the past tense of "find".

66. Graphic for a personal well-being magazine?: PICTURE OF HEALTH.

91. Closing the doors of a financial magazine?: FOLDING MONEY.

108. Shoplifting a fitness magazine?: TAKING SHAPE.

117. Kiosk selling a news magazine?: STALL FOR TIME. 

Two in front, 5 in the back. No odd man out. We've seen a few magazine/newspaper puzzles, but not with the punny approach.

No FORTUNE/STAR as they dupe Money/People in terms of the content.

Across:

1. Perfume brand that sounds forbidden: TABU. I have a tiny vial of Rosa Rossa by Guerlain. So fresh.

5. Was humbled: ATE CROW.

12. Resulting (from): ARISING.

19. It's known for its bell ringers: AVON.

20. Only one of Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Songs" not written in English: LA BAMBA. Also the name of the Ritchie Valens biopic.

21. Like Hershey's Kisses: CONICAL.

24. Night vis-á-vis Nacht, e.g.: COGNATE.

25. Possessive in a Harry Potter title: SORCERERS.

29. Kind of DA: ASST.

30. 1983 Streisand title role: YENTL.

31. Uproar: TO-DO.

32. Large seal hunters: ORCAS.

36. "What a lousy play!": BOO.

39. Furry wrap: STOLE.

41. Catch in the act: NAB.

47. Head-turning hiss: PSST.

49. Levine of Maroon 5: ADAM. "The Voice" judge for many seasons.

50. Goes too far: OVERSTEPS.

53. "Over There" songwriter: COHAN. George M. Cohan, who also wrote "The Yankee Doodle Boy".

57. Jumble: MESS.

58. Spanish province or its capital: LEON.

59. Zodiac animal: RAM.

60. Group mental condition: MORALE.

61. Firewood option ... or destiny: ASH.

62. Former Russian space station: MIR.  Meaning "peace" in Russian.

63. Tired: TRITE.

65. Removed all evidence of: ERASED.

70. Esoteric: ARCANE.

73. Challenges: DARES.

74. They may be blocked: ADS.

75. Workmanship: ART.

78. Pressured, with "on": LEANED.

79. Legend on the ice: ORR (Bobby)

80. Indian wrap: SARI. Here's a wedding sari. 

82. Whoop-de-do: STIR.

83. Three-__ engine: LITER.

84. Writer with the most combined Oscar and Tony nominations: NEIL SIMON.

87. Showgirl in a Manilow song: LOLA.

88. Czuchry who played Cary Agos on "The Good Wife": MATT. Don't know him.

93. French toast need: EGG.

96. Turkish bread: LIRAS. Google says this portrait is Turkey's founding father Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who served as its first president from 1923 to 1938.

99. Round-skipping edge: BYE.

100. Newspaper essays: OP-EDS. New York Times now call them "Guest Essays".

101. Gift tag word: FROM.

103. Film that's barely shown?: NUDIE.

105. Marlon's "Godfather" role: VITO. Corleone.

111. Not bright: PINHEADED.

116. Split: VAMOOSE.

119. Nook or Kindle: E READER.

120. Hollywood's Annette and Peter: O'TOOLES.

121. Valhalla VIP: ODIN.

122. Street, in Stuttgart: STRASSE.

123. Sneaky programs: MALWARE.

124. Street in New York's Chinatown: MOTT. Any of you been to Chinatown?

Down:

1. Bedtime melody: TAPS.

2. Fuel-efficient Chevy: AVEO.

3. Loudmouth: BOOR.

4. Not culturally sensitive, for short: UN-PC.

5. A's, Jays and Rays: ALERS. American Leaguers.

6. Records, in a way: TAPES.

7. "The Future of the Movies" co-author: EBERT.

8. Sonatas, say: CARS.

9. Real estate ad abbr.: RMS.

10. Symphonic wind: OBOE.

11. In a languid way: WANLY.

12. Highlight: ACCENT.

13. Reindeer landing area: ROOFTOP.

14. "Little House" series author Laura __ Wilder: INGALLS.

15. __ Féin: SINN.

16. Defeatist's statement: I CAN'T.

17. Chad, but not Jeremy: NATION. Unfamiliar with Chad & Jeremy.

18. Two-time Oscar winner Jackson: GLENDA.

23. Chow line?: LEASH.

27. "Survivorman" creator Stroud: LES.

28. Whipped cream serving: GOB.

32. "Becoming" memoirist Michelle: OBAMA.

33. Teases: RIDES.

34. Stay over: CRASH.

35. Mall features: ATMS.

36. Swiss capital: BERN.

37. Switch positions: ONS.

38. Baseball's "Little Giant": OTT. Big Easy took this picture a while ago. Sorry for the ordeal, George.

40. Social companions: ESCORTS.

43. Neatened, as barracks: POLICED.

44. Ward off: AVERT.

45. Vintage auto: REO.

46. Features of many fonts: SERIFS.

48. Synagogue scroll: TORAH.

51. Way to go: PATH.

52. Jolly Roger bosun: SMEE.

54. Consumes: HAS.

55. Newcastle Brown __: ALE.

56. "Game of Thrones" patriarch Stark: NED. Played by Sean Bean.

60. Gin rummy action: MELDING.

62. Twenty Questions category: MINERAL.

63. "Super!": TERRIF.

64. Sushi garnish: ROE. And 67. Hokkaido noodle: UDON. Love seafood udon.

66. Land in "The Hunger Games": PANEM. Forgot. We had this before.

68. Unusual: RARE.

69. Yankee manager Boone: AARON. Brother of Bret Boone.

70. "... and justice for __": ALL.

71. Outdoor gear giant: REI.

72. Tom or tabby: CAT.

75. Do penance: ATONE.

76. Very upset: RILED.

77. They may be slid into ovens: TRAYS. Missing the fresh egg tarts in Guangzhou.

80. Fries, e.g.: SIDE.

81. Friend in France: AMI.

82. Sty feed: SLOP.

85. Soft toss: LOB.

86. Subtle: SLY.

89. Authority abusers: TIN GODS.

90. Bridge supports: TRUSSES.

92. Cow, at times: MOOER.

93. Pond dweller: EFT.

94. "I, Claudius" author Robert: GRAVES.

95. Small racing vehicle: GO KART.

97. Stick (to): ADHERE.

98. "Chandelier" singer: SIA. And 110. Jazzy Jones: ETTA. 113. "No Angel" singer: DIDO.

102. Charades player: MIMER.

104. __ salts: EPSOM.

105. Fancy home: VILLA.

106. Surmise: INFER.

107. "__ Were the Days": THOSE.

109. Hurricane-tracking agcy.: NOAA.

111. Team's burden: PLOW.

112. Either H in H2O: ATOM.

114. Release: EMIT.

115. Job for a body shop: DENT.

118. 2015 Verizon acquisition: AOL.

C.C.