Tuesday, May 24, 2022 Ella Dershowitz

Come Out and Play:  The word Play can proceed the first word in each theme answer to give us a common phrase.

17-Across. *    Hunting-and-fishing official: GAME WARDEN.  Play a Game, or maybe Well Played Game.

24-Across. *     End a relationship: PART WAYS.  Play a Part, or maybe Well Played Part.

35-Across. *     Slouch: HUNCH OVER.  Play a Hunch, or maybe Well Played Hunch.  This phrase seems awkward to me, but it is legitimate  idiom.

48-Across. *     Adorn with lots of bling: TRICK OUT.  Play a Trick, or maybe Well Played Trick.

And the unifier:

56-Across. "How clever of you!," and a hint to the first words of the answers to the starred clues: WELL PLAYED.  I wasn't keen on today's theme.  If you see some deeper meaning, please share.  [Note:  Thanks to Annie Kelly, the Unknown at 6:49 a.m., who helped with today's theme.]

Across:

1. Fail to interest: BORE.

5. Bundle of papers: SHEAF.

10. Needs no hemming, say: FITS.

14. "My life. My card" card co.: AMEX.  American Express credit card.

15. World Heritage Site in Jordan: PETRA.  Petra is on my bucket list.  Maybe I will get there on my next trip to Israel this Fall.

16. Law school newbie: ONE L.  Also the title of the 1977 book by Scott Turow about his experience as a first year law student at Harvard.

19. Just good enough: OKAY.

20. Sport that made its Olympic debut in 2021: KARATE.  Here is a fascinating history of Karate.

21. Personal histories: PASTS.

23. Supermarket conveniences: CARTS.

27. Poses a question: ASKS.

28. Tire filler: AIR.

30. Boot tip: TOE CAP.

31. Filmmaker Craven: WES.  Wes Craven (né Wesley Earl Craven; Aug. 2, 1939 ~ Aug. 30, 2015) was known for his slasher films.  He created the Nightmare on Elm Street films.  Sadly, he died of a brain tumor shortly after his 76th birthday.

Wes Craven, center.

32. ATM key: ENTER. 

34. Like voices after a loud party: RASPY.

37. Audition hopeful: ACTOR.

40. Lots and lots: HEAPS.  //  And 52. Lots and lots: OODLES.

41. Mont. neighbor: IDA.  Idaho is Montana's neighbor.  Hi, Montana!

44. Reacted to head scritches, maybe: PURRED.  And yes, the word really is Scritches.

46. Most junk mail: ADs.

47. Amanda Gorman creation: POEM.  Amanda Gorman (b. Mar. 7, 1998) was the first National Youth Poet Laureate.  She delivered one of her poems at the inauguration of President Biden in 2021.

50. "In what way?": HOW SO?

51. Pandemonium: CHAOS.

54. Start of a story: IDEA.

59. Like kids at a magic show: RAPT.

60. Luxury watch: OMEGA.  I'm sure they are nice watches, but I can think of better uses for my $10K.

61. Romance novelist Roberts who writes mysteries as J.D. Robb: NORA.  Nora Roberts (née Eleanor Marie Robertson; b. Oct. 10, 1950), writes under several names, in addition the two cited in this clue and answer.  Some of her books are also published under Jill March and Sarah Hardesty.  I have never read any of her books.

62. "Let It Go" singer in "Frozen": ELSA.  I saw a stage production of Frozen just a few months ago.

63. Bicycle part: PEDAL.

64. Jury __: DUTY.

Down:

1. Duffel or tote: BAG.

2. Sushi experience curated by the chef: OMAKASE.  Not a Tuesday word.  The word roughly translated means Chef's Choice.  Everything you wanted to know about the Omakase experience, but didn't know to ask.

3. Comments: REMARKS.

4. Applies, as influence: EXERTS.

5. Petty quarrel: SPAT.

6. Attendance answer: HERE.  Due to Covid, class size in my yoga class is restricted, so we have to register in advance and attendance is taken.  Recently, the class just spontaneously began answering in foreign languages.

7. Liftoff approx.: ETD.  As in Estimated Time of Departure.

8. Tapas corncake: AREPA.  Another non-Tuesday word.  Hi, Lucina!

9. Tribute pieces by devotees: FAN ART.

10. Shoes: FOOTWEAR.

11. Glands in squids and cuttlefish: INK SACS.  Everything you wanted to know about ink sacs in giant squids, but didn't know to ask.

12. Sweet __: TEA.

13. Crafty: SLY.

18. "Now, where __ I?": WAS.

22. Mall map units: STORES.   Now, where was I?

23. Crow's call: CAW.

24. First word in many a baking recipe: PRE-HEAT.

25. Sharp bark: YAP.

26. "Harriet the __": kid-lit classic: SPY.  Harriet the Spy, by Louise Fitzhugh was first published in 1964.  

28. Novelist Patchett: ANN.  Ann Patchett (b. Dec. 2, 1963) has written many books.  My favorite Ann Patchett book is Bel Canto, which was based on the Lima, Peru hostage crisis in 1996.

29. Symptom targeted by an oatmeal bath: ITCH.

32. "Mystery solved!": EUREKA.  Do you think Archimedes was taking an oatmeal bath when he had his Eureka Moment?

33. Street: ROAD.

35. Cinnamon-y rice milk drink: HORCHATA.  Definitely not a Tuesday word.  Hand up if you knew about Horchata. 

36. Corp. execs: VPs.  As in Vice Presidents.

37. Just right: APT.

38. Mean mutt: CUR.

39. Upper arm muscle: TRICEPS.

41. Words of gratitude: I OWE YOU.

42. Sweet course: DESSERT.

43. "Yo te __": AMO.  Today's Spanish lesson.  Hi, again Lucina!

45. Some a cappella singing: DOO-WOP.

47. Central European country: POLAND.

49. "I'm here to help": USE ME.

50. "Good" cholesterol initials: HDL.  As in High-Density Lipoprotein.

52. "Black Widow" actress Kurylenko: OLGA.  Olga Kurylenko (b. Nov. 14, 1979) is a Ukrainian-French actress.  Black Widow was a 2021 movie based on a Marvel Comic superhero.  We haven't been following movie releases since Covid, so I wasn't aware of this movie.

53. Iridescent stone: OPAL.  Everything you wanted to know about opals, but didn't know to ask.

54. Rage: IRE.

55. __ makhani: lentil dish: DAL.  Looks tasty.

57. Acted as tour guide: LED.

58. Calendar square: DAY.

Here's the Grid:

חתולה

 

Monday May 23, 2022 Jake Halperin

 

Theme: Three-peat

 17. Admonition to an Egyptian boy king?: TUT TUT TUT.

 29. Pothole filler made from fish-and-chips sauce?: TARTAR TAR.

 46. Say farewell to a Dickens character?: PIP PIP PIP.

 62. Is able to do high kicks in a chorus line?: CAN CANCAN.

Boomer here. Monday trot for Tom & his TomTom.

GRR, GRR, GRR,- Waiting impatiently for my shoulder surgery, now scheduled for next Tuesday May 31. I wish all of you a happy Memorial Day a week from today.

Across:

1. Dinner with donors: GALA.  Do you pronounce this GAYLA or GAHLA ?

5. Mardi Gras wear: MASK.  COVID is not over.  We still wear ours in stores, church, and required at the VA Medical center.

9. Britcom with Eddie and Patsy, for short: AB FAB.

 

14. Minnesota representative Ilhan: OMAR.  Yes and I am not in favor of her. Our District Rep is Dean Phillips.  His father was killed in Vietnam and his grandmother was Abigail Van Buren whom you may remember as Dear Abby.

15. Not pro: ANTI.

16. Gibbs of "The Jeffersons": MARLA.

19. Helps out illegally: ABETS.  I usually make ABETS or more at the craps table.

20. Ending for "Black," "Mixed," and "Grown," in sitcom names: ISH.  Or what you might say after eating rotten tomatoes.

21. Olfactory assault: STENCH.  I smell something.

23. "Everything Everywhere All at Once" star Michelle: YEOH.

24. Conical shelter: TEEPEE.  Many Native Americans in Minnesota still live in these.

26. "Which of the two will it be?": A OR B. I'll take C.

28. Shepherd's tool: ROD.  Twins retired infielder Carew.

34. Was sure about: KNEW.  I KNEW it because I saw him play.

36. Chatter away: GAB.

37. Amnesiac's query: WHO AM I?

38. Secret language: CODE.

39. "Becoming" memoirist Michelle: OBAMA.  A really kind first lady.

41. Uno, dos, __: TRES.  Quadro, Cinco, etc.

42. Reversals: U-TURNS.  I hate them but the roads around Mall of America are so screwed up, we had to make one to get into the parking lot.

44. "Succession" actor Brian: COX.  I only remember Wally.

45. Hit the horn: HONK.  If you park at Mall of America.

48. Thus far: YET.

49. Aspire laptop maker: ACER.

50. Alternative to Alpine, in skiing: NORDIC.  All of our ski slopes are closed.  You may want to check up in International Falls.  I think they had temps in the 20s last week.

53. Current options: AC DC.  Also a rock band from Australia.  We only have AC in our home.  If we need DC, we use batteries,

56. Enjoyed, as a lollipop: LICKED.  Or an ice cream cone.

59. WNW's opposite: ESE.

60. Plumbing issues: LEAKS.

64. TV spot seller: AD REP.  I get tired of these ads.

65. "Black Panther" villain Killmonger: ERIK.

66. Pinochle-like card game: SKAT.

67. Far from posh: SEEDY.  C.C.  made a nice flower garden in front of our home.  But some SEEDY squirrels destroyed some tulips! 

68. Gels: SETS.

69. Inquires: ASKS.  No one ever ASKS me anything.  They just TELL me.

Down:

1. "Duly noted": GOT IT. Sometimes you have to get the Across words before you GET IT Down.

2. Cause to chuckle: AMUSE.  COVID has cancelled the Graybar reunion in Las Vegas for two years so My Cause to Chuckle performance will have to wait.

 

3. Sudsy: LATHERED UP.

4. Class with easels: ART.  Garfunkel or Linkletter.

5. Like low-shine lipstick: MATTE.  Ugly paint.

6. Get the poker pot going: ANTE.  At the caddy shack in the 60s, a nickel got me in.

7. Leave speechless: STUN.

8. Vehicle that's built after it's bought: KIT CAR.  I only buy cars that are already put together.

9. Doc's org.: AMA.

10. Brand-new sibling, perhaps: BABY BROTHER.  Never had one, but three of the other kind and they all left for California years ago. 

11. On the house: FREE. If you entered ROOF, try again.

12. Palo __, California: ALTO.  Nope, my sisters are all in or near San Francisco. My older sister bought a home in the 1960s near Haight Ashbury for about 60 grand and now turns down offers over two million!  

13. Big celebration: BASH.

18. Didn't waste: USED.  My golf clubs are not being used this summer.  Darn spinal cord.

22. Hair removal substance: HOT WAX.  Not on me.  I used chemo therapy.

25. Like energy bars, in adspeak: POWER-PACKED.

27. "Go team!": RAH.  Just one RAH ???

29. Bar bill: TAB.  I used to have a small one after leaving work.  No more.

30. Mechanical arithmetic aids: ABACI.

31. Card sets sold in New Age shops: TAROT DECKS.  Never played it.

32. Prayer ending: AMEN.  But deliver us from evil. ----

33. Expose to danger: RISK.  A great board game.

34. Single-serve coffee pod: K CUP.  Not a bra.

35. Words of denial: NOT I.  Me neither

36. Mass communication?: GOSPEL.  Always a very long one on Palm Sunday.

40. Floor-washing tool: MOP.

43. Actor Cage, casually: NIC.

47. Comparison shopper's data: PRICES.  Inflation is skyrocketing.

48. Green Jedi with his own grammar: YODA.

50. Parts of mandolins: NECKS.  A happening at night at Eloise Butlers Flower Gardens in Minneapolis.

51. "Wicked Game" singer Chris: ISAAK.

52. Euro fractions: CENTS.

53. Woeful word: ALAS.  Not one of the four letter words that I use.

54. Formally transfer: CEDE.

55. Truth or __: DARE.  DARE to be great!

57. "Ask me if I __!": CARE.  Of course I do.

58. Make mittens, say: KNIT.

61. Secret agent: SPY. Also stock symbol for Standard & Poors 500 index.

63. Hush-hush org.: NSA.

Boomer

Sunday May 22, 2022 Taylor Johnson

Theme: "Welcome to the Big Leagues" - PRO is added to each common phrase.

24. Shout to an FBI agent investigating the wrong fellow?: DON'T PROBE THAT GUY. Don't be that guy.

38. "The polygraph is rigged!," e.g.?: LIE DETECTOR PROTEST. Lie detector test.

60. "RuPaul's Drag Race" prize money?: PROFIT FOR A QUEEN. Fit for a queen.

80. Like philosophers who can't find their way home?: LOST AND PROFOUND. Lost and found.

103. Hype that just goes on and on and on?: PERPETUAL PROMOTION. Perpetual motion.

121. Put off fulfilling a campaign promise?: PROLONG TERM GOALS. Long-term goals.

Another LAT debut, and a Sunday. Congratulations, Taylor!

We often see 7 or more theme entries. This one has 6, but they're all fairly long. Total 98 theme squares. It'd be great if all the new PRO* words do not have PRO as a root, such as PROBE, but they're all fun.

 Across:

1. Timely blessing: BOON.

5. Rounds before the finals, for short: SEMIS.

10. Farm yield: CROP. My pal Carmen likes the Russian wheat noodles. Softer taste, she said.

14. Kudos at a poetry slam: SNAPS.

19. Batgirl garment: CAPE.

20. Glazer of "Broad City": ILANA.

21. Chicago MLS team: FIRE. In memory of the Great Chicago Fire.

22. __ noir: PINOT.

23. Meditate (on): CHEW.

27. Cherry-topped dish: SUNDAE. In case you don't know this trivia: A pharmacist named Charles Sonntag created the treat, naming it the “sonntag” after himself. Sonntag means Sunday in German, and so the name was translated to Sunday, and later spelled as "sundae".

29. Travel pillow spot: NAPE.

30. Meh: SO SO.

31. "Now, where __ we?": WERE.

32. Taco topping: SALSA.

34. Long who plays Steve on "PEN15": CHAU. Unknown to me.

36. Helps: AVAILS.

43. NAACP co-founder __ B. Wells: IDA.

44. Informal meeting?: SESH. Session.

45. Piggy bank opening: SLOT.

46. Sound like autumn leaves: RUSTLE.

50. "We should!": LET'S.

52. "What's your __?": POINT.

55. Smidgen: IOTA.

57. "Broken Arrow" director John: WOO. Born in Guangzhou.

58. Fertile desert spot: OASIS.

65. __ Gatos, California: LOS.

67. London stroller: PRAM.

68. Planet __: gym chain: FITNESS.

69. Intro to typing?: STEREO. Stereotyping.

72. "Get __ of this!": A LOAD.

75. Suit bottoms: SKIRTS.

76. At an angle: SLANTED.

77. Sheet of ice: FLOE.

79. Maker of Calling All Goddesses! nail polish: OPI. The other brand is ESSIE. Friendly crossword combo.

85. Fern-to-be: SPORE.

89. Spot-on: APT.

90. BBQ side: SLAW.

91. Trauma specialist, for short: ER DOC. Boomer likes to fight with them :-)

93. Fed. power dept.: ENER.

94. Past: BEYOND.

98. Airbnb alternatives: INNS.

100. Scent: ODOR.

102. Former quarterback Manning: ELI.

108. Word with high or tech: SCHOOL.

110. __ bargain: PLEA.

111. Penélope Cruz's birthplace: SPAIN. Same as her husband Javier Bardem.

112. Dull pain: ACHE.

113. Fingers-crossed thought: WISH.

116. Ice cream brand: EDY'S.

118. Database systems giant: ORACLE. Our Steve used to work there.

125. Churn up: ROIL.

126. Chilling: EERIE.

127. 33-Down animal who loses because of a nap: HARE. 33. Storyteller whose tales usually feature talking animals: AESOP.

128. "Four Quartets" poet: ELIOT.

129. Clock toggle: AM PM.

130. Use foul language: SWEAR.

131. Ensnare: TRAP.

132. Flavors, in a way: SALTS. Or CURES.

133. Large bodies of water: SEAS.

Down:

1. Quietly keeps in the loop: BCCS.

2. Waimea Bay island: OAHU.

3. Available options when booking a flight: OPEN SEATS.

4. Pop up a lot?: NEW DAD. Ha ha. Pop who's up a lot. The baby is crying.

5. Evade: SIDESTEP.

6. "Xanadu" gp.: ELO.

7. Leslie of "This Is 40": MANN.

8. Whole: INTACT.

9. Lyric poet of Lesbos: SAPPHO.  Lesbian poet.

10. Corp. money exec: CFO.

11. Messy barbecue fare: RIBS.

12. Cookie used as a froyo topping: OREO.

13. Took care of a boxer?: PET SAT. Common misleads: "Took care of a lab" or "Watched a boxer".

14. Mud bath venue: SPA.

15. Birdbrains: NITWITS.

16. __ hair pasta: ANGEL. Boomer's favorite. I now like thin spaghetti.

17. Decants: POURS.

18. Eye ailment: STYE.

25. Brings up: REARS.

26. Emulate a drone: HOVER.

28. Sudsy mugfuls: ALES.

35. Illuminated from below: UPLIT.

37. Tempe sch.: ASU.

38. Stitch's human companion: LILO. "Lilo & Stitch".

39. Brainchild: IDEA.

40. Cricket sound: CHIRP.

41. Place for solar panels: ROOF.

42. Cleveland Browns great __ Graham: OTTO.

47. Twitter message: TWEET.

48. Fine-grained soil: LOESS.

49. Many ages: EONS.

51. Like some partners: SILENT.

53. "Julie & Julia" writer/director Ephron: NORA.

54. Cookware brand: T FAL. Teflon & Aluminum.

56. Kennel racket: ARFS.

59. Kinda: SORTA.

61. "Later!": I'M OFF.

62. "Chilombo" Grammy nominee Jhené __: AIKO.

63. Cotton swabs: Q-TIPS. We use these for Boomer's Mupirocin pre-op procedure. Twice a day for 5 days.

64. Not ready to eat: UNRIPE. I miss naturally ripe persimmons.

66. Not hidden: SEEN.

69. Ski resort feature: SLOPE.

70. Yummy: TASTY. I also miss dried persimmons, Xi'an-style.

71. Chances: ODDS.

73. Body cream additive: ALOE.

74. Gloomy: DOUR.

76. Big chunk: SLAB.

78. Forest moon that's home to the Ewoks: ENDOR.

81. Ballet move: PLIE.

82. Sound off: RANT.

83. Admit (to): OWN UP.

84. Extinct Mauritian birds: DODOS. We used to have a regular named Dodo, a sweet lady.

86. Like a family with a stay-at-home dad: ONE INCOME.

87. Move for one's co., say: RELO.

88. "The Night Circus" novelist Morgenstern: ERIN.

92. Handles food waste ecologically: COMPOSTS.

95. Sister of Laertes: OPHELIA. "Hamlet".

 

96. Opposite of paleo-: NEO.

97. Flood with chocolate syrup, say: DROWN.

99. "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" cat: SALEM.

101. T. rex's "I'm going to eat you!": ROAR. Ha.

104. Predicament: PLIGHT.

105. Rocky projections: LEDGES.

106. Bribe for airtime: PAYOLA. Is this still going on?

107. Glittery accessories: TIARAS.

108. Carpentry fastener: SCREW. I just learned from our master carpenter Splynter that his mom passed way in March. As some of you knew, Splynter was his mom's caregiver for many years. By the way, he loves the new LAT crosswords.

Baby Splynter and His Parents

 

109. Job jar assignment: CHORE.

112. Copies: APES.

114. Take the lead?: STAR.

115. Youngest daughter of Cronus: HERA. Cronus had 7 kids: Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, Poseidon, Zeus and Chiron. Hera was the sister and wife of Zeus.

117. Breeze (through): SAIL.

119. "Future Nostalgia" singer Dua __: LIPA.

120. Stately trees: ELMS.

122. Atop, poetically: O'ER.

123. Gym unit: REP.

124. Movie filming site: LOT.

Boomer's surgery (reverse total shoulder replacement) is rescheduled to May 31 Tuesday. He can't have chemo 2 weeks before or after the surgery, so this further delay is a bit disappointing. But things could have been worse: what if the surgeon tested positive for COVID the day after the surgery? I would be so worried. Plus, Boomer's pain is under control. We'll just start the at-home pre-op procedure again next week.

C.C.