Tuesday, May 31, 2022 Ed Beckert

A Rose By Another Name.  Well, it might not smell so sweet, so let me be a bit more diplomatic.

16-Across.  *   Shabby and dated: RETRO CHIC.  Would you rather be told you look Shabby and Dated, or Retro Chic?

23-Across.  *   Tunes for fogies: CLASSIC ROCK.  Would you rather be told you are an old fogy because of the music you listen to, or be told you are into Classic Rock?

56-Across. *   Blubber: LOVE HANDLES.  Would you rather be told you have a lot of Blubber, or that you have adorable Love Handles?

64-Across. *   Hopelessly out of touch: OLD SCHOOL.  Would you rather be told you are Hopelessly Out of Touch, or that you are Old School?

And the unifier:

37-Across. Make sweeter, in the way the theme answers do to their starred clues?: SUGAR COAT.

What else do we have that is sweet this week?

Across:

1. Antlered deer: STAG.

5. Take in the sights: TOUR.  I will be doing some touring over the next month.

9. Transfer to a new city, informally: RELO.

13. Run out of steam: TIRE.

14. "__ Wolf and Cub": manga series: LONE.  I am not familiar with this series.

15. Wi-Fi device: MODEM.

18. Winery process that takes years: AGING.  Aren't we all?

19. French farewell: ADIEU.  Obviously, this is today's French lesson.

20. Matching cups, saucers, etc.: TEA SETS.

22. The Big Apple, for short: NYC.  Why New York City is called The Big Apple.

27. Toothpaste option: GEL.

28. Possesses: HAS.

29. Spanish Mrs.: SRA.  Obviously, today's Spanish lesson.  Hi, Lucina!

30. Issa of "Insecure": RAE.  Issa Rae (née Jo-Issa Rae Diop;b. Jan. 12, 1985) has become a frequent guest in our puzzles.

31. Genesis garden: EDEN.

33. Word between surnames: NÉE.  More of today's French lesson.  Née is the female past participle of the French word naître, which means "to be born."

35. Rough-sounding: RASPY.

41. Wristwatch part: STRAP.

44. Actor Lowe: ROB.  In the 1980s, Rob Lowe (né Robert Helper Lowe; b. Mar. 17, 1964) was a member of the Brat Pack.  He has also appeared in a number of television shows, including West Wing, which is now almost 20 years in the past.

45. MLB team in the ESPN documentary "Once Upon a Time in Queens": METS.

49. Bowl over: AWE.

50. Opposite of NNW: SSE.

53. Note from one who's shy?: IOU.  Cute clue and answer.

55. Museum collection: ART.  I will be visiting this art collection in just a few weeks.

59. Sturgeon product: ROE.  Yummers!

60. Hot, dust-laden Saharan wind: SIROCCO.  Everything you wanted to know about Sirocco, but didn't know to ask.

61. Island south of Sicily: MALTA.

63. Want very much: COVET.  The Wicked Bible of 1631 seemingly permitted such activities.

67. Apple desktops: iMACS.  We have a Mac Mini.

68. Honest-to-goodness: REAL.

69. Border on: ABUT.

70. Gael, for one: CELT.

71. Whirlpool: EDDY.

72. "This Is Us" role for Susan Kelechi Watson: BETH.  This Is Us was a television drama that just ended its run.  I never watched the show, but it got rave reviews.  Apparently Susan Kelechi Watson (b. Nov. 11, 1981) was one of the main characters.

Down:

1. Odd: STRANGE.

2. Like many hand-colored T-shirts: TIE-DYED.

3. Magazine story: ARTICLE.

4. "Sommersby" actor Richard: GERE.  Sommersby was a 1993 film that starred Richard Gere and Jody Foster.

Richard Tiffany Gere (b. Aug. 31, 1949)

5. Pampering, for short: TLC.  As in Tender Loving Care.

6. "Look, fireworks!": OOH!

7. Condo divisions: UNITS.

8. Classroom break: RECESS.

9. Tennis great Federer: ROGER.  Roger Federer (b. Aug. 8, 1981) was ranked Number 1 by the Association of Tennis Professionals for 310 weeks.

10. Cosmopolitan group?: EDITORS.

11. Camera accessory: LENS CAP.

12. Short "Good grief!": OMG.

15. Eyelash application: MASCARA.

17. "That hurts!": OUCH.

21. "Bel-__": 2022 drama series based on a 1990s sitcom: AIR.

24. "Auld __ Syne": LANG.

25. Sailing: ASEA.  A crossword staple.

26. Lock opener: KEY.

32. Govt. intel group: NSA.  As in the National Security Agency.  I can neither confirm nor deny that I work for this agency.

34. Play a proper noun in Scrabble, say: ERR.

36. Drive-thru device: ATM.  As in an Automatic Teller Machine.

38. Ultimate results: UP-SHOTS.

39. Spiral: COIL.

40. Clarinet kin: OBOE.

41. 1950s actor Mineo or 1950s pitcher Maglie: SAL.

Sal Mineo (né Salvatore Mineo, Jr.; Jan. 10, 1939 ~ Feb. 12, 1976)

Sal Maglie (né Salvatore Anthony Maglie; Apr. 26, 1917 ~ Dec. 28, 1992)

42. Pair: TWOSOME.

43. Second or third staging on Broadway, say: REVIVAL.

46. Oft-pierced body part: EAR LOBE.

47. Present proudly: TROT OUT.

48. Furtiveness: STEALTH.

51. Cul-de-__: SAC.  More of today's French lesson.  It literally means "bottom of a sack."

52. Concertgoer's "More!": ENCORE.

54. "Semper Fi" military org.: USMC.  As in the United States Marine Corps.  Several of our regulars are were in the Marines.

57. Raise: ERECT.

58. Meted (out): DOLED.

62. "Moby-Dick" captain: AHAB.

63. POTUS, militarily speaking: CIC.  As in the Commander-In-Chief.

65. Pop: DAD.

66. Underhanded: SLY.

Here's the Grid:

חתולה

I won't Sugar Coat this.  This will be my last commentary for a while.  Hubby and I are taking a month-long trip to Europe.  I know you will be in good hands while I am gone.

Notes from C.C.:

1) Have a wonderful trip, Hahtoolah, we look forward to your return!

2) Our Thursday sherpas MM & Bill have agreed to cover for Hahtoolah in June. Thank you so much, guys!

Monday May 30, 2022 Catherine Cetta

Theme: TREEHUGGERS (55. Nature lovers, and what the answers to the starred clues literally are)

20. *Mahalia Jackson's genre: GOSPEL MUSIC.

29. *Colorful top with a tropical design: ALOHA SHIRT.

45. *Trial figure who can give a firsthand account: EYE WITNESS.

Boomer here.  

Happy and safe Memorial Day to one and all!  I noticed that there are tree tree-letter basic trees hidden in this puzzle.  Sometimes it is difficult to type an H when you can only use one hand.

Across:

1. Dart around like a hummingbird: FLIT.  I have seen them, but I never heard them hum.

 

 

5. Like 9-Across that has lost its fizz: FLAT.  No problem. Have iced tea or coffee.

9. Dark drink with fizz: COLA.  Diet Pepsi is my favorite. Or coffee.  However medical orders before surgery is NO caffeine!

13. Easier to write neatly on, probably: LINED.  Or run to bases or make a first down.

15. Like tinned sardines: OILY.  No thanks.

16. Las Vegas WNBA team: ACES.

17. "Drive Happy" car rental company: ALAMO.  Hi up Santa Anna, we're killing your soldiers below.  So the rest of Texas will know...  and remember the Alamo. 

18. Harvest: REAP.  C.C. planted some green beans in the garden.  I will let you know how they taste.  Maybe in August.

19. School gps.: PTAS. Parents Tell Teachers About Something.

23. Poem of praise: ODE.

24. "Passing" actress Thompson: TESSA.

25. "Friendly" cartoon ghost: CASPER.  Named after a city in Wyoming.

27. Abbr. between names: AKA.  Also Known As Boomer

32. Contributor with deep pockets: FAT CAT.

35. Esteem: VALUE.

36. Layers on tall wedding cakes: TIERS.  It may take a while to cut pieces.

37. Orchestra __: PIT.

38. Greek storyteller who coined "sour grapes": AESOP.  Sounds like a fable to me.

42. German steel city: ESSEN.  I was in Hardheim.  Not close to Essen.

 

 

44. Current influence on the weather?: EL NINO.

49. "__ Is a Woman": Ariana Grande song: GOD.

50. Hair gel alternative: MOUSSE.  I just use a can of spray, when I have hair. 

51. Joyous song: PAEAN.

54. Wrinkly pup: PUG.

60. Actor Guinness: ALEC.  Obi-Wan Kenobi!

62. Cathedral section: NAVE.  I've been going to church for years and I never heard the center called a NAVE!

63. Passion: ARDOR.

64. Fork prong: TINE.  Use all four to eat.

65. Mouse mover: USER.

66. Rational believer: DEIST.

67. Stiletto, for one: HEEL.  Walk carefully.  Do not fall!

68. "A __ formality": MERE.  So small.

69. One-named singer from County Donegal: ENYA.

Down:

1. Mark as important: FLAG.  Oh say can you see?

2. "__ & Stitch": LILO.

3. Too worked up to relax: IN A STATE.  I am in Minnesota.  I'm sure most of you are in a state too.

4. City between Phoenix and Mesa: TEMPE.  Arizona gets almost as much snow as Minnesota.  But only in high elevation.

5. Like most proms: FORMAL.  I never had to rent a tux.  I just wore my white glee club outfit. I'm on the most right.

 

 6. In __ of: LIEU.

7. Word of sorrow: ALAS. A LAS Vegas word of sorrow.

8. "You're so predictable": TYPICAL.  You knew I might write my #7 comment.

9. Mushroom top: CAP.  Mine has a TC logo.

Boomer & Hall-of-Famer Tony Oliva, 11/21/2011

10. Sea creatures with eight arms: OCTOPI.

11. Front-runner: LEADER.  That's when I fell for ... The LEADER of the pack. Shangra-Las

12. Stand up for (oneself): ASSERT.

14. Female deer: DOES.  Re, a drop of golden sun.

21. Aspiring atty.'s exam: LSAT.  Never took that one, whew.

22. Unlike most proms: CASUAL.  Okay for sock hops.  Are they still called that, or am I showing old age?

26. High shine: SHEEN.  A bishop with a TV show years ago.

27. To the rear, at sea: AFT.

28. "Cobra __": Netflix series based on "The Karate Kid": KAI.

30. Just like ewe: OVINE.  Baa, Baa.

31. Beret, e.g.: HAT.  In the Army it was always required to have something besides hair on you head.

33. Rowing teams: CREWS.  I used to row a fishing boat all by myself.

34. Pass that leads to a successful basket: ASSIST. I am not much of an NBA fan

37. Signing-ceremony memento: PEN.  I collect Twins player autographs, but I never collected the pen. See more here.

39. Entered a username, say: SIGNED IN. 

40. Singer Yoko: ONO.  OH NO, it's ONO

41. Okra unit: POD.  Two peas in it.

43. Breastbone: STERNUM.

44. Biblical twin: ESAU.  Isaac's kid.  Jacob's brother.

45. One who feels another's pain: EMPATH.  My EMPATHY goes out to those families who lost children in Uvalde, Texas.

46. "That's not true!": YOU LIE.  Your nose will grow.

47. Oregon city on the Willamette: EUGENE.  My uncle Gus' first name.

48. Orb: SPHERE.

52. "My stars!": EGAD.

53. Match, as subjects and verbs: AGREE. 

56. Alleviate: EASE.

57. "Don't you __ stop!?": EVER.  NOPE

58. Pinkish: ROSY.  Like Ms. O'Donnell.

59. Spanish miss: Abbr.: SRTA.

61. Cartoon frame: CEL. Almost a phone.

Boomer

 

Sunday May 29, 2022 David Alfred Bywaters

Theme: "Day Trading" - The first letters of each paired theme entries are swapped.

23. First the chardonnay, then the merlot, then the cabernet?: TASTER PLAN. Master plan.

25. Invisible walls?: MIME LIMITS. Time limits. Monday/Tuesday trade.

54. Inept caner's resource?: WICKER TAPE. Ticker tape.

57. Meteorology lectures?: TALKS ON AIR. Talks on air. Tuesday & Wednesday trade.

91. Bungalow owner's challenge to a roofer?: THATCH THIS. Watch this.

95. Makes doubly sure everyone's in on the joke?: WINKS TWICE. Thinks twice. Wednesday and Thursday trade.

124. Appreciative sound from the alumni luxury box?: FUNDER CLAP. Thunder clap.

128. Water cooler?: THIRST BASE. First base. Thursday & Friday trade.

Today we have eight 10-letter theme entries. Two of them are placed in the same row so the theme is better displayed. The starting letters are traded orderly, from Monday to Friday. So elegantly done!

David also took advantage of the light themeage and gave us a very clean grid.

Across:

1. Prepare for parking or driving: PAVE.

5. Stared open-mouthed: GAPED. Amazing what Michelob Ultra did for this beer guy. I thought of our Gary and Big Easy.

10. Liabilities: DEBTS.

15. Did laps: SWAM.

19. Mountain goat: IBEX. Look at his curly horns.

20. Not out of contention yet: ALIVE.

21. Word for a lei-person?: ALOHA. Ha ha.

22. "Hmm ... I doubt that": UH NO.

27. Be there for: ATTEND.

28. Sandler of "Uncut Gems": ADAM.

30. Brewpub pour: BEER. Free beer for that Michelob Ultra Guy.

31. Ran across: MET.

32. Mystical gathering: SEANCE. Also French for "session".

33. Felt hats: FEDORAS.

36. Has a good cry: SOBS.

38. Vocal quality: TONE.

40. Land: ALIGHT.

42. Imitate a horse: NEIGH.

45. Place for a deep-tissue massage: SPA. I tried a neck massager a while ago. Even the lightest setting is too strong for me.

48. Hands out cards: DEALS.

51. Unwrapped with enthusiasm: TORE AT.

53. Land parcel: ACRE.

59. Voting no: ANTI.

60. Fleet parts: SHIPS.

62. Have followers: LEAD.

63. British co.: LTD. And 70. WSJ headline topic: IPO.

64. Fair shelters: BOOTHS.

67. Cookbook offering: RECIPE.

71. Watches on Hulu, say: STREAMS.

73. Like farmers' market veggies: LOCAL. Ours opens at July 6th this year. Thanks to the Hmong farmers, I'm able to enjoy purple yams every fall.

74. River through Reno: TRUCKEE.

79. __ and vigor: VIM.

80. Intervene: STEP IN.

82. Quick post office run, say: ERRAND.

83. Subj. for a non-native speaker: ESL.

86. Ear-related: OTIC.

88. "Time is money" or "money is power": MAXIM.

90. Greek Cupid: EROS.

98. World Baseball Classic team: CUBA. See more here.

99. Came off as: SEEMED.

101. Chopper blade: ROTOR.

102. Org. followed by "puckheads": NHL. Guessable.

103. Outkast hit single: HEY YA.

105. Touch-screen gestures: SWIPES.

107. Puts into words: SAYS.

109. CrossFit sets: REPS.

111. Embassy employee: ATTACHE.

114. Snap, crackle, and pop: NOISES.

118. Sashimi choice: AHI. Been ages since I had sashimi.

120. Ticket remnant: STUB.

122. Revived villain in Domino's ads, with "the": NOID. Is this gimme for you?

123. Food critic Hines whose name is on cake mixes: DUNCAN.

130. Midrange voice: ALTO.

131. Wide-awake: ALERT.

132. Chocolate source: CACAO. I saw mole sauce at Aldi. Never tried it.

133. Region: AREA.

134. Cheers: RAHS.

135. Lasagna staple: PASTA.

136. Part of a protected URL: HTTPS. Like our blog.

137. Office surface: DESK.

Down:

1. Fillable flatbreads: PITAS. Pink turnip slices. Pickled together with beets.

 

2. Taper off: ABATE.

3. Roman goddess of the hearth: VESTA.

4. Range: EXTENT.

5. Person who makes beds?: GARDENER. Garden bed.

6. European mountain: ALP.

7. Rice dish: PILAF.

8. Get around: EVADE.

9. "Gracias" response: DE NADA.

10. Beaver creation: DAM.

11. Pharmaceutical giant __ Lilly: ELI.

12. 2019 film starring Charlize Theron as Megyn Kelly: BOMBSHELL.

13. "Good News" rapper Megan __ Stallion: THEE.

14. BOGO events: SALES.

15. Dim __: SUM. Har gow (shrimp dumplings) are my favorites.

16. Amusingly capricious: WHIMSICAL. Lovely entry.

17. Upfront stake: ANTE.

18. More than half: MOST.

24. Provide privacy protection, in a way: ENCODE.

26. Remove wrinkles from: IRON.

29. Slip some skin: MOLT.

34. Laugh-a-minute sort: RIOT.

35. Taj Mahal site: AGRA.

37. "The Martian" actor Sean: BEAN. Also in "Game of Thrones".

39. Has for lunch: EATS.

41. "Here!": TAKE IT.

43. Determination: GRIT.

44. Do the impossible with cats, proverbially: HERD.

45. DNA lab items: SWABS.

46. Wine grape: PINOT.

47. One in a cast: ACTOR.

49. Cowardly Lion portrayer: LAHR (Bert)

50. Pitches to customers: SPIELS.

52. Term with a check mark on an airport sign: TSA PRE.

55. Beach toy for a windy day: KITE.

56. Florida theme park with a geodesic dome: EPCOT.

58. Poorly ventilated theatre phenomenon: ODOUR. Noticed the "theatre" spelling.

61. Command to an attack dog: SIC EM.

65. Utter chaos: HAVOC.

66. Metalworkers: SMITHS.

68. Green-skinned tropical fruit: PAPAW. Never had it. Looks like a papaya.

69. Cure-all mixture: ELIXIR.

72. Wallops, quaintly: SMITES.

75. All hands on deck: CREW.

76. "Pieces of Her" novelist Slaughter: KARIN.

77. "How to Get Away With Murder" actor Alfred __: ENOCH. Unknown to me. Wikipedia says he's a British-Brazilian actor.

78. Unsuccessful Ford model: EDSEL.

81. Spanish boy: NINO.

83. Mark for good: ETCH.

84. Actress Elisabeth: SHUE.

85. Maze: LABYRINTH.

87. Pills for pets, often: CHEWABLES.

89. NYSE, NASDAQ, etc.: MKTS.

92. Diggs of "Empire": TAYE. He's Winston in "How Stella Got Her Groove Back".

93. "There's no one else": I'M IT.

94. Labor Day mo.: SEPT.

96. Scoundrels: SO AND SOS.

97. Experiment with: TRY OUT. Picard, I love all kinds of persimmons, esp these dried ones with white powder on. They're specialties of my hometown Xi'an. So pricey on Amazon.

100. Academic VIP: DEAN.

104. Cathedral alcove: APSE.

106. Single-malt pour: SCOTCH. How I miss Argyle!

108. Storied sailor: SINBAD. Sinbad the Sailor from Baghdad.

110. Backpack holder: STRAP. You won't believe the amount of stuff in my backpack.

112. Drum kit cymbals: HI-HAT.

113. Official mandate: EDICT.

115. Induce fear in: SCARE.

116. Makes less harsh: EASES. Boomer has been taking Tylenol for pain control the past few days. Alas, it can't compare to Oxycodone, which is not allowed due to the impending surgery.

117. Be sly: SNEAK.

118. Way off: AFAR.

119. Polynesian dance: HULA.

121. Golden St. campus: UCLA.

125. Haircuts: DOS.

126. Fine print, e.g.: ART.

127. Sch. group: PTA.

129. Flo Milli's music genre: RAP.

 

We've been through one more round of prep the past few days. Two more showers and two 10-minute surgical scrubs tomorrow, then we'll be ready for Boomer's re-scheduled surgery on Tuesday morning (May 31) at the VA hospital in Minneapolis. Been a painful delay. We're eager to get this in our rear-view mirror.

C.C.