Tuesday, July 18, 2023 Emit Ozar and Rachel Fabi

Time to Celebrate!  Raise Your Glass and give a Toast as we Cheer C.C. for creating this wonderful blog!  I'll Drink to That!

20-Across. Pink #1 single, and a hint to the ends of 28- and 47-Across: RAISE YOUR GLASS.

28-Across. Eggy, bready breakfast choice: FRENCH TOAST.  Everything you wanted to know about French Toast, but didn't know to ask.

47-Across. Raspberries: BRONX CHEERS.

54-Across. Exclamation after a rousing speech, and a hint to the ends of 28- and 47-Across: I'LL DRINK TO THAT.

Across:

1. Pace set by a drummer or a metronome: TEMPO.

6. And so on, briefly: ETC.  //  Not to be confused with 29-Down. Travel schedule abbr.: ETA.

9. All thumbs: INEPT.

14. Unadorned: STARK.

15. "Quiet, please!": SHH.

16. "Obvs": NO DUH!

17. "The Hate U Give" writer Thomas: ANGIE.  Angie Thomas (b. Sept. 20, 1988) is an author best known for her young adult literature.  The Hate U Give is her first published novel.   The novel is portrayed through the eyes of a 16-year-old African-American girl from a poor neighborhood who attends an elite private school in a predominantly white neighborhood.  She witnessed a white police officer shoot and kill her childhood friend, Khalil.  She becomes involved in the social tensions that end in a riot after  the police officer is not held responsible for the shooting.  [Name # 1.]

18. Uni- + bi-: TRI.

19. Impressive Blue Angels maneuver: FLY BY.  The Blue Angels are a flight demonstration squadron within the United States Navy.  The Blue Angels have a base in Pensacola, Florida.  We used to see them practice when we summered in Fort Walton, Florida.  They are an aerobatic team that performs many aerial demonstrations throughout the United States and Canada.

23. Painter's deg.: MFA.  MFA = Master of Fine Arts.

24. Battery size: AAA.

25. Audit firm exec: CPA.  CPA = Certified Public Accountant.

35. Shared frustrations with, perhaps: RANTED TO.

37. Sharp-eyed bird: EAGLE.

38. Impulse: URGE.

39. Muscles worked by dead bug exercises: ABs.  This exercise will strengthen the Abdominal muscles.

41. Writer Lebowitz: FRAN.  Fran Lebowitz (née Frances Ann Lebowitz; b. Oct. 27, 1950) is known for her humorous and sarcastic social commentary.   [Name # 2.]

42. Rumpus: MELEE.

44. Building projects in the toy aisle: LEGO SETS.  I played with Legos before there were such elaborate sets.  My bricks were just red and white with a grey base.  Still, I have fond memories of playing and making wonderful creations.

50. Opposite of WNW: ESE.

51. Abu Dhabi's fed.: UAE.  UAE = United Arab Emirates.

52. Cyberchats, for short: IMs.  IMs = Instant Messagings.

62. Island near Oahu: KAUAI.  //  And 67-Across. Archipelago unit: ISLET.  The Hawaiian Islands form an Archipelago.

63. Art expert Sister Wendy, e.g.: NUN.  In addition to being an art historian, Sister Wendy (née Wendy Mary Beckett; Feb. 25, 1930 ~ Dec. 26, 2018) was also a Catholic nun.  She was known for being the host of a documentary series on art history that aired on the BBC.  [Name # 3.]

64. Worcestershire __: SAUCE.

65. One more time: AGAIN.

66. "If u ask me ... ": IMO.  Textspeak for In My Opinion.

68. Adolescent: YOUNG.  //  And 36-Down. Adolescent: TEEN.

69. __ and flow: EBB.

70. Beach umbrella benefit: SHADE.

Down:

1. Pre-Lenin Russian ruler: TSAR.  Tsar or Czar?

Nicholas II was the last Tsar of Russia.

2. Sicilian volcano: ETNA.

3. Gift-bearing Nativity trio: MAGI.

4. Light-bending block: PRISM.

5. Painter Georgia known for large flowers and New Mexico landscapes: O'KEEFFE.  Georgia O'Keeffe (née Georgia Totto O'Keeffe; Nov. 15, 1887 ~ Mar. 6, 1986) was married to photographer Alfred Stieglitz (Jan. 1, 1864 ~ July 13, 1946).  She is best known for her meticulous paintings of natural forms, particularly (suggestive) flowers and desert-inspired landscapes.  [Name # 4.]

6. Spanish "this": ESTO.  Today's Spanish lesson.

7. Drive-__ window: THRU.

8. President between Mitterrand and Sarkozy: CHIRAC. Jacques Chirac (né Jacques René Chirac; Nov. 29, 1932 ~ Sept. 26, 2019) served as President of France from 1995 to 2007. He had previously served as the French Prime Minister in the 1970s.  [Name # 5.]

9. Blow up: INFLATE.

10. Bourbon Street locale, informally: NOLA.  As in New Orleans, LA.

11. Brand found near Ben & Jerry's: EDY'S.  Both are brands of Ice Cream.  What's your favorite Ice Cream?  [Name adjacent.]

12. Places for pints: PUBS.

13. "Love __ neighbor": THY.

21. Fabric measure: YARD.

22. "I'm so frustrated!!!": GAH.

25. Tidbit: CRUMB.

26. Peeling knife: PARER.

27. __-Saxon: ANGLO.

30. Aristocratic: NOBLE.

31. Buffoons: OAFS.

32. Say yes: AGREE.

33. Wooden strips: SLATS.

34. On pins and needles: TENSE.

40. "What'd I tell ya?": SEE.

43. Giving off: EXUDING.

45. "True __": Western remake starring Hailee Steinfeld: GRIT.  I remember the original version of True Grit, which starred John Wayne (né Marion Robert Morrison; May 26, 1907 ~ June 11, 1979).  In 2010, the Coen brothers directed a remake in which Hailee Steinfeld (b. Dec. 11, 1996) portrayed Mattie Ross, originally played by actress Kim Darby (née Deborah Zerby; b. July 8, 1947). [Name # 6.]

46. Gradual absorption method: OSMOSIS.

48. Hatchback, e.g.: CAR.

49. Tush: HEINIE.

53. Hidden supply: STASH.

54. "Othello" villain: IAGO.  Iago is a fictional character in Shakespeare's Othello (c. 1601–1604).  Iago is the play's main antagonist. Iago hates Othello and devises a plan to destroy him by making him believe that Othello's wife, Desdemona, is having an affair.  James Earl Jones (b. Jan. 17, 1931) is probably the best known actor who portrayed Othello.  From yesterday, we learned that IAGO was also the name of the parrot in Aladdin.  [Name # 7.]

55. Traditional Hawaiian feast: LUAU.  //  And 59-Down. Dance at a 55-Down: HULA.

56. Reclined: LAIN.

57. Anesthetized: NUMB.

58. Etch A Sketch control: KNOB.

60. Got 100% on: ACED.

61. Chapeau's spot: TÊTE.  Today's French lesson.

62. Longtime Yankees broadcaster Michael: KAY.  I don't follow the Yankees, thus am not familiar with Michael Kay (b. Feb. 2, 1961).  [Name # 8.]

Here's the grid:

חתולה

Monday July 17, 2023 Lynn Lempel

 

Hello Cornerites!

sumdaze here. Today's grid delivers 4 themers plus a reveal. Let's take a closer look:

16 Across. Bed that may have a canopy: FOUR POSTER.  

22 Across. Prize announcement that often involves ping pong balls: LOTTO DRAWING.  

37 Across. Many a writing exercise in a fiction class: CHARACTER SKETCH.

How to Write One

49 Across. Spotted pattern appropriate for a catsuit: LEOPARD PRINT. 

He's quite the catch.

60 Across. Bizarre, and what the ends of 16-, 22-, 37-, and 49-Across are when redecorating: OFF THE WALL.  Def.: (adj.) highly unusual; strange or very different, often intentionally.  

It is also the slogan for Vans shoes. OFF THE WALL was a term coined when skateboarders in the mid '70s were landing new tricks in empty pools by literally skating OFF THE WALL.

I see the connection between POSTER, DRAWING, SKETCH, and PRINT. However, for me, it is less clear how OFF THE WALL connects. It does make me think of my teenage bedroom. I had so many posters on my walls (e.g., Rocky, Devo, Let's Boogie, the 'Hang in There' cat, Yosemite's Half Dome) that I ran out of space. I had to resort to tacking posters on my ceiling. Perhaps Lynn is reminding us of when the POSTERs/DRAWINGs/SKETCHes/PRINTs of our youth eventually came OFF THE WALL to make room for a more sophisticated décor. Everyone has to grow up sometime....

Let's see what else the Queen of Mondays prepared for us today.

Across:

1. Goes halfsies with, say: SHARES.  cute clue

7. Chat at length: GAB.

10. Yield to gravity: SAG. Congratulations if you have no idea what this means!

13. Sneak attack: AMBUSH.  The gray cat shows how it is done:  

14. Pollution-fighting org.: EPA.  "Organization" is abbreviated, so is "Environmental Protection Agency".

15. "Aladdin" parrot named for a Shakespeare villain: IAGO.  Sparknotes calls IAGO (from Othello) "possibly the most heinous villain of Shakespeare."

18. Grouchy one: CRAB.  

19. "¿Cómo __ usted?": ESTA.  Muy bien, gracias.

20. Tattle (on): RAT.  

21. News outlets: MEDIA.  "MEDIA" is a collective noun so it can be singular or plural.

26. Soup cooker: POT.  

29. U-turn from NNW: SSE.

30. Sioux City citizen: IOWAN.  Sioux City was founded in 1854. Its elevation is 1,201 ft (366 m.) and its population in 2021 was 85,617. Some famous Sioux City citizens are Fred Grandy (Gopher on The Love Boat), Jerry Mathers (Beaver on Leave it to Beaver), and the advice columnist twins Ann Landers & Abigail Van Buren, neither of whom has a rodent moniker.

31. Soil: EARTH.  and  58 Down. Clump of dirt: CLOD.

33. Pea sheller's discard: POD.

34. Celestial Seasonings products: TEAS.  Anyone who has taken the Celestial Seasonings factory tour in Boulder, CO will remember going into the Mint Room!  

41. Japanese wrestling: SUMO.  To win a match, the wrestler must push his opponent out of the 15 ft. diameter (4.54 m.) ring or make him fall down to the ground. This usually only takes a few seconds but there is a lot of lead-up. You can read more here.

These athletes are much more limber than one might think.
It looks like the wrestler on the left will fall down to the ground first.

42. Bounce: HOP.

43. Put pen to paper: WRITE.  

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss sing Please Read the Letter (1998).

44. Sat for a photo: POSED.  How to Pose: 7 Easy Adjustments for More Flattering Photos

48. Govt. intel group: NSA.  "Government" is abbreviated, so is "National Security Agency".

53. Bowler's hangout: ALLEY.  Um, actually.....

54. West Coast sch. with the most Rose Bowl wins: USC. The University of Southern California Trojans have the most appearances (34) in the Tournament of Roses Football Game, giving them an advantage on the record for most wins (25). more stats

55. Oil cartel acronym: OPEC.  Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries

59. Commotion: STIR.  

63. Family lads: SONS.  I wish they still did TV show opening credits like this one for My Three Sons (1960 - 1972).

64. File that might be e-signed: PDF.  Portable Document Format  

65. "Still ... ": EVEN SO.  

66. Dollar bill: ONE.  As in, "I threw a couple of ONEs into the tip jar."

67. Endeavor: TRY.  Also, a British TV detective drama (2012 - 2023). Set in Oxford from 1965 - 1971, it is a prequel to the Inspector Morse series (1987 - 2000). Endeavor does a good job of recreating the fashion, settings, and cultural zeitgeist of the times.

Shaun Evans and Roger Allam star as
young Inspector Morse and Fred Thursday, respectively.

68. Like most pretzels and chips: SALTED.  I had SALTy --> SAvory --> SALTED

Down:

1. Spot for valuables: SAFE.  Jeff Sitar won the Lockmaster's International SAFEcracking Competition eight times! You can meet him in this 2:17 min. video:  

2. Managed care gps.: HMOS.  "Groups" is abbreviated and plural, so is "Health Maintenance OrganizationS". This webpage explains the difference between an HMO and a PPO.

3. Lie alongside: ABUT.

4. Like a farming community: RURAL.  Speaking of TV shows with fun opening credits, how about this show featuring RURAL life?  

Green Acres (1965 - 1971)

5. Clairvoyant's claim: ESP.  A clairvoyant is someone who claims to have a supernatural ability often called ExtraSensory Perception.  

6. Summer attire: SHORTS.

7. Reach: GET TO.

8. Nonhuman primate: APE.

9. Soap unit: BAR.

10. Packed can of fish: SARDINE TIN. Yes, there have been many 3-letter fills today. I suppose that is the price one pays to fit in this pleasing fill, along with its symmetrical partner at 28 Down.  

This is a mesmerizing video of Pacific SARDINEs, sea turtles, and tuna in a one million gallon tank at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, a building which was once a SARDINE factory on Cannery Row. The last cannery closed in 1973.

Note:  I recommend muting the sound to eliminate audio distractions.

11. From the top: AGAIN.  This clue made me think of my musician grandfather's favorite TV show.

With a-one and a-two....

12. Portable evacuation kit: GO BAG.  Here is a list of things to pack in your GO BAG.

15. Cold zero-calorie drink: ICE WATER. This was another amusing clue, along with its symmetrical partner at 32 Down.

17. Fill to the max: SATE.

21. Cavernous opening: MAW.  Def: (noun) the receptible into which food is taken by swallowing; the throat, gullet, or jaws especially of a voracious animal; something suggesting of a gaping maw.

23. Org. that collects workplace injury data: OSHA.  "Organization" is abbreviated, so is "Occupational Safety and Health Administration".

24. Designer Christian: DIOR.  

This ensemble is from Christian DIOR's Fall 2023 Ready-to-Wear collection.

25. Fishing poles: RODS.

26. Muscles above abs: PECS.  

27. Waikiki's island: O'AHU.

28. Acrobat's springboard: TRAMPOLINE.  TRAMPOLINE is an Olympic event.  

32. Highway officers: TROOPERS. Not all States use this term. In some States, these officers are called State Police, Highway Patrol, or State Patrol.

33. Vitality: PEP.

35. Plays a part: ACTS.

36. __ butter: moisturizer in L'Occitane products: SHEA.

38. One-named "Believe" singer: CHER.  Believe is the title track from her 22nd studio album, which was released in 1998.

39. Chuck of "Meet the Press": TODD.  Last month he announced he will be leaving the show to spend more time with his family.

40. "Crazy Rich Asians" novelist Kevin: KWAN.  Kevin KWAN is a Singapore-born American author.  

45. Give voice to: SAY.  With only 3 letters, there were not a lot of options.

46. Formerly, quaintly: ERST.

47. Wealth: RICHES.  Kevin KWAN's literary realm

49. Coach Ted played by Jason Sudeikis: LASSO.  Annon-T recommends this show. I want to watch it but first I need to get HULU.

50. "Tiny Dancer" singer John: ELTON.  This one always tricks me. I first think, "John ___."

51. Somewhat swollen: PUFFY.  

puffer jackets

52. Low-tech hair dryer: TOWEL.  I liked this clue -- possibly because it appealed to my dry sense of humor.

ba-dum-TSSH

56. Gasp for breath: PANT.  and  57 Down. Otherwise: ELSE.

60. Elect (to): OPT.

61. WPA creator: FDR.  "Works Progress Administration" is abbreviated, so is the name of the president who enacted it, Franklin D. Roosevelt.

I recently visited a WPA art exhibit. I was previously unaware of this program from the 1930s.

62. "Searching for Mexico" host Longoria: EVA.  This is a travel & food TV show which first aired on March 26, 2023.

Here is the grid. You may or may not choose to PRINT it out and POST it on your WALL.

That's all for today. I look forward to reading your thoughts!

Sunday July 16, 2023 Zachary Schiff & Shannon Rapp

Theme: "You Don't Belong Here" - U is added to each famliar phrase.

21. Paid one's respects to Charlie Brown and Snoopy?: SALUTED PEANUTS. Salted peanuts.

31. Good name for a salon offering a sweet treat with every haircut?: DOS AND DONUTS. Dos and don'ts.

45. Tech for toddlers to play with?: FAUX MACHINES. Fax machine.

62. TV pilots that soar?: OUTSTANDING DEBUTS. Outstanding debts.

81. Like the birthday money from Grandma to a responsible kid?: SAVINGS BOUND. Savings bond.

96. Nice vengeful spirits?: FRENCH FURIES. French fries.

108. Discussion board with topics like "How to get back to your home planet"?: ALIEN LIFE FORUM. Alien life form.

To me, "You Don't Belong Here" suggests that "U" is removed from each phrase. Plus, we also have "Dos and Don'ts" as a theme entry. 

This might be our constructor. Congrats on your LAT debut, Zach!

Across:

1. Paintball garb: CAMO.

5. Mason jar, in a pinch: VASE.

9. Cape __: COD.

12. Pink quaff, informally: COSMO. Cocktail. And 17. Blonde brews: ALES.

18. Tightwad: MISER.

19. "Absolument!": OUI.

20. Playful back-and-forth: BANTER.

24. DeBose of "West Side Story": ARIANA. In yellow skirt. Also a talented singer.

25. Confessional music genre: EMO.

26. Low-power mode: SLEEP.

27. Bruins great Bobby: ORR.

28. Mete out: ALLOT.

29. Sack of old clothes, perhaps: DONATION. The mantra: Does It Spark Joy?

35. Profit opposite: LOSS.

36. Dakar's locale: SENEGAL.

37. "Save me __": A SEAT.

38. Trees used to make some Fender guitars: ALDERS.

41. Reggae kin: SKA.

42. Complete, as a PDF contract: E-SIGN.

44. General with a chicken dish: TSO. Try "lo mai gai". It's wrapped in lotus leaf. So good. Gai is Cantonese for "chicken".

49. Lawyer's gp.: ABA.

50. Link letters: HTTP.

51. Disney role for Kristen Bell: ANNA.

52. Loophole: OUT.

53. Select with care: CULL.

55. "Elf" actress Deschanel: ZOOEY.

57. Rapper MC __: REN. N.W.A (gangsta rap). "Straight Outta Compton". Dr. Dre and Ice Cube were in that group also.

58. "Better Call __": AMC drama: SAUL.

60. "I smell trouble": OH NO.

61. Goes "vroom": REVS.

67. "The Five Second Rule," e.g.: MYTH.

68. Fullness of flavor: BODY.

69. Dorm unit: ROOM. And 77. Not single-sex: CO-ED.

70. Balancing pro: CPA.

73. Exceptional: SUPER.

75. Cow house: BARN.

76. Calico coat: FUR.

78. "Language!" elicitor: CUSS.

79. Insurance market reform law, initially: ACA.

85. "Ready when you __!": ARE.

86. Is too sweet: CLOYS.

88. Sumi-e medium: INK. Sumi-e  is Japanese ink painting.

89. Takes in: LEARNS.

90. Soul singer Hutson: LEROY. Learning moment for me.

92. Blotchy: MOTTLED.

95. Journeys home?: MALL. Never visited this store.

98. Monty Python's "The __ of Silly Walks": MINISTRY.

102. Team race: RELAY.

103. "How bizarre": ODD.

104. Glue: PASTE.

105. Break ground?: HOE. OK, verb.

106. Cream container: CARTON.

111. Wilts: DROOPS.

112. The Guardians of the MLB, on scoreboards: CLE. Hi there, Janice! We also have 4. Brutus Buckeye's sch.: OSU. Also 63. Diamond experts: UMPS.

113. Sturdy: SOLID.

114. Glam gala: FETE.

115. Preserves, as beef: CORNS.

116. Slow start?: ESS. Slow.

117. Skin concern: CYST.

118. Many a new driver: TEEN.

Down:

1. Scoped out for a heist: CASED.

2. Budget rival: ALAMO.

3. Fruit served with prosciutto: MELON. Never had this. Cantaloupe?

5. TikTok uploads: VIDEOS.

6. Roaring Fork River city: ASPEN.

7. Ooze: SEEP.

8. Bullpen stat: ERA.

9. Tasting menu unit: COURSE.

10. "This is an __!": OUTRAGE.

11. Put down: DIS.

12. Aid in obtaining a Passport?: CAR LOAN. Honda Passport.

13. Soffritto ingredient: ONIONS. From Google: "Soffritto is an aromatic mix of diced onions, carrots, and celery gently cooked in olive oil or butter. In fact, the Italian word soffritto means “slightly-fried”. Sounds like the Louisiana holy trinity.

14. Oscar, for one: STATUETTE.

15. All eleven of "Ocean's Eleven": MEN.

16. British singer Rita: ORA.

18. Actress McCarthy: MELISSA.

20. Like worn-out tires: BALD.

22. Noisy weather event, briefly: T-STORM. If not for the Canadian wildfires, our weather here would have been perfect. Hazy at times.

23. Hands-up time: NOON.

28. Respond in an improv class: AD LIB.

30. Amazon Echo assistant: ALEXA.

31. Academic VIP: DEAN.

32. __ spray: NASAL.

33. Delicious: TASTY. I still dream of Liang Pi from time to time. Have not had it for over 21 years. Popular street food in my hometown Xi'an.

34. "Enough!": STOP.

36. Burlesque bit: SKIT.

38. Not even close: AFAR.

39. Road division: LANE.

40. "Beats me": DUNNO.

41. Only NFL coach with a perfect season: SHULA (Don)

43. Garden structure: GAZEBO. My neighbor has a gazebo in his yard.

46. Well-mannered: COUTH. Uncouth is more common.

47. Egg-laying mammal: ECHIDNA.

48. Like a beach-friendly day: SUNNY.

50. Podcast presenter: HOST. Don't always agree with Sam Harris, but I like him.

54. Roleo surface: LOG.

56. Egg cell: OVUM.

58. Eye sore: STYE.

59. Celestial: ASTRAL.

60. Stenches: ODORS.

61. Result of a corp. audit, perhaps: RE-ORG.

64. Org. that pits Grizzlies against Pelicans: NBA.

65. "__ on You": Luke Bryan hit: DRUNK.

66. Use a Brillo pad, say: SCOUR.

71. Ivy in Philly: PENN.

72. Puts into the mix: ADDS.

73. More reliable: SURER.

74. Problem not caused by the computer: USER ERROR. Nice fill.

75. Catfish habitat: BAYOU.

76. Discover: FIND.

77. Fire-walking materials: COALS. I just don't get this. Crazy.

78. Soleus muscle location: CALF.

80. Like jammies: COMFY.

82. Strives (for): VIES.

83. Not on the level: SLANTED.

84. Conviction: BELIEF.

86. One-eyed monster: CYCLOPS.

87. Goes for a walk: STROLLS. Windhover might visit me next year. He's 77 now. He and his wife Irish are still farming. Incredible!

91. Pickup capacity: ONE TON.

93. Straightens (up): TIDIES.

94. Journo's article opening: LEDE.

95. Fish out of water: MISFIT.

97. Composer Zimmer: HANS.  From Wikipedia: "Since the 1980s, Zimmer has composed music for over 150 films. He has won two Academy Awards for Best Original Score for The Lion King (1994), and Dune (2021). His works include Gladiator, The Last Samurai, the Pirates of the Caribbean series, The Dark Knight trilogy, Inception, Man of Steel, Interstellar, Dunkirk, and No Time To Die."

98. Sends off: MAILS.

99. Midafternoon: THREE.

100. Waze suggestion: ROUTE.

101. Red Sea country: YEMEN.

104. Cunning ruse: PLOY.

106. Yellow Book org.: CDC.

107. Like one in a queerplatonic relationship, for short: ARO. Short for "aromantic". The short form of "asexual" is ACE.  OK, from Google: Queerplatonic relationships may involve some forms of physical affection such as hand-holding, cuddling, kissing, or occasionally having sex. Sounds romantic to me.

108. Big name in bandages: ACE.

109. Foreign policy gp.: NSC.

110. Many a time, in verse: OFT.

C. C.