Wednesday, July 15th 2015 Jeff Stillman

Theme: Smells Like Teen Spirit

16A. Very best 64-Across? : TOP SECRET

23A. 64-Across that lasts forever? : LIFETIME BAN

37A. Receive one's 64-Across shipment? : GET THE AXE

56A. Last of a trio of 64-Across units? : THIRD DEGREE

64A. Theme of this puzzle : DEODORANT and a great excuse to kick the day off with some Nirvana.


Morning all! A fresh-scented foursome from Jeff today - a straightforward theme that I don't think needs any more explanation from me, so let's get straight into the rest of it.

Across:

1. Resort near Arapaho National Forest : VAIL. Not exactly a fill-in for the first entry, I had to wait for one cross - the "V" gave it away when I looked downwards.

5. __ cracker : SODA. RICE went in, RICE came out.

9. Feature of some hammers : CLAW. PEEN went in, PEEN came out. I started out with the crossword equivalent of the Hokey-Pokey.

13. Gun shop buy : AMMO

14. Valuable rocks : ORES

15. Appreciative cry : BRAVO

18. Like some casks : OAKEN. What's the difference between an oak cask and an oaken one? The latter sounds more archaic to me.

19. All worked up : IRATE

20. Go later than planned : RUN OVER. When meetings I'm in do this and I've got a plane to catch I get antsy. Today's meeting in Miami would have to seriously run late, I don't fly back to LA until Friday.

22. Trig. function : COS. We had a book of tables for stuff like this back in the good old days when I was at school. The book was handy for writing cheat notes in the back.

27. Sancho's "steed" : ASS. Don Quixote's sidekick. I dug around a little, but didn't find a name for Panza's ride. Any ideas anyone?

28. Weekly NBC offering : SNL

29. Recede : EBB

30. Movie director's challenge : EGO. I have a friend who is a movie director and he never has anything but good things to say about his stars. He's very modest, maybe his lack of ego rubs off on the cast.

31. Winter air : NOEL. A Christmas Carol. My sister was named "Carol" as she was born close to Christmas. She hated the name and changed it at the first opportunity she had.

33. Try a little of : SIP

35. Words to a waiter : ORDER

41. Reward for bravery : MEDAL

44. Devil : IMP

45. Battery unit : VOLT. I don't understand electricity. Friends think I'm joking when I plead complete ignorance about the whole process, but I've honestly never "got" it. Watts, Amps, Volts - no clue.

49. GI's break : R'N'R. Rest and Recuperation.

50. It has a small charge : ION. More of that electrical magic trickery.

53. Doctrine : ISM. Webster's Dictionary defines this as a word in its own right, not simply a suffix.

55. Seating designation : ROW. Window Seat A, Row 7 for me on the flight  out. Same seat on the way home.

59. Lyrical before : ERE

60. One using a bypass, maybe : AVOIDER

61. Bobby who "thumbed a diesel down," in a 1971 #1 hit : MCGEE

63. Result of a leadoff walk : ONE ON. Baseball reference. I'm now educated enough about the game that I can understand that there can be no other result from walking the leadoff batter.

67. Sailing through : ACING

68. Croquet surface : LAWN

69. Cinq et six : ONZE.  Mathématiques en français.

70. Jeweler Lalique : RENE. The James Oviatt building in downtown Los Angeles built in 1928 features a lobby with glass panels, glass elevator doors and a clock made by Lalique. Quite stunning

71. Peak near Messina : ETNA.

72. Knocker's target? : WOOD

Down:

1. Swiss Guard's station, with "the" : VATICAN. The Pope's ceremonial bodyguard.

2. Lovingly, in music : AMOROSO. I'm not sure how you'd interpret this musical direction. Swooningly? Bawling your eyes out because you've been dumped by your paramour? Tongue-tied like a teenager?

3. Standoff : IMPASSE

4. Didn't finish on top : LOST.

5. Humanities maj. : SOC. Sociology, I'm guessing.

6. Defenseman Bobby with many trophies : ORR. I can now confidently type "Boston Bruin Hockey Legend" without fact-checking due to encountering this gentleman in many crossword puzzles.

7. Mower maker : DEERE. I never think of this name without the preceding "John".

8. Not easily misled : ASTUTE

9. Have a jones for : CRAVE

10. Wet floor? : LAKE BED. Quite a few of the lake beds in California are dry floors now as a result of the drought.

11. Typical : AVERAGE

12. Finished on top : WON. Partner of 4D. It's not a clecho - it's more a clopposite.

15. Shouldered music source : BOOM BOX. It's been a while since I've seen or heard one of these things, thank heavens.

17. Sushi fish : EELS. All the fish I can think of off the top of my head aren't pluralized with an "S". Salmon, trout, pike, tuna ....

21. Highlighter tip : NIB

24. Research ctr. : INST. Here's the august Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

25. Move like a monarch : FLIT. Butterfly-like motion.

26. Hide-hair link : NOR

32. Airport on Flushing Bay, in itineraries : LGA. La Guardia in New York City. I think the United terminal has the worst food and refreshment choices of any airport I've ever been to.

34. Letter after upsilon : PHI. Learning the Greek alphabet is on my list of things to do. It's not very far up the list I confess, but I'll get to it sometime.

36. Sun. speaker : REV. Hopefully the sermon doesn't go on too long.

38. Saying "somethin'," say : ELIDING. Nice clue.

39. Kuwaiti ruler : EMIR

40. Church area : APSE

41. "I pity the fool" speaker : MR T. Originally his character Clubby Lang referring to Rocky Balboa in the movie "Rocky 3", later the title of his own reality show.

42. Upgrade : ENHANCE

43. Classic A&W restaurant : DRIVE-IN. Dating from 1920's California.

46. Marjoram kin : OREGANO. Marjoram is a little sweeter with a milder flavor.

47. Actor Lamas-Craig : LORENZO. Thank you, crosses. A famous daytime soap actor, apparently.

48. Contacted one's followers, nowadays : TWEETED. I have a Twitter account, but I've no idea why, I've never sent a single tweet.

51. Kooky : ODD

52. Speedometer part : NEEDLE. Fast enough for ya?

54. Staff note : MEMO

57. TV exec Arledge : ROONE. Thank you, crosses. ABC Sports and ABC News head who created "Monday Night Football", amongst other programming.

58. Extraordinary : GREAT

62. Brag : CROW

63. Dinghy propeller : OAR

65. Possess : OWN

66. Some trial evidence : DNA

That about wraps it up for today, so here's the grid!


Steve

Tuesday, July 14, 2015 C.C. Burnikel

Theme: Not all of it - The first word can follow SAVE.

50D. "That's enough!" ... or what one can do with the first word of 17-, 27-, 45- and 60-Across : "SAVE IT!"

17. "Back to the Future" subject : TIME TRAVEL. Save time, a good idea.

27. "Cash makes things happen" : MONEY TALKS. Save time and money, even better idea.

45. Cosmetic applied after foundation : FACE POWDER. Save face, avoid embarrassment and keep respect.

60. Ditzy one : SPACE CADET. Save space, leave room for future stuff.

Argyle here, saving space for C.C. She adds so much to the world of cruciverbalism.

Across:

1. Use an S.O.S pad : SCRUB

6. Skidded : SLID

10. "Better Call __": "Breaking Bad" spin-off : SAUL

14. Circus venue : ARENA

15. Kiss : BUSS

16. "One more thing ... " : "ALSO ..."

19. Partners of hems : HAWs. Hems and haws. Gees and haws are horse talk.

20. "Who __ to argue?" : AM I

21. Steed : HORSE

22. Impressionist Édouard : MANET

23. "Anything you say, honey" : "YES, DEAR"

25. Saintly glows : AURAE

26. Fed. assistance program : SSI. (Supplemental Security Income)

31. Tie settlers: Abbr. : OTs. (overtime)

33. Disable a surveillance camera for, say : ABET. New clue.

34. Ovid's 551 : DLI

35. Prefix with state or coastal : INTRA

38. UN delegate : AMB. (ambassador)

39. Signs off on : OKAYs

41. "Give __ break" : ME A. "Better call Saul"

42. "Dirty Jobs" host Mike : ROWE. Dirty Jobs is a TV series on the Discovery Channel.

44. "State of the Union" channel : CNN. (Cable News Network)

48. RN workplaces : ORs. (operating room)

51. Antidote target : TOXIN

52. "Piece of cake" : "NO SWEAT"

55. Dalai Lama's land : TIBET

56. African country whose capital is Accra : GHANA

58. Ill. and Ind., in Monopoly : AVE.

59. Genesis progenitor : ADAM

62. Cop's quarry : PERP and 2D. They're committed by 62-Acrosses : CRIMES

63. History : PAST

64. Holmes of "Batman Begins" : KATIE. Katie Holmes portrays Rachel Dawes, a childhood friend of Bruce Wayne's.

65. NCAA's Big __ Conference : EAST

66. Egyptian snakes : ASPs

67. They may be called or fired : SHOTS. If you call the shots then pot shots may be fired at you.

Down:

1. Skewered Asian snack : SATAY. Check out the different types. Wiki

3. Negligent : REMISS

4. One at the Louvre : UNE

5. Get into hot water : BATHE

6. Chain known for its New York pizza : SBARRO

7. Huggies rival : LUVS

8. "It's clear now" : "I SEE"

9. ISP connection option : DSL. (Digital Subscriber Line)

10. About 30% of Africa : SAHARA

11. Hawkeye Pierce portrayer : ALAN ALDA

12. People shelfmate : US WEEKLY

13. Suffered defeat : LOST

18. Wanders : ROAMS

22. Adult sheep meat : MUTTON

24. Christian of fashion : DIOR

25. Thumbs-up vote : AYE

28. Dubbed : NAMED

29. Tidal decline : EBB

30. Nickname for a sib : SIS

32. La Brea attraction : TAR PIT

35. Worldwide lending org. : IMF. (International Monetary Fund)

36. "Great suggestion" : "NEAT IDEA"

37. Folded fare facilities : TACO BARS. Such alliteration.

38. "Isn't that cute?" : "AWW!"

40. Not just assume : KNOW

43. Suffix with ball : OON. (balloon)

44. Hag : CRONE

46. Not subject to taxes : EXEMPT

47. Passes, as a law : ENACTS

49. Enjoy a bedtime ritual with : READ TO

53. Pile in Santa's sleigh : SACKS. Santa only needs one sack.

54. Dijon heads : TÊTEs

55. Wrapping aid : TAPE

56. Transcript stats : GPAs. (grade point average)

57. Diary clasp : HASP

60. Après-ski option : SPA

61. 60-Down reaction : [AAH!]

Argyle

Monday July 13, 2015 Gail Grabowski & Bruce Venzke

Theme: >      <

20A. Place for a brewski : WATERING HOLE

35A. No longer valid : NULL AND VOID

42A. Imbalance of income distribution : ECONOMIC GAP

59A. Introductory remarks ... and, in a different sense, what the ends of 20-, 35- and 42-Across are : OPENING WORDS. Like many platitudes, there's really nothing there.

Argyle was here.

Across:

1. Crossword hint : CLUE. 78 in this puzzle.

5. Three-sided sails : JIBS

9. Crook : THIEF

14. Home plate crossings : RUNS. And 50. Crosses home plate : SCOREs

15. Middle layer of the eye : UVEA

16. Main blood vessel : AORTA

17. "Put a lid __!" : ON IT

18. Pickle containers : JARS

19. "No bid," in bridge : I PASS

23. Wood decay : DRY ROT

24. Keep in reserve : SAVE

25. Scientist Wernher __ Braun : VON

28. Ms. enclosure : SASE. Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope.

30. Affluent Los Angeles district : ENCINO

32. Bygone intl. carrier : TWA

38. "The __ of the Ancient Mariner" : RIME

40. Linden or Holbrook : HAL

41. Opening for a coin : SLOT

47. "That's __-brainer" : A NO

48. Credit card ID : ACCT NO

49. Feels poorly : AILS

51. Confucian "path" : TAO

52. Northern Nevada county or its seat : ELKO

55. Launched capsule : ROCKET

61. Insurance giant : AETNA

64. Baseball family name : ALOU

65. "The Scarlet Letter" letter : RED 'A'

66. '70s New York congresswoman Bella : ABZUG

67. Ore layer : VEIN

68. Qatari bigwig : EMIR

69. Rough up : ABUSE

70. Plays the wrong golf ball, say : ERRs

71. Witnesses : SEEs

Down:

1. Two : company :: three : __ : CROWD

2. __ Module: moon lander : LUNAR

3. Togetherness : UNITY

4. Fragrant compounds : ESTERS

5. Japanese self-defense method : JUJITSU.  Literally, Soft Technique.

6. Netman Lendl : IVAN

7. Antarctic floaters : BERGs

8. Youngest Obama : SASHA

9. Caboose's place : TAIL END

10. Cross one's fingers : HOPE

11. Golden-yrs. income source : IRA

12. "Mars Attacks!" enemies, for short : ETs

13. Notes before sols : FAs

21. Reddish equine : ROAN

22. Where baguettes bake : OVEN

25. String quartet member : VIOLA

26. Vidalia veggie : ONION

27. Acknowledge with a head gesture : NOD TO

29. Pre-college, for short : EL-HI. Elementary- High.

31. Walgreens rival : CVS

32. Reward for a pet trick : TREAT

33. Modern witch's religion : WICCA

34. BP merger partner : AMOCO

36. Fond du __, Wisconsin : LAC

37. Pond organism : ALGA

39. Tonsillitis-treating MD : ENT

43. Recommended résumé length : ONE PAGE

44. Burrowing animal : MOLE

45. Pellet shooters : AIR GUNS

46. Work the fields : PLOW

53. Jack in a deck : KNAVE

54. Crude carrier : OILER

56. Krispy __: doughnut chain : KREME

57. Actor Redmayne of "The Theory of Everything" : EDDIE

58. Old Russian rulers : TSARs

59. Burden : ONUS

60. Gritty film genre : NOIR

61. Duracell size : AAA

62. Flow back : EBB

63. Shih __: Tibetan dog : TZU

Argyle

Sunday, July 12, 2015 Donna S. Levin & Bruce Venzke

Theme:  "Th-, Th-, That's All, Folks - TH sound is added to the end of each theme entry, adjusting spellings as needed.

23A. Unflattering nickname for a boastful corporate bigwig? : CHAIRMAN MOUTH. Chairman Mao.

46A. Belief at the heart of “Miracle on 34th Street”? : SANTA FAITH. Santa Fe.

68A. Actor Colin's body double? : FAUX FIRTH. Faux fur. Colin Firth (The King's Speech).

91A. Momentous event in baseball history, as it turned out? : AARON BIRTH. Base phrase Aaron Burr. The AARON in the clue refers to Hank Aaron.

112A. Hoping for a winning lottery ticket? : WISHING WEALTH. Wishing well.

15D. Old king's slow-moving pet? : COLE SLOTH. Coleslaw. Only one-word entry.

31D. Olbermann at a karaoke bar? : MUSICAL KEITH. Musical key. ESPN just let go of Keith Olbermann.

42D. AMA motto? : GIVE 'EM HEALTH. Give 'em hell. Reminds me of that heartless Michigan cancer doctor.

78D. Smokey's trouser material? : BEAR CLOTH. Bear claw.

After I did Tea Party with Don G, I fully appreciated the creativity & complexity behind this type of sound addition theme. It's so much harder than simply adding a T, or a TH.

I think this is the first collaboration of Donna S. Levin and Bruce Venzke, who often teams up with Gail Grabowski for LAT.  

Gail told me a while ago that they title their puzzle as GAB (Gail and Bruce) if Gail's byline comes up first, and BAG (Bruce and Gail) if Bruce's byline comes up first. So this puzzle might be titled DAB.

 

Across:

  

1. Cap treated by an orthopedist : PATELLA. Love when I can nail a 7-letter fill. Today's grid is very clean and smooth.

8. Hajji's destination : MECCA. Can non-Muslims visit the city?

13. Enthusiastic approval : ACCLAIM

20. Like amoeba reproduction : ASEXUAL
 

21. Show that had an annual "Favorite Things" segment : OPRAH. Got via crosses. Not a fan.

22. Part of a colloquial lament : SHOULDA

25. Counterattacks : SALLIES

26. Coquette : TEASE

27. Ruby in films : DEE

28. Mr. Mistoffelees' creator : T. S. ELIOT. Got via crosses also. And 63. 28-Across, e.g. : POET
 

29. Packing : ARMED. Packing heat, I suppose.

32. Clark Kent, on Krypton : KALEL

34. Relatives of medians : MODES

36. Garish : LOUD

37. Give a hoot : CARE

38. Two-mile-high city : LHASA. And 6D. Tibetan priest : LAMA

40. Sign on : LOG IN

45. Allied gp. since 1948 : OAS (Organization of American States)

48. Sheepish? : OVINE. Nailed it.

49. Tests : TRIALS

51. Unlock, to a bard : OPE

52. Little legume : PEA

53. Fended (off) : STAVED

54. G-rated : CLEAN

56. Benevolent order : ELKS. Headquartered in Chicago, as I learned last week.

58. "Symphony of a Thousand" composer : MAHLER (Gustav)

59. Grammarian's topic : USAGE

61. "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" setting : INDIA

65. LAX posting : ETD
 

67. Brilliance : ECLAT

70. Rigs on long hauls : SEMIs

72. Guffaw : YUK

73. Flight segment : STEP

74. California berry farm founder : KNOTT. Knott's Berry Farm.

75. Taj __ : MAHAL

76. Without vigor : FEEBLY

79. "Birdman" actor Galifianakis : ZACH. Hope we don't see his surname in a grid.  Known for his Between Two Ferns.

80. Licorice-flavored seed : ANISE

82. Big Pharma name : PFIZER

83. Faline in "Bambi," e.g. : DOE. Ha ha, I put in ENA. Never saw "Bambi".

85. Leg up : AID

87. Dan Aykroyd's birthplace : OTTAWA

90. Very very : ULTRA

94. Pot cover : LID

95. Former "The View" co-host : BEHAR (Joy)

96. Rock trio with long-bearded vocalists : ZZ TOP. The "Long-bearded" hint handed us a big fat gimme.  

97. "Got it" : I SEE

98. First razor with a pivoting head : ATRA

99. Sheds a tear : CRIES. "The Bridges of Madison County"!

101. Spanish "these" : ESTOS

103. Change from maxi to midi, say : RE-HEM

104. "Idylls of the King" setting : CAMELOT

108. Party org. : DNC. Crossing 108. Urgent : DIRE. Easy elimination of RNC.

109. More experienced : WISER
 

111. Quaint "Jeepers!" : OMIGOSH

117. Western neckwear : BOLO TIE. Boomer bought two at our State Fair long time ago. Never worn them again. 

118. Smooth one's feathers : PREEN
 

119. More icky : NASTIER

120. Less introverted : BRASHER

121. Fermented honey quaffs : MEADS

122. They usually inspire blessings : SNEEZES

Down:

1. Lobbying gp. : PAC

2. Cinders : ASH
 

3. Major Sri Lankan export : TEA
 

4. Left : EXITED

5. Enticed : LURED

7. __ king crab : ALASKAN

8. May honoree : MOM

9. Lyric poem : EPODE. Learned from doing crosswords.

10. First name in dognapping : CRUELLA

11. Actress Blanchett : CATE

12. "That's the spot!" : AHH

13. Courtroom fig. : ASST. D.A.. Or ADAs. Jack McCoy has quite a few.

14. Pursue : CHASE

16. Down time : LULL

17. Ovid's others : ALII

18. Thought: Pref. : IDEO

19. Spar : MAST

24. Not far from : NEAR TO. Boomer bowled 634 & 607 at the National Senior Games on Friday/Saturday. Not good enough. He still has a chance at the Doubles event today.

29. Scads : A LOT

30. Savanna warning : ROAR

33. Jumped out of one's seat : LEAPED UP. UP feels unnecessary.

34. Friend of Sydney : MATE. Sydney, Australia.

35. Worker welfare org. : OSHA

37. Acapulco abode : CASA

39. Rose __ : HIPS. My birthday gift. A bottle of Rose hip oil. Total luxury.

41. Like some mirrors : OVAL
 

43. Subject of Newton's first law : INERTIA

44. Author Buntline : NED

46. Winter woe : SLEET

47. Given name meaning "happy" : FELIX. King Felix.

50. Bit of pond scum : ALGA

53. Was in session : SAT

 55. "Swell!" : NIFTY!

57. "The Metamorphosis" writer : KAFKA

58. Maestro Zubin : MEHTA. Born in Bombay (Mumbai).

59. One-eighty : UEY

60. Scrap : SCUFFLE

62. Captain Kidd's refusal : NAE

63. Ban : PROHIBIT

64. Hubbell teammate : OTT. Carl Hubbell. Hall-of-Famer. Big Easy sent me this picture in March. He said "Next time OTT appears in a puzzle you can insert this. I was passing there today and stopped and took this picture. It is right down the street from ZYDECOs, which occasionally showed up."

66. High-speed letters : DSL

69. Like most Quechua speakers : INCAN

 

70. Partner of Wesson : SMITH. Easy crosses.

71. From Liverpool to Manchester : EAST
 

73. Camera letters : SLR

77. Biblical reformer : EZRA. Friendly crosses again.

79. Nothing at all : ZERO

81. Observe closely : NOTE

82. Black and tan seller : PUB

83. Stupefaction : DAZE. Thought the noun for Stupefy is just "Stupor".

84. Granola grain : OATS

86. Cut out of the will : DISOWN

88. Send electronically, as funds : WIRE

89. Sixth-day creation : ADAM

92. Bounding main : OPEN SEA

93. Gives up : RESIGNS
 

96. Instrument sometimes played in one's lap : ZITHER
 

98. Make fizzy : AERATE

100. Riveting icon : ROSIE. Rosie the Riveter.

102. RR station posting : SCHED (Schedule)

103. Actress Witherspoon : REESE
 

104. __ salad : COBB

105. Cupid : AMOR

106. Ashton's partner : MILA. Yay! They're a cute couple. Just married last weekend.

107. They may be bruised : EGOS

110. Long-necked trumpeter : SWAN

112. Typing stat. : WPM

113. Former green-card-issuing agcy. : INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service). They  issued me a green card with an extra U after Q. I guess Zhouqin looks incomplete.

114. Claiborne of fashion : LIZ

115. Casual wear : TEE

116. Retail posting: Abbr. : HRS

Happy 85th Birthday to Sallie! I bet both of her sons made special plans to be with her today. How are you doing lately, Sallie?

 

C.C.