Friday March 17, 2017, Paul Coulter

To celebrate St. Paddy's day, here's a beautiful version of When Irish Eyes Are Smilin' by the Irish tenor who was a foil for Jack Benny for years. It makes for lovely background music!

Now, for sure and begorrah, let's be gettin' down to the puzzle!

TITLE: BACK TO FRONT

On this St. Paddy's Day, Lemon has put himself on the injured reserve list and C.C. has brought me, Husker Gary, up from the minors to take the mound.

Paul's lovely offering dredges up memories of a recent Sunday puzzle I blogged where I also put the grid at the top. In that puzzle a word was put IN the middle of a silly phrase and had to be repositioned to the front to make sense. Today Paul forces us to take the last word of a silly phrase and transport it to the front to make a single, familiar word. 

Obviously the puzzle needed no reveal, so here are the theme entries

16. Laboratory scam? : SCIENCE CON/CONSCIENCE - Jiminy's counsel to Pinnochio took a while to sink in

28. Snubbing a testimonial? : TRIBUTE DIS/DISTRIBUTE - A good passer is called a good DISTRIBUTOR

45. John Deere rep? : TRACTOR PRO/PROTRACTOR - For some reason kids often ask for a compass when they really want a PROTRACTOR

61. Ordinary law office employee? : NORMAL PARA/PARANORMAL - JoBeth Williams confronts a PARANORMAL creature in Poltergeist 

Let's see what else our Literary Leprechaun has for us today

Across

1. "Oopsy" : MY BAD

6. Grand Prix component : ESS - Curve, here's one

9. In things : FADS - Joann, where's my Nehru jacket?

13. Adult insect : IMAGO - I've only heard it here

14. Prefix with data : META - It seems someone has lots of this on all of us

15. Subject preceder : IN RE

18. Saves, say : STAT - Usually accrued by soccer and hockey goalies 

19. Challenge : CALL OUT - Matt Dillon faced one of these at the start of every episode

20. Like some flushes : ACE HIGH

22. Missed the mark : ERRED

24. Spike TV, once : TNN - The Nashville Network

25. Nile threats : ASPS

33. Take for a while : LEASE

35. B to C, e.g. : SEMITONE 

36. Call off : END

37. Something shared on a plane : ARMREST - Sound right?

40. Pres. when Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka was decided : DDE - Ike

41. "The Social Contract" author : ROUSSEAU - Jacques - "What wisdom can be greater than kindness?"

43. Hindu ascetics : YOGIS - Did any of them catch for the Yankees?

48. Old Nair rival : NEET

49. "You betcha!" : YEP

50. Mozart opera ending : TUTTE - Cosi Fan TUTTE (Women are like that). Like what?

52. Spendthrift : WASTREL

56. Hospital test : MRI SCAN - I just listened to talk shows on my iPhone

60. Large deep-water fish : OPAH






63. Actor Auberjonois : RENE - Fr. Mulcahy in the 1970 movie M*A*S*H

64. Relaxed : EASY

65. Refresh, as a cup of coffee : TOP UP - Is this also a Mardi Gras tradition?

66. Participants in some awkward meetings : EXES

67. Case breaker, perhaps : DNA - Uh, Number 2, you might wanna have a seat

68. Flower holders : STEMS - Not a vayse or a vahze

Down

1. Category for non-recurring pd. bills : MISC

2. 1979 disco classic : YMCA

3. Payment that's posted : BAIL - Remember who sponsored The Bad News Bears? Now you can order a jersey!

4. Eternal : AGELESS - Dick Clark's middle name for years

5. Philanthropist, e.g. : DONOR

6. Common Market letters : European Economic Community

7. Ancient colonnade : STOA

8. Sacred sites : SANCTUMS

9. Stocking stuff : FISH NET - Maybe Splynter will have some for us tomorrow

10. Not backing : ANTI

11. Party pooper : DRAG

12. First family member : SETH 

14. Poet's concern : METER

17. Short : CURT

21. Being : ENTITY

23. Throw into turmoil : DISRUPT

25. On the ball : ALERT

26. Monterrey title : SENOR

27. "The Taming of the Shrew" setting : PADUA - The Montana Shakespeare In The Park Troupe chose a different setting but used Elizabethan English (mostly) 

32. Notice from Shakespeare? : SEEST - Didst thee SEEST the setting for Taming Of The Shrew cameth ere?

29. Obsessive idea metaphor : BEE - Busy as a...


30. Caravan assembler : DODGE - The original minivan - 1984

31. Common Sundance entry : INDIE

34. Time for eggs : EASTER

38. Worked on, as a cold case : REOPENED - They haven't REOPENED the Cain and Abel case. How many witnesses could there have been?

39. Fold, spindle or mutilate : MAR

42. Crop cutters : SCYTHES

44. Buck : ONESPOT - Really?

46. Gin __ : RUMMY - Remember this Bond Villain who cheated at Gin RUMMY using a spy with binoculars and an earpiece? 

47. Other, in Oaxaca : OTRA - No, descartar la OTRA tarjeta (No, discard the other card)

51. Slopes : TILTS

52. Had on : WORE 

53. Top : APEX

54. Fit to be tried : SANE - Two psychiatrists testified as to whether this Omaha man was SANE enough to stand trial for his four murders.

55. Student's request : LOAN 

57. Vacation spot : CAPE

58. Jack-in-the-pulpit family : ARUM

59. Gets caught off guard : NAPS

62. The ANC's country : RSA - Republic of South Africa

Now before you start celebrating reasonably (let your conscience be your guide), how 'bout some comments:

Thursday, March 16 2017 Bruce Haight

Theme: RRepeats - the second letter in each theme entry is doubled and the resulting phrase clued according to the first three-letter part

17A. What Dobermans do for dinner? : GRRAB A BITE. Grr!

24A. Super-cold concoction at Baskin-Robbins? : BRRAIN FREEZE. Brr! Combining the two, here's a cold Doberman:

41A. World's stealthiest detective? : SHHERLOCK HOLMES. Shh!

52A. Cutest Baby contest champion? : AWWARD WINNER. Aww!

65A. Massage epiphany? : AHHA MOMENT. Ahh!

Brruce brrings us a nice Thursday offering. A solid 59 letters of theme entries and a generally pleasing fill around those. I might have tried to not repeat the RR with the first two themers as it could indicate all the following entries will follow the same convention. Not a major nit though, the idea is fun. Let's see what jumps out in the rest of the entries.

Across        

1. The Miners of the Lone Star St. : UTEP. University of Texas, El Paso.

5. Eurasia's __ Mountains : URAL

9. Fundraising gps. : PTAS. I had the P and tried PACS first until nothing would fit around it and forced a change of mind.

13. Caesar's France : GAUL. We studied Caesar's book "Conquest of Gaul" in Latin class at school. Cracking stuff for schoolboys.

14. Marner of fiction : SILAS. Great book. The movie adaptation starring Ben Kingsley as the eponymous weaver was excellent also.

16. Hindustani language : URDU. Hindi has given us quite a few English words, but I can't find any examples from Urdu.

19. Innocent : BABE

20. Retro wall unit : STONE. Retro? Pretty sure we still build with stone.

21. Titanic undoing : BERG. Least accurate damage assessment ever: "We've just stopped for a short time to take on some ice".

23. Not very bright : DIM

28. Yale alum : ELI

31. Longtime Yankees announcer __ Allen : MEL. No clue. Thanks, crosses.

32. First to play James : SEAN. 007-portrayer par excellence Connery. Dr. No was the first movie in the franchise, released in 1962.

33. Tall and lean : LANK

35. "Sadly ... " : ALAS

38. Box : CRATE

44. Got out of bed : AROSE. I arose early this morning to try to shake myself out of time-change clock-lag. I can fly across 11 or 12 time zones and get no jet lag, but that hour in Spring messes me up. It was nice and peaceful at the top of the Hollywood sign though - I'll find out tomorrow if my body clock is reset.

45. "So __ say" : THEY

46. Crowd-sourced review site : YELP. Can be useful if you ignore the obvious outliers (and the reviews obviously written by the buddies of the establishment).

47. Asian takeout option : THAI

49. Little trickster : IMP

51. See 56-Down : SLY. Sylvester Stallone of the movies. I've met him, his brother plays jazz at my local Italian restaurant. He's not as short as people seem to think. However, he's listed at 5'10" on Wikipedia, but I think that might be a little generous.

57. Security briefing org. : CIA

58. Clothing part that might split : SEAM. Especially if you're wearing a size to small or you've eaten a big dinner.

59. Epic tales : SAGAS

63. Singer James : ETTA

68. Agenda detail : ITEM

69. Gets mud on : SOILS

70. Phi __ Kappa : BETA

71. Banks of 2000s TV talk : TYRA

72. Doing business : OPEN

73. "The Osbournes" patriarch : OZZY. Quite the character. I saw Black Sabbath play in London once with Motorhead and Hawkwind. Quite the eardrum assault. Fun through. Here's Hawkwind - imagine this cranked up to 11. Awesome.

Down

1. Brand of sheepskin boots : UGGS. Australia's finest.

2. Biting : TART

3. Italian capital : EURO. No more Lira. It's a shame a lot of the European currencies disappeared with the introduction of the Euro.

4. Fallback option : PLAN B

5. __ Today : USA. Their distribution network is amazing. I'm always astonished how early the paper is delivered to the various hotels I've stayed in across the USA, even in remote locations.

6. Tease : RIB

7. "I was out of town," e.g. : ALIBI

8. Approach midnight : LATEN. Hmmm. I looked sideways at this one when it appeared. I'm still looking askance at it. Not a word I would use.

9. Place to hoist a pint : PUB. I've seen the inside of a couple of these. I pulled pints at the Queen's Arms in Kilburn, north London when I was 19. A lot of Guinness and shots of Bushmills - most of the patrons were Irish demolition workers. Tough crowd.

10. DBA followers : TRADE NAMES. "Doing Business As".

11. Madison Ave. field : AD BIZ

12. In-your-face challenge : SUE ME

15. Feudal laborers : SERFS

18. Protective barrier : BERM. There were a lot of berms bulldozed out of the sand here in Southern California last winter to protect the beach cities with the expectation of major storms. They're very effective.

22. El __ : GRECO. "The Greek". Doménikos Theotokópoulos was born in Crete, but spent most of his life in Toledo in Spain.


25. Authentic : REAL

26. Dole out : ALLOT. If you hand out a large amount you allot a lot.

27. Like birds with worms, so it's said : EARLY. The Early Bird was me this morning. No worms caught though, probably a good thing.

28. Designer Schiaparelli : ELSA

29. Cowardly Lion portrayer : LAHR. Bert in The Wizard of Oz

30. Facing serious trouble : IN HOT WATER

34. Singer who formerly stylized her name with a dollar sign : KESHA, or rather KE$HA

36. "__ du lieber!" : ACH. "Oh, my dear!"

37. Yarn purchase : SKEIN. I misread the clue as "yam" at first which had me puzzled.

39. Squeal : TELL. As in rat someone out.

40. Catch sight of : ESPY. I'd clue this as the sports award, being more "in the language".

42. Raises : REARS

43. Many a gospel song : HYMN

48. Brainstorms : IDEAS

50. Uruguayan money : PESO

52. Nail a test : ACE IT

53. Like Oscar Wilde : WITTY

54. Mackerel relative : WAHOO

55. Beatnik's "With ya" : I'M HIP

56. Repeating movie role for 51-Across : RAMBO. Sly's character.

60. "Sheesh!" : GEEZ

61. Animated bug film : ANTZ

62. Time at a hotel : STAY. I've had quite a few of these in my time.

64. Org. for docs : AMA. American Medical Association.

66. Pint to drink : ALE. In the pub too.

67. AOL alternative : MSN

Short blog today, a lot going on for me. Hopefully no more explications required. The regulars in the comments section can handle any gaps. Here's the grid!

Steve

Wednesday March 15, 2017 Mark McClain

Theme: B MOVIES (38A. Low-budget cinema ... and, literally, the four longest puzzle answers ) - All four moves are in the pattern of B* B*.

 17A. 1980 Clint Eastwood film about a Wild West show : BRONCO BILLY

 23A. 1965 Jerry Lewis/Tony Curtis farce involving flight attendants : BOEING BOEING. Heard of this one.

 51A. 2005 Christian Bale superhero thriller : BATMAN BEGINS. This one was popular.

 62A. 2003 Disney animated feature with talking grizzlies : BROTHER BEAR

Hello Everyone. Boomer here. I am looking forward to March Madness, however I am a terrible fan.  I watched many Minnesota Gopher games on TV this year, some good and some bad.  I don't have much confidence that they will extend their season too far in Milwaukee.  This puzzle was not a big hit either.  I can say that I never attended any of these movies.  Seems as if some were all a Big Box Office Bust.

Across:

     

1. Franklin's faith : DEISM - I suppose this refers to Benjamin but I am not familiar with this faith.

6. Civil rights org. : NAACP -

11. Nursery offering : SOD - Spring is nearly here, nurseries will be buzzing next month.

14. More than just saber-rattling : AT WAR - did not like this clue. 

15. Not as well : ILLER - Another stretch of the English language.  I never heard anyone say they were iller.

16. Numero __ : UNO

19. Elton's title : SIR - I remember when rock was young.  (So was I).

20. Forward : SEND ON

21. "Isn't that something" : GEE - A Whiz of a word.

22. "Hold it right there!" : WHOA - A Roy Rogers command to Trigger.

26. Prey for cheetahs : IMPALAS - We rented an Impala in Las Vegas but we were not Cheetahs.  Vegas frowns on Cheetahs.

29. Little League airer : ESPN - From Williamsport, PA.  But thank you ESPN for hanging in there and televising a bowling tournament once in a while.

30. Fishing spot : PIER

31. GPS suggestion : RTE

33. Milk source : UDDER - Utter nonsense - our milk source is the dairy case at the grocery store.

37. Pro : ACE - Top of a royal flush. a pro is not always an ace. 

41. Program file ending : EXE

42. Two-step, e.g. : DANCE - How about NCAA big March event?

44. College URL ending : EDU

45. Lyra's brightest star : VEGA - This is another Chevrolet in this puzzle.

46. Et __ : ALIA - Stumped me here.

49. Really dull : INSIPID

55. Jackson 5 hairdo : AFRO - I don't remember Afros on the five.  I do remember Dr. J and Oscar Gamble.  Michael Jordan changed all that.

56. Item under many a top : BRA

57. Requiring quarters, briefly : COIN-OP  You don't see many vending machines taking coins any more.  They all ask for your folding money.

61. __ Mini: Nintendo console : WII - Never played WII.  I heard they had bowling though.

64. Hip-hop Dr. : DRE - Sorry, I guess I am not into Hip-Hop.

65. New York mayor before Koch : BEAME (Abe)

66. Top-flight : ELITE 

67. "Of course!" : YES

68. Asp cousin : ADDER - An asp is a snake.  An adder is the guy at the rental car desk, figuring your bill.

69. Robert's "Out of Africa" role : DENYS - Never saw this movie either.

 Down:

1. Puts on gently : DABS - as in make up

2. Basic French verb : ETRE - I took two quarters of French but I only remember French fries and toast.

3. Victor's cry : I WON - Good for you

4. Shallows hazard : SAND BAR - Can be a bummer for a boat.

5. Hip dude : MR COOL - The Fonz???

6. Tip of a Bic : NIB

7. Set straight : ALIGN 

8. Claim : ALLEGE

9. Tabloid subjects : CELEBS -- Tabloids are stupid.  Watch gossip channels

10. Snoop : PRY - I don't know about snoop.  Sometimes you have to pry open your wallet.

11. Rolls with rice : SUSHI - This is a fishy subject,  I have never eaten sushi and I am pretty sure I never will.

12. Salad bar sliver : ONION .

13. Bandanna cousin : DO- RAG - Not sure if you can cover an Afro with one of these.

18. Like challenging push-ups : ONE-ARM - Never could do a one- arm push-up.

22. Go on (one's way) : WEND - I think you have to go crooked to wend.

24. Comparison phrase : IS TO

25. Composer's work : OPUS

26. Tablet with Mini and Pro versions : iPAD - I see a ton of these around - The iToys made Apple rich and famous

27. Flaky mineral : MICA

28. Hammer end : PEEN - Others have a claw

32. Genesis matriarch : EVE - Apple picker.

34. Thought-provoking : DEEP - I have not provoked too many deep thoughts about this puzzle.

35. Army vet : EX-GI

36. Predict using, as tea leaves : READ - and tell a fortune.

38. Banjo legend Fleck : BELA

39. "Gotcha, man" : I DIG - Maynard G. Krebs made this popular

40. Special Olympics founder Shriver : EUNICE - Sorry, never heard of her, but I donated all of my bowling trophies to the special Olympics. They put on new plates and sometimes figures as necessary and give them to smiling kids.

43. Hunter's garb, for short : CAMO - What used to be Vietnam and Iraq attire is now fashionable at home.

45. Easily seen : VISIBLE

47. Deep-seated : INBRED

48. Using one's passport, say : ABROAD - I think you even need a passport now to go to Canada.

50. Didn't sleep quietly : SNORED 

51. Indecent : BAWDY - Some St. Patrick's Day decorations

 52. Burning : AFIRE - Johnny Cash love.

53. Takes a shot at : TRIES

54. Cake words Alice abided by :- EAT ME

58. Düsseldorf denial : NEIN - I wonder how Germans say "Nope" ?

59. Like granola bars : OATY - Mares eat oats and does eat oats but little lambs eat ivy.

60. W. or LBJ : PRES - I was around for both of these guys.  Ike and Truman also.

62. Management major's deg. : BBA - Bachelor of Business Administration.

63. __ Honor : HER

Note from C.C.:

Our Melissa B has redesigned the Adopt an Inmate website. She never mentioned her work in her Crossword Corner blog write-ups, but she has been totally devoted to her "Adopt an Inmate" cause the past few years. Melissa has published many stories and artwork from the inmates. Her site has become a great source of resources for many inmates and their families. So proud of her work!

Tuesday, March 14 2017, Roger & Kathy Wienberg

Theme: Hand in Hand.

17. *Performer's exit direction : STAGE RIGHT. Stagehand. Right hand.

24. *Immediately : FIRST OFF. First hand. Offhand.

30. *High stadium tier : UPPER DECK. Upper hand. Deckhand.

43. *Sports bet based on total points scored : OVER UNDER. Overhand. Underhand.

50. *Like most TV dramas : HOUR LONG. Hour hand. Longhand.

60. In advance, and where you might find both parts of the answers to starred clues : BEFORE HAND

Impressive. That had to have been hard to do. The first AND second words of each theme answer can precede HAND. We've seen Roger Wienberg before, but this appears to the the first collaboration by Roger & Kathy at the Corner.

Melissa here. Although nothing was particularly tough, I made a few W(rong)WAGs that slowed me down.

Across
    
1. Past due : LATE

5. Place for a safe : WALL

9. Connery and McCartney : SIRS. Moving too fast, I tried SEAN first.

13. "Don't rub __" : IT IN

14. Geometry calculations : AREAS

16. Cool one's heels : WAIT

19. Award for "Game of Thrones" : EMMY. Honoring excellence in television.


20. Dangerous Amazon fish : PIRANHA. I need to remember N before H with this word.

21. "Scotch" sealers : TAPES. I don't usually think of that kind of tape as plural.

23. See 47-Down : CARTE

27. Handed out cards : DEALT

29. Oakland Coliseum player : RAIDER

34. Start of a choosing rhyme : EENY

35. Step on it, quaintly : HIE

36. Form 1099 ID : SSN

37. President pro __ : TEM. "For the present time."

40. Stretchy bandage brand : ACE

41. Damage : HARM

46. Vote out of office : UNSEAT

49. Totally thrill : ELATE

52. Speaks, biblically : SAITH. Couldn't make SAYETH fit.

55. Texas shrine : ALAMO

56. Almond or cashew : NUT TREE. Not BUTTER or LEGUME.

58. Luke Skywalker, for one : JEDI

62. "Absolutely!" : AMEN

63. Schussing spot : SLOPE

64. Novelist Ferber : EDNA

65. Starts to blossom : BUDS

66. Watches : SEES. Not SPYS.


67. Paper quantity : REAM

Down

1. Speak like Sylvester : LISP

2. Storage space accessed via the ceiling : ATTIC

3. Pageant accessory : TIARA

4. "Prepare to duel!" : ENGARDE

5. "Sour to the People" extreme candy brand : WARHEADS

6. "Carmen" highlight : ARIA

7. A joker might pull yours : LEG

8. Christine of "The Blacklist" : LAHTI

9. Honey : SWEETIE

10. "My parents are gonna kill me!" : I AM SO DEAD

11. Glass edge : RIM

12. Mess of a room : STY

15. Drummer Ringo : STARR

18. Joins : ENTERS

22. Free TV spot : PSA. Public Service Announcement.


24. Fraud watchdog org. : FTC. Federal Trade Commission.

25. Stolen jewelry seller : FENCE. Didn't know this term - someone who knowingly buys stolen property in order to resell it.

26. Onion ring maker : FRYER

28. Jay with jokes : LENO

30. "Yup" : UH-HUH

31. Steinway, for one : PIANO. This was so obvious it tripped me up.

32. Convinced : PERSUADED

33. "Hooked on Classics" co. : K-TEL

38. Crossword solver's smudges : ERASURES

39. Change genetically : MUTATE

42. Small falcons : MERLINS. Learning moment.

44. Really relax, with "out" : VEG

45. Reply to bad alternatives : NEITHER

47. With 23-Across, priced separately, on menus : ALA

48. Crypts, e.g. : TOMBS

51. December songs : NOELS

53. Swap : TRADE

54. Reddish-orange dye : HENNA

56. "Don't think so" : NOPE

57. Red-coated cheese : EDAM

58. Fast punch : JAB

59. Australian bird : EMU

61. Nemesis : FOE

Notes from C.C.:

Happy 59th Birthday to JJM, who loves hockey and other thrilling activities. Here is a picture of his zip lining in 2010.

Monday, March 13, 2017 C.C. Burnikel

Theme: Easter is April 16, in case you've taken a break from Mass since Christmas.

20. Postgraduate degree: MASTER OF ARTS

36. Mob kingpin: MAFIA BOSS

41. Vase material named for its white color: MILK GLASS

54. Turning point in tennis, and a hint to this puzzle's circled letters: SERVICE BREAK

Argyle here with C.C. back for another puzzle. Back to back can't happen very often. Do note MASS is split three ways: 3/1, 2/2, and 1/3.

Across:

1. Tie up at the pier: DOCK

5. Basics: ABC's

9. Expressive chat image: EMOJI. Emoticon on steroids.

14. "That works for me": "OKAY"

15. "Dang!": "DRAT!". (It didn't work for me!)

16. Cars sold at auctions: REPOS

17. Nabisco chocolate-creme cookie: OREO

18. Vermeer or van Gogh: OIL PAINTER

22. First-class: A-ONE

23. Sailor: TAR

24. Tanning lotion letters: SPF. (Sun Protection Factor)

27. Golf hole benchmark: PAR

29. Snacked (on) to excess, briefly: OD'ed. (overdosed)

32. Pinup queen Page: BETTIE. Don't tell Mrs. Claus.

34. __ buco: veal dish: OSSO

38. PG-13 issuing org.: MPAA. (Motion Picture Association of America)

39. __ vincit amor: OMNIA. (love conquers all)

40. Restful resorts: SPAs

43. Window insert: PANE

44. Wiped off the board: ERASED

45. Genghis __: KHAN

48. '60s tripping drug: LSD. (Lysergic acid diethylamide)

49. Took command of: LED

50. "Morning Edition" airer: NPR. (National Public Radio)

52. Lion's den: LAIR

59. Casino big spender: HIGH ROLLER. Lets me out.

62. Veggie in a green smoothie: KALE

63. Sleep lab study: APNEA

64. Where Norway's Royal Family resides: OSLO

65. Biblical paradise: EDEN

66. L.A.'s region: SOCAL. Southern California

67. Pics on ankles: TATS. (tattoos)

68. Hair-coloring agents: DYES

Down:

1. Gloom partner: DOOM

2. Cajun veggie: OKRA

3. Course including romaine and croutons: CAESAR SALAD

4. Greenhouse gas protocol city: KYOTO

5. Loved to death: ADORED

6. Get-up-and-go: BRIO. 1725-35; < Italian < Spanish brío energy, determination < Celtic *brīgos; compare Old Irish bríg (feminine) power, strength, force, Middle Welsh bri (masculine) honor, dignity, authority

 7. New cow: CALF

8. Mar. 17th honoree: ST. PAT. Timely.

9. Horn of Africa nation: ERITREA

10. Clothing store department: [MENS]

11. Withdraw, with "out": OPT

12. G.I. doll: JOE

13. Dead Sea country: Abbr.: ISR. (Israel)

19. Lawrence's land: ARABIA

21. U2's "The Joshua Tree" co-producer Brian: ENO

24. "Enough!": "STOP ALREADY!"

25. Residents around the Leaning Tower: PISANS

26. __ up: came clean: 'FESSED

27. Saddle knob: POMMEL

28. Aim high: ASPIRE

30. Madame Bovary: EMMA. Debut novel of French writer Gustave Flaubert, published in 1856.

31. Language of Copenhagen, in Copenhagen: DANSK

33. Culinary meas.: TBSP. (tablespoon)

35. Acorn droppers: OAKS

37. Pike or trout: FISH

39. Seasoned expert: OLD PRO

42. Army leader: GENERAL. Usually, an old pro.

46. Last Olds models: ALEROs, but they live on in crosswords.

47. Catch red-handed: NAB

51. Place to keep a camper, for short: RV LOT

53. Irritated: IRKed

54. Mets' old stadium: SHEA

55. "Casablanca" woman: ILSA

56. Boston NBAer: CELT. Boston Celtics, timely also.

57. Protected from the wind: ALEE

58. Some male dolls: KENs

59. Owns: HAS

60. NASDAQ debut: IPO. (initial public offering)

61. Health supplements co.: GNC. Read about a Saint Patrick's Day Link.

Argyle

Sunday March 12, 2017 C.C. Burnikel

Theme: "Peachy" - P is changed into CH in each theme entry.

23A. Large retailer's overexpansion, perhaps? : CHAIN KILLER. Pain killer.

29A. Welcome summer cold snap? : HAPPY CHILL. Happy pill.

36A Measure of stress inflicted by a crowd's roar? : CHEER PRESSURE. Peer pressure.

59A. Storage unit for spray bottles, trowels, etc.? : GARDEN CHEST. Garden pest.

79A. Soup for toddlers? : BABY CHOWDER. Baby powder.

101A. Holiday pantomime game? : EASTER CHARADE. Easter parade.

110A. Necklace for a macho heartthrob? : STUD CHOKER. Stud poker.

119A. Little bird wielding an ax? : GUITAR CHICK. Guitar pick.

C.C. here. 

Rich helped me with the puzzle title. I originally had "Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes", which addressed the new phrases, not the replaced ones.

Rich also added surprise and visuals to the theme entry clues. For example: I had [Joan Jett, for one?] for the GUITAR CHICK entry. 

Additionally, Rich added trivia and tidied up my loose wording (space is always an issue with Sunday puzzles). For example, I had [First African-American to win the Best Actor Oscar] for POITIER [4D. First African-American Best Actor].

   

He does this for every puzzle I've made and makes me look professional. In real life, I often drop "the", forget to pluralize nouns and mess up tense all the time. Not to mention my accent.

Across:

1. Baloney : TRIPE. Very conservative grid design. 5/5/4/4 top/bottom edges.

6. Novelist Evelyn : WAUGH

11. "The Sound of Music" high points : ALPS. Also  20. Press the point : ARGUE. Point clue echo.

15. Risk being burned, in a way : BASK.  Rich's clue. Nice.

19. Impressive dwelling : MANOR

21. One with kids : GOAT. And 27. Watch kids : SIT. Rich changed my SIT clue so we could have kids clue echo. He loves echoes.

22. One-eyed Norse deity : ODIN

25. Georgetown hoopster : HOYA

26. Sign word evoking days of yore : OLDE

 

28. Is too sweet : CLOYS

31. In __ of : LIEU

33. Terrier of old mysteries : ASTA. "The Thin Man".

35. "Oh, sure!" : YEAH, I BET! We also have 3. Post-exam exultation : I NAILED IT

41. GPS displays : RTEs

42. Monster slain by Hercules : HYDRA

43. Printer brand owned by Seiko : EPSON. Did not know this trivia.

44. Black Friday mo. : NOV.

46. Autocrats until 1917 : TSARS. Also 51. Resort in the Caucasian Riviera : SOCHI. Also 118. "Terrible" Russian ruler : IVAN

50. News-selling org. : UPI

53. Stout holder : STEIN

55. Copacabana beach locale : RIO

56. Dole (out) : METE. Not many choices to clue METE/EKE. But they facilitate smoother fill.

58. Sour : TURN

 

62. __-Canada: Esso competitor : PETRO

64. Don Juan : ROUE

65. Bairns : WEE ONES

66. MLBer with 696 home runs : A-ROD. Dating J-Lo now.

68. Subtleties : NUANCES

71. Unbelievable one : LIAR

72. Like some spore reproduction : ASEXUAL

75. Worms, to robins : PREY

76. Deep pit : ABYSS

 

81. Marshland : MIRE

82. Draws off, as maple syrup : TAPS. Dear Santa sent me a bottle of this pure New York maple syrup. I like drizzling it over perfectly ripe bananas and sliced almonds.

86. Outback native : EMU

87. To have, to Henri : AVOIR

88. Grace starter : O LORD

90. Its PAC is the Political Victory Fund : NRA. Learning moment for me. Rich's clue.

91. Campbell-Martin of "Martin" : TISHA

94. "A mouse!" : EEK

95. Hawk's claw : TALON

97. Synthetic silk : RAYON

99. On the road : AWAY

104. Colombian export : EMERALDS. Rich's clue as well.

108. Blockheads : OAFS

109. "My stars!" : EGAD. Quaint.

112. Curly-tailed dog : AKITA

115. MinuteClinic operator : CVS

117. Ceramic piece : TILE. TTP once took out all the tiles off his bathroom wall and re-did everything. I could not imagine the work. Caulking is sophisticated enough for me. 

 

122. Genesis setting : EDEN

123. Like Gen. Shinseki, former Secretary of Veterans Affairs : RET'D

124. Forearm bones : ULNAS

125. Well-timed : ON CUE

126. Pair near your hair : EARS

127. Sailing ropes : TYES. So guilty of putting this in my grid. I just could not get a cleaner fill in that area.

128. Frets : STEWS

129. Requiring a lot of attention : NEEDY

  

Down:

 1. Flix alternative : TMC

2. Sideline shouts : RAHS 

5. Ocean bird : ERN

6. Baby monitor alert : WAIL

7. Folksy Guthrie : ARLO

8. Hard on the eyes : UGLY AS SIN. Have any of you tried Durian? Steve/Jayce? It's not pretty and it stinks (banned in many hotels/airplanes). The smell lingers for days. But so creamy & tasty.

9. "Seems to be the case" : GUESS SO

10. __ Majesty : HER

11. Ottoman honorific : AGHA

12. Not all there : LOOPY

13. Cable option : PAY-PER-VIEW

14. Visit overnight : STAY AT. Every time I pass by Aria, I think of Steve.

 

15. ["That stinks!"] : BOO HISS

16. Go off-line? : AD LIB. Did you nail it?

17. Move crab-style : SIDLE

18. Helped a tot tie a shoelace, say : KNELT

24. Single-serving coffee choice : K-CUP

29. Bit of a belly laugh : HAR

30. Atkins of country : CHET

32. Time line divisions : ERAS

34. Winery cask : TUN

36. Ground-up bait : CHUM. Learning moment for me. 

37. Fanfare and then some : HYPE

38. Come again : RECUR

39. "Julie & Julia" director : EPHRON (Nora)

40. Major course : ENTREE

45. Ref. for wordsmiths : OED

47. Where to find fans : ARENA

48. Stairway piece : RISER

49. They're unlikely to pass the bar : SOTS

52. Slugger Mel : OTT. Big Easy sent me these two pictures long time ago. 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."

53. Fresh : SAUCY

54. Spokane-to-Edmonton dir. : NNE

57. Modeling adhesive : EPOXY

59. Lost cause : GONER

60. Goofy collectibles? : CELs. Disney Goofy.

61. Lift : HOIST

63. Cabinet dept. : EDUC

64. Closer to being raw : RARER

66. "Same for me" : AS AM I

67. Game inside a Narragansett beer bottle cap : REBUS. Rich's clue as well.  Never heard of the beer. 

69. "Rabbit" series author : UPDIKE

70. Starbuck, for one : SAILOR

72. Conspire with : ABET

73. "Got it!" : AHA

74. Demonstratively romantic : LOVEY DOVEY. Asians are reserved.

77. Rodeo mount : BRONC

78. "__ out!" : YER

80. Blue state? : WOE

81. Maker of fancy notebooks : MOLESKINE. I get a red one for Christmas every year.

83. "I'll take all the help I can get" : ANY ADVICE? Rich's clue as well.

84. Urge : PROD

85. Right in the head : SANE

89. Big bore : DRAG

92. Gets tough : HARDENS

93. "Never Wave at __": Rosalind Russell movie : A WAC. Gluey fill.

95. Screening org. : TSA. They pried open my checked baggage a few days ago. Sigh. I've been using that lock for over 25 years.

96. To blame : AT FAULT

98. Spider woman? : ARACHNE

100. "Java" trumpeter : AL HIRT

102. "__ b?": "Which is it?" : A OR. Gluey fill.

103. Pick up : HEAR

104. Name on Re-Nutriv products : ESTEE. Also Rich's clue.

105. Site of the Cave of Zeus, in myth: Abbr. : MT. IDA

106. Calculus pioneer : EULER

107. Glide on blades : SKATE

111. Calls off : ENDS

113. "... __ a puddy tat!" : I TAW. Gluey fill.

114. Merged news agency : TASS

116. Move quickly, as clouds : SCUD

119. "Breaking Bad" baddie Fring : GUS. Gimme for D-Otto. Have you finished the whole series?

120. Nonpro? : CON

121. Very important : KEY

C.C.