Sunday November 11, 2018 Patti Varol

Theme: "Hunger Games" - Each theme entry starts with a synonym for "eat" and it's punnily clued as what a hungry person whose profession is mentioned in the clue might do.

23. A hungry actor might __: CHEW THE SCENERY.

30. A hungry film critic might __: TAKE IN A MOVIE.

53. A hungry locksmith might __: BOLT THE DOOR. This is a really hungry locksmith.

68. A hungry librarian might __: DEVOUR A GOOD BOOK.

 89. A hungry janitor might __: BITE THE DUST.

107. A hungry banker might __: DOWN PAYMENTS.

120. A hungry angler might __: SWALLOW THE BAIT.

What a great title, so apt describing what's happening in this puzzle. 

You all know Patti is Rich's assistant. She's also the editor for The Crosswords Club. This puzzle represents nicely what Patti is looking for in a puzzle: fun theme, tight theme set and clean fill. No weird abbreviations or entries only known to sports/musical fans, etc.

Patti Varol

Across:

1. Comfy cover-up: CAFTAN. Same structure as tunic.

7. Didn't toss: KEPT.

11. Elemental variant: ISOTOPE.

18. Loosen, in a way: UNLACE. Here is D-Otto's Hook and Loop New Balance, in case you wonder. He said they're the most comfortable walking shoes.

19. "Spare me your excuses": SAVE IT.

21. Spot for doodles: NOTEPAD.

22. Land at Mexico City Airport?: TIERRA. Spanish for "land". Nice misdirection.

25. Poison sumac exposure risk: ITCH.

26. Nonstick cookware brand: T-FAL.

28. "It matters how you get there" app: LYFT.

29. Dollars for quarters: RENTS.

34. Compote component: FRUIT.

36. Polish literature?: EDIT. Another fun clue. Of course I was thinking of Poland.

37. Exile: CAST OUT.

39. Bird feeder food: SUET.

43. "How you holdin' up?": FEEL OK?

46. "No __ done": HARM.

48. Subjects of the film "Blackfish": ORCAS. Unfamiliar with the film.

50. Music-licensing org.: BMI. OK, Broadcast Music, Inc.

51. Not quite right: AMISS.

52. Some is changed regularly: OIL. And  56. Pentagon address: SIR. Love both clues.

57. Clever barb response: OH SNAP.

60. Loch with a mystery: NESS.

61. Seriously ticked: IRATE.

62. Cartoon desert island sight: TREE.

64. Passé: OLD. This bag was super popular in China around 1981. Imagine my surprise when I saw Cameron Diaz sported it again.

65. Special forces mission: RAID.

67. Competed using blades: SKATED.

73. Cherry-topped dish: SUNDAE.

76. Venerable English school: ETON.

77. Dinghy need: OAR.

78. "Thor: Ragnarok" actor Idris: ELBA. Sexiest Man Alive.

82. Live, TV-wise: ON AIR.

83. Bouquet bearer: VASE.

85. Mariano Rivera, memorably: YANKEE. Rich is a Yankee fan. Patti loves her Mets.

88. Alley in comics: OOP.

92. Shade: HUE.

93. Curved plumbing piece: P TRAP.

95. Call __ day: IT A.

96. Monopoly buy: HOTEL.

97. Somber notice: OBIT.

99. CafePress purchase: T-SHIRT. Barry G has a shop at CafePress.

100. Comes together: GELS.

102. Kellogg's toaster pastry: POP TART. Never had one.

104. Philistine: BOOR.

105. Inched: CREPT.

113. Point of contention: ISSUE.

116. Swearing or swearing-in words: OATH.

118. Cookie grain: OATS.

119. Mystique: AURA.

124. Lanai furniture material: RATTAN. Never saw a rattan palm in person. Looks very spiky.

126. "One man's struggle to take it easy," for "Ferris Bueller": TAG LINE.

127. Intimidating words: OR ELSE.

128. Password preceder: USER ID.

129. Poor rating: ONE STAR.

130. Actress Falco: EDIE.

131. Reason: SANITY.

Down:

1. Measure up: CUT IT.

2. Singer Baker: ANITA.

3. 14-time Grammy-winning banjoist Béla: FLECK.

4. North Carolina team: TAR HEELS.

5. Unlike this ans.: ACR. Across.

6. One who picks up a lot: NEATNIK.

7. Mexican painter Frida: KAHLO.

8. Night before: EVE.

9. Chapel bench: PEW.

10. Champ's collection: TITLES. The kids Boomer coached the past eight weeks finished 3rd in their division (4 teams) last Friday.

11. Trains: INSTRUCTS.

12. A behavioral sci.: SOC.

13. Ferrell's "SNL" cheerleading partner: OTERI.

14. Guiding principles: TENETS.

15. Willing to listen: OPEN.

16. Auto store buy: PART.

17. "Grand" ice cream brand: EDY'S.

19. Ponzi scheme, e.g.: SCAM.

20. Psalm pronoun: THY.

24. Sincere attempts: EFFORTS.

27. Oft-chewed item: FAT. Tiny clue/answer dupe with one of the themers.

31. Defiant response: I DO SO.

32. TiVo predecessor: VCR.

33. Foot that's part of a meter: IAMB. Poetic foot.

35. Four Corners state: UTAH.

38. City on Lake Erie: TOLEDO.

40. WWII sub: U-BOAT.

41. Gush on stage: EMOTE.

42. Wiped out: TIRED.

43. Ramadan ritual: FAST. I can't imagine the will it takes not to eat.

44. Abu Dhabi dignitary: EMIR.

45. Name on Irish euros: EIRE

46. Veda reader: HINDU.

47. Resembling: A LA.

49. Omega rival: SEIKO. Only Grand Seiko.

52. Capital north of Berlin: OSLO.

54. Like some bagels: ONIONY. We also have 71. Breakfast-on-the-run pickup: DONUT.

55. Pond papa: DRAKE.

58. Stopped at sea, with "to": HOVE. Another learning moment for me.

59. Chatters: PRATES.

63. Terrier on "Frasier": EDDIE.

66. Before now: AGO.

67. Fit to be tied: SORE.

69. Word before or after "mother": EARTH.

70. Outcome: RESULT.

72. Really feel the heat: BAKE. Excited that the local Hmong farmers here started to grow Asian sweet potatoes. The ones I got at the farmers' market this year were so good. Taste of Xi'an.

73. Pulitzer-winning Ferber novel: SO BIG.

74. Work together: UNITE.

75. Present at birth: NATAL.

79. Actress Petty of "Orange Is the New Black": LORI.

80. Tusked critter: BOAR.

81. Cal. entry: APPT. Thank God for Google Calendar and reminders.

83. Naysayer's weapon?: VETO POWER. Great fill.

84. Highly skilled in: ADEPT AT.

86. Often-seared tuna: AHI. You can find it in your local Aldi.

87. English Derby town: EPSOM.

90. Last element in Pandora's box: HOPE.

91. Lawn-Boy parent company: TORO. Based here in MN.

94. Menace: THREATEN.

98. Texter's "Oh, and another thing ... ": BTW.

99. Geoffrey the Giraffe's store: TOYS "R" US. Still open in China.

101. River racers: SCULLS.

103. Stick (to): ADHERE.

104. Carlsbad Caverns dweller: BAT.

106. Bright again: RE-LIT.

108. White __: NOISE.

109. Party spread: PATE.

110. __-Grain: breakfast bar brand: NUTRI.

111. Blue eyes, e.g.: TRAIT.

112. Baseball Hall of Famer Koufax: SANDY. One guy at our flea market has this Life magazine.

113. Ratio phrase: IS TO.

114. Adult cygnet: SWAN.

115. Herb used in turkey dressing: SAGE.

117. E'en if: THO.

121. "Based __ true story": ON A.

122. Retirement spot: BED.

123. "Moonlight" Oscar winner Mahershala __: ALI.

125. Comparison words: AS A.

Boomer updates:

We had a consultation with a radiation oncologist on Thursday. Then Boomer got tattooed. He's going to start his daily radiation treatment on Nov. 14th. The procedure ends on Nov. 28th. Weekends are rest days. At the moment, they're just going to focus on the area where he has the T 11 fracture.

He's also going to have more blood work done next week. Then we'll meet with Dr. Thomas Downs for the monthly follow-up. Eager to see if the Eligard shot works on him. So far, Boomer still has not had any hot flashes, so I'm a bit nervous. 

He's also going to have the Zoledronic acid infusion next week.

Happy Veterans Day to all the veterans on our blog: Spitzboov, Boomer, Jayce, D-Otto, TTP and Anon-T! Sorry if I forget others.

C.C.

Saturday, November 10, 2018, C.C. Burnikel

Themeless Saturday By C.C. Burnikel


Sunny day... Today we celebrate a TV show that has been an institution for decades. It dispenses the message of learning, good manners and tolerance. 

My favorite song from the show is Kermit's It's Not Easy Being Green, of which Ray Charles said

“The words say 'It’s not easy being green,' but the song is about knowing who you are. And in it you hear Jim’s (Henson) message most clearly. He believed that people are good and that they want to do their best and that no matter how or why we might be different from anybody else, we should learn to love who we are and be proud of it.”

Rubber Ducky was a close second. 😙

Our own blogmistress C.C. steps up to the plate today and hits a home run with her lovely construction. In keeping with today's National Day, I must comment how C.C. has taught me so much about crosswords and has done it in such a pleasant and patient way. I would have been proud to have her as a colleague in my teaching profession. Further, she has inspired many of us to reach beyond our grasp and construct with her guidance and I know I am very grateful for that. Many of my friends now think I'm smart because my name is listed as a co-author on an LA Times puzzle.

C.C. has mastered her craft to such a degree that she can entertain us no matter the day or level of difficulty. My attempt at research shows this is her third Saturday LA Times submission, both of which were blogged by Splynter. 

Let's see what else C.C. has to teach us today "where the air is sweet":


Across:

1. Cheese manufacturing by-product: WHEY - A lesser man would say, "this is a nice WHEY to start" but I won't!

5. 2017 events for SNAP and Blue Apron: IPOS - Initial Public OfferingS

9. Dolt: CLOD.

13. Green feature: HOLE - If you get a HOLE-in-one on this African-shaped green in South Africa, you win a million dollars.

14. Soup bar staple: MINESTRONE.

17. Dwarf planet named for a Greek goddess: ERIS  - About the same size as Pluto but with an even more eccentric orbit

18. Annual awards for which many adolescents vote: TEEN CHOICE - This year's winners

19. "Do I dare to eat a peach?" poet: T.S. ELIOT - From The Love Song Of J. Alfred Prufrock

21. Ready to go out: DRESSED.

22. Underground rodent: SEWER RAT - 'nuff said

24. Grafton's "__ for Alibi": A IS - What better series to feature on Sesame Street Day?

25. Oceanus, for one: TITAN - We saw the statue of this Greek/Roman TITAN of the sea at the Trevi Fountain

6. Only work Michelangelo ever signed: PIETA which is found at St. Peter's only a short distance from the Trevi Fountain 

26. Shot in a tiny cup: ESPRESSO - Don Fanucci's demitasse of ESPRESSO has the same caffeine as a big cup of regular coffee Caffeine content in ESPRESSO compared to Regular Coffee

31. Top: CREST.

32. Bar at the garage: AXLE.

33. "Rich Man, Poor Man" novelist: SHAW - Irwin

34. Owns: HAS.

35. Bliss: ECSTASY - for both parent and offspring 

38. Cold draft, perhaps: ALE- Mentioned last week on National Beer Day

39. "This other __, demi-paradise": Shak.: EDEN - The lovely passage from Richard II that ends in "This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England"

41. Obsessed mariner: AHAB - Many, including Gregory Peck himself, thought he was miscast as the lunatic AHAB in the 1956 movie of Moby Dick

50. Stops presenting evidence: RESTS - In this wonderful role, I'm sure Peck's Atticus Finch felt confident after his defense RESTED

42. Like sea lions: EARED - Pinnipeds compared

44. Set free: RELEASED - On this date in 1967, The Moody Blues RELEASED Nights In White Satin

46. Data breach causes: HACKS - Is any data really safe?

47. Welcome sight?: MAT.

48. Small two-seater: SMART CAR - There's even room for one perp

51. Herald: USHER IN.

55. Soften: ASSUAGE crossing and 43. Set in motion: ACTUATE were my last fills

56. Rash-causing shrubs: POISON OAKS.

58. Quite some time: AGES.

59. Source of potential matches: DATING POOL - I haven't dipped my toe into that POOL for well over 50 years

60. Out house?: TENT - C.C. clever cluing! Here's an outhouse TENT for when you are living in another TENT serving as an "out" house.

61. Vein valuables: ORES.

62. "If all __ fails ... ": ELSE - read the directions

63. Body shop figs.: ESTS - Their ESTIMATES are usually pretty good


Down:

1. Sharpens: WHETS - In my first teen job at a local nursery, we carried WHET stones for the knives we used

2. Shrewd bargain: HORSE TRADE - Often concluded in halls of Congress

3. The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Award was renamed for him: ELIE WIESEL - He had armed guards with him when he spoke at our high school 

4. "We should!": YES LET'S

5. "Tough decision!": I'M TORN - How can I tell my coffee group I am on the fence?

7. Together: ONE - Paul Stookey of PP&M wrote The Wedding Song which has, "They shall travel on to where, The two shall be as ONE"

8. Dispatch: SEND.

9. Mass symbols: CROSSES - Here's one suspended at the front of our St. Pat's Church

10. Hi's wife, in comics: LOIS - Some Hi and Lois cwd fill. Oh, Hi and Lois is a pun!

11. Some time ago: ONCE.

12. House document: DEED - The DEED to the famous South Fork Ranch featured in Dallas

15. Tough spots: SCRAPES.

16. "__ Eyes Were Watching God": Hurston novel: THEIR - Zora Neale Hurston's tale of Janie Crawford "ripening from a vibrant, but voiceless, teenage girl into a woman with her finger on the trigger of her own destiny."

20. Fit to be tied: IRATE - Some politicians from four days ago

23. Some online banners: TEXT ADS - Ads for MAN BAGS started appearing on this page after it had appeared in a puzzle here recently 

27. Big piece: SLAB - Of course it can be a big piece of a pastry but it is also what we called a big piece of concrete 

28. Divers' protection: SHARK CAGES - For $99 on Oahu's north shore, you can get this experience below which could include a visit from 49. Powerful sharks: MAKOS.

29. Pitcher?: SALES AGENT - We got a cheap Branson Vacation Package but we had to listen to a SALES AGENT pitch time-shares

30. Outstanding: OWED - It's not how much the car costs or how much the salesman says he is giving you for your car, it is what is OWED when you're all done

31. "Believe" singer: CHER.

32. Court immortal: ASHE - His statue now stands on Monument Ave. in his hometown of Richmond, VA. Debate continues about tearing down the other statues on that street that celebrate Confederate heroes 

36. Certain director's concern: CASTING - Their infamous CASTING couches have been much in the news

37. Quite some time: YEARS.

40. Waterloo: NEMESIS - This is the man-made "Lion's Hill" near Waterloo, Belgium on the battlefield where Napoleon met his, uh, Waterloo. For a fee you can climb its 225 steps for a panoramic view

45. Alphabetically first Baseball Hall of Famer: AARON - The last on this alphabetical list was a SS who was elected in 1999 and has a last name beginning with "Y". *Answer is at the bottom of this write-up and I'll bet C.C. and Boomer know who it is.

46. Major headache: HASSLE.

51. Bun, e.g.: UPDO.

52. Skyrocket: SOAR - The Blue Angels know how

53. "Women and Love" author: HITE - Ouch!

54. "You wish": NOPE.

57. Yahoo! sister company: AOL.

With apologies to Sue Grafton, B IS also FOR Birthday today. So let me share a picture of my wife's twin Joyce, their mother Martha and my wife Joann on this day, the sisters' 72nd birthday.

Don't be a grouch, give us your comments:

*Robin Yount is the last name alphabetically at Cooperstown.

Friday, November 9, 2018, Bonnie L. Gentry and Victor Fleming

Title: Where did he hide my LEGO?

You have to go back more than 9 years to see the first puzzle by this team reviewed here at the CORNER. Then you have to travel 9,811 miles to watch me prepare this write-up from Thung Saliam, Sukhothai Province, Thailand. I am no world traveler like Steve, but we are here as Oo's son honors her by being ordained a monk for 7 days.
Back to the write-up; I remarked in their offering back in 2009 about coincidence in puzzles, and here we are again. Just after commented on Mark McClain's use of the black space in his Sunday effort, this team goes one better and has the black space represent the word BLOCK, which is of course is what a black space is. Wonderful.  And for the icing on the cake the symmetry of the break 9/5 to 5/9 3/11 to 11/3 extraordinary.
We also find ALL HOURS REHEATED AIR LEAK APPENDS ATONING EAT AWAY and PARIAHS as long fill to thrill

17A. Impediment: STUMBLING (9) (BLOCK) and 19A. Neighborhood gathering: (BLOCK) PARTY.(5).  Once a again, a grid -spanning set.

25A. Beach application: SUN (3) (BLOCK) and 28A. Billion-dollar pharmaceuticals: (BLOCK) BUSTER DRUGS.(11). This slowed me down as I did not know this PHRASE.

46A. One with a lot to learn, perhaps: NEW KID ON THE (11) and 49A. Obstruction: (BLOCK) AGE.(3).

61A. Local anesthesia effect: NERVE.(5) (BLOCK) and 62A . Device with pulleys: (BLOCK) AND TACKLE (9).
The reveal:

67A. Word aptly represented by four black squares in this puzzle: BLOCK.

Across:

1. Bad cut: GASH. A gruesone way to begin.

5. And: ALSO.

9. __ Ababa: ADDIS. This is a regular fill on Friday.

14. Natural skin soother: ALOE.

15. Good earth: LOAM. There is a Department of Agriculture official definition on recotd.

16. Datum in a forensic database: PRINT. Fingerprint. NCIS is not the same especially with Abby gone.

20. Outcasts: PARIAHS.

21. Boiling point?: KETTLE. My favorite cute clue because it is the lo action of the boling.

22. "No seats" sign: SRO. Standing Room Only.

23. Score after deuce: AD IN.  A tenns term appears after the Andre Agassi comments yesterday.

34. More than suspect: KNOW.

36. Early 20th-century touring cars: REOS. Ransom E. Olds liked naming things after himself.

37. Part of a joke: SETUP.

38. Lingering effect: ECHO. Another cute clue/fill.

39. Not as dotty: SANER. Does anyone use the term "dotty" anymore?

41. Colorado tributary: GILA.

42. Massey of old films: ILONA.  She was a star. LINK.

44. Thoroughbred's dad: SIRE.

45. "Git!": SCAT.

50. Pushed the doorbell: RANG.

51. Night school subj.: ESL. Oo going to learn English cemented our relationship.

53. Scandinavian bar exchange: SKOALS. L' Chaim, A votre sante! Slainte!

57. Corrode: EAT AWAY.

64. Words in some English resort town names: ON SEA.

65. Major fit: RAGE. Rageaholics are all too common.

66. First name in homespun humor: ERMA.

68. Watched carefully: EYED.

69. Exchange jabs: SPAR. Boxing or


Down:

1. [You can't mean that!]: GASP.

2. Wasatch Mountains resort: ALTA. This is the LINK. I am much more familiar with Park City.

3. __ grapes: SOUR. Aesop anyone?

4. Some Chrysler engines: HEMIS.

5. Around-the-clock: ALL HOURS.

6. Half a Daily Planet byline: LOIS. Lane of Superman fame.

7. __ Antonio: SAN.

8. Texting interjection: OMG.

9. Tacks on: APPENDS.

10. "Phooey!": DRAT.

11. __-cheap: DIRT.

12. Like some JFK flights: INTL. 15 hours and 32 minutes later we  landed in GUANGZHOU!   Guangzhou is a sprawling port city northwest of Hong Kong on the Pearl River. The city features avant-garde architecture such as Zaha Hadid’s Guangzhou Opera House (known as the “double pebble”); the carved box-shaped Guangdong Museum; and the iconic Canton TV Tower skyscraper, resembling a thin hourglass

13. Lid issue: STYE. This ailment appears also very often.

18. Verbal jab: BARB. See 69A.

21. Cassis apéritif: KIR. LINK.

23. Penitent: ATONING. Many ways to do this.

24. Mirage site: DESERT. Where it is -site, not what it is -sight.

25. Knitter's coil: SKEIN.

26. Family reunion attendee: UNCLE.

27. At all: NO HOW.

29. A pass may cover one: SEASON. Tickets for the Opera?

30. Brief rules?: REGS.

31. City in New York's Mohawk Valley: UTICA.

32. Stalin-era prison: GULAG. Not to be confued with the German Stalag.

33. Dramatic outpouring: SPATE.

35. Policy __: WONK. An unknown for me but in terms dictionary as a person who takes an excessive interest in political policy.

40. Readied, as leftovers: REHEATED.

43. Puncture consequence: AIR LEAK. I guess, but it sounds forced.

47. Court figures, for short: DAS.

48. Ensenada pronoun: ESTA. A Spanish word.

52. Velcro alternative: LACES. Pretty funny that laces are not the alterntive.

53. Nose-in-the-air sort: SNOB.

54. __ Ration: KEN-L.

55. Guesstimate phrase: OR SO.

56. With, on le menu: AVEC. Our French word of the day.

57. Do landscaping work: EDGE.

58. Dr. Johnny Fever's fictional station: WKRP. In Cincinnati...

59. Soprano Gluck: ALMA. Our only musical interlude and I cannot get YouTube to load. There is a beautiful video of Alma and her husband, violinist Efrem Zimbalist, singing to their child Efrem Zimbalist Jr., who would become famous in his own right  from TV shows 77 Sunset Strip and FBI and as the father of Stephanie who was Remington Steele.

60. Sommelier's concern: YEAR. The vintage of the wine.

62. "__ you out of your mind?": ARE.

63. "All opposed" reply: NAY. And the votes are in and i loved this puzzle.

I hope you enjoyed this tour of another creative puzzle. Welcome back Bonnie and Victor and Sawa dee ko from Thailand. Lemonade out.

Thursday, November 8th 2018 Robert E. Lee Morris

Theme: Acting out - or as the reveal nicely explains:

55. Therapy technique ... and a hint to what's hidden in 17-, 24-, 34- and 45-Across?: ROLE-PLAYING

Scramble ROLE and you’re off to the races:

17A. Cara cara or Washington fruit: NAVEL ORANGE. Originated at Hacienda de Cara Cara and believed to be a hybrid from the Washington navel and the Brazilian Bahia navel. Now we know.

24A. Where I-30 and I-40 meet: LITTLE ROCK. Interstate geography lesson.

34A. Traveler's rest: MOTEL ROOM. There's probably a couple in Little Rock.

45A. Actor who appeared in nine films with Sydney Greenstreet: PETER LORRE. What better way to namecheck the actor than remember this great 70's track from Al Stewart, played live on the BBC's "Old Grey Whistle Test" music showcase.

Straightforward enough theme, one that you need to go back and look for when you see the reveal. Nicely consistent with the even two-letter split across the two words of each theme entry.

I found the top-center section a little tricky and had to go back to finish up at the end. I actually didn't finish this one correctly - I had a personal Natick with LILA and ALL, both unknown to me. I guessed "Y" instead of "A" for no good reason.

Let's see what else we've got to talk about:

Across:

1. Spinal segment: DISC

5. One without a permanent address: NOMAD

10. What sit-ups strengthen: ABS

13. College World Series home: OMAHA. NCAA Baseball. I never watch it, but I knew the location. Funny how that works.

15. Offer one's two cents: OPINE

16. Burst: POP

19. Poirot's street: RUE. Agatha Christie's character Hercule Poirot is Belgian, and some detective work suggests he was born and grew up in Spa, which in the French-speaking part of Belgium, and therefore his street would be a "rue", rather than a "straat".

20. "Open: An Autobiography" subject: AGASSI. Tennis star André.

21. Blintz topping: ROE

22. Actress Meyer of "Saw" films: DINA. Never saw them. Thank you, crossses.

23. Hue: TINT

27. Tonsillitis-treating doc: E.N.T.

28. IV units: CC'S

29. Roman goddess of agriculture: CERES

30. __ Moines: DES

31. "Down Came a Blackbird" country singer McCann: LILA. As aforementioned, she's not familiar to me. Handy crossword name though, I'll endeavor to remember.

33. Committee leader: CHAIR

36. Boat filler: GRAVY. I think my favorite clue/answer of the day.

38. Passed-down tales: LORE. Passed-down tales of an actor in this puzzle? Lorre lore.

39. Convened: SAT

42. Pool table slab: SLATE

43. Part of Q&A: AND. Question-and-answer session

44. Pub potable: ALE

49. Pierce player: ALDA. "Hawkeye" portrayer Alan in "M*A*S*H"

50. Crew pair: OARS

51. Poet's preposition: ERE

52. Cubs pitcher Jon: LESTER. I didn't even notice this one until now, it filled itself in. I wouldn't have had a clue either.

54. "Suits" TV network: USA

57. Liberal arts maj.: SOCiology

58. Battery terminal: ANODE

59. Car opening?: RENTA

60. Compass pt.: E.N.E.

61. Parsonage: MANSE. Usually for Baptist. Methodist or Presbyterian ministers.

62. Light shirts: TEES

Down:

1. Gave: DONATED

2. Picture: IMAGINE

3. Learned ones: SAVANTS

4. Trunk: CHEST

5. Country partly in the Arctic Circle: Abbr.: NOR.

6. Tricky genre: OP ART Here's one that doesn't make your head spin too much at the Schirn Kunsthalle in Frankfurt:

7. Annual North Dakota State Fair site: MINOT. I quite confidently filled in "FARGO" with no crosses to confirm any of the letters, and spent some time trying to convince myself it had to be right. They two places are more than 280 miles apart, so not even close!

8. Mike Trout, notably: ANGEL. What happens next year if he gets traded?

9. See 56-Down: DEE. 

10. Like some knowledge: A PRIORI

11. Bar employee: BOUNCER

12. Represents, with "for": SPEAKS

14. Gore and Michaels: ALS

18. Original Pennsylvania headquarters of Quaker State: OIL CITY

22. Journal subject: DREAM

25. "__ of Dogs": 2018 animated film: ISLE

26. Reverberated: ECHOED

28. Well-off, after "in": CLOVER

32. Free Clear detergent maker: ALL. No clue, as previously mentioned.

33. Ithaca campus: CORNELL. Now I know where Cornell is. Learning moment.

34. Partners: MATES

35. Laugh good and loud: ROAR

36. "The Hustler" actor (1961): GLEASON

37. Grind: RAT RACE

39. Soup cracker: SALTINE

40. Ristorante request: AL DENTE. I'm not sure you request pasta "al dente", that's how it comes. If it's not, you send it back.

41. Riot squad's supply: TEAR GAS

42. Partner, perhaps: SPOUSE

46. Hotelier Helmsley: LEONA. Quite a figure. "The Queen of Mean" was jailed for tax evasion, allegedly saying "We don't pay taxes; only little people pay taxes".

47. Sweater fabric: ORLON

48. Clarinetist's supply: REEDS

49. So far: AS YET

53. Sound catcher: EAR

55. More than bump into: RAM

56. With 9-Down, river of the Carolinas: PEE. Unknown to me, I'll try to remember the Pee Dee for the next time it crops up.

And with the grid, that about seals it for this outing:

Steve

Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018 Michael Ray Jacobson and Patti Varol

Theme: HAPPY 75th, JONI MITCHELL.  Theme answers feature some of her body of work.

20 A. 1968 55-Across song: BOTH SIDES NOW.  First recorded by Judy Collins in 1968, then the following year by the composer on an album named for a word in this song.

32. 1976 55-Across album: HEJIRA.  Her 8th studio album. It was mostly written on and inspired by a driving trip from Maine to L.A.  You can read about it here.

37. 1970 55-Across song: BIG YELLOW TAXI.  I never knew that was the name of this song.  The things you learn  .  .  .

43. 1969 55-Across album whose last song is 20-Across: CLOUDS.  This is the word. Cf 20 A, above.

55. Singer/songwriter born 11/7/1943: JONI MITCHELL.  The birthday girl, herself. 

Program Book for the Joni 75 event in Los Angeles 

Hi gang, JazzBumpa here to spin the platters.  This doesn't quite take me back to my 'ute.  But I'm no spring chicken, either.  It takes me back to early adulthood.  CLOUDS was released about a year before my son was born.

Let's examine this score and see if we can find some high notes.

Across:

1. Crowds around: MOBS.  Here, "crowds" is a verb, describing a group of people [presumably] mobbing someone or some thing.

5. Geologic time: EPOCH.  On a geologic time scale, this is a long, but non-specific time period that is shorter than a period and longer than an age.  Certainly longer than my age, and that's saying something.

10. It's the truth: FACT.  An element or aspect of reality.

14. Baseball's Felipe or his son Moises: ALOU.  Along with Felipe's younger brothers Matty and Jesús.  Very talented players from the Dominican Republic.

15. Nabisco wafer brand: NILLA.   Shortened form of VANILLA. the main flavor element of these cookies.

16. Serengeti feline: LION.  And that's a FACT!

17. Barclays Center team: NETS.  Basketball.

18. Strung along: LED ON.   Given false hopes by someone insincere.

19. Boatloads: A LOT.  Non-specific large quantity.

23. Axis foes: ALLIES.  WWII foes.   The main Allied powers were Great Britain, The United States, China, and the Soviet Union.   The main Axis powers were Germany, Japan and Italy.

24. Spot for an AirPod: EAR.  These are wireless headphones made by Apple.

25. Tight spot: JAM.  Unpleasant situation with no easy escape route.

28. "__ whiz!": GEE.  Golly!

29. Sundance's sweetie __ Place: ETTA.  "The Sundance Kid" was outlaw Harry Alonzo Longabaugh. Her real name, age and birthplace are all unknown. Evidently, she was married to Longabaugh.

"Classic Good Looks"

34. Lofty principles: IDEALS.  Standards of perfection, principles to strive for.

36. "Do __ others ... ": UNTO. Archaic form of "to."

41. "The Walking Dead" survivor Grimes: CARL.  The son of primary protagonist Rick Grimes, and his wife Lori Grimes.  Already more than I know.

42. Advertising lure: COME ON.  Bait.  May or may not come with switch.

46. Business review site: YELP.  An on-line publishing service for crowd-sourced revues of local businesses.

47. Influential D.C. group: PAC.  Political Action Committee.

50. Place in the woods: DEN.  An animals lair, I suppose.  Not fond of this clue.

51. Forever and a day: EON.  Is this longer than an EPOCH?

53. "Watch and learn": LIKE SO.  As I demonstrate  .  .  .

58. Auburn rival, familiarly: 'BAMA.  University of Alabama, the Crimson Tide.

61. Miguel's "I love you": TE AMO.  Spanish amor.

62. Small Chevy model: AVEO.  Or Aero.  Needed perp help.

63. Vacationing: AWAY.  Out of town.  Or at least away from the office.

64. Harsh-smelling: ACRID.  Nasty odor.

65. Sharp-edged: KEEN.  Well honed.

66. Tach reading: REVS.  I wanted RPMS.  But R stands for Revs, so OK.

67. Annoy: GET TO.  Bug, in a way.

68. Car trip game: I SPY.   The spy observes something and gives a hint, such as the letter it strts with or its color, and other players have to guess what it is.

Down:

1. Metrosexual tote: MAN BAG.  Choose from our wide selection.

2. Repetitive refrain in the song "Hot Hot Hot": OLE OLE.

3. Perfume holder: BOTTLE.

4. Fish dish served with wasabi: SUSHI.  Actually, a vinegared rice dish often, but not necessarily, served with sea food.

5. Willing recruit: ENLISTEE.  One who joins without a lead on or come on.

6. Like a noted piper: PIED. Clad in multicolored clothing.

7. Quaint retail adjective: OLDE.  As in Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe.

8. In the neighborhood: CLOSE.  Near by, but cigarless.

9. ESPN anchor __ Storm: HANNAH.

Helped break the gender barrier in sportscasting

10. It may be tragic: FLAW.  Or even fatal.

11. Not feel well: AIL.  Have something

12. Whisper sweet nothings: COO.  Might also involve billing.

13. Explosive letters: TNT.  Dy-no-mite!

21. Far from swanky: SEEDY.  In poor, run-down condition.

22. Mined-over matter: ORE.  Stuff found in a hole in the ground.  Clever clue.

25. "We just said the same thing at the same time!": JINX.  So you owe me!

26. Basic drawing class: ART I.  Here the I stands for the number 1, designating the introduction to Art class.  Have you met Art?  Would you introduce me?

27. "Little Red Book" author: MAO.  A book of quotations and writing from Mao Zedong,  chairman of the Chinese Communist Party from its inception in 1949 until his death in 1979.

30. Powder puff stuff: TALC.  A finely divided form of hydrated magnesium silicate.

31. Bronze or brass: ALLOY.  An ALLOY is a mixture of metals, generally designed to enhance physical properties.

33. San __, Puerto Rico: JUAN.  Located on the north coast of the island, it is the capital and largest city of the commonwealth.

34. "House," in Inuit: IGLU.  Usually rendered as IGLOO in the English speaking world.

35. A few: SOME.  An indeterminate quantity of moderate size.

37. Hayloft bundle: BALE.  Of hay, of course.

38. Wrinkle remover: IRON.   For your clothing.

39. Prosperous: WELL TO DO.  Upper class.

40. __ sentence: essay opener: TOPIC.  What it's all about.

41. Included in an email, briefly: CCD.  Copied.  Thus, included as a recipient, not in the contents.

44. "Gloria in Excelsis __": DEO.  Glory to God in the highest, in Latin - a Christian hymn, also known as the Greater Doxology.

45. "In America" novelist Susan: SONTAG.  The novel is based on the true story of Polish actress Helena Modjeska who arrived in California in 1876.

47. Pet problems?: PEEVES.  Pet PEEVES are thing you find particularly annoying.  Are they necessarily problems?  I have mixed feelings about this clever, misleading clue.  More clever than accurate, perhaps.

48. __ at the wheel: ASLEEP.  An expression indicating a failure to handle duties or responsibilities.  Also a country music group that has recorded over 20 albums and won 9 Grammies since their start in 1970.

49. Ant-sy complex?: COLONY.   Misleading, but accurate and cute.

52. Female relative: NIECE.  Sister's or brother's daughter.  Mine lives in N. Car.

54. Uniform cloth: KHAKI.  A strong cotton fabric in a dull yellow-brown color.

55. Rogers Centre team, familiarly: JAYS.  Toronto Blue Jays of the American League of baseball.

56. K follower: MART.  Are there any left?  The former K-Mart site near me is being converted into an Aldi grocery store.

57. "Look no further than me": I'M IT.  Choose me!

58. Trivia night site: BAR.  Site for drinking and gaming.

59. Bedazzle: AWE.  Impress in a highly favorable way.

60. Big D hoopster: MAVerick, a player on the team representing Dallas in the National Basketball Association.

That wraps up another Wednesday.  Was it all in tune for you?  A little dissonance here and there, but not too many sour notes, IMHO, and a nice tribute to Ms. Mitchell.  Patti Varol is a familiar contributor, but it looks like this might be an LAT debut for Mr. Jacobson - congrats!

Cool regards!
JzB