Sunday, May 15, 2016 Melissa Brown and C.C. Burnikel

Title: SECRET RETREAT

Husker Gary gladly caddying for C.C. and Melissa B today! These lovely ladies have hidden the word SPA in nine fills. You know, SPAS, where you can have various parts of your body wrapped, waxed, peeled, exfoliated, hydrated, stoned and rubbed. Sounds like a hoot!

THEME FILLS - All the theme fills were horizontal and SPA was split between the two words where the first word ended in S and the second word began with PA. A true model of consistency, not to mention wit from C.C. and Melissa B.

23. "Time for a shindig!" : LET'S PARTY

25. "Common Sense" pamphleteer : THOMAS PAINE - Count me in as honest, Tom!

37. Remarkable thing, in old slang : CAT'S PAJAMAS - Or luxury cat accommodations in Lincoln

54. Where to get the score : SPORTS PAGE - It had to kill the Seattle Times to give the score of Super Bowl XLIX on what may be the most stupid play call in history

71. Resort with a Forum Tower : CAESAR'S PALACE - What else are you going to name your towers there? 

89. Very slow motion : SNAIL'S PACE - Finally a running shop that "get's me"!

105. Brewery product since 1777 : BASS PALE ALE - The famous Bass Red Triangle Label in Manet's 1882 A Bar at the Folies-Bergère

123. Reporter's entrée : PRESS PASS - I don't know this actor but everything else seems right

120. Acid test substance : LITMUS PAPER - We pitched the papers and used this

...and the three-letter reveal

125. Retreat hidden in nine puzzle answers : SPA - Do you see a hint that this SPA is located in Hershey, Pennsylvania?

Okay, I'll try not to rub you the wrong way as we massage this puzzle's wonderful content:

Across

1. Playground provocation : DARE - A brass statue in Hammond, IN (home of author Jean Shepherd who inspired A Christmas Story) dedicated to a famous movie DARE 

5. Campus org. founded in 1906 : NCAA

9. Existing : BEING

14. Capers : LARKS

19. Religion of most Iranians : SHIA

20. Stops allowing : BANS

21. Complete : UTTER

22. Greenland native : INUIT - Where they were/are 

27. Chichén Itzá builder : MAYA

28. Basque city with a Guggenheim Museum : BILBAO - In northern Spain. Uh, not TOLEDO!

30. Make up your mind : OPT

31. "Bus Stop" playwright : INGE - He said the play was based on people he met in Tonganoxie, Kansas

32. Juice unit : AMP

34. Knitting choices : PURLS - Oh, now I get it! Yeah right!

35. People's Choice Award winner for Favorite TV Drama, 2008-2011 : HOUSE MD

41. Winged stingers : WASPS

43. __ Plaines River : DES

44. Off-road ride, for short : ATV - High center of gravity, narrow base and idiocy make these so dangerous 

45. Muchos meses : ANOS - Many months = Years (in español)

46. Dealer's query : YOU IN?

48. SEC concern : IPO - Initial Public Offering 

50. Yemeni capital : RIAL - A Big Mac meal in Sana'a costs 1,833 ﷼ (RIALS)

52. Palm products : DATES - An ingredient in grandma's great Christmas cookies

59. Sicilian skiing attraction : ETNA - Who needs snow? Here's summer skiing on Etna's powdery volcanic ash

60. They may be about nothing : ADOS

61. Jacket material : SUEDE

62. Drops the ball : ERRS - Wes Welker does just that in Super Bowl XLVI and super model Gisele Bundchen famously said of her QB husband Tom Brady, "He can't f____ing throw the ball and catch it too!"

63. Top story : ATTIC

65. Move a muscle : STIR

67. Some might vote in it : ABSENTIA - Love this cluing

70. Time of life : AGE

75. CBS forensic series : CSI

76. Sammy Davis Jr.'s only #1 hit, with "The" : CANDY MAN 

78. Short staffer? : ASST

79. Send payment : REMIT

81. Weymouth of Talking Heads : TINA - Bassist TINA and drummer husband Chris Frantz formed Talking Heads in 1971 and have been married for almost 40 years

82. Like clarinet music : REEDY

84. Clarinet kin : OBOE

87. "Drinks are __!" : ON ME - "I am very messy!"

92. Dishwasher handle? : AMANA

93. Simon of Broadway : NEIL - I can't pick a favorite NEIL Simon play. You? My daughter was a great Corie in this classic

94. Match part : SET

95. Big name in Russian ballet : KIROV- The KIROV Ballet Company declined greatly when Nureyev, Makarova and Baryshnikov defected to the West during the Cold War

97. Coal unit : LUMP

99. L.A. Galaxy's group : MLS - Major League Soccer

100. Gardner of film : AVA

103. Chinese menu assurance : NO MSG - The Mayo Clinic says there is no direct link to illness and MSG

108. "I don't think so" : NICE TRY - If he says "I don't think so", he'll never say "NICE TRY"

110. Whence Saint Teresa : AVILA - A 16th century Spanish Saint who is the patron saint of headache sufferers

111. Phone book no. : TEL - Ours was 132-J when we had to tell an operator

112. Ship stabilizer : KEEL

113. Unruly do : MOP

115. Spartan serfs : HELOTS

117. Its initials became its name in 1999 : AARP

126. Great Lakes natives : ERIES -What? I thought they lived around Lake Crossword! :-) 

127. Novelist's list, perhaps : IDEAS - JK Rowling's hand-written spreadsheet notes to create Harry Potter. How'd that book do?

128. Fertilizer ingredient : PEAT

129. Lose it : SNAP

130. Holy, to Henri : SACRE - SACRE' bleu (Sacred Blue) became a common sound-alike for  SACRE' Dieu (Sacred God) which was considered blasphemous 

131. Theatrical device : ASIDE - A frequent device in House Of Cards

132. Use one's outside voice : YELL

133. Grammy winner James : ETTA

Down

1. Surfing letters : DSL - Digital Subscriber Line is now passé 

2. Small clearing? : AHEM - Cute

3. Beatles girl : RITA - The Lovely Meter Maid

4. Piece-of-cake courses : EASY A'S

5. Magic org. : NBA - Orlando pro basketballers

6. Concern for some losers : CARB

7. Ristorante course : ANTIPASTO - From the Latin: ANTI (before) PASTUS (meal). Served at the SPA?

8. Safe haven : ASYLUM

9. "Furthermore, however, ... " : BUT ALSO

10. Cultural spirit : ETHOS

11. Judge in 1995 news : ITO - Some think Johnnie Cochran was in charge of the OJ trial

12. Pixar protagonist : NEMO - In 2016 Pixar is now finding NEMO'S friend

13. Boardroom props : GRAPHS

14. Edge : LIP - Where some putts go to die

15. "Delta of Venus" author Nin : ANAIS - Common fare here at the Crossword Cafeteria

16. Beyond repair : RUINED

17. Checkers speech? : KING ME

18. Renaissance fair rides : STEEDS

24. Argentine plain : PAMPA

26. Restraining order? : STOP IT

29. Donkeys' cries : BRAYS

33. How to watch Mei Xiang and Bei Bei : PANDA CAM - Very appropriate so close to Mother's Day

36. Delivery letters : USPS

37. Close attention : CARE

38. Like political foes, frequently : AT IT AGAIN - "My opponent is a thespian and a masticator!" 

39. Dish forerunner : TV ANTENNA 

40. Steinbeck hero Tom : JOAD - "Wherever they’s a fight so hungry people can eat, I’ll be there."

41. Erase completely : WIPE

42. Battery terminal-related : ANODAL - On the positive side

47. Seizes illegally : USURPS

49. Welcoming sign : OPEN

51. GPS figure : LAT - I live at 41˚North LATitude in eastern Nebraska, same as Rome, Italy. Uh, not the same weather!

53. She, in Sicily : ESSA

55. First name in country : REBA

56. Aesthetic film genre : ART CINEMA - I don't dig subtitles 

57. Grain processor : GRIST MILL - A beautiful one in West Virginia

58. Morales of "The Brink" : ESAI

61. Actress Spacek : SISSY

64. Like a "daggers" look : ICY

66. Wall Street regular : TRADER - Politicians campaign against them but still take their money

68. Dress down in a big way : SCREAM AT

69. Broad shoe size : EEE 

70. Book following the Gospels : ACTS

72. Holliday friend : EARP 

73. Devious ones : SNEAKS

74. Splittable bit : ATOM

77. Place for a speaker : DAIS

80. Cal. column : MON - Unfortunately this month has 5 MON's

83. Smokeless smoke, briefly : E-CIG

85. Fast-growing sapling : BALSA TREE - Now that's my kind of logging!

86. "Movin' __": "The Jeffersons" theme : ON UP

88. Otherwise : ELSE

90. Fast time? : LENT - Cute again

91. Rages : STORMS

92. Be of use : AVAIL

96. FDR's side, on a dime : OBVERSE - Generally the larger, main image as opposed to the reverse side of a coin, medal, flag, etc

98. Ardent requests : PLEAS

100. They're just over two feet : ANKLES - Cute some more

101. Former moderator of "The View" : VIEIRA

102. Vinegary : ACETIC

104. Reason for spectacles : MYOPIA - Nearsightedness

106. __ Joe : SLOPPY - Named after a cook named Joe at a Sioux City, IA restaurant who added tomato sauce to his loose meat sandwich

107. Tick away : ELAPSE

109. Wascally wabbit wival : ELMER

110. Best way to leave Vegas : AHEAD - Take the money and RUN!

114. Mice move on them : PADS

116. Official emblem : SEAL

118. Emotional blog entry : RANT

119. Natl. Merit Scholarship qualifying exam : PSAT

121. Find a job for : USE

122. Canada's smallest prov. : PEI

124. Airport NW of the Gateway Arch : STL

Only someone in a Fool'S PAradise would skip your comments that follow:

The Grid

Notes from C.C.:

Congratulations to our beautiful Melissa on her L.A. Times debut! Melissa and I have been kicking around various puzzles ideas for a few years. So happy we persisted and finally made it. It's a joy and comfort working with Melissa, who constantly inspires me with her strength, tenacity & incredible poise.

Left to Right: Melissa's daughter, Melissa's mom Barbara B, Melissa

The title is Rich's. It captures the hidden gimmick much better than our original "Hot Spot". Click here to see our originally submitted grid. Rich took time and redid our 38D & 39D area. He was concerned that GIRLY MAN (76A) maybe seen as pejorative by some. Rich also caught our SPAN (49D) goof, as it has SPA in it. So we redid the right middle.

Saturday, May 14th, 2016, John Lampkin

Theme: JL

Words: 68 (missing J,Q,Z)

Blocks: 31

  So pleased to get a John Lampkin puzzle, and this, if I am not mistaken, is his first Saturday publishing, at least for the LA Times.  I have enjoyed his Sunday constructions, and I find his cluing to be fresh and humorous - and today was no exception.  To find out more about John, his interview is here.  Of course, no grid would be complete if he didn't include some animal references - and I was determined to get 1 across, no matter how long it took.  As it turned out, the whole thing took about 30 seconds longer than my personal allotted time, and I have to admit to one red-letter; see 60 down.  Triple 10-letter across corners, triple 9s in the downs;

17a. Hammers home : REITERATES - my first read was "hammer's home", as in TOOL BOX, which wasn't going to work; this is the verb, not the noun

12d. At ten, say : ON THE HOUR - simple, and yet difficult to see in the 'down'

62a. Leftovers dish, perhaps : COTTAGE PIE - never heard of it; had --PIE, and the rest was perps and a WAG

31d. Short putt : TWO-FOOTER

ACROSS:

1. What separates the gulls from the buoys? : WEBBED FEET - it took most of the time to get the NW corner to fill, because I was stuck at 1a. thinking "something ---NET"; this is just plain clever

11. Red number : LOSS - I tried DEBT

15. Come fashionably? : ARRIVE LATE

16. 20 fins : ONE C - I did the math; 20 x 5 = 100, but couldn't fit "C-NOTE"

18. Nail target : ITCH - I had the "B" first, so I tried STUD; can you tell I'm stuck in carpentry mode~?

19. Chemical formerly used in carbonless copy paper manufacture : PCB - Polychlorinated Biphenyl; more from Wiki

20. Challenges : RIGORS

21. "Go away!" : "SHOO~!" - had it in, took it out....

22. Mayan pyramid feature : STEP

24. Threw on : DONNED

26. Self-described "non-musician" : ENO - oops, I had EMO first

27. Portent : OMEN

29. It can be before you : ARE

30. Checkup result letters : HDL - cholesterol number

31. Nut features : THREADS

This would make a good "john" sign, too

34. Experimental habit? : LAB COAT - I totally nailed this; and yet I did not get "oodles" at 55a.

36. They can be frustrating : WAITS - I lack patience, most definitely

37. Enterprise officer : UHURA - I always misspell this with a third "U" at the end

38. Eponymous Seminole leader : OSCEOLA - all perps, and a WAG at the "L"

41. Kiwi genus : APTERYX - once I had the "P", I knew that birds were "pter", and flightless ones were "A-pter"; the "YX" seemed good taxonomic Latin

43. Disgusted word from Lady Macbeth : "FIE~!"

44. Rest : NAP - I take one every day, roughly between 12-2pm

45. Rest poorly : TOSS

46. Kind of trading, briefly : OTC

47. Pabst brand : STROH'S - a little history lesson

49. Big Ten player since 2014 : TERP - Maryland Terrapins - another animal reference

53. Epps of "House" : OMAR

55. Gobs : OODLES

57. Good name for a London washroom attendant : LOU - lou/loo

58. Net : TAKE

59. Zip : SPEED ALONG - I considered "NOT A THING" kind of zip, but it didn't fit

61. Apple site : EDEN - not the computer ( e.g. DESK ), and not TREE

63. Leftovers : REST - a clecho from 62a., another JL cluing stlye

64. Valuation : ASSESSMENT

DOWN:       

1. Twists : WARPS - common in wood boards, especially 1x lumber

2. Straight up : ERECT - ah.  Not LEGIT

3. Crooked bread? : BRIBE - ah. ah.  Not LUCRE, but I was on the right wavelength

4. Boring piece : BIT - and more carpentry

5. Lasting start : EVER - everlasting

6. Knocked : DERIDED

7. Spouted containers : FLAGONS

8. Big name in stationery : EATON - perps

9. Lasting : ETERNAL

10. Mosaic piece : TESSERA - learned from doing crosswords

11. __ Chiles, portrayer of Dr. Holly Goodhead in "Moonraker" : LOIS

13. Lesser : SECONDARY

14. Homeowner's burden : SCHOOL TAX - my "U" from Uhura was leading me to "something TUB"; again, I'm in the middle of building a bathroom, so....

23. Baudelaire, par exemple : POETE - Les Frawnche

25. Times to come out : DEBUTS

28. Plinth course layers : MASONS - ah, the worker, not the stratum

32. Is set : HAS IT MADE

33. Generally gluten-free snacks : RICE CAKES

35. Tea __ : CHEST

39. Play that inspired Puccini : La TOSCA - filled via perps; the Wiki

40. Fitting : APROPOS

41. Fit figure, usually : ATHLETE

42. Impersonated : POSED AS - my kind of pose

48. "Sweet Smell of Success" co-screenwriter : ODETS - perps and WAGs

50. Slip to tie a knot? : ELOPE

51. Masterless samurai : RONIN - learned from an episode of "The X-Files"

52. Sound named by George Vancouver : PUGET - funny, I've been reading the making of Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back, so I was thinking of the noise sound, not the body of water sound.  I took a vacation to Seattle, and saw the sound - or is that an oxymoron~?

54. Torn : RENT

56. Weakens : SAGS

60. Rover's kin? : LEM - dah~!!  I went with LAM - as in 'going on the lam', which I think is similar to someone 'roving'....and John ends his clues with "kin", I might add....

Splynter

Friday, May 13, 2016, Jeffrey Wechsler

Title: Do you want to PAL around?

JW returns with 'add a word' (3 letters at that) to existing phrases to create a whimsical mental picture of something very different. Despite my seeing and discussing much of Jeffrey's work lately, the cluing is fresh and only PROEM was unknown to me. The longer fill, CLASS UP,  THE MAGI,  I'M A JERK,  IN EXILE, RAIN SHOWER and  MOTOR SPORT really show his preference for multi-word answers. The choice to have just three themers plus a reveal was governed by the grid-spanners  giving 58 theme spaces. Lots of music references and - well, let us go see.

17A. Financially distressed royal residence? : PALACE IN THE HOLE (15). The PAL is added to the beginning of "ace in the hole." Cute. I do not think the Queen is hurting financially.

34A. Pious antelope? : IMPALA BELIEVER (14). I was really amused by the picture of this cute African food source for lions, praying and singing....

40A. Clairvoyant magazine staff? : PALMISTS OF TIME (14). A common expression also has the PAL added to the beginning; I like the John Mayall version.

And the reveal:

61A. Carole King song title ... or a hint to 17-, 34- and 40-Across : YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND (15).

I wonder if this puzzle was inspired by the Broadway play about Ms. King. She has written so many wonderful songs.

Across:

1. Sprinkled stuff : TALC. So much CONTROVERSY now.

5. Ottoman honorific : AGHA.

9. Carried : TOTED. Reminds me of listening to this album as a child. He was a true...

14. Star often gazed at : IDOL.

15. Golf inconvenience : RAIN SHOWER. Ask, HG--this is a perfect clue, as a shower does not stop a serious golfer.

19. Things kept for oneself : STASH. Not to be confused with last week's 'STACHE.

20. Elite group : A TEAM. Generic, or the TV Show?

21. New Delhi-to-Mumbai dir. : SSW. Heading toward last week's newbie constructor.

22. "Downton Abbey" assent : YES SIR.

24. Wit : WAG. An old term for a jokester, mid 16th century (denoting a young man or mischievous boy, also used as a term of endearment to an infant): probably from obsolete waghalter ‘person likely to be hanged.’  Per dictionary.

26. "The Golden Arm" of the Baltimore Colts : UNITAS. High topped always,  Johnny U.

30. Reach uncertainly : GROPE. Not always, sadly.

37. Geisha circler : OBI. More sashes for me.

38. Sister of Melpomene : ERATO.

39. Ho's accompaniment : UKE.

45. Introduction : PROEM. A real word, but I certainly never heard of it. This was a struggle as the perps were not easy either.

46. Submitted : SENT IN.

47. Dance genre : TAP.

49. Annual delivery vehicle? : SLEIGH. Santa and the odd clecho 9D. Annually celebrated group : THE MAGI.

53. Setting in Eng. : GMT. Greenwich Mean Time.

56. First name in Western crime : JESSE. James

60. Like George H. W. Bush : EX-CIA. Conspiracy THEORY anyone?

64. Rallying, e.g. : MOTOR SPORT. I used to want to do THIS.

65. Singing daughter of Judy and Vincente : LIZA. Judy Garland and Vincente Minelli.

66. Bombed : STUNK.

67. Expression of appreciation : HAND. Let's give all our constructors a big hand for the entertainment.

68. "L'__, c'est moi": Louis XIV : ÉTAT. The State in French.

Down:

1. Lit : TIPSY.

2. "... __ which will live in infamy": FDR : A DATE.

3. Falana and Glaudini : LOLAS. Lola 1 one was a Sammy Davis protege with health issues; Lola 2 is a very busy TV actress. Feel free to IMDB.

4. Infuse with elegance : CLASS UP. My meh fill of the day.  Though 'class up the joint'  appears often,  the reference on its own just hangs there for me.

5. Exist : ARE.

6. Greek primordial deity : GAIA. Quite an incestuous and bloody STORY reminiscent of later Heinlein works.

7. Subtlety : HINT.

8. Startup money? : ANTE. To start the game.

10. "How wonderful!" : OOH. AHH.

11. Dancers, often : TWOS. It does take two to Tango.

12. Sushi kitchen supply : EELS.

13. Gained (from) : DREW. On my vast experience.

16. "I often quote myself. It adds spice to my conversation" speaker : SHAW. No Shakespeare but the eminently quotable George Bernard Shaw, LINK. I could not pick my favorite. No P Shaw  quotes.

18. Where gunpowder was invented : CHINA. Some HISTORY.

23. Irks : RILES.

25. Univ. student's ordeal : GRE. Graduate Record Examination

27. Wonderland trial evidence : TARTS. Carroll's not subtle indictment of our legal system.

28. Demean : ABASE.

29. __ Hall : SETON. A Catholic college in NJ named after the first American SAINT.

31. Cell with potential : OVUM. Eggsactly.

32. Chinese toy : PEKE. More China and no abbr.

33. Poet's "previously" : ERE.

34. Construction support : I BAR.

35. Close follower of Venus? : MILO. You all know the Venus de Milo and her lack of arms.

36. Some apartments : LOFTS.

37. On the facing pg. : OPPosite..

41. Citi Field player : MET.

42. "D'oh!" : I'M A JERK. I think of it more as "I am an idiot."

43. Interior construction specialist : TILER.

44. Napoleonic? : IN  EXILE. A Friday thought.

48. Cribbage pieces : PEGS. That is how you count points and it is where I learned to how add by watching my father play the game.

50. Clinch the game, in slang : ICE IT.

51. Japan's answer to Rodeo Drive : GINZA. Alex, we will stay with Asia for $800.00. LINK.

52. Attacked : HAD AT.

53. Places to see presses : GYMS. Bench presses, military presses...

54. Academic : MOOT.

55. "Fantasia" hippo's garb : TUTU.

57. Certain collegian : SOPHomore. And of course the freshmen who fail or sopholess;  derivation from Greek sophos "wise" + moros "foolish, dull"?

58. Athenian walkway : STOA. A covered walkway.

59. Get through work : EARN.

62. Otto __ Bismarck : VON. A very INFLUENTIAL  figure.

63. Mercury is on its co. logo : FTD. As a Virgo this is a perfect image for me to exit. JW returned, made us work, made us smile. I must say 'bye for now-see you next week. Hope you enjoyed the ride. Lemonade out on winged feet.

Thursday, May 12th, 2016 C.C.Burnikel

Theme: Traffic Circles - as the reveal explains:

63A. Intersecting road ... and one of a pair indicated by each puzzle circle : CROSS STREET

17A. Breakfast order : SESAME BAGEL
and
5D. North Dakota symbol : ELM TREE. Sesame Street/Elm Street. Fun juxtaposition here with one of America's friendliest streets crossing one that's definitely on the darker side.

35A. Breakfast order : OVER EASY. 
and
11D. Line in a utility network : WATER MAIN. Easy Street/Main Street. Bob Seger sang about the Main Street in his home town of Ann Arbor, Michigan.

57A. Where the world is really flat? : WALL MAP.
and
34D. United Federation of Planets affiliate : STARFLEET. Wall Street/Fleet Street. Fleet Street is the odd one out here as it's in London. The area was the center of the British newspaper industry; most of the national and London dailies were printed on or around Fleet Street. The Starfleet comes from the Star Trek series.

G'day all! C.C's latest is a neat exercise in crossing theme entries. You might notice that the themers are not all arranged symmetrically in the grid, but I think it would be pretty much impossible to pull that off given the subject matter.  The circles show us where to look for the street corners.

This wasn't the quickest solve for me; there were quite a few unknowns that I had to slowly fill with crosses, but everything came together at the end. There are quite a few unique or infrequently-used words in the grid which, coupled with the Thursday-level cluing, accounts for the crunchiness here. Good stuff.

Let's see what else we've got.

Across:

1. Carmen of jazz : MCRAE. First of the unknowns for me right off the bat. I'm not a big jazz hat.

6. Ludicrous : ANTIC. Very nice. This area was tough for me, with this, LEONA and the unknown NEA crossing both of them.

11. It may be declared : WAR

14. Popular font : ARIAL

15. "Bleeding Love" singer Lewis : LEONA. Another unknown. The E was a WAG and thankfully a correct one.

16. Legendary fighter : ALI

19. Tee, for one : TOP. The shirt, not the golf gizmo.

20. Hymn relative : ODE

21. __-color pasta salad : TRI. Food! The colors in the salad are meant to be representative of "Il tricolore", the Italian flag. No olives were harmed in the preparation of this dish by any murderous sociopaths.

22. Grand cousins : SPINETS. I dithered around with this one - I understood the clue, but I thought there were two "n"s in the word. A spinet in this context is a small piano, hence a cousin to the much larger grand piano. In the past, I associated a spinet with a harpsichord. Learning moment.

24. Goth accessory : NOSE RING. My daughter has two. Kids these days, eh? Pah!

27. Sugarloaf lift : T-BAR. I was thinking of the famous Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio, and wondered why the answer wasn't GONDOLA. Sugarloaf ski resort in Maine.

28. Make equipment changes : RETOOL

30. Austen classic : EMMA. I tried Jane EYRE first, which was rather futile considering that Charlotte Brontë wrote the story of the governess.

32. Egypt's second president : NASSER. The reservoir lake formed by the Aswan High Dam is named for him.

38. Summer hrs. in Philly : EDT

39. Call off the affair : END IT

41. Expert follower? : -ISE

42. "However ... " : THAT SAID

45. Regular hangouts : HAUNTS. I was thinking along the "local pub" lines for a while.

48. Shootout shout : DRAW!

49. In shreds : TORN UP

51. Wig out : FLIP

53. Mentor's offering : GUIDANCE

60. Part of M.S.: Abbr. : SCI

61. Seaside raptor : ERN

62. Explosive state : IRE

66. Price of admission : FEE. I mentioned a couple of weeks ago I was going to Disneyland with my daughter. We got "two park hopper" passes for the Happiest Place on Earth and California Adventure. The fee for that two-fer is not for the faint-hearted.

67. All together : AS ONE

68. Stranger : ODDER

69. Enjoy oysters, say : EAT. This seemed oddly random to me - why oysters? But then again, why not?

70. Runner of 1992 : PEROT

71. Like Satchmo's singing voice : RASPY. I had BASSO first and thought I was being clever until nothing would fit around it.

Down:

1. Worker with blocks : MASON. Check this out - this is the Crimple Valley Oracle in England. This is a dry-stone wall built in Yorkshire - no mortar is used. See the details of the project here.

2. Set of beliefs : CREDO

3. Stops lying : RISES

4. Class for baseball's Durham Bulls : AAA

6. White whale, e.g. : ALBINO

7. Org. with a "Raise Your Hand" campaign : NEA. Wild stab in the dark, fortunately I stabbed correctly. The National Education Association's campaign for educators to become leaders in a national movement for public education.

8. Wardrobe : TOGS

9. Ham-handed : INEPT

10. Ammunition measurement : CALIBER. Inches, millimeters, all kinds of measurements going on here.

12. Gazillions : A LOT

13. Turbulent currents : RIPS

18. Nation east of Sudan : ERITREA

23. Sonny or Cher : NAME

25. RNs' workplaces : ER'S

26. Compliment to a boxer : GOOD DOG! I just couldn't get NICE PUNCH! to fit.

29. Half of CXII : LVI

31. Coach's aide: Abbr : ASST.

32. Service stopper : NET. Too many service faults and you're going to hear some colorful language.

33. Adderall target : ADHD. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

36. Ones bonded by a common culture : ETHNICS

37. "Sounds good" : YES

40. Little beef : NIT

43. Like most supermodels : TALL. Gisele Bündchen, the model married to QB Tom Brady, is 5'11".

44. Pool wear : SWIM CAP. When I was spending a lot of time in chlorinated pools training for triathlons, my hair started to break off by the handful. I got a swim cap.

46. Reviewer of books : AUDITOR

47. Put __ fight : UP A

50. McDonald's potato variety : RUSSET. The french fries have not been the same since they stopped cooking 'em in lard.

52. Break down, as a sentence : PARSE

54. They may be pressing : NEEDS

55. Move at a snail's pace : CREEP

56. Contest submission : ENTRY

57. Certain partner : WIFE

58. Calculus calculation : AREA. This stuff gave me nightmares at school. I never "got" calculus.

59. Lame, as an excuse : POOR

64. __-Caps: candy : SNO

65. Nutritional stat : RDA. Recommended Daily Allowance.

And ... here's the grid.

Steve

Wednesday, May 11, 2016 John Guzzetta

Theme:  PHUN WITH FONICS.  Each two word answer has the initial consonant sound /f/ spelt two different ways, with the expected letter "F" and with the digraph "PH."  Without delving too deeply into it, or proposing a general rule, it seems that many words using the "PH" digraph are derived from Greek: philosophy,  phonetics and, for a double whammy, photograph.

17 A. Communication device also called a clamshell : FLIP PHONE.   A cell phone that folds shut and flips open.  This is now a retro design, but is still rather popular.

24 A. Verne's circumnavigator : PHILEAS FOGG.  The protagonist of Jules Vernes 1873 novel, Around the World in Eighty Days.

53 A. Reunion memento : FAMILY PHOTO.   Here's one of Gloria and 8 of our 11 grandchildren, from her birthday last August.

Some of my favorite peeps

39 A. Gym teacher's concern : PHYSICAL FITNESS.   I've been working out this year to do something about my physical fatness.  Lost 9 lbs so far.

64. Ben & Jerry's flavor inspired by a Vermont rock band : PHISH FOOD.   "Chocolate Ice Cream with Gooey Marshmallow Swirls, Caramel Swirls & Fudge Fish."  In my opinion, they fudged on the spelling of Phish.  You can read about it - and listen - here.

Hi, gang.   Jazzbumpa here.   With 5 theme entries, one a grid spanner, this puzzle is pretty rich in themeage. Let's see what else we can phind.

Across

1. Choose : OPT.  I assume this derives from "option."

4. Metaphorical loss in a bad deal : SHIRT.   Presumably indicating the loss of all assets, even one's clothing.   Probably related to the expression "I'd give the shirt off my back" for something intensely craved.

9. Salon creations : COIFS.  Hair arrangements.

Would you do this do?

14. Column crosser : ROW.   In a spread sheet or crossword grid.

15. Palmer with an "army" : ARNIE.  Also a soft drink - tea mixed with lemonade.

Drink and stay sober

16. "Strange to say ... " : ODDLY.  Believe it or not.  Once, back in the days when I used to frustrate myself by phlailing with golph clubs, I was playing at Bay Hill - Arnie's resort in FLA - when I hit a drive that never got above 6 inches off the ground, and hit a squirrel square in the head.  True story. That's how I became Bumpa the squirrel slayer.    

19. Unlock the door for : LET IN.   Allow to enter.

20. Match socially : FIX UP.  Arrange a date for someone.

21. Tater : SPUD.  Potato - suitable for mashing.

23. Anti-apartheid org. : ANC.  African National Congress.  The ruling social democratic party of the Union of South Africa.

28. "Rad!" : AWESOME.   Impressive.  Because the word "awful" changed meaning from "awe inspiring" to "horrible and repugnant."

31. Consider : DEEM.  It was deemed "awful and artificial."

32. All-Clad product : PAN.   Cook ware, not the Greek god who consorted with NYMPHS.

33. Yucatán year : ANO.  Spanish.  More appropriately rendered -- año.

35. Spooky : EERIE.  I grew up not far from the shore of Lake Spooky.

44. Done in by Buffy, say : SLAIN.   Buffy is the vampire slayer.  As far as I know, she did not use sporting equipment.

Buffy in the middle

45. __ Pérignon : DOM.  Vintage champagne produced by Moët & Chandon.

46. Lunch letters : BLT.  Bacon Lettuce and Tomato sandwich -- YUM!

47. Simile words : AS AN.   It's as ________ AS AN __________.  [Phill in the blanks]

50. Affluent London area : CHELSEA.  Along the north bank of the Thames, near CHELSEA bridge.

56. "Moulin Rouge!" director Luhrmann : BAZ.  No idea.

57. Most blue state electees: Abbr. : DEMS.  The DEMocratic Party is associated with the color blue, and the Republicans with the color red.  I will say no more.

58. Secret stash : CACHE.  I wish I had a CACHE of cash.

62. Piano exercise : ETUDE.  From the Frech word for "study," a [usually] short, technically difficult exercise designed to build skill.

67. More valuable to a collector : RARER.  A word rarely said, since it trips so awkwardly off the tongue.

68. World Court site, with "The" : HAGUE.   A city in the South Holland province of The Netherlands, home to the U. N.'s International court of justice.

69. Holiday drink : NOG.   A drink made with eggs, sugar, milk and possibly some alcohol.  The origin of the word is uncertain.

70. Narrow valleys : GLENS.  A Scottish term for a deep valley in the highlands, 

71. Symbol of military power : SWORD.   The pen is alleged to be mightier.

72. __ blue : SKY.  The color of the SKY on a cloudless day.   SKY gray is common in the Great Lakes region.

Down

1. "Carmina Burana" composer : ORFF.  Carl.  Carmina Burana is a suite of 24 medieval poems, mostly in vulgar Latin, that ORFF set to music in 1937.  The topics include drinking, gambling, gluttony and lust.  Some are quite bawdy.  The entire suite takes over an hour to perform.  Everyone has heard O Fortuna a thousand time, but I can't find another section excerpted, and at least this version is a different sort of performance.

2. __ sci : POLI.  A social science discipline dealing with systems of government and the analysis of political activity and behavior.  More than that I will not say.

3. Mars candy bar : TWIX.  A biscuit covered with caramel and chocolate.

4. Lyric poet of Lesbos : SAPPHO.  [ca 620 - 570 B. C.]   Most of her poetry has been lost, and much that remains is in fragments.  One complete poem is her Hymn to Aphrodite.

5. Initials for William or Harry : HRH.  His Royal Highness, a style of address for British royalty.

6. Diminutive Italian suffix : -INO.

7. Dishwasher cycle : RINSE.

8. Starting point for Frisbee golfers : TEE PAD.   This is actually a thing - a concrete pad; preferred size is between 5x12 and 6x20 feet.

9. Loss of nerve : COLD FEET.   The origin of the phrase is uncertain.  It has been attributed to author Steven Crane, who added the phrase to the 2nd [1896] edition of his novel, Maggie: A Girl of the Streets. 

10. Dedicated poem : ODE.  

11. Luggage label : I D TAG.

12. Affair : FLING.  A fling is of short duration.  An affair can go on for years.   Either way, it probably involves one or more trysts.

13. (In) agreement : SYNC.  Derived from being synchronized.

18. Baby sharks : PUPS.  I did not know that.

22. Take advantage of : USE.

25. Apple variety : I-MAC.  Computer, not fruit.

26. Singer Horne : LENA.  Genuinely great.

27. Crow, at times, in Hinduism : OMEN.   Lots of minutia here.

28. Mobile downloads : APPS.  Software APPlications.

29. Brand of beard trimmers : WAHL.

30. Singer who co-composed a song in Elvish for "The Lord of the Rings" : ENYA.  Eithne Pádraigín Ní Bhraonáin is a frequent crossword visitor, especially when I am blogging.

34. Over the hill : OLD.   Let's not get personal.

36. CSA soldiers : REBS.  Confederate soldiers from the American civil war.

37. Archipelago part : ISLE.  One island in a group.

38. Spanish pronoun : ESTA.   Meaning "this" or "that."  Spanish pronouns must agree in gender and number with the noun they are referring to.  ESTA is feminine singular.

40. Broadway king's domain : SIAM.   From The King and I.

41. Ones with access : INSIDERS.  They are always LET IN.

42. Nina of "The Ten Commandments" : FOCH.   She played Bithiah, an Egyptian princess.

43. FWIW kin : IMHO.   For What It's Worth and In My Humble Opinion.

48. Tankard contents : ALE.  A roughly cylindrical drinking cup with a handle that may be filled with a variety of libations.

49. Mythological maidens : NYMPHS.   They consorted with PAN.  Chicks just dug that old goat.

Cooking with Pan

51. Ingrained : ETCHED.

52. Just sit around : LOAF.   Like a couch potato, to continue the quasi-food reference.

53. Decisive, as a mistake : FATAL.  Causes an epic fail.

54. Blue shade : AZURE.  Like the SKY, perhaps.

55. "Poppycock!" : PSHAW.

56. Result of glacial calving : BERG.  When an iceberg breaks off from a glacier, that is known as "calving."

59. Deceives : CONS.  Probably derived from "confidence trick" or "- game," in which someone attempts to commit a fraud by first gaining the confidence of another person or group.

60. Hoops shot : HOOK.   A basketball shot now rarely seen in the age of slam dunks, so named for the shape of the arm motion.

61. Like envelope-pushing comedy : EDGY.   Or hair dos.

63. Hibernation spot : DEN.  Suitable for bears and couch potatoes.

65. "Can __ now?" : I GO.  The inverse of "Let me in."

66. Prefix with charge : SUR-.   From the French, indicating over, above, or in addition.  A surcharge is an additional charge levied for any of a variety of reasons.

OK.  We're phinally phinished.  I had a lot of phun, and hope you did too.

Cool regards!
JzB

Notes from C.C.:

1) Jazzbumpa (Ron) made his WSJ debut today. You can click here to print out the PDF file. Congratulations, Ron! Thanks for the inspiration and fun ride.

2) Here are three great pictures from JD's Mother's Day celebration. JD is with her two daughters and four grandkids in the second picture.

Tuesday, May 10 2016, Janice Lutrell

Theme: The Other F-word

Dear Monday, I want to break up. I'm seeing Tuesday and dreaming about Friday. Sincerely, It's not me, It's you.

17. "Peanuts" outburst : GOOD GRIEF. Good Friday - the Friday before Easter.

26. Distress call at sea : MAN OVERBOARD. Man Friday. From Wikipedia: "Robinson Crusoe names the man, with whom he cannot at first communicate, Friday because they first meet on that day. The character is the source of the expression "Man Friday", used to describe a male personal assistant or servant, especially one who is particularly competent or loyal."

45. Off-the-cuff comment : CASUAL REMARK. Casual Friday. 

 60. Oil metaphor : BLACK GOLD. Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving - which has been successfully marketed as "the biggest shopping day of the year."  A tad ironic.

67. Pre-weekend shout ... and a hint to the first word of 17-, 26-, 45- and 60-Across : TGIF. Thank God it's Friday.

Melissa here. A Tuesday-level solve, about Fridays. Some fun words - GOOD GRIEF, ME TIME, DUDE, and WHEE - and a few unknowns thrown in for good measure. 

Across

1. Big celebration : BASH. Who else tried GALA first?

5. __ guy: dependable sort : GO TO

9. Paper size : LEGAL

14. Village People song with arm motions : YMCA

15. Samoan capital : APIA. Unknown to me.

16. Send packing, as a delinquent tenant : EVICT

19. Towel material : TERRY

20. Arg. neighbor : URU. Plugged in a few possibilities before perps set me straight.

21. Fruity soft drinks : ADES

22. Student's organizer : BINDER

23. Self-indulgent period : ME TIME.

25. Grooves from wagon wheels : RUTS. The most prominent ruts along the Oregon Trail were gouged deep into sandstone and preserved inside Oregon Trail Ruts State Historic Site near Guernsey, Wyoming.

32. Where many a lanyard is woven : CAMP

35. Two-handed hammer : SLEDGE. Can you believe it's been nearly 30 years since this video? It won nine MTV Video Music Awards in 1987, the most of any single video.

  
36. __ Claire, Wisconsin : EAU

37. Spectral array : HUES

38. Zig when you should have zagged, say : ERR

39. Dry as the Mojave : ARID

40. Tax-auditing org. : IRS

41. Maritime measure : LEAGUE. Once a unit of length in Europe and Latin America - the distance a person could walk in an hour - it's no longer an official measure.

44. Zippo : NONE

48. Hunter's target : PREY

49. Discuss again and again : REHASH

53. Regular on the slopes : SKI BUM

56. Slope overlooking a loch : BRAE. One of my unknowns. Brae = A hillside, especially along a river.

58. "Who, me?" : MOI

59. Makes less difficult : EASES

62. Those girls, in Spain : ELLAS

63. Word of honor : OATH. This is one of those words that can have opposing meanings, like cleave, which can mean to split apart, or to adhere firmly. An oath can be a solemn promise, or a profane expression. Gotta love the English language. 

64. First chip in a pot : ANTE

65. Rodeo rope : REATA

66. Sledder's cry : WHEE

Down

1. Old-fashioned "How about that!" : BY GUM

2. Love, to Luciano : AMORE

3. Talent finder : SCOUT

4. Consumed : HAD

5. Flower exhibits : GARDENS

6. TV role for Ronny : OPIE. Ron Howard's role in The Andy Griffith Show.

7. Garbage bag closers : TIES

8. Bungler : OAF

9. Beatles title after "Speaking words of wisdom" : LET IT BE

10. Despite that : EVEN SO

11. Encircle with a belt : GIRD

12. Orchard measure : ACRE

13. Space travel dist. : LTYR. Light Year.

18. Explorer Vasco da __ : GAMA

22. Town : BURG

24. Little pranksters : IMPS

25. "The Shining" mantra : REDЯUM. Murder spelled backwards - from Stephen King's novel, The Shining.

 

27. Chicago Fire Mrs. : O'LEARY. The great great granddaughter of Mrs. O'Leary tells the real story.

28. Brink : VERGE

29. Prefix with space : AERO

30. Picnic spoiler : RAIN. Tried ANTS first.

31. "C'mon, bro!" : DUDE

32. Stylish : CHIC

33. Otherworldly radiance : AURA

34. Sticky situation : MESS

39. Pharaoh's cross : ANKH

41. Hall of Fame manager Tony : LARUSSA

42. Grade sch. level : ELEM

43. Common swimmer's ailment : EARACHE

46. In high spirits : UPBEAT

47. Smell really bad : REEK

50. Mixed in with : AMONG

51. Conductor Sir Georg : SOLTI. British conductor, died in 1997 at 84.

52. Part of HDTV, briefly : HI-DEF

53. Visionary : SEER

54. Curly cabbage : KALE

55. Land surrounded by agua : ISLA

56. Boring : BLAH

57. Hourly charge, e.g. : RATE

60. Present decoration : BOW

61. Thug's gun : GAT. Tried ROD first.

Enjoy your Tuesday.

I don't want to build a life and career, where I spent five days a week waiting for the weekend. No!

I want to enjoy my life, and don't wish any weekday away. I want each day to matter to me, in some way, even if it's a small tiny way.― Akilnathan Logeswaran

Monday, May 9, 2016 Gail Grabowski and Bruce Venzke

Theme: "AND THEY'RE OFF!" - heard at the races and about the Marx Brothers.

20A. Keep tabs on a shipment : TRACK ONE'S ORDER

25A. Some briefs : JOCKEY SHORTS

44A. Shrewd bargaining : HORSE TRADING

50A. 1937 Marx Brothers film ... and, based on words that begin 20-, 25- and 44-Across, this puzzle's title : "A DAY AT THE RACES"

Argyle here. My Derby pick came in third but I didn't bet so it doesn't matter. This puzzle shows itself a winner as it takes its place at the start of the week. The three entries are unique words, meaning they have never been in a NY Times puzzle.

Across:

1. See 16-Across : JULEP. 16A. With 1-Across, Kentucky Derby drink : MINT. Not your style? How about 28D. Beer barrel : KEG. No? Then 30D. Part of BYOB : OWN, Bring Your Own Booze. (or bottle)

6. Haunted house sound : MOAN. The sound of those that bet against Nyquist.

10. Females : SHEs, Like 23A. Coop group female : HEN and 32A. Crimp-haired critters : EWES

14. Soul singer Baker : ANITA. Missed the boat; not clueing this as Santa Anita, home track for Derby winner, Nyquist. Plus, on Mother’s Day, the best female horse in America, Beholder, won the $100,000 Adoration Stakes.

15. Convention center event : EXPO

17. Humongous : GIANT

18. "__ we forget" : LEST

19. Hold 'em fee : ANTE. Pay to play.

24. Favorable rise : UPTURN. Spectators rise up when the field turns for home.

31. Except if : UNLESS

33. Elbow poke : JAB

36. Party lacking ladies : STAG

37. Roadside retreat : INN

38. "Out of the way!" : "MOVE!". What the come-from-behind jockeys are saying.

39. Help for one stuck in a rut, perhaps : TOW

40. Mortgage change, briefly : REFI. (refinance)

42. Bach's "Mass in __" : B MINOR. Johann Sebastian Bach

46. Snap out of it : COME TO

49. DVR button : REC. (record)

56. Golf standout McIlroy : RORY. Currently ranked third in the world.

57. Furniture chain that sells Swedish meatballs : IKEA

58. Like a gift of chocolates : BOXED

60. Small jazz group : TRIO

61. What one often wears out? : COAT Misdirection on a Monday!

62. Went berserk : RAGED

63. Isaac's older son : ESAU

64. Once-sacred snakes : ASPs

65. Live and breathe : EXIST

Down:

1. Car with a cat logo, briefly : JAG

2. Self-storage compartment : UNIT

3. "Tell me the truth!" : "LIAR!". I get a kick out of these things.

4. Sicilian volcano : ETNA

5. Quilting squares : PATCHES

6. Fruit stand buys : MELONS

7. Yoked team : OXEN

8. Vaulted church recess : APSE

9. On the fence : NOT SURE

10. Brainpower : SMARTS

11. Many a Mumbai man : HINDU

12. Step into : ENTER

13. Back of the boat : STERN

21. Lock inserts : KEYS

22. Drops (out) : OPTS

25. Barely : JUST

26. Not fooled by : ON TO

27. Tiger's gripper : CLAW

29. '20s-'30s skating gold medalist Sonja : HENIE

33. "Both Sides Now" singer Mitchell : JONI

34. Door-to-door cosmetics seller : AVON

35. Arctic hazard : BERG

37. Things up in the air : IFs

38. Prefix with term or town : MID

40. Membership list : ROTA

41. Steamy writing : EROTICA

42. Fictional fox's title : BR'ER

43. Ghoulish : MACABRE

44. "Psst!" : "HEY, YOU!"

45. Springs for lunch : TREATS

46. À la __ : CARTE

47. Clean-out-the-fridge warnings : ODORS

48. "West Side Story" love song : MARIA

51. Boxer's stats : TKOs. (technical knockout)

52. Sloppy stack : HEAP

53. Persuade gently : COAX

54. Former soldier, briefly : EX-GI

55. Lays eyes on : SEES

59. Outlawed pesticide : DDT

One last song.

Argyle