Sunday June 14, 2015 Melanie Miller

Theme: "In It to Win It" - W is added to to the start of one word in each theme entry.

29A. Chronicle one's travels? : WRITE OF PASSAGE. Rite of passage.

44A. Pilfer Christmas supplies? : TAKE THE WRAP. Take the rap.

56A. Smith kicking back? : WILL AT EASE. Ill at ease.

82A. Belt or cummerbund? : MIDDLE WEAR. Middle ear.

91A. Roll in one's pocket? : PERSONAL WAD. Personal ad.

108A. Spell caster seen infrequently? : SEVEN YEAR WITCH. Seven-year Itch.

4D. Gingerbread house feature? : WALL YOU CAN EAT. All you can eat.

59D. Experience a links mishap? : LOSE ONE'S WEDGE. Lose one's edge.

No straying W's in the theme set. Another simple and elegant theme from Melanie Miller. She loves this type of letter addition/deletion theme.

It would be perfect if we did not have NEWT (81A. Pond denizen). That way, the only W's are the 8 ones in the theme answers.

Across:     

1. Side sometimes put on a sandwich : SLAW

 

5. Literature Nobelist Nelly : SACHS. German poet. Won Nobel in 1966. Stranger to me.

10. Some workers : ANTS. I tried BEES again.

 

14. Land in the ocean : ISLE

18. Italian tourist city : PISA. Gary was there.

19. Key of two Schubert impromptus : A- FLAT. Always need crossing help.

20. Range restraint : RIATA. Intersecting 11D. Chihuahua youngsters : NINOS. So no REATA dilemma this time.

22. King or queen, e.g. : NOUN. And 102. Kings or queens, e.g. : PLURAL. Great clues.

23. "Stupidity is the same as __ if you judge by the results": Atwood : EVIL

24. Panache : FLAIR

25. Deduce : INFER

26. Fatty __ : ACID

 

27. Aptly named pet bedding spray brand : DE FLEA. Did not know it's a brand.

32. Garden places : YARDS. I planted kale this year. They're surprisingly easy to grow.

34. Con target : PATSY

35. Cookware cover : POT LID

36. Heat unit : CALORIE

39. Hardly all thumbs : DEFT. Great explanation to Howard yesterday about RAMBO, D-Otto.

40. Liquidation __ : SALE

41. Seek (out) : SCOUT

42. Plymouth pit stop : LOO. Oh, Plymouth, England. We have a Plymouth here in MN also.

50. Classic puppet : PUNCH. Punch and Judy.

51. Grip on a sword : HILT. Or HAFT.

53. Some McFlurry ingredients : OREOS

54. Sénat agreement : OUI

55. Purview : AREA

59. Roller target : LINT

60. "The Silver Chair" setting : NARNIA. "The Silver Chair" is the fourth book in "The Chronicles of Narnia" series, according to Wiki.

62. Big name in polio research : SABIN

63. "Primary Colors" co-star : TRAVOLTA. Watched the movie long time ago.

66. Two-time Emmy winner Stonestreet : ERIC

68. Unhealthy gas : RADON

70. Therapeutic getaways : SPAS

71. Represent : SPEAK FOR

 

75. Gauged : RATED. I read the clue as "Gouged".

77. __ bar : ENERGY

85. "I wasn't expecting you" : OH HI

86. Jack's predecessor : IKE. I was unaware of Jack Kennedy until I came to the US. Nixon was highly respected in China due to his historical visit.

87. Communications line : CABLE

89. "Gimme a coupla __" : SECS

90. Pry : SNOOP

95. __ resort : SKI

96. Under stress : TENSE

97. "What does __ mean?" : THAT. I asked this question a lot.

98. Chicks' hangout : NEST

100. Waist management aids : CORSETS. Never wore one.

 

105. Western band : POSSE

107. Word of contempt : PSHAW

111. Tarp hole : EYELET

115. It flows in Madrid : AGUA

116. Class : STYLE

117. Side problem? : THORN. Stumped me. I like this clue.

 

119. Field protector, maybe : DOME

120. Informal speech : TALK

121. Coach : TUTOR

122. Like the man in the moon : LUNAR. I don't get this clue. What man? There's a girl & a rabbit in the moon, in Chinese myth.

123. Ready for anything : GAME

124. Greatly amuse : SLAY

 

125. They carry charges : IONS

126. Black shade : EBONY

127. Dutch export : EDAM

Down:

1. Really moved : SPED. And 2. Really enjoy oneself : LIVE. Made me think of Jayce, whom I really really like.

3. "Not a chance!" : AS IF

 

5. Jungle activity : SAFARI

6. '60s sports org. : AFL. American Football League.

7. Relatives of nails : CLAWS

8. Bangs on the head? : HAIR. I've had bangs since 1984, yet I still could not see the clue!

9. Bumblebee feature : STRIPE

10. Short song : ARIETTA. A short ARIA.

12. Chewy treat : TAFFY

13. Course of action : STEP

14. Distressed : IN A STEW

15. Area served by LAX : SOCAL

16. Fiat in the movie "Cars" : LUIGI. Nice to meet you, Luigi!

17. Nipped in the bud : ENDED

21. Tribe in the 1876 Great Sioux War : ARAPAHO. I know the Sioux Wars, but did not know the Arapaho tribe was involved.

28. Third of eight : EARTH. Third planet.

30. Last president to keep a White House cow : TAFT. New trivia to me as well. Fresh milk.

31. Pump bottoms : SOLES

33. Indian territory : DELHI. I was thinking inside US.

36. Political channel : C-SPAN

37. U.S. auto since 1986 : ACURA

38. Independent sort : LONER

39. Namibian currency : DOLLAR. Their official language is English.

40. Guides : STEERS

43. Many museum hangings : OILS

45. Chain used by campers : KOA. Kampgrounds of America.

46. Once, long ago : ERST

47. Make turbulent : ROIL

48. Reunion attendee : AUNT

49. Bread with tabbouleh : PITA. Do you like tabbouleh?

52. Knight's outerwear : TABARD. Look who's here.

56. Jo in Dickens' "Bleak House," e.g. : WAIF

57. __ pool : TIDAL

 

58. Modern missives : E-NOTES

61. Exasperate : IRK. I always feel sympathetic for girls who do silly things for love, but not for this prisoner worker who helped the escaped murderer.

64. Simon Says player : APER

 

65. Airport shuttle, often : VAN

67. Fight against : COMBAT

69. Least worn : NEWEST

71. Cut : SNIP

72. Toy with long hair, briefly : PEKE

73. Vase-shaped vessel : EWER

74. Shallow channel : RILL

76. Spot for lounge chairs : DECK. Marti's looks very relaxing.

78. Avignon's river : RHONE

79. Haunting memory : GHOST

80. "Good heavens!" : YIPES

83. Possible cause of glistening blades : DEW

84. Sports footwear brand : ASICS. Just remember it as BASICS without the B.

87. "Yankee Doodle Dandy" subject : COHAN. George M. Cohan.

 

88. Wall Street employee : ANALYST

90. Go off on a tangent : STRAY

92. Inconsistent : STREAKY

93. Comebacks : ANSWERS

94. "Too Many Girls" co-star, familiarly : DESI. Not familiar with ""Too Many Girls".

99. Clear up : SETTLE

101. "The Ransom of Red Chief" writer : O. HENRY

102. Exams for sophs and jrs. : PSATs

103. Not bootlegged : LEGAL

104. It may be involved in snoring : UVULA

105. Money order order : PAY TO

106. Wrinkle-resistant fiber : ORLON

107. Mono player : PHONO

109. Case for small tools : ETUI. Oh, hello. Long time no see.

110. Fish used for bait : CHUB

112. Prepare to shoot : LOAD

113. Watson of "Noah" : EMMA

114. Swarm : TEEM

118. Made a break for it : RAN

The fourth Minnesota Crossword Tournament will be held today at the Landmark Center. Come join us for fun.

Husker Gary is going to have his important reversal operation tomorrow. Let's send positive thoughts his way. We want to see you very soon on the blog this time, Gary!

Joann, granddaughter Elise & Gary

  C.C.

Saturday, Jun 13th, 2015, Kevin Christian and Jeff Chen

Theme: None

Words: 70 (missing Q,X,Z,)

Blocks: 32

  Well, I am surprised at how easily this one filled in - and there were plenty of proper names and vague clues to make think otherwise at the start.  I have worked Saturday puzzles from both constructors, but not as a duo; strangely, I used the phrase "Plan B" (see 16a.) in the write-up of Mr. Christian's 7/26/14 offering.  A rare grid with three separate climbers and one spanner, and no-so-intimidating corners; 

36. Does some political maneuvering : JOCKEYS FOR POWER

3. Reaction to excessive attention to detail : BUT WHO'S COUNTING~?

7. Unplugs in a big way : LIVES OFF THE GRID

11. Post-washing warning : CAUTION WET FLOOR

underwa[te]rd~!

ACROSS:

1. Card __ : TABLE - ah.  This did not occur to me until I had --BLE

6. "The Hobbit" being : ELF - not ENT - pondered ORC, too

9. Tied accessory : ASCOT - threw it in, and it stayed

14. Cameron Indoor Stadium college hoopster : BLUE DEVIL - an educated WAG from ----EVIL

16. It has a backup : PLAN A

17. Feigns innocence : ACTS NAÏVE

18. Like Zitronen : SAUER - German for lemons, and sour; I gathered it meant "citrus"

19. Inexperienced : RAW

20. Tons : A SLEW

21. First : ON TOP

22. Acidity nos. : pHs

24. Virtue of the 2010 Olympic champion ice dancing team Virtue and Moir : TESSA - I had TE--A, and went with "RR" - Bzzzt~! ( I knew a girl in Florida named Terra )

26. Gershon of "Killer Joe" : GINA - could not think of her name

27. It involves pockets : POOL - Had it, took it out, put it back in.  I like shooting pool, but have not done so in about 6 years - even have my own cues

29. Some crosses : ROODS - went with ANHKS first

31. Alley ending? : OOP - Alley-oop

32. Freelancers' encls. : SAEs - Self-Addressed Envelopes

34. Ross Sea sight : FLOE

35. Captain's dir. : NNE

40. Tokyo-born artist : ONO

41. Lit __ : CRIT - perps - Literary Criticism; the study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature.  I am presently reading Nelson DeMille's "The Gate House".  I like his stuff

42. Kennel pickup area : NAPE - ah - where you literally pick up an animal, from the back of the neck

43. Coin first minted in 13th-century France : ECU - Learned doing crosswords; we almost got away with a Frawnche-free puzzle this week

44. Challenging pitch : HIGH C - I had the "C" first, so I was not feeling it

46. Baryshnikov, at birth : LETT

48. What "c" may mean in South Africa : CENT - their "dollar" is the rand, and therefore....

50. "One can say everything best over __": George Eliot : A MEAL

52. Corp. treasurer, perhaps : CFO

53. Playground comeback : AM TOO - are so, is not....couldn't decide at the beginning

55. __ Dei : AGNUS - OK, I was in a "Da Vinci Code" frame of mind, couldn't get past "OPUS"

57. Bodybuilder Ferrigno : LOU - best known for the greener side of the TV series "The Incredible Hulk"

campy

59. Ballerina Shearer : MOIRA - a WAG from M--RA

60. Eccentrics : CRACKPOTS - nailed it

62. Big name in auditing : ERNST - I had a room-mate in college who was destined for the "Ernst & Young" accounting firm

63. Police-search discovery : HIDEY-HOLE

64. Colorful Danish export : LEGOs - not LILIES (didn't fit), and not DELFT, the dishware - because they're Dutch

65. B.C. neighbor : IDA - ah.  IDAHO - I was stuck up in 45d., thinking it was either ALBerta, or SASkatchewan

66. 10th-century English king : EDRED - never heard of this guy

DOWN:       

1. It takes you to the top : T-BAR - skiing

2. Sadie Hawkins creator : AL CAPP

4. "__ Troyens": Berlioz opera : LES - like I said, almost

5. Krabappel of "The Simpsons" : EDNA

Edna Krabappel - The Simpsons Wiki

6. More wicked : EVILER - my one "meh" clue for the day

8. Traveled alone, perhaps : FLEW SOLO - I'm still flying solo  :7(

9. Lhasa __ : APSO

10. Urban Dictionary content : SLANG - there's a lot of funny stuff on the site, but a little on the vulgar side; I found this one to be amusing

12. Game for two : ONE-ON-ONE

13. Roofing material : TAR PAPER - it's but one layer of a roof

15. Bridge column word : EAST - figured it was 50/50 - this or "WEST"

23. Gouge : SOAK

25. Festoon : ADORN

28. Clinging type : LEECH

30. Calyx part : SEPAL

33. Aleppo's land : SYRIA

36. Marlboro Man contemporary : JOE CAMEL - I remember the controversy, and the suble sexual innuendo of the image

37. Again : ONCE MORE

38. Frat founded in 1855 at Ohio's Miami University : SIGMA CHI

39. Gp. that includes Nigeria : OPEC

45. Country with the largest surface area of water : CANADA - I knew this, for some odd reason; probably came up in a crossword clue from the past

47. Amble (along) : TOOTLE - I had -OOT--; didn't think "FOOTED" was right

49. Statue subject : TORSO

51. "__ and His Empire": 1972 Pulitzer-winning biography : LUCE

54. Mare's mouthful : OATS

56. Terrier type : SKYE

58. Like many eBay items : USED

61. One hanging out in a coll. office? : PhD

Splynter

Notes from C.C.:

I was saddened to learn from Patti Varol yesterday that Leslie Billig, editor of Crosswords Club, passed away Wednesday morning. Patti said "Her creativity and wit, as well as her sharp eye for detail, shaped not only Crosswords Club and Uptown, but many publications at Dell Magazines. Leslie's passion for puzzles and her infectious giggle will be sorely missed by everyone who knew and worked with her. I already miss her more than I know how to express."

I never met Leslie in person. Only a few email exchanges regarding a distracting RAMBO in a AM/PM two-way rebus. As Patti said, she had a keen eye for detail. She was very warm & encouraging. She quietly edited my puzzles, corrected my mistakes and spiced up my clues with her wits. She made me look good. Thank you, Leslie!

You can click here for a great interview Leslie did with Puzzle Nation.

Leslie Billig, ACPT, 2004

Friday, June 12, 2015, Don Gagliardo and C.C. Burnikel

Theme: Marketing 101: add an ad.

What a last 4 weeks with Jeffrey Wechsler, John Lampkin, and now Don and C.C. They had this Tea Party puzzle in April. It is only fitting that this team kick off the weekend of the Fourth Annual Minnesota Crossword set for this Sunday, the 14th, here at the Corner.

This time we have an add an AD to a recognizable two word phrase, with the first three added to the middle of the first word, the last to the beginning of the final word. While an outlier, I love the quote from Thelonious Monk. The rest of the puzzle has the now usual mix of deceptively clued facts or not too well known proper names which make the fill a challenge.  Some sparkle in the intermediate length answers like ATHENA, AUSTIN,  BROKAW,  CREEPO,  ESALEN,  MOROSE, SPARTA,   ELECTIVE, SPARE RIB, UPSTAGES with the use of some double words to make the challenge greater MUD PIE, SPOT ON, TONE UP, LADY DI, and  LIE AWAKE. Overall not an easy puzzle but a fun Friday.

17A. Sheep and cows grazing together? : MEADOW MIX (9). Meow Mix. A little cat food transforms to big animal fodder.

30A. Taking turns ranting? : TIRADE ROTATION (14). Tire rotation.

48A. Spy industry? : SHADOW BUSINESS (14). My favorite. Show business.

63A. Monk's "The piano ain't got no wrong notes," e.g? : JAZZ ADAGE (9). Jazz Age.

and the reveal:

60D. Court term, and hint to this puzzle's four longest answers : AD IN. It is cool how constructors see these phrases as the building block of a puzzle.

Across:

1. Oilman who once owned the New York Jets : HESS. He bought out his partners and hired Bill Parcells. LINK. Hess gas station recently became Speedway. What will happen to the trucks?

5. Voucher : CHIT. A very common fill.

9. "MacGyver" actor Dana : ELCAR. I recall this odd looking man, but confused the LC as CL for a bit.

14. "Happy Starts Here" food company : ALPO.  LINK. (0:15).

15. Something about us all? : AURA. Cute, about us not about us....

16. Lash of Westerns : LARUE. A different time and place. LINK.(14:36).

19. Latin clarifier : ID EST. i. e.

20. Rough projection : CRAG.

21. __ Flags : SIX. Theme parks.

23. Brand of coolers : YETI. No idea; are THEY big in Minnesota?

24. Chateau __ Michelle winery : STE.

25. "... the __ below / As hush as death ... ": "Hamlet" : ORB.

28. Chocolate dessert : MUD PIE. Cookies have taken over the RECIPES but as long as I get my coffee ice cream and hot fudge, I am happy. Not related to our fill from a few weeks ago.

34. Baleful : EVIL. We hit a sour patch here. Baleful is not a common word.

35. Sullen : MOROSE.

36. Char-Broil competitor : WEBER. We have to leave our grills out back as we have no open patios.

38. Last state to be admitted to the U.S. before the start of the Civil War : KANsas.

39. French toast : SALUT. Not the common "à votre santé."

44. Big Sur retreat : ESALEN. This institute was quite popular in the 60s and 70s; want to know MORE?

47. Morning co-host : RIPA. You think she works out?

52. Precise : SPOT ON. A very popular phrase these days.

53. Kung __ shrimp : PAO. Very food intensive grid. YUMMY? HATED?

54. Took sides? : ATE. Great deception, I love the choice of sides at Boston Market.(more food).

55. Lattice strip : LATH.

56. Nigerian culinary staple : YAM. I had no idea. LEARN. (food)

59. Tot's glassful : WAWA.

61. Diner unit : ORDER. (food).

67. Right wrongs : ATONE. As our major religious day is the one of ATONEMENT this could not be easier. I point out, it also parses as AT ONE, which also describes the goal of mankind to be AT ONE with each other and the divine. You remember the quote?

68. "Land for sale" sign datum : AREA.

69. Its logo uses Sweden's national colors : IKEA.

70. Trouble : NAG AT. I do not get this clue/fill.

71. Phoned : RANG. Ah the old days, when we rang people up.

72. Costner role : NESS.

Down:

1. Pork cut : HAM. and the nearby clecho 3A. Pork cut : SPARE RIB. A continuation of a food mini-theme.

2. Student's option : ELECTIVE. Most use these to find easy courses to pad their GPA.

4. Pop : SODA. Not father related, but the predominately Midwest concept for carbonated beverages.

5. Call in a field : CAW. From a crow haunting your corn field.

6. White noise, perhaps : HUM. HMM.

7. Tennessee state flower : IRIS. Had absolutely no idea but 4 letter flowers are limited. A rose by any other name?

8. Waiter at O'Hare : TAXI. Nice deception, slowed me a bit.

9. Country's __ Young Band : ELI. An example of what for me is an obscure proper name, though they are playing in Winsted, MN at the Winstock Country Music Festival tomorrow. No link, I could not find one without extensive ads.

10. Prince George's grandma : LADY DI. I wonder if she would have enjoyed being a grandmother?

11. Lowlife, slangily : CREEPO.

12. Southernmost 48-states capital : AUSTIN. Many people forget this is the capital of Texas, though I had a roommate born and raised there, so I knew.

13. Get even with again : RETIE. More deception, not revenge but a tying score. 37D. More than modify : REDO.

18. Prayer opener : O GOD.

22. Brief holiday? : XMAS. When I was young the use of this term was decried by the Church.

24. Ratatouille, for one : STEW. Do you use this RECIPE? My wife makes this not knowing it by name and using Thai Basil for a spark. (MORE FOOD!) Where is Steve?

26. "Losing My Religion" band : REM.

27. Longtime Rather rival : BROKAW. Tom and Dan, they replaced Brinkley and Cronkite.

29. Pac-12 team : UTES. Very original out in Utah.

31. Yard sale? : ALE. Really fun deception, and I did drink a yard of ale at the local German restaurant when I was at dinner with my sons and nephew.

32. P&G dental brand : ORAL B.

33. Get ripped : TONE UP. Most just say tone.


40. Prince __ of Ord, friend of Valiant : ARN. Crossword staple.

41. Act restlessly : LIE AWAKE. We have all had those nights.

42. Draws attention from, in a way : UPSTAGES. Often literally.

43. Zap : TASE.

45. Xperia maker : SONY. I am not familiar with this line of smart phones and tablets.

46. Surveillance org. : NSA. National Security Agency. No politics.

48. Ancient Laconian state : SPARTA. This is the southernmost part of Greece is Laconia (Λακωνία) now recognized as a regional unit with Sparta as a Municipality therein. The long time rivals of Athens named after....

49. Show-off : HOTDOG. Not food, but...

50. Goddess who advised Odysseus : ATHENA. Guess who?

51. "The Bridges of Madison County" setting : IOWA.

52. Plumbing brand : SLOAN. Just look around in the restrooms of your choice.

57. Open slightly : AJAR.

58. Actress Rooney __ : MARA. She was haunting in GIRL IN A DRAGON TATTOO. (3:50)

62. Like Gen. Shinseki : RETired. Very decorated soldier, with a troubled ending to his career. READ.

64. __ garden : ZEN. relax, we are coming to the end.

65. Turn sharply : ZAG. Which is sharper this or the ZIG?

66. __ in echo : E AS.


A fine way to finish the work week. Thanks Hard G and the incomparable C.C. Thanks a lot lemonade out

Notes from C.C.:

As Lemonade mentioned earlier, the fourth Minnesota Crossword Tournament will be held on June 14th, 2015 Sunday. Please click here for more details. 

Don G and I teamed up again this year. Other constructors include George Barany, Victor Barocas (also our hard-working editor), the team of Andrea Carla Michaels & Jon Berman,  Michael David, Johanna Fenimore, David Hanson, David Liben-Nowell, Tom Pepper & Amy Reynaldo (Orange of the Crossword Fiend). 

rge Barany

Hope to see some of you there.

Thursday, June 11, 2015 Danny Reichert

Theme: "Chapter and Verse"

Without the reveal, would you have associated the clues with their answers?
32. Words creditors don't want to hear ... or what each starred clue is with reference to its answer :
CHAPTER ELEVEN.

The title of Chapter 11 for each book in the answer, becomes the clue:
16. *"Finds Print of Man's Foot on the Sand" : ROBINSON CRUSOE. I was pretty sure we were looking for this book, but wasn't sure how the clue related to it.

23. *"Wendy's Story" : PETER PAN. Again, I was pretty sure this was a reference to PETER PAN.

46. *"Nightgown" : MOBY DICK. I got waylaid here, thinking it might be about Scrooge. But "A Christmas Carol" wouldn't fit!

53. *"What I Heard in the Apple Barrel" : TREASURE ISLAND. Never read that one, so this one relied mostly on perps.

I believe this is Danny's LAT debut.  He gave us a very difficult Thursday, with some tough crossings and new words. But I got 'er done without any help, so I'm a happy camper. Welcome aboard!


Across

1. Protective garment : SMOCK. I knew enough to check perps before blithely filling in "apron."

6. Nothing like wetlands : ARID.

10. New car stat : MPG. Miles Per Gallon. I couldn't get MSRP out of my head for the longest time.

13. One of four men who managed both the Mets and Yankees : TORRE. Joe TORRE was only briefly a player-manager for the Mets in 1977. The other three were Yogi Berra, Casey Stengel and Dallas Green. (Yeah, right - I totally didn't look that up...)

14. "Eva __": Isabel Allende novel : LUNA. I finished "Girl On the Train" yesterday, and really enjoyed it.  (Did you break down and invest, CanadianEh?)  So, I'm looking for my next read, and think I have to add this one to the list.

15. JFK datum : ARR.ival

19. __ were : AS IT.

20. Excited exclamation : OH! OH!

21. Actress Katey : SAGAL. She played Gemma on "Sons of Anarchy." You may also know her as Peg Bundy from "Married...With Children."

25. Jai alai ball : PELOTA. And the basket is called the "cesta."

26. Arena sounds : RAHS.

27. Foretells : HERALDS.

28. "Psych" finale? : OSIS. PsychOSIS.

30. Is for more than one? : ARE.

31. Moneyed : FAT. As in, "FAT cat." Mine aren't moneyed...they're just FAT.

37. Here, in Havana : ACÁ. Ouch¡ I wanted Aquí. Cuban Spanish.


38. Magic show prop : HAT.

39. Soggy ground : MIRE. The noun form of the word.

40. Like campsites, at times : FIRELIT.

43. Rhett's last word : DAMN.

45. Tops : APEXES.

50. Wednesday Addams portrayer of film : RICCI. Christina, of "The Addams Family."

51. 1998 Australian Open winner Korda : PETR. Awful crossing here.  I bet more than a few people never heard of this guy and the obscure 44-Down. Dugout shelter : ABRI.  Petr's daughter is a successful pro golfer on the LPGA tour.

52. Popular berry : ACAI.

56. ISP biggie : AOL.

57. Ship protected by Hera : ARGO.

58. Ripped at the gym : TONED.

59. Many Sam Goody sales : LPs.

60. It hits the nail on the head : PEEN. Good clue for a crossword staple.

61. "Nope!" : NOT SO.


Down

1. Pump part, perhaps : STRAP. The shoe, not the tire inflater.

2. Maine flag image : MOOSE. "Dirigo" means "I lead."

3. Curved path : ORBIT.

4. Measures : CRITERIA.

5. One of a toydom pair : KEN. Hoo boy, I'm getting old. My first thought was "Ann." (Raggedy Ann and Andy.)

6. Words heard coming and going : ALOHAS.

7. Extended sentence : RUN-ON.

8. Creep : INCH. Move slowly, not the shady looking guy at the playground.

9. Patriotic org. : DAR. Daughters of the American Revolution.

10. __ chai: spiced tea : MASALA.

11. Woods, e.g. : PRO GOLFER. I entered the answer without thinking twice.

12. Marmaduke of the comics is one : GREAT DANE.

17. Jr. preceder : SOPH.omore and junior.

18. Notebook owner : USER.

22. "__ call!" : LAST. Tinbeni's least favorite phrase?

24. Rough file : RASP.

25. Strip : PEEL.

27. Central Eur. power until 1806 : HRE. Holy Roman Empire.

28. __ lobe: brain area : OCCIPITAL. Ouch, I wonder how many knew this off the top of their brain?

29. What tenant farmers do : SHARECROP. Exactly what it says - they share crops with the owner of the land.

30. It's "not what you see, but what you make others see": Degas : ART. Inferable.

33. "What I'm holding ..." : THIS.

34. Wear away : EAT.

35. Award since 1949 : EMMY.

36. Indian curry dish : VINDALOO. I wonder if Cindy Lou Who likes VINDALOO.

37. Where some worship from : AFAR.

41. Rises to the top : EXCELS.

42. One of a pair of sci-fi twins : LEIA. Wouldn't ya know, I had the "L" in place and went with Luke at first. Of "Star Wars" fame.

43. Spoil rotten : DOTE ON.

46. Construction area sign : MERGE.

47. "Sorry, impossible" : I CAN'T.

48. Props for Astaire : CANES. Here's a routine I bet you have never seen him perform. (The original dance routine was to the tune "Puttin' on the Ritz.") 4:14

49. Buddy : KIDDO.

51. Word with luck or gold : PURE.

54. Easy mark : SAP.

55. Penn, e.g.: Abbr. : STN. Station.

The End.
Marti

Wednesday June 10, 2015 Jeff Stillman

Theme: WINGSPANS (56. Plane measures ... and, literally, what can be seen in the answers to starred clues) - WING spans across and bookends each theme answer.

18. *Health and prosperity : WELL-BEING

29. *It might require treatment with an EpiPen : WASP STING

36. *Dramatic way to go out : WITH A BANG

46. *Fabergé item auctioned for $9.6 million in 2002 : WINTER EGG

Boomer here.  I have been busy bowling, with little time to complete crosswords, although I occasionally expound cross words at those ten pins.  No 300 games this past season; only a 299 and 297 to brag about, but I did qualify for the National Senior Games in the bowling division coming to Minnesota in July.  The National Senior Games is a multi-sport competition for people over 50 years of age and is set up like the Olympic games.  I am having trouble buying in to all the hype but looking forward to the competition. 

On to the puzzle.  I noticed wings in a few answers, but could not see the centerfielder of the Washington Nationals anywhere.

Across:

1. Pundit's piece : OP-ED

5. Schoolmarmish : PRIM - a PROPER response

9. Something to draw before bedtime : BATH. Does one need a paper and crayon to "DRAW" a bath?

13. Skedaddles : FLEES

15. Four-ring-logo company : AUDI - So, is a three ring car called a "CIRCUS"?

16. Mélange : OLIO

17. Many a Wilde play : FARCE - Not a nice thing to say about Oscar.

20. Sparkly accessory : TIARA - A crowning clue.

22. Toughens : INURES

23. Pour like crazy : TEEM. Rain hard.

24. Glimmers : SHINES - They have glimmering shoe stands in Las Vegas.

27. Miss identification : NEE - A miss does not need a "nee" until she is married.

31. Skinny swimmers : EELS - Also a great golfer Mr. E.Els

32. Loophole : OUT - My clue would have been a pop up or strike three.

33. Wolverine portrayer Jackman : HUGH

34. Most reasonable : SANEST

38. Novelist Graham : GREENE

41. Homer's son : BART - What would a puzzle be without a Simpson?

42. Route word : VIA

45. Realizes : NETS - Found at both ends of a basketball court.

48. Manipulate : USE

49. Serious depression : CRATER - I might have clued "A view of the moon"

51. Cubemaster Rubik : ERNO

52. Exploratory spacecraft : PROBES

54. Make rhapsodic : ELATE

59. Word before box or card : IDIOT - I guess you have to be one to figure out this clue.

61. List catchall : ET AL - "How much breakfast did you have this morning, Caesar?

62. Slender wind : OBOE

63. Seamless transition : SEGUE - How do you spell the one that Paul Blart rode?

64. Remove from a manuscript : DELE - My spell check says this is not a word.

65. Road runner : TIRE - How about a coyote nemesis? beep beep!

66. Parks on a bus : ROSA

Down:

1. Hiker's spray brand : OFF - I think Cutter works better but it didn't fit the grid.

2. Flat highland : PLATEAU

3. Most spine-tingling : EERIEST

4. Put out the fire, pack up the tent, etc. : DECAMP - Rosemary's surname

5. Offer from Rover : PAW

6. Line on a Québec map : RUE - Did not get this one.  Why not Golden Girl McClanahan

7. Waiting at a light, perhaps : IDLING - I'll bet the U.S. wastes millions of gallons of gas per day doing this.

8. Eeyore creator : MILNE

9. Dutch South African : BOER

10. Property recipient, in law : ALIENEE

11. Adds holiday glitter to : TINSELS - Remember the old heavy stuff?  Then you are probably as old as I am.

12. Hardly a sharer : HOG - Also a Washington NFL football player of old.

14. Msg. from the pulpit : SER - I don't care for abbreviations

19. Clear tables : BUS - Why not just call it a Greyhound and leave the clueing to us.

21. Quick on the uptake : ASTUTE

23. Tango need : TWO

25. __ school : HIGH - How about "result of marijuana?"  Legal in several states.

26. Occupy : INHABIT

28. Ballpark fig. : EST - I don't care for abbrev.

30. Climb, in a way : SHIN - Come on, it's the front of an ankle!

31. Subj. including grammar : ENG - I don. care for ABB.

34. 1964 Nobel Prize decliner : SARTRE

35. Kitty starter : ANTE - It's a pot starter - cats have nothing to do with it.

36. "The Grand Budapest Hotel" director Anderson : WES

37. Destructive agent : BANE

38. Serengeti grazer : GNU - I never gnu that.

39. Time to catch one's breath : RESPITE

40. Neverending : ETERNAL

42. Reeling feeling : VERTIGO - I gnu this one

43. Like volcanic rock : IGNEOUS

44. Gone by : AGO

46. Sushi bar condiment : WASABI - This is strong stuff.  You need it to kill the raw fish taste.

47. Study hall occupant, often : READER - Or the guy who checks your meter.

49. "Blue Bloods" network : CBS - Also frequently on WGN

50. Transplant to a new container : RE-POT

53. Look up and down : OGLE

55. Fleur-de-__ : LIS

56. Get hitched : WED

57. Neither partner : NOR

58. Understand : SEE

60. It may be iced : TEA

Boomer

Notes from C.C.:

1) Jazzbumpa (Ron) was scheduled to blog today, but his mom suffered a stroke on June 2. She's 94 years old, so Ron is quite worried about her future.

2) Spitzboov (Al) had an ambulatory surgery yesterday to repair an umbilical hernia.

Let's beam positive thoughts to them.

Tuesday, June 9, 2015 Susan Gelfand

Theme: This and That - Take two related prefixes and send them in different directions with these new roots.

18A. Daniel Boone portrayer : FESS PARKER. Profess / Confess

24A. Cookie-cutter abode : TRACT HOME. Protract / Contract.

37A. Both sides of an argument ... and what can literally precede the starts of 18-, 24-, 53- and 60-Across : PROS AND CONS

53A. New car trial run : TEST DRIVE. Protest / Contest

60A. Unexpected source of cash : FOUND MONEY. Profound / Confound

Argyle here. Susan had a puzzle in '13 and again in '14; she's baaack. Neat, four entries with eight answers. Some unknowns to keep it interesting.

Across:

1. Lioness in "Born Free" : ELSA

5. __ optic cable : FIBER

10. It must be made with one hand : FIST

14. Ruth's husband, in the Bible : BOAZ and 15A. Massey of old films : ILONA. Two names I shan't remember.

16. "My treat" : "ON ME"

17. Rush off : BOLT

20. In the mail : SENT

22. Double play pair : OUTS

23. Road repair consequence : JAM

27. "If __ King of the Forest": Cowardly Lion's song : I WERE

29. Lend a hand : AID

30. Channel for bargain hunters : HSN. (Home Shopping Network)

31. Joan of Arc, e.g. : MARTYR

32. Forsaken child : WAIF

34. MASH system : TRIAGE

41. Slip by : ELAPSE

42. Falling out between friends : SPAT

45. "__ as she goes" : STEADY

48. Fireplace residue : ASH

51. UPS driver's assignment : RTE

52. Rush hour sounds : HONKS

56. Pumper's pride : ABs. "pumping iron"

57. Fairy tale bad guy : OGRE

59. Oodles : A LOT

63. Osbourne of rock : OZZY

66. Made haste : TORE

67. Supreme Court justice since 2006 : ALITO. (Samuel Anthony Alito, Jr)

68. Visionary : SEER

69. Slow-cooked meal : STEW

70. Spotless : CLEAN

71. Very, in Versailles : TRÈS

Down:

1. Flow out : EBB

2. London lav : LOO

3. Tortilla chip topper : SALSA DIP

4. Templo Mayor builder : AZTEC

5. Some whiskey purchases : FIFTHs

6. Project extension? : ILE. (projectile)

7. __ buddies : BOSOM

8. Happen as a result : ENSUE

9. Immersed (in), as a book : RAPT

10. In support of : FOR

11. Printer choice : INKJET

12. Easily smudged : SMEARY

13. First-__: rookie Congressman : TERMER

19. Italian cheese : ASIAGO

21. Ultimate degree : NTH

24. Noticed, to Tweety : TAW

25. Narrow waterway : RIA

26. Ready to draw, as ale : ON TAP

28. Little songbirds : WRENS

31. Big __: fast-food buy : MAC

33. One-in-a-million : FREAK

35. "M*A*S*H" staffers : RNs

36. Inspirations : IDEAS

38. Ireland, affectionately : OLD SOD. "ould sod"

39. Vocalize : SAY

40. Wine-and-soda drink : SPRITZER

43. Rugged transport, briefly : ATV. (all-terrain vehicle)

44. Casual top : TEE

45. Mine passages : SHAFTS

46. As well : TO BOOT

47. Make certain : ENSURE

49. Visit a bit longer : STAY ON

50. "Good" cholesterol letters : HDL. (high-density lipoprotein) We had "Bad" cholesterol letters last month.

53. Fairy tale bad guy : TROLL

54. Start of an elimination rhyme : EENIE

55. Pigeon perch : ROOST

58. Former auto financing co. : GMAC. (General Motors Acceptance Corporation, now Ally Financial)

61. Never done before : NEW

62. Approx. landing hour : ETA

64. New York's Tappan __ Bridge : ZEE

65. 12-mo. periods : YRs

Argyle

Monday, June 8, 2015 Gareth Bain

Theme: Peanut Butter - but no jelly. Two word entries that start with a P & B.

60D. "America's largest classroom" network ... or, read as a plural, a hint to 20-, 28-, 46- and 53-Across : PBS. (Public Broadcasting Service)

20A. Ursine kiddie-lit character with a battered suitcase : PADDINGTON BEAR

28A. "Love Is a Battlefield" rocker : PAT BENATAR

46A. Superman's "dressing room" : PHONE BOOTH

53A. Venerated dancer : PRIMA BALLERINA

Argyle here. Feel free to come up with your own "PB's".

Across:

1. Sourpuss' expression : SCOWL. The look anon gets when he sees PLED.

6. Greek god of love : EROS

10. Shakespeare's nickname, with "the" : BARD

14. Finnish telecommunications giant : NOKIA. Wiki Site

15. Egg holder : NEST

16. Three-part cookie : OREO

17. Chorus in church : AMENS

18. Cuba, to Cubans : ISLA. (Island)

19. Campus head : DEAN

23. Low-fat, as milk : SKIM. Bzzzt! Skim is no-fat.

24. Fall behind : LAG

25. Missile storage facility : SILO

34. Tracks down, as a UPS package : TRACES

36. Bakery fixture : OVEN

37. LPGA golfer Michelle : WIE

38. Puts on the line : RISKS

39. Termination : END

40. Skip over in pronunciation : ELIDE

42. Biblical beast : ASS

43. Ambassador's skill : TACT

45. Valued (at) : PRICED

49. Truman's first lady : BESS. (Elizabeth Virginia "Bess" Truman (née Wallace)) First Lady should be capitalized, IMHO, as a title preceding a name.

50. Higher than, in poetry : O'ER

51. Parisian lover's word : AIME

60. Answered a charge : PLED

61. __ horse: long shot : DARK. No dark horse this year to derail American Pharoah.

62. Prom gown material : SATIN

63. Fillet's lack : BONE

64. New York canal : ERIE

65. Court reporter : STENO

66. Sheltered Greek promenade : STOA. More of a mid-week word but we've had it on Monday before.

67. Like a battery needing a charge : DEAD

68. Saudi Arabia neighbor : YEMEN

Down:

1. Simple fastener : SNAP

2. Unconscious state : COMA

3. Approved : OK'ED

4. Airport breeze indicator : WINDSOCK

5. High-tech eye surgery : LASIK

6. Hard puzzle : ENIGMA. Not today.

7. Get some shuteye : REST

8. Norwegian capital : OSLO

9. The Hulk's co-creator : STAN LEE

10. Hispanic grocery : BODEGA

11. Region : AREA

12. Backside : REAR

13. Dodgers manager Mattingly : DON

21. Puppy bites : NIPS

22. Large cloth sign : BANNER

25. Camera attachment : STRAP

26. "When __ Eyes Are Smiling" : IRISH

27. Wrangler's rope : LASSO

29. Kemo Sabe sidekick : TONTO

30. Skivvies brand : BVD

31. A couple of times : TWICE

32. Senate staffers : AIDES

33. Marsh grasses : REEDS

35. Think highly of : ESTEEM

39. Author Umberto : ECO. See 66-Across.

41. Set free : LIBERATE

44. Rubbed roughly : ABRADED

45. Golfer Mickelson : PHIL

47. "Search me" : "NO IDEA"

48. Had a heart-to-heart : TALKED

52. Like Buffalo wings, eating-wise : MESSY

53. Scheme : PLOT

54. Nevada gambling mecca : RENO

55. Devoid of artwork, as walls : BARE

56. Opera solo : ARIA

57. List entry : ITEM

58. Common opening time : NINE

59. In a short time, poetically : ANON

Argyle