Sunday July 19, 2015 Frank Virzi

Theme:  "Oh, I Get It!" - "Oh" sound is added to each theme entry, adjusting spellings as needed.

22A. Glass insulation consideration? : WINDOW CHILL FACTOR. Wind chill factor.

43A. Dessert served to waiting commuters? : DEPOT DISH APPLE PIE. Deep-dish apple pie.

98A. Skits at teatime? : PEKOE PERFORMANCES. Peak performances.

122A. Where clay letters are mailed? : PLAY-DOH POST OFFICE. Played post office. This changes a past tense verb into two words. Very unexpected.

3D. Alaskan butcher's tool? : JUNEAU CLEAVER. June Cleaver.

59D. Fruit used in a numbers game? : BINGO CHERRIES. Bing cherries. Seasonal right now.

So, six long theme entries, 6 different spellings of "Oh" sounds. This is another addition theme that needs creativity and imagination.

The grid is skillfully designed. Frank intersects two sets of the themers. This happens when you have quite a few theme entries, but Frank's choices are rather limited.

 

Across:

       

1. '80s IBM flop nicknamed "Peanut" : PCjr. PC Junior. Unknown to me.

5. "Do I need to draw you __?" : A MAP

9. Give some slack : LOOSEN

15. "Lord, is __?": Matthew : IT I

18. Shivering fit : AGUE

19. Fish-filled fare, frequently : TACO. What kind of fish do you use for fish tacos?

20. High-speed contest : AIR RACE

21. AOL rival : MSN

25. Shanty : HUT

26. Ground : EARTH

27. It may be covered by a wig : NAPE. Not HEAD or DOME.

28. Interval between mi and fa : HALF TONE. And 127. Scale note : SOL

30. Just-in-case strategy : PLAN B

32. Destroyer attacked in Aden in Oct., 2000 : USS COLE. Where were you in Oct 2000? I was in Shanghai for a project.

35. One known for high living? : TIBETAN. Nice clue. Tibetans drink Yak Butter tea every day. Their daily bread is Tsampa, made of barley flour.

36. Beats on streets : ROUTES

38. Buttonless top : TEE

39. This, in Tijuana : ESTO

41. Polite interruptions : AHEMs

42. Firm finish? : INC. Company. I was expecting a suffix.

47. Flo's workplace : MEL'S

49. Go limp : WILT

50. Minuscule time fraction: Abbr. : NSEC

51. Martinique, par exemple : ILE

52. Where Lux. is : EUR. Luxembourg.

54. __ Caesar, slain heir of Emperor Augustus : GAIUS. Drew a blank. Gaius is also Julius Caesar's first name.

56. Like some property : REAL. Only familiar with "Real estate".

58. Ground rule hits: Abbr. : DBLS (Doubles)

62. Gomer Pyle's "Well, I'll be!" : SHAZAM

65. Classic orange soda : FANTA

67. Kit Carson House site : TAOS. New trivia to me.

69. Slip in a pot : IOU.  I kept thinking of my soup pot.

70. Spread quickly online : GO VIRAL

72. Rapscallion : SCAMP

74. Musical section : STRINGS

76. With 125-Down, fictional tall-hat wearer : THE. 125. See 76-Across : CAT. The Cat in the Hat.

77. In a muddle : ASEA

79. Spanish souls : ALMAS. Learning moment to me. We've seen AME clued as "French soul".

81. Puts on : STAGES

82. Kind : SORT

84. Prefix with pad : HELI

86. Short-straw drawer : LOSER

88. Latin 101 verb : AMO

89. Kwik-E-Mart owner on "The Simpsons" : APU

91. Feminine suffix : ENNE. Or ETTE.

93. Overflow (with) : TEEM

95. Old Canadian skit show : SCTV. Second City TV.

104. Step on it, old-style : HIE

105. Start of a fitness buff's motto : USE IT. Or lose it.

106. Entre __ : NOUS

107. Steve Martin won its 2015 Life Achievement Award: Abbr. : AFI (American Film Institute)

108. Porcupine, e.g. : RODENT

110. Salon workers, at times : RINSERS

112. Recent delivery : NEONATE. Tried NEWBORN first.

115. "Phooey!" : NERTS

116. Storage closets : PANTRIES

118. Actress Penélope : CRUZ

119. Cacophonous : AROAR

121. Sugar suffix : OSE. Also 134. Prefix with -itis : OSTE

128. "Hands off!" : ALL MINE!

129. 67, for Beethoven's Fifth : OPUS. I bet Jayce nailed it.

130. Zoom : TEAR. Oh, the "move quickly" Zoom.

131. USCG rank : ENS (Ensigns)

132. Highlands legend nickname : NESSIE

133. Overtakes, in a way : LAPS. New meaning to me.

Down:

1. Dog offering : PAW

2. "Frozen" FX : CGI. FX= Effects. CGI= Computer-generated imagery

4. Household pest : RED ANT

5. Chem class abbr. : AT WT (Atomic Weight)

6. __ Picchu : MACHU

7. "Jiminy!" in Germany : ACH

8. Plants with their own national day every December 12 : POINSETTIAS. Easily guessable.

9. Lacking zip : LIFELESS

10. "... boy __ girl?" : OR A

11. Theater ticket abbr. : ORCH. Orchestra.

12. Perched on : SAT ATOP

13. Beef recall cause : ECOLI

14. "Throw it indoors" toy : NERF BALL

15. Architect of Egypt's Step Pyramid of Djoser : IMHOTEP. Can never remember this guy's name.

16. Quake consequence : TSUNAMI

17. Strong : INTENSE

20. It's for the dogs : ALPO. And 75. Brand at Petco : IAMS

23. "The full-__ moon with unchanged ray": Thoreau : ORBED

24. Like some punch : LACED

29. Tittered : TEHEED

 

30. Proper companion? : PRIM. Prim and proper.

31. Only : LONE

33. Minn. college : ST OLAF. Yay, gimme for me.

34. Surrey town where demo versions of many "White Album" songs were recorded : ESHER. Unfamiliar to me.

37. Put in stitches : SEW

40. "Be quiet," in scores : TACET

44. __ Latin : PIG. Fill in the blank clues can be tricky when you have several other choices.

45. Cable guy, e.g. : INSTALLER

46. Test episodes : PILOTS

48. "If You Knew __...": Quatro album : SUZI. I thought it's SUSIE.

53. __ avis : RARA

55. Donald, to Huey : UNCA

57. Small cells : AAs

60. Theater section : LOGE

61. Work (out) : SUSS. Suss out. Figure out.

62. Certain NCOs : SGTS

63. Twinkie relative : HO HO

64. "Glee" specialty : MASH-UP

 

66. Bullets : AMMO

68. Miss, in much of S.A. : SRTA

71. "Go Set a Watchman" author Harper : LEE. Timely.

73. Soup in "That's Amore" : PASTA FAZOOL. Unknown to me also. Pasta and beans.

78. Last Olds model : ALERO

80. "Already been to that movie" : SEEN IT

83. Lao-tzu follower : TAOIST

85. Just for kicks : IN FUN

87. __ room : REC

90. Book that begins, "All children, except one, grow up" : PETER PAN

92. Heat shield site : NOSE CONE

94. Nice view : MER. Nice the French city.

96. Sunglasses feature : TINT

97. Lab attendants : VETS. Dogs.

98. Aim : PURPOSE

99. Football's "Boomer" : ESIASON. Hi, Boomer, smile!

100. Watchers of boxers : KENNELS

101. Formally approves, formerly : ENSEALS. Not a word I use.

102. Show some spine : MAN UP. And 114. Enjoy thoroughly : EAT UP. Tiny UP dupe.

103. Ben, in Hebrew names : SON OF.  Ibn in Arab names.

109. Ignoring : DEAF TO

111. Lunar valley : RILLE. I only know RILL.

113. "What's Hecuba to him, __ to Hecuba": Hamlet : OR HE

117. Sylvia of jazz : SYMS. Another stranger to me. Update: Thank you, HowardW. (Argyle)

120. Eponymous sea discoverer : ROSS. Ross Sea.

123. 20% of MMDX : DII. 5/1 of 2,510= 502. (Correction: 1/5. Thanks, D-Otto.)

124. Place for sweaters : SPA. Or GYM. Sweat-ers.

126. Afore : ERE

I'd like to introduce you to Hayley Gold's Across and Down, a weekly webcomic about the New York Times crosswords. Hayley's intelligent comments & fun visuals are often more  entertaining than the puzzles themselves. I hope you all subscribe to her site. Enter your email address under "Subscribe".  You'll get a notification when she has a new post out.

C.C.

Saturday, Jul 18th, 2015, Roland Huget

Theme: None

Words: 72 (missing J,Q,W,X,Z)

Blocks: 32

  Ta-DA~!!!  I can once again claim success on a Saturday, with no cheating, no Googling, and no red-letters~!  It was not looking that way to start, though, and then I hit the center, with the triple-stack spanners, and thought - ugh.  However, triple-stacks usually mean shorter crossings, and so I was hoping to catch a break there [not].  Way too many proper names*, and one or two fun-sponges, but ultimately a satisfying solve - even if I'm biased just for finishing it~!  The triple stack spanners;

33. Best Picture of 1965 : THE SOUND OF MUSIC - the hills are alive....

40*. Mario Lanza classic : ARRIVEDERCI ROMA - with about half the perps, this made as much sense as anything else - despite not knowing the artist nor the song

41. Winner : LAST ONE STANDING

Aaaaaahn - ward~!

ACROSS:

1. Hot tub feature : EDDY - I can personally verify this, because I'm in my hot tub right now~!  Having this as the first clue of the day - on my vacation - seemed so appropriate~!

5. Air carrier : DUCT - I was thinking airplanes first

9. Bargain : STEAL

14. Clamors : BROUHAHAS

16*. Eponymous WWII flying ace Edward : O'HARE - more airplanes

17. High muck-a-muck : BIG KAHUNA - I'll refrain from a video clip; just an image

18*. One of Johnny's two final "Tonight Show" guests : BETTE - Midler; his other guest was the late Robin Williams

19. Reel kin : SPOOL - think movies, not fishing

20. Garden grower : HERB - we made an herb garden at the front of restaurant aMano

22. In the thick of : AMID - my first fill, 10 clues in

23. Spoiler of a perfect GPA : ONE B - I got "one B" in manual drafting, which annoyed me

25. Military group with an insect in its logo : SEABEES - "CBs"; Construction Battalions

27. Swing voter: Abbr. : INDependent - eh

29. Pacific landing handout : LEI

32. Mag wheels? : EDs - I was going to throw this in - editors - because we've seen it before; but I was thinking it might be something a little more clever

42. Familia member : TIO - OK, no immediate ta-DA~!, because I had tiA

43. Disdainful click : TSK

44. Golf club part : TOE

45. "Yup, sorry to say" : " 'FRAID SO" - did you hear the one about the rope that went into the bar~?

49. Some Ivy Leaguers : ELIs

52. "... where was __ Urania / When Adonais died?": Shelley : LORN - perps & WAG

53. Additions, perhaps : ELLS - elis and ells

56. __ directed : USE AS

59. As much as you like, '60s-style : A GO-GO

61*. Augustine St. Clare's daughter, in an 1852 classic : LITTLE EVA - not that I knew this proper noun, but it has appeared in a Saturday puzzle before

63*. Prince Ramiro in Rossini's "La Cenerentola," e.g. : TENOR - um, OK

64. Volunteer's declaration : "I'M YOUR MAN~!"

65*. "Goosebumps" series author : STINE - hey, I knew this name~!

66*. Irving Bacheller's "__ Holden" : EBEN - but not this one

67. Latin 101 verb : ESSE - dah~! not AMAS

DOWN:

1. Subsides : EBBS - crossing EDDY is quaint

2. __-dry : DRIP

3. Many social reformers : DO-GOODERS

4. 3,185-kilometer river : YUKON - no guess until --K-N

5. Code word : DAH - I filled in the "D", and waited; this is MY code word for the head-slap V-8 can moment

6. "No way!" : "UH-UH~!"

7. Raspberry stem : CANE - new one to me

8. Medieval Bulgarian rulers : TSARs

9. Blubber : SOB - dah - not "FAT"

10*. Theater for Beckett? : "THE ABSURD" - "The Wiki"

11. Invitation Alice accepted : EAT ME

12*. Wheelchair-bound "Glee" character : ARTIE - never seen it

13. West Yorkshire city : LEEDS

15. Sound : HALE

21. Some pinups : BEEFCAKE - one for the ladies; or is this more to your liking~?

24. Prude : BLUENOSE - I knew it was BLUE - something

26. Running group, informally : ADMINistration

27. Underlining alternative: Abbr. : ITALics; don't know why I was thinking underWIRE

28. Funny Car org. : NHRA - Hot Rods ; I'm starting the NHTA - the National HOT TUB Association

30*. "The Neverending Story" author : ENDE

31. Words usually abbreviated : ID EST - that is, i.e.

34. Withholding : SITTING ON

35. Roundish : OVOID

36. Remnants : ORTS - ah, not LEES

37. "By all appearances" : "SO IT SEEMS"

38. Mae West's "__ Angel" : I'M NO

39. Imprison : CAGE - nailed it

45. Broken glass dangers : FLATS - meh.  I wanted SHARDS, but not enough space.  Glass doesn't threaten my tires, nails and screws are the real problem

46. Wordsmith's reference : ROGET - his thesaurus, that is

47. "The San Francisco Treat" suffix : A-RONI

48. One-toothed dragon of '50s TV : OLLIE - I thought it was this guy

Gumby & Prickle

50. Beaut : LULU

51. Grenoble's river : ISERE

54. Danger metaphor : LIMB - as in "out on one"

55. Bump on a lid : STYE - dah~! I went with SEAL; hey, it's the bump on a lid of jelly

57. Audio/visual production awards : AVAs - BTW, not the Adult Video Awards

58. Levelheaded : SANE - made me change my "AMAS" @ 67a.

60. Celestite, e.g. : ORE

62. Workload hyperbole : TON - these days, it's a s**t-load

Splynter

Friday, July 17, 2015, Jeffrey Wechsler

These: Where did you hide all of the Holes?

Keeping to our bi-weekly schedule, we have Jeffrey back this time with a missing word puzzle. In row 1, 8 and 15 (the beginning middle and end) we have a three word string, each 4,5,4; the clue is for a word ending in "HOLE" but the hole is missing. It is an interesting scientific conundrum, can a hole which is nothing be missing? There is much consistency to the grid though a few of the ___HOLE fill are two words rather than a single word. What makes the puzzle a delight is JW's fun reveal which points out that there are nine words that are not, but should be followed by HOLE. Other than that, it is another Friday with high word count and less than 5 letter average fill. The longer fill is varied including ABORTS, LESTER, NO SHOW, SECURE, SPLEEN, SUCCOR, TOO BIG, WADDLE, AM I BEAT, CAPSULE, GADGETS, LOCKS ON, REVERTS, SEVENTY, SLEDGES, BASE CAMP, PUNK ROCK, ORIGINALS, REMINDS OF, with many of them Jeffrey's customary two word fill.  Heck out the symmetry. The asterisks immediately warn the solver that the game is afoot, otherwise 1A would be discouraging. WORMHOLE opened my eyes. Lots of nice musical references; let's see how we all did.

1A. *It offers an ocean view : PORTHOLE(4). Well both ports and portholes do, so this was a hard start. PORTHOLE is written both as one and two words.

5A. *Hardware insertion point : SCREW HOLE (5). While completely avoiding all DF comments, this is one of the theme fill that takes two words, always I think.

10A. *Sci-fi shortcut : WORM HOLE (4). Like many, I learned of this method of travel through STAR TREK. Sorry for the ad, but I like the LINK (4:46).

38A. *Means of evasion : LOOPHOLE (4).  Did you know THIS?

40A. *Stephen Hawking subject : BLACK HOLE (5). Back to space, this time real science. LINK.

41A. *Orca feature : BLOWHOLE (4). This time the science is mammal anatomy. LINK.

67A. *Geologic danger : SINKHOLE (4). I learned about these when I moved to Gainesville and this limestone sinkhole attributed to the DEVIL.

68A. *Serengeti gathering place : WATERHOLE (5). I think in terms of watering holes, but MW says, " a small pool, pond, or lake used by animals for drinking" so what do I know?

69A. *Home security device : PEEPHOLE (4). I do not find these very helpful and they installed the one at work for much taller peep-le, but I do remember this SCENE (1:05).

And the reveal, which i am sure appealed at least to me and Moe and HG and the other golfers----especially this week of the Open Championship (or the British Open to some).
46A. Quick round ... and, collectively, what the answers to starred clues lack : NINE HOLES (9).

I liked it!

Across:

14. Chevy subcompact : AVEO. Discontinued in 2011, so...

15. Salad bar morsel : OLIVE. This was hard because I think of morsel as part of rather than a whole.

16. Domingo forte : ARIA. You do not have to like opera to like Placido. LISTEN (3:01).

17. Spectator sport since the Edo period : SUMO. Not something I knew but easily inferable.

18. Alpine air : YODEL. A stretch for me.

19. Checker, e.g. : DISC. It took me more than one pass to relate to the checker on a checkerboard being a disc.

20. "What an exhausting day!" : AM I BEAT! JW likes multiple word fill.

22. Pounding tools : SLEDGES. I did not need to be hit on the head with a hammer to get this one.

24. Veto : NIX.

25. Clay, nowadays : ALI. Easy unless you are a sculptor or into pottery.

26. Handy assortment : GADGETS.

30. "Terribly strange" age in Simon & Garfunkel's "Old Friends" : SEVENTY. They are both over seventy now.

34. ICU connections : IVS.

35. Medical unit : CAPSULE. I imagine those who did not like the earlier in the week capsule used as a clue for ROCKET, there will be debate about this clue/fill.

37. "__ you finished?" : ARE.

42. Terrible : AWFUL.

44. F1 neighbor : ESC. If you had to look at your keyboard was that cheating?

45. Makers of wood pulp nests : WASPS. John Lampkin showed us this PICTURE back in December.

49. Gets in one's sights, with "to" : LOCKS ON. As with a telescopic sight on your rifle.

52. Backslides : REVERTS to his/her old habits.

56. Cancels the launch : ABORTS.

57. Fasten : SECURE.

58. "Whip It" rockers : DEVO. Where are they NOW (0:16)?

59. Order outfit : HABIT. Nun too soon.

63. __ on the back : A PAT.

64. Monthly pmt. : ELECtricity bill.

65. Midway alternative : O'HARE. The two major Chicago airports.

66. Choice array : MENU. And the clecho, 43A. Choice array : LIST. 

Down:

1. "¿Qué __?" : PASA. The upside down question mark tells you it is Spanish.

2. Reproductive cell : OVUM. Eggs-actly.

3. Takes back to : REMINDS OF. Like my trip to my 50th high school reunion took me back to my childhood.

4. Goldilocks complaint : TOO BIG. Too hot?

5. Protein-rich bean : SOYA. Soy?

6. Blood __ : CLOT. Lots of Blood____fill- TYPE, TEST, LUST, BANK, LINE, MOON, but this is the first appearance of Clot.

7. Unburden : RID.

8. Anticipatory times : EVES. Twas the night before Christmas....

9. More than adequately : WELL. Oh my, you do that so well!

10. Swaying walk : WADDLE.  Don't make fun it is MEDICAL (1:36).

11. Art museum works, usually : ORIGINALS. There are some numbered prints, perhaps.

12. Increase : RISE.

13. Pro and mini : MACS. Apple computers, here I come. Did I answer why?

21. Business VIP : EXECutive.

23. Architectural projection : EAVE.

26. Colorado tributary : GILA. They meet on the other side of Arizona LINK.

27. State as accurate : AVOW.

28. Bar __ : TAB. Bar none I am sure this is Tin's favorite.

29. Petulance : SPLEEN. I guess someone venting his spleen can be petulant, but this was all perps.

30. Help : SUCCOR. A nice old fashioned word.

31. Yosemite grazer : ELK. I did not know this.

32. Stadium in St. Pete, with "The" : TROPicana. You know who has juice in Florida.

33. Landscaping shrubs : YEWS. I understand they like shade.

36. Obi, e.g. : SASH. So often OBI is the fill.

39. "Pure, stripped down" genre, per Tommy Ramone : PUNK ROCK. One of the originals.

41. Climber's refuge : BASE CAMP.

45. "__ Got Tonight": 1983 hit duet : WE'VE. He redid it with Dolly Parton.

47. Absentee : NO SHOW.

48. Sci-fi author/editor del Rey : LESTER. I used to read a lot of Science Fiction and Lester was one of many who came out of the 30's and pulp magazines. He was also a very successful editor and was the inspiration for one of the members of Isaac Asimov's Black Widowers.

49. Fills with cargo : LADES.

50. Division symbols : OBELI. These are just ÷.

51. Neo-pagan gathering : COVEN. A Cool CSO to our California group.

53. Nepal currency : RUPEE.

54. Big name in air conditioning : TRANE. I prefer this TRAIN.(4:52).

55. Everything but the liquor : SET UP. The juice, ice and sodas that Tin never uses.

60. Word associated with a light bulb : AHA.

61. Echolocation user : BAT. Using the sound bouncing off things instead of seeing. I know the feeling.

62. Steaming state : IRE. We leave as we came with a bit of misdirection which I hope did not leave anyone hot under the collar....

Well I am certainly getting accustomed to JW and his puzzles, so I had fun with this. I hope you did and enjoy the rest of the Golf while the rest of the sporting world rests. Lemonade out.

Thursday, July 16, 2015 Rick Papazian

Theme: Back-up Plan

19-Across. Seedless citrus fruit : NAVEL ORANGES.

32-Across. Dish named for its French place of origin : QUICHE LORRAINE.

39-Across. Recitation from Matthew : THE LORDS PRAYER.

55-Across. Psychodrama technique ... and a literal hint to what's hidden in 19-, 32- and 39-Across : ROLE REVERSAL. Simple theme, with ROLE appearing backwards in the theme entries. Similar to the FLIP SIDE puzzle I blogged last week.

We first saw Rick about a year and a half ago. That sort of frequency does not allow you to get used to a constructor's style, so I was all over the place with this one. How did you do?

Across 

1. Fictional Carpathian Mountains resident : DRACULA. Bran Castle is for sale.

8. Bat wood : ASH.

11. Embroidered pronoun : HIS. On bath towels.

14. Protects, in a way : ENCASES. Coddles? Cushions? Sandbags? (I can see I'm gonna need a little perp help here.)

15. "Handcuff Secrets" author : HOUDINI. Gimme.

17. "... folks dressed up like __": "The Christmas Song" : ESKIMOS.

18. Quiet : SILENCE.

21. "Later" : BYE.

24. Traditional observance : RITE.

25. Medical tube : STENT.

26. Gauchos' weapons : BOLAS.  I used to have trouble remembering which was the weapon and which was the tie.  BOLAs are shaped sort of like an "A" on the business end.

Bolo ties have an "O" that goes around the neck:

28. "__ so fast!" : NOT.

31. Baja bear : OSA. Spanish.

37. Painter Cassatt : MARY. Gimme - one of my cats is named after her.

38. Entice : BAIT.

45. Comic strip boy with a giant squid pal : LIŌ. Never saw this comic strip. The squid's name is Ishmael.

 46. North __ : SEA.

47. Work hard : SLAVE.

48. Probably will, after "is" : APT TO.

51. Programmer's glitch, perhaps : LOOP.

54. Car wash option : WAX.

59. Whammy : EVIL EYE.

60. Greets rudely : ACCOSTS.

64. Deeply regret : DEPLORE.

65. "It's better to be looked over than overlooked" speaker : MAE WEST.

66. Logical operators : ORs. Part of that programmer's glitch?

67. Pennant race mo. : SEP.tember.

68. Storehouse : ARSENAL.


Down

1. Low mark : DEE.

2. Med. personnel : RNs.

3. "Egad!" : ACK.

4. Son of Eve : CAIN.

5. Dr. Richard Kimble pursuer : U.S. MARSHAL.

6. Byzantine emperor after Basil I : LEO VI. Sure, I knew that. (Not!)

7. Accounts receivable, e.g. : ASSET.

8. "Oh, I see" : AH SO.

9. Évian evening : SOIR. French.

10. Luau entertainment : HULAS.

11. Contingently follow from : HINGE ON.

12. Tick off : INCENSE.

13. Nogales nap : SIESTA. More Spanish.

16. Trade-in deduction : DENT.

20. Fallon followed him : LENO.  Ugh. Fair warning: DO NOT Google about his recent finger injury.

21. Cookout, briefly : BBQ.

22. "__ rang?" : YOU.

23. Member of college music's Whiffenpoofs : ELI.

27. Pinnacle : ACME.

29. Eyes in verse : ORBS.

30. Drainpipe section : TRAP.

33. Cupid's counterpart : EROS.

34. Old instrument played with a plectrum : LYRE.

35. Jurisdictional atmospheric areas : AIR SPACES. The flight to Cancun used to change by 2 hours, depending on whether the airline could get permission to fly over Cuban AIR SPACE.

36. Font choice: Abbr. : ITAL.ics

39. Topple : TIP OVER.

40. "MASH" nickname : HOT LIPS. Houlihan.

41. Valley : DALE.

42. Deviate from a course : YAW.

43. Perón of Argentina : EVA.

44. Stout in the mystery section : REX. The creator of Nero Wolfe.

45. Rio Grande city : LAREDO.

49. Inform : TELL.

50. "Wonderfilled" treats : OREOS.

52. Store display suffix : ORAMA. So would a cookware store display be called a PANORAMA?

53. First name in wieners : OSCAR.

56. Rochester's bride : EYRE. My first thought is always this Rochester from the old Jack Benney show.

57. Ford, but not Lincoln : VEEP.

58. Actor Rob : LOWE.

61. D.C. VIP : SEN.ator

62. Dept. of Homeland Security org. : TSA. Transportation Security Administration.

63. After N.Y., team with the most World Series wins : ST. L. I'm guessing St. Louis?

So, there you have it.
Marti

Wednesday, July 15th 2015 Jeff Stillman

Theme: Smells Like Teen Spirit

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

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

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

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

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


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

Across:

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

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

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

13. Gun shop buy : AMMO

14. Valuable rocks : ORES

15. Appreciative cry : BRAVO

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

19. All worked up : IRATE

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

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

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

28. Weekly NBC offering : SNL

29. Recede : EBB

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

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

33. Try a little of : SIP

35. Words to a waiter : ORDER

41. Reward for bravery : MEDAL

44. Devil : IMP

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

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

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

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

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

59. Lyrical before : ERE

60. One using a bypass, maybe : AVOIDER

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

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

67. Sailing through : ACING

68. Croquet surface : LAWN

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

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

71. Peak near Messina : ETNA.

72. Knocker's target? : WOOD

Down:

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

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

3. Standoff : IMPASSE

4. Didn't finish on top : LOST.

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

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

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

8. Not easily misled : ASTUTE

9. Have a jones for : CRAVE

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

11. Typical : AVERAGE

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

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

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

21. Highlighter tip : NIB

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

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

26. Hide-hair link : NOR

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

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

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

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

39. Kuwaiti ruler : EMIR

40. Church area : APSE

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

42. Upgrade : ENHANCE

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

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

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

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

51. Kooky : ODD

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

54. Staff note : MEMO

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

58. Extraordinary : GREAT

62. Brag : CROW

63. Dinghy propeller : OAR

65. Possess : OWN

66. Some trial evidence : DNA

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


Steve

Tuesday, July 14, 2015 C.C. Burnikel

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Across:

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

6. Skidded : SLID

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

14. Circus venue : ARENA

15. Kiss : BUSS

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

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

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

21. Steed : HORSE

22. Impressionist Édouard : MANET

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

25. Saintly glows : AURAE

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

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

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

34. Ovid's 551 : DLI

35. Prefix with state or coastal : INTRA

38. UN delegate : AMB. (ambassador)

39. Signs off on : OKAYs

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

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

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

48. RN workplaces : ORs. (operating room)

51. Antidote target : TOXIN

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

55. Dalai Lama's land : TIBET

56. African country whose capital is Accra : GHANA

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

59. Genesis progenitor : ADAM

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

63. History : PAST

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

65. NCAA's Big __ Conference : EAST

66. Egyptian snakes : ASPs

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

Down:

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

3. Negligent : REMISS

4. One at the Louvre : UNE

5. Get into hot water : BATHE

6. Chain known for its New York pizza : SBARRO

7. Huggies rival : LUVS

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

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

10. About 30% of Africa : SAHARA

11. Hawkeye Pierce portrayer : ALAN ALDA

12. People shelfmate : US WEEKLY

13. Suffered defeat : LOST

18. Wanders : ROAMS

22. Adult sheep meat : MUTTON

24. Christian of fashion : DIOR

25. Thumbs-up vote : AYE

28. Dubbed : NAMED

29. Tidal decline : EBB

30. Nickname for a sib : SIS

32. La Brea attraction : TAR PIT

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

36. "Great suggestion" : "NEAT IDEA"

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

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

40. Not just assume : KNOW

43. Suffix with ball : OON. (balloon)

44. Hag : CRONE

46. Not subject to taxes : EXEMPT

47. Passes, as a law : ENACTS

49. Enjoy a bedtime ritual with : READ TO

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

54. Dijon heads : TÊTEs

55. Wrapping aid : TAPE

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

57. Diary clasp : HASP

60. Après-ski option : SPA

61. 60-Down reaction : [AAH!]

Argyle

Monday July 13, 2015 Gail Grabowski & Bruce Venzke

Theme: >      <

20A. Place for a brewski : WATERING HOLE

35A. No longer valid : NULL AND VOID

42A. Imbalance of income distribution : ECONOMIC GAP

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

Argyle was here.

Across:

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

5. Three-sided sails : JIBS

9. Crook : THIEF

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

15. Middle layer of the eye : UVEA

16. Main blood vessel : AORTA

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

18. Pickle containers : JARS

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

23. Wood decay : DRY ROT

24. Keep in reserve : SAVE

25. Scientist Wernher __ Braun : VON

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

30. Affluent Los Angeles district : ENCINO

32. Bygone intl. carrier : TWA

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

40. Linden or Holbrook : HAL

41. Opening for a coin : SLOT

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

48. Credit card ID : ACCT NO

49. Feels poorly : AILS

51. Confucian "path" : TAO

52. Northern Nevada county or its seat : ELKO

55. Launched capsule : ROCKET

61. Insurance giant : AETNA

64. Baseball family name : ALOU

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

66. '70s New York congresswoman Bella : ABZUG

67. Ore layer : VEIN

68. Qatari bigwig : EMIR

69. Rough up : ABUSE

70. Plays the wrong golf ball, say : ERRs

71. Witnesses : SEEs

Down:

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

2. __ Module: moon lander : LUNAR

3. Togetherness : UNITY

4. Fragrant compounds : ESTERS

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

6. Netman Lendl : IVAN

7. Antarctic floaters : BERGs

8. Youngest Obama : SASHA

9. Caboose's place : TAIL END

10. Cross one's fingers : HOPE

11. Golden-yrs. income source : IRA

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

13. Notes before sols : FAs

21. Reddish equine : ROAN

22. Where baguettes bake : OVEN

25. String quartet member : VIOLA

26. Vidalia veggie : ONION

27. Acknowledge with a head gesture : NOD TO

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

31. Walgreens rival : CVS

32. Reward for a pet trick : TREAT

33. Modern witch's religion : WICCA

34. BP merger partner : AMOCO

36. Fond du __, Wisconsin : LAC

37. Pond organism : ALGA

39. Tonsillitis-treating MD : ENT

43. Recommended résumé length : ONE PAGE

44. Burrowing animal : MOLE

45. Pellet shooters : AIR GUNS

46. Work the fields : PLOW

53. Jack in a deck : KNAVE

54. Crude carrier : OILER

56. Krispy __: doughnut chain : KREME

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

58. Old Russian rulers : TSARs

59. Burden : ONUS

60. Gritty film genre : NOIR

61. Duracell size : AAA

62. Flow back : EBB

63. Shih __: Tibetan dog : TZU

Argyle

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Across:

  

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

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

13. Enthusiastic approval : ACCLAIM

20. Like amoeba reproduction : ASEXUAL
 

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

22. Part of a colloquial lament : SHOULDA

25. Counterattacks : SALLIES

26. Coquette : TEASE

27. Ruby in films : DEE

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

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

32. Clark Kent, on Krypton : KALEL

34. Relatives of medians : MODES

36. Garish : LOUD

37. Give a hoot : CARE

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

40. Sign on : LOG IN

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

48. Sheepish? : OVINE. Nailed it.

49. Tests : TRIALS

51. Unlock, to a bard : OPE

52. Little legume : PEA

53. Fended (off) : STAVED

54. G-rated : CLEAN

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

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

59. Grammarian's topic : USAGE

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

65. LAX posting : ETD
 

67. Brilliance : ECLAT

70. Rigs on long hauls : SEMIs

72. Guffaw : YUK

73. Flight segment : STEP

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

75. Taj __ : MAHAL

76. Without vigor : FEEBLY

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

80. Licorice-flavored seed : ANISE

82. Big Pharma name : PFIZER

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

85. Leg up : AID

87. Dan Aykroyd's birthplace : OTTAWA

90. Very very : ULTRA

94. Pot cover : LID

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

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

97. "Got it" : I SEE

98. First razor with a pivoting head : ATRA

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

101. Spanish "these" : ESTOS

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

104. "Idylls of the King" setting : CAMELOT

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

109. More experienced : WISER
 

111. Quaint "Jeepers!" : OMIGOSH

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

118. Smooth one's feathers : PREEN
 

119. More icky : NASTIER

120. Less introverted : BRASHER

121. Fermented honey quaffs : MEADS

122. They usually inspire blessings : SNEEZES

Down:

1. Lobbying gp. : PAC

2. Cinders : ASH
 

3. Major Sri Lankan export : TEA
 

4. Left : EXITED

5. Enticed : LURED

7. __ king crab : ALASKAN

8. May honoree : MOM

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

10. First name in dognapping : CRUELLA

11. Actress Blanchett : CATE

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

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

14. Pursue : CHASE

16. Down time : LULL

17. Ovid's others : ALII

18. Thought: Pref. : IDEO

19. Spar : MAST

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

29. Scads : A LOT

30. Savanna warning : ROAR

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

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

35. Worker welfare org. : OSHA

37. Acapulco abode : CASA

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

41. Like some mirrors : OVAL
 

43. Subject of Newton's first law : INERTIA

44. Author Buntline : NED

46. Winter woe : SLEET

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

50. Bit of pond scum : ALGA

53. Was in session : SAT

 55. "Swell!" : NIFTY!

57. "The Metamorphosis" writer : KAFKA

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

59. One-eighty : UEY

60. Scrap : SCUFFLE

62. Captain Kidd's refusal : NAE

63. Ban : PROHIBIT

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

66. High-speed letters : DSL

69. Like most Quechua speakers : INCAN

 

70. Partner of Wesson : SMITH. Easy crosses.

71. From Liverpool to Manchester : EAST
 

73. Camera letters : SLR

77. Biblical reformer : EZRA. Friendly crosses again.

79. Nothing at all : ZERO

81. Observe closely : NOTE

82. Black and tan seller : PUB

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

84. Granola grain : OATS

86. Cut out of the will : DISOWN

88. Send electronically, as funds : WIRE

89. Sixth-day creation : ADAM

92. Bounding main : OPEN SEA

93. Gives up : RESIGNS
 

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

98. Make fizzy : AERATE

100. Riveting icon : ROSIE. Rosie the Riveter.

102. RR station posting : SCHED (Schedule)

103. Actress Witherspoon : REESE
 

104. __ salad : COBB

105. Cupid : AMOR

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

107. They may be bruised : EGOS

110. Long-necked trumpeter : SWAN

112. Typing stat. : WPM

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

114. Claiborne of fashion : LIZ

115. Casual wear : TEE

116. Retail posting: Abbr. : HRS

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

 

C.C.