Theme: None
Total words: 68
Total blocks: 30
Very scrabbly puzzle, with 5 Zs, 2 Xs, 2 Js, 1Q and several Ks. Seven-letter entries abound, and triple stacks in each Down quadrant. Pack & Stack, in Clear Ayes' words.
A disaster for me, Krakatoa style. Couldn't even nail XIA (26A. First chronicled Chinese dynasty). Xia Dynasty existed between 2070 and 1600 BC. Xia literally means "summer" in Chinese.
Across:
1. Psychs (up): PUMPS
6. Frolicker in a Peter, Paul and Mary song: PUFF. "Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea/ And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called honah lee...". Love the tune, even though I don't truly understand the lyrics.
10. Sith rivals: JEDI. From the "Star Wars".
14. "Cut __!": IT OUT. And A NICE (58. "What __ surprise!"). Two fill-in-the-blank partials.
15. Evaporating sea: ARAL. I like how it crosses another crossword stalwart URAL (7D. Kazakhstan river).
16. Utah home of the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival: OREM. Pure guess. The crossword answer for Utah city is either OREM and PROVO.
17. Symphony section: CELLI. What? I thought the plural for cello is just cellos.
18. Go back and forth: PACE
19. It can be hard to get over: HUMP
20. Big name in publishing: KNOPF. Publisher for Bill Clinton's "My Life". Random House imprint.
21. Costanza portrayer: ALEXANDER (Jason). George Costanza, from "Seinfeld".
23. Requests: ASKS FOR
25. Even considering: DESPITE
27. Bind: JAM
29. Washington et al.: STATES
30. "Gentlemen's Agreement" Oscar winner: ELIA KAZAN. Nice to see his full name. (Sorry for the error earlier.)
34. Sorry lot?: RUERS. Lovely spin on a tired answer.
35. Curious: QUIZZICAL. Such a scrabbly answer.
37. About to bloom: IN BUD
40. Saw only good qualities in: IDEALIZED
44. "__ Boom-de-ay": vaudeville song: TA-RA-RA. Have never heard of this song.
46. Withdrawal aid, for short: ATM
47. I, to Claudius: ONE. Roman numeral. I was thinking of "I", me. Great play on "I, Claudius".
48. Lit conditions?: STUPORS. Lit = Intoxicated.
50. Fanatics: ZEALOTS
53. Aircraft accelerators: TAILWINDS
55. They precede finals: SEMIS
56. "Play it, Sam" speaker: ILSA. From "Casablanca".
57. Fed. anti-discrimination org.: EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission)
59. Demeanor: MIEN. The "Pouty look" is MOUE.
60. Eye protector: LASH
61. Roadside sign: DINER. And UTENSIL (2D Part of a place setting).
62. Soothe: EASE
63. Half an arcade trademark: SKEE. Skee-Ball.
64. Inner turmoil: ANGST. The red sky in Munch's "The Scream" is said to be the global effect of the 1883 eruption of the Karakatoa, which appeared in Jerome's puzzle yesterday.
Down:
1. Groundbreaking invention: PICKAXE. Excellent clue.
3. Island where Father Damien cared for lepers: MOLOKAI. Where's our Hawaiian gang? They were quite active for a few days.
4. Dime novels: PULPS
5. Lucky one?: STIFF. Why? I don't get this clue.
6. Star chasers: PAPARAZZI. Another scrabbly answer.
8. Confronted: FACED
9. Shows off at the gym: FLEXED
10. 33-day pope, 1978: JOHN PAUL I. Got me. Such a short reign. I remember a pope was poisoned in "The Godfather". Was it our guy?
11. Learned: ERUDITE
12. Greek goddess of agriculture: DEMETER. I can only think of her Roman counterpart Ceres. That's how we got the word cereal.
13. Wow: IMPRESS
22. Stellar: ASTRAL
24. California city near Los Padres National Forest: OJAI. Clear Ayes' daughter graduated from a high school in Ojai.
28. Tribute maker: MAZDA. "Zoom-zoom". I was not thinking of car at all.
31. Water skis alternative: AQUAPLANE
32. "Friends" actress: KUDROW (Lisa)
33. Übermensch philosopher: NIETZSCHE. Übermensch = "Superman" in German. I am suffering from language Aphasia. Used to know how to spell his name properly.
36. Attended: CAME
37. "Let's go now": IT'S TIME
38. Russian supermodel Vodianova: NATALIA. Faintly remember this girl. Prosopagnosia is an awesome word, Gunghy.
39. Bumps' partners: BRUISES
41. Moving quickly: ZOOMING
42. Lures: ENTICES
43. Finishing course: DESSERT
45. __ Grotto: ocean-themed Disney World play area: ARIEL'S. Not familiar with this place at all.
49. Quarterback's play: SNEAK
51. Carne __: Mexican beef dish: ASADA. Literally "roasted meat". Not a Mexican food fan. I do love avocado though.
52. October Revolution leader: LENIN
54. Shot amount: DOSE
Answer grid.
C.C.
Total words: 68
Total blocks: 30
Very scrabbly puzzle, with 5 Zs, 2 Xs, 2 Js, 1Q and several Ks. Seven-letter entries abound, and triple stacks in each Down quadrant. Pack & Stack, in Clear Ayes' words.
A disaster for me, Krakatoa style. Couldn't even nail XIA (26A. First chronicled Chinese dynasty). Xia Dynasty existed between 2070 and 1600 BC. Xia literally means "summer" in Chinese.
Across:
1. Psychs (up): PUMPS
6. Frolicker in a Peter, Paul and Mary song: PUFF. "Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea/ And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called honah lee...". Love the tune, even though I don't truly understand the lyrics.
10. Sith rivals: JEDI. From the "Star Wars".
14. "Cut __!": IT OUT. And A NICE (58. "What __ surprise!"). Two fill-in-the-blank partials.
15. Evaporating sea: ARAL. I like how it crosses another crossword stalwart URAL (7D. Kazakhstan river).
16. Utah home of the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival: OREM. Pure guess. The crossword answer for Utah city is either OREM and PROVO.
17. Symphony section: CELLI. What? I thought the plural for cello is just cellos.
18. Go back and forth: PACE
19. It can be hard to get over: HUMP
20. Big name in publishing: KNOPF. Publisher for Bill Clinton's "My Life". Random House imprint.
21. Costanza portrayer: ALEXANDER (Jason). George Costanza, from "Seinfeld".
23. Requests: ASKS FOR
25. Even considering: DESPITE
27. Bind: JAM
29. Washington et al.: STATES
30. "Gentlemen's Agreement" Oscar winner: ELIA KAZAN. Nice to see his full name. (Sorry for the error earlier.)
34. Sorry lot?: RUERS. Lovely spin on a tired answer.
35. Curious: QUIZZICAL. Such a scrabbly answer.
37. About to bloom: IN BUD
40. Saw only good qualities in: IDEALIZED
44. "__ Boom-de-ay": vaudeville song: TA-RA-RA. Have never heard of this song.
46. Withdrawal aid, for short: ATM
47. I, to Claudius: ONE. Roman numeral. I was thinking of "I", me. Great play on "I, Claudius".
48. Lit conditions?: STUPORS. Lit = Intoxicated.
50. Fanatics: ZEALOTS
53. Aircraft accelerators: TAILWINDS
55. They precede finals: SEMIS
56. "Play it, Sam" speaker: ILSA. From "Casablanca".
57. Fed. anti-discrimination org.: EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission)
59. Demeanor: MIEN. The "Pouty look" is MOUE.
60. Eye protector: LASH
61. Roadside sign: DINER. And UTENSIL (2D Part of a place setting).
62. Soothe: EASE
63. Half an arcade trademark: SKEE. Skee-Ball.
64. Inner turmoil: ANGST. The red sky in Munch's "The Scream" is said to be the global effect of the 1883 eruption of the Karakatoa, which appeared in Jerome's puzzle yesterday.
Down:
1. Groundbreaking invention: PICKAXE. Excellent clue.
3. Island where Father Damien cared for lepers: MOLOKAI. Where's our Hawaiian gang? They were quite active for a few days.
4. Dime novels: PULPS
5. Lucky one?: STIFF. Why? I don't get this clue.
6. Star chasers: PAPARAZZI. Another scrabbly answer.
8. Confronted: FACED
9. Shows off at the gym: FLEXED
10. 33-day pope, 1978: JOHN PAUL I. Got me. Such a short reign. I remember a pope was poisoned in "The Godfather". Was it our guy?
11. Learned: ERUDITE
12. Greek goddess of agriculture: DEMETER. I can only think of her Roman counterpart Ceres. That's how we got the word cereal.
13. Wow: IMPRESS
22. Stellar: ASTRAL
24. California city near Los Padres National Forest: OJAI. Clear Ayes' daughter graduated from a high school in Ojai.
28. Tribute maker: MAZDA. "Zoom-zoom". I was not thinking of car at all.
31. Water skis alternative: AQUAPLANE
32. "Friends" actress: KUDROW (Lisa)
33. Übermensch philosopher: NIETZSCHE. Übermensch = "Superman" in German. I am suffering from language Aphasia. Used to know how to spell his name properly.
36. Attended: CAME
37. "Let's go now": IT'S TIME
38. Russian supermodel Vodianova: NATALIA. Faintly remember this girl. Prosopagnosia is an awesome word, Gunghy.
39. Bumps' partners: BRUISES
41. Moving quickly: ZOOMING
42. Lures: ENTICES
43. Finishing course: DESSERT
45. __ Grotto: ocean-themed Disney World play area: ARIEL'S. Not familiar with this place at all.
49. Quarterback's play: SNEAK
51. Carne __: Mexican beef dish: ASADA. Literally "roasted meat". Not a Mexican food fan. I do love avocado though.
52. October Revolution leader: LENIN
54. Shot amount: DOSE
Answer grid.
C.C.
