Saturday June 5, 2010 Robert H. Wolfe

Theme: None

Total words: 72

Total blocks: 34

Quintessential Robert Wolfe themeless, with three 15-letter grid spanners and all of them "common enough phrases in daily speech but rarely used in puzzles":

17A. Daydreams: CASTLES IN THE AIR. Awe-inspiring fill.

38A. Reaction to a coincidental entrance: SPEAK OF THE DEVIL. My favorite answer today.

58A. Declaration that's from hunger: I COULD EAT A HORSE. Then we also have ATE (6D. Took in). Tiny flaw. Two forms of the same word (EAT/ATE) should not be allowed in the same grid.

Besides the three grid-spanners, Bob also gives us ten 9-letter entries. He is fond of multi-word answers, so we have plenty today. His playfulness & humor are also in full display. Rafts of misleading clues. My favorite is INFRA (28D. Red head?). Infrared.

Across:

1. "Something's Got a Hold on Me" singer, 1962: ETTA JAMES. Was stumped immediately. Great to see her full name.

10. Bar at the bar: ESTOP. The first bar is verb, "prohibit", the second bar is noun, "the court". We often see it just clued as "Legally prevent".

15. It "ain't what it used to be": Yogi Berra: THE FUTURE. Makes sense.

16. Birch of "Alaska": THORA. Actress Thora Birch. I thought the clue was asking for a particular birch tree in the Alaska. Completely overlooked the quotation mark. Having never heard of the movie "Alaska" did not help.

19. Cry of exhilaration: WHEE

20. Like an irritated person's teeth?: SET ON EDGE. Awesome clue/answer.

21. What U can follow: RST. Alphabetically.

23. White House nickname: RON. Reagan. I wanted IKE.

24. Musician nicknamed "Sugar Lips": HIRT (Al).

27. Try to jab: HIT AT

31. Dose people?: DEM. "Those people" = Them. NY slang I presume. Dis and Dat, Dem and Dose.

34. Like the Indian rhino: ONE-HORNED. Man, it's true. This guy only has one horn.

36. Uncle equal?: I GIVE. V-8 moment for me.

40. Upholstery adornments: TUFTS

41. Plant grafting component: ROOTSTOCK. New word to me.

42. Hampshire's home: STY. Hampshire the breed of pig, characterized by erect ears and a black body with a whitish band around the middle, covering the front legs, according to Wikipedia. I thought it's kind of sheep or goat, Windhover.

43. 1966-67 AFL rushing leader Jim: NANCE. No idea. I bet Barry G/ Mainiac knows. Did not even know England patriots was called Boston Patriots before.

44. DOJ employee: ATTY. DOJ = Depart of Justice.

45. 'Enry's abode: 'OME. Home. The sound H is dropped in the clue/answer. Cockney accent.

47. Ink __: octopus defense: SAC

49. Alfalfa locales: HAYFIELDS. Windhover would love this puzzle.

55. "Verily, thou __ God that hidest thyself" (Isaiah): ART A. Easy guess.

61. It may be metered: VERSE. Fantastic clue.

62. Above: AFORESAID

63. Glacial ridge: ESKER. Simply forgot. We had this fill before.

64. Doesn't draw: STANDS PAT. I don't get the meaning of "draw" here.

Down:

1. Inclusive abbr. : ETC

2. Cold war abatement: THAW

3. Radio host John: TESH. New Ager.

4. Then: AFTER THAT

5. First name in sci-fi: JULES (Verne). "Around the World in Eighty Days".

7. Tousle: MUSS

8. Ohio tribe: ERIE. We also have TETON (29. Dakota dialect). Indian tribes are part of our citizenship test also. There are more than 500 federally recognized tribes in the US. But you only need to know one.

9. Directed: SENT

10. Centric leader: ETHNO. Prefix for "culture".

11. Polish: SHEEN. Noun "Polish". I wanted SHINE.

12. Loathsome sort: TOAD

13. Copier insert: Abbr.: ORIG

14. Skin: PARE. Verb "skin". So tricky.

18. Actionable offense: TORT

22. During, old-style: THRO. How can "through" mean "During"? "Via" to me.

24. Armies: HOSTS. Armies/hosts of.

25. Data, often: INPUT. Not the "Star Trek" guy Data.

26. Like atolls: REEFY. A real word.

30. For this purpose: AD HOC

31. Displacement from a club: DIVOT. D'oh, golf club! Divot is the piece of turf torn up when you strike the ball with an iron.

32. Force out: EVICT. Nice sequential "out" tone to 31D.

33. Braves outfielder Cabrera: MELKY. The Melky Way. He's with the Yankees before. Might be stranger Jayce.

35. Blesses: OKS

36. They may be checked at the door: IDS

37. Be convincing about: GET ACROSS

39. Soissons seasons: ETES. Alliteration. Soissons is city northeast of Paris. Unknown to me. So close in spelling to French fish "poisson".

43. Requirement: NEED

45. Not worthless: OF USE

46. Sebastian Coe, e.g. : MILER

48. Sounded amazed: AAHED. Oohed too.

49. Swarming spot: HIVE. Alliteration

50. They can be high or low: ACES. Don't know cards. TIDE does not fit. Several tricky "they" or "it" in today's puzzle.

51. Walled English city: YORK. No idea. My hometown Xi'An is walled too.

52. Where cows chow down: LEAS. Loved the three "ow"s.

53. Bats: DAFT. Of course I was thinking of baseball bats/HITS.

54. Acropolis sight: STOA. The Greek portico.

56. Under-the-sink item: TRAP. What trap?

57. Land of plenty?: ASIA. Plenty of people. Natural resources too.

59. Hal Foster prince: ARN. I am used to the "Prince Valiant's son" clue. Was ignorant of the creator of the strip.

60. Summer hrs. at MIT: EDT (Eastern Daylight-saving Time)

Answer grid.

C.C.

Friday June 4, 2010 Kelsey Blakley

Theme: Magic I - Letter I is attached to the end of a common phrase.

17A. College administrator's cocktail?: DEAN MARTINI. Dean Martin. The only theme entry where the added I changed a two-syllable sound into three-syllable one.

30A. Still in love with a legendary giant?: NOT OVER YETI. Not Over Yet. Yeti the Abominable Snowman. One syllable to two.

47A. Vehicle delivering the weekly checks?: PAYROLL TAXI. Payroll Tax. One syllable to two also.

63A. Equine teacher of Japan?: HORSE SENSEI. Horse Sense. Sensei is Japanese for "teacher". Literally "one who was born first". Sen = First. Sei = Birth. Same as Chinese. One syllable to two syllable as well. And the only I that's attached to the end of a vowel rather than a consonant.

All of the four theme answers have 11 letters. Quite scrabbly. I spotted 4 Z's.

Several of the Down clues delighted me today:

32D. Surfer's read: EZINE. E Magazine. Computer "surfer".

33D. Sentence lengths: TERMS. Prison sentence.

54D. Small fry: TYKE. Not fish.

55D. Debugging agent?: RAID. The bug killer Raid.

Several other clues have a fresh feel too.

Across:

1. Voting group: BOARD. OK, Board of Directors.

6. Big splash maker of the '60s: SHAMU. Was unaware of this original Shamu story.

11. Bit of a tryst exchange: COO. Ha ha, I know Rich would not clue SEX this way.

14. Invest, as with a quality: ENDUE. Put in ENDOW.

15. Navigational aid: LORAN. Long Range Radio Aid to Navigation. Always wanted RADAR.

16. Wood-shaping tool: ADZ

19. Product name derived from the German word for peppermint: PEZ. From German "Pfefferminz". New to me.

20. Requiring less effort: EASIER

21. Inspection requiring scales: AUTOPSY

23. Henpeck: NAG AT

26. Encouraging sound: RAH

27. Former Secret Service weapon: UZI. No longer in use, Argyle?

35. Old Chevy: NOVA. No va is "no go" in Spanish, correct?

37. Romance novelist Roberts: NORA

38. Bagel order, maybe: DOZEN. I've never ordered that many bagels.

39. Blusters: CROWS. I associate crow with brag rather than bluster.

41. Phone bk. listings: NOS

42. Christmas tree adornment: SKIRT. Is yours red also?

43. White House middle name: ABRAM. James Garfield's middle name.

44. Addie's husband in "As I Lay Dying" : ANSE. No idea. So close to the "Latin handle" ANSA.

46. Generous offer: ON ME

50. Alien's subj.: ESL (English as a Second Language). We have a few ESL teachers on the blog: Lucina, Dot, who else?

51. Joey's mom: DOE. Was unaware that a female kangaroo is called a doe. A baby kangaroo is Joey.

52. Eastwood's 1978 "co-star" Clyde, e.g.: ORANG. In "Every Which Way But Loose". I drew a blank.

54. "I wouldn't lie!": TRUST ME

58. E. Sicilian peak: MT ETNA. We often see ETNA alone.

62. Verb for Popeye: YAM. "I yam what I yam".

66. Sleep, in Sussex: KIP. Verb. It can also be noun meaning "bed". New word to me.

67. Firth: INLET

68. Without face value, as stock: NO PAR

69. Mag wheels?: EDS (Editors). Magazine big wheels.

70. "We don't see __ ..." : EYE TO. Did you get it immediately?

71. Not bland: TASTY. And HOT (7D. Like sauce with a kick).

Down:

1. Eliot's "Adam __": BEDE. Learned from doing Xword.

2. Most fit for drafting: ONE A

3. Entry-level legal jobs: Abbr. : ADAS. OK, Assistant District Attorneys.

4. Clash: RUN IN

5. Put down: DEMEAN

6. 35mm camera choice: SLR (Single-Lens Reflex)

8. Rossini specialty: ARIA

9. Soil enricher: MANURE

10. Cirque du Soleil costumes: UNITARDS. Uni + (leo)tard. With full lengh stockings. Maybe Dennis knows. I don't.

11. Sadie Hawkins Day creator: CAPP (Al)

12. "__ of Solomon": religious works: ODES. Guessed.

13. Osbourne of Black Sabbath: OZZY. Such a DF family.

18. About 1% of the Earth's atmosphere: ARGON. Inert gas. Literally "idle".

22. 1971 John Lennon song: OH YOKO. Here is the song. Blind spot for me.

24. Unkeyed: ATONAL

25. Leafs' home: TORONTO. Toronto Maple Leafs. NHL team.

27. Open, as a brew: UNCAP

28. Anthony Quinn title role: ZORBA. ''Zorba the Greek''. 1964 movie.

29. Old billiard ball material: IVORY

31. Poughkeepsie college: VASSAR. Jackie Kennedy attended Vassar.

34. Chip maker: INTEL. Computer chips.

36. Arbitration decisions: AWARDS

40. Blended fruit drink: SMOOTHIE

45. They may be physical: EXAMS. Nice clue too.

48. Like some meringue: LEMONY. Have never had lemon meringue.

49. Rapt: INTENT

53. Columbus's birthplace: GENOA

56. Tag determiners: UMPS. Baseball "tag".

57. Della's creator: ERLE. Erle Stanley Gardner. Della Street is Perry Mason's secretary.

59. Dosage abbr. : TSPS

60. Bang-up: NEAT

61. Like breezeways: AIRY

64. Headstrong: SET

65. DDE's arena: ETO (European Theater of Operations)

Thank you for the sweet comments/emails yesterday, everyone. They meant a lot to me. I was eligible for citizenship six years ago, but had never seriously considered becoming an American until I started this blog and got to know all of you on a daily basis. You have made a huge difference in my life. Thank you.

Answer grid.

C.C.

Thursday June 3, 2010 Mark Bickham

Theme: Yakety-Yak - Common phrases ending in verbal expressions are humorously interpreted and clued as if they were of a certain occupation.

18A. Musician's parlance?: KEY WORDS. Musical key. C Minor/Major, etc.

24A. Billiards player's parlance?: ENGLISH LANGUAGE. English is a "spinning motion imparted to a ball, esp. in billiards". Maybe Lois can educate us more about this term.

38A Mechanic's parlance? IDLE CHATTER. With engines running. I noticed the dreaded Utah shape, Jerome!

55A. Remodeler's parlance?: PANEL DISCUSSION. Two grid-spanning theme entries.

61A. Chiropractor's parlance? BACK TALK. I bet Jazzbumpa & Mainiac love this answer.

This puzzle scheme reminds me of Robert W Harris' "Imaginary Places" Melissa Bee blogged last January. Familiar two-word phrases ending in "locations" are punnily reinterpreted in correspondence to their clues. For example: ANNUAL PLANT is clued as "Where yearbooks are made?"

Interesting triple stacks of 6's in top left and bottom right corners. Across & Down. Should delight Dennis.

Across:

1. Cook, as Swiss steak: BRAISE. Brown & simmer.

7. "There never was a good" one, according to Franklin: WAR. So true.

10. Like many a head-turner: SEXY. Like Jessica Hart.

14. Imposed, as a tax: LEVIED

15. Fertility clinic cells: OVA

16. Colored: HUED

17. Getting on: AGEING. Oh, I simply use AGING. I also use "cluing", but I noticed Spitzboov uses "clueing".

20. Buddhist discipline: ZEN

21. 1773 jetsam: TEA. "Jetsam" in Boston Harbor.

23. Wall alternative, perhaps: MOAT. In Medieval time then.

30. Draft holder: STEIN

31. Make known: AIR

32. Spread out: SPLAY. New word to me. Related to "display". "Spread out" sounds very DF.

33. For time eterne: E'ER. We also have ERE (45. Bard's "before").

35. Mole user: Abbr. CIA. Spy mole.

37. Sailor's "Agreed": AYE

42. Fella: MAC

44. West of Hollywood: MAE. Mae West.

46. Hello or goodbye: ALOHA

49. Crime lab subject: DNA

51. Beginning: ALPHA. Oh, I did not know this extended meaning of alpha.

58. Heating device: COIL. Didn't come to me readily.

59. Sudan neighbor: Abbr.: ETH. Ethiopia. This abbr. answer stumps me all the time.

60. Dust remover: RAG

65. Arctic exploration tool: ICE AXE. Here is an image. Oh, Argyle, there is that ADZE!

67. Long-running reality show, familiarly: IDOL. "American Idol".

68. __-tzu: LAO. Literally "old master". Father of Taoism. Lao = Old in Chinese.

69. Syndicate: CARTEL

70. Court defense?: ZONE. Tennis or Basket court?

71. Bot. or chem.: SCI

72. Ticks off: ANGERS

Down:

1. Conflagrations: BLAZES

2. Temporary ruler: REGENT

3. Right, in a way: AVENGE. Right the wrong.

4. Junior's junior: III

5. Orlando newspaper: SENTINEL. Does it carry LAT puzzle?

6. Barely beats: EDGES. Alliteration.

7. Moo goo gai pan pan: WOK. The pan in "moo goo gai pan" means "slice".

8. Rosary recital: AVE MARIA. "Hail Mary". Catholic prayer.

9. Lustrous fabric: RAYON. Synthetic silk. Thought of SATIN first. We also have YDS (13. Fabric meas.). Fabric echo.

10. Fired wildly into, as an oater town: SHOT UP. Needed crossing help.

11. Where It.'s at: EUR. It. = Italy.

12. Marked with two lines: X'ED. Crossed out.

19. Some friendly greetings: WAGS. Dog.

22. "Bingo!" : AHA

25. Covered for a crony, perhaps: LIED. Alliteration. Could not fit in ABETTED.

26. Fungus-alga unions: LICHENS (LAHY-kuh n). The brownish mossy stuff? Have never heard of the word.

27. Onetime apple spray: ALAR

28. In high spirits: GAY

29. Inspect: EYE

34. Dream state acronym: REM. Rapid Eye Movement. A bit of eye duplication. Would've preferred the musical band clue here.

36. Absorbed, as a cost: ATE. Eat the cost.

38. Desktop image: ICON

39. Detroit's founder: CADILLAC. No idea. I just learned that the car Cadillac is named after this guy.

40. Garbage site: TRASH CAN. Awesome fill.

41. Congers, e.g. : EELS

42. Google Earth image: MAP

43. According to: A LA

47. Badger at the park: HECKLE. D'oh, ballpark. Tricky!

48. "Thanks __!" : A LOT

50. Adept type: ACE

52. Hook, for one: PIRATE. Captain Hook.

53. One who pulls a scam: HOAXER

54. Pinhead dancers?: ANGELS. Why? I don't get the clue.

56. Antique phone features: DIALS

57. City near Syracuse: UTICA. Spitzboov's hometown.

61. Profession, casually: BIZ

62. Flap: ADO. Noun.

63. Voting "nay": CON. Pro & Con.

64. Ornamental carp: KOI

66. Centimeter-gram-second unit: ERG. Only know it as "unit of work".

Answer grid.

On a personal note, I am excited to tell you that I became an American citizen yesterday afternoon after a very emotional swearing-in ceremony. When "Proud to be an American" was played right after the "Congratulations, new citizens" message from President Obama, my eyes welled up, tear fell.

It's been a long way. I enjoyed studying American Civics (history and government) and had a perfect score in my final test. I am proud to say that I now know who wrote the Federalist Papers. Do you?

C.C.

Wednesday June 2, 2010 Jack McInturff

Theme: THE FOUR TOPS - The first word of each two-word common phrase can precede "top".

17A. *Hooch from the hinterlands: MOUNTAIN DEW. Yum . Mountain Top = TOP 1.

29A. *Spears or Twain: POP SINGERS . Britney and Shania . Pop Top = TOP 2.

39A. *Steve Forbes proposed a 17% one: FLAT TOP. Flat Tax = TOP 3.

48A. *Place to get tickets: BOX OFFICE . Box Top = TOP 4. Count them, four just like the group!

62A. "I Can't Help Myself" singers (1965), and hint to puzzle theme found in beginnings of answers to starred clues: THE FOUR TOPS. The first band I got a record deal for, covered this song on their second album.

Hello all, there is no way you can enjoy this puzzle as much as I did. It is I, Across 66. Lemon ending: ADE 714 here, providing you information and entertainment.

If any of you had any doubt about how powerful C.C.’s influence is, a look at this fun puzzle which includes not only my sobriquet, but also Across 34. It covers the pupil: CORNEA knowing I have had three CORNEA transplant operations, and 30. About the eye: OPTIC. The nerve of this guy; then all kinds of legalese, Across 26. Like a case before the court: AT BAR , 52. Parcel (out): METE. A favorite legal word, 53. Sale warning: AS IS . Real estate primarily is sold this way, 58. Certifies under oath: ATTESTS , 70. Property to divide, perhaps: ESTATE; it is eerie!

Anyway, it is Wednesday, so let’s get to it:

Across:

1. Country bumpkin: HICK . Tricky way to begin, as RUBE also fits, so you have to look at down: 1. Run smoothly: HUM , to get going, or at least that is how I approach solving.

5. In itself: AS SUCH.

11. When doubled, a dance: CAN. Another toughie, with CHA as an alternative.

14. Tangelo relative: UGLI. One of our common fruit responses.

15. Baum's good witch: GLINDA. If you have not seen the play wicked it is a fabulous prequel to L. Frank Baum’s WIZARD OF OZ.

16. Livy's "I love:" AMO. More Latin and history of old Romans .

19. Gun: REV we can all picture Barry G. gunning the engine in his new Chrysler, or Dennis doing so in any car.

20. Sends again, as a package: RESHIPS.

21. WellPoint competitor: AETNA, insurance companies.

23. Computer list: MENU.

24. Stated: SAID. This was so easy, it was hard, he indicated.

36. __-Man: PAC. Yes, I was a fanatic!

37. Youngest Bronte sister: ANNE. She died young of TB.

38. Brian who produced some U2 albums: ENO. A musician in his own right.

42. Lyric poem: ODE.

43. Fruit covering: RIND.

45. "Madama Butterfly" tie: OBI.

46. Hid, cardsharp-style: PALMED. Yes, be careful of dealers with big hands.

51. Deviates: VEERS.

55. Marina locale: INLET.

61. Daisy __: MAE . Al Capp’s creation.

67. Exalt: LIFT UP.

68. "Toreador Song," e.g.: ARIA. Do we ever go a week without this word?

69. Cougar or Impala: CAR. I wanted something more complicated, involving wild cats…silly me.

71. Monthly payment: RENT.

Down:

2. Borodin prince: IGOR. More opera knowledge, my weak suit in all puzzles.

3. Detective's need: CLUE. Did anyone know, the game originated in England? Well, with Colonel Mustard….

4. Brother or father: KINSMAN.

5. "Encore!": AGAIN .

6. Err: SLIP UP, and the quick echo, 7. Errs, morally: SINS .

8. Leipzig link: UND. How to say “and” in German.

9. B followers: CDE. Easy?

10. Game show winner's destination, maybe: HAWAII. I guess they have all left us to sit on the beach.

11. Market offering: CART. It is the first thing you get when you go to the grocery store.

12. Service finale: AMEN. Any French Open Tennis fans out there?

13. Bright star: NOVA. Help me scientists, I thought this meant an explosion on a star?

18. 1994 Denis Leary comedy: THE REF , odd movie.

22. Flamboyant Dame: EDNA, another export from the Commonwealth of Nations, funny?.

24. Tiff: SPAT.

25. Songwriters' org.: ASCAP.

26. Harsh: ACERB. IC? ICKY?

27. "Pagliacci" baritone role: TONIO. No clue.

28. Where the 2009 World Series was won: BRONX. No comment.

31. Garden statue: GNOME.

32. Word after East or West: ENDER. I used to watch the BBC TV Show .

33. Oboes and clarinets: REEDS. Are your instruments custom made, JzB?

35. Up in the air: ALOFT.

40. Irish Rose's lover: ABIE.

41. Missionary St. Francis __: XAVIER. Cute juxtaposition.

44. Stadium topper: DOME. They are building a new baseball stadium for the Florida Marlins with a retractable roof, but will anyone come?

47. Light cigarette ad claim: LESS TAR. Wow, a real blast from the past.

49. In fine __: fit: FETTLE. Nice word, and alliteration!

50. Enjoy a bistro: EAT OUT.

54. Knucklehead: STUPE . Really?

55. Apple with an electronic core: IMAC.

56. Zilch: NADA. Finally, some Spanish.

57. Lewd look: LEER. Okay, maybe this one applies to me also.

58. Aqua Velva alternative: AFTA. But neither of these two, ever!

59. Ripped off: TORE.

60. Turn in a kissing game: SPIN. The bottle; where are you Lo-li-ta?

63. Towel word: HIS.

64. Newt, at one time: EFT. Yes, again; try and work this word into a conversation.

65. Made a lap: SAT. Love them babies .

Thanks for letting me in your homes, have a great June and be careful.

Answer grid.

Lemonade714

Tuesday, June 1, 2010 James Sajdak

Theme: Four Seasons - Common phrases ending in the plural form of four seasons, in chronological order. Notice I didn't use THE Four Seasons because I think that would indicate a singular result (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter) and the theme answers are plural. English teachers, do you agree?

17A. City near the base of Pikes Peak: COLORADO SPRINGS.

28A. National Economic Counsel director: LARRY SUMMERS. Like several names, I needed the perps to attain the answer but all doable. Image.

47A. Where to board the Maid of the Mist tour boat: NIAGARA FALLS. On the Canadian side.

61A. 1999 recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor: JONATHAN WINTERS. A short clip of Jonathan Winters On Jack Paar (as a satyr, C.C.)(Oops, he is a faun.)

Argyle here. I hope you all took a moment of silence to honor are fallen men and women yesterday. Then we had a good barbecue.

An easy Tuesday where the perps should have taking care of any problems you may have incurred. 16 three-letter entries and 36 four-letter entries.

Across:

1A. Cry out loud: BAWL.

5A. Pain for a sitter: IMP.

8A. Presumed evolutionary link: APEMAN.

14A. Bee's grandnephew: OPIE. Back there in Mayberry where they say 69A. "Golly": "GEE".

15A. Brazilian-themed Vegas casino, with "The": RIO. Also, 45A. Indian-themed Atlantic City casino, with "The": TAJ.

16A. Like the sea: SALINE. Salty.

20A. Increase by: ADD TO.

21A. Floral greeting: LEI.

22A. Trial: TEST.

23A. Letters that get things moving: ASAP. As Soon As Possible.

26A. One with a brush: ARTIST.

32A. Saharan: ARID.

33A. Prefix with state or sect: TRI.

34A. Make eyes pop and jaws drop: AMAZE. And 57A. "Get a load of that!": "WOWIE!". Insert your favorite pic here.

38A. Producer's dream: HIT. As in a Broadway play producer.

39A. Rye bread seed: CARAWAY.

42A. Gentle bear: BEN. Gentle Ben is the name of a children's book by Walt Morey, later made into a film and television series, as well as made-for-TV movies.

43A. Barber's blade: RAZOR.

46A. Star's part: LEAD.

51A. Horse house: STABLE. Cute alliteration.

53A. Final, e.g.: EXAM.

54A. Nailed, as a 53-Across: ACED.

55A. NHL stat: PTS. Points(Goals and Assists). UPDATE: The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. (Thank you, Lemonade714)

65A. Tenor Bocelli: ANDREA From Wikipedia. He is the biggest-selling singer in the history of Classical music. In 1998, Bocelli was named one of People magazine's 50 most beautiful people and in March of this year, he was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, for his contribution to live theater. Clip

66A. NASA thumbs-up: A-OK.

67A. New Mexico ski resort: TAOS.

68A. Puts back to zero: RESETS.

70A. A.D. part: ANNO.

Down:

1D. Lauderdale neighbor: BOCA. Map. Cavil alert: Last name of Fort Lauderdale and the first name of Boca Raton.

2D. Like two peas in __: A POD.

3D. Untamed: WILD.

4D. Workout wear: LEOTARD.

5D. 401(k) alternative, briefly: IRA.

6D. Central: MID.

7D. It may be Olympic-size: POOL.

8D. Seek ambitiously: ASPIRE.

9D. Golf pros often break it: PAR.

10D. Upper-class rule: ELITISM.

11D. Goes for the gold: MINES. Good misdirection.

12D. Common Woody Allen theme: ANGST.

13D. Home in a tree: NEST.

18D. Like a bright future: ROSY.

19D. Clothing line?: SEAM.

24D. Nick and Nora's clue sniffer: ASTA. Movie dog from The Thin Man.

25D. Manx murmur: PURR. Image They have genetic mutation that results in a short or non-existent tail.

27D. Busboy's aid: TRAY.

28D. Cowardly Lion player: LAHR.

29. Evidence of Sills' skills: ARIA. Beverly Sills

30. Nabisco cracker: RITZ.

31D. Mazda two-seater: MIATA. Zoom Zoom.

35D. Eve's second: ABEL.

36D. Fervor: ZEAL.

37D. Discontinues: ENDS.

39D. Nursery bed: CRIB.

40D. Soft or hard attachment: WARE.

41D. "Stronger than dirt!" cleanser: AJAX.

44D. How some hotdogging is done: ON A DARE.

46D. "Raging Bull" boxer Jake: LaMOTTA. Movie. Regarded among the greatest boxing films made despite its violent content.

48D. Top dogs: ALPHAs.

49D. "__ move on!": GET A.

50D. Young deer: FAWN.

51D. Tea cart treat: SCONE.

52D. Watches over: TENDS.

54D. Close to closed: AJAR.

56D. Stocking problem: SNAG.

58D. Teach not to rely on, with "from": WEAN.

59D. Wrinkle remover: IRON.

60D. North-of-the-border gas: ESSO. Exxon in the states.

62D. Hanoi holiday: TET.

63D. Job's lot?: WOE. Biblical Job.

64D. '50s presidential moniker: IKE.

Answer grid.

Chris in LA mentioned yesterday that his local newspaper, the New Orleans Times Picayune, is running a crossword survey. Please vote for LAT so Chris and others in the area can solve and comment the same puzzle as we do. Thank you.

Argyle

Monday May 31, 2010 Donna S. Levin

Theme: Dirty Harry - The first words of 20A, 31A and 41A form the famous quote made by Det. Harry Callahan, portrayed by 53A, in the movie, Sudden Impact.

20A. Rise from the ashes, so to speak: MAKE A COMEBACK.

31A. "Pygmalion" on Broadway: "MY FAIR LADY".

41A. Tourist who doesn't stay overnight: DAY-TRIPPER.

53A. Born 5/31/1930, entertainer associated with the phrase formed by the starts of 20-, 31- and 41-Across: CLINT EASTWOOD.

Argyle here. "Rise from the ashes" is a reference to the mythical bird, the phoenix, who is reborn from the ashes of its former self.

"The Pygmalion myth". Pygmalion was a sculptor who fell in love with a statue he had carved. In My Fair Lady, Prof. Henry Higgins transforms Eliza Doolittle into a "Lady", then falls in love with her.

Leave out the hyphen on "Day-Tripper" and you get Day Tripper by the Beatles.

A strong Monday puzzle with one possible quibble, tea grade, which I'll parse when I get to it.

Across:

1A. Buck in the forest: STAG.

5A. Mil. three-stripers: SGTS. Image. Worn on uniforms to indicate rank.

9A. Big name in insurance: AETNA.

14A. Wahine's dance: HULA. Where IS our Hawaiian contingent?

15A. In __ of: replacing: LIEU.

16A. Sink outlet: DRAIN.

17A. Slightly: A BIT.

18A. Slightly open: AJAR.

19A. Fictional chocolatier Wonka: WILLY. The original Roald Dahl novel was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

23A. Employ: USE.

24A. Laboriously earns, with "out": EKES.

25A. Gets the lead out?: ERASES.

28A. Two sizes above sm.: LGE.

29A. When the Kol Nidre is recited, vis-à-vis Yom Kippur: EVE. A dramatic introduction to Yom Kippur on what is often dubbed "Kol Nidrei night". It is written in Aramaic, not Hebrew. Its name is taken from the opening words, meaning "all vows". (I hope we get a more personal enlightenment.)

30A. 1970s radical gp.: SLA. Symbionese Liberation Army, kidnappers of Patricia Hearst.

36A. Not this: THAT.

37A. Breath mint brand: CERTS.

38A. Yalie: ELI. Elihu Yale was the benefactor of Yale University.

39A. Pirate's spoils: BOOTY. Just the sort of image I was hoping to find.

40A. Sticky stuff on a stick: GLUE. Remember we use to use tongue depressor sticks to smear paste on each others as kids.

43A. Prefix with center: EPI.

44A. "Blues Brother" Aykroyd: DAN. Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi, The Blues Brothers.

45A. Connections that help you get ahead: INs.

46A. Think highly of: ESTEEM.

48A. Clue weapon: ROPE. From the board game. The weapons are knife, candlestick, rope, wrench, lead pipe, and revolver.

50A. "The Silence of the Lambs" org.: FBI.

56A. Easy __: AS ABC.

58A. Golden rule word: UNTO.

59A. Green Gables girl: ANNE. The story, Anne of Green Gables, was set in Prince Edward Island, Canada.

60A. Tea grade: PEKOE. It is legitimate, mostly. The tea industry uses the term Orange Pekoe to describe a basic, medium-grade black tea consisting of many whole tea leaves of a specific size. 63A. Prepares 60-Across: BREWS.

61A. Complaint: BEEF. "Where's the beef?"

62A. October 15th, e.g.: IDES. It's not just for March, you know.

64A. Low man on the feudal totem pole: SERF. That would be a figurative totem pole.

65A. Ultimate: LAST.

Down:

1D. SeaWorld star: SHAMU.

2D. Oompah brass: TUBAs.

3D. More than similar: ALIKE.

4D. Garden portal: GATE.

5D. Goof-off: SLACKER.

6D. Military action doll: GI JOE. We finally get to use JOE.

7D. Sides in a game: TEAMS.

8D. Certain: SURE.

9D. Online pop-up source: ADWARE.

10D. Soap vamp __ Kane: ERICA. Erica Kane is a long-running fictional character from All My Children and portrayed by Susan Lucci who finally won an Emmy in 1999.

11D. Discusses business: TALKS SHOP.

12D. Zero: NIL.

13D. One or another: ANY.

21D. Protection: AEGIS. Derived from a large collar or cape worn in ancient times to display the protection provided by a high religious authority.

22D. Quail group: BEVY.

26D. Really delight: ELATE.

27D. Lecherous woodland deity: SATYR. Image. (for C.C.)

28D. Tardy: LATE.

29D. Blue-pencil: EDIT.

31D. "Me and Bobby __": McGEE. A song written by Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster, originally performed by Roger Miller, and later by Janis Joplin. the Miller version.

32D. Pound sounds: YELPS.

33D. "Nutty" individual: FRUITCAKE.

34D. Taboo for Mrs. Sprat: LEAN. From the nursery rhyme. "Jack Sprat could eat no fat. His wife could eat no lean."

35D. Prince __ Khan: ALY. Aly Khan married the American movie star Rita Hayworth. He was quite the playboy. The titles of prince and princess are claimed by children of the Aga Khan(Aly's father) by virtue of their descent from Shah Fath Ali Shah of the Persian Qajar dynasty. Large entry in Wikipedia for Qajar dynasty, if you're interested.

36D. Blouses and shirts: TOPS.

39D. I.Q. test name: BINET. Alfred Binet

41D. Rhett's last word: DAMN. "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn" In the novel Gone with the Wind, Rhett does not say "Frankly," but simply "My dear, I don't give a damn." The context is also different; he is speaking quietly to Scarlett in a room, not storming dramatically out of the house.

42D. Swipes: RIPS OFF.

44D. Prepares for a winter takeoff, as plane wings: DEICES.

47D. Jab with a bone: ELBOW.

48D. Actress Zellweger: RENÉE.

49D. Western movie: OATER. Mr. Eastwood has made a large number of films of this genre.

50D. Henry, Peter or Jane: FONDA. Father, son and daughter, all actors.

51D. Forensic TV drama: "BONES". One of my favorites. Very low-keyed finale, main characters are going away for a year(but the show returns in the fall).

52D. That is, in Latin: ID EST.

54D. Beat-up boats: TUBS.

55D. Cry like a banshee: WAIL. Another meaning would be KEEN.

56D. Police broadcast, briefly: APB. All-Points Bulletin.

57D. Rev.'s speech: SER. Sermon.

Answer grid.

Argyle

Sunday May 30, 2010 Harvey Estes

Theme: Divided Countries - Country names (8) are divided and span across mostly two words in each familiar phrase.

27A. Weather unit: DEGREE CELSIUS. The divided country is GREECE (100A. Country divided in 27-Across).

45A. "I'm outa here": TIME TO GO HOME. Embedded is TOGO (22A. Country divided in 45-Across).

58A. Like always: AS PER USUAL. Contains PERU (79D. Country divided in 58-Across).

77A. Makes a special effort TAKES PAINS. Included is SPAIN (68D. Country divided in 77-Across).

89A. FleetCenter predecessor BOSTON GARDEN. Holds TONGA (3D. Country divided in 89-Across).

111A.Without breaking the rules FAIR AND SQUARE. Enclosed is IRAN (122A.Country divided in 111-Across).

16D. Donne words before "entire of itself": NO MAN IS AN ISLAND. Harbors OMAN (48D. Country divided in 16-Down).

44D. Words sung before placing hand to hip: I'M A LITTLE TEAPOT. The split country is MALI (56A. Country divided in 44-Down). The only theme entry broken into three words. My favorite.

Normally the country names are simply circled in this type of theme scheme. I like how the constructor goes one step further, challenges himself construction-wise, and places each country name in the grid. This puzzle also has 146 entries, two more than our LAT Sunday limit 144.

Our first Havey Estes puzzle since the switch. He has constructed quite a few LAT in the past. His penchant for cross-references today reminds me a bit of John Lampkin's style, though John's Sunday is often a pangram. This one does not have letters J & X.

As the norm with our Sunday puzzle, plenty of entertaining clues. My favorite is ACNE (118A. Bad marks in high school?).

Across:

1. __-mouth: MOTOR. A person who talks excessively. New expression to me.

6. Bethlehem visitors: MAGI

10. Ennui: BLAHS. Tried BLASE first.

15. Piece of cake: SNAP. I liked last time's "IT'S A SNAP" better.

19. Superior to: ABOVE. And OVER (4D. Superior to).

20. Like a dust bowl: ARID. Why isn't "dust bowl" capitalized? We also have GOBI (91D. Asian expanse). Gobi Desert.

21. Bug: EAT AT

23. Established districts: ZONED

24. Shade of blue: NILE. Like the color of this car.

25. On the move: ASTIR

26. Ed who played Mingo on "Daniel Boone": AMES. Recognized his mug when I googled.

30. Like a good knight: GALLANT. Nice play on "good night".

32. Flat-pancake filler: AS A

33. Silents star Jannings: EMIL. The first-ever Best Actor Oscar winner.

34. Power source: ATOM

36. Puts in a bad light: TAINTS

37. Deposed '70s despot: AMIN (Idi)

38. Request to Fido: BEG. And ALPO (115A. Rover's bowlful).

40. Fund-raising targets: ALUMNI

42. Punxsutawney prophet: PHIL. The groundhog.

49. Sunblock letters: SPF. Gorgeous summer day here in Minnesota.

52. Word with strip or relief: COMIC. This clue made me laugh.

54. "Is it soup __?" : YET

55. Tyler Perry's "Diary of __ Black Woman": A MAD. Not familiar with the movie.

57. Cruising locale: SEA

62. "Star Wars Episode II" attack force: CLONES. Obtained the answer via crosses.

64. More 47-Down: LANKER. And GAUNT (47D. Very thin).

66. Rural room renter: INN. Triple alliteration.

68. Bashes: SHINDIGS. Not your everyday crossword fill.

70. Colony resident: ANT

71. Strikes, e.g.: PROTESTS. I always think of baseball when "strikes" are called for in crossword.

73. General nicknamed "Old Blood and Guts": PATTON. Cold guy.

74. Start of a simple game TIC. Tic-tac-toe.

75. Poet Amy: LOWELL. Clear Ayes posted her poems on the blog before.

76. Lets out, say: ALTERS. Nailed it.

80. Fearful reverence: AWE

83. Troubles: ILLS

84. Went lickety-split: TORE. SPED, anyone?

85. Canadian prov. whose capital is Charlottetown: P.E.I. (Prince Edward Island). Got me.

86. Cartridge contents: TONER. Alliteration.

88. Wedding notice word: NEE

94. Says further: ADDS

95. "Growing Pains" star Alan: THICKE. Have never heard of the guy nor the sitcom.

97. Sch. with a Lima campus: OSU (Ohio State University). Lima, Ohio.

98. Three-piece suit piece: VEST

102.Swedish import: SAAB

105.West Wing adjunct: AIDE. Was picturing an added building rather than person.

106.One not acting well: HAM

109.Cracks up over: ROARS AT

116.Polite turndown: NO SIR

119.Racing family name UNSER. And STP (117D."The racer's edge"). I think EddyB is in Indy 500 today.

120.Dark purple fruit: SLOE

121.Emcee's task: INTRO

123.Lapel attachment: ID TAG

124.Strokes: PETS

125.Colorado ski mecca: ASPEN

126.Bit of progress, figuratively: DENT. Make a dent.

127.11-Down feature NOOSE. And LASSO (11D. Will Rogers prop). We also have LARIAT (67A. Cattle drive need).

Down:

1. Publisher of Zoom-Zoom magazine: MAZDA. No idea.

2. English horn relatives: OBOES

5. Turn in for money: REDEEM

6. "The Pink Panther Theme" composer: MANCINI (Henry). Not on my radar. Wikipedia says he also composed "Moon River".

7. Disney mermaid: ARIEL

8. Breathing organ: GILL. Oh, for fish.

9. Caesar's big date: IDES. Of March. And ET TU (39D. Brute's rebuke?).

10. Humdinger: BEAUT

12. Communications co.: AT&T

13. Nixon chief of staff: HAIG (Alexander). "I'm in control here".

14. Bedrock, e.g.: STRATUM

15. Big Red: STALIN. Kept thinking Pete Rose of the Big Red Machine.

17. Bond, for one: AGENT. James Bond.

18. Newsgroup messages: POSTS

28. Send out: EMIT

29. He did a Moor good, then harm: IAGO. The bad guy in "Othello".

31. Rich fabric: LAMÉ. Does "Rich" mean "deep-colored" here? Looks silky.

35. Taj __ : MAHAL

37. Ring icon: ALI

38. Cold draft: BEER: Great clue.

41. City served by Ben-Gurion airport: LOD. Always have trouble with this city.

42. IBM products: PCS

43. Tilling tool: HOE

46. Mike of "54": MYERS. Easy guess. Have never seen "54".

50. Fabric fold: PLEAT. We also have PLAID (71D. Flannel shirt pattern). I tend to confuse these two words.

51. Weapons of the unarmed: FISTS. Loved the clue.

53. Straight shooting, so to speak: CANDOR

56. Gourmet mushroom: MOREL. Delicious!

59. Hides: SKINS. Noun. Tricky!

60. Hanging convenience: PEG

61. "__ you asked ...": SINCE

62. Circus employee: CLOWN

63. Hot gossip, with "the": LATEST

65. Forks over, with "up": ANTES

69. Berry of "Monster's Ball": HALLE. I like her in short hair. You?

70. Pulitzer-winning poet Conrad __: AIKEN. Foreign name to me. Why "__" after Conrad in the clue?

72. Lyon king: ROI. Good pun on the "Lion King".

74. Island starch source: TARO

77. Shopping aids: TOTES

78. Bathroom luxuries: SPAS

81. United: WED

82. "Grey's Anatomy" settings, briefly: ERS

84. "For shame!"" TSK

87. Granola bar bit: OAT

89. Ecolutions pens: BICS. What does Ecolutions stand for? Eco-solution?

90. "1984" setting: OCEANIA. South Seas region.

92. Easy to get: EVIDENT

93. Rorem and Beatty: NEDS. Is Ned Rorem very famous?

96. Sci-fi series about people with special powers: HEROES. Have never seen this series.

99. Costume sparkler: SEQUIN

100.Understanding: GRASP

101.Actress Esther: ROLLE. Another stranger to me.

103.Flaming: AFIRE

104.Composer Copland: AARON. Alliteration.

105.Former UN leader Kofi: ANNAN. I have his autograph.

106.Can't help but: HAS TO

107.Fields of study: AREAS

108.On-ramp sign: MERGE

110.A whole lot: TONS. And ACRE (113.Lot, maybe). Lot echo.

112.Fridge foray: RAID. Alliteration.

114.Nullify: UNDO

Answer grid.

Happy LXXIst Birthday to EddyB!

C.C.

Saturday May 29, 2010 Fred Jackson III

Theme: None

Total words: 72

Total blocks: 34

I think this is Fred's first Saturday. He now needs a Sunday to complete his LAT "hitting for the cycle".

Fred places triple stacks of 10's Across on the upper right and lower left corners. Then triple stacks of 9's Down on the upper left and lower right. He has a total of 13 multi-word entries in the grid. My favorite clues today are:

9D. Cell dweller: INMATE. Prison "Cell".

27D. Record holder?: FELON. Criminal record. Got me.

Across:

1. Powder holders: KEGS. Gunpowder?

5. Movie warning: PG-THIRTEEN. PG-13. Weird to see the rating spelled out.

15. Elision from Eliza: 'ENRY. Henry Higgins. "My Fair Lady".

16. Unequaled: ONE AND ONLY. Awesome entry.

17. Times when the French fry?: ETES. French for summer. Rich used this clue before.

18. Stern boss: TASK MASTER. Might be Fred's seed entry. I was thinking of Howard Stern and his boss the Sirius Radio.

19. Orphaned author raised by the Allans: POE. Did not know Poe was an orphan.

20. Winter warmer: HOT TEA. And PARKA (49. Winter warmer).

21. __'clock scholar: TEN O'. Ten O'clock scholar is "schoolboy who habitually arrives late". New expression to me.

22. Incomplete rainbow: SUN DOG. Hmm, this is the image of a sun dog to me. The "incomplete rainbow" definition is also new to me.

24. It may be fit for a queen: TIARA. Sweet clue.

26. Dry gulch: ARROYO. Nailed it.

27. Buff: FIEND. Enthusiast.

29. Kit Carson House site: TAOS. Not aware of this trivia.

30. They may come in a pack: LIES. Of course I was thinking of wolves.

32. Verbal flourishes: TADAS

36. "Here __ Again" (Whitesnake #1 hit): I GO

37. Start of a religious title: DALAI. Dalai Lama. Dalai is literally "ocean" in Mongolian. Lama is "guru". The current exile Dalai Lama is the 14th one.

39. Amphibian youngster: EFT

40. Score markings: TEMPI. Plural of tempo. Musical score.

43. When both hands are up: NOON. Oh, clock.

44. Some bank holdings: DATA

45. Club newsletter: ORGAN. No idea. Why? (From Dennis: "Organ'" can be used in describing newsletters from different clubs, a "periodical".)

47. Like some kisses: STOLEN. Sweet clue.

51. "Let's keep moving!": ONWARD

52. Champagne designation: BRUT. Very dry.

53. Tangles, or disentangles: RAVELS. Unravel has the same meaning, right?

57. Year before Columbus's fourth voyage: MDI. 1501. Who knows?

58. California shopping mecca: RODEO DRIVE. Expensive stuff.

60. Penn name: SEAN. Sean Penn. Nice play on "Pen name".

61. "It doesn't get any better than this": I'M IN HEAVEN. Another awesome entry.

62. Pioneering puppeteer Tony: SARG. How quickly have I forgotten his name!

63. Alabama and Mississippi are in it: COTTON BELT. Felt very clever getting one, Rose!

64. Large order: ELKS. The fraternal order. I was thinking of the large manufacturing order.

Down:

1. Doesn't quit: KEEPS AT IT. Superb!

2. Posse: ENTOURAGE. Great to see "Posse" used as a clue once.

3. Where one might anticipate being introduced: GREEN ROOM.

4. M.O. : SYS (Sytems). M. O. = Modus Operandi. I got the answer via crosses.

5. Vernacular jackpot: POT O' GOLD. Vernacular because "F" is dropped?

6. No-see-um, e.g.: GNAT. Was stumped last time by the clue.

7. Mike holder's opening, often: TEST. Indeed.

8. Cod cousin: HAKE. Have never heard of the hake fish.

10. Dietary no.: RDA. Recommended Daily or Dietary Allowance. I don't know which one.

11. Fiesta fare: TOSTADA. Looks delicious!

12. Decide to compete: ENTER

13. "Uncle Vanya" role: ELENA. No idea. Only spotted Yelena in this Wikipedia character entry. Are they the same?

14. "Stoned Soul Picnic" songwriter: NYRO (Laura). Can never remember her name.

20. Today, in Tijuana: HOY

23. List of acceptable behavior: DO'S. Do's and Don'ts.

25. 1099-__: bank-issued tax form: INT

28. Five-time Japan Senior Open winner Aoki: ISAO. Ao repetition in both his names.

31. Ending for Louis: IANA. Louisiana. The clue fails to amuse me.

33. Richard Simmons weight-loss program with color-coded cards: DEAL-A-MEAL. Not on my radar.

34. At night: AFTER DARK

35. Sports page feature: STANDINGS. Solid fill!

38. Cheeky: INSOLENT

41. Sign to heed: PORTENT

42. Nettle: IRK

44. Average fellow?: DOW. Dow Jones Average I suppose? Why "fellow"?

46. Party locale: GARDEN

48. Shipping wts.: TNS (Tons)

49. Ad: PROMO

50. Review of books?: AUDIT. Accounting book. Loved the clue.

52. __-a-brac: BRIC

54. __ League: ARAB. Did not come to me immediately.

55. On the qui __: alert: VIVE

56. Big name in jumping: EVEL (Knievel). The daredevil.

59. "Well, well!": OHO

60. 157.5 degrees from N: SSE

Answer grid.

C.C.

Friday May 28, 2010 David Poole

Theme: H(ead) Off - The H sound of the first word of a familiar phrase is dropped. The resulting phrases are gridded in their A, E, I, O, U vowel-starting order.

20A. Works in Satan's Museum?: ART OF DARKNESS. "Heart of Darkness". Joseph Conrad novel.

27A. "Tell Senator Bayh to take a number"?: EVAN CAN WAIT. "Heaven Can Wait". The Warren Beatty movie? Evan Bayh, Senator from Indiana.

38A. Egotism?: I ESTEEM. High Esteem. I was confused by the IE combination at first.

47A. Resistance quashers?: OHM WRECKERS. Home Wreckers. We often see OHM clued as "Resistance unit".

55A. Evidence of a love-hate relationship? UGHS AND KISSES. Hugs and Kisses. I don't get the UGHS here. Why? I love the other four question-marked clues. Very entertaining.

I like the orderly vowel progression in the H-off phrases. Neat! The sound-dropping scheme is very Dan Naddor-like. No single black square in this grid. Mostly 3-block clusters.

Several fun clues. My favorite "ones" are:

36A. One objecting to a called strike: SCAB. Of course I was picturing baseball players.

50D. One carrying a bag: CADDIE. Golf. I wanted PORTER.

Across:

1. Willy Loman's favorite son: BIFF. From Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman". Immediate stumper for me.

5. Clothes lines: SEAMS

10. Sweet Sixteen initials: NCAA. And UCLA (55D. The Bruins of the 10-Across).

14. Like some history: ORAL

15. Ballade's closing stanza: ENVOI. Or ENVOY. The poetic coda. We had this clue before.

16. Aloe, for one: BALM. Nice to see ALOE as a clue.

17. Fictional princess: XENA. Did you want AIDA also, Hahtool?

18. Pretense: GUISE

19. First Nations tribe: CREE

23. More felicitous: APTER

25. "Dies __": IRAE. Day of Wrath. We also have IRE (2D. More than annoyance). Same Latin root.

26. Hugh Capet, par exemple: ROI. Have never heard of this dude. He reigned France from 987 to 996.

34. List of chaps.: TOC. Man, it's Table of Contents. Who knows?

35. Amarone or Barolo: VINO

37. Where, to Brutus: UBI. Well, maybe Bob knows it. I've got no idea.

42. __ Friday's: restaurant: TGI

43. Tabula __ : RASA. Several Latin references today.

45. Cousin of hibiscus: OKRA. Really? One is flower, one is veggie, and they are cousins? Maybe Warren will find an article confirming this relationship.

46. Three-time NHL MVP: ORR (Bobby). The Bruins legend.

51. Beatty of "Network": NED. All the name clues today are Wednesday-ish. Rich always gives the one part of the name for actor/actress on Wednesdays.

52. Andean nation: Abbr.: ECUA. The answer for abbreviated "Andean nation" clue is often Ecuador.

53. Patella sites: KNEES

61. 1934 role for Claudette, briefly: CLEO. I only know Elizabeth Taylor's CLEO. Who is the guy on her right? Quite handsome.

62. Birth cert., e.g.: IDENT. Not familiar with this ID abbr.

63. Casualty of German reunification: WALL. Berlin Wall.

66. "Kinsey" star Neeson: LIAM

67. Olds Cutlass model: CIERA. I peeked at the answer sheet. Olds 1980s-'90s.

68. Syrup brand: EGGO

69. Cutting the mustard: ABLE. Just learned the idiom "cut the mustard" not long ago.

70. Moray catcher: EELER

71. Out of concern that: LEST

Down:

1. Place for letters: BOX. So simple in retrospect.

3. Santayana defines it as "redoubling your effort when you have forgotten your aim": FANATICISM. Was ignorant of this quote.

4. Common skirt feature: FLARE. Not my type.

5. Utah state flower: SEGO. Wanted LILY.

6. Adequate, slangily: ENUF

7. Gung-ho: AVID

8. Alhambra wall artwork: MOSAIC. Alhambra is literally "the red one" in Arabic. Kazie and her husband met there.

9. Saw-toothed ridge: SIERRA. Kept thinking of ARETE, Clear Ayes.

10. "The Chris Matthews Show" producer: NBC NEWS. MSNBC to be exact.

11. __ package: CARE. Thought of Gunghy & Jazzbumpa whose son/stepson is/will be in danger's way.

12. Pub quaffs: ALES

13. Central Iowa city: AMES

21. Rome's Fontana di __ : TREVI

22. Central U.S. state: KAN. I've been to only a few states in America. Kansas is not one of them.

23. Conductor Toscanini: ARTURO

24. Authority: POOBAH. Great entry.

28. Contest: VIE

29. Yvette's years: ANS. An is year in French.

30. Far from fine: NOT OK. I don't answers with NOT.

31. Be mature: ACT ONE'S AGE. Fantastic entry. Crossing two theme answers. There is a little girl in every grow-up women, longing to be spoiled.

32. "Hear, hear!": I AGREE. I agree with myself on the above comment.

33. Cars designed to compete with Corvettes: T-BIRDS. The answer emerged itself.

39. Scrape together, with "out": EKE

40. Stray: ERR

41. Hides: MASKS

44. "Totally rad!": AWESOME

48. "His Master's Voice" co.: RCA

49. Carol Burnett persona: EUNICE. I guessed.

54. Banister post: NEWEL

56. Like con artists: GLIB

57. Make sound: HEAL

58. Stem-to-stern part: KEEL. Sailing sounds exciting.

59. Memo words: IN RE

60. High light: STAR. Got me. Nice assonance.

64. Some HDTVs: LG'S

65. Developer's unit: LOT. Or acre.

Answer grid.

C.C.