If you are like me, you probably glance at the down clues as
you solve on Thursday-Saturday, just to get a toe-hold. So I bumped into the
unifier early on. (Didn’t help!)
Here it is:
7D. Diamond gambit, or a hint to a different concealed word
found in each answer to a starred clue: HIDDEN BALL TRICK. When I saw
“diamond”, my heart sank. “A
baseball theme? I’m doomed!!” It
took me all the perps to come up with the answer. But from there, I could go back and find all the balls
hidden in the starred entries. I have highlighted them in red for your convenience.
17A. *America's most popular dining-out occasion: MOTHER'S DAY. I remember
the smell in my mémé’s closets!
28A. *Place setting item: DINNER FORK. The only “ball” that spans two words. “Nerf” is
actually an acronym for “Non-Expanding Recreational Foam”. Who knew?
33A.*Last chance in court: CLOSING ARGUMENT. A Wal-Mart staple.
42A. *Where some plates are made: STEEL MILLS . Foul! TEE ball is a kid’s baseball game…
58A. *Political propagandist: SPIN DOCTOR . You knew I
would have to link music at some point!! 2:55
Marti here, because it's Thursday. So, let's get to the rest.
Across:
6. Senate figure : WHIP
10. Brash : BOLD
14. Winner of the 2005 Best Picture Oscar : CRASH. Not my taste. Trailer. 2:25
15. Verdi title princess : AIDA. More my taste. (I won't torture you with more opera links this time!)
16. Rapier cousin : EPEE
19. Flavorful plant : HERB. I grow my own dill, thyme, rosemary, sage, oregano, chives, basil and tarragon. In the fall when I bring them in to dry, the aromas are heavenly!
20. Spot : EYE. "I spy with my little eye..."
21. Shows the way : LEADS
22. Heaven-sent food : MANNA
23. Academy freshman : PLEBE
24. Give way : FALTER. Because "blink" was too short.
25. Chess announcement : MATE. I like to say "check mate", better.
30. One way to sing : ALONG. Fun clue! I almost started filling "in tune" before I ran out of room...
32. Smack on the head : BONK. Anyone else have "conk"? (Anyone?)...(Anyone??) (With thanks to TTP!!)
40. Semitic deity : BA'AL. Meaning "Master" or "Lord".
41. Frigid : POLAR
48. Vodka in a blue bottle : SKYY. Gimme!! Shaken over ice, with a squeeze of lime.
49. Rug often groomed : TOUPEE. Funny!
50. Honor, in a way : TOAST. With SKYY, of course!
52. "...but I could be wrong" : OR NOT...maybe with Scotch?
53. Wear slowly : ERODE
54. ___-mo video : SLO
57. Old stage line? : REIN. This one had me going in circles, until I realized they were talking about the reins of a horse on an old stage coach!
60. Department store founder Rowland Hussey ___ : MACY. Appropriate clue for a Thursday. "'Miracle On 34th Street' store owner " would have been too easy...
61. Asian staple : RICE. Anyone else want "sake"? (Anyone?)...(Anyone??)
62. Standard : USUAL
63. Arise : STEM
64. Gross : ICKY
65. Swing era dance : LINDY
Down:
1. Fictional corporation that sells earthquake pills and portable holes : ACME. In old Looney Tunes Road Runner cartoons. Yes, earthquake pills. 5:49 (Go ahead, watch the whole thing- we could all use some cartoons in our lives!!) And 46D. ___ Tunes : LOONEY
2. Hector's home : TROY
3. Behind schedule : LATE...which is what I am getting to be. So I'd better move this along!
4. Flooring wood : ASH. Anyone else want "oak"? (Anyone?)...(Anyone??)
5. Yellow-and-red gas station symbol : SHELL.
6. Sushi condiment : WASABI. Great for the sinuses...
8. Lupino and others : IDAS. Go ahead, name another famous one...
9. Salary : PAY
10. Sake : BEHALF. I wanted "Asian staple" for the answer...
11. Not against trying : OPEN TO.
12. Loewe's partner : LERNER. Of "My Fair Lady", "Camelot", "Brigadoon"and "Paint your Wagon" fame.
13. Get off at the pier : DEBARK
18. Clarinetist's need : REED
22. Retail price component : MARKUP
23. Writers : PENS. I dunno..."pens" with "writers"?
24. ___ shui : FENG
25. Scot's nickname, maybe : MAC
26. Tide rival : ALL. Detergents.
27. As well : TOO
29. "___ any drop to drink": Coleridge : NOR. From "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner":
"Day after day, day after day,
We stuck, nor breath nor motion;
As idle as a painted ship
Upon a painted ocean.
Water, water, every where,
And all the boards did shrink;
Water, water, every where,
Nor any drop to drink."
31. Kind of gravy : GIBLET. Thanksgiving is fast approaching!
34. Tag information : NAME
35. Moo goo ___ pan : GAI. Yumm.
36. Lion's share : MOST
37. Caribou cousin : ELK
38. Disagreeing word : NAY
39. Give it a go : TRY
42. Leaves in a huff, with "out" : STORMS
43. Attacked eagerly, as a wrapped gift : TORE AT. Or, as your wife's clothes?
44. Kennedy who married Sargent Shriver : EUNICE. Being from MA, this was a gimme.
45. Euclid vis-à-vis geometry : EPONYM
47. Road safety gp. : SADD. Students Against Drunk Driving.
51. Han River capital : SEOUL
53. Large in scope : EPIC
54. Floor : STUN
55. Truck filler? : LOAD
56. Airport south of Paris : ORLY
58. ___ Lanka : SRI. Map. Just below India.
59. TV franchise since 2000 : CSI. Crime Scene Investigation. One of the most popular dramatic series on TV. Me? I prefer TBBT, with a season premiere tonight!
Answer grid.
See you next week!
Hugs,
Marti
