Let's start with the reveal today:
56-Across. Pub purchases, and a hint to this puzzle's circled letters : MIXED DRINKS. If you had the circles, it was a pretty easy scrambled letter theme to spot.
11-Down. Refuse transports : DRAIN PIPES. Pepsi - overwhelmed by the competition in this puzzle?
17-Across. No ordinary creation : MASTERPIECE. Sprite - made by Coca-Cola Co.
27-Down. Record player : DISC JOCKEY. Coke - Coca-Cola's original.
35-Across. Colonial environment? : ANT FARM. Fanta - also made by the Coca-Cola Co.
Marti here, switching with Lemony who was kind enough to blog my puzzle yesterday. In this one, well-known brands are mixed up inside the theme entries. I thought the theme was well-done, and enjoyed seeing the spiral pattern with a bonus 7-letter themer smack in the middle. And just missing a Q for a pangram. Let's see what else Sam is offering today.
Across:
1. Meddle, in a way : KIBITZ. Great word to start off!
7. Regarding : AS TO.
11. Shakes at rehab : DTS. Not the ice cream drinks, but Delirium Tremens. Not nearly as fun.
14. Carelessness? : APATHY. Great misdirection. Not caring makes you apathetic.
15. Skater Michelle : KWAN.
16. P-like letter : RHO. I can kind of see the similarity…
19. 2008 govt. bailout recipient : AIG.
20. Some Super Bowl highlights : ADS.
21. Typical leader? : STEREO. Stereotypical.
22. Send an IM to : PING. IM = Instant Message.
23. More than glance over : PEER AT.
24. "__ Tonk Women" : HONKY. Rolling Stones classic, but I'm saving my music link for a better one.
25. Golfer's concern : BAD BACK. Do you think Tiger will ever…
28. Get ready on the golf course : TEE UP. …again?
30. Pelican relative : IBIS.
31. Like the action in "High Noon" : REAL TIME.
34. NFL's Jim Brown et al. : FBS. Fullbacks. Before he was an actor, he played for the Cleveland Browns his entire career 1957-65, and set several records. His 1,863 rushing yards in the 1963 season remains the all-time record for that franchise to this day.
38. __ patch : PEA.
39. Walls are an important part of it : FACEBOOK.
41. Drop-down item : MENU.
42. Cartoon mouse : JERRY.
43. Instrument for Jimmy Dorsey : ALTO SAX. Here's my choice for today. Classic! 1:25
46. "The Hot Zone" subject : EBOLA.
48. '90s sitcom neighborhood : BEL AIR. "The Fresh Prince of BEL AIR."
50. Gossamer : LACY. A bit of gossamer lace for the guys.
51. Like some livestock : BOVINE. And it's only fair to have some BEEFcake for the ladies.
52. "__ Am": 2007 Alicia Keys album : AS I.
55. "For shame!" : TSK.
58. Pickax picking : ORE.
59. Yemeni seaport : ADEN.
60. Tout's tidbit : HOT TIP.
61. "Opposed" : NAY.
62. Kid : JEST.
63. Entry for Ripley : ODDITY.
Down:
1. Hindu god of desire : KAMA. The Sanskrit term also means pleasure and love - one of the four goals of life.
2. Air, for one : IPAD. The iPad Air was CNet's 2013 Editors' Top Pick for the best full-size tablet.
3. Largemouth __ : BASS.
4. Long-haired cousin : ITT. From "The Addams Family."
5. Debussy work, across the English Channel : THE SEA. In French, "La Mer."
6. Allergy medication brand : ZYRTEC.
7. Director Kurosawa : AKIRA. 1910-1988. Prolific and influential film maker. I remember his "Seven Samurai."
8. Southern brew : SWEET TEA.
9. __ salad : TACO.
10. "Story of My Life" band __ Direction : ONE. Also initialized as 1D, a boy band that was propelled to instant success via social media. Their first three albums debuted at number 1.
12. Aptly named Final Jeopardy! theme song : THINK. Anyone watch Ken Jennings and Roger Craig lose to Brad Rutter?
13. "Never eat __ waffles"" compass point mnemonic : SOGGY. N-E-S-W.
18. Exec's extra : PERK.
22. Show some lip? : POUT.
23. TV pledge drive holder : PBS. Do you support them?
24. Navigation location : HELM.
25. "Back to the Future" bully : BIFF.
26. Group whose second letter is often written backwards : ABBA.
29. Exaggerated feature in Obama caricatures : EAR.
31. '60s atty. general : RFK. Robert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy.
32. Suvari of "American Pie" : MENA.
33. __ de vie: French brandies : EAUX. Singular: Eau de vie.
35. Spelling word? : ABRA.cadabra. Magic spell. Minor nit: it's only part of the word.
36. Neither partner : NOR.
37. Places for action figures : TOY BOXES.
40. Serpentine : EELY.
41. "Eat __ chikin": Chick-fil-A slogan : MOR. I love their ads, but don't think I have ever eaten at one.
43. "Put __ on it!" : A LID.
44. Cry from a nest? : LAND HO. Crow's nest.
45. Steering system component : TIE ROD.
46. Entertainer John whose middle name is Hercules : ELTON. Né: Reginald Kenneth Dwight.
47. Iraqi seaport : BASRA.
49. It happens : EVENT.
51. Tarry : BIDE.
52. Lock opening? : ANTI. Anti-lock, as brakes.
53. Satiric bit : SKIT.
54. Traveling game : I SPY. with my little eye...
56. Coll. focus : MAJ.or.
57. "__ be an honor" : IT'D…to blog again sometime for the Friday crowd!
Marti
