Theme: "Do Stuff" - GEL spans across each theme entry.
23A. Breakfast item : SAUSAGE LINK. I enjoyed my leftover yam/apple for breakfast, sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds.
33A. Bus station compartment : STORAGE LOCKER
43A. Decorative outdoor fixture : CARRIAGE LAMP. Did not know there's a term for it.
60A. Category including spacing and margins : PAGE LAYOUT
77A. Vehicle usage record : MILEAGE LOG
92A. Curbside check-in freebie : LUGGAGE LABEL. I just call it "Luggage tag".
98A. Broadway director's concern : STAGE LIGHTING
117A. "American Graffiti" director : GEORGE LUCAS. I thought young Jay Leno was in this movie. But Wiki says no.
Reveal:
118D. Styling product hidden in eight long puzzle answers : GEL
Very consistent. All *GE L*. Not many workable phrases for the *G EL* pattern, as in NOTHING ELSE.
Gail likes to put a couple of themers in Down slots. Not this time. Across all the way. The fill is quintessential Gail, smooth and clean. There's a quiet elegance in all of her puzzles.
Across:
1. Udon cousin : SOBA. We all have our sweet spot. Asian food is mine.
5. Not at all : HARDLY
11. Poker pro's concern : ODDS
15. Weather the storm : COPE
19. Latin 101 verb : AMAS. You love.
20. Albéniz piano work : IBERIA. Unfamiliar with the composer.
21. Petty of "A League of Their Own" : LORI
22. Mind matter : IDEA
25. Lackluster : DRAB. Not DULL.
26. Let it all out : VENT
27. Blade holder : SHEATH
28. Heavy ref. : OED. Kids these days probably never use a "heavy" dictionary.
29. Ancient manuscripts : PAPYRI
31. Gridiron figure : YARDAGE. Golf too.
39. Bar menu heading : REDs
41. Zilch : NIL
42. "Do __?" : I DARE. Not I CARE.
49. TV awareness-raiser : PSA
52. Action film props : UZIs. Named after the designer Uzi Gal, according to Wiki.
53. Cookie shaped like two of its letters : OREO
54. Throw a feast for : REGALE
55. 1984 Nobel Peace Prize winner : TUTU (Desmond)
56. Handled bag : TOTE
57. Started war? : DEALT. Card game.
59. Serious trend : RAGE
62. Like some speeches, it seems : ENDLESS. Not those TED Talks. I really like Derek Siver's "How to Start Movement". Only three minutes
64. Ruffle feathers, so to speak : MAKE MAD
65. Tells : SAYS TO
66. Musical with the song "Willkommen" : CABARET. Got via crosses.
69. Collie collar danglers : ID TAGS
74. Fugitive : RUNAWAY
76. Left hanging : STOOD UP. He stood her up.
81. Coil on a reel : HOSE
84. "That's a fact!" : NO LIE!
85. Comparison words : AS AN. Wise as an owl.
86. Room access : HALL
87. Masonry mixture : MORTAR
89. Streamlet : RILL
90. "Leaving Las Vegas" co-star : SHUE (Elisabeth). Not a movie I want to see.
91. Decorates mischievously, for short : TPs
94. Yankee manager before Girardi : TORRE (Joe)
96. Sports statistic : WIN. Slight clue/answer dupe with 83. "College GameDay" number : STAT
97. One way to get dinner : TO GO
97. One way to get dinner : TO GO
104. Not just bargain : DICTATE. Also got via crosses.
109. How many raises are given : YEARLY. "How many" is seldom is one phrasal unit in this type of clue.
110. Anger : IRE
112. Mason of "The Goodbye Girl" : MARSHA
113. Restrain : CURB
116. Cause to fluctuate : SWAY
119. Kolkata's locale : ASIA. I'm used to the Calcutta spelling.
120. Paddock parent : SIRE. I read it as "Padlock". Paddock is a new word to me.
121. Mental wherewithal : ACUMEN
122. Construction site sight : CONE
123. Mannerless sort : BOOR
124. Till stack : ONES
125. "He loves me" pieces : PETALS
126. Hot times abroad : ETEs
Down:
1. Fresh : SASSY
2. Home of Heartland of America Park : OMAHA. Vowel-rich. Hence its frequent appearance.
3. Outdoor clothing entrepreneur Eddie : BAUER
4. Mideast president elected the same year as the younger Bush : ASSAD. So long.
5. Overdrive : HIGH GEAR
6. Presidential nickname : ABE
7. Transfer to a new city, briefly : RELO
8. Sits on the line : DRIES. I like this clue also.
9. Godiva alternative : LINDT
10. Shaggy-haired bovine : YAK. It's said that Tibetans drink up to 60 small cups of Yak Butter Tea a day. Simple recipe: tea, butter, salt & hot water. Give it a go, D-Otto. It's good for the upper body strength :-) Silicon Valley's Bulletproof Coffee was inspired by this drink.
11. Lifetime chum : OLD PAL. This blog will turn nine on Jan 28, 2017. You guys are now my old pals. We're growing old together.
12. Biker's headgear, maybe : DO-RAG. We also have 64. National Bike Month : MAY
13. Sun blocker : DRAPE
14. Legendary prophet : SIBYL. "Prophetess" would have made it easier.
15. Serving on a jury, e.g. : CIVIC DUTY. Never served on a jury. You?
16. Elevated lines? : ODE
17. Waterman product : PEN. Never heard of this pen brand.
18. Work on a course : EAT
24. Early gaming name : ATARI
30. French royal : ROI
32. Craftsman outdoor tools : EDGERS
34. Generous offer : ON ME
35. Swindle, in slang : RIP. Don't even think of GYP, not PC to be in our crossword.
36. Instrument that doesn't need tuning : KAZOO. Got via crosses.
37. "Un Ballo in Maschera" aria : ERI TU. This is a difficult clue. We normally have "It was you" or "Verdi" hint.
38. Zero out, say : RESET
40. Sonic Dash publisher : SEGA
43. They may be cracked : CODES. This works for SAFES as well.
44. Sports venue : ARENA
45. Prepared : READY
46. Big wheel's wheels : ROLLS. Rolls-Royce.
47. Internet connectivity annoyance : LAG. So what's your Download speed? Ours is about 23.
48. IPA component : ALE
49. Sound of the Northwest : PUGET. Puget Sound. Nice clue.
50. Champagne flute feature : STEM
51. Café order : AU LAIT
55. Leave, with "off" : TAKE
58. Colorful pet store purchase : TETRA
60. Something to shoot for : PAR. Boomer had two birdies this year, both on par-3 holes.
61. Supplement : ADD ON
63. Looked for : SOUGHT
66. Heads and tails : CALLS
67. Illegal mil. status : AWOL
68. Paper or plastic : BAG
70. Irish lullaby start : TOO-RA. "Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral". I drew a blank.
71. Surprise in a skit : AD LIB. Also got via crosses.
72. Duplicity : GUILE
73. Period of time : SPELL
75. Minimum-range tide : NEAP
76. Poseidon, e.g. : SEA GOD. Here is a good explanation on why Chinese say "Oh, my mother!" instead of "Oh, my God!" when surprised.
77. Ketch pair : MASTS
78. Seemingly can't lose : IS HOT
79. Linney of "The Savages" : LAURA
80. Athlete's supplement : ENERGY BAR. Also 88. Training routines : REGIMENS. Both great fill.
81. Fail to share : HOG
82. AA or AAA : ORG. Nice clue as well.
87. Short bond? : MUNI. Municipal bond.
92. Hammered : LIT
93. From around here : LOCAL
95. Big shoes to fill? : EEE. Last time this clue tricked me.
96. "But of course!" : WHY YES
99. Catcher on the range : LASSO
100. Director Allen who was dubbed the "Master of Disaster" : IRWIN. Don't recall this name.
101. Look daggers (at) : GLARE
102. Birthday card rack subsection : NIECE
103. Tiling job supply : GROUT
105. Mutual agreement : TRUCE
106. Site of the Princess Margaret Stakes : ASCOT. Named after Princess Margaret.
107. Macbeth, when the play began : THANE
108. Alleviates : EASES
111. "At Wit's End" author Bombeck : ERMA. I often confused her with that cookbook author IRMA.
113. Zin kin : CAB (Cabernet)
114. "Always by their side" org. : USO
115. River in Spain : RIO
117. Lack of continuity : GAP
C.C.
