Monday April 1, 2024 Patti Varol

  

Happy Monday, everyone! sumdaze here with a golden puzzle to celebrate April Fools' Day. It has a holiday theme, just-right Monday level, and a factor of fun. For these reasons, it earns the title:  

We will begin with the themed clues:

17 Across. Matching cups, saucers, sugar bowl, etc.: TEA SERVICE.  

22 Across. Colorful hard confection: RIBBON CANDY.  

This is RIBBON CANDY. It is popular at Christmastime.

50 Across. Legumes in some chili recipes: KIDNEY BEANS.  

They are so named because of their kidney-like shape and their color.
Actually, thinking of them that way makes them sound far less appetizing.

57 Across. Mojave Desert yucca: JOSHUA TREE.  

Some say they inspire images of the biblical Joshua
reaching out his arms towards God.

Here is the reveal:

36 Across. Apt time for pranksters to do the starts of 17-, 22-, 50-, and 57-Across?: APRIL FOOLS' DAY.

"The starts of 17-, 22-, 50-, and 57-Across" are all things pranksters do:  TEASE, RIB, KID, and JOSH.  

All four of the themers are two-word phrases. "TEASE" spans both words while the other three are the first syllables of the first words. 

Something about this puzzle felt familiar. Did you feel that way, too? Perhaps I was recalling this November 29, 2023 puzzle by Jeanne D. Breen (blogged by Anonymous T) with the reveal ALL KIDDING ASIDE.

I like that Patti gave us a special puzzle to mark today's date. Perhaps she thought, "Well, if no one is going to submit an April Fools' Day puzzle than I will just have to create one."

Across:

1. Low on a spiciness scale: MILD.  

5. Presidential thumbs down: VETO.  Cue School House Rock:  

9. Future JD's exam: LSAT.  To be admitted into a Doctor of Jurisprudence program, one must first pass the Law School Admission Test.

13. Over again: ANEW.

14. Villainous: EVIL.  

Jace Everett   Bad Things (2005)

This was the theme song to the TV show True Blood (2008-2014).

15. Commuter boat: FERRY.

16. Post-it scribble: NOTE.  

19. Starting point: ONSET.  Think "time" as opposed to "location".

21. "Luncheon of the Boating Party" painter Pierre-Auguste: RENOIR.  The painting is on display at The Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C.

(1880-1881)
Renoir later married the model in the bottom, left.

25. "Bowwow!": ARF.  

dog noises in nine languages  (32 sec.)

28. Fr. holy woman: STE.  I know this one from doing XWDs. "French" is abbreviated and so is something about a nun.

29. Pep squad cheer: RAH.

30. Alex Morgan's sport: SOCCER.  She is an American athlete born on July 2, 1989 who plays forward for the United States' women's national soccer team and the San Diego Wave.

32. Back, at sea: ASTERN.  Without the comma, one might try to think of words meaning "to return to the sea".  

This diagram helped me see the difference between "stern" and "astern".

35. "Good heavens!": OH MY.  

40. Antioxidant berry in fruit bowls: ACAI.

41. Tranquil: SERENE.

42. Not exactly: KIND OF.

45. Mariska Hargitay series, familiarly: SVU.  Law & Order:  Special Victims Unit  (1999 - present)  

This is Mariska posing in front of a SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle).

46. Small amount: BIT.

49. Citrus drink suffix: -ADE.

54. Extra charge for a sci. class, e.g.: LAB FEE.  Science class

56. Quick bite: SNACK.  

61. Share a side with: ABUT.  But, wait! We also have 62A....

62. Anticipate: AWAIT.

63. Rhyming tributes: ODES.

64. Train segments: CARS.  

I was standing on a pedestrian overpass when I took this picture of train CARS loaded with coal.

65. Terrarium pet: NEWT.  

Learn more about this Luristan NEWT here.

66. Norway's capital: OSLO.     and     34 Down. Like Vikings: NORSE.

67. Job: TASK.

Down:
1. Grand homes: MANORS.

2. Part of the plot: IN ON IT.  

3. Doesn't interfere with: LETS BE.  

The Beatles  Let It Be  (1970)

4. Uncool sort: DWEEB.     and     52 Down. Uncool sorts: NERDS.

5. Nov. 11 honoree: VET.  "November" is abbreviated, so is "VETeran".

6. Festive night, often: EVE.

7. Prom queen's crown: TIARA.

8. Elizabeth of "WandaVision": OLSEN.  Elizabeth is the younger sister of the OLSEN twins from Full House (Mary-Kate and Ashley). This is the trailer for her show.  👍👍  

9. Jeans maker Strauss: LEVI.  

10. Hot sauce often mixed with mayonnaise: SRIRACHA.  Knowing this one and knowing how to spell it are two different challenges.

This is for those of you who have been following the SRIRACHA drama.

11. Path of a lobbed ball: ARC.

12. Sheridan who plays young Cyclops in the "X-Men" films: TYE.  his IMDb page

15. Soft serve ice cream alternative, casually: FROYO.  

18. Wraps up: ENDS.  

20. Upper bodies: TORSI.  The plural of torso is torsos or TORSI. 

Gaddi Torso  (2nd Century BCE)
The artist is unknown. "Gaddi" is the family name of a previous owner.

23. Countrywide: Abbr.: NAT'L.  National

24. Gourmet cooks: CHEFS.     and     26 Down. "Ratatouille" rat: REMY.     and     27 Down. Cook in hot oil: FRY.

2007 Disney movie

31. Programmer's output: CODE.

32. Dry as a desert: ARID.

33. Fish eggs: ROE.

36. Battery fluid: ACID.  your battery acid questions answered

37. Carpentry tool that cuts plywood sheets: PANEL SAW.  

How to Panel Saw

I like how the tape measure is built into the saw.

38. Tax: LEVY.  When they tax the jeans in 9D it is called a Levi LEVY.  😉

39. Oscar season oversights: SNUBS.  Def.:  (verb) rebuff, ignore, or spurn disdainfully. 

This was a timely clue because for the last two weeks, the internet has been sending me links to articles about who was snubbed by the Oscars. 

Ke Huy Quan won an Academy Award in 2023
 for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in
Everything Everywhere All at Once.

40. Sometimes called, for short: AKA.  It stands for Also Known As and is pronounced ay-kay-ay.

43. "True. However ... ": OK, BUT.

44. World Cup org.: FIFA.  Fédération Internationale de Football Association

Founded in 1904, it is the governing body for many international soccer tournaments, most notably the World Cup.

46. "__, black sheep ... ": BAA BAA.  Have you any wool?  

John Anderson released Black Sheep in 1983.

47. Acquires, as debts: INCURS.     and     58 Down. Have bills to pay: OWE.

48. "Tut-tut" kin: TSK TSK.  I was not familiar with "tut-tut". According to Merriam-Webster, it is used to express disapproval or disbelief.

51. Half a "Star Wars" droid name: DETOO.  Wookieepedia agrees that R2-D2 is sometimes spelled Artoo-Detoo.

53. Put into effect: ENACT.

55. Take __: lose money: A HIT.

57. First mo.: JAN.  

59. Long fish: EEL.

60. That, in Spanish: ESO.  If it feels like the answer to this one keeps changing, it is because it does -- depending on gender, proximity, and number.

Well, almost....

I kid you not, this is the correct grid:  

Have a wonder-fool day, everyone!

P.S.:  Before you alert me to an incorrect link in my first paragraph, please read this explanation of rickrolling.  Gotcha!

Tuesday, March 5, 2024 Patti Varol

 Vowel Progression.  Each theme answer is a two word name or phrase with the first letter is an F, the third letter is an N and the vowel in-between runs from A to U.

17-Across. Oscar-nominated writer of "Fried Green Tomatoes": FANNIE FLAGG.  Fannie Flagg (née Patricia Neal; b. Sept. 21, 1944) wrote the novel Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe in 1987.  She later adapted the book in to the 1991 movie.   [Name # 1]

24-Across. Herbal brew with a licorice flavor: FENNEL TEA.  Fennel Tea really is a thing.

37-Across. Physical therapy that targets hand pain: FINGER EXERCISES.

51-Across. Container with melted cheese: FONDUE POT.  Yummers!

62-Across. Button needed in some macros: FUNCTION KEY.

What other FUN is in store today?

Across:

1. Nail polish layer: COAT.

If you've ever tried glitter nail polish, you can relate.

5. Bicycle for two: TANDEM.

11. Texter's "I think": IMO.  Textspeak for In My Opinion.

14. "Yeah, doubtful": UH, NO!

15. "Act your age!": GROW UP!

16. Go on the __: skip town: LAM.

19. Perjure oneself: LIE.

20. Thrifty: FRUGAL.

21. Actor Sheridan: TYE.  I am not familiar with this actor, but apparently he was in the X-Men series of films.  [Name # 2.]

Tye Kayle Sheridan (b. Nov. 11, 1996)

22. Fireworks show sound: BANG!

23. Nostalgic sch. visitor, perhaps: ALUM.  Alumni is the plural; Alumnus is the masculine singular and Alumna is the feminine singular.  If there are only a group of women former students, then the plural is Alumnae.

26. Spanish "this": ESTA.  Today's Spanish lesson.

28. Stranger than strange: EERIE.

29. D'backs, in box scores: ARI.  The Arizona Diamondbacks play professional baseball and are based in Phoenix, Arizona.

32. Pseudonym letters: AKA.  Also Known As.

34. Totally silly: INANE.

42. Puzzle genre: LOGIC.

43. __ de cologne: EAU.  //  Which intersects with 33-Down: Body spray brand: AXE.

44. Female sheep: EWE.

45. Some British peers: EARLS.

48. Cause of a bad air day: SMOG.  Cute and punny clue.

54. "Well, fudge": RATS.

57. Diva's solo: ARIA.

58. Card game cry: GIN.  More than you ever wanted to know about Gin.

59. Is worthy of: MERITS.

61. Prefix with diversity: BIO.  As in Biodiversity, which is the variety and variability of life on Earth. Biodiversity is a measure of variation at the genetic, species, and ecosystem level.

64. Gymnast Mary __ Retton: LOU.  Mary Lou Retton (b. Jan. 24, 1968) was the star of the 1984 Summer Olympics where she won a gold medal in the individual all-around competition, as well as two silver medals and two bronze medals.  [Name # 3.]

65. Folded egg dish: OMELET.

66. Makes do, with "out": EKES.

67. USCG rank: ENS.  One of the ranks of the United States Coast Guard is the Ensign.

68. Hold a grudge against: RESENT.

69. Paying close attention: RAPT.

Down:

1. Shirt sleeve's end: CUFF.

2. "A Mighty Wind" actress Catherine: O'HARA.  //  And 9-Down. "A Mighty Wind" actor Levy: EUGENE.  A Mighty Wind was a 2003 mocudocumentary about three eclectic, never-quite-famous folk bands that came together for the first time in decades following the death of their manager to put on an reunion concert in his honor.  Catherine O'Hara (née Catherine Anne O'Hara; b. Mar. 4, 1954) and Eugene Levy (b. Dec. 17, 1946) are hilarious in any film they are in together.  Catherine O'Hara celebrated her 70th birthday yesterday.  [Names # 4 and 5.]

3. Render invalid: ANNUL.

4. __-in-cheek: TONGUE.

5. Anti-dandruff shampoo by Neutrogena: T-GEL.

6. Dog kennel sound: ARF.

7. Nick of "48 Hrs.": NOLTE.  Nick Nolte (né Nicholas King Nolte; b. Feb. 8, 1941) has starred in a number of films.  48 Hrs. was first released over 40 years ago!  [Name # 6.]

8. Actor Johnson known as "The Rock": DWAYNE.  His given name is Dwayne Douglas Johnson (b May 2, 1972).  He, too has starred in a number of movies.  [Name # 7.]

10. Fuel economy meas.: MPG.  As in Miles Per Gallon.

11. Uncomfortable: ILL A TEASE.

12. Acadia National Park state: MAINE.  My home state.

Thunder Hole at Acadia National Park

13. __-3 fatty acid: OMEGA.

18. Proactive Health dog food maker: IAMS.  The company also makes food for cats and other critters.

22. Russian pancakes: BLINI.  Yummers!  Everything you wanted to know about Blinis but didn't know to ask.

24. Phony: FAKE.

25. "The Other Black Girl" actor McCormack: ERIC.  Eric James McCormick (b. Apr. 18, 1963) is a Canadian-American actor.  He is probably best recognized for his role in the television sit-com Will & Grace.  [Name # 8.]

27. La Brea __ Pits: TAR.

29. CIO partner: AFL.  The American Federation of Labor - Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) is a federation of unions.

30. Brazilian city: RIO.  The city's formal name is Rio de Janeiro.  The name means River of January because it was "discovered" by the Portuguese on January 1, 1502.  Were they aware that the river was there before they "found" it?

31. Cleverly inventive: INGENIOUS.

35. Just out of the box: NEW.

36. Linguistic suffix: -ESE.  As in Portuguese, the language spoken in 30-Down.

38. "Everyday Italian" cookbook writer De Laurentiis: GIADA.  I am not up on my cookbook writers.  Giada Pamela De Benedetti (b. Aug. 22, 1970) is an Italian American chef, television personality and cookbook writer.  She was born in Rome, Italy, but now lives in the US.  [Name # 9.]

39. Neutral hue: ECRU.  The color comes in many shades.

40. West's opponent, in some All-Star games: EAST.  Think baseball games.

41. Mai tai liquor: RUM.  Yummers!  How to make a Mai Tai.

46. Peanut or pea: LEGUME.

47. Cactus quills: SPINES.

49. Cute name for a black-and-white pet: OREO.  I would never name my pet Oreo, but this is a fresh new clue for a crossword staple.

50. "Ozark" Emmy winner Julia: GARNER.  Ozark was a Netflix crime series.  Julia Gardner (Feb. 1, 1994).  [Name # 10.]

51. Aesop tale: FABLE.  You can read all the Aesop Fables here.  [Name # 11.]

52. Celestial hunter: ORION.  [Name adjacent.]

53. Dad's brother, in Paris: ONCLE.  Today's French lesson.

55. Chicken __ masala: TIKKA.  Chicken Tikka Masala is a dish that originated in India.  It is made of roasted marinated chicken in a spicy yogurt sauce.

56. Like a challenging climb: STEEP.

59. Baseball glove: MITT.

60. Method: Abbr.: SYST.  System.

62. The "F" of FYI: FOR.  For Your Information.

63. Low card in a royal flush: TEN.

And the Grid:

חתולה