AL add-in

June 1, 2014, 12:13 am

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≪ Previous: Quite Enough — the Acrostic

Iguana posing in the Oslo Reptile Park,

portrait by Bjorn Christian Torrissen

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Sunday, June 1, 2014

“Aladdin” — Puzzle by Tom McCoy / Edited by Will Shortz

Adding AL in seven otherwise common phrases constitutes the interrelated group of this Sunday crossword:

CHANGE OF PALACE(23A. King’s move?)
IDEALS OF MARCH (37A. Principles espoused during Women’s History Month?)
CIRCUS TALENT (46A. Ability to walk a tightrope or swallow a sword?)
A FAREWELL TO ALARMS (66A. Dream for late sleepers?)
CANAL OF WORMS (89A. Waterway leading to a SW German city?)
SPRING FALLING (95A. Slinky going down the stairs?)
OF MALICE AND MEN (118A. Dissertation on people’s inherent spitefulness?)

Other — AMNESIAC (4D. Unlikely memoirist), ANELE (32A. Anoint, archaically), HIPSTER (52D. One parodied on “Portlandia“), IGUANA (36D. One who might stick his tongue out at you?), LIMINAL (15D. In-between), LONG PANTS (81D. Trousers), NYALA (99D. Spiral-horned antelope), PINKIES (92D. Thumbs‘ opposites), PRE-SELECTS (79A. Chooses beforehand), PUSSYFOOT (13D. Not be bold), SCRIPT (95D. Lines at a theater?), TWANGS (104D. Elements of some accents), UNIATE (22A. One of a group of Eastern Christians).

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S. A.

June 1, 2014, 11:49 pm

≫ Next: Trimmings

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Essays of Michel de Montaigne, 1588

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Monday, June 2, 2014

Puzzle by Andrea Carla Michaels / Edited by Will Shortz

ESSAY(66A. Kind of test … or a phonetic hint to 17-, 25-, 36-, 47- and 57-Across), e.g., S. A., is the lead-in to the interrelated group of this pleasant Monday crossword:

SHEER AGONY (17A. Total misery)
SNOOZE ALARM (25A. Sleep extender)
SYDNEY AUSTRALIA (36A. 2000 Olympics site)
SAMUEL ADAMS (47A. Founding father who had a beer named after him)
SMART ALECK (57A. Wisenheimer)

Other — ANISE(22D. Absinthe flavor), ARIA, ATRIA and TIARA, HOSEA (11D. Book between Daniel and Joel), HUMANS (44D. Earthlings), NO IDEA (28A. “Beats me!”), MAGOO and WAHOO (6D. Nearsighted Mr. of cartoons; 15A. “Yippee!”), MAMET (49D. Playwright who wrote “Glengarry Glen Ross”), O’DOULS (10D. Nonalcoholic beer brand), QATAR (21D. Persian gulf emirate), QUEER (21A. Odd), SMUTTY (45D. Raunchy), SUPERB (45A. Top-notch), TONYS (23D. Stage statuettes).

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Trimmings

June 2, 2014, 9:34 pm

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Tuesday,June 3, 2014

Puzzle by Susan Gelfand / Edited by Will Shortz

ALL THE TRIMMINGS(60A. What Thanksgiving turkey may come with … as suggested by parts of 17-, 22-, 38- and 51-Across?), along with RIBBON, CORD, FRINGE and LACE in four across answers constitutes the interrelated group of this Tuesday crossword:

PABST BLUE RIBBON(17A. Brand with the tagline “Established in Milwaukee 1844”)
SPINAL CORD (22A. Part of the back)
LUNATIC FRINGE (38A. Extremist group)
ALPINE LACE (51A. Deli counter cheese brand)

Other — BURPS (33D. Pats on the back, maybe), CYBERPUNK (10D. Science fiction subgenre), ENCRYPTED (34D. Unreadable without a key), EXPRESS (45A. Local’s counterpart), HELGA (26D. Wyeth subject), NAPES (1D. Pickup sites?), SERPENT (30A. Garden of Eden creature),S STAR (69A. Relatively cool red giant), VIXEN (15A. One of Santa’s reindeer).

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Word Games

June 4, 2014, 12:31 am

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Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Puzzle by Jim Hilger / Edited by Will Shortz

W O R D G A M E in circled letters, along with word game types, e.g., SCRABBLE, TABOO, HANGMAN, PROBE, ANAGRAMS, JOTTO and GHOST, all clued as “See circled letters,” constitutes the interrelated group of this Wednesday crossword.

Other — ARRAIGN(10D. Bring up on charges), CHOICES (23A. One from column A, one from column B, etc.), ENAMOR (48D. Win the heart of), ERRANTLY (34A. How knights roam), ESPARTO (4d. Grass for cordage),I ROBOT (5D. Asimov classic), KEEP HOUSE (17A. Dust, vacuum, do windows, etc.), NON-SLIP (42D. Like a shower mat, ideally), PATRONS (44D. Clientele), SHAME ON ME (62A. “I did bad!“), SPANGLY (50A. Decked out in sequins), STAND PAT (41A. What to do when dealt a flush).

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Little Women

June 4, 2014, 10:47 pm

≫ Next: The Friday Crossword

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Thursday, June 5, 2014

Puzzle by Ed Sessa / Edited by Will Shortz

LITTLE WOMEN (34A. 1860s novel …), along with AMY, BETH, JO and MEG in single squares constitutes the main feature of this Thursday crossword last seen in a Times crossword earlier this year, February 24:

BRIGH[AMY]OUNG (17A. The “American Moses”) with FO[AMY] (5D. Like a freshly drawn draft)
GLO[BETH]EATER (10D. Shakespeare play setting) with [BETH]ERE (22A. “Attendance is mandatory”)
DIRTY[JO]KE (32D. Ribald humor) with Mission VIE[JO], Calif.
[MEG]ENERATON (55A. Baby boomers, with “the”) with O[MEG]AS (50D. Some Swiss watches)

Other — ALTAIR (59A. Brightest star in Aquila); BROMIDE (26D. Trite comment);Gertrude EDERLE who swam the English Channel; Spencer‘s “The FAERIE Queene“; “HORACES Odes” (classic work of poetry); NEUTRINO (36D. Subatomic particle with no electric charge); OLIVE OIL (3D. Staple of Mediterranean cooking); RAFTERS (41A. Huck and Jim on the Mississippi, e.g.); RSVPED (41D. Answered, quickly); SABRINA (1D. Audrey Hepburn title role); STRAYED (47A. Waived the wake-up call); UNICORN (39D. Creature in Rowlng’s Forbidden Forest).

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The Friday Crossword

June 5, 2014, 11:17 pm

≫ Next: The Saturday Crossword

≪ Previous: Little Women

Skocjan Caves, Slovenia

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Friday, June 6, 2014 — D-Day

Puzzle by Kameron Austin Collins / Edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. Decision theory factor, RISK; 5. Athletic short?, FIVE K; 10. Coolers, n brief, ACS; 13. Indie rock band whose “The Suburbs” was the Grammys’ 2010 Album of the Year, ARCADE FIRE; 15. Jiffy, SNAP; 16. British author of the so-called “London Trilogy”, MARTIN AMIS; 17. Feature of a Norman Rockwell self-portrait, PIPE; 18. Agitation overseas, STURM; 19. Hot, spicy brew, CHAI TEA; 21. EMI Records; 22. Washboard parts, ABS; 25. “Sic ‘em!”, ATTACK; 26. Popular Japanese manga seen on the Cartoon Network, NARUTO; 29. “Bonanza” setting, TAHOE; 30. Language originally known as Mocha, JAVA SCRIPT; 34. Turkish money, LIRA; 35. Miscellany, ANA; 36. Tochises, HEINIES; 38. Diego Rivera’s “LAS Sandias”; 39. Ceilings, CAPS; 41. Exotic annual off-road race, DAKAR RALLY; 43. Dead reckonings?, OBITS; 45. Admits, LETS ON; 46. In wait, BIDING; 48. Best-selling food writer REE Drummond; 49. “Bad!”, TSK; 52. Become dazedly inattentive, ZONE OUT; 54. Ryan of Hollywood, O’NEAL; 56. One with a password, maybe, USER; 57. Writer, director and co-star of the Madea films, TYLER PERRY; 61. Master’s counterpart, MISS; 62. Belief n human supremacy, SPECIESISM; 63. Buffoon, ASS; 64. Goes on and off diets, say, YOYOS; 65. TATEModern.

Down —1. Pickup line?, RAMS; 2. Furious, RATE; 3. Rugby formation, SCRUM; 4. Subject of Spike Lee’s “When the Levees Broke”, KATRINA; 5. Reed section?, FEN; 6. 1962 film “IF A Man Answers”; 7. Energy, VIM; 8. Actor ERIC Stoltz; 9. Gaga contemporary, KESHA; 10. Notable Senate testifier of 1991, ANITA HILL; 11. Florida’s so-called “Waterfront Wonderland”, CAPE CORAL; 12. Password requirer, maybe, SPEAKEASY; 14. 10-watt, say, DIM; 15. Old-fashioned shelter along a highway, SPITAL; 20. Phone inits., ATT; 22. Proceeded like a rocket, ARCED; 23. Time capsule event, BURIAL; 24. Tough problem, STINKER; 27. Grayish, ASH; 28. Downer, OPIATE; 30. South African leader beginning in 2009, JACOB ZUMA; 31. Reanimation after apparent death, ANABIOSIS; 32. Insipidity, VAPIDNESS; 33. Short, TERSE; 37. Kind of hotel, for short, SRO; 40. David Odgen STIERS, actor on “M*A*S*H”; 42. Colony unit, ANT NEST; 44. SNO-cone; 47. Bold, GUTSY; 50. Opera SERIA; 51. Land formation known for its caves, KARST; 53. Printed slip, TYPO; 54. Unlock, in poetry, OPE; 55. Old LYME, Conn.; 58. Willy LEE, pioneering writer on rocketry; 59. Green start?, ECO; 60. “R IS for rainbow”.

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The Saturday Crossword

June 6, 2014, 9:31 pm

≫ Next: Strike One

≪ Previous: The Friday Crossword

Detail of Artemis drawing her bow

from a depiction of the death of Aktaion.

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Saturday, June 7, 2014

Puzzle by John Lieb / Edited by Will Shortz

Across —1. Web nuisance, SPAMBOT; 8. With 26-Down, dramatic end to a game, WALK-OFF; 15. Modern-day sanctuary, MAN CAVE; 16. Mostly, AS A RULE; 17. “The Hurt Locker” setting, IRAQ WAR; 18. Jumps all over, BERATES; 19. Place for un bateau, LAC; 20. Donkey : mule :: LLAMA : huarizo; 22. Admission ticket, DUCAT; 23. Cut down to size, maybe, EDIT; 25. Sweet Jazz sound?, SWISH; 27. Meant TO BE; 28. Serape wearer, SENOR; 30. Have A SHOT at; 32. Nick, say, MAR; 33. Complex data, RENTS; 35. The middle Andrews sister, MAXENE; 37. Heartening words, FEAR NOT; 40. Corrupted, DEBASED; 41. Show up at dinner?, OUT-EAT; 42. WorkCentre maker, XEROX; 43. Elect, OPT; 44. Construction material for several theme parks, LEGOS; 46. Ruptures, RIFTS; 50. Where 24-Down began his managerial career, SHEA; 52. Proverbial battlers, SEXES; 54. Eastern wear, SARI; 55. Flavorer once labeled a “milk amplifier”, BOSCO; 57. Burn to the ground, TORCH; 59. Bunkmates, often, KIN; 60. Orion’s hunting companion, ARTEMIS; 62. #1, THE BEST; 64. Jumped all over, LIT INTO; 65. Professor EMERITA; 66. Like some Hmong, LAOTIAN; 67. Solution for storing contacts?, ROLODEX.

Down — 1. All SMILES; 2. Flaunt, PARADE; 3. Relief provider since 1916, ANACIN; 4. 1974 John Wayne title role, MCQ; 5. Not just tear, BAWL; 6. What many racers race on, OVALS; 7. Lightning strike measure, TERAWATT; 8. River between two Midwestern states, WABASH; 9. Malt finisher?, ASE; 10. Enrich, LARD; 11. Reuben ingredient, KRAUT; 12. Denouements, OUTCOMES; 13. Plant said to repel bugs, FLEABANE; 14. Decayed, FESTERED; 21. Yearn for, MISS; 24. See 50-Across, TORRE; 26. See 8-Across, HOMER; 29. Kind of artery, RENAL; 31. Pipe accompanier, TABOR; 34. Las, e.g., NOTES; 36. People plot things around it, X AXIS; 37. Recreation hall staple, FOOSBALL; 38. High, EUPHORIA; 39. Confirm, ATTEST TO; 40. Yellow type?, DESERTER; 47. One might get past a bouncer, FAKE ID; 48. Blue, in Burgundy, TRISTE; 49. Moral duty?, SIN TAX; 51. Get 180 on the LSAT, say, ACE IT; 53. Boob, SCHMO; 56. Wyndham alternative, OMNI; 58. Elevator at the bottom, HEEL; 61. Suffix with 28-Across, ITA; 63. Mate, BRO.

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Strike One

June 7, 2014, 9:18 pm

≫ Next: Stretched Out

≪ Previous: The Saturday Crossword

Sunday, June 8, 2014

“Strike One”— Puzzle by Patrick Berry / Edited by Will Shortz

Ten squares containing two letters, one being X to change a common phrase into an uncommon one, constitutes the main feature of this Sunday crossword. Actually, one could just place an X over the common-phrase letter to do the trick. The “crossed out” letters spell CROSSED OUT:

XED (124A. Struck out, as one letter n each of this puzzle’s answers)

SMILEY FA[C/X]ES(23A. ~~Symbols of happiness~~; Transmissions with colons, dashes and parentheses?)
THE HEART OF WA[R/X] (29A. ~~Sun Tzu tome~~; Madame Tussaud’s specialty?)
ARTOO DETO[O/X] (38A. ~~“Star Wars” character~~; Where droids go to dry out?)
LESSER APE[S/X] (42A. ~~Gibbons and siamangs~~; Mountaintop that’s not the very top?)
BEAUTY CONTE[S/X]T (56A. ~~Pageant~~; Circumstances that render someone attractive?)
EVERGREEN TRE[E/X] (78A. ~~Pine, e.g.~~; Dinosaur that never goes out of style?)
BO[D/X]Y DOUBLE (92A. ~~Studio substitute~~; Squarish bed?)
FO[O/X] FIGHTER (95A. ~~Member of a certain 1990s-2000s rock band~~; Censor unhappy with “Family Guy” and “Glee,” maybe?)
SKIP TO MY LO[U/X] (102A. ~~Children’s song~~; Ignore the rest of the lunch I brought and just eat the fish?)
DESSERT [T/X]RAY (113A. ~~After-dinner display~~; One way to see a pie’s filling?)

The matching downs (sans X’s) — TIC, STARES AT, POINT, CSI, ELITE, MORENO, RED HEAT, OLD-TIMER, and AUDEN.

Other —BLOCKADE (83D. Sea wall?), BLOW OPEN (16D. Use dynamite on, as a safe), EMBOSSED (82D. Raised on books?), IDIOTIC (4A. Brainless), LOP-EARED (85A. Like some bunnies and hounds), MAGNESIA (52A. Antacid ingredient), MINARET (91D. Mosque tower), MORENO (68D. Singer/actress Rita), NO LIMIT (63D. Like some poker games), NUDISTS (123A.You’ll see a lot of them), OLD-TIMER (84D. Golden ager), SNO CONE (64D. Carnival cooler), SORORAL (88D. Like some twins), VAMPIRE (20A. Sucker?).

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Stretched Out

June 8, 2014, 10:11 pm

≫ Next: Passing Notes

≪ Previous: Strike One

“The Naked Maja”, ca. 1800 — Francisco Goya

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Monday, June 9, 2014

Puzzle by Tom McCoy / Edited by Will Shortz

STRETCHED OUT(58A. T h r e e s t r i k e s ), WIDE RECEIVER (20A. T e l e p h o n e h a n d s e t ), EXTENDED STAY (28A. C o r s e t p a r t ) and LONG DIVISION (48A. A r m y u n i t ) constitute the interrelated group of this Monday crossword.

Other — CRUMBS (54A. Trail for Hansel and Gretel);GOYA (65A. “The Naked Maja” artist); Your MAJESTY (way to address a queen); OLD STYLE (39D. Antiquated); PIERRE (36A. South Dakota’s capital); POLAR vortex; POWELL (43A. Former secretary of state Colin);RICHTER scale (earthquake measurer; SNORES (23A. Sounds from a sound sleeper?); STOA (1A. Covered Greek walkway), V-NECK (49D. Features of some daring sweaters).

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Passing Notes

June 9, 2014, 11:01 pm

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Newton’s tomb in Westminster Abbey

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Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Puzzle by Pamela Klawitter / Edited by Will Shortz

PASSING NOTES(52A. Secretive classroom activity … or what 20-, 27- and 44-Across are anagrammatic examples of?), MONROE NO MORE (20A. Brief 1831 headline?), NEWTON WENT ON (27A. Brief 1727 headline?) andEDISON IS DONE (44A. Brief 1931 headline?) constitute the interrelated group of this Tuesday crossword.

Other — CLOSE TO YOU (58A. Where the Carpenters “long to be” in a 1970 #1 hit), LEAN IN (5D. 2013 Sheryl Sandberg best seller), NOOSES (45D. Old West “neckties”), SHANE (35D. “The L Word” role for Katherine Moennig), SIDE SADDLE (17A. One way to ride a horse).

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Flag Day

June 10, 2014, 10:50 pm

≫ Next: One Hundred Percent

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U.S.A., Canada, Japan and U.S.S.R.

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Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Puzzle by Ian Livengood / Edited by Will Shortz

F L A G D A Y in circled letters with the note “When this puzzle is done, the seven circled letters, reading clockwise, will spell a phrase …” along with MAPLE LEAF [Canada]; STARS AND STRIPES [U.S.A.]; HAMMER AND SICKLE [U.S.S.R.]and RISING SUN [Japan] constitutes the interrelated group of this fine Wednesday crossword.

Other — AMAZON (55A. Fortune 100 company based in Seattle), BELFAST (9D. C. S. Lewis’s birthplace), DEN and POKER ROOM (34D and 35D. Place to play cards), FIESTA (22A. Party with a piñata, say), FOUR ALARM (3D. Hot chili designation), MINERVA (52A. Athena’s counterpart), RAIN GOD (43D. Tlaloc, to the Aztecs), YEAH MAN (23A. “For sure, dude!”).

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One Hundred Percent

June 11, 2014, 10:49 pm

≫ Next: The Friday Crossword

≪ Previous: Flag Day

A megillah scroll (The Book of Esther) is read on the eve and morning of the Festival of Purim. One can only surmise how a scroll of such size could have been used comfortably, for it is difficult for an individual to handle. Library of Congress Photo

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Thursday, June 12, 2014

Puzzle by Mark Feldman / Edited by Will Shortz

THE WHOLE(54A. 100% … or words that can precede 17-, 18-, 30- and 51-Across), along with MEGILLAH (17A. Long, involved story, in slang), BALL OF WAX (18A. Business, informally), SHOOTING MATCH (30A. Competition in marksmanship), and ENCHILADA (51A. Queso-topped dish), constitutes the interrelated group of this Thursday crossword.

Other — CRUSADER (35D. One on a mission), DESSERT (27A. Final order), FENNEL (12A. Common flavorer in Italian sausage), FIBULA (12D. Bone whose name is Latin for “pin”), HANNIBAL (57A. Mark Twain’s boyhood home), HUMIDITY (36D. What a hygrometer measures), LONGEST (24A. Guinness superlative), MALARIA (40A. Modern term for “Roman fever”), OPERABLE (14A. In working condition), PRESUME (45A. Daresay), SENATORS (1D. “Damn Yankees” team), SERACS (39D. Glacal formations), UNCLENCH (2D. Relax), VIRUS (38A. Email attachment attachment?).

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The Friday Crossword

June 12, 2014, 11:11 pm

≫ Next: Diamonds and Rust

≪ Previous: One Hundred Percent

Bob Marley

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Friday, June 13, 2014

Puzzle by David Steinberg / Edited by Will Shortz

Across —1. Family guy, MADE MAN; 8. Create some ties, NETWORK; 15. It often has chips, CHOCOLATE COOKIE; 17. 1974 #1 hit written by Bob Marley, I SHOT THE SHERIFF; 18. Almost equaling, CLOSE TO; 19. Brat’s place, DELI; 20. With 24-Across, “The Pianist” star, ADRIEN; 23. Unlikely donor, MISER; 24. See 20-Across, BRODY; 25. Common shower garment, ONESIE; 29. First name in westerns, ZANE; 30. Conditioning apparatus, SKINNER BOX; 34. Family guy, affectionately, UNC; 35. Once-common commercial fuel, COAL GAS; 36. Skippered, LED; 37. Extremely long string, GOOGOLPLEX; 39. PASO Robles, Calf.; 40. Like some symmetry, RADIAL; 41. Congolese, e.g., BANTU; 42. Word menu option?, ROGET; 45. Criminal activity, RACKET; 46. Khloe Kardashian’s married name, ODOM; 47. Like St. Catherne, SIENESE; 51. Rapper with the 2009 hit “Kiss Me Thru the Phone”, SOULJA BOY TELL ‘EM; 56. Classroom films, e.g., AUDIOVISUAL AIDS; 57. Like opinion pieces, SLANTED; 58. World of DC Comics, KRYPTON.

Down —1. Spring competitor, once, MCI; 2. Physical reactions?, AHS; 3. “I’m such a fool!”, DOH; 4. Deforestation, e.g., ECOCIDE; 5. Assorted, MOTLEY; 6. TV foodie Brown, ALTON; 7. Informal rejections, NAHS; 8. Rail construction, NEST; 9. Say again, ECHO; 10. Nail site, TOE; 11. Less drect, say, WORDIER; 12. Steinbeck have-nots, OKIES; 13. It can kick back, RIFLE; 14. Fermented milk drink, KEFIR; 16. Souvenir shop purchase, TEE; 20. Feminist with the 1984 “Gender Gap”, ABZUG; 21. Product under a sink, DRANO; 22. Dial-O-Matic maker, RONCO; 23. MIES van der Rohe; 25. Animal whose tongue is more than foot long, OKAPI; 26. Brand that’s a shortened descripton of its flavor, NILLA; 27. Topper of der Tannenbaum, ENGEL; 28. Munches, in ads, SNAX; 30. “Storage Wars” cry, SOLD; 31. Scrabble player’s asset, BLANK; 32. Durango direction, OESTE; 33. Unlisted?, X’D OUT; 35. Dog breed distinction, COAT; 38. Scapegoat for many a failure, GREMLIN; 39. Driver’s warm-up, PACE LAP; 41. In a vulgar way, BASELY; 42. Dia de San Valentin bouquet, ROSAS; 43. Lefty out in left field, O’DOUL; 44. Cheese burg?, GOUDA; 45. Fix, as some roofs, RETAR; 47. Stat for a pitcher, SAVE; 48. Term paper abbr., IBID; 49. Canon shooter, EOS; 50. Stooge syllable, NYUK; 52. Insignificant amount, JOT; 53. Blitzed, LIT; 54.Japan’s EDO Castle, 55. MSN Explorer.

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Diamonds and Rust

June 13, 2014, 10:24 pm

≫ Next: 06.15.14 — Enrich

≪ Previous: The Friday Crossword

Saturday,June 14, 2014

Puzzle by Alex Vratsanos

Across —1. “Diamonds and Rust” singer, 1975, JOAN BAEZ; 9. Add in large amounts, PACK ON; 15. “Is that a gun in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?,” e.g., INNUENDO; 16. Surround with light, ENHALO; 17. Disappoints, LETS DOWN; 18. More legible, say, NEATER; 19. Marvin Gaye’s “TIL Tomorrow”; 20. Gambling, STAKING; 22. One often seen at the door, MAT; 23. River of Hesse, EDER; 25. Undermine, ERODE; 26. Wound around the body?, GASH; 27. Reasons for some joyrides, DARES; 29. Cause of an insurance increase, for short, DUI; 30. National card game of Mexico, MONTE; 31. Call for a meeting?, POINT OF ORDER; 34. Part of many a symphony, SCHERZO; 37. Visit, SOJOURN; 38. Many a Cape Cod locale, CRANBERRY BOG; 40. Multitudes, HOST; 41. Multitude, TON; 42. Some settlers, before settling, SUERS; 46. H. G. Wells’s “Empire of the ANTS”; 47. Teatro Costanzi premiere of 1900, TOSCA; 49. Kind of eng., ELEC; 50. Pull (out), EKE; 51. New Testament money, DENARII; 53. IVO Andric, Literature Nobelist before John Steinbeck; 54. Ornament at the top of a spire, FINIAL; 56. Sign at the end of a freeway, maybe, LAST EXT; 58. Like God, in the olden days, ETERNE; 59. Former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi, for one, ISLAMIST; 60. Team whose playing venue appears on the National Register of Historic Places, RED SOX; 61. Dumps, EYESORES.

Down —1. Dumped, JILTED; 2. Six Nations tribe, ONEIDA; 3. Provider of bang for the buck?, ANTLER; 4. Greek consonants, NUS; 5. Twins, e.g., BEDS; 6. Make A NOTE of; 7. Best Actor nominee for “American History X”, EDWARD NORTON; 8. Fall asleep fast, ZONK OUT; 9. Cylindrical pasta, PENNE; 10. Rare blood type, for short, A NEG; 11. Ching preceder, CHA; 12. Asian capital, KATMANDU; 13. Wild olive, OLEASTER; 14. Boreal, NORTHERN; 21. Kojak’s love of lollipops or Reagan’s love of jellybeans, e.g., IDIOSYNCRASY; 24. Starts on a righteous path, REPENTS; 26. Disobey directives, say, GO ROGUE; 28. Gathers on a surface, chemically, SORBS; 30. Charms, MOJOS; 32. Novel ending?, IZE; 33. Time keeper?, FOB; 34. “America’s oldest lager beer”, SCHAEFER; 35. First person outside NASA to receive a moon-rock award, 2006, CRONKITE; 36. Accelerated, HASTENED; 39. 1937 film based on a Gershwin musical, ROSALIE; 43. ELIXIR of life; 44. Work over, REVISE; 45. Nursery brand, SCOTTS; 47. Bringer of old news, TELEX; 48. Sitter’s choice, AISLE; 51. Longtime soap actress Linda DANO; 52. “Take IT AS a sign”; 55. Group awaiting one’s return, for short, IRS; 57. Some rock, EMO.

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06.15.14 — Enrich

June 15, 2014, 12:12 am

≫ Next: 06.15.14 — Note-Books — the Acrostic

≪ Previous: Diamonds and Rust

Sunday, June 15, 2014 — Father’s Day

“Enrich”— Puzzle by Tony Orbach / Edited by Will Shortz

Adding “EN” to familiar phrases constitutes the interrelated group of this Sunday crossword:

PREPARATION HEN(23A. Episode title for a cooking show featuring chicken recipes?)
LEAVENING LAS VEGAS (32A. Goal for a comic working the Strip?)
LET ‘ER RIPEN (47A. Informal advice to an overeager picker?)
CAN I BE FRANKEN (67A. Request to represent a Minnesota senator’s side of a debate?)
RAMEN TOUGH (82A. Tarzan’s response when asked if the noodles are cooked?)
ENSIGN OF THE ZODIAC (99A. Naval officer who’s an expert in astrology)
COEN ORDINATION (111A. Religious ceremony for two Hollywood brothers?)

Other — ALINING(55D. Truing: Var.); ARAPAHO (21A. Wyoming people); ASANTE (91D. People of Ghana: Var.); ASTERN and STERN (116A. Rearward; 39D. Severe), ELENORE (48D. Title girl in a 1968 hit by the Turtles); HEDONISM and HERESY (46D. Pleasure seeking; 121A. Cause for burning at the stake); Queen LATIFAH of “Chicago”; PEN NIB (65A. Writing tip); PERFECT TEN (16D. Beauty ideal); POINIED UP (51D. Forked over); Cannabis SATIVA (marijuana); SCHULTZ (7A. Bumbling sergeant on “Hogan’s Heroes”); Jane TENNISON, Helen Mirren’s “Prime Suspect” role; VANUATU (54D. South Pacific archipelago).

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06.15.14 — Note-Books — the Acrostic

June 15, 2014, 8:21 pm

≫ Next: Letter B

≪ Previous: 06.15.14 — Enrich

Samuel Butler by Charles Gogin

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Sunday, June 15, 2014

ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

Edited by Will Shortz

This Sunday’s acrostic draws a quotation from The Note-Books of Samuel Butler by Samuel Butler and Francis Hackett.

Note from amazon.com: This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understnding of the imperfections in the preservation process and hope you enjoy this valuable book.

The quotation: MY FATHER IS ONE OF THE FEW MEN I KNOW WHO SAY THEY DO NOT LIKE SHAKESPEARE. I COULD FORGIVE [HIM] … IF IT WAS ONLY BECAUSE SHAKESPEARE WROTE POETRY; BUT … [H]E … SAYS HE LIKES TENNYSON AND THIS SERIOUSLY AGGREVATES HIS OFFENCE.

The author’s name and the title of the work: SAMUEL BUTLER, NOTE-BOOKS

The defined words:

A. Repeating the same music for each verse, STROPHIC
B. Curated record collections, ARCHIVES
C. Chilled, tomato-flavored consommé, MADRILENE
D. Final outcome, end result, UPSHOT
E. Actor playing Hamlet in a 2000 film (2 wds.), ETHAN HAWKE
F. Bobby Hull’s position on the ice (2 wds.), LEFT WING
G. Place to keep a shell collection?, BOATHOUSE
H. Firm in the face of arm-twisting, UNSWAYED
I. Mycenaean king and brother of Atreus, THYESTES
J. Tend, take care of (2 wds.), LOOK AFTER
K. Pharmacologist’s collyrium; bunk, bilge, EYEWASH
L. Plant producing oil or sugar, e.g., REFINERY
M. Dystopian experience, NIGHTMARE
N. Becoming even more rigid, OSSIFYNG
O. Legendary gatherer of lost canines? (2 wds.), TOOTH FAIRY
P. Fade away little by little, EVANESCE
Q. Native to the Island of the Gods, BALINESE
R. Approval from Spanky of “Our Gang” (hyph.), OKEY-DOKEY
S. Walt Kelly’s Pogo, for one, OPOSSUM
T. Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, in popular parlance (3 wds.), KISS OF LIFE
U. Tecumseh’s tribe, SHAWNEE

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Letter B

June 16, 2014, 1:36 am

≫ Next: 06.18.14 — Silent Movies

≪ Previous: 06.15.14 — Note-Books — the Acrostic

Monday, June 16, 2014

Puzzle by Bruce Height / Edited by Will Shortz

B TEAM(11D. Subs … or a feature of the answers to the 17 asterisked clues?), plus those answers containing the letter B constitutes the interrelated group of this Monday crossword:

BULB(1A. *Replaceable part of a lamp)
BABAS (9A. *Rum-soaked cakes)
BABE Ruth (*15A., plus “Sultan of SWAT“, nickname at 15-Across)
BLUEBEARD (17A. *Villainous noble of a classic French tale)
BIRDBRAIN (21A. *Dodo)
BARBELL (27A. *Bench-pressing equipment)
BANK BRANCH (34A. *Neighborhood financial institution)
BELA BARTOK (43A. *Hungarian composer whose only opera is about 17-Across)
BIG BAND (49A. *The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, e.g.)
BEEF BROTH (58A. *Base of many gravies)
BEER BELLY (66A. *Physical attribute of Homer Simpson)
BIBS (1D. *Things to drool over?)
BREAK BREAD (4D. *Have a meal)
BUGBEAR (9D. *Bogeyman)
BARB (27D. *Part of a fishhook)
BACK BITER (32D. *Ones who criticize others in their absence)
BUS BOYS (44D. *Restaurant staffers)

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06.18.14 — Silent Movies

June 16, 2014, 9:52 pm

≫ Next: Blank Tile

≪ Previous: Letter B

Janet Leigh, “Psycho“, 1960

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Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Puzzle by Zhouqin Burnikel / Edited by Will Shortz

SILENTmovies (8-, 20-, 39- and 57-Across, in a way), e.g., movie titles where the first letter is silent,PSYCHO (8A. 1960 Alfred Hitchcock thriller), WRECK-IT RALPH(20A. 2012 John C. Reilly animated film), DJANGO UNCHAINED (39A. (2012 Quentin Tarantino western) and KNIGHT AND DAY (57A. 2010 James Mangold action comedy) constitute the interrelated group of this entertaningTuesday crossword.

Other — JOHN GOODMAN (25D. “The Big Lebowski” co-star), PILLAR (8D. Notable one in a community), POWER PLANTS (3D. Electricity producers), SCHWA (1D. Beginning or end of “Athena”), SHARK (53D. Jet fighter?), SPINET (47D. Small piano), SYRIA (56D. Gulf War ally), ZORRO (7D. Swordsman of book and film).

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Blank Tile

June 17, 2014, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: What?

≪ Previous: 06.18.14 — Silent Movies

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Puzzle by Amy Johnson / Edited by Will Shortz

WORD FREAK(17A. 2001 best seller about competitiveScrabble), BLANK TILE (58A. What you’d need to play 26-, 29-, 43- or 45-Across), JUJITSU (26A. Japanese “soft art”, max opening score of 92 points), TSKTSKS (29A. Sounds of censure, max opening score of 80 points), SPAZZES (43A. Totally inept sorts, max opening score of 104 points) and XEROXED (45A. Ran off, in a way, max opening score of 94 points) constitute the interrelated group of this Wednesday crossword.

Other — ABET and COHORT (10D. Partner in crime; 11D. Help in crime), AZALEAS (41D. Cousins of rhododendrons), OBIT and OBOE, POSSIBLY (38D. “It could happen”), SHRIEKS (9D. Fun house noises), SIOUX (30D. Wounded Knee tribe), TAKES TEN (8D. Stops for a breather), XANADU (45D. Setting of Kubla Khan’s palace).

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What?

June 18, 2014, 10:36 pm

≫ Next: 06.20.14 — The Friday Crossword

≪ Previous: Blank Tile

Thursday, June 19, 2014 — Juneteenth

Puzzle by Timothy Polin / Edited by Will Shortz

TWENTY QUESTIONS(17A. Classic 1940s-’50s quiz show), a large black-square question mark in the center of the grid, along with twenty clues beginning with “What” constitutes the main feature of this Thursday crossword:

Across — 1A. What group founded in 1960 currently has 12 members?, OPEC; 5. What Fox series was set n Newport Beach?, THEO C; 14. What spot has divisions called chukkers?, POLO; 22. What are Greek P’s?, RHOS; 23. What automaker makes the Yukon and Acadia?, GMC; 27. What is the popular name for daminozide?, ALAR; 32. What do four gills make?, PINT; 39. What is hopscotch called in New York City?, POTSY; 42. What notorious 1999 computer virus was named after an exotic dancer?, MELISSA; 49. What rating does the Michelin Guide give to “a very good restaurant”?, ONE STAR.

Down — 3. What do mahouts ride?, ELEPHANTS; 5. What best-selling 2004 young adult novel was written entirely in the form of instant messages?, TTYL; 6. What is the oldest academic quiz competition in the U.S. (since 1948)?, HI-Q;8. What is 1/100 of a Danish krone?, ORE; 13. What California congressman heads the House Oversight Committee?, ISSA; 23. What were Russell and Anna Huxtable on “The Cosby Show”?, GRANDPARENTS; 27. One who makes an impression?, APER; 29. What was Caleb in the Bible?, SPY; 31. What word precedes “Eyes,” “Girl,” “Love” and “Mama” in Top 40 song titles?, SEXY; 36. Ones with breaking points?, CUE STICKS; 43. What is French for “huge”?, ENORME.

Other — CONTORTIONIST(4D. Twister), DELIRIA (45A. States of madness), ENTICINGLY (35A. A la a siren), EROTIC ART (11D. Kama Sutra Illustrations, e.g.), MONETIZES (12D. Converts to currency), ORISONS (50A. Sacred petitions), POLITEST (39D. Exhibiting the most civility), POWER LINE (2D. Juice provider), RESOUNDED (38A. Thundered), SPIT AND POLISH (10D. Fastidiousness), THIN AS A RAIL (28D. Superskinny), TOO TIRED TO THINK (51A. Mentally pooped).

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