The New York Times Crossword in Gothic

Bugatti 16C Galibier

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Friday, June 20, 2014

Puzzle by Martin Ashwood-Smith / Edited by Will Shortz

Eight 15-letter answers constitute the main feature of this Friday crossword:

CLEAR ONE’S THROAT (1A. Prepare to speak, say)
RESTORE TO HEALTH (16A. Nurse)
AT SOME OTHER TIME (17A. Not now)
STEPS ON ONE’S TOES (18A. Puts somebody out)
ORANGE MARMALADE (46A. Florida preserve?)
WISDOM OF SOLOMON (52A. Keen insight with “the”)
ASCENT OF EVEREST (53A. Peak performance in 1953?)
REAL ESTATE SALES (54A. Focus of HDTV’s “House Hunters”)

Other — DINNER SET(29D. China shop purchase), Automaker ETTORE Bugatti, HERSHEY BARandOREO (11D. Snack since 1900; 6D. Snack since 1912), NEON TETRA (7D. Fish with iridescent blue stripes), STAFFA (40D. Scottish island that’s home to Fingal’s Cave), WHEN I’M GONE (23D. Top 10 hit for Eminem or 3 Doors Down).

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Summer Solstice Stonehenge

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Saturday, June 21, 2014 — Summer Solstice

Puzzle by Brad Wilber and Byron Walden

Edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. Keister, CABOOSE; 8. Soft drink company based in California, SHASTA; 14. Comfortable way to rest, ASSURED; 15. Cigar with clipped ends, CHEROOT; 16. Winter Olympics group, SKI TEAM; 17. Edible in a cone, PINE NUT; 18. Onetime White House resident with a cleft palate, TAD LINCOLN; 20. Onetime capital of the Muhal Empire, AGRA; 21. Only man ever to win an L.P.G.A. Tour tournament (1962), SNEAD; 22. Handy talent?, BLUES; 24. Govt. medical agency, CDC; 25. Fountain spirits, NAIADS; 27. Travelocity competitor, KAYAK; 29. Saw home?, SHED; 32. RIS d’agneau (lamb dish); 33. Harbors, SANCTA; 34. El Greco, after age 36, TOLEDAN; 36. Ate at, NETTLED; 37. “Kramer vs. Kramer” novelist Corman and others, AVERYS; 38. Crack, say, MAR; 39. Energy company in the Fortune 100, HESS; 40. Home pages?, LEASE; 41. Sierra Nevada evergreen, RED FIR; 43. Like some verbs: Abbr., IRR; 44. Moon of Saturn, DIONE; 46. Strategic port raided by Sir Francis Drake in 1587, CADIZ; 50. Anika NONI Rose, 2014 Tony nominee for “A Raisin in the Sun”; 52. Java file, e.g., SOURCE CODE; 54. Showed, EVINCED; 56. Treats to prevent goiter, say, IODIZES; 57. Delivers in court, RENDERS; 58. Furthest stretched, TAUTEST; 59. Legs’ diamonds?, ARGYLE; 60. Panel composition, often, EXPERTS.

Down —1. They rotate on Broadway, CASTS; 2. ASK AN Engineer (M.I.T. online reference service); 3. Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive,” originally, B SIDE; 4. Xenophobe’s bane, OUTLANDERS; 5. Frozen foods giant, OREIDA; 6. SEAN Parker, founding president of Facebook; 7. Author of the 87th Precinct series, ED MCBAIN; 8. Buff, SHINE; 9. One given to brooding, HEN; 10. Bailiwick, AREA; 11. Berlioz’s “Les Nuits d’Ete,” e.g., SONG CYCLE; 12. Printing on many concert souvenir T-shirts, TOUR DATES; 13. Spots likely to smear, ATTACK ADS; 15. 79, say, C PLUS; 19. Onetime Toronado, e.g., informally, OLDS; 23. Game in which top trumps are called matadors, SKAT; 26. Certain tax shelters, for short, IRAS; 28.Stone coal, ANTHRACITE; 29. Setting for “One Day in the Lfe of Ivan Denisovich”, STALIN ERA; 30. Helicopter-parent, say, HOVER-OVER; 31. University of Phoenix specialty, E LEARNING; 33. Dennis in “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” e.g., SERF; 35. Like roots, periodically?, DYED; 36. Voter with a Green button, once, NADERITE; 38. Array of options, MENU; 41. Chancel arch icons, ROODS; 42. Slick, in a way, ICED UP; 45. River bordering the Olympic host cities Grenoble and Albertville, ISERE; 47. Sleepy sort, DOZER; 48. Namely, IDEST; 49. Some garnishes, ZESTS; 51. Annual race, colloquially, INDY; 53. Soft-soap, COAX; 55. Animation fan’s collectible, CEL.

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Sunday, June 22, 2014

“Dime Store”— Puzzle by Elizabeth C. Gorski

Edited by Will Shortz

Ten squares containing the symbol for “cents” (the letter “C” across and “I” down) , adding up to a dime, constitutes the main feature of this Sunday crossword:

CENTENNIAL (23A. 2014, for Doublemint gum) with TAIL (1D. Dangerous part of an alligator)
VICENTE FOX (25A. Mexican president of the early 2000s) with PAIN PILL (12D. Percocet, for one)
CENTRIST (40A. Middle-of-the-road) with PAIN PILL (12D. Percocet, for one)
IRIDESCENT (44A. Like mother-of-pearl) with ISLIP (45D. Town on the south shore of Long Island)
RECENT PAST (56A. Several days ago, say) with IRON-ON (68D. Like some patches)
CENTIPEDES (70A. Bugs that technically are misnamed) with WRITE-UPS (58D. Articles in a paper)
PERCENTAGE (93A. Agent’s cut) with TOMEI (71D. Actress who co-starred n “The Lincoln Lawyer”)
TEN CENTS (96A. Total value of the symbols created by the special crossings in this puzzle) with I SWEAR (97D. “Honest!“)
DECENT MEAL (113A. Something square to eat?) with AIDE (106D. Right hand)
I’M INNOCENT (116A. Defendant’s cry) with IAN (117D. Actor McKellen)

Other — ATWITTER(39D. Nervously excited), HEALTH FOOD (107A. Flaxseed or quinoa, e.g.), LINGERING (3D. Not going away), NO RELATION (28A. Tyler Perry, to Katy Perry, e.g.), SPEED TRAP (2D. Where many tickets are distributed), STATE DEPT (80D. Hillary Clinton’s domain, once: Abbr.).

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The yo-yo in its simplest form is an object consisting of an axle connected to two disks, and a length of string looped around the axle, similar to a slender spool. ~ Wikipedia

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Monday, June 23, 2014

Puzzle by Brendan Emmett Quigley / Edited by Will Shortz

YO-YO TRICKS(26D. What 5-, 7-, 10- and 15-Down all are), ROCK THE CRADLE (5D. MTV competitive reality show featuring children of pop stars), AROUND THE WORLD (7D. Where Phileas Fogg traveled “n 80 days”), WALK THE DOG (10D. Do a chore with a pet) and FLYING TRAPEZE (15D. Circus act above a net) constitute the interrelated group of this Monday crossword.

Other — EGYPTIAN(24A. Cairo native), O’Neill’s “Desire Under the ELMS”, NEPAL (50D. Katmandu’s nation), LULUS (18A. Real corkers), ORONO (48D. Maine town bordering Bangor), SOFT C (16A. The fourth [but not the first] letter of “cancel”), WAS ANGRY (49A. Saw red).

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Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Puzzle by Heather Valadez / Edited by Will Shortz

COVERT OPERATION(40A. Secret military mission … or a hint to the circled letters in this puzzle?), along with AND, SUBTRACT, MULTIPLY and DIVIDEin circled letters within STAND-BY MODE (18A. Sleep state for an electronic device), SUB-CONTRACT (24A. Outsource, as part of a job), MULTI-PLAYER (50A. Like World of Warcraft and other fare for 66-Acrosses) and DRIVER’S SIDE (62A. It’s on the left in the U.S. and the right in the U.K.) constitutes the main feature of this Tuesday crossword.

Other — FLY and SICK(9D and 36A. Really cool, in slang), GAMER (66A. See 50-Across), ICE MELT (21D. Magnesium chloride, e.g.), LABOR and TOIL (16A and 30D. Slave away), RAMPED UP (42D. Increased, as production), RATS NEST (5D. Tangle), SNAPE (70A. Potter’s potions professor), SO TO SAY (29D. In a manner of speaking), YOLKS (53D. They provide richness in batter).

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First GoodYear Blimp Enterprise

at Washington/Hoover Airport, Late 1930’s

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Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Puzzle by Patrick Merrell / Edited by Will Shortz

Three 15-letter common phrases with LESS as the second syllable, humorously clued to change their meanings, constitutes the main feature of this Thursday crossword:

TIRELESS WORKERS(20A. Goodyear employees when they’re on strike?)
LISTLESS FEELING (39A. Result of Santa misplacing his papers?)
RUTHLESS TACTICS (56A. What the Red Sox had to start using in 1920?)

Other — BUS ROUTE(9D. It may be diagrammed on a city map), GREEK MYTH (4D. Story set on Mount Olympus), LEGOLAND (40D. Theme park based on a toy), OBSCENE (22D. Censorship-worthy), SLAPSTICK (38D. Buster Keaton genre), THE DUDE (26D. Nickname for filmdom’s Lebowski).

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Painting, Smoking, Eating, Philip Guston, 1973

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Thursday, June 26, 2014

Puzzle by Pawel Fludzinski / Edited by Will Shortz

IN BED(40A. How breakfast may be served … or how the answers to the eight starred clues should be entered?), along with ROACH, RANCH, ROKER, ALLOT, LOCK, RUSH, ROOM and LAST in “B ED” constitutes the main feature of this Thursday crossword:

17A. *BROACHEDMotel; 24A. *Dressing choice, BRANCHED; 49A. *Longtime TV weatherman, BROKERED; 58A. *Divide up, BALLOTED; 3D. *Bit of hair, BLOCKED; 11D. *Bit of excitement, BRUSHED; 38D. *Leeway, BROOMED; 42D. *Like Pisces, in the zodiac,BLASTED.

Other — AURICLE (10D. Outer ear), BARNARD (37D. Seven Sisters college), ED MEESE (12D. Reagan cabinet member who was previously counselor to the president), MARSALA (2D. Cooking wine), PAROLED (45A. Released early), RECKLESS (53A. Imprudent), ROUNDER (29D. Habitual drunkard), SCREAMED (20A. Reacted in horror, say), USELESS (30A. Like a fifth wheel).

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Salvador Dali, Face of Mae West, 1935

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Friday, June 27, 2014

Puzzle by Peter A. Collins / Edited by Will Shortz

Across —1. Hoping to get home?, ON BASE; 7. Borrows without intending to repay, BUMS; 11. Therapy developers: Abbr., DRS; 14. In a slip, MOORED; 15. Government groups, AGENCIES; 17. Like many garments at the cleaner’s, IRONED; 18. Hit the road, RAN ALONG; 19. “I wouldn’t lie”, TAKE MY WORD FOR IT; 21. Some linemen: Abbr., RTS; 22. Get in on the deal, ANTE UP; 23. Cross, MEET; 25. Dreidel letter, GIMEL; 26. It has a 30-min. writing skills section, PSAT; 30. Mtn. statistic, ALT; 31. Surprising words from Shakespeare?, ET TU; 32. Ruined “rose-red city” of Jordan, PETRA; 33. Much of Mae West’s wit, DOUBLE ENTENDRES; 37. Line up, ARRAY; 38. Mangrove menace, informally, CROC; 39. It’s often compounded: Abbr., INT; 40. Lots, TONS; 41. “IT HAS to be!”; 43. Approved, OKAY; 44. Language in which “talofa” means “hello”, SAMOAN; 46. What I can be, ONE; 47. Sizzling, HOT AS BLUE BLAZES; 53. Celebrates wordlessly, APPLAUDS; 54. Ferrari or Lamborghini, IMPORT; 55. It may not be able to pick up something tiny, NAKED EYE; 56. Bit of “Archie” attire, BEANIE; 57. Elle’s English-language counterpart, SHE; 58. Bald-eagle link, AS AN; 59. One getting the picture, SCREEN.

Down —1.Drop, OMIT; 2. NORA Barnacle, James Joyce’s wife and muse; 3. Drop in library use?, BOOK RETURN; 4. Will ARNETT of “30 Rock”; 5. Looks, SEEMS; 6. Cause of some turbulence, EDDY; 7. Storied storyteller, BARON MUNCHAUSEN; 8. “Casablanca” crook, UGARTE; 9. Pea-brained researcher?, MENDEL; 10. Real mess, SNAFU; 11. Gucci contemporary, DIOR; 12. “Crucifixion of St. Peter” painter, RENI; 13. Army E-6: Abbr., SSGT; 16. Hoofed it?, CLOPPED; 20. Singer John WAITE with the 1984 #1 hit “Missing You”; 23. Ready to dress down, say, MAD AT; 24. Ecuadorean province named for its gold production, EL ORO; 25. Bygone telecom, GTE; 27. What half of a battery is next to, STRIKE ZONE; 28. Concert itinerary listing, ARENA; 29. Easily taken in?, TASTY; 31. City on the Ouse, ELY; 32. PNC Park (Pirates’ stadium); 34. Its bottles feature red triangles, BASS ALE; 35. Big name in heating and air-conditioning, TRANE; 36. Hyperion’s daughter, EOS; 41. Suffuses, IMBUES; 42. Cry when rubbing it in, TOLD YA; 43. Comparable (with), ON A PAR; 45. Carne, ASADA; 46. Like some ancient Mexicans, OLMEC; 47. Weapons inspector HANS Blix; 48. Hawaiian fish, OPAH; 49. No place for a free ride: Abbr., TPKE; 50. Restaurant attachments?, BIBS; 51. It’s at one end of I-79, ERIE; 52. Suez Crisis weapon,STEN.

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The Death of Priam, 1861 by Jules Joseph Lefebvre

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Saturday, June 28, 2014

Puzzle by Josh Knapp / Edited by Will Shortz

Across —1. Tangy fruit pastry filling, APRICOT JAM; 11. Physical, say, EXAM; 15. There might be one after a bridge, GUITAR SOLO; 16. The Rice Krispies mascots, e.g., TRIO; 17. Georgia neighbor, AZERBAIJAN; 18. Amazon icon, CART; 19. Raskolnikov’s love in “Crime and Punishment”, SONYA; 20. City whose name is pronounced like the natives’ word for “Where is … ?”, NOME; 21. Something an aichmophobe fears, briefly, HYPO; 22. Old mount, NAG; 24. Grandmotherly plaints, OYS; 26. Abbr. at the end of some crossword clues, VAR; 27. 2003 Billy Bob Thornton crime film, BAD SANTA; 32. Language of Middle-earth, ELVISH; 34. Craigslist section, FREE; 35. It’s usually closed before leaving, TAB; 36. Playground retort, DOES SO; 37. Ax, LET GO; 39. Presidential debate mo., OCT; 41. Father of Paris, PRIAM; 42. What may accompany a salute, AYE AYE; 44. With 51-Across, end of the London blitz?, TEE; 46. Ruler with a palace near St. Mark’s, DOGE; 47. San Diego’s TORREY Pines, site of the 2008 U.S. Open; 48. Prerequisites for some overseas travel, VACCINES; 50. On the q.t., MUM; 51. See 44-Across, ZED; 53. New, informally, MOD; 54. Valley girl’s “no”, AS IF; 56. Cry over spilled milk?, MEOW; 58. Kung Pao chicken ingredient, CHILI; 63. Solstice time, JUNE; 64. Literally, “different lizard”, ALLOSAURUS; 66. Some extracts, ORES; 67. Advice of caution to a beginner, START SMALL; 68. Midwest squad, REDS; 69. Bizarre and alienating, KAFKAESQUE.

Down — 1. “What A GAS!” (“How fun!”); 2. Two-time Oscar-winning screenwriter, PUZO; 3. Love at the French Open, essentially, RIEN; 4. Humble response, I TRY; 5. Changing place, CABANA; 6. Start of an “Ave Maria” line, ORA; 7. Beer named for a port on the Yellow Sea, TSINGTAO; 8. Guy from Tucson in a Beatles song, JOJO; 9. 1960 historical film written and directed by John Wayne, with “The”, ALAMO; 10. Well-off, MONEYED; 11. Put on the surface, in a way, ETCH; 12. Superpower, X-RAY VISION; 13. Ventilation provider, AIR PASSAGE; 14. Campers’ relatives, MOTOR HOMES; 23. Argentine ANT; 25. Spillover, SLOP; 27. Key of Schumann’s Symphony No. 1, B FLAT MAJOR; 28. “Really?”, ARE YOU SURE; 29. Not willing to give, DETERMINED; 30. “Popeye” cartoonist Elzie SEGAR; 31. Part of the Disney family, so to speak, ABC TV; 33. “Falstaff” composer, VERDI; 38. Attention-getter, in some rooms, OYEZ; 40. Company asset, TEAMWORK; 43. Freebie on some airplane flights, EYE MASK; 45. Prefix with efficiency, ECO; 49. Obsolescent media holder, CD CASE; 52. It’s around the mouth, DELTA; 55. Own (up), FESS; 57. Dedicatee of a famous Tallinn church, OLAF; 59. Runs smoothly, HUMS; 60. Setting for “Three Kings,” 1999, IRAQ; 61. Beaut, LULU; 62. Vacation destination, ISLE; 65. “Come STA?” (greeting).

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Silhouette of the San Francisco’s Anna Hyatt

Huntington copy of her El Cid statue.

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Sunday, June 29, 2014

“Downright Tricky!”— Puzzle by Byron Walden

Edited by Will Shortz

EL CID(108D. Spanish hero whose 113-Down [NAME] is represented enigmatically six times in this puzzle), along with six three-word phrases where the first letters of each word in the phrase are C, I and D with the phrases arranged in an EL pattern down and to the right constitutes the main feature of this Sunday crossword.

CHIVALRY IS DEAD (8D. Lament about modern men)
CANON IN D (13D. Pachelbel classic, familiarly)
CRISIS IN DARFUR (32D. Major African humanitarian concern of the 2000s)
COVERED IN DUST (38D. Like the contents of many attics)
CHRISTMAS IN DIXIE (50D. 1982 holiday country hit by Alabama)
CONSIDER IT DONE (71D. “Right away, boss”)

Other — ABSCISSA(65A. Graph’s x-coordinate), BRAM (24A. Stoker of fear?), BRITCOM (122A. “Absolutely Fabulous,” e.g.), COXING (98D. Directing a shell), ESTIVATE (58A. Stay inactive over the summer), FILM INDUSTRIES (86A. Hollywood and Bollywood, e.g.), HOG CALLER (37A. Competitor in some county fairs), HOT POCKET (31A. Microwaveable snack), ICE CUBE (5A. Drink cooler), I HAD A HUNCH (3D. “That‘s what my Spidey sense told me“), I’VE MADE A DECISION (67A. Statement after long deliberation), MAN CAVE (49A. Area with XY coordinates?), MIMES (106A. Ones trapped in boxes of their own making?), MOSH PIT (21A. Stage-diving locale), NAZI ERA (117A. Post-Weimar period), PADDED BRA (100A. Drag staple), SALT MINING (74D. Enterprise for Morton), SEA HOLLY (12D. European coastal plant once thought to be an aphrodisiac), SPARE KEY (88D. Item for a houseguest), SPIKEDACES (17D. Ray-finned fishes of the Southwest U.S.), WINN-DIXIE (109A. Southern grocery chain), YEARLY PHYSICAL (51A. Routine checkup), YES INDEED (56D. “Of course!”).

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Leo Tolstoy

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Sunday, June 29, 2014

ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

Edited by Will Shortz

This Sunday’s acrostic draws a quotation from “Tolstoy Lied: A Love Story” by Rachel Kadish.

In Anna Karenina, Tolstoy famously wrote, “Happy families are all alike, every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way,” This celebrated maxim seems questionable at best to literature professor Tracy Farber. If Tolstoy is to be taken at his word, only unhappiness is interesting; happiness is predictable and bland. ~ amazon.com

The quotation: PEOPLE MISUNDERSTAND HAPPINESS. THEY THINK IT’S THE ABSENCE OF TROUBLE…. HAPPINESS IS THE ABILITY TO LIVE WELL ALONGSIDE TROUBLE. NO TWO PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME TROUBLE…. QED: NO TWO HAPPY PEOPLE ARE HAPPY IN THE SAME WAY.

The defined words:

A. Inerim capital of Pakistan from 1959 to 1967,RAWALPINDI
B. Unit of 14.7 pounds per square inch at sea level, ATMOSPHERE
C. Socially exclusive, as a group, CLIQUISH
D. Someone who may put you under, HYPNOTIST
E. Flat-footed trumpeters, ELEPHANTS
F. Maine city that is home to Bates College, LEWISTON
G. “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” rapper (2 wds.), KANYE WEST
H. Orbital point farthest frm the sun, APHELION
I. Placed far in (hyph.), DEEP-SET
J. Unconditioned; present from birth, INNATE
K. Candidate for a pop phenomenon? (2 wds.), SOAP BUBBLE
L. “Knowledge is the wing wherewith we fly to HEAVEN” (Shak.)
M. Things useful n making snaps, THUMBS
N. Adjective often applied to Answer M., OPPOSABLE
O. Current n the underworld, LETHE
P. Traffic controller dating to 1868 in London, STOPLIGHT
Q. Taking things the wrong way?, THEFT
R. First name in Harpo Productions, OPRAH
S. Where t find Tuolumne Meadows, YOSEMITE
T. Old moniker for a tomato (2 wds.), LOVE APPLE
U. Smoother in housework, IRON
V. Abductee painted by Titian and Boucher, EUROPA
W. Naïve, innocent, too trusting (hyph.) DEWY-EYED

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Tsetse Fly

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A flea and a fly in a flue

Were imprisoned, so what could they do?

Said the fly, “let us flee!”

“Let us fly!” said the flea.

So they flew through a flaw in the flue.

~ Ogden Nash

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Monday, June 30, 2014

Puzzle by Ed Sessa / Edited by Will Shortz

A vowel run, FLAY, FLEA, FLY, FLOW and FLU, constitutes the main feature of this Monday crossword:

BOBBY FLAY (17A. Celebrity chef and host of the Food Network’s “Boy Meets Grill”)
SPANISH FLEA (25A. Theme music for TV’s “The Dating Game”)
TSETSE FLY (39A. Insect that causes sleeping sickness)
TRAFFIC FLOW (55A. It’s typically slow during rush hour)
YUPPIE FLU (66A. Dismissive term for chronic fatigue syndrome)

Other — COROLLA and PETAL(48D. Flower part; 37D. Flower part), EMBALMS and CRYPT (1D. Mummifies, e.g.; 56D. Burial vault), LIMP and STIFF (35A. Like a wet noodle; 34D. Completely unlike a wet noodle), LOONIES (2D. Fruitcakes), OBTRUDE (42D. Stick out), THRILLA in Manila (Ali/Frazier fight).

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Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Puzzle by Gary Cee / Edited by Will Shortz

Five song titles beginning with DON’T constitutes the main feature of this Tuesday crossword:

DON’T BE CRUEL(18A. Appeal from Elvis, 1956)
DON’T WORRY BABY (25A. Reassurance from the Beach Boys, 1964)
DON’T STOP BELIEVIN’ (39A. Encouragement from Journey, 1981)
DON’T YOU WANT ME (52A. Plea from the Human League, 1982)
DON’T YOU CARE (64A. Reproach from the Buckinghams, 1967)

Other — CANNONBALL (31D. Dive done with the arms around the knees), Groucho foil Margaret DUMONT, PLUTON (8D. Mass of crystallized magma), RINGALEVIO (12D. Game similar to hide-and-seek), RWANDA (49D. African country known as the Land of a Thousand Hills).

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Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Puzzle by Jeff Chen and Dick Shlakman

Edited by Will Shortz

Four sentences of three sound-alike (homophonic) words constitute the main feature of this pleasant Wednesday crossword:

PEAKS PIQUE PEKES(17A. MOUNTAINS TICK OFF TOY DOGS)
BOARS BORE BOERS (28A. SOUTH AFRICANS ARE UNEXCITED BY SWINE)
PAIRS PARE PEARS(42A. COUPLES PEEL FRUIT)
IDYLLS IDLE IDOLS(54A. PASTORAL POEMS INCAPACITATE TEEN FAVES)

Other — ABANDON SHIP(3D. Final order from the captain); ALBA and ELBA; ALEXEI Kosygin of Russia; Guinea-BISSAU (West African nation); DADA and D-DAY; GLOP (50D. Zero-star fare); LEAP and PLEA; LINDT (32A. Big name in fancy chocolates); SATYR (62A. Lecherous goat-man); SETS A RECORD (26D. Becomes worthy of the Guinness Book, say).

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Mount St. Helens erupted on May 18, 1980 at 08:32 PDT

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Thursday,July 3, 2014

Puzzle by Luke Vaughn / Edited by Will Shortz

MOUNT ST HELENS (39A. It left parts of itself in 11 states in 1980) and eleven squares containing the word ASH constitutes the main feature of this clever and tough Thursday crossword.

[ASH]AMED (1A. Sheepish) with[ASH]CROFT (1D. Early 2000s attorney general)
ON[A SH]ORT LE[ASH] (18A. Under tight control) withCL[ASH] (8D. Not go together at all) and SL[ASH] (13D. / )
REH[ASH] (23A. Go over and over) withSPL[ASH]DOWN (11D. Landing for many an Apollo mission)
TEX[AS H]OLD ‘EM (31A. Game in 2006’s “Casino Royale”) with C[ASH]OUT (25D. Leave the casino, say)
[ASH]LEY OLSEN (47A. “It takes Two” co-star) with SM[ASH] (41D. Chart topper)
THR[ASH]ES (52A. Licks) with[ASH]ANTI (53D. One-named singer with the 2003 hit “Rock Wit U, Awww Baby”)
GN[ASH] (59A. Grind) with 60D. Olympic decathlon gold medalist [ASH]TON Eaton
W[ASH]ING[ASH]HORE (62A. Like seashells at high tide) withST[ASH]ED (55D Hidden away) and[ASH]EN (63D. Colorless)
TR[ASH]ES (66A. Bad-mouths) withSOD[A SH]OP (49D. Place to get a malted)

Other — AREOLE(2D. Anatomical ring); ENGELS (48D. Co-author of “The Communist Manifesto”); ESSENE (50D. Early Semite); FLIC (24A. French cop); MANNIX (3D. Detective of 1960s-‘70s TV); NOOSES (51D. Deadly constrictors); OP ARTIST (40D. Illusion creator); REPTILE (27D. Cold-blooded sort).

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Friday, July 4, 2014 — Independence Day

Puzzle by Patrick Berry / Edited by Will Shortz

Across —1. Quickly gets good at, TAKES TO; 8. Summer hat, BOATER; 14. Restrained, ON A LEASH; 16. “This isn’t a good time”, I’M BUSY; 17. First-century governor of Britain, whose name was Latin for “farmer”, AGRICOLA; 18. Signer of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, PIERCE; 19. Trade fair presentation, DEMO; 20. It means “council” in Russian, SOVIET; 22. Apprehend, NAB; 23 Roofing material, SLATE; 25. Cut short, END; 26. Membre de la familie, PERE; 27. Compact Chevys of old, NOVAS; 30. G-rated oath, FUDGE; 31. Poll calculation, MARGIN OF ERROR; 34. “While we’re on the topic …”, BEFORE I FORGET; 35. Marked by hostilities?, BATTLE-SCARRED; 36. One of the Kennedys, ETHEL; 37. Manhattan Project scientist, FERMI; 38. Emblem on Captain America’s shield, STAR; 39. All you can take with one hand, POT; 40. “Frida” actress SALMA Hayek; 45. Williams nicknamed “The Kid”, TED; 46. Field strip, FURROW; 49. Automaker that introduced heated front seats, SAAB; 50. 1950 short-story collection by Asimov, I ROBOT; 52. Cork bar, IRISH PUB; 54. Dry up, RUN OUT; 55. Cause for complaint, PET PEEVE; 56. Phalanx weapons, SPEARS; 57. “Through the Dark Continent” author, 1878, STANLEY.

Down —1. Witches’ brew ingredients, TOADS; 2. Being in heaven, ANGEL; 3. Cosmic payback, KARMA; 4. “I have measured out my life with coffee spoons” writer, ELIOT; 5. Brief wait, SEC; 6. Stop along the Santa Fe trail, TAOS; 7. Four-time host of the Nordic World Ski Championships, OSLO; 8. Upstanding one?, BIPED; 9. Pass over, OMIT; 10. Bart and Lisa’s grandpa, ABE; 11. Betrayed embarrassment, TURNED RED; 12. Not-so-fast food?, ESCARGOT; 13. Amber-colored brew, RYE BEER; 15. Send-off for the dear departed?, HAVE A NICE TRIP; 21. To such an extent, INSOFAR; 24. Register, ENROLL; 26. Empty, PURGE; 28. Creature outwitted by Hop-o’-My-Thumb, OGRE; 29. Tried to win, VIES FOR; 30. Columbian Exposition engineer, FERRIS; 31. Addictive analgesic, METHADONE; 32. Beauty magazine photo caption, AFTER; 33. Bit of paperwork, FORM; 34. Call from home, BATTER UP; 35. Rouses to action, BESTIRS; 39. Finishing strokes, PUTTS; 41. Pasty, ASHEN; 42. Name tag location, LAPEL; 43. “Never trust a woman who wears MAUVE” (line from “The Picture of Dorian Gray”); 44. “The Name of the Rose” setting, ABBEY; 46. Two by two?, FOUR; 47. Veins’ contents, ORES; 48. Olympic skater Katarina WIT; 51. Burlesque accessory, BOA; 53. Body treatment facility, SPA.

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Saturday, July 5, 2014

Puzzle by David Steinberg / Edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. Neckwear slider, SCARF RING; 10. Domed dessert, BOMBE; 15. “The highest result of education is TOLERANCE”: Helen Keller; 16. Purpose, AVAIL; 17. Continuing in its course, ROLLING ON; 18. Hardly smash hits, DINKS; 19. Part of the Roman Empire in modern-day NE France, ALSATIA; 20. One forced into service, DRAFTEE; 22. Bit of illumination, PHOTON; 23. Tooth coating?, GEAR OIL; 24. 1994 Peace Prize sharer, PERES; 25. Eschews money, say, BARTERS; 26. Reduces the fare?, EATS; 27. Big brand from Clermont, Ky., JIM BEAM; 28. Drill specialist, for short?, DDS; 29. Minor documents?, FAKE IDS; 30. “Poppycock!”, BAH; 33. Producer of cheap shots?, DIVE BAR; 34. “The Farm” painter, 1921, MIRO; 35. Dances with sharp turns, BOLEROS; 36. Biblical verb, CANST; 37. What ruthless people show, NO MERCY; 38. Apollo, e.g., SUN GOD; 39. Greek city where St. Paul preached, CORINTH; 40. Los Angeles suburb once dubbed “Berryland”, GARDENA; 41. ARENA rock; 42. “See!”, I CALLED IT; 44. First name in the 1948 presidential race, STROM; 45. About 90% of cotton fiber, CELLULOSE; 46. “Magister Ludi” writer, HESSE; 47. Old-fashioned duds,KNEE PANTS.

Down —1. Greatly wanting, STRAPPED; 2. Good thing to keep in an emergency, COOL HEAD; 3. A little of everything, ALL SORTS; 4. Connects, RELATES; 5. Crunchy snack, FRITOS; 6. Took for booking, RAN IN; 7. “Young Frankenstein” girl, INGA; 8. Drill specialist, for short?, NCO; 9. Male issue?, GENDER BIAS; 10. Slums, e.g., BAD AREAS; 11. Not quite spherical, OVIFORM; 12. Winged prayer, MANTIS; 13. Theodore BIKEL of “The African Queen”; 14. Computer programming command, ELSE; 21. Rather violent, perhaps, RATED R; 23. Old Pokemon platform, GAMEBOY; 25. Woman in a leather jacket, maybe, BIKER CHICK; 27. Broadway inspector, JAVERT; 29. Dot preceder, FILE NAME; 30. Consumed in copious amounts, BINGED ON; 31. Ignition technician?, ARSONIST; 32. Much-anticipated outings, HOT DATES; 33. Company with a game piece in its log, DOMINOS; 34. 1993 Peace Prize sharer, MANDELA; 35. Orchard menaces, BORERS; 36. Get comfortable, in a way, CURL UP; 37. Acapulco-to-Monterrey direccion, NORTE; 38. Chateau chamber, SALLE; 39. CASH crop; 40. It’s a blast, GALE; 43. 800s, e.g.: Abbr.,CEN.

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“By Dawn’s Early Light” 1912 painting by Edward Moran depicts legendary moment of the morning of September 14th, 1814. Francis Scott Key with his compatriots Colonel John Skinner and Dr. William Beanes spy the American flag waving above Baltimore’s Fort McHenry. This inspired key to write the work the become the American national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner.

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Sunday, July 6, 2014

“Oh, Say…”— Puzzle by Daniel C. Bryant

Edited by Will Shortz

THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER whose first notes are indicated by shaded squares constitutes the main feature of this fine Sunday crossword, e.g., SOL, MI, DO, MI, SOL, DO.

FRANCIS SCOTT KEY (24A. Lawyer who wrote 65-Across)
EIGHTEEN FOURTEEN (30A. Year 24-Across wrote 65-Across)
BRITISH PUB SONG (40A. What the music to 65-Across was, originally)
WHITNEY HOUSTON (88A. Performer who gave a memorable rendition of 65-Across in 1991)
PRISONER EXCHANGE (99a. Mission that 24-Across was on when he wrote 65-Across)
BALTIMORE HARBOR (113A. Where 24-Across was inspired to write 65-Across)
STAFF (8D. Locale for this puzzle’s shaded squares)

Flag that flew over Fort McHenry in 1814, photographed in 1873 in the Boston Navy Yard by George Henry Preble. Today the flag is viewable at the National Museum of American History.

Other — COLD CASH(53D. Money in hand), ESCAROLE (86D. Salad green), FACTOTUM (12A. General servant), HIS OR HER (43D. Their, singularly), NEOPHYTE (4D. Greenhorn), IVY LEAGUE (42D. Penn station?), SATAN (25D. Old Nick), SMEARY (66D. Like mascara in the rain), STRETTI (5D. Overlapping fugue motifs), TATTOOED (121A. Inked), UTERI (18D. Birth places?), YOKOHAMA (93A. Setting of James Clavell's ""Gai Jin").

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Monday, July 7, 2014

Puzzle by Lynn Lempel / Edited by Will Shortz

BEAUTY PARLOR (22D. With 33-Down, where to go for the ends of 16-, 20-, 40-, 56- and 62-Across), along with WASH, CUT, SET, DRY and COMB found in WHITEWASH (16A. Tom Sawyer’s bucketful), PRICE CUT (20A. Lure for bargain hunters), MINDSET (40A. General way of thinking), EXTRA DRY (56A. Like some champagne)and HONEYCOMB (62A. Sweet spot in a hive) constitute the interrelated group of this Monday crossword.

Other — CARHOP (49D. Server at a drive-in restaurant), Actress ELISHA Cuthbert of “24”, GEHRIG (8D. Yankee who was the first major-leaguer to have his number retired), Leon PANETTA who was Obama’s first C.I.A. director, RASCAL (51D. Mischief-maker), RE-DYE (29D. Change back to brunet, say), SWEATER and YARN (54A. Knitter‘s creation; 47A. What a knitter might have a ball with?) TRURO (50A. Beach town that‘s home to Cape Cod‘s oldest lighthouse).

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Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Puzzle by Bruce Venzke and Gail Grabowski

Edited by Will Shortz

BARS(67A. Signs of cell service … or a word than can follow both parts of 18-, 23-, 36-, 52- and 58-Across), clues the main feature of this Tuesday crossword with the following:.

HIGH ENERGY (18A. Like much snack food for hikers)

SIDE SALAD (23A. Small order of greens)

OPEN SPACE (36A. Clearing)

SPORTS NUT (52A. Season ticket holder for baseball, basketball and football, say)

COFFEE ROLL (58A. Glazed dessert)

Other — AIRSHIP(25D. Blimp), ARROZ (15A. Spanish rice), KIKI DEE (3D. Duettist with Elton John on 1976’s “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”), KRUEGER (45D. Freddy of Elm Street), PORTICO (11D. Colonnaded entrance), RENOIRS (2D. Some Impressionist paintings), SENHORA (44D. Lady of Brazil), Hoity-TOITY.

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06.20.14 — The Friday Crossword

The Saturday Crossword

Ten Cents

06.23.14 — Yo-yo

06.24.14 — Covert Operation

06.25.14 — Less is Less

IN BED

Take My Word for It

The Saturday Crossword

EL CID

06.29.14 — Happiness — the Acrostic

Vowel Run

Don't

Sounds LIke ...

Eruption

07.04.14 — Independence

The Saturday Crossword

07.06.14 — The Star-Spangled Banner

07.07.14 — Skin Deep

07.08.14 — BARS