Theme: "What's Yours?" — Theme answers are bar drinks that include words evoking certain occupations. (Wouldn't "What'll You Have?" be a better title?)
[Note: This is the syndicated L.A. Times puzzle. It does not appear in the actual newspaper, but is available for free at cruciverb.com.]
Theme answers:
- 25A: The barber ordered a __ (VODKA TONIC).
- 27A: The heating contractor ordered a __ (BOILERMAKER).
- 40A: The farmer ordered a __ (PLANTER'S PUNCH).
- 60A: The popcorn producer ordered a __ (HOT BUTTERED RUM).
- 84A: The orthopedist ordered a __ (SINGAPORE SLING).
- 102A: The high roller ordered a __ (SEVEN AND SEVEN).
- 119A: The handyman ordered a __ (SCREWDRIVER).
- 123A: The citrus grower ordered a __ (FUZZY NAVEL).
Who can complain about a puzzle full of alcohol? I found it kind of funny that I've only ever had two of the theme drinks. And I used to drink a Lot. I guess I was more of a cheapest-beer-you-can-find kinda gal. (Which, by the way, was Mickey's Big Mouth Barrels. $2.52 for a six-pack back in the day.) Good times. I also spent a few minutes trying to come up with other clue/answer pairs that would work for this theme. I guess "The suicide bomber ordered a KAMIKAZE" would be completely inappropriate.
Highlights:
- 22A: It surrounds Cittè del Vaticano (ROMA). The use of the foreign spelling in the clue should have tipped you off to the foreign spelling in the answer. See also 31A: Divisions politiques (ETATS).
- 24A: "Don't have __, man!" (A COW). See also 113D: Throw __: lose it (A FIT).
- 37A: Band for a tea ceremony? (OBI). Is a tea ceremony a thing? I'm too lazy to look it up.
- 50A: Band tour toter (ROADIE). I kept reading this as "Band tour touter." I'm all "The roadies don't tout the tour, they just ... carry everything."
- 83A: "Tuesdays with Morrie" author (ALBOM). Read a Mitch Albom book a couple years ago for a book club. The best thing I can say about it is that it wasn't as terrible as I thought it was going to be.
- 88A: Strips for breakfast (BACON). Cute clue! I admit, the first thing that came to my mind was 95A: Obscene (FILTHY).
- 1D: Bed that's hard to climb out of (CRIB). Until, ya know, it becomes easy to climb out of.
- 18D: British raincoats (MACS). Also some popular computers you may have heard of.
- 41D: Fragrance by Dana (TABU). How did I know this with no crosses?!?
- 44D: Laundry conveyor (CHUTE). I have some friends who once found their four-year-old stuck in the laundry chute. The mom was completely freaking out and the dad was all, "Wait! Let me get the camera!"
- 69D: "Good Morning Starshine" musical (HAIR). I went looking for a clip for this, but remembered (quite quickly) that this is a really annoying song. Instead, I'll leave you with this ....
- 94D: Bubbly beverage (SELTZER).
Crosswordese 101 Roundup:
- 10A: Crosswind direction, at sea (ABEAM).
- 33A: Title apiarist in a 1997 film (ULEE).
- 54A: Treaty gp. since 1948 (OAS).
- 71A: Some hi-fis (RCAS).
- 132A: Winter Palace resident (TSAR).
- 2D: Winery prefix (OENO-).
- 16D: O'Neill's daughter (OONA).
- 34D: Brian of Roxy Music (ENO).
- 42D: Cheese burg (EDAM).
- 81D: Without a letup (ON END).
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Everything Else — 1A: Ride without pedaling (COAST); 6A: Bounce in a cave (ECHO); 10A: Crosswind direction, at sea (ABEAM); 15A: Frost lines? (POEM); 19A: Words before car or wreck (RENT A); 20A: American-born Jordanian queen (NOOR); 21A: Sculptor's subject (TORSO); 23A: Chip producer (INTEL); 30A: Whistling zebra? (REF); 32A: Maker of durable watches (CASIO); 35A: "I'm treating" ("ON ME"); 39A: Hoop site (EAR); 46A: Sailor's sheet (ROPE); 48A: It helped Dr. Leary take some trips (LSD); 51A: Lower Manhattan district (SOHO); 52A: Monorail transports (TRAMS); 54A: Treaty gp. since 1948 (OAS); 57A: Sheetful of cookies (BATCH); 59A: Wine cask (TUN); 65A: Emulate Demosthenes (ORATE); 67A: 43,560 square feet (ONE ACRE); 68A: Early Yucatec (MAYA); 69A: Spirals (HELIXES); 72A: Hit, biblically (SMITE); 74A: "You're dreaming!" ("AS IF!"); 75A: Emotional problems (HANGUPS); 78A: Sinusitis specialists, briefly (ENTS); 79A: Baffin Bay floater (ICE FLOE); 87A: Driver's ID (LIC.); 91A: Naples-to-Venice dir. (NNW); 92A: Native shelter (TEPEE); 93A: Tiny farm dwellers (ANTS); 98A: Burning (LIT); 101A: Govt.-issued IDs (SSNS); 106A: __ cit.: in the place sited (LOC.); 108A: August hrs. in Augusta (EDT); 109A: Passed-on stories (LORE); 110A: TV ally of Hercules (XENA); 111A: Matt of "Today" (LAUER); 113A: Drives the getaway car, say (ABETS); 116A: Rip off (ROB); 126A: Years, to Caesar (ANNI); 127A: Cherbourg ciao (ADIEU); 128A: Regarding, in memos (IN RE); 129A: Whirlpool subsidiary (AMANA); 130A: Demeanor (MIEN); 131A: Scout's mission, briefly (RECON); 133A: Emerson's middle name (WALDO); 134A: Bunkhouse bud (PARD); 135A: Put up (ERECT); 3D: Look forward to (ANTICIPATE); 4D: Inscribed pillar (STELA); 5D: "Honor Thy Father" author Gay (TALESE); 6D: Inflames with passion (ENAMORS); 7D: Andean stimulant (COCA); 8D: Connection (HOOKUP); 9D: Creator of the pigs Old Major and Napoleon (ORWELL); 10D: Off-rd. transport (ATV); 11D: Philistine (BOOR); 12D: Earth, to Kepler (ERDE); 13D: Invite trouble (ASK FOR IT); 14D: Extinct kiwi cousin (MOA); 15D: Mythological shape-shifter (PROTEUS); 17D: Radiate (EMIT); 26D: Help for a while (TEMP); 28D: Omani money (RIAL); 29D: Keister (REAR); 36D: Fraction of a min. (NSEC); 37D: Gardener's brand (ORTHO); 38D: Element used in glass production (BORON); 43D: Benefit at a swap meet (NO TAX); 45D: Perfects (HONES); 47D: No-trade policy (EMBARGO); 49D: Faline in "Bambi," e.g. (DOE); 53D: Yield (SUCCUMB); 55D: Prepares for battle (ARMS); 56D: Gobs (SEAMEN); 58D: Most saintly (HOLIEST); 61D: Use a ruse on (TRAP); 62D: Hardy heroine (TESS); 63D: Fizzling out (DYING); 64D: Caning need (RATTAN); 66D: Mixes, as cards (RIFFLES); 70D: Suffix with opal (ESCE); 73D: "Wednesday Night Baseball" airer (ESPN); 75D: "Papa Bear" of football (HALAS); 76D: Flared dress (A-LINE); 77D: "SNL" network (NBC TV); 80D: Words without deeds (LIP SERVICE); 82D: Spew out (EGEST); 84D: Last word at Sotheby's? (SOLD); 85D: QB's errors (INTS); 86D: "The House at Pooh Corner" bird (OWL); 89D: Distant (AFAR); 90D: Movie technique using three projectors (CINERAMA); 96D: Evil eye (HEX); 97D: First name in design (YVES); 99D: It "blows no good" (ILL WIND); 100D: Fly catcher (TOAD); 103D: Too interested (NOSY); 104D: Set up tents (ENCAMP); 105D: Lewis land by the River Shribble (NARNIA); 107D: Arrow poison (CURARE); 112D: Where to get down (EIDER); 114D: Spots for burgers (BUNS); 115D: Pound of verse (EZRA); 117D: Place for a race (OVAL); 118D: Compromise (BEND); 120D: Nuke-testing dept. (ENER.); 121D: Fed. anti-discrimination org. (EEOC); 122D: Pipsqueak (RUNT); 124D: Dogpatch denial (NAW); 125D: Thai language (LAO).
20 comments:
What does Vodka Tonic have to do with barbers? All the others made sense to me so I must be missing something.
Dick
@Anon 7:26: I'm thinking the relation must have to do with hair tonics. It seems tenuous at best.
I found this a pretty enjoyable Sunday jaunt, far more fun than the rather dull NYT entry today. Where is IMSDave today? I'm guessing he loved this puzzle.
Great puzzle for a hungover Sunday morning...
Ahh, Mickey's Big Mouth. Brings back memories. Enjoyed this puzzle. Got the theme quickly with 27A and the rest was pretty smooth sailing. Only hangup was with 83A. Never heard of Mitch Albom.
Mitch Albom started as a sportswriter for the Detroit Free Press. He wrote Tuesdays with Morrie (never read) which became a best-seller back maybe 15 years ago, then wrote Seven People You Meet in Heaven (which I read and was pretty good I thought). He's since wrote a few other books that are of the heartwarming/inspirational type, but rooted in true stories AFAIK.
Good puzzle I thought (maybe just 'cause I could complete it). I liked the theme...I didn't notice too many cheap fills and there was a lot of clever cluing.
A barber may use hair tonic.
I enjoyed this puzzle until I got to the "Naples to Venice dir." clue. Spoiled the rest of it for me.
Got stuck in NW section, so worked from the bottom up. Cute theme and some good longer words.
Loved 30A Whistling zebra REF.
Good Sunday puzzle.
A super themed puzzle with really great crosses. James Sajdak gets an A+ from me. And as we used to say in Indian Guides... "a big how-how" for the LAT.
I knew I had CASIO correct, but then that made (4d) STELA... and I always thought an inscribed pillar was a STELE. Well, I found out that both are correct.
Also I thought the plural of HELIX is HELICES and not HELIXES. Again, I found out that both are correct.
Oh my, I'm learning a lot, and that's good... I love tough puzzles. Three new words for me: ALBOM (83a), NOOR (20a), and "Faline" (49d).
One of my most favorite author is George ORWELL... Loved "Animal Farm" and "1984". My thesis in college was based on precepts in "1984".
Another of my favorite authors is C. S. Lewis... loved the "Chronicles of NARNIA", but most of all the book "Mere Christianity" (which totally turned my life around).
I don't imbibe, so these names of drinks were a little more thought-provoking for me, but I did get all the theme words correct. And, I thought the crossing of SELTZER (94d) with SEVEN AND SEVEN (102a) was pretty darn cute.
Speaking of cute, these clues were very cute:
"Frost lines" = POEM
"Don't have a COW, man!"
"Band for a tea ceremony" = OBI
"Hoop site" = EAR
"Bed that's hard to climb out of" = CRIB
"Keister" = REAR
"Gobs" = SEAMEN
"Where to get down" = EIDER
"Spots for burgers" = BUNS
Wow! What a terrific puzzle!
One of my favorite words is "Philistine", because it describes so well several of my goofy friends.
How many of you remember CINERAMA?
For those of you who don't know what it is: CINERAMA
@tinbeni
All good sailors refer to the ropes and lines as sheets, they are used to control the sails.
~ from Marlinspike 101.
SEAMANSHIP
I really didn't care for Tuesdays with Morrey, but learned to keep that opinion to myself. Probably Oprah liked it (any book that Oprah likes I immediately put on my special 'avoid at all costs' list).
I think this was a decent but not inspiring puzzle. Cluing was awkard, maybe necessarily, but what's wrong with, say 'pipe-fitter' instead of 'heating contractor'? "Citrus Grower" and "Popcorn Producer" (WTF is that?). Popcorn Vendor/Seller/Maker?
And I think the "Jai Alai" player should have ordered the SINGAPORE SLING. Just sayin ....
What about...
The hooker oredered a ....
screaming orgasm?
Obi is the belt worn with a kimono
GREAT FUN! As I sip my Bloody Mary, all kinds of clues come to mind.....
A fuzzy navel?? Ugh.
It's funny that lit is in the puzzle, which was a very nice Sunday one. I know of some of these drinks, but generally stick to my glass of red wine.
I think this week has been very decent for the LAT: I'm sticking with it!
Chiming in late tonight...
Clever puzzle theme today and 'though I'm not much of a hard liquor drinker, I didn't have trouble with the theme answers except for PLANTERS PUNCH. The rest I got after just a few letters in place.
I misread the clue Bunkhouse bud as Bunkhouse bed and thought to myself wouldn't that be....BUNK? D'oh. Like @Carol, I thought whistling zebra? for REF was funny. Also chortled at LIP SERVICE (words without deeds) and NO TAX (benefit at a swap meet.)
Thank you, PuzzleGirl, for the great write-up and funny laundry chute story.
This puzzle was the hardest LAT crossword I've done in months because I don't drink. I've never even heard of any of the cocktails other than screwdriver. Still, I guess that's what crosses are for. I managed to finish all but the top few rows. I knew CASIO made calculators but I had no idea they also made money by selling watches on the side. Work used as a verb threw me off on the TEMP clue, and I kept thinking of the Frost lines answer as ending in s, so I couldn't finish the NE corner. Alas, you can't get everything right. Otherwise, good fill, some really clever clues, and a definite step up in difficulty.
A toast to Mr. Sajdak, Rich, and our wonderful bloggers!
nice puzzle. harvey wallbanger would have been cool.
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