Theme: "Diner Sandwiches" — Theme answers are phrases "sandwiched" by the letters BLT.
[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:- 23A: *Site of illegal jobs? (BANK VAULT).
- 25A: *Hit the roof (BLOW A GASKET).
- 41A: *Not sportsmanlike (BELOW THE BELT).
- 64A: *Unfamiliar subject (BLIND SPOT).
- 87A: *Childbirth (BLESSED EVENT).
- 109A: *Arena for illegal trading (BLACK MARKET).
- 112A: *Easy way to win a game (BY DEFAULT).
- 37D: *Checkup component (BLOOD COUNT).
- 47D: *19-Across brand (BLUE BONNET).
- 112D: Diner order found "sandwiched" around the answers to starred clues (BLT).
Crosswordese 101 Round-Up:- 19A: Spread selection (OLEO).
- 84A: Family tree word (NÉE).
- 92A: Yours, in Ypres (À TOI).
- 102A: Rhein feeder (AARE).
- 117A: "Golden Boy" dramatist (ODETS).
- 8D: Giant slugger (OTT).
- 35D: Bird sacred to Tut (IBIS).
- 48D: Maui neighbor (LANAI).
- 104D: Tammany Hall caricaturist (NAST).
Everything Else — 1A: CBer's acknowledgment (COPY); 5A: Plus (ALSO); 9A: Severe, as criticism (ACERB); 14A: Tests not for srs. (PSATS); 19A: Spread selection (OLEO); 20A: Tug, say (BOAT); 21A: Public commotion (FUROR); 22A: "Peter and the Wolf" bird (SASHA); 27A: Compact summary (SYNOPSIS); 28A: Netflix delivery (VIDEO); 29A: Plate with five sides (HOME); 30A: Irish-themed Vegas casino (O'SHEAS); 32A: Board meeting VIP (SECY.); 33A: Dived neatly (into) (KNIFED); 35A: Copyright pg. item (ISBN); 38A: Stars of old Rome? (ASTRA); 40A: Oz creator (BAUM); 46A: Awful (HORRIBLE); 50A: Newsworthy '90s jurist (ITO); 51A: Alabama rival (AUBURN); 52A: Cruise stops (PORTS); 53A: Murphy's __ (LAW); 54A: Place to find loafers (SHOE STORE); 56A: __ Alps: Eiger locale (BERNESE); 58A: Arles article (UNE); 59A: Spreadsheet entry (DATUM); 60A: Troubled (AILED); 61A: Osso buco meat (VEAL); 62A: Holy, to René (SACRE); 68A: Exxon merger partner (MOBIL); 69A: Cyclo- ending (TRON); 70A: Where to see "The Sopranos" nowadays (A AND E); 71A: Boxer Marciano's birth name (ROCCO); 73A: Country on the Rio de la Plata: Abbr. (URU.); 74A: Castle with a stone (BLARNEY); 77A: Wildly excited (IN A FRENZY); 81A: "Gee!" ("MAN!"); 82A: Spanish poet García __ (LORCA); 83A: Arenas (STADIA); 84A: Family tree word (NÉE); 85A: Present (PUT FORTH); 90A: 500-mile race, briefly (INDY); 91A: Modesto winery name (GALLO); 92A: Yours, in Ypres (À TOI); 93A: Lunchroom staple, for short (PB AND J); 96A: Unbending (FIRM); 97A: Bubbly brand that rhymes with an entrance chime (KORBEL); 102A: Rhein feeder (AARE); 103A: How the confident do crosswords (IN INK); 105A: Ruffian (HOOLIGAN); 113A: Advantage (LEG UP); 114A: "Hollywood Nights" rocker Bob (SEGER); 115A: Wanton look (LEER); 116A: Expos, since 2005 (NATS); 117A: "Golden Boy" dramatist (ODETS); 118A: Irony, e.g. (TROPE); 119A: General __ chicken (TSO'S); 120A: Chicago daily, familiarly (TRIB); 1D: Corn holders (COBS); 2D: Big name in skin care (OLAY); 3D: Philly school (PENN); 4D: "Starpeace" musician (YOKO ONO); 5D: Embarrass (ABASH); 6D: One of Donald Duck's nephews (LOUIE); 7D: Ballroom dance (SALSA); 8D: Giant slugger (OTT); 9D: Mil. jet locale (AFB); 10D: Drain (CULVERT); 11D: Beethoven's Third (EROICA); 12D: Boisterous (ROWDY); 13D: Loch Lomond hill (BRAE); 14D: Free TV spot (PSA); 15D: Sushi bar order (SASHIMI); 16D: Want from (ASK OF); 17D: Central idea (THEME); 18D: Glutted (SATED); 24D: CEO's underlings (VPS); 26D: Amusement park attraction (GO-KARTS); 31D: Sussex sword (SABRE); 32D: Mo. town (STL); 34D: Care for (NURSE); 35D: Bird sacred to Tut (IBIS); 36D: Genesis brother (SETH); 39D: Rep.'s counterpart (SEN.); 40D: Bring to tears? (BORE); 42D: Refuse (WASTE); 43D: "The Nutcracker" garb (TUTU); 44D: Oppenheimer opposed it (H-BOMB); 45D: Alps site: Abbr. (EUR.); 46D: 1953 John Wayne film (HONDO); 48D: Maui neighbor (LANAI); 49D: ''The Girl Can't Help It'' actor Tom (EWELL); 52D: Scrub up, e.g. (PREP); 55D: Net (EARN); 56D: Fussbudget (BIDDY); 57D: Additional (ELSE); 60D: Ill-fated Boleyn (ANNE); 61D: Sotto __: softly (VOCE); 62D: Confound (STUMP); 63D: Pianist Claudio (ARRAU); 65D: Durable wood (LARCH); 66D: Collector's suffix (-IANA); 67D: Sports headline item (TRADE); 68D: Jazz singer Carmen (MCRAE); 72D: "The Wizard __" (OF ID); 74D: Like Dennis the Menace (BLOND); 75D: Conrad novel (LORD JIM); 76D: Chichi (ARTY); 77D: "Everything is fine" (IT'S OK); 78D: __ in November (N AS); 79D: Greek philosopher known for a paradox (ZENO); 80D: Himalayan legend (YETI); 83D: Sprinkling on French fries? (SEL); 86D: Sliced in thin strips (FINE-CUT); 87D: Beer server (BARKEEP); 88D: Advanced legal deg. (LLM); 89D: Foster's prince (VALIANT); 91D: __ biloba: claimed memory-enhancing extract (GINKGO); 93D: Artist Picasso (PABLO); 94D: In bundles (BALED); 95D: Very angry, after "in" (A RAGE); 96D: One with an ax? (FIRER); 98D: "For sure!" ("OH YES!"); 99D: Where the big bucks are? (RODEO); 100D: Afrikaans speakers (BOERS); 101D: One of Santa's team (ELF); 104D: Tammany Hall caricaturist (NAST); 106D: Gum-producing plant (GUAR); 107D: Height: Pref. (ALTI-); 108D: U.S. accident investigator (NTSB); 110D: G.I. mess crews (KPS); 111D: Amount past due? (TRE).
13 comments:
For a Sunday this was a pretty easy puzzle. No ACERB criticism here. I liked the complex words as well as the theme. Any theme that mentions Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato sandwichs can't be all bad. Yum!
Oh yeah, and then there's P B AND J ALSO.
Good words like CULVERT, SACRE, HONDO, LORD JIM, BERNESE, BLARNEY, KORBEL, and HOOLIGAN... uncommon CW words but quite doable from the excellent cluing. I now have another favorite constructor... thank you, Sabrina Walden (I love both those names). I always forget the Wizard OFID and put in OFOZ... this is a common CW snare.
You'll never catch me doing a crossword ININK!
On to my breakfast... prunes, yogurt, and melba toast!
See ya' later!
@JNH, Sabrina Walden is another of Rich Norris's pseudonyms. It's an anagram of "Brand new alias"
Ah, I thought that was Rich Norris, but wasn't sure.
This puzzle did not STUMP me in any way… never had to use Google, and that’s unusual for me on the Sunday TRIB crosswords.
I loved all the references to “Diner Sandwiches”. Whenever I take my Route 66 journeys, I always seek out those cute little “Ma & Pa” diners. The food is scrumptious and I always leave them SATED. Here’s a photo of me working at the famous BAGDAD CAFÉ
PABLO Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso, was his real name… whew! But then why wouldn’t we expect an ARTY name from someone who does this to us Chicagoans?---
CHICAGO PICASSO SCULPTURE
L. Frank BAUM did not write the Wizard OF ID, but he did write my favorite childhood stories, the OZ books. I still have two of the original 1899 publications of his. They were marvelously illustrated by W. W. Denslow.
Of course, I loved seeing GINKGO in this puzzle since it’s unusual fan-shaped leaf is the logo of THE MORTON ARBORETUM (where I work).
I’m a huge fan of Beethoven and just love hearing his 3rd Symphony, known as the EROICA.
Also, I used to love hearing Claudio ARRAU (León) play one of the most beautiful of all piano pieces, Beethoven’s Sonata 14 in C# 'The Moonlight Sonata'.
This is a very nice video clip to play on a relaxing Sunday morning… hope y’all enjoy it.
Before the Dawn by Federico Garcia Lorca---
But like love
the archers
are blind
Upon the green night,
the piercing saetas
leave traces of warm
lily.
The keel of the moon
breaks through purple clouds
and their quivers
fill with dew.
Ay, but like love
the archers
are blind!
Have a lovely week, y’all!
John
I'm not surprised to see only two people having posted by noon CST. This is probably the easiest Sunday LAT I've ever done, and there's not an answer, clue, or crossing I can find fault with.
Only solving note of note was "hmmm, starting to think Yetis must exist, judging by frequency of CW mention lately". At such time as I might be a constructor, I might be able to critique the technical elements of the puzzle, but it looks immaculate to me. Just not very interesting except as solving practice.'
From the perspective of a solver, I've gotta file this theme under "Why Even Bother?", as what was sandwiched lacked a clever connection to the theme device. No offense intended, SW/RN.
@Al, thanks for the info re the constructor.
Solid!
@JNH
First off, I always do the puzzles IN INK.
Slows me down a bit since I tend to look at the crosses. And on Saturday I enjoy the rorschach ink-blot test effect.
As many times as we see it, I always need the crosses to get Beethoveen's Third, EROICA.
I probably need more GINKGO bilobe. Somehow I just have a mental block in remembering it.
Smiled when I got ARRAU, figuring that was another slam-dunk for you.
Thanks for the Bagdad photo embed. I spent about a half hour going through the Rte.66 photos.
Please embed more clips of your trips (OK, a bad rhyme) with lets says about 100 photos at a time. It would be easier to then, over a period of time, digest them.
@Lit.doc
Its not always about complaining when we comment here. Sunday seems to be fairly easy with relatively few bumps in the road. My inner HOOLIGAN will have to wait 'til Monday.
OK, LORCA & LARCH w/ARRUA were learning moments. Always a puzzle plus!
I had the BLT THEME so fast I had to stop and make one for breakfast. Maybe a PB AND J later. 57yo and I still like them as if I was a kid.
Nice to see YOKO ONO clued as the complete name for a change.
Fave clue, what ELSE, BARKEEP.
Hmmmm, what could they get me? Some GALLO wine? Maybe some KORBEL?
Naaah, the most difficult drink in the world to concoct.
Scotch in a snifter, neat.
Yes, this puzzle was rather easy...but since when does NetFlix deliver "Video", I'm pretty sure they switched to DVDs only by now.
Boo to the puzzle for that clue alone....
I agree with Jerald about the video.
VCR's have just about been wiped out.
I also didn't like "else" for "additional". I'd equate else with
another choice.
I did not find these as easy as other the other commentators. I have many blind spots and this CW exposed many of them.
netflix has always been DVD-only, but (and this is not exactly earth-shattering) a DVD is a video.
and "else" has more meanings than you think. one of them is, more or less, "additional." you could look it up.
This puzzle wasn't so easy for me, either. I had to come to this site to get some of the answers.
I know it's late, but I've had a busy day... just got to the LAT puzz. THeme was OK, but a little lame. Still, enjoed the puzz. Was getting tired and decided to Google for Bob SEGER to get New Mexico. Still could not get the "E" cross of TROPE/TRE. What are these, anyone?
What else? Never heard of BERNESE before. Apparently they're a dog breed also. Will add GUAR to the xwrd KB.
Nice Pseudonym Rich, I never would have guessed.
@JNH, you're a true yeoman.
@PG, Tx. I realize your write-up for the syndiacted vsn. was minimal, but we do appreciate your work.
Got stuck on NAST TROPE cross. Didn't know NAST, tried several letters for the T.
Otherwise very enjoyable and doable while watching FA Cup soccer.
Technically, Netflix delivers VIDEO and AUDIO, but I won't shave hairs.
Even though Movies etc. come on DVD, that V stands for versatile, not video. Netflix also delivers Video (and audio) via streaming. And let's not for get the laser disc ...
Looked up TROPE and NAST, learned a lot.
Knew Nast cartoons by sight, not by name, obviously
Post a Comment