Saturday, July 16. 2022, Malaika Handa

Saturday Themeless by Malaika Handa

The string of new Saturday constructors marches on with this puzzle from Malaika Handa of Brooklyn, NY. Below is a link to a playful but instructive interview with Malaika that includes this wonderful quote from her: 

Also, when you’re solving, look up entries that you don’t know! It’s a game, not a test.

That's tough advice for us completion freaks but I think it is pretty sound advice. I always say of myself, "I'm smart enough to know how little I know." Exhibit A: I got the correct fill for "Kells artisan" but had no idea what it meant and my research on this fabulous volume led to an incredible amount of learning.

Interview with Malaika Handa

Did you have to get some help to complete Malaika's offering?

Across:

1. Devices that may shed some light on a situation: DESK LAMPS.

10. "4X2=8" rapper from Korea: PSY.  I knew of this name from his massive hit "Gangman Style" - I've posted the opening lyrics on the right.

13. Got credit, in a way?: OPENED A TAB.

15. Consumed: ATE.

16. Simple cocktail: GIN AND TONIC - Not as simple as you might think

18. Agcy. whose logo is an eagle holding a scale: IRS - A return address that can get your attention

19. Freelancer's info: SPECS - As a freelancer, you work on speculation 

20. Event that might be called "morp": GAY PROM - A "morp" is a prom students organize without school approval. The small school where I sub welcomes gay prom dates!

22. Two dry gallons: PECK.

23. "__ Mañanitas": Mexican birthday song: LAS - From our friend Lucina: "Literally it means the mornings and is usually sung at dawn and I assure you it is hugely popular for birthdays" Here it is with lyrics overlaid in Spanish.

26. Artisan at Kells: SCRIBE - This fabulous book was written and illustrated by three SCRIBES in Kells, Co Meath in Ireland around 800 A.D. The fascinating history of this treasure.

On display in a high security case
at Trinity College in Dublin

27. De Armas of "No Time to Die": ANA - On July 7, we had 42. Wonkette founding editor __ Marie Cox: ANA and Jeffrey Wechsler's July 8 puzzle had 1. Political commentator Navarro: ANA.

28. Semisolid dessert: JELLO.

30. Flax fabric: LINEN.

31. Fast tracks?: PUMP UP SONGS - Our high school Tigers' band used Eye Of The Tiger

33. Element of 1990s fashion: HAMMER PANTS - M.C. Hammer

34. Sticks in windows: BARBER POLES.

35. Stand in a painting class: EASEL.

36. Tries out: TESTS.

37. Handheld or holding hands, for short: PDA - You can see a Public Display of Affection in every school hallway

40. Performs brilliantly: SHINES.

42. __ Moines: DES.

43. Did some digging: HOED.

44. Many a Mugler garment: CATSUIT - "Frenchman Manfred Thierry Mugler launched his eponymous fashion house; and quickly rose to prominence in the following decades for his avant-garde, architectural, hyperfeminine and theatrical approach to haute couture." You're welcome.

46. In the stars: FATED.

47. Reddit Q&A: AMA - Ask Me Anything 

48. Celebration where many are out on the streets?: PRIDE PARADE - Fun cluing for people are "out" in another connotation 

52. Bestie: PAL.

53. Cry of horrible realization?: I'M A MONSTER.

54. Class for some immigrants: Abbr.: ESL.

55. Cool footwear: SNOWSHOES.

Down:

1. Place for some nail trims: DOG SPA.

2. Camp nurse's item: EPIPEN - I tried IPECAC for awhile 

3. Great Hill People: SENECA.

                                 

                            

4. Flair: KNACK.

5. __ flare: LENS - The first images back from NASA's James Webb telescope this week has them emanating from 13+ billion years ago.

 

6. Tally: ADD.

7. Pilates roll: MAT - I assume they roll them up after use

8. Employee's perk: Abbr.: PTO - Paid Time Off. I retired with 110 unused sick leave and personal leave days

9. Provided backup, in a way: SANG - CHERilyne Sarkasian on the right without Sonny Bono, in a rare photo with Phil Spector, SANG backup for The Ronettes 

10. Twosomes: PAIRINGS - Salvatore Sonny Bono and Cherilyne Sarkasian

11. Flashers in a club: STROBES.

12. Sycophants: YES MEN.

14. __-variance tradeoff: BIAS - Knock yourself out!

17. Brooklyn MiLB team: CYCLONES - Named for the famous CYCLONE roller coaster on nearby Coney Island in Malaika's home borough of Brooklyn.

21. Stripes, florals, etc.: PRINTS.

23. "I got this!": LEMME.

24. Herb honored with a National Medal of Arts in 2013: ALPERT - and the Tijuana Brass. Herb supplied music for this show. Prepare yourself for a trip down memory lane with these early contestants.

25. Sucked hard: SLURPED.

28. Cancel one's order?: JUMBLE UP.

29. Go against: OPPOSE.

31. Paired symbols, for short: PARENS - Saturday cluing could also be 31. A play by Alexander Danner

32. Seasons, as pasta water: SALTS.

33. Wants for nothing: HAS IT ALL.

34. Nation in the Lucayan Archipelago: BAHAMAS.

35. __ room: ESCAPE - Click here and scroll down one screen to see how they work

Here's one in Omaha

37. Latke ingredient: POTATO - I've never had one but I'd love to try one.

38. "Dexter's Laboratory" older sister: DEE DEE - Seemed right

39. One of three snake species native to Britain: ADDERS - Had to be

41. Assistant who can control HomeKit accessories: SIRI.

43. Cruel: HARSH.

45. Sturdy tan work boots, slangily: TIMS - Short for TIMberlandS

46. Album buyers, presumably: FANS.

49. Auerbach of the Black Keys: DAN - Saturday cluing of a common name. Were you expecting Blocker of Bonanza, Rowan of Laugh-In or Aykroyd of SNL? 😉

50. Prefix with "pop" or "rock": EMO.

51. Hard-hitting sound: POW.

Malaika, we invite you to comment below.

Saturday, May 14, 2022, Beth Rubin

Saturday Themeless by Beth Rubin 

Last December I blogged a Saturday themeless that Beth constructed with Brad Wilber. Today our librarian from Los Angeles has her first solo entry. Here are her comments on this puzzle: 

 

Hi Gary, 

Of course I remember you! So glad to hear that you liked the puzzle. I rewrote/updated what I had written last time with additional comments about the puzzle. See below: 

 

Thanks for inviting me back to the L.A. Times Crossword Corner! Originally from New York, I am a librarian, crossword constructor, writer, and artist living in Los Angeles. My puzzles have been published by the New York Times, L.A. Times, Universal, Crosswords Club, Spyscape, and Daily POP Crosswords. 

 

I was fortunate to connect to Erik Agard and the Crossword Puzzle Collaboration Directory just a few weeks into learning how to construct a puzzle. The guidance and mentorship have been stellar. The crossword community’s generosity, humor, and creativity continue to inspire me. 

 

I’m a big fan of V Spehar’s TikTok UNDER THE DESK NEWS segment and built a 16x15 themeless puzzle around this seed entry. During their Thursday Night Good News Only Update, V wears a banana-printed shirt. I was happy to include the entry BANANA SEAT as a nod to good news. This puzzle also has a nod to my dad, who taught me my first CHESS OPENING moves, and my wife, who thank goodness, did not find me UNDATEABLE! 

 

A special thanks to Patti Varol for her superb editing, encouragement and support. 

 

Hope that you enjoy the puzzle! 

Beth

Across:

1. Improve one's class?: SKIP A GRADE.

11. Quick: RAPID.

16. Alcopop kin: WINE COOLER.

17. Bring out: EDUCE - The clue did bring out EVOKE first

18. Single, but way too flawed: UNDATEABLE - Also a TV series it seems

19. Giant: TITAN.

20. Polish site: NAIL - Not Warsaw

21. "Git!": SCAT.

22. Nucleotide triplet: CODON - All you'd like to know

23. Test for some srs.: GRE.

24. Cena of "Peacemaker": JOHN.

25. Mariah Carey holiday hit: OH SANTA - Listen if you like

27. Resort town named for a native tree: ASPEN.

29. Mixed __: BLESSING - Living to a ripe old age can be a mixed BLESSING

30. Full of nervous energy: RESTLESS.

33. "The Rotters' Club" novelist Jonathan: COE - "Three teenage friends grow up in 1970s Britain watching their lives change as their world gets involved with IRA bombs, progressive and punk rock, girls and political strikes."

34. Current events TikTok segment that V Spehar broadcasts from their office floor: UNDER THE DESK NEWS.

39. Milne hopper: ROO - One of our cwd visitors from the 100 Acre Wood

40. Famished: RAVENOUS - Check out 44 Across!

41. Holiness: SANCTITY.

44. Étouffée option: PRAWN.

47. Arctic wear: ANORAKS.

48. 1856 Stowe novel: DRED - This was her second anti-slavery book whose title by coincidence presaged the DRED Scott decision of the next year.

50. Umbrella spoke: RIB.

52. Word in British placenames: SHIRE - Yes, John Wheeley Lea and William Henry Perrins created what became known as WorcesterSHIRE (WUUS-tər-shər) sauce in WorcesteSHIRE, England in the early 18th century. It's said to be a good example of umami flavor.

53. Natural satellite: MOON.

54. "Have it your way": FINE.

55. Dong-hyuk who created "Squid Game": HWANG - Gee, I'd like to know more about this

56. "Can I have a bit more time?": TEN MINUTES?

58. Make one: MERGE - Make one lane

59. Wheelie bike feature: BANANA SEAT.

60. Mascot whose weight is listed as "Top Heavy": MR. MET 

61. Challenges for a translator, perhaps: SLANG TERMS - 24 more

Down:

1. Chased a pitch: SWUNG.

2. Kwanzaa candelabra: KINARA.

3. West __: INDIES.

4. Toll: PEAL - After his historic ride, Paul Revere made many bells that tolled/PEALED throughout New England

5. Do one's part?: ACT - Nice cluing for either meaning

6. Walks out, say: GOES ON STRIKE - My neighbor played for the Dallas Cowboys after the NFL went on strike in 1987.

7. Laurel and Hardy producer: ROACH - Hal made big money on this fabulous team but paid them very little

8. First British martyr: ALBAN - When Rome ruled Britain

9. Scapula neighbor, for short: DELT - Ella Dershowitz had DELTS and 22. Queen's gambit, for one: CHESS OPENING in last Saturday's puzzle

10. Long start, once: ERE - A famous George M. Cohan lyric, "Give my regards to Old Broadway
And say that I'll be there, 'ERE long!" and 28. Tense beginning?: PRE - PRETENSE

11. Throw again: RETOSS - There should have been one here

12. Brand whose website has a "3 Stripe Life" section: ADIDAS - Yup!

13. Table: PUT ON ICE and 14. "Maybe later": I CAN'T NOW 

15. Cozy spot: DEN.

24. Raspberry: JEER.

25. Elizabeth who plays Scarlet Witch in the MCU: OLSEN - No chance for me to get this Marvel Comic Universe character

26. Improves, maybe: AGES - I'm seem to be doing a lot more AGING than improving

29. Eliot title hero: BEDE - The four English teachers I asked about this clue during lunch gave me a collective shrug about this Mary Ann Evans novel written under her pseudonym.

31. "__ how I roll": THAT'S - Blog Saturday puzzles? THAT'S how I roll!

32. Tax: LEVY.

34. Bear up?: URSA.

35. "It went straight to voice mail": NO ANSWER.

36. 2014 memoir subtitled "Stories of Life, Death, and Brain Surgery": DO NO HARM - Another interesting looking book our librarian/constructor has for us today

37. Western Asia native: KURD -  My first west Asian native for _ U R _ was a TURK not a KURD

38. Govt. cybersecurity monitor: NSA.

42. [I'm so uncomfortable right now]: CRINGE.

43. Retailer with a RedCard credit card: TARGET - Headquartered in C.C.'s Minneapolis

45. Bell hooks, for one: WRITER - Why Gloria Jean Watkins changed her name to uncapitalized bell hooks

46. Time slot with talk shows: NINE A.M.

48. Part of DKNY: DONNA - DONNA Karan of New York

49. "Succession" sibling: ROMAN - A character in this series

51. Tops: BESTS - These two girls should score 70 points by themselves to TOP/BEAT much bigger schools for a state championship at the state track meet next week.

53. Happy __: MEAL.

54. Make one: FUSE - This shows glass FUSE art before and after being put in a kiln

55. "Let me think ... ": HMM.

56. "Full Frontal" network: TBS - If you're interested

57. D.C. player: NAT - The Washington NATionalS were 2019 World Series Championships