Theme: None
Words: 70 (missing J,Q)
Blocks: 32
The fourth LA Times Ed Sessa Saturday puzzle this year, and I feel like I am starting to get on his cluing
wavelength. That's not to say I was completely successful today - I had
to cave in to red-letters for one answer, but I was 'this' close.
Slowed down by proper names, misdirected on a few of my initial fills,
but I call this one a win. So there. Triple 9-letter Across corners,
and pairs of 9- and 11-letter climbers;
9d. Sandford opponent in a landmark 19th-century case : DRED SCOTT - I learned about this case in grade school, but the Sandford part I don't recall; took some crossings (perps)
11d. Feature of Civil War General Ambrose Burnside : MUTTONCHOPS - and hence the term "Sideburns", which I have been sporting since I was in my 20s - but not this bushy
11d. Feature of Civil War General Ambrose Burnside : MUTTONCHOPS - and hence the term "Sideburns", which I have been sporting since I was in my 20s - but not this bushy
22d. Explosion surrounding a star? : MEDIA FRENZY - not fooled by the "?", I figured it had to do with paparazzi, cameras, "FLASH", but it was my one correction; I had FLURRY at first
30d. Ordinary people : COMMONERS
ACROSS:
1. Time keeper? : NEWSSTAND - I was hip to this "?" as well, figured it was magazine related, but had to wait on some crossings first
10. Decorative Japanese porcelain : IMARI
15. Foggy : IN A STUPOR - I pondered "IN A ---", but waited on crossings
16. Warms with waves : NUKES - the 'affectionate' term for using a microwave oven
17. Shelled omnivore : BOX TURTLE - again, I pondered "TURTLE", but didn't know if it would start or end the clue
18. Guitar band : STRAP - here, too I gathered this was not an actual "group", but a part of the instrument; however, "strap" did not jump right out at me, and FRET was too short.
Hey, check this guitar out
19. Artful : SLY
20. Not a good sense : DREAD
21. Features of some 'Vettes : T-TOPS
22. Johnny Vander __, only pitcher to throw back-to-back no-hitters : MEER - I'm sure C.C. knew this one; didn't someone come really close this season, too~?
23. They stir things up : SPOONS - dah~! I had WHISKS
25. Out of one's class : ABSENT - ah, clever misdirection; I was thinking "AT SEA" - that is, being a "30d." among the elite
28. Nut in a cupule : ACORN - didn't know what a cupule was
29. High-end chocolatier : LINDT - ah, so close; I tried "S" and "Z" before the "D"
30. It may lead to an argument : CLOSE CALL - in sporting events, frequently, and baseball more than most, I think
34. Et __ : ALII - typed in "ALI-" and waited....
35. Tusk, in fact : TOOTH - dah~!! Not IVORY
36. Colors : HUES - these are "HUES", too
37. Allow it to go no further : SET A LIMIT
39. Informal qualifier : SORTA
40. Trailers often precede them : FILMS - got it
41. Meal : REPAST
42. Home to Mount Kinabalu : BORNEO - mostly perps
44. Guns : REVS - it was either this or "GATS", and I was right with my first guess
45. Downed, in a way : HEWED - HUE/HEW
46. Sound : NOISE - ah, not the SANE variety of 'sound'
48. Ending with humor : OUS - humorous
51. One-named musician whose last name is Chryssomallis : YANNI - learning moment, tho I am familiar with the artist who ends up as the butt of some jokes - his Wiki
52. Lasting ability : ENDURANCE
54. Mideast unitarians : DRUZE - all perps
55. Elaborate procedure : RIGMAROLE - 'round here it comes with a second "A" - rigAmarole
56. Best Moment and Best Upset : ESPYs - sounded like awards for sporting events, but it was not working with my "SITH" at 45d.
57. Mental comparison : STEEL TRAP - "he has a mind like a steel trap"
DOWN:
1. Ink dispensers : NIBS - dah~!!! not PENS
2. Hydroxyl compound : ENOL
3. Like fake fruit : WAXY - good first round guess on my part
4. Boomer until 2003 : SST - supersonic airplanes
5. Word after A, B or C : STUDENT - what~? you can't be a "D" student, too~?
6. Castle projection : TURRET - I wanted RAMPART, but it didn't fit; BAILEY did, but it's not really a projection
7. More suitable : APTER
8. Emeril's French Quarter restaurant : NOLA - well, it's in New Orleans, LA, so....
10. Imminent : IN STORE
12. Rubber home : AKRON
13. Gets as a return : REAPS
14. Web connectors, for short : ISPs
24. Like penthouse suites : POSH
25. Troubled word : ALAS
26. Ill humor : BILE
27. Sulky state : SNIT
28. Dr. Alzheimer : ALOIS - perps
31. Pervasive quality : AURA
32. "__ see ... " : "LET'S"
33. Test with arguments, for short : LSAT
35. Five-point K, e.g. : TILE - oh, duh. Scrabble TILE....
38. "Dancing With the Stars" numbers : LINDIES - I really, really wanted to try LIMBOS, but it was too short
39. A few : SEVERAL
41. Pick up again : RESUME
42. Brown University athletes : BEARS - perps
43. Confess : OWN UP
44. Hill crest : RIDGE
45. Fictional dark side : HYDE - yeah, I wanted SITH, but this is the 'dark side' of Dr. Jekyll
47. Taking care of business : ON IT - oops, I had AT IT
48. __ about : ON OR - and a second two-letter two word answer
49. Golden State sch. : UCLA
50. Bleed : SEEP
53. "Anything you can get away with": Marshall McLuhan : ART
10. Decorative Japanese porcelain : IMARI
16. Warms with waves : NUKES - the 'affectionate' term for using a microwave oven
17. Shelled omnivore : BOX TURTLE - again, I pondered "TURTLE", but didn't know if it would start or end the clue
18. Guitar band : STRAP - here, too I gathered this was not an actual "group", but a part of the instrument; however, "strap" did not jump right out at me, and FRET was too short.
Hey, check this guitar out
20. Not a good sense : DREAD
21. Features of some 'Vettes : T-TOPS
22. Johnny Vander __, only pitcher to throw back-to-back no-hitters : MEER - I'm sure C.C. knew this one; didn't someone come really close this season, too~?
23. They stir things up : SPOONS - dah~! I had WHISKS
25. Out of one's class : ABSENT - ah, clever misdirection; I was thinking "AT SEA" - that is, being a "30d." among the elite
28. Nut in a cupule : ACORN - didn't know what a cupule was
29. High-end chocolatier : LINDT - ah, so close; I tried "S" and "Z" before the "D"
34. Et __ : ALII - typed in "ALI-" and waited....
35. Tusk, in fact : TOOTH - dah~!! Not IVORY
36. Colors : HUES - these are "HUES", too
39. Informal qualifier : SORTA
40. Trailers often precede them : FILMS - got it
41. Meal : REPAST
42. Home to Mount Kinabalu : BORNEO - mostly perps
44. Guns : REVS - it was either this or "GATS", and I was right with my first guess
45. Downed, in a way : HEWED - HUE/HEW
46. Sound : NOISE - ah, not the SANE variety of 'sound'
48. Ending with humor : OUS - humorous
51. One-named musician whose last name is Chryssomallis : YANNI - learning moment, tho I am familiar with the artist who ends up as the butt of some jokes - his Wiki
Hey, it's Yanni Halen~!
52. Lasting ability : ENDURANCE
54. Mideast unitarians : DRUZE - all perps
55. Elaborate procedure : RIGMAROLE - 'round here it comes with a second "A" - rigAmarole
56. Best Moment and Best Upset : ESPYs - sounded like awards for sporting events, but it was not working with my "SITH" at 45d.
57. Mental comparison : STEEL TRAP - "he has a mind like a steel trap"
DOWN:
1. Ink dispensers : NIBS - dah~!!! not PENS
2. Hydroxyl compound : ENOL
3. Like fake fruit : WAXY - good first round guess on my part
4. Boomer until 2003 : SST - supersonic airplanes
5. Word after A, B or C : STUDENT - what~? you can't be a "D" student, too~?
6. Castle projection : TURRET - I wanted RAMPART, but it didn't fit; BAILEY did, but it's not really a projection
8. Emeril's French Quarter restaurant : NOLA - well, it's in New Orleans, LA, so....
10. Imminent : IN STORE
12. Rubber home : AKRON
13. Gets as a return : REAPS
14. Web connectors, for short : ISPs
24. Like penthouse suites : POSH
25. Troubled word : ALAS
26. Ill humor : BILE
27. Sulky state : SNIT
28. Dr. Alzheimer : ALOIS - perps
31. Pervasive quality : AURA
32. "__ see ... " : "LET'S"
33. Test with arguments, for short : LSAT
35. Five-point K, e.g. : TILE - oh, duh. Scrabble TILE....
39. A few : SEVERAL
41. Pick up again : RESUME
42. Brown University athletes : BEARS - perps
43. Confess : OWN UP
44. Hill crest : RIDGE
45. Fictional dark side : HYDE - yeah, I wanted SITH, but this is the 'dark side' of Dr. Jekyll
47. Taking care of business : ON IT - oops, I had AT IT
48. __ about : ON OR - and a second two-letter two word answer
49. Golden State sch. : UCLA
50. Bleed : SEEP
53. "Anything you can get away with": Marshall McLuhan : ART
Splynter
