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Puzzle by Brad Wilber, edited by Will Shortz
There exists in Saturday crossword puzzles, a CHASM (40A One yawning) between CLEW (1A Interest of Miss Marple) and HEARTSEASE (58A Serenity) of solution.
Across: 1. Interest of Miss Marple (CLEW? I wanted "clue"); 5. Blow-drying problem (I wanted ROOTDAMAGE); 15. Liner’s locale (I thought ASEA); 16. Slipping frequencies (this could be audio, banana peels, what?); 17. Spot (ESPY); 18. Steering system components (how many of us know the multiple parts that make our Hummers hum?); 19. “OER the glad water of the dark blue sea”: Byron; 20. James Bond was kicked out of it (makes one think, doesn’t it?); 21. Eric of “Lucky You” (BANA); 22. Contortionist’s inspiration (PRETZEL); 24. Aquavit flavorer (I’m sure this just pops right into everyone’s head!); 27. Risible (why would I know this is ABSURD?); 28. Paris fashion house since 1956 (oh sure, of course, who doesn’t know this one?); 29. Seed’s exterior (TESTA); 30. Off by a mile (DEADWRONG); 34. 1990S Indian P. M. (A real reach for fill, puzzle constructor’s must love “Google”); 35. Where some addresses come from (tell me this one is postal-related, and what's with the dangling preposition?); 36. Massenet’s “Le ROI de Lahore” ; 37. Setting of Camus’s “The Fall” (meaning city); 42. Sign at some booths (booths, what booths, KISSES wouldn’t fit); 43. Marina accommodations (the Puzzle Police are going to go after this one, but BOATEL is legit); 44A Notoriety (RECLAME -- hey, I learned a new word); 47. Hansom cab accessory (also for football games and retirement homes); 48. Massive star (I said “no, this can’t be what they want” but it was); 49. Half of doce (more desperation, foreign-language numbers); 50. Something often smelled (Jack Nicholson does a great facial imitation of one in “The Departed" ); 51. Factor in a home’s market value (think sales-talk); 55. Do groundbreaking work? (no, not a cornerstone, ore); 56. Carried by currents, in a way (I entered UNDERTOWED and went to another corner); 57. Winetaster’s concern (why didn’t I know this?); 59. Forum infinitive (that is a long way to go for ESSE).
Down: 1. Shakespearean character who introduced the phrase “salad days” (and is this also why we have a Caesar salad?); 2. Tattoo remover (what else?); 3. Coffeehouse menu subheading (can I see a menu, please?); 1959 #1 Frankie Avalon hit (WHY is it always the #1 hit?); 5.Tested, as a load (well, now); 6. Documentarian Morris (ERROL); 7. Elvis follower (oh, very tricky, but it’s the middle name, Presley won’t fit, and neither will “fan” and Roy Orbison came before); 8. Lot (TON); 9. Richard Gere title role of 2000 (DRT); 10. Basso Berberian (ARA); 11. Sports champ depicted in “Cinderella Man,” 2005 (not the main character); 12. Counselor-ATLAW; 13. Davis of “Cutthroat Island” (pre-Depp of “Pirates of the Caribbean”); 14. Theme (good to see this word used properly for a change); 20. Fitch who co-founded Abercrombie & Fitch (another day, it’ll be Pound); 23. Indication of disapproval (or the mummified King); 24. Novelist Potok (more constructor Googling); 25. Tony winner for “Guys and Dolls,” 1951 (or, how many ways can you clue ALDA, or Alan, or both); 26. Detail on some tickets (ROW); 28. Material used in making saunas (it was redwood before they were almost all gone); 30. “Pink Shoe Laces” singer Stevens (another day, Goodman); 31. “Elijah” and others (yesterday, it was singular, clued as 13D Church piece, and August 24 as 14. “Elijah” or “The Creation”); 32. Bridle parts (no, “nose rings” are for cattle, NOSEBANDS are for horses); 33. Piercing glance (I have never, ever heard this used in real-life conversation, or ever seen it written!); 35. Coventry park sight (PRAM); 38. It’s raised after a payment is collected (not taxes?); 39. Disney doe (ENA); 40. Pinches (possibilities endless); 41. Part of a laugh (Hee? Hah? Hoh? Haw? Oh, HAR!); 43. Temporary property holder (BAILEE, why did I know this?); 44. Konica Minolta competitor (I mused NIKON, ARGUS, settled for what it is); 45. Elicit (it’s nice when a clue makes perfect sense); 46. Chick playing a piano (not a chicken, nor a "babe", not RANDY); 47. Isn’t quite neutral (another day, “is slanted”); 49. Toxin fighters (oh, so that’s what SERA do?); 52. Symbol of industry (ARM? No, ANT); 53. “Be more…” sloganeer (“Be more…”? That’s all? What a stingy clue!); 54. “Some Words With a Mummy” penner (POE!); 55. Honourary title: Abbr. (Google wouldn’t do, so it must have come from Dogpile).
Oh, and the puzzle itself? Great!
The New York Times Crossword Puzzle solution above is by the author of this blog and does not guarantee accuracy. If you find errors or omissions, you are more than welcome to make note of same in the Comments section of this post -- any corrections found necessary will be executed promptly upon verification.
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