10.18.09 -- Ahead of the Curve

Sunday, October 18, 2009

AHEAD OF THE CURVE, Puzzle by Elizabeth C. Gorski, edited by Will Shortz

THE SOLOMON R GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM (23A. With 29-Across, holder of the works named in the nine starred cues, celebrating its 50th anniversary on 10/21/09), FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT FINAL MAJOR WORK (38D. With 43-Down, what 23-/29-Across was), NON-TRADITIONAL (*15D. Like 43-Down’s design for 23-/29-Across), SPIRAL SHAPE (120A. Controversial form that 43-Down used for 23-/29-Across), MANET (1A. * ”Before the Mirror”), CHAGALL (68A. * ”Green Violinist”), KANDINSKY (97A. * “Composition 8“), SEURAT (103A. * ”Peasant with Hoe”), DEGAS (14D. * ”Seated Woman, Wiping Her Left Side”), MONDRIAN (34D. * ”Tableau 2”), PICASSO (51D. * ”Mandolin and Guitar”), ERNST (101D * ”The Antipope”), ARP (112D. * “Head and Shell”) comprise the interrelated group of this excellent Sunday puzzle commemorating one of New York City's landmarks.

Two fine actresses, SISSY SPACEK (39D. Player of one of the women in Robert Altman’s “3 Women”) and NATALIE WOOD (110A. “Rebel Without a Cause” actress) lead the remaining long entries which include ALIENATED (6A. Turned off), HOT TAMALES (36D. Good lookers), INEVITABLE (37D. Fated), PATRONAGE (21A. Rewards of a political machine), PIANO TUNER (47A. One who works on a grand scale?), POTATIONS (47D. Drinks of liquor), SEMI-TRAILER (90A. Vintage Tonka toy), SOPRANOS (39A. 2000s TV family), TAX PREPARER (123A. One who gets a lot of return business?).

Mid-size entries include BAUHAUS (89D. School popular in the 1920’s), BEGUILE (63A. Enchant), CESSNAS (102A. Light planes), DEED I DO (108A. Jazz standard whose title is repeatedly sung after “Honey …”), EARHART (106A. Subject of the Joni Mitchell song “Amelia”), EASES IN (4D. Enters leisurely), ERUDITE (94D. Scholarly); FABERGE (42D. Jewelry firm since 1842), HERETIC (28A. One at risk of excommunication), SANTA ANA (27A. California wind), SEVILLE (40D. Site of Spain’s Alamillo Bridge).

Five- and six-letter -- ADORE (104D. Just love), AGAPE (58D. Showing surprise), BEHAR (57D. Joy of “The View”), DAPHNE (74A. “Frasier” role), DARTS (49A. Game in which players subtract from a starting score of 501), 70D. Dog-EARED; HIFIS (26A. 36A. 45 players); I-BARS (53A. Letter-shaped construction pieces); 15A. Bete NOIRE; OCEAN (20A. Westernmost avenue in Santa Monica, Calif.), OGLES (69A. Gazes at), ON CUE (83A Perfectly timed), ONE LAP (75A. Short swim), OSKAR (22A. Schindler of “Schindler’s List”), PASHA (100D. Turkish bigwig), RAFFLE (41A Many a school fund-raiser), RIGEL (48D. Sixth-brightest star in the sky), SEATO (99D. Old defense grp.), SEDER (103D. Early spring feast), SPOUSE (99A. Clytemnestra, to Agamemnon), SPRAY (71D. Many a perfume), SUMAC (78D. Shrub that may cause a severe allergic reaction), TENSE (60A. Needing a massage, say), T-NOTES (5D. Gov’t investments), TORUS (105D. Life preserver, e.g.), VIRAL (85A. Like some YouTube videos).

Short stuff -- AAA, ABA and ABCD, ACHE, AIL, ANG and ANN, APOC, ASKA, ATS, CAY, DOPE, EAT, EDDY, EGGS, EINE, ELO, ENTR, ERMA, ERN, ESP, ESSE, ETES, GMA, GREY, IGOR, IKEA, ILE, ILKS and IRK, ITO and ITS, LAM and LAR, LBJ, LIT, LTRS, MDVI, MOAT and MOTH, MTM, NEER and NOR, OAFS, OAR and ORR, OMAR, ONIN, OSHA, POST, RAIN, RES and RIS and RIG, SERB, SET, SIP, SOAS, SRO, STR, TAPA, TAU, TDS, TEE and TEN, THOU and THRU, TIX, TRW, TVA, UGHS, UNUM, UPN, WAN, WHA, VISA, YEA.

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Remaining clues -- Across: 28. Ready-go go-between; 35. Philharmonic sect.; 46. "What's going ___ there?"; 50. "Big" number in college athletics; 51. Station; 52. Year Columbus died; 54. New Deal inits.; 55. "___ partytime!"; 56. Legal org.; 59. Horse and buggy; 61. Be hung over, e.g.; 62. Small island; 65. Miff; 66. 1970s TV production co.; 67. Symbols like @; 72. Like a bond you can buy with security?; 73. Savor, in a way; 76. V.P. during the Cuban missile crisis; 77. In order (to); 79. Lo-___; 80. "Today" rival, for short; 81. Canadian-born hockey great; 82. "Eldorado" grp.; 87. House call?; 88. Landlocked European; 94. Water swirl; 95. In need of blusher, say; 98. Old credit-tracking corp.; 109. "May I ___ question?"; 118. Operatic prince; 119. Grand; 121. LIke some traffic; 122 Lummoxes; 124. Verb with "vous". Down: 1. Lepidopterist's study; 2. Pain in the neck; 3. Poetic contraction; 6. Part of some Bibles: Abbr.; 7. Flight; 8. Midon on ice; 9. North end?; 10. " ... ___ should I"; 11. Director Lee; 12. Cross shape; 13. Shell food?; 16. Org. setting workplace rules; 17. Swedish company with a catalog; 18. Drops from the sky; 19. Gospel singer Franklin; 24. Flambe, say; 25. ___ 'acte; 29. Castle security system; 30. Bygone channel; 31. "No seats left"; 32. Use (up), as time; 33 One for the money?; 44. U.S.P.S. deliveries; 45. Latin 101 verb; 56. Start of a common run; 64. Words from Charlie Brown; 75. Epps of "House"; 80. Leaden, in London; 84. Angela Merkel's one; 85. Place for a stamp; 86. Sorts; 91. Autumn ESPN highlights; 92. Sue Grafton's "___ for Ricochet"; 93. Common middle name for a girl; 996. Code-cracking grp.; 98. "Time out!" signal; 107. Spanish tidbit; 108. Skinny; 111. B.O. purchases; 113. Roman household god; 114. Paris's ___ Saint-Louis;115. Medium strength?; 116. "Huh?"; 117. Viking ship item.