12.17.09 -- All Aboard!

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Puzzle by Francis Heaney and Patrick Blindauer, edited by Will Shortz

NOAH’S ARK (21A. Craft that’s the subject of this puzzle), FLOOD (31D. Reason for 21-Across) and TWO BY TWO (51A. How the passengers went in 21-Across) are the framework for this crossword's interrelated group, including six ANIMAL (54A. Brute) pairs -- CAT/CAT, DOG/DOG, HORSE/HORSE, LION/LION, MOLE/MOLE and SEAL/SEAL.

As with the clue for ANIMAL, none of the animals are clued as animals -- the cats are clued as a hipster and a tractor make, briefly; the dogs as frank and follow relentlessly; the horses, basketball shooting game and gymnast’s equipment; the lions, Viking foe?, and Louis VIII nickname, with “the”; the moles, spicy sauce and Marilyn’s mark; and the seals as it makes an impression and Navy commando. A lone ADELIE (63A. Penguin from Antarctica) and a third dog, e.g., SCOTTIE (39D. Certain terrier) may not make the boat, along with a hint of additional creatures, OTTER POP (22D. Sweet frozen treat) and 27A. “What A HOOT!” (“So funny!”) -- the latter a self-descriptive of this pleasant crossword.

Other -- ALL OUT (19A. No holds barred); DOOHAN (8D. James of “Star Trek”); FALLEN OVER (28D. Toppled); GAY LIT (45D. Works stocked by a bookstore with a rainbow flag); INHALATION (10D. It fills a chest); DOCTOROW (24D. “Billy Bathgate” novelist, 1989); POSHER (18A. More sumptuously furnished); 59A. Paris’s Rue de RIVOLI; SOON YI (15A. A Previn); SPARE ME (15D. “Puh-leeze!”).

Five-letter -- ACCTS (5D. Sales off. Folders); BAGGY (50D. Loose); 26A. CAFFE Americano; COMMA (26D. “New York, New York” has one); DRIED (8A. Preserved, in a way); EBOLI (48D. Locale in a Carlo Levi best seller); FLOSS (43A It may get food away from a canine); GORDON (45A. Mercury and Gemini astronaut, informally); MERIT (66A. Excellence); NEATO (47A. Old-fashioned “Sweet!”); OFTEN (30A. Customarily); O’HARE (35a. United hub); RENEE (46A. Forename meaning “born again”); 9D. Allen and ROSSI, old comedy duo; STORE (39A. PX, e.g.); TRAIL (25A. Finish behind).

Short stuff -- AHH and OOH, ABA and ABOO, ATE, ATTN, BAA and BAAL, CLEM, DIRK, ELBA, ESSO, EYER, FRAN, FREE, ILLE and ITLL and ITOO, LEES, LIRR, LSD, LYNN, MCII, ODDS, OSLO, PBA, SHY, TCBY, TRAM, ULEE, WIDE.

All aboard!

------------------

For today’s cartoons, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games.

If you subscribe to home delivery of The New York Times you are eligible to access the daily crossword via The New York Times - Times Reader, without additional charge, as part of your home delivery.

Remaining clues -- Across: 1. Gulf competitor; 5. “What Do You Do With ___ in English?” (“Avenue Q” song); 13. Vat waste; 16. Canaanite deity; 23. Subject of Hofmann’s Potion”; 32. Physical sound; 36. ___ Haskins, 1960s- ‘70s N.B.A. player; 37. “___, sing America”: Langston Hughes; 40. Line to Penn Sta.; 42. Kind of board; 44. Had eggs, e.g.; 42.==9. Group of pin-heads?: Abbr.; 62. National frozen dessert chain; 67. Withdrawn. Down: 1. Hundred Days campaign planning site; 4. ___ City Hall, Nobel ceremony locale; 6. Sound made while being fleeced?; 7. Envelope abbr.; 11. Loupe user, say; 12. Dagger; 20. Title role for a 1997 Oscar nominee; 29. Available; 43. Memorable 1996 hurricane; 51. Vehicle that makes pit stops?; 52. Like some loads; 53. 2:1, e.g.; 55. “___ be all right”; 56. Early 12th-century year; 57. “Peek-___!”; 58. For Better or for Worse” cartoonist Johnston; 61. “That’s gotta hurt!”.