12.10.09 -- Notes on a Crossword

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Puzzle by Trip Payne, edited by Will Shortz

ENDNOTES, clued as “What some scholarly texts (and the 10-Downs to all the starred clues) have, coupled with 10-Down, ANSWER and the last two letters of the the seven starred answers which end with DO, RE, MI, FA, SOL, LA, and TI, comprise the overly complicated interrelated group of this flat Thursday crossword.

Chances are that unless there is some really pressing need to figure it all out, many solvers either will not notice or care. There is no real interplay among the group which would help with the puzzle’s solution -- I was left at first with… “What?” Of course, the fact that this blog comments upon crosswords necessitated lingering upon same, only to elaborate… “So what?” In any event, the across answers containing the “end notes” are LENTANDO (14. *Becoming slower, in music), OVERTURE (17. *First track on many a Broadway album); PASTRAMI 32. *Deli choice); ALFALFA (37. *Role played by child star Carl Switzer); PARASOL (41. *Shade provider); PANATELA (47. *Long smoke), LITERATI (65. *Book reviewers, for example).

Other across: 8. Jughead’s topper, BEANIE; 16. “Dover Beach” poet, ARNOLD; 18. Department store department, MISSES; 23. ARABY (Sheik’s home); 30. Billy Idol expression, SNEER; 49. Frequent word in Psalms, SELAH; 55. Accelerate sharply, REV UP; 62. Duke’s home, DURHAM; 67. Rich couple on the Titanic, ASTORS; 69. Members of Grand Lodges, MASONS.

Downs: 1. “Hawai’i ALOHA (island song); 2. Three-time Olympic gold medalist Gail DEVERS; 3. Kind of band, ONE MAN; 6. Tight as A DRUM; 7. Pops one’s cork, GOES APE; 11. Aromatic arrangements, NOSEGAYS; 15. Setting for an annual New York film festival, TRIBECA; 21. Charge 200% for maybe, SCALP; 24. Severely chastise, YELL AT; 26. Pieces by Thomas Paine, ESSAYS; 31. Rummaged (through), RIFLED; 33. Comparatively clipped, TERSE; 39. Bachelor’s area, perhaps, FINE ARTS; 40. Title role in a 1980s sitcom, ALLIE; 42. 1947 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, ALLEGRO; 45. It may display the alphabet, SAMPLER; 48. “Changing the subject …”, ANYHOO; 50. Head in the clouds?, AVIATE; 51. Person who might take a bow, HUNTER; 54. The Point Royal spans it, SEINE; 56. Grace under fire, POISE.

Short stuff -- ADO, ALLS, ALPO, AMMO, AYE, BAM, CLI, DAM, DIAL, DIMS, EARN, EDS, EGAD, ELSE, ENT, EPEE, ERE and ERIE, ETDS, EWE, GINO, HAT, HEMI, HOAG, ILE and LEI, LEAP, MACE, MSS, ONUS, OPEN, REST, SUSS, USA, YMA, YSL.

Here's ending this on a flat note! 

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games.

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Remaining clues -- Across: 1. Flap; 4. Best-selling author Tami; 19. Prefix with sphere; 20. Figure (out); 22. Baa-aad mother?; 25. Its punch is spiked; 27. G-rated oath; 34. Mid second-century year; 35. It can following anything; 36. Singer Sumac; 43. It’s often given in greeting; 44. “___ well …”; 46. High-fashion inits.; 52. Break the seal on; 53. Turns down; 57. Backer’s word; 59. Descendant of the smallsword; 61. Soft-rock singer Vannelli; 70. Quietude; 71. Before, in a ballade. Down: 4. Baldness remedy?; 5. Millstone; 8. Carpenter’s sound, at times; 9. Pennsylvania county or its seat; 12. Corsica, par exemple; 13. Self-appointed group for short?; 28. Bandoleer contents; 29. Oven feature; 37. Food brand that was the sole sponsor of the first “60 Minutes” broadcast; 38. _)__ second; 58. Fetch; 60. Nos. on terminal monitors; 62. It goes against the flow; 63. G8 member; 64. 13-Down piles: Abbr.; 68. Suffix with exist.