03.14.12 — π Day

Wednesday, March 14, 2012 — π Day

Puzzle by Dave Sarpola / Edited by Will Shortz

PI DAY (65A. Mid-March celebration … or a hint to the starts of 18-, 25-, 44- and 57-Across), e.g., 3.14, found in THREE-TOED (18A. Like some sloths), POINT SPREAD (25A. Bookie’s concern), ONE-MAN SHOWS (44A. Most stand-up comedy acts) and FOUR SCORE (57A. 1863 speech opener) constitute the interrelated group of this Pi Day crossword.

Other — ACORN and OAK (14A. Starter of a 58-Down), ARCHER (49A. Sagittarius, with “the”), ASHCROFT (62A. Bush cabinet member), ASSERT, HUNG JURY (20A. Legal deadlock), HYENAS (22A. Relatives of aardwolves), INKJETS (5D. Some printers), Kansas City MONARCHS, Negro Leagues team with Satchel Paige, Jackie Robinson and Ernie Banks, PREHEATS, PSYCH UP (42D. Get pumped), T-STRAP (6D. Feature of some high heels).

Five-letter — ASKEW (31D. Catawampus), BAMBI (1A. Hit 1942 film with the song “Love Is a Song“), CAIRO (30D. Tahrir Square‘s locale), CLOAK, GATES (10D. Bush cabinet member), HOVER (59A. Do like some birds and bees), IDLER, MOATS, NEEDS, OILER (26D. Titan, once), PARED, PRIZE, RE-ARM, RIDES, SHRED, UNITE (62A. Confederate).

Short stuff — ACHY, ACLU, AFEW, AIDE, ARIA, BACH (1D. “Brandenburg Concertos“ composer), BASE, BEDS, BLAH, BRAG, CAN, CUTE, EAT, EPA, ESTE, EYED, FEAT, FEES, FETA, GLIB, HAIR, ILLS, LIKE, LION (11D. Symbol on Sri Lanka‘s flag), IDEA, ILLS, MAR, MOON (3D. Natural satellite), NESS, NTH, OREM, ORR, OVID, OWES, RONI, ROSE, SCAR, SKAT, SWAM, STY, TAMP, TREY, UPS, WEED, ZEES.

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 6. Pack (down); 10. Maybe too smooth); 15. Many a cut, eventually; 16. Page, e.g.; 17. Dagger’s partner; 23. Pollution watchdog org.; 24. Bank list; 30. Pink-slip; 33. Carnival attractions; 34. Dissolve with acid, say; 35. Acid neutralizer; 36. War, famine, etc.; 37. They’re crossed by bridges; 39. Give a thumbs-up on Facebook; 40.Nappers catch them; 41. Bobby of the rink; 42. Shaved; 43. Goof; 47. Stroked; 48. Farm abode; 60. 90¡ from norte; 61. Mop, say; 63. Do some gardening; 64. Trick-taking card game. — down: 2. Censorship-fighting org.; 4. Egotist’s comment; 7. Hurting; 8. Disrupt, say; 9. Gets ready, as an oven; 12. Word exclaimed after “no” or “good”; 13. Hospital capacity; 19. Inspected; 21. DHL competitor; 24. Guinness Book entry; 25. Cherish; 27. Loiterer; 28. Lake of crypto zoological interest; 29. Violate a peace treaty, maybe; 32. Budget priorities; 35. Snooze-inducing; 38. Utah city; 42. Get pumped; 44. Is in the hole; 45. Declare; 46. Highest degree; 46. Highest degree; 47. Bit of evidence; 49. More than one; 50. Levitated; 51. Buttonlike?; 52. “Nessun dorma,” for one; 53. Pasta, in product names; 54. He wrote “Jupiter from on high laughs at lovers’ perjuries”; 55. Greek cheese; 56. Long shot, in hoops.