09.22.13 — Light of Heart

The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons, 16th October 1834, J. M. W. Turner, exhibited 1835 — Turner witnessed the burning of  Parliament from a boat on the River Thames.

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Sunday, September 22, 2013

Letterboxes, Puzzle by Mike Selinker / Edited by Will Shortz

A note accompanies this bright Sunday crossword:

In this special prize crossword, the completed solution conceals a familiar three- word phrase related to the puzzle’s theme. 70- Across provides a hint on how to find it.

When you have the answer, e mail it to crossword@nytimes.com. Twenty five correct solvers, chosen at random, whose entries are received by 6 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesday, Sept. 24, will receive copies of The New York Times Crossword Puzzles 2014 Day to Day Calendar, courtesy of Andrews McMeel.

The New York Times requested that crossword blogs do not publish the solution until after the competition deadline, 6:00 pm Eastern on Tuesday, September 24.

Update, Tuesday, September 24, 2013:

READ THIS GRID IN BRAILLE (70A. How to get a message out of the boxes), along with FEEL THE LOVE in Braille constitutes the main feature.  The solver is to imagine the letter O within the eleven boxes (visible only in print-outs).

The four longest answers begin with HANDLE, PRESS, TOUCH and CONTACT appearing to be related to the Braille activity:  HANDLE WITH CARE (23A. Words on a fragile package), PRESS SECRETARY (31A. Mouthpiece for the head?), TOUCH TONE PHONE (107A. Rotary alternative) and CONTACT POISONS (118A. DDT and others).

Other — AETHER (51A. Material beyond the terrestrial plane, in medieval science), AVATAR (59D. Film set on Pandora), CONNECT / THE DOTS (1D. With 97-Down classic puzzle type), DEMONIAC (44D. Frenzied as if possessed), Cartoonist GAHAN Wilson, HARARE (14D. African capital), ISOGONS (48D. Shapes like squares), ORBISON (76A. “Only the Lonely” singer), OPORTO (16A. Italian wine city), SHLEMIEL (20D. Oaf), STACIE and STASI (40A. Strawberry blond sister of Barbie; 45d. East German secret police), SWEDES (117A. Anders Celsius and Greta Garbo, for two), THEM! (9A. Classic sci-fi film billed as “a horror horde of crawl-and-crush giants”), TURNER (101D. English landscapist famous for “The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons“).

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09.21.13 — In a Word

Marie Antoinette de Lorraine-Hasbourgand Her Children

by Élisabeth-Louise Vigée-Le Brun (1787)

Versailles, Musée national du Château et des Trianons

The Queen is shown wearing a dress trimmed with Alençon lace.

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Saturday, September 21, 2013

Puzzle by Tim Croce / Edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. They aren’t straight, LIARS; 6. “Aarrghh!”, BLAST IT; 13. Shove off, UNDOCK; 15. Lures, COME-ONS; 16. “Oo la la!” jeans, informally, SASSONS; 18. Preceder of John Sebastian at Woodstock, SANTANA; 19. Scott Joplin’s “The Entertainer” and others, TWO-STEPS; 21. Chain, FETTER; 22. Heralds, FORETELLS; 24. Produces lush sounds?, SLURS; 25. Heavily populated areas, informally, URBS; 26. They adhere to brains, PIA MATERS; 28. Temple inits., LDS; 29. Lieutenant colonel’s charge, BATTALION; 30. Students with outstanding character?, LETTERMEN; 31. See 48-Across, CONCERTOS; 32. Its arms are not solid, SEA; 35. Difficult journey, TOUGH ROAD; 36. Gifted trio?, MAGI; 37. Follow the party line?, CONGA; 38. Round trip for one?, SOLO HOMER; 40. Direction givers, often, LOCALS; 42. Superexcited, FEVERISH; 43. Delicate needlepoint lace, ALENÇON; 45. Is so inclined, CARES TO; 46. Do some work between parties, MEDIATE; 47. Brings in for more tests, say, RESEES; 48. Fast parts of 31-Across, PRESTOS;49. Meteorological probe, SONDE.

Down — 1. Like wolves vis-à-vis foxes, LUSTFUL; 2. Not at length, IN A WORD; 3. Takes up onto the surface, ADSORBS; 4. Susan’s family on “Seinfeld”, ROSSES; 5. The Father of the Historical Novel, SCOTT; 6. Group of football games played at the beginning of Jan., BCS; 7. Dog it, LOAF; 8. Pardons, AMNESTIES; 9. Choose in the end, SETTLE ON; 10. Flawlessly, TO A TURN 11. Areas next to bull’s-eyes, INNERS; 12. Strongmen of old, TSARS; 14. Remedy for a bad leg, KNEE PATCH; 17. Fastballs that drop sharply near the plate, SPLITTERS; 20. Durable cover, SLATE ROOF; 23. Wise sort, SMART ALEC; 27. 2002 Best Original Screenplay Oscar winner for “Talk to Her”, ALMODOVAR; 29. Spotted hybrid house pet, BENGAL CAT; 30. 1980s Olympic star with the autobiography “Breaking the Surface”, LOU GANIS; 31. Grant, CONCEDE; 32. Geisha’s instrument, SAMISEN; 33. Expelled, EGESTED; 34. Pressure gauge connection, AIR HOSE; 35. Mechanic, say, TOOLER; 36. Beyond that, MORESO; 37. Shop keeper?, CLAMP; 39. “HERE’S Lucy” (old sitcom); 44. Florida’s De SOTO National Monument; 44. Wii ancestor, briefly, NES.

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09.20.13 — The Friday Crossword

Ninja Jiraiya raising his sword to kill a python attacking a large toad.

Woodblock print on paper.Kuniyoshi, c. 1843.

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Friday, September 20, 2013

Puzzle by Mangesh Ghogre and Doug Peterson / Edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. Offer to host, ASK OVER; 8. W.W. II vessels, PT BOATS; 15. Expressed slight surprise, RAISED AN EYEBROW; 17. “But really …”, ALL KIDDING ASIDE; 18. ROMAN Empire; 19. Deep-seated, INNER; 20.What you might be overseas?, SIE; 21. Part of A.M.A.: Abbr., AMER; 22. Principal, MAJOR; 23. Leave in, STET; 24. Rx specification, TER; 25. Industry leader, TITAN; 26. Part of a place setting, KNIFE; 27. Swelters, BAKES; 28. Absolutely correct, DEAD ON; 29. Relatives of spoonbills, IBISES; 31. Voyeur, PEEPER; 32. Staggered, AMAZED; 33. Many chains are found in them, MALLS; 34. Ticked off, RILED;3. Works at a museum, say, BUSTS; 36. One of the girls, SHE; 39. Going AT IT; 40. Gnats and mosquitoes, PESTS; 41. Powerful engine, V-TEN; 42. Pipe holder?, PAN; 43. Watch brand once worn by 007, SEIKO; 44. One of 24, KARAT; 45. 1959 #5 hit with the B--side “I’ve Cried Before”, A TEENAGER IN LOVE; 48. What a board may be against, HOSTILE TAKEOVER; 50. Euripides tragedy, ORESTES; 50. Satyrs, say, LEERERS.

Down — 1. Mountains of ARARAT (Genesis locale); 2. Strauss opera, SALOME; 3. “Trees” poet, KILMER; 4. OSKAR Werner of “The Spy Who Came in From the Cold”; 5. “In that VEIN …”; 6. Hall-of-Fame outfielder EDD Roush; 7. Throws off, RADIATES; 8. Flag carried on a knight’s lance, PENNON; 9. Blake’s “burning bright” cat, TYGER; 10. Pessimist, BEAR; 11. Outmoded: Abbr. OBS; 12. Three-time Haitian president, ARISTIDE; 13. Super-wonderful, TO DIE FOR; 14. Make more attractive, SWEETEN; 16. Warriors with supposed powers of invisibility and shape shifting, NINJAS; 22. Ready for an on-air interview, MIKED; 23. “Your mama wears army boots” and such, SNAPS; 25. Put a charge into?, TASED; 26. Leans precariously, KEELS; 27. “L'Artésienne” composer, BIZET; 28. Workout targets, informally, DELTS; 29. Copycat, IMITATOR; 30. Long-haired cat breed, BALINESE; 31. Simple and serene, PASTORAL; 32. Fox relative, ARAPAHO; 33. Old arm, MUSKET; 35. Pale shades, BEIGES; 36. Fought, STROVE; 37. Shot-putter, e.g., HEAVER; 38. Puts in, ENTERS; 40. “Positive thinking” pioneer, PEALE; 41. Grounds for a medal, VALOR; 43. Pet, SNIT; 44. Place for a jerk?, KNEE; 46. “Captain Video” figures, for short, ETS; 47. ‘50s politico, IKE.

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09.19.13 — CANDY

The Witch’s House. Set design for the Michael Myerberg film production of Hansel and Gretel, based on Engelbert Humperdinck’s opera, 1952.

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Thursday, September 19, 2013

Puzzle by Michael Blake / Edited by Will Shortz

Adding C to the beginning and Y to the end of standard phrases resulting in unfamiliar phrases constitutes the interrelated group of this sweet Thursday crossword:

CANDY COATED or C AND Y COATED (58A. Like M&M’s … or four words to describe 17-, 24-, 35- and 50-Across?)
COLD MASTERY (17A. Ability to survive freezing temperatures?)
CHOSE DOWNY (24A. Selected a certain fabric softener?)
CART FAIRY (35A. Sprite who helps you find a shopping vehicle?)
CLOCK PICKY 50A Super choosy about timepieces?)

Other — APOLLO I (2D. Ill-fated mission of 1967), BACK END (38D. Caboose), EAT CROW (48A. Lose face), ECLIPSE (39D. Shadow maker), EROTICA (40D. “Fifty Shades of Gray” genre), MARTYRS and MIRACLES (13D. Ones making sacrifices; 67A. Basis of the Hanukkah story), SPRATS (47D. Nursery rhyme couple), TWEEDLE (44D. Entice with music).

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Oh well, why not?

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09.18.13 — Tent

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Puzzle by Paul Hunsberger / Edited by Will Shortz

TENT in five squares serving as part of five crossing answers constitutes the main feature of this Wednesday crossword:

• PENI[TENT] (5D. Atoner) with WRIT[TEN T]EXT (25A. Transcription, e.g.)
• SHORT AT[TENT]ION SPAN (7D. What a constant channel-surfer may have) with ONE BIT[TEN T]WICE SHY (38A. Adage regarding skittishness)
• KIT[TEN T]AILS (11D. Plant with fluffy flower spikes) with GU[TEN T]AG (23A. German greeting)
• COMPE[TENT]LY (40D. With skill) with PA[TENT] (61A. Inventor’s award)
• [TENT]ACLE (55D. Arm of the sea?) with NO[T ENT]IRELY (54A. A little less than  100%)

Other — ABOLISHES (34D. Does away with), BENITO Juárez, OCTOPI (1A. Highly intelligent invertebrates), TAKE A HINT (29A. Pick up on the innuendo), TEMPLETON (46A. “Charlotte’s Web” rat), VENGEANCE (10D. “Ben-Hur” theme).

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09.17.13 — Date Movies

Young Couple Snuggling in Convertible as They Watch Large Screen Action at a Drive-In Movie Theater by J. R. Eyerman 

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Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Puzzle by Peter A. Collins / Edited by Will Shortz

DATE MOVIES (34A. 18-, 23-, 51- and 56-Across?), along with DATE within the titles of DANCES WITH WOLVES (18A. 1990 Kevin Costner film), WILD AT HEART (23A. 1990 Nicolas Cage film), THE GRADUATE (51A. 1967 Dustin Hoffman film) and DEAD POETS SOCIETY (56A. 1989 Robin Williams film), constitute the interrelated group of this Tuesday crossword.

Other — ANSWERS (14D. What an information booth has); BANGLES (3D. “Walk Like an Egyptian” band); “Get Shorty” novelist Elmore LEONARD; MOLIÈRE  (39D. “Tartuffe” writer), NINE IRON (53A. Not a club for big shots?); NOISE LAW (22A. Urban ordinance that might apply to a late-night party); PAVLOVA (12D. “The Dying Swan”); SWEATER (13D. Cardigan, e.g.); UGANDAN (38D. Kampala resident); WEAKEST (42D. Most diluted).

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09.16.13 — M'M! M'M! Monday

World War II United States 817th Bomb Squadron, 483rd Bomb Group, 15th Air Force leather jacket patch showing a decal of Al Capp’s Mammy Yokum. She is sporting a corncob pipe and has just sent something or someone flying with a right jab. The 817th flew B-17 aircraft.

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Monday, September 16, 2013

Puzzle by Ed Sessa / Edited by Will Shortz

M’M! M’M! GOOD (65A. Classic advertising slogan … and a hint to 17-, 25-, 40- and 52-Across), MUMMY’S TOMB (25A. Movie starring Lon Chaney Jr., with “The”), MILLION MOM MARCH (40A. Washington rally of 5/14/00), MAMMA MIA! (17A. Abba-inspired hit musical) and MAMMY YOKUM (62A. Dogpatch matriarch) constitute the interrelated group of this friendly Monday crossword.

Other — LET ME SEE (41D. “Hmmm …”); MACHU Picchu, Joan MIRO, MOOED (58D. Made a cow call), MYNAHS (48D. Bird mimics) and PANATELA (10D. Long, thin cigar).

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09.15.13 — The Sunday Crossword

Sunday, September 15, 2013

That Girl, Puzzle by Joe DiPietro / Edited by Will Shortz

Nine dreadful puns with non-clues dominate this unfriendly Sunday crossword:

SEIZE HER SALAD (23A. Confiscate a chef’s appetizer?)
SOCK HER PLAYER (37A. Conk a coach’s team member?)
SHUT HER BUG (55A. Close a VW Beetle owner’s car door?)
RUB HER CHICKEN (66A. Put a spice mix on a cook’s piece of poultry?)
LET HER BOMB (77A. Keep a bad comedian onstage?)
LICK HER BOTTLE (98A. Find out what a baby’s milk tastes like?)
JUMP HER CABLES (114A. Hop over an electrician’s wires?)
CHECK HER BOARD (15D. Ensure a surfer’s safety?)
COUNT HER PARTS (52D. Take a mechanic’s inventory?)

Other — AL GREEN (47D. “Love and Happiness” singer, 1972), ALL UPSET (18A. Hot and bothered), ARM’S REACH (12D. Grabbing distance), BIB and BIEB, CBER and HAM radio (49A. Certain radio user); EARTHMEN and SAUCER, HOLLER AT (9D. Loudly dress down), HOT AIR (14D. Windbag’s output), REAL SIZE (118A. Not magnified or reduced), REGIMENTS (78D. Groups of troops), SLUSH PILE (32D. Group of unsolicited manuscripts), STABBED (86D. Like Julius Caesar), STREAKS (7D. Barely moves?), THE SMITHS (54D. Band with a 1985 UK. #1 album titled “Meat is Murder“), TRALEE (8D. Irish city near Killarney).

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09.14.13 — Walking on Water

Walking on water float design by Leonardo da Vinci, late 15th century

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Saturday, September 14, 2013

Puzzle by Jeff Chen / Edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. Where a lot of dough gets thrown around, PIZZA JOINT; 11. See 51-Across, WIFE; 15. Fuel for a warp drive engine on “Star Trek”, ANTIMATTER; 16. Resignation exclamation, ALAS; 17. Sleep aid, for some, WHITE NOISE; 18. BMW of Not America and others: Abbr., LLCS; 19. Zip around a field?, NIL; 20. Makes happen, SEES TO; 21. Assistant played by Bruce Lee, KATO; 22. Wanting for nothing, SET; 24. “Celebrity Jeopardy!’ show, briefly, SNL; 2. Took revenge on, GOT; 26. Took revenge on, GOT; 33. Get by force of will?, INHERIT; 37. Punk’s cousin, NEW WAVE; 38. Info about a person’s education and work history, BIODATA; 39. Smooths, GREASES; 40. Follows a military order, ATTACKS;41. Their habits give them away, SISTERS; 42. Follows a military rider, RETREATS; 44. Time of long  journées, ETE; 45. Lets go through, OKS; 46. Brief albums, in brief, EPS; 48. Needing hand cream, maybe, RAW; 51. With 11-Across, biblical woman who met a bad end, LOT’S; 53. STEP ON; 56. “That gives me an idea …”, SAY; 58. First spaceman’s first name, YURI; 59. Setting for “The Misfits”, RENO NEVADA; 61. Polo competitor, IZOD; 62. “My bad”, I SCREWED UP; 63. Musical production, NOTE; 64. Symbols of sharpness, STEEL TRAPS.

The Sodom and Gomorrah motif from the Nuremberg Chronicle by Hartmann Schedel, 1493.

Note Lot's wife, already transformed into a salt pillar, in the center.

Down — 1. One with promotional potential; 2. “IN HIS Steps” (Christian best seller); 3. “10” is inscribed on it, Z TILE; 4. Temple imperfection, ZIT; 5. Subject of the 2012 book “Circle of Treason”, AMES; 6. Porter created by Burroughs, JANE; 7. Winnebago relatives, OTOES; 8. “Incorrect”, IT ISN’T; 9. Babes in the woods?, NESTLINGS; 10. Smartphone preceded by the Pre, TREO; 11. Do the impossible, metaphorically, WALK ON WATER; 12. Anxious, ILL AT EASE; 13. It’s never wrong, FACT;14. Standard breakup creation, ESSO; 23. Temptation for Luke Skywalker, THE DARK SIDE; 25. Follow the sun?, GO WEST; 27. Sniffs out, TRACES; 28. First capital of the Last Frontier, SITKA; 30. Like some fogs, EERIE; 31. Ham’s handoff, OVER; 32. Name associated with a mobster or a monster, NESS; 33. Skyscraper component, I BAR; 34. Brief period of darkness?, NITE; 35. Eager, HOT TO TROT; 36. Event with unmarked choices, TASTE TEST; 43. Trial lawyer who wrote “O.J.: The Last Word”, SPENCE; 47. Basidium-borne body, SPORER; 49. Adjective on taco truck menus, ASADA; 50. Crumple, WAD UP; 51. “Can’t Believe Your LYIN’” (1988 Neil Young song); 52. Drink said to have originated on Lesbos, OUZO; 53. Titles for distinguished Indians, SRIS; 54. Main character in “The Paper Chase,” e.g., ONE-L; 55. Cousin on a congo eel, NEWT; 57. Blabbers, YAPS; 60. See, in Santiago, VER.

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09.13.13 — Crater Creator

Friday, September 13, 2013

Puzzle by Patrick Berry / Edited by Will Shortz

Across — 1. Holding, CLASPING; 9. Way of looking at things, ANGLE; 14. Reading light for an audio book?, LASER BEAM; 16. Detergent component, BORAX; 17. Going nowhere?, INANIMATE; 18. Pine for, CRAVE; 19. Org. always headed by a U.S. general or admiral NORAD; 20. Baltic native, LETT; 22. “After YOU”; 23. Seat cushions?, GLUTEI; 25. Old airline name, EASTERN; 28. Roofing choice, TILE; 29. “According to reports …”; RUMOR HAS IT; 32. Wedded, ONE; 33. They make a racket, CON ARTISTS; 34. Cell alternatives, LAND LINES; 38. Like each word from this clue, FOUR LETTER; 37. Many a time, OFT; 40. Change places, COIN PURSES; 41. White spread, BRIE; 42. Heavy and clumsy, HULKING; 43. White of the eye, SCLERA; 45. The Dom is the third highest one, ALP; 48. A whole bunch, GOBS; 49. Blows a fuse, RAGES; 50. Nation with the most Unesco World Heritage Sites, ITALY; 53. Winner over Ohio State in 1935’s so-called “Game of the Century”, NOTRE DAME; 55. Suez Crisis setting, SINAI; 56. Startling revelation, EYE OPENER; 57. Xerox competitor, EPSON; 58. Buffalo Bill and Calamity Jane wore them, STETSONS.

About 50,000 years ago, a 45 meter wide iron-nickel meteorite plunged into the desert of Earth's American southwest leaving a scar which still persists to this day. ~ Arizona Meteor Crater 

Down — 1. Hold firmly, as opinions, CLING TO; 2. Stuff used to soften baseball mitts, LANOLIN; 3. Generally, AS A RULE; 4. Hill house, SENATE; 5. “A Whizzing rocket that would emulate a star,” per Wordsworth, PRIDE; 6. Big name in storage, IBM; 7. NEAL Boortz of talk radio; Swinger?, GATE; 9. Diane Sawyer’s employer, ABC; 10. Land on the Arctic Cir., NOR; 11. Most dismal, GRAYEST; 12. Mouthwash with the patented ingredient Zantrate, LAVORIS; 13. Shakespearean sage direction, EXEUNT; 15. Depression creator, METEORITE; 21. Crab apple’s quality, TARTNESS; 24. Old-fashioned respirator, IRON LUNG; 26. Not as outgoing, SHIER; 27. Communist bloc news source, TASS; 30. Experienced, UNDERGONE; 31. Fountain drinks, MALTS; 33. Wrist bones, CARPI;  34. Lamebrain, LUNK; 35. It’s not fair, FOUL TIP; 38. Car collectors?, OIL PANS; 37. Greek salad ingredient, OREGANO; 38. They arrive by the truckload, FIREMEN; 39. Movie trailers, e.g., TEASERS; 40. Carriage with a folding hood, CHAISE; 41. Turbine parts, BLADES; 44. Advanced slowly, CREPT; 47. School door sign, BOYS; 48. Amendment to an amendment, STET; 51. Southeast Asian language, LAO; 53. Dark side, YIN; 54. Ikura or tobiko, ROE.

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09.12.13 — It's Superman!

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Puzzle by Ian Livengood / Edited by Will Shortz

IT’S SUPERMAN is the last in a sequence of interrelated answers in this agreeable Thursday crossword  preceded by SPARROW, IT’S A BIRD and JET, IT’S A PLANE and finally, KENT.

JACK SPARROW (18A. Film lead character featured in a Disney World attraction)
IT’S A BIRD (2A. Remark about the end of 18-Across)
BUBBLE JET (31A. Kind of printer for home or office)
IT’S A PLANE (39A. Remark about the end of 31-Across)
JEFF KENT (49A. 2000 N.L. M.V.P. who played for the Giants)
IT’S SUPERMAN (56A. Remark about the end of 49-Across)

Other — ABODES (26A. Hamlet’s parts), ABOUT THAT (2D. “Er, yeah, regarding what happened …”), AL UNSER (40d. Four-time Indy 500 winner), EATEN AWAY (34D. Eroded), JUICE  BARS (33D. Trendy features of some high-end gyms), JUMP SUITS (3D. Things that zip up and go down?), VACUUM (46A. One that sucks at work?), WAR ZONE (9D. Where a photographer might take shots?).

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09.11.13 — Pique Condition

Jafar’s Genie, Walt Disney’s “Aladdin” 

1A. “Aladdin” villain; 8D. Pique condition?

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Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Puzzle by Patrick Blindauer / Edited by Will Shortz

WARM, WARD, CARD, CORD and COLD, the standard “word ladder” of crosswords warns us of the coming winter in the Northern Hemisphere with its progression from WARM to COLD.  The interrelated group opens with WARM-BLOODED and ends with COLD-HEARTED in this perfectly agreeable Hump Day crossword.

WARM-BLOODED (16A. Endothermic)
MATERNITY WARD (23A. Birth place)
CARDBOARD CUTOUT (37A. Life-size likeness of Elvis, maybe)
EXTENSION CORD (47A. A fan might need one)
COLD-HEARTED (58A. Unaffected by emotion)

Other — ADESTE (46A. Carol kickoff); “That’s AMORE”; AXE (61D. Swinger in the woods?); EASEL (47D. Sitting stand); FORT MYERS (3D. Popular retirement spot); GOES DUTCH (34D. Split’s the tab); Mike and IKE; IRE (8D. Pique condition?); JAFAR (1A. “Aladdin” villain); JAWS of Life; “PEYTON Place”; Fontana di TREVI; UFO (54A. “Independence Day” vehicle).

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When the stars make you drool, just like a pasta fazool

That's amore

When you dance down the street with a cloud at your feet

You're in love

When you walk down in a dream but you know you're not

Dreaming signore

Scuzza me, but you see, back in old Napoli

That's amore, (amore)

That's amore 

Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, “That’s Amore”, from “The Caddy” 1953 

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