I don't recall seeing Tom Heilman as a NYT constructor. I wonder if we have another debut on our hands.
The theme of the puzzle is revealed at 60D, clued simply as Theme of this puzzle (bees). The four theme answers are:
17A: Police ploys (sting operations).
30A: End-of-day spousal salutation (Honey, I'm home).
46A: "Call when you get the chance" (Give me a buzz).
62A: Bogart/Hepburn film (The African Queen). I've definitely heard of it, but I don't think I've ever seen it. It may be one to add to the Netflix queue.
I didn't even notice there was a theme until I got to 60D...I was just workin' the puzzle.
I like the four long down answers--each a two-word phrase that adds some pizzazz to the grid.
8D: What a welcome sight relieves (sore eyes).
10D: Lofted approaches to the green (chip shots).
36D: Social workers' work (case loads). I'll be full time the first of September, so mine will be picking up soon. Wednesday we break ground on our new permanent supportive housing project, which will provide 23 studio apartments for chronically homeless adults with mental and/or physical disabilities. While we're in the building process, I'll be developing protocols, designing forms, and taking referrals. We're very close to our fundraising goal, which will allow us to build without having to mortgage the property.
41D: Pastries in "Sweeney Todd" (meat pies). Didn't see Sweeney Todd, so I wonder about the significance of the meat pies. Were they that big a part of the movie?
There were a few things I didn't know, but all were easy to get from crosses.
22A: Omar of TV's "House" (Epps).
29D: Russian ballet company (Kirov). I don't know much about ballet, and I know absolutely nothing about Russian ballet.
31D: Outlying community (exurb). I've never heard that word before. Maybe it only applies to large cities.
I really liked 27D: Holder of a dog's name and owner info (ID tag), mostly because I got it. I generally get tripped up by clues like this, but I had most of it from the acrosses.
Nice to see a reference to reader profphil...54A: Univ. lecturer (prof). I'm sure there are many others out there, but he's one I know for sure.
There are several crossword favorites in this puzzle:
15A: Double-reed woodwind (0boe).
20A: Old Russian ruler (Tsar).
21A: Lid trouble (stye)...although it was freshly clued
39A: When said three times, a W.W. II movie (Tora).
69A: "Got it" (I see).
59D: Island garlands (leis). Less than five weeks to Hawaii. If anyone is interested in guest blogging during that time, let me know via the comments section. I'm willing to pay as much as I've been paid for my guest blogging at several sites.
I enjoyed seeing 70D: Full of lip (sassy) in the puzzle. Actually, I don't like the clue near as much as I like the answer. I think sassy is a cool word. When I bought my Solara, a friend described it as a Sassy Old Lady car. He didn't mean that it was an old lady car...it was a car that a Sassy Old Lady would drive.
I'm off to bed. Here's the grid.
See you tomorrow.
Linda G
5 comments:
Linda
Sweeney Todd is a barber and serial killer. He is featured in a variety of stories where his weapon of choice is a straight razor, with which he cuts his victim's throats. In some versions his lover, friend and accomplice, Mrs. Lovett bakes the carcasses into meat pies.
Well, there!
I'm not the right one to guest blog, but the offer is there should it be needed. Our readers need to know we're there -- miss a day, they go away!
Donald
Donald, thanks (?) for the gory details. I guess the meat pies were pretty significant!
And thanks for your kind offer. If I don't have enough guest bloggers to cover, I'll just refer readers to the links in the sidebar and hope they come back.
Linda, who could refuse such a generous offer? If you're willing to pay the princely sum I paid you, I'll be happy to guest blog.
This was indeed Tom Heilman's first publication. He got a big welcome over at the cruciverb list.
Given that I operate a small company under the name of "Beekeeper Labs", I quite appreciate his theme.
You should definitely check out Sondheim's version of Sweeney Todd -- you'll never look at meat pies the same way again, and you'll also quite appreciate the show (and the appropriateness of Tom's clue). There was a very respectable 1982 TV version featuring George Hearn and Angela Lansbury; or you can wait till next January and catch Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter in a new theatrical release.
Thanks for the info, beekeeper. I'll wait for Johnny Depp...he'll pull off wicked nicely ; )
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