Monday, May 26 - Mark Sherwood

Mark Sherwood's Memorial Day puzzle was a real treat...a clever enough theme and fill that's not generally found on Monday.

The theme is revealed at 29A: Experts with the ends of 17- and 55-Across and 10- and 24-Down (dentists). Theme answers:

17A: Strap-on leg supports (knee braces).

55A: Mincemeat, e.g. (pie filling).

10D: It sets things off (blasting cap).

24D: Feat for Secretariat (Triple Crown)...a beautiful horse.

Favorite answers include 14A: Old Big Apple restaurateur (Sardi), 42A: Rifle and revolver (firearms), 44A: Poisonous atmosphere (miasma), 47A: Football refs (zebras)...never heard them called that, 50A: Mitchell who sang "Big Yellow Taxi" (Joni), 5D: Chest protector (rib cage), 9D: Decreased (lessened), 12D: Western writer Grey (Zane), 13D: Baseball's Hershiser (Orel), 18D: Rakish short (roué)...I like the word, not people like that, 32D: "Come Back, Little __" (Sheba)...a major tearjerker, 34D: __ d'Or (Cannes award) (Palme), 37D: Appearing and disappearing feature on Jupiter (dark spot), 41D: "Fresh as a daisy" and others (simile) and 50D: Bach's "__, Joy of Man's Desiring" (Jesu).

A nice blast from the past to see 10A: Classic clown (Bozo)...although the hair is a little scary.

And I was delighted to see some old favorites in connected clues...22A: Film critic Gene (Siskel) and 60A: 22-Across's longtime partner (Ebert).

To be expected...some crosswordese to fill in the gaps. 25A: Lady's partner (gent), 33A: Eagle's nest (aerie), 40A: Away from the storm (alee), 58A: Gullet (craw), 59A: Bones: Lat. (ossa), 3D: "Jurassic Park" giant, informally (T-Rex), 6D: Some psychedelic designs (op art), 48D: Longest Spanish river (Ebro) and 53D: Some noncoms: Abbr. (sgts.).

It looks as though we'll have a quiet Memorial Day at home...just the two of us. The weather is supposed to be nicer, though...no more wind...so we'll probably go for a bike ride or a long walk. However you spend your day, be safe.

Here's the grid...



...and I'll see you tomorrow.

Linda G