A Rose By Another Name. Well, it might not smell so sweet, so let me be a bit more diplomatic.
16-Across. * Shabby and dated: RETRO CHIC. Would you rather be told you look Shabby and Dated, or Retro Chic?
23-Across. * Tunes for fogies: CLASSIC ROCK. Would you rather be told you are an old fogy because of the music you listen to, or be told you are into Classic Rock?
56-Across. * Blubber: LOVE HANDLES. Would you rather be told you have a lot of Blubber, or that you have adorable Love Handles?
64-Across. * Hopelessly out of touch: OLD SCHOOL. Would you rather be told you are Hopelessly Out of Touch, or that you are Old School?
And the unifier:
37-Across. Make sweeter, in the way the theme answers do to their starred clues?: SUGAR COAT.
What else do we have that is sweet this week?
Across:
1. Antlered deer: STAG.
5. Take in the sights: TOUR. I will be doing some touring over the next month.
9. Transfer to a new city, informally: RELO.
13. Run out of steam: TIRE.
14. "__ Wolf and Cub": manga series: LONE. I am not familiar with this series.
15. Wi-Fi device: MODEM.
18. Winery process that takes years: AGING. Aren't we all?
19. French farewell: ADIEU. Obviously, this is today's French lesson.
20. Matching cups, saucers, etc.: TEA SETS.
27. Toothpaste option: GEL.
28. Possesses: HAS.
29. Spanish Mrs.: SRA. Obviously, today's Spanish lesson. Hi, Lucina!
30. Issa of "Insecure": RAE. Issa Rae (née Jo-Issa Rae Diop;b. Jan. 12, 1985) has become a frequent guest in our puzzles.
31. Genesis garden: EDEN.
33. Word between surnames: NÉE. More of today's French lesson. Née is the female past participle of the French word naître, which means "to be born."
35. Rough-sounding: RASPY.
41. Wristwatch part: STRAP.
44. Actor Lowe: ROB. In the 1980s, Rob Lowe (né Robert Helper Lowe; b. Mar. 17, 1964) was a member of the Brat Pack. He has also appeared in a number of television shows, including West Wing, which is now almost 20 years in the past.
45. MLB team in the ESPN documentary "Once Upon a Time in Queens": METS.
49. Bowl over: AWE.
50. Opposite of NNW: SSE.
53. Note from one who's shy?: IOU. Cute clue and answer.
55. Museum collection: ART. I will be visiting this art collection in just a few weeks.
59. Sturgeon product: ROE. Yummers!
60. Hot, dust-laden Saharan wind: SIROCCO. Everything you wanted to know about Sirocco, but didn't know to ask.
61. Island south of Sicily: MALTA.
63. Want very much: COVET. The Wicked Bible of 1631 seemingly permitted such activities.
67. Apple desktops: iMACS. We have a Mac Mini.
68. Honest-to-goodness: REAL.
69. Border on: ABUT.
70. Gael, for one: CELT.
71. Whirlpool: EDDY.
72. "This Is Us" role for Susan Kelechi Watson: BETH. This Is Us was a television drama that just ended its run. I never watched the show, but it got rave reviews. Apparently Susan Kelechi Watson (b. Nov. 11, 1981) was one of the main characters.
Down:
1. Odd: STRANGE.
2. Like many hand-colored T-shirts: TIE-DYED.
3. Magazine story: ARTICLE.
4. "Sommersby" actor Richard: GERE. Sommersby was a 1993 film that starred Richard Gere and Jody Foster.
 |
| Richard Tiffany Gere (b. Aug. 31, 1949) |
5. Pampering, for short: TLC. As in Tender Loving Care.
6. "Look, fireworks!": OOH!
7. Condo divisions: UNITS.
8. Classroom break: RECESS.
9. Tennis great Federer: ROGER. Roger Federer (b. Aug. 8, 1981) was ranked Number 1 by the Association of Tennis Professionals for 310 weeks.
10. Cosmopolitan group?: EDITORS.
11. Camera accessory: LENS CAP.
12. Short "Good grief!": OMG.
15. Eyelash application: MASCARA.
17. "That hurts!": OUCH.
21. "Bel-__": 2022 drama series based on a 1990s sitcom: AIR.
24. "Auld __ Syne": LANG.
25. Sailing: ASEA. A crossword staple.
26. Lock opener: KEY.
32. Govt. intel group: NSA. As in the National Security Agency. I can neither confirm nor deny that I work for this agency.
34. Play a proper noun in Scrabble, say: ERR.
36. Drive-thru device: ATM. As in an Automatic Teller Machine.
38. Ultimate results: UP-SHOTS.
39. Spiral: COIL.
40. Clarinet kin: OBOE.
41. 1950s actor Mineo or 1950s pitcher Maglie: SAL.
 |
| Sal Mineo (né Salvatore Mineo, Jr.; Jan. 10, 1939 ~ Feb. 12, 1976) |
 |
| Sal Maglie (né Salvatore Anthony Maglie; Apr. 26, 1917 ~ Dec. 28, 1992) |
42. Pair: TWOSOME.
43. Second or third staging on Broadway, say: REVIVAL.
46. Oft-pierced body part: EAR LOBE.
47. Present proudly: TROT OUT.
48. Furtiveness: STEALTH.
51. Cul-de-__: SAC. More of today's French lesson. It literally means "bottom of a sack."
52. Concertgoer's "More!": ENCORE.
54. "Semper Fi" military org.: USMC. As in the United States Marine Corps. Several of our regulars are were in the Marines.
57. Raise: ERECT.
58. Meted (out): DOLED.
62. "Moby-Dick" captain: AHAB.
63. POTUS, militarily speaking: CIC. As in the Commander-In-Chief.
65. Pop: DAD.
66. Underhanded: SLY.
Here's the Grid:
חתולה
I won't Sugar Coat this. This will be my last commentary for a while. Hubby and I are taking a month-long trip to Europe. I know you will be in good hands while I am gone.
Notes from C.C.:
1) Have a wonderful trip, Hahtoolah, we look forward to your return!
2) Our Thursday sherpas MM & Bill have agreed to cover for Hahtoolah in June. Thank you so much, guys!