08.18 Thu

T H U R S D A Y

August 18, 2011

Don Gagliardo & C.C. Burnikel

Theme: Plus Signs — Three blocks of black squares look like plus signs and the first three (four?) letters of each theme answer can be a word having to do with addition.



Theme answers:

• 16A: Rikishi's contest (SUMO MATCH).
• 28A: City known as the political capital of Africa (ADDIS ABABA).
• 43A: Pacific Northwest cedar monuments (TOTEM POLES).
• 55A: The three in this grid are a hint to the starts of 16-, 28- and 43-Across (PLUS SIGNS).

First of all, I just want to say Happy Birthday to PuzzleHusband! What are we doing to celebrate? Well, I'm going to drop the PuzzleKids at day camp and drop my van off at the shop. He's going to meet me at the shop and give me a ride to work and then head off on a business trip. I will spend the rest of the day hoping and praying that the shop is able to finish its work on the van today so the kids and I aren't stranded. Oh, and somewhere in there we're hoping the landlord will somehow be able to fix our air conditioner. So, yeah. Looking like a great day ahead.



This puzzle was … not my favorite. I did notice the unusual grid pattern right off the bat, so that helped with the theme. I'm not entirely sure if the relevant part of the last theme answer is TOT or TOTE. Both have dictionary support for fitting with the theme. I want to say it's TOT so that each of the three theme answers starts out with three theme letters to go along with the three plus signs in the grid. So, okay, let's go with that.



Tons of crosswordese and uninteresting fill in this one. A few gems distinguish themselves from the crowd:

• 35A: Reorganize, and then some (SHAKE UP).
• 7D: Prom corsage (ORCHID).
• 11D: Prepare for the hot tub (DISROBE).
• 36D: Jeter's 3,000th hit, e.g. (HOME RUN).

They're offset by words that just sit there — like AMMETER, LOOKED, OBTAIN, COMPILER — and a couple real clunkers — AEROBAT and AT A TIME, I'm looking at you. So, overall, as I said, not my favorite. Don and C.C. have set the bar pretty high for themselves, though, so that might be part of it.



Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 1A: Altar constellation (ARA).
• 22A: Bit for the dog bowl (ORT).
• 25A: Plaintive wind, perhaps (OBOE).
• 26A: First-year law student (ONE-L).
• 33A: Polo Grounds #4 (OTT).
• 47A: Scandinavian saint (OLAF).
• 29D: "The Clan of the Cave Bear" writer (AUEL).
• 51D: Strategic WWI river (YSER).

Everything — 1A: Altar constellation (ARA); 4A: Picked locks? (AFRO); 8A: Where to see Goyas (PRADO); 13A: Translating computer program (COMPILER); 15A: Had pizza delivered, say (ATE IN); 16A: Rikishi's contest (SUMO MATCH); 18A: Vice __ (VERSA); 19A: DFW airport home (TEX); 20A: Lei presenter (WAHINE); 22A: Bit for the dog bowl (ORT); 23A: Tapped-out character (DIT); 24A: Popping up all over (RIFE); 25A: Plaintive wind, perhaps (OBOE); 26A: First-year law student (ONE-L); 28A: City known as the political capital of Africa (ADDIS ABABA); 30A: Battlefield display (HEROICS); 32A: King's problem in "The King's Speech" (STUTTER); 33A: Polo Grounds #4 (OTT); 34A: Place to see bull horns (LEA); 35A: Reorganize, and then some (SHAKE UP); 39A: Thrill (DELIGHT); 43A: Pacific Northwest cedar monuments (TOTEM POLES); 45A: NYC neighborhood (NOHO); 46A: Make __ dash (A MAD); 47A: Scandinavian saint (OLAF); 48A: Rascal (IMP); 49A: Like Gen. McChrystal (RET.); 50A: Quite soon (ANY DAY); 52A: Bearded beast (GNU); 53A: What a case may go to (TRIAL); 55A: The three in this grid are a hint to the starts of 16-, 28- and 43-Across (PLUS SIGNS); 58A: Gravy no-no (LUMPS); 59A: Billie Holiday's real first name (ELEANORA); 60A: El primer mes (ENERO); 61A: Houston MLBer (STRO); 62A: "Just kidding!" ("NOT!"); 1D: Rm. coolers (AC'S); 2D: Stand-up performance (ROUTINE); 3D: Current contraption (AMMETER); 4D: Align the cross hairs (AIM); 5D: Fly in the ointment (FLAW); 6D: Slows (RETARDS); 7D: Prom corsage (ORCHID); 8D: Work on the street (PAVE); 9D: MapQuest output: Abbr. (RTE.); 10D: Pilot in a show (AEROBAT); 11D: Prepare for the hot tub (DISROBE); 12D: Painting the town red (ON A TEAR); 14D: "A __ upon thee!" (POX); 17D: Oldies players (HI-FIS); 21D: Gets cozy (NESTLES); 23D: [Facepalm!] (D'OH); 25D: Lay one's hands on (OBTAIN); 27D: Undid the blindfold (LOOKED); 28D: Do more than just consider (ACT UPON); 29D: "The Clan of the Cave Bear" writer (AUEL); 31D: Tabloid pair (ITEM); 35D: Scare (STARTLE); 36D: Jeter's 3,000th hit, e.g. (HOME RUN); 37D: Unit by unit, in succession (AT A TIME); 38D: Coral component (POLYP); 39D: Foreclosure cause (DEFAULT); 40D: In progress (GOING ON); 41D: Author better known as Saki (H.H. MUNRO); 42D: Word with seed or banana (TOP); 44D: Tureen utensils (LADLES); 50D: Besides (ALSO); 51D: Strategic WWI river (YSER); 52D: Gibson need (GIN); 54D: Spring mo. (APR.); 56D: Common word on Brazilian maps (SÃO); 57D: Watched the kids (SAT).