QOD: It's practically impossible to look at a penguin and feel angry. ~ Joe Moore
Today's Theme: All No-ING. Each of the theme clues is a common phrase except the "ING" is missing, giving an All Knowing punny new phrase.
17. Lodging Surplus? = EXTRA INNS. The common phrase is Extra Innings.
20. Versace Creation? = ITALIAN DRESS. The common phrase is Italian Dressing.
37. Misplaced Yogi and Smokey? = LOST ONE'S BEARS. The common phrase is Lost One's Bearings.
58. Plant at Sotheby's? = BRITISH SHILL. The common phrase is British Shilling. Don't remember seeing this coin on my last trip to London.
62. Investment in Fine Fabric? = SILK STOCK. The common phrase is Silk Stocking. It also reminds me of the Crime Time after Prime Time show I used to watch called Silk Stalkings.
48-D. Pleasure Trip, and a Hint to This Puzzle's Theme = OUTING.
Across:
1. Hardly a Walk in the Park = TREK. My initial thought was Easy.
5. “American ____” = IDOL. I have never watched American Idol.
9. Provoke = ROIL. Not a word I use, but a good word all the same.
13. Russo of “Tin Cup” = RENE. I first saw her on the cover of Cosmopolitan.
14. Heavyweight Fighter? = SUMO. As in a Sumo wrestler.
15. Snoring Cause, Perhaps = APNEA. It is more common than one would realize.
19. Settles In = NESTS. It took a while for this answer to reveal itself.
22. Blotter Letters = AKA. Oh, as a police blotter! AKA stands for Also Known As. My favorite clue of the puzzle.
25. However, Contracted = THO.
26. Bygone Chrysler = LE BARON.
27. Target of Military Press = DELT. No idea.
29. Animal Rights Org. = PETA. Stands for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. To draw attention, they often have their members stand naked on street corners.
31. Penn et al.: Abbr. = STNS. Oh, as in Penn Station, not the university.
32. Backed Up, In a Way = ON DISC.
35. Quad Building = DORM.
42. Limo Occasion = PROM.
43. Maker of Pianos and Bikes = YAMAHA. I knew that Steinway didn’t make motorcycles!
45. Pacific Salmon = COHO. Yummy!
49. Scholarship Drive Donor = GRAD.
51. Carnival Starting Point? = PIER. As in taking a cruise on a Carnival liner.
52. Blood Specification = ONE UNIT.
54. “Gotcha!” = AHA!
57. Hydroelectric Structure = DAM.
61. Busted = RAN IN. // And 40-Down: BUST = RAID.
66. _____ Acid = AMINO. Protein’s building blocks.
67. “Night” Author Wiesel = ELIE. We haven’t seen him in crosswords for a long time. He used to make frequent appearances.
68. Way-Back-When Time = YORE. I wanted ONCE.
69. Coat Rack Items = PEGS. I really wanted Hats. I think of Pegs as being an integral part of a coat rack.
70. Just Slightly = A TAD.
71. Classic Theater Name = ROXY. I thought of LOEW.
Down:
1. What’s A Little Past Due? = TRE. Oh, the Italian lesson for the day. Three is the number that is a little past two.
2. Name Fit For a King? = REX. Latin for King.
3. Tonsillitis M.D. = ENT. Stands for Ear, Nose and Throat.
4. “Felicity” Star Russell = KERI.
5. Thomas of the NBA = ISAIAH. I remember him from years ago.
6. Maker of Tires and Tennis Balls = DUNLOP.
7. Present Opening? = OMNI. I knew this immediately! Omnipresent.
8. Silicon Valley City = LOS ALTOS.
9. Grammy Category = R AND B. Stands for Rhythm and Blues.
10. Met Expectations? = OPERAS. This was so easy, I almost missed it.
11. Supplement = INSERT.
12. Reveals = LETS ON.
16. Clubs: Abbr. = ASSNS. Stands for Associations.
18. One of Two Authorized U.S. iPhone Carriers = ATT. The other is Verizon.
21. Close at Hand = NEAR BY.
22. Flap = ADO. Much Ado About Nothing.
23. ____ Ration = KEN-L. Dog food brand, Ken-L Ration.
24. Designer Gucci = ALDO.
28. “My Country ___ …” = TIS. From the song, My Country Tis of Thee, Sweet Land of Liberty, Of Thee I Sing …”
30. Swelling = EDEMA.
33. Additive Sold at Pep Boys = STP.
34. Pembroke or Cardigan Dogs = CORGIS. Favorite dog of the Queen.
36. Start of an Apology = MEA. As in mea culpa, mea culpa!
38. View from Edinburg = NORTH SEA. Good clue.
39. Band Aid? = AMP.
41. 2000 World Series Stadium = SHEA.
44. Ready For Battle = ARM.
45. Army Attack Helicopter = COBRA.
46. Cloverleaf Component = ON RAMP. Helps you get in the interstate.
47. Duff = HEINIE. Oh, as in your butt! Get off your duff and get to work!
50. Flowering Plant Used for Food by the Aztecs = DAHLIA. I was not aware of this fact.
53. Yucatán Youngsters = NIÑOS. The puzzle’s Spanish lesson.
55. Hoofed It = HIKED.
56. Roker and Rosen = ALs. Both are named Al.
59. Bank Deposit? = SILT. Oh, as in a river bank!
60. About 10 Trillion Kil. = LTYR. Stands for Light Year. Who knew?
63. Valentine Symbols = OOO. Usually see XOXOX, for Hugs and Kisses. Not sure which is which.
64. ‘80s-‘90s Honda Model = CRX. I let the perps fill this in for me.
65. Critical = KEY. Oh, as an essential element, not to be critical of something.
