QOD: January 12, 2021

Tuesday, 12 January 2021

January 12, 2021

QOD: Slow is the fastest way to get where you want to go. ~ André De Shields (b. Jan. 12, 1946), African-American actor and choreographer

It's Party Time! Each word in each theme answer can be paired with the word Party to give us a new concept, so let's Party like it's 1999!

17-Across. * Afternoon social that may include a waltz or three: TEA DANCE. Tea Party and Dance Party.

Tea Party

Dance Party

38-Across. * Brewery container: BEER KEG. Beer Party and Keg Party.

Oktoberfest Beer Party

Keg Party

11-Down. * Growing business?: GREEN HOUSE. Green Party and House Party. The Green Party is a political party.

Green Party

House Party

28-Down. * Monster.com activity: WORK SEARCH. Work Party and Search Party.

Work Party

Search Party

And the unifier:

59-Across. Like the U.S. political system, and a hint to the answers to starred clues: TWO PARTY. No further comment necessary.

Across:

1. Playfully shy: COY.

4. Cooled with cubes: ICED.

8. Shrubs arranged as barriers: HEDGES.

Keep of the Lawn!

14. Anger: IRE.

15. It has three numbers and two slashes: DATE. In the United States, today would be denoted as 1/12/21. In Europe, it would be 12/1/21.

16. Staves off: AVERTS.

19. Stay close to: BE NEAR.

20. Start of a pirate's refrain: YO HO HO!

21. Matching tops worn together: TWIN SET. Twin sets were quite popular a few years ago.

23. Phobos, to Mars: MOON.

25. Cry after a golfer's ace: IT'S IN!

26. "Even __ speak ... ": AS WE.

29. Goldarn: DANG. Mild cussing.

31. [None of the above]: OTHER.

34. New Mexico art community: TAOS.

35. Wall St. takeover: LBO. As in a Leveraged BuyOut.

36. Tom, Dick or Harry: ANYONE.

37. U.K. continent: EUR. The United Kingdom is located in Europe.

40. Arg. neighbor: URU. Uruguay is a neighbor of Argentina.

41. Hopping joints?: ANKLES.

43. Elton John's title: SIR. When Elton John (né Reginald Kenneth Dwight; b. Mar. 25, 1947) was knighted in April 1998, he added Hercules as his middle name.

44. Chinese menu possessive: TSOs. I wonder if General Tso minds that people eat his chicken.

45. Used a stun gun on: TASED.

46. Jared of "Panic Room": LETO. Jared Joseph Leto (b. Dec. 26, 1971) was born in Louisiana. He was so good in Dallas Buyers Club, but he often looks a little demonic.

47. Russo of "Ransom": RENE. Rene Marie Russo (b. Feb. 17, 1954) makes frequent guest appearances in the puzzles. Ransom was a 1996 film.

48. Panache: ÉCLAT.

50. "Giant" author Ferber: EDNA. Edna Ferber (Aug. 15, 1885 ~ Apr. 16, 1968) is probably known for her novel Show Boat, which was made into a musical that is still played. The Houston Grand Opera performed it a couple of years ago.

52. "The Piano Lesson" painter Henri: MATISSE. Henri Matisse (né Henri iÉmile Benoît Matisse; Dec. 31, 1869 ~ Nov. 3, 1954) painted several versions of piano lessons. This is probably the most well known.

54. Depends (on): RELIES.

58. Summer TV fare: RERUNS.

61. Hush-hush: SECRET.

62. Deep sleep: COMA. Also the name of Robin Cook's 1977 medical thriller.

63. B&B, maybe: INN. The Seven Gables Inn in the Monterey, California area is one of our favorites.

64. 1896 and 2004 Olympics setting: ATHENS.

65. Command to a dog: HEEL.

66. Anatomical pouch: SAC.

Down:

1. Part of SLC: CITY. As in Salt Lake City.

2. Sundae-topping cookie: OREO. A crossword staple treat.

3. "All right!": YEAH.

4. "Famous Potatoes" state: IDAHO. Maine is another state known for its potatoes. My sister had a boyfriend from Aroostook County and every time he would return from his family's farm, he would bring my parents a 50 pound bag of potatoes.

5. Does some necking: CANOODLES.

6. "Yada, yada, yada" letters: ETC.

7. Tick repellent: DEET. Or, more formally, it is known as N, N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide.

8. Hard thing to kick: HABIT.

9. Vespers: EVENSONG.

10. Population statistic: DENSITY.

12. Coup d'__: ÉTAT. Hmm ... Today's French lesson. The term means Blow of State, and is the overthrow or removal of an existing government from power. It usually involves violence.

13. Ukr. or Est., once: SSR. Ukraine and Estonia were two of the countries that made up the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

18. Stadium toppers: DOMES.

New Orleans Superdome

22. Barrister's topper: WIG. I am glad these are not used in American courts.

24. Local theater, briefly: NABE. Slang for Neighborhood.

26. Bothered big-time: ATE AT.

27. Hot spot: SAUNA. A brief history of the Sauna.

30. Swedes' neighbors: NORSE.

32. Noted 2001 bankruptcy: ENRON. I can't believe it's been 20 years already!

33. Word in a green trio?: REUSE.

36. British landing facility: AERODROME. Today's British English lesson. What is the difference between an Aerodome and an Airport?

38. Sheets and pillowcases: BED LINEN.

39. Sky box?: KITE.

42. Professor's address: LECTURE.

44. Singing syllables: TRA LA.

46. Capt.'s underlings: LTs. Captains and Lieutenants.

49. Helpers: Abbr.: ASSTs.

51. Sherpa's country: NEPAL. Nepal has a most unusual flag.

52. Convene: MEET.

53. Carve in stone: ETCH. The outer wall of the great Library in Alexandria, Egypt is etched with over 120 scripts and ancient alphabets. Visiting the library is well worth the visit.