QOD: The place you are born is simply the first place you flee. ~ Daniel Alarcón (b. Mar. 5, 1977), Peruvian-American writer
Vowel Progression. Each theme answer is a two word name or phrase with the first letter is an F, the third letter is an N and the vowel in-between runs from A to U.
17-Across. Oscar-nominated writer of "Fried Green Tomatoes": FANNIE FLAGG. Fannie Flagg (née Patricia Neal; b. Sept. 21, 1944) wrote the novel Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe in 1987. She later adapted the book in to the 1991 movie. [Name # 1]
24-Across. Herbal brew with a licorice flavor: FENNEL TEA. Fennel Tea really is a thing.
37-Across. Physical therapy that targets hand pain: FINGER EXERCISES.
51-Across. Container with melted cheese: FONDUE POT. Yummers!
62-Across. Button needed in some macros: FUNCTION KEY.
What other FUN is in store today?
Across:
1. Nail polish layer: COAT.
 |
| If you've ever tried glitter nail polish, you can relate. |
5. Bicycle for two: TANDEM.
11. Texter's "I think": IMO. Textspeak for In My Opinion.
14. "Yeah, doubtful": UH, NO!
15. "Act your age!": GROW UP!
16. Go on the __: skip town: LAM.
19. Perjure oneself: LIE.
20. Thrifty: FRUGAL.
21. Actor Sheridan: TYE. I am not familiar with this actor, but apparently he was in the X-Men series of films. [Name # 2.]
 |
| Tye Kayle Sheridan (b. Nov. 11, 1996) |
22. Fireworks show sound: BANG!
23. Nostalgic sch. visitor, perhaps: ALUM. Alumni is the plural; Alumnus is the masculine singular and Alumna is the feminine singular. If there are only a group of women former students, then the plural is Alumnae.
26. Spanish "this": ESTA. Today's Spanish lesson.
28. Stranger than strange: EERIE.
29. D'backs, in box scores: ARI. The Arizona Diamondbacks play professional baseball and are based in Phoenix, Arizona.
32. Pseudonym letters: AKA. Also Known As.
34. Totally silly: INANE.
42. Puzzle genre: LOGIC.
43. __ de cologne: EAU. // Which intersects with 33-Down: Body spray brand: AXE.
44. Female sheep: EWE.
45. Some British peers: EARLS.
48. Cause of a bad air day: SMOG. Cute and punny clue.
54. "Well, fudge": RATS.
57. Diva's solo: ARIA.
58. Card game cry: GIN. More than you ever wanted to know about Gin.
59. Is worthy of: MERITS.
61. Prefix with diversity: BIO. As in Biodiversity, which is the variety and variability of life on Earth. Biodiversity is a measure of variation at the genetic, species, and ecosystem level.
64. Gymnast Mary __ Retton: LOU. Mary Lou Retton (b. Jan. 24, 1968) was the star of the 1984 Summer Olympics where she won a gold medal in the individual all-around competition, as well as two silver medals and two bronze medals. [Name # 3.]
65. Folded egg dish: OMELET.
66. Makes do, with "out": EKES.
67. USCG rank: ENS. One of the ranks of the United States Coast Guard is the Ensign.
68. Hold a grudge against: RESENT.
69. Paying close attention: RAPT.
Down:
1. Shirt sleeve's end: CUFF.
2. "A Mighty Wind" actress Catherine: O'HARA. // And 9-Down. "A Mighty Wind" actor Levy: EUGENE. A Mighty Wind was a 2003 mocudocumentary about three eclectic, never-quite-famous folk bands that came together for the first time in decades following the death of their manager to put on an reunion concert in his honor. Catherine O'Hara (née Catherine Anne O'Hara; b. Mar. 4, 1954) and Eugene Levy (b. Dec. 17, 1946) are hilarious in any film they are in together. Catherine O'Hara celebrated her 70th birthday yesterday. [Names # 4 and 5.]
3. Render invalid: ANNUL.
4. __-in-cheek: TONGUE.
5. Anti-dandruff shampoo by Neutrogena: T-GEL.
6. Dog kennel sound: ARF.
7. Nick of "48 Hrs.": NOLTE. Nick Nolte (né Nicholas King Nolte; b. Feb. 8, 1941) has starred in a number of films. 48 Hrs. was first released over 40 years ago! [Name # 6.]
8. Actor Johnson known as "The Rock": DWAYNE. His given name is Dwayne Douglas Johnson (b May 2, 1972). He, too has starred in a number of movies. [Name # 7.]
10. Fuel economy meas.: MPG. As in Miles Per Gallon.
11. Uncomfortable: ILL A TEASE.
12. Acadia National Park state: MAINE. My home state.
 |
| Thunder Hole at Acadia National Park |
13. __-3 fatty acid: OMEGA.
18. Proactive Health dog food maker: IAMS. The company also makes food for cats and other critters.
22. Russian pancakes: BLINI. Yummers! Everything you wanted to know about Blinis but didn't know to ask.
24. Phony: FAKE.
25. "The Other Black Girl" actor McCormack: ERIC. Eric James McCormick (b. Apr. 18, 1963) is a Canadian-American actor. He is probably best recognized for his role in the television sit-com Will & Grace. [Name # 8.]
27. La Brea __ Pits: TAR.
29. CIO partner: AFL. The American Federation of Labor - Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) is a federation of unions.
30. Brazilian city: RIO. The city's formal name is Rio de Janeiro. The name means River of January because it was "discovered" by the Portuguese on January 1, 1502. Were they aware that the river was there before they "found" it?
31. Cleverly inventive: INGENIOUS.
35. Just out of the box: NEW.
36. Linguistic suffix: -ESE. As in Portuguese, the language spoken in 30-Down.
38. "Everyday Italian" cookbook writer De Laurentiis: GIADA. I am not up on my cookbook writers. Giada Pamela De Benedetti (b. Aug. 22, 1970) is an Italian American chef, television personality and cookbook writer. She was born in Rome, Italy, but now lives in the US. [Name # 9.]
39. Neutral hue: ECRU. The color comes in many shades.
40. West's opponent, in some All-Star games: EAST. Think baseball games.
41. Mai tai liquor: RUM. Yummers! How to make a Mai Tai.
46. Peanut or pea: LEGUME.
47. Cactus quills: SPINES.
49. Cute name for a black-and-white pet: OREO. I would never name my pet Oreo, but this is a fresh new clue for a crossword staple.
50. "Ozark" Emmy winner Julia: GARNER. Ozark was a Netflix crime series. Julia Gardner (Feb. 1, 1994). [Name # 10.]
51. Aesop tale: FABLE. You can read all the Aesop Fables here. [Name # 11.]
52. Celestial hunter: ORION. [Name adjacent.]
53. Dad's brother, in Paris: ONCLE. Today's French lesson.
55. Chicken __ masala: TIKKA. Chicken Tikka Masala is a dish that originated in India. It is made of roasted marinated chicken in a spicy yogurt sauce.
56. Like a challenging climb: STEEP.
59. Baseball glove: MITT.
60. Method: Abbr.: SYST. System.
62. The "F" of FYI: FOR. For Your Information.
63. Low card in a royal flush: TEN.
And the Grid:
חתולה
