(We're working with Google to have our LA Times Crossword Corner restored. We hope the blog will return to norm by Friday night (Jan 18, 2012). We're sorry for the inconvenience.)
C.C.& the team
Today's write-up is by Argyle (Lemonade's write-up is trapped in the old blog).
Today's write-up is by Argyle (Lemonade's write-up is trapped in the old blog).
Theme: Double Trouble - The person cited in the clue would be troubled by both parts of the theme answer.
18A. Double trouble ... for a hydrophobic teetotaler? : WATER BOTTLE. fear of water, dislike of alcohol.
29A. ... for an arachnophobic hermit? : SPIDERMAN. fear of spiders, dislike of company.
36A. ... for an acrophobic wallflower? : SUMMIT MEETING. fear of heights, dislike of , well just shy.
42A. ... for a xenophobic couch potato? : ALIEN RACE. fear of the unknown, dislike of moving.
53A. ... for an agoraphobic soldier? : PUBLIC ENEMY. fear of the marketplace, dislike of the foe.
Across:
1. Vintner's vessel : TUN. Big vat.
4. Avis rival : HERTZ
9. Amazon.com nos. : ISBNs They're in every book.
14. Bearer of bear cubs, in Madrid : OSA
15. Cheri who impersonated Judge Judy on "Saturday Night Live" : OTERI.
16. Gardener's transplant : GRAFT
17. Sales pro : REP
20. Pueblo brick : ADOBE
22. Stone unit : CARAT
23. Dance that tells a story : HULA
24. Skyline haze : SMOG
26. Id controller : EGO
32. Chest-maker's wood : CEDAR
34. Pharmaceutical oil : OLEUM
35. Arduous : TAXING
39. Make a meal of : DINE ON
40. Apportion : ALLOT
41. Clubs: Abbr. : ASSN's
46. Shtick : BIT
47. Long to be with : MISS
48. This time only : ONCE
49. Smithy's tool : ANVIL
52. Harp (on) : DWELL
58. AAA freebie : MAP
59. Rockers Van __ : HALEN
60. Not just odd : EERIE
61. Online qualifier : IMO
62. Steel plow pioneer : DEERE. Echo of yesterday.
63. Creeps up on : NEARS
64. Fitting : APT
Down:
1. Some ark contents : TORAHS
2. Depleted : USED UP
3. Port near Vesuvio : NAPOLI. Down around the Italian ankle.
4. "Battle Hymn of the Republic" lyricist : HOWE
5. SFO posting : ETA
6. On Soc. Sec. : RET.
7. 3-Down trio : TRE
8. December stone : ZIRCON
9. Yaroslavna's spouse, in a Borodin opera : IGOR. ?
10. Span. title : SRTA.
11. Driven home : BATTED IN. Baseball.
12. Gp. for Jets, but not Sharks : NFL. (National Football League)
13. __-Foy, Quebec : STE.
19. Purse : BAG
21. It's not a good sign : BAD OMEN
24. Tom Lehrer song : SMUT
25. Mice and men : MAMMALS
27. Sharks or Jets : GANG
28. Nonprofit's URL ending : .ORG
30. "__ World": "Sesame Street" feature : ELMO'S
31. Hold back : REIN
32. Williams title starter : CAT ON a Hot Tin Roof.
33. Seating offering more space : EXIT ROW
35. Graph heading? : TELE
36. Assent to a capitán : "SI, SI"
37. Shaky : UNSTABLE
38. Yale Bowl cheerers : ELIs
39. Dollop : DAB
42. Quinn of "Annie" : AILEEN. She played the title role in 1982.
43. Weak state : ANEMIA
44. Workshop device : C CLAMP. It looks like a 'C'.
45. Sniggler's tool : EELPOT
47. Stereo jack label : MIC
50. Buc or Met : NLer. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Oops. National FOOTBALL League (But wait, the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League are often referred to as the "Bucs".) and New York Mets, baseball team of the National League East.
51. Kudzu, for one : VINE
52. Sources of some highlights : DYES
53. Advanced deg. : PHD. (Doctor of Philosophy)
54. OPEC member : UAE. (United Arab Emirates)
55. Family tree word : NÉE
56. Chunk of history : ERA
57. Fallen space station : MIR
Happy 22nd wedding anniversary to Jazzbumpa (Ron) and his beautiful wife Gloria! Click here for more pictures. Gloria's mom had another setback on Tuesday, but Ron still wrote us a brilliant post with his usual wit and humor for Wednesday's blog, despite all the stress. Thanks, Ron!