0627-20 NY Times Crossword 27 Jun 20, Saturday

Constructed by: Ryan McCarty
Edited by: Will Shortz

Today’s Theme: None

… a complete list of answers

Bill’s time: 33m 39s!

Bill’s errors: 2

  • JASON MRAZ (Jason Maaz)
  • SCHOOLMARM (schoolma’am!!!)

Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

Across

5 2018 Stanley Cup champs, to fans : CAPS

The Washington Capitals hockey team is based in Arlington, Virginia. The team was founded in 1974.

The Stanley Cup is named for Lord Stanley of Preston, the Governor General of Canada from 1888 to 1893. Lord Stanley’s sons became avid fans of ice hockey while in Canada, and so he donated the trophy in 1909, originally as a challenge cup for the country’s best amateur club.

17 It travels from D.C. to Boston in about seven hours : ACELA

The Acela Express is the fastest train routinely running in the US, as it gets up to 150 mph at times. The service runs between Boston and Washington D.C. via Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York. Introduced in 2000, the brand name “Acela” was created to evoke “acceleration” and “excellence”.

19 Seeped : OSMOSED

Osmosis is the movement of a solvent (often water) across a semipermeable membrane. In the process of osmosis, the solvent tends to flow from an area of less concentration to an area of higher concentration. This sense of absorbing water effortlessly gives rise to the expression “learning by osmosis”.

25 Monopoly card with property info : TITLE DEED

The commercial game of Monopoly is supposedly a remake of “The Landlord’s Game” created in 1903 by a Quaker woman named Lizzie Phillips. Phillips used her game as a tool to explain the single tax theory of American economist Henry George. The Landlord’s Game was first produced commercially in 1924. The incredibly successful derivative game called Monopoly was introduced in 1933 by Charles Darrow, who became a very rich man when Parker Brothers bought the rights to the game just two years later in 1935.

30 Home of Florida Atlantic University : BOCA RATON

The name of the city of Boca Raton in Florida translates from Spanish as “Mouse Mouth”. There doesn’t seem to be a definitive etymology of the name but one plausible explanation is a nautical one. “Boca”, as well as meaning “mouth” can mean “inlet”. “Ratón”, as well as meaning “mouse” was also used to describe rocks that chewed away at a ship’s anchor cable. So possibly Boca Raton was named for a rocky inlet.

31 Singer/songwriter with the 2008 top 5 album “We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.” : JASON MRAZ

Jason Mraz is a singer-songwriter from Mechanicsville, Virginia. Jason is of Czech descent, and his name “Mraz” translates as “frost”.

32 Word that goes before and after “after” : DAY

Day after day.

36 Enchanting sort : MAGE

“Mage” is an archaic word meaning “magician”.

37 Bulk purchase at the post office : PANE

That would be a pane of stamps.

38 Mars, to Jupiter : SON

Mars was the god of war in ancient Rome. Mars was also viewed as the father of the Roman people and the father of Romulus and Remus, the twin brothers who founded Rome according to Roman mythology.

The Pantheon in Rome was built as a temple to all the gods of ancient Rome. Even though the Pantheon was built almost two thousand years ago, the roof at its center remains the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome.

41 Betty who sang “The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s in His Kiss)” : EVERETT

“The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s in His Kiss)” dates back to 1963 when it was written by Rudy Clark. The song was rejected by most singers to whom it was offered including the big “girl band” of the day, the Shirelles. It was first recorded by Merry Clayton, but it took a second recording by Betty Everett to hit the charts. Over in England, the Searchers had some success with the song in 1964, and then the Hollies, Swinging Blue Jeans, Helen Shapiro, Lulu and Sandie Shaw all had a go. Finally, along comes Cher in 1990 and records her version for the 1990 film “Mermaids”, and again it’s a flop. Cher’s version was re-released in the UK in 1991 and it just took off. It stayed at number one for 5 weeks. The public is so fickle …

52 Pennsylvania county or its seat : YORK

York, Pennsylvania was named for the historic city of York in the North of England. York was one of the cities that served as a capital of the Continental Congress during the Revolutionary War. It was in York that the Articles of Confederation were drafted and adopted.

Down

4 Baldness is the result of losing them : TREADS

One way to test the depth of tread on a tire is the Penny Test. Insert a penny into the tire’s tread, with Lincoln’s head upside down. If you can see all of the president’s head, then it’s time to replace that tire (tread depth is less than 2/32 inch).

9 Like the era that began in the early 1600s : JACOBEAN

The Jacobean era is that period in England and Scotland when the thrones were occupied by King James VI of Scotland, also known as King James I of England. “Jacobus” is the Latin for “James”.

11 Republic of ___, theocratic setting of “The Handmaid’s Tale” : GILEAD

“The Handmaid’s Tale” is a remarkably well-received television adaptation of the 1985 novel of the same name by Margaret Atwood. The story is set in a future United State after a Second American Civil War. The “Handmaids” are the few remaining fertile women in the world, who are ritually raped and forced to bear children by their masters.

12 A lot : SCADS

The origin of the word “scads”, meaning “lots and lots”, is unclear. That said, “scads” was used to mean “dollars” back in the mid-1800s.

15 Baker’s Joy alternative : PAM

PAM cooking oil was introduced in 1961 by Leon Rubin and Arthur Meyerhoff. The name “PAM” is an acronym … standing for “Product of Arthur Meyerhoff”. Who’d a thunk it …?

22 He’s “waiting in the sky” in a classic David Bowie song : STARMAN

“Starman” is a fabulous song released by David Bowie in 1972 on the famous album “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars”.

27 Regular guest on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” : DR OZ

Mehmet Oz is a cardiothoracic surgeon, and a TV personality known simply as “Dr. Oz”. Oz appeared as a health expert for several seasons on “The Oprah Winfrey Show”. Now he has his own “The Dr. Oz Show” on radio and television that is backed by Winfrey’s Harpo Productions.

31 Miss-taken identity? : JANE DOE

Though the English court system does not use the term today, “John Doe” first appeared as the “name of a person unknown” in England in 1659, along with the similar “Richard Roe”. An unknown female is referred to as “JaneDoe ”, and the equivalent to Richard Roe is Jane Roe (as in Roe v. Wade, for example). Variants of “John Doe” used outside of the courts are “Joe Blow” and “John Q. Public”.

32 Italian playwright who won the 1997 Nobel Prize in Literature : DARIO FO

Dario Fo is multi-talented actor and playwright from Italy. Fo’s most famous work is probably his controversial series of one-act plays titled “Mistero buffo” (“Comical Mystery”). “Mistero buffo” is set in the Holy Land during the first century CE. An Italian TV broadcast of “Mistero buffo” was denounced by the Vatican as “the most blasphemous show in the history of television”.

35 Things that go “Bang!” : GAVELS

The small hammer that one raps on a table or desk to call a meeting to order, or perhaps to signify a sale at an auction, is called a gavel. The term “gavel” is actually American English, and is a word that emerged in the early 19th century.

37 ___ Center, home of the Denver Nuggets : PEPSI

Pepsi Center in Denver is home to the NBA’s Denver Nuggets and the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche. The facility opened in 1999.

The Denver Nuggets basketball team was a founding member of the American Basketball Association in 1967, at which time they were known as the Denver Rockets. The team name was changed in 1974 as the franchise planned its transition to the NBA. The name change was needed as the NBA already had the Houston Rockets. As is tradition, the new name was chosen in a fan contest.

40 Stew thickener : OKRA

The plant known as okra is mainly grown for its edible green pods. The pods are said to resemble “ladies’ fingers”, which is an alternative name for the plant. Okra is known as “ngombo” in Bantu, a name that might give us the word “gumbo”, the name for the name of the southern Louisiana stew that includes okra as a key ingredient.

42 Pair of overalls? : ELS

There is a pair of letters L (els) in the word “overalls”.

43 Disney character who sings “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” : ANNA

“Frozen” is a 2013 animated feature from Walt Disney Studios that is based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale “The Snow Queen”. The film is all about the exploits of Princess Anna, the younger sister of Elsa, Snow Queen of Arendelle. Spoiler alert: Prince Hans of the Southern Isles seems to be a good guy for most of the film, but turns out to be a baddie in the end. And, a snowman named Olaf provides some comic relief.

46 Walk-___ : ONS

A “walk-on role” in a performance is one in which the actor makes an appearance on stage or on set, but has no dialog. One line of dialog elevates the role to a “bit part”.

Complete List of Clues/Answers

Across

1 Rim coating, at times : SALT
5 2018 Stanley Cup champs, to fans : CAPS
9 Nudges : JOGS
13 Styling substance : HAIR TONIC
15 ___ button : PANIC
16 Put on, despite the put-off? : HATE-WATCH
17 It travels from D.C. to Boston in about seven hours : ACELA
18 Liner recliner : CHAISE
19 Seeped : OSMOSED
21 “You ___ worry” : NEEDN’T
22 Bring about, as confusion : SOW
23 Angle : BIAS
24 Targets of social reform : ILLS
25 Monopoly card with property info : TITLE DEED
28 Factor in the price of paper towels : PLY
29 Sign at a museum exhibit, maybe : NO CAMERAS
30 Home of Florida Atlantic University : BOCA RATON
31 Singer/songwriter with the 2008 top 5 album “We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.” : JASON MRAZ
32 Word that goes before and after “after” : DAY
35 Cared : GAVE A DAMN
36 Enchanting sort : MAGE
37 Bulk purchase at the post office : PANE
38 Mars, to Jupiter : SON
39 More morose : DOURER
41 Betty who sang “The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s in His Kiss)” : EVERETT
43 Opens the door for, say : ASKS IN
44 Something you wouldn’t use your hands to touch : PEDAL
45 What has a large following on a college campus? : HONOR CODE
48 Double shifts at work, e.g. : SLOGS
49 Deterrent to getting a credit card : ANNUAL FEE
50 “Ahh” : I SEE
51 Russian lead-in to -evich or -evna : TSAR
52 Pennsylvania county or its seat : YORK

Down

1 Theatergoer’s reproof : SHH!
2 Small battery type : AAA CELL
3 How ballet dancers move : LITHELY
4 Baldness is the result of losing them : TREADS
5 Countrywide, say : COAST-TO-COAST
6 What to do if you’d like a hand : ANTE
7 Snap : PIC
8 Miss Beadle of “Little House on the Prairie,” e.g. : SCHOOLMARM
9 Like the era that began in the early 1600s : JACOBEAN
10 Some infant wear : ONESIES
11 Republic of ___, theocratic setting of “The Handmaid’s Tale” : GILEAD
12 A lot : SCADS
14 Matching : TWIN
15 Baker’s Joy alternative : PAM
20 Chinese menu descriptor : SWEET AND SOUR
21 Winter air quality : NIP
22 He’s “waiting in the sky” in a classic David Bowie song : STARMAN
26 “Pfft, how hard could it be?!” : I CAN DO THAT!
27 Regular guest on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” : DR OZ
29 Part of a plane : NOSE
30 3.0 : B AVERAGE
31 Miss-taken identity? : JANE DOE
32 Italian playwright who won the 1997 Nobel Prize in Literature : DARIO FO
33 Nonbinary, in a way : AGENDER
34 “___ out!” : YER
35 Things that go “Bang!” : GAVELS
36 Jacked : MUSCLY
37 ___ Center, home of the Denver Nuggets : PEPSI
40 Stew thickener : OKRA
42 Pair of overalls? : ELS
43 Disney character who sings “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” : ANNA
46 Walk-___ : ONS
47 Audible “OMG!” : EEK!

19 thoughts on “0627-20 NY Times Crossword 27 Jun 20, Saturday”

  1. 20:42, no errors. Thoughtful in spots. Wasn’t aware of the 2018 Stanley Cup or the 1997 Nobel Prize winners, but crosses came to the rescue, so only lost a minute or two there. Good tussle, overall … 🙂,

  2. 59:58 With several lookups. Stymied in SE Corner. wanted 36A to be MUSE, which led to 33D being ASEXUAL, 40D was AGAR for the longest time; Never saw Frozen, so 43 D was ELSA/ILSA, 52A was either ERIE or POLK (the K worked, but turns out POLK county is in FLA). Had 46D as INS for a long time, etc.
    Just kept trying to work and re-work that whole section and could not put it all together.

    Also not familiar with the term hate-watch.

    Seems like a regular Sat. for me 🙁

  3. 26:15. Am I the only person who’s never heard of a PANE of stamps? That one confused me. MUSTNT before NEEDNT cost me several minutes as well. Otherwise a smooth solve by Saturday standards. As usual, it took me a while to get started.

    I got EVERETT from just a few crosses, but I had an advantage. EVERETT is both my father’s middle name as well as my girlfriend’s last name. I would have felt foolish if I hadn’t thought of it.

    Best –

  4. Ah, karma. After doing well all week, I crashed today. 47:48 with a few lookups. Spent a lot of wasted time with a few incorrect fills that I eventually took out. As often happens with me, I got the long answers and got stumped on the little ones.

  5. And coming in last with a DNF, in spite of my best guess at guessing…. “Mage” lost me…”day after” made sense, but not “after day”, then I read the blog. I’ve never seen the “Handmaids Tale”, not familiar with “Dario Fo”….I could go on, but the electrons I would squander would be better spent trying to save the world….

    1. I never heard of Mage either. Figure it was from a McCartney song – “Baby I’m a Mage at the way you stump me all the time”. 🙂

  6. Another hand up for not knowing MAGE, but I guessed the A (didn’t know DARIO FO either) because I thought it was somehow related to the MAGI that we see in crosswords all the time. One a a few lucky guesses in this one for me.

  7. The printed version of the puzzle had for 30 down

    3.0 <-

    This made no sense to me. Is this some kind of crossword puzzle nomenclature? I ended up putting in beverage which made jesonmraz the singer/songwriter. Patting myself on the back for getting the SE corner but totally missed the b average answer.

    1. Kudos to Ron F. for his McCartney pin.. Made the slog worth reading.. Tough time down in SE corner like others.. With the Italian name, the MAGE and DOURER all in one corner, just couldn’t finish . 3 errors down there. Also never heard of HATE WATCH.. Don’t get why you would even want to put it in a crossword?? That was a “put-off”.

  8. Not today. Happy to complete most, but couldn’t crack the south east.
    Compliments to those who could.

  9. 1:04 :15 …I had mame for mage so I wasn’t the Lone Ranger on that one…I also had B average but didn’t know I had the right answer…overall IMO👎👎👎👎
    Stay safe

  10. Muse for mage, didn’t know the Italian playwright, asender seemed weird but the u and the s spoiled a briskly filled in rest of the puzzle. I hate mistakes!

  11. Took about an hour but managed to escape unscathed. Probably one of the hardest puzzles I managed to finish cleanly. Not that anyone will probably ever see this!

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