0108-21 NY Times Crossword 8 Jan 21, Friday

Constructed by: Evan Kalish
Edited by: Will Shortz

Today’s Theme: None

Bill’s time: 12m 30s

Bill’s errors: 0

Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

Across

1 Longtime soft drink slogan : DO THE DEW

If you check the can, you’ll see that “Mountain Dew” is now marketed as “Mtn Dew”.

9 Cosmetics brand owned by Revlon : ALMAY

The Almay brand of cosmetics was established back in 1931. Almay was founded by Alfred and Fanny May Woititz, who melded their given names to come up with the brand name (Al-may). The couple were driven to invent the products as Fanny May needed cosmetics that did not irritate her skin.

Revlon was founded in the depths of the Great Depression in 1932 by Charles and Joseph Revson. The “S” in the “Revson” name was replaced by the “L” from Charles “Lachman”, a chemist who partnered with the two brothers.

17 Welcome abroad : BIENVENUE

“Bienvenue” is French for “welcome”.

19 Tours can be found on it : LOIRE

The Loire is the longest river in France. It is so long that it drains one-fifth of the nation’s land mass. The Loire rises in the southeast, in the Cevennes mountain range, then heads north then due west, emptying into the Bay of Biscay at the city of Nantes. The Loire Valley is home to some of France’s most famous wine production, and includes the wine regions of Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé and Muscadet.

Tours is the largest city in the Centre region of France. Sitting on the Loire river, it is said that the people of Tours speak the “purest” form of French in the whole country. The French spoken by a local is also said to be free of any accent.

23 Brook no refusal : INSIST

“To brook” and “to abide” both mean “to tolerate, to put up with”.

25 Locale in a children’s song title : DELL

“The Farmer in the Dell” is a nursery rhyme and singing game that probably originated in Germany.

The farmer in the dell
The farmer in the dell
Hi-ho, the derry-o
The farmer in the dell

27 Lead-in to brain or body : PEA-

The Peabody Awards have been presented annually since 1941 to individuals and organizations for excellence in broadcasting. They are named for businessman and philanthropist George Foster Peabody, who provided the funds to establish the awards program.

28 “The Gray Lady”: Abbr. : NYT

“The New York Times” (NYT) has been published since 1851, and is sometimes referred to as “the Gray Lady”. These days a viable alternative to buying the paper is to read the news online. NYTimes.com is the most popular online newspaper website in the country.

29 Curry on TV : ANN

Television journalist Ann Curry is perhaps best known for the time she spent as co-host on NBC’s “Today” show. NBC executives asked Curry to resign from the “Today” show because ratings were low. I just read online that Curry was also pushed out because of the way she insisted on dressing and because she refused to dye her gray hair. I hope that isn’t true …

31 Fabric choice for a gown : SATEEN

Sateen is a cotton fabric. It has a weave that is “four over, one under”, meaning that most of the threads come to the surface to give it a softer feel.

41 A real head-scratcher? : NOOGIE

A noogie is a childish move in which someone rubs his (and it’s always a guy!) knuckles into a person’s head to create a little soreness.

45 Pro in Ohio, in brief : CAV

The Cavaliers are the professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavs joined the NBA as an expansion team in 1970.

48 Saharan menace : ASP

The asp is a venomous snake found in the Nile region of Africa. It is so venomous that the asp was used in ancient Egypt and Greece as a means of execution. Cleopatra observed such executions noting that the venom brought on sleepiness without any painful spasms. When the great queen opted to commit suicide, the asp was therefore her chosen method.

49 Whom Grogu resembles on “The Mandalorian” : YODA

Yoda is one of the most beloved characters of the “Star Wars” series of films. Yoda’s voice is provided by the great modern-day puppeteer Frank Oz of “Muppets” fame.

51 Actress Kidman : NICOLE

Nicole Kidman is an Australian-American actress whose breakthrough role was the female lead in 1989’s “Dead Calm”. Kidman was actually born in Hawaii, to Australian parents. As a result, she has dual citizenship of Australia and the US. Famously, Kidman was married to fellow-actor Tom Cruise from 1990 to 2001, and is now married to New Zealand-born country singer Keith Urban.

65 Loser to Roosevelt in 1944 : DEWEY

As well as being three-term governor of New York, Thomas E. Dewey twice ran as Republican candidate for president. He was defeated in both races, in 1944 and 1948. In 1944, Dewey lost to incumbent President Roosevelt, and in 1948 he lost to incumbent President Truman. “The Chicago Tribune” called the latter incorrectly and ran that famous headline “DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN”. Dewey didn’t run for president in 1952 but did help General Eisenhower get the nomination, and ultimately secure the White House. If you drive along the New York State Thruway, you’ll see Dewey’s name a lot, as the highway is named in his honor.

Down

1 Home to the so-called “Silicon Docks,” a European equivalent to Silicon Valley : DUBLIN

The city of Dublin, the capital of Ireland, is known as “Baile Átha Cliath” in Irish (“town of the hurdled ford”). The English name “Dublin” is an anglicized form of the older Irish name for the city “Dubh Linn”, meaning “black pool”.

2 Like the taste of a bialy : ONIONY

“Bialy” is a Yiddish name for a small onion roll that takes its name from Bialystok, a city in Poland.

3 Muslim or Christian, e.g. : THEIST

Broadly speaking, theism is the belief that there is at least one god. The term “theism” is also used to describe the belief in just one god, although the term “monotheism” is perhaps more accurate. Followers of Christianity, Judaism and Islam would all be classified as theists or monotheists.

4 Milliner Bendel with a bygone chain of women’s accessories stores : HENRI

A milliner is someone who makes, designs or sells hats. Back in the 1500s, the term described someone who sold hats made in Milan, Italy, hence the name “milliner”.

6 Dr. ___ : DRE

“Dr. Dre” is the stage name of rapper Andre Romelle Young. Dr. Dre is known for his own singing career as well as for producing records and starting the careers of others such as Snoop Dogg, Eminem and 50 Cent.

9 This can help you find your balance : ATM

Automatic Teller Machine (ATM)

11 Digital filing service? : MANI-PEDI

Manicure & pedicure (mani-pedi)

21 Ice Bucket Challenge cause, for short : ALS

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge was a viral phenomenon in which participants were challenged to be filmed having a bucket of ice water poured over their heads. Each participant then got to nominate up to three other people to do the same. Usually the nominees were given a day or two to comply, but could make a charitable donation if they wanted to avoid the icy shower. Happily, many participants opted to take the challenge, and also make a donation.

26 “Chicago Hope” actress Christine : LAHTI

Christine Lahti is an actress probably best known for playing Dr. Kate Austen on the TV medical drama “Chicago Hope”. If you read “The Huffington Post” you might run across her as well, as Lahti is a contributing blogger.

“Chicago Hope” is a medical drama TV show that originally ran from 1994 to 2000. The title refers to a fictional private charity hospital in the Windy City, where the show is set.

32 Stun, in a way : TASE

To tase is to use a taser, a stun gun.

37 Setting with hobbit-holes : THE SHIRE

The Shire is a region in Middle-earth appearing in J. R. R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” series of novels.

39 Pulitzer-winning author Jennifer : EGAN

Jennifer Egan is an author who grew up in San Francisco. Egan’s 2010 work “A Visit from the Goon Squad” won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Usually termed a novel, “A Visit from the Goon Squad” is structured in such a way that it is sometimes described as a collection of linked short stories.

40 Cajun cuisine catch : CRAWDAD

“Crawdad” and “crawfish” are alternative names for crayfish, with “crawdad” being more common in the south of the country.

46 Certain hydrocarbon : ALKANE

In organic chemistry, the three basic classes of hydrocarbons are alkanes, alkenes and alkynes. Three of the simplest members of these classes are ethane, ethene (commonly called “ethylene”), and ethyne (commonly called “acetylene”).

47 Evening prayer : VESPER

Vespers is an evening prayer service in some Christian traditions. “Vesper” is the Latin for “evening”. Vespers is also known as “Evensong”.

50 Columnist Maureen : DOWD

Maureen Dowd is a celebrated columnist for “The New York Times” as well as a best-selling author. Dowd won a Pulitzer for her columns about the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

53 Pink drink, for short : COSMO

Like so many famous cocktails, the actual origins of the cosmopolitan are disputed. It is a nice drink. One of the standard recipes is 4 parts citrus vodka, 1.5 parts Cointreau, 1.5 parts lime juice and 3 parts cranberry juice.

60 Good name for a marine biologist? : RAY

Rays are fish with flattened bodies that have gill slits on their underside. There are many, many species of ray, including stingrays and skates. Rays are close relatives of sharks, with both being cartilaginous fish, as opposed to bony fish.

62 Jiffy : SEC

“Jiff”, or “jiffy”, meaning “short time, instant” is thought originally to be thieves’ slang for “lightning”.

Complete List of Clues/Answers

Across

1 Longtime soft drink slogan : DO THE DEW
9 Cosmetics brand owned by Revlon : ALMAY
14 Simply not done : UNHEARD OF
16 Make one’s hair stand on end? : TEASE
17 Welcome abroad : BIENVENUE
18 Rage : MANIA
19 Tours can be found on it : LOIRE
20 Like una montaña : ALTA
22 Drop a line, say : FISH
23 Brook no refusal : INSIST
25 Locale in a children’s song title : DELL
27 Lead-in to brain or body : PEA-
28 “The Gray Lady”: Abbr. : NYT
29 Curry on TV : ANN
31 Fabric choice for a gown : SATEEN
33 Signal : DENOTE
36 Award-winning architect Zaha ___ : HADID
37 “See, SOMEONE understands what I’m saying!” : THIS GUY GETS IT
40 Blackens : CHARS
41 A real head-scratcher? : NOOGIE
42 Void, in a way : REPEAL
44 Team ___ : USA
45 Pro in Ohio, in brief : CAV
48 Saharan menace : ASP
49 Whom Grogu resembles on “The Mandalorian” : YODA
51 Actress Kidman : NICOLE
54 “___ that?” : WHY’S
56 Weighs (down) : BOGS
58 Cozy spots : NOOKS
59 Algerian currency : DINAR
61 Token reprimand : WRIST SLAP
63 Whiff, say : AROMA
64 Resolve : DETERMINE
65 Loser to Roosevelt in 1944 : DEWEY
66 Rechargeable city transport : E-SCOOTER

Down

1 Home to the so-called “Silicon Docks,” a European equivalent to Silicon Valley : DUBLIN
2 Like the taste of a bialy : ONIONY
3 Muslim or Christian, e.g. : THEIST
4 Milliner Bendel with a bygone chain of women’s accessories stores : HENRI
5 Rain gutter locales : EAVES
6 Dr. ___ : DRE
7 Chef Lewis who wrote “The Taste of Country Cooking” : EDNA
8 “Right?” : WOULDN’T YOU AGREE?
9 This can help you find your balance : ATM
10 Part of some tables : LEAF
11 Digital filing service? : MANI-PEDI
12 Lead-in to an opinion : AS I SEE IT …
13 “Your point being …?” : YEAH, AND …
15 Bash : FETE
21 Ice Bucket Challenge cause, for short : ALS
24 Sharp quality : TANG
26 “Chicago Hope” actress Christine : LAHTI
30 Friend or foe : NOUN
32 Stun, in a way : TASE
33 Pressing : DIRE
34 Assignment that sounds like its third and fourth letters : ESSAY
35 Headaches for talent agents : EGOS
37 Setting with hobbit-holes : THE SHIRE
38 “See what you’ve started?” : HAPPY NOW?
39 Pulitzer-winning author Jennifer : EGAN
40 Cajun cuisine catch : CRAWDAD
43 Really easy question : LOB
45 Order to stop : COOL IT!
46 Certain hydrocarbon : ALKANE
47 Evening prayer : VESPER
50 Columnist Maureen : DOWD
52 First class : INTRO
53 Pink drink, for short : COSMO
55 Uniform : SAME
57 Doesn’t go anywhere : SITS
60 Good name for a marine biologist? : RAY
62 Jiffy : SEC

15 thoughts on “0108-21 NY Times Crossword 8 Jan 21, Friday”

  1. 30:05 with one lookup. Could not gain any traction in the NE corner. Stared at it for at least 10 minutes. Kept thinking of EAR for 9D and EDIT for 22A. Prior to that it was the SW corner where I had 40D as CATFISH for a while before I could make sense of that corner.

  2. 14:10, no errors. One of those puzzles that could easily have taken a lot longer, but I was kind of on the setter’s wavelength (whatever that means … 😜).

  3. 24:51 with a little help in the NE. I was half done at 8 minutes. Then slowed waaay down. 🙄

  4. 53:49, just my usual “slow as 90 weight oil in the Arctic” time. Had trouble just getting started in any direction and any corner….it’s not too obvious, is it? 🙂

  5. One crummy letter. And since I do the NYT crossword every day, It would be embarrassing to tell you which one.

  6. The benefits of walking away. I got stuck in the upper left, had to leave. Upon returning, fixed it in one minute or less.

  7. Did this puzzle late, but I never commented on it. I don’t remember much about it so I’ll give my generic response:

    Finished in a certain amount of time. Had trouble in some area. Would have done better except for some excuse….

    I still say Cosmos look more red than pink, but I never order them so it doesn’t matter.

    Would an aaTHEIST be someone who doesn’t believe that atheists exist?

    Best –

  8. 54:50 no errors but it seemed like 2:54:50.
    I didn’t care for this one at all.
    17A…using foreign words is bad enough but the setter could at least indicate that in the clue
    Stay safe😀

  9. 27:19, no errors. Agree with A NONNY MUSS, there are times when you can be on the same wavelength as the setter, or completely out of sync. Type setting error in my paper had the clue for 35D “Headaches for hobbit-holes”; no clue for 37D.

  10. 19A, I caught on to the misdirect that “Tours” referred to the city. However, the list of rivers in France that have 5 letters names, ending in ‘e’ is mind boggling.

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