Advertisement
Edited by: Patti Varol
Today’s Reveal Answer: Music Row
The answers in four ROWS of the grid contain only genres of MUSIC:
- 41A Nashville district with historic recording studios, or what can be found four times in this puzzle : MUSIC ROW
- 17A Animating spirit : SOUL
- 18A Backup plan : ALTERNATIVE
- 28A St. Louis team : BLUES
- 31A Catch in a cage : TRAP
- 33A Playground fixture where pushing is encouraged : SWING
- 49A Gold or silver : METAL
- 50A Feature of some cheeses : FUNK
- 52A Chip dip : SALSA
- 66A Get the show on the road : ROCK AND ROLL
- 69A People : FOLK
Read on, or jump to …
… a complete list of answers
Want to discuss the puzzle? Then …
… leave a comment
Bill’s time: 7m 26s
Bill’s errors: 0
Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies
Across
9 Carne __ : ASADA
The name of the dish called “carne asada” translates from Spanish as “roasted meat”.
15 Bucks : CASH
“Buck” is a slang word meaning “dollar”. The term has been around at least since 1856, and is thought to derive from the tradition of using buckskin as a unit of trade with Native Americans during the frontier days.
16 __ roll : KAISER
The Kaiser roll was invented in Vienna, Austria. It is thought that the “Kaiser” name was applied to the crusty roll in honor of Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I.
22 Personalizable cookie : OREO
Nabisco offers customized packets of Oreo cookies through its OREOiD website. Users of the site can choose filling colors and decorations, and can add a photo or a message to the cookie itself.
23 Orator’s platform : DAIS
A dais is a raised platform for a speaker. The term “dais” comes from the Latin “discus” meaning a “disk-shaped object”. I guess that the original daises had such a shape.
24 __ facto : IPSO
“Ipso facto” is Latin, a phrase meaning “by the fact itself”. It describes something that is a direct consequence of a particular act, as opposed to something that is the result of some subsequent event. For example, my father was born in Dublin and was an Irish citizen, ipso facto. My son was born in California and is an Irish citizen by virtue of being the son of an Irish citizen (i.e. “not” ipso facto).
28 St. Louis team : BLUES
The St. Louis Blues hockey team takes its name from the song “St. Louis Blues”, a jazz and popular music classic.
“St. Louis Blues” is a 1914 song composed by W. C. Handy that really has legs. It was recorded by the likes of Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby, Count Basie and Glenn Miller. Handy made a great living from the song, with annual royalties amounting to over $25,000 a year by the time he passed away in 1958. That’s a tidy sum for the late fifties …
38 Epitome of ease : PIE
The idiom “as easy as pie” is used to describe something that is simple to do. It appears that the reference here is to the simplicity of eating pie, rather than making a pie.
39 Red-letter : BANNER
A red-letter day is one that is special for some reason. The term comes from the illuminated manuscripts of Medieval times. In such documents, initial letters were often written in red ink, so-called “red letters”.
41 Nashville district with historic recording studios, or what can be found four times in this puzzle : MUSIC ROW
Music Row is the heart of Nashville’s music industry, a district packed with recording studios, record labels, publishing houses, and offices for various music-related businesses. It’s where many of country music’s biggest stars have been discovered, recorded, and launched to fame.
45 Titania’s husband : OBERON
Oberon and Titania are the King and Queen of the Fairies in Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.
49 Gold or silver : METAL
Gold is a metallic chemical element with the symbol “Au”. It is extremely unreactive. Silver and other base metals dissolve in nitric acid, and so testing an unknown sample with nitric acid can confirm the presence of gold. This assaying practice gave rise to the figurative use of the term “acid test” to describe any definitive test.
The chemical symbol for the element silver is “Ag”, which comes from the Latin word for silver “argentum”.
60 Bills tracked at WheresGeorge.com : ONES
WheresGeorge.com is a popular website that allows users to track the journey of their dollar bills. Founded in 2006, the site encourages users to enter the serial number of a dollar bill and then track its movements as it changes hands through various transactions.
70 Second-most populous continent : AFRICA
Here are the seven continents ranked by population:
- Asia
- Africa
- Europe
- North America
- South America
- Australia/Oceania
- Antarctica
72 Coastal Pennsylvania town : ERIE
Erie is a port city in the very north of Pennsylvania, sitting on the southern shore of Lake Erie. The city takes its name from the Erie Native American tribe that resided in the area. Erie is nicknamed the Gem City, a reference to the “sparkling” water of Lake Erie.
74 Pointillism units : DOTS
Pointillism is a style of painting that grew out of Impressionism. The pointillist technique calls for the artist to use small, distinct dots of bold color to build up the image. Pointillism was developed in the late 1800s by the great French painter, Georges Seurat. You can go see his magnificent work “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte” at The Art Institute of Chicago the next time you’re in town.
75 2024 WNBA champs : LIBS
The New York Liberty was founded in 1997 and was one the original eight teams to play in the WNBA. The franchise is based in Newark, New Jersey.
Down
4 Mirror images? : SELFIES
A selfie is a self-portrait, one usually taken with a digital camera or cell phone. A “group selfie” is sometimes referred to as a “groufie” or “wefie”. A “couple selfie” is known as an “usie” or “ussie”, although those terms are sometimes also used for a group picture.
8 Tibetan ethnic group : SHERPA
In the Tibetan language, “Sherpa” means “eastern people” (sher = east, pa = people). Sherpas are an ethnic group from Nepal, but the name is also used for the local guides who assist mountaineers in the Himalayas, and particularly on Mount Everest.
11 Most populous continent : ASIA
Most of the world’s population lives in Asia (60%), and Asia is the largest continent in terms of landmass (30% of the world). Asia also has the highest population density (246 people per square mile), and the most populous city on the continent is Shanghai, China.
12 Hindu goddess : DEVI
“Devi” is the Sanskrit word for “goddess”, and Devi is in essence present in all Hindu goddesses.
13 Fighting spirit? : ARES
The Greek god Ares is often referred to as the Olympian god of warfare, but originally he was regarded as the god of bloodlust and slaughter. He united with Aphrodite to create several gods, including Phobos (Fear), Deimos (Terror) and Eros (Desire). Ares was the son of Zeus and Hera, and the Roman equivalent to Ares was Mars.
21 Podcast installments, briefly : EPS
Episode (ep.)
25 Elevator name : OTIS
Otis is a manufacturer of elevators, escalators and moving walkways. By some accounts, Otis is the world’s most popular transportation company, with the equivalent of the whole world’s population traveling on Otis devices every few days.
28 Dustpan partner : BROOM
The sweeping implement known as a “broom” used to be called a “besom”. A besom was made from a bundle of twigs tied to a stouter pole. The favored source for the twigs came from thorny shrubs from the genus Genista. The common term for many species of Genista is “broom”. Over time, “broom besoms” came to be known simply as “brooms”.
30 One-seed loss, e.g. : UPSET
A seeded player or team in a tournament is one given a preliminary ranking that is used in the initial draw. The intention is that the better competitors are less likely to meet each other in the early rounds.
32 Outdoorsy outlet : REI
REI is a sporting goods store, with the initialism standing for Recreational Equipment Inc. REI was founded in Seattle by Lloyd and Mary Anderson in 1938 as a cooperative that supplies quality climbing gear to outdoor enthusiasts. The first full-time employee hired by the Andersons was Jim Whittaker, who was the first American to climb Mount Everest.
35 St. Kitts and __ : NEVIS
Saint Kitts is the more familiar name for Saint Christopher Island in the West Indies. Saint Kitts, along with the neighboring island of Nevis, is part of the country known as the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis. Saint Kitts has had a troubled history, with the Spanish, British and French all vying for control of the island. Most of the population today is descended from slaves brought onto Saint Kitts to farm tobacco and then sugarcane. Most of the slaves were from Africa, although Irish and Scottish slaves were also used.
36 Director Gerwig : GRETA
Greta Gerwig is an actress, screenwriter and director from Sacramento whose best-known acting role is probably opposite Russell Brand in the remake of the film “Arthur”. Gerwig has turned to directing, and was at the helm for the 2019 movie “Little Women”. And then, she co-wrote and directed the hit 2023 film “Barbie”.
41 Star-nosed __ : MOLE
The star-nosed mole is a small, unusual-looking mammal found in the wet lowland areas of eastern North America. What makes it so unique is its star-shaped nose: a pink, fleshy appendage ringed by 22 tentacle-like projections. These tentacles help the mole navigate underground and detect prey with incredible speed and accuracy.
42 Channel HQ’d in Atlanta : CNN
CNN (Cable News Network) was launched in 1980 by the Turner Broadcasting System, and was the first television channel in the world to provide news coverage 24 hours a day. CNN headquarters is located in Atlanta.
46 Creme brulee dish : RAMEKIN
A ramekin is a small dish used in cooking. The term “ramekin” is an anglicized version of the French “ramequin”, which describes a dish based on cheese or meat that is baked in a small mold.
Crème brûlée is a classic French dessert consisting of a rich custard topped with a crusty layer of caramelized sugar. The name “crème brûlée” translates from French as “burnt cream”.
48 Pita filling : FALAFEL
Falafel is a ball of ground chickpeas or fava beans that has been deep fried and served in pita bread. I love chickpeas, but falafel is often too dry for me …
52 Round Table title : SIR
King Arthur (and his Round Table) probably never really existed, but his legend is very persistent. Arthur was supposedly a leader of the Romano-British as they tried to resist the invasion of the Anglo-Saxons in the late 5th and early 6th centuries.
54 “A Sister’s Eulogy for Steve Jobs” essayist Simpson : MONA
Mona Simpson is an American novelist and essayist, perhaps best known for her novels like “Anywhere But Here” and “Off Keck Road.” Given up for adoption as a baby, Simpson reconnected with her biological brother, Apple founder Steve Jobs, as adults. They formed a close bond, and she became a part of his life and family.
56 Electricity units : VOLTS
The volt is a unit of electric potential, or voltage. I always think of electrical voltage as something like water pressure. The higher the pressure of water (voltage), the faster the water flows (the higher the electric current that flows).
57 Mardi __ : GRAS
“Mardi Gras” translates from French as “Fat Tuesday”, and the holiday gets its name from the practice of eating rich foods on the eve of the fasting season known as Lent. Lent starts on the next day, called Ash Wednesday.
59 Greige hue : ECRU
The term “greige” is a portmanteau of “gray” and “beige”. It describes the state of cloth taken from a loom before it is bleached and dyed. Many such textiles have a gray-beige, greige, color.
63 Seaweed snack : NORI
Nori is an edible seaweed that we used to know as “laver” when we were living in Wales. Nori is usually dried into thin sheets. Here in the US, we are most familiar with nori as the seaweed used as a wrap for sushi.
Read on, or …
… return to top of page
Complete List of Clues/Answers
Across
1 Fireplace fuel : LOGS
5 Bath and body work locations? : SPAS
9 Carne __ : ASADA
14 Hardly working : IDLE
15 Bucks : CASH
16 __ roll : KAISER
17 Animating spirit : SOUL
18 Backup plan : ALTERNATIVE
20 Like better : PREFER
22 Personalizable cookie : OREO
23 Orator’s platform : DAIS
24 __ facto : IPSO
26 Spot for a backyard barbecue : PATIO
28 St. Louis team : BLUES
31 Catch in a cage : TRAP
33 Playground fixture where pushing is encouraged : SWING
37 House mems. : REPS
38 Epitome of ease : PIE
39 Red-letter : BANNER
40 Tiebreakers, briefly : OTS
41 Nashville district with historic recording studios, or what can be found four times in this puzzle : MUSIC ROW
44 Blvd. kin : AVE
45 Titania’s husband : OBERON
47 Quick snooze : NAP
48 Dart : FLIT
49 Gold or silver : METAL
50 Feature of some cheeses : FUNK
52 Chip dip : SALSA
53 Some viral content : MEMES
55 Devilish : EVIL
57 Sheer delight : GLEE
60 Bills tracked at WheresGeorge.com : ONES
62 Sunset hue : ORANGE
66 Get the show on the road : ROCK AND ROLL
69 People : FOLK
70 Second-most populous continent : AFRICA
71 “Sure about that?” : IS IT?
72 Coastal Pennsylvania town : ERIE
73 Double take? : STUNT
74 Pointillism units : DOTS
75 2024 WNBA champs : LIBS
Down
1 Speech therapy subject : LISP
2 Smell : ODOR
3 Modeling supply : GLUE
4 Mirror images? : SELFIES
5 Lasting signs of damage : SCARS
6 Buddy : PAL
7 Regarding : AS TO
8 Tibetan ethnic group : SHERPA
9 Org. offering tows : AAA
10 “This may be hard to hear” : SIT DOWN
11 Most populous continent : ASIA
12 Hindu goddess : DEVI
13 Fighting spirit? : ARES
16 Shoelace tangle : KNOT
19 Cut and collect : REAP
21 Podcast installments, briefly : EPS
25 Elevator name : OTIS
27 “We were all there” : I SAW
28 Dustpan partner : BROOM
29 Didn’t bother : LET BE
30 One-seed loss, e.g. : UPSET
32 Outdoorsy outlet : REI
34 Taken together : IN ALL
35 St. Kitts and __ : NEVIS
36 Director Gerwig : GRETA
38 Bit of wordplay : PUN
39 Catchy song : BOP
41 Star-nosed __ : MOLE
42 Channel HQ’d in Atlanta : CNN
43 Accessory for fall collections? : RAKE
46 Creme brulee dish : RAMEKIN
48 Pita filling : FALAFEL
50 Ward (off) : FEND
51 Login need : USER ID
52 Round Table title : SIR
54 “A Sister’s Eulogy for Steve Jobs” essayist Simpson : MONA
56 Electricity units : VOLTS
57 Mardi __ : GRAS
58 Raised bed, maybe : LOFT
59 Greige hue : ECRU
61 Only okay : SO-SO
63 Seaweed snack : NORI
64 Insincere : GLIB
65 Squeaks (by) : EKES
67 Do something : ACT
68 Course with a long reading list, for short : LIT
Leave a comment (below), or …
… return to top of page