LA Times Crossword 9 Sep 22, Friday

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Constructed by: Brooke Husic
Edited by: Patti Varol

Today’s Reveal Answer: See Out

Themed answers are common phrases with a letter “C” taken OUT:

  • 66A Show the door, and a phonetic hint for the answers to the starred clues : SEE OUT
  • 21A *What an eager newlywed requests from a wedding photographer? : ALL THE SHOTS (“call the shots” without C)
  • 28A *Poem dedicated to a computer chip? : BINARY ODE (“binary code” without C)
  • 43A *Band gear only used in the warmest months? : SUMMER AMP (“summer camp” without C)
  • 50A *Reason for roadwork? : OLD SHOULDER (“cold shoulder” without C)

Read on, or jump to …
… a complete list of answers

Bill’s time: 8m 18s

Bill’s errors: 0

Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

Across

1 Jesmyn Ward’s “Men We Reaped,” for one : MEMOIR

Novelist Jesmyn Ward is the only woman to have won the National Book Award for fiction twice, doing so in 2011 for her novel “Salvage the Bones”, and again in 2017 for her novel “Sing, Unburied, Sing”.

7 Kraków native : POLE

Kraków is the second largest city in Poland, and was a capital for many centuries. The Archbishop of Kraków was Karol Wojtyla, one of the most famous people to have lived in the city. In 1978 Archbishop Wojtyla was installed as Pope John Paul II. Kraków was also where the bagel was invented, in the 16th century.

11 Soccer star Hamm : MIA

Mia Hamm is a retired American soccer player. She played as a forward on the US national team that won the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1991. Hamm scored 158 international goals, which was more than any other player in the world, male or female, until the record was broken in 2013. Amazingly, Hamm was born with a clubfoot, and so had to wear corrective shoes when she was growing up.

14 Grand Marnier flavor : ORANGE

Grand Marnier is an orange-flavored liqueur from France. It is a blend of Cognac brandy, distilled essence of bitter orange, and sugar. There is a lot of Grand Marnier consumed in France as part of desserts, especially the delicious Crêpe Suzette. The drink was created by Alexandre Marnier-Lapostolle in 1880, hence the name.

15 Verb in a risotto recipe : STIR

Risotto is an Italian rice dish that is usually served as a first course in Italy, but as a main course here in North America.

16 “American Street” author __ Zoboi : IBI

Ibi Zoboi is a Haitian-born American author of fiction for young adults.

17 Form a queue : LINE UP

Our word “queue”, meaning “waiting line”, comes from French. “Queue” is the French word for “tail”, and the phrase “queue à queue” translates as “one after another” (literally “tail to tail”).

18 Buckwheat noodle : SOBA

Soba is a thin Japanese noodle made from buckwheat flour. In Japan, the word “soba” tends to describe any thin noodle, in contrast with the thicker noodle called “udon”.

19 Zoomer’s parent, maybe : XER

The term “Generation X” originated in the UK where it was the name of a book by Jane Deverson. Her book detailed the results of a study of British youths in 1964, contrasting their lifestyle to those of previous generations. It was Canadian author Douglas Coupland who was responsible for popularizing the term, with his more successful publication “Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture”. By one definition, Gen-Xers were born between 1961 and 1981.

Definitions vary, but it seems that the term “Generation Z” is reserved for the children of “Generation X”, and for the generation that follows the “Millennials” (Generation Y). Gen-Zers are also known as “Zoomers”, a portmanteau of “Z” and “boomer” (as in “baby boomer”).

20 “Mudbound” director Rees : DEE

Dee Rees is a screenwriter and director who might be best known for directing the historical drama film “Mudbound” (2017). Rees also wrote and directed the 2011 movie “Pariah”, which she describes as semi-autobiographical.

2008’s “Mudbound” was the first novel written by author Hillary Jordan. It was adapted into a 2017 film directed by Dee Rees and starring Carey Mulligan, Garrett Hedlund and Jason Clarke. I haven’t read the book or seen the film, but I do know that the critics loved the movie …

24 Actress Taylor-Joy : ANYA

Actress Anya Taylor-Joy had quite the international upbringing. She was born in Miami, and raised in Buenos Aires and then London. She is perhaps best known for playing the title character in the 2020 film adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Emma”, and the lead role in the Netflix miniseries “The Queen’s Gambit”.

26 Chapati flour : ATTA

Atta is a whole-wheat flour used to make flatbreads in South Asian cuisine, such as chapati and naan. “Atta” is the Hindi or Urdu word for “dough”.

Chapati is an unleavened flatbread that is associated with India. The name of the bread comes from the Hindi word “chapat” meaning “flat”.

33 “Vice” Oscar nominee : ADAMS

Amy Adams is an American actress, although she was actually born in Vicenza, Italy while her father was a US serviceman stationed on an Italian base. My favorite Amy Adams film so far is the outstanding “Julie & Julia” in which she acted alongside Meryl Streep. I highly recommend this truly delightful movie.

“Vice” is a very interesting and entertaining 2018 biopic that tells the story of the road Dick Cheney took to become possibly the most powerful US vice president in history. Christian Bale does a remarkable job playing Cheney, with Amy Adams playing Cheney’s wife Lynne Vincent Cheney. Anyone thinking about viewing “Vice” should be aware that there’s a lot of satire included …

37 All-out brawl : MELEE

Our term “melee” comes from the French “mêlée”, and in both languages the word means “confused fight”.

39 Tzatziki herb : DILL

Dill is a herb in the celery family. Dill seeds can be used for flavoring food, as can dill leaves. In this sense, dill “leaves” are sometimes referred to as dill “weed”.

Tzatziki is a sauce made from cucumbers mixed into yogurt with other flavorings. It is a sauce primarily associated with Greece, although variants are found in cuisines of other parts of Southeastern Europe and the Middle East.

41 Ramírez who plays Che on “And Just Like That … ” : SARA

Sara Ramirez is a Mexican-American actress known for playing Callie Torres in “Grey’s Anatomy”. In 2005, Ramirez won a Tony Award for originating the role of Lady of the Lake in the “Spamalot” on Broadway.

“And Just Like That…” is a TV series that serves as a sequel to the hit show “Sex and the City”. All of the four lead actors reprise their roles, bar Kim Cattrall who opted out of playing Samantha Jones again.

46 Blues guitarist Baker : ETTA

Etta Baker was a singer and blues guitarist from North Carolina.

47 Info on a political rival : OPPO

In the world of politics, “oppo” is “opposition research”. The idea is to collect information on one’s opponent that can be used against him or her.

54 Psychic ability : ESP

Extrasensory perception (ESP)

57 Zendaya’s “Euphoria” role : RUE

Zendaya Coleman, known simply as “Zendaya” on stage, is an actress and singer. Her big break as an actress came with the role of Rocky Blue on the Disney sitcom “Shake It Up”. Zendaya gained further attention from TV audiences when in 2013, at 16 years of age, she became the youngest contestant up to that time on “Dancing with the Stars”. She did well, coming in second in the competition.

“Euphoria” is an HBO teen drama show that is loosely based on a miniseries of the same name from Israel. Lead actress in the show is Zendaya, who plays a recovering teenage drug addict.

59 Lithuania neighbor : LATVIA

Latvia is one of the former Soviet Socialist Republics (SSRs). People from Latvia are called Letts.

The nation of Lithuania is a former Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR) sitting on the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. The capital of Lithuania is Vilnius, and 16 miles north of Vilnius is a point that is officially recognized as the geographic center of Europe.

65 Condition underdiagnosed in girls: Abbr. : ADHD

The “official” name for the condition we sometimes still refer to as “attention deficit disorder” (ADD) is “attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder” (ADHD).

Down

2 Pelee Island’s lake : ERIE

Pelee Island in Lake Erie is the southernmost populated point in the whole of Canada.

3 Pride of lions : MANE

Here are some colorful collective nouns:

  • A pride of lions
  • A shrewdness of apes
  • A cloud of bats
  • A bench of bishops
  • A parliament of owls
  • A clowder of cats
  • A waddling of ducks
  • An army of frogs
  • A knot of toads

5 Rainforest lizards : IGUANAS

Iguanas have what is known as a “third eye” on their heads. Known as the parietal eye, it can sense levels of light, although it cannot make out details.

8 Short “And yet … ” : OTOH …

On the other hand (OTOH)

11 Person with a spiritual calling? : MIXOLOGIST

A mixologist is someone who is well versed in the mixing of cocktails, said he, reaching for the shaker …

22 Chem class : LAB

Our term “laboratory”, often shortened to “lab”, comes from the Medieval Latin word “laboratorium” meaning “place for labor, work”. This in turn comes from the Latin verb “laborare” meaning “to work”.

26 “Farewell” : ADIEU

“Adieu” is French for “goodbye, farewell”, from “à Dieu” meaning “to God”. The plural of “adieu” is “adieux”.

27 Art gallery on the Thames : TATE MODERN

The museum known as “the Tate” comprises four separate galleries in England. The original Tate gallery was founded by Sir Henry Tate as the National Gallery of British Art. It is located on Millbank in London, on the site of the old Millbank Prison, and is now called Tate Britain. There is also the Tate Liverpool in the north of England that is located in an old warehouse, and the Tate St. Ives in the west country located in an old gas works. My favorite of the Tate galleries is the Tate Modern which lies on the banks of the Thames in London. It’s a beautiful building, a converted power station that you have to see to believe. As of 2018, the Tate Modern was the most visited art museum in the UK.

29 Imam’s faith : ISLAM

An imam is a Muslim leader, and often the person in charge of a mosque and/or perhaps a Muslim community.

30 Born : NEE

“Née” is the French word for “born” when referring to a female. The male equivalent is “né”. The term “née” is mainly used in English when referring to a married woman’s birth name, assuming that she has adopted her husband’s name, e.g. Michelle Obama née Robinson, Melania Trump née Knavs, and Jill Biden née Jacobs.

31 Faucet brand : DELTA

The Delta Faucet company brought out the first one-handle faucet that controlled hot and cold water. The name “Delta” was chosen as the handle’s movement resembled the triangular Greek letter “delta”.

33 Farm insects : ANTS

“Formicary” is another name for “ant nest”, and comes from the Latin “formica” meaning “ant”. The phrase “ant colony” describes the ants living in an ant nest. A formicarium is similar to an aquarium, and used to house an ant colony perhaps for study. The phrase “ant farm” is usually reserved for ant nests built by an ant colony in a formicarium.

41 Chain with a Beauty Insider rewards program : SEPHORA

Sephora is a French chain of cosmetic stores, founded in 1969. The name “Sephora” is derived from the Greek for “beauty” (“sephos”). We’ve been able to visit Sephora outlets in JCPenney stores since 2006.

44 Can. elected officials : MPS

Member of Parliament (MP)

49 Where to get counter offers? : DELIS

The word “delicatessen” (or “deli” for short) came into English from the German “Delikatessen”. The Germans borrowed the word from French, in which language “délicatesse” means “delicious things (to eat)”. The term’s ultimate root is “delicatus”, the Latin for “giving pleasure, delightful”.

51 Tropical party : LUAU

The Hawaiian party or feast known as a “luau” really dates back to 1819, when King Kamehameha II removed religious laws that governed the eating of meals. These laws called for women and men to eat separately. At the same time as he changed the laws, the king initiated the luau tradition by symbolically eating with the women who moved in his circle.

52 Park City’s state : UTAH

Park City in Utah is located just 30 miles or so southeast of Salt Lake City. Park City’s economy is very much dependent on tourism. It is home to two ski resorts: Deer Valley and Park City Mountain. It is also home to the annual Sundance Film Festival.

54 Cruet filler: Abbr. : EVOO

Virgin olive oil is oil produced from olives with no chemical treatment involved in the production process at all. To be labeled “virgin”, the oil must have an acidity level of less than 2% and must be judged to have “a good taste”. Extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) comes from virgin oil production, and is the portion with acidity levels of less than 0.8% acidity that is judged to have “superior taste”.

A cruet is a small glass bottle that holds a condiment or perhaps a dressing. The word “cruet” comes from an Old French word meaning “earthen pot”.

55 Liu who plays the superhero Shang-Chi : SIMU

Simu Liu is a Chinese-born Canadian actor. One of his more famous roles was playing the title character in the Marvel Comics 2021 superhero movie “Shang-Chi and the legend of the Ten Rings”.

Complete List of Clues/Answers

Across

1 Jesmyn Ward’s “Men We Reaped,” for one : MEMOIR
7 Kraków native : POLE
11 Soccer star Hamm : MIA
14 Grand Marnier flavor : ORANGE
15 Verb in a risotto recipe : STIR
16 “American Street” author __ Zoboi : IBI
17 Form a queue : LINE UP
18 Buckwheat noodle : SOBA
19 Zoomer’s parent, maybe : XER
20 “Mudbound” director Rees : DEE
21 *What an eager newlywed requests from a wedding photographer? : ALL THE SHOTS (“call the shots” without C)
24 Actress Taylor-Joy : ANYA
25 Genuine : REAL
26 Chapati flour : ATTA
28 *Poem dedicated to a computer chip? : BINARY ODE (“binary code” without C)
33 “Vice” Oscar nominee : ADAMS
34 Complete collections : SETS
35 “Well, gosh!” : GEE!
36 Petty gripes : NITS
37 All-out brawl : MELEE
39 Tzatziki herb : DILL
40 Simple top : TEE
41 Ramírez who plays Che on “And Just Like That … ” : SARA
42 Uses a microfiber cloth : DUSTS
43 *Band gear only used in the warmest months? : SUMMER AMP (“summer camp” without C)
46 Blues guitarist Baker : ETTA
47 Info on a political rival : OPPO
48 Jittery : EDGY
50 *Reason for roadwork? : OLD SHOULDER (“cold shoulder” without C)
54 Psychic ability : ESP
57 Zendaya’s “Euphoria” role : RUE
58 Not fooled by : ONTO
59 Lithuania neighbor : LATVIA
61 Snack __ : BAR
62 Bring up : REAR
63 Hits the books and rings a bell : IDIOMS
64 One rising at dawn : SUN
65 Condition underdiagnosed in girls: Abbr. : ADHD
66 Show the door, and a phonetic hint for the answers to the starred clues : SEE OUT

Down

1 Shaping aid : MOLD
2 Pelee Island’s lake : ERIE
3 Pride of lions : MANE
4 Single : ONE
5 Rainforest lizards : IGUANAS
6 Get back (to) : REPLY
7 Quiet “Over here” : PSST!
8 Short “And yet … ” : OTOH …
9 Set free : LIBERATE
10 Pencil toppers : ERASERS
11 Person with a spiritual calling? : MIXOLOGIST
12 “Wow, no doubt” : I BET
13 Runs on TV : AIRS
22 Chem class : LAB
23 Bale contents : HAY
24 Places for taking notes? : ATMS
26 “Farewell” : ADIEU
27 Art gallery on the Thames : TATE MODERN
29 Imam’s faith : ISLAM
30 Born : NEE
31 Faucet brand : DELTA
32 Long fish : EELS
33 Farm insects : ANTS
37 Stranded : MAROONED
38 Time piece : ERA
39 Obligation : DUTY
41 Chain with a Beauty Insider rewards program : SEPHORA
42 Break down chemically : DEGRADE
44 Can. elected officials : MPS
45 Disposable sock : PED
49 Where to get counter offers? : DELIS
50 Spheres : ORBS
51 Tropical party : LUAU
52 Park City’s state : UTAH
53 Noble title : LORD
54 Cruet filler: Abbr. : EVOO
55 Liu who plays the superhero Shang-Chi : SIMU
56 Kind of tense : PAST
60 Hair __ : TIE