Words: 72
Blocks: 28
Saturday Silk~! Either I am still dreaming, or my confidence with Saturday puzzles, specifically this one, is getting very high - I did happen to know a great many answers off the top of my head, but my "WAG"-ing ( Wild Azz Guessing ) has gotten bolder. For example;
19. Manhattan's __ Place, named for a wealthy early American : ASTOR - I live on Long Island, about 50miles from Manhattan, but do not know this spot; but "five-letter" wealthy Americans? Well, let's try "ASTOR" ~!!
23A. Albemarle Sound's st. : N.CAR - Even though I know nothing about the location, I threw in "NDAK", (for North Dakota), since four-letter state abbreviations have the possibility of including "N" or "S" - close enough for "perps", and then I went back and fine-tuned 'North Carolina'
34A. They shine in theaters : EXIT SIGNS - Aisle lights? no - Usher's beam? no - Exit Signs - well, it fits....
I think what I am saying is that a "daunting" triple-ten pinwheel puzzle such as this can be less blank if you "go with your gut" on some of the clues - but don't 'forget' that it was a WAG, or you'll paint yourself into a black & white corner....
Yes, No, Maybe, Not ~??
Onward ~!
ACROSS:
1. Mascot whose first and middle names are Horatio Magellan : CAP'N CRUNCH - This guy; he was on my breakfast table every now and then
11. Employs : USES
15. "No kidding?" : ARE YOU SURE ??
16. Nonspecific filing abbr. : MISCellaneous
17. Situations with no legal moves : STALEMATES
18. Mlle. counterpart : SRTA
20. Retired fliers : SSTs
22. Whale group : GAM - now here's a WAG gone wrong; I had POD, but my 13D HAD to be right; see below
26. Improvisatory composition : TOCCATA - DAH ~! I should have known this; it's one of my favorite pieces - you all know this one
28. Case worker: Abbr. : DETective
31. "... harken __ die": Tennyson : ERE I - we have many a poet on this blog
33. Carpenter's gadget : NAILER - How Ironic is it that I did NOT WAG this? In truth, it's actually worse being a carpenter, because now I start thinking about the hundreds of gadgets it could be....I do own a dual-function Bosch nailer, does both common nails and metal bracket nails, which are stubbier; C.C. asked me to put more of my work up here - right now, I am doing a big drafting project
37. Stretch : TRACT - This word always makes me think of this clip from Monty Python
38. Russian auto : LADA - I am just curious - I am going to count the "NICs" - Nailed It Clues; this is #1 - from doing crosswords, this car
39. Apply gently : DAB ON - #2, from doing crosswords
41. Traditional Indian beverage : CHAI - #3, from doing crosswords
42. Devil : SCAMP - put in SATAN at first - note that the "S" stayed
44. Baylor University hoopsters : LADY BEARS
46. Piece of protective gear : HELMET - another WAG
48. Jutland native : DANE - I put in JAWA here, since they lived on Tattooine, and the "Jundland Wastes" were there, too - totally wrong, but again, the "A" stayed
49. Haw. doesn't observe it : DST - I know that some parts of Indiana don't deal with Daylight Savings Time, but the HAW. did not click until just now - HAWaii; - I think it's silly now, too
50. Judge : ARBITER
52. Harmony : SYNC
54. 2011 lockout org. : NBA - #4 - conflicting with the NHL, I was hoping that they stayed locked out - alas, you get the sport with the biggest waste of quality hardwood...
55. Citi Field predecessor : SHEA #5 - live here, been there, the NY Mets old stadium
57. "Quiet!" : ZIP IT ~!! - thought we were on our way to a pangram
61. Political mascot creator : NAST - #6 - Uncle Sam
63. Washoe County seat : RENO NEVADA
66. Publisher Chandler : OTIS
67. Task assigned at a meeting : ACTIONITEM
68. German pop star since the '80s : NENA - #7 - You know this song
69. Sewer's accessory : NEEDLE CASE - ah - not the etui we always see....
DOWNward ~!
1. Latin quarters? : CASA - the "A" was there from my ASTOR WAG, so I put in the Spanish word for house - I knew quarter from "No Quarter", the Led Zeppelin song; I didn't think it meant 25¢ in the song, so I had to look it up, when I was about 13 years old
2. Newspaper section : ARTS - this filed in by itself; all perps
3. Garden supply : PEAT - WAG, since the "T" was there
4. Hose material : NYLON - #8 - oh, I know these
5. More than wheedles : COERCES - after that, it's "Arm Twisting"
6. Punch spirits : RUM
7. "Miracle on Ice" team : USA - #9 - but I dig hockey
8. "Phooey!" : NUTS - tried RATS first - half right
9. Surfer's perch : CREST - of a wave, not the toothpaste....
10. "El Cid" star, 1961 : HESTON - Charlton
11. Sounds of hesitation : UMs....
12. Round Table member : SIR GALAHAD - More Monty Python, at :30
13. English station wagons : ESTATE CARS - I got this one because I record every single episode of the BRITISH original series "Top Gear" - both funny, and informative - and I was never a big car enthusiast
14. Hustler : SCAM ARTIST
21. Improvisational style : SCAT
24. Parched : ARID
25. Majestic : REGAL
27. She turned Odysseus' crew to swine : CIRCE
28. "Runaway" singer, 1961 : DEL SHANNON - quite a lot I didn't know about him; committed suicide the day before my 19th birthday
29. Make worse : EXACERBATE
30. National Cherry Blossom Festival focal point : TIDAL BASIN - Image
32. Out of favor : IN BAD
35. Motown singer Terrell : TAMMI
36. Pops : SODAS - was not fooled by this one
40. NASDAQ setting : NY, NY
43. Some are exotic : PETS - I had an iguana, Zeus, and a ball python (third reference) named "Snickers" - he ate live mice
45. Coal tar product : BENZENE - a WAG with the "Zed" there
47. 1974 Asian Games host city : TEHRAN
51. Ex-model Gabrielle : REECE - Volleyball player, here
53. Honda model : CIVIC
56. Deal prerequisite, maybe : ANTE
58. "__-Pan": carol : PATA - did not know this at all; more here
59. Fateful day : IDES
60. Subdue : TAME
62. Dept. of Homeland Security org. : TSA
64. Suffix with fact : OID
65. Lon of Cambodia : NOL
Splynter
