Saturday, Sep 13th, 2014, Barry C. Silk

Theme: Saturday Silkie~!

Words: 70 (missing J,K)

Blocks: 30

   I felt pretty confident when I started this Silkie, and I am happy to say, I did not disappoint myself.  VALE at 18a. was my first fill, but I hit quite a few of the Downs with only a letter or two in place.  Just one complete write-over, and I got my "Ta-DA~!" on a total WAG.  Triple 10-letter corners, though the downs are set inside by one column today.  Two 8s and two 9s wrap up the long answers;

1. Auto discontinued in 1974 and relaunched in 2004 : PONTIAC GTO - I did not know this was coming back for 2014 - at least we get more than just "GTO" in the answer

37a. Range-finding apparatus : TELEMETER - I did not know this, either; in fact, never heard the word before

13. '80s West Coast stereotype : VALLEY GIRL - "ehmegawd, like, totally, I mean was this, um, puzzle like to the max, or did it barf you out~!?"

28. 1988 Radio Hall of Fame inductee, with "The" : LONE RANGER - I have started watching my "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century" box set; man is the acting hard on the eyes - and to think I ate this up as a teenager

onward

ACROSS:

11. Short reply : RSVP

15. One pushing the limit : SPEED DEMON

16. Space-saving term : ET AL.

17. Words of resignation : "IT'S TOO LATE" - it's never too late....for ice cream~!

18. Low area : VALE

19. Bygone boomers : SSTs

20. __ curls : BICEP

21. Touring the Getty Center Museum, briefly : IN L.A. - I've since come to recognize this style of clue as meaning "in -- " some abbreviated city

22. Arthur with a Tony : BEA

23. Order with many options : OMELET - I like mine on a bacon burger

25. Stain causes : SPILLS

29. "Follow me" : "THIS WAY"

31. "... but perhaps I'm mistaken" : "...OR NOT"

32. Weather station instrument : RAIN GAUGE

34. Spotted : SEEN

35. Sign of availability : TO LET

36. Filling limit : BRIM

39. Warn : ALERT

40. Reproduces, in a way : XEROXES - nice fill; XEROX was in another Saturday puzzle not too long ago

41. Puffs up : SWELLS

42. Explorer who landed at Calicut in 1498 : Da GAMA

43. Old platters : LPs

44. Saudi Arabia neighbor : OMAN

45. Thai appetizer : SATAY - never heard of it; my 'other' buddy Mike suggested we go get Chinese last Friday; instead he took me to a Japanese restaurant - I tried Kani salad, and it was great ( WAGed the "T")

48. Style involving a pick : AFRO

52. Annex : WING - I can never remember this "other" word for "ELL"

53. Impasse : BLIND ALLEY

55. Suffix with exist : ENCE - existENCE

56. Decisive factor : BOTTOM LINE

57. Suggestive look : LEER

58. One asking a lot of questions : QUIZ MASTER

DOWN:
       
1. Frat letters : PSIs

2. Accepts, with "in" : OPTS

3. Spot for a snake : NEST - I once had a Ball Python; ate live mice - such a trip to watch the litte fellow as it scurried about in the snake's nest, and then - BAM~!

4. Eastern holidays : TETs

5. Binding agreement : I DO - I was told Thursday repeately by several older women that I was charming, vulnerable, and good-looking; one went so far as to say I'd be married in a year - we will see....there's not even a girlfriend right now

6. Some brick houses : ADOBEs - very big bricks, in some cases

7. "As You Like It" character : CELIA - A little Wiki for those interested

8. Ally Financial Inc., formerly : GMAC - From the financial bailout of 2008; more Wiki

9. Schlep : TOTE

10. Heart, in hearts : ONE POINT

11. Like some umps' calls : REVIEWABLE - I did not know they reviewed calls in baseball now; I know they review any questionable goal in hockey - in Toronto

12. 1961 recipient of an Honorary Award Oscar : STAN LAUREL

14. Fold : PLEAT - like this~? ( hey, I toned it down....)

22. Deli selection : BLT

24. No __: menu notice : MSG

25. __ ped.: piano music instruction : SOST - sostenuto, "sustained"; the middle pedal of a grand piano

26. Go over beforehand : PRE-EXAMINE

27. Lack of refinement : INELEGANCE

29. Lore : TALES

30. Yesterday, in Paris : HIER - meh, Frawnche

32. Mechanical method : ROTE

33. Init. response team : EMTs

35. Some slow-cooked cuisine, for short : TEXAS BBQ - more good fill

38. Hockey __ : MOM - because "TISSUE" did not fit; anyone care to guess at what a hockey tissue is?

39. Nursery reactions : AWs...

41. World of bugs and plants? : SPYDOM - nailed it with just the "Y" in place

42. Wooden peg : DOWEL -that it is

43. Woody Woodpecker's creator : LANTZ - Walter

46. Jesus of baseball : ALOU

47. Long-tailed monkey : TITI - "Awww...." - hey, this picture led me to some interesting reading on dating

48. "__ well ..." : ALL'S

49. Pass quickly : FLIT

50. Artist Magritte : RENÉ - I think this one's my favorite

51. Open hearing, in law : OYER

54. Chicago-based professional org. : AMA

Splynter