Eduardo Fausti, detail from painting entitled Bees’ Trek
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Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Puzzle by Peter A. Collins, edited by Will Shortz
This “Fat Tuesday” crossword asks the solver to UNDRESS (25D. Disrobe) HERBS (39A. Things hidden in 17-, 23-, 49- and 57-Across), which are PARKEDILLEGALLY (17A. In front of a hydrant, say); IMINTROUBLE (23A. “Uh-oh”); PRESSAGENTS (49A. Publicists); and LENGTHYMEETINGS (57A. Business sessions that drag) -- perhaps for a little Cajun cooking?!
For the parade of souls, we have a SATYR (66A. Mythological reveler) and a SISSY (53D. Girlish boy); Gen. Robt. ELEE (14A.); DRESCHER (36A. Fran of “The Nanny”); a BOSSY (44A. Dictatorial) MARM (38A. School lady); a CREATURE (42A. Loch Ness monster, e.g.); ECO (45A. Umberto who wrote “The Name of the Rose”); IRIS (46A. 1998 song by the Goo Goo Dolls that was #1 for 18 weeks); EOS (48A. Aurora’s Greek counterpart); EBAN (64A. Israel’s Abba); “Vive LEROI!” (3D) and REY (13D. King in un palacio); Father GUIDO Sarducci, longtime “S.N.L.” character (6D); Ex-hoopster Manute BOL (11D.); NORMA Jean (Marilyn Monroe) (24D.); PORKY (29A. Looney Tunes pig); EXECS (28D. Board members, for short) and an EMCEE (33D. Maker of introductions); MARCO Polo (34D.); a TIPSTER (43D. Racetrack tout); a Forty-NINER (51D.); a PARENT (47D. Father, e.g.) to BEGET (44D. Father) an IMP (62A. Little troublemaker); EVA (58D. TV’s Longoria); a NUT (59 Kook); an MBA (61D. Wall St. hire); and PREY (68A. Zebras, to lions) -- Mardi Gras, HURRAH (39D. “Yippee!”)!
And then there’s that other parade -- up Broadway in NYC, the Giants! Our puzzle today makes note of III (56A. Only Super Bowl won by the New York Jets) -- 39 years ago -- EEK (4D. “Horrors!”) -- that’s a long time ago!
Our herbs are nicely balanced by junk food, including HOHOS (27D. Ding Dongs competitor); OREOS (35D. Snacks dipped in milk); and PEPSI (1D.”Taste that beats the others cold” sloganeer, once).
LOOSE (16A. Lax) ends include PALE and AMBER; RULE and ORDERS; HEP and YEP; EEL, ELL and ESL; LIT and LOS; OXO and ORS; PRE, PER and PART; and plenty an ENTRY (18D. Contestant’s mail-in) at the end of the parade -- ALGIERS (9D. Home of the Casbah); ALARM, BARB, CHORE, ELLIES, EMORY, ERIE, HOCK, MERS, MOAT, NAIR, OVULE, TIGRE, UGLY, and on and on -- this parade is SRO!
Celebrate the day, USA!
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