LA Times Crossword 30 Mar 23, Thursday

Constructed by: Ella Dershowitz
Edited by: Patti Varol

Today’s Reveal Answer: Change Color

Themed answers each include the letter string “C-O-L-O-R”, but with the order of the letters CHANGED:

58A What autumn leaves do, and what five letters do in the answer to each starred clue : CHANGE COLOR and CHANGE “COLOR”

17A *Office meeting spot : WATERCOOLER
24A *Time for a cold one, facetiously : BEER O’CLOCK
37A *First love, perhaps : HIGH-SCHOOL CRUSH
48A *Small-scale investments : MICROLOANS

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Bill’s time: 9m 24s

Bill’s errors: 0

Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

Across

11 Proof letters : QED

The initialism “QED” is used at the end of a mathematical proof or a philosophical argument. QED stands for the Latin “quod erat demonstrandum” meaning “that which was to be demonstrated”.

14 Threepio’s pal : ARTOO

Artoo’s proper name is R2-D2 (also “Artoo-Detoo”). R2-D2 is the smaller of the two famous droids from the “Star Wars” movies. British actor Kenny Baker, who stood just 3 feet 8 inches tall, was the man inside the R2-D2 droid for the first six of the “Star Wars” movies.

15 Khaki-colored cloth : CHINO

Chino is a twill cloth that is most often used to make hard-wearing pants. The pants themselves have come to be referred to as chinos. Chino cloth was originally developed for use by the military, but quickly became popular with civilians.

16 Stars-and-stripes land: Abbr. : USA

Legend has it that Betsy Ross made the first American flag for General George Washington. However, this story only surfaced during the centennial celebrations of 1876, and although Betsy Ross was indeed one of several flag makers in Philadelphia in the days of George Washington, sadly there’s no definitive evidence that Ross provided that first Stars and Stripes.

20 Place for a spring break? : SPA

There might be hot springs at a spa resort.

36 __ yum: Thai soup : TOM

Tom yum is a delicious spicy soup served in Thai restaurants. It is usually described as “hot and sour”, and I love it …

42 [Hands off my Friskies!] : [HISS!]

The Friskies brand is known today as a cat food, although it was first introduced as a dry dog food in 1930.

43 Tyler Perry character in “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” : MADEA

“Diary of a Mad Black Woman” is a 2005 film written by Tyler Perry, who also stars as Madea, a recurring character in Perry’s films. The film is based on Perry’s play of the same name. “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” was a box office success, and spawned a franchise of Madea films.

47 April Fools’ Day declaration : GOT YA!

April Fools’ Day is celebrated on April 1st in the Western world. In the US (and Ireland) one can make practical jokes all day long if one wants, but in the UK there is a noon deadline. Anyone pranking after midday is called an “April Fool”.

51 Fifth flavor : UMAMI

Umami is one of the five basic tastes, along with sweet, sour, bitter and salty. “Umami” is a Japanese word used to describe “a pleasant savory taste”. Umami was proposed as a basic taste in 1908, but it wasn’t until the mid-1990s that the scientific community finally accepted it as such.

53 Tech giant based in Armonk, NY : IBM

Tech giant IBM was founded as the Tabulating Machine Company in 1896. The company changed its name to the Computing Tabulating Recording Corporation (CTR) in 1911 and was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1916. The name “International Business Machines” (IBM) was given first to the company’s Canadian subsidiary, and then to its South American subsidiary. In 1924, it was decided to adopt the International Business Machines name for the whole company. Good choice …

58 What autumn leaves do, and what five letters do in the answer to each starred clue : CHANGE COLOR

Leaves are green because of the presence of the pigment chlorophyll. There is so much chlorophyll in a leaf during the growing season that it masks out the colors of any other pigments. The amount of chlorophyll falls off in the autumn so that other pigments, present all year, become evident. These pigments are carotenoids which are orange-yellow in color, and anthocyanins which are red-purple.

65 Korean short ribs : GALBI

Galbi is a dish from Korean cuisine that consists of marinated beef or pork ribs, grilled or broiled. The word “galbi” literally means “rib” in Korean.

66 Sigur __: ethereal Icelandic band : ROS

Sigur Rós are a rock band from Reykjavik, Iceland. The lead singer is Jónsi Birgisson, and the band takes its name from Jónsi’s sister, Sigurrós Elin.

67 Perrier rival : EVIAN

Évian-les-Bains (or simply “Évian”) is in the very east of France, on the shores of Lake Geneva directly across the lake from Lausanne, Switzerland. As one might imagine, Évian is the home of Évian mineral water, the most successful business in town. Personally, I can’t stand the distinctive taste of Évian water …

68 Some big-box stores : IKEAS

A big-box store is a very large retail outlet, and one that is often part of a chain.

Down

2 Hip-hop genre : TRAP

Trap is a genre of hip hop music that originated in the early 21st century in the southern US. The name “trap” is a slang word used in Atlanta for a house used to sell drugs.

3 Blues guitarist Baker : ETTA

Etta Baker was a blues guitarist and singer who was born in 1913 and passed away in 2006. She was relatively unknown outside of her hometown in North Carolina for most of her life. However, in the 1990s, she gained national attention after recording her first album at the age of 78. The album, called “One-Dime Blues,” was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1991.

7 Instagram posting : PHOTO

Instagram (often abbreviated to “Insta”, or “IG”) is a photo-sharing application, one that is extremely popular. Instagram started in San Francisco in 2010. Facebook purchased Instagram two years later, paying $1 billion. The billion-dollar Instagram company had just 13 employees at the time of the sale …

8 Canola __ : OIL

Canola is a type of rapeseed, and Canola oil is made from the seeds. The particular cultivar used in oil production was developed in Canada, and the name Canola in fact comes from “CANadian Oil, Low Acid”.

10 Edward of “Glass Onion” : NORTON

Edward Norton is a Hollywood actor who was nominated for Oscars for his performances in 1996’s “Primal Fear” (his debut film) and 1998’s “American History X”. I haven’t seen either movie, but really enjoyed him as the villain in “The Italian Job” (2003) and as the title character in “The Illusionist” (2006).

“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” is a 2022 sequel to “Knives Out”, with both films written and directed by Rian Johnson and starring Daniel Craig as private investigator Benoit Blanc. Johnson wrote “Glass Onion” during the COVID-19 lockdown, and set the film against the backdrop of the pandemic. The score for both films was written by Nathan Johnson, Rian’s cousin.

12 Petro-Canada rival : ESSO

Petro-Canada started out as a government-owned corporation in 1976. “Petro-Canada” is now a brand name of Suncor Energy.

18 First Nations people of Canada : CREE

The Cree are one of the largest groups of Native Americans on the continent. In the US, Montana is home to most of the Cree nation. They live on a reservation shared with the Ojibwe people. In Canada, most of the Cree live in Manitoba.

“First Nations” is a term used in Canada describing the ethnicity of Native Americans who are neither Inuit nor Métis people.

25 Baa nanas : EWES

An adult male sheep is a ram, although a castrated ram is known as a wether. An adult female is a ewe, and a young sheep is a lamb.

28 “My name is __ Montoya. You killed my father … ” : INIGO

In the William Goldsmith novel “The Princess Bride”, the title character is kidnapped by a trio of outlaws that includes fencing master Inigo Montoya. In the 1987 film adaptation, Montoya is played by Mandy Patinkin.

32 Jewish social org. : YMHA

The Young Men’s Hebrew Association (YMHA) and Young Women’s Hebrew Association (YWHA) provide assistance to Jewish immigrants.

33 “Hard pass” : UH-UH

“Hard pass” is a slang term meaning “absolutely not, not interested”.

34 Mint variety used in Japanese cooking : SHISO

Shiso, the Japanese name, is a herb in the mint family. Some English speakers use the name “beefsteak plant”, a reference to the blood-red color of varieties with purple leaves. Shiso is used extensively in Japanese cuisine.

35 Skin care brand sold in colorful eggs : EOS

eos Products is a company that was founded in 2006 in New York City. eoS sells beauty products such as lotions and creams, and is most famous for its lip balm. The initials “eos” stand for “Evolution of Smooth”.

38 Singer known as the “Goddess of Pop” : CHER

“Cher” is the stage name used by singer and actress Cherilyn Sarkisian. Formerly one half of husband-wife duo Sonny & Cher, she is often referred to as the Goddess of Pop. In her acting career, Cher was nominated for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar of 1984 for her performance in “Silkwood”. She went further in 1988 and won the season’s Best Actress Oscar for playing Loretta Castorini in “Moonstruck”.

45 “Madam Secretary” actor Daly : TIM

Actor Tim Daly played the husband of Secretary of State Ellizabeth McCord (played by Téa Leoni) on the political drama TV show “Madam Secretary”. The onscreen couple started dating in real life in 2014.

49 “Dead to Me” star Cardellini : LINDA

Actress Linda Cardellini had leading roles in the TV shows “ER” (Nurse Samantha Taggart) and “Dead to Me” (Judy Hale, the hit-and-run driver). Cardellini also starred in the show “Freaks and Geeks”, and dated her co-star Jason Segal for several years.

50 Birth day doc : OB/GYN

Obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN)

51 __ Eats : UBER

Uber Eats is a food-delivery platform offered by ride-sharing service Uber. For a delivery fee of a few bucks, users can order food from local restaurants using an app. That food might be delivered by car, bike or foot depending on the city and courier.

52 Club condiment : MAYO

Mayonnaise originated in the town of Mahon in Menorca, a Mediterranean island belonging to Spain. The Spanish called the sauce “salsa mahonesa” after the town, and this morphed into the French word “mayonnaise” that we use in English today.

The club sandwich is a double-decker affair with three layers of bread and two layers of filling. This style of sandwich has been around since the end of the 19th century, and some say it was invented at an exclusive gambling “club” in Saratoga Springs, New York.

54 “The Great” actress Fanning : ELLE

Actress Elle Fanning first appeared on film in the 2001 movie “I Am Sam”, in which she played a younger version of her sister and fellow actor Dakota Fanning (a 2-year-old version of the character). One of her first major roles was Aurora/Sleeping Beauty alongside Angelina Jolie in the 2014 movie “Maleficent”. Fannin reprised the role in the 2019 sequel “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil”.

55 “The Mandalorian” bounty hunter __ Fett : BOBA

Boba Fett is one of the principal bad guys in the “Star Wars” universe. He appears in Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back” and in “Episode VI: Return of the Jedi”. A young version of Boba Fett also appears in “Episode II: Attack of the Clones”.

“The Mandalorian” is a TV series in the “Star Wars” universe that is set five years after the events in the 1983 film “Return of the Jedi”. The show was created by actor and filmmaker Jon Favreau, and has been well received. The title character is Din Djarin (played by Pedro Pascal), a bounty hunter with a ward named Grogu. Grogu is an infant of the same species as Yoda, and so is referred to by viewers as “Baby Yoda”.

56 Jewish ritual : BRIS

A mohel is a man who has been trained in the practice of brit milah (circumcision). Brit milah is known as “bris” in Yiddish. The brit milah ceremony is performed on male infants when they are 8 days old.

59 __ lane : HOV

In some parts of the country, one sees high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. Out here in California we refer to them as carpool lanes.

60 NPR host Shapiro : ARI

Ari Shapiro served very ably as White House correspondent for National Public Radio (NPR) for several years. He then became a co-host of the network’s drive-time program “All Things Considered” in 2015. When he’s not working, Shapiro likes to sing. He appears regularly as a guest singer with the group Pink Martini, and has appeared on several of the band’s albums.

61 Sci-fi FX : CGI

Computer-generated imagery (CGI)

62 Wine tasting note : OAK

Oak barrels are sometimes used to store wine during fermentation and aging. The oak wood has a profound effect, usually changing the wine’s color, flavor and texture. If the wine is stored in stainless steel barrels, then a similar effect can be achieved by adding oak chips or staves to the liquid.

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Complete List of Clues/Answers

Across

1 Not in the mood for any funny stuff : STERN
6 Bartending tool : SPOON
11 Proof letters : QED
14 Threepio’s pal : ARTOO
15 Khaki-colored cloth : CHINO
16 Stars-and-stripes land: Abbr. : USA
17 *Office meeting spot : WATERCOOLER
19 Doctrine : ISM
20 Place for a spring break? : SPA
21 Daily grind : RUT
22 Food truck fare : TACOS
24 *Time for a cold one, facetiously : BEER O’CLOCK
28 Amazed : IN AWE
30 Candor : HONESTY
33 Pool resources : UNITE
34 Close : SEAL
36 __ yum: Thai soup : TOM
37 *First love, perhaps : HIGH-SCHOOL CRUSH
41 “Sooo annoying” : UGH!
42 [Hands off my Friskies!] : [HISS!]
43 Tyler Perry character in “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” : MADEA
44 Major babes : HOTTIES
47 April Fools’ Day declaration : GOT YA!
48 *Small-scale investments : MICROLOANS
51 Fifth flavor : UMAMI
53 Tech giant based in Armonk, NY : IBM
54 Tidal action : EBB
57 Tavern : BAR
58 What autumn leaves do, and what five letters do in the answer to each starred clue : CHANGE COLOR
63 __ contact : EYE
64 “Goodness me” : LORDY
65 Korean short ribs : GALBI
66 Sigur __: ethereal Icelandic band : ROS
67 Perrier rival : EVIAN
68 Some big-box stores : IKEAS

Down

1 Tools that make the cut? : SAWS
2 Hip-hop genre : TRAP
3 Blues guitarist Baker : ETTA
4 Sushi roll garnish : ROE
5 Neither partner : NOR
6 Search all over : SCOUR
7 Instagram posting : PHOTO
8 Canola __ : OIL
9 Opening number? : ONE
10 Edward of “Glass Onion” : NORTON
11 Fast learner : QUICK STUDY
12 Petro-Canada rival : ESSO
13 Stops (up) : DAMS
18 First Nations people of Canada : CREE
23 Pro : ACE
24 Bedtime story preceder, perhaps : BATH
25 Baa nanas : EWES
26 Utter disorder : CHAOS
27 Laze : LOLL
28 “My name is __ Montoya. You killed my father … ” : INIGO
29 Frightening ordeals : NIGHTMARES
31 Where sailors go : TO SEA
32 Jewish social org. : YMHA
33 “Hard pass” : UH-UH
34 Mint variety used in Japanese cooking : SHISO
35 Skin care brand sold in colorful eggs : EOS
38 Singer known as the “Goddess of Pop” : CHER
39 “Seriously?” : C’MON!
40 “Gosh darn it” : RATS
45 “Madam Secretary” actor Daly : TIM
46 Melting point, maybe : ICICLE
47 Tablet download : GAME
49 “Dead to Me” star Cardellini : LINDA
50 Birth day doc : OB/GYN
51 __ Eats : UBER
52 Club condiment : MAYO
54 “The Great” actress Fanning : ELLE
55 “The Mandalorian” bounty hunter __ Fett : BOBA
56 Jewish ritual : BRIS
59 __ lane : HOV
60 NPR host Shapiro : ARI
61 Sci-fi FX : CGI
62 Wine tasting note : OAK

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