LA Times Crossword 28 Jul 23, Friday

Constructed by: Samantha Podos Nowak & Katie Hale
Edited by: Patti Varol

Today’s Reveal Answer: Give It a Try

Themed answers are each common phrases with A “TRY” inserted:

60A “Go on, take a taste!” … or an apt title for this puzzle? : GIVE IT A TRY!

17A Feature of a jean jacket with a snowflake design? : WINTRY BACK (from “win back”)
24A French dessert for a romantic date? : PASTRY DE DEUX (from “pas de deux”)
37A Handwoven textile that’s a big source of comfort? : SECURITY TAPESTRY (from “security tapes”)
48A Group that oversees tablets? : IPAD MINISTRY (from “iPad minis”)

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

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Bill’s time: 10m 23s

Bill’s errors: 0

Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

Across

7 Built-in part of a camisole, maybe : BRA

A camisole (also “cami”) is a sleeveless undergarment worn by women that extends down to the waist. “Camisole” is a French word that we imported into English that ultimately derives from the Latin “camisia” meaning “shirt, nightgown”.

14 Mark who won the Masters and the British Open in 1998 : O’MEARA

Mark O’Meara is a golfer from Goldsboro, North Carolina. He is known as one of the American players who competes in international tournaments more than most, and has a reputation as a real gentleman all around the world.

15 __ Palmas de Gran Canaria : LAS

Gran Canaria, or Grand Canary Island, may be grand but it isn’t quite as big as Tenerife, the largest island of the group and the most populated. The capital of Gran Canaria is Las Palmas, which was a port of call for Christopher Columbus in 1492 on his way to the Americas.

16 Spanish tykes : NINOS

In Spanish a boy is a “niño” or a “muchacho”. One can also call an adult male a “muchacho”, as in “one of the boys”. Calling an adult male a “niño” would be an insult.

17 Feature of a jean jacket with a snowflake design? : WINTRY BACK (from “win back”)

The French phrase “bleu de Gênes” (blue of Genoa) gives us our word “jeans”.

19 Nerve fibers : AXONS

A nerve cell is more correctly called a neuron. The long nerve fiber that conducts signals away from the neuron is known as the axon. The axon is surrounded by a myelin sheath, which acts as an electrical insulator and which increases the rate the impulses pass along the axon.

23 “Hotel du __”: Anita Brookner novel : LAC

“Hotel du Lac” is a 1984 novel by Anita Brookner that won a Booker Prize. It was adapted into a TV movie by the BBC that first aired in 1986. The “lac” referred to in the title is Lake Geneva, where the novel is set, but the movie was shot in Lake Lucerne.

Anita Brookner is a British novelist and art historian. Brookner’s fourth book was “Hotel du Lac”, which was published in 1984 and won that year’s Booker Prize.

24 French dessert for a romantic date? : PASTRY DE DEUX (from “pas de deux”)

In the world of ballet, a pas de deux is a duet in which the dancers dance together. A classic pas de deux has a particular structure. It starts with a short entree followed by an adagio and two variations, one for each dancer, and ends with a short coda. The term “pas de deux” is French for “step for two”, or I suppose “dance for two”.

26 Mortgages, e.g. : LIENS

A lien is a right that one has to retain or secure someone’s property until a debt is paid. When an individual takes out a car loan, for example, the lending bank is usually a lien holder. The bank releases the lien on the car when the loan is paid in full.

Our word “mortgage” comes from the Old French “mort gaige” which translated as “dead pledge”. Such an arrangement was so called because the “pledge” to repay “dies” when the debt is cleared.

28 Bear on a star chart : URSA

The constellation Ursa Major (Latin for “Larger Bear”) is often just called “the Big Dipper” because of its resemblance to a ladle or dipper. Ursa Major also resembles a plow, and that’s what we usually call the same constellation back in Ireland, “the Plough”.

Ursa Minor (Latin for “Smaller Bear”) sits right beside the constellation Draco (Latin for “Dragon”). Ursa Minor used to be considered the wing of Draco, and was once called “Dragon’s Wing”. The tail of the “Smaller Bear” might also be considered as the handle of a ladle, and so the constellation is often referred to as the Little Dipper.

41 Fifth Avenue icon : SAKS

Fifth Avenue in New York City is sometimes referred to as the “most expensive street in the world”. The section that runs through Midtown Manhattan is home to upscale stores, such as Saks Fifth Avenue.

48 Group that oversees tablets? : IPAD MINISTRY (from “iPad minis”)

The iPad mini is a line of smaller iPads that was introduced by Apple in 2012. The iPad mini has a screen size of 7.9 inches, whereas the regular iPad’s screen is 9.7 inches.

53 Emeril catchword : BAM!

Emeril Lagasse is an American chef who was born in Massachusetts. Lagasse first achieved celebrity as executive chef in Commander’s Palace in New Orleans. Now famous for his television shows, his cuisine still showcases New Orleans ingredients and influences. Lagasse started using his famous “Bam!” catchphrase in order to keep his crew awake during repeated tapings of his show.

57 Actress Dunaway : FAYE

Faye Dunaway won an Oscar for her performance in the 1976 movie “Network”. She also starred in the original version of “The Thomas Crown Affair” in 1968, opposite Steve McQueen. Dunaway had a role in the remake of “The Thomas Crown Affair” with Pierce Brosnan, over thirty years later in 1999.

58 Latvian seaport : RIGA

Riga is the capital city of Latvia. The historical center of Riga is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, declared as such because of the city’s magnificent examples of Art Nouveau architecture. In fact, Riga has the largest collection of Art Nouveau buildings in the world, with over 750 buildings in the city center designed in the style.

59 Hunter on a star chart : ORION

The very recognizable constellation of Orion is named for the Greek god Orion, the Hunter. If you take a look at the star in Orion’s “right shoulder”, the second brightest star in the constellation, you might notice that it is quite red in color. This is the famous star called Betelgeuse, a red supergiant, a huge star that is on its way out. Betelgeuse is expected to explode into a supernova within the next thousand years or so. You don’t want to miss that …

62 Highlander’s pattern : PLAID

“Tartan” is sometimes called “plaid” over here in the US, and is a word not used in the same sense outside of this country. In Scotland, a plaid is a blanket or a tartan cloth slung over the shoulder.

63 Flamenco cry : OLE!

Flamenco is a style of Spanish music and dance. The origin of the word “flamenco” isn’t clearly understood, but the explanation that seems most credible to me is that it comes from Flanders in Northern Europe. Given that “flamenco” is the Spanish word for “Flemish” and Flanders is home to the Flemish people it makes perfect sense, doesn’t it?

64 Places for addresses : DAISES

A dais is a raised platform for a speaker. The term “dais” comes from the Latin “discus” meaning a “disk-shaped object”. I guess that the original daises had such a shape.

66 Part of a bridal quartet? : OLD

The tradition of a new bride wearing something old, new, borrowed and blue comes from a old English rhyme that dates back to the 1800s:

Something old,
something new,
something borrowed,
something blue,
and a silver sixpence in her shoe.

Down

2 Compañera : AMIGA

In Spanish, one might have an “amiga y compañera” (female friend and companion).

6 Wayfarer maker : RAY-BAN

Ray-Ban sunglasses were introduced in 1937 for the US Army Air Corps. The Ray-Ban Aviator model of glasses became very popular with the pilots, and apparently with General Douglas MacArthur. MacArthur was wearing a pair when he was photographed “returning” to the Philippines in WWII. The name “Ray-Ban” was chosen to “reflect” the ability of the sunglasses to stop (“ban”) the ingress of UV or IR “rays” of light.

8 Soap Box Derby entrant : RACER

The Soap Box Derby is a soapbox car racing competition. The first All-American race was held in Dayton, Ohio in 1934. The annual race was moved to Akron, Ohio the following year. Soon after, a purpose built track was built called Derby Downs, as part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) program of the late thirties.

11 Hole-__ : IN-ONE

One well-documented hole in one (ace) was during a round of the British Open in 1973. American golfer Gene Sarazen achieved the feat that day, at the age of 71. A less well-documented series of holes in one was reported by the North Korean press in a story about the Korean leader Kim Jong-il. The report was that Kim Jong-il scored 11 holes in one in his one and only round of golf.

12 Feature of “butte” but not “but” : LONG U

The letter U in the word “butte” is a long letter U; the U in “but” is a short letter U.

13 London’s neighboring county : ESSEX

Essex is a county in England that is referred to as one of the “home counties”. The home counties are those that surround the city of London, outside of London itself. “Home county” is not an official designation but has been in popular use since the 1800s. The list of home counties usually comprises Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Surrey, and Sussex.

16 Pew areas : NAVES

A pew is a church bench, usually one with a high back. The original pews were raised and sometimes enclosed seats in the church used by women and important men or families. “Pew” comes from the Old French “puie” meaning “balcony, elevation”.

18 __ sax : BASS

The saxophone was invented by Belgian musician Adolphe Sax, hence the name. Sax developed lip cancer at one point in his life, and one has to wonder if his affliction was related to his saxophone playing (I am sure not!). I had the privilege of visiting Sax’s grave in the Cemetery of Montmartre in Paris a few years ago.

22 Many a “Mad Men” role : AD REP

“Mad Men” was the flagship show on the AMC television channel for several seasons. Set in the sixties, it’s all about an advertising agency located on Madison Avenue in New York (hence the title). “Mad Men” became the first show created by a basic cable channel to win an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series.

25 Arizona city : YUMA

The city and county of Yuma, Arizona take their name from the Quechan (aka “Yuma”) Native American tribe that inhabited the area.

29 Burro : ASS

Our word “burro”, meaning “donkey”, comes from the Spanish word for the same animal, namely “burrico”.

30 “Michael Collins” actor : REA

Stephen Rea is an actor from Belfast, Northern Ireland. His most successful role was Fergus in 1992’s “The Crying Game”, for which performance he was nominated for the Best Actor Oscar. In “The Crying Game”, Fergus was a member of the IRA. In real life, Rea was married to IRA bomber and hunger striker Dolours Price at the time he made the movie.

“Michael Collins” is a fabulous Neil Jordan film released in 1996 that tells the story of the Irish patriot Michael Collins. The title role is played by Liam Neeson, with British actor Alan Rickman doing an excellent job playing Éamon de Valera.

31 Dec. 31 : NYE

New Year’s Eve (NYE)

32 Georgia airport code : ATL

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the world’s busiest airport, as measured by passenger traffic. Atlanta has had that distinction since 1998, and was the world’s busiest in terms of take-offs and landings from 2005 until 2013. Over 50% of Atlanta’s traffic comes from Delta Air Lines.

35 Higher ed. test : GRE

Passing the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is usually a requirement for entry into graduate school here in the US.

36 Empire St. paper : NYT

“The New York Times” (NYT) has been published since 1851, and is sometimes referred to as “the Gray Lady”. These days a viable alternative to buying the paper is to read the news online. NYTimes.com is the most popular online newspaper website in the country.

The Erie Canal runs from Albany to Buffalo in the state of New York. What the canal does is allow shipping to proceed from New York Harbor right up the Hudson River, through the canal and into the Great Lakes. When it was opened in 1825, the Erie Canal had an immediate impact on the economy of New York City and locations along its route. It was the first means of “cheap” transportation from a port on the Atlantic seaboard into the interior of the United States. Arguably it was the most important factor contributing to the growth of New York City over competing ports such as Baltimore and Philadelphia. It was largely because of the Erie Canal that New York became such an economic powerhouse, earning it the nickname of “the Empire State”. Paradoxically, one of the project’s main proponents was severely criticized. New York Governor DeWitt Clinton received so much ridicule that the canal was nicknamed “Clinton’s Folly” and “Clinton’s Ditch”.

38 Monte of the 1950s Giants : IRVIN

Monte Irvin was a professional baseball player who started his career with the Newark Eagles of the Negro League in 1938. Irvin played Major League baseball with the New York Giants and the Chicago Cubs, retiring in 1956. At the time of his passing in 2016 at the age of 96, Irvin was the oldest living former player with Negro Leagues, and oldest living former New York Giant and Chicago Cub.

39 Frosh, probably : TEEN

“Frosh” is a slang term for a college freshperson (formerly “freshman”). We call such a person a “fresher” back in Ireland …

40 TikTok aesthetic : E-BOY

E-girls and e-boys (maybe “e-kids”) may spend a lot of time on social media, especially TikTok, hence the use of the prefix “e-”.

46 Lid woe : STYE

A stye is a bacterial infection of the sebaceous glands at the base of the eyelashes, and is also known as a hordeolum.

47 Brand named for two states : ORE-IDA

Ore-Ida frozen foods are all made using potatoes. The company is located in Oregon, just across the border from Idaho. “Ore-Ida” is a melding of the two state names.

48 Restaurants with stacks : IHOPS

The International House of Pancakes (IHOP) was founded back in 1958. IHOP was originally intended to be called IHOE, the International House of Eggs, but that name didn’t do too well in marketing tests.

49 “Je __ français” : PARLE

In French, a teacher of French might say “Je parle français” (I speak French)

51 Woodruff’s co-anchor : IFILL

Gwen Ifill was a television journalist who was regularly seen on PBS’s “Newshour”. Ifill was also the moderator on the weekly PBS show “Washington Week”, and was also selected to moderate the US Vice Presidential debates in 2004 and 2008.

Judy Woodruff is a broadcast journalist who has been the anchor of the “PBS NewsHour” (formerly “The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour) since 2013. Woodruff’s husband is fellow broadcast journalist Al Hunt, whom she married in 1980.

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Complete List of Clues/Answers

Across

1 Shred : TATTER
7 Built-in part of a camisole, maybe : BRA
10 Menu item : FILE
14 Mark who won the Masters and the British Open in 1998 : O’MEARA
15 __ Palmas de Gran Canaria : LAS
16 Spanish tykes : NINOS
17 Feature of a jean jacket with a snowflake design? : WINTRY BACK (from “win back”)
19 Nerve fibers : AXONS
20 Big heads : EGOS
21 Center of operations : BASE
22 Settle a score : AVENGE
23 “Hotel du __”: Anita Brookner novel : LAC
24 French dessert for a romantic date? : PASTRY DE DEUX (from “pas de deux”)
26 Mortgages, e.g. : LIENS
28 Bear on a star chart : URSA
29 Scent : AROMA
31 Introductory offer? : NAME
33 Plus or minus : SIGN
37 Handwoven textile that’s a big source of comfort? : SECURITY TAPESTRY (from “security tapes”)
41 Fifth Avenue icon : SAKS
42 Spool : REEL
43 Assailed : BESET
44 Overhead projection? : EAVE
46 Needing a sweep : SOOTY
48 Group that oversees tablets? : IPAD MINISTRY (from “iPad minis”)
53 Emeril catchword : BAM!
56 Get a move on : HASTEN
57 Actress Dunaway : FAYE
58 Latvian seaport : RIGA
59 Hunter on a star chart : ORION
60 “Go on, take a taste!” … or an apt title for this puzzle? : GIVE IT A TRY!
62 Highlander’s pattern : PLAID
63 Flamenco cry : OLE!
64 Places for addresses : DAISES
65 Email status : SENT
66 Part of a bridal quartet? : OLD
67 “In spite of all that … ” : AND YET …

Down

1 Beach blanket, often : TOWEL
2 Compañera : AMIGA
3 Common time for local news : TEN O’CLOCK
4 Needlework? : TATS
5 Flub : ERR
6 Wayfarer maker : RAY-BAN
7 Crater creator : BLAST
8 Soap Box Derby entrant : RACER
9 “Shoot” : ASK
10 Property that may depreciate, in accounting : FIXED ASSET
11 Hole-__ : IN-ONE
12 Feature of “butte” but not “but” : LONG U
13 London’s neighboring county : ESSEX
16 Pew areas : NAVES
18 __ sax : BASS
22 Many a “Mad Men” role : AD REP
24 Orchard fruit : PEAR
25 Arizona city : YUMA
27 “Eh, this happens a lot” : I’M USED TO IT
29 Burro : ASS
30 “Michael Collins” actor : REA
31 Dec. 31 : NYE
32 Georgia airport code : ATL
34 Wee : ITSY-BITSY
35 Higher ed. test : GRE
36 Empire St. paper : NYT
38 Monte of the 1950s Giants : IRVIN
39 Frosh, probably : TEEN
40 TikTok aesthetic : E-BOY
45 Change : AMEND
46 Lid woe : STYE
47 Brand named for two states : ORE-IDA
48 Restaurants with stacks : IHOPS
49 “Je __ français” : PARLE
50 Made in Japan, say : ASIAN
51 Woodruff’s co-anchor : IFILL
52 Hit Ctrl-S : SAVED
54 Second something : AGREE
55 Hath permission : MAYST
58 Bust : RAID
60 Ooze : GOO
61 Sun shade : TAN

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