Theme: Stereo Types - Different sounds bookend each theme entry.
22. *Space to recover: BREATHING ROOM. Boom.
37. *Sending mixed messages, maybe?: DRUNK TEXTING. Ding.
50. *Pickle-y condiment: SWEET RELISH. Swish.
67. *Ham it up for the camera, say: PUT ON A SHOW. Pow.
70. *Chewable candy with a comic in its wrapper: BAZOOKA GUM. Bam.
83. *Satisfactory compromise: HAPPY MEDIUM. Hum.
98. *10 or 11, at many hotels: CHECK OUT TIME. Chime.
Reveal:
113. Home theater feature, and a feature of the answers to the starred clues?: SURROUND SOUND.
My type of Sundays. Simple theme that's never done before. Reminds me of the great Gail Grabowski.
Amie also took advantage of Patti's 144 word limit and black square limit. Clean fill. Lots of great entries in Down slots.
Across:
5. Golden State sch.: USC. The Trojans. Also 25. Ohio college town: OBERLIN.
8. Lambs' moms: EWES.
12. Loose-fitting tops: TUNICS.
18. Whittle (down): PARE.
19. Sold-out letters: SRO.
20. Egg-shaped tomato: ROMA.
21. 100%: TOTALLY.
26. Smoothie berry: ACAI. Ingredient in so many products.
27. Warty hopper: TOAD.
28. Pro __: gratis: BONO.
30. Received: GOT.
31. Food Network garb: APRONS.
33. Have a bite: EAT.
34. Westley's repeated line in "The Princess Bride": AS YOU WISH. He meant "I love you".
41. GPS tech: SAT NAV. Satellite Navigation.
42. Iditarod runners: DOGS.
43. Steel-cut grain: OAT.
44. Raccoon kin: COATI. So cute.
46. Word with market or circus: FLEA.
48. Smartphone tech: SMS. Short Message Service.
49. Pediatricians, e.g.: Abbr.: DRS.
54. Part of a parfait: LAYER. Durian parfait! The smell will
repel many of you. Very thorny & hard to cut. But the taste, oh my
goodness, wish I could have fresh durian every day.
56. Air filter acronym: HEPA.
57. Baton: ROD.
58. Sheridan of "Ready Player One": TYE.
59. Indian tea region: ASSAM.
62. Historical divisions: ERAS.
64. Skate park fixture: RAIL.
66. "Sarah, Plain and __": Newbery winner by Patricia MacLachlan: TALL.
72. Spanish model Sastre: INES.
73. Not quite dry: DAMP.
74. Director Preminger: OTTO.
75. Science class models: ATOMS.
76. Gas additive brand: STP.
77. Actress Gadot: GAL. "Wonder Woman".
78. Obstacles to good teamwork: EGOS.
80. Panoramic view: VISTA.
86. Secret agent: SPY.
87. Genetic material in some vaccines: RNA.
90. Warm, in a way: NEAR.
91. Not fitting: INAPT.
93. Latvia, once: Abbr.: SSR.
94. Notary's imprint: SEAL. Guess how long the probate process take in Minnesota? At least 6 months. Boomer would be so mad.
95. Risked putting one's students to sleep, say: DRONED.
101. Virgo and Scorpio, for two: STAR SIGNS.
104. Poke bowl tuna: AHI.
105. Brings about: CAUSES.
106. Holds: HAS.
107. Peacekeeping gp. since 1949: NATO.
108. Classic muscle cars: GTOS.
109. "House" actor Omar: EPPS.
110. Left out: OMITTED.
118. Cinnamon candies: RED HOTS.
119. Brunei's continent: ASIA. Surrounded by Malaysia, big durian exporter.
120. "We'll square up later" letters: IOU.
121. Paper unit: REAM.
122. Accord: TREATY.
123. Claim to be untrue: DENY.
124. Recipe amt.: TSP.
125. Phased-out jets: SSTS.
Down:
2. 2022 film starring Cate Blanchett as a conductor: TAR.
3. Some floor decor: AREA RUGS.
4. Church officers: DEACONS.
5. Required H.S. course, often: US HISTORY. I learned more while studying for my citizenship exam.
6. __ Lanka: SRI.
7. Frame of reference: CONTEXT.
8. Unpredictable: ERRATIC.
9. Lumber: WOOD.
10. Punk offshoot: EMO.
11. Afro-Brazilian dance: SAMBA.
12. As well: TO BOOT.
13. Four Corners Native: UTE.
14. Professional org. for some brokers: NAR. The National Association of Realtors.
15. "All right, let me try": I'LL GIVE IT A GO. Great fill.
16. Ad prizes: CLIOS.
17. Keytar, e.g., briefly: SYNTH.
21. Skater Harding played by Margot Robbie: TONYA.
23. Lose purposefully: TANK.
24. Billy __: GOAT.
29. "Do the Right Thing" actor Davis: OSSIE.
31. Does the math: ADDS.
32. Teen soiree: PROM.
35. Hungry, probably: UNFED.
36. Outlet site: WALL.
38. Lighten: EASE.
39. Snoops (around): NOSES.
40. Stare open-mouthed: GAWP.
45. Try to rip: TEAR AT.
47. Sanctuary: ASYLUM.
49. Pulitzer-winning Kendrick Lamar album: DAMN.
51. Half a sextet: TRIO.
52. Caramel candy: ROLO.
53. Command posts: HELMS.
54. Thailand neighbor: LAOS. I finally tried the green papaya
salad last week. A bit heavy on the fish sauce & shrimp paste for my
taste. That Asian grocery store also carries Lao beef larb and pork
larb.
55. Longtime NPR host Diane: REHM. 86 years old. Still working.
56. Hem's counterpart: HAW.
59. Mighty silly: APISH.
60. Beach acquisition: SUNTAN.
61. Got out of the way: STEPPED ASIDE.
63. Convince to participate: ROPE IN.
65. Sea of __: Black Sea arm: AZOV.
66. "Toodles!": TA TA.
68. "Severance" actor Scott: ADAM. Also a great golfer.
69. Blowout event: SALE.
70. "Dynamite" K-pop group: BTS. Their "Butter" is my favorite.
71. "Harleys in Hawaii" singer Perry: KATY.
74. Zing: OOMPH.
77. Greek wraps: GYROS. 79. Avocado dip, casually: GUAC.
Food. Here's our Foodie Steve at his NBC Universal Studio office. I just
learned that he's 98% Irish. Guess what's the other 2%.
81. "This __ unfair!": IS SO.
82. Refreshed, as decor: SPRUCED UP.
84. "The Incredibles" family name: PARR.
85. Neglected to: DIDN'T.
87. Prints a new edition of: RE-ISSUES.
88. Identify: NAME.
89. Brewpub libations: ALES.
92. Serving piece for an afternoon social: TEA TRAY.
93. Slopes outfit: SKI SUIT.
94. Fogs: STUPORS. Is it a verb?
96. A- on a test, e.g.: NINETY.
97. "Jeepers!": EGADS.
99. Shoe designer Jimmy: CHOO. His real name is CHOW. CHOO is a misspelling. Chow is the same character as the Zhou in my Zhouqin.
100. Designates: TAPS.
101. Brief: SHORT.
102. Less wild: TAMER.
103. "Such a pity": SO SAD.
108. Broad smile: GRIN.
111. Fourth letter of the Arabic alphabet: THA. Learning moment for me. Glad of the new clue angle.
112. Small fry: TOT.
114. Mileage, in a sense: USE.
115. Crossword clue features: Abbr.: NOS.
116. MLBer since '05: NAT.
117. "__ are open": invitation to reach out on social media: DMS.
