Constructor: Emily Carroll
Relative difficulty: Medium
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THEME: Fowl Language — Theme answers contain a bird noise.
Theme answers:
Hey! It's Annabel. How's everyone doing? I've been doing fine, considering the circumstances. Going on a lot of walks. Getting cabin fever. You know. Could be a lot worse.
I liked this puzzle! It has a lot of endearing qualities. Crossing CONK with HONKY TONK, for one, and the wordplay in clues like "Knight stick?" for LANCE. I did feel it was a little hard for a Monday--I got stuck in the top right corner for ages--but I feel like I'm always off base with these things. It didn't help that I've never heard of Christina RICCI. What was she in?
My one problem with the theme was that usually, I like to use the theme explainer (is that the right word? I mean USE FOWL LANGUAGE in this case) to help me with other theme answers, but in this case, it was the other way around. I guess that's what happens when you get punny.
Bullets:
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Relative difficulty: Medium
THEME: Fowl Language — Theme answers contain a bird noise.
Theme answers:
- PEEP HOLES (17A: Features of most hotel doors)
- GOBBLEDYGOOK (24A: Gibberish)
- QUACK DOCTORS (48A: Medical impostors, informally)
- HONKY TONK (60A: Bar with country music
- USE FOWL LANGUAGE (37A: What the starts of the answers to 17-, 24-, 48- and 60-Across do, punnily?)
Aldo Gucci (26 May 1905 – 19 January 1990) was the chairman of Gucci Shops Inc. from 1953 to 1986. He was the eldest son of Guccio Gucci, who founded the company bearing his name in 1921.
From the age of 20, Aldo began work full-time at Gucci. He went on to open the first shop outside his native city in Rome in 1938[2] and soon after took over the reins of the company upon his father's death in 1953. Gucci became an overnight status symbol when the bamboo handbag was featured on Ingrid Bergman's arm in Roberto Rossellini's 1954 film "Viaggio in Italia". The GG insignia became an instant favorite of Hollywood celebrities and European royalty. When Aldo opened in New York in 1953, he planted the "Made in Italy" flag on American soil for the first time. President John F Kennedy heralded him as the first Italian Ambassador to fashion[3] and he was awarded an honorary degree by the City University of New York in recognition of his philanthropic activity, described as the Michelangelo of Merchandising.[4]
(Wikipedia)
• • •I liked this puzzle! It has a lot of endearing qualities. Crossing CONK with HONKY TONK, for one, and the wordplay in clues like "Knight stick?" for LANCE. I did feel it was a little hard for a Monday--I got stuck in the top right corner for ages--but I feel like I'm always off base with these things. It didn't help that I've never heard of Christina RICCI. What was she in?
My one problem with the theme was that usually, I like to use the theme explainer (is that the right word? I mean USE FOWL LANGUAGE in this case) to help me with other theme answers, but in this case, it was the other way around. I guess that's what happens when you get punny.
Bullets:
- EPS (41A: Mini-albums, for short) — An EP is what an artist releases at the beginning of their career. And graduate school is where I'm going to begin my career. Yeah--I can't remember if I announced this yet, but I'm going to University of Maryland for my Master's in Library Science! I'm really excited to be a tired graduate student. And honestly with everything that's going on it's nice to have something to look forward to.
- ARLES (19A: City that's the setting for several van Gogh paintings) — While we're all stuck inside, enjoy "Seascape at Saintes-Maries" for a little bit. Or the whole online Van Gogh Gallery while you're at it.
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- CAPERS (46A: Pickled green garnishes) — Ooh, I would kill for a bagel with cream cheese, lox, tomato and capers right about now. How do you all eat your bagels when you're eating from a bagel spread? I know some people put onion and more stuff on it, but honestly the tomato and capers are enough for me.
- IGOR (35A: Frankenstein's assistant in "Young Frankenstein") — And don't forget to pronounce it EYE-gor.
[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter and Facebook]
[Follow Annabel Thompson on Twitter]