Retirement Pastels: L.A. Times Cross Word - Wednesday, August 9, 2017 Richard Monsaythe and C. C. Burnikel

Theme: CATCH of the day. The last word of 2 or 3-word theme entries is something that can be CAUGHT. There are a couple of sports references in the grid, but inexplicably, nothing about baseball. What's up with that? But, fortunately, that deficiency is correctable. Here's an outstanding CATCH from last Friday's excellent game between the Tigers and the Orioles.

All Jonathon Schoop [pronounced "Scope"] could do is smile. Maybe you'll get a smile or two as we proceed.

17 A. *One may follow the wedding dress : BRIDAL TRAIN. This is the long back portion of a dress that trails behind the wearer. One can also CATCH a TRAIN, but that is a different matter, so don't get off track

Everything you need to know

39 A. *Avant-garde : NEW WAVE. Referring to a new movement or trend in literature music or the visual arts. I remember the NEW WAVE science fiction of the 1960's, which is now old hat. To CATCH a WAVE is to latch onto an opportunity. The source of the phrase should be obvious.

10 D. *Westminster's top canine : BEST IN SHOW. An award bestowed upon the top dog [so to speak] at the annual competitions presented by the Westminster Kennel Club. I've already said more than I know about it. To CATCH a SHOW is to attend a performance, or perhaps watch one on TV. There is an implication of preference, suggesting that you'd rather do this than some other pass time.

29 D. *Harsh and wintry : BITTER COLD. This is weather that is so COLD that exposure would be unpleasant, or even painful. But if you bundle up properly, you can revel in it. Careful, though, so you don't CATCH a COLD; or if you do, keep the tissues handy, drink plenty of fluids and take vitamin C.

63 A. Familiar slogan ... or, based on its last word, what each answer to a starred clue is? : CATCH PHRASE. A well known phrase, often associated with a particular famous person. Hope you were able to CATCH on to this theme.

Hi Gang, JzB here. Today we have a puzzle co-constructed by a lady we all know and our Corner companion, Splynter, making his LAT debut. Congrats to both, and a hat tip to C. C. for her continuing enormous care and generosity. Nice word association theme, and a pinwheel theme entry arrangement, with a central horizontal entry. Its vertical cross, DRAWS ON, might also have been a theme entry, if you CATCH ON, but it lacked the necessary *. Also, though CATCH ON is an in-the-language phrase, it doesn't quite fit the pattern, since the other entries are verb - object, and CATCH ON is a verb phrase. Still, a nice touch. What other smiles can we CATCH ON to?

Across

1. Heckler's array : JEERS. Boo and hiss companions.

6. Slender woodwind : OBOE. It goes like this.

10. Crony : BUD. Pal. Homey. Bro.

13. Taxpayer's dread : AUDIT. An examination of one's tax return by the IRS to assure completeness and accuracy.

14. With 24-Across, Chilean poet with a Nobel Prize : PABLO.

And 24. See 14-Across : NERUDA. Nobel prize in literature, awarded in 1971 for "for a poetry that with the action of an elemental force brings alive a continent's destiny and dreams".

16. Suffix with Vietnam : -ESE. Usable with many, though not all nationalities.

19. Total : SUM. It all adds up.

20. Drunk : SOT. Toper.

21. Pontiac that was Motor Trend's 1968 Car of the Year : GTO. Gran Turismo Omologato - Grand Touring Homologated.

22. Orchestra overseer : MAESTRO. The conductor.

26. Places for holsters : HIPS. On a gun belt.

27. Swedish pop quartet : ABBA.

30. Arnold's crime : TREASON. Benedict. He was not a good egg.

33. Stand for a photo? : TRIPOD. Three-legged camera support.

36. Evaluation for a would-be painter : ART TEST. Like this.

38. Got together : MET.

41. "The guy over there" : HIM.

43. Makes harmonious : ATTUNES.

45. Frightens : SPOOKS.

47. "Whoa, bro!" : EASY NOW. Take a deep breath. Cool your jets.

49. Tiny branch : TWIG.

50. Feudal drudge : SERF.

52. Low-risk govt. securities : T-NOTES are fixed income securities having maturities of 1 to 10 years, backed by the full faith and credit of the U. S Treasury. Could also have been its companions T-BONDS [20 year] or T-BILLS [52 weeks or less.] Needed perp help.

55. Strategy : TACTICS. Well, here is my nit. These are not equivalent. A strategy is a large-scale plan, which may involve complex organizational patterns; while a tactic is a short-term, focused measure that might aim to achieve one of a strategy's operational goals.

58. Granola morsel : OAT.

59. 27-Down user's need : PIN. Personal Identification Number.

62. Master : PRO. Ace.

66. Every one : ALL.

67. Poetry Muse : ERATO. Who is the muse of erotic poetry?

68. __ Hebrides : INNER. An archipelago of 35 inhabited and 44 uninhabited islands off the west coast of Scotland, south of the Outer Hebrides.

Innie, not Outie.

69. Knight who played a newsman : TED. Ted Baxter on the Mary Tyler Moore show, played by Tadeusz Wladyslaw Konopka.

70. Food-growing prefix : AGRO-. Sometimes with culture.

71. Checked out before a heist : CASED.

Down

1. Quick punches : JABS.

2. Currency since 1999 : EURO. In Europe, believe it or not.

3. Cut and paste, e.g. : EDIT. Word processing activities.

4. Freed (of) : RID. B-Bye.

5. Put on, as a play : STAGE.

6. Decide not to join : OPT OUT.

7. Trivia night locale : BAR. Locale for drinking games.

8. The Affordable Care Act became law during it : OBAMA ERA. Barak OBAMA's presidential term.

9. "On the Waterfront" director Kazan : ELIA.

11. Take by force : USURP. Or to take without legal right.

12. Floor models : DEMOS.

15. __ of a kind : ONE. I'm unique - just like everybody else.

18. P.O. box item : LTR. Letter - a communication on paper, composed of words, which are composed of letters.

23. Horse's hoof protection : SHOE. I have SHOES to protect my feet, even when I'm not horsing around..

24. Afternoon rest : NAP.

25. Makes use of, as experience : DRAWS ON.

27. Bread box? : ATM. Automatic Teller Machine - a cash dispensing device.

28. La __ Tar Pits : BREA. Located within metropolitan Los Angeles.

31. Off-rd. transports : ATVS. All-Terrain Vehicles.

32. Pedometer unit : STEP. Keeps track of your motion, but not your emotions.

34. Taxing task : ONUS. A daunting chore.

35. Reject as false : DENY.

37. Luau torch type : TIKI.

Elegant

40. Attended without a partner : WENT STAG. Attending an event without a companion of the opposite gender, and can be used by or with regard to either gender.

42. Chinese menu abbr. : MSG. Monosodium glutamate, a flavor enhancer.

44. Heaviest U.S. president : TAFT. William Howard, the 27th president of the U. S., serving from 1909 to 1913. His weight peaked at 335 to 340 pounds during this term. He was also the 10th Chief Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court, serving from 1921 to 1930. His health was failing as he joined the court, and he undertook a physical fitness campaign that reduced his weight to 244 lbs. in 1929.

46. Extra NBA periods : OTS. Overtimes.

48. Joyful shout : WOO-HOO. Yippee!

50. Mar. 17 figure : ST. PAT. Bring on the shamrocks and Guinness!

51. "Guitar Town" rocker Steve : EARLE.

53. Strike gently : TAP. Or PAT, depending on which way you are facing.

54. Guiding principle : ETHIC.

56. Zamboni's milieu : ICE. It's a vehicle used to smooth and freshen the surface in a ice arena. But riding on one can also be a romantic adventure.