Theme: "Is There an Echo in Here?" - The last two words are hom*ophones.
24. Gold, silver, or bronze?: OLYMPIC MEDAL METAL.
32. Candy heart, chocolate rose, or red velvet cupcake?: HONEYMOON SUITE SWEET.
61. Corn dog, blooming onion, or caramel apple?: COUNTY FAIR FARE.
68. Erratum, appendix, or reader testimonial?: SECOND EDITION ADDITION.
80. Crack, streak, or fingerprint?: WINDOW PANE PAIN.
106. Venmo balance, PayPal account, or Google Wallet funds?: ELECTRONIC CASH CACHE.
118. Crane, hard hat, or cement mixer?: BUILDING SITE SIGHT.
I pronounce "medal" and "metal" differently, how about you? The others are total hom*ophones to me. Love the theme cluing style today.
So happy to see Sid's byline. This is only his second LAT, but he's a very accomplished constructor. He made the final puzzle for the ACPT this year. Here he is with the winner Paolo Pasco and Will Shortz.
Across:
1. Application fig.: GPA.
4. "Passing" actress Thompson: TESSA.
9. Hindi film star __ Rukh Khan: SHAH. Wikipedia shows he's huge in India.
13. Guitar clamps: CAPOS.
18. Rowboat propeller: OAR.
19. 2019 animated Christmas film: KLAUS.
20. Push to act: IMPEL.
22. Anti-inflammatory brand: ALEVE. 31. Under the weather: ILL.
23. "And whatnot" abbr.: ETC.
27. Snare: TRAP.
29. NBA great Curry: STEPH. Here with his brother Seth.
30. Viscous stuff: GOOP.
38. Tick away: ELAPSE.
39. Pledge in court: OATH.
40. White-water conveyances: RAFTS.
43. "Just in case" option: PLAN B.
46. Not street-smart: NAIVE.
49. Ermine in its summer coat: STOAT.
50. Philosopher Descartes: RENE.
53. Nobel-winning physicist Paul: DIRAC.
56. "River Spirit" author Aboulela: LEILA. Learning moment for me. She grew up in Sudan.
58. Address in a bar: URL.
59. At a distance: APART.
65. Thanks, in French: MERCI.
66. Bill of "Barry": HADER. He's dating Ali Wong. They're super cute together.
67. Middle-earth monster: ORC.
77. __ Speedwagon: REO.
78. Eucalyptus dweller: KOALA.
79. College softball airer: ESPNU.
86. Charmin rival: SCOTT.
87. Lass: GAL.
88. Kelly of "3 Body Problem": MARLO. Another learning moment.
89. Serpent: SNAKE.
91. Hullabaloos: ADOS.
92. Stayed still: IDLED.
95. "I aspire to that" hashtag: GOALS.
97. Theater array: SEATS.
99. High-speed internet connection: FIBER.
100. Berenstain Bear in a blue dress: MAMA.
102. Small handbag: CLUTCH.
113. U.K. mil. branch: RAF. David was with the Royal Air Force. Here he is with his grandma.
115. Home of the Himalayas: ASIA.
116. Poppyco*ck: TRIPE.
117. Princess raised on Alderaan: LEIA.
124. Psychedelics study subj.: LSD.
125. Bellybutton type: INNIE.
126. Lasagna layer: SAUCE.
127. Activist's focus: CAUSE.
128. Novelist Harper: LEE.
129. Animal evoked by a chess knight: STEED.
130. Viewed: SEEN.
131. Without stopping: ON END.
132. Nikon choice, briefly: SLR.
Down:
1. "Faust" playwright: GOETHE.
2. See 69-Down: PATROL. 69. With 2-Down, DC Comics superhero team: DOOM.
3. Esoteric knowledge: ARCANA.
4. MMA ref's call: TKO.
5. Logical conclusion?: ELL.
6. Final word: SAY SO.
7. Reach, as a total: SUM TO.
8. Tree native to the Rockies: ASPEN.
9. Spicy Chinese cuisine: SICHUAN. Also 28. Berry in a mill: PEPPERCORN. Xi'an cuisine is spicy too. We're neighboring Sichuan.
10. [strokes beard]: HMM.
11. Tailless primate: APE.
12. Maze border, maybe: HEDGE.
13. People spending the night out?: CAMPERS.
14. Pub quaff: ALE.
15. Bite-size cake: PETIT FOUR.
16. Cameo shape: OVAL.
17. Promote: SELL.
21. Thailand neighbor: LAOS.
25. __ facto: IPSO.
26. Like a bass: LOW.
33. CC or LV competitor: YSL.
34. Viking drink: MEAD.
35. Birthplace of espresso: ITALY.
36. One taking things badly?: THIEF. And 37. Put away leftovers?: EAT.50. Butters on a farm?: RAMS. 63. One side of a diner?: FRIES. Quite a few fun clues in this grid.
41. Scale button: TARE.
42. WashU's city: STL. Washington University in St. Louis. Sid's studying here.
44. Not wide-ranging: NICHE.
45. Wide-ranging: BROAD.
47. With a layover in: VIA.
48. Yale student: ELI.
51. Electric fencing equipment?: EPEE.
52. Snitch (on): NARC.
54. Automaker whose name means "listen" in Latin: AUDI.
55. Site to consult before buying new tech: CNET.
57. Former Yankee slugger, familiarly: A-ROD.
60. Like a fork: TINED.
62. Preschooler's wheels: TRIKE.
64. Plays it cool: ACTS CASUAL. And 81. "Don't worry about me": I'LL BE FINE. Love these two Downs.
70. "My b!": OOPS.
71. Flatbread made with maida: NAAN. Did not know the meaning of maida, super-refined wheat flour.
72. Username, perhaps: ALIAS.
73. Thanks, in German: DANKE.
74. Old earbuds hookup: IPOD.
75. Not deceived by: ONTO.
76. Bar bowlful: NUTS.
80. Desert valley: WADI.
82. Tail motion: WAG.
83. __ rata: PRO.
84. San Antonio landmark: ALAMO.
85. "Interstellar" director: NOLAN.
87. Emoji alternative: GIF.
90. "To __ their own": EACH.
93. Fish in baam machli ka salan: EEL. Not famliar with this dish. Not into curries.
94. Had a bad feeling about: DREADED.
96. Struck by Cupid's arrow: SMITTEN.
98. Extra special attention, for short: TLC.
101. Lot of farmland, maybe: ACRE.
103. Immune system constituents: T CELLS.
104. Sculptor's tool: CHISEL.
105. Soccer shot not taken with the feet: HEADER.
107. CBS forensic franchise: CSI.
108. Mint containers: TINS.
109. Much sitar music: RAGAS.
110. Tech giant whose logo depicts the Golden Gate Bridge: CISCO. Wow. Never knew this.
111. All abuzz?: APIAN.
112. Transition: SEGUE.
113. Box score stat: RBIS.
114. Dad's sister: AUNT.
119. "Today's Wordle word is TRUE," e.g.: LIE.
120. Bring a suit: SUE.
121. Granita bits: ICE. Watermelon granita.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/27490_POC_Granitas_0243-cb756850653e4e13b93152d1680095a8.jpg "L.A.Times Crossword Corner (15)")
122. QVC sister channel: HSN.
123. AFC Richmond coach Lasso: TED.
C.C.
