Hi all.
Jeffrey here. It’s Halloween week and we’re going spooky in this weeks puzzle.
“It’s Questionable” is this week’s puzzle title and the theme (starred) answers are all things found on a OUIJA BOARD, where you can allegedly get answers from beyond.
17a [*”Miss Saigon” duet with Kim and Chris] – SUN AND MOON. The original Kim was played by Lea Salonga, who was also the singing voice of two Disney Princesses: Jasmine in Aladdin and the title character in Mulan. But she wasn’t 16a [Disney girl with ice powers] – ELSA. That was Idena Menzel.
25a [*”Sort of but sort of not”] – YES AND NO
31a [*10-digit display on a keypad] – ONE THROUGH ZERO
40a [*What to write in a simple dear John letter] – THE WORD GOODBYE. Simple but harsh.
49a [*The whole gamut] – FROM A TO Z. So an American friend asked me recently if Canadians pronounce 22d [Beyoncé’s babe] – JAY-Z as “Jay-Zed.” Well, now I do.
62a [Spooky object of questioning that bears the answers to the starred clues] – OUIJA BOARD
Canadian content:
6d [Singers Roberts and Cooke] – SAMS. Sam Roberts was born in Montreal, perhaps lived in 39d [Dollard-___-Ormeaux, Que.] – DES, a suburb, but I have no evidence to confirm this. Sam Cooke was born in Mississippi and I am nearly 100% certain he never lived in DDO.
15d [Canadian social activist Klein] –NAOMI. She was born in Montreal, perhaps lived in 39d [Dollard-___-Ormeaux, Que.] – DES, a suburb, but I have no evidence to confirm this.
19a [Portage crosser in Winnipeg] – MAIN. Just two streets that cross. Actually, not that random, it is the proverbial centre of Canada.
9d [ID on a T4 slip] – SIN. Canada:USA – T4:W2. SIN (social insurance number):SSN (social security number). ID:ID.
18d [“We the ___” (Toronto Raptors slogan)] –NORTH
46d [Skip the dishes, but not with SkipTheDishes] – DINE OUT. A food delivery service that started in Winnipeg. So call them if you are at Portage and Main and you are hungry.
Tips of the Week:
48a [Vaulted vestibules] in crosswords is almost always ATRIA, except when the answer is seven letters – ATRIUMS.
66 [Cinematic beekeeper] in crosswords is always ULEE. I know nothing about it. Just remember beekeeper = ULEE.
69a [One way to spell a Russian ruler] in crosswords is almost always TSAR, not CZAR, because T and S are easier letters to cross than C and Z (unless you need to cross Jay-Zed.)
See you next week!