Today’s Newsday Saturday Stumper, by Greg Johnson, is eerily easy, nothing like a typical Stumper. I started with 1-A, eight letters, “Flaky food-truck fare” and 1-D, four letters, “Hand ball.” And then off to the races. It may be that this week is just not the week for a difficult puzzle.
Some clue-and-answer pairs I especially liked:
5-D, five letters, “Alternative to roasting bands.” I’ve never heard of roasting bands, but I could guess the dowdy answer.
6-D, three letters, “Word from a pro.” Concisely witty.
19-A, five letters, “Green breeze.” If you must have clues about this stuff, this clue is a clever one.
29-A, nine letters, “Out of alternatives.” Though I can’t remember where the apostrophe falls.
35-A, six letters, “Underworld boss.” He’s a legitimate businessman!
41-A, nine letters, “South American extremity.” The answer makes me think of James Joyce’s “Eveline.”
42-D, six letters, “Stone related to ‘pomegranate.’” I would like to say that the clue taught me something, though what it really taught me was that I could guess the name of a stone related to ‘pomegranate.’
One clue whose answer I don’t finally understand: 54-D, three letters, “Key carried by salesclerks.” A little help? I looked again and got it.
As for 1-A, I would like to recommend this establishment. Not a truck, but such great flaky fare. I would teleport myself there right now, but the time difference makes it much too early for lunch.
No spoilers: the answers are in the comments.
