03.05.09 -- Mush!

Thursday, March 5, 2009
Puzzle by David J. Kahn, edited by Will Shortz
IDITAROD TRAIL (33A. With 16-Down, annual March event) along with SLED DOG RACE (16D. See 33-Across), ALASKAN INTERIOR (4D. Setting for much of the 33-Across / 16-Down), FAR DISTANT PLACE (9D. What the Athabaskan word for the beginning of 33-Across means) are this Thursday crossword’s interrelated entries.
CANADA (1A. Great Bear Lake locale) has not been left out in the cold, and a PARKA (19A. Cold weather wear) is welcome. The folly of who’s first gets the entries of EDGE (8D. Beat by a point or two) and SCORED (40D. Picked up a point or two). The remainder of the crossword is no less lively than a hot race in the cold!
Other long entries -- EMANATED (30A. Put out); GOODNESS (37A. Gracious introduction?); ROOT CANAL (46A. Big job for a driller); PEDIGREE (49A. It may be revealed by a tree); SANGRIAS (16A. Potent pitcherfuls); SIDELINED (17A. Out of action).
Mid-size -- ADMIRAL (20D. Fleet person); ARAL SEA (25D. Part of the Uzbekistan border); ARE TOO (59A. Childish answer); BEWARE (15A. Word of warning); DANNER (7D. Tony- and Emmy-winning actress Blythe); DEFAME (7A. Blacken); MOLIERE (24D. “The School for Wives” playwright); ON A JAG (52A. Bingeing); ONE LAP (13A. Basic pool exercise); ORIOLES (56A. Jim Palmer and teammates); PEERED (58A Squinted at); RADAMES (14A. Lover of Aida); READERS (21D. Circulation concern); RECEDE (57A. Fall away).
Five-letter -- ATLAS (32A. Rocket first tested in 1957); DARIA (5D. “Beavis and Butthead” spinoff); DOGMA (34D. Sermon subject); ELDER (18D. Like some statesmen); ERTES (41D. Some lithographs); IRENE (36A. Title woman in a Jim Carrey movie); RAISE (14D. Cultivate); SANER (45D. More moderate); SERGE (40A. Ridged material); SPEAR (45A. Fishing tool); UDDER (28A. Suckling site).
Short stuff -- ADO, AMI, ANE, APED, ARD, ATE, CART, COB, CRAM, DIE, ELSE, ERE, ESS, GEO, ICE, IDEA, IMAX, JET, LESE, MEA, NEW, NORA, OGLE, PIE, POP, SORE, SYR, TOE, TREY, UTA, XES (26D. Choice marks?).
Mush!
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Remaining clues -- Across: 22. ___ -majeste; 23. 3-D camera maker; 27. Coconut yield?; 29. Sensitive; 39. Schlep; 42. Certain domino number; 43. “What ___?”; 44. Learn a lot quickly. Down: 1. Ear part; 2. Hydrocarbon suffix; 3. Unheard of; 6. Made like; 10. Friend of 24-Down; 11. Start of an apology; 12. Cousin of -enne; 19. Representation of a budget, often; 28. Actress Hagen; 31. Got down; 32. Dull finish?; 35. It may provide one’s sole support; 36. Knock off; 38. Six-Day War participant: Abbr.; 47. Eye; 48. Bayes who sang and co-wrote “Shine On, Harvest Moon”; 49. Jump off the page; 50. “___ I let fall the windows of mine eyes”: Shak.; 51. Bite the dust; 53. A.F.C. East player; 54. Bother; 55. ___ Metro (bygone car).

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