MONDAY, July 26, 2010John Lampkin

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Theme: Art Class — Theme answers begin with a word that can describe a work of art.


Theme answers:

• 17A: Bodybuilder's pride (SCULPTED ABS).
• 28A: Melted dip for steamed lobster (DRAWN BUTTER).
• 42A: Table-ready hearty entrée (CARVED ROAST).
• 54A: Colorful butterfly (PAINTED LADY).

I pretty much flew right through this one. The theme answers were actually the most difficult for me to get, so the theme didn't really help me. On early-week puzzles, I typically just go through the acrosses and then the downs, then back to the acrosses I still need. So the theme doesn't always appear until pretty late in the process. There's not much remarkable in this puzzle. SQUEEGEE looks pretty cool in the grid (3D: Windshield-cleaning tool). And the side-by-side exclamations "ONE SEC!" and "NERTS!" gave me a chuckle (30A: "Wait a moment" / 32A: "Dagnabbit!"). But the most interesting part of today's festivities might be the accompaniments. "Accompaniment to a crossword puzzle?," you ask skeptically. Well, yes.

I received a note from John Lampkin this morning explaining that in addition to being a crossword constructor, he is also an avid nature photographer and classical music composer. (Wow!) So today, your crossword puzzle is actually a Multi-Media Experience brought to you by John Lampkin himself. First, go start this audio clip of "The Butterfly and the Rose," one of John's compositions performed by the Equinox Chamber Players. While your listening to that lovely music, check out some of John's butterfly photos. See? It all ties together. Love it.

Crosswordese 101: Occasionally, DRU is clued in relation to Sisqo's old R&B group from Baltimore DRU Hill, but we're more likely to see a clue like today's 56D: Joanne of "All the King's Men." Joanne DRU also appeared in the movies "Red River," "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon," "Wagon Master," "The Siege at Red River," and "Sylvia," all of which appear in clues from time to time.

Other crosswordese in the puzzle that we've already covered:

• 20A: Barely make, with "out" (EKE).
• 25A: Melville's sequel to "Typee" (OMOO).
• 6D: Mel of the Giants (OTT).
• 23D: Yoko's family (ONOS).
• 55D: Ostrich kin (EMU).

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Everything Else — 1A: Mr. Potato Head maker (HASBRO); 7A: Mickey and Minnie (MICE); 11A: Calculator display, briefly (LCD); 14A: Find not guilty (ACQUIT); 15A: "__ in the Morning": talk show (IMUS); 16A: "Caught you red-handed!" ("AHA!"); 19A: Plead for a treat, dog-style (BEG); 21A: FHA loan (MTGE.); 22A: Diver Louganis (GREG); 23A: "__-doke!" (OKEY); 26A: Flirtatious one (TEASE); 27A: –, on an AA batt. (NEG.); 33A: Quaint horse-pulled winter rides (SLEIGHS); 35A: Machine gun syllables (RAT-A-TAT); 39A: Psychoanalyst Fromm (ERICH); 41A: Surgeon's stitch (SUTURE); 46A: "Fill 'er up!" filler (GAS); 47A: Say "Ditto" (AGREE); 48A: Catch sight of (ESPY); 49A: Goes back out, as the tide (EBBS); 50A: Gal. or oz. (MEAS.); 51A: Horse trade (SWAP); 52A: Mideast political initials (PLO); 53A: "The Lord of the Rings" tree being (ENT); 58A: Poem of tribute (ODE); 59A: Seer's sign (OMEN); 60A: __ d': headwaiter (MAITRE); 61A: Blue (SAD); 62A: Blood supplies (SERA); 63A: Depletes (USES UP); 1D: Possesses (HAS); 2D: Gp. with UNC and Duke, among others (ACC); 3D: Windshield-cleaning tool (SQUEEGEE); 4D: Like a heavy parka (BULKY); 5D: Ready to pick (RIPE); 7D: Central area in a big city (MIDTOWN); 8D: "There's no hope for me," in oaters ("I'M A GONER"); 9D: Dice unit (CUBE); 10D: Tee preceder (ESS); 11D: Maze runner (LAB RAT); 12D: Maze runner's incentive (CHEESE); 13D: Cloak go-with (DAGGER); 18D: Thompson of "Howards End" (EMMA); 22D: Suggests indirectly (GETS AT); 24D: __ Ration: dog food (KEN-L); 25D: Prom corsage (ORCHID); 26D: "My, my, that's a no-no" ("TUT TUT"); 28D: One of 90 in a right angle (DEGREE); 29D: Like band music (BRASSY); 31D: Flour strainers (SIEVES); 34D: Having fewer marbles? (SCREWIER); 36D: Harbor pushers (TUGBOATS); 37D: Saudi, usually (ARAB); 38D: Thomas Hardy heroine (TESS); 40D: Biblical cry of praise (HOSANNA); 42D: Stars' brief film appearances (CAMEOS); 43D: Meeting to-do list (AGENDA); 44D: Not for kids, as films (R-RATED); 45D: Pocket PC entry (APPT.); 49D: "Dallas" matriarch Miss __ (ELLIE); 51D: "__ here": "Ditto" (SAME); 52D: Pocket PCs, e.g. (PDAS); 54D: +, on an AA batt. (POS.); 57D: Nope's opposite (YEP).