Ryan and Brian Do Crosswords

Today’s puzzle lives up to the masterful expectations in the byline — Elizabeth Gorski always gives us a new twist and a new delight with her puzzles. She has done a great number of grids that do not demonstrate the standard in rotational symmetry. Today’s is another that offers right-to-left symmetry instead. To me, this serves as an indication of something visual in the end result. So I had my eyes peeled for such a development.

The theme trickles in with a few concept clues:

• 26A. 1951 Oscar-winning film whose title suggests a visitor to the 118-Across : AN AMERICAN IN PARIS
• 45A. Wine enjoyed by 26-Across, maybe : CHATEAU LA FITE
• 52D. Morning refreshment for 26-Across? : CAFE AU LAIT
• 55D. Napoleon’s place, frequented by 26-Across? : PATISSERIE
• 67A. 1971 Oscar-winning film whose title is hinted at nine times in this grid : THE FRENCH CONNECTION

And the big answer:

• 118A. Landmark inaugurated 3/31/1889 whose shape is suggested by nine squares in this puzzle’s completed grid : EIFFEL TOWER

So we have theme-ish entries, with all the French, and then we have a rebus (nine squares), and finally we have a picture — connect the nine squares (if you haven’t already) and get a rough outline of the Eiffel Tower.

Incidentally, the nine squares referenced by 67A are both the acronym (E.T.) and the French word for “and” (the “connection,” it seems). Very clever. Those connections were in the following:

• 10D. Insurance giant / 21A. 1986 self-titled album whose cover was Andy Warhol’s last work : AETNA / ARETHA
• 37D. “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead” director, 2007 / 59A. Police dept. employees : LUMET / DETS
• 64D. “Rhyme Pays” rapper / 65D. Work without ___ / 74A. Modern traveler’s purchase : ICE-T / A NET / E-TICKET
• 93A. Chopin’s “Butterfly” or “Winter Wind” / 93D. Light : ETUDE / ETHEREAL
• 98D. RR stop / 94A. Adjust, as a clock : ETAGERES / RESET
• 99A. Bubble over / 101D. Jazzy Waters : SEETHE / ETHEL
• 116A. Beginning / 117D. To be abroad : ONSET / ETRE
• 121D. Pins and needles’ place / 121A. Some collars and jackets : ETUI / ETONS

Sadly, I was not able to no-Google this, as I was stuck with two Trivia Boxes, both in 57A. India’s smallest state (GOA). Got the O, but had no clue. The crossings were of no use to me either: 46D. Long flights (HEGIRAS) and 58D. Royal son of comics (ARN). Never heard of any of that, and since these are not your common, every day words, there was no reasoning it out for me.

We’re going to be putting together our next episode of Fill Me In sometime in the next couple days, and we’ll begin our quest to satisfy the proposed Season Two arc. We’re also in the early stages of getting a dedicated domain set up for the blog, podcast and emails. Start getting bemoresmarter.com in your heads. And don’t waste time looking for the page, because it doesn’t exist yet. But soon, children. Soon.

Also — we want your comments! Don’t be scared, just write what you want! I promise, I won’t go off again, if you decide to flame us. I won’t. Or if I do, it’s just because I want to know more from you. So really, love or hate us, drop a line.

See you Monday!