Joseph Knecht

  Bug Fixes Rebecca Goldstein's theme features don't exactly jump out at you ... She uses 4 cross references to another clue to identify the theme clues, a feature unpopular some solvers, some of whom might even call it 49D 😀.  She uses mixed Across (1) and Down (3) clues ... ... here are the themers ... 49A. 58-Across of a social crafting event:  QUILTING BEE .  Here are two quilts made by Teri's sister Rose.  Rose was formerly the seamstress for the Maryland Ballet Company ... 3D. 58-Across of some jeans:  BUTTON FLY .  I thought these went out of fashion after the publication of  Erica Jong 's novel Fear of Fly ing   (link rated PG13 😀). Button Fly Jeans 7D. 58-Across of the German auto industry:  VW BEETLE .  Over the years we had 5 of these -- 3 bugs and 2 vans.  VW stopped making them after awhile, but they're back -- you just can't kill 'em ... 2024 VW Beetle 11D. 58-Across of 1990s rock:  PAPA ROACH . Papa R...

"May I cut in?" Today veteran constructor Micah Sommersmith  treats us to a letter insertion theme.  For the punny version of the theme clues the answer to the above question is YES .  For the in-the-language version the answer is NO ... 17A. Accumulation on neglected steps?:  STAIR DUST .  Joni Mitchell sings the words "... we are  STAR DUST , we are golden, we are 10 billion year old carbon ..." in her classic song Woodstock ... 24A. Institute for invective?:  TIRADE SCHOOL .  With the high cost of college these days, increasing numbers of high school graduates are going to TRADE SCHOOLS .  They generally cost less than college and enable students to enter the work force more quickly .  Here are some programs offered at Maryland trade schools .  51A. Shop selling more groanworthy gag gifts?:  CORNIER STORE .  One  CORNER STORE is an establishment created by Zhouqin Burnikel where everyday...

  Chacun a Son Goût ("Every One to Their Own Taste") Here is the bored  Prince Orlofsky  (a "trouser role") throwing a party in  Johann Straus'  operetta  Die Fledermaus  ("The Bat"), and admonishing his revelers to behave to "their own tastes" (i.e. "do your own thing!")  ... Today's constructors, veteran  Katie Hale and Tennessee Grimes (making his/her Corner debut), give us a taste of lean construction, with only 10 TLWs and only a few people and places.  They also give us 4 asterisked single word theme clues that fill with a synonym preceded by one of the classic four tastes: SWEET , SALTY , SOUR , and BITTER , each a two word in-the-language phrase ... 16A. *Center:  SWEET HEART .  Teri is ... 23A. *Hound:  SALTY DOG .  Slang for a seasoned sailor and the title of a sad song by Procol Harum , possibly about the sinking of a ship, but the meaning of the lyrics are disputed ... Lyrics 49A. *Memo:  SOU...