Sun., 8/24 Gail Grabowski

[magus]

THEME:   intrusive AT
   
GOOD ONES:    
Extra vacation clothes?   SPARE ATTIRE     
Clergyman who works wonders?   MIRACLE CURATE   
Volga Region daily?   TATAR PAPER   
Bees battling over nectar?   HONEY COMBAT   
Gave stars to kippers?   RATED HERRING   
China problem   CHIP   
Bear overhead   URSA [I thought Atlas, etc.]   
Punto and Bravo   FIATS [who knew?]   
Geometry figure   AREA [I thought triangle, etc.]   
   
BTW:   
Swindler at a New York zoo?   BRONX CHEATER [shudda been "Alex Rodriguez at the Stadium" --- who'll get lots of Bronx cheers when he returns]   
   
It's usually not a hit   SIDE B [aren't these anachronistic?]   
   
Classic pops   NEHI [sounds like a Boston Orchestra]   
   
Pops in the fridge   SODA [where I grew up, "Pops in the fridge"  would be ghastly]   

Loved the title "AT PRESENT"   
   
RATING:   
Three grins = Loved it; Two grins = Enjoyed it; One grin = A bit bland for my taste; One teardrop = Not much fun   

[Thomps2525]

I've seen SIDEB and BSIDE in quite a few puzzles recently. A few artists still release albums on vinyl, but 45-rpm singles haven't been produced in the US since the early 2000s. (45s are still produced in Australia and Great Britain---don't ask me why.) I've said that AFRO should no longer be used in puzzles. Now I maintain that SIDEB and BSIDE should also be retired from puzzledom. While we're at it, let's retire AVA too. Who remembers Ava Gardner anymore?