Thu., 11/6 Gail Grabowski

[magus]

THEME:   a surfeit of SUR's
   
GOOD ONES:     
Hearst Castle?   SURREAL ESTATE [sur + real estate]   
Banner advertising overstocked shelves?   SURPLUS SIGN [sur + plus sign]   
   
BTW:   
No particular goodies, but interesting cluing throughout   
   
   
RATING:   
Three grins = Loved it; Two grins = Enjoyed it; One grin = A bit bland for my taste; One teardrop = Not much fun   

[Thomps2525]

Yes, the four theme answers added SUR to the beginning of familiar phrases. That was surtainly a pleasant surprise. (If Curly Howard can say "soitenly," I can say "surtainly.")

The clue for HOTSEAT was "Anxious place to be." A person can be anxious but a place can't be anxious. The crossword also inclued MOLTENLAVA, which I had never before seen in a puzzle. It's kind of creepy in light of the slow-moving lava flow that has been making its way toward the town of Pahoa, Hawai'i, since June.