LINES OF WORK
Erik Agard, 26, is a professional crossword constructor and editor, now working for Andrews Mcmeel Universal syndicate in Kansas City, Mo. His last Sunday puzzle was ‘‘Stoner’s Film Festival’’ in June. He says the idea for this one came from rewatching ‘‘Black Panther’’ recently (referenced at 87-Across). This is Erik’s 17th crossword for The Times this year, and altogether his sixth one with a movie theme. — W.S.
ACROSS
1 Fasteners … or, if you change the fourth letter to an S, what the fasteners might be made of 6 It’s lit eight nights in a row 13 Figure that denotes acidity 18 Less everyday 19 Humble expression of capability 20 Number that might be kept secret 21 Professional whose favorite movie line might be “There’s no place like home” 23 Muse of astronomy 24 Dis-qualified? 25 Cyclops’s “I” 26 “Uh-oh!” 28 Maker of the Acadia S.U.V. 29 Franchise with a series set in New Orleans 30 Singer ____ J. Blige 31 Weasel relative 34 South Asian garment 35 … “Here’s looking at you, kid” 37 Not be attentive 38 President whose wife went on to become president 39 Unconfident utterances 40 … “I wish I knew how to quit you” 42 Not manually controlled 46 Foreign capital where W. E. B. Du Bois is buried 48 Do a little tidying 49 Lukewarm response 50 Arthropod appendages 51 Emitters of cosmic rays 53 Arctic coat 55 Typing sounds 56 “Well, aren’t I clever?!” 57 Shaving mishap 59 One honored on March 8 per a 1977 United Nations resolution 61 … “Go ahead, make my day” 66 Less bronzed 67 Hated figure 68 Promote 69 Relative of the emu 70 Couleur in the middle of the French flag 72 Big maker of smartphones 74 Word between “stink” and “stunk” in “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” 75 Hurry, quaintly 77 Place to get a knish 79 Obstetrics worker 80 Dwell 81 … “Get to the chopper!” 84 Recording device, for short 85 ____ planning 86 Part of N.S., in Canadian mail 87 … “Is this your king?!” 92 Fine deposit 93 Airport named for two Washington cities 94 Hurry 95 “This one’s ____” 96 Caesar’s “I” 97 Reaction to scritches, maybe 98 “____ the Explorer” 99 Things you might take a spin in 100 Stored 102 … “I’ll have what she’s having” 107 Low-carb-diet creator 108 Piece of furniture that’s at least a couple of feet wide 109 Best competitive performance, informally 110 Trials 111 Trick that’s “pulled” 112 Doodling, say
DOWN
1 Mile High City athlete 2 Palm fiber 3 Drawer, say 4 Restructuring target 5 Sp. title 6 Term of address for a noble 7 Like some calories 8 Beyoncé film role 9 “Snakes ____ Plane” 10 Shaft of sunshine 11 Estimation from dating 12 Placed on a pedestal 13 Swedish name akin to Lawrence 14 Commercial suffix with Motor 15 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner who founded the Green Belt Movement 16 Flower that’s often yellow 17 Flower that’s often purple 20 School district higherup, informally 21 Like praises and arias 22 Story tellers 27 Half a pint 30 Firm-ly worded letter? 31 Bars that people walk into? 32 Actress Dawson 33 Clean (up) 34 French for “salt” 36 Humble homes 37 Incites to attack, with “on” 38 ____ saint 41 Witness’s attestation 42 Makes a choice 43 Image Award org. 44 Children’s playthings that help with spelling 45 Encourage to buy add-ons 46 Sound bites and such 47 Trolley sounds 51 Buddy 52 District 9, for short? 54 Alternatives to Targets 56 Swayed to the dark side, say 58 Danish coin 60 Ceaselessly 62 Exactly right 63 Half-frozen Italian dessert 64 Grooved on 65 Leaf blower alternative 71 Effective salesperson 73 Sp. title 74 Long truck 75 What goes in a box 76 Water 78 Overseen by 80 Anger 82 Receptacle for donations 83 Little ’un 84 Source of chocolate 87 One serving on a ship 88 Andean feline 89 Eventually 90 Enjoying a comedy 91 Stick-y pad? 93 Brewski 94 Like DC and MI 97 Calligraphers’ choices 98 Twentysomethings, e.g. 99 Burkina Faso neighbor 101 Word before “home” or “the road” 103 School org. 104 Part of fwiw 105 Matrix character 106 Place to wear smocks