Spy Glass NYT Sunday Puzzle

From guest blogger PhillySolver:

The upcoming Ian Fleming Centennial on May 28th will be fresh on our minds thanks to the deep background work done by Liz Gorski. This is her 41st Sunday and 162nd puzzle and it charmed me from clue double O one (001). I mentioned yesterday that our top constructors are multi-talented and that aptly describes Ms. Gorski. If you would like to see some beautiful design work, check out her website for Cross Stitch dealers. You can read her bio there and see what I mean by talented. I asked Liz about her work on this puzzle and want to share a few things she told me.

"I love to make Sunday puzzles because they're the most challenging form for me — the most difficult day of the week, constructing-wise. Developing themes that can sustain a Sunday solve is very tough, and I like trying to crack that nut. Last year, after seeing the latest Bond film, Casino Royale, I knew that I had to do a Bond puzzle. In sketching out the pattern, I discovered that the six actors sharing a common "Bond" (DANIEL CRAIG, SEAN CONNERY, TIMOTHY DALTON, GEORGE LAZENBY, ROGER MOORE, PIERCE BROSNAN)... along with IAN FLEMING — make up seven entries that fit perfectly into a symmetrical grid."

Did I say that she is impressive? Could you do that? To complete my case that she has extreme talent, she adds, The clues provide an "appropriate gimmick for a "spy" puzzle — the solver will have to crack some codes." Her proposed movie anagrams became year codes for the players, however.

Where to start? How about with the big events going on in Britain by posting the Centenary website. I know where I could end. Once you have proven your code cracking mettle, you can connect the points and get a cocktail glass with a MARTINI inside (39a). I enjoy this added element to puzzles. You get to take your solving work to another level. I would say I was stirred by the fill, but some of you may have been more appropriately shaken by it. I promised you last night you would rely on intelligence today.

As to the puzzle (answers), here are some of the clues you needed to solve in order to earn your martini.

Tricks of the Trade:
St. Joseph makes ASPRIN (97a)
Med Plans are HMOS (Health Maintenance Organizations) (78a)
A GOLF COURSE is full of holes (74d)
Alexander Hamilton was killed by Aaron Burr in a DUEL (82a)
We have Ouzel thrushed upon us as OUSEL at (46d)
In NYC they have SOHO (South of Houston St.) and the newer NOHO (North of Houston St.) 35a
AORTAL refers to the main artery (ah, that blood line)  41a
Name drop? deserves the ? since the answer is ERASE (121a)
Ditto for MTG representing a Brief encounter? (10d)
Second start? is a NANO as in nanosecond (112d)
A gut course provides a student with AN EASY A (80a)

Here are the four anchoring long fills:
14d    GRECO ROMAN  (Like some wrestling) Olympic fans and Big Ten schools really care.
4d      CARGO PANTS (Attire with super sized pockets)  Here's a popular YouTube entry Pants
77d    BILL HUDSON (Former Mr. Goldie Hahn)
74d    GOLF COURSES (a tricky clue above)

And in summary, here is the stellar constellation of Broccoli entertainment:
3d       Sean Bond
23a     George Bond
48a     Roger Bond
68a     Timothy Bond  
71d     Daniel Bond
115a   Pierce Bond
90a     Ian Fleming (see photo above)

Thank you Liz for the great entertainment!

Horne, James Horne, returns tomorrow.

PhillySolver