| Asset-freezing org. (CONTEST ALERT! My new all-skill, solve-at-home crossword contest benefiting the Alzheimer's Foundation of America is Sept. 30. First prize, $2,500. For details visit www.alzfdn. |
| Talladega" singer who goes by his middle name, not first name (Kenneth): 2 wds. |
| First word across in the first-ever crossword (1913) and the first of a dozen appearances of the word in this puzzle's grid, written word search-style (left, right, down, and diagonally) ... Can you f |
| J'accuse" author's first name |
| Archaic "before |
| Broadway's first Willy Loman |
| Like St. Nick's "little mouth," in "The Night Before Christmas |
| Letter before gee |
| Actor's first course? |
| Actor Hawke of "Before Sunrise," "Before Sunset," and "Before Midnight |
| Actor in "Before Sunrise," "Before Sunset" and "Before Midnight |
| Actress who was the first female host of "Saturday Night Live": 2 wds. |
| Football player Jackson drinks water before a game? |
| First name that's feminine in English and masculine in Italian |
| Adam and Eve's first residence |
| Possessive words before "oneself |
| A first name in whodunits |
| First word of a Beatles' album title |
| Co-creator of the Reitwagen, the first internal-combustion motorcycle |
| A lady's representative? |
| Animated movie released in 1998 shortly before the similar "A Bug's Life |
| First thing Iowa State cheerleaders ask for? |
| Letter before theta |
| Soldier's request before entering a firefight |
| First pitcher to have defeated all 30 major-league teams |
| Mixture brushed onto pastry dough before baking |
| Author Locke of the Harlem Renaissance, the first African-American Rhodes scholar (1907) |
| Nights before Christmas and New Year's Day |
| Surprises unpleasantly, and a hint to each starred answer's first two + last two letters |
| Bellini's lady |