Award Winner

a cryptic puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

Solution
Puzzle grid
You may have won a prize! In 17 squares of the grid, the Across answer and the Down answer will have different letters. Put both letters into the same square in alphabetical order. If you shade those squares with the appropriate color, you may see your work awarded in the form of a 13-32-30-10-21-25-5-33. Congratulations!

Across

  • 1.
    End of Q-tip stuck inside of the ear—some nerve you’ve got (OPTIC)
  • 5.
    Pass in a row of mountains (ALPINE)
  • 10.
    Plan for downsizing legislative assembly (DIET)
  • 11.
    Empty nest where things are unspoiled (EDEN)
  • 12.
    Someone in a crowd scene reversed paintings by error (EXTRA)
  • 13.
    French soldier captain eating more than most? (GALLIC)
  • 14.
    Sanctified lady’s face covered in cream (BLEST)
  • 16.
    Jean Luc holds back arm, in part (ULNA)
  • 17.
    Kentucky University almost closed Asian island (KYUSHU)
  • 19.
    Dictated blue bottoms for the weekend pool members (GENES)
  • 22.
    Singer in “Camelot” moved leg out (GOULET)
  • 25.
    Diplomatic skill nailed in speech (TACT)
  • 27.
    Eastern European turned hitch secretly (ELOPE)
  • 30.
    Drag wine cask from behind automotive hardware (LUGNUT)
  • 31.
    Orally, make it not so inappropriate (UNDUE)
  • 32.
    Zero-male place in the Middle East (OMAN)
  • 33.
    Kicking oneself for throwing out the last trash (RUIN)
  • 34.
    Supermarket features a set of keys? (AISLES)
  • 35.
    Heart’s primary desire—a source of laughter (HYENA)

Down

  • 1.
    Au courant styles, except for the first lyric works (ODES)
  • 2.
    Spot detective crossing urban railroad (PIXEL)
  • 3.
    Asian holiday’s captivating on mountains (TETONS)
  • 4.
    Gully with occasional water flowing, not very warmly from the sound of it (COULEE)
  • 5.
    Push big increase after the start (URGE)
  • 6.
    Gehrig’s club not apt to win (LOUSY)
  • 7.
    Lies about pop celebrities to fans in the audience (IDLES)
  • 8.
    Dissenters heard an Arab’s comments? (NEIGHS)
  • 9.
    Striking the front, bent charm (ENCHANT)
  • 14.
    Problem with the French horn (BUGLE)
  • 15.
    Experience mid-Sixties in shock (TASTE)
  • 16.
    Modern poet converted a lounge (ANGELOU)
  • 18.
    Cleaner in a mob shot (BON AMI)
  • 20.
    Character with ESP changed the map (EMPATH)
  • 21.
    Treat Spooner’s finished, for example (SUNDAE)
  • 23.
    A no-good American cattle breed (ANGUS)
  • 24.
    Tickle inside of leg and behind (ELATE)
  • 26.
    Do pull-ups grasping a series of rings (CHAIN)
  • 28.
    Oddly, outfits a movie pooch (OTIS)
  • 29.
    List of choices among prime numbers (MENU)