Stick Shift Choice. The letters in the word Gears, shift around in each theme answer. [NOTE: See also 63-Down from yesterday's puzzle.]
17-Across. Orson Scott Card sci-fi novel: ENDERS GAME. I am not familiar with this novel.
24-Across. Toon spouse with a blue beehive: MARGE SIMPSON.
39-Across. Park warning sign: KEEP OFF THE GRASS.
51-Across. Cheddar shredder: CHEESE GRATER.
And the Unifier:
63-Across. Go from neutral to reverse ... and a hint to each set of circles: SHIFT GEARS. I learned how to drive on an automatic, but I later learned to drive a stick shift. I really liked it, and a few of years ago, when I needed a new car, I specifically wanted a stick shift. My current car, however, is an automatic.
1. King-sized: JUMBO.
6. Seat in un parc: BANC. Today's French lesson.
10. Beer party staples: KEGS.
14. Scarlett of Tara: O'HARA. // And 55-Down. Scarlett's Butler: RHETT. References to Gone with the Wind.
15. "Young Frankenstein" aide: IGOR.
16. Dark purple berry: AÇAÍ. I learned of this berry from doing the crossword puzzles. Then I found Açaí bowls at Trader Joe's.
19. Pinball no-no: TILT.
20. "Anger, fear, aggression: the dark side of the Force are they" speaker: YODA.
21. Adopted cat, say: PET.
22. Radiant pigment: DAY-GLO.
27. Hypotheticals: IFs.
30. Old Faithful's st.: WYO. Old Faithful is in Yellowstone National Park, which is found in Wyoming.
32. Beat by a mile: CRUSH.
34. Couture initials: YSL. Yves Saint Laurent (né Yves Henri Donat Mathieu-Saint-Laurent; Aug. 1, 1936 ~ June 1, 2008) makes frequent guest appearances in the crossword puzzles.
35. Ostrich cousin: RHEA. Everything you wanted know about the differences between Ostriches and Rheas.
Rhea Pearlman (b. Mar. 31, 1948)
43. Hairy Himalayan: YETI. Also the name brand of very expensive coolers.
45. Kind of node: LYMPH.
46. Filmmaker Ephron: NORA. Nora Ephron (May 19, 1941 ~ June 26, 2012) was an American journalist, author and filmmaker. She also makes frequent guest appearances in the crossword puzzles.
48. Sch. north of Denver: CSU. Colorado State University is located in Fort Collins, Colorado.
50. Bean used in nondairy milk: SOY.
56. Elizabeth Arden parent company: REVLON.
57. Coleridge's "before": ERE.
58. Harleys, familiarly: HOGS.
62. Burn balm: ALOE.
66. Kinds: ILKS.
67. Island near Mull: IONA. Time for a geography lesson. The Isles of Mull and Iona are islands in the Inner Hebrides off the coast of Scotland.
68. Vermont patriot Allen: ETHAN. Ethan Allen (Jan. 1737 ~ Feb. 12, 1789) is an American Revolutionary hero. He is considered one of the founders of Vermont State. During the Revolutionary War, he was instrumental in the capture of Fort Ticonderoga. He did not, however, start the Ethan Allen Furniture Company.
69. Leaves: GOES.
70. Sweet-talk: COAX.
71. Small earrings: STUDS.
Down:
1. Baby in a pouch: JOEY.
2. "Sorry, can't do it": UH, NO!
3. Alcohol awareness-raising org.: MADD. Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
4. Another name for bluegill: BREAM. A Bluegill is a freshwater fish native to North America.
5. Dinghy mover: OAR.
6. Conceitedness: BIG EGO.
7. Playground marble: AGATE.
8. When tripled, "Yum!": NOM. Nom, Nom, Nom!
9. Ringing true: CREDIBLE.
10. "I Kissed a Girl" singer: KATY PERRY.
11. Vaping smokes, briefly: E-CIGS.
12. Ernest or Julio of wine fame: GALLO. The fascinating and dark origin story of Gallo Wines.
13. Squelch: SIT ON.
18. Agile: SPRY.
23. Parisian pal: AMI. More of today's French lesson.
25. Dr. Seuss' "Horton Hears __": A WHO.
26. Merit badge spot: SASH. I earned many badges back in the day when I was a Girl Scout.
27. "Gross!": ICKY. Sorry, Chris!
28. Liberate: FREE.
29. Christmas pudding fat: SUET.
33. Cowardly: SPINELESS.
34. Since Jan. 1: YTD. Year-To-Date
36. Unlikely Oscar nominees: HAMS.
37. Hockey legend Phil, to fans: ESPO. Phil Esposito (b. Feb. 20, 1942) had a long career as a professional hockey player.
38. Cinder-covered: ASHY.
40. Like much court evidence: FORENSIC.
41. "Flying" national symbol: FLAG.
42. Modeling adhesive: GLUE.
47. Bolivian bruin: OSO. Today's Spanish lesson. A bruin is a BEAR.
48. Website providing vehicle history reports: CARFAX.
49. "Don't delete" mark: STET.
51. Bond portrayer Daniel: CRAIG. Daniel Wroughton Craig (b. Mar. 2, 1968) began his James Bond career in the 2006 film, Casino Royal.
52. Greeting word: HELLO.
53. Elicit: EVOKE.
54. Spanish queen: REINA. More of today Spanish lesson.
59. Island with a U.S. state capital: OAHU.
60. One visiting an old prof, perhaps: GRAD.
61. Taxpayer IDs: SSNs. As in the Social Security Number.
64. Boo-__: HOO.
65. Some appliances: GEs. As in General Electric appliances.
Here's the Grid:
חתולה
