Come Out and Play: The word Play can proceed the first word in each theme answer to give us a common phrase.
17-Across. * Hunting-and-fishing official: GAME WARDEN. Play a Game, or maybe Well Played Game.
24-Across. * End a relationship: PART WAYS. Play a Part, or maybe Well Played Part.
35-Across. * Slouch: HUNCH OVER. Play a Hunch, or maybe Well Played Hunch. This phrase seems awkward to me, but it is legitimate idiom.
48-Across. * Adorn with lots of bling: TRICK OUT. Play a Trick, or maybe Well Played Trick.
And the unifier:
56-Across. "How clever of you!," and a hint to the first words of the answers to the starred clues: WELL PLAYED. I wasn't keen on today's theme. If you see some deeper meaning, please share. [Note: Thanks to Annie Kelly, the Unknown at 6:49 a.m., who helped with today's theme.]
Across:
1. Fail to interest: BORE.
5. Bundle of papers: SHEAF.
10. Needs no hemming, say: FITS.
14. "My life. My card" card co.: AMEX. American Express
credit card.
15. World Heritage Site in Jordan: PETRA. Petra is on my
bucket list. Maybe I will get there on my next trip to Israel this
Fall.
16. Law school newbie: ONE L. Also the title of the 1977
book by Scott Turow about his experience as a first year law student at
Harvard.
19. Just good enough: OKAY.
20. Sport that made its Olympic debut in 2021: KARATE.
Here is a fascinating history of Karate.
21. Personal histories: PASTS.
23. Supermarket conveniences: CARTS.
27. Poses a question: ASKS.
28. Tire filler: AIR.
30. Boot tip: TOE CAP.
31. Filmmaker Craven: WES. Wes Craven (né Wesley Earl
Craven; Aug. 2, 1939 ~ Aug. 30, 2015) was known for his slasher films.
He created the Nightmare on Elm Street films.
Sadly, he died of a brain tumor shortly after his 76th birthday.
|
| Wes Craven, center. |
32. ATM key: ENTER.
34. Like voices after a loud party: RASPY.
37. Audition hopeful: ACTOR.
40. Lots and lots: HEAPS. // And 52. Lots and
lots: OODLES.
41. Mont. neighbor: IDA. Idaho is Montana's neighbor.
Hi, Montana!
44. Reacted to head scritches, maybe: PURRED. And yes, the word really is Scritches.
46. Most junk mail: ADs.
47. Amanda Gorman creation: POEM. Amanda Gorman (b. Mar.
7, 1998) was the first National Youth Poet Laureate. She delivered one
of her poems at the inauguration of President Biden in 2021.
50. "In what way?": HOW SO?
51. Pandemonium: CHAOS.
54. Start of a story: IDEA.
59. Like kids at a magic show: RAPT.
60. Luxury watch: OMEGA. I'm sure they are nice watches,
but I can think of better uses for my $10K.
61. Romance novelist Roberts who writes mysteries as J.D.
Robb: NORA. Nora Roberts (née Eleanor Marie Robertson; b.
Oct. 10, 1950), writes under several names, in addition the two cited in
this clue and answer. Some of her books are also published under Jill
March and Sarah Hardesty. I have never read any of her books.
62. "Let It Go" singer in "Frozen": ELSA. I saw a stage
production of Frozen just a few months ago.
63. Bicycle part: PEDAL.
64. Jury __: DUTY.
Down:
1. Duffel or tote: BAG.
2. Sushi experience curated by the chef: OMAKASE. Not a
Tuesday word. The word roughly translated means Chef's Choice. Everything you wanted to know about the Omakase experience, but didn't know to ask.
3. Comments: REMARKS.
4. Applies, as influence: EXERTS.
5. Petty quarrel: SPAT.
6. Attendance answer: HERE. Due to Covid, class size in my
yoga class is restricted, so we have to register in advance and attendance
is taken. Recently, the class just spontaneously began answering in
foreign languages.
7. Liftoff approx.: ETD. As in Estimated Time of Departure.
8. Tapas corncake: AREPA. Another non-Tuesday word.
Hi, Lucina!
9. Tribute pieces by devotees: FAN ART.
10. Shoes: FOOTWEAR.
11. Glands in squids and cuttlefish: INK SACS. Everything
you wanted to know about ink sacs in giant squids, but didn't know to ask.
12. Sweet __: TEA.
13. Crafty: SLY.
18. "Now, where __ I?": WAS.
22. Mall map units: STORES. Now, where was I?
23. Crow's call: CAW.
24. First word in many a baking recipe: PRE-HEAT.
25. Sharp bark: YAP.
26. "Harriet the __": kid-lit classic: SPY. Harriet the Spy, by Louise Fitzhugh was first published in 1964.
28. Novelist Patchett: ANN. Ann Patchett (b. Dec. 2, 1963)
has written many books. My favorite Ann Patchett book is Bel Canto, which was based on the Lima, Peru hostage crisis in 1996.
29. Symptom targeted by an oatmeal bath: ITCH.
32. "Mystery solved!": EUREKA. Do you think Archimedes was taking an oatmeal bath when he had his Eureka Moment?
33. Street: ROAD.
35. Cinnamon-y rice milk drink: HORCHATA. Definitely not a
Tuesday word. Hand up if you knew about Horchata.
36. Corp. execs: VPs. As in Vice Presidents.
37. Just right: APT.
38. Mean mutt: CUR.
39. Upper arm muscle: TRICEPS.
41. Words of gratitude: I OWE YOU.
42. Sweet course: DESSERT.
43. "Yo te __": AMO. Today's Spanish lesson. Hi,
again Lucina!
45. Some a cappella singing: DOO-WOP.
47. Central European country: POLAND.
49. "I'm here to help": USE ME.
50. "Good" cholesterol initials: HDL. As in High-Density Lipoprotein.
52. "Black Widow" actress Kurylenko: OLGA. Olga Kurylenko
(b. Nov. 14, 1979) is a Ukrainian-French actress. Black Widow was a 2021 movie based on a Marvel Comic superhero. We haven't
been following movie releases since Covid, so I wasn't aware of this movie.
53. Iridescent stone: OPAL. Everything you wanted to know
about opals, but
didn't know to ask.
54. Rage: IRE.
55. __ makhani: lentil dish: DAL. Looks tasty.
57. Acted as tour guide: LED.
58. Calendar square: DAY.
Here's the Grid:
חתולה
When not sitting at my computer staring at tiny boxes, I am an actor. I’ve long been obsessed with solving crosswords, initially as a backstage activity and then as an always activity. I discovered constructing as a pandemic hobby and am now equally obsessed with the puzzle that is constructing. This is one of only three themelesses I’ve ever made. I was trying my hand at them, but I have since returned to the comfort of themed puzzles with their higher word counts and non-codependent corners. Major props to those who make lots of themeless puzzles - I find it so hard! 
