Theme: Desiccation - Fruit that is known as something else when it has been dried out begins each of the themes. Unifier occupies the last across.
17A. Traditional Christmas dessert : PLUM PUDDING
60A. Coffee break treat : PRUNE DANISH
30A. Sweet spread : GRAPE JELLY
47A. Fiber-rich cereal : RAISIN BRAN
69A. Helped with dinner cleanup--or, a hint to the relationship between the starts of 60-/17-Across and 47-/30-Across : DRIED
Argyle here. Remember what I said yesterday? Today C.C. shows us how to really do cross references. Go from a ripe fruit to a dried fruit. And fun to blog, too.
Across:
1. Allow in : ADMIT
6. Behind the times : PASSÉ
11. Keg insert : TAP
14. Nasty : SEAMY
15. Idol whose fans are called Claymates : AIKEN
16. Acapulco article : UNA
19. ER personnel : RN's
20. Swings about : SLUES
21. Crunchy snack : CORN NUT
23. LeBron James, e.g. : NBA STAR. (National Basketball Association). Forward for the Miami Heat.
26. Ruler in old St. Petersburg : TSAR
27. __ Diamond : HOPE. Worth between 200 and 250 million dollars. (Additional curse, no charge.)
32. More than vexation : IRE
33. Red Army leader Trotsky : LEON
34. Run-of-the-mill : SO-SO
35. Liquid-Plumr rival : DRANO
37. Jamaican music genre : SKA
39. Something to skip at the beach : STONE
42. Bollywood dress : SARI. Bollywood is the informal term for the film industry based in Mumbai, India.
44. Face cream ingredient : ALOE
46. Kenny G plays one : SAX
50. Hung on to : KEPT
51. "Show Boat" novelist Ferber : EDNA. The 1926 novel was a Broadway musical and a film. Wikipedia article.
52. Roger with 17 Grand Slam wins : FEDERER. The Swiss Maestro. Story.
54. Shrinking Asian lake : ARAL SEA
56. Scary bacteria : E. COLI
59. Downturn : DIP
64. "Little Red Book" chairman : MAO
65. Chipped in a chip : ANTED. Cute.
66. Comics friend of Nancy : ROLLO. And others.
67. Windup : END
68. Dallied (with) : TOYED
Down:
1. Dangerous reptile in the Nile delta : ASP
2. Pol. convention attendees : DELs.
3. Rough up : MAUL
4. Not susceptible : IMMUNE
5. Laid-back sort : TYPE B
6. Push-up bra feature : PAD
7. It may be financial : AID
8. Slopes headwear : SKI CAP
9. Men of La Mancha : SEÑORes. Three syllables.
10. Career for a sci. major : ENGR. "The engineering science major combines the understanding of basic engineering practices with in-depth knowledge of the fundamentals of the engineering sciences: electricity and magnetism, fluid and solid mechanics, mathematics, computer applications, materials, and thermodynamics and heat transfer. With this broad training, engineering science graduates are prepared for multidisciplinary engineering careers and a wide range of employment options." - Pennsylvania State University
11. Sets free : TURNS LOOSE
12. Once-a-year bloomer : ANNUAL
13. 60-Across, for one : PASTRY. 60A. Coffee break treat : PRUNE DANISH
18. Grammarian's concern : USAGE
22. Explosive experiment : N-TEST
24. Sellout signs, briefly : SRO's
25. Big mug : TANKARD
27. Holed up : HID
28. NHL legend Bobby : ORR
29. Well-matched pair : PEAS IN A POD
31. No-way man? : JOSÉ. The name was probably chosen for the rhyme with 'No-Way'.
33. "Tank Girl" star Petty : LORI
36. Sounding stuffy : NASAL
38. Winglike parts : ALAE
40. Short rest : NAP. Take 'em all the time.
41. Office contact no. : EXT. (extension)
43. Really hot spot : INFERNO. Just ask Dante.
45. No right __: traffic sign : ON RED
47. Software installation info file : [READ ME]
48. Rocky's love : ADRIAN
49. Loveliness : BEAUTY
50. Swedish currency : KRONOR. Plural of Krona. Sweden is a member state of the European Union but doesn't use the euro.
53. Digital greeting : E-CARD
55. Lovers' clash : SPAT
57. Taylor of "Mystic Pizza" : LILI. On the right.
58. One of the Antilles : ISLE. (Caribbean Sea) Isn't anything an island anymore?
61. Alumna bio word : NÉE
62. Teacher's deg. : Ed.D. (Doctor of Education)
63. Coal carrier : HOD
Argyle
