Theme: "one..one, one..two, one..three". The words at the end of the starred entries will be put to use after the holidays.
18A. *Naval cereal icon sporting a Napoleon-style hat : CAP'N CRUNCH
28A. *Nearly none, in slang : DIDDLY-SQUAT
48A. *Venue for self-publishing : VANITY PRESS
58A. *Arc-shaped, finger-staining snack food : CHEESE CURL
39D. Beneficial activity that ends the answers to starred clues : EXERCISE
Couch Potato(aka Argyle) here. I found this Monday morning work-out to be satisfying and amusing. Can't ask for much more than that. If you want to know more about DIDDLY-SQUAT, you're on your own.
Across:
1. Capital of Qatar : DOHA. On the Persian Gulf.
5. Invertebrate's lack : SPINE
10. Former Cubs slugger Sammy : SOSA
14. Stale smell : ODOR
15. Controversial topic : ISSUE
16. Greek boy with a bow : EROS
17. Allot, with "out" : METE
20. Nuclear __: social unit : FAMILY
22. City in Honshu's Kansai region : OSAKA
23. Academic URL ending : .EDU
25. Stately tree : ELM
26. Like most pies : CRUSTED
31. Summer, in Paris : ÉTÉ
32. Nosed (out) : EDGED
33. Eggs on : URGES
35. Christmas carol : NOEL
36. Forest clearing : GLADE
38. Feet pampering, briefly : PEDIcure
42. Bridal party rides : LIMOs
44. Anglo-__ : SAXON
45. Giant slugger Mel : OTT
51. Shingles or slate, e.g. : ROOFING
53. "Isn't __ bit like you and me?": "Nowhere Man" lyric : HE A
54. 39-Down unit : REP. (repetition)
55. Brown Betty fruit : APPLE. Not as bad for you as 3-Down.
56. Beantown basketball player : CELTIC. (Boston)
61. 5,280 feet : MILE
64. Erie or Huron : LAKE. Great.
65. Myanmar, once : BURMA
66. Yard sale sign phrase : [AS IS]
67. Expected landing times, briefly : ETAs
68. Ply with drink : BESOT. Besot me with 1-Down, thank you.
69. Formally turn over : CEDE
Down:
1. __ Pérignon : DOM. Champagne produced by Moët & Chandon. History and how widows transformed the Champange business. Here
2. Poem of celebration : ODE
3. Sundae topping : HOT FUDGE. Hah! The reason for needing 39-Down.
4. Region : AREA
5. Mount Etna's island : SICILY
6. Biblical songs : PSALMS
7. '60s espionage show : "I SPY"
8. Religious sister : NUN
9. Continental trade org. : EEC. (European Economic Community)
10. Grinch creator : SEUSS
11. Elaborately decorated : ORNATE
12. Light bulb's place : SOCKET
13. Slightly : A SHADE
19. Google Maps offering : ROUTE
21. Pinochle declaration : MELD. Examples
23. Genesis garden : EDEN
24. Prank : DIDO. I remembered it. (Monday, October 28, 2013 )
26. Bean __: tofu : CURD
27. Fierce anger : RAGE
29. "The Farmer in the __" : DELL
30. Resembling : QUASI
34. Practice in the ring : SPAR
36. Fed. agent : G-MAN
37. Like the "o" in "no" : LONG
40. Two teaspoons, say : DOSE
41. Gadget's rank: Abbr. : INSPector
43. Wall-climbing vines : IVIES. Check out the human Muppet piano player.
44. Lovers' clash : SPAT
45. Ancient soothsayer : ORACLE
46. Astaire headwear : TOP HAT
47. Capital of Kansas : TOPEKA
49. Heat: Pref. : THERMO
50. Chew out : YELL AT
52. Makes tracks : FLEES
56. Mangy mutts : CURS
57. 1998 Apple debut : iMAC
59. Go out, like the tide : EBB
60. Pool shark's stick : CUE
62. Jar topper : LID
63. Opposite of WNW : ESE
Argyle
