Theme: Meanwhile, back at the lodge - Things you might find around the base of the mountain after a day on the slopes.
17A. Hitchhike : BUM A RIDE. Ski bum.
25A. Far from being in agreement : POLES APART. Ski poles.
39A. What a pep talk is meant to do : LIFT ONE'S SPIRITS. Ski lift (and spirits for Tenbeni).
51A. Graduation garb : CAP AND GOWN. Ski cap.
63A. Time relaxing in a chalet, and where the first words of 17-, 25-, 39-, and 51-Across may appear : APRÈS SKI. After ski.
Argyle here. Patti may have been inspired by Marti for this puzzle. A couple of moguls make it a bit harder than usual but a smooth run down Mount Monday.
Across:
1. Apply, as with a cotton swab : DAB
4. Dinner bills : TABs. Can you run a tab for dinners?
8. Defeat decisively : THRASH
14. Dean's email suffix : .EDU
15. Overlook : OMIT
16. "Respect" singer Franklin : ARETHA. The Queen of Soul.
19. Rented : LEASED. Maybe a little A-frame chalet in the mountains.
20. Write back : REPLY
21. Amazement : AWE
23. Pod fillers : PEAs
24. Out of the wind : ALEE. The warming hut.
28. More in need of moisturizer : DRIER. Your skin after a day on the mountain.
30. __ noire: dreaded thing : BÊTE. A person or thing especially disliked or dreaded: literally, black beast. (or a good name for a diamond ski run.)
31. Before today : AGO
33. Contact lens care brand : RENU
35. Indian prince : RAJAH
43. Pixieish : ELFIN
44. Strong veiny cheese : BLEU
45. Chanced upon : MET
46. Chess corner piece : ROOK. Castle.
49. Pizazz : OOMPH
55. Quantity of 53-Down : REAM
58. Grifter's game : SCAM
59. Diminish : EBB
60. Prima __: opera star : DONNA
61. Schoolchildren : PUPILS
66. Some nuclear trials : A-TESTS
67. Earth's natural satellite : MOON
68. Archaic : OLD
69. Nobel Prize-winning poet Pablo : NERUDA. Ode to Broken Things.
70. Graph's x or y : AXIS
71. Nintendo's Super __ console : NES. (Nintendo Entertainment System)
Down:
1. Actress Messing of "Will & Grace" : DEBRA
2. "I challenge you to __!" : A DUEL
3. Took out, gangland-style : BUMPED OFF
4. Conservative Brit : TORY
5. Bordeaux boyfriend : AMI
6. Offer at Sotheby's : BID. (auction house)
7. Great bargain : STEAL
8. "Honor Thy Father" writer Gay : TALESE
9. 1,000-year Eur. realm : HRE. (Holy Roman Empire, 962–1806)
10. Come back into view : RE-APPEAR
11. In a total fog : AT SEA
12. Use wool clippers on : SHEAR
13. Owned, in the Old Testament : HADST
18. K.C. Royal, e.g. : ALer. Baseball.
22. E.B. White's "Charlotte's __" : WEB. Hey, man, check this out; there at the bottom. Wiki.
25. Ball-__ hammer : PEEN
26. Normandy river : ORNE. In northwestern France.
27. Naturally lit courtyard : ATRIUM
29. Clothing patch type : IRON-ON
31. Pale or malt brew : ALE
32. Baseball's Hodges : GIL. Played most of his career for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers.
34. PC-to-printer port : USB
36. "Sesame Street" puppeteer : JIM HENSON
37. Had a meal : ATE
38. FDR successor : HST
40. Italian dessert sometimes made with espresso : TIRAMISU
41. Like much post-Christmas business : SLOW
42. Drudge : PEON
47. Black Sea port : ODESSA
48. Old USSR spy gp. : KGB
50. Golf instructors : PROs
51. TV from D.C. : C-SPAN
52. Sharp, as an eagle's eyesight : ACUTE
53. Photocopier supply : PAPER
54. Only U.S. president born in Hawaii : OBAMA
56. Foot-to-leg joint : ANKLE
57. Hotel cleaning crew : MAIDS
60. Cozy rooms : DENS
62. U.K. business abbr. : LTD
64. Chicken __ : POX
65. French king : ROI
Argyle here.
