Theme: "Are You Ready to Par-tay?" - Party, party, me hearties. A different party can be found aft of both words in the starred entries.
20A. *Powerful stratum of society : RULING CLASS. Ruling party; Class party, mostly for the younger grades.
11D. *Picturesque spot for a warm drink : TEA GARDEN. Tea party; Garden party, cue Ricky: (3:56)
58A. *When brandy may be served : AFTER DINNER. After party, think Oscars, Emmys; Dinner party.
35D. *Place for changing out of a wet suit : POOL HOUSE. Pool party; House party, at Dudley's.
40A. Continue with the fun, and a hint to each part of the answers to starred clues : PARTY ON
Argyle here. A pin wheel grid around a central unifier. Strong blocks around the outside and some interesting fill for a Monday. Ms. Miller has come through again although something is lacking.
Across:
1. To-do list item : TASK. Not any particular task.
5. Short-lived crazes : FADs
9. Destroy beyond repair : TOTAL
14. Yodeler's feedback : ECHO
15. Landed : ALIT
16. "Laughing" critter : HYENA
17. Teensy bit : A TAD
18. A hop, skip and jump away : NEAR
19. Savanna antelope : ELAND
23. In high spirits : GAY
24. Spread out, as one's fingers : SPLAY
25. __ New Guinea : PAPUA
27. Large seaweed : KELP
30. Mixed in a glass : STIRRED
33. Travel book inserts : MAPS
36. Bard's nightfall : E'EN
38. Take care of : HANDLE
39. Game with Wild Draw Four cards : UNO. Most kids love it.
42. Keebler cookie character : ELF
43. Stone-faced : STOLID
45. Side with green eggs : HAM
46. Part of MIT: Abbr. : INST. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
47. Unit of explosive force : KILOTON
49. Anjou, e.g. : PEAR. A firm-fleshed green-skinned variety of pear. Also, red-skinned.
51. Memorable labor leader Jimmy : HOFFA
52. Rinsed the soap from, as a car : HOSED. Or, rinsed the salt from.
56. GI R&R provider : USO. (United Service Organizations)
62. __ and crossbones : SKULL. We hear about Eli's and Bulldogs but the Skull and Bones Society at Yale...not so much.
64. Innovator's spark : IDEA
65. Additional : MORE
66. Studio stand : EASEL
67. Line in blue cheese : VEIN
68. Diva's solo : ARIA
69. Rose parts : STEMS
70. Comes to a close : ENDS
71. Require : NEED
Down:
1. Glum drops : TEARS. An original clue? I like it.
2. Behave poorly : ACT UP
3. "I __ return": MacArthur : SHALL
4. Large Alaskan bears : KODIAKs. Out for a family stroll. See JD's from yesterday.
5. Vampire tooth : FANG
6. Baldwin in Capital One ads : ALEC
7. Call on a retro phone : DIAL
8. Bra parts : STRAPS
9. Many an Actors Studio member : THESPIAN
10. Popeye's Olive : OYL
12. Actress Paquin of "True Blood" : ANNA
13. British noblewoman : LADY
21. TV educator Bill in a lab coat : NYE
22. Didn't go out : SAT HOME
26. Vessel on a mantel : URN
28. Bat first : LEAD OFF
29. Each : PER
31. Angled pipes : ELLs
32. Adept : DEFT
33. Cologne scent : MUSK
34. Not pro : ANTI
37. To the __ degree : NTH
40. Traps for the unwary : PITFALLS
41. Big mouth, informally : YAP
44. John of London? : LOO
46. Armored superhero : IRONMAN
48. One who was born there : NATIVE
50. Yellowfin tuna : AHI
53. Noise from a sleeper : SNORE
54. Otherworldly : EERIE
55. Deep anxiety : DREAD
56. Capitalizes on : USES
57. Three-handed card game : SKAT
59. Blissful place : EDEN
60. Senator Harry of Nevada : REID
61. Aykroyd and Quayle : DANs
63. Moon lander, for short : LEM. (Lunar Excursion Module)
Did you notice what's missing? Foreign words!
Argyle
