Theme: B?ND - The last part of the entries is a vowel progression.
17A. Illegally imported goods : CONTRABAND
26A. Squatting exercise : KNEE BEND
37A. Enchant : SPELLBIND
53A. Wanderer : VAGABOND
62A. Tuxedo accessory : CUMMERBUND
Argyle here. Three of the four entries are single words but knee bend isn't. Lila (Really Rich) should know better. Pshaw! What do I want from a Monday other than a doable puzzle. OK, I'll keep my nits to myself.
Across:
1. Put some pizazz in : PEP UP
6. Florida resort, familiarly : BOCA
10. __ America Competition : MISS
14. Speedy Amtrak train : ACELA
15. The Bard's river : AVON
16. "A time to cast away stones" Bible bk. : ECCL. (Ecclesiastes)
19. "Star Wars" princess : LEIA
20. Come up : ARISE
21. Dada artist Jean : ARP
23. Director Affleck : BEN
24. Mercedes sedan category : E CLASS
28. Illuminated : LIT
29. Author Victor : HUGO. French writer / "Les Misérables"
31. Hard to find : SCARCE
32. BLT spread : MAYO
34. Marshy wasteland : MOOR
36. Rage : ANGER
40. 2014 French Open winner Rafael : NADAL. Rafael Nadal.
43. Opposite of pass : FAIL
44. Fraternal gp. with an antlered animal in its logo : BPOE. (Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks)
48. Brought to mind : EVOKED
50. Cruise stop : ISLE
52. Delta rival: Abbr. : UAL. (United Airlines)
55. Irritable : SNARKY
57. Braz. neighbor : ARG. Brazil / Argentina
58. WWII mil. zone : ETO. (European Theater of Operations)
59. Cobbler's supply : HEELS
60. Christian of fashion : DIOR
66. What Clearasil treats : ACNE
67. Norway's capital : OSLO
68. Davis of "Thelma & Louise" : GEENA
69. Requirement : NEED
70. Situation to be cleaned up : MESS
71. Okays : YESes
Down:
1. Calif.'s ocean : PAC. Pacific.
2. Author Umberto : ECO
3. Football ref's call : PENALTY
4. Extreme : ULTRA
5. County counterpart in Louisiana : PARISH
6. Slugger Ruth : BABE
7. Eggs in a clinic : OVA
8. Sir Arthur __ Doyle : CONAN. Sherlock's creator.
9. Guitarist Segovia : ANDRES
10. Diner owner on "Alice" : MEL
11. Titanic sinker : ICEBERG
12. Chemistry or physics : SCIENCE
13. Libel's spoken equivalent : SLANDER. "I get slandered, libeled. I hear words I never heard in the Bible..."
18. Take for granted : ASSUME
22. Nut in a pie : PECAN
24. Shade tree : ELM or 46D. Shade tree : OAK
25. Covert govt. group : CIA. I better not spell it out; don't want no trouble.
26. Drink brand with a pitcher for a mascot : KOOL-AID
27. Quaint weekend getaway, briefly : B AND B. (Bed & Breakfast)
30. 18-hole outing : GOLF
33. Honshu port : OSAKA
35. Score-producing MLB stats : RBIs
38. Academy frosh : PLEBE
39. "Haven't made up my mind yet" : "I'LL SEE"
40. Reno resident : NEVADAN
41. Greed : AVARICE
42. Danged : DOGGONE. (it)
45. Chases after : PURSUES
47. Tarzan portrayer Ron : ELY
49. __ bubble: Internet stock phenomenon : DOT COM
51. Get-up-and-go : ENERGY
54. Hopeless : NO USE
56. "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" playwright Edward : ALBEE
59. Managed care gps. : HMOs
61. Chianti color : RED
63. D.C. United's org. : MLS. (Major League Soccer)
64. Opposite of SSW : NNE
65. Opponents of defense lawyers: Abbr. : DAs. (District Attorney)
Argyle
Note from C.C.:
Here is a picture from Dylan's 1-year-old birthday party yesterday. Click here, you'll see that hats are an important part of their birthday celebrations.
Front Row (Left to Right: Grady (turning 4 this coming Thursday) & his dad Derek; Truman (Grady's big brother) & mom Corie; Dylan and mom Shelby; Cameron (Dylan's big brother) and dad Joe, who is a Scot.
Back Row: Proud grandparents JD & Bob.
