Theme: Sinkers - A reference to the weights a fisherman uses on his line, split-shots, and that's what Marti's puzzle has, split-shots.
17. Like a fajita pan : SIZZLING HOT
27. Daisy-plucking words : SHE LOVES ME NOT
43. To the point : SHORT AND SWEET
57. Not a likely chance, and, literally, a hidden feature of 17-, 27- and 43-Across : OUTSIDE SHOT
Argyle here. Marti has a certain "je ne sais quoi", European flair today, mardi. Coincidence? I think not.
Across:
1. Italian scooter : VESPA. I can just see her zipping around Roma on her put-put.
6. Weird : EERIE. and 2D. Weird-sounding lake : ERIE
11. "This is so frustrating!" : "GRR!"
14. Sharon of Israel : ARIEL. Abba Eban yesterday sets up Ariel Sharon today.
15. Old-timey "Yikes!" : "EGADS!"
16. Coventry bathroom : LOO. Now to England...
19. Perrier, to Pierre : EAU. on to France.
20. Casual Friday top : TEE
21. FAO Schwarz specialty : TOYS. Just in time for Christmas.
22. Turn away : AVERT
24. __ vivant : BON. Our constructor.
25. Tiny bit : IOTA
33. Farm or home ending : STEAD
34. Troubles : ILLS
35. "Now __ me down to sleep ..." : I LAY
37. James of "The Godfather" : CAAN
38. Count Chocula wear : CLOAK. The Count is European?
39. Turn on a pivot : SLUE
40. Start of many Internet addresses : HTTP. Adding an S (https) makes it more secure.
41. Actor Thicke : ALAN. Born in Kirkland Lake, Ontario.
42. "I can take __!" : A HINT
46. Bonny girl : LASS. A short hop from Canada to Scotland.
47. Owned : HAD
48. Hangout for some 38-Down : ALLEY. 38D. Some strays : CATS
L.C.
51. Word spoken while pointing : LOOK
53. Short change? : CTs. (cents)
56. Month after avril : MAI
61. Pre-holiday time : EVE
62. Part of USNA : NAVAL. (United States Naval Academy)(pop quiz: another name for navel is __?)
63. "Keen!" : "NEATO!"
64. Twin of Bert Bobbsey : NAN. The Bobbsey Twins was a long-running series of children's novels published from 1904 to 1979, with a separate series of 30 books published from 1987 through 1992.
65. Picket fence parts : SLATS
66. Barbershop band? : STROP. The leather strap used to keep a sharp edge on a straight razor.
Down:
1. Like outer space : VAST
3. Clothing label number : SIZE
4. Candy in a collectible dispenser : PEZ
5. With everything accounted for : ALL TOLD
6. Choosing word : EENY, meeny, miny, moe. CSO
7. Omelet base : EGGS
8. Cheering syllable : "RAH!"
9. Binding words : "I DO"
10. Real __ : ESTATE
11. Delight : GLEE
12. Crowd cacophony : ROAR
13. Defeat decisively : ROUT
18. Prefix with sphere : IONO
23. Disappeared : VANISHED
24. Skinny sort : BEANPOLE
25. Hawaii component : ISLAND
26. Siberian city : OMSK
27. Box score numbers : STATS
28. Moor : HEATH
29. Luxurious homes : VILLAS. Perhaps overlooking the Mediterranean.
30. Online finance company : E-LOAN. Curious? Link
31. Stan's partner : OLLIE. Laurel and Hardy.
32. Gibe : TAUNT
33. UCLA or USC : SCHool
36. To this point : YET
42. Rouses from bed : AWAKENS
44. Synthetic fibers : RAYONS
45. In pumps, say : SHOD. In shoes.
48. "So be it!" : "AMEN!"
49. Volcano output : LAVA
50. Burden for some debtors : LIEN
51. Future atty.'s exam : LSAT. (Law School Admission Test)
52. Many Manets : OILS. Effect of Snow on Petit-Montrouge.
53. Blacken on the grill : CHAR
54. Four-legged Emerald City visitor : TOTO. Not in Kansas.
55. Halt : STOP
58. "Friendly Skies" co. : UAL. (United Airlines)
59. New Deal energy prog. : TVA. (Tennessee Valley Authority)
60. Put in rollers : SET
Argyle
