17. Archers' protection : THUMB RINGS. My family were all into archery, and I won several trophies when I was young. I never heard of this item. Evidently, it is only used for archers practicing Mongolian or African archery techniques.
24. L.A.-based comedy troupe : THE GROUNDLINGS. Never heard of them, either. Lots of famous alums, so I should try to remember it.
50. Scoldings : TONGUE LASHINGS. Ummm, now this one I have heard of (from personal experience!)
61. Magi : THREE KINGS. It's that time of year when they are on the move.
38. Classic 1958 Chinua Achebe novel ... and a hint what literally happens in 17-, 24-, 50- and 61-Across : THINGS FALL APART. Never heard of the author or the book. (I had better brush up on my Cliffs Notes!)
Three of the theme entries split it as TH-INGS and one splits it as T-HINGS. It might have been more elegant to have all split the same way, or all split in different ways. But the reveal works well with the theme. Let's see what else Ian has thrown at us.
Across
1. Long-necked instrument : SITAR. Cello? Banjo? (...time to check the perps.)
6. Spiced beverage : CHAI. Because "mulled wine" wouldn't fit.
10. Parched : ARID.
14. Annoy one's co-star, perhaps : EMOTE.
15. Suggestion : HINT.
16. Recording medium : TAPE. Does anyone still record on TAPE?
19. Say openly : AVOW.
20. Ungenerous sort : HOG.
21. "__ how!" : AND.
22. Money-related suffix : AIRE. Million-aire, billion-aire, gazillion-aire...
30. Hammers obliquely, as a nail : TOES. Essential technique when you are building a new wall--right, Splynter?
31. "Yikes!" : EEK.
32. Bit of pillow talk : COO.
33. Dress protector : APRON.
36. Fla. airport : MIA.mi.
37. Sign of summer : LEO. Zodiac.
43. MLB team whose home scoreboard is updated by hand : BOS.ton. Yay! A baseball clue that I knew the answer to. Fenway Park is basically the same as it was on opening day, April 20, 1912.
44. Prom rental : TUX.
45. Full of recent info : NEWSY.
46. "Wheel of Fortune" buy : AN I.
48. Regarding : AS TO.
55. Vermeer's "__ With a Pearl Earring" : GIRL.
56. GI entertainer : USO.
57. Sénat vote : OUI.
59. Bear up there : URSA.
65. Verb, for one : NOUN.
66. One-named supermodel : IMAN. I finally remembered this name, thanks to Lucina. She said she parses it as I-MAN, even though the supermodel is "definitely not a man."
67. 10 out of 10, scorewise : IDEAL.
68. Canadian coin that's no longer produced : CENT. Canadian Eh!, do Canadians really have no cents?
69. Blog entry : POST. I'm working my tail off, here!
70. Yankee manager before Girardi : TORRE. 5 perps.
Down
1. Rogen of "Pineapple Express" : SETH.
2. "Let's get some air in here!" : I'M HOT.
3. Unyielding : TOUGH.
4. With 47-Across, payment for cash? : ATM. and 47-Across: See 4-Down : FEE.
5. Bull Run soldier : REB.
6. Casual pants : CHINOS.
7. Believer in karma : HINDU.
8. "Life of Pi" director Lee : ANG.
9. "You convinced me" : IT'S A DEAL.
10. Early game console : ATARI.
11. One of Hogwarts' four houses : RAVENCLAW.
12. Nov. 2013 Twitter milestone : IPO. Initial Public Offering.
13. Morning drops : DEW.
18. Outback order : RARE. Outback Steakhouse does grill a pretty good steak.
23. Variety : ILK.
25. Prince Harry's alma mater : ETON.
26. Pagoda instrument : GONG. I was trying to think of the word for the instrument in "Memoirs of a Geisha," but by the time I thought of "shamisen," I had already filled this one in using perps.
27. Singer Young : NEIL.
28. Attendees : GOERS.
29. In need of a sweep, perhaps : SOOTY. HaHa, I was thinking of my kitchen floor after the cats finish eating. But here, it's the chimney that needs a "sweep."
33. Plate appearance : AT BAT.
34. Platter player : PHONO.
35. 1992 Crichton novel involving a fictional Japanese company : RISING SUN. I did read it, but forgot what it was about.
36. Upper limit : MAX.
39. Boot option : STEEL TIP. Anyone else consider STEEL Toe?
40. Gas, e.g. : FUEL.
41. Not pro : ANTI.
42. Drudge : PEON.
47. Sable or mink : FUR.
48. Thumbs-up : ASSENT.
49. Vegas dealer's device : SHOE. It does kind of look like an open toed shoe, doesn't it?
51. 2014 World Series winning team member : GIANT. I was panicking, thinking I would have to come up with someone's name. Whew! I only had to WAG the team.
52. Vague qualities : AURAS.
53. Hopeless case : GONER.
54. Cotton candy, mostly : SUGAR.
58. Cruise destination : ISLE.
59. Chapel Hill sch. : UNC. University of North Carolina.
60. School of tomorrow? : ROE. Cute.
62. Med. care provider : HMO.
63. Set to be assembled : KIT.
64. Binding promise : I DO...believe it is time for me to leave!
Marti
