Theme: Synonyms - Terms for changes in elevation.
17A. Past one's prime : OVER THE HILL
25A. Perilous course to go down : SLIPPERY SLOPE
43A. Achieves one's goal : MAKES THE GRADE
58A. Interest-paying institution : SAVINGS BANK
Argyle here. My first thought was this has a lot of echoes from recent puzzles. "Late in life" / "Over the hill" Ageism? We had a puzzle from Ms. Hacker last fall but still have no information about her. Personally, I found this effort rather flat with few redeeming qualities. I hope I'm missing something.
Across:
1. Works with yarn : KNITS
6. Anheuser-__ Brewery : BUSCH
11. Solomon, for one : JEW
14. Valium drug company : ROCHE. Swiss health-care company.
15. Snow-block home : IGLOO
16. Logger's tool : AXE
19. Doc for a kitty : VET
20. Thickness-measuring instrument : CALIPER
21. Hiker's tool : COMPASS
23. Mauna __ : LOA
24. Actress Zellweger : RENÉE
30. Margarita condiment, in Mazatlán : SAL
32. Tiny amt. of time : NSEC. (nanosecond)
33. Ballet skirt : TUTU
34. Vote in : ELECT
36. Tom Collins liquor : GIN
38. Red giant with a carbon-rich atmosphere : C STAR
39. Say with assurance : AVER
40. Red-shirted bear : POOH. No pants.
42. Prefix with bar : ISO
48. Skin openings : PORES
49. "Saw __": second "Saw" sequel : III
50. Popeye's adoptee : SWEE' PEA
53. Lacking a handle? : UNNAMED
57. Bother a lot : IRK
60. Alphabet finale : ZEE
61. Where embryos develop : UTERI
62. Do-or-die poker bet : ALL IN
63. Finale : END
64. Heat-resistant glassware : PYREX
65. Writer/director Allen with four Oscars : WOODY
Down:
1. McDonald's founder Ray : KROC
2. __ Scotia : NOVA
3. Atlantic republic at the edge of the Arctic Cir. : ICEL. All I'll say is that it's been used before(still doesn't make it right).
4. Roller-coaster ride feeling : THRILL
5. Climactic tennis match situation : SET POINT
6. Oktoberfest quaff : BIER. The 'k' clues it as German.
7. "That turns my stomach" : "UGH!"
8. Deli machine : SLICER
9. Ant complex : COLONY
10. Watson's associate : HOLMES
11. Perked pot contents : JAVA
12. Couple that's split : EXes
13. Dampens : WETS
18. Piles : HEAPS
22. Furrier's hides : PELTS
24. Cookbook contents : RECIPES
25. Streamlined : SLEEK
26. Take down a __: humble : PEG
27. Navel variety : OUTIE. Belly button.
28. School support gps. : PTAs
29. Peseta replacement : EURO
30. Tailor's line : SEAM
31. Thomas __ Edison : ALVA
35. __ suzette: dessert pancake : CRÊPE
37. Christmas quaff : NOG
38. Logger's tool : CHAINSAW
41. Round gasket : O-RING
44. Cleans with a paper towel, as a spill : SOPS UP
45. War-ending pact : TREATY
46. Shot put competitor, e.g. : HEAVER
47. Devil, in Durango : DIABLO
50. Small or medium : SIZE
51. Small songbird : WREN
52. __ out a living: barely got by : EKED
53. Windows alternative : UNIX
54. Bueno's opposite : MALO
55. City near Tulsa : ENID
56. Big Apple fashion initials : DKNY. Donna Karan New York
59. Anger : IRE
Argyle
