Theme: O
20. *Many a smartphone download : FREE RINGTONE. Ring
29. *Beef cut : TOP ROUND STEAK. Round
44. *Traction aid for off-road vehicles : ALL-WHEEL DRIVE. Wheel
53. Influential groups, and what each of the answers to starred clues contains : INNER CIRCLES
Argyle here. Three theme entries are unique to LAT puzzles(used for the first time) and Patti should know, she is the assistant to Rich. Two tall climbers and strong corners complete this tough Tuesday. Quite a few CSO's, too.
Across:
1. Stare in astonishment : GAPE
5. Phased-out jets : SSTs. (SuperSonic Transport)
9. Duvet filler : EIDER
14. October birthstone : OPAL
15. Abbr. in an abbreviated list : ET AL.
16. Carne __: burrito filling : ASADA. "Where's the beef?"
17. "My bad" : "OOPS"
18. Singer Simone : NINA
19. Shoot down, in a way : REBUT
23. Viola's sect. : STR. (strings)
24. Good to go, at NASA : A-OK
25. Wields power : REIGNS
33. Radiates happiness : GLOWS
35. Russian denial : "NYET!"
36. Poetic tribute : ODE
37. Blades cut by a blade : LAWN. Tricky.
38. Spider-Man Parker : PETER
40. Crossword diagram : GRID
41. Part of a storm or a needle : EYE
42. Uber alternative : TAXI
43. Frat party garb : TOGAs
Nashua, where are you?
Nashua, where are you?
I was looking for a pic to add to this when I discovered I didn't even have the entry!
48. "New Hampshire's Gate City" : NASHUA. Ah, there you are.
49. Fair-hiring abbr. : EOE. (Equal Opportunity Employer)
50. Clean Air Act org. : EPA. (Environmental Protection Agency)
57. Site with "Health A-Z" guides : WEB MD
60. Home Depot purchase : TOOL. Not a TARP today.
61. Farm grunt : OINK. The one part of the pig that can't be used.
62. Shake an Etch A Sketch, e.g. : ERASE. Cute.
63. In the buff : NUDE. ;-)
64. Fried corn bread : PONE
65. Woodland deity : SATYR
66. Fired from the job : AXED
67. Hearty meal : STEW
Down:
1. Says 17-Across, say : GOOFS. (Oops)
2. To the left, at sea : APORT
3. They're usually on a roll : PAPER TOWELS. Ahem, the bigger rolls.
4. "What __ is new?" : ELSE
5. Graduate-to-be : SENIOR
6. Three sheets to the wind : STINKO
7. Cranberry quality : TANG. Hand up for TART.
8. Part of a window shutter : SLAT
9. Sincere : EARNEST
10. Words upon making out a distant image : "I SEE IT"
11. Apply daintily : DAB
12. Academic address ending : .EDU
13. __ race : RAT
21. Knocks : RAPS
22. Gavel-pounding demand : ORDER
26. "Middlemarch" novelist : GEORGE ELIOT. (Mary Ann Evans)
27. 1976 Olympics star Comaneci : NADIA
28. RR station postings : SKEDS. Schedules.
30. Part of MYOB : OWN
31. Up to the time when : UNTIL
32. PBS "Science Guy" Bill : NYE
33. Gather a bit at a time : GLEAN
34. Clapton woman who's "got me on my knees" : LAYLA. "The song was further inspired by Clapton's then unrequited love for Pattie Boyd, the wife of his friend and fellow musician George Harrison of The Beatles." Wiki
38. Song of praise : PAEAN
39. Application file suffix : EXE
40. Head in a capital: Abbr. : GOV. (Governor)
42. Lightning follower : THUNDER
43. Row at Dodger Stadium : TIER
45. Capriciousness : WHIMSY
46. Solve, as a cipher : DECODE
47. Stirred up : ROILED
51. Pasta often served alla vodka : PENNE
52. Cockeyed : ASKEW
54. European volcano that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site : ETNA
55. Butter-and-flour sauce thickener : ROUX
56. Police : COPS
57. Director Anderson : WES. Wiki LINK.
58. Wisk rival : ERA
59. Baseball club : BAT
Argyle
