Theme: See The Light
18. Damning evidence : SMOKING GUN. SUNLIGHT
23. Angler's end-of-line item : FISHING LURE. FIRELIGHT
34. Birchbark mover : CANOE PADDLE. CANDLELIGHT
51. Underground violent-weather refuge : STORM CELLAR. STARLIGHT
57. Bits of extra information ... and a hint to this puzzle's circles : SIDELIGHTS
Melissa here. Clever theme - the circled letters (above in red) on the outsides of the theme answers spell out kinds of LIGHT. WOW this was beyond a Tuesday level for me and it took me forever to get traction. The first word I felt certain of was 16A EAGLE and then 3D AMNESIAC. I hobbled along from there. Is it wrong that I got all the alcohol references immediately? ROSSI, ALES, GIN.
Across
18. Damning evidence : SMOKING GUN. SUNLIGHT
23. Angler's end-of-line item : FISHING LURE. FIRELIGHT
34. Birchbark mover : CANOE PADDLE. CANDLELIGHT
51. Underground violent-weather refuge : STORM CELLAR. STARLIGHT
57. Bits of extra information ... and a hint to this puzzle's circles : SIDELIGHTS
Melissa here. Clever theme - the circled letters (above in red) on the outsides of the theme answers spell out kinds of LIGHT. WOW this was beyond a Tuesday level for me and it took me forever to get traction. The first word I felt certain of was 16A EAGLE and then 3D AMNESIAC. I hobbled along from there. Is it wrong that I got all the alcohol references immediately? ROSSI, ALES, GIN.
Across
1. "C'mon, be __" : A PAL. Tried REAL first.
5. Flightless South American bird : RHEA
9. Clay pigeon hurlers : TRAPS. Trapshooting.
14. Cookbook author Rombauer : IRMA. Not ERMA.
15. Brand at Petco : IAMS
16. Highest-ranking Boy Scout : EAGLE
17. Flutist Herbie or novelist Thomas : MANN
20. Heavy hammer : SLEDGE. Peter Gabriel’s music video for Sledgehammer still holds the record for most awards a single video has won, at nine.
22. Gives holy orders to : ORDAINS
26. Scratch (out) : EKE. Misdirection, made me think of crossing out a word on paper.
27. Burger topper : ONION
28. Currently popular : HOT
29. Martini's partner in vermouth : ROSSI
31. "The Crying Game" actor Stephen : REA
32. Sign between Cancer and Virgo : LEO
33. Sunday bench : PEW 39. "That's amazing!" : WOW
40. Wyo. neighbor : IDA
41. Musician's deg. : MFA. Master of Fine Arts.
44. Big strings in the orchestra : CELLI. Not HARPS.
47. TV's Arthur : BEA
48. "24" superagent Jack : BAUER
50. Half a patriotic cheer : USA
54. Garb for the slopes : SKI WEAR
56. "__ Fideles": Christmas carol : ADESTE
60. Aptly named pope : PIUS
61. Chihuahua lady friend : AMIGA
62. Conception : IDEA
63. Coastal city : PORT
64. So far : TO NOW. Not AS YET.
65. Brewpub pours : ALES
66. Snack machine inserts : ONES
Down
1. Focuses on, as a goal : AIMS FOR
2. Nutty confection : PRALINE
3. Many a soap opera character, after a blow to the head : AMNESIAC. Funny.
4. Lookout's cry : LAND HO. I was thinking along the lines of aiding and abetting, not ships.
5. Awake and about : RISEN
6. Virginia __ : HAM
7. Expressive rock genre : EMO
8. Invite to a movie, perhaps : ASK OUT
9. Offered in payment : TENDERED
10. Sitar music : RAGA
11. Texas A&M team : AGGIES
12. Plops (down) : PLUNKS
13. Martial arts instructor : SENSEI
19. Like some outlet store mdse. : IRR. Irregular.
21. Bombay Sapphire, e.g. : GIN.
24. Clarified butter : GHEE. So good.
25. More eccentric : LOOPIER. Not LOONIER.
30. Big-eyed bird : OWL
32. Feeling blue : LOW. Not SAD.
33. High-tech appt. book : PDA
35. Hole-making tool : AWL
36. Legal deterrent to loud neighbors : NOISE LAW
37. Podcast comic Carolla : ADAM
38. Liquid-in-liquid suspension : EMULSION
42. Main movie : FEATURE
43. Puts the cuffs on : ARRESTS
44. Verbally abuse, informally : CUSS AT. Not FUSS AT.
45. __ Pie: ice cream treat : ESKIMO
46. Stocked for future use : LAID IN
47. Noble Italian house that produced two popes : BORGIA. House of Borgia.
48. Sleeping spot : BED
49. Embattled Syrian city : ALEPPO. So sad.
52. Mai __ : TAI
53. Spanish homes : CASAS
55. "And away __!" : WE GO
58. Good cholesterol, for short : HDL. High-density lipoprotein.
59. Three-way intersection : TEE
