17. Zero or one : BINARY DIGIT. Bit is short for binary digit, the smallest unit of data in a computer. As Alan Watts said, “is you is, or is you ain’t?”
52. July 14, in France : BASTILLE DAY. French National Day formally called la Fête Nationale, commemorating the storming of the Bastille in 1789 during the French Revolution. Dickens writes about it in his masterpiece A Tale of Two Cities.
11. Thirteen : BAKER'S DOZEN. Why?
25. Performer who shimmies and uses finger cymbals : BELLY DANCER.
29. Like little, glittering eyes ... and a phonetic hint to this puzzle's four longest answers : BEADY
Get it? Bee-Dee. Nice.
Melissa here. Only two complete unknowns for me, and lots of fun and interesting fill.
Across
1. Gownlike Roman garment : TUNIC
11. Sculpted physique, briefly : BOD
14. Sky blue : AZURE
15. Asteroids game company : ATARI
16. Actor Vigoda : ABE. Another talented person the world lost in 2016.
20. Trunk of the body : TORSO
21. Orchard rows : TREES
23. Internet destination : WEBPAGE
27. Good Housekeeping publisher since 1911 : HEARST
28. Pilot Earhart : AMELIA
29. Leaning-on-the-horn sounds : BLARES
31. Hawk's claw : TALON
32. Wintry temps : TEENS
33. NYG rival in the NFC East : DAL. Dallas Cowboys.
36. Pinball excess : TILT
37. Mountain bleaters : GOATS
38. Ball-and-mallet game : POLO
39. Foxy : SLY
40. Business convention handouts : CARDS
41. Clods : BOZOS. Haha.
42. __ Wilson, who played Sam in "Casablanca" : DOOLEY
44. Peaceful : SERENE
45. Sports venues : STADIA
47. Original star of "Star Trek" : SHATNER. William.
48. Bedding : LINEN
49. Promised : VOWED
51. __ de Triomphe : ARC. View.
58. Golf ball holder : TEE
59. Hodgepodges : OLIOS
60. Eat away at : ERODE
61. Lith. or Est., once : SSR
62. Graphs' horizontal reference lines : X-AXES. Horizontal line on a graph.
63. "Billions & Billions" author Carl : SAGAN. Pale blue dot.
Down
1. Indent key : TAB
2. Submachine gun named for its designer : UZI
3. Religious school teacher, perhaps : NUN
4. Lyricist Gershwin : IRA
5. Free from doubt : CERTAIN
6. Madrid mother : MADRE
7. Bluesman Redding : OTIS
8. "Othello" schemer : IAGO
9. __ Lanka : SRI
10. Giggles : TITTERS
12. Thin woodwinds : OBOES
13. Jefferson, religiously : DEIST. Thomas Jefferson’s religious beliefs.
18. Lotus position discipline : YOGA
22. "The Facts of Life" actress Charlotte : RAE
23. Light bulb units : WATTS
24. Online letters : EMAIL
26. "The __ thickens!" : PLOT
27. Brinker on skates : HANS. Unknown for me, a novel first published in 1865 by Mary Mapes Dodge. Also, the name of a budget hotel in Amsterdam, with a hilarious website. “The hotel that couldn’t care less, but we will try.”
30. "I'm game" : LET'S
32. Ripped : TORE
34. Without assistance : ALONE
35. Hard luck case : LOSER
37. Big party : GALA
38. Shipping route terminus : PORT
40. Vending machine feature : COIN BOX
41. Subordinate church officials : BEADLES. “Official of a church or synagogue." New to me.
43. Poem of praise : ODE
44. "Where the Sidewalk Ends" poet Silverstein : SHEL
45. Blind strips : SLATS
46. Goodyear products : TIRES
47. Ham go-with : SWISS
49. Powerful engine : V-SIX
50. Oklahoma native : OTOE
53. In the style of : ALA
54. Historical period : ERA
55. Pooch : DOG
56. Oral health org. : ADA. American Dental Association.
57. Japanese currency : YEN
