Theme: And it's a grand day to be sure!
17A. Change one's route to avoid heavy traffic, say: MAKE A DETOUR. Grand tour.
23A. Likely successor to the throne: HEIR APPARENT. Grandparent
37A. "You're confusing me": "I DON'T UNDERSTAND". Grandstand, verb or noun.
48A. Sprained ankle, often: SPORTS INJURY. Grand jury.
59A. Climactic show ending, and a literal hint to this puzzle's circled letters: GRAND FINALE. The word in the circles can follow GRAND and they are the final word in their entries.
Argyle here. We have a quick return of Bruce Haight, a grid spanner; we have circles, a tight theme, a very necessary reveal. I hope we all have great week on this first day of spring.
Across:
1. Negative attention from the press, briefly: BAD PR. (bad public relations)
6. Deep-voiced opera singer: BASSO
11. "I knew it!": "HAH!"
14. Blazing: AFIRE. AWORD.
15. Gossip spreader: YENTA
16. Abu Dhabi is its cap.: UAE. (United Arab Emirates) Visit Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, if you dare.
19. Org. for marksmen: NRA. (National Rifle Association)
20. "You __ here": ARE
21. Pipe-cleaning brand: DRANO. (Not recommended for tobacco pipes.)
22. Composer Stravinsky: IGOR. His wife's name was "Katya".
26. Magnificent: SUPERB
29. Epps of "House": OMAR. His IMDb page.
30. Have no doubt: KNOW
31. Fabulist mentioned by Aristotle: AESOP. (fabulist - a person who composes or relates fables.)
34. Soda: POP
41. Capitol Hill fig.: POL
42. Quarrel: ARGUE
43. Machu Picchu resident: INCA
44. "Me neither!": "NOR I!"
46. Sacred river of India: GANGES
53. "Peter Pan" beast: CROC. Tic-toc croc.
54. Safe place?: VAULT
55. Help in finding the hidden treasure: MAP
58. Kept under wraps: HID
62. Blanc who voiced Bugs: MEL
63. "__ bet?": WANNA
64. Kind of panel or system: SOLAR
65. Keats work: ODE
66. Annual celebrations, for short: B-DAYS
67. Plot surprise: TWIST
Down:
1. The Crimson Tide, familiarly: BAMA. (Alabama)
2. In the distance: AFAR
3. Storied water barrier: DIKE. Dutch boy story, perhaps.
4. Ante-: PRE-. Prefixes.
5. Page turner: READER
6. Way to play music if you can't read it: BY EAR
7. Insurance giant: AETNA
8. Busybody: SNOOP
9. Good name for a lover of hearty meals: STU
10. Paddle: OAR
11. Gut feeling at dinner time?: HUNGER PANG
12. Packers quarterback Rodgers: AARON. Green Bay Packers, Green Bay, Wisconsin.
13. EKG organ: HEART
18. Smidgen: DRIB. Often found as dribs and drabs.
22. Nest egg acronym: IRA. (Individual Retirement Account)
23. Previously cut, as timber: HEWN
24. Penniless: POOR
25. Gig equipment: AMPs
26. Decide not to go to: SKIP
27. Loosen, as a knot: UNDO
28. Cylindrical water toy: POOL NOODLE
31. Director Lee: ANG. Taiwanese-born Ang Lee, not "Spike" Lee.
32. School URL ending: .EDU
33. "Comprende?": "SEE?". Spanish to English.
35. Fairy tale starter: ONCE
36. High-tech appt. books: PDAs. (personal digital assistant)
38. Sharp-tasting: TART
39. "Exodus" author Leon: URIS
40. Minuscule: TINY
45. Tolkien beast: ORC
46. __ of Mexico: GULF
47. Whistler, but not his mother: ARTIST
48. Blockhead: SCHMO
49. Jimmied (open): PRIED
50. The first Mrs. Trump: IVANA
51. Mary Poppins, e.g.: NANNY
52. Biblical betrayer: JUDAS
55. Timbuktu's country: MALI
56. "__, poor Yorick!": Hamlet: ALAS
57. Cheeky: PERT
59. Pres. #43: GWB.(George Walker Bush)
60. "Cool!": "RAD!"
61. "Immediately!": "NOW!"
Argyle
Notes from C.C.:
2) Happy Birthday to John28man as well! He pops in on the blog from time to time.
1) Happy Birthday to dear Spitzboov (Al), our always cheerful and knowledgeable imp (Spitzboov is Low German for "rascal/"imp".) Spitzboov served in the Navy
Reserve for over 20 years & retired as Commander. He continues to support the Navy in any way he can. The Annin flag he sent to me after I got my US citizenship is from the Navy. Hopefully you and Betty can meet with Argyle again this year.
Argyle and Spitzboov
(August 23, 2014, Washington County Fair)
2) Happy Birthday to John28man as well! He pops in on the blog from time to time.
