"Keep in Touch"
17. *Easy-to-read character: BLOCK LETTER.
24. *Cruise stop: PORT OF CALL.
40. *Microsoft Outlook service: EMAIL.
43. *FaceTime alternative: SKYPE.
52. *Emphatic typeface: ITALIC TEXT.
65. Parting words suggested by all or part of the answers to starred clues: KEEP IN TOUCH.
Five ways to stay in contact were hidden in the theme answers. Did you see them before you got to the reveal ?
Across:
1. Beauty queen's topper: TIARA.
6. Standoffish: ALOOF.
11. Irish folk dance: JIG.
14. Naysayers: ANTIS.
15. "Z: The Beginning of Everything" star Christina: RICCI. She starred as Zelda Fitzgerald in the short-lived 2017 television series.
16. Santa __ winds: ANA.
19. "Real World" channel: MTV. This reality TV program aired for 21 seasons from 1992 to 2013, and is being rebooted on Facebook. Pick seven or eight late teens to mid twenties types, put them in a house, and film non-stop.
20. Triangular Indian pastry: SAMOSA. "The samosa is made with all-purpose flour locally known as maida shell stuffed with some filling, generally a mixture of mashed boiled potato, onions, green peas, lentils, spices and green chili, or fruits. The entire pastry is then deep-fried in vegetable oil or rarely ghee to a golden brown color." - Wikipedia
21. Skinny fish: EEL.
22. Buzzing insect: BEE.
23. Luxury bag monogram: YSL. As shown on this "Women's Large Monogram Matelasse Leather Chain Shoulder Bag - Black", available at Sak's Fifth Avenue.
28. Like much Scotch: AGED. Tinbeni likes Scotch. He said the other day, in reference to the MIXED DRINKS puzzle, that he likes his Scotch mixed with Scotch.
30. Purchase at Lowe's: TOOL.
31. July 4th nonstarter: DUD. A firework, such as a firecracker or aerial display, that doesn't explode properly.
34. Kagan of the Court: ELENA.
37. "Grr!," say: SNARL. And 68A. "Grr!": I'M MAD.
42. Freight weight: TON.
44. 1988 film farce fish: WANDA. 93% at Rotten Tomatoes: A Fish Called Wanda
45. Asian part of Egypt: SINAI. Transcontinental Countries – Is Egypt in Africa or Asia?
47. Assist: AID.
48. Goes to seed: ROTS.
50. "Enchanted" fantasy film girl: ELLA.
56. Patriots' org.: NFL. The New England Patriots of the National Football League. They played the Buffalo Bills last night on Monday Night Football.
59. Stool pigeon: RAT. A police informer in this clue, in bad guy lingo. BTW, James Cagney was misquoted. He actually said, "... you dirty yellow-bellied rat" to the guy that killed his brother.
60. Put a spell on: HEX. You can read about the "Andretti curse" at Wikipedia. In short, in 1970 the wife of co-owner Clint Brawner put a hex on them, promising that no Andretti would ever win the Indy 500 again. Mario never won it again, nor did his two sons, his nephew, and his grandson in 54 Andretti family attempts.
61. Decline to participate: OPT OUT.
64. Cigar refuse: ASH.
67. Peg for a round: TEE.
69. "Tomorrow" musical: ANNIE. The comic strip Little Orphan Annie made it to radio, stage and film. Here's the song from the 1982 film:
70. Slip up: ERR.
71. Cozy spots: NESTS.
72. Rent-a-car choice: SEDAN.
Down:
1. File folder projections: TABS.
2. Mosaic technique: INLAY.
3. Molecule parts: ATOMS.
4. Cough drop name sung in ads: RICOLA.
5. Seeks answers: ASKS.
6. "__ you listening?": ARE.
7. Soda bottle size: LITER. I still want to spell it litre.
8. Four pairs: OCTET.
9. Spotted wildcat: OCELOT. Here kitty, kitty.
10. Evergreen tree: FIR. A conifer. You can identify the tree as a fir because the cones stand upright versus hanging down as they do in spruce and other pines.
11. One-pot New Orleans dish: JAMBALAYA. I saw the following reader comment on a Food Wishes video for a Jambalaya recipe:
The best food in America comes from the south.
The best food in the south comes from Louisiana.
The best food in Louisiana comes from New Orleans.
And the best food in New Orleans is Jambalaya.
12. Major chip maker: INTEL. Lemonade had the clue "Gathering of spies" for this answer last Friday in Joe Kidd's puzzle.
13. Chairperson's order keeper: GAVEL.
18. Place for a campaign button: LAPEL.
25. "Waiting for Lefty" playwright: ODETS. Clifford. A play about a group of taxicab drivers planning a labor strike. Lefty was their elected chairman. This was in the '30s, before Uber and Lyft.
26. Archaeologist's find: FOSSIL.
27. Fail suddenly, with "out": CONK. Or, go to sleep.
29. Desserts in Little Italy: GELATI. Little Italy is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, once known for its large population of Italian Americans. Gelato is the Italian word for ice cream.
31. Morning drops: DEW.
32. Actress Thurman: UMA.
33. Longtime "CBS Evening News" anchor: DAN RATHER. 24 years. Took the helm when Walter Cronkite retired in 1981.
35. "There's __ in team": NO I.
36. Building add-on: ANNEX.
38. Hudson Riv. tech school: RPI. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The esteemed engineering school. Founded 1824. Troy, N.Y. RPI overlooks the Hudson River. Hi Spitzboov ! Hi Irish Miss !
39. Went first: LED.
41. Worshiped star: IDOL.
46. "Iron Chef Gauntlet" host Brown: ALTON. We tuned into his FoodTV show "Good Eats", but were never fans of the original Iron Chef program or its spinoffs.
49. Devious plan: SCHEME.
51. San __: Texas city, familiarly: ANTONE. Do you recall the song from these lyrics ?
Rain, dripping off the brim of my hat.
It sure is cold today.
And here I am'a walking down sixty-six.
Wish she hadn't done me that way.
52. Steaming mad: IRATE. I rate this an accurate clue for the answer.
53. Law enforcement shocker: TASER.
54. Overflows (with): TEEMS.
55. Yank in Yemen, for short: EXPAT. Short for expatriate. One who lives outside their native country.
57. No longer lost: FOUND.
58. Saint __: Caribbean island: LUCIA.
62. School bake sale orgs.: PTAs.
63. In that case: THEN.
65. They're related: KIN.
66. Cards checked at the gate, briefly: IDs.
