18. *Evaluation by one's colleagues: PEER REVIEW.
24. *1984 Prince classic: PURPLE RAIN.
49. *Region bordering the world's largest ocean: PACIFIC RIM.
56. *Yellowstone VIP: PARK RANGER.
3. *Green Day genre: PUNK ROCK.
38. *Union demand: PAY RAISE.
37. Intensive goodwill campaign, briefly ... and a hint to the answers to starred clues: PR BLITZ. A spate of PRs.
Across:
1. Captain Sparrow portrayer Johnny: DEPP.
5. Exam for jrs.: PSAT. A wake up call for some. I wonder how this joker did.
9. Indy 500 family name: UNSER. I'll say. Al Unser won there 4 times. Older brother Bobby won 3 times. Al Unser Jr. won 2 times. Al and Bobby's older brother Jerry was in the 1958 Indy. Jerry's son Johnny raced there 5 times. Bobby's son Bobby Jr. ran there 2 times. No family tree of racers even comes close to the legacy of the Unsers at the Indy 500.
14. Rio contents: AGUA.
15. Machu Picchu builder: INCA.
16. Loud salute: SALVO.
17. Beethoven's birth city: BONN. His grandfather, also named Ludwig van Beethoven, moved from what is now Belgium to Bonn.
20. Colorful carp: KOI.
22. "Born Free" lioness: ELSA.
23. Skin woe: ACNE.
27. Razz: JEER.
28. Like plagiarized work, say: STOLEN.
29. Focus and Fiesta: FORDS.
30. Office asst.: SECY.
31. Spectacles on one's nose: GLASSES. Katy Perry.
36. "That isn't nice": TSK.
38. Except for West Wendover, Nevada summer hrs.: PDT. West Windover is in the Mountain Time Zone since October of 1999.
41. Sicilian seaport: MESSINA. Did not know this. Here's where it's at:
42. Hard to come by: RARE.
43. Glossy finish: SHEEN.
46. Harsh critic: FLAYER. One who flays. New word for me.
48. Very fancy: LUXE.
53. USA part: Abbr.: AMER.
54. Whirl around: SPIN. LeBron James demonstrates the basketball spin move.
55. Drink from leaves: TEA. When it comes to tea, Abejo only drinks Earl Grey.
59. French movie: CINE.
62. Like much bar beer: ON TAP. “Beer, if drank with moderation, softens the temper, cheers the spirit and promotes health.” - Thomas Jefferson. Accidentally posted that quote in my Sunday comments.
63. Make, as money: EARN.
64. "In your dreams!": AS IF.
65. Abodes for birds: NESTS. Baby hummingbirds.
66. Liberal or martial things: ARTS.
67. Tenant's payment: RENT.
Down:
1. Pat softly: DAB.
2. Locker room issue: EGO.
4. Impressive collection: PANOPLY. I think we've only seen this word as an answer in Friday and Saturday crosswords. Not in my vernacular.
5. Spot on a die: PIP.
6. Derisive look: SNEER.
7. Amtrak high-speed train: ACELA. Amtrak says tilting trains are coming to the Northeast Corridor.
8. Ankle bones: TARSI.
9. Function: USE.
10. Four Corners natives: NAVAJOS. And 25. Four Corners natives: UTES.
11. Sandwich maker's aid: SLICER. "I've cut slices so thin, I couldn't even see them."
12. Smoothed: EVENED.
13. Sculls competitors: ROWERS.
19. Took off in a hurry: RAN.
21. Percent suffix: ILE.
24. Attention-getting sound: PSST.
26. Some MIT grads: ENGRS.
29. Tasseled hat: FEZ.
32. Scale units: Abbr.: LBS. Libras.
33. Baba among thieves: ALI. Ali to his cohorts.
34. Confession disclosure: SIN.
35. Work support group: STAFF.
37. Cross product: PEN.
39. Eins und zwei: DREI. Math in German. One and two equals three.
40. Educational period: TERM.
41. Mongoose family member that uses its tail to stand erect: MEERKAT. This little guy looks sleepy.
42. 9-Across vehicle: RACE CAR. True. The Unser's know about race cars.
43. Apply hurriedly: SLAP ON.
44. Showing compassion: HUMANE. Pay it forward.
45. Applies, as pressure: EXERTS.
47. On fire: LIT.
49. "Don't text and drive" ad, briefly: PSA. Public Service Announcement. This one from South Africa.
50. Snorer's disorder, perhaps: APNEA.
51. Groucho's smoke: CIGAR.
52. Like noble gases: INERT.
57. Rotation meas.: RPS. Revs Per Sec.
58. IV league?: RNS. IV as an abbreviation for intravenous, league as a collection of people, and RNs as abbreviation for Registered Nurses. Nice clue for the answer.
60. Diarist Anaïs: NIN. Every clue I've ever read for NIN has been related to Anaïs in one fashion or another.
61. Amphibian youngster: EFT.
Notes from C.C.:
1) Congrats on your 685 series, TTP!
