18-Across. Sequence of missed calls: PHONE TAG. Smart Phone.
21-Across. Place for Oreos: COOKIE JAR. Smart Cookie. A Smart Cookie is a clever person with good ideas.
38-Across. Let it slide: LOOK THE OTHER WAY. Smart Look.
52-Across. Wallet or purse alternative: MONEY BELT. Smart Money.
And the unifier:
58-Across. Fashionable group ... and what the starts of 18-, 21-, 38- and
52-Across form: SMART SET.
The word Smart can precede the first word of each theme
answer to give us a new concept.
Today is not only Mardi Gras, but it's a White Rabbit Day. Happy first
of March and Mardi Gras!
Across:
1. Gaming site whose machines originally took pennies: ARCADE.
That's why they were called Penny Arcades.
7. Invite (to): ASK.
10. Serve, as coffee: POUR.
14. Jumped: LEAPED.
15. Wide-angle
view: PANORAMA. Guess the panoramic city below.
17. Mom or dad: PARENT.
19. Pitcher's control, say: ASSET.
20. Wood-splitting tool: AXE.
25. Extra: SPARE.
30. New England cape: ANN. Cape Ann is north of Boston.
31. Fountain offerings: SODAS.
33. When tied NFL games may be decided: IN OT. As in
in Over Time.
34. Spanish folk hero: EL CID. We've seen El Cid before.
36. Does some self-grooming, as a bird: PREENS.
42. Counsel: ADVISE.
43. Things one can't do without: NEEDS.
44. Bearing: MIEN.
45. Salt or fresh follower: WATER. Ever wonder about the
differences between Fresh and Salt Water?
47. Mayo, por ejemplo: MES. Today's Spanish Lesson.
May is a Month. Hi, Lucina!
50. North Atlantic hazards: BERGS.
55. "What was __ do?": I TO.
57. Lord's home: MANOR.
63. Barely manage, with "by": SCRAPE. //
And 34-Down. Barely managing, with "by": EKING.
3. Novelist McCullers: CARSON. Carson McCullers (née Lula
Carson Smith; Feb. 19, 1917 ~ Sept. 29, 1967) was an American author whose
writings generally take place in the deep South. She is probably best
known for her 1940 novel The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, which was
also made into a film. It was also made into a 1968 film, starring
Alan Arkin.
4. Sneak __: look secretly: A PEEK.
5. Teeth: Pref.: DENTI-.
6. Georgia summer hrs.: EDT. As in Eastern Daylight Time. Much of the country goes into Daylight Time soon.