Happy Monday, everyone! sumdaze here. Jinx will probably get to this; but, I just wanted to mention that today is National Grammar Day. Perhaps you are asking, "Why is March 4th National Grammar Day?" Well, not only is March Fourth a date but it is also an imperative sentence. How fun is that?! Now, let us march forth with today's puzzle.
Theme: 
Constructor Susan Gelfand had me at "shoes". Let's begin with her reveal:
Constructor Susan Gelfand had me at "shoes". Let's begin with her reveal:
36. Step in for another, and what the answers to the starred clues literally do: FILL ONE'S SHOES.
Next, let's see how the four starred clues provide "fill" for shoes. My red letters represent the circled letters. Notice how they are on the outsides of the phrases. The black letters "fill in" the gap to create something altogether different.
18 Across. *Online journals for DIYers: CRAFT BLOGS.
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| CLOGS are shoes with thick, wooden soles. |
23 Across. *Warm alcoholic beverages with sugar and spices: MULLED WINES.
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| MULES have no backs or constraints on the foot's heel. |
52 Across. *Horse-drawn excursions: SLEIGH RIDES.
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| SLIDES are a comfortable sandal with a wide strap across the front part of the foot. You can slide your foot in without adjusting buckles or laces. |
58 Across. *Low-effort posts of vacation pics, say: PHOTO DUMPS.
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| There are many variations of PUMPS but the classic style is a slip-on shoe with a closed toe, one-piece design, and an appropriately chic heal. |
Hmmm... I am just now noticing an additional layer to Susan's theme set. All four of the shoe styles are slip-ons. Perhaps that relates to the "step in" part of the reveal???
In case you were wondering... a PHOTO DUMP is a collection of photos and videos gathered together in one post on apps like Instagram. Rather than perfectly edited photos or videos, a PHOTO DUMP is a low-effort collection that conveys a story or a mood. I found this example on-line: 
Now might be a good time to try the grid on for size: 
Let's keep walking....
Across:
1. Graceful long-necked bird: SWAN.
5. Hoover Dam lake: MEAD. If you're in the area, I recommend the Hoover Dam tour.
9. Colorful quartz: AGATE.
14. Roof spot for holiday lights: EAVE.
15. Moreno who owns the MLB's Angels: ARTE. I suppose SoCal solvers who actually read the LA Times are more familiar with this name.
16. Like some pools: TIDAL. This link takes you to some tips for exploring tide pools and a quick video of some of the curious-looking creatures you might see.
17. Cabbage side often served in tiny cups: SLAW.
20. "The Little Mermaid" role for Halle Bailey: ARIEL. Halle Bailey is not to be confused with Halle Berry just as the mermaid ARIEL is not to be confused with the font arial.
1. Graceful long-necked bird: SWAN.
5. Hoover Dam lake: MEAD. If you're in the area, I recommend the Hoover Dam tour.
9. Colorful quartz: AGATE.
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| Wow! They certainly are colorful! |
14. Roof spot for holiday lights: EAVE.
15. Moreno who owns the MLB's Angels: ARTE. I suppose SoCal solvers who actually read the LA Times are more familiar with this name.
16. Like some pools: TIDAL. This link takes you to some tips for exploring tide pools and a quick video of some of the curious-looking creatures you might see.
17. Cabbage side often served in tiny cups: SLAW.
20. "The Little Mermaid" role for Halle Bailey: ARIEL. Halle Bailey is not to be confused with Halle Berry just as the mermaid ARIEL is not to be confused with the font arial.
Halle Bailey performing at Disneyland
22. Take up again, as a case: REHEAR. court of law reference
26. Back in time: AGO.
29. Twisty letter: ESS. and 30 Across. Neckline shape: VEE.
31. "j" topper: DOT. Remember to DOT your J's and cross your X's.
32. Cereal container: BOX.
33. Update to reflect new districts, say: REMAP.
35. Nondairy spread: OLEO. Not to be confused with OLiO which is a miscellaneous collection of things. My memory trick is you can eat OLEO.
41. Printer stoppages: JAMS.
42. The "C" of CEO: CHIEF. CHIEF Executive Officer
43. Signs off on: OKs.
44. "C'__ la vie!": EST. It's French for "Such is life!"
26. Back in time: AGO.
29. Twisty letter: ESS. and 30 Across. Neckline shape: VEE.
31. "j" topper: DOT. Remember to DOT your J's and cross your X's.
32. Cereal container: BOX.
33. Update to reflect new districts, say: REMAP.
35. Nondairy spread: OLEO. Not to be confused with OLiO which is a miscellaneous collection of things. My memory trick is you can eat OLEO.
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| What is Oleo -- And Why Is It In So Many of My Grandma's Recipes? |
41. Printer stoppages: JAMS.
42. The "C" of CEO: CHIEF. CHIEF Executive Officer
43. Signs off on: OKs.
44. "C'__ la vie!": EST. It's French for "Such is life!"
As it turns out, this is the title of the book currently at the top of my tsundoku. 
47. Turkish title: AGA.
48. Gibbon or gorilla: APE.
51. Former GM division with a globe in its logo: GEO.
55. Respectable: DECENT. 
57. Divination deck: TAROT. cards
62. Brood: MOPE.
63. Charitable sort: DONOR.
64. Uncommon: RARE.
65. Peevishness: BILE. This is a good example of how a one-word clue can be much more difficult than a constructor might have intended.
66. Expert dealmaker: AGENT.
67. Storm centers: EYES. Think "centers of storms" as opposed to "Weather Channel base camps".
68. Much of a sunflower: STEM.
Down:
1. __ seed bun: SESAME. A surprisingly interesting 2 min. read on the history of hamburger buns
2. Arctic mammal with tusks: WALRUS. Time for an (obvious) musical interlude.
47. Turkish title: AGA.
48. Gibbon or gorilla: APE.
51. Former GM division with a globe in its logo: GEO.
57. Divination deck: TAROT. cards
62. Brood: MOPE.
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| Lily is the broody teen character in Duolingo. |
63. Charitable sort: DONOR.
64. Uncommon: RARE.
65. Peevishness: BILE. This is a good example of how a one-word clue can be much more difficult than a constructor might have intended.
66. Expert dealmaker: AGENT.
67. Storm centers: EYES. Think "centers of storms" as opposed to "Weather Channel base camps".
68. Much of a sunflower: STEM.
 |
| This is a pic of a "volunteer" sunflower in my yard when I lived in Colorado. Yeah, mostly STEM. Also, that's my dog, Meadow. She is mesmerized by the floating, blue circle. |
Down:
1. __ seed bun: SESAME. A surprisingly interesting 2 min. read on the history of hamburger buns
2. Arctic mammal with tusks: WALRUS. Time for an (obvious) musical interlude.
I Am The Walrus was part of The Beatle's Magical Mystery Tour in 1967.
It was released as the B-Side to Hello, Goodbye.
Lennon said part of his inspiration for the song was Lewis Carroll's poem
3. Makes use (of): AVAILS.
4. Banister post: NEWEL. Even though it is a Monday, we can build our vocabularies.
5. Apple desktop: MAC. 
6. Make a mistake: ERR.
7. Pong producer: ATARI.
4. Banister post: NEWEL. Even though it is a Monday, we can build our vocabularies.
6. Make a mistake: ERR.
7. Pong producer: ATARI.
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| How can something so groundbreaking in 1972 seem so lame today? |
8. Stick up for: DEFEND.
9. Optimally: AT BEST.
10. Arizona river: GILA.
11. Cute as can be: ADORABLE.
12. Identify, as on Facebook: TAG.
13. Above-the-street trains: ELS.
19. James of "The White Lotus": THEO. IMDb page
21. Be honest (with): LEVEL.
9. Optimally: AT BEST.
10. Arizona river: GILA.
11. Cute as can be: ADORABLE.
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| The chick on the right is saying, "I don't remember you from the nest." |
12. Identify, as on Facebook: TAG.
13. Above-the-street trains: ELS.
19. James of "The White Lotus": THEO. IMDb page
21. Be honest (with): LEVEL.
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| Can I LEVEL with you? This comic feels forced. |
24. First stage in many an HGTV renovation show, informally: DEMO. Here is a 1:13 min. video montage of DEMO scenes from The Property Brothers.
25. Gradually stop nursing: WEAN.
27. __ for it: takes a chance: GOES.
28. Kitchen gadget brand: OXO.
33. "Treasure Island" writer's monogram: RLS. Treasure Island was Robert Louis Stevenson's (1850-1894) first novel. Here's a short bio. He lived here in Monterey for a few months while waiting for his future wife's (Fanny's) divorce to finalize.
34. Bench press muscle, for short: PEC.
35. Gut punch reaction: OOF.
36. Art world fraud: FAKE. This was my FAV clue today.
25. Gradually stop nursing: WEAN.
27. __ for it: takes a chance: GOES.
28. Kitchen gadget brand: OXO.
33. "Treasure Island" writer's monogram: RLS. Treasure Island was Robert Louis Stevenson's (1850-1894) first novel. Here's a short bio. He lived here in Monterey for a few months while waiting for his future wife's (Fanny's) divorce to finalize.
34. Bench press muscle, for short: PEC.
35. Gut punch reaction: OOF.
36. Art world fraud: FAKE. This was my FAV clue today.
37. "This is it for me!": I'M SO DONE. Actually, there are still 17 clues left....
38. Hair or carpet style: SHAG.
39. Express relief: SIGH.
40. Artichoke core: HEART. Many of us save them for the "last bite". If you've only eaten artichokes from a jar or freezer, you do not know what you are missing!
41. Get some exercise on the track: JOG. "JOG", like pong, is a 1972 reference.
44. Compact Ford succeeded by the Focus: ESCORT. I changed ESCape to ESCORT.
38. Hair or carpet style: SHAG.
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| (L to R) SHAG carpet, SHAG haircut, Disney's The SHAGgy DA movie (1976) |
39. Express relief: SIGH.
40. Artichoke core: HEART. Many of us save them for the "last bite". If you've only eaten artichokes from a jar or freezer, you do not know what you are missing!
 |
| Castroville, CA is the "Artichoke Capital of the World". Go there to see the World's Largest Artichoke... or just enjoy this pic! |
41. Get some exercise on the track: JOG. "JOG", like pong, is a 1972 reference.
44. Compact Ford succeeded by the Focus: ESCORT. I changed ESCape to ESCORT.
The North American version of the Ford ESCORT entered the market in 1981 and lasted all the way until 2003. Hot Cars article
45. Snow coaster: SLED.
46. Time in office: TENURE.
48. Skillful: ADROIT.
49. Human beings: PEOPLE.
50. Regard highly: ESTEEM.
53. "That could happen": IT MAY.
54. Poetic feet in Shakespeare: IAMBS. Def. (noun) a metrical foot consisting of one short (or unstressed) syllable followed by one long (or stressed) syllable. For example, the words amuse (a-MUSE), portray (por-TRAY), delight (de-LIGHT), and return (re-TURN) are all IAMBS.
45. Snow coaster: SLED.
46. Time in office: TENURE.
48. Skillful: ADROIT.
49. Human beings: PEOPLE.
50. Regard highly: ESTEEM.
53. "That could happen": IT MAY.
54. Poetic feet in Shakespeare: IAMBS. Def. (noun) a metrical foot consisting of one short (or unstressed) syllable followed by one long (or stressed) syllable. For example, the words amuse (a-MUSE), portray (por-TRAY), delight (de-LIGHT), and return (re-TURN) are all IAMBS.
The opening line to Romeo and Juliet has five IAMBS, making an iambic pentameter.
(2 syllables X 5 = 10 syllables)
Two households both alike in dignity
56. Venerable British school: ETON. When Prince William enrolled at Eton College in 1995, he became the first senior royal to enroll there. His father (King Charles) and his grandfather (Prince Philip) both went to a boarding school in Scotland (Gordonstoun), but Princess Diana's father and brother had both attended Eton.
58. Kissing in the park, briefly: PDA. "Briefly" does not refer to the duration of the kiss. It alerts us to an abbreviated answer. Public Display of Affection
60. Post- opposite: PRE-. ICU is a post-op place but Susan is referring to prefixes here.
61. French "his": SES.
That's the last one. Have a great day, everyone and feel free to march forth in whichever shoes you prefer!
