Theme: WISECRACK (62. Snappy remark, and a feature of four long answers in this puzzle)
18. No matter the outcome: WIN OR LOSE.
25. Pairing at a cocktail party: WINE AND CHEESE.
38. Presidential warm-weather getaway: WINTER WHITE HOUSE.
49. Peripheral with a dongle: WIRELESS MOUSE.
C.C. here, filling in a blogging gap.
Today we have a 16x15 grid due to the central theme letter count (16). Patti allows bigger grids if the theme warrants it.
Consistently WI* *SE break. Pretty much a must for this type of book-ending theme. Either all different or all the same.
Across:
5. Superhero accessory: CAPE.
9. Bar food?: SALAD. OK, salad bar. Do you like green papaya salad?
14. Got rid of: AXED.
15. Smell: ODOR. If you can't stand fish sauce, then you won't like the above salad or most Thai food.
16. Overacts: EMOTES.
20. San Francisco-to-Salt Lake City interstate: EIGHTY.
21. Pig's digs: STY.
22. Make yawn: BORE.
23. Fingers: IDS.
24. Actor Cariou: LEN.
28. Nevada whose mystery novels are set in national parks: BARR.
31. Udon alternative: SOBA. Often eaten cold. The sauce is the key.
32. Trivial objection: NIT.
33. Irrefutable statement: TRUISM.
36. Greens over: RE-SODS. Boomer's Asiatic lilies came alive again. Made me so happy.
43. Stew: SEETHE.
44. Chestnut horse: SORREL.
45. "And there you go!": BAM.
46. Photoreceptor cell: CONE.
48. Jeans line: SEAM.
54. Spanish "that": ESO. 56. "¿Qué __?": PASA.
55. Minecraft material: ORE.
57. One in a zillion?: ZEE. In the letter zillion.
60. Shape on a bingo card: SQUARE.
64. Toyota full-size pickup: TUNDRA. 67. Unsuccessful Ford: EDSEL.
65. Diva's time to shine: ARIA.
66. At some point in the past: ONCE.
68. Costner's "The Untouchables" role: NESS.
69. Went green?: DYED. This looks cool.
Down:
2. Stage direction: EXIT.
3. Publicist's recommendation, perhaps: DENY.
4. Unmarried person's last words: I DO.
5. Subtitle intro: COLON.
6. Dig a lot: ADORE.
7. Pretend to be: POSE AS. 52. "__ directed": USE AS. Tiny dupe. Allowed.
8. Bardly before: ERE.
9. Some pods: SEEDCASES.
10. Sect that adheres to Ordnung: AMISH. I did not know the meaning of "ordnung", German for "order", according to Wikipedia.
11. Piece of firewood: LOG.
12. Style that includes designer yoga pants: ATHLEISURE. Lululemon style.
13. More than loathe: DETEST.
17. "Auld Lang __": SYNE.
19. Stat for a slugger: RBI.
23. "Seems highly likely": I'D BET. And
25. "Keep in touch!": WRITE ME.
26. Sushi wrapper: NORI. My grandma liked nori soup.
27. Back: ENDORSE.
28. "Speaking of which," briefly: BTW.
29. MSNBC host Melber: ARI.
30. Chases a toddler, say: RUNS AROUND.
34. "Catch my drift?": SEE.
35. Onetime breakfast option marketed by a 1980s TV icon: MR. T CEREAL. Never knew this.
37. "There it is!": OHO.
39. "__ side are you on?": WHOSE.
40. Farm layers: HENS.
41. Neptune's domain: SEA.
42. Tree with serrated leaves: ELM.
45. Langoustine soup: BISQUE.
47. Red Delicious kin: EMPIRE. So glad the peach/nectarine/watermelon season has started. Tired of apples.
49. Dominic of "The Crown": WEST.
50. "Casablanca" actor Peter: LORRE.
51. Spot for a much-needed drink, perhaps: OASIS.
53. Cul-de-__: SAC.
57. Amusingly unconventional: ZANY.
58. "Behold!" of old: ECCE.
59. __ out a living: EKED.
61. App annoyances: ADS.
62. Pallid: WAN.
63. Photoreceptor cell: ROD.
Jazzbumpa is taking sometime off the blog. Splynter will take over the Wednesdays in the next few weeks. Anon-T (Tony) will guide us on Tuesdays while Hahtoolah is on vacation. Thank you, my two sweet friends.
C.C.
