Saturday, January 15, 2022, C.C. Burnikel

 Saturday Themeless by C.C. Burnikel

Another fun puzzle by our learned mistress and honorary Cornhusker! Even with all her responsibilities she now has with Boomer, C.C. sent us this comment: 

 I originally had THAT'S SO SAD for 65-Across. My 60-Down is PET, clued as [ ___ scan (MRI alternative)]. Rich changed it to WHAT'S SO SAD because PET dupes with PET SAT in 47-Down

. 

Across:

1. Handy tension reliever: STRESS BALL - Useful if you can't 11. Kick back: REST.

15. "Aww!": WHAT A CUTIE.

16. Fair: EXPO - County Fairs are a huge cultural event in Nebraska small towns 

17. Places for posers: ART CLASSES.

How long can she hold that pose?

18. Banh mi spread: MAYO - MAYO (seen below) seemed liked a pedestrian ingredient for an exotic sounding sandwich. BTW, the Vietnamese bread is called Banh Mi and the sandwich has come to be known as that too.

19. Nonsense: ROT.

20. Fabric types: KNITS - Ah, the double KNITS of the disco era were très 35. In: CHIC.

21. Racer with a crew: YACHT.

22. Pasture mom: MARE.

24. Exchange membership: SEAT - You could lose it

25. Trumpet: EXTOL.

Ever feel this way about your 
Credit card?

26. Guiding lights?: STARS.

28. Leaves on the sly: SKIPS -In The Music Man, Professor Harold Hill, was preparing to SKIP town when his conscience got the better of him

30. Pub order: ALE.

31. Architectural deets: SPECS - Details/Specifications

33. Omission indications: ELLIPSES.

37. Instrument akin to an oud: LUTE - One big difference is that the oud has no frets

38. Bucolic: PASTORAL.

42. From then on: SINCE.

45. Tony-winning playwright Ensler: EVE - She is now known simply as V and is very involved in violence against female issues. 

46. Prepare to show some muscle: OIL UP - Pre-governor Arnold

48. Pets: SNITS - I learned this usage doing cwds

50. From around here: LOCAL - Name the actor and the movie (*answer below)

52. One way to start: ANEW - Finish this lyric, "C'mon baby, let's start ANEW, cause... "(**answer below)

54. Reason to go green?: ENVY.

55. Desktop assortment: ICONS - Mine

56. Software to debug: BETAS.

58. Very long time: EON.

59. "Pretty please?": CAN I 

60. Let others talk: PASS THE MIC.

62. Inserts, say: ADDS - My lovely bride ADDS brown sugar to her chili

63. Event necessitated by a move, perhaps: ESTATE SALE.

64. Bridge site: NOSE - This is where Hercule Poirot/David Suchet perches his pince-nez.

65. "Why the tears?": WHAT'S SO SAD? - Hmmm...

Down:

1. Moving multitudes: SWARMS - Grasshoppers

2. Speakers often clear them: THROATS.

3. Dilapidated digs: RAT TRAP - What my childhood home had become

4. Space-saving abbr.: ETC.

5. La Jolla scientific research institute namesake: SALK.

6. Medical procedures: SCANS and 9. MRI technician's request: LIE STILL.

7. Keeps occupied: BUSIES - Materials that provide these materials for kids are great for substitute teachers

8. On the line: AT STAKE - "You lose and you're done"

10. "__ Djinns": Franck symphonic poem: LES - Here ya go

11. Century 21 rival: REMAX.

12. Ambitious track wagers: EXACTAS - In this race, you won $321.50 if you bet an EXACTA, i.e. you picked the #11 horse to finish first and the #10 horse to finish second. 

13. See-through device: SPYHOLE.

14. Piccolo sounds: TOOTLES and "That's not the sound of a piccolo!" 21. Confident response after being doubted: YES IT IS.

23. Straight up: ERECT - Standing ERECT in the heat with locked knees for the queen...

27. Underwater groups: SCHOOLS.

29. __-size: PLUS - Lincoln native Ashley Graham was one of the first models for this group 

32. HomePod Mini voice: SIRI.

34. Diagonally cut pasta: PENNE.

36. Vine fruit that can be dried and used as a container: CALABASH - Also called bottle gourd

38. Smoothie King Center NBAer: PELICAN - In NOLA

39. California state fruit: AVOCADO.

40. Duel personalities: SECONDS - Hamilton's SECOND was Nathaniel Pendleton and Burr's was  William P. Van Ness 

41. Some sleep on it: LUNESTA.

43. Mall features: CINEMAS.

44. "Ta-da!": ET VOILA - "...and there you have it!" in Français 

47. Watched a boxer, say: PET SAT - We only use our granddaughter for our kitty Lily

49. Matched, as movie sound and action: SYNCED.

51. Star __: five-spice ingredient: ANISE - Ingredients for Chinese Five Spice Powder

53. Juice amounts?: WATTS.

57. Word before "A Lady" or "A Woman," in two old Top 10 songs: SHE'S - I chose The Beatles  rather than Tom Jones

60. Bench for a flock: PEW - The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville was built as a Tabernacle in 1892 and then in 1943 it started housing The Grand Ole Opry but retained the PEWS as seating 

61. Spanish pronoun: ESO - I always think of Paul Anka's ESO Beso (That Kiss) for this word

*Bill Murray in What About Bob?

*Breaking Up Is Hard To Do by Neil Sedaka 

Friday, January 14, 2022, Gary Larson

 Title: Let's go to the movies and talk about the plot!

One of our regular Friday Fixtures, Gary Larson has presented a moviecentric puzzle which requires some thought and some cinema knowledge. It is a bit heavy on the 3 and 4 letter fill with 42 of the 77 words offset only by the 4 themers and AU NATUREL, CLEAN IT UP, MARIO KART and ORATORIES each 9 letters. What brought this effort to Friday is the very tricky but enjoyable theme where part of the clue (in BLUE) is a synonym for a movie and part (in PINK) suggests the plot. I liked that very much. We will begin with the themers...

17A. "Back to the Future"?: TIME RELEASE (11). The movie is a TIME travel variation which mirrors much of what H.G. Wells brought us. 

29A. "March of the Penguins"?: WALKIE TALKIE (12). The Talkie revolutionized movies and not only tell made up stories but can show remarkable documentaries like this where the 'stars' walk.

46A. "Titanic"?: WATER FEATURE (12). This movie is the now very popular retelling of actual events but in a mostly fictional account which does spend its time on the water as the feature film.

60A. "Star Wars"?: SHOW OF FORCE (11). Here the SHOW comes first and the plot last but even if you have avoided seeing the movie the Force has become a force in the modern world. I love it and am caught up on the Mandelorian and the Book of Boba Fett.

So much excitement, but now to the rest...

Across:

1. Name in Cold War news: TASS. We baby boomers knew them well but I will let Wiki EXPLAIN.

5. Lampoon: SATIRE. A big part of puzzles and blogs. 

11. Ones presenting acts: MCS. Master of Ceremonies.

14. "Hard __!": captain's order: ALEE. The command used in coming about to inform the crew that the helm is being pushed hard to leeward, turning the boat into the wind, LA Times.

15. Ended an engagement, in a way: ELOPED. Funny, as getting married does end it.

16. Larter of "Resident Evil" films: ALI. You can decide if she is EVIL.

19. Gym unit: REPititon.

20. What a choir may sing in: UNISON. The chancel? A church, opera house, or school hall? Nope.

21. Bhopal locale: INDIA. Most famous for this horrible TRAGEDY. Some pictures may be upsetting.

23. Tablelands: MESAS. We have had pictures recently showing how flat they are.

24. Tacks on: ADDS. Like that hidden tip on your bill in the restaurant.

27. The last Mrs. Chaplin: OONA. 

32. Brazil map word: SAO. Saint in Portugese and part of the name of many city, just as saint is here in the US.

35. Butler's last word: DAMN. He kept it and did not give it to Scarlett.

36. "Groovy!": NEATO. 50s beatnik talk.

37. Some pitches: CURVES. Sliders, sinkers, cutters...

40. Evasive tactic: END RUN. Both in American football and politics.

41. "We're live!" studio sign: ON AIR. 

                            

42. Limo destination: PROM. Two abbreviations.

45. Performs a Halloween prank, briefly: TPS. Toilet Papers.

50. Warehouse: STOW. The American desire to make every noun a verb.

51. Sleep and Comfort: INNS. Two national chains.

52. Spiral-horned antelope: ELAND. 

56. Bear genus: URSUS.

58. "Out of Africa," for one: MEMOIR. A book and a movie.

59. Vince's agent in "Entourage": ARI. A TV show and a movie.

64. Prepare to drive, with "up": TEE. HG is perhaps our most dedicated golfer considering the Nebraska weather.

65. "Gracias" reply: DE NADA. It means “you have nothing to thank me for” (that full phrase being “no tienes nada [de] qué agradecerme”).  Spanish lesson

66. 66 and others: Abbr.: RTES. Cute the route and the clue number.

67. Pair of gallons?: ELS. There are two "l"s in gallon.

68. Play areas: ARENAS. For sports and entertainment not your back yard.

69. Listening devices: EARS. Very simple and cute.

Down:

1. Stride pianist Art: TATUM. You want to learn HOW?

2. Classic Dior style: A LINE.

3. Weigh station line-up: SEMIS. As a kid I never understood the weigh stations and why all the big trucks pulled off the highway.

4. Vacillate: SEESAW. We know a seesaw goes up and down...

5. Gone out with: SEEN. Many were and are arranged just for the publicity.

6. "__ in": "Jeopardy James" bet: ALL.

                                

7. Pirouette pivot point: TOE. Some ballet...

8. Draft choice: IPA. Not for a sports team but for a beverage from a tap.

9. Stand up to: RESIST.

10. Prime real estate?: EDEN. Another fun clue.

11. Racing game with Yoshi and Bowser: MARIO KART. I played this with my boys and their friends for many hours. I was better at some of the other NES games. 

12. "Don't leave a mess": CLEAN IT UP. Sounds bossy.

13. Modest intake: SIP. My first thought was nip.

18. Actress Salazar of "Maze Runner" movies: ROSA. An obscure clus for me but I have seen this ACTRESS.

22. Allotted: DOLED.

24. Abbr. between names, perhaps: A/K/A.

25. Lower: DIM. The lights, no one else is home!

26. Pride's place: DEN. Seems a bit homphobic...

28. Very long time: AEONS.

30. Mormon letters: LDS. Latter Day Saints.

31. Gothic fiction pioneer Radcliffe: ANN. Ann Radcliffe, née Ann Ward, (born July 9, 1764, London, England—died February 7, 1823, London), the most representative of English Gothic novelists. She was a pioneer in developing a literature of terror, and her influential novels stand apart in their ability to infuse scenes of terror and suspense with Romantic sensibility. Britannica.

32. Barges and such: SCOWS. These are examples of a flat-bottomed boat with sloping ends used as a lighter and in dredging and other harbor services. Dictionary

33. In the buff: AU NATUREL. Our titillating French lesson. Dressed as you were born.

34. Private chapels: ORATORIES. I am not familiar with this as a small chapel, especially for private worship. Waseely?

38. Lookout offerings: VIEWS. You can try this location. LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN. 

39. Blunder: ERR.

40. Ostrich relative: EMU. Don't hate the bird just Liberty Mutual.

42. Write: PEN.

43. Commanded: RAN.

44. NHL tiebreakers: OTS. Overtimes. 

47. Price partner: FISHER. Before Legos...

48. Coral __: REEF.

49. "Get Shorty" novelist __ Leonard: ELMORE.

53. Blood line: AORTA. It is the most important of them all.

54. Like sunny weather, vis-à-vis rainy: NICER. Silly.

55. Toggery: DRESS.

57. Food stamp?: USDA. 

                                    

58. Degs. for playwrights: MFAS.

59. Eroded, with "into": ATE. Particularly nest eggs.

61. Low digit: ONE.

62. Pallid: WAN. 

63. "Ghost" psychic __ Mae Brown: ODA. The renowned psychic...

My first 2022 write-up is now finished , and as is the new norm, done in a rushed fashion but I really liked the puzzle and the struggle. Thank you Gary and all who read these words and especially all who comment pro and anti. Lemonade out.

Notes from C.C.:

 

Happy Birthday to dear JD, an avid traveler and a terrific grandma. JD still has trouble signing into Blogger. Hope she solves the glitch soon.

 

JD and Bob, Switzerland, 2017

JD and Bob

Thursday, January 13, 2022, George Jasper

Straighten Up And Fly Right

Good Morning, Cruciverbalists, from high altitude.  Well, perhaps not as high as our friends above, but at 9,375 feet the weather has been cold and snowy and goggles do come in handy.

Today's puzzle setter is George Jasper.  The earliest puzzle by George that I was able to find on the Corner website was from 2017 with something like a half-dozen others also recapped here between 2019 and 2021.

Similar to the puzzle this marine mammal recapped a couple of weeks ago, there are no topically-defined theme answers but, rather, four places marked with asterisks where adjoining scrambled letters spanning two words can be found in circles.  When unscrambled, the letters all spell GATE.  The unifier appears at:

56 Across:  Airport annoyance, and a literal hint to the answers to starred clues: GATE CHANGE.  By today's standards, a minor annoyance indeed.

Here are the asterisked clues and answers:

17 Across:  *It's hard to put down: PAGE TURNER.  A book that one cannot stop reading.

23 Across:  *Bond, for one: SECRET AGENT.  Bond, James Bond.

36 Across:  *One of about 50 orbiting the Milky Way: SATELLITE GALAXY.  A smaller companion galaxy that is in orbit around a larger "host" galaxy

47 Across:  *Put the pedal to the metal: GO GREAT GUNS.  

. . . . and here is how this all appears in the grid:

There are many polysemous words used in the cluing today.  They keep us on our toes.

Across:

1. Assurance on some menus: NO MSG.

6. Current event: EDDY.  Clever cluing.  Not the news of the day but a current in the water or atmosphere that runs contrary to the main current.

10. Crawled?: SWAM.  The crawl is a type of swimming stroke.

14. Have the floor: ORATE.

15. Outback option: RARE.  Outback, in this case is the name of a chain of steakhouse restaurants.  A clue that riffs on the fact that all crossword clues start with a capital letter.

16. Head light: HALO.  Not an automobile reference in this case.  A religious reference.

19. Like much cheese: AGED.  I really like a well-aged Gouda with those crystals.

20. Middle of Cannes?: ENS.  We have seen this type of clue before and are less likely than in the past to be significantly delayed by it.  CANNES.  Two ENS in the middle of the word.

21. Lend, informally, as money: SPOT.  Can you SPOT me a ten-spot until pay day?

22. Think the world of: ADORE.

26. Clothing buyer's pleased words: IT FITS.  If the shoe fits wear it.

29. Also-ran's terse summary: I LOST.

30. Buzzer beater?: SWAT.  Not a basketball reference.  As in to SWAT (or beat, apparently) a buzzing insect.

31. Low point: NADIR.

33. "Awesome, dude!": RAD.  Slang word.  Shortened form of "radical".  Popular in the 1980's.

40. Saddlebag carrier: ASS.  It's not yet as difficult to come up with new clues for ASS as it is to do so for OREO - but it's getting close.

41. Roof features: EAVES.

42. Qwirkle piece: TILE.  I do not know the game.  It looks a bit like Dominoes.

43. Colonial diplomat Silas: DEANE.  The first of six proper nouns in a row.

45. Julia of "Ozark": GARNER.

50. Toyota since 1982: CAMRY.

1982 Camry

51. 31-Down competitor: OLAY.

52. Anthem author: KEY.

55. Component of 53-Down: OBIE.  Is this an editing oversight?  The OBIE (Off Broadway Theater Award) is a "cousin" of a TONY but I do not believe that an OBIE is a part of the EGOT (see 53 Down) quartet.

59. Slips on: DONS.  Not mafia leaders.  Opposite of DOFF.

60. Appearance: MIEN.

Chow Mien?

61. Bagel flavor: ONION.  Poppy, Plain, and Bialy would have fit the allotted space.

62. Genesis grandson: ENOS.  Son of Seth.  Grandson of Adam and Eve.

63. Shaw's "__ and the Man": ARMS.

64. Units of power: WATTS.  What's the difference between WATTS and Ohms?  Watts are units of electrical energy.  Ohms are where British people live.

Down:

1. "Don't think so": NOPE.  We often see "I bet" as a similar quote.

2. Algerian coastal city: ORAN.  Frequently visited in xword  puzzles.

3. Time and Money, briefly: MAGS.  Clever clue.  Time is money, as they say but in this case they are both names of MAGazineS.

4. Abbr. in some vineyard names: STE.  Often clued as a French Holy Woman.

5. Prepare: GET SET.  On your mark . . .

6. Catcher's interference is charged as one in baseball: ERROR.  A somewhat obscure clue for this answer.

Do you know why baseball games are often played at night?  Because the bats sleep during the day.

7. Italy's "Supreme Poet": DANTE.  DANTE Alighieri (b. 1265 d. 1321)

8. Titled rapper: DRE.  Doctor DRE.

9. "__ Blues": "White Album" track: YER.  A Beatles reference.

10. Nuances: SHADES.

11. Old West traveling group: WAGON TRAIN.

12. Warn: ALERT.  Be A LERT.  The world needs more LERTS.

13. Rock's Depeche __: MODE.  More New Wave than Rock n' Roll. 

18. Lines at the checkout counter?: UPCS.  Universal Product CodeS

22. Greek marketplace: AGORA.

23. Something to build on: SITE.

24. Oceans' motions: TIDES.

25. Sacha Baron Cohen persona: ALI G.  Borat would not fit.

26. Rae of "Insecure": ISSA.

27. Christmas poem opener: TWAS.  . . . and all through the house . . .

28. Inaugural Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee: FATS DOMINO.  Along with Ray Charles, James Brown, Chuck Berry, Don & Phil Everly, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, Sam Cooke and Buddy Holly.

31. Skin care brand: NIVEA.

32. Bolted down: ATE.  Not a hardware reference.  To eat your food very quickly.

34. Bridge toll unit: AXLE.

35. One skilled at giving hints?: DYER.  Hints of color, I suppose.  One skilled at giving lints?  Innie.

37. "Rescue Me" actor Denis: LEARY.  Had it been clued with Timothy I would have solved the clue more rapidly.

38. Road division: LANE.

39. USPS deliveries: LTRS.  LeTteRS  Abbreviated clue.  Abbreviated answer.  At least this one has some usage in the "real world" unlike some of the three-or-four-letters-plucked-out-of-a-word that we sometimes see.

44. Way out: EGRESS.  Not as in "That's way out, man."  The opposite of ingress.

45. Short dip?: GUAC.  Not a swim.  GUACamole

46. "As I was saying ... ": ANYHOW.

47. Cameroon neighbor: GABON.

48. __ pole: TOTEM.  Ski was too short.

49. Secluded locations: GLENS.  One of my favorites is GLENdronach.

50. Airport ID, e.g.: CODE.

52. Heal, in a way: KNIT.  As with broken bones.

53. Showbiz "grand slam" acronym: EGOT.  Emmy.  Grammy.  Oscar.  Tony.  EGOOT, anyone?

54. Itches: YENS.  Not the Japanese currency.

56. Morning TV fare, initially: GMA.  Good Morning America.

57. Word before France or Jordan: AIR.  Jordan's national airline is called Royal Jordanian Airlines.

Air Jordan Basketball Shoe

58. CNN anchor Cabrera: ANA.  For an interesting take on how the "news of the day" as presented on television stymies rational discussion and shapes the manner in which we process ideas, I recommend the book Amusing Ourselves to Death:  Public Discourse In The Age of Show Business by Neil Postman.

______________________________________________________

Wednesday, January 12, 2022 Craig Stowe

Theme: This puzzle is for the birds!  You'll soon see why.

17 A. 1994 Best New Artist Grammy winner's winged pet?: SHERYL'S CROW.  Sheryl Suzanne Crow [b. 1962] is an American musician, singer, songwriter and actress. Her music incorporates elements of pop, rock, country, jazz and blues. She has released ten studio albums, four compilations and two live albums, as well as contributed to several film soundtracks.  She took home not just the GRAMMY Award for Best New Artist, but also Record Of The Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for “All I Wanna Do.”

A crow is a bird of the genus Corvus, a widely distributed genus of medium-sized to large birds in the family Corvidae. The genus includes species commonly known as crows, ravens and rooks.

28 A. "La La Land" actor's winged pet?: RYAN'S GOSLING.  Ryan Thomas Gosling is a Canadian actor. He began his career as a child star on the Disney Channel's The Mickey Mouse Club, and went on to appear in other family entertainment programs, including Are You Afraid of the Dark? and Goosebumps.  I'm not an expert in such things, but I think he is generally considered to be a hunk.

My abs do no look like this.

A GOSLING is a young goose that has not yet developed flight feathers.  Don't we all start out that way?

44. "Shake It Off" singer's winged pet?: TAYLOR'S SWIFT.   Taylor Alison Swift [b 1989] is an American singer-songwriter. Her discography spans multiple genres, and her narrative songwriting, which is often inspired by her personal life, has received widespread media coverage and critical praise.\

The swifts are a family, Apodidae, of highly aerial birds. They are superficially similar to swallows, but are not closely related to any passerine species. Swifts are placed in the order Apodiformes with hummingbirds.

58 A. "Network" Oscar winner's winged pet?: PETER'S FINCH.  Frederick George Peter Ingle Finch [1916 – 1977] was an English-born Australian actor.  He is best remembered for his role as crazed television anchorman Howard Beale in the 1976 film Network, which earned him a posthumous Academy Award for Best Actor, his fifth Best Actor award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and a Best Actor award from the Golden Globes.

The true finches are small to medium-sized passerine birds in the family Fringillidae. Finches have stout conical bills adapted for eating seeds and nuts and often have colourful plumage. They occupy a great range of habitats where they are usually resident and do not migrate.

Hi Gang, JazzBumpa here to guide this bird watching excursion.  I hope it's not more than we can swallow.  So stay eagle-eyed.

Across:

1. Gauchos' gear: BOLAS.  A bolas is a type of throwing weapon made of weights on the ends of interconnected cords, used to capture animals by entangling their legs.  

6. Postpone: DEFER.  delay for an unspecified time.

11. Shakespearean possessive: THY.  If yours is thine, then what is mine?

14. Pass a test with flying colors: ACE IT. I have my first stress test early next month.  How should I study for it?

15. __ Lodge: ECONO.   A cheap [supposedly] motel.

16. Tint: HUE.  Color

19. Noteworthy time: ERA.  As, free. jazz, Elizabethan.

20. Drives up the wall: IRKS.  Angers, annoys.

21. Word with filter or field: OIL.  The original fossil fuel.

22. Google __: EARTH.  A mapping app.

24. Retirement fund: NEST EGG.  What you have saved for later.

26. Causing the heebie-jeebies: EERIE.  Strange or frightening.

32. "1984" antagonist: O'BRIEN.  An agent of the thought police who tricks the protagonist, Winston Smith, into believing that he opposes the totalitarian state.  It does not end well.

35. Got the pot: WON.  In some game or gambling event.

36. Also: TOO.  In addition.

37. Backing-up warnings: BEEPS.  Required of large vehicles as a safety measure.

38. Auntie, to mom: SIS.  Family ties.

39. Sheepish?: OVINE.  Literal.

41. "__ say!": I'LL.  Indication of strong agreement.

42. Quagmire: BOG.  Marsh, fen, swamp.

43. Sees, and then some: RAISES.  Increases the bet in a poler hand.

48. Arctic abode: IGLOO.  A type of shelter built of snow.   They were traditionally used only by the people of Canada's Central Arctic and Greenland's Thule area.

49. Biblical shout of praise: HOSANNA.  Evidently derived from an Aramaic root meaning save, rescue or savior, possibly indicating a special kind of respect.

 

 53. Lost strength: WANED.  Decreased in vigor, power, or extent; became weaker.

 55. It may be called: BET. As, for example, in a poker game.

56. Defensive ditch: MOAT.  A deep, wide ditch surrounding a castle, fort, or town, typically filled with water and intended as a defense against attack.

57. "I need a __": HUG.  Comfort and warmth

62. Kerfuffle: ADO.   A state of agitation or fuss, especially about something unimportant.

63. "Superman" actor: REEVE.   Christopher D'Olier Reeve [1952 - 2004] was an American actor, director, and activist, best known for playing the titular main character in the film Superman and its three sequels. 

64. Start of el año: ENERO.  First month of the year.

65. Bronze component: TIN.  Mostly copper, with about 12% tin.

66. Gives the green light: OKAYS.  Allows to proceed. 

67. Sees: DATES.  Goes out with.

Down:

1. Tidal low area: BASIN.  An area that is only navigable at high seas.

2. Yellowish shade: OCHRE. A light brownish yellow produced by clay containing ferric oxide and sand.

3. Onion relatives: LEEKS.   Hardy biennial plants of the amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae), grown as vegetables.  The plant is related to the onion and has a mild, sweet, onionlike flavour. 

4. Landing site: AIRSTRIP.  An airport runway.

5. Farm structure: STY.   Home for pigs.

6. Pattern: DESIGN.  A regular repeating form.

7. Bk. after Proverbs: ECCL.   Ecclesiastes written c. 450–200 BCE, is one of the Ketuvim of the Hebrew Bible and one of the "Wisdom" books of the Christian Old Testament. 

8. In favor of: FOR.  I had "pro."  Oh, well.

9. Music producer Brian: ENO.  Brian Peter George St John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno RDI [Royal Designer for Industry] is a British musician, composer, record producer and visual artist best known for his pioneering work in ambient music and contributions to rock, pop and electronica. 

10. Coxswain's charges: ROWERS.   In a race setting, the coxswain is tasked with motivating the crew as well as steering as straight a course as possible to minimize the distance to the finish line. 

11. Pointer's proclamation: THERE IT IS.   

12. Damage: HURT.

13. "Uh-huh": YEAH.  

18. Easternmost major U.S. airport: LOGAN.  In Boston.

23. Plague: AIL.  

25. Seers?: EYES.  

26. Big heads?: EGOS.

27. Dog's age, so to speak: EON.   I am not familiar with this usage.

29. Gulps: SWIGS.   Drinking increments.

30. Squat: NONE.  Zip, nada

31. Leaves: GOES.  Exits.

32. Last bio: OBIT.  A notice of a death, especially in a newspaper, typically including a brief biography of the deceased person.

33. Horror film first name: BELA.   Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó [1882 - 1956] known professionally as Bela Lugosi, was a Hungarian-American actor best remembered for portraying Count Dracula in the 1931 film, Ygor in Son of Frankenstein and his roles in many other horror films from 1931 through 1956. 

34. Putting one's faith in: RELYING ON.  

38. Middling: SOSO.  Not so hot

39. Big galoots: OAFS.  A stupid, uncultured, or clumsy person.

40. Nutrient abundant in liver: VITAMIN A.

42. Dude: BRO.  Homie.

43. Rolling-in-the-aisles causes: RIOTS.  A laugh riot, not a violent disturbance of the peace by a crowd.

45. Tee size: Abbr.: LGE.   Large.

46. Seasoned expert: OLD PRO.

47. Waldo forerunner?: WHERE'S.  The word placed in front of Waldo's name in children's picture books.  This is a strained use of the word "forerunner."

50. Large chamber ensemble: NONET.   Nine musicians

51. Mother-of-pearl: NACRE.   An organic–inorganic composite material produced by some molluscs as an inner shell layer; it is also the material of which pearls are composed. It is strong, resilient, and iridescent. 

52. Oldest Musketeer: ATHOS.  I did not know this.

53. "__ now?": WHAT.  Inquiry into ensuing events.

54. Volkswagen subsidiary: AUDI.    A German automotive manufacturer of luxury vehicles headquartered in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, Germany. As a subsidiary of its parent company, the Volkswagen Group, Audi produces vehicles in nine production facilities worldwide.

55. Bunch of beauties: BEVY.   A large group of people or things of a particular kind.

59. Comics shriek: EEK.  As, free., on the occasion of a rodent sighting.

60. Green or black beverage: TEA.

61. Sustained: FED.  Supplied nourishment for.

That puts another Wednesday in the nest.  Hope this flight of fancy was just eggciting enough.

Cool regards!

JzB

P. S. On proofreading I detected a little game of chance sub-theme.  Did you catch it?