Friday October 17, 2025 Luke Nagel

At this point, MM is wondering if he should return early and stop RustyBrain's madness...but it's too late. Mwahaha!

This appears to be Luke Nagel's debut. Congrats! I hope it's not ONE AND DONE. Lets start with the revealer:

57. Like some NBA prospects, or like the answers to the starred clues: ONE AND DONE. This refers to the National Basketball Association's rule that requires players to be one year removed from high school to be eligible for the draft. Usually that means at least a year of college, but sometimes players opt to join foreign or minor leagues. For our purposes here, the phrase means that once you reach the letters "O-N-E," the answer is DONE and the remaining letter is deleted. I think. I tried to spell out the missing letters (T, D, S, S) to no avail. Let me know if you came up with something deeper.

17. *Camper's canopy: MOSQUITO NE. MOSQUITO NET.

24. *Whiskey cocktail: OLD FASHIONE. OLD FASHIONED.

36. *"Hackney Diamonds" rock band: THE ROLLING STONE. THE ROLLING STONES.

47. *Ford explorer?: INDIANA JONE. INDIANA JONES.

All the answers are straight forward, except for missing the final letter. Unfortunately, that mostly leaves us with nonsense words which I don't really like. If the last letters had spelled out a word like "DONE," it would have elevated this puzzle. It's Friday, so fun (tricky) clues abounded. Note my one caution square at the intersection of AMMAN and AIDAN - pick a vowel.

As players say in the NBA, "Show me the mone_."

Across:

1. Goes for a slice?: GOLFS. Or DUFFS - either way, a bad shot. Trickily, the clue suggests going to a pizzeria. 

6. Body wrap venue: SPA. Mrs. RightBrain tried out an new Egyptian SPA. I told her to go there again in two weeks before our Halloween party.

9. Honor roll figs.: GPAS. Grade Point Averages. I was an underwater student. All my grades were below C level.

13. WWII subs: U-BOATS. In World War II, German Unterseeboots (literally Under-sea Boats) were submarines that posed a significant threat to Allied ships.

15. Top: CAP. Baseball or bottle? You decide.

16. "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" writer/illustrator Carle: ERIC. Classic.children's picture book.

17. [theme]

19. Pestered persistently: RODE. Especially by a mother-in-law on the road.

20. Nectar collectors: BEES.

21. Dict. offering: DEF. The Definition of a Dictionary is a reference book that lists the words of a language (typically in alphabetical order) and gives their meaning. You can look it up.

22. Mideast capital once named Philadelphia: AMMAN. AMMAN, Jordan is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Evidence of human habitation dates back to the Neolithic period of around 10,050 B.C. My, how time flies!

23. CIA predecessor: OSS. Office of Strategic Services.
 
24. [theme]

27. Party mix ingredient: CHEX. The CHEX Mix recipe first appeared on boxes in 1954 with the intent of selling more cereal. It's timing was fortuitous because as television usage grew, so did snacking in front of the small screen. It required a new snack that “could be eaten with your hands, offered a variety of flavors and textures, and was easy to put together.” Corn Chex, introduced in 1958, was later added to the mix. 

28. Elmo, for one: SAINT. A Muppet, for another.

29. Some parents: MAMAS. 

32. Blame (on): PIN. Blame the Tail on the Donkey! 

33. Fresh: AIRY. 

36. [theme]

40. Brine abundance: SALT. Actually, it's mostly water.

41. Take in: EAT.

42. Group that hosts an annual Mind Games board game competition: MENSA. I have the home edition:

43. "You've got to be kidding": OH MAN. 

45. Quit working: DIED. "Mac DIED this morning." "WHAT!?" "I mean he quit working to go to a doctor's appointment."

47. [theme]

50. Small shot: BBS. Big shot: BMOC.

53. Sweaters?: PORES. Where sweat pours out from.

54. Cy Young stat: ERA. Earned Run Average. A year after his death in 1955, the Cy Young Award was created to honor the best pitcher in Major League Baseball.

55. Spoken: ORAL. 

56. Norwegian royal name: OLAV. Famous for his smooth skin, his heirs later marketed his beauty secret: Oil of Olav.

57. [theme]

60. Stopping point?: DIME. Nowadays, I only stop for paper money.

61. Chop (off): LOP.

62. Brought out: EVOKED.

63. Swell places?: SEAS. Fun clue.

64. Pro-__: some tourneys: AMS. Where Professionals and Amateurs.team up and compete together.

65. Get into gear?: DRESS. Another fun clue.

Down:

1. Okra dish: GUMBO.

2. Orchestral group: OBOES.

3. Comes up short: LOSES. 

4. Online help pgs.: FAQS. A web page that answers Frequently Asked Questions, such as, "What does FAQ stand for?"

5. Fox Sports soccer analyst Holden: STU. Like many former players, he now sits in the booth as a color commentator providing expert analysis and insights. 

6. Jeer: SCOFF. 

7. Wok, e.g.: PAN.

8. Tailless simian: APE. AKA a Sans Simian.

9. Sprouted: GERMINATED. That gives me an idea...

10. Bump up: PROMOTION. I thought this clue should be "A bump up."

11. Gillen of "Mayor of Kingstown": AIDAN. I know him better as Lord Baelish, the conniving "Littlefinger" on Game of Thrones.

12. Cry from a high chair?: SCENE. "OUT!" Because it's higher that a director's chair! But the clue misdirect was for baby talk.

14. Crab-walk: SIDLE.

18. Local lecture series: TEDX. Part of the TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) Conference series.

22. Steak choice: AHI. For those days when you don't feel like wagyu.

24. Quite: OH SO. Sounds OH SO British.

25. Clarifying phrase: AS IN. I like word games, AS IN crosswords.

26. Crooned: SANG.

27. Many "Gone in 60 Seconds" characters: CAR THIEVES. Some would argue that the cars were the stars, like "Eleanor" here, which recently sold for $852,000.

29. Chain pts.: MTS. Chain Points? Parts? It's MOUNTAINS, but I initially thought of island chains.

30. __ moment: AHA. Much better than an OHO moment.

31. Soap ingredient: MELODRAMA. Cute clue. It means that borax is out.

32. Avocado discard: PIT. 

34. Hosp. workers: RNS. Registered Nurses work in Hospitals, but some are better than others.

35. "About __ big": YEA. 

37. Unlike Wagyu: LEAN. Wagyu is special due to its intense marbling, which gives it a unique tenderness, buttery texture, and rich flavor. Basically, that means expensive. 

38. "Henry, Come On" singer Del Rey: LANA. This clue is ultra-current as her country hit was only released in April. 

39. Hook hand?: SMEE. Ha ha! It's his right hand man. It's not you, it's SMEE!

44. More, in Spanish: MAS. 

45. 21st century explorer: DORA. She knew the answer to the last clue.

46. Foolish: INANE. Hey! Why are you looking at me?

47. Bygone Apple gadgets: IPODS. I've never heard of these! (I'm so young, you see...)

48. "Honest!": NO LIE. I swear! I don't know what IPODS are.

49. Gladiators, e.g.: JEEPS. He doesn't look so tough.

50. In need of change?: BROKE. Another good clue.

51. Curses: BANES.

52. Uses a coaster, perhaps: SLEDS. Uses a coaster, perhaps: PLEASES MY MOM. I wasn't born in a barn, you know, although she sometimes disputed this.

55. Scent: ODOR. 

57. São Paulo greeting: OLA. Brazilian greeting in Portuguese.

58. Oscar nod, briefly: NOM. Nomination. Oscar nods to Cookie Monster for sharing with him.

59. __ player: DVD. Another device that was waaaay before my time.

OK, I'm DONE.

Thursday, October 16, 2025, Chandi Deitmer

Theme:  Innovative inventories

Chandi Deitmer is a frequent crossword constructor here and elsewhere.  Slate hilariously says, "Chandi Deitmer is a Slate crossword constructor from Cambridge, Massachusetts. Her puzzles are most recognizable by odd visuals, long entries featuring her favorite foods, and references to pop lyrics people barely cared about when they were released 20 years ago."  Chandi has redeemed herself from these charges today!  I could go on and on about the reasons why, but Chandi herself has enumerated enough, reinterpreting common two-word phrases as inventories.  Each two-word phrase ends with a word that means enumeration or inventory.

The theme clues and answers, in symmetrically placed rows across, are:

17-Across. Amex, Visa, Discover, etc.: CARD CATALOG.  As a former cataloging librarian, the CARD CATALOG is a subject close to my heart, but in this case, it's just an enumeration of "What's in your wallet?"

27-Across. Dell, Acer, Apple, etc.: COMPUTER MENU.  Nowadays, rather than searching through friendly file drawers, we click on COMPUTER MENUs, wondering where the latest software update has hidden our favorite options.  But in this case, the MENU is just an enumeration of computer brands on the market.

45-Across. Ones, fives, tens, etc.: CASH REGISTER.  When my mother was young, she worked downstairs in a department store, making change for sales slips and cash sent by pneumatic tube from the sales desks upstairs.  She taught me the useful art of counting change.  Today's cash registers make that art unnecessary.  But in this case, the REGISTER is just an enumeration of currency denominations.

59-Across. Whites, knits, delicates, etc.: LAUNDRY LIST.  A LAUNDRY LIST is a long list of things, perhaps an overwhelming or unrealistic list.  But in earlier times, when you might not have been able to afford your own washing machine, you might have taken your clothing to a commercial laundry, where it was important to make a record of what you left there.  By the 1860s, commercial laundries were using pre-printed forms with exhaustive lists of all the possible articles of clothing you might submit.  All you needed to do was jot a number next to socks, shirts, etc.  Eventually the actual, exhaustive LAUNDRY LIST became the metaphorical, exhausting LAUNDRY LIST.  But in this case, the LIST is just an enumeration of categories of items we throw in our washing machines.

I like a theme that reinterprets common phrases.  Very creative.  Let's see what other clues and answers are on Chandi's to-do list for today.

Across:

1. Hairstyle of Diana Ross and Bob Ross: AFRO.  Diana Ross, the "Queen of Motown," was the lead singer of the Supremes in the 1960s.  She celebrated her African American hair with an exaggerated Afro style, aided by extensions and wigs.  Bob Ross was a painter who hosted a PBS instructional television show called The Joy of Painting from 1983 to 1994.  When Bob launched his career, he permed his hair to save on the cost of frequent crew cuts.  When his "Afro" appeared on his art supplies company packaging, he felt locked into the style forever.

Diana Ross and Bob Ross -- no relation

5. Ruffle playfully: TOUSLE.  To tousle is to playfully disarrange someone's hair.  Don't you dare!

11. Sound of disgust: ICK.

14. Wasn't colorfast: BLED.  A real problem if you don't separate the colors on your LAUNDRY LIST.

15. Sounded hoarse: RASPED.

16. Lad: BOY.

17. [Theme clue]

19. Get it wrong: ERR.

20. Occasion for pampering: SPA DAY.

21. Inclination to stay put: INERTIA.

23. Overlook: SNUB.

24. Japanese honorific: SAN.  I have a Japanese client who calls me Naomi-San.

Anna Sawai as Mariko-San in Shōgun

26. "We're __ crossroads": AT A.

27. [Theme clue]

32. Therapeutic application on a 20-Across: MASK.

35. 63-Across's cry: OUT.

36. Vandykes, e.g.: BEARDS.  A Van Dyke, or Vandyke, is a style of facial hair named after the 17th-century Flemish painter Anthony van Dyck.  A Van Dyke specifically consists of any growth of both a mustache and goatee with all hair on the cheeks shaved.

Who wore it best?  Anthony van Dyck or Johnny Depp?

37. Type: ILK.

38. Decorated, in a way: HONORED.  One thinks of a decorated war veteran.

Audie Murphy was the most highly decorated enlisted soldier in U.S. history.

40. "Golly!": GEE.

41. Servings of cheese or oranges: SLICES.

43. According to: PER.

44. Light rope: CORD.

45. [Theme clue]

48. Undergrad deg. option: BLA.  Bachelor of Liberal Arts.

49. Nosh: EAT.

50. UNESCO World Heritage Site in England: BATH.

53. Edible arrangement: FOOD ART.

I don't touch these at parties.  They seem over-handled.
And who wants to ruin the centerpiece?

56. Well-trained groups: CADRES.

58. Latto genre: RAP.  Alyssa Stephens, known professionally as Latto (formerly known as Mulatto), is a rapper and singer from Atlanta.  She has picked up some awards and Grammy nominations.  DNK.

Latto

59. [Theme clue]

62. Mined find: ORE.

63. Stay-at-home worker?: UMPIRE.  In baseball, the home-plate umpire stays at the plate when there are runners in scoring position.

64. "What __ is there?": ELSE.

65. Degs. for House and Grey: MDS.  TV doctors.

66. Wasn't straightforward with: MISLED.

67. Scores: SLEW.


Down:

1. Basics: ABCS.

2. Book jacket pair: FLAPS.

3. Played anew: RERAN.

4. Curious character: ODD DUCK.

5. Airline passenger's table: TRAY.

6. Stout grain: OAT.

7. Chant from fans dressed in red, white, and blue: USA.

8. First-aid item: SPLINT.

9. "Bet Ain't Worth the Hand" singer Bridges: LEON.  Leon Bridges is a singer, songwriter, and record producer.  His 2018 single, "Bet Ain't Worth The Hand," won Best Traditional R&B Performance at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.  Another DNK for me in contemporary music.

Leon Bridges

10. __ case: EDGE.  An edge case is a situation that occurs only at an extreme operating parameter. For example, a stereo speaker might noticeably distort audio when played at maximum volume.  It is challenging to engineer for edge cases because of unpredictable user behavior, product complexity, and resource limitations.  DNK this either!

11. "Just look at the time!": I BETTER GO.

12. Raita herb: CORIANDER.  Raita is a side dish served with Indian cuisine that provides a cooling contrast to spicy foods.  It is yogurt, often mixed with chopped cucumber, and seasoned with coriander, cumin, mint, and other herbs and spices.  Finely chopped red onions and tomatoes are popular additions, along with lemon or lime juice.  Raita is not as thick as Greek tzatziki, and has a greater potential variety of ingredients.

13. Sedgwick of "The Closer": KYRA.  Kyra Sedgwick is a film and television actress best known for her starring role as Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson on The Closer (2005–2012), for which she won a Golden Globe in 2007 and an Emmy Award in 2010.  Another celebrity DNK for me, but I recognize Kevin Bacon, to whom Kyra Sedgwick has been married since 1988.  They have two children.

Kyra Sedgwick

18. Resort town near El Arco, familiarly: CABO.  El Arco de Cabo San Lucas -- the Arch of Cabo San Lucas -- is a rock formation at the southern tip of Baja California.  When DH and I flew with the family to San Jose del Cabo in January, instead of heading west to see the Arch and Cabo San Lucas -- which I imagine to be mostly golf courses and bars -- we took dirt roads east to enjoy empty beaches and watch the grey whale migration.  Biggest surprise -- Cabo del Este, the East cape, is part of the Sonoran desert.  Saguaro cacti march right down to the beaches of the Sea of Cortez, and the birds were familiar to me from Arizona.

El Arco de Cabo San Lucas

View of a grey whale from my front porch in Cabo del Este.

22. Epic hero of Indian mythology: RAMA.  In Hinduism, Rama is an incarnation of Vishnu (one of the principal deities), and is the protagonist of the Ramayana.  In the story, Rama is born to royalty, but suffers difficult circumstances and ethical challenges.  His behavior serves as a model of moral life.

Rama

24. Like some textiles: SPUN.

25. Racetrack attraction at Disneyland and Disneyland Paris: AUTOPIA.

28. Many a native of Vermont's Northeast Kingdom: MOOSE.

29. Critic Roger: EBERT.

30. Crimson: RED.

31. Like most flea market goods: USED.

32. Catchall abbr.: MISC.

33. Conductor's call: ALL ABOARD.

34. Run-down areas?: SKI SLOPES.

38. She/__ pronouns: HER.  As opposed to he/him and the myriad other choices now available.

39. Take a time out: REST.

42. Home to the Lakes of Ounianga: CHAD.  The Lakes of Ounianga are 18 lakes in the Sahara Desert, in northeastern Chad. The lakes were named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2012.  Water from an ancient aquifer supplies the lakes, which evaporate quickly because of the arid environment.  Some of the lakes are saline, but others are fresh due to varying vegetation and topography.  Early human settlers in the area tried to stop the desertification that buried their orchards and crops at the end of the last ice age, 11,000 years ago.  Alas, climate change wiped them out.

Lakes of Ounianga

44. Carries protectively: CRADLES.

46. Outfits: GETUPS.

47. Site for a bidding war: EBAY.

51. Flutist's quaver: TRILL.

52. "Siddhartha" novelist: HESSE.  Siddhartha: An Indian novel is a 1922 novel by Hermann Hesse that deals with the spiritual journey of a man named Siddhartha during the time of the Gautama Buddha. The book, Hesse's ninth novel, was written in German and was published in the United States in 1951. The character Siddhartha attains enlightenment through his experiences, which Hesse was also seeking through his studies of Hinduism and Buddhism, and through his reclusive life.  The book sparked a lot of interest in Buddhism in the 1960s and 70s.

Hermann Hesse

53. Born in: FROM.

54. Grad: ALUM.

55. Actor Malek: RAMI.  Rami Malek is an American actor whose parents immigrated from Egypt.  He portrayed Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury in the biographical film Bohemian Rhapsody (2018), for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor.  He played a computer hacker in the television series Mr. Robot (2015–2019), for which he received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.

Rami Malek

56. Rep: CRED.  Reputation: credibility or credit. 

57. Étouffée, for one: STEW.  Étouffée is a dish found in Louisiana's Cajun and Creole cuisines, consisting of a thick sauce made with crab, shrimp or crawfish, along with onions, celery, bell peppers, and roux, and served over rice.  In French, "étouffée" means "smothered."

Crawfish étouffée

60. Low, low score: NIL.

61. Beats by __: DRE.  Popular headphones.

Beats by Dre

Here's the grid:

Solvers, how is our constructor's CRED with you now?

Do you feel HONORED to have been offered this puzzle?

Or did the experience put you on EDGE?

I BETTER GO.  Let us know in the comments!

-- NaomiZ

 

 

 

Notes from C.C.

 

Happy Birthday to our beloved Dave (CrossEyedDave)! Your warmth, humor, and perfect birthday cakes bring smiles to us all. We're so grateful to have you in our corner, Dave!

 

 

Wednesday, October 15, 2025 Victoria Fernandez Grande

Theme:  The POT has me running in circles.  

17. Like some fast planes: JET POWERED.   Refers to a vehicle or device that is propelled by a jet engine, which creates thrust by expelling a fast-moving jet of gas. While most commonly associated with high-speed aircraft, this principle is also used in jet-powered cars, boats, and even drones for various purposes.  

25. Exclusive excursion: VIP TOUR.   A VIP tour provides an elevated experience at an event or attraction, featuring exclusive perks like private guides, skip-the-line access, and behind-the-scenes looks. These

31. Chili dish served in a corn chip bag: FRITO PIE.   A dish consisting of Fritos corn chips topped with chili, cheese, and other optional toppings. It is not a traditional pie but gets its name from using Fritos as a base, and it's often served directly out of a slit-open bag of corn chips, sometimes called a "walking taco" or "taco-in-a-bag". 

45. Toaster pastry brand: POP TARTS.   An American brand of toaster pastries produced and distributed by Kellanova (formerly Kellogg's) since 1964. The pastry consists of a sweet filling sealed inside two layers of thin, rectangular pastry crust. 

50. Had a decent showing on the links: SHOT PAR.   Achieved the expected number of strokes for a hole or course in golf. It signifies completing a hole in the standard number of shots assigned to it, based on its length and difficulty, or finishing a full round at the course's total par score. 

62. Create tension among friends, or a hint to this puzzle's circled letters: STIR THE POT.  Cause controversy or challenge an established position.

In each theme fill the circled letter are an anagram of POT, hence, they are stirred into other letter sequences.

Hi, Gang - JazzBumpa here to unravel all the confusion.  Let's dive in.

Across:

1. Have a trying experience?: TASTE.  "Try some" is an invitation to taste something.  Could be a trying experience in a different way if it tastes awful.

6. Exceedingly: OH SO.  As in "Oh so much."

10. Torah chests: ARKS.  The Torah ark, or Aron Kodesh, is an ornate cabinet in Jewish synagogues that houses the sacred scrolls of the Torah. It is the holiest place in the synagogue, symbolizing the Holy of Holies in the ancient Temple of Jerusalem, and serves as the focal point for prayer and worship, with the scrolls often removed from it for readings.

14. Common font: ARIAL. Arial is a sans-serif typeface in the neo-grotesque style.  This sentence uses ARIAL.  The rest of the post uses Georgia.

15. Wallpaper unit: ROLL.  A wallpaper roll is a decorative covering for walls, with the standard size being either a single roll (often 21" x 16.5' in the U.S.) or a double roll, which is twice the length (33' long) and sold as a single piece. Rolls also vary by manufacturer, with widths often being 20.5" or 27". 

16. Former Iranian leader: SHAH.   Mohammad Reza Pahlavi [1919 - 1980] was the Shah of Iran from 1941 to 1979. He succeeded his father Reza Shah and ruled the Imperial State of Iran until he was overthrown by the 1979 revolution led by Imam Khomeini, which abolished the Iranian monarchy to establish the present-day Islamic Republic of Iran.

19. Link destination: SITE.  On the series of tubes known as the world wide web.

20. 2007 Apple debut: I-PHONE.    A line of smartphones from Apple Inc. that combines a mobile phone, music player, and internet-enabled device with a touchscreen interface and its own mobile operating system called iOS.

21. Sixth __: SENSE.  A supposed intuitive faculty giving awareness not explicable in terms of normal perception.

22. Mono alternative: STEREO.   Mono audio uses a single audio channel to deliver sound, combining all audio elements into one stream for a consistent listening experience, while stereo audio uses two channels (left and right) to separate sounds, creating a wider, more detailed, and spacious soundstage by directing different instruments to different speakers.

27. Clown: OAF.  a person, particularly a man, who is rough or clumsy and unintelligent.  I don't see this as a synonym for clown.

28. Make a home in: MOVE TO.  As I did to Michigan 40 years ago. 

34. Encrypted messaging software: SIGNAL.    "Signal" can refer to several different software products, most notably the Signal Private Messenger, a free and secure messaging app with end-to-end encryption, and other business or scientific software like Signal AI for risk intelligence, Signal Software (UK) for rail rostering, or Revvity Signals Software for scientific research. It's important to specify which "Signal" you are looking for, such as the messaging app or a specific industry software.  

39. Lion of Narnia: ASLAN.   He is a majestic and powerful lion, king of Narnia and an allegorical representation of Jesus Christ.  He has the power to create and recreate Narnia, bring spring to the land, heal, and has abilities related to teleportation and dream walking.

40. Microdosing study subj.: LSD.  An extremely potent illegal street drug that comes as a white powder or clear colorless liquid.  I can be derived from ergot or artificially synthesized.

42. Bubble bath accessory: LOOFA.   In everyday non-technical usage, the luffa, also spelled loofah or less frequently loofa, usually refers to the fruits of the species Luffa aegyptiaca and Luffa acutangula. It is cultivated and eaten as a vegetable, but must be harvested at a young stage of development to be edible.   The fruit section of L. aegyptiaca may be allowed to mature and used as a bath or kitchen sponge after being processed to remove everything except the network of xylem fibers. 

43. Waged a long campaign against: SIEGED.  A siege is a military operation in which enemy forces surround a town or building, cutting off essential supplies, with the aim of compelling the surrender of those inside.  Not sure this fill is a legitimate construction.  The verb form of siege is besiege.

47. Disquieted state: UNEASE.  Anxiety or discontent.

49. Song list: SET.  A list of the songs that a band or singer intends to perform at a particular concert.

54. Spuds: TATERS.  Potatoes, casually.

57. "Obvi!": TOTES.  Obviously and totally.  Are these equivalent?  You decide.

58. Microsoft business applications suite: OFFICE.   A collection of productivity software from Microsoft, including core programs like Word (for documents), Excel (for spreadsheets), and PowerPoint (for presentations). 

61. First name in jazz: ETTA.   Jamesetta Hawkins [1938 - 2012] known professionally as Etta James, was a Grammy-winning American singer and songwriter who performed across multiple genres, including blues, jazz, R&B, and soul.   I think of her more as a blues singer.  Ella would be the first name in Jazz.

66. Some cold drafts: ALES.  Ale is a style of beer, brewed using a warm fermentation method.  As with most beers, ale typically has a bittering agent to balance the malt and act as a preservative.

67. Car freshener scent: PINE.  Pine oil, derived from the needles, twigs, and cones of pine trees, carries a distinctive coniferous scent that many associate with crisp forest air and serene walks through evergreen landscapes. Its fresh, terpenic, green, woody, and sharper aroma makes it a staple in aromatherapy, perfume, and cleaning products.

68. One of the Coen brothers: ETHAN.   Ethan Jesse Coen (b. 1957) is an American filmmaker. Working alongside his brother Joel, the duo have directed, written, edited and produced many feature films.

69. Musical instrument in Orpheus mosaics: LYRE.  A lyre is a stringed musical instrument with a U-shaped frame, often compared to a small harp, known for its use in ancient cultures like Greece.   Orpheus mosaics are found throughout the Roman Empire, normally in large Roman villas. The scene normally shown is Orpheus playing his lyre.

70. Amino __: ACID.  Amino acids are organic compounds that contain both amino and carboxylic acid functional groups. Although over 500 amino acids exist in nature, by far the most important are the 22 α-amino acids incorporated into proteins. Only these 22 appear in the genetic code of life.

71. Low on cash: SHORT.  Lacking funds.

Down:

1. __ Mahal: TAJ.  The Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum in Agra, India, built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

From Wikipedia

Also this:

2. Equal: ARE.  Are they the same?

3. Basic command at obedience school: SIT.   Here is one way to teach it.

4. Mammal with a flexible snout: TAPIR.  Tapirs are large, herbivorous mammals belonging to the family Tapiridae. They are similar in shape to a pig, with a short, prehensile nose trunk. Tapirs inhabit jungle and forest regions of South and Central America and Southeast Asia.

Source

5. Wed without a guest list: ELOPE.  Runaway bride - and groom.

6. Cookie preserved in a vault as part of a 2020 publicity stunt: OREO.  Standard crossword confection.

7. Bike attachment: HORN.  Tooting device to avoid dangerous cycling situations.

8. Arm: SLEEVE.  Of an artice of clothing.

9. Ancient: OLD.  Having lived a long time; no longer young.  Like me.

10. Useful quality: ASSET.  A useful or valuable thing, person, or quality.

11. Safari herbivore: RHINO.   Rhinoceroses are large, herbivorous mammals from Africa and Asia that are known for their horns, which are made of keratin. There are five living species: the black, white, Indian, Javan, and Sumatran rhinoceros. All but one species are considered endangered, primarily due to poaching for their horns and loss of habitat.  These horns lead to dangerous situations.

12. Panko-breaded fried cutlet: KATSU.   A Japanese dish consisting of a breaded and deep-fried cutlet, typically made from pork (tonkatsu) or chicken (tori katsu). 

13. Like organza and chiffon: SHEER.    Transparently thin; diaphanous, as some fabrics. 

18. Clobber: WHOMP.   

21. Overly indulged, to a Brit: SPOILT.   Spoiled on this side of the pond.

22. Catnap spots: SOFAS.   A long upholstered seat with a back and arms, for two or more people - or cats; if you want to couch it in those terms.

23. Anklebones: TARSI.  A group of small bones between the main part of the hind limb and the metatarsus in terrestrial vertebrates. The seven bones of the human tarsus form the ankle and upper part of the foot. They are the talus, calcaneus, navicular, and cuboid and the three cuneiform bones.

24. Go paperless on April 15: E-FILE.   File a tax return electronically.

26. "__ my pleasure!": IT'S.  Happy to be of service.

29. Part of EVOO: OIL.  Extra virgin olive OIL.

30. "Roman Holiday" scooter: VESPA.   An Italian brand of scooters and mopeds manufactured by Piaggio.   Roman Holiday is a 1953 American romantic comedy film directed and produced by William Wyler. It stars Audrey Hepburn as a princess out to see Rome on her own and Gregory Peck as a reporter. 

32. Identify on social media: TAG.   Tagging on social media involves mentioning a user's account by using "@" followed by their username, which sends them a notification and links their profile to your post. 

33. Bests: ONE UPS.   "One up" is slang that means to surpass or outdo someone to gain an advantage, or to be in a position of advantage over someone. 

35. India's smallest state: GOA.   Goa is a state in western India with coastlines stretching along the Arabian Sea. Its long history as a Portuguese colony prior to 1961 is evident in its preserved 17th-century churches and the area’s tropical spice plantations. 

36. Viking language: NORSE.   "Norse language" most commonly refers to Old Norse, the language spoken in Scandinavia and areas of Viking expansion from about the 8th to the 14th century.

37. In search of: AFTER.   Used to indicate the object of a stated or implied action.

38. Holds up: LASTS.   Endures.

41. "Por qué no los __?": DOS.   "Why not both?"

44. Double helix molecule: DNA.  DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the molecule that contains the genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth, and reproduction of most living organisms. 

46. "Le __ Prince": de Saint-ExupÈry novella: PETIT.   The story follows a young prince who visits various planets, including Earth, and addresses themes of loneliness, friendship, love, and loss. Despite its style as a children's book, The Little Prince makes observations about life, adults, and human nature

48. Spicy, in a way: EROTIC.    Refers to something that arouses sexual desire or excitement, is related to sexual love, or is marked by strong sexual desire. 

50. Incredible bargain: STEAL.   "It's a steal" means something is being sold at a very good price, a great bargain, or is a surprisingly low cost. 

51. With anger: HOTLY.   In a passionate, excited, or angry way.

52. Sea animal with "pockets" to store food and tools: OTTER.

53. Poke fun at: TEASE.   Make fun of or attempt to provoke someone in a playful way.

55. Advil targets: ACHES.   Continuous or prolonged dull pains in parts of one's body.

56. Gear components: TEETH.   A gear tooth is an individual, raised element on the circumference of a gear that meshes with the teeth of another gear to transmit rotational motion and torque. 

59. "Doneski!": FINI.  Concluded

60. VanVleet of the NBA: FRED.   Fredderick Edmund VanVleet Sr. [b. 1994] is an American professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association. He is also the current president of the National Basketball Players Association.

62. Venue offering LED light therapy: SPA.   A commercial establishment offering health and beauty treatment through such means as steam baths, exercise equipment, and massage.

63. Vietnam's national dish: PHO.   a type of Vietnamese soup, typically made from beef stock and spices to which noodles and thinly sliced beef or chicken are added.

64. Crew blade: OAR.   A pole with a flat blade, pivoting in an oar lock, used to row or steer a boat through the water.

65. Explosive letters: TNT.  TriNitroToluene, a high explosive formed from toluene by substitution of nitro groups for three hydrogen atoms. It is relatively insensitive to shock and can be conveniently melted. 

So, we have come full circle.  Hope you enjoyed the ride, and didn't get too dizzy.

Looks like this is Victoria's first puzzle publication.  Congratulations!  Hope there are many more.

Cool regards,

JzB