Theme: i is for Apple - The start of each theme entry is a iPod type.
17A. Score before an extra point : TOUCHDOWN. iPod Touch.
25A. Ship deck game : SHUFFLEBOARD. iPod Shuffle.
41A. Microscopic bit : NANOPARTICLE. iPod Nano.
54A. Part of many a Mod wardrobe : MINISKIRT. iPod Mini.
61A. Popular Apple, versions of which begin 17-, 25-, 41- and 54-Across : iPOD
Argyle here. There are plenty of Raymond Hamel’s CrosSynergy / Washington Post crosswords but this appears to be his first LAT in recent years. He certainly shows an adept hand at construction. Perhaps he will drop by and give us an update on his status. I hope so.
Across:
1. Peak : ACME
5. Morning co-host Kelly : RIPA
9. Sub finder : SONAR
14. Paint layer : COAT
15. "An apple __ ..." : A DAY. Sly entry.
16. Japanese cartoon art : ANIME
19. Annapolis frosh : PLEBE
20. Slide down a slope : SKI
21. Artist's choice : OILS
22. Actress Sissy : SPACEK
23. Extinct emu-like bird : MOA
24. Ones who don't stay off the grass? : STONERS. A Christmas story.
30. Juan's "Enough!" : "NO MAS!"
31. Australian canine : DINGO
32. Put bucks on the Bucks, say : BET
35. Droid downloads : APPs
36. Fashionable beach resorts : LIDOs. "The Lido" is a byword for a beach resort. It started in Venice, Italy. History
37. Do away with, as a vampire : SLAY
38. Foot, in anatomy : PES
39. Bit of info : DATUM
40. Delivery specialist? : STORK. Good one.
43. Fan mail sender, e.g. : ADMIRER
46. Rower's blade : OAR
47. Grouches : CRANKS
48. Far from daydreaming : RAPT
50. Hawaii's Mauna __ : LOA. One of the five volcanoes that form the Island of Hawaii
53. New staff member : HIREE
56. Spring water brand : EVIAN
57. Screen symbol : ICON
58. On the briny : ASEA or 10D. Not 58-Across : ON LAND
59. Reckons : DEEMS
60. Instrument hit with a mallet : GONG
Down:
1. Takes steps : ACTS
2. Kitchen worker : COOK
3. Haleakala National Park's island : MAUI
4. And so on: Abbr. : ETC.
5. Firestone offering : RADIAL
6. Fan mail recipient : IDOL
7. Furry feet : PAWS
8. "Atlas Shrugged" author Rand : AYN
9. Japanese city that hosted the 1972 Winter Olympics : SAPPORO. Portland, Oregon, is a sister city.
11. Sister's daughter : NIECE. No idea what city that would be.
12. "America the Beautiful" shade : AMBER. "...amber waves of grain"
13. Stinks : REEKS
18. __ it: travels on foot : HOOFS
22. Antler sporters : STAGS
23. Museum curators' degs. : MFAs. (Master of Fine Arts)
24. California wine valley : SONOMA
25. Pic : SNAP
26. Keep the faith : HOPE
27. "Steee-rike!" callers : UMPS
28. Manuscript recipient : EDITOR
29. Make more expensive, as on eBay : BID UP
32. Political coalition : BLOC
33. Actor James __ Jones : EARL
34. Tot : TYKE
36. Pool paths : LANES
37. Use a swizzle stick : STIR
39. Grows dimmer : DARKENS. As it latens.
40. Baseball card figures : STATS
41. Common workday starting hr. : NINE AM
42. Rodeo skill : ROPING
43. Was sore : ACHED
44. Motivation : DRIVE
45. Nobelist Curie : MARIE
48. Loaded, in Lima : RICO. Rich in Spanish, Italian is ricco and French is riche. German is reich.
49. In a short time, quaintly : ANON
50. Speech therapist's target : LISP
51. Sandwich cookie : OREO
52. Ever so slightly : A TAD
54. Russian jet fighter : MIG
55. Chiang __-shek : KAI. He ruled mainland China for 22 years, and Taiwan for 30 years.
Argyle
