Theme: THREE-PEATS (57. Features of the answers to starred
clues, from a trademarked sports term) - Each theme entry contains three
identical letters in the middle.
21A. *Edge of a storm: SQUALL LINE.
39A. *Chase away: SHOO OFF.
3D. *Severe legal penalty: STIFF FINE.
35D. *Incense-burning implement: JOSS STICK.
C.C. here. Hope all's well with Jazzbumpa, who was supposed to blog today. He might have lost power in his house.
Good
to see Alan Olschwang back. For a middle 7-letter theme entry, we often
see this type of pinwheel design, though often with first theme answer
in Row 3 rather than Row 4.
Across:
6. Lay eyes on: SPOT.
10. Mischievous types: IMPS. Hi there, Spitzboov!
14. IV component: INTRA.
15. Sub that never plays?: HERO. Sandwich rather than the sub at a ball field.
16. Civil suit cause: TORT.
17. Met favorites: ARIAS. The Met.
18. Ship that survived the Clashing Rocks: ARGO. Lemonade and his Argonaut went through that pair of rocks.
19. Instrument heard in the intro to Madonna's "Crazy for You": OBOE.
20. Departed: LEFT.
23. Crusty fellow: FOGY. Old.
25. Teased: NEEDLED.
26. Insults: AFFRONTS. 50. Bolshevik foes: TSARISTS. Two of the longest non-theme fill in this grid.
30. __ shift: DAY.
31. "You mean yours truly?": MOI. Always thought of our farmer Windhover.
32. States, abroad: ETATS.
34. Bar Keepers Friend alternative: AJAX.
38. Tolkien's The Prancing Pony, e.g.: INN.
42. Pamplona plaudit: OLE.
43. [It's a keeper]: STET.
45. Native Israeli: SABRA.
46. __ Barton, first Triple Crown horse (1919): SIR.
47. iPad launched in 2013: AIR.
52. Allayed: STILLED.
56. Wee ones: TOTS.
60. Brood: STEW.
63. Setting of Camus' "The Plague": ORAN.
64. French friar: ABBE. And 26. French friends: AMIS. And 48. Land in l'eau: ILE. And 59. Chapeau's place: TETE.
65. Return option: E FILE.
66. Abolitionist Lucretia: MOTT. Quaker. Died in 1880.
67. Shaker fill: SALT.
68. Port St. __, FL: LUCIE.
69. Stuns, in a good way: AWES.
70. Shoe insert: TREE.
71. Tatted up: INKED.
Down:
2. Legal memo opener: IN RE.
4. Source of windiness, maybe?: ORATOR. Long-winded.
5. College dorm figs.: RAS.
6. NBAer seen in IcyHot ads: SHAQ.
7. Machu Picchu's place: PERU.
8. Pipe __: ORGAN.
9. Equipped with machinery: TOOLED.
10. "Shoulda listened to me!": I TOLD YA. And 44. Audition display: TALENTS. Love these pair of 7's.
11. Exxon merger partner: MOBIL.
12. Inclined (to): PRONE.
13. Knight's horse: STEED.
21. Moog, briefly: SYNTH.
22. __ & Perrins: Worcestershire sauce: LEA. Never tried Worcestershire sauce.
24. Departs: GOES.
27. Lettering choice: FONT.
28. Southwestern art mecca: TAOS.
29. Weasel cousin: STOAT.
33. Sorrowful sounds: SOBS.
36. Hit the ground: ALIT.
37. '60s-'70s births: XERS. I'm one.
40. Brothers' housing: FRATS.
41. Baccarat relative: FARO. Sounds like "pharaoh".
49. Meal: REPAST.
51. "Whee!": IT'S FUN.
52. Tiny leaf opening: STOMA.
53. Fling: THROW.
54. Quite hot: IRATE.
55. Exclude from practice: DEBAR.
58. Qualified: ABLE.
61. Writer Wiesel: ELIE.
62. Work in the garden: WEED.
65. First name in pharmaceuticals: ELI.
I'm very sorry to tell you that Hahtoolah (Susan) lost her father yesterday. As you know, she flew to Maine to take care of her Dad and continued to blog for us the past few weeks.
Please accept our deepest condolences, Susan!
C.C.
