Today's Theme: Palindromes. We derive today’s theme through 36-Across, which states: Three Pairs of Them End the Answers to Starred Clues. I really had to look for the palindromes.
17. * Dense Fabrics = DOUBLE KNITS, which pairs with:
60. * More than Just Grumble = RAISE A STINK.
20. * Ready to Blow” = OVER STRESSED, which pairs with:
54. * “Top Chef” Spin-Off Involving Competitive Baking = JUST DESSERTS.
27. * It’ll Keep Your Hat On = CHIN STRAP, which pairs with:
44. * Carquest Stock = AUTO PARTS.
Across:
1. Yankee’s Div = Al East. The New York Yankees play in the American League East division in baseball.
7. Deal = COPE. You thought it was a card-playing reference, didn’t you?
11. Jenny or Jack = ASS.
14. Alter, as Boundaries = REDRAW.
15. Slain Shepherd = ABEL. A Biblical reference. Cain slew Abel. // 49-Across: 15-Across’s Dad = ADAM. Adam and Eve were Cain and Abel’s parents.
16. “Fer Sher” = YEP.
19. Prior, to Prior = ERE.
25. Aborigines of Hokkaido = AINU. These are the indigenous people of Japan.
26. Compress, in a Way = BALE. This is the time of year that the farmers are baling their hay.
28. Cat Tail Motion = SWITCH. My cat often switches her tail when I hold her and she wants to escape.
35. Specialty = AREA.
40. Lots = A TON.
50. Bingo Call = B-TEN. This is the weakest clue in the puzzle.
51. Kettle Pair = MA AND PA. From the old TV show.
59. www Address = URL. Stands for Uniform Resource Locator / And 3-Down: 59-Across Ending = EDU. A common ending for university and other educational institution’s electronic addresses.
64. Messenger Letters? = RNA. Stands for Ribonucleic Acids. Great clue!
65. Ain’t Right? = ISN’T.
66. Have Suspicions About = BE ON TO.
67. One Hairpin Turn After Another = ESS.
68. Cribbage Markers = PEGS. My grandfather taught me how to play cribbage.
69. Quixote’s Squire ______ Panza = SANCHO.
Down:
1. Not Easy, to a Cockney? = ‘ARD. The “H” sound is often dropped in the Cockney accent.
2. MGM Mascot = LEO.
4. Botanical Gardens = ARBORETA. What a great word!
5. Soother = SALVE.
6. Rough Wool Cloth = TWEED.
7. Six-Pack Units = CANS // And 22-Down: Six-Pack Units = ABS. You will lose your six-pack abs by drinking too much beer from the six-pack cans!
8. Notice with a Bio, Often = OBIT. How sad.
10. Threat Ender = ELSE. As in the phrase: “… or else.”
11. Music to a Captain’s Ears = AYE, SIR.
12. Star Sometimes Seen Opposite Venus? = SERENA. Serena and Venus Williams sometimes play tennis opposite each other.
13. Stepped On It = SPED UP.
18. McDonald’s Founder = KROC. Ray Kroc.
21. Gathered Dust = SAT.
23. Postgraduate Study = LAW. My field.
24. Emma Peel’s Hair Style = FLIP. (LINK)
28. “I wish I _____ Seen That” = HADN”T.
29. Factory Outlet Tag Abbr. = IRR. Stands for Irregular.
30. Vegas Gas = NEON.
31. Identical = SAME.
33. Show Enjoyment at a Show = CLAP. Interesting echo of “show” in the clue.
34. ____ High Note = HIT A.
38. Northwestern University City = EVANSTON. It is in Illinois, just north of Chicago.
39. Teen Safety Org. = SADD. Stands for Students Against Drunk Driving.
42. Skip Over Water, as Stones = DAP. No idea.
43. Doc Bloc = AMA. Stands for American Medical Association.
44. Offically Retract = ABJURE.
45. One-Way Street No-No = U-TURNS.
46. Magnetic Measures = TESLAS. He appears yet again in our puzzles!
47. Hudson Bay Prov. = ONT. Ontario.
48. Hook’s Right Hand = SMEE. I will really have to read “Peter Pan” again.
52. Saudis, Usually = ARABS.
53. On the Aegean = AT Sea.
55. Water Waster = DRIP.
56. Slack Off = EASE.
57. Participate in Karaoke = SING.
58. Grounded Jets = SSTS.
61. Ltd. Relative = INC. The British use “Limited”, while the Americans use “Incorporated” for their companies.
62. Nonspecific Extreme = NTH. As in the nth degree.
63. “Koochie ___!” = KOO.
