13. *Shady spot : ARBOR. A garden alcove formed by trees or climbing plants over a trellis. ARBOR DAY. A day devoted to the planting and care of trees, nationally on the last Friday in April, but at various times from January through May around the continental U.S. and the first Friday of Nov. in Hawaii.
16. *Furry forecaster? : GROUNDHOG. A burrowing rodent (Marmota monax), also known as the woodchuck, whistle-pig, or land-beaver. Nobody knows how much wood it would chuck. GROUNDHOG DAY. Feb 2. when the eponymous rodent is coaxed from its cozy hole in the ground to give a mostly inaccurate prediction about the duration of winter. Also the title and subject of a now classic movie.
27. *Jolly Roger, e.g. : FLAG. A piece of fabric with a distinctive design that is used as a symbol, a signaling device, or decoration. Roger's design is more distinctive than jolly.
FLAG DAY. Celebrated on June 14th, commemorates the adoption of the U.S. Flag by the 2nd Continental Congress on that day in 1777.
30. *Formal beginning : INAUGURATION. The start of a new operation, practice or administration. INAUGURATION DAY. The day of the official swearing in of a U. S. president to signal the beginning of her/his administration.
45. *Freedom from control : INDEPENDENCE. A condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population exercise self-government. INDEPENDENCE DAY. Celebrated in the U.S. on July 4th, commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence of the 13 colonies from the Kingdom of Great Britain. The rest is history.
48. *Leave the ground : LEAP. Launch oneself skyward, an activity that before which one should generally look.
LEAP DAY. Feb 29, the added day in leap year, making the most miserable month even longer. Big mistake, IMHO.
61. Big name in publishing, and a visual hint to the three adjacent pairs of answers to starred clues : DOUBLEDAY. Famous publiher of many fiction and non-fiction books. DOUBLE DAY. Two days at a time, or one day at a time if you live under a double star.
Hi, gang, it's JzB guiding you though a nifty DOUBLE play turned by our fearless leader and dynamic soloist. Come along, let's make a day [or two] of it.
1. '60s activist Bobby : SEALE. Co-founder of the Black Panther Party
6. Forward sail : JIB. A triangular staysail that sets ahead of the foremast of a sailing vessel.
9. Flavonoids-rich berry : ACAI. Comes from a variety of palm tree.
14. Mesabi Range output : ORE. I can dig it.
15. Not for minors : ADULT. The minors can't dig it. Relates to the language, visuals or situations of a publication or production.
18. Chain with a red cowboy hat logo : ARBY'S. They have a good fish sandwich this time of year.
19. Some spring rolls? : SOD. Rolls of green grass. Clever.
20. Former "Today" co-anchor Curry : ANN. Her departure was not amiable.
21. Plant sold in animal-shaped pots : CHIA. Makes a great gift.
22. Gave away, as true feelings : LET ON. As ANN did on her last Today day.
25. One __ time : AT A. Unless you live under a double sun.
33. Lip balm stuff : ALOE. Common ointment for puzzlers.
35. Subleased : RELET.
36. __-ray Disc : BLU.
37. Gives substance to, with "out" : FLESHES. Otherwise all you have is a skeleton.
39. Decks out : ATTIRES. Puts clothing on. After fleshing out. Proper sequencing is important.
41. L.A.'s __ Center: second-tallest building in California : AON. A mere 62 stories, located at 707 Wilshire Boulevard in downtown Los Angeles.
42. Salsa ingredient : ONION. Tomatillo doesn't fit.
44. Hard-to-hit server : ACER. An unreturnable serve is an ACE.
49. Stoplight color : RED. Poorly times ones make me see RED.
50. "Done!" : THERE! See! Told ya'!
53. Vagrant : HOBO. A wandering laborer, not just an ordinary bum. Vagrants are beggars, so this isn't quite right.
55. PSAT takers : JRS. High School juniors take the Pre-Scholastic Achievment Test.
57. Acct. accrual : INT. If accounts accrue interest, do no-accounts accrue disinterest?
59. Summers in China? : ABACI. The original digital calculators. Clever again.
64. "My Little Grass Shack" singer : DON HO. Is his little grass shack filled with tiny bubbles?
65. Die down : EBB. As when the bubbly goes flat.
66. Hoover rival : ORECK. Vacuum cleaners.
67. A&W rival : DAD'S. Old Fashioned Root Beer. Full of tiny bubbles.
68. Versatile Scrabble tile : ESS. The letter "S" spelt out.
69. Small bite : TASTE.
Down
1. Loses muscle tone : SAGS. Not to be confused with Cooper's Droop.
2. Dashing Flynn : ERROL. Famous buckler of swashes.
3. Dwelling : ABODE. The place where I abide
4. Reed of The Velvet Underground : LOU. Not my cup of Earl Grey. YMMV.
5. Compass point ending : ERN. Suffix for East-; West-; North-; and South-. Any direction the sea-eagle may fly.
6. Poet Keats : JOHN A quote:
For simple sheep; and such are daffodils
With the green world they live in; and clear rills
That for themselves a cooling covert make
'Gainst the hot season; the mid-forest brake
7. Historic toolmaking period : IRON AGE. After the bronze age, metallurgy became more sophisticated, and men learned to make useful things out of iron, a. much harder and more durable metal.
8. Importune : BEG. What HOBOS don't do.
9. Lacking purpose : ADRIFT. Much better than being ASEA.
10. Tropical rum drink : CUBA LIBRE. Rum and Coke over ice with a lime wedge. Probably not Tinbeni's cup of Earl Grey.
11. Prince __ Khan : ALY. I wanted AGA, but that was his dad.
12. "__ in the bag!" : IT'S. It is. Really
15. "That hits the spot!" : AAH. Like an cold CUBA LIBRE.
17. "Body of Proof" actress Delany : DANA. Cute, but I don't recognize her.
21. Insertion symbol : CARET. This thing "^" tells you where to put it in.
23. Cancún uncles : TIOS. Spanish.
24. Like many an easy grounder : ONE HOP. Who would have imagined our first baseball reference wouldn't occur until 24D?
26. New Orleans school : TULANE.
28. IM user : AOLER. AOL users can send Instant Messages to other AOL users
29. Safari sights : GNUS. A word derived from the indigenous Khoikhoi name for the Wildebeest, the Afrikaans name for wild cattle.
31. Like grizzlies : URSINE. They go bear in the woods.
32. Tack on : ATTACH. [Cf 59D]
33. Solo : ALONE. As in flying an airplane, performing music, or constructing a cross-word puzzle
34. Pitch in : LEND A HAND. Help somebody
37. Flunk out : FAIL.
38. Año beginner : ENERO. January begins the year. Más españoles.
40. Slurpee cousin : ICEE. Do you suppose Tinbeni enjoys these?
43. PennySaver ad subjects : ODD JOBS. Or, what HOBOS might do.
46. Big times : EPOCHS. Can denote any of various times or time spans; geologically speaking, less than a period and greater than an age.
47. Black-box analyzers: Abbr. : NTSB. National Transportation Safety Board
51. Takes for a spin : RIDES.
52. Pass : ENACT. As, a law.
54. Theater program item : BIO. Biography
56. Chafes : RUBS. Probably the wrong way.
58. Little one : TYKE.
59. Tack on : ADD. Hey look - a clecho! [Cf 32D]
60. Accessorizing wrap : BOA. A long thin stole of feathers or fur worn around a woman's neck
61. Below-average grade : DEE. The letter "D" spelt out.
62. Parking place : LOT. For some reason I had a LOT of trouble with this one.
63. Stat for R.A. Dickey : ERA. Earned Run Average. And a perfect ending with some more baseball. Robert Allen Dickey is a pitcher who has bounced around both leagues, spent some time with the Twins, and is now with the Blue Jays. Last year, while with the Mets he led the N.L. in strike outs, and won the Cy Young award.
OK, folks, THERE! A fun puzzle with a clecho, some top-notch pitching and a ONE HOP hit into a DOUBLE play. Hope you enjoyed the game. See ya' next time.
Cool Regards!
JzB
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This is a fun blog. Light-hearted banter is welcome. Snark is not. If you want to fight, find my other blog.
Play nice, and we'll all have fun.
I like to return visit, when I can - but I need to find you. If you have multiple blogs, please leave a direct link to the appropriate post.
Cheers!
JzB