L.A. TIMES CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Soap-drop indicator

5 Prepared for pie, in a way

10 Trunk extension

14 Buddhist priest

15 The “A” in the Tokyo studio AIC

16 Stargazing subject?

17 Rural stopovers

18 Retro filter choice

19 Importunate solicitor

20 Spin-off with a bluesy theme song by John Lee Hooker

23 2000s political slogan

24 Initial payments

26 European hub

27 Industrious type

29 Nut

32 Ritual heap

33 Rapper will.__

34 Half a piano duo?

35 Chaparral plant

37 Longfellow's “The Bell of __”

38 Iwo Jima flag-raiser Hayes

39 Half a classic cowboy nickname

40 Top of the order?

42 DNA units

44 1990s game console release, initially 45 Strong feeling

46 '60s-'70s singer born Ellen Cohen

50 Catcall?

53 Circumstances, idiomatically

54 Hilarious

55 Look for

56 Certain something

57 “Obviously!”

58 Put away

59 Highland language

60 Irritations found in clouds

61 Iowa Department of Transportation city

DOWN

1 “Naturalis Historia” author

2 Poker for knights?

3 Old Dodges

4 It often looks like gibberish

5 “No more discussion”

6 Like turnpike ramps

7 Wisconsin college

8 Abu Dhabi bigwig

9 Shaking event

10 Prolonged list, as of complaints

11 “It's safe to sit next to me”

12 Onetime accessory for Britney Spears and Keri Russell 13 Nonkosher sandwich, usually

21 Techie stereotype

22 “Hakuna Matata” lifestyle

25 Ones in it for the long haul

27 Mitt Romney's alma mater: Abbr.

28 Modern folklore

29 Card game played by Phileas Fogg

30 Annual observance celebrating commitment to the planet

31 Behind

32 __ tem

36 Darwin's __ Beagle

37 Graph point's x-coordinate

39 Low joint

41 Turtle's mouth

43 Vital vessels

44 Didn't play

46 Crete's highest elev.

47 Top squad

48 Martin or Miller

49 “I'ma Be Me” stand-up comic Wanda

51 Kodos' alien cohort on “The Simpsons”

52 It can be pumped

53 Honey, in slang