THE NYT CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Pear variety 5 Fiction’s opposite 9 Peruvian animal 14 Toledo’s home 15 Carpet layer’s measurement 16 Common golf shirts 17 Leave a lasting legacy … or do worse at school 20 Drug giant ___ Lilly 21 English school on the Thames 22 The Gershwins’ “Of ___ I Sing” 23 Succeed on the gridiron … or invite a slap in the face 26 Word after Near, Middle or Far 27 Waders with curved bills 28 Gunky roofing stuff 30 Diplomat’s forte 31 Cannabis variety used for rope 35 Times Sq. squad 38 Sound of annoyance 39 Score in baseball … or ruin some hose 41 Part of Adam from which Eve was fashioned 43 “SportsNation” station 45 Shoe with holes 46 Helper 47 Curling surface 49 One of the Baltic States 51 Femme fatale 54 Be lucky in Scrabble … or come up short memory wise 58 Gel-producing succulent 59 Starting point for a horse race 60 Have dinner 61 Start of a mixed message, as illustrated by 17-, 23-, 39- and 54-Across 66 Excessive 67 Vichyssoise vegetable 68 Drop that might run down the face 69 Land with pyramids 70 “Roseanne” actress Gilbert 71 Jason’s fleece seeking ship

DOWN

1 Spongy ground 2 “Well, whaddya know!” 3 Trusty companions 4 Most hip 5 Devoted follower 6 Zodiac ram 7 ¢ 8 Chevy model named for a Western lake 9 Carole King’s “Tapestry” and “Music” 10 Small chance to win big bucks 11 Hawaiian hello 12 Group’s basic customs 13 Up to now 18 Clean (off) 19 The “I” of M.I.T.: Abbr. 23 Barack’s opponent in 2012 24 Demean 25 Arthur with a namesake stadium 29 TV journalist Curry 32 List shortener: Abbr. 33 Damage somewhat 34 One giving you the aye? 36 Nongovernmentally owned ship decked out for war 37 Brought to ruin 39 Health products chain 40 Sch. near Hollywood 42 A pelican has a big one 44 Chimed in on the conversation 46 U.S. city with the world’s busiest airport 48 Margin 50 Under the covers 51 Unclear 52 Sing-___ (hootenanny feature) 53 Temperamental 55 Lou with more than 70 albums 56 Out on a naval deployment 57 Big name in grills 62 Bit of fishery equipment 63 Stephanie Clifford ___ Stormy Daniels 64 Jokester 65 Letters suggesting a sellout