The New York Times crossword puzzle

Across

1 Universe 7 Like a future doctor’s studies 13 Land of rustic innocence 15 More obviously sad

16 Be under the weather 17 Wilbur Wright’s brother 18 Item in a game of jackstraws 20 Unit in a superintendent’s bldg. 22 Runaway success 23 San Francisco area, with “the” 26 Close-fitting headwear 29 Tiny peeve 30 Banded marble 32 Attempt to fix something and inadvertently make the situation worse 35 Spring mo. 36 Reaction to a gut punch 37 Go easy on the criticism 44 See 52-Across 45 Pack animal

46 Like Sadie, in a Beatles song 48 Madison Square Garden, e.g. 50 “Dude!” 51 Superscript number for a cube

52 With 44-Across, band with the #1 hits “Bad Medicine” and “Livin’ on a Prayer” 53 Dandy

55 Test for a future Ph.D. 57 Summer hrs.

58 Join (with) 62 Be an enthusiastic dweeb, with “out” 64 Restrict 65 “Get a ___!” 68 Brontë’s “Jane ___” 69 Make into law

70 Like the star on Texas’ flag 71 Soldiers’ meal

72 Pulls hard 73 Community gym org.

Down

1 School lunchroom, informally 2 Shipment to a refinery 3 Coronation rod, in Britain 4 Country between Algeria and Burkina Faso

5 Of lyric poetry 6 Jockey’s wear 7 Capital of Western Australia 8 Sitarist Shankar 9 Guitarist Clapton 10 Place to get a dairy treat 11 Unagi, e.g. 12 Rap’s Dr. ___ 14 Bryn Mawr grad, e.g. 15 Throw at 19 Bother 20 Bother

21 Something to do to a balloon or a wheelie 24 Cash box, for short 25 “Getting to ___” (guide to negotiating) 27 Darth Vader’s original given name 28 Stare stupidly 30 Missing letters? 31 Popular kids’ game … or a hint to 18-, 32-, 37- and 58-Across 33 Maryland delicacy 34 Snapshot, informally 37 Matador charger 38 Comic book debut of 1963, with “The” 39 Court call?

40 Rink great Bobby 41 Breaststroke move 42 Annual White House Correspondents’ dinner, jocularly 43 Flames that have gone out? 44 Sharp punch 47 Until now

49 In the back, nautically speaking 51 ___ Conference 54 Informal greeting 56 Monopoly payments 59 Squeaks (out) 60 Yemen neighbor 61 Nasty, as a fight 62 Beauty

63 Real looker? 66 End of a co. name

67 Stew tidbit