The New York Times Crossword 31 Eyes, to bards 32 Pothook shape 33 Count in music 35 Lowest-voiced choir members 37 Drink often served with a miniature umbrella 39 Vehement rejection 42 Prefix with violet or violent 43 Mo. when the N.F.L. season starts 46

ACROSS

1 Rod at a pig roast 5 Vehicles with medallions 9 Partner of circumstance 13 Result of a sock in the eye 15 Colorful, warmblooded fish 16 Cowboy boot accessory 17 Tomorrow, in 43-Down 18 Mexican president Enrique 20 Pavlov with a Nobel 21 Biceps and hamstrings 23 “Buy It ___” (eBay option) 24 Word after motion or lie 26 “Puh-lease!” 28 Persona ___ (welcome guest) 29 1987-94 “Star Trek” series, briefly 59 ___ the finish (having potential to win) 60 Peppers milder than habaneros 62 Warm Pacific current 64 Is in the hole 65 Ill-gotten goods 66 Attaches, as a carnation 67 Soak up the sun 68 Theater, dance, etc. 69 Roald who wrote “Fantastic Mr. Fox”

DOWN

1 Bic or Gillette offerings 2 They’re broken at parties 3 How butterflies might be caught 4 Highest point value for a Scrabble tile 5 He placed the sun at the center of the universe 6 Tiptop 7 Bathrooms, in 43-Down 8 Tuned too high 9 Air pump fig. 10 Beer drinkers’ utensils 11 Basketball Hall-of-Famer Dikembe ___ 12 Exceptional ability 13 Tiny bit 14 Log craft 19 “Crypto City” at Ft. Meade 22 “___ luck!” 25 Log construction 27 Parks of the civil rights movement 30 Rock scientists 34 Year, in 43-Down 35 “Cheers” setting 36 Change with the times 37 Okra units 38 Forrest Gump’s C.O. 39 Profile-altering plastic surgery 40 Pacific battle site of 1945 41 Parts of hypodermics 43 Language that utilizes the letter “ñ” 44 43-Down, in 43-Down 45 One of eight in a V-8 49 Greek poet who wrote “The Distaff” 51 Message left on a hotline, perhaps 52 Northeast Corridor express train 53 Mister, in 43-Down 55 Ooze 58 “Wow!,” in Internet-speak 61 Set, as a price 63 Tupperware topper

PUZZLE BY ALEX EATON-SALNERS