Author: Robert S. Gard
Editor: Will Shortz
Across
Mail inits. since 1971 USPS
___-Carlton (hotel chain) RITZ
Lettuce or cabbage MOOLA
Small recess NOOK
Drill (into) BORE
Hero of Narnia in C. S. Lewis novels ASLAN
Evidence of a day at the beach BIKINITAN
In a deadpan manner DRILY
Spleen IRE
Middle of a classic boast from Caesar ISAW
Spanish girlfriend AMIGA
“Phooey!” NERTS
Chocolate confection with a molten core LAVACAKE
Partner of “ceases” DESISTS
“Science is like ___: Sometimes something useful comes out, but that is not the reason we are doing it”: Richard Feynman SEX
Cleric’s title, for short REV
Tiki bar drink MAITAI
Part of a decent-sized plot ACRE
Effect of secondhand pot smoke CONTACTHIGH
Uber-fan STAN
Ted ___, author of the best-selling short-story collection “Exhalation” CHIANG
Make a mistake ERR
“Well, lah-di-___” DAH
Made an irreverently sarcastic comment SNARKED
Flight of fancy WILDIDEA
Crooner Mel who was called “The Velvet Fog” TORME
Common sight along the Norwegian coast FJORD
Male admirer BEAU
Signature Obama achievement, in brief ACA
Held on (to) CLUNG
Description of 17-, 25-, 36- and 49-Across, in different senses? HALFBAKED
Where it’s at VENUE
Afghan’s place ASIA
Bottom of a boat KEEL
Army squad leaders: Abbr. SSGTS
Rudely “welcome” the away team JEER
“Toy Story” boy ANDY
Down
Remove the fastenings from UNBIND
Evening party SOIREE
Tools for fireplaces POKERS
Winter item on a car’s roof rack SKI
Hank Aaron holds the M.L.B. record for these, for short (2,297) RBIS
Smidgen IOTA
Fishing net TRAWL
Mindfulness-based practice ZEN
Cop-turned-vigilante in a postapocalyptic film MADMAX
Courtier who oversees Hamlet’s duel with Laertes OSRIC
Member of a powerful ruling elite OLIGARCH
B-baller in California LALAKER
“___ takers?” ANY
Altima maker NISSAN
“___ Maria” AVE
Shakespeare’s “___ of Athens” TIMON
“Given the way things appear …” ASITIS
/24 or 12/31 EVE
Small songbird TIT
Upper part of a Vandyke beard, informally STACHE
German “Geez!” ACH
Belligerent, in British slang AGGRO
Swiss founder of analytical psychology CARLJUNG
Largest Chinese ethnic group HAN
Like “three men” of nursery rhyme INATUB
Patch things up, say? SEW
Unimportant things TRIFLES
Funereal compositions DIRGES
Chip in ADD
N.H.L. team with a mythological eponym KRAKEN
Presided over a roast, say EMCEED
Lethal DEADLY
Dunkable edible DONUT
Degrade ABASE
Nobelist Wiesel ELIE
Miles away AFAR
Big name in pharmacies CVS
One of Islam’s Five Pillars HAJ
Inits. before a nickname AKA
