La Times Crossword Answers 01/01/24

Across Clues

• Underground areas explored by spelunkersCAVES
• Car-buying necessity, for manyLOAN
• Degs. for some entrepreneursMBAS
• Stuffy “Me too”ASAMI
• CompetentABLE
• Noble rank above viscountEARL
• Stuck in the muckMIRED
• French champagne brandMOET
• “Well, would you look at that!”MYMY
• Make a polite visitPAYRESPECTTO
• “__ whiz!”GEE
• Runs easily with long stridesLOPES
• False start punishment, in footballFIVEYARDPENALTY
• County Clare’s nat.IRE
• Internet lettersEMAILS
• “The Banana Boat Song” openerDAYO
• Trails behindLAGS
• Color TV pioneerRCA
• “Barbie” actor LiuSIMU
• La __: Real Madrid’s divisionLIGA
• Frank on the grillWEENIE
• NaughtNIL
• Incredibly hard to holdSLIPPERYASANEEL
• Photo app filter shadeSEPIA
• Time period often named for a monarchERA
• Celebratory shout heard before “Auld Lang Syne” is played, and an apt title for this puzzle?HAPPYNEWYEAR
• Crèche trioMAGI
• Moisturizer brandOLAY
• Missouri River tributaryOSAGE
• Minnesota representative IlhanOMAR
• Junction pointNODE
• Spoke wildlyRAVED
• Sheepherding pig in a 1995 filmBABE
• SmackSWAT
• Austin Powers player MikeMYERS

Vertical Clues

• Training __: NFL preseason practice timeCAMP
• Tibet’s continentASIA
• “Your mileage may __”VARY
• Come to lightEMERGE
• Judgmental glanceSIDEEYE
• Bedside lightLAMP
• Double-reed woodwindOBOE
• Actor GuinnessALEC
• Invasive plants with stinging hairsNETTLES
• Note-worthy purchases?MEMOPADS
• Green __, WisconsinBAY
• Escort’s offeringARM
• DeviousSLY
• Tailor’s line of stitchesSEAM
• Freight weightTON
• “Seinfeld” character who worked for Pendant PublishingELAINE
• Really frustrateSTYMIE
• Jam-packsFILLS
• Vowel-shaped track segmentsIRAILS
• Carrot or celery, informallyVEGGIE
• Not so commonRARER
• HazardousDICEY
• Initial strategyPLANA
• “__ be sorry!”YOULL
• Blue gemSAPPHIRE
• Some cards in the board game ClueWEAPONS
• “Now it’s clear!”ISEE
• Overly catchy songEARWORM
• Actress ZadoraPIA
• Come out againstNAYSAY
• Furrow formerPLOW
• When tripled, phrase spoken by 25-DownYADA
• No, in RussianNYET
• Icicle siteEAVE
• Ripening agentAGER
• Cincinnati MLB teamREDS
• Unruly crowdMOB
• GP’s gp.AMA
• ChitchatGAB