LA Times Crossword January 1, 2024, Clues and Answers

ACROSS

• Underground areas explored by spelunkers
  CAVES
• Car-buying necessity for many
  LOAN
• Degs. for some entrepreneurs
  MBAS
• Stuffy Me too
  ASAMI
• Competent
  ABLE
• Noble rank above viscount
  EARL
• Stuck in the muck
  MIRED
• French champagne brand
  MOET
• Well would you look at that!
  MYMY
• Make a polite visit
  PAYRESPECTTO
• __ whiz!
  GEE
• Runs easily with long strides
  LOPES
• False start punishment in football
  FIVEYARDPENALTY
• County Clares nat.
  IRE
• Internet letters
  EMAILS
• The Banana Boat Song opener
  DAYO
• Trails behind
  LAGS
• Color TV pioneer
  RCA
• Barbie actor Liu
  SIMU
• La __: Real Madrids division
  LIGA
• Frank on the grill
  WEENIE
• Naught
  NIL
• Incredibly hard to hold
  SLIPPERYASANEEL
• Photo app filter shade
  SEPIA
• Time period often named for a monarch
  ERA
• Celebratory shout heard before Auld Lang Syne is played and an apt title for this puzzle?
  HAPPYNEWYEAR
• Crèche trio
  MAGI
• Moisturizer brand
  OLAY
• Missouri River tributary
  OSAGE
• Minnesota representative Ilhan
  OMAR
• Junction point
  NODE
• Spoke wildly
  RAVED
• Sheepherding pig in a 1995 film
  BABE
• Smack
  SWAT
• Austin Powers player Mike
  MYERS

DOWN

• Training __: NFL preseason practice time
  CAMP
• Tibets continent
  ASIA
• Your mileage may __
  VARY
• Come to light
  EMERGE
• Judgmental glance
  SIDEEYE
• Bedside light
  LAMP
• Double-reed woodwind
  OBOE
• Actor Guinness
  ALEC
• Invasive plants with stinging hairs
  NETTLES
• Note-worthy purchases?
  MEMOPADS
• Green __ Wisconsin
  BAY
• Escorts offering
  ARM
• Devious
  SLY
• Tailors line of stitches
  SEAM
• Freight weight
  TON
• Seinfeld character who worked for Pendant Publishing
  ELAINE
• Really frustrate
  STYMIE
• Jam-packs
  FILLS
• Vowel-shaped track segments
  IRAILS
• Carrot or celery informally
  VEGGIE
• Not so common
  RARER
• Hazardous
  DICEY
• Initial strategy
  PLANA
• __ be sorry!
  YOULL
• Blue gem
  SAPPHIRE
• Some cards in the board game Clue
  WEAPONS
• Now its clear!
  ISEE
• Overly catchy song
  EARWORM
• Actress Zadora
  PIA
• Come out against
  NAYSAY
• Furrow former
  PLOW
• When tripled phrase spoken by 25-Down
  YADA
• No in Russian
  NYET
• Icicle site
  EAVE
• Ripening agent
  AGER
• Cincinnati MLB team
  REDS
• Unruly crowd
  MOB
• GPs gp.
  AMA
• Chitchat