The complete answer to the NY Times October 04, 2023, Crossword puzzle is shown below.
Across Clues-
| Cousins of daisies | ASTERS |
| Longtime pugilists’ grp. | WBA |
| Highest of highs | ACME |
| Central Plains nation | PAWNEE |
| It can be cured | HAM |
| Singer with the “Living Proof” farewell tour (2002-05) ? as well as a “Here We Go Again” tour (2018-20) | CHER |
| Superfluous | OTIOSE |
| Nile danger | ASP |
| Story or mosaic piece | TA/ILE |
| What to compile before travel or a “choice” that’s not really a choice | PA/ICKINGLA/IST |
| Bench press muscle, informally | PEC |
| German refusal | NEIN |
| Feel bad | AIL |
| Plus | ASSET |
| Material for a loom | YARN |
| Go to ___ | POT |
| Home to Iolani Palace | OAHU |
| Archaeological projects | DIGS |
| Archaeological projects | ELA/ITE |
| Walks fancily or some rulers | PRA/INCES |
| Will supplement | AMOEBA |
| Parishioner’s portion, perhaps | TITHE |
| U-___ | HAUL |
| Big Apple clothing brand | DKNY |
| Up to, informally | TIL |
| Answered a charge | PLED |
| ___ diem | CARPE |
| Fa-la connection | SOL |
| Eden-to-Nod direction | EAST |
| Green land or garland | LEA/I |
| Dynamos or menus | BA/ILLSOFFA/IRE |
| Lines on an airline map | ARCS |
| Vintage vehicle | REO |
| Surprise element in the “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” trilogy | PARTIV |
| Apt name for a karaoke star | MIKE |
| Relative of a hogshead | KEG |
| Much-studied micro-organism | AMOBEA |
| Fly in the face, e.g. | PEST |
| Bond, for one | SPY |
| Abate | LESSEN |
Vertical Clues-
| Each | APOP |
| Fallen angel or luxurious fabric | SATA/IN |
| Think ____ | TWICE |
| Fuji fungus | ENOKI |
| Like some pitches | RESINY |
| In public | SEEN |
| “Moby-Dick” subject | WHALING |
| Underlying or salad herb | BASA/IL |
| Band aids | AMPS |
| Do something | ACT |
| Lip cover or bettor’s pile | CHA/IPSTA/ICK |
| Free-for-all | MELEE |
| At attention | ERECT |
| Loud, visually | GARISH |
| On the record, in a way, though not on a record | TAPED |
| In good shape | SOLID |
| Block ending | ADE |
| Make a choice | OPT |
| Singer Grande, to fans | ARI |
| Sensational scoring feats or sensational songs | HA/ITTRA/ICKS |
| Squarish? | UNHIP |
| Oars in pairs | SCULLS |
| Kind of soldier | TIN |
| Nevada mining town | ELY |
| Many a subject of the E! channel | CELEB |
| Cabo cheer | OLE |
| “This Is Just to Say” by William Carlos Williams, essentially | APOLOGY |
| Cast aspersions on | DEFAME |
| C-shaped tool | CLAMP |
| Lofty spot for brooding | AERIE |
| Bad thing to do in class | SLEEP |
| Picked dos | AFROS |
| Stuffs or spots | SA/ITES |
| Social group | TRIBE |
| Boats or bothers | A/IRKS |
| Australian export | OPAL |
| Hollywood’s ___ Rachel Wood | EVAN |
| Comedy club division | SET |