| ACUTABOVE | Superior to, and a hint to the first letters in 3-, 28- and 9- |
| NEWBEGINNINGS | What January 1 brings for many people, and a hint to the first letters of 20-, 28- and 47-Across |
| SOUPSUP | Adds horsepower to, and a hint to the starred answers' hidden words |
| ACROSTIC | Verse where eg the first letters in each line form a word or message (8) |
| DROPALINE | Say hi to in writing...or what to do to the first letter of each starred clue? |
| INITIALS | The first letters in a list one compiles (8) |
| CAPITALS | Large alphabetical characters used as the first letters in writing (8) |
| GOINGFORWARD | From this point on ... and a phrase that explains (and is spelled out by) the 12 shifted first letters in this puzzle |
| HANGONTIGHT | Warning in a roller coaster, and a hint to the first words of the answers to starred clues |
| HARDC | ___ '_' (The first letter of 'Calgary', compared to the first letter of 'Centreville') |
| MAXIMA | The greatest numbers will provide a guiding principle to the first letter (6) |
| PALPABLE | For the record, first letters in the Pale unmistakably can be touched or felt (8) |
| CHECKPLEASE | Words to a server ... or a hint to the first words of the answers to starred clues |
| SHIPSHAPE | In tidy condition, and a hint to the first words of the answers to starred clues |
| FLAGDAY | June 14th observance ... and a hint to the first word in the answers to starred clues |
| WELLPLAYED | "How clever of you!," and a hint to the first words of the answers to the starred clues |
| OPENINGDAY | Ribbon-cutting time... or a hint to the first three letters of the answers to the starred clues |
| ALPHA | Name given to the first letter of the Greek alphabet (5) |
| THEOTHERAMERICA | Read the first letter in each clue to get a quote from this '67 speech |
| IHOP | Restaurant chain with locations in more than a dozen countries, thus justifying the first letter in its name |
