NYT Midi hints

1 Across: Tree that produces acorns (3 letters)

4 Across: Bio or chem, e.g. (3 letters)

7 Across: Gooey vegetable in bhindi masala (4 letters)

8 Across: Stale and old (3 letters)

9 Across: Like the tops of ceiling fan blades, often (5 letters)

10 Across: Animal with a pouch, for short (3 letters)

11 Across: Like fire ... or someone who is "on fire" (3 letters)

12 Across: Once more (4 letters)

14 Across: Inflated senses of self (4 letters)

16 Across: Pottery ovens (5 letters)

18 Across: Sounds from a 5-Down ... and from the noses inside a 5-Down (5 letters)

20 Across: Filing cabinet securer (4 letters)

21 Across: "In memoriam" story (4 letters)

22 Across: Declare (3 letters)

23 Across: Rx regulator (3 letters)

24 Across: ___ echelon (5 letters)

27 Across: Flowery necklace (3 letters)

28 Across: Tie to a dock (4 letters)

29 Across: Web address, for short (3 letters)

30 Across: Dessert on the faces inside a 5-Down, maybe (3 letters)

1 Down: Approvals (3 letters)

2 Down: Making balloon animals or juggling, to some (3 letters)

3 Down: Online travel company named after a boat (5 letters)

4 Down: One with poor sportsmanship (9 letters)

5 Down: What a pair of jokers might be found in the back of? ... and a hint to this puzzle's theme (8 letters)

6 Down: Words followed by a kiss (3 letters)

7 Down: Temporarily released from custody, perhaps (9 letters)

9 Down: Altruistic person (8 letters)

11 Down: "That's mildly funny" (3 letters)

13 Down: 0, in soccer lingo (3 letters)

15 Down: Glide down a snowy mountain (3 letters)

17 Down: Blue expanse (3 letters)

19 Down: Truncated trunk (5 letters)

23 Down: ___ shot (seasonal vaccination) (3 letters)

25 Down: Hawaiian food that's a paste made from taro root (3 letters)

26 Down: "The Masque of the Red Death" author (3 letters)