1. Windy City, briefly
2. Bled, in a way
3. One with a pole position?
4. Auction ender
5. "The King"
6. Avoid
7. Vichyssoise veggie
8. Garden decoration, possibly
9. Veteran, e.g.
10. "Sakes alive!"
11. Rare indeed
12. Opposite of avant
13. Coward of note
18. Campus area
22. Asian breads (var.)
23. Chest material
24. Breathing
25. Surprising
26. Gets off the fence
27. Social grouping
29. Prods
31. Malayan boats
33. Hackneyed
34. Peel's partner
36. Rorschach test items
37. Not kosher
39. Kind of code
40. Imposing building
42. They're unworldly
43. Bearded garden bloom
44. Auto style
46. Boat with an open hold
47. Air force heroes
48. Lacking
51. Chinese tea
52. Electrical unit
53. Center
54. Consumed
55. Certain digital watch face, for short