Shady Doings

a cryptic puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

Twelve answers manage to become new words as they enter the grid. Shaded squares spell what these answers are engaging in.

Across

  • 1.
    Sort of lily branch holding up halfway (4)
  • 4.
    Topic for a bachelor almost in conniptions (4,4)
  • 10.
    Dad stands next to uncles in Spanish courtyards (6)
  • 11.
    Help a ski mecca (5)
  • 12.
    Fill left out of “I’m Blue” (5)
  • 13.
    Tedious wandering, exposed to the elements (7)
  • 14.
    Chief absorbed by faint signal (9)
  • 15.
    Partakes of hot chopped chow (4)
  • 16.
    Most intense New Hampshire city street (7)
  • 17.
    Greek goddess merits a novel (7)
  • 22.
    Fantasized fear gripping Maine (7)
  • 23.
    Take back king capturing queen (7)
  • 26.
    Vocally trick critters of Oz (4)
  • 28.
    Hammered clamp into beef (9)
  • 29.
    Spoke sheepishly upon interrupting run (7)
  • 30.
    A truncated ordeal in court chambers (5)
  • 31.
    Bungling writer backed into it (5)
  • 32.
    Optical device distorted mirage (6)
  • 33.
    Urges Conservative crazy talk (8)
  • 34.
    Keep the Cuban-style time (4)

Down

  • 1.
    Unoriginal gumshoe wearing shade of gray (5)
  • 2.
    Bash into and split fort’s defense (7)
  • 3.
    Transposing them, duo lip-synched (7)
  • 4.
    Two-fifths of fifty was first submitted (5)
  • 5.
    Rascals drive the wrong way in Paris streets (6)
  • 6.
    Somewhat weathered diner sign (3,4)
  • 7.
    Nation’s leader had a bug caught (6)
  • 8.
    Current events changed diets (5)
  • 9.
    Braced peg in winter coaster (7)
  • 17.
    Kind of exercise drill in CIA retracted (7)
  • 18.
    Italian composer burst into Met (7)
  • 19.
    Outspoken officer of war (7)
  • 20.
    Horses around English flowers (7)
  • 21.
    Place for your wine vendor, you say (6)
  • 22.
    Head of faculty keeping Emily humble (6)
  • 24.
    Woman’s name among some Lenape (5)
  • 25.
    Composes average donation to the poor (5)
  • 27.
    Celebrity tour missing our launch (5)