NYT Crossword 08/10/17 (Thu.)

Cruciverbalists: John E. Bennett and Jeff Chen
Editor: Will Shortz

Solving time: 12:21

Puzzle uniqueness:

Black squares on either side of the puzzle form a "hook" and a "crook.' The circled letters FISH are in the hook and the circled letters LAMB are in the crook. Answer BYHOOKORBYCROOK clues the theme.

Words I hadn't known until now: 

CLONK - "Sound of metallic impact" (I've heard of "clank" and "clunk," but this is a new one"

Trivia I didn't know:

ASPEN - "Home to an annual Ideas Festival"
TONIO - "'Pagliacci' role" (Huh?)
PER - "What a '/' may mean"
TYNE - Newcastle upon ____, England"
LASCRUCES - "Seat of New Mexico's Dona Ana County"
OTHO - "Roman emperor who overthrew Galba"
AMINOGROUP - "-NH2 attachment, in chemistry"

Junk answers:

BLT - "Diner staple, for short"
SST - "Attraction at Boeing's Museum of flight, for short"
BMOC - "Standout in a quad"
STP - "Indy racer sponsor"
ABIT - "Somewhat"
NYNY - "Letters that might precede 10001"
THEM - "Silent part of 'mnemonic'" (A junk interpretation. "The M." really?)

Clever clues:

PEW - "Seat of Christianity?"
WEARIEST - "Spent the most?"

Obscure (i.e., really reaching) words:

TONIO - (See above)
CLONK - (See above)