No 13617, Monday 25 Jul 2022, Bruno

Solution to 1A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

ACROSS

1   A dry time in NY? Correct (6) A?T?S? (Addendum - ATTEST {A}{TT}{EST} - See comments))

4   Is love and sleep, on reflection, one of few similar things, chemically? (6) ISOMER {IS}{0}{REM<=}

8   Music broadcaster's explosive display of love, hugs and kisses backfired (7) BOOMBOX {BOOM}B{O}{X} Anno for B not clear (Addendum - {BO{O}MB}{XO<=} - See comments)

9   Second criminal agent captured with electric device (7) MAGNETO {M{AGENT*}O}

11 Lonely champ lost, quietly left, sad (10) MELANCHOLY {LONELY+CHAMp}*

12 1001 staff? (4) MACE {M}{ACE}

13 Spicy herb these days infected by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (5) CHIVE {C{HIV}E}

14 Plant's bitterness starting to cool off when infused with head of garlic (8) AGRIMONY A(-c+g)GRIMONY

16 Discontinue publicity or fashion magazine will lose headline (8) PROROGUE {PR}{OR}{vOGUE}

18 Herb is in a corner (5) ANISE {A}{N{IS}E}

20 Bean and lime oddly make a medicine (4) BALM {BeAn+LiMe}*

21 After heart of seeds was taken out peony nearly withered as a plant (5,5) PENNY ROYAL {PeONY+NEARLY}*

23 Respect short gangster and military man (7) ADMIRAL {ADMIRe}{AL}

24 Section of turmeric — a raw Ayurvedic herb (7) CARAWAY [T]

25 Communist arrested worker that complained (6) RANTED {R{ANT}ED}

26 Soldiers get tax break (6) RECESS {RE}{CESS}

DOWN

1   Rose with a problem reinforced with base of bark (5) AWOKE {A}{WO{barK}E}

2   Setter's overcome by joint pain, played drums (7) TIMPANI {T}{I'M}{PAIN*}

3   Dish made from whiskey, say's good (6,3) SCOTCH EGG {SCOTCH}{EG}{G}

5   Supreme Court's first adjudication online's alarming (5) SCARY {SC}{Ad...n}{RY}

6   Smallest dress on parent (7) MINIMUM {MINI}{MUM}

7   Erect nice building with modesty (9) RETICENCE*

10 Source of protein from a bone stays labile after a bone breaks off (4,5) SOYA BEANS {A+BONE+StAYS}*

13 Herb or rice curry with stuffing (9) CORIANDER {OR+RICE}* over {AND}

15 Accountant left academy suddenly after record was prepared in advance (5-4) READY-MADE {AcaDEMY}*<=>{READ}

17 Plant mainly indoors — over/under incline (7) RAMPION {I{O}N}<=>{RAMP} (Correction - {In...s}{ON}<=>{RAMP} - See comments)

19 First person to complain about working back in the past? (4,3) IRON AGE {I}{R{ON}AGE}

21 Flight to Nepal crashed (5) PLANE*

22 Gather confession of setter's stupidity (5) AMASS {AM ASS}

Reference List

Dry = TT(Teetotaller), Time in NY = EST(Eastern Standard Time), Second = MO, Quietly = P, 1000 = M, 1 = ACE, These days = CE, Corner = E(East), Gangster = AL(Capone), Soldiers = RE(Royal Engineers), Joint = T, Good = G, Line = RY(Railway), Bone = T