An autumn dance reception area
A fall ball hall
A life list (which might include auks) & binoculars are used in this hobby.
Birdwatching
Michael Feinstein has couples swaying to this version of this classic from "Casablanca"
"As Time Goes By"
Material for lighting a fire (8)
Kindling
Today with almost 8 million people, this island has talked of splitting from New York since the 1890s
Long Island
Feeble Athenian stream
A weak Greek creek
In the 18th century, these figures were used to perform entire operas.
Marionettes or string puppets
"I see trees of green, red roses too" & couples slow-dancing to this Louis Armstrong tune.
"What A Wonderful World"
Garlicky Polish Sausage (8)
Kielbasa
State Senator Bob Morton has proposed that Washington east of these mountains go its own way.
The Cascades
A warning that some of the T's & button downs are grimy.
A shirt dirt alert
The sport of this dates from 1943, when it was also called aqua-lung
Scuba diving
This Percy Sledge No.1 hit is a perennial favorite at weddings.
"When A Man Loves A Woman"
"Lethal" wet blanket (7)
Killjoy
Jefferson had a plan for dividing this "directional" territory into states like Cherronesus & Polypotamia
The Northwest Territory
A tall & thin but grouchy Derek Jeter
A lanky cranky Yankee
Add 4 letters to "actors" to get these military devotees, like inauthentic farbs & obsessive stitch counters.
Reenactors
Perfect for a dance with a parent is this show tune that begins, "Is this the little girl I carried"
"Sunrise, Sunset"
Small hawk AKA a windhover (7)
Kestrel
Absaroka, which in 1939 proclaimed a governor & a Miss Absaroka, had parts of this state, Montana & South Dakota
Wyoming
Weighty Camaro tax
A heavy chevy levy
Ikebana is the Japanese art of creating arrangements made from these.
Flowers
With the party under way, it's time to "celebrate good times, come on" with an R&B favorite from this group.
Kool & the Gang
Synagogue mourner's prayer (7)
Kaddish
In 1849, 47 years before Utah statehood, parts of nine future states were encompassed by this proposed state, whose name meant "honeybee"
Deseret