phoenix - stuck hard

[starmack]

Any help appreciated.

18d (2 and 7). Crookedly smile upon it, lacking consideration.
?? and ????L?E

11a (7 letters). Same old, sale old.. clash between Mr Gore (USA) and us.
??U????

17a (7 letters). Claret mixed with head of elderflower, becomes dark, thick and much too sweet.
????C?E

4d (7 letters). Mix up last ten gifts.
A??EN??

23d (7 letters). Taking everything into consideration, do Wolves mature in the end
???K???

[spitza]

4d Talents
17a Treacle

[janbee]

17 treacle?

[Beatrice35]

23d) Package? Pack ( pack of wolves) + age( to mature)
Just an educated guess. Warm wishes, Bea

[Tallulah!]

Sorry not at all helpful but what is Phoenix? Is it in a newspaper?

[KendalCorner]

18d: On Impulse (anag of smile upon)

[Beatrice35]

Strange how spitza's answers have disappeared. Spitza said 4d was Talents ( anagram of Last+Ten). Spitza also said that 17a was Treacle ( Claret + E of elderflower- mixed up). Also, the wonderful spitza gave the answer to 18down) On Impulse ( anagram of Smile Upon) Twilight zone!!

Cannot fathom 11 across + hope starmack you will have an answer from one of the lovely posters here, soon.

Warm wishes, Bea :-)

[starmack]

No, crossword beat me in the end. Thanks for all your help.

Yes, I am intrigued to know how those set of answers disappeared. I had read same. and all worked, too.

[squarebear]

I guess 11a is something like "usual" AL Gore and US but I can't fathom it out.

[Beatrice35]

starmack- please do not give up! If there is any other questions you have then post them here + some other poster may know 11across too. Never, ever give up when you have people whom can help you here :-) Besides, from being here- from learning from all the lovely genius posters have become better at cryptics. Yes, most bizarre how spitza's right answers disappeared + he/she( not sure of spitza's gender) is one of the loveliest posters here too!!
Warm wishes + good luck with all your puzzles, Bea :-)

[Beatrice35]

Are you sure of the U in 11across? What clue made the U that you put in 11 across? starmack- please keep with this crossword. Ciao for now, Bea :-)

[1955]

23d Package?

[Beatrice35]

Already said Package for 23 down 1955 :-) Was the first to answer this one correctly. Spitza then answered virtually all the others yet his mysteriously disappeared so wrote them all down again as wanted him/her to get the recognition!
1955- can you fathom 11a?
Bea :-)

[Rollo]

11a is AS USUAL

al + usa + us anagram

[squarebear]

That makes sense but surely it should be (2,5) instead of (7)?

[Rollo]

Yes squarebear, I agree.

[starmack]

agree. Entered Unusual myself. But yes, As usual makes better sense. So the clue was misleading.

I gave up crossword as I had missed posting deadline. Will commence the next one sooner... and try to get inside the mind of the crossword setter!

[spitza]

Thank you Beatrice for your nice comments I do not know what happened to my answers
Regards