Wednesday, April 8, 2026, Kathy Lowden

  Lessee, Theme,, hmm,,,

I like AURORA, as in Sleeping Beauty... (As in, Her Prince has come...)

Or how bout: Favorite Pet Name. 

Not sure if above is "Mia,"

Prince is also famously known for gifting a dog named God to Nicole Richie.

Or how about, Your Photos Are Ready, (As in, Your Prints Have Come...) ?

No, it seems to be three things that can all be an explanation of the clue "Prince."

17 Across. Prince: TENNIS BALL BRAND.

36 Across. Prince: HIS ROYAL BADNESS. Complete Splaining can be found here...

This Guy...

54 Across. Prince: HEIR TO THE THRONE. This simple answer is not as simple as you might think...

But which one is the true Heir?

You will have to watch the whole move to find out...

(Or, just read the book...)

I believe this is Kathy's 6th contribution to The L.A.Times, and is becoming quite the prolific Constructor. I look forward to seeing many more puzzles from her here in future... (if we can steal her away from The New York Times... : )

Across:

1. Island ring: ATOLL.

6. Skating venue: RINK.

10. "Slouching Towards Bethlehem" essayist Didion: JOAN.  Considered a landmark in new journalism

14. Hogwash: TRIPE.

15. Job inspection org.: OSHA. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

16. "Uh, I doubt that": UM, NO...

17. [ Theme }

20. Makes a request: ASKS.

21. "Yo!": HEY.

22. Warm welcomes?: ALOHAS. (I like this clue/answer...)

23. Part of UCLA: LOS.

24. Lacking scruples: AMORAL.

25. Many a social media pic: SELFIE.

A famous example.

29. Action in Uno: DRAW. Not Go Fish?

30. Egg-shaped: OVOID.

31. Tortellini filling option: MEAT. First choice, followed by Cheese, followed by anything you can imagine... A piece of curious trivia: In Italian regional slang, particularly in Bologna, "tortellino" (singular) or "tortellone" (large tortellini) is used to describe a person who is naive, not very bright, or slightly chubby. So if planning to visit Italy, please be very careful in your pronunciation at a restaurant. You don't want to accidentally insult your waiter...

32. Graph paper pattern: GRID.

36. [ Theme ]

39. Flamenco cheers: OLES.

40. Redding of R&B: OTIS. Best known for [sitting on] The Dock of the Bay. But has had so many more hits if you delve deeper.

41. Painter's prop: EASEL.

42. Long, long time: AGES. (I wanted Eons...)

43. Alloy in some decorative plates: PEWTER. Mostly Tin (92%) hardened with Antimony and Copper. 

44. __ Sapphire gin: BOMBAY. I always thought Gin was just flavored Vodka, But it is much, much more...

47. Letters at the end of a proof: QED. AI Overview

Q.E.D. stands for the Latin phrase 

quod erat demonstrandum, meaning "which was to be demonstrated" or "thus it is proven". It is used at the end of a mathematical proof or philosophical argument to indicate that the theorem or proposition has been fully proven.

Doesn't work at Starbucks...

48. Fix for a noisy car: TUNE-UP. Being a DIY Mechanic, I would think of this as one word. However linguistically: 

"Tune-up" is typically written as two words connected by a hyphen (

tune-up) when used as a noun or adjective, or as two separate words (tune up) when used as a verb. 

49. First word of the Lord's Prayer: OUR.

50. DIY tutorial site: EHOW.

54. [ Theme ]

57. "Are you __ out?": IN OR.

58. Liu of "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings": SIMU. His full Wiki, he has a long list of appearances. 

59. Broadcaster: AIRER.

60. PlayStation maker: SONY.

61. Word in a vague ultimatum: ELSE.

62. Tied up in knots: TENSE. Guy goes to a shrink, says, "Doc' I can't tell if I am a Teepee, or a Wigwam." Doctor says, " Your two tents... "

Down:
1. Chapati flour: ATTA. Chapati is a simple, unleavened flatbread from the Indian subcontinent, made from whole wheat flour (atta) and water, cooked on a griddle (tawa).

2. Very, in Versailles: TRES. (French)

3. Sty sound: OINK.

4. ICU employees: LPNS. Licensed Practical Nurse.

5. Island ring: LEI. I didn't know there were so many types of Leis.

How to make a Haku Lei.

6. Spa attire: ROBES.

7. "By Jove!": I SAY. Or, "they are real, and they are spectacular!"

8. Org. whose members play at a 6-Across: NHL. National Hockey League.

9. Greek city with a namesake olive: KALAMATA. Cured in Brine, "and Red Wine Vinegar."

Explore the best places in 3 minutes? 4K

10. One of 12 in "12 Angry Men": JUROR.

Why I never get selected for Jury Duty...

11. Nebraska city that's home to the Great Plains Black History Museum: OMAHA. More Here...

12. Yearly record: ANNAL. A.I. Overview...

13. Signs of recognition: NODS. What happens when I read the A.I. Overview above...

18. Manolo Blahnik creation: SHOE.

This Guy.

19. "Let's __ this popsicle stand": BLOW. ("But not without new shoes above.")

23. __ deck: pool's spot on a cruise ship: LIDO. 

But Wait! Where's the Poop Deck? (I have to go!)

24. Many Mecca residents: ARABS.

25. NYC nabe: SOHO. (South Of Houston Street.)

26. Like one twin in a soapy drama, typically: EVIL.

How and Why The Evil Twin was invented...

(Bring a towel...)

27. Shake: LOSE.

28. Trees at a Christmas tree farm: FIRS. As a whole, yes. But there is Douglas, Fraser, Noble, Scotch Pine, and many many more...

Douglas Fir is known to give heartburn...

29. Sub contractors?: DELI'S. (Very cute...)

31. Swabbie pal: MATEY. This is cute too... 

Swabbie at 1st made me think of this guy,

Which had me imagining cotton ear swab imaginary friends,

But it was all just Sailors Jargon...

32. Chew like a beaver: GNAW.

33. Musical pause: REST.

34. Words of comprehension: I SEE.

35. High-end camera, for short: DSLR. Digital Single Lens Reflex.

37. Element of a Sun Salutation: YOGA POSE.

38. Property transfer need: DEED.

42. Border on: ABUT.

43. Cheeky: PERT.

44. Good, in Spanish: BUENO.

45. Pico de gallo ingredient: ONION. Turns out, onion is the only 5 letter ingredient. Unless you count "spice" as an optional ingredient, (Cumin, Black Pepper.) but of course, you would never use just one spice (singular). However, you could go all out, and add fruit! Fruit has 5 letters, (but which fruit...?)

46. In high spirits: MERRY.  Hmm, could you add Gin to Pico de gallo?

47. Waiting line: QUEUE. Hmm, if you tried the above at your next party, would your guest wait in line?

48. Not that: THIS. (Or the other thing...)

49. Units of electrical resistance: OHMS.

50. Ohio border lake: ERIE. 

I always think Ohio is where Illinois is...

51. Noisy car part: HORN. Unless your driving a piece of junk...

52. Column to the left of the decimal point: ONES.

53. "And __ off!": WERE. (This clue/answer is in the wrong place...)

55. Ending at, briefly: TIL. (Til we meet again...)

56. Cap: HAT. Yes, as a Noun, but if used as a verb...

And here's the Grid:

See you in the comments, I'm sure I must have left "something" out.

CE:D 

(•˕ •マ.ᐟ

Tuesday, April 7, 2026 Michael Hobin

Chop, Chop.  The first word of each theme answer describes a form of cutting.

3-Down. Yahtzee, craps, et al.: DICE GAMES.

9-Down. Mysterious designs in fields: CROP CIRCLES.

20-Down. Portable writing surface: CLIP BOARD.

23-Down. Fruit-filled breakfast treat: PRUNE DANISH.

And the unifier:

34-Down. On the next level, or what 3-, 9-, 20-, and 23-Down literally have: A CUT ABOVE.  Notice that each theme answer is in the Down position, thereby allowing that the "Cutting" word is "Above" the rest of the answer.

Here's the Grid:

Across:

1. "One last thing ... ": AND, ALSO ...

8. Gadget for a seafood chef: SCALER.  A fish scaler is a tool designed to remove inedible scales from fish while keeping the skin intact.  A good one will have a lid to contain the scales instead of making a mess on the table.

14. Chewy bits in some oatmeal cookies: RAISINS.  I would prefer chocolate chips in my cookies.

15. Estrogen, e.g.: HORMONE.

16. Noisy insects that emerge in summer: CICADAS.  There is a species of cicadas, known as periodical cicadas, that live underground for years, only to appear every 17-years, make loud noises, mate, then die.

17. Small crustaceans: ISOPODS.  Isopods are a diverse group of crustaceans, related to crabs and shrimp.  They have segmented bodies, a hard exoskeleton, and seven pairs of legs.  Some species can to roll into a ball for defense.  Not all isopods are small.  They can range in size from tiny to the giant deep-sea isopods, which can be over a foot long, and play important roles as scavengers in their ecosystems.

18. Luge, for one: SLED.

19. Get stuff ready for vacation: PACK UP.

21. Series of reps in the gym: SET.

22. Empty spaces: GAPS.

24. Sponged (off): LEECHED.

26. "__-ching!": CHA.

28. "Bohemian Rhapsody" Oscar winner Malek: RAMI.  Rami Said Malek (b. May 12, 1981) portrayed Queen lead singer, Freddie Mercury (né Farrokh Bulsara; Sept. 5, 1946 ~ Nov. 24, 1991), in the movie Bohemian Rhapsody.

30. "O Sole __": MIO.

31. Target: AIM.

32. Sch. that hosts the Sun Bowl: UTEP.  As in the University of Texas, El Paso.  Before becoming a part of the University of Texas System, the school, which was founded in 1913, was known as the   State School of Mines and Metallurgy.  Hence, the they are the Miners.

33. To-do list trip: ERRAND.

37. Fuss at the mirror: PREEN.

39. "Euphoria" cable network: HBO.  Home BoxOffice.

41. Chocolate source: CACAO.  Everything you ever wanted to know about cacao and chocolate but didn't know to ask.

42. Made a cozy home: NESTED.

44. Not written down, as a contract: ORAL.

46. Official who calls balls and strikes: UMP.

47. Laudatory poem: ODE.  These poems are crossword staples.

48. Ready, willing, and __: ABLE.

49. Driver's seat?: TEE.  Think golf.

50. Snack brand named for a Roman moon goddess: LUNA BAR.

53. Dept. of Labor div.: OSHA.  The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is a federal agency that ensures safe working conditions by setting standards and enforcing them.

55. Equinox mo.: SEP.  Equinoxes occur twice a year, in March (around the 20th–21st) and September (around the 22nd–23rd).  The equinox marks when the sun crosses the celestial equator, resulting in nearly equal day and night lengths all around the world.

56. Fool around (with): NOODLE.

58. Kimono sashes: OBIs.

61. Consider anew: RE-THINK.

63. Seasonal quaffs: EGG NOGS.

65. Awakens: AROUSES.

66. Take revenge: GET EVEN.

67. Electronic keyboards, informally: SYNTHS.

68. Appetizer-size burgers: SLIDERS.

Down:

1. Rainbow shapes: ARCS.

2. Get just right: NAIL.

4. Carne __ tacos: steak dish: ASADA.  Yummers!  Carne asada is a Mexican dish of marinated, grilled, and thinly sliced beef.

5. Tupperware top: LID.  In the mid-1940s, Earl Tupper (July 28, 1907 ~ October. 5, 1983) came up with a flexible and airtight polyethylene plastic containers, famously featuring a "burping" lid. In the 1950s, Tupperware parties were all the vogue.  It was a kitchen staple when I was growing up.  I may still have some my mother's Tupperware pieces/

6. Gets short with: SNAPS AT.

7. Mount of Greek myth: OSSA.  While it may be associated with Greek mythology, Mount Ossa, is a real mountain in Thessaly, Greece. 

8. Offender's defiant challenge: SO SUE ME.

10. Concert device: AMP.

11. Start to change?: LOOSE.

12. Came to a stop: ENDED.

13. Sit for a spell: REST.

15. Long walk: HIKE.

25. Jewish wedding dance: HORA.

26. Crunch's rank in the cereal aisle: CAP'N.  Cap'n Crunch has been around since the early 1960s.

27. Fill a job opening: HIRE.

29. "It's alright, I suppose": MEH.

35. First entry on many a form: NAME.

36. Suss (out), informally: DOPE.

38. School attended by many English statesmen: ETON.  Prince William (b. June 21, 1982) and Eddie Redmayne (b. Jan. 6, 1982) were classmates at Eaton.

40. Poetic sphere: ORB.

43. Fillets, as a flounder: DEBONES.

45. Soothing balm for a sunburn: ALOE GEL.

50. Suspicious (of): LEERY.

51. "The Jungle" writer Sinclair: UPTON.  The Jungle is a novel that exposed the harsh realities of immigrant life and labor in Chicago's meatpacking industry.  The 1906 novel was instrumental in Congress passing the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act of 1906.  Many books by Upton Sinclair (né Upton Beall Sinclair Jr.; b. Sept. 20, 1878 ~ Nov. 25, 1968) focused on social reform literature.  He was considered a muckraker journalist and political activist.  His novel Oil! is as relevant today as it was when it was first published in 1926.

52. NASA go-aheads: A-OKs.  NASA gave Artemis II the go-ahead just last week.

54. Made sharper: HONED.

55. Sp. titles: SRAs.  Today's Spanish lesson.

57. Staying power: LEGS.

59. Disney CEO before D'Amaro: IGER.  Just last month, Josh D'Amaro (b. Feb. 10, 1971) became the CEO of Disney.  His predecessor was Robert Alan Iger (b. Feb. 10, 1951).  Interestingly, Bob Iger is exactly 20 years older than Josh D'Amaro.

60. Hyphenated personal IDs: SSNs.  As in Social Security Numbers.

62. Crude dwelling: HUT.

64. VW hatchback: GTI.  GTI stands Grand Touring Injection.  It refers to a performance-oriented, fuel-injected car, famously utilized by Volkswagen since the to signify a fast, practical "hot hatch" suitable for long-distance driving.

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