L.A.Times Crossword Corner

May 26, 2026

Tuesday, May 26, 2026 ~ Stella Zawistowski

It's Taco Tuesday!

Hi All!
First, the elephant in the room: circles vs. no circles. Personally, I don't care.
Or, as DW told the Girls when they were little, "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit."

If you've ever attempted Stella's Saturday puzzles, you know she doesn't go easy on the solver. There's one or two "This is a Tuesday?"s in today's, but overall she constructed a smooth, light on the A&E, and cruft-free grid with a bit of crunch.

So, let's grab a tortilla, toss in some carne, onion, & cilantro and take a stroll.

Fajita beef, onion, & cilantro breakfast taco.

17. Toyota pickup since 1995: TACOMA TRUCK.

Rear view of the 2025 model

26. Sarcastic "Great idea!": WHAT A CONCEPT. Not!

45. Requires sacrifice to achieve: COMES AT A COST.

61. Portable Tex-Mex snack, or a progression depicted in this puzzle: WALKING TACO.

Get it? The [circled] TACO "walks" from left to right in the grid. Cute.

Er, more like a stumbling TACO
after leaving the pub :-)

Across:

1. Treadmill settings: PACES. ??? All my treadmill says is "speed" and "incline."

6. Learn to fit in: ADAPT. Adjust, ADAPT, Overcome.

11. Fuel for some stoves: GAS. I've got a glass cooktop. You?

14. Enticing scent: AROMA.

15. Brings to the ground: RAZES.

16. "How We Do (Party)" singer Rita: ORA.

Not my cuppa, but you might like it.

17. [See: Theme]

19. Decimal base: TEN. As a child of the '70's, I got the experimental "new math" and the metric system (this was in '77 through '80 (?)). However, both came in quite handy whilst pursing degrees in EE & CS [#6d_STEAM - I married for the Arts :-) ] .

20. "Rooster" network: HBO. Home Box Office. I'd not known of this show but, from the trailer, it looks good.

21. Coin slot directive: INSERT.

Donkey Kong's Directive

22. Bullfrog relative: TOAD.

23. Ironman race, for short: TRI. TRIathlon.

24. "Well, sort of": ISH.

26. [See: Theme]

32. Pre-1917 Russian ruler: TSAR.

34. Molecule part: ATOM.

35. Land parcels: ACRES.

37. Pancake topper: SYRUP. Here's my go-to from grocer H-E-B.

I'm a sucker for cute packaging :-)

39. Take legal action against: SUE.

40. Large herbivore in India's Kaziranga National Park: RHINO.

This Rhino's in Oregon's Zoo.

41. "Cowboy Bebop" genre: ANIME. With a perp & an educated guess...

42. "Logically, this means ... ": ERGO. #Latin

44. "Toy Story" boy: ANDY.

Fun Fact: On Buzz Lightyear's boot,
Andy's N is not written backwards [cite].

45. [See: Theme]

48. Brian of Roxy Music: ENO.

Brian Eno was commissioned by Microsoft for Win95's 3.25 second
startup sound that he composed it on his Mac.

49. Before, in classic ballads: ERE.

50. Confident and courageous: BOLD.

53. Rum cocktail: MAI TAI. A recipe.

57. Embrace: HUG.

60. Cry of realization: AHA.

61. [See: Theme]

63. Grab a chair: SIT.

64. Common feature of flannel shirts: PLAID.

For the fans like me: Python's Lumberjack Song

65. Volunteer's offer: I WILL.

66. Earth-turning tool: HOE.

67. Actress/writer Kaling: MINDY. I would have known "Mork's friend" who, according to WikiP, Kaling was named after.

Mindy Kaling

68. Vanlifer, for one: NOMAD. Not sure that Matt Foley was considered a nomad :-)

Down:

1. Hiker's trail: PATH.

2. Many a Yemeni: ARAB.

3. Pixar film set in Mexico: COCO.

Coco's Trailer

4. Punk subgenre: EMO.

5. Wiley of "The Handmaid's Tale": SAMIRA. You say so...

6. The "A" of STEAM: ARTS. Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Maths.

7. Truth or __: DARE.

8. C te d'__, France: AZUR.

9. Substance that makes jelly gel: PECTIN.

10. "You should know better!": TSK.

11. Favorite choice: GO-TO.

12. District: AREA.

13. Temporary castle material: SAND.

Here's some more really cool ephemeral sculptures..

18. Maria's friend in "West Side Story": ANITA.

22. TV quiz show with Cash Builder rounds: THE CHASE. No clue. A few Googles later I learned that this is another US import of a UK game show. Here's the US trailer...

23. Played monotonously: THRUMMED.

25. Surgical memento: SCAR.

26. Nintendo character in purple overalls: WARIO. On autopilot, I first ink'd mARIO.

27. Completely lost: AT SEA.

28. Tennis venue: COURT.

29. Last Greek letter: OMEGA.

30. "Read the fine __": PRINT.

31. Care for: TEND.

32. Airport org. with wands: TSA.

33. Match, as a laptop and the cloud: SYNC.

36. Tofu base: SOY.

38. Part of a hammer: PEEN.

43. Bounding main: OCEAN.

46. Mogadishu native: SOMALI.

47. Starting point: ORIGIN.

50. Wild party: BASH.

51. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's state: OHIO. DJ Donna Halper introduced RUSH to the US when she played Working Man on Cleveland, OHIO's WMMS.

Crossword's fav architect, I.M. Pei (and Co.), designed the RRHOF.

52. Not on time: LATE.

54. Astronaut Shepard: ALAN. Husker Gary, can you hit the ball "Miles and miles and miles"?

Alan Shepard slices it ;-)

55. "Just joking!": I KID.

56. In apple-pie order: TIDY.

57. Pop band with sisters Este, Danielle, and Alana: HAIM.

58. Home of the NCAA's Bruins: UCLA.

59. Top Olympic prize: GOLD.

61. Typist's stat: WPM. Words Per Minute. With copious use of the backspace key, I get about 42 wpm.

62. "It takes __ to tango": TWO.

The Grid:

The Grid

My solve:
WO: mARIO -> WARIO
ESPs: ORA, ANIME (as clued), MINDY, SAMIRA, HAIM
Fav: SUE x-ing COURT made me chortle.

Cheers, -T

Most every workday am, I get breakfast tacos
from Moderno's across from the office *chef's kiss*.

May 25, 2026

Monday, May 25, 2026, Janice Luttrell

Theme: Snail mail.

Crossword constructor Janice Luttrell regularly brightens up our Monday mornings. In today's puzzle, Janice has four symmetrically placed theme entries (the last of which is the reveal) with subtly disguised references to items one sends in the mail.

The theme entries are:

20-Across. Metaphor for a plan that may collapse at any moment: HOUSE OF CARDS.

27-Across. Empire State NFL team: BUFFALO BILLS.

44-Across. Features of easy-to-read signs: BLOCK LETTERS.

52-Across. Stack heading to the post office, or what 20-, 27-, and 44-Across all have?: OUTGOING MAIL.

Oh, how we oldsters used to enjoy receiving CARDS and LETTERS in the MAIL! No one enjoyed receiving BILLS, but it beat getting notices of payment due via email, and navigating endless payment portals. We even sent snail mail to our nearest and dearest to share thoughts and feelings, and to brighten their days. Well, it's time to pick up the pace. Not everyone here is as ancient as yours truly.

Across:

1. Sweeties: DEARS.

6. "Gimme a break!": C'MON.

10. Like Supreme Court arguments: ORAL.

14. Sight-related: OPTIC.

15. Tick off: RILE.

16. Item in a hotel closet: ROBE. Might have been a SAFE, but it wasn't.

17. One thumbing for a ride: HITCHHIKER. Prior to our marriage in the mid 1970s, my ex was a hitchhiker. During our marriage, he picked up hitchhikers. It was part of his hippie ethos. We were a mismatch, but remained HITCHed for 23 years.

Ex was taller, but otherwise, this coulda been him.
I don't know who *she* is!

19. Mother Earth, in Greek myth: GAIA. In Greek mythology, Gaia (or Gaea) is the personification of Earth. She is the mother of Uranus (Sky), as well as of Pontus (Sea).

Uranus and Gaia

20. [Theme entry]

22. From __ Z: A TO.

25. Inc. kin: LLC.

26. Phase one: ONSET.

27. [Theme entry]

32. Chapel centerpiece: ALTAR.

33. Dishwasher capacity: LOAD.

34. Pop-ups in a free game: ADS. Online games, and phone apps, show you ads unless you pay for a subscription.

37. Snow toy with runners: SLED.

38. Shapewear company founded in 2000: SPANX.

40. "In __ of gifts ... ": LIEU.

41. Cornish game __: HEN.

42. "__ go bragh!": ERIN. Erin go Bragh is the English spelling of an Irish language phrase, Éirinn go Brách, and is used to express allegiance to Ireland. It is most often translated as "Ireland Forever."

43. Agreed (with): SIDED.

44. [Theme entry]

47. Insurance filing: CLAIM.

50. "There you __!": ARE.

51. Susan of "L.A. Law": DEY. Susan Dey is a retired actress, known for her roles as Laurie Partridge on The Partridge Family from 1970 to 1974, and as Grace Van Owen on L.A. Law from 1986 to 1992. She won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama Series for L.A. Law in 1988.

Susan Dey

52. [Theme entry]

57. Edinburgh resident: SCOT.

58. Rats out one's co-conspirators, say: NAMES NAMES.

62. Former Yankee slugger Martinez: TINO. Constantino "Tino" Martinez is a former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball for the Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays from 1990 through 2005.

"Tino" Martinez, 1998

63. Health resorts: SPAS.

64. The Met Gala, e.g.: EVENT.

65. Spread slowly: SEEP.

66. Org. with a white rabbit in its logo: PETA. PETA is People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Their attention grabbing tactics have gone a long way toward popularizing concern for the treatment of animal companions, and of animals used for food and for scientific research.

67. Patinkin of "Homeland": MANDY. Mandy Patinkin has enjoyed a long career in musical theater, television, and film. He played Che in the first Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita (1979), earning a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. He won the Emmy for Outstanding Leading Actor in a Drama Series for Chicago Hope in 1995. And among his many film roles, he played Inigo Montoya in The Princess Bride (1987).

Mandy Patinkin in The Princess Bride.

Down:

1. Play-__: Hasbro toy clay: DOH.

2. Allergist's lead-in to Pen: EPI. EpiPen is a brand name for an auto-injector device containing epinephrine (adrenaline) used for emergency treatment of life-threatening allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). It works by quickly opening airways, raising blood pressure, and reducing swelling.

3. QB passing stat: ATT. In football statistics, ATT stands for "Attempts," referring to the number of passes a quarterback (QB) throws, or the number of carries a running back makes.

4. Like a billionaire: RICH.

5. Intellectual: SCHOLAR. According to Wikipedia, an intellectual is a person who engages in critical thinking, research, and reflection about the nature of reality, especially the nature of society, and proposed solutions for its problems. Coming from the world of culture, the intellectual participates in politics and defends a system of values. So ... SCHOLAR is a little narrow as a definition, but I think Wikipedia's definition is a little broad. Do all intellectuals propound their viewpoints publicly?

6. Butter substitute, in some recipes: CRISCO.

7. Angels outfielder Trout: MIKE. Mike Trout is a professional baseball outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball. He is an 11-time All-Star, three-time American League MVP, and 9-time winner of the Silver Slugger Award. He captained the United States national team during the 2023 World Baseball Classic and was named to the All-WBC Team. He is regarded by many as the best baseball player of his generation and one of the greatest players in baseball history.

Mike Trout

8. Butter substitute: OLEO.

9. Backyard water fight brand: NERF.

10. Instruments with many pipes: ORGANS.

11. Laughs noisily: ROARS.

12. Endure: ABIDE.

13. "That's the __ of my worries": LEAST.

18. Ship's framework: HULL.

21. Frosty: COLD.

22. Embarrass: ABASH.

23. Bridal veil netting: TULLE. Tulle is a sheer netting fabric with a hexagonal mesh pattern.

Tulle

24. Frequently: OFTEN.

28. Passing trend: FAD.

29. Like a brand-new canvas: BLANK.

30. Lithium-__ battery: ION.

31. Hardly strict: LAX.

34. Supported: AIDED.

35. Name on much farm equipment: DEERE.

36. Foamy, as soap: SUDSY.

38. B'way sign: SRO. Broadway sign: Standing Room Only.

39. Insta post: PIC. On the social media app INSTAgram, most posts are PICtures or reels (short videos) with commentary.

40. Held a match to: LIT.

42. Ticklish Muppet: ELMO.

43. Women's Media Center co-founder Gloria: STEINEM. Gloria Steinem is an American journalist and activist who emerged as a feminist leader in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Steinem was a columnist for New York magazine and a co-founder of Ms. magazine. She co-founded the National Women's Political Caucus, the Women's Action Alliance, and the Women's Media Center.

Gloria Steinem and Dorothy Pitman Hughes,
co-founders of Ms. magazine, 1971

44. Three-ring circus setting: BIG TOP.

45. San Diego suburb whose name means "the table": LA MESA.

46. Historic stretches: ERAS.

47. Expenditures: COSTS.

48. Port St. __, Florida: LUCIE. This reviewer was ignorant of the existence of Port St. Lucie (the sixth most populous city in Florida), and it crossed in the grid with TINO Martinez, who was unknown to me, so I had make a bit of a WAG (wild ass guess) there, but it wasn't difficult.

The dart marks Port St. Lucie on the map

49. Make amends: ATONE.

53. Clouseau or Gadget's rank, briefly: INSP. Inspector.

54. Sensitive neck part: NAPE.

55. MBA hopeful's exam: GMAT. Graduate Management Admission Test.

56. Volcanic flow: LAVA.

59. Guys: MEN.

60. Conclusion: END.

61. Hog farm pen: STY.

Here's the grid:

Dear Solvers,

Did this puzzle RILE you up, taunting you with BLANK spaces?

Or were you AIDED by perpendicular entries?

Can you CLAIM to have FIR (finished it right)?

Let us know in the comments!

Fondly,

NaomiZ

May 24, 2026

Sunday May 24, 2026 Zachary Gallardo & Joe Marquez

Theme: "TRACK RECORDS" - Each theme entry is a song title re-imagined as a different kind of "record".

24. Permanent record?: TOGETHER FOREVER.

32. Criminal record?: MACK THE KNIFE.

51. Historical record?: BACK IN THE USSR.

71. World record?: HEAVEN IS A PLACE ON EARTH.

85. Broken record?: I FALL TO PIECES.

108. Medical record?: LIKE A SURGEON.

116. Fossil record?: WALK THE DINOSAUR.

This type of theme may look simple on the surface, but it's actually quite restrictive. The entries all have to be recognizable song titles, the [? record"] phrases must be solid in the language, and each answer has to match the first word of the clue.

This is the LAT debut for Zachary Gallardo and Joe's first Sunday. Congrats to both!

Across:

1. Costco rival, informally: SAM'S. Any of you are Costco members? There fresh coconuts are so good.

5. Undergrad lecturer: PROF.

9. Morehouse, for one: Abbr.: HBCU. Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

13. Mix, as a salad: TOSS. And 23. Grocery section: AISLE.

17. Plop (down): PLUNK.

19. iPad assistant: SIRI.

20. Word of sorrow: ALAS.

21. Sign into law: ENACT.

27. Goddess often depicted with a throne headdress: ISIS.

29. __ nouveau: ART.

30. Megacity of India: DELHI.

31. "__ news?": ANY.

37. Asides: TANGENTS.

39. Marvel's Punisher, for one: ANTI-HERO. Flawed protagonist. We also have 98. Attractive guy in Marvel Comics?: MAGNETO.

40. Beltway Series ballplayer, familiarly: NAT.

42. Mesh on a field: GOAL NET.

43. Comb target: KNOT.

44. Community of flora and fauna: BIOME.

47. Gender prefix: CIS.

49. Places where forks may be found?: ROADS. Fork in the road.

50. Terse confirmation: I AM.

55. Thumbs-up vote: YEA.

57. Shahidi of "Black-ish": YARA. She was born in Minneapolis.

58. Jedi foe: SITH.

59. Curly coif: AFRO.

63. High-level perfidy: TREASON.

67. Mineral once used in baby powder: TALC.

69. Also: TOO.

70. Honeylike substances: GOOS.

75. Memo heading: IN RE.

76. Portuguese "Hello": OLA.

77. Newcastle upon __: TYNE.

78. Vampire squid's habitat: DEEP SEA.

79. Largest loch by volume: NESS. Fresh clue angle.

80. Pancake recipe instruction: FLIP. And 97. No longer on the table?: EATEN.

82. "Not one more step!": HALT.

84. Astrological big cat: LEO.

89. Jun. and Jul.: MOS.

92. Valuable violin: STRAD.

96. WNBA great Bird: SUE. She and Megan Rapinoe recently announced their split.

98. For a __ pittance: MERE.

99. Springsteen, to fans: THE BOSS.

102. Fuming: MAD.

104. Namesake of the AL batting title: ROD CAREW. He bowled in Boomer's league for a while.

106. Assessed anew: REVALUED.

111. Have a life: ARE.

112. Harsh in one's nose: ACRID.

114. LBJ's party: DEM.

115. __ colada: PINA.

121. Outdoes: BESTS.

124. Asparagus unit: SPEAR.

125. Totenberg of NPR: NINA. NPR's longtime legal affairs correspondent.

126. Use a mountain trail: HIKE.

127. Squirrel away: STORE.

128. Annual: Abbr.: YRLY.

129. Site with handmade goods: ETSY.

130. Longtime "Jeopardy!" host Trebek: ALEX.

131. Black gem: ONYX.

Down:

1. Mud bath venue: SPA.

2. "True Detective" actor Mahershala: ALI.

3. "Just the news I needed!": MUSIC TO MY EARS. 60. "Not sure why, but ... ": FOR SOME REASON. Stunning pair of 13's.

4. TV sketch featuring Chloe Fineman or Colin Jost: SNL SKIT.

5. Vancouver hrs.: PST.

6. Copacabana setting: RIO.

7. Church pipes: ORGAN.

8. Guy who hosts Food Network's "Tournament of Champions": FIERI.

9. "Take that!": HAH.

10. Changed the laundry?: BLED. Cute clue referring to colors bleeding in the wash.

11. Shift+6 symbol: CARET.

12. Old Glory: US FLAG.

13. "Young Frankenstein" actress: TERI GARR.

14. Pacific Coast Highway's route number: ONE.

15. African grassland: SAVANNA.

16. Like many shampoos: SCENTED.

18. "We the Youth" muralist Haring: KEITH. The mural is in Philadelphia.

22. Secret assignations: TRYSTS.

25. "L8r g8r!": TTFN.

26. "That's bad!": OH NO.

28. Fancy Feast alternative: SHEBA.

32. Sushi roll type: MAKI.

33. Ballerina Pavlova: ANNA.

34. Writer/illustrator Carle: ERIC. "The Very Hungry Caterpillar".

35. Outlandish: KOOKY.

36. Per person: EACH.

38. Jeff Lynne's band: ELO.

41. Links: TIES.

45. Sporty Mazda model: MIATA.

46. Utterly captivated: ENRAPT.

48. Honeymoon booking: SUITE.

51. Clear nail polish, say: BASE.

52. Hunting cry: TALLY-HO.

53. Got up: STOOD.

54. Gave an impressive performance: SHONE.

56. Nesting sites: EAVES.

59. Slack-jawed: AGAPE.

61. Memorization method: ROTE.

62. Dept. of Labor div.: OSHA.

63. Out of __ air: THIN.

64. Philosopher Descartes: RENE.

65. Switch type: ON/OFF.

66. Wafer name since 1967: NILLA. And 68. Party nibble: CANAPE. Plenty of food in this grid.

72. Moves with the wind: SAILS.

73. Singer Cruz known as the "Queen of Salsa": CELIA.

74. Unadon fillets: EELS. Unadon is short for unagi donburi, literally "eel bowl".

81. Fruit that may be crossed with apricot: PLUM. Pluot.

83. Aquarium fish: TETRA.

85. Religious devotion to an object: IDOLATRY.

86. Jacksonville Jaguars color: TEAL.

87. Corp. bigwigs: CEOS.

88. Turn out to be: END UP.

90. Treat with vanilla creme: OREO.

91. Stitched: SEWN.

92. Grasp at __: STRAWS.

93. Remedial treatment: THERAPY.

94. Mardi Gras merrymaker: REVELER.

95. Gp. of lawyers: ABA.

100. "No __ luck!": SUCH.

101. Tranquil: SERENE.

103. Carthaginian queen in Virgil's "Aeneid": DIDO. Aeneas eventually deserted her.

105. Mobile homes?: CRIBS. Fun clue.

107. "All finished!": DID IT.

109. "Praying" singer: KESHA.

110. Part of a thread: EMAIL.

113. Rackets: DINS.

117. Actor Penn: KAL.

118. Thumbs-down vote: NAY.

119. Hawaiian chordophone, for short: UKE.

120. Film critic Reed: REX.

122. Push to the limit: TRY.

123. "Kama Sutra" topic: SEX.

C.C.

May 23, 2026

Saturday, May 23, 2026, Rafael Musa

Saturday Themeless by Rafael Musa

Rafa, a software engineer for Airbnb in San Francisco. is a frequent constructor and collaborator.

Across:

1. Sudoku diagrams: GRIDS.

6. Snap: PIC.

9. Rib: TEASE.

14. Iconic part of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird": OUTRO - Song beginning: Intro :: Song ending : OUTRO. Depending on the tempo, the OUTRO lasts about half as long as the entire 9 minute song.

15. Admirable sorts: CLASS ACTS - There's this blogmistress in Minneapolis I know...

17. Piano part: PEDAL.

18. Store for a little while?: POPUP SHOP.

19. "La Classe de Danse" painter: DEGAS - Even I can translate this title

21. Tale designed to tug at one's heartstrings: SOB STORY.

22. Parade locale since 1890: PASEDENA

24. Approves: OKS.

25. Seuss character who lives in a pond on Sala-ma-sond island: YERTLE.

26. Greek goddess of discord: ERIS.

29. "Use your inside voice": DON'T YELL.

31. Challenging direction to sail: UPWIND.

35. __ Bauer: EDDIE - Not a chance for Hank

36. Not well: ILL.

38. Cartoon hero with a blond bob: HE-MAN.

39. Hudson Valley college chartered by a brewer in 1861: VASSAR.

41. "Hola" follower, perhaps: COMO ESTA.

43. "__ bon!": TRES.

45. Packaged meals that might contain tamagoyaki: BENTOS.

46. Big Mac rivals?: PCS. 😊

49. Requirements for some brick buildings: LEGO SETS - This LEGO SET has a titanic price of $929.

51. Water wings?: SEA PLANE 😀

54. "The Social Network" Oscar winner Sorkin: AARON.

56. Urban prowlers: ALLEY CATS.

58. Jeopardy: PERIL.

60. Small digit: LITTLE TOE. 😀

61. Outerwear option: PARKA.

62. Shot not allowed in some pool halls: MASSE.

63. Chemistry suffix: ENE.

64. Warm compress targets: STYES - _ _ _ E S was not ACHES

Down:

1. RNC group: GOP.

2. Wished undone: RUED.

3. "Maybe": IT DEPENDS.

4. Queen, maybe: DRAG ARTIST.

5. Way out?: SO LAST YEAR.

6. Main doc: PCP.

7. Words of resignation: I LOSE.

8. Graham's "Boardwalk Empire" role: CAPONE.

Al CAPONE Stephen Graham

9. Qt.'s 192: TSPS.

10. Right way?: EAST - On a map

11. Sound before some blessings: ACHOO 😀

12. Wading bird that communicates with bill clattering: STORK An annoying 25 second example

13. Awards for top plays: ESPYS - Last year it was Saquon Barkley's hurdle effort.

16. Car company that hosts Share the Love community events: SUBARU.

20. Counter offer?: SALE 😀

23. Spot with a sandwich board: DELI.

25. Jedi of Dagobah: YODA.

27. Safari and others: IPHONE APPS - I use the Safari browser on my MacBook and iPhone

28. Pick-me-up indulgence: SWEET TREAT.

29. Coder, colloquially: DEV - Isn't it obvi? Totes adorb!