Theme: "A.I. APPLICATIONS" - I is replaced by AI in each common phrase.
23. Concern over travel plans to Portland, Oregon?: THAT'S NOT MAINE. That's not mine.
39. Tumbler that needs a deep clean?: TAINTED GLASS. Tinted glass.
45. Gets design help from an M.C. Escher-loving architect?: GOES STAIR CRAZY. Goes stir-crazy.
63. Warning about interns hired every spring?: BEWARE THE AIDES OF MARCH. Beware of the Ides of March.
83. Talk into a pay hike?: GET A RAISE OUT OF. Get a rise out of.
91. Jewelry store section for May birthday gifts?: EMERALD AISLE. Emerald Isle.
111. Was a complete disappointment as a nanny?: FAILED CHARGES. Filed charges.
So this isn't simply an A-addition theme. A is inserted immediately before an I in each phrase, turning I into AI. Great title.
Here's Brian's info on the two constructors from his recap of their last puzzle: "Betsy Ochester writes books for children, including over 100 published puzzle books. Andrew Gutelle is also a prolific children's author, with puzzle books among his many published titles. They have collaborated on a few of these books."
Congratulations on your first Sunday, Betsy and Andrew!
Across:
1. L'Oreal's Telescopic, e.g.: MASCARA. I don't wear mascaras.
8. Stanley of "The Devil Wears Prada 2": TUCCI. Loved his "Big Night".
13. Beehive sound: HUM.
16. Short filmmaker?: CAM. Short indicates a "shortened" answer. Camera.
19. Make like: ACT AS IF.
20. Tea region of India: ASSAM. Black tea.
21. Run: OPERATE.
25. Souvenir shop items: T SHIRTS. 11. Deliverer of 25-Across, at times: CANNON.
26. Align, as devices: SYNC.
27. Not all, but not none: SOME.
28. South Pacific nation now known as the Republic of Naoero: NAURU. Very updated clue. On 6/26/2026, Nauru informed the UN that it had changed its official name to the Republic of Naoero.
30. Activewear brand: AVIA.
31. Helps with a job, say: ABETS.
33. Name on a stadium, often: SPONSOR.
35. Gumshoes: TECS. Detectives.
36. Song that tells a story: BALLAD.
41. Leaning: ATILT.
42. Social app with a synagogue directory: JDATE. Can't use "Dating app" as DATE is in the answer.
44. Italian six: SEI.
50. King with a golden touch: MIDAS.
55. Texting tech: SMS. Short Message Service.
56. Quarter: FOURTH.
57. Fire up, as an engine: REV.
58. Dress top: BODICE.
59. Mass. neighbor: CONN.
60. "Copy what I'm doing": LIKE ME.
62. High-end Italian shoe brand: TOD'S. Not named after anyone. It's simply a made-up name.
70. Actor Guinness: ALEC.
71. Takes by force: USURPS.
72. "Walkabout" director Nicolas: ROEG. He also directed "The Man Who Fell to Earth".
73. Nicki Minaj genre: HIP-HOP. And 91. Moody 73-Across subgenre: EMO RAP.
75. Long of "Michael": NIA.
76. Loud weather event, briefly: T-STORM.
79. Sparky the Sun Devil's sch.: ASU.
82. Carried: TOTED.
86. Celestial body: ORB.
89. Heart throb?: PULSE. Great clue.
90. 101-level course: INTRO.
97. Generates a hard copy of: PRINTS.
98. MC alternative: AMEX. Mastercard.
99. Pro-am, for one: TOURNEY.
100. Last word: SAY-SO.
102. Maki roll wrap: NORI. Maki means "to roll".
103. Clue board areas: ROOMS.
104. Bit of reality: FACT.
105. "Blame It on the Bossa __": NOVA.
109. "The Firm" novelist: GRISHAM (John)
115. Pie crust pattern: LATTICE.
116. Get the knots out?: UNTIE.
117. "Erin Brockovich" Oscar winner: ROBERTS (Julia)
118. Shortish albums: EPS.
119. "Chopped" host Allen: TED.
120. Goes first: LEADS.
121. Three-syllable poetic foot: ANAPEST. It consists of two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed one.
Down:
1. Yoga surfaces: MATS.
2. Sore: ACHY.
3. Comics icon Lee: STAN.
4. Jeers: CATCALLS.
5. Burro: ASS.
6. Ran the hose over, say: RINSED.
7. In development, quaintly: AFOOT.
8. Like pet dogs: TAME.
9. Katie Ledecky's Olympic team: Abbr.: USA. She'll win the the 1500-meter in 2028.
10. Forensic drama franchise: CSI.
12. "To be clear ... ": I MEANT.
13. Dragsters: HOT RODS.
14. Sudden rise: UPSURGE.
15. So-so: MEH.
16. Sculpts: CARVES.
17. Some creepy stories: ATTICS. "Stories" as in levels, not tales.
18. Small plateaus: MESAS.
22. Vaquero's lasso: RIATA.
24. Co.'s protected symbols: TMS. Trademarks.
29. Put into practice: USE.
32. Takes the place of: BATS FOR.
33. Louis Armstrong nickname: SATCH. Or Satchmo. Boomer loved "Good Morning, Vietnam" and often imitated Armstrong's gravelly voice singing "What a Wonderful World."
34. Docking station: PIER.
36. Bases, in baseball slang: BAGS.
37. Tiny particle: ATOM.
38. "You made all of that up!": LIES.
39. Small fruit pie: TART.
40. Long ride, for short: LIMO.
42. Excursions: JAUNTS.
43. SSE or NNW: DIR.
46. Get in shape: TONE UP.
47. Extremely dry: ARID.
48. "The Wizard of Oz" farmhand: ZEKE. Cowardly Lion's Kansas counterpart. Played by Bert Lahr.
49. First name in haute couture: YVES. 52. Last name in haute couture: DIOR.
51. Collar attachment: ID TAG.
53. "Highway to Hell" band: AC DC.
54. Meeting, casually: SESH.
58. Previously: BEFORE.
59. Private supply: CACHE.
60. Fleur-de-__: LIS.
61. Gloomy: MOROSE.
63. Thai currency: BAHT.
64. Pixar film featuring a supercomputer named Ooooo: ELIO.
65. Cried: WEPT.
66. Like museum paintings: HUNG.
67. Cedar Point lake: ERIE.
68. "Give yourself __ on the back!": A PAT.
69. Autobiographies: MEMOIRS.
74. Aroma: ODOR.
76. Sincerely: TRULY.
77. Prime Day event: SALE. There's another Prime Day next month.
78. Taylor Swift's "__ the Damn Season": TIS.
79. Memo abbr.: ATTN.
80. Kind: SORT.
81. Airborne mysteries: UFOS.
84. Church recess: APSE.
85. Local labor leader: UNION REP.
87. Daily grind: RAT RACE.
88. Opened, in a way: BLOOMED. I can't wait for my peonies to bloom next year. They were sulking this year.
92. Deserves: MERITS.
93. Be real: EXIST.
94. Bert and Ernie, e.g.: DUO.
95. Carrying capacity: ARMFUL.
96. Ridiculously high-risk, as a scheme: INSANE.
97. Programming language with a reptilian name: PYTHON.
98. Hidden motive: ANGLE.
100. Gloomy: SAD.
101. West African capital: ACCRA. Capital of Ghana. Have any of you tried African chicken peanut stew? I thinks it's of Ghana origin.
104. Membership dues, e.g.: FEES.
106. Nasty sort: OGRE.
107. Dog docs: VETS.
108. Little help?: ASST.
110. Billboard success: HIT.
112. "Give __ rest!": IT A.
113. Pot top: LID.
114. Legal org.: ABA.
C.C.
