Happy Monday, everyone! This is Keegan Edgar's second LAT puzzle. His debut was on Feburary 6, 2025. Today's theme is:
We will begin with the four fin-tastic themers:
17 Across. Hangout with ramps and rails for boarders and bladers: SKATE PARK. I liked the bit of misdirection with hangout the noun versus hang out the verb. In this case, it is the place where skateboarders and rollerbladers can practice their tricks. 
23 Across. Exclamation of surprise: HOLY MACKEREL. This phrase goes back at least 200 years. It likely originated as a minced oath, substituting mackerel for "Mary" or the archangel "Michael". 
46 Across. Diving stance with bent hips and straight legs: PIKE POSITION. 
57 Across. A-OK: HUNKY-DORY. This slang expression means "everything is quite satisfactory". It is believed to have Dutch origins and was first spotted in English in the mid-1800s.
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| (I get those mixed up but I think this mnemonic will help now.) |
The reveal spans the equator:
36 Across. "This doesn't seem right," or what can be said about 17-, 23-, 46-, and 57-Across: SOMETHING'S FISHY. 
In case you have not yet smelt the gimmick, there are four types of fish hidden in the themed answers, making them FISHY.
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| (clockwise from top-left) skate, mackerel, dory and pike |
This puzzle earns a gold-starfish for its separation between the themed answers and the reveal. Additionally, note the alternating pattern of the fish word placement. Well done, Keegan! No trout about it!
Now, let's see what other clues we can catch....
Across:
5. Not doing anything: IDLE. not the same as snoozing
9. Data on baseball cards: STATS. CSO to our former Monday sherpa, Boomer.
14. Consumes a 15-Across: EATS. and ↙
15. Lunch or dinner: MEAL.
16. Cockpit figure: PILOT. One of the noun definitions for figure is "bodily shape or form especially of a person".
20. Nine-digit ID: SSN.
21. Hard drive capacity prefix: TERA-. If you are truly curious, this article explains the basics.
22. Gemstone with colored stripes: AGATE. all about AGATE
26. British nobles with low ranking: BARONS. By comparison, Lord Grantham of Downton Abbey was two steps up: Earl.
29. Scottish gal: LASS. Have you heard of Ally Crowley-Duncan, aka Ally the Piper? She was a guest on WWDTM a while back. Ally was born in Latham, New York in 1995. She is known for playing songs from rock, pop, and metal music on the bagpipes. Although she is not from Scotland, her piper skills surely give her LASS cred. In this video, she plays The Session, the title track from her 2025 album. 30. Grows older: AGES. 
31. __ pie: dish with corn chips: FRITO.
33. Tennis server's success: ACE. An ACE is a legal serve that is not touched by the receiver, winning the point for the server.
40. Self-image: EGO.
41. Aired again: RERAN. Think "old TV shows".
42. __-Ball: target game in arcades: SKEE.
43. Add to the payroll: HIRE.
44. Places for bracelets: WRISTS. "Ankles" was too long.
51. Actress Tatum: O'NEAL. [b. November 5, 1963] Tablet claims her father Ryan named his daughter after the jazz pianist Art Tatum. source
52. Convent residents: NUNS. CSO to Lucina!
53. Spot for a facial: SPA.
56. Blue-gray color: SLATE.
59. Guiding principle: TENET.
60. Length x width: AREA.
61. Sunburn-soothing succulent: ALOE. 
62. Small earrings: STUDS. Basically, they are earrings that do not hang down past the lobe.
63. Trial run: TEST.
64. Archery items: BOWS. "Arrows" was too long.
Down:
31. "Little __ Everywhere": Celeste Ng novel: FIRES. goodreads link
32. Genetic messenger molecule: RNA.
33. Queries: ASKS.
34. NBA player Holmgren: CHET. [b. 2002 in Minneapolis, MN] He plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
35. Potato spots: EYES. I always thought they were poisonous if ingested but the Idaho Potato Commission says otherwise. Nevertheless, do not take my word for it! Do your own research.
37. Three siblings with the same birthday: TRIPLETS. This cute clue deserves a cute image.
38. One saving the day: HERO.
39. "The proof __ the pudding": IS IN. M-W explains this idiom
43. Like a sauna: HEATED.
44. Reassure that one's joking, in a way: WINK AT. 😉
45. Like pink cheeks: ROSY.
46. Sends with a stamp: POSTS. To POST a letter is to mail a letter.
47. Small bay: INLET.
48. Actor Reeves who plays John Wick: KEANU. [b. September 2, 1996] His mother was English; his father was American; he was born in Beirut, Lebanon because his mother was there for work; and yet Keanu is Canadian.
49. Become accustomed (to): INURE. I found this example sentence online: Does the violence on television INURE children TO violence in real life?
50. Adjusts a piano's pitch, e.g.: TUNES. It was fun to see a verb meaning for TUNES instead of a plural noun.
53. Brand of red plastic cups: SOLO. When filmmakers include red SOLO cups in a scene they send the viewer a quick message about the characters and the gathering. It might be a message of formality, taste level, financial situations, group dynamics, age range, attitudes towards alcohol, or a combination of all those.
54. Boat's front: PROW. The bow is the front part of a boat. It includes the PROW, the stem, and the foremost part of the hull. the PROW is the part of the stem line above the waterline.
55. Affirmative votes: AYES.
57. Part of a Santa costume: HAT.
58. Apply gently: DAB.
1. "You snooze, you __!": LOSE. ... said the tortoise to the hare.
5. Not doing anything: IDLE. not the same as snoozing
9. Data on baseball cards: STATS. CSO to our former Monday sherpa, Boomer.
14. Consumes a 15-Across: EATS. and ↙
15. Lunch or dinner: MEAL.
 |
| I love a good Venn diagram. |
16. Cockpit figure: PILOT. One of the noun definitions for figure is "bodily shape or form especially of a person".
19. French "between": ENTRE.
21. Hard drive capacity prefix: TERA-. If you are truly curious, this article explains the basics.
26. British nobles with low ranking: BARONS. By comparison, Lord Grantham of Downton Abbey was two steps up: Earl.
 |
| It could be worse.... |
 |
| recipe |
40. Self-image: EGO.
41. Aired again: RERAN. Think "old TV shows".
42. __-Ball: target game in arcades: SKEE.
43. Add to the payroll: HIRE.
44. Places for bracelets: WRISTS. "Ankles" was too long.
51. Actress Tatum: O'NEAL. [b. November 5, 1963] Tablet claims her father Ryan named his daughter after the jazz pianist Art Tatum. source
52. Convent residents: NUNS. CSO to Lucina!
53. Spot for a facial: SPA.
56. Blue-gray color: SLATE.
 |
| These walls are painted with Glidden's blue-gray SLATE. |
59. Guiding principle: TENET.
60. Length x width: AREA.
62. Small earrings: STUDS. Basically, they are earrings that do not hang down past the lobe.
64. Archery items: BOWS. "Arrows" was too long.
Down:
1. Not as expensive: LESS. 
2. Acorn droppers: OAKS.
3. "Thunderbolts*" actor Sebastian __: STAN. Thunderbolts is a Marvel movie that came out earlier this year.
4. Approximate fig.: EST. Another noun definition for figure is "value, especially as expressed in numbers". In this case, that figure is and ESTimate.
5. Spurs to action: IMPELS.
6. Sweetie pie: DEARY.
7. SoCal NFL player: LA RAM.
8. Large deer in the Rockies: ELK.
9. Talks about: SPEAKS OF.
10. Touches of color: TINGES. A TINGE of color is like a "splash of color", only more subtle.
11. "I do" venue: ALTAR.
12. Rich layer cake: TORTE.
13. Construction girder metal: STEEL.
18. Historic British school: ETON.
23. Hydrant hookup: HOSE. Hee!Hee!
24. Arrange in a row: ALIGN. You know ... so they line up.
25. Purring pets: CATS.
26. Acid counterpart: BASE. This clue references the pH scale.
27. Eager: AGOG.
28. San __, Italy: REMO. Population ~55,000. Wiki says it is Sanremo in Italian but two words in English. It is known as a tourist destination on the Italian Riviera. I was curious how many other municipalities fit the clue (but not the perps). Cono, Fele, Fili, Fior, Luca, Lupo, Rufo, Siro, and Vito all work.
2. Acorn droppers: OAKS.
3. "Thunderbolts*" actor Sebastian __: STAN. Thunderbolts is a Marvel movie that came out earlier this year.
5. Spurs to action: IMPELS.
6. Sweetie pie: DEARY.
7. SoCal NFL player: LA RAM.
8. Large deer in the Rockies: ELK.
9. Talks about: SPEAKS OF.
 |
| The Gossips ~ Norman Rockwell ~ 1948 |
10. Touches of color: TINGES. A TINGE of color is like a "splash of color", only more subtle.
11. "I do" venue: ALTAR.
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| Notice what is in their hands. |
12. Rich layer cake: TORTE.
 |
| This one certainly has a lot of layers. |
13. Construction girder metal: STEEL.
18. Historic British school: ETON.
23. Hydrant hookup: HOSE. Hee!Hee!
25. Purring pets: CATS.
 |
| I have been cat-sitting for my neighbor. This gray tuxedo looks sweet but she will not let me get any work done. |
26. Acid counterpart: BASE. This clue references the pH scale.
27. Eager: AGOG.
28. San __, Italy: REMO. Population ~55,000. Wiki says it is Sanremo in Italian but two words in English. It is known as a tourist destination on the Italian Riviera. I was curious how many other municipalities fit the clue (but not the perps). Cono, Fele, Fili, Fior, Luca, Lupo, Rufo, Siro, and Vito all work.
32. Genetic messenger molecule: RNA.
33. Queries: ASKS.
34. NBA player Holmgren: CHET. [b. 2002 in Minneapolis, MN] He plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
35. Potato spots: EYES. I always thought they were poisonous if ingested but the Idaho Potato Commission says otherwise. Nevertheless, do not take my word for it! Do your own research.
37. Three siblings with the same birthday: TRIPLETS. This cute clue deserves a cute image.
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| St. Bernard TRIPLET puppies (BTW, I recommend Googling "TRIPLET puppies images".) |
38. One saving the day: HERO.
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| Mighty Mouse made his debut in 1942. |
39. "The proof __ the pudding": IS IN. M-W explains this idiom
43. Like a sauna: HEATED.
44. Reassure that one's joking, in a way: WINK AT. 😉
45. Like pink cheeks: ROSY.
46. Sends with a stamp: POSTS. To POST a letter is to mail a letter.
47. Small bay: INLET.
48. Actor Reeves who plays John Wick: KEANU. [b. September 2, 1996] His mother was English; his father was American; he was born in Beirut, Lebanon because his mother was there for work; and yet Keanu is Canadian.
 |
| There are four John Wick movies ... so far. |
49. Become accustomed (to): INURE. I found this example sentence online: Does the violence on television INURE children TO violence in real life?
50. Adjusts a piano's pitch, e.g.: TUNES. It was fun to see a verb meaning for TUNES instead of a plural noun.
53. Brand of red plastic cups: SOLO. When filmmakers include red SOLO cups in a scene they send the viewer a quick message about the characters and the gathering. It might be a message of formality, taste level, financial situations, group dynamics, age range, attitudes towards alcohol, or a combination of all those.
Friends ~ Phoebe is in charge of cups and ice. ~ (1:26 min.)
54. Boat's front: PROW. The bow is the front part of a boat. It includes the PROW, the stem, and the foremost part of the hull. the PROW is the part of the stem line above the waterline.
57. Part of a Santa costume: HAT.
The grid: 
That's all for this puzzle and that's all from me. Changes are afoot on The Corner. Beginning in 2026, another project will require my time and attention. I simply will not have enough free hours to continue in this role. I still intend to add to the comments most days. I will also be around as an occasional substitute blogger. So, I am not leaving -- just transitioning. I am thankful to C.C. for creating and maintaining this space where solvers can share a common hobby. It has been my pleasure to be a part of her team. I have learned so much! Speaking of the team, I happen to know you will be in excellent hands going forward! So long and thanks for all the fish!
~ sumdaze
Notes from C.C.:
I'm sad that today marks Sumdaze's final Monday blog post. Renee gives her all to every write-up. Her posts are always rich with images, video clips, and thoughtful, detailed explanations. Mondays won't be the same without her.
That said, Mondays will remain in very capable hands. The incredible Naomi will begin covering Mondays starting next week. RustyBrain will take over Thursdays, and Splynter will blog Fridays, as both Chairman Moe and MM have decided to scale back and blog once a week. They'll now be sharing Wednesdays alongside Jazzbumpa and CrossEyedDave.
Hahtoolah and Husker Gary will continue their excellent work on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and Anonymous T (Tony) remains our ever-reliable pinch hitter.
I can't say how thankful I am for the dedication and generosity of our blogging team. Each post represents hours of care, often three or more, spent choosing the right words, finding just the right images, and tracking down helpful links. This blog simply wouldn't exist without them.
15 comments:
I don’t have much to say
about this puzzle, except that it was pretty easy to run through, as befits a Monday. The only slight hiccup, for me, was trying to spell “mackerel” with an “al” rather than an “el” at the end, but the perp of “torte” quickly corrected that.
Anyway, FIR, so I’m happy.
P.S. Thank you SumDaze for your faithful service! I hope you have success in whatever you do next!
Thank you for your contributions to the Corner, sumdaze, and I have to say, you are going out with a punny, clever, and enjoyable write-up - I loved your 'fishy' phrases and the meal Venn diagram~! Best to you in your next project~!
Thank you Keegan for an easy start to the week and a fun FIR. And thank you for the piscine theme -- it was pretty easy to sniff out.
And thank you Renee for explaining it all. And enjoy your "retirement" -- you done good gal!
A few favs:
9A STATS which brought to mind our beloved Boomer.
3D STAN Sebastian was also great in "The Apprentice", a movie I'd recommend to anyone who wants to understand what's happenin' and why.
32D RNA -- the "messenger" in the clue was the message that distinguished this from DNA, the latter being the archive of all the messages in the genome, which are commonly called genes.
Cheers,
Bill
Good morning!
MACKEREL, because my first thought was much too short. PILOT is also a fish -- easter egg? Where I grew up the popular game fish were the northern PIKE and walleye PIKE. Around here the deciduous OAKS have finally decided to deciduate, and the streets are stained brown from the smushed acorns. Nice, easy, early-week puzzle, Keegan. Excellent summary, sumdaze. We're going to miss your sunny Monday expos, and thanx for all the fun.
Thank you, Sumdaze, for the enjoyable reviews. And to all of the blogging team that add such pleasure to me and others who look forward to doing the crossword and then savoring the clues and explanations here each day. Best wishes to you in your new undertaking!
First of all, thank you Renee for your dedication to the Corner, your Monday blogs have always been an enjoyable read, always positive and upbeat and cheerful, I know you spent a lot of time and effort on each one, always a nice way to start the week! Best wishes in
your new endeavors, you will be missed.
As for today’s puzzle, it fit the Monday mold pretty well as far as difficulty, FIR in 7:21. DNK STAN or CHET but they easily perped as did the unknown FIRES. Also didn’t know that DORY was a real fish, thought of Pixar’s animated one. Had to change avid to AGOG, and mails to POSTS. Noticed EYES directly over AYES (for the longest time I thought I was saying “I” and not AYE in a roll call vote in a meeting). Thanks Keegan for the FISHY themed grid which I swallowed hook, line, and sinker.
FIR, but mails->POSTS.
In the rural environs where I grew up, the three daily meals were "breakfast," "dinner," and "supper." I managed to get fed anyway.
Roger Miller extolled the tourist attractions of London, including "the ROSY red cheeks of the little children," in his 1965 crossover hit England Swings.
I didn't know that DORY was a fish, animated or not. I knew it as a kind of rowboat, and also as a brand of power boat.
Thanks to Keegan for the fun Monday-level puzzle, that was actually published on a Monday! (Patti usually gives us the easiest puzzle of the week on Tuesdays.) And thanks to NaomiZ for today's fine work, and for giving us your best effort on every single blog narrative. I hope your new project will be satisfying and enjoyable.
Today’s blogger is the soon to be retired sumdaze.
Nice to see you make an appearance Bill!
Good Morning:
This puzzle is a perfect example of how a simple theme, well executed, can morph into a cute and clever concept. Hunky Dory was my favorite themer, with Holy Mackerel a close second. I went astray at Avid/Agog and didn’t know Chet, but the overall fill was clean as a whistle, dreck-free, and Monday friendly, all leading to an easy and enjoyable solve.
Thanks, Keegan, nice job, and thanks, sumdaze, for another stellar review and commentary. Got a chuckle at the Wallet/Cellphone comic and, as usual, had several learning moments due to your penchant for mixing fun with facts. Best of luck in your next endeavor and please don’t be a stranger.
Thank you to CC for her juggling skills that enable us to have continuity with the blogging crew and thanks to the blogging crew for their dedication and selflessness.
Have a great day.
Hi Bill, nice to see you. I miss your erudite commentary and your bottomless knowledge of so many disciplines, especially that of composers and their works,
FIR. This was a typical easy Monday presentation. My only misstep was throwing down mails before posts, but my error was quickly fixed.
Overall an enjoyable puzzle.
Marvellous Monday. Thanks for the fun, Keegan and sumdaze (best wishes on your new project).
I FIRed in good time, and saw the FISHY theme. I thought of DORY as the fishing boat (with PROW as an Easter Egg).
I thought of Mails but POSTS perped.
Unknown-to-me names (STAN, CHET) perped fairly.
KEANU with all his varied ethnic background became a naturalized Canadian citizen and lived in Toronto as a child and young man.
Prince William attended ETON (although his father King Charles did not), but news speculation indicates that, starting in September 2026, his son, Prince George, may attend Marlborough College, a coed secondary school that his mother Princess Catherine attended.
TRIPLETS reminded me that the last surviving Dionne quintuplet, Annette, died December 24 at age 91.
Thanks to C.C. and all our blogging team.
Wishing you all a great day.
My sentiments exactly!!
Sumdaze, I will miss your clever, fun, informative blogs. Best wishes for your next endeavor.
HOLY MACKEREL, this was a fun puzzle. IM☘️ described it well. I hope we get more from Keegan, who by the way seems to like the letter K; he sprinKled it all over this CW.
My only unknowns were STAN and CHET. At first I didn’t know a fellow by the name of LARAM, then I realized my mistake, Oh! LA RAM.
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