Sunday March 8, 2026 Seth Weitberg

Theme: "YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN" - The first words are all A + double letter *ed, then TO, the last words are parts of the first words in plural form. 

23. The land developer was __: ATTRACTED TO TRACTS.

39. The billboard installer was __: ASSIGNED TO SIGNS.

51. The tissue manufacturer was __: APPLIED TO PLIES.

65. The importer/exporter was __: ACCUSTOMED TO CUSTOMS.

79. The music producer was __: ATTUNED TO TUNES.

89. The safety inspector __: ATTESTED TO TESTS.

110. The scorekeeper was __: APPOINTED TO POINTS.

So the title "You Can Say That Again" is due to the structural echo. The clues add another layer: each one refers to a specific profession in a different field. The echoed word matches the worker's specialty. 

This is Seth's first LAT Sunday puzzle. Congrats!

Across:

1. Irked by: MAD AT.

6. Lite: LO-FAT.

11. Economical: CHEAP.

16. TD pass throwers, perhaps: QBS. Quarterbacks.

19. Diarist Nin: ANAIS.

20. __ acid: AMINO.

21. Painter Matisse: HENRI.

22. Fed. that hosts F1's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: UAE.

26. Barinholtz of "The Studio": IKE. He won the inaugural prime time season of "Celebrity Jeopardy!".

27. Baseball gripping aid: SEAM.

28. Tops: A ONE.

29. Actress Birch: THORA. Known for her role in "American Beauty". Then and now.

30. Threw it out there: ASKED.

32. Annual Kentucky event: DERBY.

34. Sudden impulse: WHIM.

35. Ice Follies venue: RINK.

37. Stuffy sort: PRUDE.

46. Send back: REMAND. To a lower court. 

48. Otherwise: ELSE.

49. Western treaty gp.: OAS. The Organization of American States.

50. Lummox: LOUT.

55. Penta- minus one: TETRA.

56. Calendar pgs.: MOS. Months.

57. Sleeveless top: VEST.

58. "You will __ the day!": RUE. 62. "You made that up!": LIAR.

59. Early 1990s pres., familiarly: BUSH SR. Prez #41.

60. Tour of duty: STINT.

64. Demonstrating more courage: GUTSIER.

69. Holds fast (to): ADHERES.

70. Comfort: EASE.

71. Pine secretion: RESIN.

72. Crabby folks: CRANKS.

73. Used to be: WAS.

74. Annoyance: PEST.

75. Seer's gift: ESP.

78. NFL team with a horseshoe logo: COLTS.

84. Cambodian currency: RIEL. RIAL is Iranian/Omani.  

85. Cape __, Massachusetts: ANN.

87. Part of Caesar's boast: VENI.

88. Bao Li, Qing Bao, et al.: PANDAS. Bao means "precious" in Chinese.

94. Pie component: CRUST.

95. Finishing __: SALT. This is a hugely popular brand.

96. Surface alternative: IPAD.

97. Love, in French: AMOUR.

99. Uninspired, as writing: PROSY.

102. "That sounds like safe money": I'D BET.

104. Tierra en el oc ano: ISLA.

106. Young woman: LASS.

109. Overalls part: BIB.

114. Java: JOE.

115. Perfume: AROMA.

116. City in upstate New York: OLEAN. About 60 miles southeast of Buffalo along the Allegheny River.

117. Intel-gathering mission: RECON.

118. Farm enclosure: STY.

119. Suite spot: HOTEL.

120. Approves: OKAYS.

121. Cooks up: BREWS.

Down:

1. "A Court of Thorns and Roses" novelist Sarah J. __: MAAS.

2. Poker buy-in: ANTE.

3. Massive transfers of information: DATA DUMPS. 

4. Decoration awarded in all branches of the military: AIR MEDAL. Oh I thought it's just for the Air Force.

5. Bag-screening org.: TSA.

6. Sister of Janet and Jermaine: LATOYA.

7. Portent: OMEN.

8. Bona __: FIDE.

9. Foraging insect: ANT.

10. Dental product: TOOTH GEL. I just call it "gel toothpaste".

11. Classic auto trim: CHROME.

12. Learn through the grapevine: HEAR.

13. Pioneering digital encyclopedia: ENCARTA. From Microsoft. Now we have Wikipedia.

14. Part of LACMA: ART. Los Angeles County Museum of Art. 

15. Some Tuscans: PISANS.

16. Classic Nestlé drink: QUIK. Never had this.

17. Make clafoutis, say: BAKE.  Wikipedia says clafoutis is "a French dish of pitted sour cherries, arranged in a buttered dish, covered with a thick but pourable batter, then baked to create a crustless tart."

18. Tournament assignment: SEED.

24. Subway alternative: CAB.

25. Gauzy: THIN.

31. Situation that inevitably goes downhill?: SKI LESSON. 59. Place where pickup lines may be common?: BUS STOP. Fun clues for both. 

33. Baroque painter Guido: RENI. Born in Bologna. 

34. Tendril: WISP.

36. Mobile platform since 2007: IOS.

37. Buggy for a bairn: PRAM.

38. Take back, briefly: REPO.

40. Gets cracking on: SETS TO.

41. Schedule opening: SLOT.

42. Daily tablet, say: DOSE.

43. Celebratory cry during a game of tag: GOT HIM.

44. Some care coordinators: NURSES.

45. Hall of Fame drummer from Liverpool: STARR (Ringo)

47. Concocts: DEVISES.

52. Bad impressions: DENTS. Using the physical sense of "impression".

53. Livid: IRATE.

54. Currency symbolized by €: EURO.

55. __-frutti: TUTTI.

60. Like products for sensitive skin, often: SCENTLESS.

61. __ and Caicos: TURKS. Beautiful islands.

62. Tiniest bit: LEAST.

63. Cards with pics: IDS.

64. B&B patron: GUEST.

65. Skillful: ADROIT.

66. Alpine dwelling: CHALET. The chalet in our local Elm Creek Park Reserve.

67. Charcuterie fare: MEAT.

68. College unit: CREDIT.

69. Ghana's capital: ACCRA.

73. Magic show prop: WAND.

74. Farm enclosures: PENS.

75. Staying power: ENDURANCE.

76. Neptune's realm: SEAS.

77. Subtle "Over here!": PSST.

80. Skin art only visible in black light: UV TATTOO.

81. Demand: NEED.

82. Snack topped with onions and cilantro: TACO.

83. Harder to control: UNRULIER.

85. Delta HQ: ATL.

86. Nasal irrigation vessel: NETI POT.

90. Checkup request: SAY AAH.

91. Shin-related: TIBIAL.

92. "__ sesame!": OPEN.

93. Spots that do dos: SALONS.

98. Treasure hunt aid: MAP.

99. Easy sammies: PBJS. I like peanut butter and honey. 

100. Real hoot: RIOT.

101. Toe the line: OBEY.

103. Pantheon feature: DOME.

104. Inkling: IDEA.

105. Temporary reprieve: STAY.

107. Put in the overhead bin: STOW.

108. Form W-2 digits: SSNS.

111. In favor of: PRO.

112. Animal on the Michigan state seal: ELK.The seal features an elk and a moose, but no wolves. 

113. Poetic sphere: ORB.

C.C.

Saturday, March 7, 2026, John Guzzetta

 Saturday Themeless by John Guzzetta

This is John's 14th LA puzzle and the third Saturday themeless I have blogged. In visiting with John for his last puzzle, he told me he was a minister in the Tampa Bay Area.

I flew through in 15 minutes but finished with one bad cell as you can see in the grid. The Italian words for numbers and Sam Raimi are not in my vocabulary. I'll write it off as a learning (forgetting) moment. 😊

Across:

1. Diplomatic terms?: CODE WORDS - As I'm sure you do in your business, we educators have CODE WORDS we can use and others know what is really meant. 

10. Lugosi of "Dracula": BELA - A crossword regular that rewards some of us with "some mileage on our tires" (CODE WORDS for senior citizens).

                     

14. Health insurance marketplace legislation, familiarly: OBAMA CARE.

15. Title that has a 31-Across: SĒNOR and 31. Squiggly diacritic: TILDE. 

16. Tea with a shot of espresso: DIRTY CHAI.

17. Place for some belt-tightening: WAIST 😀

18. Still: YET.

19. Displaces: BUMPS.

20. Advantages: EDGES - This All-American pitcher gives the nationally ranked Husker softball team a real EDGE

21. Navigational hazard: SHOAL - We call these sandbars on the Platte River seen here just south of m town of Fremont, NE.

23. Prepares for a funeral: EMBALMS.

25. "Show Boat" pair: ACTS.

27. Takes in more than: OUT EATS. 😀

29. Stopper: CORK.

33. Get even with?: TIE.

34. Spectrum maker: PRISM.

35. "Give Peace a Chance" collaborator: ONO.

36. Sam who created the "Evil Dead" franchise: RAIMI ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

38. Actress Gadot: GAL - Two versions of Wonderwoman

Linda Carter            Gal Gadot

39. Beside: ALONG.

41. Boggle pieces: DICE.

42. Indigestion relief: ANTACID.

44. Craft store purchase: YARN.

46. Setting for Ernie's "Rubber Duckie" song: BATHTUB - Millions are still sold today

48. Tuned to: SET AT - Growing up, we all had our radios SET AT the same five AM stations 590, 890, 1110, 1290 and 1620.

51. Metric prefix: CENTI.

52. Device in olive oil extraction: PRESS - Here's a low-tech one.

54. Big D pro: MAVericks 

56. "Little Miss Sunshine" Oscar winner: ARKIN - I'm pretty sure you can pick Alan out of this poster

57. Something a customer service professional might need to wear: FAKE SMILE.

59. Brother from France: FRERE - Didn't we all sing this in grade school?

60. A bit too excited: OVER EAGER.

61. Thornfield governess: EYRE - This 1847 first edition of Jane Eyre will run you $9,500.

    

                                  

62. Has a clear conscience: RESTS EASY.

Down:

1. Yellowstone National Park gateway city: CODY.

2. Stage awards: OBIES - Off Broadway

3. Sith title: DARTH.

4. Expert who wears a Star of Life emblem: Abbr.: EMT.

 

5. Internet Archive initiative: WAYBACK MACHINE - More info ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Some of us remember a very different version

6. Section in some alternative bookstores: OCCULT.

7. Spanish golfer Jon: RAHM - and family. Jon has left the 34. Tour gp.: PGA to play on the LIV tour.

8. Fall gracefully: DRAPE.

9. Field concerned with movers and shakers: SEISMOLOGY - Here's the earthquakes of the last 24 hours

10. Minor parish official: BEADLE - ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ More

11. Puzzling: ENIGMATIC.

12. Falls behind: LOSES TIME.

13. Song and dance: ARTS.

15. Stylish and cozy garb: SWEATER DRESSES.

22. Boat pair: OARS.

24. Pal: BUD.

26. Defended: STOOD UP FOR.

28. Half of dodici: SEI ¯\_(ツ)_/¯  At a 50% off sale, a dodici euro book would cost SEI euros

29. Common juice blend fruit: CRANBERRY.

30. Shell ship by the seashore: OIL TANKER - What a cute turn on the tongue twister "Sally sells sea shells down by the seashore".

32. Stop for the night: INN.

37. "__ No Sunshine": Bill Withers hit: AINT.

40. On: LIT.

43. Threads: ATTIRE.

45. State with confidence: ASSERT.

47. Intrepid: BRAVE.

49. Latina bestie: AMIGA.

50. Armistead Maupin's "__ of the City": TALES ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

51. Garçon's employer: CAFE.

53. Just scrapes (by): EKES.

55. Rather: VERY.

58. Whitman who voices Tinker Bell: MAE - The Tinker Bell of my misspent youth did not speak.

Notes from C.C.:

RustyBrain (Brian) and I made today's USA Today puzzle. It's edited by Amanda Rafkin. Give it a whirl. It's Brain's first USA Today puzzle. 

Friday, Mar 6th, 2026 ~ Patti Varol

 A BIGHT of WIGHT

And "a BITE of WHITE"

Two weeks running now, we've had a construction from the LA Times crossword puzzle editor Patti - and a better submission, IMHO, than the one from last Thursday, which had the names Natick in the NE corner.  Today's theme is a clever play on "~IGHT -becomes- ~ITE" words; my only nit would be the use of two "R" words - yet they are different.  I was quite impressed, however, with the two 10-letter Down fills that each crossed different sets of three themers without being "meh".  A solid Friday offering - most of the terse clues were in my wheelhouse.  Standard grid, no circles, 3 times the number of 4LWs to both 3- & 5-LWs, two yogurts, and a dozen names.  The themers, and no reveal; 

20. Ceremony that adorns dollar bills?: RITE ON THE MONEY 

Han Solo's shot was "right on the money"

26. Try to find pen pals in monasteries?: WRITE BROTHERS - these guys . . .

- not these guys, Wilbur  & Orville Wright

44. Lo-cal beers from Canada?: NORTHERN LITES - these guys . . . 

not these guys

52. Terse review of a wonky web page?: NOT A PRETTY SITE - not this guy . . .

But Wait - There's More in SITE~!

ACROSS:

1. Goes through a lot of tissues: BAWLS - I do the Downs first, had B - W L - , which did not look promising, but "Lo~!" and "Behold~!"

6. Chi-town paper: TRIBune - abbr for Chicago, abbr for the newspaper

10. Tibetan priest: LAMA

14. "If you say so": "UH-HUH."

15. New York university named for a Scottish isle: IONA - geo name #1, knew it 'cos I grew up in NY

16. Tudyk of "Resident Alien": ALAN - name #2 - I recall the show, though I didn't watch

17. Condiment served with biryani: RAITA - yogurt #1 - filled via perps

18. Survivor's struggle, briefly: PTSD - breifly indicating we're looking for an abbreviation; Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

19. Tie: BOND

23. Foundry delivery: ORE - a good change-up clue for this fill

24. Lav: LOO - British bathroom

25. Dove home: COTE - learned by doing crosswords

32. "I mentioned the bisque" "Seinfeld" character: ELAINE - Seinfeld aired before I was old enough to understand the show; I do like watching them now, but this scene I do not recall . . .name #3

Yada, yada, yada

34. Take from the top: RE-DO

35. Intl. broadcaster since 1942: VOA - filled via perps; Voice of America - more from Wiki

36. Quash: VETO

37. Butter square: PAT

38. Leaning: BIAS

39. Info requested by brewery websites: AGE - you'll need to enter your info at 32D.

40. Store securely: STOW

42. Old Testament collection: PSALMS - had most of this via perps

47. Ticket info: SEAT

48. Santa __, California: ANA - geo name #4

49. Little dog: PUP

56. [I like these scritches!]: PURR - the brackets are a "meta-clue" hint; again, most was perps

57. Sworn statement: OATH

58. Deserve: MERIT

59. Designer Schiaparelli: ELSA - I tried e l L a; thus began my search for the "wrong" name, #5

60. Sticking point: TINE - a "right-on-the-money" definition

Tater Tot Shepherd's Pie recipe

61. Nimble: AGILE

62. Tiny splash: PLOP

63. Michelin award: STAR - the guide IS related to the tire brand; I did not know this

Through the years, and the revolution - pun intended - of the tire

64. Hoped-for Match.com outings: DATES - I had tried Match for many years, and got all of ONE connection; I am now trying my luck with Facebook - and so far, all I've gotten are A I fakes 😜

DOWN:

1. Small donkey: BURRO - I did not make an "ASS" of myself to start . . . 🙄

2. Slimmest of margins: A HAIR - Sigh, a twurd

3. Kayaking challenge: WHITEWATER - one of the two solid 10-letter down fills

4. Instrument in a Vermeer painting: LUTE - good WAG on my part

Technically, this is a paiting of a woman with a guitar, but the story might interest you . . .

5. Temple where Chan Buddhism began: SHAOLIN - no clue, perps and WAGs; but some might have recalled this fill from the story of a TV monk, and the real place where he trained.  Name (ish)

6. Tread carefully: TIP-TOE - almost alliteration

7. "Divergent" trilogy novelist Veronica: ROTH - name #7, but I knew her because I see the name on Kindle; could have been clued as a non-name, tho

8. On the sly: IN SECRET

9. Foul temper: BAD MOOD

10. Middle Eastern dairy product: LABNEH - yogurt #2 - good perps & WAGs - phew

It's Greek yogurt, strained; I'ma tryin' it - more here

11. Cream ingredient: ALOE - Ah; not "milk".  That cream

12. More than a few: MANY - at least it wasn't "A LOT", "A TON", A twurd

13. Furthermore: AND...

21. Post-it scribble: NOTE

22. Miranda of "Homeland": OTTO - name #8 - I read the books, saw the movies, don't recall her

27. Carnival city: RIO - D'Oh~!  I read this as "cry", not c-i-t-y - geo name #9

28. Muscle: BRAWN - Ha~! Nailed it.

29. Possessive type?: EVIL SPIRIT - the other great 10-letter fill

30. Travel aimlessly: ROAM - or ROVE~?  I chose . . . wisely

31. Cheek: SASS - I've learned over the years that whenever a clue implying "tart" language, and situated on the right edge of the grid, the answer is typically crossword-friendly "SASS"

32. __ Williams bourbon: EVAN - never heard of this liquor - name #10

The website, age resticted, of course

33. Toy company that acquired the online marketplace BrickLink: LEGO - Yada yada yada toys + bricks~? = Lego - but - I was surprised Lego didn't start this company - the history here

37. Printing choice: PORTRAIT - the alternative is LANDSCAPE - which is too wide 🙄

38. Main squeeze: BAE - Cringe.  I just don't like this word; are we really too lazy to finish the faint "b" sound at the end of babe~?

40. Former home of the Mets: SHEA - I grew up on Long Island, and my first 'live' baseball game was the Mets at Shea in the Keith Hernandez days - speaking of Keith and Seinfeld . . . 

"That - is one magic loogie."

41. Cozy spots: TEAPOTS - Ah.  A tea "cozy" could be found on a tea POT

Aww - you can buy them on Etsy here

42. Blood drive unit: PINT

43. Nurse a grudge: STAY MAD - first time appearing in a crossword = unique, like this fill

45. Feature of some sandals: T-STRAP

BTW, her name is Cecilia, JC

46. Suds: LATHER - bars, not beers

50. Serving a purpose: UTILE

51. "Oh, for __ sake!": "PETE'S" - oh for heaven's sake, name #11 - blasphemy LITE

52. __ and void: NULL

53. "In that neighborhood": "OR SO" - "ish"

54. Mediterranean volcano: ETNA - geo-name #10, yada yada yada 4-letter volcano = 😜

55. Game company with a hedgehog mascot: SEGA - name (ish)

56. Energy: PEP

Splynter

Grid flow a medium 40.1 - the 10-letter Downs helped