Theme: Lace up!
The theme is somewhat hidden until the big reveal:
50-Across. Prepare to skate, or what can be found in 3-, 8-, 10-, and 33-Down?: LACE UP. Indeed, upon examination, we find the word LACE going UPwards in four vertical entries. If you didn't see the laces, check the image of the grid at the end of this blog post!
3-Down. Business meetings over the phone: CONFERENCE CALLS.
8-Down. Stillness before a storm: EERIE CALM.
10-Down. Zodiac cycle in which the Rabbit follows the Tiger: CHINESE CALENDAR.
33-Down. Baby humpback: WHALE CALF.
Things are definitely looking up in this puzzle, but it's time for us to look across and down.
44. Pint night purchase: ALE.
45. Respected villager: ELDER.
47. Zilch: NIL.
48. "Door's open": COME IN.
50. [Theme clue]
53. Bold alternative?: ITALICS. Font options!
55. Fragrant evergreen: FIR.
56. Org. whose seal depicts an eagle atop a key: NSA. An abbreviation in the clue calls for an abbreviation in the answer.
57. "You got a deal!": SOLD.
58. Fruity fall beverage: APPLE CIDER.
61. "Riverdale" actress Reinhart: LILI. Lili Reinhart gained recognition for playing Betty Cooper on the CW teen drama series Riverdale (2017-2023). She also starred in the crime drama film Hustlers (2019) and the romantic drama film Chemical Hearts (2020).
62. Strung along: LED ON.
63. Title for New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko: DAME. Dame Lydia Ko (born April 24, 1997) is a New Zealand professional golfer, member of the LPGA Hall of Fame, and the reigning Olympic champion. She first reached number one in the Women's World Golf Rankings in 2015 at 17 years, 9 months and 9 days of age, making her the youngest player of either gender to be ranked No. 1 in professional golf. Ko was made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2025, for services to golf. She is believed to be the youngest dame or knight of the modern era.
64. "If all __ fails ... ": ELSE. If you don't know Lili or Lydia, try to fill in the perps (perpendicular entries), and if that doesn't complete the names, take a WAG (wild ass guess).
65. Defect: FLAW.
66. Unrefined minerals: ORES.
Down:
1. Prepares for a photograph: POSES.
2. One-named "Hello" singer: ADELE. Adele is an English singer, songwriter, and actress, known for her mezzo-soprano vocals and sentimental songwriting. Her accolades include 16 Grammy Awards, 12 Brit Awards (including three for British Album of the Year), an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Golden Globe Award.
3. [Theme clue]
4. The first "T" of TNT: TRI. Trinitrotoluene, commonly known as TNT, is a chemical compound best known as an explosive material with convenient handling properties. Wile E. Coyote certainly finds it convenient.
7. Peak in the Cascade Range: SHASTA. Mount Shasta is a volcano at the southern end of the Cascade Range in California. At an elevation of 14,179 feet, it is the second-highest peak in the Cascades and the fifth-highest in the state. The last significant eruption was about 200 years ago, but it is still a high threat and is monitored by the United States Geological Survey.
8. [Theme clue]
9. Units of land area: ACRES.
10. [Theme clue]
11. Catchall category: Abbr.: MISC.
12. Heaviest fencing sword: ÉPÉE.
14. Body part that can be furrowed: BROW.
17. CeraVe rival: OLAY. Brands of skin care products.
22. Muscles near delts: LATS. Delts (deltoids) and lats (latissimus dorsi) are crucial upper-body muscles that define shoulder width, posture, and pulling/pushing strength.
30. Iran's continent: ASIA.
31. Dolphin with eye patches: ORCA. Have you heard about the orcas in the Pacific Northwest who engaged in a trend of wearing dead salmon on their heads like hats? This fad spread through various pods in the late 1980s, and is experiencing a retro revival. Who can keep up?
46. Quash, as a rumor: DISPEL.
47. DEA agent: NARC. An agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration may be a narcotics officer.
49. Song from a bygone era: OLDIE.
50. Property claim: LIEN.
51. "I'm at your service": USE ME.
52. Trims (down): PARES.
53. Part of an archipelago: ISLE.
54. Work hard: TOIL.
55. __ state: focused mindset: FLOW. Flow state, or being "in the zone," is a state of total immersion in an activity, characterized by intense concentration, deep enjoyment, and high productivity.
59. Kissing on the kiss cam, say: PDA. Public Display of Affection.
60. Swear words?: I DO.
Across:
1. Treaty between nations: PACT.
5. Diamond corner: BASE. Baseball diamond.
9. Highest point: ACME. Will it be ACME or APEX? Only the perpendicular entries know for sure.
13. Aroma: ODOR.
14. Soak in the tub: BATHE.
15. Guacamole scoop: CHIP.
16. Last stretch before graduation: SENIOR YEAR.
18. Increase in altitude: RISE.
19. North Pole helper: ELF.
20. __ Angeles Sparks: LOS. The Los Angeles Sparks are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Sparks compete in the Women's National Basketball Association.
21. "Stop talking!": SILENCE.
23. Playground board with two seats: SEE SAW. A SEE SAW (or teeter-totter) is a long, narrow board, balanced in the center on a single pivot point. One person sits on each end of the board, and they take turns pushing their feet against the ground to raise their side. If one person jumps off when their side is low, the other may fall and be injured. For this reason, see saws have been removed from most playgrounds in the United States. Today's blogger was fortunate to grow up in the days when children were largely unsupervised. My siblings and I spent several summers in and around Salida, Colorado, and spent hours on see saws in the shady city park.
5. Diamond corner: BASE. Baseball diamond.
9. Highest point: ACME. Will it be ACME or APEX? Only the perpendicular entries know for sure.
13. Aroma: ODOR.
14. Soak in the tub: BATHE.
15. Guacamole scoop: CHIP.
16. Last stretch before graduation: SENIOR YEAR.
18. Increase in altitude: RISE.
19. North Pole helper: ELF.
20. __ Angeles Sparks: LOS. The Los Angeles Sparks are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Sparks compete in the Women's National Basketball Association.
21. "Stop talking!": SILENCE.
23. Playground board with two seats: SEE SAW. A SEE SAW (or teeter-totter) is a long, narrow board, balanced in the center on a single pivot point. One person sits on each end of the board, and they take turns pushing their feet against the ground to raise their side. If one person jumps off when their side is low, the other may fall and be injured. For this reason, see saws have been removed from most playgrounds in the United States. Today's blogger was fortunate to grow up in the days when children were largely unsupervised. My siblings and I spent several summers in and around Salida, Colorado, and spent hours on see saws in the shady city park.
 |
| Children on a see saw |
25. "Relax, soldier": AT EASE.
26. Beam of light: RAY.
27. Make into law: ENACT.
28. U.S. ID issuer: SSA. Social Security Administration.
31. Broken mirror, to some: OMEN. A bad omen, at that.
33. Get hitched: WED.
34. White-barked trees: ASPENS. Aspen trees (Populus tremuloides AKA "trembling poplar") are not individual trees but rather part of a shared root system. A grove of aspens shares the same genetics, with new trunks sprouting from the roots.
26. Beam of light: RAY.
27. Make into law: ENACT.
28. U.S. ID issuer: SSA. Social Security Administration.
31. Broken mirror, to some: OMEN. A bad omen, at that.
33. Get hitched: WED.
34. White-barked trees: ASPENS. Aspen trees (Populus tremuloides AKA "trembling poplar") are not individual trees but rather part of a shared root system. A grove of aspens shares the same genetics, with new trunks sprouting from the roots.
 |
| Aspen grove |
36. Go on a tirade: RANT.
37. Red Monopoly piece: HOTEL.
39. Palm with berries: ACAI.
40. Noisy summer insect: CICADA.
42. Meat in a croque monsieur: HAM. A Croque Monsieur is a French hot sandwich made with ham, cheese, and béchamel sauce.
37. Red Monopoly piece: HOTEL.
39. Palm with berries: ACAI.
40. Noisy summer insect: CICADA.
42. Meat in a croque monsieur: HAM. A Croque Monsieur is a French hot sandwich made with ham, cheese, and béchamel sauce.
 |
| Croque monsieur |
43. California wine valley: NAPA.
44. Pint night purchase: ALE.
45. Respected villager: ELDER.
47. Zilch: NIL.
48. "Door's open": COME IN.
50. [Theme clue]
53. Bold alternative?: ITALICS. Font options!
55. Fragrant evergreen: FIR.
56. Org. whose seal depicts an eagle atop a key: NSA. An abbreviation in the clue calls for an abbreviation in the answer.
57. "You got a deal!": SOLD.
58. Fruity fall beverage: APPLE CIDER.
61. "Riverdale" actress Reinhart: LILI. Lili Reinhart gained recognition for playing Betty Cooper on the CW teen drama series Riverdale (2017-2023). She also starred in the crime drama film Hustlers (2019) and the romantic drama film Chemical Hearts (2020).
62. Strung along: LED ON.
63. Title for New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko: DAME. Dame Lydia Ko (born April 24, 1997) is a New Zealand professional golfer, member of the LPGA Hall of Fame, and the reigning Olympic champion. She first reached number one in the Women's World Golf Rankings in 2015 at 17 years, 9 months and 9 days of age, making her the youngest player of either gender to be ranked No. 1 in professional golf. Ko was made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2025, for services to golf. She is believed to be the youngest dame or knight of the modern era.
 |
| Lydia Ko |
64. "If all __ fails ... ": ELSE. If you don't know Lili or Lydia, try to fill in the perps (perpendicular entries), and if that doesn't complete the names, take a WAG (wild ass guess).
65. Defect: FLAW.
66. Unrefined minerals: ORES.
Down:
1. Prepares for a photograph: POSES.
2. One-named "Hello" singer: ADELE. Adele is an English singer, songwriter, and actress, known for her mezzo-soprano vocals and sentimental songwriting. Her accolades include 16 Grammy Awards, 12 Brit Awards (including three for British Album of the Year), an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Golden Globe Award.
 |
| Adele |
3. [Theme clue]
4. The first "T" of TNT: TRI. Trinitrotoluene, commonly known as TNT, is a chemical compound best known as an explosive material with convenient handling properties. Wile E. Coyote certainly finds it convenient.
5. Howls at the moon: BAYS.
6. Enjoyed some tteokbokki, say: ATE. Tteokbokki is a Korean food made from small, cylindrical rice cakes, simmered in chili paste. It is often paired with fish cakes, boiled eggs, and scallions. This was a good spot for a WAG. After all, what's a three letter word for "enjoyed"?
6. Enjoyed some tteokbokki, say: ATE. Tteokbokki is a Korean food made from small, cylindrical rice cakes, simmered in chili paste. It is often paired with fish cakes, boiled eggs, and scallions. This was a good spot for a WAG. After all, what's a three letter word for "enjoyed"?
 |
| Tteokbokki |
7. Peak in the Cascade Range: SHASTA. Mount Shasta is a volcano at the southern end of the Cascade Range in California. At an elevation of 14,179 feet, it is the second-highest peak in the Cascades and the fifth-highest in the state. The last significant eruption was about 200 years ago, but it is still a high threat and is monitored by the United States Geological Survey.
 |
| Would you live this close to an active volcano? This is the city of Mount Shasta. |
8. [Theme clue]
9. Units of land area: ACRES.
10. [Theme clue]
11. Catchall category: Abbr.: MISC.
12. Heaviest fencing sword: ÉPÉE.
14. Body part that can be furrowed: BROW.
17. CeraVe rival: OLAY. Brands of skin care products.
 |
| DH uses this cleanser as recommended by his dermatologist. |
22. Muscles near delts: LATS. Delts (deltoids) and lats (latissimus dorsi) are crucial upper-body muscles that define shoulder width, posture, and pulling/pushing strength.
24. North Pole VIP: SANTA.
25. "What happened next?": AND THEN?
27. Fair-hiring initials: EEO. Equal Employment Opportunity is a legal principle meant to ensure that all employees and applicants receive fair treatment by prohibiting discrimination in hiring, promotion, and firing based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age (40+), disability, or genetic information.
29. "Just like that" sound: SNAP.
25. "What happened next?": AND THEN?
27. Fair-hiring initials: EEO. Equal Employment Opportunity is a legal principle meant to ensure that all employees and applicants receive fair treatment by prohibiting discrimination in hiring, promotion, and firing based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age (40+), disability, or genetic information.
29. "Just like that" sound: SNAP.
30. Iran's continent: ASIA.
31. Dolphin with eye patches: ORCA. Have you heard about the orcas in the Pacific Northwest who engaged in a trend of wearing dead salmon on their heads like hats? This fad spread through various pods in the late 1980s, and is experiencing a retro revival. Who can keep up?
 |
| Orca rocking a salmon hat. |
32. Postal delivery: MAIL.
33. [Theme clue]
35. Become frantic: PANIC.
38. Serving of corn: EAR.
41. "The Substance" Oscar nominee Moore: DEMI. For her role in The Substance (2024), Moore won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, the Critics' Choice Award for Best Actress, and an Actor Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress, the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, and the Independent Spirit Award for Best Lead Performance.
33. [Theme clue]
35. Become frantic: PANIC.
38. Serving of corn: EAR.
41. "The Substance" Oscar nominee Moore: DEMI. For her role in The Substance (2024), Moore won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, the Critics' Choice Award for Best Actress, and an Actor Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress, the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, and the Independent Spirit Award for Best Lead Performance.
46. Quash, as a rumor: DISPEL.
47. DEA agent: NARC. An agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration may be a narcotics officer.
49. Song from a bygone era: OLDIE.
50. Property claim: LIEN.
51. "I'm at your service": USE ME.
52. Trims (down): PARES.
53. Part of an archipelago: ISLE.
54. Work hard: TOIL.
55. __ state: focused mindset: FLOW. Flow state, or being "in the zone," is a state of total immersion in an activity, characterized by intense concentration, deep enjoyment, and high productivity.
59. Kissing on the kiss cam, say: PDA. Public Display of Affection.
 |
| Too much? |
60. Swear words?: I DO.
Here's the grid:
Solvers, did you achieve a FLOW state while solving?
Or did you PANIC? AND THEN?
Let us know in the comments section!
-- NaomiZ
20 comments:
A nice easy Monday type
puzzle from our esteemed and beloved blogmistress. So what’s not to like?
Anyway, FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
Not familiar with FLOW STATE (sounds like a flash flood), but this one flowed nicely. Failed to notice the rising LACEs until the reveal. Natch. Well done, C.C. and NaomiZ.
FIR without erasure. DNK LILI and FLOW state, which to me seems more like a urologist's concern.
Mention #67 - AT EASE is different than "relax."
We just had a Bill Withers tune, but not USE ME.
Since we had WED and I DO, I thought I'd share an old story about a husband telling his wife that a former neighbor had just died, and on their honeymoon no less. "At least he didn't suffer long" said the husband. His wife asked "how did he die?" The husband replied that he didn't know. His wife then asked "well how do you know he didn't suffer long?" The husband replied "he was only married two days."
Thanks to CC for the fun Monday puzzle, and to NaomiZ for another interesting review.
FIR. No problems at all. This was so easy that I found myself figuring out the theme before I finished the solve, or basically at the same time. The few sticking points had appropriate perps at the ready.
So overall a very enjoyable puzzle.
This was fun and fast and all the circle-haters should be happy and not grumpy today. I always enjoy making my mind work differently with vertical themers
A friend of mine who's a retired ecology professor from UWisconsin did much of his research on quaking aspens in the past
Thanks Naomi for the informative blog and CC for the puzzle!
Musings
-What a lovely start to the week.
-The only shoes I still LACE UP are my golf shoes. All the others are “step-in” Skechers.
-Our SEESAW was a 2x12 plank with no handles on very hard ground. We boys were always trying to see how high we could get our partner up in the air when we went down on the other side.
-I would feel no fear if I broke a mirror while walking under a ladder after a black cat and spilling salt.
-I had no idea how to pronounce it but I ordered a croque monsieur from the descrpition at an upscale brunch and really enjoyed it
-No idea on how to pronounce tteokbokki either but I assumed it was to be eaten not played
-C.C. and I constructed a puzzle years ago that used names of mountains in the Cascade range on December 15, 2014 which was three years before I became the Saturday blogger. https://crosswordcorner.blogspot.com/2014/12/monday-december-15-2014-gary-schlapfer.html
-FLOW state was new to me. I wonder if it was C.C.’s or Patti’s cluing.
-72 F and sunny today on the Great Plains – FORE!
My only real hesitation solving this nice, easy, pleasant puzzle was entering BASE. I knew it had to be, all perps required it, but I was not thinking baseball. I’m glad Naomi explained it.
My only other unknowns were LILI and PDE. Cute little cartoon about that NaomiZ. The theme didn’t become clear to me until the reveal. How simple. I’m SOLD on this CW and NaomiZ’s review. You mean it’s not a joke about Orca’s fashion fads.
Marvellous Monday. Thanks for the fun, C.C. and NaomiZ.
Zip-zip Across and zip-zip Down and I FIRed.
The reveal sent me looking UP at the Downs (instead of the usual Acrosses) and I found the LACEs. No circles given or required. One small nit with 33D since WHALE also had a LA going UP.
The two American answers (SSA and NSA) perped.
I always wait to let perps decide between EEO and EOE.
The unknown-to-me clues for DAME, ATE, FLOW, LILI all perped easily.
The seesaws in the park near the brink of Niagara Falls trigger light and sound when used. It creates a great effect on a dark snowy evening during the Festival of Lights.
https://www.cliftonhill.com/falls_blog/winter-festival-of-lights-in-niagara-falls/
Wishing you all a great day.
Nice, easy-peasey (as it should be) Monday level CW, FIR in 9 minutes. I like this CW a lot: it's at my level, it only has 11 names, only 2 DNKs among them. I got the theme, but only after finishing the CW and looking for it, so it was no help solving the CW.
Favorite clue: "Diamond corner". Oy. I couldn't get my mind off a diamond as a gem. Only after BASE perped in and I thought about it did the V-8 can hit.
Only W/O: BIRCHS/ASPENS.
Thanx CC for the fun! And for keeping the name count low.
Thanx NaomiZ for the great write-up. I learned a couple things: an aspen copse is really all one tree! Wow, cool beans! And that orcas are a type of dolphin. I didn't know that either. I thought orcas were their own species.
Liked the floor-to-cieling answers, part of the LACE UP (RISE) theme otherwise a fair Monday puzzle. The clues for CHIP and ATE (tteebokki, not fair CC,☺️) could have been more Mondayish though🫤
One unknown person: LILI
Tried birch/beech for ASPENS too short/not perpable.
If you have a weak stomach, avoid the movie “The Substance” (great performance by Demi) gives the closed caption word “squelch” 😝new meaning.
ITALICS are not “bold”
Heard often in my department: “Don’t forget to put your ____ “ LEDON . (Lead X-ray apron)
Write out a word erroneously… DISPEL
Skin care brand for Matadors : … Oil of ____ : OLAY
After two weeks at the office up north back in SW Florida for 3 more 😊
Happy week
Ditto, no aspens around here, immediately thought White Birch...
I was beginning to think I was in danger of filling this in completely with the acrosses, and missing the whole point of the puzzle. But, as usual, I screwed up by misreading where I was when doing the online puzzle. I don't know why it keeps happening, but somewhere around omen, I started reading the the down clues instead of across, and tried to answer 33 across with the whale baby clue... (I also skip clues for some reason) I can't count the times I read the write up and realize I never saw a clue...
Anywho, that sandwich looked so tasty, I looked up how to pronounce it so I could order it.
(No Korean restaurants near me, so no need to pronounce the other thingie...)
Can't post a silly theme link without remembering this debacle!
Looking for a silly theme link had me wondering if anyone ever pulled a skating prank by tying some ones laces together. I thought, Nah! It's not possible!
but it kinda, sorta, act7ally happened!
Nice start of the week, although I wrinkled my nose at the obscure foreign foods, and the unknown actresses. Never heard of any of the shows....not a TV watcher. Perps to the rescue, otherwise a piece o' cake.
Good morning, and thanks C.C. for teaching us a few new things today. All of my shoes are LACE UP due to my A-width feet. Try finding narrow men's shoes. Nealy impossible.
LILI & Rivendale, and FLOW state were unknowns filled by perps. Never heard of either.
DAME for Lydia was a guess.
When I think of a song with 'Hello', I think of Neil Diamond's 'Hello Again', not ADELE.
CHINESE CALENDAR and any ethnic Zodiac cycle- other than Leo and a few others, I don't know much about any of them. But they were ancient ways to tell what time of year it was.
SEE SAWS, monkey bars, slides, merry-go-rounds- I guess they will take away baseballs and bats next.
NSA- I find it strange that a gov. agency that wouldn't acknowledge its existence until a few years ago now has a public symbol.
Between DW and me, Cera Ve has a good customer base. Not so much for OLAY.
Step-in Skechers fall off my feet. I doubt C.C. clued 'tteokbokki'. One of Patti's edited clues just like those obscure authors, singers, actors, and directors she likes to throw in, known by very few people except their agents and families.
Good Morning:
Late to the dance due to appointments and chores. CC adds a little extra oomph to her offering with the vertical theme and horizontal reveal. I knew the reveal without seeing any of the Laces simply by deduction and the familiarity of Lace Up. I didn’t know Flow or Lili (sorry, Darling Lily) but perps were fair. CC also elevated this above a typical Monday, IMO, with such fill as Apple Cider, Seesaw, Shasta, Cicadia, etc.
Thanks, CC, and thanks, Naomi, for a very clear and concise explanation of the theme, and your always charming and cheerful commentary. Props, also for the lovely photos, especially that yummy looking Croque Monsieur.
Have a great day.
Thank you, C.C. and NaomiZ
Quick solve, even though the onboard timer shows 17:40. Didn't stop it when I took a break.
Definitely Monday easy. Never read the clue nor even saw FLOW when solving. Saw it in the review. Would not have known the answer if I had read the clue. I'd suggest that wasn't C.C.'s clue.
Very pleased to see FLOW here. I hope it will be a learning moment and I hope it was Zhouqin who put it in. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi first wrote about FLOW in 1975. The typical example is a surgeon who has studied for years to perfect a skill. While doing the actual surgery, time vanishes and there is a delight at performing a complex procedure. But anyone can achieve this if they want to.
Enjoyed this Monday easy puzzle. Thanks C.C. Gotta look up difference between aspens and birches. Look alike to me. Thanks NaomiZ for review. Always learn stuff!
Very pleasant Monday puzzle, many thanks, C.C.. And your comments are always a pleasure, thanks for those too, NaomiZ.
Well, beginning with PACT and BASE the puzzle seemed likely to be dealing with money, maybe a CHIP or two for someone who was in their SENIOR YEAR trying to enact the SEASAW rate without having the price RISE. Let's hope there will be SILENCE about all this, and that everyone will be AT EASE with no RANT coming up anywhere. If that works out, the worker will even get some ALE or some APPLE CIDER for a great good morning of work. Thank you, everybody,
And have a great week coming up.
Hola! Thank you, C.C., for an easy and very doable Monday puzzle. I did not look for a theme so thank you, NaomiZ, for explaining it. Now I see the LACE up!
I also considered PEAK before ACME emerged. I'm a big fan of OLAY and use it as my foundation cream.
OLDIE and ELDER in the same puzzle make me paranoid!
Have a woderful day, everyone!
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