Thursday May 21, 2026 Heather Stanger McIntire & Shannon Rapp

In March, Shannon Rapp co-wrote a puzzle published here. Now she's found another collaborator, Heather Stanger McIntire, who's making her first appearance here. Shannon must have a SECRET MENU of constructors to select from!

37. Unpublicized restaurant offering, or a feature of the answer to each starred clue: SECRET MENU. SECRET MENUs are mostly a fast-food thing, and most aren't all that secret. They're just off-menu offerings, but they help build brand loyalty because the customer feels like an insider when ordering one. 

In today's puzzle, the MENU offerings are not from restaurants, but seen on websites. Some of them may be hidden under a "hamburger menu" - three bars in the upper corner of the screen that sorta resemble a burger. When clicked, it opens to show more choices like those clued below.

18. *Brunch choice: FRENCH OMELET. HOME takes one back the the HOME page of a website. Clicking on the company's logo will often do the same thing.

24. *Apprenticeship in the ways of The Force: JEDI TRAINING. Pressing EDIT enters "EDIT mode," where one can make changes to content. 

54. *Negro Leagues player in the Baseball Hall of Fame: SATCHEL PAIGE. Clicking HELP often suggests things that are of no HELP.

61. *"I Just Called To Say I Love You" singer: STEVIE WONDER. VIEW buttons enable switching between layouts on a monitor, such as half or full screen.

At first, I thought the word "MENU" would be hidden or scrambled in the entries. Failing in that, I dug deeper. Because it's a proper Thursday, nothing was circled so I actually had to work for my "aha" moment. As usual when there are five long themers, we're left with a lot of abbrev. even with an extra-wide grid.

Let's see what else is on the menu:

Across:

1. Texting format initials: SMS. Short Message Service is the standard, text-only communication technology used by mobile phones.

4. Eel in maki sushi: UNAGI. There are many types of sushi. Maki sushi is the common variety made by rolling vinegared rice and other fillings in a sheet of nori seaweed. I prefer nigiri or sashimi.

9. Language of Sri Lanka: TAMIL. TAMIL is an ancient language with a documented history spanning over 2,000 years. It is spoken by approximately 80 to 90 million people worldwide, and serves as an official language in India, Sri Lanka, and Singapore.

14. "Long," in Hawaiian: LOA. LOA can also mean "tall" or "very/much" - all apt descriptions of Mauna Loa, the world's largest active volcano.

15. Sure to end badly: NO WIN.

16. __ Cortina 2026: MILANO. The sister cities that hosted this year's Winter Olympics in Italy.

17. Under the weather: ILL.

18. [theme]

20. Only major U.S. city founded by a woman: MIAMI. Julia Tuttle (1849–1898) was a savvy businesswoman who convinced tycoon Henry Flagler (John D. Rockefeller's partner) to extend his railroad to the area. Known as the "Mother of Miami," she used citrus blossoms from her property to prove the region was frost-free, securing the development. But let's not forget the "Other Mother of Miami," Mary Brickell (1836-1922), who donated significant parcels of her 2000 acres to make it happen. Tuttle, Brickell and Flagler are all immortalized by major namesake roads in South Florida.

22. Roadside org.: AAA. American Automobile Association. We used to visit their travel agency and get customized TripTiks (flip maps) before setting out on a long trip. Then the internet and GPS came along...

23. Draped silk dress: SARI.

24. [theme]

29. Digital exec: CTO. A Chief Technology Officer is the executive in charge of IT.

30. Purple bloom: IRIS. 

31. World Series mo.: OCT. OCTober is also a month when all four major US sports are playing at the same time. Sometimes, they all have games on the same day, known as a "Sports Equinox."

32. Comedy series featuring Lily Tomlin: LAUGH-IN. LAUGH-IN debuted in 1968 and quickly became the most popular show on television. "And that's the truth."

Lily Tomlin as Edith Ann

34. Grown boys: MEN.

35. Educational acronym: STEM. STEM is an interdisciplinary approach to learning that integrates Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, rather than teaching them as separate subjects. It focuses on hands-on, real-world applications to teach critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation, preparing students for technology-driven careers that hopefully are still needed in an Ai world.

36. Opera solos: ARIAS.

37. [theme]

41. Call dibs on: CLAIM.

44. Charger, e.g.: AUTO. The fastest I've ever been in an AUTO was in a friend's 1966 Dodge Charger on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. We hit 120 mph and it felt like the car was going to leave the ground. It probably did. He was nuts and it had me rethinking my life's choices.

The Dodge Charger was introduced in 1966

45. Navigation tech: GPS. Global Positioning System - the modern day TripTik. Back in the last century, my service van was full of maps, but I learned my way around. Nowadays, people blindly follow directions from point A to B and never acquire navigational skills.

48. Tolkien characters who like to eat six meals a day: HOBBITS. Most sources list seven meals: Breakfast; Second Breakfast; Elevenses; Lunch; Afternoon Tea; Dinner; and Supper.

51. Locavore's org.: CSA. My first thought was that Locavore might be a Confederate general like Longstreet. Different CSA. A localvore is someone who tries to eat foods grown or produced locally and promotes Community Supported Agriculture. 

52. Small cut: SLIT.

53. Result of advancing in the field?: RBI. Runs Batted In, although it could have just been RUN.

54. [theme]

57. Key West, e.g.: ISLE. If you take U.S. 1 from Key West, you'll end up at the Canadian border in Maine 1,300 miles later - no map needed. 

Mile 0 in Key West

59. __ shu pork: MOO. MOO shu pork is a popular stir-fry dish featuring thinly sliced pork, scrambled eggs, and vegetables. I like to wrap them up like a Chinese fajita.

60. Oyster opener: OTTER.

61. [theme]

66. Sock part: TOE. Here's a windsock with an open TOE.

67. Barbershop parts: TENORS. Part of a barbershop quartet. I used to sing solo - so low that nobody heard me. 

68. Leg day exercise: LUNGE.

69. Music producer Brian: ENO.

70. Snacks stuffed with "stuf": OREOS. There are as many varieties of OREOS as ways to clue them.

71. Couple of bucks?: STAGS. Not just some doe.

72. Web feed initials: RSS. Really Simple Syndication is a technology that allows you to automatically receive updates from your favorite websites. Instead of manually checking multiple sites for new content, an RSS feed delivers the latest headlines and articles directly to you.

Down:

1. Jerky brand: SLIM JIM. I thought jerky was made from meat? LOL While SLIM JIM does make some jerky, they are famous for their "Smoked Snack Sticks" which are a highly processed food.

2. "Tartuffe" playwright: MOLIERE. MOLIÈRE was a French playwright, actor, and poet, widely regarded as one of the great writers in the French language and world literature.

3. First sultan of Syria and Egypt: SALADIN. SALADIN was a 12th-century Kurdish military and political leader who founded the Ayyubid dynasty. He successfully unified the Muslim Near East to reclaim Jerusalem and repel the Third Crusade. I don't remember him for some reason.

4. Not well-matched: UNFIT.

5. Swe. neighbor: NOR. NORway and Sweden are neighbors who only feud during Eurovision.

6. Astonishment: AWE.

7. Martini liquor: GIN.

8. Like some ruins in Peru: INCAN. The most famous is Machu Picchu from the 15th century.

9. "Beetlejuice" director Burton: TIM. TIM is known for his distinctive style that blends dark fantasy and gothic horror with whimsical elements in movies such as Edward Scissorhands and The Nightmare Before Christmas. 

10. Bitter beers: ALES. Bitter tears: WAILS.

11. Last book of the Old Testament: MALACHI. This is the end of the work as we know it.

12. Laziness: INERTIA. INERTIA is the natural tendency for an object at rest to stay at rest. I think I'll mow the lawn tomorrow...

13. Skin soothers: LOTIONS. What!? Not ALOE?

16. Disney film set in Polynesia: MOANA. Set in ancient Polynesia, the film follows MOANA, the strong-willed daughter of a village chief, who is chosen by the ocean to restore a mystical relic.

19. Call, as a cab: HAIL. Ride, as in a cab: HELL.

21. Sue Grafton's "__ for Malice": M IS. Easy peasy. All of her 25 "alphabet novels" start with the same letter as the crime-related word in the title. Very ambitious, but she died in 2017 before writing Z is for Zero. Her daughter said, "As far as we in the family are concerned, the alphabet now ends at Y."

25. Campus mil. unit: ROTC. The Reserve Officers' Training Corps is a college program that trains students to become commissioned officers in the U.S. Armed Forces.

26. Laptop brand: ACER.

27. "I feel seen": IT ME. Another unknown bit of internet slang, typically used when you identify perfectly with a meme or a character. It is a shortened version of "that's me" or "this is me." It bad.

28. Fertilizer from bats: GUANO. Because of bats' specialized diet, their droppings are exceptionally rich in nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium—essential plant nutrients.

33. Mentor of Minions: GRU. GRU is a grouchy, quick-witted, and cynical supervillain and the boss of the Minions. He is voiced by Steve Carell.

35. Big rigs: SEMIS. SEMI is shorthand for a semi-truck. SEMI refers to the trailer because it only has axles in the rear. The motorized cab part is the tractor, hence a tractor-trailer.

37. Sis, for one: SIB. A sister is a SIBling.

38. Speed reader?: TACH. A TACHometer measures engine speed, while RADAR is used to read the speed of SEMIS.

39. Inspiring figure: MUSE.

40. Footnote abbr.: ET AL. The abbreviation of et alia, meaning "and others."

41. Artist known for fabric-wrapped installations: CHRISTO. I enjoyed seeing his Surrounded Islands in Biscayne Bay by Miami in 1983. I remember hearing a parody of Prince's "Little Red Corvette" called "Little Pink Islands."

"Little pink islands, CHRISTO your art's a gas..." 

42. Maine course: LOBSTER. Fun clue. You can also dive for LOBSTER just 1,300 miles off course in Key West. 

43. Central Texas city: ABILENE.

45. Sparkly stuff: GLITTER.

46. City birds: PIGEONS.

47. Sound investments?: STEREOS. When I went to college, everyone brought STEREOS like they do computers today. I've upgraded through the years, and now have Legacy Focus speakers like these. They are big, but when your eyes are closed, singers sound like they are live, standing in the middle of the room! Ear buds just don't cut it.

49. Makes less wild: TAMES.

50. Put away: STOW.

52. Didn't play: SAT.

55. Loses steam?: COOLS. Just add more wood to the stove to keep your sauna steaming.

56. Sauna openings?: PORES. In a sauna, sweat pours out of PORES. This helps loosen dirt and oil trapped within the skin and improves circulation.

58. Kitchen initialism: EVOO. Extra Virgin Olive Oil. 

62. Tax agcy.: IRS. The Infernal Internal Revenue Service.

63. Fan: NUT.

64. "The Code Breaker" subj.: DNA. Walter Isaacson's biography of Nobel Prize-winning biochemist Jennifer Doudna and her pivotal role in the development a revolutionary DNA-editing technology.

65. Pasta ingredient: EGG. Pasta is basically wheat flour and EGGS, with a little EVOO and salt added.

Be good. RB

Wednesday, May 20, 2026 Steve Jopek

Theme: The Pressure Is On!   Here we have an unusual theme where the entries are united by something that happens to them.  Let's start with the unifier.

59 A. Feeling the squeeze, or what 17-, 23-, 37-, and 48-Across may be: HARD PRESSED.   This means to face a lot of difficulty, distress, or burden—usually because you are lacking time, money, or resources. It is also frequently used in the phrase "hard-pressed to do something," which means you would find it very difficult or unlikely to achieve a specific task.  More literally, it means to be subjected to physical pressure.

17 A. LP or 45: VINYL RECORD.  These are old-style phonograph records that have recently made a comeback.  My youngest granddaughter has some featuring her favorite modern artists.  

This is how it is done

23 A. Emergency feature on a car's key fob: PANIC BUTTON.   A key fob panic button is a safety feature, often labeled in red, that triggers a vehicle's horn and lights to blare continuously to attract attention during emergencies.  You have to press it.  I'm not sure how hard.

37 A. Ham-and-cheese concoctions with Florida origins: CUBAN SANDWICHES.   Warm, pressed ham and cheese sandwiches featuring roast pork, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard on crusty Cuban bread. Popularized by Cuban immigrants in Florida, it is typically grilled in a plancha (panini press) until the bread is crisp and the cheese melts.

48 A. Waterless treatment for some clothes: DRY CLEANING.  Dry cleaning is a professional cleaning process that uses special liquid chemical solvents instead of water to remove dirt, stains, and oils from fabric. Despite the name, clothes do get wet, but they are never submerged in water, which prevents delicate fabrics from shrinking, swelling, or losing their shape.   To finish the process, garments are expertly steamed and pressed using automated machinery or hand irons for a crisp, wrinkle-free finish.

Hi, Gang, JazzBunpa here to push us through this puzzle.  The pressure is on, so let us press on.

Here is today's theme song, once available on a Vinyl Record.

Across:

1. Pesters: NAGS.   Annoys, bothers, or persistently urges someone by constantly finding fault or making complaints.   What is it called if you annoy an old and overworked horse?

5. "Break a leg" addressee: ACTOR.  An actor is a performer in a play or movie.  "Break a leg" is a theatrical idiom used to wish performers good luck before a show. Because actors are notoriously superstitious and believe wishing good luck directly will cause the opposite, they use this phrase instead.

10. Minor quibble: NIT.  A minor or trivial complaint.  Not to be confused with an insect's egg.

13. Regions: AREAS.   Broad geographical, spatial, or conceptual areas defined by shared characteristics. 

15. Sulu portrayer on "Star Trek": TAKEI.   George Takei [b. 1937] is an American actor, author, activist, and director. He's best known for his role as Hikaru Sulu, the USS Enterprise's helmsman in the original Star Trek series and several films.

16. Prior to today: AGO.  Once upon a time.

19. Category: ILK.  Type.  Moose are not elks, but they are of the elk ilk.  Oh, deer!

20. "From my point of view ... ": AS I SEE IT.   IMHO.

21. Gin infusion berry: SLOE.   A small, sour, bluish-black fruit that grows on the blackthorn bush (Prunus spinosa). Because the raw fruit is highly astringently bitter, it is rarely eaten fresh but is famously used to make jams, preserves, and liqueurs like sloe gin.

22. Filmmaker Spike: LEE.   Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee is an American filmmaker, actor, and tenured professor at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. Born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1957, Lee is known for his provocative and uncompromising approach to controversial topics. His films often explore themes of race relations, urban discontent, and diversity within Black communities. 

27. The Falcons, on scoreboards: ATL.  Atlanta, GA is home to the Falcons of the National Football League..  They also have a pretty good baseball team

28. Squabble: ARGUE.  Quibble, perhaps pick nits.

29. Sandler of "Uncut Gems": ADAM.  Adam Richard Sandler [b. 1966] is an American actor, comedian, producer, musician, and screenwriter. He's known for his comedic roles in movies like Happy Gilmore, The Wedding Singer, and Little Nicky, but has also taken on dramatic roles like in Reign Over Me. His films often explore themes related to his Jewish heritage and range from romantic comedies to animated features like the Hotel Transylvania series. 

32. Plywood sheet: PANEL.    A flat, rectangular piece of building material (like plywood or sheet metal) used to form a surface or structure.

34. PC core: CPU.  Central Processing Unit.  The primary "brain" of a computer or smart device. It processes instructions, performs calculations, and manages the flow of data across all hardware and software.

41. Partner of flow: EBB.   The movement of the tide going out or retreating from the shore. Metaphorically, it is used to describe a gradual decline, lessening, or weakening of something over time (such as energy, morale, or emotion).

42. Wee: EENSY.  Teeny, itsey-bitsy.  A non-word meaning tiny.

43. Most populous continent: ASIA.  Asia is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area.

44. Online birthday greeting: E-CARD.    A digital version of a traditional greeting card. Sent via email, text, or messaging app,

46. A billion years: EON.   A unit of time representing an indefinitely long, immeasurable period. Might be a billion.  But who counts?

52. Bullpen stat: ERA.  Earned Run Average, representing the average number of runs an opposing team scores against them per nine innings .  

55. Jam-packed containers?: JARS.  Cylindrical glass or ceramic containers with wide openings, used for storing items like food, or food-like substances.  Jam is a fruit spread that can be packed into a jar. 

56. Like some work in a teacher's stack: UNGRADED.  Refers to something has not been assigned a grade, score, or classification level.  Alternatively,  dirt or gravel roads that have not been leveled, smoothed, or paved.

58. Vow renewal vow: I DO.  For marriage renewal.  Did it not take the first time?

62. Actress Peeples: NIA.   Virenia Gwendolyn Peeples [b. 1961], known professionally as Nia Peeples, is an American actress, singer, and producer. Peeples transitioned to acting in the early 1980s, gaining recognition for her role as Nicole Chapman on the TV show Fame. She's also known for her roles as Pam Fields on Pretty Little Liars, Karen Taylor Winters on The Young and the Restless, and Sydney Cooke on Walker, Texas Ranger. 

63. Proverb: ADAGE.   A short, memorable saying that expresses a well-known truth or common observation about life.  Frex: A bird in the hand saves nine.

64. Conchiglie pasta shape: SHELL.  A conch is a marine snail with a spiral shell.  I assume it is the eponym for this style of pasta, which comes in various sizes.

65. Zeus or Poseidon: GOD.  Zeus was the chief god of the Greek pantheon.  Poseidon, god of the sea, was his brother.

66. Saudi Arabia neighbor: YEMEN.   Yemen, officially the Republic of Yemen, is a country in West Asia. Including the Socotra Archipelago, mainland Yemen is located in southern Arabia; bordering Saudi Arabia to the north, and Oman to the northeast.  Yemen is the second largest country on the Arabian Peninsula by area, and the largest by population.

67. "If all __ fails ... ": ELSE.   This means that if every other planned action, preferred solution, or attempt you have tried is unsuccessful, you will move to your final fallback option or backup plan.

Down:

1. Part of USNA: NAVAL.  United States Naval Acadamy.

2. Respond to reveille: ARISE.  Wake up, Sad Sack.

3. "Aladdin" role for Robin Williams: GENIE.  Spirit in a bottle.   Don't rub it the wrong way.

4. Simon __: SAYS.  "Simon Says" is a classic listening game where players follow the leader's physical commands only if the phrase begins with the words "Simon says".

5. Used Grubhub, say: ATE IN.  Had a meal at home, in this case delivered from somewhere.

6. Some succulents: CACTI.   Succulents are drought-resistant plants that store water in their fleshy leaves, stems, or roots. The term comes from the Latin word sucus, meaning "juice" or "sap". They are not one specific family of plants, but rather a survival adaptation shared across roughly 60 different plant families.  Cactus plants are members of the succulent plant family Cactaceae, native primarily to the Americas. They are uniquely adapted to hot, arid environments, featuring thick, fleshy stems that store water, and sharp spines instead of traditional leaves to conserve moisture and deter animals

7. Ref's ring call, for short: TKO.  Technical Knock Out, a term used in combat sports like boxing, MMA, and wrestling to describe the end of a match when a referee, ringside physician, or a fighter's corner stops the fight because a competitor can no longer safely defend themselves

8. Opposite of 'neath: O'ER. Beneath and over - realtive p'sit'ns.

9. Divest (of): RID.  to strip, rid, or deprive someone or something of a possession, right, or quality. In business and finance, it specifically refers to the act of selling off assets, investments, or subsidiary companies, often for financial restructuring, ethical reasons, or to refocus on core operations

10. Mani-pedi pros: NAIL TECHS.     Licensed beauty professionals who specialize in the cosmetic care, grooming, and beautification of fingernails and toenails. 

11. Yeti rival: IGLOO.  Brands of coolers - cases for keeping food and drinks cold.

12. Game piece: TOKEN.    A physical or digital object used in games to represent value, assets, currency, or a player's standing.

14. Got some shut-eye: SLEPT.  Cut a few Z's

18. Honest-to-goodness: REAL.  Actual or truthful.

21. "Rugrats" dad: STU.  Never watched it, and couldn't find a clip worth sharing.

24. Smarties and Nerds: CANDY.  Not types of people.  In the US, Smarties are a tart, sweet, and powdery tablet candy pressed into small, colorful rolls.   Nerds are a popular American candy consisting of tiny, tangy, crunchy pebbles. Each piece is essentially a shaped sugar crystal coated in a thin, fruit-flavored layer. 

25. Make, as beer: BREW.    Make beverages like beer, ale, coffee, or tea by steeping, boiling, or fermenting. 

26. Wrinkly citrus fruit: UGLI.    A natural hybrid citrus native to Jamaica, made from a cross between a tangerine, a grapefruit, and an orange. The name is a play on the word "ugly," referring to its rough, wrinkled, and misshapen rind.

27. Org. whose symbol is a snake around a pole: AMA.  American Medical Assosiation.  It is the largest professional association and lobbying group for physicians and medical students in the U.S. Founded in 1847 and headquartered in Chicago, its core mission is to promote the art and science of medicine and improve public health.

29. Unreturned tennis serve: ACE.  Like this.

30. Add new audio to: DUB.    To add or replace the dialogue, music or sound effects in a video, movie, or broadcast. 

31. Street on a 1969 Beatles album: ABBEY ROAD.   The real Abbey Road is a famous thoroughfare located in St John's Wood, North London, UK. It runs through the City of Westminster and the borough of Camden.   The street is universally famous for two main landmarks, which sit right next to each other:  The Zebra Crossing: This is the exact crossing featured on the iconic 1969 Beatles album cover, Abbey Road. It has since been granted Grade II listed status for its cultural and historical importance.

Abbey Road Studios: Located at 3 Abbey Road, this legendary recording studio is where The Beatles and many other musical icons recorded their work.

You can listen to the entire album.  It was originally available as a vinyl record.

32. Bamboo eater: PANDA.   The giant panda, also known as the panda bear or simply panda, is a bear species endemic to China. It is characterised by its white coat with black patches around the eyes, ears, legs and shoulders. Its body is rotund; adult individuals weigh 100 to 115 kg and are typically 1.2 to 1.9 m long.

33. Ques. response: ANS.   Question and answer, abbrvd.

35. Architect I.M. __: PEI.  Ieoh Ming Pei [1917 - 2019] was a Chinese-American architect. Born in Guangzhou into a Chinese family, Pei drew inspiration at an early age from the garden villas at Suzhou, the traditional retreat of the scholar-gentry to which his family belonged.

36. Can. neighbor: USA. North American countries and hickey rivals.

38. Sci-fi author Stephenson: NEAL.  Neal Town Stephenson [b. 1959] is an American writer known for his works of speculative fiction. His novels have been categorized as science fiction, historical fiction, cyberpunk, and baroque. Stephenson's work explores mathematics, cryptography, linguistics, philosophy, currency, and the history of science.

39. Withered from drought: SERE.   Dry, withered, or parched, typically used to describe landscapes, climates, or vegetation lacking moisture.

40. Is able to: CAN.   Have the ability, right or permission to do something.

45. Shares an email with: CCS.  Carbon Copies.  Though the technology has moved on, the vocabulary hasn't.

46. Many a tech school grad: ENGR.  Engineer.

47. Fairy tale monsters: OGRES.  They're like onions.

48. Working a dance party, say: DJ - ING.  Working as a disc jockey, spinning vinyl records, maybe.

49. Marconi medium: RADIO.   A technology that uses electromagnetic waves (radio waves) to transmit and receive signals through the air without connecting wires. It can refer to the underlying communication technology, the broadcasting industry, or the electronic device used to receive and play audio.   Guglielmo Giovanni Maria Marconi [1874-1937], 1st Marquess, was an Italian radio-frequency engineer, inventor, and politician known for his creation of a practical radio wave-based wireless telegraph system.

50. Elbow gently: NUDGE.   A gentle touch, push, or subtle prompting used to attract attention or encourage someone toward a specific action.  Less intense than a prod.

51. Confident way to solve a crossword: IN PEN.  I had IN INK.  Didn't work.

52. Famous Ford flop: EDSEL.  The Edsel was an automobile marque produced by the Ford Motor Company for the 1958 through 1960 model years. Named after Henry Ford's son, Edsel Ford, it is infamous for being a massive corporate failure and a textbook case of ill-timed marketing and product design.  But all these years later, it is a valued collector's item.

53. Highland dances: REELS.  

They're reel good

54. Bewilder: ADDLE.   To make someone feel confused, disoriented, or unable to think clearly. 

57. Court legend Arthur: ASHE.   Arthur Robert Ashe Jr. [1943 - 1993] was an American professional tennis player. He won three Grand Slam titles in singles and two in doubles. Ashe was the first Black player selected to the United States Davis Cup team, and the only Black man ever to win the singles titles at Wimbledon, the US Open, and the Australian Open.

59. Stable staple: HAY.   Hay typically refers to grass, clover, or alfalfa that has been cut and dried. It is primarily used as stored fodder (animal food) for livestock like cattle, horses, and sheep, or as nibble and bedding for smaller pets like rabbits and guinea pigs.   I had OAT.  That was not helpful.

60. Summer refresher suffix: -ADE.  As in, frex., lemonede.

61. SoFi Stadium NFL player: RAM.   The Los Angeles Rams are a professional American football team based in the Greater Los Angeles area. The Rams compete in the National Football League as a member of the National Football Conference West division.

This wraps up today's puzzle.    I hope it made a good impression.

Steve Jopek has had puzzles accepted elsewhere but this is his first at the L.A. Times.  Congrats, Steve!

Cool regards!

JzB

Tuesday, May 19, 2026, Amanda Cook

Theme: YOWSA! (It hurts my eyes!)

CrossEyedDave here, and I am still trying to erase the after image of this puzzle out of my mind... most of the puzzle played out well, except the SW Corner, which took some sussing. The theme? Well, at first I couldn't see anything. So I asked Daughter #1 for help. She was as nonplussed as I... so I emailed CC for help. As I was typing, I realized that Lunch, Play, Couples, and Up, could all be preceded by the word "Power." But I could not understand how power lunch hour/power play station etc, had anything to do with clashing. CC replied Both words can follow "power", hence it's clashing. 

So...

17 Across. Midday break from work: LUNCH HOUR. (Power Lunch / Power Hour)

26 Across. Sony game console: PLAY STATION. (Power Play / Power Station)

52 Across. Vacation with friends and their significant others: COUPLES TRIP. (Power Couples / Power Trip)

62 Across. Artistically repurposing, as trash: UPCYCLING. And... even though it is one word,,, (Power Up / Power Cycling)

And the Reveal:

36 Across. Fashion trend that embraces a bold mix of patterns and colors, or what can be found in 17-, 26-, 52-, and 62-Across?: POWER CLASHING.

Yowsa! It hurts my eyes!

Still nonplussed, I asked Daughter #3 if she could see any clashing of the words, or how to explain it, and we are all not sure what is going on here, or if there is more we are blinded to. I said, I am not a conflicting person by nature, how can I explain this clashing I cannot see? And so that's how my review ended up saying this puzzle theme is just a powerful collection of friendly words getting together...

If you can see something different, by all means please enlighten us in the comments.

Onward!

Across:
1. Enjoyable: NICE. ( a devious start, as this start is just a deception. )

5. Not bad, not great: SO SO. (No comment )

9. Amazon smart speakers: ECHOS. (That's the name on the box, but everyone calls them Alexa's.)

14. Pedal pusher: FOOT.😀

15. Rocky outcrop: CRAG.

A familiar word for Rock Climbers.

16. Barely detectable amount: TRACE.

17. Theme.

19. Ninja Turtle home: SEWER. Ok, I'm supposed to splain things that may not be understood about the puzzle. How do I explain to the crossword solving breakfast club all about radioactive mutant turtles that live in the Sewer? That have Italian Renaissance names, and love pizza?

20. Shoe designer Jimmy: CHOO.

Name #1

21. Corp. VIP: CEO. Chief  Executive Officer

23. Word with garage or yard: SALE.

24. Low card in gin rummy: ACE.

26. Theme.

29. Ithaca Ivy: CORNELL.

31. Like some staff retreats: ONSITE. (Or On-Site)

32. Pledge drive gift: TOTE.

33. Little piece of land: ISLET. What is the difference between an islet, and a cay?  The A.I. Overview

36. Theme Reveal.

42. Swerves: VEERS.

43. Paper chain segment: LOOP. (I wanted Link.)

45. Equilibrium: STASIS. (The beginning of the difficult SW corner...)

49. Matures, in a way: EVOLVES. I was thinking ripens, but it wouldn't fit. You would think evolution is an ongoing process, and maturation is an end result. But they did say "in a way," so, anything goes...

52. Theme.

55. Historical period: ERA.

56. Scheme: RUSE. Or plot, plan, ploy, scam...

57. Tiny terrier, e.g.: TOY.

58. "Tulsa King" actor McDonough: NEAL.

Name #2

60. __ Park, Colorado: ESTES. Familiar to any model rocketeer...

62. Theme.

66. Gloss over, in speech: ELIDE. (Forgive me for skipping over the details...)

67. Barking marine mammal: SEAL.

68. Lost, metaphorically: ASEA.

Lost, literally...

69. Like pound cake: DENSE. But nowhere near as dense as a fruit cake, I mean, I've seen fruit cakes you can literally use as a door stop!

70. Contributes: ADDS.

71. Blended family prefix: STEP. Hmm, interesting clueing...

Down:
1. Org. with Lions and Bears, but not Tigers: NFL. National Football League League. Lions=Detroit, Bears= Chicago, Tigers= MLB (Major League Baseball)

2. Short note?: IOU.😀

3. Composition for soloist and orchestra: CONCERTO. There a whole book on it, just ask Daughter#3 who had to study it for Her Music Degree.

4. Engrave: ETCH.

5. Podiatrist with a namesake orthopedic brand: SCHOLL.

Everybody has seen these...

6. Gold, in Spanish: ORO. This has become an old crossword staple for its three letters, how Gold can become boring... hmm, how about, Walter Keonig's (Chekov) next SciFi role after The Original Star Trek?

Believe it or not,

His 1st role was in TV's Combat!

7. Pert: SAUCY. Could have been sassy, but the Constructor was being Pert...

8. Folklore brutes: OGRES.

9. UFO pilots, presumably: ETS. Extra Terrestrials.

10. Distinctive features of cockatoos: CRESTS.

11. The Big Island: HAWAII.

12. Spotted wildcat: OCELOT.

13. Peaceful: SERENE.

18. Dream: HOPE.

22. Central Plains people: OTOES. Another crossword staple. Could use some fresh clueing, perhaps "Ode to lower digits?"

24. "__ your age!": ACT. (Ok, maybe I'll delete the 22 down commentary...)

25. Henhouse: COOP.

27. Wonderland visitor who uses a flamingo as a croquet mallet: ALICE.

28. Scholarly collection: Abbr.: ANTH. Anthology is a curated collection of literary works, such as poems, short stories, plays, or songs. 

30. Unfamiliar: NEW.

34. Camera type, for short: SLR. Single Lens Reflex

The movable mirror between the viewfinder and the film

(Or electronic image sensor) makes a single lens possible.

35. __ pointer: LASER.

37. Downright rotten: EVIL.

38. Go back to zero: RESET.

39. __-at-ease: ILL.

40. Jane Austen, for one: NOVELIST.

Jane Austen

1775-1817 (aged 41)

No photograph available...

(Name #3)

41. Opera ending?: GOER. (Erm?) according to the Internet: Operagoer is a common nine letter word that fits the clue "Opera ending" in crosswords... (Common nine letter word?) Maybe when the fat lady sings...

44. Awareness-raising TV spot: PSA. Public Service Announcment

45. Lengthy diatribe: SCREED. This is the word to use to describe my unhappiness with the SW corner...

46. Muss: TOUSLE. The result of much head scratching, again in the SW corner...

47. "Keep __ Weird": motto of a Texas city: AUSTIN. (That SW corner again, really weird!)

48. Podcast playback options: SPEEDS. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

50. Audiophile's collection: VINYLS. (I wanted Albums)

51. Oil cartel acronym: OPEC. Organization of Oil Exporting Countries.

53. March composer John Philip __: SOUSA. Inventor of the Sousaphone

One you wear, the other you carry...

Which would you rather march with?

54. Not handwritten: TYPED.

59. "Sad to say ... ": ALAS.

61. "Catch my drift?": SEE.

63. Currency with toonies, briefly: CAD. Yikes! This takes some splainin'. First of all, the Loonie, is the Colloquial name for the Canadian One Dollar Coin. Ergo, the Toonie refers to the two dollar coin...(simple.) but what is the "A" in CAD? No one knows, and it doesn't matter, because the official ISO code for the Canadian Dollar is CAD, differentiating it from other dollars (like the U.S. Dollar). Who or what is this ISO you ask?  More info here...

64. Formerly named: NEE.

65. Hiatus: GAP.

And, The Grid...

I am looking forward to hearing from you in the comments. Because I am still not sure if I am missing something in this clash of words puzzle...

CE:D out...

(•˕ •マ.ᐟ

Monday, May 18, 2026, Brian Callahan, Amie Walker

Theme:  Swing for the fences!

A scene from Happy Gilmore starring Adam Sandler, 1996

Brian Callahan and Amie Walker are frequent crossword contributors to the LA Times, solo or teamed up with others, and at least once in the past, together.  How do they make great moves in the grid?  Today's big reveal is:

61-Across. Advice for adding power to a golf swing, or what can be said about 17-, 27-, and 50-Across: IT'S ALL IN THE HIPS.  In the listed entries, the answers are contained within the word HIPS, written in helpful circles at either end of each answer.  Note the progression of the letter breaks from 1:3, to 2:2, to 3:1.  Are the HIPS moving from one side to the other, as in a golf swing?

17-Across. "Let me give you a few pointers ... ": HERE ARE SOME TIPS.

27-Across. Some track-and-field attempts: HIGH JUMPS.

50-Across. VW adorned with decals from the flower power era, e.g.: HIPPIE BUS.

We can expect some groaning in the comments today about circles, but yours truly feels they are needed to see the theme.  Aside from that, I think we can all appreciate the symmetry of the grid and the theme answers, and the fact that two of the themers span the grid.  I did have one little problem with the solve, which I'll share when we get there.  Shake a leg!

Across:

1. Annoying ordeal: HASSLE.

7. Reddit tell-all sesh: AMA.  Ask Me Anything question-and-answer session on Reddit, a news aggregator and social media platform.

10. Veil material: LACE.

14. Fiction influenced by net culture: ALT LIT.  Alternative literature (or alt-lit) is a literary movement influenced by internet culture and online publishing.  It is characterized by autofiction (telling an altered story of one's own life in the third person), self-publication, and a presence on social media networks.

15. Grass roll: SOD.

16. __ hygiene: ORAL.

17. [Theme clue]

20. Pointed (at): AIMED.

21. Galápagos lizard: IGUANA.  The marine iguana is found only on the Galápagos Islands. It forages in the sea for algae, which make up almost all of its diet.  There are land iguanas in the Galápagos as well.

Marine iguana, Isla Española, Galápagos, 2022

22. Small stick in a bird's nest: TWIG.

24. Yoga poses: ASANAS.

27. [Theme clue]

30. First step of a home reno: DEMO.  Home RENOvation shows make DEMOlition look like fun.

33. Beatty/Hoffman film flop: ISHTAR.  Ishtar is a 1987 comedy film written and directed by Elaine May, and produced by Warren Beatty, who co-stars with Dustin Hoffman.  The story revolves around a pair of talentless songwriters who travel to a gig in Morocco and stumble into international intrigue.  Shot on location in Morocco and New York City, the production drew media attention for cost overruns on top of a lavish budget.  A change in management at Columbia Pictures also hurt the film's release, which was a notorious failure at the box office.  Initially considered to be one of the worst films ever made, it has since had better reviews.

34. "I'm not sure" sounds: UHS.  UH ... did anyone else put UMS here, and then wonder what kind of heroine at 26-Down could be named ASMA?  I did.  FIW (finished it wrong) by one square.

36. Phoenix NBA team: SUNS.

38. Pickleball barrier: NET.

Pickleball court divided by a net.

39. Overt: BLATANT.

42. Fuel additive brand: STP.  STP is a brand of automotive products, including motor oil, fuel additives, and brake fluids.  The name STP originally stood for "Scientifically Treated Petroleum."

43. Avocado dip, for short: GUAC.  Short for guacamole, a Mexican Spanish word which comes from the Nahuatl word āhuacamōlli meaning "avocado sauce."

45. Oft-protected personal ID: SSN.

46. "Same here": I AM TOO.

48. College Board exam for sophs: PSAT.  The Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test has been administered to high school sophomores since Fall 1971.  

50. [Theme clue]

52. Capital of Kansas: TOPEKA.

54. Richard of "Chicago": GERE.  Chicago is a 2002 musical crime film based on the 1975 stage musical, which in turn originated in the 1926 play.  It explores celebrity, scandal, and corruption in Chicago during the Jazz Age, and stars Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Richard Gere. 

55. These days: LATELY.

58. "Gavel-to-gavel" coverage provider: C-SPAN.  Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network is an American cable and satellite television network, created in 1979 by the cable television industry as a nonprofit public service.  C-SPAN provides unfiltered coverage of the U.S. House, Senate, and major congressional hearings from the beginning of each session to the end.

61. [Theme clue]

66. Lion's sound: ROAR.

67. Pop singer Rita: ORA.  Thank you, crossword puzzles, for teaching me this one.

68. Call forth, as memories: ELICIT.

69. Car loan figs.: APRS.  The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is the total cost of borrowing to pay for a vehicle over the course of one year.  It serves as a comparison tool between loan offers.  Imagine that Bank A has a low interest rate, but also has a large fixed fee for car loans. The fee will be figured into the APR.  Bank B has a slightly higher interest rate, but lower or no fees.  Bank B's overall APR may be lower than Bank A's, and therefore a better deal.

70. __ and improved: NEW.

71. Show up for: ATTEND.

Down:

1. Laugh syllable: HAH.

2. Tavern beer: ALE.

3. Likely feature of a valedictorian's report card: STRAIGHT A'S.  The highest mark in all school subjects.

4. __ of hand: magician's knack: SLEIGHT.  "Sleight" refers to a deceitful kind of craftiness, or to skill and dexterity.

5. Actor Neeson: LIAM.  Liam Neeson is an actor from Northern Ireland who has garnered many accolades over forty years in films.  He rose to prominence portraying Oskar Schindler in Steven Spielberg's Holocaust drama Schindler's List (1993), for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor.

Liam Neeson

6. To be, in French: ÊTRE.  Oh, to be a French verb ... how wonderful that would be.  Here's a phrase you know using être:  "C'est la vie."  "That is life."

Present tense conjugation of the verb "to be" in French.

7. Donkey: ASS.

8. Dairy sound: MOO.

9. Online moderator, briefly: ADMIN.

10. Pink blooms sacred to Buddhists: LOTUSES.  Rooted in mud but blooming above water, the lotus flower symbolizes the purity of an enlightened mind rising above suffering.  According to legend, everywhere the baby Buddha stepped, a lotus flower bloomed.

Lotus flower

11. Solo for an opera diva: ARIA.

12. Breakfast mascot's rank: CAP'N.  "Cap'n" is a contraction of the word captain, and is used to represent a sailor's pronunciation: "Aye aye, cap'n!"

Can you spot the verb être on this box of Canadian Cap'n Crunch?
It is crunchificent!

13. "Frozen" ice queen: ELSA.  Frozen is a 2013 animated musical film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios, loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen's 1844 fairy tale, "The Snow Queen."

The characters of this film often show up in our puzzles.
It might be helpful to watch it sometime.

18. Dutch cheese: EDAM.

19. "Yikes!": EGAD.

22. Category of noun: THING.  Nouns are words that name people, places, things, or ideas. 

23. Get smart: WISE UP.

25. Soviet satellite launched in 1957: SPUTNIK.  Sputnik 1 was the world's first artificial Earth satellite. A 23-inch metal sphere with four antennas, it orbited for three months, emitting a radio signal.

26. "Wish" heroine voiced by Ariana DeBose: ASHA.  Here's the other half of my downfall at 34-Across, where I wrote UMS, not UHS.  Asha is the protagonist of the animated film Wish (2023) produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios.  She is voiced by American actress Ariana DeBose.  The idea for the film was hatched during the creation of Frozen II.

Ariana           and           Asha

28. Quick punch: JAB.

29. Web addresses: URLS.

31. "Wish we all had that kind of luck": MUST BE NICE.

32. Moving from gig to gig: ON TOUR.  What the protagonists of Ishtar were hoping to be doing.

35. Scissors sound: SNIP.

37. Slangy "Let's say ... ": SPOSE.  An informal contraction of the word "suppose."  In the sense of "let's say," you can imagine a phrase like, "Spose we pay higher interest to Bank B, but there are no other fees ..."

40. Arthur in the International Tennis Hall of Fame: ASHE.

41. __ chi: martial art: TAI.

44. Part of a "Gabby's Dollhouse" costume: CAT EARS.  I have twin grandchildren who are 12 years old, and a grandbaby who is 8 months, so I'm perfectly positioned to know absolutely nothing about Gabby's Dollhouse, a television show for preschoolers aged 3 to 6 years.

Gabby's Dollhouse

47. Smash success: MEGA HIT.  Not Ishtar.

49. Bridge charge: TOLL.

51. Treaty: PACT.

53. Traffic marker: PYLON.  Usually just a good old fashioned orange cone.

55. Money of Italy, once: LIRA.

56. Resting on: ATOP.

57. Former Russian ruler: TSAR.

59. __ butter: skin care ingredient: SHEA.  Shea butter is a fat extracted from nuts of the African shea tree.  It is a popular ingredient in skin care products.

Shea butter

60. Pepper (with): PELT.

62. Furious feeling: IRE.

63. Casual refusal: NAW.

64. Brooch: PIN.

65. Norm: Abbr.: STD.  Another word for norm is standard, abbreviated std.

Here's the grid:

To cap off our theme:

Shakira and friends:  "Hips Don't Lie."

Solvers, was this puzzle a HASSLE for you, with BLATANT obscurities ELICITing groans?

Or do you SPOSE it will be considered a MEGAHIT for its fine qualities?

MUST BE NICE to win them all.  Let's hear from you in the comments.

-- NaomiZ