Sunday April 19, 2026 Adam Landau

 Theme: "SUPERMARKET SWEEP" - Each theme entry strings together three familiar product brands  in the aisle named in the clue.

23. Brief but strong infatuation in the beverage aisle?: BRISK MONSTER CRUSH.

38. Sly campaign to keep white birds out of the deodorant aisle?: SECRET DOVE BAN.

51. Huge supply of sled dogs in the household goods aisle?: HEFTY HUSKY BOUNTY.

66. Improve Alabama school spirit in the laundry aisle?: GAIN TIDE CHEER.

84. Ms. Witherspoon's Peruvian friends in the candy aisle?: REESE'S ANDES PEEPS.

92. Full commitment to benevolence in the cereal aisle?: TOTAL KIND LIFE.

114. Exclusive gathering around a cauldron in the snack aisle?: PREMIUM KETTLE CLUB.

In the old Tribune Media Daily days, we would have "three types of candy" or "three types of cereal" clues.

Adam elevates the concept beyond simple mashups. It takes real creativity to craft a coherent surface for each trio so that the brands read naturally when placed side by side.

Across:

1. Scary story emotion: FEAR.

5. Corrida star: TORERO. Spanish for "bullfighter".

11. Yogi's pose: ASANA.

16. "__ Is a Woman": Ariana Grande song: GOD.

19. Shakespearean villain: IAGO.

20. Putting in some miles, say: ON A RUN.

21. Trig function: COSEC.

22. Impersonate: APE.

26. __ of attrition: LAW.

27. Daytime show until 2022: ELLEN. "Call Me Maybe" era memories. Blurry images though.

28. Sundaes, e.g.: DESSERTS.

29. 2026 Olympics host country: ITALY.

31. Whiskey choice: RYE.

32. Spanish river to the Mediterranean: EBRO.

35. Evian, par exemple: EAU.

36. Sacramento daily: BEE.

37. French father: PERE. et Mere.

45. Opera solo: ARIA.

48. Ordinary: USUAL.

50. Financial: MONETARY.

56. Toledo's lake: ERIE.

57. Pitcher's rate?: AD FEE. Sales pitch. 

58. Cell service letters: LTE.

59. Check no.: ACCT.

60. Take by force: WREST. Not our normal USURP or SEIZE.

61. Vegan cafe order: SOY LATTE.

63. Farm insects: ANTS.

64. Bridal party attire: DRESSES.

69. Finalize, as a house purchase: CLOSE ON.

73. Exclude: OMIT.

74. Obscene: INDECENT.

79. Show runner?: AIRER. Literally. 

80. Borscht base: BEET.

81. "Here Comes the Hotstepper" singer Kamoze: INI. Learning moment for me. 

82. Radii neighbors: ULNAE.

83. Nota __: BENE.

88. Tool for an ENT: OTOSCOPE.

90. Have faith in: TRUST.

91. Campus group: FRAT.

96. Pet brand since 1946: IAMS.

98. Figure skater Alysa: LIU. She's stunning. 

99. Landlocked Eur. country: AUS.

100. Ocular issue: STYE.

101. Light-years away: FAR.

104. Dry shampoo target: SCALP. Not a fan of dry shampoo. 

107. Unleash: LET LOOSE.

111. Corn: MAIZE.

113. Sin City airport code: LAS.

118. Alias letters: AKA.

119. Consumed: EATEN.

120. City near Hueco Tanks: EL PASO. Hueco Tanks is a Texas state park. Unfamiliar to me. 

121. Neutral shade: ECRU.

122. __ in one's step: PEP.

123. Corp. shuffle: REORG.

124. Woven furniture material: RATTAN.

125. Ewes and does: SHES.

Down:

1. Nutrient found in most fruit: FIBER. I'm so looking forward to the peach season. 

2. At 4 a.m., say: EARLY.

3. Limber: AGILE.

4. "Titanic" heroine: ROSE.

5. __ yum: Thai soup: TOM. Tom means "boiling". Hot. 

6. Peace activist Yoko: ONO.

7. Stranger, in slang: RANDO.

8. Gaelic language: ERSE.

9. Tedious routines: RUTS.

10. "Be right back ... ": ONE SEC.

11. Build over time: ACCRUE.

12. Spreadsheet action: SORT.

13. Taiwanese tech giant: ASUS. Named after Pegasus, the winged horse.

14. Console known as Famicom in Japan: NES. Famicom stands for Family Computer.

15. Realize: ACHIEVE.

16. Big do: GALA.

17. Fall birthstone: OPAL.

18. Damp in the morning: DEWY.

24. Leg joint: KNEE.

25. Foster: REAR.

30. Wobbles: TEETERS.

33. "Dude, are you serious?": BRUH.

34. Bring about: RESULT IN.

36. Like hard-to-eat fish: BONY.

37. Dev of "Monkey Man": PATEL. Made his breakthrough  in "Slumdog Millionaire"

38. Quaff with sushi: SAKE.

39. "Tarzan" actor Ron: ELY.

40. Cartoon quartet named for Renaissance artists, for short: TMNT. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael

41. Half of a colon: DOT.

42. Exposes: BARES.

43. Pop up: ARISE.

44. Russian denials: NYETS.

45. Clicking sounds?: AHAS. Good old clue.

46. Second chance: REDO.

47. Not certain: IFFY.

49. Route that includes a ferry between Wisc. and Mich.: US TEN.

52. Record-setting pilot Chuck: YEAGER.

53. Wild West robbers: BANDITS.

54. One set of pawns, in chess: OCTET.

55. Sch. whose mascot is Sammy the Banana Slug: UCSC. University of California, Santa Cruz.

60. "It's our turn!": WE'RE UP.

62. Eastern philosophy: TAO. Dao in China. 

63. Mann of alt-rock: AIMEE.

64. Fights an allegation: DENIES IT.

65. Like half of Indonesia's flag: RED.

67. Pedicure targets: TOES.

68. One performing puja: HINDU. Puja is Hindu worship ritual. 

69. American statesman Henry __ Lodge: CABOT.

70. Mislead: LIE TO.

71. "... but maybe I'm off base?": OR NOT.

72. Has a panoramic view, say: SEES ALL.

75. Staff figures: CLEFS.

76. Fed. power dept.: ENER.

77. __ cabbage: NAPA. We ate napa cabbage and daikon every day during winter when I was a kid.  Popular ingredients in Chinese paocai, our version of kimchi. 

78. Sample: TEST.

80. "It's __ a minute!": BEEN.

81. Memo starter: IN RE.

84. Smart TV option: ROKU.

85. Prefix with dermal: EPI.

86. DOJ bureau: ATF.

87. Lisa Loeb hit single: STAY.

89. Intuit Dome player: CLIPPER. NBA's newest arena in Inglewood, CA.

93. Seeing romantically: DATING.

94. Doozy: LULU.

95. Chemical cousin: ISOMER.

97. Viral post: MEME.

100. Adjust to: SET AT.

101. Pilfer: FILCH.

102. Bright blue hue: AZURE.

103. Picture puzzle: REBUS.

104. Smack: SLAP.

105. Birthday order: CAKE. I want this. 

106. "Stat!": ASAP.

107. Sister of Asteria in Greek mythology: LETO.

108. Pt. of EMT: EMER.

109. St. with a panhandle: OKLA.

110. Mo. in a Green Day title: SEPT.

112. Vegas team: ACES.

115. Issa of "American Fiction": RAE.

116. Screening org.: TSA.

117. Silent film star Chaney: LON.

On a sad note, I'm sharing that Bill G, who used to comment regularly on our blog, passed away in February 2025. I had emailed him a "Happy Birthday" message, his daughter Bonnie let me know the  news. Bill was a warm and thoughtful presence here, and he will be missed. 

Barbara, Bill & their grandchildren

Happy Birthday to to dear Kelly Clark, a regular and a terrific crossword constructor! Happy Birthday also to Anonymous PVX!

And a belated Happy Birthday to our Thursday Sherpa Rusty Brain. Hope you had a great celebration yesterday, Brian! Here's to continuing to age like a fine cheese!

 

Sunday October 26, 2025 Adam Landau

Theme: "FOUR OF A KIND" - Each theme entry contains four words that share a same ending sound. 

22. Expensive streaming ad error?: RICH TWITCH PITCH GLITCH.

36. Carrier for casino winnings?: BLACK JACK BACK PACK.

56. "Apparently, it's better not to dye your hair"?: THEY SAY STAY GRAY.

82. "Masala tea is getting so expensive," e.g.?: SKY HIGH CHAI SIGH.

96. Tie-dyed quilt?: DEAD HEAD BED SPREAD.

117. Shooting star?: QUITE BRIGHT NIGHT LIGHT.

I think this is Adam Landau's LA Times debut. Congrats, Adam! 

It's been a while since we saw this type of full-on rhyming theme. A tough feat to pull off cleanly with fun clues.

Across:

1. Palindromic address: MADAM.

6. Around: ABOUT.

11. Taylor-Joy of "The Queen's Gambit": ANYA.  She also voices Princess Peach in "The Super Mario Bros. Movie".

15. Prelude to a kiss?: I DO.

18. Classic Camaros: IROCS.

19. Beatles drummer: RINGO. Sir Richard Starkey.

20. Appearance: MIEN.

21. Ghost calls: BOOS.

26. Northern Nevada city: ELKO.

27. Carded at a club, casually: ID'ED.

28. The Emerald Isle: EIRE.

29. Dwelling for una familia: LA CASA.

30. Knitter's medium: WOOL.

32. Oft-fried vegetable: OKRA.

33. Father: SIRE.

34. Edebiri of "The Bear": AYO. It means "Joy" in Yoruba.

44. Ballet studio support: BARRE.

46. Feels bad about: RUES.

47. LAX info: ETA.

48. Actor Astin: SEAN.

49. Streetwear designer Marc: ECKO. He wanted ECHO in the first place.

50. Ingredient amt.: TBSP.

51. Change beds?: RE-PLANT. Garden beds.

55. Guatemalan gold: ORO.

59. Playground retort: AM NOT.

61. Wander: TRAIPSE. Aimlessly. 

62. Duplo maker: LEGO.

63. Rifts: SCHISMS.

65. Meadow: LEA.

66. Sault __ Marie: STE.

68. Digital art hosted on a blockchain: Abbr.: NFT. Non-Fungible Token. 

70. 84-Down edge: RIM. 84. Basketball target: HOOP.

71. Attracted by: DRAWN TO.

75. Lhasa __: APSO.

77. Albuquerque minor leaguer: ISOTOPE. Learning moment for me.

81. Like some wine barrels: OAKEN.

86. Mario Kart avatar: MII.

87. Most sore: ACHIEST. I got jabbed five times the past 3 weeks. The first was the worst, the spot got swollen immediately. The infusion nurse then took a mulligan. That spot remained purple for over 2 weeks.

89. "I heard you! Enough!": OK OK.

90. Plot measure: ACRE.

91. "¿Cómo __ usted?": ESTA.

93. Solo's son: REN.

94. One who walks the walk: DOER.

95. Slightly off: ASKEW.

102. Tagging symbols: ATS.

103. Cones' counterparts: RODS.

104. Travel option: RAIL.

105. Fall pile component: LEAF. Just had some rain. Most of the pretty leaves in our neighborhood are gone.

107. Charcuterie meat: SALAMI.

110. Bad habit: VICE.

111. Big __: Red Sox nickname: PAPI. He was just David Ortiz when he was a Twin.  

114. Corleone played by Marlon Brando: VITO.

121. Liberate: FREE.

122. Hunger (for): LONG.

123. Abated: EASED.

124. Fantasy Football domain: YAHOO. I like this new clue angle. 

125. Caribbean vacation souvenir?: TAN. Ha. 

126. Manchego sources: EWES. From Wikipedia: It's a cheese made in the La Mancha region of Spain from the milk of sheep of the Manchega breed. It is aged between 60 days and 2 years. 

127. Takes in a text: READS.

128. __ nous: ENTRE.

Down:

1. Bog down: MIRE.

2. Pomegranate seed: ARIL. I always love arils on all the Thanksgiving dishes.

3. Waterfront laborer: DOCKWORKER.

4. "Gesundheit" prompt: ACHOO.

5. Colorado hrs.: MST.

6. Lacking precipitation: ARID.

7. More than a nibble: BITE.

8. Like most recorded music from the 1990s: ON CD.

9. "Hate it!": UGH.

10. Midwest capital: TOPEKA.

11. California Zephyr operator: AMTRAK. Scenic.

12. "Love it!": NICE.

13. Slangy assent: YEH.

14. Like St. Paul's Cathedral: ANGLICAN.

15. Itty-bitty bit: IOTA.

16. Ob-gyns and ENTs: DOCS.

17. Org. concerned with employee well-being: OSHA.

21. Curl targets: BICEPS. Someday Splynter will show his. 

23. Estate document: WILL.

24. Texter's qualifier: IIRC.

25. Morning songbird: LARK.

31. U.K. honor for Naomie Harris: OBE. Order of the British Empire. She's been in a few Bond movies.

32. 60-Down, minus the champagne, for short: OJS. 60. Bottomless brunch drinks: MIMOSAS.

33. Skewered Thai dishes: SATAYS.

34. Help a bad actor: ABET.

35. Luxury boat: YACHT.

37. "We have the meats" chain: ARBY'S.

38. Swears: CUSSES.

39. Didn't throw away: KEPT.

40. Lugosi of "Dracula": BELA.

41. Forever and a day: AEONS.

42. Ricochet, in billiards: CAROM.

43. Nautical speed units: KNOTS.

45. Majestic pronoun: ROYAL WE.

50. Knock softly on: TAP AT.

51. Deli bread: RYE.

52. Festive beverage: EGGNOG.

53. Undergrad lecturer: PROF. 113. 53-Down degs.: PHDS.

54. Surfing site for the 2024 Olympics: TAHITI.  It's part of France. French Polynesia.

57. Toyota minivan: SIENNA.

58. First Hebrew letters: ALEPHS.

64. [I'm a frog]: CROAK.

67. "Ariel" voice actor Diggs: TAYE. He made his debut in "How Stella Got Her Groove Back".

69. Heart: TICKER.

71. Like the Capitol building: DOMED.

72. Confident poker action: RAISE.

73. Curly-tailed guard dog: AKITA.

74. Irish-themed casino on the Vegas Strip: O'SHEA'S.

76. Heed the theater warning bell: SIT.

78. "Jersey __": MTV reality show: SHORE.

79. Stir up conflict: PICK A FIGHT. Great fill.

80. Everglades wader: EGRET.

83. Granola bar brand: KIND.

85. Chops down: HEWS.

88. Trustworthy: CREDIBLE.

92. Around $8 million, for the Super Bowl: AD RATE. Imagine the money Budweiser has spent on Super Bowl ads.

94. ISP option: DSL.

95. Gator follower: ADE.

97. Where the heart is, proverbially: HOME. Our home is the only home I've lived in the US.

98. Myers-__ personality tests: BRIGGS.

99. A pop: EACH.

100. Keto adherent, perhaps: DIETER. Both Bill and Margaret were on Keto for a while. Then Margaret's blood sugar dropped too low. 

101. Landed: ALIT.

106. For the birds?: AVIAN.

107. Room meas.: SQ FT.

108. Vibe: AURA.

109. Bank claim: LIEN.

110. Bygone video app: VINE.

111. Leaning tower locale: PISA.

112. Like good balsamic vinegar: AGED.

115. Asgardian Avenger: THOR.

116. Plains people: OTOE.

118. Excel line: ROW.

119. Scot's "I'd rather not": NAE.

120. Soap-making chemical: LYE.

C.C.