Tuesday, July 14, 2026, Pam Amick Klawitter

 This is a SHADY CROSSWORD...

Pam Klawitter has done it again, with a solid themed puzzle with (mostly) easy perps that make this a perfect headscratcher for a Tuesday!

3 Down. Omnivorous shark with a distinctive face: BONNETHEAD.

BONNETHEAD (one word) related to the Hammerhead Shark, but smaller, with a distinctive head often called a Shovelhead Shark.

Typical Bonnet

9 Down. Horses awarded garlands of roses, perhaps: DERBY WINNERS.

Typical Derby

21 Down. Course that may be taught by the Coast Guard: BOATER SAFETY.

Typical Boater

31 Down. Collectible stuffed toy of the 1990s: BEANIE BABY.

Typical Beanie

AND THE REVEAL:

25 Down. Places where magicians' rabbits may hide, or what can be found in 3-, 9-, 21-, and 31-Down: TOP HATS.

Since all the Themers are in the downs, the hats can indeed be found "on top" of their theme answers! 

Silly Theme Link.

Reality...

Onward!

Across:
1. Kit prepped by many soon-to-be parents: GO BAG.

6. Hourglass filler: SAND.

10. Cruise ship amenity: SPA.

13. "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" spinoff: RHODA.

(Fictional) Name #1.

14. Arboretum growth: TREE.

15. Massaman curry cuisine: THAI.

16. Declare void: ANNUL.

17. Not seasonal, as an indoor ski resort: YEAR ROUND.

19. Hither and __: YON.

20. Grampa Simpson: ABE.

(Fictional) Name #2.

22. Hearty steaks: T BONES.

23. Petrol pump brand: ESSO.

25. Aromatic herb: THYME.

26. Writer/actor Rogen: SETH.  Name #3

28. "Yo te __": AMO. "I love you" too...

30. Sing with a trill: WARBLE. (Reminds me of John Denver...)

34. Texter's qualifier: IMHO. In My Humble Opinion.

35. Gratuity: TIP.

36. Pants measurement: INSEAM.

37. Alphabet ender: ZEE.

38. Pheasant family members with showy mates: PEAHENS.

The male is a Peacock, the female is a Peahen.

40. Home screen icon: APP.

41. Pencil part: ERASER.

43. Writer Rand: AYN. Name #4

44. Tech review site: CNET. CNET stands for Computer NETwork.

45. Some van rentals: RYDERS. I have not seen a Ryder rental van in recent memory, everything around here is U-Haul. Have you seen any?

46. Caddie's stand: TEE. ( I question this clue, sounds like a stretch. Maybe Caddie's support?)

47. Like some skin: OILY.

48. Stockpile: AMASS.

50. Intense anger: RAGE. Imagine the golf course groundskeeper, upon finding Caddies were standing on tees, and squashing them into the greens...

52. Pass on, as an unwanted present: REGIFT. Did you know that there was only ever one fruit cake? It's been regifted ever since...

54. Forensics letters: CSI. Crime Scene Investigation.

55. Quite popular: BIG. (I wanted hot...)

58. Idaho city named for a Shoshone chief: POCATELLO. Name #5, note: I wanted to search for more info on the Person, a Shoshone Chief. But in scrolling down, was stopped by the trivia that "it is illegal not to smile" in Pocatello. The mayor enacted a tongue in cheek law after a bad 1948 winter, but the law was never repealed, and is still on the books...

60. Fixed gaze: STARE.

62. Make, as a salary: EARN.

63. Sort of blue?: TEAL. 

64. Part of a regular routine: HABIT.

65. "Minions: The Rise of __": GRU. 

(Fictional) Name #6

66. Class with asanas: YOGA. Body Positions, names of which are showing up in x-words more frequently these days... You had better study up...

67. Bottomless pit: ABYSS. (Or the list of asana names...)

Down:
1. Word before scale or whale: GRAY. Heard of Gray Whale, but you don't hear Gray Scale so much...

(Besides, it's a grey area...)

2. "This is really bad!": OH NO.

3. [Theme]

4. Soccer star Freddy who played for D.C. United: ADU.Name #7

5. Fancy parties: GALAS.

6. Lid inflammation: STYE.

7. "You __ My Sunshine": ARE.

8. Under, poetically: NEATH.

9. [Theme]

10. Elisabeth of "Cobra Kai": SHUE. Name #8

11. Chef's vessels: PANS.

12. Assistance: AID.

15. Products often applied before moisturizers: TONERS.

18. "Friends, __, countrymen ... ": ROMANS.

21. [Theme]

24. "The Chi" airer, briefly: SHO. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯  Name #9?

25. [Theme Reveal]

26. Jeweler's gadget: SIZER. 

Methinks this clue/answer should have been plural...

27. Abrasive board: EMERY.

29. The Dolphins, on scoreboards: MIA. Miami.

31. [Theme]

32. Spot for a pin: LAPEL.

33. Meaningless, as a promise: EMPTY.

38. Student driver's document: PERMIT.

39. Spud bud: EYE.

42. One with a plant- and fish-based diet: SEAGAN. If you say so... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
 
44. Small part of a gear: COG. Hmm, this clue/answer appears to be correct. I only question it because I learned about Cogs from The Jetsons, and Spacely's Sprockets, and Cogswell's Cogs were not small parts... (hmm, what is a sprocket anyway...)

49. First pope called "The Great": ST. LEO.

51. Hinds of "9-1-1": AISHA. Ack! The names! I've lost track!

52. Rumble in the jungle: ROAR.

53. Linen shade: ECRU. 

Learning moment...

54. Soda choice: COLA.

56. Purple spring flower: IRIS.

57. Is hip to: GETS.

58. Cribbage piece: PEG.

59. Streaming hitch: LAG.

61. Bar bill: TAB.

The Grid.

Ah, how many Chapeau's could you have added?

You can toss your hat into the ring,  by writing in the comments...

CE:D out...

ฅ≽(•⩊ •マ≼

Hello from Portland Maine!

(Names omitted to protect the innocent....)

The irony of this photo, is that we were walking from one brewery to another.

(How did they know?)

Tuesday, July 7, 2026, Matthew Luter

  The best title for this puzzle would have to simply be the reveal, COME TOGETHER, because the circled letters spell COME as they slowly come together in each theme clue/answer.

20 Across. Question, as the opposing side's witness: CROSS EXAMINE.

34 Across. Settings that reinforce personal biases: ECHO CHAMBERS.

41 Across. Tool for monitoring blood sugar levels: GLUCOSE METER.

55 Across. Classic Beatles song, or an apt description of the progression of this puzzle's circles: COME TOGETHER.

Nothing as dubious as the above raccoon seems to be planning, just a well crafted puzzle from Matthew Luter. You can find his website here.

Across:
1. Baked desserts: PIES.

5. "Shoot!": DRAT.

9. Threaded fastener: SCREW.

14. Kendrick of "Pitch Perfect": ANNA. Name #1

15. Learning by memorization: ROTE.

16. Throw with effort: HEAVE.

17. A little naughty: RACY.

18. Big brass horn: TUBA.

19. Prodded: URGED.

20. [Theme]

23. Location of all but two NATO members: EUROPE.

24. Overly: TOO.

25. Covered in cinders: ASHY.

29. Cell service letters: LTE. LTE stands for Long Term Evolution. It is the standard 4G wireless technology that powers your mobile internet, streaming, and calls when you are not connected to Wi-Fi. It delivers fast, reliable data speeds that are significantly smoother than older 3G networks.

30. List-ending abbr.: ETC. (as long as we are explaining abbreviations:) Etc. stands for the Latin phrase et cetera, which translates literally to "and the rest" or "and other things" in English.

32. Giants legend Mays: WILLIE. Name #2

34. [Theme]

37. Breathe hard: PANT.

39. Language similar to Thai: LAO. I found this to be a rather nasty Natick when crossed with 31 down...

40. Fashioned: MADE.

41. [Theme]

44. Stop working: RETIRE.

45. Icarus, to Daedalus: SON.

46. The first "A" of Reddit's AMA: ASK. (AMA = ask me anything)

49. Landfill output: ODOR.

50. Some short albums: EPS. Extended Play, (I have never seen one...)

53. No longer surprised by: USED TO. (I would be surprised if I saw an EP Album...)

55. [Theme Reveal]

58. Was able to: COULD.

61. Comedian Trevor: NOAH. Name #3

62. "Take this": HERE. 

Used to the extreme in the Goes Wrong Show...

63. Possessed: OWNED.

64. Sushi seaweed: NORI.

65. Zone: AREA.

66. Trudges heavily: PLODS.

67. "What __ is new?": ELSE.

68. Element seen all over Las Vegas: NEON.

Down:
1. Package: PARCEL.

2. Bored by routine: IN A RUT.

3. "Do it again!": ENCORE.

4. Authorization: SAY SO.

5. The Electric Mayhem bandleader: DR. TEETH. Name #4

6. Common sauce base: ROUX.

How to Roux...

7. Facing the pitcher: AT BAT.

8. Spanish "I love you": TE AMO. (Te=you, Amo=I love)

9. Give the cold shoulder: SHUN.

10. Individually wrapped breakfast choice: CEREAL BAR.

11. Cleaning cloth: RAG.

12. Night of anticipation: EVE.

13. Hitched: WED.

21. Ronnie who sang lead on "Be My Baby": SPECTOR.  Name #5

22. Corn Belt state: IOWA.

26. Luge or skeleton: SLED.

27. Add to the staff: HIRE.

28. Desired response to a promposal: YES.

31. Kenneth of fashion: COLE. (The other half of a nasty Natick...)  Name #6

33. Gigantic: IMMENSE.

34. Surrounded: ENCIRCLED. Like today's theme letters...

35. Pic taker: CAM. I call foul on this one, as I wanted SLR... abbreviated picture = abbreviated camera? Meh...

36. Weeding tools: HOES.

37. Claimed no contest, maybe: PLED.

38. Prefix with correct or complete: AUTO.

41. Miracle-__: garden brand: GRO.

42. Appear to be: SEEM.

43. Difficult question: TOUGHIE.

46. Show some stick-to-itiveness?: ADHERE. 😀

47. Audiophile's system: STEREO.

48. Like BTS or bibimbap: KOREAN. (Either you know it, or you don't. Perps to the rescue...)

51. Tubular pasta: PENNE.

52. Perch at a pub: STOOL.

54. Hawke of "Before Sunrise": ETHAN. Name #7

56. Action figures?: ODDS. 😏

57. Rowboat pair: OARS.

58. Many a "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" character: COP.

59. Bird in Tootsie Pop ads: OWL.

60. Game with Reverse cards: UNO.

The Grid

Today's hasty review is brought to you from a hotel room in Bar Harbor, Maine. I am on vacation (sort of) and I spent most of my day here:

Jordan Pond

CE:D out...

ฅᨐฅ

Wednesday July 1, 2026, Emily Biegas

 Anagram Mountains...

19 Across. "Well, not quite ... ": THAT'S A STRETCH (an anagram of Shasta)

Mount Shasta.

28 Across. "The gall!": WHAT NERVE! (An anagram of Etna)

Mount Etna.

43 Across. Move to the country?: LINE DANCE. (Anagram of Denali)

Mount Denali.

This clue/answer is very clever, but may cause a double controversy. It seems this mountain keeps changing its name between Mt. Denali and Mt McKinley. Line dancing is associated with country and western culture, but it is not strictly country. I am sure Yellowrocks could enlighten us to the difference between square dancing and this recent upstart...

And our Theme Reveal:

52 Across. Go to great lengths, or what this puzzle's circled letters do?: MOVE MOUNTAINS. Mountain names can be found in the circles, "if you move the letters around..."

Onward:

Across:
1. "A Christmas Carol" scoff: BAH.

4. Insta posts: PICS.

8. Discomfit: ABASH. I got discombobulated by these words... I am familiar with discomfort: The absence of ease or the presence of mild physical or mental uneasiness. However, Discomfit is a verb that means to make someone feel confused, embarrassed, or uneasy.  It can also mean to thwart or frustrate someone's plans. (Like my solving of this puzzle...) And Abash is a verb that means to cause someone to feel embarrassed, ashamed, or self-conscious. It typically involves breaking someone's poise or self-confidence, often as a result of an unexpected comment, mistake, or realization of inadequacy.

13. County seat of Hawaii County: HILO. 

14. Home of the Mighty Five national parks: UTAH. Everything you ever wanted to know about a 465 mile scenic loop, that will take 7 to 10 days to complete...

15. Bundled software collection: SUITE. A highfalutin word (yes, highfalutin is a word...) for a bunch of old junk software that nobody wants, tied up with a ribbon, in the hopes they can still make money...

16. Disapproving sounds: TSKS. (Sound I make when I see someone trying to sell me the above...)

17. Plumbing part: PIPE. (Oy, so many parts to choose from...)

18. Play a banjo: STRUM. Hmm, maybe a guitar, but...

Banjos require pickin' and a grinnin'...

19. [Theme]

22. Well-mannered: POLITE.

23. IRS form expert: CPA. Certified Public Accountant.

24. Catchy part of a song: HOOK. I asked my Daughters, and Google, to identify an Earworm I could insert here, and they all referenced songs I never heard before... so, if you can name your own personal  earworm, mention it in the comments...

27. Book part: SPINE.

28. [Theme]

30. Persona non __: GRATA. "Persona non grata" is a Latin phrase that translates to "an unwelcome person".

32. Worked for: EARNED.

33. Compass rose dir.: SSW.

36. Portuguese greeting: OLA. 

                              Ola (Spanish & Hawaiian Words)

• Spanish: Ola means a wave in the sea or ocean. It is pronounced just like "Hola" (hello), but the "h" is silent and the meaning is completely different.
• Hawaiian: Ola means life, health, to live, or to thrive.

37. Sch. in the smallest U.S. state: URI. University of Rhode Island. Interesting that the clue uses Sch.=School. Which may make this clue/answer somewhat contentious, because according to Google A.I. The Block island School, located on Block Island in New Shoreham, Rhode Island, is the only K-12 public school serving the state's smallest municipality. It educates roughly 125 to 160 students, making it one of the smallest unified public schools in the state. So, could this answer have two valid answers if you include B.I.S?

38. Some SAT takers: SRS. Seniors. And according to Google AI, In U.S. college admissions, SAT is a standardized test created by the College Board. While it originally stood for Scholastic Aptitude Test and later Scholastic Assessment Test, the College Board officially states that the letters no longer stand for anything.

39. Excuses: ALIBIS.

41. Fashion: STYLE.

43. [Theme]

45. Scope: AMBIT. An ambit is the scope, boundary, or extent of something. It most commonly refers to a sphere of influence, action, or authority.

49. Small whirlpool: EDDY.

50. Murmur: COO.

51. Smooth and suave: URBANE.

52. [Theme Reveal]

55. Share one's thoughts: OPINE.

57. Financing figs.: APRS. Annual Percentage Rates.

58. Skirt feature: SLIT.

59. Sweet, in Italian: DOLCE.

60. "Bro!": DUDE.

61. Goes out with: SEES. (Dates wouldn't fit...)

62. Stella who founded an acting school in New York City: ADLER. Name #1

63. Short railroad branch: SPUR.

64. Fabric store meas.: YDS.

Down:
1. Diagonal mover in chess: BISHOP.

2. High-pH substance: ALKALI.

3. In charge of Thanksgiving dinner, say: HOSTING.

4. Butterflies-to-be: PUPAE.

5. "Yep": IT IS. 

6. Bot blocker: CAPTCHA.

7. Tibetan people: SHERPA.

8. Exec's helper: ASST. Assistant. 

9. Mispronounce horrendously, as a name: BUTCHER.

10. Shock jock's sound effects: AIR HORNS. Technically Air Horn is two words, but is fast becoming simply "Airhorn" in the vernacular...

11. "The Simpsons" disco guy: STU. Fictional Name #2

12. Tailored edge: HEM.

13. Part of an encrypted URL: HTTPS. HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure.

20. Anti-inflammatory choice: STEROID.

21. Restaurant: EATERY.

25. Finito: OVER.

26. "Comfortable. Confident." shoe brand: KEDS.

28. Elena Rybakina's org.: WTA. World Tennis Association. Name #3 - either you know it or you don't...

29. Finger painting?: NAIL ART.

31. Cultural territory in France's Grand Est region: ALSACE. Looks like a nice place to visit...

33. Realtor's success: SALE.

34. Made it home quickly?: SLID. (Baseball reference)

35. Image on Dutch Bros coffee cups: WINDMILL.

37. Sporty truck, briefly: UTE. Short for utility vehicle.

40. "Cowboy Carter" icon: BEYONCE. All you need to know:

41. Grab before anyone else can: SCOOP UP.

42. Diplomatic mission: EMBASSY.

44. Migratory people: NOMADS.

46. Helped (out): BAILED.

47. Concave belly buttons: INNIES.

48. Tries, as patience: TESTS.

51. Auto racing family name: UNSER. Name #4

53. Swerve: VEER.

54. Rawalpindi language: URDU. Rawalpindi is a city in Pakistan, where the national language is Urdu.

55. "Ghost" psychic __ Mae Brown: ODA. 

Whoopi Goldberg portraying fictional name #5

56. Okra or orca unit: POD.

The Grid

Emily Biegas has become quite prolific, publishing quite a few LAT puzzles, in addition to NYT...

Emily is on the left.

Well, did you have to move mountains to finish this puzzle? Or did you just ski around the moguls...

Let us know in the comments how your solving experience went. 

CE:D out

₍^. .^₎⟆

Tuesday, June 16, 2026, Daniel Hrynick

 WORDS THAT ARE REMOTELY FAMILIAR...

19 Across. Build a snow fort or catch frogs: PLAY OUTSIDE. (Play)

27 Across. What a deeply regretful person may wish to do: REWIND THE CLOCK. (Rewind)

44 Across. Stop mid-story to add suspense, say: PAUSE FOR EFFECT. (Pause)

55 Across. Convenient car feature on a cold winter morning, or a feature of 19-, 27-, and 44-Across?: REMOTE START.

And... We're off!

CrossEyedDave here, filling in again.  Starting out, this easy Tuesday puzzle seemed so straightforward, that I was beginning to think there was nothing to explain, or provide silly links for... but given enough time, there wasn't a remote chance I wouldn't come up with anything...

Across:
1. Pizza crust option: THIN.

5. 24 hours: DAY.

8. Some: A FEW.

12. Nevada gambling town: RENO.

13. Penalized for littering, say: FINED.

15. Tilt-A-Whirl, e.g.: RIDE.

16. Overnight __: breakfast dish: OATS.

17. Flatscreen, maybe: LED TV.

18. At no cost: FREE.

19. [Theme]

22. Conclude: END.

23. Startled cry: EEK.

24. Married name follower: NEE.

25. Put in the overhead bin: STOW.

27. [Theme]

33. Boiling: HOT.

34. Spoil: ROT.

35. Qatar's capital: DOHA.

36. Intel mission: RECON.

39. Wrinkly little dog: PUG.

40. Ran out of patience: HAD IT.

41. "Am __ late?": I TOO.

42. Mined-over matter?: ORE.😀

43. Insurance giant bailed out in 2008: AIG. American International Group

44. [Theme]

49. Food Network figure: CHEF.

50. __ Lanka: SRI. (Formally Ceylon)

51. "For __ a jolly good fellow ... ": HE'S.

53. Volcanic eruption residue: ASH.

55. [Theme Reveal]

59. Drops behind: LAGS.

61. Bright celestial events: NOVAS.

62. Creole vegetable: OKRA.

63. Important phases in history: ERAS.

64. __ Valley, California: DEATH.

65. Ancient city in modern Turkey: TROY.

66. __ of the times: SIGN.

67. Mets' div.: NLE. National League East.

68. Mr. Potato Head attachments: EARS. (I wanted eyes first, guess it could have been arms too...)

Hmm, legs, hat,, does every attachment have three letters? Complete? List here...

Down:
1. Familiar plot device: TROPE. Apparently, there are many types...

2. Medic in role-playing games: HEALER.

I wanted Doctor, but you need a good imagination for role playing games...

3. Amount of food consumed: INTAKE.

4. Likely to snoop: NOSY.

5. Tried to reduce one's 3-Down: DIETED.

6. "No ifs, __, or buts": ANDS.

7. Bigfoot cousin: YETI.

8. Dog kennel greeting: ARF.

9. Fuel that can be stacked: FIREWOOD.

10. Perfect place: EDEN.

11. Invasive plant: WEED.

13. Able to speak a language with ease: FLUENT.

14. Movie franchise package, perhaps: DVD SET.

20. Bagel flavor: ONION.

21. "And more of the same" abbr.: ETC.

26. Golden years: OLD AGE.

28. Blow (by): WHOOSH.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

29. More realistic: TRUER.

30. One who isn't good at sharing: HOG.

31. The Blackhawks, on scoreboards: CHI. Chicago.

32. Actress Dennings: KAT. 

Name #1

36. Unfortunate sound to hear while bending: RIP.

Not always unfortunate...

37. Landing hr. guess: ETA.

I wanted to post a different pic of this,

But the language didn't pass the breakfast crowd test...

38. Long-running joke in the opening credits of "The Simpsons": COUCH GAG. For some reason, my YouTube App is refusing to let me share videos. In the meantime, search YouTube for 30 best Simpson couch gags. Very funny...

39. Seasoned vet: PRO.

40. Old audio systems: HI FI'S. hi Fidelity.

42. Cause resentment: OFFEND.

43. From the top: AFRESH.

45. Eternally, in poetry: E'ER. In poetry, e'er (pronounced "air") is a poetic and archaic contraction of the word ever. Poets use it to remove a syllable, making it easier to fit the rhythmic meter (such as iambic pentameter) of a line.

46. Sprawling property: ESTATE.

47. Yoga energy point: CHAKRA. Everything you ever wanted to be told by A.I. here:

48. Abject fear: TERROR.

52. Doesn't leave: STAYS.

53. Hoppy pintfuls: ALES.

54. Hindi cinema dress: SARI.

56. Faucet brand: MOEN.

57. Racket head shape: OVAL.

58. Reusable bag: TOTE.

60. Target of ID thieves: SSN. Social Security Number.

The Grid.

A puzzle with only one name? This is very remote!

Is there a remote chance something on this puzzle tripped you up? If so, please tell us in the comments... of not, come anyway! Maybe by then my YouTube share button problems will be fixed, and we can commiserate on sticky remote buttons that don't work. (Isopropyl Alcohol is a solution!) and there is a way to use tiny bits of aluminum foil for when they really go kerblooey...

CE:D out.

≽ܫ≼

Sunday, June 14, 2026 Zhouqin Burnikel

  IF YOU ASK ME...

CrossEyedDave here, fresh off my bout with a Noro-Virus. Our own CC asked me to write up her Sunday Spectacular at the last minute, and while I am glad to do it, I am still under the weather, and cranky to boot. Let's hope it doesn't show...

I say this because, while a very enjoyable puzzle, there were a few places that had me stumpted. Here is the grid with all my mistakes:

The black chevrons in the upper right of certain grid squares, is where I fat fingered typo's, or chose the wrong letter outright. I didn't have time to do it ink on dead tree sadly.

The red chevrons indicate where I hit the reveal button...

Which leads me to ask you a question: I am not sure to call this a DNF, (Did Not Finish) or a FIW (Finished It Wrong) as I did neither. Can anyone out there come up with a suitable abbreviation for:

I hit the reveal button when I should have given it more thought!

Oh well, Onward!

22 Across. Trick question?: COULD IT BE MAGIC?

The remote does sorta seem like magic...

53 Across. Good question?: IS THAT CORRECT?

87 Across. Gotcha question?: AM I BEING CLEAR?

112 Across. Leading question?: WHO'S IN CHARGE?

119 Across. Quick question?: ARE YOU IN A HURRY?

31 Down. Burning question?: IS THE STOVE ON?

Yes.. but...

42 Down. First question?: WHERE TO START?

Is everybody here? Are you ready? Ok let's go!

As you can clearly see, CC has cleverly made each answer revert back to the question.

Ok! Now onward...

Across:
1. Fellow student: PEER. A peer is a person who belongs to the same group as you in terms of age, social standing, rank, or abilities. (So why do the people in my Jury look like people you couldn't pay me to hang out with...)

5. Inner ears?: COBS.  (Cute.)

9. Wrap (up): SEW. Not end...

12. Braid: PLAIT. As a noun, it can also mean a fold or pleat in fabric. As a verb, it means to interweave or braid. 

17. Crowning point: ACME.

Acme as in high point, the Coyotes source of paraphernalia is not one of them...

18. Critter who snoozed and lost: HARE.

19. Shared intimacies, briefly: PDAS. Public Displays of Affection.

21. Impressionist Monet: CLAUDE. (Name #1)

22. [Theme]

25. Take care of: HANDLE.

26. Forever and ever: EONS.

27. [Theme]

29. Cheese in some bagels: ASIAGO.  Ew, scallion cream cheese for me please...

32. Catch: SPY. Or espy... (but that could be misinterpreted as an award...)

34. Don vestments: ENROBE. (How did my neighbors pajamas get in this puzzle?)

35. Fuzz on a rock: MOSS.

We guitarists could also misinterpret this...

36. Mountain climber: SKI LIFT. Some might say this is not a twurd, (2 word answer) but the only other way to write it is with a hyphen. Ski-lift.

40. Biggest holiday in Vietnam: TET. Lunar New Year! Celebrating the arrival of Spring!🎆

41. Quaint contraction: TWAS. Now that's how you avoid the dreaded "twurd..."

45. Started a fresh pot: ANTED. Poker, not coffee...

47. Get on in years: AGE.

48. Sleeve: ARM.

50. Bakery serving slices: PIE SHOP. Now this one almost had me asking CC if this was a typo! But just as I was about to email, the V8 can came whistling in! It's not the serving slice sizes, it's about the bakery!

52. "Pass": NAH.  (I hit reveal one this one, because I thought, "Nah!" That can't be right...)

53. [Theme]

57. Historical period: ERA.

58. Bridal boutique array: DRESSES. This one flummoxed me, I was thinking flowers, like a corsage...

60. Group with Mind Games competitions: MENSA.

61. Needs some ice, perhaps: HURTS.

63. Corporate title abbr.: ASST. Assistant.

64. Take offense to: RESENT.

67. Put two and two together: ADD.

69. Late bedtime hr.: ONE AM.

70. Feline with a striped coat: TABBY CAT.

72. Watch a friend's monstera, say: PLANT SIT.

Doesn't seem monstrous to me...

74. Ring-shaped island: ATOLL.

76. Buy high and sell low, e.g.: ERR. This is another one that fooled me, because I didn't read it right. You might say I erred...

77. Double-cross: BETRAY.

78. Lady Justice's garb: TOGA. Not robe?

There have been many depictions, and many do not look like togas or robes.

So if this one fooled you, give yourself a break...

81. Flood barrier: LEVEE. See taco flight 110 for the miracle landing on a levee!

Even more miraculous was how they flew it off the levee again, when it was supposed to be too short to land on!

82. Take out of a sack: UNBAG.

84. Checks for fit: TRIES ON.

86. Intense anger: IRE.

87. (Theme]

92. Rummage sale label: TAG.

93. Picturesque caves: GROTTOS.

95. Julius Erving, to fans: DR J. (Basketball.) ( name #2)

96. Hi-__ photo: RES. High resolution.

97. Wee: SMALL.

99. Billionth: Pref.: NANO.

100. West of old Hollywood: MAE. (Name #3)

Are ya happy to see me? Or is that a gun in your pocket?

102. Museum guides: DOCENTS. A docent is a knowledgeable guide or lecturer, typically a trained volunteer in a museum, art gallery, or zoo, who explains exhibits and educates visitors. The term derives from the Latin docere, meaning "to teach".

105. "Songversation" singer India.__: ARIE. Name #4, and I overloaded my photo files. So now the Cloud is saying I have to pay money...  you will have to look her up yourself, I'm broke...

106. Accordion features: PLEATS.

109. Replayed tennis serve: LET. I put Ace first, which would you rather rewatch...
 
110. Repeats verbatim: QUOTES.

112. [Theme]

117. Harbor fleet: TUGS.

This beloved story from my youth got me fascinated with tugboats for the rest of my life...

118. Dish with bubbling broth: HOT POT.

119. [Theme]

125. Vidalia bulbs: ONIONS.

126. Within reach: NEAR.

127. X-rated material: SMUT. (No photo...)

128. Clever notion: IDEA.

129. Crop threats: PESTS.

130. Cap'n Jazz genre: EMO. Sort of name #5?

131. Pointillism marks: DOTS.

132. Corkboard pin: TACK. All my cork boards have had pushpins. Thumbtacks are too dangerous...

Down:
1. Campaign funding org.: PAC. All you ever wanted to know...

2. __ mode: hybrid setting: ECO. Ah,! Economy mode, as in cars! I couldn't figure out the hybrid reference until now... gas/electric...

3. Ostrich's shorter cousin: EMU. Shorter than an Emu would be a Rhea...

4. Drop, as an album: RELEASE. (Music talk.)

5. Casual slacks: CHINOS. The Origin: Originally designed for military use in the 19th century, the pants are believed to take their name from the Spanish word for "Chinese" due to the fabric's origins in China.

6. Grains in a crumble: OATS.

7. Texter's "Gimme a sec": BRB. Be Right Back.

8. "Understand?": SEE.

9. Bridge distance: SPAN.

10. Provocative: EDGY.

11. Forgo: WAIVE.

12. Backup strategy: PLAN B.

13. Stickers in glucose monitoring kits: LANCETS. Ouch!

14. Automaker headquartered in Ingolstadt: AUDI.

15. Inactive: IDLE.

16. Shirts with slogans: TEES.

20. Barely sufficient: SCANT.

21. Like a kitchen during the dinner rush: CHAOTIC.

23. Obedience school attendee: DOG.

24. "Allow me": MAY I.

28. French kin of a dosa: CREPE.

29. "Mamma Mia!" star Seyfried: AMANDA. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯  Name #6

30. Submarine trackers: SONARS.

31. [Theme]

32. Weary sound: SIGH. Something I do every time I have to post a pic of a name I don't know...

33. Entreaty: PLEA. No more names, please?

37. "Gnarly" and "Gabriela" girl group: KATSEYE. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ name #7. (@##$&%) um, sorry, sigh...

38. Diamond side: FACET.

39. "__: Ares": TRON. Is this two names?!?! Splynter! I need a word for this!

42. [Theme]

43. Major artery: AORTA.

44. Involuntary twitch: SPASM.

46. Bad-mouth: DIS. Disrespect.

49. Mrs. Pepper's partner on "Blue's Clues": MRSALT. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Name #8.

51. Community spirit: ETHOS. From the Greek, meaning character.

54. Tesla, for one: SERB. Name #9. His Wiki

55. Leonardo's group, for short: TMNT. This was below the belt. Who in their right mind would know that this name #9 refers to The Mutant Ninja Turtles!  Read The Three Musketeers and get your mind out of the Sewer!  (Um, i'm not feeling good, remember?)

56. Storm tracker: RADAR.

59. Like week-old mantou: STALE. Hmm,  you can't make up for TMNJ with delicious looking food when I have a stomach bug! (And it's stale no Less!)

62. Join forces: UNITE.

65. Wash vigorously: SCRUB.

66. Merited: EARNED.

68. Genealogy research aid: DNA TEST.

71. Sound sheepish?: BLEAT.😀 ok, that's a good one...

72. Simon of "Hot Fuzz": PEGG. Name #10

You may know him as Scotty in later Star Trek movies.

I must ask DW what streaming service we are using this month, as it is not free on YouTube...

73. Banks on many covers: TYRA.  Name #11

I'm not complaining mind you...

74. Make straight: ALIGN.

75. __ cotta: TERRA. You know, flower pot containers etc...

77. Bluegrass strings: BANJO.

79. Water polo shot stopper: GOALIE. Interesting choice of clue...

80. Right features of every square: ANGLES. Can't argue with that...

83. Frequent flier?: BIRD.😀

85. Org. with complex schedules: IRS. Infernal Revenuers...

88. Brief periods of time: MOMENTS.

89. Calculus pioneer Newton: ISAAC. Name #12, I'll post a pic when he gets a Sports Illustrated Cover...

90. First Nations people of Canada: CREE. There are over 630 1st nation governments in Canada.

91. Season that begins on Ash Wednesday: LENT.

94. Leader's position: TOP SPOT.

98. Outfit sometimes worn by Xi Jinping: MAO SUIT. No name in the answer, but he still needs a sports illustrated cover to get a pic...

101. Slater of "Wicked": ETHAN. 

Name #13

103. "Pinocchio" goldfish: CLEO. 

Name #14

104. Exercises that work quads and glutes: SQUATS.

107. Penn State's Nittany __: LIONS. All you ever wanted to know...

108. Bridal wear in Bangladesh: SAREE. 

111. "How gross!": UGH. (Placed inappropriately below Saree, above...)

112. Strike forcefully: WHOP. (They don't even use this in Marvel comics...)

113. Sharpen, as skills: HONE. 

Yes, it definitely takes skill...

114. Soul icon Redding: OTIS. Name #15

115. Stack of paper: REAM.

116. Greek dish similar to shawarma: GYRO.

Shawarma

117. Threaded fastener: T Nut

Not what I thought it was...

120. Capital of Amer.: USD. U.S Dollar.

121. Texter's qualifier: IMO. In My Opinion.

122. Nutrition fig.: RDA. Recommend Daily Allowance.

123. Suggestion, casually: REC. Recommendation.

124. Tibetan source of butter: YAK.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask in the comments section.

CE:D out 

/ᐠ - ˕ -マ