Sunday August 2, 2026 Ralph Sharaga & Doug Peterson

Theme: "BOOK REPORTS" - Each theme entry is humorously reinterpreted as a rave review of a book associated with the profession in the clue. 

23. Praise for a Cy Young biography?: PITCH PERFECT.

33. Praise for a meditation guide?: BREATHTAKING.

53. Praise for a rock climber's diary?: GRIPPING STORY.

70. Praise for a mechanic's handbook?: FIRES ON ALL CYLINDERS.

89. Praise for a Hope Diamond history?: AN ABSOLUTE GEM.

102. Praise for a bartender's manual?: FULL OF TWISTS.

119. Praise for a scuba diver's memoir?: DEEPLY MOVING.

Congrats to Ralph Sharaga on his LAT debut. And a Sunday! You picked a great collaborator.  I enjoyed how each clue paints a vivid mental picture. Every theme answer sounds like the kind of glowing blurb you'd find on the back cover of a book.

This grid design is a model LAT Sunday: 144 words and 76 black squares. Very clean, with a stunning numbers of long fill. 

Across:

1. Fish-cleaning gadget: SCALER. Our local Asian market has live seafood tanks.  

7. Extra option: ADD ON.

12. Pricey German cars: BMWS.

16. Muscles worked by planks: ABS.

19. Elaborately showy: ORNATE.

20. Ungainly: GAWKY.

21. Honolulu Museum of Art's location: OAHU.

22. AAA job: TOW.

25. "Voyage to India" singer: ARIE. Her surname is Simpson. 

26. "The Mole" host Shapiro: ARI.

27. "How've you __?": BEEN.

28. After the bell: LATE.

29. "Over here": PSST.

30. Mineral in hemoglobin: IRON. 126. 30-Across deficiency: ANEMIA.

31. Slaw, e.g.: SIDE. Sometimes I buy bags of coleslaw, but I stir-fry it instead.

37. Lifesaving pro: EMT.

40. Underground explorer: CAVER.

43. Trade fair: EXPO.

44. Cell service initials: LTE. Long Term Evolution.

45. Baltic capital: RIGA.

47. Toy with a Botanicals line: LEGO.  Didn't know this. So pretty. 

48. Flyer: LEAFLET.

50. UV-filtering measurement: SPF.

56. By and large: AS A RULE.

58. "Priscilla" writer/director Coppola: SOFIA. Based on Priscilla Presley's book "Elvis and Me".

59. Branch of Islam: SHIA.

60. Can openers: TABS.

62. Showbiz grand slam: EGOT. 22 people have achieved this milestone.

63. Wrath: RAGE.

65. Water or elec.: UTIL.

67. Wild adventure: ESCAPADE.

74. Cross-examination follower: RE-DIRECT.

75. __ & Chandon Champagne: MOET.

76. French denials: NONS.

77. Funds for one's golden yrs.: IRAS.

78. Small recipe amts.: TSPS.

81. Like rams: MALE.

83. Drastic policy change: U-TURN.

86. __ 500: DAYTONA.

92. Raised trains: ELS.

93. Like part of a corkscrew: HELICAL.

95. Luxury shoe brand: TOD'S.

96. Copenhagen resident: DANE.

97. Galahad's title: SIR.

98. "You can leave now": OK GO.

99. Treadmill setting: SPEED.

101. Tyrannosaurus __: REX.

107. Nutrition figs.: RDAS. RDA stands for Recommended Dietary Allowance.

109. Grayish: ASHY.

110. "Muy __": BIEN. Very good.

111. Belfry sound: PEAL.

114. Burkina Faso neighbor: MALI.

117. "Houdini" singer Lipa: DUA.

118. Six-time Emmy winner Tyne: DALY.

123. Hectic hosp. areas: ERS.

124. Designer Gucci: ALDO.

125. Snoring cause: APNEA.

127. Place to get much-kneaded therapy?: SPA. Ha, kneaded.

128. Fromage hue: BLEU. 

129. Party spreads: PATES.

130. Zeroes out: RESETS.

Down:

1. Drench: SOP.

2. Baby bed: CRIB.

3. Cost of hand delivery?: ANTE. Poker hand.

4. Shoestrings: LACES.

5. Sharing a common culture: ETHNIC. I belong to the Han ethnic group, the largest in the world,

6. Gym unit: REP.

7. Uttar Pradesh tourist city: AGRA.

8. __ Punk: "Get Lucky" duo: DAFT.

9. Nerdy type: DWEEB.

10. The NBA's Thunder, on scoreboards: OKC. The Oklahoma City Thunder.

11. "The Daily" podcast producer, briefly: NYT.

12. Brag about: BOAST OF. This is super impressive, Splynter! 

13. Heron habitat: MARSH.

14. Shaves (down): WHITTLES.

15. Go after, in a way: SUE.

16. Centipede maker: ATARI.

17. Fifth element on the periodic table: BORON.

18. Batting practice concern: SWING.

24. Natural rolls, in craps: ELEVENS.

29. Tropical fruit: PAPAYA. I like mild green papaya salad. This looks too hot.

30. 1950s prez: IKE.

32. Big name in surrealism: DALI. 38. Big name in surrealism: MIRO.

34. Move, informally: RELO.

35. Bring to bear: EXERT.

36. Flour for some flatbread: ATTA.

37. Crew team's workout machines: ERGS.

39. Chili's rival: TGI FRIDAYS. And 41. Springtime lawn parties: EGG HUNTS. 50. No. 1 hit from the album "Everything's Archie": SUGAR SUGAR. 61. Waistband feature: BELT LOOP. 88. Toy for indoor games: NERF BALL. Love those entries. 

42. Bilingual "Sesame Street" Muppet: ROSITA.

46. Beekeeper: APIARIST.

49. Cold yogurt drink: LASSI. Mango lassi.

51. Walks heavily: PLODS.

52. Swanky shindig: FETE.

54. "Your table's ready" device: PAGER.

55. Kite extension: TAIL.

57. Felt contrite: REPENTED.

64. Language suffix: ESE.

66. A.I. tool that generates text: LLM. Large Language Model.

68. MS NOW rival: CNN.

69. Score after deuce: AD OUT.

70. Not domesticated: FERAL.

71. In base eight: OCTAL.

72. Tool with teeth: COMB. I've been using the same comb I bought at Watsons decades ago. Watsons is basically the Walgreens of Guangzhou/Hong Kong.

73. Ingredients for brewers and bakers: YEASTS.

74. Go by train: RIDE.

79. Cram: PACK IN.

80. Hitches: SNAGS.

82. Advanced in years: ELDERLY.

84. Actress Russo: RENE.

85. Ariz. neighbor: NMEX. And  87. Indiana neighbor: OHIO.

90. Oodles: A LOT.

91. No longer mint: USED.

94. "Next one's on me": I OWE YOU.

97. Wily: SLY.

100. Big band singer Vic: DAMONE.

102. Loses color: FADES.

103. Seize illegally: USURP.

104. Sacred city of Tibet: LHASA. Meaning "Place of the Gods" in Tibetan.

105. Spanish diacritic: TILDE.

106. Went on a shopping spree: SPENT.

108. Goalie's stat: SAVES.

112. Fencing blade: EPEE.

113. "Sad to say ... ": ALAS.

115. Soil acidity reducer: LIME.

116. "My heart's just not __": IN IT.

118. Bit of makeup: DAB.

119. Fist bump: DAP.

120. Clean air org.: EPA.

121. Scuff up: MAR.

122. Highway sign: GAS.

Happy 72nd Birthday of Subgenius (Darryl). Wishing you a wonderful birthday filled with happiness, good health, and all the little things that make you smile. Have a beautiful day, Darryl!

I made today's puzzle for the Atlantic. Click here to solve. It's edited by Kelsey Dixon. 

C.C.

Monday, April 20, 2026, Doug Peterson

Theme:  This is HUGE!

Constructor Doug Peterson has accomplished another tremendous feat, as revealed here:

63-Across. Finale that earns a standing ovation, and a feature of 17-, 24-, 38-, and 50-Across: BIG FINISH.  Each of the theme answers FINISHes with a synonym for BIG.

The other theme answers are:

17-Across. Piano studio instrument: BABY GRAND.

24-Across. Indulging in a luxurious existence: LIVING LARGE.

38-Across. Mascot on cans of peas and corn: JOLLY GREEN GIANT.

50-Across. NHL team in Salt Lake City: UTAH MAMMOTH.  This ice hockey team was created in 2024 -- not long enough ago for your sports-challenged blogger to have heard of it, but perpendicular entries in the grid were very helpful.

I racked my brain for additional phrases that would fit the pattern.  Can you think of a common, two or three word phrase that ends with a synonym for BIG?  I couldn't.  Doug Peterson thought of four of them, fit them into perfectly symmetrical spaces in his grid, and made one of them span the grid right in the middle.  Wow. 

Let's see what else Doug came up with to top off his colossal achievement.

Across:

1. Young men: LADS.

5. Add voice-over to: DUB.

8. Dark expression: SCOWL.

13. __ Puffs: chocolaty cereal: OREO.  Here's a new clue for crosswords' favorite cookie.  I never heard of the cereal.  Please don't tell my grandchildren about it.

14. Atlas section: ASIA.

16. "Star Trek" role for Nichelle Nichols: UHURA.

Nichelle Nichols as Lieutenant Uhura

17. [Theme clue]

19. Tag call: NOT IT.

20. Gain possession of: OBTAIN.

21. Yahtzee cube: DIE.  Singular form of "dice."

23. Apartment payment: RENT.

24. [Theme clue]

27. Word before planning or sale: ESTATE.  If you have anything of value that you'd like to leave to your heirs or to charity, consider having an attorney create a trust for you!  It will cost you something, but nothing compared to what your heirs will spend on probate attorneys -- and the years they will invest in the process -- if you leave only a will.  If you have a legal trust, the transfer to your heirs is almost immediate and does not involve the courts.  I see the difference in my work all the time.

30. Young women: GALS.

31. Three, in Germany: DREI.

32. Printer brand: EPSON.

35. Liveliness: PEP.

38. [Theme clue]

42. NNW reversal: SSE.  Opposite points on the compass.

43. Borden spokescow: ELSIE.  The Borden Company was established in 1857.  Its dairy subsidiary has gone through many changes of ownership, and even bankruptcy in 2020.  Poor Elsie!  Created in 1936, the old gal once had a husband, Elmer the Bull, but he went off to be the mascot for Elmer's Glue under Borden's chemical division.  True story!

Elsie and Elmer grilling beef (!) in the good old days

44. CBS military series in its 23rd season: NCIS.  NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) is a military police procedural television series.  23 seasons, and I've never seen an episode!  Any fans here?

45. Body part with a bridge: NOSE.  The nasal bridge is the elevated region of the nose between and just below the eyes. It is formed by two small, oblong bones, which meet in the middle.

The "bridge" is indicated at top as "Nasal bone."

47. __ on: added hastily: TACKED.

50. [Theme clue]

54. Gym pads: MATS.

55. Extinct New Zealand bird: MOA.  Do you remember this from a Monday puzzle in February?  Moa are an extinct group of flightless birds formerly endemic to New Zealand.  There were likely a couple million of them circa 1300 CE when Polynesians settled New Zealand.  Some species were 12 feet tall!  Extinction occurred within 100 years of human settlement, thanks to overhunting.

Moa and human nemesis

56. Bit of fridge decor: MAGNET.

61. "I knew it all __!": ALONG.

63. [Theme clue]

65. Fable lesson: MORAL.

66. __ gin fizz: SLOE.  Shake with ice: 1.5 oz sloe gin (gin infused with blackthorn fruits, i.e. sloes), 1 oz lemon juice, and 0.75 oz simple syrup.  Strain into glass filled with fresh ice.  Top with club soda and stir gently.

67. Midrange voice: ALTO.

68. Motivation for a project, in hashtags: INSPO.  "Inspo" is an informal abbreviation for "inspiration," used on social media to describe motivating ideas, visual references, or creative concepts in fashion, lifestyle, and design. 

69. Canonized Fr. woman: STE.  The abbreviation for Sainte, which is feminine for Saint in French.  For example, the woman we call St. Joan of Arc is called Ste Jeanne d'Arc in her homeland of France.

70. Have on: WEAR.  And just as importantly ...

Down:

1. Basketball Hall of Famer Rebecca: LOBO.  Rebecca Lobo-Rushin is a television basketball analyst and former professional women's basketball player in the WNBA from 1997 to 2003.  I did not know (DNK) this, and it gave me a rough start in the northwest part of the puzzle.

Try to identify the former professional basketball player.

2. Many a Syrian: ARAB.

3. Balance owed: DEBT.

4. Bean used to make tofu: SOYA.

5. "Well, shoot!": DARN IT.

6. Alysa Liu's Olympic team: Abbr.: USA.  Alysa Liu, an American figure skater, is the 2026 Olympic champion in both women's singles and in the team event, the 2025 World champion, the 2022 World bronze medalist, the 2025–26 Grand Prix Final champion, a two-time Grand Prix medalist, a four-time Challenger Series champion, and a two-time U.S. national champion.

Alysa Liu at the recent winter Olympics

7. Bright forehead adornment: BINDI.  A bindi is a decorative dot or jewel worn on the forehead, representing the "third eye" in Hindu and Indian culture.

Woman wearing a bindi.

8. Star that warms Mars: SUN.

9. Written for group singing: CHORAL.

10. Vast cosmic expanse: OUTER SPACE.

11. Squeeze dry: WRING.

12. Milky coffee order: LATTE.

15. Possible score after deuce: AD IN.  Tennis scoring!  

     0 points = Love

     1 point = 15

     2 points = 30

     3 points = 40

     Tied score = All

     40-40 = Deuce

     Server wins deuce point = Ad-In

     Receiver wins deuce point = Ad-Out

18. __ monster: Arizona lizard: GILA.  The Gila monster is a venomous lizard native to the Southwestern United States and the Mexican state of Sonora. It is a heavy, slow-moving reptile, up to 22 inches long, and is the only venomous lizard native to the United States.

Gila monster

22. Actively encourage: EGG ON.

25. Swerves sharply: VEERS.

26. "Auld __ Syne": LANG.

27. Greek Cupid: EROS.

28. Devoted fans of singer/actress Gomez: SELENATORS.  This I did not know (DNK in the comments section), but I do know Selena Gomez, especially from Hulu's "Only Murders in the Building," so it wasn't too hard to fill.

Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez

29. Up to, briefly: TIL.

31. Some radio personalities: DJS.

33. Shar-__: PEI.  The Shar Pei dog breed nearly became extinct in the 20th century due to cultural changes in China.  In 1978, it was named by The Guinness Book of Records as the world's rarest breed, with only 60 remaining.  The publicity led to demand in the United States.  Breeders in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan crossed the Shar Pei with bull terriers, pugs, and bulldogs, and passed them off to American buyers as purebred.  The American Kennel Club now recognizes the Shar Pei, but with the fleshier appearance of the cross breeds.  The original type of Shar Pei is still down to 50 to 100 dogs.

Chinese "bone mouth" Shar Pei on the left, American "meat mouth" Shar Pei on the right.

34. Deal with: SEE TO.

36. City in northern Oklahoma: ENID.

37. Scoreboard nos.: PTS.

39. Quaint affirmative: YES'M.  "Yes'm" is a contraction of "yes ma'am," used as a polite, often regional (Southern US) or dated, affirmative response to a woman.  Like "Yessir," but for the ladies.

40. Sparkle: GLEAM.

41. Printmaker's fluid: INK.

46. Slangy "Touché!": OH SNAP.

48. Charge for using a card: ATM FEE.

49. Spiced tea from India: CHAI.

50. So-called "fifth taste": UMAMI.

51. Owl's claw: TALON.

52. Crowds around, as a celebrity: MOBS.  In our neighborhood, the big excitement is when a group of crows MOBS a hawk.  They don't want a selfie or a signature.  They want the hawk out of the neighborhood, so it won't eat their eggs or nestlings.  Mockingbirds MOB the crows for the same reason.  I was anti-crow until I saw them mobbing hawks.  Hawks eat songbirds, including the tired migrant birds that come to our yard twice a year, on their way from colder climes to warmer, and back the other way.  Hawks have to eat, too, but you know, Not In My Back Yard.

Crows mobbing a hawk.

53. Stamps and sends: MAILS.

57. Nibble (on): GNAW.

58. Khartoum's river: NILE.  Khartoum is the capital of Sudan, upriver on the Nile from Egypt.

The red flag marks Khartoum.

59. "¿Cómo __ usted?": ESTÁ.  "How are you?" (formal) in Spanish.

60. Marvel's hammer thrower: THOR.

62. Day-__ paint: GLO.

64. Comprehended: GOT.

Here's the grid:

Solvers,

Did this puzzle GNAW at you, causing you to WRING your hands and SCOWL?

Or did it put PEP in your step, and a GLEAM in your eye, on the way to a BIG FINISH?

Maybe we can take some INSPO from your experience.  Please comment!

-- NaomiZ

Saturday, April 11, 2026, Samuel A. Donaldson & Doug Peterson

Saturday Themeless by Doug Peterson and Samuel A. Donaldson

 

These two veteran constructors provided a lovely solving experience.

Sam Donaldson

Doug Peterson

Across:
1. Orange belts found in some flutes: MIMOSAS - It's fun to break through the clever cluing and get off to a good start. 

8. Occur to: DAWN ON - I was so pleased the the first two long grid-spanning fills below did DAWN ON me quickly

14. Song usually accompanied by pantomime: I'M A LITTLE TEAPOT short and stout..

17. "We'll cross that bridge when we get there": LET'S PLAY IT BY EAR.

18. Holds down the couch: LAZES.

19. Some fans of The Cure: GOTHS - Not familiar with any of their tunes

20. Pi follower: RHO.

21. Part of: IN ON.

22. Country named for Africa's second-highest peak: KENYA - Mt. KENYA is about 200 miles north of Africa's highest peak.

23. One-quarter of UTEP: PASO.

24. Some CGI creatures: ETS.

25. Animated sort: TOON.

26. Step on stage: TOE TAP 😀

28. "Your Friend & Jeweler" company: SHANE ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

29. Ones in line: HEIRS 😀

30. Biles with five eponymous gymnastics skills: SIMONE.

32. Constant figure in quantum theory?: PLANCK - This physics guy knows both of these scientists

34. Ties: LACES - None for me any more.

35. "That really grinds my __": GEARS 😀

36. Egg foo young, e.g.: OMELET.

38. Davis canine: ODIE - Garfield's pal and foil

39. Dennings of "WandaVision": KAT ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

42. Fling: CAST.

43. Picked one: OPTED.

45. Robe part: SASH.

46. Durham sch.: UNH - A little misdirection as more well-known Duke University is in Durham, N.C.

47. Portions (out): DOLES.

48. Folk legend Griffith: NANCI - ¯\_(ツ)_/¯  This folk music lover is not familiar with her work

49. Yellowstone's less predictable attraction: STEAMBOAT GEYSER.

52. Black aces and black eights: THE DEAD MAN'S HAND - The poker hand that is said to be what Wild Bill Hickock was holding when Jack McCall shot him in Deadwood, S.D. in 1876.

53. Locking horns: AT ODDS - A common state in D.C.

54. Plucky Renaissance faire performers?: LUTISTS.

Down:

1. "Doctor Who" actress Gibson: MILLIE - ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

2. Rephrasing words: I MEANT.

3. Seder servings: MATZOS.

4. Elizabeth of "WandaVision": OLSEN ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Another cast member of a show I was not aware of

5. Nurses: SIPS.

6. City with more than 70 sts. named Peachtree: ATL -  These variations include Peachtree Circle, Peachtree Lane, Peachtree Battle Avenue, and Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, among others, causing significant navigation challenges for visitors and locals alike in ATLANTA

7. Initial phase: STAGE ONE - The fuel in STAGE ONE of the Apollo Moon Rockets got the astronauts about 40 miles above Earth.

8. Temple dedicatee, often: DEITY.

9. To boot: AT THAT - "The meal wasn't very good and was pretty expensive AT THAT"

10. Fly catchers: WEBS 😀

11. Silly response to "Is that your horse?": NAY. 😀

12. Like many Bolshoi performances: OPERATIC - Bolshoi is Russian for big or grand.

13. Seafaring retreat for couples?: NOAH'S ARK 😀 - Two by two...

15. "Poker Face" star Natasha: LYONNE ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

16. Scouting units: TROOPS.

22. Zen paradox: KOAN - KOH ahn. A paradoxical anecdote or riddle, used in Zen Buddhism to demonstrate the inadequacy of logical reasoning and to provoke enlightenment. You're welcome.

23. Ends used for shaping: PEENS.

25. The ones over there: THOSE.

27. Midway alternative: O'HARE.

28. Extract metal using heat: SMELT.

30. "Sex and the City" role: SAMANTHA - ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ The lady in red

31. Arctic mass: ICE SHEET.

32. Setting for worship?: PEDESTAL - Works in our house even though this is not our Lily in the picture! 😊

33. Like bricks and eggs: LAID 😀 - I've done the first and have collected the latter

34. Plague pest: LOCUST.

35. Cry from the stands: GO TEAM.

37. "Well, boo-hoo!": TOO BAD.

39. "Dust in the Wind" band: KANSAS - A song that where I might tell others in the car, "Please quiet down, I love his song!"

40. Uphill climb: ASCENT - 62% of deaths on Everest occur on the ASCENT and 38% on the descent. 

41. Helping for the hungry: THIRDS - Hey, if it's for tater tots...

44. Moves with effort: PLODS.

45. Wave, maybe: SAY HI.

47. Contacted on the 'gram: D-MED - Some FaceBook posts might ask to be D-MED (Direct MessagED) to discuss more privately. 

48. Location of a small kite: NEST.

50. Fuss of Shakespearean proportions?: ADO.

51. Shaggy grazer: GNU.