Monday, January 26, 2026, Doug Peterson

Theme:  Zero to hero

Constructor Doug Peterson has constructed a lovely grid with five symmetrically placed theme entries, two of which span the grid from side to side.  It is all based on a familiar rags-to-riches story, as revealed at 62-Across.

62-Across. Underdog's feel-good narrative, and where to find the first words of the answers to the starred clues: CINDERELLA STORY.  Let's review the starred clues and answers to see the Cinderella elements.

17-Across. *Lead Belly song about a wee-hours train: MIDNIGHT SPECIAL.  Cinderella has to leave the royal ball before MIDNIGHT, when her dress will turn back into rags, her coach will turn back into a pumpkin, and her coachmen will turn back into mice.  As for the song, MIDNIGHT SPECIAL is a folk song that originated among African-American prisoners in southern states, and was recorded by Huddie William "Lead Belly" Ledbetter in 1934.

Lead Belly

28-Across. *Armless furniture that sits low to the ground: SLIPPER CHAIR.  When Cinderella runs away from the ball, one of her glass SLIPPERs falls off, leaving behind a crucial clue for the prince to find her.  A SLIPPER CHAIR is an upholstered, armless chair with a low seat, typically placed in a corner of a bedroom so that ladies can sit to put on their SLIPPERs.

A 19th century slipper chair.

39-Across. *Play area with plastic spheres: BALL PIT.  Cinderella's stepmother provides her own daughters with elegant gowns and a coach so that they may attend the royal BALL, but Cinderella is left at home in rags to continue her usual chores -- until her fairy godmother provides her with magical garb and transportation.  You may never have attended a royal ball, but you've probably seen a BALL PIT, where children crawl around among small plastic balls.

Cinderella's ball pit?

47. *Flavor of many fall lattes: PUMPKIN SPICE.  How will Cinderella get to the ball, since her sisters have left without her?  Her fairy godmother turns a PUMPKIN into a coach.  Think about that next fall when you order a PUMPKIN SPICE latte at Starbucks!

Appearing every fall since 2004.

Who doesn't love a CINDERELLA STORY, in which the good and kind triumph over the wicked and mean?  And who can fail to appreciate the beauty of this grid?

Quickly now, before any of us turn into mice, let's address the rest of the clues and answers.

Across:

1. Put on: DON.  Cinderella had the bright idea to DON her dead mother's dress, but her nasty stepsisters tore it to pieces.

Poor Cinderella!

4. More crafty: SLIER.  This answer works in the USA, but Brits are slyer.

9. Red emblem on the English flag: CROSS.

Flag of England

14. Org. concerned with forever chemicals: EPA.  Environmental Protection Agency.  An abbreviation in the clue calls for an abbreviation in the answer.

15. Trattoria course: PASTA.  A trattoria is an Italian eatery, less formal than a ristorante, but more formal than an osteria.  Pasta is usually among the dishes labeled Primi, or first, which constitute the first hot course of a meal, often vegetarian.  Secondi is the next course, where meat and seafood appear.

16. Flood barrier: LEVEE.

17. [Theme clue]

20. Blooming __: deep-fried appetizer: ONION.  DH used to invite clients and prospective clients to dinner at nice restaurants.  His then-assistant set up one of these meals at a steakhouse, and the vegetarian entree she arranged for DH was a blooming onion.  He was not thrilled with her choice.

blooming onion

21. Large atlas section: ASIA.

22. Broadband letters: DSL.  Digital Subscriber Line is high-speed Internet access that uses existing copper telephone lines from homes and businesses to transmit data.

23. Pico de gallo pepper: SERRANO.  Pico de gallo is a chunky Mexican salsa made from tomatoes, onions, cilantro, jalapeños or serranos, and lime juice.

pico de gallo

26. Advance, as cash: LEND.

28. [Theme clue]

33. In this spot: HERE.

36. Prefix with classical: NEO.  Neo is a prefix meaning "new" or "revived."  Neoclassical refers to the revival of classical styles, especially in literature, music, art, or architecture.

The U.S. Capitol is an example of neoclassical architecture.

37. Extreme: ULTRA.

38. GI show gp.: USO.  The United Service Organizations Inc. is an American nonprofit-charitable corporation that provides live entertainment to members of the United States Armed Forces and their families.

39. [Theme clue]

42. "Ugh, sounds painful!": OOF.

43. New Zealand native: MAORI.

45. Forever and a day: EON.

46. Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo, for short: TMNT.  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  The turtles, Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo, starred in comic books, animated cartoons, video games, and films.

Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo

47. [Theme clue]

51. __ Millions lottery: MEGA.  Mega Millions is a multijurisdictional lottery game.  It is offered in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  For those of you in Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, or Utah, this will not be your rags-to-riches story.

52. Lose one's footing: STUMBLE.

56. One of the Manning brothers: ELI.  Eli Manning played in the National Football League for 16 seasons with the New York Giants.  He led the Giants to underdog Super Bowl victories against the New England Patriots in Super Bowls XLII (2008) and XLVI (2012).  Those were zero-to-hero seasons for the Giants!

Eli Manning

59. A handful of: SOME.

61. Bit of mint: SPRIG.

62. [Theme clue]

66. Mombasa's country: KENYA.  Mombasa is a coastal city in southeastern Kenya along the Indian Ocean.  Centered on an island, the city extends onto the mainland.  It was the first capital of British East Africa, before Nairobi.

67. JPEG, e.g.: IMAGE.  A JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) file is a popular, compressed image format (.jpg, .jpeg) ideal for digital photos.

68. Dispenser at a bar: TAP.

69. Beginning stage: ONSET.

70. Took to the impound lot: TOWED.

71. Pres. before DDE: HST.  Before Dwight D. Eisenhower, there was Harry S. Truman.

Down:

1. Tech expo presentations: DEMOS.

2. Share a view: OPINE.

3. Lowest point: NADIR.

4. Backbone-related: SPINAL.

5. Delay in a livestream: LAG.

6. "Kinda": ISH.

7. Gospel great James: ETTA.  Crossword puzzles love this songstress.

Etta James

8. Grapple, slangily: RASSLE.

9. Neat and well-groomed: CLEAN CUT.

10. "Parks and __": REC.  Parks and Recreation (also known as Parks and Rec) is a political satire mockumentary television sitcom that aired on NBC from 2009 to 2015. The series stars Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope, a mid-level bureaucrat in the Parks and Recreation Department of the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana. I found the first few episodes unbearable, but apparently it improved.

Amy Poehler in Parks and Recreation

11. Poet of ancient Rome: OVID.

12. Bodies of water: SEAS.

13. Exchange for cash: SELL.

18. Like myths about Asgard: NORSE.

19. Walkway over water: PIER.

24. Girl, in Guatemala: NIÑA.

25. Autobahn auto: OPEL.  Opel began as a sewing machine manufacturer founded by Adam Opel in 1862 in Rüsselsheim am Main.  They began making bicycles in 1886 and produced their first automobile in 1899.  The company was responsible for the world's first rocket-powered flights in 1928 and 1929.  In 1929, General Motors took a majority stake in Opel and then full control in 1931, establishing American ownership of the German automaker for nearly 90 years.  In 2017, PSA Peugeot Citroën acquired Opel, which is still headquartered in Rüsselsheim am Main.

Opel's 2026 all electric auto will sell for 25,000 euros.

27. FedEx alternative: DHL.  DHL (named after founders Dalsey, Hillblom and Lynn) is a multinational logistics company, founded in the United States and headquartered in Bonn, Germany.  It provides courier, package delivery, and express mail services.

DHL in the USA

29. Fish sticks?: POLES.  OOF!  Fishing poles.

30. Basic particle: ATOM.

31. Mineral in leafy greens: IRON.  And protein!  DH is cooking up fresh spinach as I type.

32. River float: RAFT.

33. Camel feature: HUMP.

34. Biblical twin: ESAU.  His fraternal twin was Jacob.  Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of lentils.  He was hungry!

35. Suite part: ROOM.

39. Pedaler's perch: BIKE SEAT.

40. Opens, as a trunk: POPS.

41. Still a competitor: IN IT.  Still with me?  You are IN IT to win it!

44. LP fig.: RPM.  An LP (Long Play) record typically plays at 33 1/3 RPM (revolutions per minute).

46. Tantalize: TEMPT.

48. Classical composer Stravinsky: IGOR.  Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) was a Russian composer and conductor with French citizenship (from 1934) and American citizenship (from 1945).  He is widely considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century and a pivotal figure in modernist music.  His third ballet, The Rite of Spring, caused a near-riot at the premiere in 1913 due to its avant-garde nature.  But then, there were four near-riots in European concert halls that year!

49. "Anything you want!": NAME IT.

50. Was a potty mouth: CUSSED.

53. Soup liquid: BROTH.

54. Turkish coins: LIRAS.

55. Red Sea nation: EGYPT.  My cousin's wife is currently climbing pyramids.  DH's best bud cruised the Nile recently.  It's trending.

56. Fashion designer Marc: ECKO.  Marc Ecko followed his artistic inclination into T-shirt design and made a name for himself with hip-hop and skater fashions.  He's an emeritus member of the Board of Directors of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and is known for charitable works.

Marc Ecko

57. Bank's property claim: LIEN.

58. Cozy lodgings: INNS.

60. Red friend of Grover: ELMO.

Oscar the Grouch, Grover, Elmo, and Cookie Monster

63. Henna, for one: DYE.  Natural henna is made from a plant (Lawsonia inermis) and turns hair and skin a reddish color.  Could ELMO be using henna?

64. Statute: LAW.

65. Get on in years: AGE.  Presumably, this is what the prince and Cinderella did when they lived happily ever after.

Solvers, how did you like today's CROSSword puzzle?

Were you ULTRA successful? 😀 Or did you STUMBLE?  😬

Kindly OPINE below!

-- NaomiZ

Sunday January 4, 2026 Doug Peterson

Theme: "CONFOUNDED" - CON is added to the start of each common phrase.

27. Bistro where diners rarely get what they order?: CONFUSION RESTAURANT. Fusion restaurant.

37. One who makes a huge profit in the gaming industry?: CONSOLE BENEFICIARY. Sole beneficiary. 

50. Museum employee who specializes in topographic maps?: CONTOUR GUIDE. Tour guide.

67. Well-secured garden vines?: CONSTRAINED PEAS. Strained peas.

89. Inflatables ridden in a river race?: CONTEST TUBES. Test tubes.

97. Inchworm with a successful YouTube channel?: CONTENT CATERPILLAR. Tent caterpillar. 

109. Remodel of a badly designed airport terminal?: CONCOURSE CORRECTION. Course correction. 

I think "Confound" works as a title too, right, as CON is FOUND.

Very consistent set, all the CON are inserted in the first word. And the theme entries are all quite long, occupying a total 113 squares. Super smooth fill, Doug is one of a kind. He can make easy Monday puzzles. And he can also make hard stumpers. He's also a test solvers for Patti. 

Across:

1. Geyser output: STEAM.

6. Cause to blush: ABASH.

11. Some Caribbean exports: RUMS. Ideal climate to grow sugarcane there.

15. "Goldberg Variations" composer: BACH.

19. Blender button: PULSE.

20. Marisa who plays Peter Parker's aunt: TOMEI. 

21. Cookie with six Thanksgiving-inspired flavors: OREO.

22. Crass: RUDE.

23. Dined at home: ATE IN.

24. Massage: KNEAD.

25. Annapolis sch.: USNA. 

26. "For All Mankind" side: Abbr.: USSR. Sci-fi drama for Apple TV. Wikipedia says "The series dramatizes an alternate history depicting "what would have happened if the global space race had never ended" after the Soviet Union succeeds in the first crewed Moon landing ahead of the United States".

31. Bullpen stat: ERA.

32. Get into: DON.

33. Poke bowl choice: AHI.  Looks delicious. 

34. Vassals: SERFS.

44. Branch of Islam: SHIA.

47. Part to play: ROLE.

48. Give off: EXUDE.

49. Chaney of classic horror: LON.

55. Marvel superhero with martial arts expertise: IRON FIST. He knows Kung Fu too. 

57. Road beneath a freeway: UNDERPASS.

58. Uncomfortable spot: ZIT.

60. Layers: STRATA.

61. TV actress Susan: DEY.

62. Understood: GOT.

63. Parts of quotes: PRICES.

66. Black stone: ONYX.

72. Word in classic mystery novel titles: CASE.

75. Kumquat shade: ORANGE. It's called "golden orange" in Chinese.

76. Concert piece: AMP.

77. Long-running CBS drama: CSI.

80. Part of a vague threat: OR ELSE.

83. Nail art brand: OPI.

84. Row of stores: STRIP MALL. I also love this fill: 87. Sunday planning that makes weeknight dinners easier, say: MEAL PREP.

92. Shiba __: INU.

93. Maximum or minimum: LIMIT.

95. Shoddy: POOR.

96. The Hawkeye State: IOWA.

103. "Goosebumps" series writer: STINE (R. L.)

104. Retro hip beer, for short: PBR. Pabst Blue Ribbon.

105. Coconut __: OIL.

106. Hosts, for short: MCS.

117. Storyline: PLOT.

119. River of northern Spain: EBRO.

120. Made manageable: TAMED.

121. "The Studio" actress Catherine: O'HARA.

122. In short supply: RARE.

123. Corporate image: LOGO.

124. "Judge Mathis" event: TRIAL.

125. Election Day figure: VOTER. 

126. Doesn't rent: OWNS.

127. Abound (with): TEEM.

128. In a suitable way: APTLY.

129. Clear: ERASE.

Down:

1. __ bar: SPACE.

2. Teach privately: TUTOR.

3. Two-time WNBA MVP __ Delle Donne: ELENA.

4. "Ew! No!": AS IF.

5. Mexican soup made with tripe: MENUDO. Tripe and red chili.

6. Guitarist Chet who helped create the Nashville sound: ATKINS.

7. Pro __: at no charge: BONO.

8. "Right on!": AMEN.

9. Cook the surface of: SEAR.

10. Sleeper sofa: HIDE-A-BED.

11. Ordinary: ROUTINE.

12. __ Major: URSA.

13. OpenTable link: MENU.

14. Skyrocket: SOAR. As my health insurance did. Scary. 

15. Country surrounded by the Malaysian state of Sarawak: BRUNEI. Fun trivia clue.

 

16. Like koalas: AUSTRALIAN.

17. IRA options: CDS.

18. See 29-Down: HER. 29. With 18-Down, pronoun pair: SHE.

28. Daughter's brother: SON.

30. Way up: ASCENT.

35. Extremely unfriendly: FROSTY.

36. Sentence structure: SYNTAX.

37. Blanchett with two Oscars: CATE.

38. Agcys.: ORGS.

39. Singers Reed and Rawls: LOUS.

40. Yale student: ELI.

41. Left: EXITED.

42. Dog coat: FUR.

43. Rite words: I DOS.

44. Skim along, as clouds: SCUD. Learned from doing crosswords.

45. Sharpen: HONE.

46. Memorial Day weekend race, casually: INDY.

51. Chem class for premeds: ORGO. Organic Chemistry.

52. "__ further reflection ... ": UPON.

53. "Midnight Cowboy" hustler: RATSO. Ratso Rizzo. "Hey, I'm walking here"

 

54. Online mag: E ZINE.

56. Curly hairstyles, informally: FROS.

59. Zamboni surface: ICE.

63. Freak out: PANIC.

64. Semi: RIG.

65. Trades barbs: SPARS.

67. Minesweeper unit: CELL.

68. Torrid Zone boundary: TROPIC. Guangzhou is near the Tropic. The week around the Chinese Spring Festival is often the coldest time of year. Even then, temperatures typically remain above 32F.

69. Sharp knock: RAP.

70. Give off: EMIT.

71. Spot on a sked: APPT.

72. Stand-up individuals?: COMICS. Stand-up comic. 

73. "We __ alone": ARE NOT.

74. Narwhal: SEA UNICORN. Because of its spiral tusk.

77. Baja resort, familiarly: CABO.

78. Whole lot: SLEW.

79. The "kid" in "Here's looking at you, kid": ILSA.

81. Organ near the pancreas: SPLEEN.

82. CNN anchor Burnett: ERIN. And  86. ABC News anchor David: MUIR.

84. "Enough!": STOP.

85. Actress Polo: TERI.

88. First aid pro: EMT.

90. "The Mikado," for one: OPERETTA.

91. Scand. kingdom: NOR.

94. Place to make draft picks: TAP ROOM. Non-sports related.

98. IRA options: T NOTES.

99. Network that airs "TBBT" reruns: TBS. "The Big Bang Theory".

100. Imperious: LORDLY.

101. Tell tales: LIE.

102. Cozy spot: ALCOVE.

106. Mazda two-seater: MIATA.

107. Apple centers: CORES.

108. Drum kit piece: SNARE.

110. Saxon foe: CELT.

111. Wind with keys: OBOE.

112. Hankering: URGE.

113. Complain querulously: CARP.

114. Conveniently leave out, maybe: OMIT.

115. Word in some Spanish team names: REAL. Meaning "Royal". Real Madrid, e.g.

116. Hammer-wielding god: THOR.

117. __ rata: PRO.

118. Brief topic: LAW.

I made today's puzzle for Slate. Click here to give it a whirl! It was edited by the fantastic Quiara Vasquez, who added so much fun trivia and sparkle to the clues.

I'd love to hear about your solving experience. 

C.C. 

Monday December 15, 2025 Doug Peterson

  

Happy Monday, everyone! Today's puzzle comes to us from the prolific constructor Doug Peterson. The theme is:  

We'll begin with the themed clues and answers:

17 Across. *"Tennessee Waltz" singer: PATTI PAGE.  [1927-2013]  Patti's version was released in 1950. I like how the song itself is a waltz.

24 Across. *Bottoms worn as loungewear: PAJAMA PANTS.  

They're certainly cozy, but are they a smart choice for the airport?

40 Across. *Maneuvering into a tight curbside spot: PARALLEL PARKING.  This was not a requirement when I took my driving test. I can do it but it makes me nervous. I'd rather walk a couple of blocks. 

 51 Across. *Wide receiver's route: PASS PATTERN.  

Football fans already know this; but for those of you who do not ...
The guys with the yellow helmets are on offence.
The two guys I circled in red are wide receivers. 
The WRs will run their PASS PATTERNs (See the yellow and black arrows.)
 and the QB will throw the ball to whoever is open.
Did you catch that?

The unifier:

65 Across. Paul Reiser sitcom, and what can be found in the answers to the starred clues: MY TWO DADS.  My Two Dads was a TV sitcom that ran on NBC from 1987 to 1990. It is about a 12-year old girl whose mother dies and gives joint custody to two men whom she dated the summer she got pregnant. The girl's paternity was never revealed on the show. 

Paul Reiser is on the left.

I clocked the P* P* theme early -- or so I thought -- and eagerly looked forward to discovering what the unifier would be. As it turns out, I had failed to notice the A's next to the P's. The real gimmick is that all of the theme entries are in the pattern of PA*  PA*. 

PA is a synonym for "father". (Think of Laura Ingalls Wilder's father.) Putting together two PAs give us PA & PA or TWO DADS. Works for me!

Here are the remaining clues & answers:

Across:

1. First name of singers Levine and Lambert: ADAM.  

Levine (l.) [b. 1979] is known for being in the band Maroon 5
and for being a coach on The Voice.
Lambert (r.) [b. 1982] was a runner-up on Season 8 of American Idol.

5. Young fellows: LADS.  

Do you remember these LADS?
Hint:  That is Higgins in the middle.

9. Common merch table purchase: SHIRT.

14. Drop-down list: MENU.  Think "computers".

15. Many times: A LOT.

16. Brooklyn's __ Island: CONEY.  In 1867 Charles Feltman invented the hot dog at Coney Island. Learn more here:  Timeline of Coney Island (1609-1985)

This couple is riding the Brooklyn Flyer in Luna Park on Coney Island.

19. Open, as a vitamin bottle: UNCAP.  

20. Narrow openings: SLITS.

21. Shopping complex: MALL.  This time of year, it is where you can find Santa.  

23. Stack starter in solitaire: ACE.  I am particularly partial to alliterative clues.

28. "Quite possibly": IT MAY BE.  "Maybe" as one word, came easily. However, sussing the three-word answer took more thinking.

32. "Meant to tell you" shorthand: BTW.  By The Way

33. Honey liquor: MEAD.  Def.:  (noun) a fermented beverage made of water, honey, malt, and yeast.

34. In-flight figs.: ETAS.  figures and Estimated Times of Arrival

37. Island where "NCIS: Hawai'i" is set: O'AHU.  This is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands but it is also the most populated. The state's capital, Honolulu, is on O'AHU. About 70% of the state's population lives on this island.  

44. Brand that sells Braille Bricks: LEGO.  Braille Bricks are a play-based methodology that teaches braille to children who are blind or have a visual impairment. Cool beans!  

45. Paper quantity: REAM.

46. Finishes: ENDS.  

47. Source of sheep's milk: EWE.  

49. Put trust in: COUNT ON.  

Count von Count from Sesame Street 

56. Spigoted vessel: URN.  

This URN catches rainwater.

57. Cookie used in many desserts: OREO.  

recipe

58. Marisa of "The Big Short": TOMEI.  This is the trailer for that 2015 movie. Marisa did not make it into the trailer -- unless that is her at 1:35???  

63. Heat's home city: MIAMI.  I like this team's name because it suggests, "Bring on the heat," plus it fits the region's weather. As of this writing, the forecast for today is 78° F with a chance of rain.

68. "Evita" surname: PERON.

69. Bosc, for one: PEAR.  

(l. to r.)  Anjou, Asian, Bartlett, Bosc, Comice, and Seckel

70. Foreboding sign: OMEN.  Some of you know that I'm a fan of Rhett Miller's wordplay in his song lyrics. This one fits:

Old 97's     ~     Curtain Calls     ~     1997

"I don't believe in cards, I don't believe in signs.

But I'll be leavin' soon, I'm here tonight."  🎵🎵  

71. Dozed: SLEPT.

72. Avant-garde: EDGY.  

73. Monopoly payment: RENT.

Down:

1. Concert boosters: AMPS.  Not people raising money to support the event but equipment to boost up the noise level.

2. Hand out cards: DEAL.  Think "casino DEALer".

3. Not for: ANTI.

4. Mixed-breed pooch: MUTT.  National Mutt Day encourages us to embrace, save, and celebrate mixed breed dogs twice a year on July 31 and December 2. If you've ever known one then you know they are ready to be your best friend. 

5. Once around a skating rink, e.g.: LAP.

6. Pie __ mode: À LA.  

7. Religious doctrine: DOGMA.  This is sort of random, but I was trying to think of Avril Levigne for 1-Across, ___ Levine and I sometimes mix her up with Alanis Morrisette who played God in the 1999 Kevin Smith movie Dogma.  

8. "Full __ ahead!": STEAM.  This phrase means to move forward with as much speed or energy as possible.  

Titanic    ~    1997    ~    1:11 min.

9. Artist with a chisel: SCULPTOR.  

Michelangelo's David is 17 ft. (5.17 meters) tall.

10. Sweetie: HON.

11. Like Machu Picchu: INCAN.

12. Blink, say: REACT.  The blink reflex is an involuntary action to protect the eye.

13. Strikes keys: TYPES.

18. "__ with my little eye ... ": I SPY.  This is a children's guessing game.

22. Chemist's workplace: LAB.  

25. Eve's second son: ABEL.  

Cain was a farmer. Abel was a shepherd.
They had to work because their parents were expelled from 61-Down.

26. 2020 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Derek: JETER.  [b. June 26, 1974]  his Hall of Fame page  

Side note:  I noticed that Doug also put JETER in his grid last Tuesday. (See Hahtoolah's helpful commentary for 31-Down.) I am wondering if this was a coincidence or if Doug is a fan and assigned JETER a high word score in his constructing dictionary. 🤔

27. Rouse from slumber: AWAKEN.  

28. Devilish kid: IMP.

29. Greenish-blue color: TEAL.

30. Stallion's mate: MARE.  A MARE is a female horse of breeding age.

31. Wise old sayings: ADAGES.  From the Grammar Girl podcast:  ADAGES are similar to maxims. Both are often metaphorical, and both are rooted in universal truth. But adages are primarily distinguished by their age and traditional quality. In fact, many people consider the phrase "an old adage" to be redundant since adages are, by definition, traditional sayings.

For those of you who want to do a deep dive into the difference between proverbs, maxims, adages, dictums, and truisms, this is the episode link. Start at 7:50.

35. Taproom drink: ALE.

36. The "S" of NASA: SPACE.  National Aeronautics and Space Administration  

NASA was established in 1958 under President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

38. Helpful suggestion: HINT.  

39. "Go back!" computer command: UNDO.     and     50 Across. "Do __ others ... ": UNTO.

41. Darkest hour: LOW POINT.  Also, Death Valley National Park is America's hottest, driest and lowest national park. Its LOW POINT in Badwater Basin is 282 ft, (85.5 meters) below sea level.

42. "__ Prohibido": 1994 Selena hit: AMOR.  [1971-1995]  Born Selena Quintailla, Selena was a Grammy-winning American performer who achieved huge success in the Latin music world before her tragic murder by the president of her fan club. I did not know the song but I did feel comfortable guessing the Spanish word for "love".

43. Channel with "Press Your Luck" reruns: GSN.  Game Show Network

48. Knack for music: EAR.  This definition of EAR is a sensitivity to musical tone and pitch.  

51. Machines at gas stations: PUMPS.  I overthought this one until a perp appeared.

52. Disney princess with red hair: ARIEL.  The font is spelled arial. Memory trick:  shE has an E.

53. Entrap: SNARE.

54. City near Phoenix: TEMPE.  Tempe is 10.3 mi. (6.4 km.) east of Phoenix.  some ideas for things to do in Tempe

55. Fiddled around (with): TOYED.

59. Scent: ODOR.

60. Broadway "Auntie": MAME.

61. Old Testament garden: EDEN.  Luckily for us, the internet never runs out of EDEN comics.

62. "My heart just __ in it": ISN'T.  ...said the Tin Man to Dorothy.

64. Messy head of hair: MOP.  From wikiHow (updated last week):

Also called the “mop top,” the wet mop haircut is a messy, medium-length cut with parted fringe. It was popularized by The Beatles and Justin Bieber, but it has recently resurfaced in popularity thanks to TikTok.  

66. Graffiti signature: TAG.  Perhaps one of the most famous graffiti artists is Banksy. This 1:03 min. video tells a fun Banksy story. In the TV show The Outlaws a major plot point in the finale involves Christopher Walken's character painting over an original Banksy artwork -- for real!!

 

67. Amusingly ironic: WRY.  See the Christopher Walken scene above.

The grid:  

Well, that was my two cents. You can add yours in the comments below.

Have a great week, everyone!