Monday, May 4, 2026, Janice Luttrell

Theme:  Fast and FURIOUS!

Did you move through this puzzle too quickly to become enraged, infuriated, indignant, or irritable?

I'm sure our experienced constructor, Janice Luttrell, didn't mean to make you angry, but she might have hoped you would notice the testy, ill-humored, and dyspeptic beginnings of the theme answers, which are:

17-Across. Cactus with showy flowers: PRICKLY PEAR.

28-Across. Like some Winter Olympics skiing: CROSS COUNTRY.

45-Across. Tummy trouble: UPSET STOMACH.

61-Across. Satirical periodical featuring Alfred E. Neuman: MAD MAGAZINE.

Don't be sullen if you missed it.  Yours truly had to look for it after solving.  I'm not bitter, but I'd better get on with the rest of it!

Across:

1. Airtight excuse for a defendant: ALIBI.

6. Pool floats: RAFTS.

11. Moroccan cap with a tassel: FEZ.

14. Add to the conversation: PUT IN.  We don't talk politics here, but I think we can PUT IN something about PUTIN.

15. Snowboarding jump: OLLIE.  The ollie is a skateboarding trick where the rider and board leap into the air without the use of the rider's hands.  It is a combination of stomping the tail of the skateboard off the ground to get the board mostly vertical, jumping, and sliding the front foot forward to level out the skateboard at the peak of the jump.  The ollie is a fundamental skill in skateboarding and has crossed over to snowboarding.

Skateboard ollie

Snowboard ollie

16. Big name in jarred tomato sauce: RAO.  

Rao's was purchased by Campbell Soup in 2024.

17. [Theme clue]

19. Self-serve coffee server: URN.

20. Sn, to a chemist: TIN.  Did you study chemistry?  If so, do you remember most of these?

21. "Do __ favor?": ME A.  PUT IN a good word for me, perhaps?

22. Extremely absurd: ASININE.

24. Fish-eating bird: SEA EAGLE.

27. Not at home: OUT.

28. [Theme clue]

33. Kindle download: EBOOK.  Electronic book.  Kindle is Amazon's eBook reading device.

36. Gramps: POPS.  We never called Grandpa "Pops," but his sons called him that.

Pops at work

37. "Christopher Robin" joey: ROO.  A "joey" is a young kangaroo or other marsupial.  In A.A. Milne's books about Christopher Robin and Winnie-the-Pooh, the smallest character is Roo, the energetic son of kindhearted Kanga.

"Kanga and Roo were spending a quiet afternoon in a sandy part of the Forest. Baby Roo was practising very small jumps in the sand, and falling down mouse-holes and climbing out of them, and Kanga was fidgeting about and saying "Just one more jump, dear, and then we must go home." And at that moment who should come stumping up the hill but Pooh." -- Winnie-The-Pooh chapter VII

38. Dollywood's st.: TENN.  Dolly Parton's theme park, Dollywood, is in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, near Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

39. Studies all night: CRAMS.

41. Lettuce unit: HEAD.

42. Lipton product: TEA.

43. Stratford-upon-__: AVON.  Stratford-upon-Avon is famous as the birthplace of William Shakespeare. 

44. Tuscan cathedral city south of Florence: SIENA.

45. [Theme clue]

49. Body art, briefly: TAT.  Short for tattoo.

50. Playground structures that challenge balance and coordination: LOG ROLLS.  I have never encountered one of these in a playground, so I was a little surprised by the answer.

Log roll

54. OPEC units: BARRELS.

58. Fish eggs: ROE.

59. "You've got mail" ISP: AOL.  Dial-up Internet Service Provider America OnLine used to announce new email with a voice greeting, “You've got mail!”  The dial-up service and greeting were discontinued in September 2025, although AOL still provides email service.

60. Stack starter in solitaire: ACE.  Never learned to play.  You?

61. [Theme clue]

64. Lingerie top: BRA.  Baby boomers like myself learned from our mothers to keep our bras hidden, and never to mention them in mixed company.  But what was once hidden has gradually been revealed, and it's hard to say whether the change started as a popular movement or was dictated by designers.

Miu Miu Fall 2025

65. British baby buggies: PRAMS.

66. Free-for-all: MELEE.

67. Shrill shriek: EEK.

68. Grabs: TAKES.

69. Sarcastic commentary: SNARK.  DH says that snark is my most endearing quality.  That's good, as it seems to be here to stay.

Down:

1. Daily planner entries: Abbr.: APPTS.  Appointments.

2. San Francisco mayor Daniel: LURIE.  Daniel Lurie was born and raised in San Francisco, where he serves as mayor.  He is an heir to the Levi Strauss fortune through his stepfather.  Mr. Lurie earned a Master of Public Policy degree from UC Berkeley, and prior to becoming mayor, organized private philanthropic organizations.  He takes only $1 per year in mayoral salary, and focuses his efforts on affordable housing, a larger and more responsive police force, clean streets, and government accountability.

Daniel Lurie

3. Singer Turner's rock memoir: I, TINA.  Published in 1986, I, Tina: My Life Story became a worldwide best-seller and led to the 1993 film adaptation What's Love Got to Do with It, starring Angela Bassett as Turner.

4. Clic Stic pen brand: BIC.

5. Result of a leaking 4-Down, perhaps: INK MARK.

Put a rag under the stain and spray or blot it with rubbing alcohol.
If it doesn't disappear, apply Amodex and launder as usual.

6. Kansas City baseball team: ROYALS.

7. Swiss peak: ALP.

8. Pest on a pet: FLEA.  Did you know that a flea circus was a circus sideshow in which fleas were attached to miniature carts and other items, and made to perform within a enclosure?

9. Aunts, in 26-Down: TIAS.

10. Humorless: SERIOUS.

11. Orchard growth: FRUIT TREE.

12. Be worthy of: EARN.

13. The "Z" of ZIP code: ZONE.  The United States Postal Service introduced the Zone Improvement Plan (ZIP) code system in 1963.

18. Brick that's painful to step on: LEGO.

Notoriously painful experience.

23. Convent figure: NUN.

25. Supply-and-demand subj.: ECON.  Economics.  An abbreviation in the clue calls for an abbreviation in the answer.

26. Bad Bunny's native language, in his native language: ESPAÑOL.  Español is the Spanish word for Spanish, which is Bad Bunny's native language.

In case you couldn't follow his lyrics en Español,
Bad Bunny put a message in English on the board at the Super Bowl.

29. URL ending: COM.  A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is a web address.  The letters after the final period are a "domain suffix," commonly .com for commercial websites, .org for organizations, and .edu for colleges or universities.

30. Photo __: some PR events: OPS.  Photo opportunities are often Public Relations events.

31. Reddish speckled horse: ROAN.

32. Green Jedi Master: YODA.

33. "__, Brute?": ET TU.  Shakespeare's play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar depicts Caesar's last words as "Et tu, Brute?" which translates to "You too, Brutus?"  Today, a person might say "Et tu, Brute?" after realizing a close friend or ally has betrayed them.

Et tu, Brute?

34. Microwave sound: BEEP.

35. Racking up victories: ON A STREAK.

39. MinuteClinic drugstore chain: CVS.  CVS is the dominant drugstore chain in Los Angeles.

40. Biodegrade: ROT.

41. Kermit's greeting: HI HO.

43. Have a go at: ATTEMPT.

44. Hollers with fright or delight: SCREAMS.

46. AirPod holder: EAR.

47. Swampy area: MORASS.

48. Awestruck: AGOG.

51. Undefeated boxer Ali: LAILA.

Laila with her famous father, Muhammad Ali

52. Solitary sort: LONER.

53. Smooth and shiny: SLEEK.

54. Sweetie: BABE.

55. 43,560 square feet: ACRE.

56. "__ Croft: Tomb Raider": LARA.

57. Mt. Rushmore's st.: S. DAK.  Some folks defaced a mountain in South Dakota and got away with it.  Oh, wait.  They didn't DEface it.  There doesn't seem to be a verb for putting faces on it.

It looks dramatic in this photo, but quite silly from a distance.

62. Marseille Mrs.: MME.  Stands for "Madame."

63. School of Buddhism: ZEN.

Here's the grid:

Solvers, how was your first ATTEMPT at solving the LA Times crossword this week?

Think you're ON A STREAK for the week?  Or did you suffer an UPSET already?

Either way, don't be a LONER!  Join us in the comments and PUT IN your two cents!

-- NaomiZ

Monday, April 27, 2026, Patti Varol

Theme:  OVERJOYED!

Today's puzzle comes to us from Patti Varol, who is not only the editor of the Los Angeles Times Crossword, but whose puzzles have appeared in many other publications, and have been the challenges presented in many crossword tournaments. 

Each of today's long entries begins with a synonym for "happy" -- a very nice way to start Monday morning.

20-Across. Carnival ride with seats shaped like animals: MERRY-GO-ROUND.

33-Across. Hard candies with blue raspberry and green apple flavors: JOLLY RANCHERS.

43-Across. Brand of heavy-duty trash bags: GLAD FORCEFLEX.

59-Across. Golfer played by Adam Sandler: HAPPY GILMORE.

I wanted to echo Patti's theme by using another familiar phrase that starts with a synonym for "happy" -- and does not re-use one of Patti's synonyms -- and I could not do it.  The fact that Patti found these four phrases and fit them into symmetrical spots in the grid is impressive.  The whole thing left me delighted, joyful, thrilled, and ecstatic.

Let's see what other cheerful things show up in the grid.

Across:

1. Allure of a coffee shop: AROMA.

Sometimes the aroma is the best part.

6. Private convos: DMS.  Direct messages are private conversations, usually on social media sites.

9. Initial phase: ONSET.  It has been over a year since the ONSET of my daughter's dog Charlie's crippling disability.  Five veterinarians and thousands of dollars later, we may have a diagnosis.

Our dearly departed terriers at left; Charlie (a European village dog) on the right.

14. Student: PUPIL.

15. Snakelike fish: EEL.

16. "And there you have it!": VOILÀ.  "See there!" in French.  Adopted into English to call attention to something, or to suggest an appearance as if by magic (like "ta-da").

17. Flower part: PETAL.

18. D-backs, on scoreboards: ARI.  The Arizona Diamondbacks (or D-backs) are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona.

Arizona Diamondbacks logo

19. ATM key: ENTER.

20. [Theme clue]

23. Strong urge: DESIRE.

26. Earsplitting: LOUD.

27. Pick up the tab: PAY.

28. Before, poetically: ERE.

     Maid of Athens, ere we part,

     Give, oh, give me back my heart!

     Or, since that has left my breast,

     Keep it now, and take the rest!

          -- Lord Byron, 1810

29. Frustrated cry: GAH.  An interjection used to express disappointment, frustration, or dismay.

Gah!

31. Recipe amount: CUP.

33. [Theme clue]

38. Tibet's continent: ASIA.

39. Sign before Virgo: LEO.

40. Dinghy pair: OARS.

43. [Theme clue]

48. One who may have a platonic partner, for short: ARO.  Aromantic -- a person who does not experience romantic attraction.

49. Flesh and blood: KIN.

50. Photo __: OPS.  Photo opportunities.  Occasions or settings that lend themselves to, or are deliberately arranged for, taking photographs, especially for favorable publicity of the subjects.

51. Delivery room docs: OBS.  Obstetricians.

54. Backless shoe: MULE.  Mules can be flat, or on wedges or block heels, or even high-heeled.  Many slippers are mules.  Toes can be open, as shown below, or closed.

Mule with block heel.

57. "This sale ends soon!": ACT NOW.  Pressure tactics sometimes lead to poor decisions.

59. [Theme clue]

62. "Rashomon" director Kurosawa: AKIRA.  Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998) was a Japanese filmmaker who directed 30 feature films over six decades.  Rashomon (1950) was the surprise winner of the Golden Lion at the 1951 Venice Film Festival, opening Western markets to Japanese films for the first time.  You may remember Seven Samurai (1954).

Akira Kurosawa

63. Actress Goth of Guillermo del Toro's "Frankenstein": MIA.  Mia Goth is a British actress and model.  She has a fitting surname for the genre.

She's too old for her mother to prevent her going out like this.

64. "I'm the best!": YAY ME.

68. Intel job: RECON.  Intel is intelligence, or information concerning a subject of interest, especially an enemy; recon is reconnaissance, or an exploratory military survey of enemy territory.

69. K-pop band who began their Arirang World Tour in 2026: BTS.  BTS (which stands for the Korean words for "Bulletproof Boy Scouts"), also known as the Bangtan Boys, is a South Korean boy band formed in 2010.  In 2020, BTS became the fastest group since the Beatles to chart four US number-one albums in less than two years.  They are the best-selling musical act in South Korean history.

70. __ to: before: PRIOR.

71. Very skilled: ADEPT.

72. Dead __ Scrolls: SEA.

73. Categories: TYPES.

Down:

1. Program opened with a tap: APP.  An app, which is short for "application," is a type of software that can be installed and run on a computer, tablet, smartphone or other electronic devices.  Most apps have a specific and narrow function.

Apps on a smartphone.

2. Truly regret: RUE.

3. Choose: OPT.

4. Metropolis east of the Everglades: MIAMI.

5. Hypersensitivity that may be diagnosed with a scratch test: ALLERGY.

6. Precious: DEAR.

7. Actress Streep: MERYL.  Meryl Streep is an American actress who has had success with critically acclaimed dramas and mainstream silliness alike.  Over her long career, she has earned three Academy Awards:  Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Kramer vs Kramer (1979), and Best Actress in a Leading Role for Sophie's Choice (1982) and for The Iron Lady (2011).  She is the most Academy Award-nominated performer in history.

Meryl Streep in 1977

8. Irish county next to Mayo: SLIGO.  County Sligo is a county in the Northern and Western Region of Ireland.  W. B. Yeats grew up there and its landscapes inspired his poetry.  Obscure for a Monday puzzle.

The dark green area is County Sligo; the pink is Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK.

9. Like a library book one has to pay for: OVERDUE.  My long career as a librarian was partly inspired by my childhood fascination with date due cards and the machine that captured an image of each card alongside my library card.

Alas, I never got to use the photocharger.  I mostly worked in computerizing catalogs.

10. Off-limits move: NO NO.

11. "Quit slouching!": SIT UP.

12. Supreme Court justice Kagan: ELENA.  Elena Kagan is an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. She was appointed in 2010 by President Obama and is the fourth woman to serve on the Court.  PRIOR to her service on the Supreme Court, she was a clerk for Justice Thurgood Marshall; a lawyer in private practice; a professor at the University of Chicago Law School; a special counsel for the Senate Judiciary Commmittee; Associate White House Counsel for President Clinton; professor and then Dean of Harvard Law School; and then Solicitor General for President Obama. 

The first four female U.S. Supreme Court justices:
 Sandra Day O'Connor, Sonia Sotomayor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Elena Kagan.

13. Not on time: TARDY.

21. Tail end: REAR.

22. Cry of pain: OUCH.

23. __ vu: familiar feeling: DÉJÀ.  Déjà vu is French for "already seen."  In English, it refers to the illusion of remembering scenes and events when experienced for the first time, that is, a feeling that one has seen or heard something before.

24. God with a bow and arrow: EROS.

25. Former baseball commissioner Bud: SELIG.  "Bud" Selig is the commissioner emeritus of baseball.  He was de facto acting commissioner beginning in 1992 in his capacity as chairman of the Major League Baseball (MLB) Executive Committee before being named the official commissioner in 1998.  He served as the ninth commissioner of baseball from 1998 to 2015.  He is credited with the financial turnaround of baseball, with a 400 percent increase in the revenue of MLB during his tenure.

Bud Selig

30. Grapefruit serving, often: HALF.

32. Univ. teacher: PROF.  A university teacher is often a professor.

34. Singsong syllables: LA LA.

35. Opposite of paleo-: NEO.

36. Wine stopper: CORK.

37. Cut-and-dry spot: SALON.

41. Seized auto: REPO.  Repossessed (usually for failure to make payments).

42. Annual festival in Austin, TX: SXSW.  South by Southwest (SXSW) is an annual conglomeration of film, interactive media, and music festivals that take place in mid-March in Austin, Texas.

44. Insect that forages in large raids: ARMY ANT.

45. Heisman winner Flutie: DOUG.  Doug Flutie is a former professional football quarterback.  In a 21-year career, Flutie played 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), eight seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL), and one season in the United States Football League (USFL).  He played college football for the Boston College Eagles, winning the Heisman Trophy in 1984.

46. Italian farewell: CIAO.  Or, as DH likes to say:  "Ciao for now!"

47. Put into code: ENCRYPT.

51. Catherine of "The Studio": O'HARA.  Catherine O'Hara (1954-2026) was a Canadian-American actress and comedian. She began in improvisational and sketch comedy before expanding her career with dramatic roles. She has a long list of film credits, but may be best known for her roles in Beetlejuice, Home Alone, and Schitt's Creek. 

Catherine O'Hara in 2005

52. Made cookies, say: BAKED.

53. Jazz (up): SPICE.

55. Arms and legs: LIMBS.

56. Crème de la crème: ELITE.  More French!  "Crème de la crème" is literally "cream of the cream" and is used to mean "best of the best." 

58. In need of tissues: TEARY.

60. Actor's accessory: PROP.

61. Tortilla dough: MASA.  Masa is dough made from ground corn that has been softened by soaking in alkali. 

65. Shrill bark: YIP.

66. Fellow Stooge of Larry and Curly: MOE.  We have a Chairman by that name in our Corner.

67. Hosp. triage areas: ERS.  Hospital triage areas are Emergency Rooms.

Here's the grid:

Solvers, did you RUE attempting this puzzle, and cry "GAH" HALFway into it?

Or are you an ELITE solver, so ADEPT at crosswords that you yelled "YAY ME!"?

All TYPES of solvers are welcome in the Comments.  We DESIRE your input.

-- NaomiZ

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