Wednesday, April 29, 2026, Yijing Chen

 

POLES APART

Good Morning, Cruciverbalists.  Malodorous Manatee, here, with the recap of a polarizing puzzle by Yijing Chen who, apparently, had an L A Times crossword debut roughly one month ago.  Like it or not we may not reach agreement on this one.  In fact, we may end up POLES APART.  "What kind of poles?", I hear you ask.  Well, it could have been TOTEM POLES, or TEN-FOOT POLES, or fishing POLES, or Power POLES, or POLE Dancing or the POLE POSITION, or even someone from Warsaw.  However, our constructor elected to go in other directions.  Perhaps a POLL was taken.  Perhaps not.  In any event, let's start with the two-part reveal:

35 Across:  With 39-Across, diametrically opposed, or what this puzzle's sets of circled letters are: POLES.

39 Across:  See 35-Across: APART.

At four places in the grid our constructor has assembled types of POLES by combining letters that are APART in the answers to the themed-clues.  Those four places are:

20 Across:  Cinematic cultural phenomenon in the summer of 2023: BARBENHEIMER.  BARBER POLE.  The answer, here, refers to the phenomenon when two motion pictures, "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer", were very popular simultaneously in 2023.

29 Across:  Abolitionist known for her "Ain't I a Woman" speech: SOJOURNER TRUTH.  SOUTH POLE.  All you might wish to know:  Sojourner Truth

44 Across:  Literary movement that included Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Allen Ginsberg: BEAT GENERATION.  BEAN POLE.  The answer, here, refers to two well-known poets of the 1950's.

54 Across:  Micronutrient such as zinc or iodine: TRACE ELEMENT.  TENT POLE.   Humans require just a little bit, or TRACE, of those elements in their diets.

This is how it all looks in the grid with those often-polarizing circles, no less:

.... and here are the rest of the clues and answers:

Across:

1. Be starstruck: GAWK.

5. Oft-pickled pod: OKRA.  I have a friend always baits her hooks with OKRA when fly fishing...She's really into podcasting!

9. Check for freshness: SNIFF.  Does it pass the smell test?

14. Actor Clive: OWEN.

15. Eclipse body: MOON.  Earth's MOON is involved in both a solar and a lunar eclipse.

16. Voice above baritone: TENOR.

17. The Fates, e.g.: TRIO.  In ancient Greek religion and mythology, the Moirai—often known in English as the Fates—were the personifications of destiny. In certain accounts, they were considered as three sisters: Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos, though their number and names varied over time. 

18. Game played "with my little eye": I SPY.  Usually played in a car on a road trip.

19. Hoarse: RASPY.

23. Since Jan. 1: YTD.  Year To Date

24. Misery: WOE.  Relationship WOEs...

I was dating a radiographer. She was a lovely girl, but we broke up recently. 

I was lying and she saw right through me.

Still, at least she knew my heart was in the right place.

25. Toward sunrise, on an equinox: DUE EAST.

32. Green-lights: OKS.  Okay?

33. Winery wood: OAK.  It turns out that the barrels that wines and spirits are aged in have a whole lot to do with the flavor of the finished product.

34. Narrow inlet: RIA.  A word more often used in crossword puzzles than IRL.

38. Cal. divisions: MOS.  CALendar / MOnthS

41. Purple yam: UBE.

42. Vehicle that can really move?: VAN.  Nice (not the city in France) wordplay.  A moving VAN.

43. Hurdle for M.A. hopefuls: GRE.  Graduate Record Examination

50. Some Middle Easterners: SYRIANS.  Several to choose from.

51. Yalie: ELI.  A frequent class of visitor.

52. Numeral associated with "The Force Awakens": VII.

This solver is looking forward to the Mel Brooks version:

May the Schwartz be with you.

57. __ powder: CHILI.

60. Hot rod's rod: AXLE.  A double automotive reference.

61. Geometric calculation: AREA.

62. Bamboozles: DUPES.  Used, here, as a verb.

63. Academic reviewer, often: PEER.  Not used, here, as a verb.

64. Vermeer's "__ With a Pearl Earring": GIRL.

1665

65. Runaway hit: SMASH.

66. Small vortex: EDDY.

67. Site for artisans: ETSY.  A web site frequently visited in our puzzles.

Down:

1. Eked out a living: GOT BY.  A nice role reversal.  Often we get EKED as an answer clued in various ways.

2. "Fiddlesticks!": AW RATS.  So many possible combinations involving AW, oh, ah, darn, dang, RATS . . . among several others.  Thanks, perps.

3. Odd duck: WEIRDO.  Speaking of ducks and WEIRD . . .

4. Radio dial: KNOB.

5. Portending danger: OMINOUS.  What do you call a guy doing ominous Latin chanting?  Greg or Ian.

6. Acceptable, casually: KOSHER.

7. Line that might get tied up: ROPE.  Not a telephone reference.  A clue meant to be taken quite literally.

8. "What do you think?": ANY IDEAS.

9. F1 circuit type: STREET.  An automobile racing reference.

10. More warm, in a way: NEARER.  Idiomatic.  As in "You're getting warmer."

11. Useful connections: INS.

12. Dandy: FOP.

13. Cook, as pot stickers: FRY.  

21. Endor inhabitants: EWOKS.   Do EWOKS defecate in the woods?  No, they have Endor plumbing.

22. Gloom: MURK.

26. Spiritual glow: AURA.  All of the psychics got this one.

27. Hullabaloo: STIR.  Not a reference to the old TV show.

28. "Fine, be like __!": THAT.

30. Average __: JOE.  Sometimes clued with a coffee reference.

31. Who lives in a ghost town?: NO ONE.

35. Trivia night spots: PUBS.

36. Heed: OBEY.

37. "O, that way madness lies" king: LEAR.

38. Use Beard Club products, perhaps: MANSCAPE.  MANSCAPE 

refers to the trimming or shaving of a man's body hair to enhance his appearance. It typically involves grooming areas such as the chest, back, and groin for a neat and polished look.

39. "Glee" teen played by Kevin McHale: ARTIE.  A reference to the TV show.

40. Smallest Canadian prov.: PEI.  Prince Edward Island

Eastern Canadian Provinces

42. __ cava: VENA.  The VENA CAVA is one of two venae cavae.  They are two large veins that return deoxygenated blood to the heart from the human body.

43. Drawing room?: GALLERY.  Another clue meant to be taken literally.  A place where one would find drawings.

45. Mr. and Mrs.: TITLES.  From the specific to the general.  The clue could have been a couple of hundreds of things.

46. Like some Christmas sweaters: GARISH.   Excessively bright or showy.  Ugly was too short. 

47. Had trouble moving steadily: REELED.

48. Ready to move on: OVER IT.  As in "I am so OVER IT !"

49. SF NFLers: NINERS.

53. 2026 Olympics host: ITALY.  This type of clue is easier to figure out now that the summer and winter games are not held in the same year.

55. Crossed (out): EXED.

56. Final Fantasy spellcaster: MAGE.  Final Fantasy was an unknown reference to this solver but various mystical-related stuff was not and MAGE is often found in other contexts.

From Wikipedia, "Final Fantasy is mostly an anthology series with primary installments being standalone role-playing games, each with different settings, plots and main characters, but the franchise is linked by several recurring elements, including game mechanics and recurring character names."

57. Jewel case items: CDS.  Those clear, square cases that the Compact DiscS are stored in are often referenced in our puzzles.  A bit of misdirection if a solver first thinks of forms of jewelry.

58. Sound of a running fridge: HUM.

59. Hoppy brew, for short: IPA.  India Pale Ale originated in the 18th century when British Brewers created a hoppy ale that could survive the long sea voyage to India.

Well, that will wrap things up for today.  If there was any snow left, this marine mammal would grab his favorite type of POLES.  

M M Out

Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Zhouqin Burnikel

Theme: Try 4-7-8 breathing.

Today we have a clever and unusually constructed puzzle by our own dear C.C., with a split unifier, and vertical theme entries. This suggests the likelihood of a certain kind of gimmick, in which a target word is contained in the theme fill, and oriented as the unifier indicated.  Let's check it out.

The unifier -- 9A. With 64-Across, "Chill!," or what can be found four times in this puzzle: CALM.

64A. See 9-Across: DOWN.  Together these words form an exhortation spoken to someone in an angry or agitated state.  It is well known that reciting this magic formula will immediately cause that person to become placid and serene.  In the theme fill, the hidden word CALM is spelt in the DOWN orientation.  Nice.

3 D.  Neighborhood spot for fresh produce: LOCAL MARKET.  It centers on local production, immediate demand, and community-focused marketing strategies aimed at customers living or working nearby.

8 D. Make-or-break point: CRITICAL MOMENT.    A pivotal, high-stakes juncture in a conversation, project, or life event that determines future outcomes, often acting as a turning point. 

14 D.  Genre with symphonies and sonatas: CLASSICAL MUSIC.    A broad, formal tradition of Western art music spanning roughly the 11th century to the present, rooted in written notation, complex structures, and lasting value.  Often this phrase refers to a more narrow time slice containing the 17th to 19th centuries.

25 D. Accessories favored by serious gamers: OPTICAL MICE.    Computer pointing devices that use a light source—typically a light-emitting diode (LED)—and a photodiode sensor to detect movement relative to a surface. 

Construction details -- Perfect rotational symmetry is maintained in the grid with the positions of the unifier fragments and the themers.  For an extra, elegant touch, the CAL M is split between the L and M in each two-word theme entry. 

Also note that this theme is like a soft pillow.

It's down filled.

Hi, Gang, JazzBumpa here, feeling very mellow, and hoping we all get through this puzzle peacefully and untroubled.

Here is today's theme song.

Across:

1. Embrace: HOLD.   Put your arms around someone.    Huge hug.

 5. Voting alliance: BLOC.   A combination of people or groups sharing a common purpose.

13. "Hi there, matey!": AHOY.   A nautical interjection used to hail a ship, attract attention, or greet others, 

14. Like the top coat of nail polish: CLEAR.  A transparent, durable paint layer applied as the final step over colored (basecoat) paint on vehicles, or, in this case, toenails.

15. Toll unit: AXLE.  A central shaft or rod that connects a pair of wheels to a vehicle, rotating with them or allowing them to rotate around it. Axles support the vehicle's weight, manage braking and acceleration forces, and in powered vehicles, transmit torque from the transmission to the wheels.  Tolls can be based on the number of them.

16. Sprint or marathon: RACE.   A competition between runners, horses, vehicles, boats, etc., to see which is the fastest in covering a set course.

17. Green bug named for its camouflaging ability: LEAF INSECT.   A large slow-moving tropical insect related to the stick insects, with a flattened body that resembles a leaf in shape and color.

Wikipedia

19. Mrs. in Mallorca: SRA.  Señora, a married woman.

20. First light: DAWN.  Day break.

21. Tip of a sock: TOE.   Where the human toes reside.

22. "We need assistance!": HELP US.   

24. Go kaput: DIE.  Pass away, get used up.

25. Aveeno grain: OAT.    A highly nutritious whole grain, specifically Avena sativa, packed with fiber (beta-glucan) that aids heart health, reduces cholesterol, and promotes fullness for weight management. 

Aveeno is an American brand of skin care and hair care products owned by American consumer health company Kenvue.

28. Largest deer species: MOOSE.   The moose or elk is the world's tallest, largest and heaviest extant species of deer and the only extant species in the genus Alces. It is also the tallest, and the second-largest, land animal in North America, falling short only to the American bison in body mass.

30. Solar event: ECLIPSE.   A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, casting a shadow on Earth and fully or partially obscuring the Sun. 

32. Wild guess: STAB.   Aka, swag.

34. "Broad City" star Glazer: ILANA.   Ilana Glazer (b. 1987) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, producer, director, and activist. 

36. "C u l8r": TTFN.   An acronym for "Ta-ta for now," a playful, informal British phrase meaning "goodbye for now".

37. Sub in a deli: HERO.  A New York-origin, large submarine-style sandwich made on a long, crusty Italian roll, filled with layers of Italian cold cuts (salami, pepperoni, capicola), provolone cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and oil/vinegar.

38. Part of ACLU: CIVIL.   The American Civil Liberties Union.

39. "About the Author" sections: BIOS.   Short biographies (personal profiles or sketches of a person's life.) 

40. Like some bourbons: OAKY.  Aged in oak barrels.  I prefer rye or a single malt scotch.

41. Starting squad: A-TEAM.   An elite or expert group comprising those who are most pre-eminent in an organization, profession, or activity.

42. Decent size for a meadow: ACRE.  A unit of land area equal to 4,840 square yards (0.405 hectare).

43. Grapple in a ring: WRESTLE.   Engage in close, hand-to-hand combat by gripping an opponent to throw or immobilize them, often as a sport. 

45. Stage presence?: LONG A.  The letter "A" present in the word "stage" is of the long variety.  In "stag' it is of the short variety. 

47. Big Apple newspaper, for short: NYT. The New York Times.  

48. Meditation chants: OMS.  In the singular,  a sacred syllable and the primordial sound of the universe, often chanted to reduce stress, improve mental clarity, and connect with spiritual consciousness.   Might even help one to calm down.

49. Took for a ride: MISLED.  Engaged in cheating or deceiving someone.  

52. Shiba __: INU.  The Shiba Inu is a breed of hunting dog from Japan. A small-to-medium breed, it is the smallest of the six original dog breeds native to Japan. The Shiba Inu was originally bred for hunting. Its name literally translates to "brushwood dog", as it is used to flush game.

Wikipedia

53. Partner in crime?: ABET.  Here, "partner" is used as a verb, meaning to act along with someone in an activity - in this case of the nefarious variety.

55. NCAA sch. with the mascot Sparty: MSU.   Michigan State University, located in East Lansing, with The Spartans as their nick-name.  My Michigan-educated grands went to Eastern, Western, Central, and Wayne State.

56. Gives only perfunctory effort: PHONES IT IN.  As in the Red Wings last sorry game of this dismal season.

60. Is just the right size for: FITS.  Having the proper size and shape.

61. Nerf darts, e.g.: AMMO.  Short for ammunition, generally combat supplies.  Nerf darts are for less serious combat, I assume.   The come in a surprisingly large variety of shapes and sizes.

62. Shocking response at the altar: I DON'T.   That could ruin somebody's whole day.

63. Rapper born Tracy Marrow: ICE T.   Tracy Lauren Marrow (b.1958), known professionally as Ice-T (or Ice T), is an American rapper and actor. He is active in both hip-hop and heavy metal. 

65. Tube tops: CAPS.  The tops of, frex., tooth paste tubes.  Clever.

66. Flower-visiting buzzers: BEES.  Oh, honey.

Down:

1. Tough to endure: HARSH.   Severely unpleasant, rough, cruel, or strident to the senses.

2. Busiest airport in the Midwest: O'HARE.  In Chicago.

4. Turn red, perhaps: DYE.  You can change the color of something without being enbarassed.

5. Made bubbles, say: BLEW.  Expelled air, in this case through a soapy loop.

Watch and Learn

6. Tilt: LEAN.   Be slanted in a certain direction.

7. Galoot: OAF.   A clumsy, stupid, or awkward person, typically a man.   Not all men.

9. Violin carrier: CASE.   A box for holding something, in this case [so to speak] a padded, form-fitting protective box. 

10. Log chopper: AXE.   A cutting tool with a heavy-bladed head attached to a handle, used for thousands of years to chop, split, and harvest wood. 

11. Inc. alternative: LLC.   A Limited Liability Company (LLC) is a flexible, hybrid business structure combining the personal liability protection of a corporation with the pass-through taxation of a partnership or sole proprietorship.

12. Crossed paths: MET.  Encountered someone.

18. French holiday: NOËL.   Christmas.  Joyeux Noël.

20. Key and Peele, e.g.: DUO.  Two people doing something together.  K and P were a sketch comedy DOU with a self-named TV show that ran from 2012 to 2015 on Comedy Central.

23. N'awlins sandwiches: PO'BOYS.    Traditional Louisiana sandwiches served on crispy, flaky French bread, often filled with fried seafood (shrimp, oysters, catfish) or roast beef with gravy. 

24. "Wasn't me," e.g.: DENIAL.   The refusal to accept truth, reality, an accusation, or a request, 

26. Regarding: AS FOR.   Concerning a certain topic.

27. On pins and needles: TENSE.   Nervous and worried and unable to relax: needing to calm down.

29. Privileged groups: ELITES.    Small, privileged groups of people who are superior in ability, wealth, or social status within societies or organizations. 

31. Must-have purses: IT BAGS.   High-priced, luxury designer handbags that becomes a season's must-have item, defined by immense popularity, celebrity endorsement, and high demand. 

32. Aired: SHOWN.  Broadcast on TV, or another visual medium

33. All choked up: TEARY.  Almost crying.  Pass me a Kleenex.

35. Blvd. kin: AVE.  Boulevard and Avenue - streets by any other name, often wide, tree lined, and possibly divided..

44. Mood: TONE.   A temporary, subjective emotional state or frame of mind, often lasting hours or days, which influences how a person perceives the world.  Leave me alone.  I'm in a bad tone today.  A mood is how one feels.  The tone is how it may be expressed through voice, writing or art.

46. Trivial complaint: NIT.  Relating to some small or insignificant detail.  Did I pick one in 44 A?

50. Lauder of cosmetics: ESTĖE.  Estée Lauder (nee Josephine Esther Mentzer, 1908 –2004) was an American businesswoman. She co-founded her eponymous cosmetics company with her husband, Joseph Lauter (later Lauder). She was the only woman on Time magazine's 1998 list of the 20 most influential business geniuses of the 20th century.

51. Uses a Swiffer: DUSTS.   Swiffer is an American brand of cleaning products, manufactured by Procter & Gamble. Since its launch in 1999, Swiffer has achieved widespread popularity and become one of Procter & Gamble's most successful brands in the household cleaning products market, with its core product line centered around disposable towels and cleaning parts.

52. Privy to: IN ON.  Knowledgable about something, often something not widely known. 

53. Perched upon: ATOP.  "On top of," "at the top," or "situated on the summit" of something.

54. Storage boxes: BINS.   Containers or enclosed spaces used for storing, holding, or collecting items. 

56. Writer's block?: PAD.   A writing tablet or note pad.  Calling it a block is a stretch too far, IMHO.

57. Med. insurance option: HMO.  Health Maintenance Organization, a type of health insurance plan that limits coverage to doctors or facilities within a specific network. It offers lower premiums and out-of-pocket costs but requires selecting a Primary Care Physician (PCP) and obtaining referrals to see specialists.

58. Texter's "Be there soon": OMW.   On My Way.

59. St. known for spuds: IDA.  Here, "St." indicates state, not street, and IDAHO is known for it's potatoes.

60. Lie to spare someone's feelings, perhaps: FIB.  Also known as a white lie. 

C.C. served us up a fine puzzle today, and I had fun blogging it.   Would I fib to you?

Chill regards!

JzB

Wednesday, April 15, 2026, Hoang-Kim Vu

 Many Happy Returns... (Hopefully...)

This was a very taxing puzzle! But daughter no. 1 helped me with it, so call her my CPA!

17 Across. Tries something earnestly: HAS A GO AT IT.  The circled SAG backwards = Gas Tax.

25 Across. Uploads again, say: RESUBMITS. The circled ESU backwards = Use Tax.

49 Across. "That's so typical": IT FIGURES. The circled TFIG backwards = Gift Tax.

58 Across. "Just enjoy this victory": A WIN IS A WIN. The circled NIS = Sin Tax

And the reveal:

35 Across. April 15 filing, or what can be found in each set of circled letters in this puzzle: TAX RETURN.           

                           
Across:
1. Sore after a run, say: ACHY.

5. Pastel hue: LILAC.

10. Trident-shaped Greek letters: PSIS. (Looks weird without an apostrophe...)

14. Pump or clog: SHOE.

15. Comic actor Cheri: OTERI.

On the right, (name #1)

16. "Field of Dreams" locale: IOWA.

17. [Theme]

19. Glitzy genre: GLAM.

20. Plumbing fitting under a sink: P TRAP.

21. Two-time Oscar nominee Rooney: MARA.

Name #2

23. Singer Yoko: ONO. (Name #3, every time she sings, I cover my ears and yell "Oh No!")

24. Some spa treatments: PEELS.

They whack you with flat wooden sticks,

Supposed to make your skin look rosy...

25. [Theme]

27. Afro-Caribbean sound: CALYPSO.

29. Soda brand named for a mountain: SHASTA.

30. Fishy, in slang: SUS. I suppose short for "suspect." But it sounds fishy to me...

31. Grains that might be rolled: OATS.

34. Not duped by: ONTO.

35. [Theme Reveal.

38. Text incessantly: SPAM. Yes, the dreaded Spam...

Be sure to read the credits at the end...

40. Salty septet: SEAS. Let's hope Misty can convert this puzzle into a poem for us... ( or at least a good story, it's very taxing when these puzzles don't rhyme...)

41. Org. in 66-Across: CIA.

44. Like a well-earned comeuppance: KARMIC.

46. Films that often end in weddings: ROMCOMS.  (I am not going to link the wedding singer, )

49. [Theme] 

The clue was "that's typical=It figures."

I posted the pic before I moved the Themers,

And now I don't know how to move it, or delete it...

52. Loses one's hair: BALDS.

53. Avril follower: MAI. (Frawnch...) should not be in an English puzzle if you ask me...

54. Since: AS OF.

55. Like beaches: SANDY.

56. Laptop shortcut key: CTRL.

58. [Theme]

61. Laptop shortcut key: HOME.

62. Ariz. neighbor: CALIF.

63. "Well, fudge": DANG.

64. __ facto: IPSO.

65. Prepared to be knighted: KNELT.

66. Best Picture winner set in Iran: ARGO.

Ok, they went undercover as film makers making a movie...

Wait! Which one is the real movie?

Down:
1. Barbecue detritus: ASH.

2. Béret, par exemple: CHAPEAU. (French for hat, how do I know this? Dr. Seuss...)

3. Budget lodgings: HOSTELS. I did not know this... Reasonably priced overnight lodging in NYC?

4. Like birthdays: YEARLY.

5. Roller coaster section: LOOP. (Not to be confused with 4. Down)

6. Winner of four FIFA World Cups, for short: ITA. Italy, I wanted USA, but it was not to be...

7. Phrase during a handover: LET ME. Curious clueing, sounds more like "gimme" during a hold up.

8. Met highlights: ARIAS.

9. Satsuma, e.g.: CITRUS. 

Learning moment.

Specifically, Satsuma Mandarin Orange.

10. Certain truffle hunter: PIG.

One does not live by Aroma alone...

11. Recital performer: SOLOIST.

12. Expression of desire: I WANT TO.

13. Appetizer at an Indian restaurant: SAMOSA.

Yummers! Choose your filling!

18. Sound of shock: GASP. What! We're out of Samosas?

22. Detest: ABHOR.

24. Dells, e.g.: PCS. Personal Computers

25. Bellows: ROARS.

26. "Ferrari" director Michael: MANN.

Name #4

28. Rivals of the Yanks: SOX. Baseball: Boston Red Sox.

32. Merch table buy: TEE. This could be either at a flea market, or a Golf Pro Shop...

33. Marks on some items of note: STARS. ⭐️ 

35. Roman of "Basketball Wives": TAMI.

Tami Roman, name #5

36. Latina chum: AMIGA. Latin"o" chum: Amigo.

37. Mil. morale booster: USO. United Service Organizations.

The face of The USO.

38. Led, as a leaderboard: SAT ATOP.

39. Image-shaping cos.: PR FIRMS. Public Relations Firms.

41. Conflict that may feature proxy battles: COLD WAR.

42. "Too funny!": I'M DYING.

Could also refer to a failed stand up gag...

43. Pack animal: ASS.

44. Bibimbap topping: KIMCHI.

Bibimbap=Korean Rice Bowl

Kimchi=Fermented vegetables, usually cabbage, with a variety of spices.

45. John or Joan of "High Fidelity": CUSACK. Names #5 and 6?

47. Enterprise trainees, for short?: MBA'S. Master of Business Administration Degree for the budding entrepreneur... 

48. Ontario's country: CANADA.

50. Atkinson of "Mr. Bean": ROWAN. Name #7.

Oh, but he has done so much more than just Mr. Bean.

51. Option for a 35-Across: EFILE. File Taxes Electronically.

55. Comb (through): SIFT.

57. Astrological cat: LEO.

59. Naught: NIL. Zip, Nada, Zilch, or just a big fat Goose Egg...

60. WWF, e.g.: NGO. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) founded in 1961 that works in over 100 countries to conserve nature, protect endangered species, and address environmental threats. It is the world's largest independent conservation organization, focusing on forests, oceans, freshwater, wildlife, food, and climate.

Here is the grid:

Here is a link to Saturday April 12, 2025 puzzle write up, where Husker Gary tells us all about our Constructor, Hoang-Kim Vu.

CE:D out.

Wednesday, April 8, 2026, Kathy Lowden

  Lessee, Theme,, hmm,,,

I like AURORA, as in Sleeping Beauty... (As in, Her Prince has come...)

Or how bout: Favorite Pet Name. 

Not sure if above is "Mia,"

Prince is also famously known for gifting a dog named God to Nicole Richie.

Or how about, Your Photos Are Ready, (As in, Your Prints Have Come...) ?

No, it seems to be three things that can all be an explanation of the clue "Prince."

17 Across. Prince: TENNIS BALL BRAND.

36 Across. Prince: HIS ROYAL BADNESS. Complete Splaining can be found here...

This Guy...

54 Across. Prince: HEIR TO THE THRONE. This simple answer is not as simple as you might think...

But which one is the true Heir?

You will have to watch the whole move to find out...

(Or, just read the book...)

I believe this is Kathy's 6th contribution to The L.A.Times, and is becoming quite the prolific Constructor. I look forward to seeing many more puzzles from her here in future... (if we can steal her away from The New York Times... : )

Across:

1. Island ring: ATOLL.

6. Skating venue: RINK.

10. "Slouching Towards Bethlehem" essayist Didion: JOAN.  Considered a landmark in new journalism

14. Hogwash: TRIPE.

15. Job inspection org.: OSHA. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

16. "Uh, I doubt that": UM, NO...

17. [ Theme }

20. Makes a request: ASKS.

21. "Yo!": HEY.

22. Warm welcomes?: ALOHAS. (I like this clue/answer...)

23. Part of UCLA: LOS.

24. Lacking scruples: AMORAL.

25. Many a social media pic: SELFIE.

A famous example.

29. Action in Uno: DRAW. Not Go Fish?

30. Egg-shaped: OVOID.

31. Tortellini filling option: MEAT. First choice, followed by Cheese, followed by anything you can imagine... A piece of curious trivia: In Italian regional slang, particularly in Bologna, "tortellino" (singular) or "tortellone" (large tortellini) is used to describe a person who is naive, not very bright, or slightly chubby. So if planning to visit Italy, please be very careful in your pronunciation at a restaurant. You don't want to accidentally insult your waiter...

32. Graph paper pattern: GRID.

36. [ Theme ]

39. Flamenco cheers: OLES.

40. Redding of R&B: OTIS. Best known for [sitting on] The Dock of the Bay. But has had so many more hits if you delve deeper.

41. Painter's prop: EASEL.

42. Long, long time: AGES. (I wanted Eons...)

43. Alloy in some decorative plates: PEWTER. Mostly Tin (92%) hardened with Antimony and Copper. 

44. __ Sapphire gin: BOMBAY. I always thought Gin was just flavored Vodka, But it is much, much more...

47. Letters at the end of a proof: QED. AI Overview

Q.E.D. stands for the Latin phrase 

quod erat demonstrandum, meaning "which was to be demonstrated" or "thus it is proven". It is used at the end of a mathematical proof or philosophical argument to indicate that the theorem or proposition has been fully proven.

Doesn't work at Starbucks...

48. Fix for a noisy car: TUNE-UP. Being a DIY Mechanic, I would think of this as one word. However linguistically: 

"Tune-up" is typically written as two words connected by a hyphen (

tune-up) when used as a noun or adjective, or as two separate words (tune up) when used as a verb. 

49. First word of the Lord's Prayer: OUR.

50. DIY tutorial site: EHOW.

54. [ Theme ]

57. "Are you __ out?": IN OR.

58. Liu of "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings": SIMU. His full Wiki, he has a long list of appearances. 

59. Broadcaster: AIRER.

60. PlayStation maker: SONY.

61. Word in a vague ultimatum: ELSE.

62. Tied up in knots: TENSE. Guy goes to a shrink, says, "Doc' I can't tell if I am a Teepee, or a Wigwam." Doctor says, " Your two tents... "

Down:
1. Chapati flour: ATTA. Chapati is a simple, unleavened flatbread from the Indian subcontinent, made from whole wheat flour (atta) and water, cooked on a griddle (tawa).

2. Very, in Versailles: TRES. (French)

3. Sty sound: OINK.

4. ICU employees: LPNS. Licensed Practical Nurse.

5. Island ring: LEI. I didn't know there were so many types of Leis.

How to make a Haku Lei.

6. Spa attire: ROBES.

7. "By Jove!": I SAY. Or, "they are real, and they are spectacular!"

8. Org. whose members play at a 6-Across: NHL. National Hockey League.

9. Greek city with a namesake olive: KALAMATA. Cured in Brine, "and Red Wine Vinegar."

Explore the best places in 3 minutes? 4K

10. One of 12 in "12 Angry Men": JUROR.

Why I never get selected for Jury Duty...

11. Nebraska city that's home to the Great Plains Black History Museum: OMAHA. More Here...

12. Yearly record: ANNAL. A.I. Overview...

13. Signs of recognition: NODS. What happens when I read the A.I. Overview above...

18. Manolo Blahnik creation: SHOE.

This Guy.

19. "Let's __ this popsicle stand": BLOW. ("But not without new shoes above.")

23. __ deck: pool's spot on a cruise ship: LIDO. 

But Wait! Where's the Poop Deck? (I have to go!)

24. Many Mecca residents: ARABS.

25. NYC nabe: SOHO. (South Of Houston Street.)

26. Like one twin in a soapy drama, typically: EVIL.

How and Why The Evil Twin was invented...

(Bring a towel...)

27. Shake: LOSE.

28. Trees at a Christmas tree farm: FIRS. As a whole, yes. But there is Douglas, Fraser, Noble, Scotch Pine, and many many more...

Douglas Fir is known to give heartburn...

29. Sub contractors?: DELI'S. (Very cute...)

31. Swabbie pal: MATEY. This is cute too... 

Swabbie at 1st made me think of this guy,

Which had me imagining cotton ear swab imaginary friends,

But it was all just Sailors Jargon...

32. Chew like a beaver: GNAW.

33. Musical pause: REST.

34. Words of comprehension: I SEE.

35. High-end camera, for short: DSLR. Digital Single Lens Reflex.

37. Element of a Sun Salutation: YOGA POSE.

38. Property transfer need: DEED.

42. Border on: ABUT.

43. Cheeky: PERT.

44. Good, in Spanish: BUENO.

45. Pico de gallo ingredient: ONION. Turns out, onion is the only 5 letter ingredient. Unless you count "spice" as an optional ingredient, (Cumin, Black Pepper.) but of course, you would never use just one spice (singular). However, you could go all out, and add fruit! Fruit has 5 letters, (but which fruit...?)

46. In high spirits: MERRY.  Hmm, could you add Gin to Pico de gallo?

47. Waiting line: QUEUE. Hmm, if you tried the above at your next party, would your guest wait in line?

48. Not that: THIS. (Or the other thing...)

49. Units of electrical resistance: OHMS.

50. Ohio border lake: ERIE. 

I always think Ohio is where Illinois is...

51. Noisy car part: HORN. Unless your driving a piece of junk...

52. Column to the left of the decimal point: ONES.

53. "And __ off!": WERE. (This clue/answer is in the wrong place...)

55. Ending at, briefly: TIL. (Til we meet again...)

56. Cap: HAT. Yes, as a Noun, but if used as a verb...

And here's the Grid:

See you in the comments, I'm sure I must have left "something" out.

CE:D 

(•˕ •マ.ᐟ