Wednesday, August 26, 2026, Zachary Gallardo

 

Good Morning, Cruciverbalists.  Malodorous Manatee here with the recap of a Wednesday puzzle constructed by Zachary Gallardo.  Zachary recently had another LAT puzzle recapped here (on 24 May 20226).  

In today's puzzle, Zachary stacks the names of bands on top of types of seagoing ships.  In each case, the name of the band stands alone while the letters forming the type of vessel are consecutive parts of longer answers.  The reveal is both clever and playful:

59 Across:  "Everyone in the water!," or when parsed differently, what can be found in each set of circled words: ABANDON SHIP.  Or, in this instance, A BAND ON SHIP.  To help us recognize what the constructor and editor are up to, the grid contains those ever-polarizing circles.

It is also worth noting that the reveal does double duty as part of one of the four themed (pairs of) answers.

Here are the four places where the gimmick is employed:

15 Across:  Camel's watering hole: OASIS (a British rock band) and 17 Across:  Programming problem: ENDLESS LOOP.    SLOOP (A sloop is a single-masted sailing vessel typically rigged with a fore-and-aft configuration)

25 Across:  Enclosed rhyme scheme in Petrarchan sonnets: ABBA  (the Swedish pop quartet) and 30 Across:  Clinton secretary of state: ALBRIGHT.  BRIG (a ship with two square-rigged masts)

Madeline Albright

41 Across:  "Exactly right!": YES, (an English band perhaps best known for the song "Owner of A Lonely Heart) and 45 Across:  Bible Belt state: ARKANSAS.  ARK  Ahoy, Noah!

54 Across:  Yellow brick road terrier: TOTO (formed in Los Angeles in 1977) and 59 Across:  "Everyone in the water!," or when parsed differently, what can be found in each set of circled words: ABANDON SHIP.  SHIP (in this case, generic)

The completed grid looks like this:

Here are the other clues and answers:

Across:

1. Emerged: AROSE.  Emerged not from an eggshell or from hiding.  More like an issue that came up.

6. Korean-American grocery store: H MART.  Per Wikipedia, the chain was founded in 1982 and there are now 98 locations.

11. Dim sum brew: CHA.  IIRC, Dim Sum being Chinese dumplings and CHA being tea.       

14. Little solo break: ME DAY.  Hand up for first trying to think of something music-related.

16. "That'll leave a mark!": OOF.  Meh.

19. Scand. country: NOR.  Abbreviated.  Had to be NOR, DEN, SWE, or FIN.

20. Proboscis: NOSE.  By definition.

21. Feature of Canada's flag: LEAF.

22. Nove minus uno: OTTO.  Lezione di italiano di oggi.

23. Suspicious: SHADY.  Suspicious is used, here, as an adjective.

27. Turkish peak: ARARAT.  Often visited in our puzzles . . . and where the ARK came to rest.

34. Olympic gymnast with five moves named for her: BILES.

Simone Biles

35. 2025 Best Picture Oscar winner: ANORA.

36. Letters of liability?: IOU.  Liability as in a debt to repay.

37. Dongle, e.g.: ADAPTER.  A computer hardware reference.

39. Synagogue singers: CANTORS.  CANTORS lead the congregation in singing.

42. __ Sports Bureau: stats giant: ELIAS.  IIRC, I learned about this one from Vin Scully

44. "Punch-__ Love": Paul Thomas Anderson film: DRUNK.

47. Shelters: HOUSES.  From the general to the more specific.

48. Altar site: APSE.

49. Change: COINS.  Used as a noun.  Not as in the verb "to alter".  Loose, or spare change.

51. Prometheus's gift: FIRE.

53. "See ... ": WELL.  Something someone might say . . . and mean.

58. Aussie hopper: ROO.

62. Nocturnal bird of prey: OWL.

63. __ Gras: MARDI. 

64. Unlike the rest: OTHER.  With your kind indulgence, I will pass on a Kendrick Lamar video at this point.

65. Young lady: GAL.

66. Clique: POSSE.  POSSE has expanded from its context in old westerns to now indicate with whom one hangs out.

67. Vociferous: NOISY.  Due to noise complaints, they passed a law in Hawaii that you are no longer allowed to laugh above a certain decibel.  Now you can only use a low hah.

Down:

1. "Exactly right!": AMEN.  Why do they say AMEN instead of awomen in church?  Because they sing hymns instead of hers.

2. City north of Carson City: RENO.

3. Probabilities: ODDS.

4. Service promoter: SALES REP.

5. Cyclone center: EYE.

6. Swindled: HOSED.  Either way we've been had.

7. __ bear: Southeast Asian forest dweller: MALAYAN.

Photo by MM

8. Since: AS OF.  A time reference.  Not "because".

9. Animated film about Spix's macaws: RIO.

10. Baker's shortening?: TSP.  Shortened as in TSP for teaspoon.

11. Like laughter, sometimes: CONTAGIOUS.

12. 62-Across call: HOOT.

  Me: I don't wanna alarm anyone, but I think someone in this room might be an owl.

  Grandkid: Who? WHO?

  Me: gasp Oh no, it's worse than I thought!

13. Curly hairstyle: AFRO.

18. Bed frame board: SLAT.

22. Japanese sash: OBI.  Frequently worn in our puzzles.

24. Picks up the pace: HASTENS.

25. Pokémon that ultimately evolves into Alakazam: ABRA.

26. Jason's "Beverly Hills, 90210" role: BRANDON.

27. Modest Muslim robe: ABAYA.

28. Bus passenger: RIDER.

29. Sushi bite topped with salmon: ALASKA ROLL.

31. Hairstyle that may begin with comb coils: LOCS.  New to this solver.  Thanks, perps.  Seems to be a form of the word Dreadlocks.

32. "Stormy Weather" singer Lena: HORNE.

1943

33. Elephant pair: TUSKS.

35. Operatic solo: ARIA.

38. If-then-__ statement: ELSE.

40. Leaves in the care of: TRUSTS TO.  Often, ENTRUSTS

43. Climbs: ASCENDS.  What was it called when all the good dinosaurs ASCENDED to Heaven before the meteor struck.  The veloci-rapture

46. Big galoot: APE.

47. Big Island county seat: HILO.  A bit of Hawaiian geography.

50. Throwback hit: OLDIE.

51. Amphibious hopper: FROG.

52. Corn Belt state: IOWA.

53. Major conflicts: WARS.

55. "Didn't see you there!": OH HI.

56. Knots: TIES.  Which country is known for manufacturing TIES?  Tieland.

57. The Grand Ole __: OPRY.

59. Metal box?: AMP.  A reference to "Heavy Metal" music.

60. Dim sum bun: BAO.  See also 11 Across.

61. Persona __ grata: NON.

Well, perhaps, this reviewer has overstayed his welcome and become a Persona Non Grata (unwelcome).  So, this Manatee will now abandon ship.  One parting comment, however:  It was interesting to travel the world (sail the seven seas?) with this puzzle's references to Sweden, Arkansas, Korea, Africa, Norway, China, Japan, Canada, Turkiye, Australia, New Orleans, Malaysia, Reno, Hawaii, Alaska, and other places.

_____________________________________

MM Out

Sunday May 24, 2026 Zachary Gallardo & Joe Marquez

 

Theme: "TRACK RECORDS" - Each theme entry is a song title re-imagined as a different kind of  "record".

24. Permanent record?: TOGETHER FOREVER.

32. Criminal record?: MACK THE KNIFE.

51. Historical record?: BACK IN THE USSR.

71. World record?: HEAVEN IS A PLACE ON EARTH.

85. Broken record?: I FALL TO PIECES.

108. Medical record?: LIKE A SURGEON.

116. Fossil record?: WALK THE DINOSAUR.

This type of theme may look simple on the surface, but it's actually quite restrictive. The entries all have to be recognizable song titles, the [? record"] phrases must be solid in the language, and each answer has to match the first word of the clue. 

This is the LAT debut for Zachary Gallardo and Joe's first Sunday. Congrats to both!

Across:

1. Costco rival, informally: SAM'S. Any of you are Costco members? There fresh coconuts are so good.

5. Undergrad lecturer: PROF.

9. Morehouse, for one: Abbr.: HBCU. Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
 
13. Mix, as a salad: TOSS. And 23. Grocery section: AISLE.

17. Plop (down): PLUNK.

19. iPad assistant: SIRI.

20. Word of sorrow: ALAS.

21. Sign into law: ENACT.

27. Goddess often depicted with a throne headdress: ISIS.

29. __ nouveau: ART.

30. Megacity of India: DELHI.

31. "__ news?": ANY.

37. Asides: TANGENTS.

39. Marvel's Punisher, for one: ANTI-HERO. Flawed protagonist. We also have 98. Attractive guy in Marvel Comics?: MAGNETO.

40. Beltway Series ballplayer, familiarly: NAT.

42. Mesh on a field: GOAL NET.

43. Comb target: KNOT.

44. Community of flora and fauna: BIOME.

47. Gender prefix: CIS.

49. Places where forks may be found?: ROADS. Fork in the road.

50. Terse confirmation: I AM.

55. Thumbs-up vote: YEA.

57. Shahidi of "Black-ish": YARA.  She was born in Minneapolis.

58. Jedi foe: SITH.

59. Curly coif: AFRO.

63. High-level perfidy: TREASON.

67. Mineral once used in baby powder: TALC.

69. Also: TOO.

70. Honeylike substances: GOOS.

75. Memo heading: IN RE.

76. Portuguese "Hello": OLA.

77. Newcastle upon __: TYNE.

78. Vampire squid's habitat: DEEP SEA.

79. Largest loch by volume: NESS. Fresh clue angle.

80. Pancake recipe instruction: FLIP. And 97. No longer on the table?: EATEN.

82. "Not one more step!": HALT.

84. Astrological big cat: LEO.

89. Jun. and Jul.: MOS.

92. Valuable violin: STRAD.

96. WNBA great Bird: SUE. She and Megan Rapinoe recently announced their split.

98. For a __ pittance: MERE.

99. Springsteen, to fans: THE BOSS.

102. Fuming: MAD.

104. Namesake of the AL batting title: ROD CAREW. He bowled in Boomer's league for a while.

106. Assessed anew: REVALUED.

111. Have a life: ARE.

112. Harsh in one's nose: ACRID.

114. LBJ's party: DEM.

115. __ colada: PINA.

121. Outdoes: BESTS.

124. Asparagus unit: SPEAR.

125. Totenberg of NPR: NINA. NPR's longtime legal affairs correspondent.

126. Use a mountain trail: HIKE.

127. Squirrel away: STORE.

128. Annual: Abbr.: YRLY.

129. Site with handmade goods: ETSY.

130. Longtime "Jeopardy!" host Trebek: ALEX.

131. Black gem: ONYX.

Down:

1. Mud bath venue: SPA.

2. "True Detective" actor Mahershala: ALI.

3. "Just the news I needed!": MUSIC TO MY EARS. 60. "Not sure why, but ... ": FOR SOME REASON. Stunning pair of 13's.

4. TV sketch featuring Chloe Fineman or Colin Jost: SNL SKIT.

5. Vancouver hrs.: PST.

6. Copacabana setting: RIO.

7. Church pipes: ORGAN.

8. Guy who hosts Food Network's "Tournament of Champions": FIERI.

9. "Take that!": HAH.

10. Changed the laundry?: BLED. Cute clue referring to colors bleeding in the wash.

11. Shift+6 symbol: CARET.

12. Old Glory: US FLAG.

13. "Young Frankenstein" actress: TERI GARR.

14. Pacific Coast Highway's route number: ONE.

15. African grassland: SAVANNA.

16. Like many shampoos: SCENTED.

18. "We the Youth" muralist Haring: KEITH. The mural is in Philadelphia.

22. Secret assignations: TRYSTS.

25. "L8r g8r!": TTFN.

26. "That's bad!": OH NO.

28. Fancy Feast alternative: SHEBA.

32. Sushi roll type: MAKI.

33. Ballerina Pavlova: ANNA.

34. Writer/illustrator Carle: ERIC. "The Very Hungry Caterpillar". 

35. Outlandish: KOOKY.

36. Per person: EACH.

38. Jeff Lynne's band: ELO.

41. Links: TIES.

45. Sporty Mazda model: MIATA.

46. Utterly captivated: ENRAPT.

48. Honeymoon booking: SUITE.

51. Clear nail polish, say: BASE.

52. Hunting cry: TALLY-HO.

53. Got up: STOOD.

54. Gave an impressive performance: SHONE.

56. Nesting sites: EAVES.

59. Slack-jawed: AGAPE.

61. Memorization method: ROTE.

62. Dept. of Labor div.: OSHA.

63. Out of __ air: THIN.

64. Philosopher Descartes: RENE.

65. Switch type: ON/OFF.

66. Wafer name since 1967: NILLA. And 68. Party nibble: CANAPE. Plenty of food in this grid.

72. Moves with the wind: SAILS.

73. Singer Cruz known as the "Queen of Salsa": CELIA.

74. Unadon fillets: EELS. Unadon is short for unagi donburi, literally "eel bowl".

81. Fruit that may be crossed with apricot: PLUM. Pluot.

83. Aquarium fish: TETRA.

85. Religious devotion to an object: IDOLATRY.

86. Jacksonville Jaguars color: TEAL.

87. Corp. bigwigs: CEOS.

88. Turn out to be: END UP.

90. Treat with vanilla creme: OREO.

91. Stitched: SEWN.

92. Grasp at __: STRAWS.

93. Remedial treatment: THERAPY.

94. Mardi Gras merrymaker: REVELER.

95. Gp. of lawyers: ABA.

100. "No __ luck!": SUCH.

101. Tranquil: SERENE.

103. Carthaginian queen in Virgil's "Aeneid": DIDO. Aeneas eventually deserted her.

105. Mobile homes?: CRIBS. Fun clue.

107. "All finished!": DID IT.

109. "Praying" singer: KESHA.

110. Part of a thread: EMAIL.

113. Rackets: DINS.

117. Actor Penn: KAL.

118. Thumbs-down vote: NAY.

119. Hawaiian chordophone, for short: UKE.

120. Film critic Reed: REX.

122. Push to the limit: TRY.

123. "Kama Sutra" topic: SEX.

C.C.