Monday, September 7, 2026, Michael Hobin

 Theme:  Good stuff!

Michael Hobin

Michael Hobin is a real estate broker in Chicago, who passed some quiet hours during the COVID-19 pandemic trying to construct his own crossword puzzles.  He garnered a few rejections from the New York Times, and then some encouraging words from that quarter, and then a request for a few specific revisions, which led to his first published puzzle.  Mr. Hobin is becoming a regular at the NYT and in the pages of our own Los Angeles Times.  Based on the fun I had with this one, I'd say Michael has mastered the medium.

The theme of today's puzzle is revealed here:

35-Across. Tom Wolfe book about Project Mercury, or an apt description of the ends of 16-, 24-, 47-, and 56-Across: THE RIGHT STUFF.  Tom Wolfe's 1979 book describes the mental and physical characteristics required of the first astronauts.  They had to have the right STUFF.

16-Across. Citrus garnish for many a cocktail: LEMON WEDGE.  WEDGE as a verb means to squeeze or force something tightly into a narrow space -- to STUFF it, so to speak.

24-Across. Driver's rush-hour headache: TRAFFIC JAM.  JAM as a verb means to push something into a space so tightly that it becomes stuck -- to STUFF it, if you will.

47-Across. Budget chain owned by Choice Hotels: ECONO LODGE.  One meaning of LODGE as a verb is to become stuck in a place, like a coin that manages to lodge in the parking meter's coin slot -- to STUFF the slot, as it were.

56-Across. Average guy: JOE SIX-PACK.  An ordinary blue-collar worker, whose after hours libation may be a six-pack of beer, can really PACK it in.  He might go to the game on the weekend with other fans and PACK the stadium.  In other words, he can STUFF it in.

This fellow is WEDGED, JAMMED, LODGED, and PACKED into a tight space --
really STUFFED in there.

Talk about a tight theme -- this one is crammed in there!  Let's expand our evaluation to the rest of the clues and answers.

Across:

1. Owl sound: HOOT.

5. Blue-green hue used in color printing: CYAN.

9. Pet that can be laser-focused?: CAT.  There are a variety of laser toys made for cats.

12. __ committee: AD HOC.  In Latin ad hoc means "for this," and in English the term describes anything that can be thought of as existing "for this purpose only."

14. Volcano's output: LAVA.

15. Task list heading: TO DO.

16. [Theme clue]

18. Toiling away: AT IT.

19. Manipulate, as bread dough: KNEAD.

20. Playground fixture with a ladder: SLIDE.

21. "SportsCenter" network: ESPN.

24. [Theme clue]

27. Ice cream servings: SCOOPS.

29. Cut (off): LOP.

30. Donkey: ASS.

31. Little bite: TASTE.

32. Least hospitable: ICIEST.

35. [Theme clue]

39. Moves like a crab: SIDLES.  To sidle is to move with one side forward.

40. Mistake: ERROR.

42. Canyon edge: RIM.

45. Scooby-__: DOO.  Scooby-Doo is a cartoon dog and media franchise created by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears in 1969.  Scooby and his teenage human friends solve mysteries that seem supernatural until our heroes unmask the villains behind the hoax.

Scooby-Doo and friends

46. Fast-casual bakery franchise: PANERA.  The menu has improved!  There are certainly more options for vegetarians.

47. [Theme clue]

51. Genesis garden: EDEN.

52. West Point student: CADET.

53. Sloshed through water: WADED.

55. Field of study: AREA.

56. [Theme clue]

61. Sound like a 9-Across: PURR.  Here's your reminder that 9-Across was CAT.

62. Fencing sword: ÉPÉE.  Modern fencing uses three types of sword:  épée, foil, and sabre.  This is the fourth Monday with ÉPÉE as a clue this year!

Mind where you poke that thing!

63. Familiar theme: TROPE.  A trope is a recurring literary device, theme, or figure of speech.  It also refers to Hebrew cantillation, the system of musical chant used for reading the Hebrew scriptures during religious services, which is a service I occasionally perform.

NaomiZ chanting Torah with trope

64. Oft-redacted ID: SSN.  A Social Security Number is issued to U.S. citizens, permanent residents,  temporary residents who have work authorization, or a valid nonwork reason to be in the United States.  It is often redacted from shared documents to avoid having it misused.

65. Pen points: NIBS.

66. Moisturizer brand: OLAY.

Down:

1. Actor Holbrook: HAL.  Hal Holbrook (1925-2021) was an American actor who made his reputation with a 1954 one-man stage show titled Mark Twain Tonight!  He played Deep Throat in the 1976 film All the President's Men, Abraham Lincoln in two TV miniseries, and many other roles in dozens of films and TV shows.  He was honored with the National Humanities Medal by President George W. Bush in 2003.

2. Tribute poem: ODE.

3. Unit of resistance: OHM.  An ohm is the standard unit of electrical resistance, named after the German physicist Georg Ohm.  Its symbol is an uppercase Greek letter omega (Ω).

4. Didn't count on one's memory in class: TOOK NOTES.  Loved this clue.  

5. See-through: CLEAR.

6. When repeated, "and so on": YADDA.  About this time last month, I wrote:  "This expression was popularized by the 153rd episode of Seinfeld, in which George's new girlfriend said "yada yada yada" to shorten her stories.  That episode was titled "The Yada Yada."  YADDA is an alternate, less used spelling."  And I offered this illustration:

7. The "A" of GPA: Abbr.: AVG.  Grade Point Average.

8. Scottish "no": NAE.

9. Crumbly Mexican cheese: COTIJA.  An aged Mexican cheese made from cow's milk and named after the town of Cotija, Michoacán, cotija is often crumbled over burritos, soups, salads, beans, tostadas, tacos, and corn on the cob.

Elote -- grilled corn topped with crema, cotija, chili powder, and lime juice.

10. Nike rival: ADIDAS.

11. Sacred tribal carvings: TOTEMS.

13. "Erin Burnett OutFront" channel: CNN.  Erin Burnett OutFront is an hour-long weekday evening television news program on CNN.  News to me.

15. Very soft mineral: TALC.  Talc is a natural clay mineral made of hydrated magnesium silicate that ranks as the softest solid on the Mohs hardness scale.  Once popular in cosmetics and baby powders, it is no longer recommended because it tends to occur naturally with asbestos, and because breathing in fine powders is bad for the lungs.  Its association with ovarian cancer is debated, but has resulted in billions of dollars in legal settlements.

17. Moistens: WETS.

20. Enjoys gossip without adding to it, in slang: SIPS TEA.  We've encountered "spills the tea" in the LAT crossword as a phrase that means shares gossip, reveals a secret, or talks about juicy personal news.  This is my first encounter with SIPS TEA.  Cute!

21. "C'__ la vie!": EST.  "C'est la vie" is French for "that's life."  Coincidentally, this old song popped into my head out of nowhere recently:

22. "Buzz off!": SCAT.

23. Swanky: POSH.

25. Darts around: FLITS.

26. Rivals: FOES.

28. August birthstone: PERIDOT.  Peridot is a yellowish-green gemstone, the shade being influenced by iron content.  It is considered too soft to survive as an engagement ring stone; it chips easily.

This genuine peridot ring with little zircon accents is on sale for $149.00 at www.stauer.com.

32. Shelter made of compressed snow: IGLOO.

33. "Weekend Update" comic Michael: CHE.  Michael Che is a stand-up comedian best known for his work on NBC's Saturday Night Live, where he has been co-anchor of the Weekend Update news sketch since 2014.

Colin Jost and Michael Che host Weekend Update on SNL

34. Gave up one's amateur status, perhaps: TURNED PRO.

36. Pop sensation: IDOL.

37. Mister Rogers: FRED.

38. Golfer's warning shout: FORE.

41. Hightailed it: RAN.

42. "Previously on ... " segments: RECAPS.

43. Son of Daedalus: ICARUS.  In Greek mythology, Daedalus built a labyrinth for King Minos of Crete to imprison the Minotaur.  When the hero Theseus killed the Minotaur and escaped the labyrinth, King Minos suspected Daedalus of revealing the labyrinth's secrets, and imprisoned Daedalus there with his son Icarus.  Daedalus fashioned wings for himself and his son, made of items collected in the labyrinth:  beeswax, leather straps from their sandals, threads from blankets, and birds' molted feathers.  Before escaping the island, Daedalus warned Icarus not to fly too high nor too low, but youth is impetuous;  Icarus flew too close to the sun, his wax wings melted, he fell into the sea, and he drowned.

Daedalus and Icarus

44. Contemporary: MODERN.

46. Spa treatment for feet, briefly: PEDI.  Pedicure.

48. At hand: NEAR.

49. Dorky one: DWEEB.

50. Elements that make up most of the atmosphere: GASES.

54. Telephone no. addition: EXT.  "Extensions" are frequently seen in business telephone numbers.

56. MS NOW's "The Briefing With __ Psaki": JEN.  The woman formerly known as White House Press Secretary to President Joe Biden hosts this political news program on the cable channel formerly known as MSNBC.  Again, news to me.  

57. Nail polish brand: OPI.  OPI and Essie are tops in the market and in crossword puzzles.

58. Pioneering ISP: AOL.  AOL (American Online) is considered a pioneering Internet Service Provider because it made a curated portion of the internet available to folks without technical knowledge through a simple graphical user interface.  At its peak in the late 1990s and early 2000s, AOL accounted for nearly half of all internet traffic in the United States.

59. Fig. figuring figures: CPA.  A certified public accountant is a figure (person) who figures (calculates) figures (numbers).

60. __ lime pie: KEY.  Michael saved the best for last!  A refreshing dessert!  Small, thin-skinned Key limes are named for their association with the Florida Keys, although they are native to Southeast Asia.  Spanish explorers brought them to the West Indies, and Dr. Henry Perrine (1797-1840) introduced them to the Keys.

Key lime pie

Here's the grid:

Solvers,

I am reveling in the very low Arts & Entertainment content of this puzzle, and the complete absence of professional or collegiate team sports.  Wow!

An ODE to Michael Hobin!

We’re glad he TURNED PRO!

He gave us a nice puzzle

With words we’re sure to know.

Did this puzzle give you THE RIGHT STUFF as well?  Please comment.

-- NaomiZ

P.S.  Many thanks in advance to Dave and Tony for taking the next three Mondays, while I have something else TO DO.

Sunday September 6, 2026 Katie Hale

Theme: "READ THE INSTRUCTIONS" - Each answer ends with something that's meant to be followed, and each clue is a literal example of it.

22. "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink," e.g.?: GUIDING PRINCIPLE.

32. "Oral contracts are binding," e.g.?: UNWRITTEN LAW.

50. "A new pope shall be chosen at a conclave," e.g.?: CARDINAL DIRECTION.

66. "The strike zone is between the chest and knees," e.g.?: BATTING PRACTICE.

87. "The ball must hit the cushion before dropping into the pocket," e.g.?: BANKING REGULATION.

102. "Chickens will be fed in the coop," e.g.?: PECKING ORDER.

119. "Wear sensible shoes and a lumbar support belt," e.g.?: LONG-STANDING RULE.

Every clue is a literal example of the second word in the answer, while the first word naturally fits that literal context. Very consistent set.

I wouldn't be surprised if the theme set required very little editing. Katie is an outstanding Sunday constructor as well as Patti's assistant.

The grid is also a model LAT Sunday: the total word count, black-square count, and number of three-letter entries all align with the style Patti has long favored.

Across:

1. Add some oomph to: AMP UP.

6. In good __: STEAD.

11. "The Marvels" director DaCosta: NIA. Didn't fare well in the box office.

14. Latch (onto): GLOM.

18. Speckled horses: ROANS.

19. Dodge: EVADE.

20. Zingy flavor: TANG.

21. "Sorry, I slipped": OOPS.

25. "Frozen" reindeer: SVEN.

26. "Come back __!": HERE.

27. See 91-Across: EAGLE. 91. With 27-Across, patriotic Muppet: SAM.

28. Like rum barrels: OAKEN.

29. Ms. Marvel, for one: HERO.

30. Fruity drink suffix: ADE.

35. Cause of a soccer ball bending midair: SIDE SPIN.

40. Vigor: ELAN.

41. Fish eggs: ROE.

42. Character who calls Homer "neighborino": NED. Flanders.

43. Romania neighbor: MOLDOVA.

45. Letters said while showing a badge: FBI.

47. "Ew, stop talking!": TMI.

55. Fall (over): TIP.

56. Et __: and others: ALIA.

57. Polite contraction: YES'M.

58. Castle protectors: MOATS.

59. Turn to rubble, briefly: DEMO. 81. 59-Across stuff: TNT.

60. Ancient land of the Fertile Crescent: ASSYRIA.

63. Scout leader?: GIRL. Girl Scout. Literal sense.  

64. NHL trophy namesake: NORRIS.

71. Significant amount of spots?: AD FEES. Ad spots on TV/radio.

74. Piglet moms: SOWS.

75. Drank daintily: HAD A SIP.

79. __-back: LAID.

80. Unsettling look: STARE.

82. Target of some laser therapy: SCAR.

85. City bond, for short: MUNI.

86. Birthplace of MLK: ATL.

92. Home security co.: ADT.

93. Malaysian fleet: AIR ASIA. One of Asia's largest low-cost airlines.

94. __ for tat: TIT.

95. Mexican lager: SOL.

97. AKB48 genre: J POP. AKB48 is Japan's best-selling idol group, with dozens of rotating members.

100. Miami Beach fair for gallerists and curators: ART BASEL.

107. Designer initials: YSL.

108. Former Yankee slugger, familiarly: A-ROD.

109. "That wasn't wholly true": I LIED.

110. Tennis star Naomi: OSAKA.

114. Airport pickup option: UBER.

118. Space City pro: STRO.  Short for Astro, Houston is nicknamed "Space City" because of NASA.

122. Coming-of-age story subject, often: TEEN.

123. Cheap, plastic camera type: LOMO.  Refers to the inexpensive film cameras associated with the lomography movement. Learning moment for me.

124. Curtain beam, often: I RAIL.

125. Agree to take part: OPT IN.

126. Latin 101 verb: ESSE.

127. Copy: APE.

128. Public affairs network: C-SPAN.

129. Source of wealth: ASSET.

Down:

1. Petulant cry: ARGH. And  2. Petulant look: MOUE.

3. Salt and pepper, e.g.: PAIR.

4. Like Dracula: UNDEAD.

5. Air pump meas.: PSI.

6. Super Monkey Ball developer: SEGA.

7. Rating for mild language, perhaps: TV PG.

8. Countess counterpart: EARL.

9. French farewell: ADIEU. Or "Salut".

10. Recliner room: DEN.

11. Part of a table setting: NAPKIN.

12. Shoreline feature: INLET.

13. Sales rep: AGENT.

14. "Gee, that seems unlikely": GOSH NO.

15. Treasure-y note?: LOVE LETTER. Cute clue.

16. __ glasses: OPERA.

17. Jen Psaki's network: MSNOW.

20. Dress-up box item: TIARA.

23. Liam of "The Naked Gun": NEESON.

24. Draped neckline: COWL.

31. Moore of "The Substance": DEMI.

33. Get close: NEAR.

34. "__ go bragh!": ERIN.

35. Shuts up tight: SEALS.

36. "Hijack" star Elba: IDRIS. Who do you think will be the next Bond?

37. Dabble in: PLAY AT.

38. Just hanging about: IDLE.

39. Dozes (off): NODS.

42. Sweet Sixteen org.: NCAA.

44. __ and vigor: VIM.

45. Toned: FIT.

46. Sarajevo's region: BOSNIA.

48. "Light My Candle" singer in 117-Down: MIMI. 117. Musical set in Alphabet City: RENT.

49. Long-term goals for some startups: IPOS.

51. Sleeper sofa: DAYBED.

52. Dubai leader: EMIR.

53. "Downton Abbey" countess: CORA. Cora Crawley.

54. Powdery mineral: TALC.

59. Imagined: DREAMT.

61. Issa of "Barbie": RAE.

62. "What a downer": IT'S SAD.

63. Rte. finder: GPS.

65. Anxiety-related med. condition: OCD. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

67. Novelist Dinesen: ISAK.

68. Tuna roll wrap: NORI.

69. Singer Stefani: GWEN.

70. Force measured in newtons: THRUST.

71. Start of a lament: ALAS.

72. "Star Trek" android: DATA.

73. Movie soundtracks: FILM SCORES.

76. Family-friendly hotel room: SUITE.

77. How anchovies may be packed: IN OIL. I liked dried anchovies.

78. Guinness serving, often: PINT.

82. __ Lanka: SRI.

83. Michael of "Barbie": CERA.

84. Vegan thickener: AGAR.

87. Indonesian island: BALI.

88. Gawk: GAPE.

89. Tripoli resident: LIBYAN.

90. Small clock inserts: AAAS.

96. "And I'm finished": OK DONE. And  97. "Come along for the ride": JOIN ME.

98. Italian "You're welcome": PREGO.

99. Bet calculations: ODDS.

101. Drinks noisily: SLURPS.

102. Wasabi product: PASTE. You can find this brand in the Asian aisle at your local grocery store.

103. Some deco pieces: ERTES.

104. __ Wafers: NILLA.

105. Sludgy stuff: GLOOP.

106. Big cat sounds: ROARS.

111. Finger click: SNAP.

112. College basketball coach Barnes: ADIA. Head coach of the SMU Mustangs. Another learning moment for me.

113. Potter's oven: KILN.

115. Objections: BUTS.

116. Author Wiesel: ELIE.

120. Involuntary spasm: TIC.

121. Southwestern Indian state: GOA.

C.C.

Saturday, September 5, 2026, Matthew Luter

Saturday Themeless by Matthew Luter

xDr. Matthew Luter is a writer and teacher in Jackson, MS. Originally from Laurel, MS, he is an alumnus of Millsaps College and of the University of North Carolina. He teaches courses in American literature at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School.

The solve was fun until the NE corner where INTERROBANG was really "out there". Usually long fill is very helpful but it provided no help with a part of the puzzle that was a challenge to me. It MADE NO SENSE.

ACROSS

1. Nowhere near: AFAR.

5. Allegro: RAPID. - I'm confident that our cultured solvers here at the corner know at the Allegro Spring movement from Vivaldi's Four Seasons! Listen to this unique presentation of this Allegro piece

10. Improvise: VAMP.

14. Podcaster's software option: GARAGE BAND - A Mac product 

16. Cricket field shape: OVAL.

17. Conversion that some pray will be successful?: EXTRA POINT 😀

18. Work with Python, say: CODE.

19. Arise: EMERGE.

20. Retraced one's steps, in a way: PACED.

21. Light touch: PAT.

24. Hybrid punctuation mark: INTERROBANG ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Can you believe this word‽

26. Unsure where to go: ADRIFT.

28. Logical start: GEO.

29. Jane in a suit?: DOE 😀 Jane DOE is the female equivalent of John Doe. They simply refer to an unknown person in a legal matter.

30. Pantheon honoree: DEITY.

31. Cereal with a vanilla-flavored Confetti version: CHEERIOS.

34. Back up: SAVE.

35. Kleptocracy ruler: THIEF.

36. "The Mystery at Lilac Inn" sleuth: DREW - From October 1930

38. Setting of Frank McCourt's "Angela's Ashes": LIMERICK - You can join this tour at 20 O'Connell St, Prior's-Land, Limerick, Ireland

                                 

40. Hermitlike: ALONE.

. Wanders in an airport?: TSA. 😀

42. Sportscaster Patrick: DAN.

43. Words of warning: OR ELSE.

44. Absolute noob: RANK AMATEUR - Me at chess

48. Steered: LED.

49. Pretty penny or bad penny: IDIOM.

50. Collection of highlights, perhaps: TOP TEN

Current List

Same time of year 1964

52. Dreamcast maker: SEGA.

53. Help line?: DO ME A SOLID.

57. Kathryn of "WandaVision": HAHN ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

58. Strong desire for one in search of just desserts?: SWEET TOOTH. 😀

59. Secondary social media accounts: ALTS - I barely have any primaries let alone any secondaries 

60. Pernod flavor: ANISE.

61. Headphones maker based in Milwaukee: KOSS - You really have to look closely to see the word KOSS on these headphones

Down:

1. Actuarial stat: AGE - I'll soon turn 80 and this is what one actuarial says my future looks like.

2. Quaint transmission: FAX -  😀 Not transmitting much anymore

3. Word with pop or op: ART.

4. Like an Inverted Jenny stamp: RARE - This misprint can be worth as much as two million dollars.

5. Turn sharply to the right?: REPENT - Assuming you had been turning to the wrong 😀

6. "Cancel the launch!": ABORT - Jim Lovell considered this option during the launch of Apollo 13

7. 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year Bueckers: PAIGE.

8. Something that may be on display while playing D&D: INNER GEEK 😀

9. "Silent Spring" subj.: DDT.

10. Informal lexicon: VOCAB.

11. Vegetarian sushi option: AVOCADO ROLL.

12. Beggared belief: MADE NO SENSE.

13. Fundraising promise: PLEDGE.

15. Turn into a competition, say: GAMIFY - The most famous example of this (3:10)

20. Subpar: POOR.

21. Trampoline park gear: PADS.

22. "We agreed on this!": A DEAL'S A DEAL.

23. Bar exam setting?: TRIVIA NIGHT - Matthew took some pretty big liberties with the language here but it was fun when I "got it"!

25. Utah's Capitol __ National Park: REEF.

27. Article: ITEM.

31. Neighborhood that may contain a paifang: CHINA TOWN.

32. Minute Maid brand: HI-C.

33. Unserious: IDLE.

35. Mine wagon: TRAM - An electric TRAM hauling gold or silver at the Bohemia Mine in Cottage Grove, OR. Postmarked 1909.

37. Intruder from under the surface: WEED.

39. Semisoft cheese: EDAM.

40. Halt: ARREST.

41. Country star Yearwood: TRISHA - She has been married to this "other singer" since 2005.

43. Showed up at dinner?: OUTATE - If. you GAMIFY eating...

45. Zen riddles: KOANS - I learned this in cwd and I know the example of, "What is the sound made by one hand clapping?"

46. "The Wrestler" Oscar nominee: TOMEI - Her portrayal a stripper won accolades for her acting and 44-year-old body.

47. Light blades: EPEES.

51. Alcove: NOOK.

53. Mamdani political org.: DSA.

54. Bath lav: LOO.

55. "__ no use": ITS.

56. Org. that oversees 41-Across: DHS.