Thursday June 11, 2026 Guilherme Gilioli

Guilherme Gilioli is a Brazilian constructor who mostly creates puzzles in Portuguese. I'm always impressed by people who can do this when English is not their mother tongue (hi CC!). As you know, crosswords involve many idioms and word-play, and that's hard enough to do even when being born here!

16A. *Wham! hit on "Make It Big": CARELESS WHISPER. Written by George Michael, this song sold more than eleven million copies so I've probably heard it.

26A. *No Doubt hit on "Tragic Kingdom": DON'T SPEAK. This one was big in 1996 for the alternative/indie/punk rock band. It didn't sell as well as the Wham song, but at least I recognize the title. 

50A. *The Beatles hit on "Please Please Me": TWIST AND SHOUT. The only one of the three that I knew right off the bat. What I didn't know was that it originally was recorded by The Top Notes, and later covered by the Isley Brothers before the Fab Four got a hold of it. It's the only Top Ten Beatles song not written by them.

39D. NBC singing competition that completed its 29th season in 2026, or what appears to get louder at the ends of the answers to the starred clues?: THE VOICE. The theme answers all contain a tone of VOICE that build to a crescendo: WHISPER, SPEAK, then SHOUT. And since THE VOICE is a music competition, song titles are very appropriate.

It's interesting that Guilherme chose left-right symmetry with a downward reveal. And even if you didn't know the songs, this still was a pretty straightforward puzzle. BTW, I rarely include external links to  things like these songs because I feel they take you away from the core of what's happening here. I like to pick a fun fact or two, and if that piques your interest, then Google is just a click away.

Let's see what else he's talking about:

Across:

1. "Shoot!": ASK.

4. Greek vowel: ALPHA. Part of a complete breakfast!

 9. Watermelon keg need: TAP. I didn't know about watermelon kegs, but they are simply a hollowed out watermelon with the top sliced off to use as a dispenser. You can buy a special TAP made for these.

12. Wander: ROAM. Had to wait to see if it could be ROVE.

14. __ butter: COCOA.

15. Greek vowel: IOTA. They're in that cereal bowl somewhere.

16. [theme]

19. Hockey gear: SKATES.

20. Get testy with: SNAP AT.

21. Flute part: STEM. A little misdirect. Not the instrument but a tall, narrow champagne glass. 

22. Blue area on a map: SEA. The blue used to go right to the edge where you'd fall off.

25. Go the distance: LAST.

26. [theme]

29. "Shark Tank" airer: ABC. The American Broadcasting Company. Shark Tank is a reality TV series where panelists decide whether to invest in products being pitched by contestant entrepreneurs. It is the  American franchise for BBC's Dragons' Den, which itself is a remake of the Japanese television show The Tigers of Money. 

32. __ rhyme: NURSERY.

33. __ worker: GIG. Many in the labor force don't work full time, or augment their regular job with a GIG. A GIG economy is a labor market characterized by short-term contracts, freelance work, and independent contracting rather than permanent, traditional employment. Unfortunately, that also means no benefits.

36. Foot-to-thigh yoga pose: TREE. Occasionally, the arms are held upward like branches.

38. Angels and Devils: TEAMS. Baseball's Los Angeles Angels vs. hockey's New Jersey Devils would be an epic battle of biblical proportions!

39. Big addition to a to-be-read pile: TOME. Now that's heavy reading.

40. Food from heaven: MANNA.

42. Potato spot: EYE. 

43. Self-storage and self-moving company based in Phoenix, Arizona: UHAUL. I once helped a cousin move from Arkansas to Florida. Our old UHAUL van had an early version of cruise control - a brick on the accelerator. We rarely reached 55 mph. except downhill with a tail wind.

44. Thingamabob: GADGET. I had WIDGET at first, but that was NO HELP.

46. Totally useless: NO HELP. Like a WIDGET.

48. Countdown start: TEN. 

49. Spacious ride: SUV. I still prefer a station wagon over a Sport Utility Vehicle, but that class of vehicle has been virtually wiped out by families who also need to traverse a canyon on the way to soccer practice.

50. [theme]

57. Appear to be: SEEM.

58. Smiling face with heart-eyes, for one: EMOJI. This one expresses feelings of love.

59. Fruity frozen treats: ICES.

61. Iron-rich vegetable: KALE.

62. "Judy" star Zellweger: RENEE. She won the 2020 Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of Judy Garland. RENEE also sang all the songs. Quite a talent!

63. Pat-a-cake motion: CLAP.

64. Part of MMA: ARTS. Mixed Martial Arts is a fighting sport akin to boxing.

65. Glum: SAD.

66. "Child's play!": EASY. This puzzle was EASY peasy.

Down:

1. Story trajectories: ARCS.

2. Long baths: SOAKS.

3. Gold standard: KARAT. A KARAT is a unit used to measure the purity of gold. It is measured on a 24-part scale, meaning 1 karat represents 1/24 of pure gold in alloy. Thus 24 KARAT is 100% pure.

4. High cards in bridge: ACES.

5. __ Angeles Dodgers: LOS. As much as the LOS Angeles Angels love to fight the Devil, it's more likely they will face the Dodgers in a Freeway Series. 

6. Some HPs: PCS. Hewlett-Packard was founded in 1939 in a Palo Alto garage. They make Personal Computers, among many other electronics.

7. "By what means?": HOW. HOW did a multi-billion dollar corporation rise from this garage?

8. Satisfied sighs: AAHS.

9. Big name in trading cards: TOPPS.

10. Seriously annoyed: ATE AT. This one ATE AT me.

11. Divide: PART.

13. Dished (out): METED.

15. "Stuck in the Middle" actor Presley: ISAAK. He's no Elvis, apparently, just a Middle-of-the-road actor. If you're his agent, then I meant he's really great. Really.

17. Dish soap scent: LEMON. 

18. Dental filling: INLAY. It may be 16 KARAT gold (24 KARAT is too soft).

22. Wall in Manhattan, e.g.: STREET.

23. Writing assignment: ESSAY.

24. Primitive bipeds, informally: APEMEN. Unlike modern humans who are obligate (permanent) bipeds. That's why your mom told you to stand up straight.

27. Snack mix morsel: NUT.

28. Backpedaling sounds: ERS.

29. PIN point?: ATM. Winner: Best Clue. You may enter your Personal Identification Number at an Automate Teller Machine.

30. Toot one's own horn: BRAG.

31. John of "Peacemaker": CENA. I like John CENA because he isn't afraid to poke fun at himself, in spite of all his accomplishments in wrestling and movies. 

33. Striker's target: GOAL.

34. "My turn!": I'M UP. Last Thursday, this was the answer to, "Are you awake?" This clue fits better.

35. Product often used to create a wet look: GEL.

37. Meeting scheduler's concerns: END TIMES. In spite of this, meetings always run long.

39. [theme]

41. Matures, as whiskey: AGES.

43. "Forget about it": UH UH.

45. Host's invitation: ENTER. UH OH. This sounds rather ominous. 

You may ENTER...

47. Davis of "Grumpy Old Men": OSSIE. OSSIE Davis was an award-winning actor and activist. He appeared in over 50 movies, 50 TV shows and 30 plays. Quite the career.

50. Sign of sorrow: TEAR.

51. Paintball injury: WELT.

52. Home of Iowa State: AMES. A common crossword town populated with useful letters.

53. Deca- minus one: NONA. Greek numerical prefixes. Deca (10) -1 = NONA (9).

54. Worked a wedding reception, say: DJED. This abbreviation for Disc Jockeyed looks wrong somehow.

55. Campus near Sunset Blvd.: UCLA. The University of California at Los Angeles was originally called the Southern Branch. The first UC campus was in Oakland before moving to Berkeley.

56. Socials with cucumber sandwiches: TEAS.

57. Reggae kin: SKA.

60. Intelligence agent: SPY. 

Be good. RB

Wednesday, June 10, 2026, Aidan Deshong

 TEAMWORK! 

18 Across. Sharp reply to unsolicited advice: DID I ASK YOU. The Chicago Sky ( Basketball) A Team?

29 Across. Rib cut with a long bone: TOMAHAWK STEAK. The Atlanta Hawks (Basketball) A Team?

50 Across. News that may interrupt regular programming: BREAKING STORY. The Sacramento Kings (Basketball) A team?

66 Across. Bodies beyond the Solar System: EXOPLANETS. The Brooklyn Nets (Basketball) A Team?

75 Across. Elite squad, or what's found in each set of circled letters: A TEAM. 

CrossEyedDave here, to try and dribble you through this puzzle without drooling...  Note that each Basketball Team's name is preceded by the letter A.  I am not very savvy when it comes to sports, and I thought there might be a deeper rabbit hole here, as here in the East, The Brooklyn Nets could be considered the "A" team, while the Long Island Nets might be the "B" team. So I asked CC for her expertise, and she replied, "it's just an A in front of the team name, and it is a very tight theme!"

I started reading this Blog years ago because I don't understand Crosswords...

Aidan Deshong is a prolific, widely published crossword constructor who gained national recognition while still a college student. Originally from Los Angeles, he is a student at Harvey Mudd College who regularly constructs clever grids for publications like The New York Times, Defector, and Spyscape. 

Known for his creativity, his thematic crossword puzzles frequently feature pop-culture references, trivia, and engaging wordplay. 

Notable highlights from his crossword career include:

• The New York Times: He has authored multiple NYT puzzles, including several co-creations with other young constructors like Jacob Reed and his former high school classmate Oren Hartstein. His works feature distinct grid designs ranging from clever themes to Saturday-level challenges. 
• Defector: He constructed the Monday crossword for Defector (published in partnership with AVCX), featuring unique middle-of-the-grid designs. 
• Spyscape: Deshong has been a regular contributor to the Spyscape Consider the Following series, offering unique themed puzzles. 

Aidan Deshong debuted on the LAT with Nate Cardin January 5th, 2024. This 15x16 grid is another example of his style and fresh approach. While A Team has probably been used as a theme before, no one has thought to put "A" ahead of a team name before...  Circles are definitely needed to point out the quirkiness of the themers.

Across:
1. Always complaining: WHINY. Hmm, reminds me of certain Anons. (Go Blue! Yay Team!)

6. Dog tail motions: WAGS.

10. Storyline: PLOT.

14. Navaratri celebrant: HINDU. Navaratri is a major Hindu festival spanning 9 nights and 10 days, dedicated to the worship of the Divine Feminine (Shakti/Devi). It celebrates the triumph of good over evil and culminates in Vijaya Dashami (or Dussehra), commemorating Goddess Durga’s victory over the demon Mahishasura.

15. Hutchinson of the Detroit Lions: AIDAN.

Name #1

16. Courtroom pledge: OATH.

17. Luggage dangler: ID TAG.

18. [Theme]

20. So-so: MEH. The origins and evolution of the word involve three key milestones:

• Yiddish Roots (1928): Etymologists, including those at the Oxford English Dictionary, trace "meh" to the Yiddish word me (meaning "so-so" or "be as it may"). It was documented in this context in Alexander Harkavy’s Yiddish-English-Hebrew dictionary published in 1928. 
• Early Internet Use (1992): Before it became a pop-culture phenomenon, the earliest known written evidence of "meh" in modern English appeared in a 1992 online discussion board about the show Melrose Place. 
The Simpsons (1994–2001): The term was popularized by The Simpsons. It was first uttered by a store clerk in a 1994 episode and later famously spelled out by Lisa Simpson to express complete disinterest in 2001. 

21. Magazine copy: ISSUE.

23. Like an apple pie's apples, typically: PEELED. I wanted Green, or Granny...(as in Granny Smith.)

24. Business maj.: ECON. Economics.

26. Knocks: RAPS.

28. Burro: ASS.

29. [Theme]

34. Lab assistant of cinema: IGOR.

Obligatory insert...

35. Old Navy parent company: GAP. Everything you ever wanted to know about Gap... well, Actually there is even more...

36. Steamed cantina dishes: TAMALES.

40. Wear away: ERODE.

42. Golden Globe winner Seehorn: RHEA. Name #2

44. "Wicked" co-star Cynthia: ERIVO. Name #3

45. Tries calling again: REDIALS. (It's shorter than re-buttonization...)

47. Lucy of "Elementary": LIU.

Name #4

49. Prayer ender: AMEN.

50. [Theme]

53. Cyberchats, briefly: IMS. (Instant Messaging.)

56. Doe's kid: FAWN.

57. In __ of: LIEU. Definition can be found here...

58. Synagogue text: TALMUD. Info can be found here...

60. Nail polish brand: ESSIE.

63. Plopped down: SAT.

66. [Theme]

68. Church steeple: SPIRE.

70. Silent performer: MIME.

71. Ratio punctuation: COLON. :)

72. Part of a skin care regimen: TONER.

73. Unhealthy haze: SMOG.

74. Recipe meas.: TBSP. (Tablespoon)

75. [Theme Reveal]

Down:
1. Sudden urge: WHIM.

2. Conceal: HIDE.

3. Game, in a way: IN THE MOOD.

4. Secret letters?: NDA. Non Disclosure Agreement.

5. Trading card game based on a manga series: YUGIOH.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

6. Game console that preceded the Nintendo Switch: WIIU. Wii, U, Me, Whatever...

7. Some venomous snakes: ADDERS. More here, (if you are into snakes...)

8. Moo goo __ pan: GAI.

Looks better than it sounds...

9. Green stir-fry ingredient: SNAP PEA. (See above.)

10. Jab with a finger: POKE.

11. Wrestler who won the WWE Women's Championship in 2010: LAYLA. Name #5

12. Missouri River Natives: OTOES. I went to get you a list, but it turns out there are 574 Federally recognized Native American tribes in the United States...

13. Lands heavily: THUDS. Like my search for a Native American tribe list...

15. Commercials: ADS. Advertisements, seen so many times, they shortened it to Ads, and then lengthened them...

19. Word in an opening line?: SESAME.😀

22. Grab: SNAG.

25. "Am I the Drama?" rapper: CARDI B. Name #6

27. Reach, as a goal: ATTAIN.

29. Stratum: TIER. Tier makes me think of cakes, stratum makes me think of dirt. Hardly compatible.

30. Fairy tale baddie: OGRE.

31. Capital of Poland: WARSAW.

32. Metric speed meas.: KPH. Kilometers Per Hour

33. Sport with belts: KARATE. 

37. Long car ride?: LIMOUSINE. 😀

38. "Will I __ learn?": EVER. ( Not if it's sports...)

39. Walkman maker: SONY.

41. Talking-to: EARFUL.

43. Yale alum: ELI.

46. Headliner: LEAD ACT.

48. Wrinkled tangelo: UGLI. I posted images of this too many times...

51. Genuflects: KNEELS. 

I only know this word from The Wizard of Oz.

"The chipmunks genuflect to me..."

52. Remedy for post-lunch drowsiness: SIESTA.

53. Inventory list: ITEMS.

54. Saying: MAXIM. A.I. Overview

55. Replay speed, familiarly: SLOMO. One word colloquial abbreviation of Slow Motion.

59. Video file format: MPEG. Did not know it stood for this...

61. "Knock it off!": STOP.

62. Hyphenated ID: SSN. Social Security Number.

64. Length x width: AREA.

65. Part of an academic year: TERM.

67. San Francisco's __ Hill: NOB.

If a picture is worth a thousand words,

What a short video worth?

69. Cauldron: POT. (Or an NYC nabe compared to Swanky Nob Hill...)

And, The Grid...

So, what do you think of this A Team puzzle? Were you a first rate solver, or did you get stuck on the bench...  spill your beans in the comments.

CE:D out...

≽^- ˕ -^≼

P.S.

Here's a freebie!

I was trying to "splain" the puzzle to Daughter #3

And she said, "there's a music tie in too!"

Tuesday, June 9th, 2026 ~ Amanda Rafkin & Amie Walker

Made of STEEL

Hot Stuff

Hi All!

Today, Amanda & Amie collaborate on a rugged theme. From what I've found, these two have joined forces at the LAT twice as Amie & Amanda [12 JUN & 08 OCT 2025]. They've had a Wednesday & a Thursday, so this will be their first Tuesday together.

Let's ROCK & Roll:

17. Cocktail poured with a heavy hand: STIFF DRINK.

Looks like a strong pour to me.

29. Honest amount of reliable work: SOLID EFFORT.

45. Resilient person: TOUGH COOKIE.

60. Social media debut of a romantic relationship, or what 17-, 29-, and 45-Across have: HARD LAUNCH.

STIFF is 18th on the list...

DW & I met when #SocialMedia consisted of messages on BBS (Bulletin Board System). So, to me,  HARD LAUNCH means "no turning back now." As for Social Media, we had to tell our friends to be at the Judge's house Sunday, IRL (In Real Life).

Across:

1. Wig makeup: HAIR. I soooo wanted talc in the barrister's wig he waggled.

I Waggled Me Wig

5. Food that might be served alla vodka: PASTA. Penne alla Vodka is a simple dish that will put you into a happy coma.

10. Diamond experts?: UMPS. Baseball! And an Easter Egg as diamonds are rock HARD.

14. "KPop Demon Hunters" bandmate of Mira and Zoey: RUMI. KPop Demon Hunters blew up so big last year, they dropped in on SLN:

Feat. Bad Bunny

15. Fuel-carrying ship: OILER. So many stuck in the Strait of Hormuz - did no one really NOT see that coming?

16. Go past a simmer: BOIL. Warm, heat, simmer, rapid simmer, BOIL.

17. [See: Theme]

19. Teeny bit: IOTA.

20. Norway's capital: OSLO.

21. Texting format, briefly: SMS. Short Message Service. It's a crime carriers charged us $0.10 for piggybacking a message on mobile to tower control-channel pings. Jinx, care to comment?

22. School composition: ESSAY. Not a crappy-production play put on by 3rd graders ;-)

23. "As __ on TV": SEEN. This c/a screams Weird Al...

Mr. Popeil

25. Dessert that quivers: JELLO. Oasis came to mind until I saw the clue's second S.

An Oasis

27. Chopping tool: AXE.

29. [See: Theme]

34. Young chap: LAD.

35. Male cat: TOM.

36. Some church donations: TITHES. I attended Catholic school on and off [depending on parental custody], and, what Pop appreciated, one only paid according to means. Pop tithed ~10% and we got a SOLID education at St. Joe's.

37. Frosty: ICY.

38. Grasped: GOT.

39. __ and yang: YIN.

40. Hoppy beer letters: IPA. Indian Pale Ale.

41. Like plagiarized text: STOLEN.

43. Delt neighbor: LAT.

44. La Brea __ Pits: TAR.

45. [See: Theme]

48. Method: Abbr.: SYS.

49. Sportscaster Musburger: BRENT. The answerer would have filled faster if clued "Light, sweet crude."

50. "Another thing ... ": ALSO.

52. Like steaks with a lot of marbling: FATTY. Don't fat-shame your dinner ;-)

55. Mermaid's realm: SEA.

57. Singular: LONE.

59. Baghdad locale: IRAQ.

60. [See: Theme]

63. iPhone virtual assistant: SIRI.

64. Skip, as a syllable: ELIDE.

65. Passed-down tales: LORE.

66. "Ciao!": TATA. I waited for the perp b/f not filling Tigger's TTFN.

67. Breadmaking need: YEAST. If it's unleavened, you don't kneed naan :-)

68. Like some Olympic races: SWUM. Time out! Is this really a word? Yes, swim, swam, and the past participle, SWUM. It's one of a few non-Germanic words I know that's got a Triple-U.* Swung, wuss, Kuwait, and wurst [admit it, that German word is so borrowed it's English :-)] are the others.

Down:

1. Time sheet figs.: HRS. When my team was on the clock for multiple clients, I created the "Bing sheet." Every 6 minutes, a clock would go "Bing," and you'd quickly scribble down the client you're currently working with / billing. //My buddy's dad was a lawyer - that's where the 6 min. came from :-)

2. Car: AUTO.

3. "So happy to be back together!": I MISSED YOU. I say nothing, just hugs & kisses.

4. Rummage (through): RIFLE.

5. "Love Is Blind" personal space: POD. No clue.

6. Broadcasts: AIRS. Something you can also put on for puffery.

7. Car-unlocking tool: SLIM JIM. This is in my lane - Eldest & I enjoy picking locks.

Eldest with her first picks
and beginner's lock.

8. Grew anxious: TENSED.

9. Torah holder: ARK.

10. Assassin's Creed game company: UBISOFT. I never played the game but I know of the company. Their origin story is interesting.

11. Sounds from cows: MOOS. Where is Gary Larson when the world needs him?

[See also: 39-down]

12. Pocket bread: PITA.

13. Defeat, as a dragon: SLAY. Roll a 17 or better on a d20 and you're heralded the hero.

A d20 for the uninitiated ;-)

18. Enemies: FOES.

22. Pixieish: ELFIN. Are we still playing D&D?

24. Never: NOT ONCE.

26. Wright of "Black Panther": LETITIA.

Letitia Wright

27. Red carpet celebs: A-LIST.

28. Precision knife brand: X-ACTO.

30. "Thanks a __!": LOT.

31. "You asked for a fight, you'll get one!": OH, IT'S ON NOW. "TOUGH words," said The Dragon.

32. Square up with: REPAY.

33. Former Russian rulers: TSARS.

38. Walt Disney Concert Hall designer Frank: GEHRY.

Frank Gehry's WikiP

39. Shaggy ox: YAK.

42. Letters on some Pride merch: LGBTQIA+. Click here for an explanation.

43. Traditional Mexican game of chance: LOTERIA. Lottery in Spanish.

46. At a reduced price: ON SALE.

47. Jazz icon Fitzgerald: ELLA.

51. All __ Day: November 2: SOULS.

52. Black Power symbol: FIST.

53. Song that might end on a high note: ARIA. Cute.

54. Like a cranberry, or a dessert that might contain cranberries: TART.

56. Does some math: ADDS.

58. Very light brown: ECRU.

60. "Wait just a minute!": HEY. Did you just say, "Heads I win; tails you lose?"

61. Permit: LET.

62. Dress edge: HEM. If mumbling while sewing, are you hawing your hem?

The Grid:

The Grid

WOs: N/A
ESPs: BRENT, LETITIA, GEHRY
Fav: OH, IT'S ON NOW

Cheers, -T
*W is Double-U, ergo SWUM can be written as sUUUm -- with a Triple-U :-)

Monday, June 8, 2026, Patti Varol

Theme:  Unfettered vocabulary.

Prometheus Unbound by Carl Bloch

Crackerjack crossword constructor (and our competent copy editor) Patti Varol brings us a wealth of wonderful words, while her four grid-spanning theme answers are unfettered by any formal reveal.  They are:

17-Across. Get-up-and-go that never goes: BOUNDLESS ENERGY.

25-Across. Therapy technique that encourages a thoughtful flow of ideas: FREE ASSOCIATION.

42-Across. School organizer with three rings: LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

55-Across. Righteous Brothers hit in the film "Ghost": UNCHAINED MELODY.

Was anyone unmoved by Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, and Whoopi Goldberg in Ghost, 

to the soundtrack of Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers?

In case you missed it, the four theme answers all begin with synonyms for "free."

And now, we are at liberty to review the rest.

Across:

1. Table where Holy Communion is consecrated: ALTAR.

6. Play, as a guitar: STRUM.

11. Lifesaving skill, for short: CPR.  Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.

14. Yankees manager Aaron: BOONE.  Aaron Boone is the manager of the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball.  He previously played in MLB for 13 seasons from 1997 to 2009.  He was a baseball analyst on ESPN from 2010 to 2017, and became the Yankees manager in 2018.  He's led the team to the playoffs in seven of his eight seasons, and to the World Series in 2024.

Aaron Boone

15. Make fun of: TEASE.

16. Scoffing laugh: HAH.

17. [Theme clue]

20. Crumb-carrying insect: ANT.

21. Toffee bar brand: HEATH.

22. Great Plains Natives: OTOES.

23. Quick look: PEEK.

24. Family nickname for some matriarchs: GRAN.  (I tried GRAm at first, but it didn't work out.)

25. [Theme clue]

32. Sped: RACED.

33. Sound of relief: SIGH.

34. Forensic sci. specialty: CSI.  Crime scene investigation (CSI) is a scientific discipline focused on the recognition, preservation, documentation, and collection of physical evidence at a crime scene. 

Also a gripping TV series.

35. Megastar: IDOL.

36. Tusked hogs: BOARS.

38. "Sounds like a __!": "Works for me!": PLAN.

39. "Hamilton" creator __-Manuel Miranda: LIN.

40. Corporal or private: RANK.

41. Feudal lord: LIEGE.

42. [Theme clue]

46. Extra helping: MORE.

47. Tenant's monthly payment: RENT.

48. App replaced by Microsoft Teams: SKYPE.  In my home and office, we replaced Skype with Zoom.  Guess it's time to join Teams.

50. __ the pot: causes trouble: STIRS.

52. Word before a maiden name: NÉE.  French for "born."  "Alicia Keys, née Cook" indicates the singer was born Alicia Cook.  If you want to indicate a man's former name, the word is "né," for instance, "Nicolas Cage, né Coppola."

55. [Theme clue]

58. Feathery garland: BOA.

59. Comedy counterpart: DRAMA.

60. Otherworldly: EERIE.

61. Cello's sect.: STR.  The cello's section in an orchestra is strings.

62. Cloyingly sentimental: SAPPY.

63. Coins that can be screwdrivers in a pinch: DIMES.  Dimes are handy because they are thin.

Down:

1. "Dancing Queen" pop quartet: ABBA.

2. Canadian lake bird with a unique call: LOON.  Loons make eerie calls, each with specific meanings.

Harry Collins makes exceptional videos of loons.

3. Promote loudly: TOUT.

4. __ Arbor, Michigan: ANN.

5. One with hair like Little Orphan Annie: REDHEAD.  Only 1-2% of the global population has naturally red hair.  It is most prevalent in Scotland and Ireland.

6. T-bones, e.g.: STEAKS.

7. Sample: TEST.

8. Foolishly impulsive: RASH.

9. "__ it or lose it!": USE.

10. Hanukkah centerpiece: MENORAH.  A Hanukkah menorah is technically a hanukkiah. The word menorah means "lamp" in Hebrew and usually refers to the seven-branched candelabrum used in the ancient Temple in Jerusalem.  A hanukkiah celebrates the miraculous rekindling of the menorah when the Maccabees overthrew their Greek oppressors and rededicated the Temple to the one God.

Count the branches!
The menorah was described by God to Moses.
The chanukiah is a later invention, specific to one holiday.

11. Told the story of: CHRONICLED.

12. Beep on a beeper: PAGE.

13. Actor Matthew of Netflix's "The Beast in Me": RHYS.  Matthew Rhys is a Welsh actor.  He played Kevin Walker in Brothers & Sisters (2006-2011) and Philip Jennings in The Americans (2013-2018).  He played the title role in Perry Mason (2020-2023). In 2025, he appeared as antagonist Nile Jarvis in The Beast in Me. Rhys currently plays the lead role in the comedy-horror series Widow's Bay (2026). 

Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys
Co-stars on screen and off.

18. Wine sediment: LEES.  Lees are the natural sediments -- dead yeast cells, grape skins, and seeds -- that settle at the bottom of a wine vat. Winemakers remove the heavy lees after fermentation, but sometimes leave fine lees in the vat, and even stir them up to maximize the release of beneficial compounds into the developing wine.  This is common in French Muscadet Sèvre et Maine,  Chardonnay, and Champagne.  When "sur lie" appears on a wine label, it means the wine was aged "on the lees."

19. Coup d'__: ÉTAT.  A coup d'état (French for "stroke of state") is a sudden seizure of power by a small group, such as military leaders or political elites.

23. Rind: PEEL.

24. Jobs for a band: GIGS.

25. Perk: FRILL.

26. "All Things Considered" medium: RADIO.  All Things Considered, on National Public Radio since 1971, is the most listened-to, afternoon drive-time, news radio program in the country.

27. Option for travelers on a budget, perhaps: ECONOMY CAR.  I wanted ECONOlodge.  Had to get a few perps in there to FIR.

28. Japanese port city: OSAKA.

29. Geometric fig. with a radius: CIR.  A geometric figure with a radius is a circle.

30. Missouri River tributary: OSAGE.

31. Bay Area NFLer: NINER.  The San Francisco 49ers (Niners) are a professional NFL team.

36. Hay bundle: BALE.

37. __ and only: ONE.

38. Ice cream purchase: PINT.

40. Goes over again, as a contract: REREADS.

41. Type of oil extracted from flax: LINSEED.  Edible linseed oil is a nutritious oil from flax seeds, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, but it must be cold-pressed and used cold as it spoils quickly.  It should not be confused with boiled linseed oil used for wood finishes, which is treated with chemicals and is toxic.

Linseed oil AKA flaxseed oil

43. Former frosh: SOPH.  Frosh is for freshman, a first year student.  Soph is for sophomore, a second year student.

44. Start of many long weekends: FRIDAY.

45. Natural sandbank: BERM.  Berms can be built for landscaping purposes, but are also naturally occuring raised ridges of sand or pebbles on a beach, formed by wave action at high tide marks.

Beach berm

48. Long sandwiches: SUBS.

49. Nautical speed unit: KNOT.

50. Simple fastener: SNAP.

51. Fill-in worker: TEMP.

52. Convention: NORM.

53. Emmy winner Falco: EDIE.  Edie Falco was amazing in her role as Carmela Soprano on the HBO series The Sopranos (1999-2007), and won three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for that show.  She won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for playing the title role in the Showtime series Nurse Jackie (2009-2015).  She has lots of other TV, film, and Broadway credits.  Impressive. 

Edie Falco

54. Potato buds: EYES.

56. 401(k) rollover target: IRA.  A 401(k) is an employer-sponsored retirement account.  An IRA (Individual Retirement Account) is an account you open yourself.  When you leave an employer, you may wish to roll your 401(k) into an IRA under your own control.  You can do the rollover without paying tax or early withdrawal penalties.

57. Tropical garland: LEI.

Here's the grid:

Solvers:

Were there any answers today that you DNK (Did Not Know)?  I DNK Matthew Rhys.

Did perps (perpendicular entries) help you fill them in?

Or did you FWH (Finish With Help) by turning on red letters, searching Google, or asking a friend?

Maybe your DW (Dear Wife) or DH (Dear Husband) helped.

Maybe you FIW (Finished It Wrong) or DNF (Did Not Finish).

I FIR (Finished It Right) and enjoyed it, but everyone wants to know how YOU did.

Please comment, even if it's just WEES (What Everyone Else Said).

-- NaomiZ