Tuesday March 17, 2026 Sala Wanetick and Amie Walker

Let's Talk:

19-Across. Emotional plea in "Top Gun" and "Top Gun: Maverick": TALK TO ME, GOOSE.

26-Across. "I didn't hear a 'Please'!": SAY THE MAGIC WORD.

43-Across. "Why this course of action?": EXPLAIN YOURSELF.

And the unifier:

53-Across. Requests to Siri and Alexa, or what 19-, 26-, and 43-Across literally are: VOICE COMMANDS.

Across:

1. Lobby group for seniors: AARP.  American Association of Retired Persons.

5. "__ knew?": WHO.

8. Red light therapy venues: SPAS.  Red Light Therapy uses low-level, 630–700 nm wavelengths of red and near-infrared light to boost cellular energy, reduce inflammation, and promote tissue repair.  Sessions last 5–20 minutes and are used to treat acne, wrinkles, hair loss, and chronic pain. While generally safe, it requires consistent use to see results and may carry risks of eye damage if not used properly.  I think I'll pass on this therapy.

12. Pink's counterpart in "Wicked": GREEN.

14. Stranger __ fiction: THAN.

15. Work for: EARN.

16. Italian liqueur such as Aperol or Campari: AMARO.  Amaro is a family of Italian herbal liqueurs, (amaro means bitter) that are made by infusing a base spirit (like wine or neutral grain spirit) with a blend of botanicals such as herbs, roots, flowers, and citrus peels, resulting in a bittersweet, complex flavor profile.

17. Blow off steam: VENT.

18. Cogito, __ sum: ERGO.  Today's Latin lesson ... or, as René Descartes (Mar. 31, 1596 ~ Feb. 11, 1650) so succinctly stated:  I think, therefore I am.

22. NYC summer hrs.: EDT.  As in Eastern Daylight Time.  We just "sprung" forward over the weekend.

23. Most consecutive Super Bowls won by the same team: TWO.  Eight NFL teams have won 2 consecutive Super Bowls:  Green Bay Packers (I-II), Miami Dolphins (VII-VIII), Pittsburgh Steelers (IX-X & XIII-XIV), San Francisco 49ers (XXIII-XXIV), Dallas Cowboys (XXVII-XXVIII), Denver Broncos (XXXII-XXXIII), New England Patriots (XXXVIII-XXXIX), and Kansas City Chiefs (LVII-LVIII).

24. Italian fashion house: PRADA.  Prada means Meadow in Italian.  The Italian fashion house, however, was founded by Mario Prada (1894 ~ 1958).

31. "I __ a hunch!": HAD.

32. Insta upload: PIC.  As in Pictures.

33. Guitar Hero World Tour console: WII.

34. Helpful feedback: INPUT.

37. Fuel efficiency stat: MPG.  As in Miles Per Gallon (of gasoline).

38. Gives a hoot: MINDS.

40. Corp. leader: CEO.  As in Chief Executive Officer.

41. Wilmington's st.: DEL.  Wilmington is in Delaware.

42. __ rummy: GIN.  Gin Rummy is a card game.

50. Harbor Freight purchases: TOOLS.

51. "Hello, fellow sheep": BAA.

52. Stretch the truth: LIE.

57. Graduate of the CIA, perhaps: CHEF.  Not the Central Intelligence Agency, but the Culinary Institute of America.

59. Great Plains tribe: OTOE.

60. Corrosive compounds: ACIDS.

61. Subtle glow: AURA.

62. Numbered hwys.: RTES.  As in Routes.

63. "Girls5eva" co-star __ Elise Goldsberry: RENÉE.  I am not familiar with with either Renée Elise Goldsberry (b. Jan. 2, 1971) or Girls5eva.

64. Fishnet fabric: MESH.

65. Pops: DAD.

66. Covers with grass: SODS.

Down:

1. Rock shop options: AGATES.

2. Naval fleet: ARMADA.  The best known Armada is the infamous Spanish Armada, which set sail from Spain in 1588 in an effort to invade England.  It failed.

3. "Million Dollar Listing" field: REALTY.

4. Fringe benefit: PERK.

5. Cry of delight: WHEE.

6. Kick back (with): HANG.

7. Good place for a lecturer to stay?: ON TOPIC.

8. Teeter-totter: SEESAW.

9. Streamline, perhaps: PARE DOWN.

10. Iguazu Falls land: Abbr.: ARG.  Iguaza Falls is a spectacular waterfall system that consists of over 275 individual drops spanning nearly 2 along the Argentina-Brazil border. 

11. Cold-sounding commercial prefix: SNO.

13. "Anything else!": NOT THAT!  Not exactly sure how this answer fits.

14. Claire Dunphy, e.g.: TV MOM.  Claire Dunphy was the fictional mother on Modern Family.  She was programmed by Julie Bowen (née born Julie Bowen Luetkemeyer, b. March 3, 1970).

20. Carried a debt: OWED.

21. Goblinlike creature: ORC.  The Orc is a fictional creature from The Lord of the Rings.

25. Bone-dry: ARID.

27. Thanksgiving, e.g.: Abbr.: THU.  Thanksgiving is a holiday that always falls on the third Thursday of November.

28. Put on, as nail polish: APPLY.

29. Job for a DJ: GIG.

30. Prefix with loyal and service: DIS.   As in Disloyal and Disservice.

34. The "I" of the RICE method: ICE.  Rest, Ice, Compress and Elevate.

35. Dismissive call: NEXT.

36. Puffy pastries: POPOVERS.  Yummers!

37. Guys: MEN.

38. San Diego neighborhood whose name means "sea view": MIRAMAR.

39. __ and outs: INS.

41. Lack of harmony: DISCORD.

42. U.S. Pacific island: GUAM.  Guam appeared in last Tuesday's puzzle.  [See clue 24-down.]  Since 1898, Guam has been a U.S. island territory.  It is the largest, most populous, and southernmost island in the Marianas archipelago and Micronesia.  Guam is known for its beautiful by tropical beaches, Chamorro villages and ancient latte-stone pillars.  Guam’s WWII significance is on view at the War in the Pacific National Historical Park, whose sites include Asan Beach, a former battlefield.

44. Bath scrubber: LOOFAH.

45. Oscar winner Mahershala: ALI.  Mahershala Ali (né Mahershalalhashbaz Gilmore, b. Feb. 15, 1974) is an American actor who has two Oscars: One for his portrayal of a drug dealer in Moonlight and one for his portrayal of Don Shirley in Green Book.

46. Thin woodwinds: OBOES.  These woodwinds make frequent appearances in the puzzles.

47. Pacific climate phenomenon: EL NIÑO.  Everything you ever wanted to know about El Niño.

48. Heavy-__: sleepy: LIDDED.

49. Admits, with "up": 'FESSES.

54. Jazz great James: ETTA.  Etta James (née Jamesetta Hawkins; Jan. 25, 1938 ~ Jan. 20, 2012) is a frequent guest in the puzzles.

55. Like many dorms: CO-ED.  Last Tuesday this was clued as Not Single-Sex.  [See 16-Across.]

56. Top poker cards: ACES.

57. Kiss __: PDA capturer at a stadium: CAM.  The infamous Kiss Cam from last summer's Coldplay concert.

58. Shade on a color wheel: HUE.

חתולה

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Monday, March 16, 2026, Erica Hsiung Wojcik

Theme:  It's a ME thing!

Erica Hsiung Wojcik has authored several puzzles in these pages before.  She's a psychology professor whose research focuses on language acquisition in young children.  Just because Erica combines interests in crossword puzzles and language development, doesn't mean she thinks you ought to do likewise.  As she might say, "It's a me thing."

The big reveal for today's theme appears here:

64-Across. "I'm quirky like that," or, when parsed differently, what can be said of 17-, 30-, and 48-Across: IT'S A ME THING.  "It's a me thing" is a way of explaining one's habits or quirks, without apologizing, and without suggesting that someone else is wrong for not doing likewise.  You will also find that 17-, 30-, and 48-Across each feature two words that begin with M and E ... a ME thing.

17-Across. Test whose results may be posted in MyChart: MEDICAL EXAM.  I'm familiar with MyChart because the health care systems my mom used in Arizona, and now in California, both post appointments, referrals, test results, and after-visit summaries in MyChart web portals.

30-Across. Current stretch of human history: MODERN ERA.  Isn't it great to be living in the modern era?  Do you think that 2026 will be considered "modern era" in 3026? 

48-Across. Boxing night highlight: MAIN EVENT.  A night of boxing matches typically involves several fights.  The one most advertised usually comes last and features the best known competitors.  That match is called the Main Event, regardless of the order.

It's time to move on to the rest of the clues and answers.  That's not just a me thing.  All of the bloggers in the L.A.Times Crossword Corner follow this format.

Across:

1. Artist's numbered work: OPUS.  Latin for "work," opus usually refers to a musical composition, or set of compositions numbered in the order of issue.  An example is Beethoven's first published work, Piano Trio in E Flat Major, Opus 1, Number 1."

5. Given as a gift: GRATIS.  Another Latin word, gratis means free, without charge.  Bet you weren't expecting a Latin test this morning.

11. Forearm-to-forehead dance move: DAB.  Dab, or dabbing, is a gesture in which a person leans forward into the bent crook of a slanted, upward angled arm, while raising the opposite arm out straight in a parallel direction.  It's been a popular dance move since 2010 or so, and is sometimes used as a gesture of triumph or playfulness.

Betty White was so cool.

14. Goose sound: HONK.

15. Heritage: LEGACY.

16. Parisian's "yes": OUI.

17. [Theme clue]

19. Banquet coffeepot: URN.

20. A __ throw away: STONE'S.

21. Do some evil: SIN.

22. Degs. for many execs: MBAS.  An abbreviation in the clue calls for an abbreviation in the answer.  This one stands for Master of Business Administration degrees.

23. Moon landing org.: NASA.  Another abbreviation in the clue and answer.  This one, of course, stands for National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

25. Online commerce: E-TAIL.  Short for electronic retail.

27. Times to blow out the candles, casually: B-DAYS.  Short for birthdays, and easier to jot on a pocket calendar.

30. [Theme clue]

34. Steal from: ROB.

35. Long tale that may involve a quest: EPIC.

37. Midsize stringed instruments: VIOLAS.

The middle child of the violin family, the viola rarely plays a starring role.

38. Small bills: ONES.

40. "Wild" actress Witherspoon: REESE.  Reese Witherspoon is an American actress and producer, and the recipient of an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and two Golden Globe Awards.  Her big breakthrough was her role as Elle Woods in the 2001 film Legally Blonde.  Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2006 and 2015, and Forbes listed her among the world's 100 most powerful women in 2019 and 2021. In 2021, Forbes named her the world's highest-paid actress, and in 2023, she was named one of the wealthiest celebrities in the U.S. with an estimated net worth of $440 million.  Is it fair to be so adorable, so brilliant, and so successful?

Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde

42. Big __: semis: RIGS.  In North America, vehicles made up of a powered truck tractor and one or more semi-trailers are known as "semis," "semi-trailers," "tractor-trailers," "big rigs," "semi-trucks," or "eighteen-wheelers."  In the United Kingdom, a semi-trailer truck is known as an "articulated lorry" or "artic."  Quaint!

43. Punctual: ON TIME.

45. "If it __ broke ... ": AIN'T.  Bert Lance, Director of the Office of Management and Budget under President Jimmy Carter, is credited with popularizing the southern idiom, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

47. Service charge: FEE.

48. [Theme clue]

50. Awake: ALERT.

52. Home of the Ninja Turtles: SEWER.  The fictional Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were created when four baby turtles were exposed to radioactive ooze in a New York City sewer.  They continued to live in the sewer even after they became humanoid crime fighters.

Masked Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles emerge from the sewer.

53. "Yeah, I guess": SURE.

55. Crab's grabber: CLAW.

57. Short snooze: NAP.

59. "Hear! Hear!": SO TRUE.

63. Airport with many connecting flights: HUB.

64. [Theme clue}

66. Stump splitter: AXE.

67. Apple pie prep tool: PEELER.

68. See 58-Down: ALTO.  Together with the answer to 58-Down, this Silicon Valley city is PALO ALTO, which means "tall stick" in Spanish.  The city was named for a 110 foot tall redwood tree which is currently about 1100 years old.  It was 162 feet tall in the 19th century -- it has suffered some setbacks -- and it is not so old, as other coast redwoods can approach 2500 years of age.

El Palo Alto when it had two trunks.  It lost one sometime before 1883.

69. Furry friend: PET.

70. Upgrades that may cost extra: ADD ONS.

71. Some summer babies, astrologically: LEOS.

Down:

1. Electrical units: OHMS.  The ohm is defined as an electrical resistance between two points of a conductor when a constant potential difference of one volt, applied to these points, produces in the conductor a current of one ampere, the conductor not being the seat of any electromotive force.

A laboratory one-ohm standard resistor, circa 1917

2. Pulitzer winner Jericho Brown, for one: POET.  Jericho Brown has published three books of poetry, and many other poems in distinguished journals.  His 2019 collection of poems titled The Tradition won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.  Here is Jericho Brown reading the title poem:

3. Ctrl+Z action: UNDO.  Computer keyboard shortcut.

4. __ jeans: tight fashion choice: SKINNY.  I like skinny jeans, but I've had some that were so tight, I couldn't bend my knees to put my dog in her harness.  Those were great jeans!

My daughter draped her motorcycle jacket over my shoulders to keep me warm in SF.
Check those skinny jeans!  2012.

5. Windowpane material: GLASS.

6. Theologian's subj.: REL.  An abbreviation in the clue calls for an abbreviation in the answer.  A theologian's subject is religion.

7. Grows older: AGES.  Not me!  Nope!  Still wearing skinny jeans!  

8. Rolled up to the jetway: TAXIED.

9. "Feeling overwhelmed here": I CAN'T EVEN.  Said by a person who is so shocked, angry, happy, or disappointed about a situation that they can't put it into words or can't deal with it.  Positive example:  "This is just so ridiculously cute. I can't even."  Negative example:  "How could they do this to me?  I can't even."

10. Orchestral performance: Abbr.: SYM.  Symphony or Symphonic.

11. Burden of a secret agent, perhaps: DOUBLE LIFE.

12. Vibe: AURA.

13. Recycling receptacles: BINS.

18. __ and desist: CEASE.

22. Insignificant: MINOR.

24. French friend: AMIE.  Amie is French for a female friend.

26. Nev. neighbor: ARI.  Nevada shares a bit of border with Arizona.

27. Sweeping tool: BROOM.

28. Fashion designer Karan: DONNA.  You may be familiar with her brand labels Donna Karan New York and DKNY.  The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute has a significant collection of her designs, which influenced women's fashion in the 1980s and 1990s.

Donna Karan ensemble at the Met

29. "Pay up! No excuses!": A BET IS A BET.

31. Salty expanse: OCEAN.

32. Wild party: RAGER.

33. Positive attribute: ASSET.

36. Stopped from happening: PREVENTED.

39. Tendon: SINEW.  A tendon is a fibrous connective tissue that connects muscle to bone, enabling muscle contraction to pull on the skeleton.  We usually use sinew to refer to tendon that is cooked, dried, or used as a material.  But not always!  How about this excerpt from The Village Blacksmith by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow:

 Under a spreading chestnut-tree

    ⁠The village smithy stands;

The smith, a mighty man is he,

    With large and sinewy hands;

And the muscles of his brawny arms

    Are strong as iron bands.

41. Grabs a chair: SITS.

44. Tiny cat noise: MEW.

46. Divination deck: TAROT.  Divination is fortune-telling using omens or supernatural powers.

49. Wiped out?: ERASED.

51. "__ Weapon": buddy cop film franchise: LETHAL.  The franchise consists of a series of four films released between 1987 and 1998 and a television series which aired from 2016 to 2019. 

54. Manual readers: USERS.

55. Fellow: CHAP.

56. Extremely opulent: LUXE.

58. With 68-Across, Silicon Valley city: PALO.

60. Irritate but good: RILE.  Rile means to annoy or irritate.  The clue is slangy, and just means to do a good job of irritating.  

61. "Do __ others ... ": UNTO.  Rabbi Hillel (who died in the year 10 CE) said the whole of the Bible came down to this rule:  "That which is hateful to you, do not do to another."  The positive formulation "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you" is attributed to Jesus in the New Testament.  Other traditions from around the world have similar formulations, some older than these examples.

62. Self-images: EGOS.

64. Craft beer letters: IPA.  India Pale Ale is a beer style known for its strong hop flavor and high alcohol content.  It was first created in 18th-century England to survive the long voyage to India.  Hops acted as a natural preservative.  Home brewers (and small craft breweries) value the variety of flavors and aromas from a range of hops, and the short brewing time.

Enjoying a warm one with the fellows.

65. Fellows: MEN.

Here's the grid:

Solvers, did it take AGES to complete this puzzle?  Was there something that PREVENTED you from finishing?

Or did you finish ON TIME with an EPIC win?

You know I want to know.  It's a me thing.  Comments welcome!

-- NaomiZ

Sunday March 15, 2026 Katie Hale & Rich Katz

Theme: "STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU" - U is inserted in the very middle of each common phrase. 

27A. Complete text of "Prefixes for Dummies"?: THAT'S A NOUN STARTER. That's a non-starter.

40A. Fancy hotel rooms overrun with spiders?: WEB SUITES. Web sites.

65A. Negotiating with Mephistopheles?: ON THE FAUST TRACK. On the fast track.

78A. Tariff on marble sculptures?: STATUE TAX. State tax.

110A. Snap selfies in a sulky pose?: TAKE POUT SHOTS. Take potshots.

71D. Candlelit dinner at the Geek Squad counter?: BEST BUY DATE. Best by date.

74D. Sotheby's event featuring a Shakespeare original?: PLAY AUCTION. Play action.

97D. #marinara, e.g.?: RAGU TAG. Ragtag. 

This is how constructors elevate a common letter addition/deletion/replacement. Katie and Rich insert a U exactly in the middle of each familiar phrase, adding an extra layer of precision.

As a result, all the theme entries have an odd number of letters. We also get a rare left-right mirror grid. Lovely gridwork.

Across: 

1. Fill one's ride: TANK UP.

7. Telly channel: BBC.

10. In fine form: FIT.

13. Invent: CREATE.

19. Julia's "Seinfeld" role: ELAINE. Elaine Benes. 

20. Notable period: ERA.

21. Messenger __: RNA.

22. "Memo" on a memo, maybe: HEADER.

23. Cosmetics sample: TESTER. These little testers leak easily.

24. Give adequate reason for: WARRANT.

26. Pick up, as a call: ANSWER.

30. Six-time Oscar nominee Adams: AMY.

32. Avenger with a hammer: THOR.

33. Mixed martial arts org.: UFC. The Ultimate Fighting Championship.

34. Young fellows: LADS.

35. Texter's "I think": IMO.

38. Make like whales and icebergs: CALVE. Calve also means "to break off a large chunk". Learning moment for me.

43. Tennessee NFLer: TITAN.

45. Some children's party performers: CLOWNS.

47. Argentine soccer star Lionel: MESSI. With Inter Miami now.

48. Wild cards, maybe: JOKERS.

49. Some antique cars: REOS.

50. Grub: CHOW.

53. Valley where it's easy to get a cab?: NAPA. Cabernet. 

56. Part of the HOMES mnemonic: ERIE.

57. Inquire: ASK.

58. Satisfactory: GOOD.

59. Taxpayer's rep: CPA.

62. Nike rival: PUMA.

64. Took a chair: SAT.

69. Trembling violin tone: VIBRATO.

72. Scotts Miracle-Gro brand: ORTHO.

73. Orbital shape: ELLIPSE.

77. Build: ERECT.

81. Place for a trim: SALON.

82. "Don't __ me!": SASS.

83. Passes, as time: ELAPSES.

84. "The Sweetest Taboo" singer: SADE. Sweet, soothing voice.

85. Stone fruit's stone: PIT.

86. Some Italian sports cars, familiarly: ALFAS.

89. Glee: MIRTH.

93. "That hurts!": YOW.

94. Thumbnails in a music collection: ALBUM ART.

96. "The Mole" host Shapiro: ARI.

99. Pup's front feet: FOREPAWS.

101. Surgical stitch: SUTURE.

102. Sought office: RAN.

103. "A __ of Their Own": LEAGUE.

104. "Can't deny it!": YES I AM.

106. Booker T.'s band: MGS.

107. Pacific Northwest hub, familiarly: SEA-TAC. Seattle–Tacoma

108. "Deets coming soon": TBD.

113. Airport safety gp.: TSA.

116. Esquire publisher: HEARST.

118. Largest of the British Virgin Islands: TORTOLA. Lots of offshore companies there.

119. More spooky: EERIER.

121. Laces up again: RE-TIES.

122. Floor covering: AREA RUG.

123. First words in a journal, maybe: DAY ONE.

124. Offer of assistance: USE ME.

125. Financial records: LEDGERS.

126. Gives for a while: LENDS.

Down:

1. Lunar holiday in Vietnam: TET.

2. Drink served in a yard?: ALE. Yard of ale.  Yard-tall beer glass.

3. Angry glare: NASTY LOOK. And 16. TV spot scribes: AD WRITERS. Symmetrical partners. 

4. __ and kin: KITH.

5. Like leftovers: UNEATEN.

6. Western Australia city: PERTH. Capital of Western Australia

7. Word of caution: BEWARE.

8. Muffin fiber: BRAN.

9. Go on a bender: CAROUSE.

10. Saint of Assisi: FRANCIS.

11. Travelers' stopovers: INNS.

12. Tell (on): TATTLE.

13. Leafy green in the beet family: CHARD.

14. Signs a lease with: RENTS TO.

15. "At __, soldier!": EASE.

17. Golf ball prop: TEE.

18. Drop the ball: ERR.

25. Singer-songwriter Wainwright: RUFUS. Unknown to me.

28. Plant, as seeds: SOW.

29. Small batteries: AAS.

30. Capital of Ghana: ACCRA.

31. Drones, e.g.: MALES. Bees.

36. "The Sound of Music" governess: MARIA.

37. Get-go: ONSET.

39. Bugs on the road, briefly: VWS.

41. Automaker based in Munich: BMW.

42. Element with the shortest name: TIN.

44. 34th prez: IKE.

46. Joplin known as the "King of Ragtime": SCOTT.

48. Denver Nuggets point guard Murray: JAMAL. Canadian. 

51. Hostess goodies: HO HOS.

52. Celebratory poem: ODE.

54. Suitable: APT.

55. Detergent brand: PUREX.

58. Tiny pest: GNAT.

59. Magna __: CARTA.

60. __ for the night: PUT UP.

61. Lenten symbol: ASHES.

63. Knee parts, for short: ACLS.

65. "The Lord of the Rings" monsters: ORCS.

66. Young horses: FOALS.

67. Spiritual carving: TOTEM.

68. Sportages and Rios: KIAS.

69. Italian scooter: VESPA.

70. Letter-shaped girders: I RAILS. I-shaped girders.

75. "Us too!": SO DO WE.

76. Online source of red carpet coverage: E NEWS.

79. Udder part: TEAT.

80. "You wish!": ASIF.

86. Travel blogger's succinct review: A MUST SEE.

87. Ranchers' ropes: LARIATS.

88. "Le __" : Chic song: FREAK.

90. Lumberjack contest that requires a lot of balance: ROLEO.

91. Paid the full tab: TREATED.

92. Make airtight using thermoplastics, say: HEAT SEAL.

95. Athlete who plays home games near the Great Salt Lake: UTE.

96. Like much battlefield equipment: ARMORED.

98. Like sales not made online: IN STORE.

100. McIlroy's org.: PGA. Rory. 

105. Chain material: METAL.

107. Catches fly balls: SHAGS.

108. See-__: THRU.

109. Honey producers: BEES.

111. Perspiration outlet: PORE.

112. Miss a few letters when speaking: SLUR.

114. Email button: SEND.

115. Greek Mars: ARES.

117. Salted part of a margarita glass: RIM.

120. Pastrami sandwich bread: RYE.

C.C.