LAT 8:27 (Kyle) 
[2.25 avg; 4 ratings] rate it
NYT 15:51 (Eric) 
[3.60 avg; 21 ratings] rate it
USA Today tk (Darby) 
[3.00 avg; 1 rating] rate it
Universal (Sunday) 7:34 (Jim P) [2.83 avg; 3 ratings] rate it
Universal tk (Norah) [3.00 avg; 3 ratings] rate it
WaPo 5:47 (Matt G) [2.75 avg; 4 ratings] rate it
Matt Proulx and Jeffrey Martinovic’s New York Times Crossword “Going Down Fast” — Eric’s Review
Matt Proulx and Jeffrey Martinovic’s New York Times Crossword ““Going Down Fast” — 3/1/26 (Click to Embiggen)
Congratulations to Matt Proulx for what appears to be his debut crossword in a publication covered by Diary of a Crossword Fiend!
The snow in the Rockies has been disappointing this winter. That’s my excuse, anyway, for not immediately identifying the graphics in this puzzle. (For those who don’t ski, the green circle is a “Beginner “slope, the blue square indicates “Intermediate,” a single black diamond is “Difficult” and double black diamonds are “Very Difficult.”)
To my credit, I did quickly notice the theme answers that didn’t fit their clues all went downhill and continued on:
- 16A [Sources of fur in some luxury clothing] CHINCHILLAS
- 44A [2013 film whose titular character is captured by Somali pirates] CAPTAIN PHILLIPS
- 67A [Certain fallacy … or what’s indicated by every “sign” in this puzzle’s grid] SLIPPERY SLOPE
- 78A [Old coin worth 1/20 of a pound] BRITISH SHILLING
- 105A [Eerie and then some] BONE-CHILLING
Ostensibly, there are five theme answers, which is light for a 21X21 grid. But if you consider that except for the revealer, each one has to include HILL running at an angle, the restrictions on the grid from the theme answers are more imposing.
I’m usually turned off by grids in which answers appear to nonsense like BONEC, but I’ll let that slide if it’s easy to see how to make sense of those answers and if the theme otherwise entertains me.
Other stuff:
- 6A [State home to the only public diamond mine in the U.S.: Abbr.] ARK I knew that bit of trivia, though I’ve never been to the diamond mine, which I think is in a state park.
- 20A [Piece of junk?] SPAM EMAIL Nice clue.
- 64A [Rn : radon :: Sn : ___] TIN The Latin name for tin is stannum.
- 66A [Athlete who’s the subject of a museum in Louisville] ALI I was impressed to see how much Louisville celebrates a local hero who was probably somewhat controversial in his hometown.
- 108A [Mouthful after a wipeout, maybe] SEA WATER Too bad SNOW didn’t fit. (Been there; done that.)
- 115A [Insignias often seen on the letterheads of representatives] STATE SEALS When I worked for the Texas Legislature, the members’ letterhead typically had the seal of the house of representatives or the senate, as appropriate. The state seal was more commonly seen on executive branch agency letterhead.
- 19D [Common accompaniment for butter chicken] BASMATI RICE I had something like TIRICE first and had a lot of trouble seeing the beginning.
- 38D [They might be head-scratching] FINGERNAILS Cute clue.
- 86D [Sturdy boot feature] STEEL TIP Just a few days ago, I solved a 2009 New York Times crossword with the clue [Boot option] and confidently wrote in STEEL TOE, only to have to change the last two letters. I knew better this time.
- 102D [Metal-shaping tool] SWAGE I’m not sure I knew this word.
- 106D [Division of Warner Bros. Discovery] CNN A gimme, thanks to all the recent press about Paramount Skydance trying to buy Warner Bros. Discovery.
Evan Birnholz’s Washington Post Crossword “I’ll Go First” — Matt’s Review
Evan Birnholz’ Washington Post crossword solution, “I’ll Go First,” 3/1/2026
With apologies to Evan and all of you, I have to be brief again this week. Hopefully by next week I’ll have caught up on sleep and kicked a depressive episode that is really hitting me hard this month.
Our themers are all goofy phrases with somewhat convoluted clues, created by taking more familiar phrases and moving the letter string -ME- to the front and re-parsing. A central revealer is a help, though I generally had the gist figured out:
67A [“I’ve moved on” … or what you might say about each phrase I changed to make a starred answer after moving a two-letter word to the front] THAT’S ALL BEHIND ME NOW
This is a type of theme (one that asks a lot through its theme clues) that I’m tempted to ignore and push through with crossings, but by the bottom of the puzzle I had the hang of those wacky clues to backsolve the original phrase and figure out how to fit it all in the grid. MEH ALLEY SCOT ([ … Highlander at a so-so bowling venue?] is my favorite of the bunch I think.
Cheers!
Matt Revis and Katie Hale’s LA Times crossword “CELL DIVISION” – Kyle’s write-up
LA Times solution grid “CELL DIVISION” – Matt Revis & Katie Hale – Sunday 03/01/2026
Matt Revis and LAT assistant editor Katie Hale have the LAT Sunday slot this week. The theme played a bit challenging to me–I didn’t manage to figure it out without the revealer (which I didn’t get to until near the end of my solve). Thanks Matt and Katie for the Sunday entertainment.
The revealer is 123A TECH DISRUPTIONS [Silicon Valley game changers, or an alternative title for this puzzle]. The theme works as follows: take a compound phrase associated with tech, insert another word between the two sections to create a new compound/phrase with the first word, and clue in a punny way, moving the final theme word away from its tech meaning. All of the base phrases are associated with smart phones, and particularly Apple’s iPhone, hence the titular “cell division”. I actually think the puzzle would have been slightly better with the title and revealer swapped.
Theme answers:
- 22A [Part of the hiring process for stenographers?] TOUCH-TYPE SCREEN (touchscreen)
- 36A [Stage production about the lives of autoworkers?] CARMAKERS’ PLAY (CarPlay). The first of the iPhone-specific base phrases.
- 47A [Need for the queen of hearts to get past security?] FACE CARD ID (Face ID). Also iPhone specific. This entry has the shortest semantic distance between the meanings of ID in the base phrase and theme answer.
- 68A [Picture-perfect brioche?] CAMERA-READY ROLL (Camera Roll). This is my favorite of the clue/entry pairs.
- 94A [Escape capsules for rent?] AIRBNB PODS (AirPods). My second favorite themer. The surface sense isn’t quite as tight as CAMERA-READY ROLL.
- 102A [Investigation into how E.T. got away?] PHONE HOME CASE (phone case)
Notes on fill and clues:
- 2D [Name of many French kings] LOUIS. Eighteen to be precise, though there was a 19th-century legitimist pretender called Louis XIX. Louis IX “the Saint” is the namesake of the city in Missouri.
- 8A [Bouldering spot] CLIFF. Bouldering is a form of rock-climbing. There was an opportunity for a link with the answer AERIES directly below.
- 9D [Ferrari Formula One driver Charles] LECLERC. F1 World Championship runner-up in 2022, has won eight races in eight seasons.
- 49D [Lock setting] CANAL. I recently visited an exhibit on John Constable and saw this painting:
A Boat Passing a Lock by John Constable – https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/a-boat-passing-a-lock-148679, Public Domain, Link - 62D [Exceptionally attractive person] SMOKE SHOW. New to me.
- 97D [Beethoven composition] SONATA.
Jared Goudsmit’s Universal Sunday crossword, “The Quiet Game”—Jim P’s review
Theme answers are familiar phrases whose final words all feature a silent letter. Collectively, these silent letters spell out the word “auction.” The revealer is SILENT AUCTION (112a, [Fundraising event … or what’s spelled out in the last words of the starred clues’ answers]).
Universal Sunday crossword solution · “The Quiet Game” · Jared Goudsmit · 3.1.26
- 22a. [*Loaf that contains grated veggies] ZUCCHINI BREAD.
- 33a. [*Many a union supporter?] WEDDING GUEST.
- 43a. [*Eagerly following a lead] HOT ON THE SCENT.
- 61a. [*Inflatable structure at a school fair] BOUNCY CASTLE.
- 68a. [*Industry that includes Broadway] SHOW BUSINESS.
- 90a. [*What is the last round in a popular game show?] FINAL JEOPARDY. Cute. ISWYDT.
- 96a. [*Newspaper section such as “The Ethicist”] ADVICE COLUMN.
It probably took me longer than it should have to grok the theme, but I couldn’t see anything being spelled out by the theme answers until well after the solve. Circled letters certainly would’ve helped in that regard but I don’t mind the extra challenge of figuring things out on my own. I eventually got there and enjoyed the aha moment. A fun and lively theme set as well.
The grid isn’t quite symmetrical even though the theme answers are paired-off according to length. In theory, the grid could’ve featured symmetry, but I suspect we’re getting smoother fill this way. Grid highlights include AWARD WINNER, STUNTWOMEN, PIT VIPER, HOLE CARD, LIME SODA, EXIT SIGN, “WE DID IT!,” GIFT TAG, JUPITER, and SEA STAR. Not so sure that “IT’S OUT!” is crossword-worthy, but it was gettable with the clue [“We’ve published the book!”].
Clues of note:
- 119a. [Mochi-pounding tool]. MALLET. I went with PESTLE at first. But I guess you won’t catch the fastest mochi-maker on earth using a measly pestle (see video below).
- 1d. [Apt rhyme of 81-Down]. DAZE. Yeah. There’s no way I’m leaving 1-Down to search out 81-Down. I’ll just wait for the crossings.
- 81d. [Apt rhyme of 1-Down]. HAZE. Now that’s a much easier direction to go.
Good theme. I still would prefer a symmetrical grid, but I definitely enjoyed the smooth fill. 3.5 stars.
Puzzle: NYT; Rating: 4.5 stars
I think this is an even more impressive feat of construction than many non-skiers will realize. The difficulty of the hills proceed in order from green to blue to black to black diamond and the slope of the H-I- L -L reflect the relative degree of difficulty. Bravo! Thought cluing and fill were also quite good given the construction constraints. Terrific Sunday puzzle.
Nice catch! I didn’t notice that when I wrote my review.
Yep—I really liked that aspect, and clocked it immediately. After the second theme, I filled in HILL in the circles and was off to the races. Finished 1 minute longer than my PR; really fun Sunday!
NYT crossword would have been more impressive if not for a recent crossword with a very similar theme mechanic “IT’S ALL DOWNHILL FROM HERE”
Puzzle: NYT; Rating: 5 stars
Interesting feature of all of the themers. The ski slope symbols are all placed between digraphs (ch, ph, sh, ch). Guessing that the purpose is to link the otherwise divided answer pieces across the symbols which otherwise function like black squares. 5 stars.
Puzzle: NYT; Rating: 1.5 stars
Horrible puzzle that might appeal to a select few. Not me.
I hated it. Even in the fill and solving, I was put off by too many names and attempts at contemporary speak, but then I had to deal with the theme. It no doubt was harder for me as I had no idea who Cpt. Phillips is.
My steps in solution were pretty normal. I put together that the entries to the right of the colored square (as well as north and south) were unchanged, while the one to the left didn’t match the clues. In time I worked to locate the circled squares, partly obscured by my ink solving, for which I take responsibility. I connected this in due course to odd paths for descending HILL on the far side of the theme nexus from the answers that call on them. Why and why HILL? I had no idea.
Finally, pretty annoyed, I returned again and again to the special squares. What did they mean and what did they add? I kept trying, but came out after way too much time with no idea as much as before. This is ridiculous. It’s bad enough when you need a special interest to see what the themers have in common. But this? Just awful.
Hey everyone. Apologies for the missing Newsday Stumper write-up yesterday. I could’ve sworn I added it to the main post before I left in the morning (after which I was gone all day and unable to patch it in). Anyway, it’s there now and please feel free to chew on that day-old bread in the comments.
Puzzle: NYT; Rating: 4 stars
Completed the puzzle without noticing it’s all HILLs in the circled squares.
Puzzle: NYT; Rating: 4 stars
Perfectly fine Sunday with kind of a neat theme, which I enjoyed as a skier and MTBer who sees those signs all the time. One major complaint: Steel “tip” boot is just not a thing. Only someone who has never worn a steel TOE boot in their life would say such a thing had a steel tip. 😂
I’ve seen fancy Western (cowboy) boots with visible metal tips on the outside of the leather toe of the boot. I think they’re partly decorative and party to protect the leather toe of the boot (as opposed to the toes of the wearer). I took the clue/answer in that context.
Nah, “steel-tipped” is just an occasional synonym for steel-toed footware.
Only if “occasional” is a synonym for “extremely rare” or “never.” I googled it and got zero hits on the first page, and even the Wikipedia entry doesn’t mention the term. I stand by my assertion that it’s not a thing. (Although I do agree that the decorative tips on fancy cowboy boots might be described as “steel tips.”)
It’s a lot more than never. It didn’t sound odd to me, so I know I’ve heard it often enough to burn a few neurons.
Turns out that even for the fancy western boots they aren’t called “steel tips” but metal tips or metal caps.
Puzzle: NYT; Rating: 4 stars
I sort of agree with you, Josh, but steel tip boots are, indeed a thing. I think steel toe is more broadly used, however,
Is it a regional thing then? Having lived and worked alongside people who wear steel toed boots all over the upper Midwest and west, I have never heard anyone anywhere refer to them as anything other than “steel toe” or “safety” shoes/boots.
Like clueing NOODLES as “Base for chili” without any reference to Cincinnati, and then saying, “sure — lots of people top noodles with chili (and an insane amount of grated cheddar cheese?”
Puzzle: NYT; Rating: 5 stars
Delightful.
NYT: I saw that there were HILLs running at an angle that made sense of the theme clues and answers. Beyond that, I was totally baffled by the colors and shapes, which serve no purpose to solvers who don’t know what they mean. I don’t understand why you would publish a puzzle that only some fraction of readers will be able to interpret.
+1
I had no inkling of the meaning of the rebus squares.
They weren’t rebus squares; they were the signposts for the HILLS, going from green to blue to black diamond to double black diamond, which is how ski hills are rated (from gentlest slope to most intense).
Puzzle: NYT; Rating: 4 stars
Not a skier myself, but I understand the color and name for each slope designation. Took me a few seconds after finishing to grasp that the general shape of each theme entry’s circled letters matched the steepness of the slope’s color.
I enjoyed the WaPo as well, but was a bit of a slog.
Puzzle: NYT; Rating: 1.5 stars
I’m not rating this as a skier (I am one), but as a puzzler. How appropriate for the NY Times to have slippery slope theme as they continue their slide down the slope from quality puzzles to graphic-filled cutesy nonsense. Sorry N YT, pretty pictures do not substitute for intelligent cluing. Am I reading the New York Times magazine, or Highlights?
+1 re “graphic-filled cutesy nonsense”.
Well if we are going there, I’d love to see ‘Goofus & Gallant’ make a return to mainstream publications!
Puzzle: NYT; Rating: 3.5 stars
Thanks, Eric, for the explanation. My husband and I are lifetime non-skiers and had no idea what was going on besides the obvious HILLs
Puzzle: NYT; Rating: 3.5 stars
Normally solve in AcrossLite. I looked at the puzzle online and saw the colored symbols in the squares and immediately related to skiing slopes. And I’ve never been on skies. Figured out HILL pretty quickly and filled in the circles. The theme was OK in my book. What was better was the long fill.
Really fun WaPo! The theme answers took me a little longer to grok, but once I got it, it was quite nice. Really fun and clever!