March 17, 2026

Title: "TOP O' THE MORNING TO YA!" (Freestyle)

Constructor: Adrian Johnson

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Theme synopsis:

"TOP O' THE MORNING TO YA!" (Freestyle): There's no theme today, as this is a freestyle, or themeless, puzzle. The title is a nod to KISS ME, I'M IRISH (23A: Common St. Patrick's Day phrase).

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• COD (4A: Bacalhau fish) Bacalhau is the Portuguese word for COD. Bacalhau dishes, made with dried and salted COD, are common in Portuguese cuisine.
• HOYA (7A: Georgetown athlete) "What's a HOYA?" one might ask punnily, as "HOYA" is a Greek word meaning "what." The origin of the use of HOYAs to refer to the name of Georgetown University athletes is unknown. The Georgetown University's mascot is Jack the Bulldog.
• INDUS (17A: River in Pakistan) One of the longest rivers in Asia, the INDUS River flows through China and India, as well as Pakistan.
• BINGO NIGHT (18A: Event where players form lines at their table?) At BINGO NIGHT, the lines are markers in line on a BINGO card.
• ICES (34A: Treats coldly?) The question mark here alerts solvers that the clue is not using the phrase "treats coldly" to mean ignore or give the cold shoulder. Rather, the words are being interpreted literally.
• STEWS (35A: Pozole and sumaghiyyeh, e.g.) Pozole is a STEW in Mexican cuisine made from hominy and meat (pork or chicken) and seasoned with chile peppers, onion, and garlic. Sumaghiyyeh is a Palestinian STEW that originated in Gaza City. The name of this STEW, which contains beef, chickpeas, and Swiss chard, refers to the spice sumac that is used in its preparation.
• DOG (39A: Animal in the game Spots) In the game Spots, players roll dice and place them onto cards that contain pictures of DOGs. Once the dice are placed, they resemble the titular "spots" on a DOG's coat.
• ASIA (40A: Continent for the 45-Across) and SNOW LEOPARD (45A: Big cat with white-grey fur) The SNOW LEOPARD is native to the mountain ranges in central and south ASIA. The SNOW LEOPARD is a vulnerable species, threatened by poaching and habitat destruction. Our crossword friend ASIA is making its second appearance of the month today. 
• HOURS (42A: There are 168 in a week) Yes, there are 168 HOURS in a week. Unless, of course, you live somewhere that observes Daylight Saving Time. Then one week of the year you only get 167 hours. (No, I'm not tired and grumpy and still trying to adjust to Daylight Saving Time ... why do you ask?)
• ACTOR (48A: Person making a scene?) We have quite a few question mark clues today. An ACTOR may or may not be making a scene in the sense of causing a big ruckus, but they are indeed literally making a scene.
• DEPOT (50A: Stop for Thomas the Tank Engine) Thomas the Tank Engine is a blue steam locomotive in The Railway Series, a series of British books by Wilbert Awdry and his son Christopher Awdry. The series includes 42 books, published between 1945 and 2011. Thomas is just one of the anthropomorphic (with human attributes) trains in the series. The animated TV series Thomas & Friends (1984-2021) was based on the book series. 
• INN (51A: Quaint place to retire?) Not retire as in quit working, but retire as in go to bed, at a quaint INN, perhaps.
• SPAYS (62A: Keeps from littering?) This is my favorite of the question mark clues in this puzzle. The word littering here is being used not in the sense of dropping trash on the ground, but in the sense of having a litter of kittens or puppies (or other animals). To prevent that kind of littering, one SPAYS the female animal.
• STINK STANK STUNK (3D: Alliterative trio of words describing the Grinch) Everybody sing along, "You're a mean one Mister Grinch ... The three words that best describe you are as follows / And I quote, 'STINK, STANK, STUNK.'" Appropriately, this answer is part of a trio of grid-spanning answers in today's puzzle, along with BOUNDLESS ENERGY (54A: Infinite pep) and YOU DID ME SO DIRTY (9D: "I can't believe the betrayal!").
• DENIM (6D: Fabric in an iconic Britney Spears outfit) At the 2001 American Music Awards, Britney Spears wore a patchwork DENIM gown. Her boyfriend-at-the-time, Justin Timberlake, was also dressed in DENIM, including a DENIM cowboy hat. The looks received a lot of press, and not everyone was a fan. I personally really like DENIM a lot, so I thought it was pretty cool. Then again, people rarely ask me for fashion advice - ha!
• HAN (7D: Largest ethnic group in China) About 92% of China's population (and 18% of the global population) is HAN people.
• C'S GET DEGREES (13D: Maxim for the average student?) It took me quite some time to correctly parse this answer. That "CSGE" string at the beginning was just not looking correct at all.
• GISELE (19D: Model Bundchen) GISELE Bündchen is one of the highest-paid models in the world. She was born in Brazil, and took up modeling after her mother enrolled her and her sisters in a modeling course. 
• NHL (22D: Sports org. that "Heated Rivalry" has made more popular) Heated Rivalry is a Canadian TV series that premiered in November of last year. It is based on the Game Changers novel series by Rachel Reid. The show stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie as Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, professional hockey players who maintain a years-long secret romantic relationship. The hockey teams in Heated Rivalry are fictional and thus not officially part of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nonetheless, the NHL has benefitted from the show's popularity.
• ISIS (24D: Egyptian goddess) ISIS was a major goddess in ancient Egyptian religion. She was believed to help the dead enter the afterlife, and was considered to be the divine mother of the pharaoh. Eventually she came to also be associated with fertility.
• POPES (25D: Fourteen have been named Leo) Regular readers of the blog may recall that four days ago I wrote, "Pope LEO XIV (that's 14th in case your Roman numerals are rusty) is the current Bishop of Rome and the head of the Catholic Church."
• STARR (32D: "Octopus's Garden" singer Ringo) "Octopus's Garden" is a 1969 song by the Beatles, from their album Abbey Road. Ringo STARR wrote the song and sang lead vocals. "I'd like to be / Under the sea / In an octopus's garden / In the shade..." A children's book of the same name and based on the song was published in 2013. 
• CATNIP (44D: It makes felines frisky) CATNIP is a plant in the mint family. In about two-thirds of cats, CATNIP induces playful, euphoric behavior. We have had cats that weren't at all interested in CATNIP and cats that are definite fans. Willow is one of the latter. She definitely enjoys CATNIP. Here she is burying her head as she sleeps; perhaps she's dreaming of CATNIP.

• POETS (47D: People who might work with feet?) This clue is not talking about feet that one puts socks on, but feet (units of verse) written by POETS.
• NGOS (52D: Grps. like Save the Children) NGOS here are non-governmental organizations. Save the Children is an international NGO that works to improve the lives of children through education, health care, and economic opportunities.

Well, TOP O' THE MORNING TO YA! And Happy St. Patrick's Day as well. Did you remember to wear green today? Thank you, Adrian, for this celebratory puzzle.