March 4, 2026

Title: JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH

Constructor: Matthew Luter

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Theme synopsis:

• CRUSTACEAN (4D: Lobster, crab or shrimp)
• MICKEY MANTLE (15D: Yankee great in a 1961 home run race with Roger Maris)
• MUMBLECORE (29D: Low-budget indie film genre named for its often-improvised dialogue)

JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH: Each theme answer contains a layer of the EARTH. The placement of the words in the grid represents moving from the exterior layer of EARTH to the CENTER: CRUST, MANTLE, CORE.

And now a word from our constructor:

Matthew: This one's initial idea had all three layers of the earth at the end of the theme entries: PIZZA CRUST, TAKE UP THE MANTLE, and MUMBLECORE. Amanda suggested we represent the idea a bit more visually, resulting in the theme set in the final puzzle. As someone who has watched and enjoyed plenty of MUMBLECORE, I'm glad that entry made the final cut. Favorite clue here is the one for MEMES, as I'll get a Muppet into a puzzle if the opportunity presents itself (and it often does).

What I learned from today's puzzle:

• SHARON (14D: Indie rocker Van Etten) Indie rocker SHARON Van Etten has released seven studio albums to date, beginning with her 2009 debut studio album, Because I Was in Love. Her most recent album, SHARON Van Etten & the Attachment Theory, was released in 2025. She has also done some acting, including a supporting role in the movie Never Rarely Sometimes Always (2020). She wrote and performed a song for the movie titled "Staring at a Mountain."
• OHIO (2D: Home state of the band Devo) Although I am familiar with the band Devo, I did not realize that they are from Akron, OHIO. Now I know.
• MUMBLECORE (29D: Low-budget indie film genre named for its often-improvised dialogue) As the clue indicates, MUMBLECORE movies are characterized by low budgets and dialogue that is often improvised. Other characteristics include an emphasis on dialogue over plot and filming done in actual places rather than studio sets. I don't watch a lot of movies, and MUMBLECORE is a new term to me. Happy to learn it.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• ICE WINES (17A: Drinks made from grapes frozen on the vine) As the clue mentions, the grapes used to make ICE WINES are frozen while still on the vine. This results in a more concentrated grape juice, resulting in a sweet WINE. The production of ICE WINES relies on temperatures dropping below the freezing point before the grapes rot, and the grapes must be quickly harvested once freezing has occurred. Canada is the world's largest producer of ICE WINES.
• UTAH (33A: State that eats the most Jell-O per capita) Jell-O is so popular in UTAH, that it is sometimes referred to as "the Jell-O Belt." How did UTAH become known as the Jell-O Belt? A 1997 report by Kraft foods reported that Salt Lake City, UTAH had the highest per capita consumption of Jell-O. That's not the end of the story, however. Just two years later, Des Moines, Iowa, had pushed Salt Lake City out of the top spot of Jell-O consumption. UTAH did not take this news lightly. Several groups in UTAH began a marketing campaign to regain the state's title of number one Jell-O consumers. In 2001, the UTAH legislature passed the "Resolution Urging Jell-O Recognition." The rest, as they say, is history. This is one of my favorite fun facts about UTAH, and I was happy to be able to put in this answer as soon as I read the clue.
• LINE (37A: Result of graphing y=mx+b) This clue took me back to studying algebra, which was a long time ago. Fortunately, with a little help from crossing answers I remembered that y=mx+b is known as a linear equation, because graphing such an equation (as long as m does not equal zero) results in a LINE.
• MEMES (38A: Images like "Kermit sipping tea") If you've spent any time at all on social media, you've likely seen the Kermit sipping tea MEME, featuring a photo of the lovable green Muppet sipping tea. The photo is often accompanied with the hashtag, #ButThatsNoneofMyBusiness. If you've ever wondered why Kermit sips Lipton Tea, it's because the photo used in the MEME is from a 2014 Lipton Tea commercial. Today's constructor and I share a love of the Muppets, so I was happy to see this example used to clue MEMES.
• FETA (40A: Spanakopita ingredient) Spanakopita is a spinach pie that originated in Greece. Spinach, eggs, FETA cheese, and onions are layered in phyllo pastry.
• HARLEM (64A: ___ Renaissance (cultural movement)) The HARLEM Renaissance was an intellectual, social, and artistic movement of Black American music, dance, art, literature, and fashion in the 1920s and 1930s. As the name of the movement suggests, the HARLEM Renaissance was centered in the HARLEM neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City.
• LASAGNA (65A: Garfield's favorite food) My cat, Willow, is delighted to see a mention of the cartoon cat, Garfield, as it's been about a week since we've seen a cat reference in the puzzle. I'm sure Willow would eat LASAGNA if it were offered to her, but her favorite foods are tuna and (oddly) graham crackers.

• CRUSTACEAN (4D: Lobster, crab or shrimp) and EAT (8A: Enjoyed some lobster, crab or shrimp) The word CRUSTACEAN is derived from the Latin word meaning "those with shells." Most CRUSTACEANs – including lobster, crab, and shrimp – are aquatic. I liked the fact that the EAT clue echoed the CRUSTACEAN clue.
• MICKEY MANTLE (15D: Yankee great in a 1961 home run race with Roger Maris) MICKEY MANTLE (1931-1995) played his entire MLB career (1951-1968) with the New York Yankees. During the 1961 MLB season, MICKEY MANTLE and his teammate Roger Maris both chased Babe Ruth's single-season recored of 60 home runs. Ultimately, Roger Maris was the player who broke the record. Fun fact: MICKEY MANTLE was a switch hitter and is the only MLB player to hit 150 home runs from each side of the plate.
• UNICEF (20D: Global org. with a trick-or-treat fundraiser) UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, provides humanitarian aid to children, including providing immunizations, educating for disease prevention, improving sanitation, and providing emergency relief in response to disasters. UNICEF has a presence in 192 countries and territories. Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF is a fund-raising campaign for the organization that has been in place since 1950. 
• MALE (38D: Like all U.S. Supreme Court justices until 1981) Let's do some math, 1981 is only 45 years ago. The first female U.S. Supreme Court justice was Sandra Day O'Connor. This clue and answer reminds me of the time Ruth Bader Ginsberg was asked, "When will there be enough women on the Supreme Court?" Her answer: "When there are nine."
• ABE (42D: Prez on a $5 bill) The shortened version of president (prez) in the clue alerts solver's that the answer will be a shortened version of Abraham Lincoln's name (ABE). 
• ASIA (53D: Largest continent) ASIA is nearly 1.5 times larger than Africa, the second largest continent. This is the first appearance of our crossword friend ASIA this month.
• BEN (60D: Folds at the piano?) The question mark in this clue alerts solvers to expect some trickiness. The word "folds" in the clue is not referring to folding paper (or tossing in a poker hand), but is a reference to pianist BEN Folds. From 1993-2000 and 2011-2013, BEN Folds was the frontman of the alt rock trio, BEN Folds Five. He's also recorded a number of solo albums. His most recent solo album is Sleigher (2024).
• A few other clues I especially enjoyed:
• ENGINES (63A: Machines that convert energy into motion)
• RENT (27D: $2,000 for Boardwalk with a hotel)
• RULE (56D: Five-second ___ (dubious food-eating guideline))

The scientist in me enjoyed this JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH. I do like the decision to choose theme answers such that CRUST is at the top of the grid, MANTLE is towards the middle, and CORE is at the bottom. That visual element is a nice touch. Thank you, Matt, for this delightful puzzle.