June 26, 2026

Title: HIGH AND DRY

Constructor: Bill Conner

Editor: Amie Walker

Theme synopsis:

• SEASON TO TASTE (4D: "Add spices until you think it's yummy," in a recipe)
• OFF-BROADWAY (17D: Like New World Stages shows in New York City)
• RUN A TIGHT SHIP (18D: Manage operations by the book)

HIGH AND DRY: The top (i.e. HIGH) word of each vertical theme answer can pair with the word DRY to form a new phrase: DRY SEASON, DRY OFF, and DRY RUN.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• ULNA (21A: "Pinkie side" arm bone) There are two forearm bones, the ULNA – on the "pinkie side" – and the radius – on the "thumb side."
• ALBERTA (28A: Northwest Territories neighbor) The Northwest Territories is a territory of Canada located in the northwestern part of the country. Neighbors of the Northwest Territories include the territories of Yukon and Nunavut, to the west and east, respectively, and the provinces of British Columbia, ALBERTA, and Saskatchewan, to the south.
• OREO (35A: Cookie with an April Fool's Day "Dill Pickle Flavored Fudge" variety) On April Fools' Day this year, OREO announced a new flavor variety: Dill Pickle Flavored Fudge OREOs. Perhaps the real April Fools' joke was that the OREO flavor is real. For a limited time, people were able to buy OREO cookies coated in a green, dill-pickle-flavored fudge. Wondering what these pickle-flavored OREOs taste like? I haven't tried them (nor do I have a desire to, even though I like pickles), but here's a review from someone who has. 
• LASSO (47A: "Ted ___" (show starring Hannah Waddingham) On the Apple TV+ show Ted LASSO, the title character, portrayed by Jason Sudeikis, is an American college football coach who is hired to coach the fictional English soccer team AFC Richmond. Hannah Waddingham portrays Rebecca Welton, the owner of AFC Richmond, who originally hired Ted LASSO as a ploy to sabotage the team. Good news for Ted LASSO fans – after a three-year break, the fourth season of the show premieres August 5.
• SOMEBODY (55A: "Are You That ___?" (Aaliyah song)) "Are You That SOMEBODY?" is a 1998 song by Aaliyah. The song's music video features Aaliyah and other dancers dancing in a cave.
• SAHARA (57A: Earth's third-largest desert) Although the SAHARA Desert, located in North Africa, is Earth's third largest desert, when it comes to hot deserts, it is the world's largest. The two deserts that are larger than the SAHARA – the Antarctic Desert and the Arctic Desert – are cold deserts.
• I DO (61A: 12-Down words, perhaps) and ALTAR (12D: Rite place at the rite time?) The place for some rites (when it's time for a rite) is at an ALTAR. The rite of marriage – saying I DO – sometimes happens at an ALTAR.
• KEN (64A: "Jeopardy!" host Jennings) KEN Jennings appeared on Jeopardy! as a contestant in 2004. His 74-game winning streak remains the game show's longest winning streak. KEN Jennings has been a host of Jeopardy! since 2020 (initially as an interim, and then in conjunction with Mayim Bialik, and now the sole host).
• ASPENS (66A: "Quaking" trees) Quaking ASPENS are so named because their leaves appear to tremble in even the slightest breeze. My favorite fun fact about ASPENS (that I share nearly every time I write about them!) is that they propagate through their roots. This means that when you see a grove of ASPEN trees, it is often one organism sharing a common root system.
• PGA (9D: FedEx Cup org.)  From the April 5, 2026 puzzle, I learned that the Fedex Cup is the championship trophy for the PGA Tour. And I totally remembered that information when I encountered this clue today. (That's my story and I'm sticking to it...!)
• OFF-BROADWAY (17D: Like New World Stages shows in New York City) Professional theatre venues in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499 are classified as OFF-BROADWAY, regardless of their location. Fun fact: of the 41 BROADWAY theaters in New York City (those with a seating capacity of 500 or more), only three are actually located right on BROADWAY.
• AESOP (22D: "The Fox and the Grapes" storyteller) AESOP's fable, "The Fox and the Grapes," is about a fox who attempts to eat some grapes hanging high on a vine. However, no matter how hard he tries, the fox cannot reach the grapes. He concludes that the grapes are likely unripe and sour anyway. The phrase "sour grapes" originates from this fable.
• CLARA (23D: American Red Cross founder Barton) The American Red Cross is a humanitarian nonprofit organization that provides relief and support to those in crisis. CLARA Barton (1821-1912) was a hospital nurse during the U.S. Civil War. She founded the American Red Cross in 1881.
• STU (26D: Name that's a homophone of 39-Down) and STEW (39D: Hearty, slow-cooked dish) Since both STU and STEW are in the grid, it's a fun choice to link the entries.
• LASIK (47D: Type of eye surgery) LASIK stands for "laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis" – one can understand why it's commonly referred to as LASIK. LASIK surgery is performed to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.
• SIMON (49D: Alvin, ___ and Theodore) Alvin, SIMON, and Theodore are a trio of animated singing critters known as Alvin and the Chipmunks. These animated chipmunks have been singing together since 1958.
• ISSA (54D: "Barbie" star Rae) ISSA Rae portrays President Barbie in the 2023 movie Barbie.
• BAT (56D: Bumblebee ___ (mammal that weighs less than a penny)) The bumblebee BAT, also known as Kitti's hog-nosed bat, is the smallest mammal by length. The body length of this BAT is just over an inch. Although it weighs around 2 grams (less than a penny, which weighs about 2.5 grams), the bumblebee BAT is not the smallest mammal by body mass. That title goes to the Etruscan shrew, which weighs in at about 1.8 grams (about the weight of a paperclip).
• Other clues and answers I especially enjoyed:
• PROBS (36A: "Totes a possibility)
• SLICED (63A: Like a pizza that ready to be served)
• BRAND (37D: Word before "name" or "recognition")

The word HIGH in the title alerted me to look in the vertical answers for the theme, and that is indeed where the theme is today. I enjoyed this set of theme answers, as well as the new phrases created. Thank you, Bill, for this splendid puzzle.

A note about comments: I welcome your comments on the blog! For one thing it's nice to know folks are reading what I've written. My goal for this blog has always been for it to be informational, conversational, and kind. I ask that you keep those goals in mind when commenting. Unkind comments will be deleted. Note that I am more likely to delete a negative comment if it is posted anonymously. (P.S. You can point out when I make a mistake – in fact, I appreciate that so I can correct it.)