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Puzzles for May, 2021
with Editor comments

Sat 5/1/2021
UPLITUMPMADAM
BEACHNEEDARIDE
ONCUEANGORACAT
ANTOWSSMORES
TIECLASPENACTS
BALDTIRESTURK
LOVESEATSPAY
DIRTYRICE
ARMCHESTCOLD
BEAKADORATION
SPRITZNUTCASES
TINHATMEHHOT
FINGERTIPELOPE
ALAMODOMEGOTEM
DESEXPOTGUSTS
Sun 5/2/2021 INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
LEGUPAWARDRANSACK
OPINEDBABOONEPICURE
COVEREDBRIDGEGETITON
ADEGAIALINEARSOW
LESSONSGINARELIST
AILMOETPOTTYMOUTH
GERMANARMYPAYNARNIA
ARIAYESPERFIDYEND
DADBODSTERRAMAARGO
STEELENOTEBRAOLSEN
GARDENAPARTMENT
SPRAYOWEPLAYDEEPER
TEENBUDSEEDMISRULE
ARMSUREDIDPOOFTEE
VIEFORARRDIRTYTRICK
ELMERSGLUEOTOHRUN
BEETLENTWTEDITORS
BEDARISENARESROC
CARLSJRCOMPASSNEEDLE
OREOPIEUNPACKSCREEN
LSDTABSGOTHSTAROT

Dan Schoenholz, of Walnut Creek, Calif., is the community development director for the city of Fremont. Like many crossword constructors, he got his start after watching the 2006 documentary "Wordplay." The idea for this puzzle occurred to him one day when he was running on a trail that crossed a creek, and he thought of the clue and answer at 23-Across. Back home he searched an online crossword database and found that his theme idea was new.

This is Dan's 26th puzzle for The Times.

POW Mon 5/3/2021
AMIDCRAPOIOWA
LAVARERUNBRAG
ICEDCOFFEEAGRA
DOWBETRAYS
EMMYSPALAUNOS
SOYAIRPORTWIFI
PATHNORTIC
THEINSIDEINFO
BRROEDGARB
EAUDEPARFUMRCA
CDSNOTITIMMAD
HOTBATHSFO
ONEAFEEFIFOFUM
EARNUNLITDANA
DISKLAMBSYMCA
Tue 5/4/2021
SAMERAPTESSAY
PROMOURSNOTRE
REPOAREAOLAFS
ITTBDAYJUUL
GOOBERSTAGTEAM
OPERAAIRHEADS
REGALEIOU
BUTTERFINGERS
PANCANARY
SLOPOKESTAEBO
IMPALEDDUMDUMS
ETSYHORSTEE
GENIEFUJIELLA
UPENNEGOSTEEM
MIDASNESTARTS
Wed 5/5/2021
NPRSINRASPED
ARITOOCONQUER
VINCENTOCTUPLE
IMGUROLDZAP
ESTEREYREST
LOUIESEETHE
WIFESERIALEUR
EDITOUTNUMBERS
LABDRYESTERIE
SHODDYVIEWS
HONELEDATOP
AFTONESILOS
PUCCINIOTHELLO
ENCORESUSEILL
COINEDTAREYE
Thu 5/6/2021
RACISTVIPTBAR
ALLNEWEMUHORA
STAGEACTORAJAR
PESOHONESTABE
STATEBOSN
SPECSDOGS
COGBAKESADLIB
UNOSTERPSDECO
MEATFLAGSKY
ESTASSOSAD
USMCTHRUMS
DONTPANICNATE
ANDIRIGHTONRED
REELANGOPENED
KARLBAYWIDELY
Fri 5/7/2021
APPSDRAWRICAN
MARIRENOONICE
PLOTIAGOOSTER
OUTOFLEFTFIELD
CADENTLEODDAY
ALERTTORQUE
ITSSOYOUURBANE
NOTPEPTELAVIV
FIASCOSSINE
STARCRAFTREDOS
HOSENICEJOB
INPERILBACARDI
REUBENBANKLOAN
TURINGAGUILERA
SPEEDSESSESET
Sat 5/8/2021
NBAALLSTARACT
EIGHTYEIGHTWHO
GREEDISGOODSAP
ATOMNTHSPORT
THUIGETITACAI
ESTERTERIDUDE
AAHNOMATTER
BATTEDNOSHES
HOUSEREDNSA
ONTOBREWAIDAN
THOUSNARKYEGO
MOTTOREISLAP
EMUWAITAMINUTE
SINNIGHTYNIGHT
SEEMASHEDPEAS
Sun 5/9/2021 MOTHER'S DAY CONCERT
DOCSCABACHESTERMS
OPALORICHILLASIANS
REMIGETAKICKOUTOFYOU
IREMITERSTAPLERS
CARRYTHATWEIGHTHERES
HAIOATAXLEERA
COCOTCELLREGATTA
HURTSSOGOODPUSHIT
USEPUPAETOMSSKEET
MEWEVERTFINALEASY
IWANNABESEDATED
USPSTEPIDEELEDZAP
REALMORSOADOREODE
SCREAMIMCOMINGOUT
ATATROTDENCHMALE
GNUALTAANAANT
AMEBABABYONEMORETIME
CANARIESABUTSMOT
THEKIDSAREALRIGHTAVA
SERENEMARRYTAROLIP
ROSESITSMESTOPSEE

Brad Wiegmann is a national security lawyer for the Department of Justice in Washington. He dedicates this puzzle to his mother, "a voracious reader, talented knitter, mahjong maven and all-round supermom." He says he's never personally seen any of the musical artists named in the puzzle's theme clues, but he did once attend a 23-Across concert.

Brad's last Times puzzle, Crossword Buff appeared in February.

POW Mon 5/10/2021
IMACSELLSNOVA
BOCAPLEATARID
MANDARINORANGES
TERRIAMASS
EGGWHITES
MEHUSHERINBOP
ERASEILKDEERE
DISKSLEISMEAR
ACHYDENNYOTTO
LABVISAGESGET
READSPAR
SPORCLEPLACEBO
HEWNADOREHEIR
URNSPILOTONES
TESTSTEMSOSLO
Tue 5/11/2021
SOFAIBEAMSGPS
TWIXMUSCATLEE
INREFRANKOCEAN
NEEBINEERIEST
GREWINTOFAV
SOREPLUGFEY
EPCOTKEENEIPO
CLASHINNSPRIG
HOPCANTOPESCI
OWEOLGAHART
SNLBLACKSEA
SHOUTEDALEHUN
POWERGRIDSDIRT
APEORACLEUFOS
YINLOWKEYETSY
Wed 5/12/2021
NAYSAGGEDTLC
ONEADRATETIER
VITALORGANOKAY
AMIGAALAKID
SESAMESIDLE
VIDALIAONION
AMIEGTOASTRO
VANVEEROFFZAP
IHOPEELOMALE
VINORDINAIRE
MARMFLATCAP
EPAOPSMOOLA
GRADVACUUMOVEN
OGREELAPSEERS
VO5SENSORSTY
Thu 5/13/2021
GLANDIGORAWED
QUINOASONYRAGU
UPTOWNSALEMSLOT
ITEMGAUDYCOLBY
PARASITECANSO
LATHELANPOL
ATHOSEFLATPASA
THEUSUALSUSPECTS
IRASPREENIDEST
TEDROTEDALI
EGGONTRUEGRIT
PSALMMERYLRAMA
HOMEALONEARENAS
AMENANDYICEAGE
TESSBOSSTASTE
Fri 5/14/2021
ACCRARATEASPS
TRAILMIXESUTAH
MIDDLESEATCERA
SPYSLEDSNORTH
RYESEMONEY
ABASEGROTTO
ACEITSEATURTLE
PAESETEDPAYER
TIREMARKSTIPIN
GASHESBORES
HAGGISLOSE
MARLOSTAINCHO
ALDAFORTSUMTER
IVESBRUTEFORCE
DENSISEEFOLKS
Sat 5/15/2021
DRAGSHOWBRITON
RICEWINEOHNONO
OPENATABWETMOP
SILENTBSETHANE
STATHEIRTETE
VETTESHOHO
WHALEDEATLOCAL
KENOLINDRYLAND
RAGNAROKEMENDS
PLODTOUPEE
TRODBRUTJIBS
SHANIADEMOUNIT
ASCENDIREALIZE
SPAYEDSTATEGEM
HATERSHOTSPOTS
Sun 5/16/2021 A SHOT IN THE DARK
BRAHEGGOMERLEAPSO
LAMETRONPAEANCRUMP
UNEDUCATEDGUESSTAPER
RUNGSNOLOVEESIEGE
PSEUDOBETTERMOURAP
TRALARBIBIPOD
HAIPLANTAPPALLGUMP
ATOMSTHETONEBOPIT
MITEGOODSORTSEDERS
STARGENUINTICLERED
SPANSAOBURN
ISMSILICRUBBERIBAR
MAILINCAFENOIRNONO
AURASCOIFDOETEXTS
CLAPPANNEDPRIVAYES
COOEDCUESTERN
SELBRICATINGSTIFFS
ALEXALOTZONAFILTH
ALBUMLASTDITCHEFFORT
BERRAATEAMMAIMTRAM
NAYSCIAOSEATSYAWL

Joe DiPietro, of Brooklyn, owns a bar called "one star" in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. He previously owned a bar called "No Idea," which made a confusing answer to the question "Where do you want to go tonight?"

As a crossword constructor, he hates partial phrases (answers like TUG OF and IF I) and grids with "S" in the lower-right corner. This puzzle has neither of those.

Mon 5/17/2021
FIGBRINELALA
IPAFRIDAYIZOD
JAZZERCISEQUID
IDEASHOCTURNS
NSATAHOE
GAVEDAIRYQUEEN
ODEVICBURGLE
PIRATEDPRESALE
REDDERTAIDID
OUIJABOARDUSES
ATSIXSOS
SPECSLCDADAPT
WOVESIOUXFALLS
AKINGEDDESLIP
MELTTRESSYES
Tue 5/18/2021
MRIPANTYCLAPS
AERALGAEEAGLE
ROESPOILEDBRAT
SPLASHPRESENT
HEADBANGERENE
ANNOYCODMETER
LSDSALCOLORS
LISAFRANK
EMAILSTENISM
MACESPEASANTA
BCCTHERAPYDOG
ARRIVALMINION
SAUSAGELINKAGE
SMELTGENIENET
YESESMINOSASS
Wed 5/19/2021
BIGBANGTREADS
SAFEAREAHEALUP
PASTONESBEDTIME
ASOFDPLUSBBL
AGETSELIOT
WHEREAMIAAA
OUTAVEDAMOBS
NETPRESENTVALUE
TSARHANOIDNA
ETCSESAMEST
PENZIASSLO
ALATRAWLPCBS
BACKTOTHEFUTURE
STROLLEARLOBES
TEEPEEWHIMPER
Thu 5/20/2021
ENIDMOISTAWLS
LIFEALICELION
MAYAIDIOTELLA
EPONYMSREGULAR
REUSEASSSTIFF
SECSIXFEETAAS
PAPCOPSESML
ALTAUNDERCHAT
DECRYFIONA
ASHTREESPYSWAP
MISTYELISA
BRYNSEAMYORZO
SEDGESCIORDER
AARGHLESALTAR
RIISESORIAL
Fri 5/21/2021
MASTDEFIBMOB
ARCHAPITYPANE
DAREMARATHONER
CLAMUPLEGOSET
ASPENWAISTHIGH
PEPSICOLABOGS
SAYSTRONGMAN
NORSEMYTH
IAMLEGENDREI
SINGTEATOWELS
UNAGIROLLOHGEE
ASCETICEMERGE
BEARDCOMBSLOIN
LASSIMOUTPUZO
EMTNEWDOSPEW
POW Sat 5/22/2021
ASFORREPOALSO
SEIKOAXONREED
ILLGOMAKEAMOVE
ALLOTICEPLANET
MOBSTRAINERS
LIEGEPRAISE
EVILEMPIRE
GENERATIONALPHA
HEISTFILMS
APOLARIMAMS
IMONAROLLLAT
BOOBOISIEIPODS
ENPASSANTSENOR
ARESHUGOTRINI
MADEIRONSUCKS
Sun 5/23/2021 YOU DO THE MATH
DISCSCATSASKSVAMPS
ICAREACHYUNITINOIL
MERYLIRANTIMEGATOR
DIFFERENCEOFOPINIONS
OSLOHALFNOTES
CLAROSOWETOOUSTIMP
HIGHWAYMEDIANTATTLER
ALIENOATTNUTEVITE
TALLCURIOBOOTMARS
SCEPTERNERDAVOCADOS
STOCKDIVIDEND
HOTSAUCESODARATTRAP
OPALSKORSMELLRELO
ORNOTSNOWSEAHADIT
DAGWOODANIMALPRODUCT
SHOALIAENEMYAMEXES
SPAREROOMAFEW
MODEOFTRANSPORTATION
ATARIIAGOHAILENDOW
GOTINETONIKEAADELE
SHAFTRENESSNSMSDOS

Jennifer Nebergall, of Boulder, Colo., is a former finance director at the University of Colorado. She started doing crosswords several years ago as a weekly tradition over Sunday brunch with her husband. Since the birth of their baby, though, they shifted to doing them during naptime. Jennifer writes, "Having spent my career in finance and analytics, this theme appealed to my dual loves of math and wordplay."

It is Jennifer's crossword debut.

POW Mon 5/24/2021
TITLEMEOWISLA
ISAACGAMEPEAS
MOUTHORGANARTS
CONSENTVIE
GUSHESRIBJOINT
ANTSPFYUCCAS
SOAKEASTDEES
KNUCKLEHEAD
PEATEYRENOSH
PLACIDMLBGNU
BACKLASHPERSON
ATLBLAMEME
NEATBODYDOUBLE
DAISEMITASTER
JUMPDOTHNEWER
Tue 5/25/2021
SCABPRATTVADS
TARALOBOHONEY
ENGREVENBETTER
IDONTBELIEVEIT
GONOWROD
NOFRIGGINWAY
CAMEBONNCONGA
RPIBIGSALEBOW
ASTROETSYJAGS
GETOUTTAHERE
NNEASHES
THATSCRAZYTALK
CHILISAUCEEDIE
HORDESINKRAZE
OREOSKNEESTAT
Wed 5/26/2021
AFROPALAUOGRE
LAITHBOMBCRAG
BUSINESSMEETING
UNISONTORMENTS
MANRODNET
GYMMEMBERSHIP
BASESFERRYADO
RITASOLIDOILS
ADAPAREDINLET
GERMANMEASLES
ESTLEIAVA
IGLESIASCASTER
SEEMEAFTERCLASS
INGAGAUGEEXPO
STOWORNOTDIAN
Thu 5/27/2021
SPASAGOCRESS
TAMPTACTHONKS
URBANMYTHADDIN
PALMEARMREST
ODEWORDOFMOUTH
REDTAPEWASPIE
AGENTGASX
MOMENTOFTRUTH
ACHEWIRES
LEIMIAJOSHING
INGOODFAITHNON
TENUOUSOMAHA
CITESSYLVESTER
ARIASSEGARILL
LETMETATPEPS
Fri 5/28/2021
BEERBARBATHED
ANGELPIEAREOLA
LOOSEENDLEANER
ESSIEDIGSLONE
GDPTEASERAD
TRANSICONEAR
HERSTORTREFORM
AFTACMILANLIE
DICKCHENEYALPO
RAESCROLLSAW
WEIRDHUHNAB
ALTAEPICTESTS
TAICHIEASTROOM
ETCHESFREETIME
RESISTSARALEE
Sat 5/29/2021
PLOTARMORBABAS
RIDESHAREALLIE
ITDEPENDSSPURT
DEEMABETSHELF
ERRSPURYEAGER
WHENISITRAE
FEARNIPPEKE
TANGLYSPARES
WILTMEAECON
ADSMASTHEAD
KEENONLOKIPSI
APHIDGARISECT
NOONEANDYOUARE
DOPESSTEADICAM
ALERTPASYSTEMS
Sun 5/30/2021 GAME OVER
RADNERSOTSSEAMSBFA
ASIAGONCAACLIOAWARD
PHAROSITLLHIMALAYAS
COLEADVOCATEDBETAS
DRIPSEEMDOMESSCRIM
SENTSLOGPESOSHEED
IMAMMACJRDABEARS
HOTCOCOARHODAVID
ANAWENTBYEBYEONEIDA
RAMDORICANTIDOTES
ARETUTINKERIRSABC
SURFINUSAMIDASLTE
SNAILSINBADSHAPEION
DETERRTEAMEXCARD
EGGDROPMYERSOATH
LEARWEIRDSOTUALLY
ITSOKENJOYJESULIEU
FLUESDONOTOPENKONG
BRINGITINSHUECUANDO
TENDERAGEHIREUNREEL
WEELEGOSINNSTITLED

Adam Wagner, of Oakland, Calif., is a senior copywriter for an ad agency in San Francisco. He says his real No. 1 job, though, as of about two months ago, is being a first-time dad.

Adam solves the Times crossword aloud every night with his son cuddled next to him — "so I imagine he's one of the few people alive who can claim that he literally has a lifelong New York Times crossword solving streak."

Mon 5/31/2021
FANCYSIRIPBJS
AREASEPICERIE
LITTLEROCKLIVE
LASSREDOROGEN
GAINTUSH
BLACKANDWHITES
BLAMEODORITO
RAREJORTSADHD
AIGPARTOBEYS
DRESSREHEARSAL
PASSSLOT
STILTONCEROLO
ORZOCOCOCHANEL
BOZOCZARACTED
STANSEATSTOKE
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