Table of Contents

• Today’s Overview
• Grid Strategy & Intersection Analysis
• Theme Breakdown & Crosswordese
• Today’s Top Answers
• Frequently Asked Questions

Today’s Overview

Welcome to your Sunday LA Times Daily Crossword guide! Today’s puzzle, titled “DON’T STOP NOW,” comes from the talented constructor Doug Peterson, edited by Patti Varol. This is a delightful 21×21 grid, offering a substantial challenge and a clever theme.

The theme is quite playful. It involves a repeated two-letter sequence hidden within longer answers. This kind of wordplay always adds an extra layer of fun. Expect a mix of straightforward clues and some that require a bit more thought. Doug Peterson is known for his clean grids and engaging themes, and this one is no exception.

Grid Strategy & Intersection Analysis

A Sunday grid can feel daunting. It’s much larger than your typical daily puzzle. My advice is to start by scanning the entire grid. Look for short, easy fills first. These often provide crucial letters for longer, more complex answers.

• Initial Scan: Look for three-letter and four-letter words. Clues like 5 Across, “Three-striper: Abbr.” (SGT), or 54 Across, “Texting tech” (SMS), are great entry points.
• Cornering the Market: Often, one corner of the puzzle will yield more easily than others. Try to establish a foothold in a corner and expand from there. The top-left (1-17 Across, 1-17 Down) or bottom-right (119-126 Across, 110-118 Down) are good starting points.
• Leverage the Theme: Once you identify a starred clue, keep the theme in mind. Knowing there’s a repeated “GO” sequence can help you confirm letters or even guess parts of the answer. Don’t force it, though. Let the crossings guide you.
• Choke Points: Watch out for areas with many black squares or fewer intersecting words. These are often where the constructor places trickier clues. If you get stuck, move on and come back later. Fresh eyes help.
• Common Pitfalls: Be careful with abbreviations. “Abbr.” clues can sometimes have multiple valid answers. Also, pay attention to tense and plurality. A clue ending in “s” usually means a plural answer.

Today’s grid has a good balance of open areas and segmented sections. This means you’ll likely make steady progress, but might hit a few walls. Don’t get discouraged. Use the theme to your advantage once you spot it.

Theme Breakdown & Crosswordese

The title “DON’T STOP NOW” is a fantastic hint for today’s theme. The revealer at 117 Across, “Make it big, or a hint to the pairs found in the answers to the starred clues,” spells it out: GO PLACES. This means all the starred clues contain the repeated sequence “GO GO” within their answers.

Let’s look at how this plays out:

• 22 Across: *American Samoa’s capital -> PAGO PAGO. Here, “GO GO” is clearly repeated.
• 29 Across: *Dramatic ending to a tied hockey game -> GOLDEN GOAL. The “GO” appears twice, separated by “LDEN.”
• 35 Across: *Mohair source -> ANGORA GOAT. Another clear “GO GO” pair.
• 55 Across: *”Stranger Things” monster -> DEMOGORGON. The “GO” appears twice, separated by “MOR.”
• 79 Across: *Symbol often adorned with a “Doodle” -> GOOGLE LOGO. A perfect example, with “GO” appearing twice.
• 100 Across: *Smugly sanctimonious sort -> GOODY GOODY. The “GO” is repeated, separated by “ODY.”
• 107 Across: *Wasting time -> GOOFING OFF. The “GO” appears twice, separated by “OFING.”

This is a clever and consistent theme. It’s satisfying to uncover these hidden pairs. The revealer “GO PLACES” perfectly encapsulates the idea of “GO GO” moving through the answers.

Beyond the theme, this puzzle features some classic crosswordese and common phrases:

• SGT: (5 Across, “Three-striper: Abbr.”) A very common abbreviation for Sergeant.
• NNE: (34 Across, “180º from SSW”) A directional abbreviation, often seen in puzzles.
• ARNETT: (21 Across, “Will of ‘BoJack Horseman'”) Will Arnett is a frequent crossword answer, especially in modern puzzles.
• ETON: (71 Across, “Preppy jackets”) Refers to Eton College, a classic source for preppy fashion and terms.
• SONORA: (73 Across, “Arizona neighbor”) A state in Mexico bordering Arizona, a common geographical answer.
• AGAVE: (75 Across, “Tequila plant”) The plant from which tequila is made, often appearing in food and drink clues.
• OPAL: (95 Across, “Birthstone for some Scorpios”) A popular gemstone, frequently clued by birth month.
• MTA: (110 Across, “NYC subway org.”) The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, a staple for NYC-related clues.
• LAVA: (122 Across, “Mauna Loa flow”) A common geological term, often linked to volcanoes.
• G.I. JOE: (15 Down, “*Martial arts-themed toy line”) A classic toy line, often clued with its abbreviation.
• MOONWALK: (89 Down, “Dance move also known as a backslide”) A famous dance move, good to know both terms.

These familiar entries help solvers gain traction and fill in letters, even when the theme clues are still a mystery.

Today’s Top Answers

Here are some of the most interesting or challenging clues and their solutions from today’s LA Times Daily Crossword. We’ve focused on theme answers and those with clever wordplay.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the theme of the March 29, 2026 LA Times Daily Crossword?
  The theme of today’s LA Times Daily Crossword is “DON’T STOP NOW,” which is a hint for the repeated “GO GO” sequence found within the answers to the starred clues. The revealer, GO PLACES, ties it all together.
• Who constructed today’s LA Times Daily Crossword?
  Today’s LA Times Daily Crossword for March 29, 2026, was constructed by Doug Peterson and edited by Patti Varol.
• Can you explain the clue ‘Make it big, or a hint to the pairs found in the answers to the starred clues’ (117 Across)?
  This clue leads to the answer ‘GO PLACES’. It serves as the puzzle’s revealer, explaining that the starred theme answers all contain the two-letter sequence “GO” repeated within them, like PAGO PAGO or GOLDEN GOAL.