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Neighborhood watering hole - NYT The Midi Clue
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The clue "Rings up" refers to the act of making a phone call, as "rings" alludes to the sound or action of a phone ringing. "Calls" is the verb that describes the action of contacting someone via phone, making it the perfect answer.
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The clue lists "Kahlo, Klimt and Klee," all renowned figures in the art world. Frida Kahlo, Gustav Klimt, and Paul Klee are famous creators of artwork. Since the clue directly references their profession or identity, the answer "ARTISTS" accurately defines them collectively.
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A dull green used in military uniforms, OLIVEDRAB hides the letters of “DEVIL” in plain sight. The theme plays on disguise, and here the “devil” is camouflaged inside a color literally associated with blending in.
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The clue references the Celine Dion song "It's All Coming Back to Me Now." The blank is part of the song title, and "It's" fits naturally as the contraction of "it is" in the song's title. Hence, the answer is ITS.
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A stein is a type of beer mug commonly associated with German drinking culture. ALE, a type of beer, is frequently served in steins. The clue directly refers to this popular pairing, making ALE the correct answer.
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A casual neighborhood bar, LOCALDIVE naturally contains an anagram of “DEVIL.” The theme turns an everyday hangout into another clever hiding spot for the devil in disguise.
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The clue "No particular person" refers to an unspecified or indeterminate individual. The word SOMEONE fits perfectly as it means "an unspecified person" or "anybody," matching the definition of the clue. It emphasizes lack of specificity or particularity in identifying the person.
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The answer "BAT" fits because it is a fundamental piece of equipment in baseball, used by players to hit the ball. The clue "Bit of baseball equipment" straightforwardly describes one essential tool of the sport, making "BAT" the precise solution.
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Meaning truly bad actions, EVILDEEDS directly echoes the theme. Unlike the others, “evil” appears outright, making this entry the most explicit nod to the “Devil in Disguise” concept.
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The phrase “draw a line in the sand” refers to setting a clear boundary or limit, often symbolic. "Line" completes this common idiom, aligning with the context of boundaries or distinctions drawn literally or figuratively in the sand.
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The answer "LMAO" stands for "laughing my a** off," an acronym commonly used in informal texting or online communication to indicate a strong reaction to humor. The clue’s reference to a "funny text" aligns with LMAO as a typical, expressive response.
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The clue "People in a cheering section, say" describes individuals showing support and enthusiasm, typically at sporting events or performances. FANS fits perfectly as it refers to passionate supporters who cheer for their team or favorite performers, often found gathered in a cheering section.
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The clue "Shots overhead?" includes a pun, indicated by the question mark. "Shots" suggests something sent or aimed, and "overhead" hints at something above. LOBS are high-arcing shots in sports like tennis or volleyball, making them both overhead and fitting the pun.
Down
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CRISCO is the solution because it is a widely recognized brand of shortening made entirely from vegetable oils, such as soybean or palm oil. The clue specifies "All-vegetable," perfectly matching CRISCO's product description. It's commonly used in baking and cooking for its neutral flavor and texture-enhancing properties.
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The answer "ATV" stands for All-Terrain Vehicle, a type of off-road vehicle designed for rugged terrains. The phrase "in brief" signals an abbreviation, making ATV the correct fit for the clue. It matches perfectly as an off-road ride.
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The clue "Speak dishonestly" directly describes the action of lying, as to "lie" means to speak falsehoods or deceive intentionally. This aligns perfectly with the definition in the clue, making LIE the correct answer.
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The answer "LSD" fits because LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) is a well-known psychedelic drug. Psychedelics are substances that alter perception, mood, and cognitive processes, and LSD has been one of the most significant and widely recognized drugs in this category since its synthesis in the 20th century.
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The answer "STRAIN" fits because "pressure" and "strain" are synonyms. Both words can refer to stress or tension, either physically (e.g., on a material) or emotionally (e.g., mental pressure). The clue is straightforward without wordplay, so it's about their close meaning.
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The answer is ALTOS because in vocal classifications, altos are the singing voices that are pitched lower than sopranos but higher than tenors. This directly matches the clue, as it refers to the vocal range just below sopranos in traditional choral arrangements.
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The word "Balm" refers to something that soothes or heals, much like a salve does. SALVE is a direct synonym for balm, often used to describe a soothing ointment applied to wounds or irritated skin, making it the perfect fit for this clue.
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OIL is the solution because it is a key commodity frequently traded and stored in barrels globally. The clue explicitly references its common packaging ("sold by the barrel"), hinting at crude oil or petroleum, which are standard products measured and sold this way in the energy industry.
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The answer is BEE because the Scripps National Spelling Bee is a well-known competition where participants spell words. The pun in the clue ("competition" and "Bee") refers to the event's name, as "Bee" also means a gathering or contest, doubling as a clever wordplay.
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The clue "Strolls" directly refers to walking in a leisurely, unhurried manner, which is precisely the definition of "AMBLES." The plural form of the clue matches the plural answer, aligning both grammar and meaning. "Ambles" depicts a relaxed pace, perfectly matching the idea of strolling.
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The clue "Show the way" directly aligns with the definition of LEAD, meaning to guide or direct others forward. To "lead" someone is to show them the path or direction, which makes LEAD a clear and fitting solution for this straightforward clue.
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The clue "Ooh, please share" is in quotes, signifying a spoken phrase. "Do tell" is a common, conversational expression used when urging someone to share more information, often with eager curiosity. It matches the tone and meaning of the clue perfectly as an invitation to elaborate.
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The answer "ELF" refers to the 2003 holiday film Elf starring Will Ferrell as Buddy, a human raised by elves at the North Pole. This line humorously reflects Buddy’s childlike, sugary diet, aligning directly with the movie’s festive theme and his character’s quirky personality.
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The clue "By way of" directly translates to "via," which is a Latin term commonly used in English to mean "through" or "by means of." This makes VIA the perfect answer as it matches the wording and intent of the clue.
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The clue "Traveler's stopover" refers to a place where a traveler might rest during a journey. An "INN" is a type of lodging commonly used by travelers for stopovers, providing temporary accommodation, making it the perfect fit for this clue.
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The answer "EMO" fits because it refers to a rock subgenre known for its emotional, introspective lyrics and themes often dealing with angst, heartbreak, and self-expression. The clue directly points to this genre, widely recognized for its angsty tone, making EMO the ideal solution.
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The answer is DAB because the "dab" became a popular dance move in the 2010s, where a dancer drops their head into the bent elbow of one arm while extending the other arm outward. It gained fame through social media, sports, and pop culture, representing this decade’s dance fad.
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"SOS" is an international distress signal often improvised in survival situations. Arranging coconuts to spell "SOS" would visually communicate a plea for help, aligning with the idea of a makeshift emergency message.
Today’s Game Difficulty
Hard
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Solving today’s NYT Midi Puzzle and stuck on the 9-letter answer to the Neighborhood watering hole clue? Don’t worry—Lady Puzzle Pro has you covered! Whether you want the answer right away, revealed letter by letter, or if this wordplay seems too puzzling, keep reading for the explanation.
Neighborhood watering hole Answer Explained
The answer is LOCALDIVE.
A LOCALDIVE is a laid-back, often unpretentious neighborhood bar. It’s a lively, conversational phrase that smoothly incorporates the letters D-E-V-I-L in a new order. The brilliance of the theme is how invisible that structure feels, nothing about the clue or answer suggests anything unusual. Yet beneath the surface, “devil” is tucked inside, reinforcing the idea of something mischievous hiding in plain sight.
Now that you've cracked the 12A Neighborhood watering hole clue, you're one step closer to completing today’s Midi Puzzle! If you're still stuck on other clues, don't worry, we've got you covered. Explore more NYT The Midi crossword answers right here, or check out our tools for solving the NYT Crossword, NYT The Mini puzzle, Connections, or Strands.
Today’s NYT Midi Highlights
I really enjoyed how cleanly this puzzle executed its theme. At first, nothing jumped out except for the circle letters. Once I noticed OLIVEDRAB stretching across, the DEVIL anagram hook clicked into place. From there, spotting LOCALDIVE and EVILDEEDS felt satisfying rather than forced; the letter set is tight, but the entries still read naturally.
What impressed me most was the consistency. Each themer is a lively, in-the-language phrase, not some strained construction just to hit the letter constraint. That’s especially true with EVILDEEDS, which leans perfectly into the title “Devil in Disguise.” It’s a subtle theme, not flashy, but cleverly hidden in plain sight.
The fill stays snappy throughout, with nice pops like CRISCO and DOTELL adding texture. Overall, this felt like a well-crafted, elegant Saturday Midi. Deceptively simple, but with a satisfying “aha” once the disguise comes off.
Here’s what caught our attention today:
About The Midi
The Midi is a daily crossword puzzle designed to sit between the quick satisfaction of The Mini and the depth of the full Daily Crossword. It offers a compact but more layered solving experience, giving players a new step in the New York Times Games lineup.
While officially launched as a daily puzzle in February 2026, the concept was tested earlier through special puzzle packs and more recently in newsletter editions. Those experiments helped shape what is now a permanent daily feature available exclusively online through the New York Times Games app and website.
Format and Structure
Most Midi puzzles use a 9×9 grid (larger than The Mini but smaller than the traditional crossword), allowing for richer wordplay and themed construction without requiring a long solving session. Toward the end of the week, grids may expand up to 11×11, and occasionally the puzzle appears in non-square formats, with different numbers of rows and columns.
Unlike The Mini, every Midi includes a title, offering a subtle hint at the puzzle’s theme or solving trick. These titles add an extra layer of discovery while keeping the experience approachable.
A Digital-First Puzzle
The Midi is built specifically for digital play. It does not appear in print, and it is available through the New York Times app and website only for subscribers.
Designing the puzzle for screens allows for occasional visual effects and interactive moments that enhance the solving experience in ways print cannot. Even with these innovations, the philosophy remains consistent: puzzles are still handcrafted by human constructors and editors, preserving the editorial voice and thoughtful construction that define New York Times Games.
Editorial Approach
The Midi is edited by Ian Livengood, who also oversees Pips. He creates about three Midi puzzles each week while collaborating with a rotating group of approximately fifteen contributors whose submissions are carefully edited before publication.
This editorial model mirrors the structure used across The New York Times crosswords, where dedicated editors maintain quality and style (like Will Shortz for The Daily and Joel Fagliano for The Mini).
New Rules and Creative Flexibility
The Midi introduces several notable changes to traditional crossword conventions, like:
- Each puzzle features a title. Before, only Sunday NYT puzzles had a title. In Midi, this is meant to give a clue about the theme without needing a distinct clue to play the role of a theme revealer.
- Grids may occasionally break from square symmetry, which is something also happening in the Mini, especially those made by Sam Ezersky.
- Two-letter answers are allowed - this is a feature borrowed from cryptic puzzles, allowing Scrabble (and NYT Crossplay) fans to bank on their skills.
Daily Availability
Puzzles are accessible the evening before the publish date. Weekday and Saturday puzzles: 10 p.m. EST the previous day. Sunday puzzles: 6 p.m. EST on Saturday.