November 26, 2020

Title: IT'S MAGIC!

Constructors: Brooke Husic & Matthew Stock

Editor: Erik Agard

Theme Answers:

SPELL CHECK (17A: Word processing convenience)

TRICK SHOTS (29A: Behind-the-back baskets, say)

SQUARE MEAL (47A: One of three in a day, perhaps)

MIKE AND IKE (62A: Rhyming duo in the candy aisle)

Theme synopsis: The first word of each theme answer can be preceded by the word MAGIC to produce a new phrase. We have MAGIC SPELL, MAGIC TRICK, MAGIC SQUARE, and MAGIC MIKE.

And now a word from our constructors: 

Brooke and Matthew: Crosswords have given us both a lot to be thankful for in an otherwise challenging and bizarre year, and we're especially thankful that puzzle making brought us together. We first started collaborating over video chat in the early stages of quarantine, and we've become really close friends since then. It's been so great to be able to share this while being an ocean apart(!) and that it led to a friendship beyond just being constructing buddies.

Also, we love this puzzle! The theme came together before the flames of "It’s Lit!” had even started to dim, and we're stoked to share it today. Magically enough, the grid layout happens to be super interesting too — in addition to the four horizontal 10-letter themers, the 8s, 7s, 6s, and all but one 5 in the grid either go all across or all down. Alakazam! Let us know what you thought of the puzzle on Twitter — Brooke’s @xandraladee, and Matthew is @1MatthewStock. We both also have independent crossword blogs (Brooke's, Matthew's) which you're welcome to check out — we're both new dropping puzzles tomorrow!
We hope you enjoyed this ~magical~ puzzle!

Things I learned:

• TESSA (23A: "Strange Grace" author Gratton) The header of her website reads: "TESSA Gratton/ Author. Wizard. Hangry." Strange Grace is a young adult novel described as an original fairy tale. 
• ELLEN (58A: "GLOW" actress Wong) GLOW is a TV series about the 1980s syndicated women's professional wrestling circuit, Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (GLOW). ELLEN Wong plays the recurring character, Jenny "Fortune Cookie" Chey.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• MAGIC SQUARE (theme phrase) MAGIC SQUARE is a term used in recreational mathematics. Yes, it's true - some people do math for fun! A square array of numbers is considered a MAGIC SQUARE if the sums of the numbers in each row, each column, and both main diagonals are the same number.
• NORI (16A: Onigiri seaweed) Onigiri is white rice formed into triangular or cylindrical shapes and wrapped with NORI. Popular in Japanese cuisine, onigiri makes rice portable and easy to eat. Onigiri (made with plain rice) is different than the type of sushi known as nigiri (made with rice with vinegar, sugar, and salt).
• SPELL CHECK (17A: Word processing convenience) Ah, the mixed blessing of SPELL CHECK. It has saved me from numerous TYPOS, but is insistent that I mean nigiri when I am trying to type onigiri. 
• I SECOND (25A: "___ That Emotion" (Miracles hit) "I SECOND That Emotion" was written by Smokey Robinson and Al Cleveland and was a 1967 hit for Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. It is also now today's earworm: "Oh, but if you feel like lovin' me/ If you got the notion/ I SECOND that emotion."
• PEPE (44A: Cacio e ___ (pasta dish)) Cacio e PEPE means "cheese and pepper" in several Italian dialects. Appropriately then, the ingredients of cacio e PEPE are black pepper, Pecorino Romano cheese, and spaghetti. (No, SPELL CHECK, the name of the dish is not cocoa e PEPE.) 
• HAMM (51A: Olympian Mia) Mia HAMM was a member of the United States women's national soccer team that won Olympic gold medals in 1996 and 2004, and an Olympic silver medal in 2000.
• ART DECO (52A: Style named for a 1925 expo) The 1925 expo held in Paris from which ART DECO got its name was the Exposition internationale des arts décoratifs et industriels moderne. (SPELL CHECK is definitely not a fan of that expo!) 
• I SPY (2D: Book series with riddles by Jean Marzollo) Scholastic Press has published numerous I Spy books. The riddles written by Jean Marzollo (in dactylic tetrameter rhyme, in case you were wondering!) contain objects to be found in the photographs by Walter Wick.
• BOO BOO (11D: Term of endearment) This made me smile.
• ADA (28D: ___'s List (platform for women in tech)) From the ADA's List site: "Ada's List is committed to empowering our members to change their communities and workplaces, to make them work for everyone - irrespective of gender, ethnicity or disability."
• I WAS LIKE (39D: Words before self-quoting) I HOPE you said this answer aloud and with attitude once you filled it in. 
• MOM (39D: Palindromic parent) On this day of giving thanks, I am extremely grateful to be a palindromic parent to my "grown and flown" children, Sean and Leah. 
• QR CODE (48D: Image made of black squares on a white background) QR CODE is an abbreviation of Quick Response Code. QR CODEs were first designed in 1994 for the automotive industry in Japan. 

Geography review:

• EID (42: Turkey holiday) Ah, a clever, tricky clue for a Thanksgiving puzzle. Not a holiday to eat turkey, but an Islamic holiday celebrated in the country of Turkey (and other places, too!)
• HOPI (61A: Arizona language) The HOPI language is spoken by the HOPI people of northeastern Arizona.

This was a delightful puzzle. I might even call it magical! (You knew that was coming, right?) A fun theme with solid and enjoyable theme answers. I HOPE you get to EAT and enjoy a SQUARE MEAL (or three) today, with or without turkey. 

Thanksgiving looks different this year for many of us, I know. My husband and I will spend a quiet day at home, but there will be food (though no turkey), and for that I'm thankful. I am also thankful for the opportunity each day to solve an excellent crossword puzzle, and then blog about a variety of topics more or less related to that puzzle. I am thankful for those who construct and edit these crossing words, and I am especially thankful for those of you who read my thoughts! Have a thankful day, friends.