March 23, 2021

Title: OUTSIDE CHANCE

Constructor: Claire Rimkus

Editor: Erik Agard

Theme Answers:

LUMBERJACK (18A: Forest worker)

LUGGAGE RACK (31A: Hotel amenity)

LADDER TRUCK (40A: Firefighter's vehicle)

LOVESTRUCK (53A: Instantly infatuated)

Theme synopsis: The OUTSIDE letters of each theme answer spell the word LUCK, a synonym of CHANCE.

Things I learned:

• ELKS (35D: The "E" in IBPOEW) IBPOEW = Improved Benevolent Protective Order of ELKS of the World. This organization, founded in 1897, is a Black Fraternal association modeled on the Benevolent and Protective Order of the ELKS, or BPOEW (often simply referred to as the ELKS Lodge). The IPBOEW was founded by B. F. Howard and Arthur J. Riggs. The two men wanted to establish a chapter of the ELKS Lodge, but the organization refused them admission because they were Black. The BPOEW did not open its membership to Blacks until 1972.
• TOM (55D: Comedian Jes) Jes TOM describes themself as "a New York based actor, writer, and weird queer stand up comic, gleefully providing the nonbinary queer Asian American radical cyborg perspective that everyone never knew they wanted." Jes TOM collaborated with fellow comedian Chewy May to make a video titled "Ghost in the Shell PSA," about the effect of whitewashing. I recommend you take a couple of minutes today to watch the video - it's powerful.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• IGUANA (15A: Reptile with a dewlap) A dewlap is a flap of skin that hangs beneath the lower jaw. A male IGUANA may extend and retract its dewlap during courtship. Moose also have dewlaps. 
• STREET (28A: Word before "food" or "sweeper") While I enjoy this type of clue ("word before or after two other words"), I often find them challenging because as soon as I read them my mind goes blank. This is a particularly fine example of this type of clue, because "food" and "sweeper" are such different words, one wonders what common word could possibly go in front of both of them. Uncovering the answer of STREET - "STREET food and STREET sweeper, of course!" - was quite satisfying. 
• SOUL (38A: Genre for Tank and the Bangas) Tank and the Bangas are a New Orleans, Louisiana-based band whose members met at an open mic show. Their 2013 debut album is titled, Think Tank. I learned about Tank and the Bangas when they won the 2017 NPR Tiny Desk Contest.
• BIRD (46A: Seattle Storm star Sue) Sue BIRD plays for WNBA's Seattle Storm. She holds the league's record for most assists.
• CROW (56A: Animal that can make and use tools) CROWs are smart animals. They have been observed using tools in the wild, and have been trained to use tools, such as carving a hook at the end of a twig to better reach their prey. This answer reminded me of a story that recently went viral on social media about an Oregon woman who befriended a group of crows.
• HOAGIE (58A: Sandwich also known as a torpedo) A HOAGIE is a long sandwich on a split roll made with Italian meats and cheeses. Other names for a HOAGIE include, submarine sandwich, torpedo, hero, or grinder.
• BILES (5D: Author of "Courage to Soar: A Body in Motion, A Life in Balance") Simone BILES is the most decorated American gymnast, with 30 Olympic and World Championship medals. Her autobiography was turned into a Lifetime movie, The Simone BILES Story: Courage to Soar.
• BABY (8D: Drinker of formula or breast milk) I liked seeing this clue. Too often (Let's be clear, once would be too often.) parents are criticized about the choices they make. This clue seems like a tiny acknowledgement that there are multiple ways to provide your BABY with the nutrition it needs. 
• ONE (9D: "___ Night in Miami" (Regina King's directorial debut)) I learned about ONE Night in Miami from the December 23, 2020 puzzle. 
• SHE (54D: Pronoun for Eddie Izzard) Eddie Izzard is a stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and activist. I did not know that SHE has twice raised money for causes by running a series of marathons. In 2009 SHE ran 43 marathons in 51 days to raise money for Sport Relief. In 2016, SHE ran 27 marathons in South Africa in 27 days in honor of Nelson Mandela.

Geography review:

• MAWR (1D: Bryn ___College) Bryn MAWR is one of the Seven Sisters, highly selective colleges in the northeastern United States which are historically women's colleges. Bryn MAWR, founded in 1885 in Bryn MAWR, Pennsylvania as a Quaker institution, is still a women's college.
• ERIE (2D: ___ Canal, New York) The ERIE Canal, part of the New York State Canal System, was built to create a waterway from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. 

LET'S BEGIN. I predict you have an OUTSIDE CHANCE of finding some LUCK today. Of course, if you solved today's puzzle, you've found LUCK four times already. ROUND TRIP, SRIRACHA, TASTINGS, and LET'S BEGIN were great long down entries. I chuckled at 37-Across, because I'm old enough to remember when it was "rad" to say "NEATO!" This puzzle was a fun way to begin my Tuesday.