April 30, 2021

Title: PACKING A PUNCH

Constructor: Stella Zawistowski

Editors: Erik Agard & Amanda Rafkin

Theme Answers:

SHOOK THE RUST OFF (19A: Returned to form)

LACROSSE PLAYERS (36A: Athletes with nets on sticks)

PUNJABI FESTIVAL (48A: Teeyan or Lohri)

Theme synopsis: There is a PUNCH hidden in the first word of each theme answer. Looking closely, we can see that the answers are PACKING a HOOK, a CROSS, and a JAB.

Things I learned:

• CHEF (18A: Nina Compton's profession) In 2013, Nina Compton competed on the TV series Top CHEF, ending the season as runner-up, and being voted fan favorite. Since then she has opened two restaurants in New Orleans, Compère Lapin and Bywater American Bistro. Nina's cooking mixes New Orleans cuisine with the flavors of the Caribbean, particularly her native St. Lucia.
• SHOOK THE RUST OFF (19A: Returned to form) This saying is completely new to me. I was so unsure of the answer, that even when I had it almost all filled in, I wanted a D in place of the R, even though I was confident that 7 Down was WHERE'S. I wonder if this is a regional saying. Just this morning I took a fascinating quiz that The New York Times put together in 2013 which, based on my answers, was able to correctly tell me in what part of the country I live. Anyway, back to the phrase at hand... When I did a Google search for "SHOOK THE RUST OFF," most of the sites were about one of two things: a 2019 song by the duo The Blue Stones, called "Shakin' OFF THE RUST," and a 2016 speech by the U.S. President at that time saying it was time to "shake THE RUST OFF" of U.S. foreign policy. (I did find a few examples of the phrase being used prior to 2016, so the President didn't invent the phrase - on purpose or accidentally - though some articles speculated about that.) All of this is to say that I learned a new phrase today.
• PUNJABI FESTIVAL (48A: Teeyan or Lohri) The PUNJABI people, native to the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, are a diverse group encompassing different religious backgrounds. There are PUNJABI Muslims, Sikhs, and Hindus. PUNJABIS celebrate their own religious FESTIVALs, but there are also cultural PUNJABI FESTIVALs celebrated by all. Teeyan is a seasonal FESTIVAL celebrated during monsoon season. Teeyan is celebrated by women who may fast, or go to their parents' house to celebrate. One celebration involves tying swings to trees in the village green. Lohri is a winter folk festival marking the winter solstice. It is celebrated by lighting bonfires and eating festive food. 
• EDDY (64A: "Ed, Edd n ___") Ed, Edd n EDDY is an animated TV series about three preteen boys. Known collectively as "the Eds" (Edd is referred to as "Double D" to avoid confusion), they devise schemes (which ultimately fail) to make money to buy jawbreakers, their favorite candy.
• MATS (14D: Ryokan floor coverings) A ryokan is a type of traditional Japanese inn. Ryokan rooms have tatami MATS on the floor. 
• HIS (26D: "___ House" (2020 horror movie)) HIS House is about a refugee couple from South Sudan who find themselves in a British town where they encounter strange phenomena. I filled in this answer completely from crossing answers, so didn't see this clue until I was looking over the puzzle. That worked out since I wasn't familiar with this movie.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• ACLU (15A: Don't Filter Me org.) Don't Filter Me was an ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) campaign launched in 2011 aimed at preventing public school districts from using filtering software that prevented students from accessing websites with information about LGBT topics and resources. 
• CAT (33A: Pet that might "make biscuits") There are multiple reasons a CAT might use
  
  their paws to knead or "make biscuits" on your furniture or your lap. They may be simply trying to create a comfortable place to lie down, but it is also a way to show contentment and express affection. Once again, Willow expresses her appreciation for this CAT clue (though I'm not entirely sure that's an appreciative expression...) 
• LACROSSE PLAYERS (36A: Athletes with nets on sticks) LACROSSE PLAYERS use the net on the head of their sticks to carry, pass, catch, and shoot the rubber ball into the goal.
• SOLE (60A: Red part of a Louboutin) Christian Louboutin's high-end stilettos feature a signature shiny red-lacquered SOLE. Here's a fun fact: Author Danielle Steele is Louboutin's top customer, apparently owning over 6,000 of the red-SOLEd shoes. That's a lot of heels!
• THEY (63A: "When ___ See Us") When THEY See Us is a 2019 TV miniseries created by Ava DuVernay about the Exonerated Five who were falsely accused and prosecuted in the the 1989 Central Park jogger case. I wrote about the Exonerated Five last December.
• SKIS (1D: Winter gear that may be in "french fries" or "pizza" position) This was a fun clue! When your SKIS are in "french fries" position, they are parallel to each other. To shift to the "pizza" position, point your toes inward to place your skis in a wedge shape. "Pizza" position will help you stop. "French fries" make you go faster.
• PLYOMETRIC (4D: Quick and explosive, in exercise) PLYOMETRIC exercises, also known as jump training or plyos, use speed and force to build muscle power. An example of a PLYOMETRIC exercise is a squat jump - squat down then jump as high as possible with extended legs.
• STANA (21D: "Castle" actress Katic) STANA Katic played Detective Kate Beckett in the TV series, Castle. I enjoyed this show about a mystery novelist, Richard Castle (played by Nathan Fillion), who shadows Beckett to use her as his muse.
• GREAT (30D: "The ___ British Bake Off") I'm always happy to see a reference to The GREAT British Bake Off. This TV cooking show features amateur bakers competing in various challenges while baking in a big tent somewhere in the English countryside. It's delightful. It has also inspired me to take up cooking challenges of my own on more than one occasion.

Geography review:

• IND (47A: Bloomington's state (Abbr.) Bloomington, INDiana is home to Indiana University Bloomington, and the site of the annual Little 500 cycling race. The 1979 movie Breaking Away was filmed in Bloomington, and featured a reenactment of the Little 500. 
• OHIO (57A: I Promise School's state) Located in Akron, OHIO, I Promise School, which opened in 2018, is a public elementary school supported by the LeBron James Family Foundation. The documentary series, I Promise, followed the school's first year. 
• LAS (36D: ___ Vegas Aces) The LAS Vegas Aces are a WNBA team in the Las Vegas, Nevada metropolitan area.
• NILE (50D: Giza's river) Giza is the second largest city in Egypt. Like Cairo, Egypt's capital and largest city, Giza is located on the NILE River. 

I generally dislike being punched, but I found it enjoyable to have my crossword PACKING A PUNCH. A nice set of theme answers that introduced me to a new-to-me saying. I enjoyed the cluing today - shoutout to the clues for SOLE, SKIS, ACLU, CAT, and NEON (62A: Bright like a highlighter). This puzzle was a delightful way to begin my Friday and head into the weekend.