May 26, 2021

Title: DOORSTEPS

Constructor: Zhouqin Burnikel

Editor: Erik Agard

Theme Answers:

OPENING CEREMONY (17A: Olympic kickoff)

ENTERING THE FRAY (36A: Joining a fight)

CLOSING ARGUMENT (56A: Debate finish)

Theme synopsis: The first words of the theme answers describe the STEPS one might take when encountering a DOOR: OPENING, ENTERING, CLOSING.

Things I learned:

• TAI (48D: Mount ___ (sacred mountain in Shandong, China) Mount TAI is the easternmost of the five mountains in China known collectively as the Sacred Mountains of China. The mountains have been important pilgrimage destinations throughout Chinese history. The highest point of Mount TAI is known as Jade Emperor Peak. Mount TAI has been a place of worship for over 3,000 years. 

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• NAPA (Common jiaozi vegetable) Jiaozi are a kind of dumpling popular in East Asia. The dumplings consist of ground meat and/or vegetable filling wrapped in thinly rolled dough, and may be boiled, steamed, pan-fried, or added to soup. Finely chopped NAPA (also referred to as NAPA cabbage) is a common jiaozi filling ingredient.
• DOCK (16A: "(Sittin' On) The ___ of the Bay") Did you simply read this clue, or did you sing it (either aloud or in your head)? Otis Redding recorded "(Sittin' On) The DOCK of the Bay" on December 10, 1967, just three days before he died in a plane crash. The song was released in January 1968, and became the first posthumous song to top Billboard's Hot 100. The song has remained popular, and has been sung by many other artists, including Cher and Justin Timberlake. 
• PSA (20A: Earth Day ad, e.g.) Since 1970, April 22 has been recognized as Earth Day. EarthDay.org plans and coordinates many different types of activities annually, including PSAs (public service announcements). 
• EARS (21A: African elephants have the biggest ones of any animal) According to the International Elephant Foundation, each of an African elephants EARS is about six feet from top to bottom, and has a width of five feet. How much does a single EAR of an African elephant weigh? As much as one hundred pounds! An African elephants EARS play a role in regulating body temperature.
• RIMES (22A: "Can't Fight the Moonlight" singer LeAnn) "Can't Fight the Moonlight" is the theme song of the 2000 movie Coyote Ugly. LeAnn RIMES played herself in the movie.
• AHA (35A: "Wait, that's it!") and DOH (40A: "What was I thinking?") There's a little side conversation going on in this section of the puzzle, and it's one that plays out in my head many times a day.
• EYES (63A: "Their ___ Were Watching God") Their EYES Were Watching God is a 1937 novel by Zora Neale Hurston. It was adapted into a 2005 movie of the same name. Halle BERRY played the role of Janie Crawford in the movie - a nice link to another answer in this puzzle.
• ADMITS (10D: Lets on, or lets in) Using the "lets in" meaning, this answer provides some bonus theme material.
• ACNE (12D: Retinaldehyde target) Retinaldehyde, retinal, and retinoic acid are all compounds in the Vitamin A family, and have all been used to treat ACNE. 
• GAYE (31D: Actress Nona) As I learned from the December 9, 2020 puzzle, Nona GAYE played the role of Zee in the movies, The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. Nona is the daughter of Motown singer, Marvin GAYE.
• GUESTS (44D: Hosts invite them) If you are a host, your GUESTS might be OPENING, ENTERING, and CLOSING your doors.
• BERRY (49D: Actor-director Halle) Halle BERRY has numerous film credits in addition to Their EYES Were Watching God, including Catwoman and Monster's Ball. She made her directorial debut with the 2020 movie, Bruised, in which she also starred. 

Geography review:

• MINSK (32A: Largest city in Belarus) In addition to being its largest city, MINSK is the capital of Belarus. A landlocked country in Eastern Europe, Belarus borders Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Belarus has been in the news, so a review of its geography is timely.
• RENO (52A: Third-largest city in Nevada) In terms of the population of Nevada cities, RENO comes in third behind Las Vegas and Henderson.

I enjoyed the creative reimagining of the word DOORSTEPS as the STEPS of a DOOR. I also appreciated that the words OPENING, ENTERING, and CLOSING as used in the theme answers had meanings not related to DOORS. ON THAT NOTE, let's take a look at the long Down entries. LOOMS LARGE is quite nice, and HERE YOU GO, have some FRIED OKRA. I don't know what ELSE to say. This puzzle was a delightful way to begin my Wednesday.