June 18, 2021

Title: ROSE CEREMONY

Constructor: Matthew Stock

Editors: Erik Agard & Amanda Rafkin

Theme Answers:

WATER SPIRIT (17A: Nibiinaabe, for example)

GOLD MEDALISTS (34A: Olympic champions)

HIPS DON'T LIE (56A: Shakira megahit of 2006)

Theme synopsis: The first word of each theme answer can follow the word ROSE. We have ROSE WATER, ROSE GOLD, and ROSE HIPS.

And now a word from our constructor:

Matthew: It’s so great to be back! My last two USA Today puzzles have each been 72 words, and I managed to go even a bit further today with this 70-word grid. Maintaining high-quality fill standards at themeless-level word counts is super challenging, and I’m really thankful to the team for working with me through a few iterations of this grid. My favorite clue/answer pairs are 17-Across, 10-Down and 4-Across (PSA: WNBA League Pass is only $18 for the whole season!). And any excuse to play 56-Across is a good one :) thanks as always for solving!

Things I learned:

• MYISHA (4A: Washington Mystics forward Hines-Allen) MYISHA Hines-Allen has played for WNBA's Washington Mystics since 2018. The Washington Mystics were WNBA champions in 2019. Prior to joining the Mystics, MYISHA Hines Allen played for the University of Louisiana. If you are a WNBA fan, or would like to be one, check out the WNBA League Pass Matthew mentioned in his notes. It will let you watch games (up to four games at once!) on your TV and mobile devices.
• WATER SPIRIT (17A: Nibiinaabe, for example) In Anishinabe folklore, Nibiinaabe are a race of WATER SPIRITs described as looking like mermaids. The Anishinabe are a culturally-related group that includes Odawa, Saulteaux, Ojibwe, Potawatomi, Oji-Cree, and Algonquin peoples.
• EMU (22A: Bird that can jump seven feet in the air) This clue was easily inferable, but I did not know this fun fact. Seven feet is over my head! An EMU may jump to reach food, or as a form of protection from predators such as dingos. The vulnerable part of an EMU is its neck and head. By jumping, the EMU puts its head and neck out of the dingo's reach, and then attempts to kick the dingo on its way down. I did discover a video of an EMU jumping - not quite 7 feet, but still amazing and amusing.
• CHAI (50A: Drink that may be accompanied by Parle-G) Parle-G is a brand of biscuits (cookies) manufactured in India. In 2011, Parle-G were the best-selling biscuit brand in the world. (Likely still true, but that was the date of the Nielsen survey.) Parle-G are a popular afternoon snack to accompany a cup of CHAI. Although I had not heard of Parle-G, with the aid of crossing answers, CHAI was easily filled in.
• LATE (36D: "Super ___ Bloomer" (Julia Kaye collection)) Julia Kaye is the artist and illustrator of the web comic Up and Out. Super LATE Bloomer is a collection of the strips that document the early days of her gender transition.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• LANA (26A: "The Matrix" co-writer Wachowski) LANA Wachowski and her sister, Lilly, are a writing and directing team that often work together, though each has worked on their own projects as well. In addition to co-writing and directing The Matrix, the Wachowskis other projects include the 2005 movie, V for Vendetta, and the 2015-2018 Netflix series, Sense8.
• CANTONESE (40A: Language whose name aptly contains the word "tones") The "aptly" in this clue refers to the fact that CANTONESE is a tonal language - it uses tones to distinguish words. CANTONESE is an official regional language in Hong Kong and Macau.
• TOM (49A: Animal Crossing store owner Nook) When I read this clue, I wasn't able to immediately fill in the answer, but I did think, "Wait, I know this...I've seen this before." It took the T from ACETONE to help me remember TOM Nook is the name of the raccoon real-estate broker who manages the town shop in the Animal Crossing video game. We saw the companion of this clue [Animal Crossing raccoon Tom] in the March 31, 2021 puzzle.
• HIPS DON'T LIE (56A: Shakira megahit of 2006) "HIPS DON'T LIE" is one of the best-selling singles of all time. The song was number 65 on npr's 2018 list of "The 200 Greatest Songs By 21st Century Women."
• NAN (58A: Photographer Goldin) The Ballad of Sexual Dependency is a 1986 collection of NAN Goldin photographs documenting the post-Stonewall gay culture in New York City, along with Goldin's personal life, in the late 1970s and early 1980s. 
• IRIS (6D: Name hidden in "Gemini rising") and SIRI (7D: Name that's 6-Down backward) I really like the aesthetic of these two answers appearing next to each other.
• ADELE (27D: Singer with the album "21") ADELE's three studio albums are titled 19, 21, and 25. Released in 2011, 21 topped the record charts in 30 countries, and won two Grammy Awards in 2012 - Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album. The album includes the songs, "Rolling in the Deep," and "Rumor Has It."
• ORCHID (41D: The world's smallest seeds come from one) Certain ORCHIDs in the tropical rainforest have seeds weighing 10 billionths of an ounce. The seeds are barely visible to the naked eye. Another fun fact from today's puzzle!

Geography review:

• DES (63A: ___ Moines) DES Moines is the capital of Iowa.
• OTTAWA (3D: Capital of Canada) OTTAWA is in the Canadian province of Ontario. Here's a fun fact: In 2013, OTTAWA had the highest percentage of college-educated population of any Canadian city.

A nice collection of seemingly unrelated theme answers today that come together for a ROSE CEREMONY. An interesting grid shape today. I particularly noticed the stacks of 3-letter Across words and 7- and 8-letter Down words in the upper right and lower left corners. Nice gridwork and cluing to keep those corners smooth and interesting. TRUE FACT (10D: "I'm not making this up"): I did not say UGH (19A: "I can't believe this mess!) at any time while solving this puzzle. It was a delightful way to begin my Friday. Just a reminder that if you enjoy Matthew's puzzles, you can find more at Happy Little Puzzles, and various other places. Another TRUE FACT!