September 8, 2021

Title: LAST STAND

Constructor: Zhouqin Burnikel

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Theme Answers:

FACE THE MUSIC (20A: Accept the consequences)

SCISSOR KICK (38A: Soccer move named for a cutting tool)

TAKES THE CAKE (57A: Is the most outrageous)

Theme synopsis: The LAST word of each theme answer can be placed in front of the word STAND to form a new phrase. We have a MUSIC STAND, a KICK STAND, and a CAKE STAND. 

Things I learned:

• ELIE (65A: Writer Lolis Eric ___) Lolis Eric ELIE wrote the 2008 documentary, Faubourg Tremé: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans, and is a story editor for the HBO TV series, Treme. Tremé is a historic neighborhood in New Orleans. Lolis Eric ELIE has also written a book about Tremé, published in 2013, Treme: Stories and Recipes from the Heart of New Orleans. 
• PEAR (69A: Fruit that might be in naengmyeon) Naengmyeon is a noodle dish in Korean cuisine. The dish is usually served cold in a large bowl, and the noodles are accompanied by cucumbers, PEAR, pickled radish, and egg or beef.
• LIN (27D: "F9" director Justin) F9 is a movie in the Fast & Furious franchise that was released this year. In addition to directing the movie, Justin LIN co-wrote the screenplay. LIN also directed The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift, and Fast & Furious 6.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• ALE (1A: Pale ingredient in a Black and Tan cocktail) A Black and Tan is made by layering a pale ALE and a dark beer, such as Guinness stout.
• CLARA (18A: "The Nutcracker" girl) Here's some trivia for you. The name of the young girl in The Nutcracker depends on the version of the story. Although CLARA is the most common name for the role, in some versions her name is Marie or Masha. 
• FACE THE MUSIC (20A: Accept the consequences) Although the phrase FACE THE MUSIC has been used since the 1800s, the exact origin of the phrase is unknown. One theory is that the phrase arose from the theater, where actors went onstage and faced the orchestra pit (the MUSIC) and the crowd, which might disapprove of their performance. Another theory is that the phrase might be of military origin.
• SCISSOR KICK (38A: Soccer move named for a cutting tool) When doing a SCISSOR KICK, also known as a bicycle KICK, a player is in the air parallel to the ground.
• TRIO (42A: The band TLC, e.g.) Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas, and Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes were the members of the TRIO TLC. Lopes was killed in a car crash in 2002, and the group has continued as a duo.
• BANANA (48A: Fruit that resembles a plantain) and TEA (63D: Most consumed drink in the world) I felt very seen today as I solved the puzzle while eating my oatmeal with BANANA and drinking my TEA.
• TAKES THE CAKE (57A: Is the most outrageous) Since the time of ancient Greece, the word CAKE has been used to symbolize a prize. Sometimes the prize was actually a CAKE, awarded to the person who stayed awake longest at an all night party. The phrase TAKES THE CAKE was revised in the 1800s, related to cakewalks.
• OREO (66A: Cookie launched in China in 1996) This clue was a reality check for me, as my first thought was, "Really? That recently?" And then I realized 1996 was 25 years ago... There are some OREO flavors only available in China, such as Green Tea Cake OREOs and Orange and Mango Duo OREOs. 
• ELK CROSSING (3D: Traffic sign in the Rockies) I liked this fun clue/answer pair. 
• TERRI (21D: Conservationist Irwin) TERRI Irwin is a naturalist, author, and conservationist. She was married to Steve Irwin, who died in 1992, and together with him co-starred in the nature documentary TV series, The Crocodile Hunter. She is the owner of Australia Zoo in Queensland.
• NIA (49D: Actress Long) NIA Long won two NAACP Image Awards (Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series) for her portrayal of NYPD Officer/IAB Detective Sasha Monroe on the crime drama TV series, Third Watch. 

Geography review:

• CALI (12A: The Golden State, casually) CALIfornia's nickname of The Golden State refers to the 1848 discovery of gold in the area. The nickname has been officially used since 1968.
• RODEO (14A: State sport of Texas) RODEO is also the state sport of South Dakota and Wyoming.

This puzzle certainly takes a STAND...three of them in fact. Fun theme answers today. The long Down answers were also enjoyable: the afore-mentioned ELK CROSSING, and also MARKET VALUE, SPECIFIC, and CO-AUTHOR, and even ACT FAST, LASAGNA, and ROOKIES. The food references (except the CAKE) seem to have migrated to the left side of the puzzle today: LASAGNA, BANANA, OREO, and PEAR, washed down with an ALE and some TEA. So much here to SAVOR. This puzzle caused MINIMAL ANGUISH, and was a fun way to begin my Wednesday.