October 21, 2021

Title: BAKED FRESH

Constructor: Margit Christenson

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Theme Answers:

BUN IN THE OVEN (20A: Fetus, metaphorically)

PIE IN THE SKY (36A: Unrealistic aspiration)

ROLL IN THE HAY (53A: Lovers' Lane encounter)

Theme synopsis: Each theme answer is a metaphor featuring a BAKED good. 

Things I learned:

• SKA (45A: Genre for Reel Big Fish) Reel Big Fish is a SKA punk band formed in 1991. The band has had multiple member changes over the years; only one of the current members (Aaron Barrett) is a founding member. The band's albums often have interesting titles, such as Turn the Radio Off (1996), We're Not Happy 'til You're Not Happy (2005), and Monkeys for Nothin' and the Chimps for Free (2007).
• BOONDOCKS (10D: "The ___" (comic strip turned Cartoon Network show)) From 1996 to 2006, The BOONDOCKS was a syndicated comic strip written by Aaron McGruder. The comic depicted brothers, Huey and Riley, who have moved with their grandfather from the West Side of Chicago to a predominantly white (fictional) suburb in Maryland. The characters often discussed racial and socio-economic class issues. From 2005 to 2014, an animated series based on the comic strip, and also titled The BOONDOCKS, aired on Cartoon Network's late-night programming block, Adult Swim. A reboot of the TV series is planned for 2022 by HBO Max. 

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• BRUNO (23A: "24K Magic" singer Mars) "24K Magic" is the title track of BRUNO Mars's 2016 album. The song won a Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 2018.
• HE'S (46A: "___ So Fine" (Chiffons hit)) When "HE'S So Fine" was in the puzzle earlier this year, I learned about its interesting history as the plaintiff in a plagiarism case against George Harrison.
• SADE (62A: "Smooth Operator" singer) "Smooth Operator" is from SADE's 1984 debut album, Diamond Life. 
• TRAY (65A: Cafeteria item that might be used as a sled) This is a fun clue for TRAY, and took me back to my undergraduate days at Drake University where students would use TRAYs to sled down the hill next to the dining hall. This practice was referred to as "Hubelling," after the Hubbell Dining Hall from which the TRAYs were "borrowed." Apparently the dining hall no longer uses TRAYs, but I'm sure students have figured out another way to sled. 
• EARS (66A: Fennec foxes have big ones) Fennec foxes, dwelling in the Sahara and other desert areas, are the smallest of the fox species. Their EARS, however, can grow to be half the size of their body. In addition to helping them hear, these EARS radiate body heat in order to keep the foxes cool.
• ERR (11D: Put dish soap in the dishwasher, say) This clue evoked the classic comic image of suds flowing out of the dishwasher and overtaking the kitchen!
• WES (26D: Actor Studi) I learned about WES Studi from the February 2, 2021 puzzle. 
• PINTEREST (33D: Website for sharing and categorizing images) Considering how much time I spend on PINTEREST, it took me an embarrassingly long time to figure out this answer. If I ever have an overabundance of free time, my plan is to start working my way through my saved PINTEREST ideas.
• FTW (34D: "The best!" in internet slang) FTW = "for the win."
• ELK (37D: Animal hidden in "pretzel knot") I enjoy hidden word clues, and it amused me to imagine an ELK actually encased in a gigantic pretzel knot - one that had been BAKED FRESH, perhaps.
• SITAR (50D: Hindustani classical music instrument) The SITAR was invented in India in the 13th century. It is a plucked string instrument used widely in Hindustani classical music. Many people are familiar with the SITAR from the works of Ravi Shankar. 
• BLM (56D: Letters on a sign at a racial justice march, perhaps) Black Lives Matter.
• EAT (58D: Enjoy some vindaloo) Vindaloo is a curry dish that originated from the Indian state of Goa.

Geography review:

• IRAN (39A: Country where Yalda Night is celebrated) Yaldā Night is a celebration of the winter solstice. On the longest and darkest night of the year, friends and family in IRAN and other countries, gather to eat (particularly fruits such as watermelon and pomegranate), drink, and read poetry.
• UTAH (59A: Canyonlands National Park State) The canyons, buttes, and
  
  mesas, in Canyonlands National Park were formed by the Colorado and Green Rivers. Canyonlands is one of five National Parks in UTAH. Geography Quiz: Can you name UTAH's other four National Parks? Answer at the bottom of this post. We visited Canyonlands National Park in February of this year, on a cold and foggy day. The landscape is quite interesting, and beautiful even in the fog.
• TEL (44D: ___ Aviv) TEL Aviv is the second most populous city in Israel, after the capital, Jerusalem.

Are you hungry for some FRESH BAKED goods? This theme made me smile, particularly the thought that a ROLL IN THE HAY might lead to a BUN IN THE OVEN - HAHAHA! I liked the long down of WANDERLUST, as well as the aforementioned PINTEREST. This puzzle was an enjoyable way to begin my Thursday.

Geography Quiz Answer: The five National Parks in UTAH are: Canyonlands National Park, Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, and Zion National Park. I have been to all five, and recommend them all!