January 12, 2022

Title: BROKEN DREAM

Constructor: Zhouqin Burnikel

Editor: Erik Agard

Theme Answers:

DON'T SCREAM (17A: Use your inside voice!")

DURIAN ICE CREAM (38A: Popular dessert in Bangkok)

DOWNSTREAM (58A: Current's direction)

Theme synopsis: The word DREAM is BROKEN by each theme answer, with D- appearing at the beginning, and -REAM at the end.

Things I learned:

• CASA (21A: ___ Ruby (D.C. nonprofit with the slogan "Everyone's Home") Ruby Corado founded CASA Ruby to be the kind of place she needed (but that didn't exist) when she arrived in Washington, D.C. 30 years ago as a young transgender Latina immigrant. CASA Ruby is run by transgender women of color, and provides social services, programs, and chosen family for LGBTQ individuals. The slogan "Everyone's Home" (that provided a nice hint to the answer today) was chosen to indicate CASA Ruby isn't "limited to LGBTQ populations, but also their families and the larger community."
• PIANO (51A: Lang Lang's instrument) As I read about the many accomplishments of classical pianist Lang Lang (click here to learn from him how to pronounce his name), I am amazed I have not heard of him before. Happy to learn about him now. Lang Lang was born in Shenyang, China, and studied at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Lang Lang has performed in concert halls around the world, at the White House, on TV, at the 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony, for movie soundtracks, at Nobel Peace Prize ceremonies...and the list goes on and on. Lang Lang has advice for a child that hates PIANO lessons. 
• WIG (60D: ___ install) This was a new term to me, so I relied on crossing answers here. A WIG install is exactly what it sounds like.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• COACH (5A: Vehicle made from a pumpkin in "Cinderella") My first thought was "carriage," which was obviously too long. A little more thinking led to Cinderella's COACH.
• EPEE (14A: Sword with a 90-centimeter blade) I did not know this particular fact, but guessed that the answer was likely to be crossword's favorite sword. Of the three swords used in the sport of fencing - ÉPÉE, sabre, and foil - the ÉPÉE is the largest. At ninety centimeters (35 inches) long, its blade is just a tad shorter than the yardstick in my coat closet. Other fun facts, the blade of an ÉPÉE is triangular, and does not have a cutting blade.
• CLINIC (23A: Put on a ___ (play really well)) This is a fun way to clue the word CLINIC. The phrase "put on a CLINIC" is often used in sports to mean a player's performance is a great teachable example of how to play a game.
• OCELOT (29A: Rainforest wildcat) The OCELOT is a medium-sized cat, a bit larger than most housecats at a length of 21 to 39 inches and weighing 15 to 34 pounds. (Although Willow is a petite cat, I know some cats that weigh in at that 15 to 34 pound range.) Although many OCELOTs live in South American rainforests, they can also be found in brushlands and savannas.
• DURIAN ICE CREAM (38A: Popular dessert in Bangkok) I have previously written about DURIAN, the pungent Southeast Asian fruit. DURIAN ICE CREAM is popular in Thailand, but if you're not in Bangkok, The Spruce Eats has a recipe for you to make your own.
• DUNST (41A: "Fargo" actress Kirsten) Kirsten DUNST plays the role of Peggy Blumquist (a beautician that, with her husband's help, covers up a hit-and-run murder) in the second season of the TV series, Fargo. 
• CARP (57A: Fish family that includes goldfish and koi) This is one of those answer I filled in right away, and then wondered how I knew this information. Who knows, maybe I learned it from a crossword puzzle!
• ANY (65A: "___ suggestions?") If you ever have ANY suggestions about the blog, or just want to say hi, feel free to contact me by commenting, reaching out to me on Twitter, emailing me, or sending me snail mail.
• APOLLO (2D: Harlem theater) I wrote about Amateur Night at the APOLLO when the theater previously appeared in a puzzle (also constructed by Zhouquin Burnikel.
• CIA (8D: Spy org. linked to abstract expressionism) What an interesting and intriguing way to clue CIA. I've heard these theories before, but hadn't read much about it. If you'd like to learn more (and form your own opinions), here's an Artnet article and a BBC article about the CIA and abstract expressionism.
• ABEL (12D: ___ Prize (award won by Karen Uhlenbeck in 2019)) The ABEL Prize is awarded annually by the King of Norway. It honors outstanding mathematicians, and is named for Norwegian mathematician, Niels Henrik ABEL. Karen Uhlenbeck was awarded the ABEL Prize in 2019 "for her pioneering achievements in geometric partial differential equations, gauge theory, and integrable systems, and for the fundamental impact of her work on analysis, geometry, and mathematical physics." (If you understood all of that, you probably got this answer easily!

Geography review:

• CUBA (16A: Country where Ana de Armas was born) Ana de Armas was born in Havana, CUBA, and has dual citizenship in CUBA and Spain. Her film credits include playing Marta Cabrera in the 2019 movie, Knives Out, a role for which she won multiple awards. (When Ana de Armas was an answer in the September 12, 2020 puzzle, I wrote about how much I enjoy this movie.) Ana de Armas plays Marilyn Monroe in the Netflix movie, Blonde, scheduled to be released this year.
• FLA (48A: Jacksonville's state (Abbr.)) Located in northern Florida (FLA) along the Atlantic coast, Jacksonville is the largest city in the state. Its population is almost double that of Miami. Note that this is based on city boundaries, not metropolitan area. Jacksonville is Florida's fourth-largest metropolitan area.

Today we have not a "Boulevard of BROKEN DREAMs," but rather a puzzle of them. This was a case where the title tipped me off as to what to expect. I enjoyed the answers COCA COLA, UNFAIRLY, and ARE WE CLEAR. This puzzle was an excellent way to begin my Wednesday.