April 24, 2022

Title: COMFORT IN 

Constructor: Zhouqin Burnikel

Editor: Erik Agard

Theme Answers:

SAMBAL MATAH (17A: Spicy Balinese condiment) 

GLOBAL MARKETS (40A: International trade venues)

HERBAL MEDICINE (63A: Echinacea or St. John's wort)

Theme synopsis: We find COMFORT, IN the form of BALM, hidden within each theme answer 

Things I learned:

• SAMBAL MATAH (17A: Spicy Balinese condiment) SAMBAL is a chili sauce. SAMBAL MATAH is a variation of Bali origin containing bird's eye chili, shallots, and lemongrass. 
• NED (39A: Jacob Batalon's MCU role) NED Leeds is a fictional character in Marvel Comics, and is one of several characters that takes on the alias of the supervillain, Hobgoblin. He was portrayed by Jacob Batalon in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in multiple movies, including Spider-Man: Homecoming, Avengers: Infinity War, and Spider-Man: Far From Home. I am definitely not up on my MCU characters. In fact, I didn't figure out what MCU stood for in this clue until I had obtained the answer from crossing letters. 
• NIMBLE (3D: Like Johanna Quaas) and SPRY (33D: Synonym of 3-Down) In 2012, when she was 86 years old, Johanna Quaas was certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's oldest active competitive gymnast. Johanna Quaas, who has earned the nickname, "Gymnastics Grandma," lives in Germany. She has not competed since 2018, and is currently 96 years old.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• GATE (34A: Airport area) and TARMAC (27D: Airport area) Nice clue echoing.
• HERBAL MEDICINE (63A: Echinacea or St. John's wort) I find it interesting that Echinacea (derived from coneflowers) and St. John's Wort (derived from a flowering plant in the Hypericaceae family) are examples of HERBAL MEDICINE, and are each available as a BALM.
• ELMO (25D: Muppet with a puppy named Tango) ELMO's puppy, Tango debuted in a 2021 animated Sesame Street special titled Furry Friends Forever: ELMO Gets a Puppy. This makes Tango a "pandemic puppy," adopted during the Covid-19 pandemic.
• SPF (44A: CC cream stat) I learned about CC creams from the October 17, 2021 puzzle. 
• ELI (59D: Eula's husband in "Daughters of the Dust") I have previously written about the 1991 movie Daughters of the Dust, which tells the story of three generations of Gullah women.

Geography review:

• IDAHO (15A: The Gem State) More than 240 minerals, including aquamarine and vivianite, are found in IDAHO. Deposits of gold, zinc, lead, copper, and cobalt can be found in IDAHO, and the gems opal, tourmaline, topaz, and star garnet can also be found there. Therefore, IDAHO's official nickname of "The Gem State," makes sense. The unofficial nickname of IDAHO is "The Potato State."
• MILAN (28A: Italian city with a fashion quadrangle) MILAN, Italy, which hosts MILAN Fashion Week twice a year, is regarded as one of the fashion capitals of the world. Its fashion quadrangle - the quadrilatero della moda - is home to numerous boutiques and retail stores and is one of fashion's most influential neighborhoods.
• SAO (44A: ___ Paulo Airport) Today I learned that SÃO Paulo Airport can refer to four different facilities. The SÃO Paulo/Guarulhos - Governor André Franco Montoro International Airport (named after the former governor of SÃO Paulo state) handles mostly international flights. The SÃO Paulo/Congonhas - Deputado Freitas Nobre Airport (named after the neighborhood where it is located) serves mostly domestic flights. SÃO Paulo Airport can also refer to Viracopos International Airport (serving the city of Campinas) and Campo de Marte Airport (the first airport built in SÃO Paulo).
• ASIA (45A: Ningxia's continent) Ningxia is a landlocked autonomous region in China. It is home to many Hui people, one of 56 recognized nationalities in China. This is the fifth time we have seen our crossword-friend ASIA this month. 
• ERIE (66A: Great Lake where Bessie lives (allegedly)) The alleged Loch Ness monster-like creature that makes its home in Lake ERIE is known by multiple names: Bessie, South Bay Bessie, the Lake ERIE Monster, and the Great Snake of Lake ERIE. There have been numerous Bessie sightings over the years. She has inspired the naming of a Great Lakes Brewing Company beer, and the name of an American Hockey League  team - the Cleveland Monsters (formerly the Lake Erie Monsters). This is a fun cluing angle for our crossword-friend ERIE, which is making its third appearance of the month. The last time we saw ASIA and ERIE together in a puzzle was February 13, 2022. 
• ARABIC (2D: Kuwait's official language) Kuwait is a country in Western ASIA. Kuwait borders Iraq and Saudi Arabia, and has 300 miles of coastline along the Persian Gulf. The capital of Kuwait is Kuwait City, and ARABIC is the country's official language.
• ETNA (43D: Europe's largest active volcano) Mount ETNA is located on the east coast of the island of Sicily, Italy.
• TIBET (56D: Where Lhasa Beer is brewed) Lhasa Beer has been brewed by the TIBET Lhasa Brewery Company since 1988. 

A fun title today playing on the name of the hotel chain. I had an idea from the title of what the theme mechanic would be, and was interested what COMFORT would be found IN the answers. Enjoyable answers today: FAKE TAN, ARUGULA, PETULANT, and DIM SUM. LOOK HERE, this puzzle was not HO HUM, it was a fine way to begin my Sunday.