April 8, 2022

Title: THE L WORD

Constructors: Ada Nicolle & Brooke Husic

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Theme Answers:

LESBIAN PRIDE (18A: It might be celebrated by wearing pink and orange eye makeup)

LARGE PRINT BOOKS (34A: Library offerings for low-vision readers)

LEFT AT LONDON (50A: "Transgender Street Legend Vol. 1" artist)

Theme synopsis: The first WORD of each theme answer is a word that can be represented by the abbreviation L: LESBIAN, LARGE, LEFT.

And now a word from our constructors:

Ada (@adanicklmao): brooke is cool 🥺

Brooke (@xandraladee): i am but one of ada's ADORING FANS 

Things I learned:

• DOE (58D: "Rae the ___" (comic)) "Rae the Doe" is a webcomic by Olive Brinker about the life and times of a transgender deer. It features talking animals and lots of puns. I enjoyed reading this Comic Beats interview with Olive Brinker. She says, "I hope my gay furry webcomic can distract people from the soul-crushing existential loneliness of everyday life for just a few seconds."

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• LOKI (14A: Genderfluid god in the Marvel Cinematic Universe) The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) character of LOKI is based on the mythological Norse god of the same name. In the MCU, LOKI is portrayed by Tom Hiddleston, and first appeared in the 2011 movie, Thor. The TV series, LOKI, premiered in 2021, and airs on Disney+. Here's more about LOKI's genderfluidity. 
• LESBIAN PRIDE (18A: It might be celebrated by wearing pink and orange eye makeup) The LESBIAN PRIDE flag is pink, orange, and white.
• ADA (45A: Programmer Lovelace) and MARIE (5D: Nobelist Curie) This seems like a good opportunity to remind you about the children's book, ADA Twist, Scientist. The young girl in the book is name ADA MARIE, after ADA Lovelace and MARIE Curie. You can watch the book being read from the International Space Station during "Story Time From Space." Also, shoutout to ADA Nicolle for once again working her name into the grid. 
• LEFT AT LONDON (50A: "Transgender Street Legend Vol. 1" artist) LEFT AT LONDON is the stage name of singer, songwriter, comedian, and internet personality, Nat Puff. I learned about LEFT AT LONDON from ADA Nicolle's March 3, 2022 puzzle. 
• TDS (63A: Six-pt. plays for the Miami Fury) The Miami Fury play football in the Women's Football Alliance. A touchdown (TD) is a six point play in football. 
• GOD IS A WOMAN (9D: Ariana Grande hit whose video pays homage to "The Creation of Adam") "GOD IS A WOMAN" is a 2018 song by Ariana Grande. As the clue tells us, the music video for "GOD IS A WOMAN" pays homage to the Michelangelo painting, The Creation of Adam, that is on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
• SALTY (23D: Like some lassis) Lassi is a yogurt-based drink that originated in Punjab, India. Some lassis are SALTY, and some are sweet.
• ANN (26D: Designer Lowe) When ANN Lowe attended the S.T. Taylor Design School in New York City in 1917, the school was segregated, and since she was Black she had to attend classes in a room by herself. ANN Lowe went on to become well known for her designs that were popular with high society clients. One of ANN Lowe's designs was the silk taffeta wedding dress that Jacqueline Bouvier wore in 1953 when she married John F. Kennedy. 
• HIKED (28D: Climbed Half Dome, e.g.) Half Dome is a granite rock
  
  formation in California's Yosemite National Park. As you can see, its name is derived from the fact that it looks like half of a dome. 

Geography review:

• ASIA (6D: Ba Be Lake's continent) Ba Bể Lake is the largest natural lake in Vietnam. It is located in the Northeast part of Vietnam, and is a part of the Ba Bể National Park.

What a fun puzzle! If you're curious about the title, I've previously written about THE L WORD. I really enjoyed everything about this puzzle, but especially liked the answers ADORING FANS, GOD IS A WOMAN, THEN WHAT, and FUN RUN. This puzzle was an excellent way to begin my Friday.