August 15, 2022

Title: IN GOOD

Constructor: Scott Earl

Editor: Erik Agard

Theme Answers:

COMPANY CARD (17A: An employee might use it to pay for dinner)

TASTE TESTING (27A: Part of recipe development)

STANDING DESK (44A: Height-adjustable workstation)

FAITH LEADER (59A: Influential person in a religious community)

Theme synopsis: The first word of each theme answer can follow the words IN GOOD. Today we are IN GOOD COMPANY, doing things IN GOOD TASTE, IN GOOD STANDING, and acting IN GOOD FAITH.

And now a word from our constructor:

Scott: Super excited to make my crossword debut with USA Today! I constructed this from my standing desk - which I usually just use while sitting down. Oops! For anyone else trying to beat the summer heat, I strongly recommend watermelon with Tajín :)

Things I learned:

• MLS (19A: Austin FC's org.) Austin FC is a professional soccer club that competes in Major League Soccer (MLS). Fun fact: Austin FC is the first major professional sports league team to call Austin, Texas home. Until the team began playing in Austin in 2021, Austin was the largest city in the United States without a major sports team.
• EVA (57A: Fashion director Chen) EVA Chen is the director of fashion partnerships at Instagram. She is also an author of children's books. She has written series of books about Juno Valentine (the first of which is Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes) and Roxy the Unisaurus Rex, and the book I Am Golden.
• TAJIN (28D: Seasoning for mangoes) TAJÍN is a seasoning consisting mainly of chili peppers, lime, and salt. The company that makes TAJÍN (Empresas TAJÍN) was founded in Mexico in 1985. I thought I did not know about this seasoning, but now that I'm reading about it I realize my daughter bought mangoes with TAJÍN when we were at an outdoor market together a few weeks ago.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• PFLAG (1A: Prominent organization in "Love, Victor") I have previously written about the TV series, Love, Victor, a show inspired by the 2018 movie, Love, Simon. PFLAG is a national organization for LGBTQ+ people, their parents, families, and allies. (I have also written about PFLAG - and their partnership with Oreo - several times.)
• KATIE (15A: Olympic swimmer Ledecky) KATIE Ledecky is a competitive swimmer. She has won the most individual gold medals (six Olympic and 14 world championship) of any female swimmer. In June of this year when she won the 800-meter freestyle at the 2022 World Aquatic Championships, KATIE Ledecky became the first swimmer to win five consecutive world championship titles in an individual event.
• O'JAYS (22A: The ___, group who sang "Love Train") The R&B group, The O'JAYS, formed in 1958, and are still performing (though the group's membership has changed several times). In fact, The O'JAYS are currently on their farewell tour. They released "Love Train" in 1972. The song reached the top of Billboard's R&B Singles and Hot 100 charts.
• UCONN (43A: Sue Bird's alma mater) The University of Connecticut (UCONN) won two NCAA Women's Basketball Championships during Sue Bird's time there. Sue Bird has played for WNBA's Seattle Storm since 2002, and she recently announced she will retire at the end of the 2022 WNBA season.
• COATI (52A: Raccoonlike animal in South America) COATI, also known as coatimundi, are part of the raccoon family. The have been described as looking like "a combination of a lemur, raccoon, and monkey with possibly a bit of piglet thrown in." COATI live mainly in South and Central America, but can be found in Arizona and New Mexico.
• THEME (63A: The Met Gala has a different one each year) The THEME for the first Met Gala in 1971 was "Fashion Plate." This year's Met Gala, held in May, featured the THEME "In America: An Anthology of Fashion." If you have some spare time today, you can peruse the Met Gala's past THEMEs here.
• PSY (65A: "Gangnam Style" rapper) PSY is the South Korean singer and rapper that became well-known for his 2012 song, "Gangnam Style." 
• JET PACKS (23D: Propulsion devices worn on the back) JET PACKS make me think of George Jetson (who was born a few weeks ago). In the animated TV series of the 1960s, The Jetsons, JET PACKS were a common form of conveyance. In our world, they're less common, though a working JET PACK was invented several years ago. A couple of years ago a man using a JET PACK was spotted in the skies of Los Angeles. 
• GWEN (32D: Journalist Ifill) GWEN Ifill (1955-2016) was a journalist, TV newscaster, and author. She was a longtime host of PBS NewsHour and a moderator of Washington Week.
• PIE (42D: Dessert eaten on March 14) Although today is not March 14, making PIE is on my "To Do" list. I bought a half-bushel of peaches on Friday, and they have reached the perfect level of ripeness. It's time to make a PIE ... or two or three or four!
• USELESS (43D: Like a DVD rewinder) This clue made me laugh out loud! The DVD Rewinder did exist, but it was definitely USELESS. 
• BIEL (54D: "Candy" star Jessica) Candy is a 2022 TV series based on the life of Candy Montgomery, who was accused of the axe murder of her neighbor in 1980. Jessica BIEL plays the title role.

Geography review:

• ALAMO (14A: Landmark near San Antonio's River Walk) The San Antonio River Walk in San Antonio, Texas is a 15-mile pedestrian trail located below street level. The ALAMO is located about a half mile from the River Walk.

I'll admit the title of this puzzle took me in and had me expecting theme answers bookended by the word GOOD. This led to a delightful "AHA!" (60D: "It's all adding up now!") when I filled in STANDING DESK and realized what was actually happening. In addition to the theme and those answers I've already highlighted, I enjoyed ARMADILLO, PAJAMA DAY (I'm a fan of PAJAMA DAYs!), GO AHEAD, and STEP ON IT. Congratulations and welcome to Scott Earl making his USA Today debut! Thank you, Scott, for this puzzle that was a fabulous way to begin my Monday.