February 26, 2023

Title: ROAM FREE

Constructor: Zhouqin Burnikel

Editor: Erik Agard

Theme Answers:

ROMA TOMATO (16A: Salsa ingredient)

OMAR APOLLO (33A: "Evergreen" singer-songwriter)

AMOR TOWLES (59A: "A Gentleman in Moscow" author)

Theme synopsis: The first word of each theme answer is an anagram of ROAM.

Things I learned:

• OMELET (24A: Dish such as gyeran-mari) Gyeran-mari, which is a rolled OMELET, is a dish in Korean cuisine.
• OMAR APOLLO (33A: "Evergreen" singer-songwriter) I learned about OMAR APOLLO and his song, "Ugotme," from the June 25, 2021 puzzle. I didn't know his song, "Evergreen," however, and needed the help of crossing answers today. "Evergreen is a song from OMAR APOLLO's debut studio album, Ivory, released in April 2022. "Evergreen" was not originally released as a single, until after it went viral on TikTok.
• ATP (36A: Pro tennis org.) and WTA (61D: Pro tennis org.) ATP here is the Association of Tennis Professionals, the organization that governs men's professional tennis circuits. WTA is the Women's Tennis Association. I didn't know either of these sports abbreviations, and as WTA crossed AMOR TOWLES, I ended up trying a few letters before landing on the W to correctly complete the puzzle.
• AMOR TOWLES (59A: "A Gentleman in Moscow" author) A Gentleman in Moscow (2016) is AMOR TOWLES second novel, following Rules of Civility (2011). The book tells the story of a fictional Russian count, who is placed under house arrest in a hotel in Moscow. The novel is being adapted into a miniseries starring Ewan McGregor as Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• OLD (20A: Like the bristlecone pine tree nicknamed Methuselah) The bristlecone pine tree nicknamed Methuselah is located in eastern California in the White Mountains. The tree is 4,854 years OLD. Yes, you read that correctly! Methuselah has an estimated germination date of 2,833 BCE. That's OLD. The tree's nickname comes from the Biblical figure, Methuselah, who was said to live to the age of 969 years, and whose name has become synonymous with OLD age.
• STIR (41A: Tend to some zosui) and MISO (55A: Paste for some zosui) Zosui is a soup in Japanese cuisine made with pre-cooked rice, dashi stock, soy sauce, or MISO, and other ingredients such as vegetables and meat.
• MEME (3D: "Me, an empath" on TikTok, for example) An empath is a person with a high degree of empathy, someone that has an ability to sense what people around them are thinking or feeling.  "Me, an empath" MEMEs on TikTok mock those who identify as empaths. The MEMEs appeared in response to an increase in TikTok videos featuring people self-identifying as empaths. (I have to admit that I might be OLD, as I watched a few of these videos, and I do not see their appeal; they mostly strike me as mean-spirited.)
• CAT DOOR (7D: Entryway for a tabby) The closest Willow comes to having a CAT DOOR is when I close my office door, I always leave it slightly ajar so that she can come and go as she pleases. Yes, Willow rules our house. Here she is overseeing a recent game of Queendomino. 

  

  CAT in a box

  
  

Geography review:

• DAM (1A: The Tarbela or the Hoover) The Tarbela DAM is located on the Indus River in Pakistan, and is the world's largest man-made DAM. Tarbela DAM was built to store water during the monsoon season, and release it during the low flow season to provide irrigation and hydroelectric power. Construction was completed in 1976. The Hoover DAM is located on the Colorado River between Nevada and Arizona. I have previously written about the Hoover DAM. 
• YEN (9A: Currency accepted at an izakaya) An izakaya is a type of informal Japanese bar. The currency in Japan is the Japanese YEN.
• TEHRAN (51A: Iran's largest city) In addition to being Iran's largest city, TEHRAN is also the country's capital. 
• TAIPEI (40D: Capital city home to National Taiwan University) National Taiwan University is located in TAIPEI, the capital of Taiwan. The current president of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-Wen, is an alumnus of National Taiwan University.

After being EN ROUTE on Friday, and yesterday's assurance that WE'RE GETTING THERE, I'm not sure whether we've arrived or we're just taking a break to ROAM FREE. Either way, this anagram-themed puzzle was a nice way to spend some time. APPLE TARTS, SET IN STONE, and YOU TELL ME are great bonus fill. Thank you, Zhouqin, for this puzzle that was an enjoyable way to start my Sunday.