April 15, 2023

Title: LATTE ART FOR BEGINNERS

Constructor: Enrique Henestroza Anguiano

Editor: Erik Agard

Theme Answers:

SWAN DIVING (23A: Leaping into a pool with arms outstretched)

HEART CHAKRA (37A: Yogic energy point in the chest)

TULIP CHAIR (52A: Flower-inspired Eero Saarinen furniture piece)

Theme synopsis: Each theme answer BEGINs with an image used for LATTE ART: your LATTE might be topped with a design resembling a SWAN, a HEART, or a TULIP.

Things I learned:

• HOPI (39D: People who maintain a sacred covenant with Maasaw) In the HOPI tradition, Maasaw is the ancient Caretaker and Creator of the Earth. HOPI people have a sacred covenant with Maasaw: in exchange for being allowed to live on Earth, they will take care of the world.
• REI (45D: Pele, "O ___" ("The King") "O REI," which means "The King," was a nickname given to soccer great, Pelé (1940-2022). One of the greatest soccer players of all time, Pelé averaged a goal per game throughout his career.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• SWAN DIVING (23A: Leaping into a pool with arms outstretched) When SWAN DIVING, one's feet and legs are together, and the arms are stretched sideways until just before entering the water when the arms are brought together above the head. 
• MESA (34A: Piece of furniture for comidas) MESA is the Spanish word for table. The word "comidas" is Spanish for "meals," which may be eaten at the table/MESA.
• HEART CHAKRA (37A: Yogic energy point in the chest) The HEART CHAKRA is one of seven CHAKRAs, focal points used in meditation practices and some spiritual traditions. The HEART CHAKRA is believed to be associated with balance, calmness, and serenity.
• STEAM (41A: Vapor from a coffee maker) I'm counting this as a bit of bonus for today's theme, since a LATTE is a coffee drink made with espresso and STEAMed milk.
• PANTHER (49A: Black ___ (Wakandan superhero)) Black PANTHER is, of course, the superhero in the Marvel Comics movies Black PANTHER (2018) and Black PANTHER: Wakanda Forever (2022).
• TULIP CHAIR (52A: Flower-inspired Eero Saarinen furniture piece) Eero Saarinen designed the TULIP CHAIR in the 1950s for the Knoll Company. Instead of having four legs, the seat of a TULIP CHAIR is supported on a single pedestal. The TULIP CHAIR is made of aluminum and fiberglass (with upholstered cushions), which were considered experimental materials for furniture construction at the time it was designed.
• PAGE (61A: "Tales of the City" actor Elliot) Tales of the City is a TV miniseries based on the novels of the same name by Armistead Maupin. The city referred to in the title is San Francisco. The miniseries tells the story of a group of friends in San Francisco. ELLIOT Page portrayed Shawna Hawkins.
• LUCCI (6D: "All My Children" star Susan) The soap opera All My Children aired on ABC for 41 years, from 1970-2011. For the entire run of the show, Susan LUCCI portrayed the character Erica Kane.
• MGM (22D: Studio with a lion mascot) Leo the Lion is the mascot of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) movie studio. Fun fact: Of the six lions who have introduced MGM films since 1924, only one was actually named Leo. The first MGM lion (and the only one that simply looked around but didn't roar during his film appearance) was named Slats. Here's another interesting thing about the MGM lion: since 2021, MGM's lion mascot has been CGI animated. Speaking of feline mascots, Willow has had plenty to say to me since I returned home last night after a few days away. 

  

  Willow speaking her piece

• THELMA (50D: Singer Houston) and LEAVE (54D: "Don't ___ Me This Way") THELMA Houston won a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for her 1977 song, "Don't LEAVE Me This Way." THELMA Houston's version was a cover of the 1975 version by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. A poignant fact about "Don't LEAVE Me This Way" is that in the 1980s and 1990s it became an unofficial theme song for the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
• BOI (58D: "Sk8er ___" (Avril Lavigne hit) "Sk8er BOI" is a song from Avril Lavigne's 2002 debut album, Let Go. The impromptu concert featured in the music video for "Sk8er BOI" was filmed at the intersection of 7th St. and S. Spring St. in Los Angeles.

Geography review:

• USA (2D: Oakland's country) Oakland is a port city on the coast of California, which is, of course, in the USA. Along with San Francisco and San Jose, Oakland is a core city of California's Bay Area.

What a fun title for a puzzle! I was so intrigued by LATTE ART FOR BEGINNERS, and it was delightful to see the SWAN, HEART, and TULIP appear in the puzzle, as if I were a barista. I also liked seeing the word ASKANCE in the puzzle (and I didn't even look at it suspiciously). Thank you, Enrique, for this puzzle that was a super way to start my Saturday.

Also, many thanks to Kelsey Dixon and Shannon Rapp who guest blogged for me the last couple of days!