April 27, 2023

Title: STASHED INSIDE

Constructor: Erik Agard

Editor: Erik Agard

Theme Answers:

ROUGH IDEA (28A: Ballpark estimate)

I WISH I DIDN'T (32A: Cringing response to "Do you remember...")

MOCHI DONUTS (34A: Chewy fusion pastry)

HID (30D: Stashed)

Theme synopsis: INSIDE this puzzle, the word HID is STASHED four times.

Things I learned:

• DALE, JR. (25A: Two-time Daytona winner (2004, 2014)) Ralph DALE Earnhardt, JR., also known as DALE, JR., is a professional stock car racing driver. As the clue informs us, DALE, JR. won the Daytona 500 in 2004 and 2014. DALE, JR. was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame last year. DALE, JR.'s father, DALE Earnhardt, won the Daytona 500 in 1998, and was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame as part of its inaugural class in 2010. When I read this clue, I knew that the answer was a name I'd heard of. I also knew I would not be able to come up with the answer without the help of crossing answers.
• IPL (53A: Rajasthan Royals' league) The Rajasthan Royals are a cricket team in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
• T STATION (33D: Boston train stop) The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) is the agency that operates most public transit in the Boston area. The MBTA is known colloquially as the T, and its STATIONs are known as T STATIONs.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• SLAW (15A: Crunchy topping for tacos) SLAW was not my first thought when I read this clue. In fact, I could not think of a crunchy taco topping at all! I finally got there with the help of crossing answers. Here's a recipe for Cilantro Lime Taco SLAW. 
• MOCHI DONUTS (34A: Chewy fusion pastry) As you might guess, MOCHI DONUTS are a fusion of MOCHI and DONUTS. MOCHI is pounded sticky rice that is molded into cakes. It often has a sweet filling. MOCHI DONUTS are made of glutinous rice flour or tapioca flour, and are generally shaped into a ring of eight small balls. 
• I CARE (35A: Statement of sympathy) and I'M AROUND (32D: Statement of availability) I liked the visual of these two statements crossing in the grid.
• PAM (41A: "Coffy" star Grier) From the April 15, 2022 puzzle, I learned that the 1973 movie, Coffy, is about a female vigilante seeking revenge for her sister's heroin addiction. PAM Grier plays the role of title character, Nurse Flower Child "Coffy" Coffin.
• ADO (47A: "Without further ___...") and UNTIL (48A: "___ further notice...") The consecutive clue/answers "Without further ADO...UNTIL further notice.." made me smile.
• AVIATOR (50A: Bessie Coleman or Amelia Earhart) Bessie Coleman (1892-1926) was the first African American women and first Native American to have a pilot license. You might look for AVIATOR Bessie Coleman's image on your quarters. The Bessie Coleman Quarter is one of the 2023 coins in the American Women Quarters Program. Amelia Earhart (1897-1937) was the first female AVIATOR to fly solo across the Atlantic, which she did in 1932. 
• CARMEN (36D: Fictional criminal mastermind Sandiego) Where in the World is CARMEN Sandiego? is the name of the 1985 Broderbund video game which led to an entire series of video games, an educational children's quiz show, and several animated TV series. Carmen Sandiego is the nemesis of the ACME Detective Agency. She is the head of ACME's rival organization, V.I.L.E. CARMEN Sandiego and her fellow crooks stole things such as The Nile River Delta, The Statue of Liberty's Torch, or Ghandi's Glasses. A knowledge of geography and an appreciation of punny humor were needed to thwart Carmen's plans. I have fond memories of playing these video games with my kids, so mentions of CARMEN Sandiego in the puzzle will always make me happy. Also, the theme song from the TV show, sung by Rockapella, makes a delightful earworm. 
• ONE (52D: "___ Night Only" (song from "Dreamgirls")) Dreamgirls is a 2006 movie adapted from the 1981 Broadway musical of the same name. Dreamgirls is a fictional story inspired by the Supremes. In the musical and the movie, two versions of "ONE Night Only" are performed, a soul ballad and a dance version. 

Geography review:

• BRAZIL (3D: Country east of Bolivia) BRAZIL is the largest country in South America. In addition to Bolivia, BRAZIL is also east of Argentina, Paraguay, Peru, and Colombia. BRAZIL is north or Uruguay and south of Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. Here's a fun fact: There are only two South American countries that do not share a border with BRAZIL: Ecuador and Chile. The capital of BRAZIL is Brasilia.
• CHAD (4D: Country south of Libya) CHAD is a landlocked country in Africa. In addition to being south of Libya, CHAD also shares borders with Sudan (to the east), the Central African Republic (to the south), Cameroon (to the southwest), Nigeria (to the southwest across Lake CHAD), and Niger (to the west). The capital of CHAD is N'Djamena.
• ALA (6D: Selma's state) One of Selma, ALAbama's nicknames is "Butterfly Capital of ALAbama." 
• STATES (11D: Michigan and Michoacan, for example) Michigan is one of 50 U.S. STATES. Michoacàn is one of 31 Mexican STATES.

How fun is this grid? I definitely see a face in this grid, which has left-right mirror symmetry. I just can't decide whether the block of black squares above ROUGH IDEA is the nose and mouth, or just the nose, with the downturned mouth below MOCHI DONUTS. Ah, why not both? It was delightful to discover the word HID in each of the center answers, and also going through the three answers. A nice feat of construction that excellently illustrates STASHED INSIDE. No WATERWORKS from me today. Thank you, Erik, for this puzzle that was a terrific way to start my Thursday.