April 9, 2023

Title: BRA TOPS

Constructor: Stella Zawistowski

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Theme Answers:

BRAILLE DISPLAY (4D: Device to assist those who are blind or have low vision)

BRATZ DOLLS (8D: Toys known for their eye shadow and glossy lips)

BRAIN CHEMISTRY (15D: What neurotransmitters affect)

BRAN MUFFIN (30D: Fiber-rich breakfast option)

Theme synopsis: The TOPS of the vertical theme answers begin with the letters B-R-A.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• THEIR (19A: Gender-neutral possessive pronoun) and ITS (21A: Gender-neutral possessive pronoun) This is a fun consecutive clue echo.
• DION (31A: "That's the Way It Is" singer Celine) "That's the Way It Is" was a new single on a 1999 album featuring some of Celine DION's greatest hits, All the Way...A Decade of Song. "That's the Way It Is" reached the top ten lists in multiple countries, including Canada (Celine DION's home country), the United States, Finland, France, Germany, Sweden, and Switzerland. The song was ranked number 25 on Billboard's list of "The 99 Greatest Songs of 1999: Critics' Picks."
• ARGO (33A: Best Picture winner set in Iran) The 2012 movie, ARGO, is a historical drama that tells the story of a CIA agent named Tony Mendez (portrayed by Ben Affleck), who led the rescue of six U.S. diplomats from Iran under the guise of filming a science fiction movie. ARGO was adapted from Tony Mendez's 1999 memoir, The Master of Disguise, and a 2007 Wired article by Joshuah Bearman titled, "The Great Escape: How the CIA Used a Fake Sci-Fi Flick to Rescue Americans from Tehran." ARGO won three Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Film Editing.
• RICE (69A: Congee grain) Congee is a type of RICE porridge that originated in India, and is a part of many Asian cuisines.
• BRAILLE DISPLAY (4D: Device to assist those who are blind or have low vision) We have seen BRAILLE DISPLAY as a theme answer previously. 
• CAT (5D: Bodega mascot, often) As I do each time I write about bodega CATs, I encourage you to follow bodegaCATsofinstagram if you are a fan of CAT content. I really like the idea of thinking of a bodega CAT as a mascot. Willow considers herself the mascot of Sally's Take. She's not wrong. 

  

  Willow, this blog's mascot

  
  
• MAXI (7D: "It's summer and I don't wanna shave my legs" skirt) Ha! 
• BRATZ DOLLS (8D: Toys known for their eye shadow and glossy lips) BRATZ DOLLS hit the market in 2001. Over the years the BRATZ DOLLS have had several slogans: "The girls with a passion for fashion," "Unleash your passion," and "It's good to be a Bratz." 
• BRAIN CHEMISTRY (15D: What neurotransmitters affect) Hooray for science in crosswords! Neurotransmitters - such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, for example - are chemical messengers that transmit messages between neurons.
• LENT (29A: Pre-Easter period) In the Christian tradition, LENT begins with Ash Wednesday (February 22 this year) and lasts for 40 days not counting Sundays. Yesterday was the last day of LENT. Happy Easter to those who celebrate!

Geography review:

• TEXAN (17A: Lone Star State resident) The state of Texas is nicknamed "The Lone Star State," and its flag features a single star. This nickname is a reminder that Texas was previously an independent republic after it broke away from Mexico in 1836 until it became a U.S. state in 1845. 
• NOLA (45A: "The Big Easy") "NOLA" and "The Big Easy" are two nicknames for New Orleans, Louisiana. The city's other nicknames include "The Crescent City," "The City of Yes," and "Hollywood South."
• BOCA (62A: ___ Raton, Florida) BOCA Raton, Florida is located in Palm Beach County, about 45 miles north of Miami. With coastline along the Atlantic Ocean, BOCA Raton is particularly known for its two mile stretch of lifeguard-protected beaches. BOCA Raton's motto is "A City for All Seasons."

The title of today's puzzle lets us know exactly what to expect theme-wise, and I enjoyed this set of theme answers. Other great answers: RAMPED UP, ZENITHS, and PULL TAB. Thank you, Stella, for this puzzle that was a wonderful way to start my Sunday.