June 10, 2023

 Title: SNAPBACK

Constructor: Amanda Rafkin

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Guest Blogger: Brooke Husic

Theme Answers:

EXPANSION PACK (18A: Addition to a tabletop game)

PETER PAN'S FLIGHT (34A: Disneyland ride in which guests visit Neverland)

PANSEXUAL FLAG (52A: Pink, yellow and cyan item in a Pride parade)

Theme synopsis: Each theme answer contains the string PANS, which is SNAP spelled BACKwards.

Things I learned:

• CAT (22A: Animal in the game Calico) I had never heard of Calico, a cat and quilt themed tile-based board game.
• NOVA (51A: Kind of lox) NOVA lox is from NOVA Scotia. It can also/additionally refer to a cold-smoked style of salmon. I didn't realize when I listed this answer in "Things I learned" that it perhaps would be a better fit for the "Geography review" segment.
• ADAM (58A: Skater who dubbed his signature move the "Rippon Lutz") I learned by googling this that the Rippon Lutz is a triple lutz with the skater's arms extended over their head. This arm variation has been used by others since, but was novel when he performed it. Here's a video of Adam Rippon performing the Rippon Lutz.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• CHOI (16A: "Floating, Brilliant, Gone" poet Franny) "Floating, Brilliant, Gone" is Franny Choi's debut poetry collection.
• ALLY (32A: Person fighting the fight with you) I liked this clue because it characterizes ALLY in a way that doesn't allow for performative or superficial allyship.
• PERM (15D: Hairstyle with a cardinal rule in "Legally Blonde") A key plot point of "Legally Blonde" involves perm aftercare.
• AND (32D: "Tomorrow, ___ Tomorrow, ___ Tomorrow") "Tomorrow, AND Tomorrow, AND Tomorrow" is a book by Gabrielle Zevin that a few of my friends have loved. I have not looked up anything about it to write about here, because I want to read it and avoid spoilers. I have requested it from my library, and there are more than 1,000 people in line in front of me.
• ARI (37D: "Age/Sex/Location" artist Lennox) "Age/Sex/Location" is a 2022 album by ARI Lennox. The album has an interlude called "A/S/L" that ends with the line "I was the original catfish."

Geography review:

• SRI (43A: ___ Lanka) SRI Lanka is southeast of India. It is shaped like a teardrop.

I had a great time solving this puzzle! I liked the board game vibes of EXPANSION PACK and the CAT clue so close to each other. Some of my other favorite answers and clues were the echoed BAE and BOO clues, ICE (33A: Rocks that melt) and OPI (57D: Nail polish brand with the color Left Your Texts on Red), and the conversational clues for the symmetrically-placed IT CAN'T BE and I'M ON FIRE. Thanks very much to Amanda whose fantastic puzzle was a great start to my Saturday!

xoxo, Brooke