July 27, 2023

Title: THE BAR IS LOW

Constructors: Chandi Deitmer & Erica Hsiung Wojcik

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Theme Answers:

OUTER SPACE (3D: Astronaut's destination)

DEEP DIVE (8D: Thorough examination of a topic)

GOOD AS GOLD (32D: In great condition)

ARM CANDY (40D: Hot date)

Theme synopsis: The last (LOWest) word of each vertical theme answer can precede the word BAR. We have SPACE BAR, a DIVE BAR, a GOD BAR, and a CANDY BAR.

And now a word from our constructors:

Chandi & Erica: We are happy to be in USAT today! It is safe to say that both authors and editor feel strongly about 13-A as a utensil for the world's most perfect food genre. Also, apologies for the major oversight in not including a bird in the grid.

Marlowe Horatio Bucket

Chandi adds: I would love Marlowe Horatio Bucket to get the recognition he deserves for being the world's weirdest little dude. This is him howling.

Sally's note: I am always delighted to feature pet photos! Welcome, Marlowe Horatio Bucket, to the CATS of SALLY'S TAKE.

Things I learned:

• EPA (4D: Org. in the film "Dark Waters") The movie Dark Waters is a 2019 dramatization of a lawsuit brought against Dupont for contaminating a town with chemicals not regulated by the EPA. Mark Ruffalo portrays Robert Bilott, an attorney who represented plaintiffs in West Virginia in their lawsuits. You can read more about Dark Waters, Robert Bilott, and PFAs (the chemicals in question) in this Time magazine article. 
• MICA (54D: "Star Trek: Picard" actress Burton) MICA Burton portrays Ensign Alandra La Forge on the third season of Star Trek: Picard. On the show, Alandra La Forge is the daughter of Geordi La Forge. The actor who portrays Geordi La Forge is MICA Burton's father, LeVar Burton.
• HOLY (61D: Like water in the Zamzam Well) I have previously written about Masjid al-Haram, Islam's most important mosque, located in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Zamzam Well is located within Masjid al-Haram. Muslims consider the well to be a miraculously generated source of HOLY water.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• DRAMA (8A: "No More ___" (Mary J. Blige song)) "No More DRAMA" is the title song from Mary J. Blige's 2001 studio album. 
• SOUP SPOON (13A: Utensil for eating ramen) I didn't realize people feel strongly about the "correct" way to eat ramen! If you google "how to eat ramen," you'll find a lot of conflicting advice. This Serious Eats video recommends a combination of chopsticks and a SOUP SPOON, and definitely recommends slurping. I say eat your ramen however you'd like, just enjoy it.
• ALTO SAXES (17A: Instruments for Charlie Parker and Cannonball Adderley) Charlie Parker (1920-1955) and Cannonball Adderley (1928-1975) were legendary jazz saxophonists. They both played ALTO SAXES, though they never played together.
• CDS (26A: Items in jewel cases) This clue is a fun misdirect. I was definitely thinking "gems," until letters from crossing answers reminded me that the protective plastic cases around CDs are known as jewel cases. This led me to wonder if people still purchase CDS, and I was interested to discover that sales of CDS are on the rise.
• HOPI (34A: People who make katsina dolls) Katsina dolls, also known as kachina dolls, are carved by the HOPI people. Usually carved from cottonwood, the dolls are given to young girls and new brides and used to teach about and be a reminder of Katsina, spiritual beings that are believed to visit HOPI villages.
• SELMA (47A: "Legally Blonde" actress Blair) SELMA Blair portrays Vivian Kensington in the 2001 movie Legally Blonde.
• CMA (50A: Org. that awarded Taylor Swift "Entertainer of the Year" in 2009 and 2011) The Country Music Association (CMA) hosts an awards show each year to honor country music musicians. The "Entertainer of the Year" is CMA's highest honor, awarded each year to an artist "displaying the greatest competence in all aspects of the entertainment field." When Taylor Swift was named CMA's "Entertainer of the Year" in 2009, she was the youngest artist to win the honor. In 2011, Taylor Swift became one of only two women (the other being Barbara Mandrell) that have won the award twice. 
• LITERALLY (68A: Opposite of figuratively) I feel like there must be some joke here about this answer being LITERALLY LITERALLY.
• DAISY (69A: "___ Jones & the Six") Daisy Jones & the Six is a TV miniseries based on a 2019 novel of the same name by Taylor Jenkins. The show focuses on a 1970s rock band, following their rise to success and their eventual split. Riley Keough portrays DAISY Jones, the band's lead singer and songwriter.
• COX (5D: "Cougar Town" actress Courteney) Cougar Town is a TV sitcom that originally aired from 2009-2015. Courteney COX plays the role of a recently divorced woman living in the fictional town of Gulfhaven, Florida, which is known as "Cougar Town" because the high school's mascot is a cougar.
• RAVI (9D: Sitarist Shankar) RAVI Shankar (1920-2012) was a sitarist and composer. The sitar was invented in India in the 13th century. It is a plucked string instrument used widely in Hindustani classical music. Many people associate the sitar with RAVI Shankar's music.
• OSAKA (37D: Tennis star and mental health advocate Naomi) I have previously written about tennis great Naomi OSAKA, and we saw NAOMI OSAKA as a theme answer March 1, 2021. I like the clue's recognition of Naomi OSAKA's mental health advocacy. In 2022, Naomi OSAKA joined forces with Modern Health to raise awareness of and destigmatize mental health care.

Geography review:

• USA (1D: Nathan Chen's Olympic team) Figure skater Nathan Chen is regarded as one of the greatest figure skaters of all time. At the 2022 Winter Olympics, Nathan Chen represented Team USA, and won a gold medal for his individual performance. Team USA won a silver medal. Nathan Chen began skating in 2003 at the age of 3. He was part of an increased interest in figure skating in his hometown of Salt Lake City, Utah, after the city hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics.
• NILE (31D: African river) The longest river in Africa, the NILE flows north into the Mediterranean Sea. The NILE River flows through 11 countries: Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi.
• ERIE (59D: Spooky-sounding lake) Spooky-sounding Lake ERIE is making an encore after appearing in yesterday's puzzle.

It's true that THE BAR IS LOW, but this puzzle would have sailed over it even had it been high. Four fun theme answers here, leading to equally enjoyable new phrases. Anybody else hungry for a CANDY BAR? Am I making it TOO OBVIOUS that I liked this puzzle? ARE WE COOL? Thank you, Chandi and Erica, for this puzzle that was a delightful way to begin my Thursday.

I had the pleasure of meeting Chandi and Erica at this year's American Crossword Puzzle Tournament (ACPT), but I failed to get a good picture of the three of us. On the "to do" list for next year's ACPT!