December 16, 2023

Title: CROSSWORDS

Constructor: Amanda Rafkin

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Theme Answers:

MAD TEA PARTY (17A: Magic Kingdom ride with spinning cups)

ANGRY BIRDS (37A: Video game with evil green pigs)

SORE SUBJECT (60A: Sensitive topic)

Theme synopsis: The theme answers all start with CROSS WORDS, that is, WORDS that are synonyms of CROSS: MAD, ANGRY, SORE.

Things I learned:

• MANGA (23A: "Revolutionary Girl Utena," e.g.) Revolutionary Girl Utena is a MANGA (graphic novel) and anime (animation) series. The title character, Utena, is a teenage girl who gets involved in a sword dueling tournament. 
• ANN (64A: Filmmaker Hui) ANN Hui is a critically acclaimed filmmaker from Hong Kong. Her movies are notable for highlighting female perspectives and showing the daily life of women in Hong Kong. 

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• NAAN (1A: Bread served with chicken tikka) Chicken tikka is boneless chicken that has been marinated in spiced yogurt, and is then grilled or roasted. The dish is associated with the CUISINE (41D: Style of cooking) of India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. The flatbread NAAN is often served with chicken tikka.
• MAD TEA PARTY (17A: Magic Kingdom ride with spinning cups) The spinning TEA cup ride known as MAD TEA PARTY is inspired by the Unbirthday Party scene in Alice in Wonderland. The MAD TEA PARTY ride at Magic Kingdom has been part of the park since it opened in 1971. It's been updated a couple of times, including the addition of a roof.
• LIN (21A: Architect Maya) I have previously written about architect Maya LIN, who won a design contest to be selected as the architect for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
• TITLE (26A: "___ and Registration" (Death Cab for Cutie song)) "TITLE and Registration" is a 2004 song from Death Cab for Cutie, from their album, Transatlanticism.
• DELI (32A: Common place to purchase a Dr. Brown's soda) I learned about Dr. Brown's soda from the September 15, 2023 puzzle. Dr. Brown's is available in Jewish DELIs in New York City, as well as at specialty stores across the U.S.
• ANGRY BIRDS (37A: Video game with evil green pigs) ANGRY BIRDS is a video game that was first released in 2009. The basic premise of the game is to use a slingshot to launch birds at green pigs, with the goal being to destroy all of the pigs on the playing field. It's been many years since I played ANGRY BIRDS, but I was still able to immediately fill in this answer. 
• ANT-MAN (65A: Superhero played by Paul Rudd) Paul Rudd first portrayed ANT-MAN in 2015 in the Marvel movie appropriately titled ANT-MAN. He reprised the role this year in ANT-MAN and the Wasp: Quantamania.
• BRA (5D: UNTAG garment) UNTAG is a company whose mission is "to make gender affirming products to all those who want or need it." UNTAG was founded in 2004 by Danaë Kurvers
• BERNSTEIN (8D: "West Side Story" composer Leonard) West Side Story is perhaps the best-known work of composer, pianist, music educator, and conductor Leonard BERNSTEIN (1918-2000), though it certainly wasn't his only accomplishment. During his lifetime, Leonard BERNSTEIN won 16 Grammy Awards, seven Emmy Awards, and two Tony Awards.
• SWIFTIE (11D: Person making friendship bracelets to attend the Eras Tour) In case you've somehow missed out on hearing about the friendship bracelets that SWIFTIEs exchange during Taylor Swift's Eras Tour concerts, here's an article to bring you up to speed.
• TODD (26D: Asexual character on "BoJack Horseman") I learned about TODD from the September 16, 2023 puzzle. 
• GNUS (38D: Largest antelopes) GNUS, also called wildebeest, are the largest species of antelopes. GNUS are native to southern and eastern Africa. GNU herds in East Africa migrate every year, following the rains, and covering a distance of 500 to 1,000 miles.
• SPACE JAM (39D: Movie starring Michael Jordan and the Looney Tunes) In the 1996 movie, SPACE JAM, Michael Jordan plays a fictionalized version of himself. He stars alongside Looney Tunes characters that bring him out of retirement to win a basketball match against aliens.
• REY (48D: Daisy Ridley's "Star Wars" role) In the Star Wars franchise, REY is the main protagonist of the sequel film trilogy. Daisy Ridley portrays REY in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017), and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019).
• SAL (60D: ___ Minella (Muppet chimpanzee)) Muppet chimpanzee SAL Minella is the bodyguard and sidekick of the Muppet character Johnny Fiama. I'm always happy to see a Muppets reference, and SAL has a great first name (though for the record, please don't call me SAL). SAL Minella's full name is a play on "salmonella," which is funny, but not exactly pleasant!
• A few other clues I especially enjoyed:
• AHA (2D: "Omg, I get it now!")
• MAP (59D: Many board game boards are one)
• UNO (61D: Card game with a Braille edition)

Geography review:

• SFO (22A: Airport near The Castro (Abbr.)) SFO is the airport code for the San Francisco International Airport. The Castro is a neighborhood in San Francisco. Known for being one of the oldest gay neighborhoods in the U.S., the Castro has been and remains an important center of LGBTQ+ activism. The Rainbow Honor Walk, a sidewalk installation in the neighborhood, honors LGBTQ+ individuals that "have made a significant impact in global history," including Frida Kahlo, Gertrude Stein, and Alan Turing. 
• ARAB (66A: The "A" of UAE) The United ARAB Emirates (UAE) is a Western Asian country located on the Arabian Peninsula. The capital of the UAE is Abu Dhabi.

What a delight to open up the CROSSWORD and see the title CROSSWORDS! This did not make me CROSS at all. AND ONE LAST THING, thank you, Amanda, for this puzzle that was an excellent way to start my Saturday.