December 8, 2023

Title: SURF AND TURF (Freestyle)

Constructor: Zhouqin Burnikel

Editor: Jared Goudsmit

Freestyle: This is a themeless puzzle. SURF AND TURF is a nod to RED HERRINGS (30A: Deliberately distracting clues) and RIBEYE STEAK (39A: Beef cut with marbling).

Things I learned:

• ADA (38A: ___ "Bricktop" Smith (legendary vaudevillian)) ADA Beatrice Queen Victoria Louise Virginia Smith (1894-1984) acquired the nickname of "Bricktop" due to her red hair. Bricktop was a dancer, singer, vaudevillian, and self-described saloon-keeper. She began touring on the vaudeville circuits at the age of 16.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• CLAWS (8A: Cat's nails) Willow says, "Here's a picture of my paws. That rhymes with CLAWS."

  

  Willow

• POUTINES (20A: Quebec dishes with cheese curds and brown gravy) The one POUTINE ingredient this clue didn't mention is french fries. POUTINES are dishes consisting of french fries and cheese curds topped with brown gravy. 
• RED HERRINGS (30A: Deliberately distracting clues) I adore the fact that this entry is the SURF referred to in the title, and is itself a bit of a RED HERRING for seafood.
• ELIE (35A: "Allow Me to Retort" author Mystal) ELIE Mystal is an attorney and writer. He is a justice correspondent for the biweekly magazine, The Nation. ELIE Mystal's book Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy's Guide to the Constitution was published in 2022.
• ODE (44A: "___ to the Tampon" (Sharon Olds poem)) Sharon Olds won the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry in 2013 for her poetry collection, Stag's Leap. She is known for her ODEs, and her 2016 collection of poetry is simply titled ODEs. Here you can listen to Sharon Olds read two of her poems: "ODE to a Composting Toilet," and "ODE to the Tampon."
• SABLE (56A: Animal similar to a mink) SABLEs, minks, weasels, and ferrets are all related. They are all members of the musteleid family, which also includes otters and skunks.
• ELDER CARE (31D: Quality-of-life-enhancing services for older adults) and DIAPER BAG (32D: Holder of wipes and pacifiers) It feels quite all-encompassing to have these two answers next to each other in the grid.
• ETHAN (48D: "Boyhood" actor Hawke) Boyhood is a 2014 movie that was filmed over the course of 11 years (2002-2013). The movie focuses on a boy named Mason Evans, Jr., played by Ellar Coltrane, as he grows from age six to age eighteen. ETHAN Hawke played the role of Mason Evans, Sr., the boy's father.

Geography review:

• IDA (34A: Neighbor of Wyoming (Abbr.)) Idaho (IDA) is Wyoming's neighbor to the west. Wyoming is also neighbors with Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Utah, and Colorado.
• OAHU (59A: Koko Head's island) OAHU is the third largest of the Hawaiian islands. Koko Head is located on the southeastern side of OAHU, along Maunalua Bay. 
• STS (7D: bourbon and Magazine, in New Orleans (Abbr.)) Bourbon ST. is located in the French Quarter, a historic area of New Orleans, Louisiana. The 13-block street is known for its bars and strip clubs. Magazine ST. is a New Orleans thoroughfare that is a few blocks from the Mississippi River.
• STL (56D: Eastern Missouri city (Abbr.) St. Louis (STL) is on the eastern edge of Missouri, located across the Mississippi River from Illinois.

This is a fun themeless puzzle; plenty of fun entries here. In addition to the answers I've highlighted, I also enjoyed WRONG IDEA, LOST LOVES, and THAT'S A LIE. Thank you, Zhouqin, for this puzzle that was an excellent Friday solve.