August 17, 2025

Title: MEMORY LANE (Freestyle)

Constructors: Amie Walker & Amanda Rafkin

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Theme synopsis:

There's no theme today, as this is a freestyle, or themeless puzzle. The title, MEMORY LANE, is a nod to:

• HOW COULD I FORGET (35A: Loving response to "Do you remember that today is our anniversary?")

What I learned from today's puzzle:

• LAYLA (43A: Boxer McCarter) LAYLA McCarter is a professional boxer. She has held the Women's International Boxing Federation (WIBF) welterweight title since 2018. 

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• EPICS (1A: "Beowulf" and "The Odyssey") Beowulf is an English EPIC poem dating to between 700-1000 CE. Its author is unknown. Beowulf, named for its hero, is one of the most often translated works of Old English literature. The Odyssey is an ancient Greek EPIC poem attributed to Homer. Composed around the 8th or 7th century BCE, the poem follows Odysseus on his journey home after the Trojan War.
• NETS (18A: SpongeBob and Patrick's jellyfishing equipment) This clue is a reference to the animated TV series SpongeBob SquarePants. SpongeBob and his friend Patrick Star use NETS when they go jellyfishing. 
• SARA BAREILLES (19A: "Amidst the Chaos" artist who starred in a 2022 revival of "Into the Woods") Amidst the Chaos is SARA BAREILLES' sixth studio album, released in 2019. One of the songs on the album, "Saint Honesty," earned SARA BAREILLES a Grammy Award for Best American Roots Performance. As the clue informs us, SARA BAREILLES appeared in the 2022 Broadway revival of the Stephen Sondheim musical Into the Woods. She played the Baker's Wife.
• TRI (23A: "I'll ___ anything once" (punny message on an Ironman shirt)) When I first read this clue, I confidently plonked in the answer "try." I was then confused because this didn't work with the crossing answer LIE LOW (21D: Stay out of sight), I realized I had skipped over the parenthetical information. An Ironman event is a triathlon that consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride, and a 26.22-mile run (i.e. a marathon). Ah, a triathlon... The punny message here is "I'll TRI anything once."
• PBJ (24A: Common Uncrustables sandwich) Uncrustables are pretty much what they sound like, a brand of crustless sandwiches. They have been sold by Smucker's since 1998. These crustless peanut butter and jelly (PBJ) sandwiches are sold frozen, ready to be defrosted and eaten at room temperature.
• PPE (26A: N95 masks, e.g.) PPE here stands for Personal Protective Equipment
• YAM (28A: Veggie in a Thanksgiving pun, maybe) "I YAM what I YAM." "Frankly, I don't give a YAM." I YAM sweet on you." "I think, therefore I YAM." You get the idea...
• SHO (32A: "The L Word" network) The L Word was a Showtime (SHO) TV drama that aired from 2004-2009. The show featured the first ensemble cast of lesbian and bisexual characters. A sequel series, The L Word: Generation Q, aired from 2019 to January 2023.
• HAS (41A: ""Everything ___ Changed") "Everything HAS Changed" is a 2013 song by Taylor Swift that features Ed Sheeran. It wouldn't be a true Amie and Amanda collaboration without a Taylor Swift reference!
• STL (45A: MO city with a famous arch) That famous arch in St. Louis (STL), Missouri is the Gateway Arch. The Arch, which was designed by Eero Saarinen, was completed October 28, 1965, which means it will celebrate its 60th birthday this year. (I personally think it's a great year to celebrate one's 60th birthday...)
• HOLLYWOOD BOWL (51A: Outdoor L.A. music venue where 19-Across performed in 2024) The HOLLYWOOD BOWL in Los Angeles is an outdoor music venue set against the backdrop of the HOLLYWOOD Hills and the HOLLYWOOD Sign. SARA BAREILLES' 2024 concert at the HOLLYWOOD BOWL was not her first time to perform there, so one could say it was a trip down MEMORY LANE.
• OWNER (58A: Pet's person) I realize I'm technically my cat, Willow's, OWNER, but let's be honest, one doesn't really "own" a cat. I'm just lucky she's agreed to let me spoil her.

• HOES (60A: Weed whackers?) Weedwacker is a brand name of string trimmers, equipment that uses spinning monofilament line to trim grass and weeds. Other brand names for this equipment include Weed Eater and Whipper Snipper. This clue is not referring to any of those things, but rather to HOES, which can be used as a "weed whacker."
• SOY (64A: Pad see ew ingredient) Pad see ew is a Thai stir-fried noodle dish made with noodles, light SOY sauce, garlic, Chinese broccoli, eggs, and meat.
• SNL (15D: NBC show featuring "Joke Swap") Weekend Update is a satirical news sketch on Saturday Night Live (SNL). It is the longest-running recurring sketch on SNL. The current anchors of Weekend Update are Michael Che and Colin Jost. During certain episodes of Weekend Update, Michael Che and Colin Jost do a "Joke Swap" where they each read a joke written by the other person.
• BAYOU (20D: Tiana's ___ Adventure (log ride)) Tiana's BAYOU Adventure is a Disney World ride based on the animated 2009 Disney movie, The Princess and the Frog.
• PHOTO SHOOT (26A: Opportunity to demonstrate model behavior?) The question mark here indicates that the clue is not talking about "model behavior" as in well-behaved, but as in acting like a model at a PHOTO SHOOT. I think this answer pairs well with POWER POSES (27D: Confident stances).
• LOS (52D: Dia de ___ Muertos) Dia de LOS Muertos (Day of the Dead) is celebrated on November 1 and 2. The Mexican holiday is a time to pray for and remember family and friends that have died. 
• WNBA (54D: Nneka Ogwumike's org.) Nneka Ogwumike is a professional basketball player who currently plays for WNBA's Seattle Storm. She previously played for WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks from 2012 to 2023. In 2021, as part of a celebration of its 25th season, the WNBA named "The W25," the greatest players in WNBA history. Nneka Ogwumike is on the list.
• SHE (56D: "___ Used to Be Mine" ("Waitress" song)) This is a nice tie-in with the SARA BAREILLES and HOLLYWOOD BOWL answers. SARA BAREILLES wrote "SHE Used to Be Mine" for the musical, Waitress (which was adapted from the 2007 movie of the same name). 

HOW COULD I FORGET is a great grid-spanning entry. I also really liked the SARA BAREILLES content that served to make the puzzle feel themed-ish. I'm always happy to see SARA BAREILLES content anyway. Thank you, Amie and Amanda, for this delightful puzzle.