September 7, 2025

Title: TRAIN CASES

Constructor: Stella Zawistowski

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Theme synopsis:

• TRAIL RUN (18A: Workout done in the wilderness)
• THE BRAIN (29A: Pinky's partner in "Animaniacs" antics)
• TRY AGAIN (49A: "Do it one more time")
• TRASH BIN (59A: Garbage container)

TRAIN CASE: The word TRAIN acts as a CASE of sorts that holds each theme answer: TRAIL RUN, THE BRAIN, TRY AGAIN, and TRASH BIN.

What I learned from today's puzzle:

• DIESEL (26A: Nickname Shaq earned due to his power and endurance) Shaquille O'Neal, aka Shaq, is a former professional basketball player and a current sports analyst for Inside the NBA. This much I knew. I was not familiar with his nickname of DIESEL, but it makes sense, and I got it with the help of crossing answers.
• TRUE (12D: Spandau Ballet's biggest hit) Spandau Ballet is a new wave and synth-pop band formed in London in 1979. Their third studio album, TRUE, was released in 1983. As the clue informs us, the title track of this album is the band's biggest hit. "TRUE" reached number one in the UK and made the top 10 in the U.S.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• ACTS (10A: Emulates Meryl Streep) Meryl Streep is an accomplished actress with an extensive filmography and many accolades. I have enjoyed so many of her performances. At the moment, I am anticipating watching her in the fifth season of the TV series Only Murders in the Building, which begins in a couple of days.
• THE BRAIN (29A: Pinky's partner in "Animaniacs" antics) Animaniacs (1993-1998 and 2020-2023) is an animated comedy TV series produced by Warner Bros. Pinky and THE BRAIN are genetically altered anthropomorphic laboratory mice. Pinky and THE BRAIN appeared in a recurring segment on Animaniacs, and the pair got their own spin-off series – Pinky and THE BRAIN – that aired from 1995-1998. 
• ALTO (42A: Gladys Knight's vocal range)  ALTO and seven-time Grammy Award winner, Gladys Knight was the lead singer of Gladys Knight & the Pips, and also had a successful solo career. Nicknamed the "Empress of Soul, " she has had many hit songs, including "Midnight Train to Georgia" and "That's What Friends Are For" (with Dionne Warwick, Elton John, & Stevie Wonder).
• TUTUS (51A: Skirts worn in the ballet "Giselle") Giselle is a ballet by Adolphe Adam. It was first performed in Paris in 1841. The title character is a young peasant girl who falls in love with a disguised nobleman. Upon learning her lovers true identity, Giselle dies of heartbreak. In the second act, Giselle is a ghostly spirit, roused from her grave by a sisterhood of the ghosts of women who have died after being betrayed by their lovers. I like that this clue for TUTUS lifts up a specific ballet.
• HAT (54A: Accessory worn by both Mario and Luigi) In the Mario Bros. video game franchise, Mario and Luigi are fraternal twin brothers. Mario wears a red HAT and a red shirt, and Luigi wears a green HAT and a green shirt.
• LOO (67A: WC) WC here stands for "water closet." Both WC and LOO are British terms for bathroom. LOO is making back-to-back puzzle appearances, as we saw it yesterday clued as [The head of Britain?].
• LAKE (69A: Tahoe or Titicaca) LAKE Tahoe is located in the United States on the California-Nevada border. LAKE Titicaca is located in South America on the border of Bolivia and Peru.
• SPIDER (71A: "Itsy-bitsy" critter in a nursery rhyme) Anyone else now have an earworm of "The itsy-bitsy SPIDER climbed up the water spout...?"
• PSA (1D: Alternative to "FYI") I use the abbreviation FYI (for your information) quite a bit. Maybe I will change things up and start using PSA (public service announcement).
• DYES (6D: Uses an Arctic Fox product) Arctic Fox is a company that makes hair DYES. 
• MARIE (8D: "The Aristocats" kitten with a pink bow) The Aristocats is Disney's 1970 animated musical comedy about a family of aristocratic cats. Duchess is a mother cat with three kittens. MARIE, who sports a pink bow, is the only girl cat. My cat, Willow, does not wear a pink bow. I do have a photo of her with a crocheted Hello, Kitty (who sports a red bow).

• CARS (11D: Vehicles in the game of Life) I played the board game Life a lot when I was a kid. I am a fan of the little CARS and peg people. 
• LUNA (28D: ___ moth (green insect)) I wrote about the LUNA moth on August 7 when we saw LUNA clued as [Moth species named after a moon goddess].
• GEMINI (50D: Sign after Taurus) Taurus is the astrological sign for those born between April 21 and May 21. People born between May 22 and June 21 have the astrological sign GEMINI.
• UNION (52D: "Bring It On" actress Gabrielle) Bring It On is a 2000 movie centered on a high school cheerleading team preparing for a national competition. Gabrielle UNION portrays Isis, captain of the Clovers cheer squad at East Compton High School.
• ODD (63D: Like the number of this clue) A fun little self-referential clue.
• LEE (64D: "Past Lives" actress Greta) Past Lives is a 2023 movie written and directed by Celine Song. The movie centers on Nora (Greta LEE) and Hae (Teo Yoo), who were childhood friends in South Korea until Nora moved to Canada with her parents. The two reconnect later in their lives. Greta LEE received critical acclaim for her portrayal of Nora.
• A few other clues I especially enjoyed:
• SASHAY (14A: "___ away" ("Drag Race" kiss-off))
• CARE (16A: What doctors and doulas provide)
• ERA (34A: "I'm in my chaotic ___")

A TRAIN CASE is a type of suitcase. It is usually on the smaller side, boxy, and has a lid that lifts up. Today, however, TRAIN CASE is this puzzle's theme, and each TRAIN CASE contains a theme answer. The word TRAIN is split in a different place in each answer: TRAI/N, T/RAIN, TR/AIN, and TRA/IN. Thank you, Stella, for this enjoyable puzzle.