October 12, 2025

Title: TAP DANCE 

Constructor: Sean Ziebarth

Editor: Amie Walker

Theme synopsis:

• IT PAYS THE RENT (20A: "A job's a job")
• ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY (38A: Program that lets volunteers keep a stretch of road litter-free)
• STOP AT NOTHING (57A: Do whatever it takes)

TAP DANCE: An anagram of the word TAP is found hidden in each theme answer: IT PAYS THE RENT, ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY, and STOP AT NOTHING.

And now a word from our constructor:

Sean: I hope you got to solve this puzzle with your favorite person today over a couple of DANISHES (39D: Breakfast pastries)! One of my favorite things ever is to watch my second child dance! They wear the sweetest smile as they dance, even when the moves require intense effort and concentration. It takes equal effort and concentration on my part to hold back tears of joy watching them dance, but while they pull off the moves, I pull out the tissues. Saying I'm PROUD (63A: Like a smiling parent at a child's recital) is an understatement! This is all to say that I'm inspired by their footwork skills and I wanted to pay homage to them with this puzzle. 

One possible entry that didn't make the cut was THE GREAT PUMPKIN, which would have been a lot of fun since this puzzle is running in October. And if tap dancing and Halloween sound like a great mash up to you, check out 31 Day of Tapoween on Instagram where my kid and other great dancers will haunt you with spooky shuffles, scrapes, and slides!

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• ANTS (1A: Aardvark treats) Sometimes I read a clue and my brain just seems to stop working or not fully absorb the words. Such was the case here, I read [Aardvark treats], and I thought, "How would I know what treats an aardvark would like?" When crossing answer revealed the answer I then thought, "Silly me, I did know that aardvarks – aka anteaters – like ANTS!"
• GUITAR (34A: St. Vincent's instrument) St. Vincent is the professional name of singer-songwriter and GUITAR player, Annie Clark. In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked St. Vincent number 26 on their list of "The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time."
• OSHA (37A: Workplace watchdog org.) The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was formed in its current configuration in 1971. President Nixon signed the Occupational Safety and Health Act into law in 1970, and OSHA was created the following year.
• ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY (38A: Program that lets volunteers keep a stretch of road litter-free) I have seen ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY signs along the side of the road, but have never taken the time to learn much about this program. I'm happy for this nudge from the crossword. Litter cleanup is expensive, so ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY programs, and the similar Sponsor-A-HIGHWAY, help U.S. States, Canadian provinces and territories, and a few countries outside of North America keep roadways clean while keeping costs low. The program originated in Texas in the 1980s and proved successful, ultimately spreading to other states. With ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY programs, states usually provide volunteer safety training, reflective vests, and equipment. In exchange for picking up litter on a regular schedule, the volunteers get their group's name on a sign along the highway. In the Sponsor-A-HIGHWAY program, groups pay to have professionals keep a stretch of road clean, instead of doing the litter pickup themselves. Fun fact: Vermont is the only one of the U.S. states that has never had an ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY program.
• HANGRY (44A: Ravenous to the point of rage) The word "HANGRY" is a portmanteau of the words "hungry" and "angry."
• HIPS (52A: "___ Don't Lie" (Shakira song)) "HIPS Don't Lie" is a 2006 song by Shakira. In 2018, NPR included "HIPS Don't Lie" in its list of "The 200 Greatest Songs by 21st Century Women."
• ESTES (69A: ___ Park, Colorado) ESTES Park, Colorado is located at the eastern edge of Rocky Mountain National Park. Due to its location, ESTES Park is a popular summer resort town. 
• ALOHA (7D: Hawaiian expression of peace) Although the Hawaiian word ALOHA is often used as a greeting, it means more than simply "hello." ALOHA also encompasses "love, affection, peace, compassion, and mercy."
• ALF (12D: Nickname hidden in "intentional foul") I do enjoy an occasional hidden word clue. Who's that hiding in the "intentional foul?" Why it's ALF!
• AHA (35D: "Lightbulb moment" word) I always enjoy seeing "AHA!" in the grid, as I tend to use that word a lot in my blog posts. I do adore a good "AHA!" moment.
• RITE (36D: Bat mitzvah or quinceañera) Bat mitzvah is a Jewish coming-of-age RITE for (usually 12-year-old) girls. A quinceañera, a common RITE in Mexican and other Latin American cultures, is a celebration of a girl's 15th birthday.
• CHO (42D: "Star Trek" actor John) Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu is a character from the original Star Trek series (1966-1969). Lieutenant Sulu also appeared in the first six Star Trek movies (1979-1991), and in the animated Star Trek series (1973-1974). In these appearances, Lieutenant Sulu was portrayed by George Takei. In 2009, John CHO took over the portrayal of Sulu. John CHO plays the role of Sulu in the movies Star Trek (2009), Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), and Star Trek Beyond (2016).
• RHO (45D: Letter before sigma) The letter RHO appears in the 24-letter Greek alphabet after pi and before sigma.
• SOIREE (48D: Evening party) The English word SOIREE comes from the French word for evening, "soir." Sometimes the word is spelled with an acute accent: SOIRÉE.
• ODES (60D: Some Megan Falley poems) According to Megan Falley's website, she is a "creator of poems that don't suck." This is attention-getting and also a reference to the virtual workshops she taught during the COVID-19 pandemic, "Poems That Don't Suck." One of Megan Falley's ODES is called, "ODE to Red Lipstick."
• A few other clues I especially enjoyed:
• TAME (17A: Flip from wild to mild, say)
• RETRO (23A: Cool again)
• BEGGED (50D: Offered a paw for a treat, say)

After a couple of recent experiences of trying to guess the theme from the title and being completely mistaken, I was glad to have my theme guess be correct today. This is a hidden anagram theme, and the word "DANCE" in the title is acting as an anagram indicator. The letters in the word "TAP" are dancing into different positions to give us the anagrams: T/PA, PT/A, and PAT. Thank you, Sean, for this enjoyable puzzle.