May 12, 2026

Title: DO THE TWIST (Freestyle)

Constructor: Willa Angel Chen Miller

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Theme synopsis:

DO THE TWIST (Freestyle): There's no theme today as this is a freestyle, or themeless, puzzle. The title is a nod to RIGHTY TIGHTY (26A: With 50-Across, mnemonic for helping people remember which way to turn screws) and LEFTY LOOSEY (50A: See 26-Across).

What I learned from today's puzzle:

• ALOE (2D: Singer Blacc featured in "Wake Me Up") ALOE Blacc is a songwriter and rapper. He made a guest appearance on Avicii's 2013 single "Wake Me Up." I'm familiar with this song – "So wake me up when it's all over / When I'm wiser and I'm older..." – but was not familiar with ALOE Blacc. Interesting to have a novel clue angle for ALOE.
• READE (47D: Duane ___ (drugstore chain)) Duane READE is a pharmacy and convenience store chain owned by Walgreens. Its stores are mainly in New York and New Jersey, which explains why I am not familiar with them.
• OPAL (51D: The Flame Queen, e.g.) The Flame Queen is a 263.18-carat OPAL discovered in Australia in 1914. It is described as an "eye-of-OPAL." I would describe it as looking like a fried egg with a greenish-black "white" and a red "yolk."

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• OKRA (15A: Bhindi fry veggie) The word bhindi is borrowed from Hindi and refers to the vegetable OKRA when used in Indian cooking. Even if you are unfamiliar with a particular dish, if it has the word "bhindi" in the name, it probably contains OKRA.
• WICK (18A: Action movie protagonist played by Reeves) The John WICK franchise began with the 2014 movie of that name. Keanu Reeves stars as John WICK, a legendary hitman who retires, but then is reluctantly drawn back into the criminal underworld.
• ROOM (36A: Reservation at a Korean-style karaoke bar) Korean-style karaoke features private soundproof ROOMs that one can rent. Instead of singing karaoke in front of a ROOM full of strangers, you can do so only in front of your friends, family, or co-workers. Honestly, I'm not sure if that's more or less appealing.
• HELMET NACHOS (43A: Novelty ballpark snack served in headgear) I've never eaten HELMET NACHOS, but I have eaten HELMET ice cream at a baseball stadium.
• ARIANA (46A: "Side to Side" singer Grande) "Side to Side" is a song by ARIANA Grande featuring Nicki Minaj. It's a single from ARIANA Grande's 2016 album Dangerous Woman.
• TOTS (23D: Many Bluey fans) Bluey is an animated children's TV series that premiered in 2018. The title character is an anthropomorphic Blue Heeler puppy.
• BOTH (33D: "___ Sides, Now" (Joni Mitchell hit)) "BOTH Sides, Now" is a song that Joni Mitchell released in 1969 on her album Clouds. For her 2000 album, BOTH Sides, Now, Joni Mitchell re-recorded the song with an orchestral arrangement. "I've looked at life from BOTH sides now / From win and lose and still somehow / It's life's illusions I recall / I really don't know life at all."
• INTO (34D: "Still ___ You" (Paramore song)) "Still INTO You" is a 2013 song by Paramore. Goodness there's a lot of great music mentioned in this puzzle! Maybe it's time to rent a karaoke ROOM. "I should be over all the butterflies / But I'm INTO you (I'm INTO you)."
• TACO (39D: Walking ___ (snack in a Fritos bag)) I do enjoy a walking TACO once in a while. It's fun that the walking TACO is intersecting HELMET NACHOS.
• OTIS (52D: Milo's pug companion) The Adventures of Milo and OTIS is a 1986 Japanese movie about an orange tabby cat named Milo and a pug named OTIS. An English-language version of the movie, narrated by Dudley Moore, was released in 1989.
• Several other clues I especially enjoyed:
• BIB (33A: Dribble guard)
• TONE (39A: What's often lost over text message)
• REBOOTS (5D: Powers down and turns on again)
• IT'S ME (29D: "Guess who? Yours truly!")

I really enjoyed seeing RIGHTY TIGHTY, LEFTY LOOSEY featured in this puzzle. I use this mnemonic almost every time I use a screwdriver. I also use it when I'm putting lids on and taking them off. Thank you, Willa, for this superb puzzle.

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