Crossword Blog & Answers for March 17, 2025 by Sally Hoelscher

Random Thoughts & Interesting Things

• MEXICAN HAT DANCE (16A: Performance also called Jarabe Tapatio) The MEXICAN HAT DANCE, also known as Jarabe Tapatio, is the national dance of Mexico. The DANCE originated as a courtship dance, and is characterized by each partner dancing around a HAT.
• ADAM (26A: Singer Lambert) In 2009, ADAM Lambert was the runner-up on Season 8 of American Idol. Since then he has had a successful solo career, as well as collaborating with the band Queen as the lead vocalist for Queen + ADAM Lambert. He made his Broadway debut in 2024, playing the Emcee of Cabaret. If you want to see him in that role, you’ll need to hurry, as his last performance is March 29.
• TASTE (37A: “___ the Rainbow” (Skittles slogan)) Although the multi-colored candy Skittles has been on the market since 1971, they didn’t adopt the slogan, “TASTE the Rainbow,” until 1994. Since then, Skittles has adapted their slogan, at times using, “Touch the Rainbow,” “Give the Rainbow,” “Discover the Rainbow,” and even “Apologize the Rainbow.”
• CLUE (44A: Murder-mystery board game with accusations) Always happy to see a reference to the board game CLUE. Today it was Matthew in the USA Today with the crossword puzzle (although hopefully there was no victim!).
• ERNIE (55A: “Sesame Street” character with a beloved Rubber Duckie) I’m also always happy to see ERNIE, particularly with a clue referencing Rubber Duckie. I have previously written about the importance of rubber duckies in our family.
• MAXX (3D: TJ ___ (clothing retailer)) TJ MAXX is a discount clothing retailer founded in 1976 in Framingham, Massachusetts. This clue reminds me of a favorite book series of mine, the Thursday Next books by Jasper Fforde. Stick with me, I’ll explain… In the seventh book of the series, The Woman Who Died a Lot, TJ MAXX turns out to be, not a discount store for designer garments, but a “high-security facility for the imprisonment of dangerous criminals.” Fortunately, that’s only in fiction. It’s still safe to shop at TJ MAXX.
• MIA HAMM (6D: Soccer legend who wore No. 9 for Team USA) MIA HAMM is a retired professional soccer player. She wore No. 9 on the U.S. women’s national soccer team that won Olympic gold medals in 1996 and 2004, and an Olympic silver medal in 2000.
• IGA (8D: Tennis champion Swiatek) IGA Świątek, a professional tennis player from Poland, won the French Open in 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024, and the U.S. Open in 2022. 
• SAN JUAN (9D: Puerto Rico’s capital) Puerto Rico is a Caribbean island approximately 1,000 miles southeast of Miami, Florida. SAN JUAN is the capital of Puerto RICO.
• CASH APP (14D: Venmo alternative with a green icon) CASH APP and Venmo are mobile payment systems that allow users to transfer money using an APP. CASH APP also has other capabilities that include stock investment, applying for loans, and paying taxes.
• VOCAL CORDS (24D: Body parts that vibrate when you sing) Located in the throat, VOCAL CORDS vibrate not only when you sing, but also when you speak. The length of a person’s VOCAL CORDS affects the pitch of their voice.
• DRAG RACE (27D: Reality competition most recently won by Nymphia Wind, familiarly) RuPaul’s DRAG RACE is a reality competition TV series in search of “America’s next DRAG superstar.” There have been 17 seasons of DRAG RACE to date, and it has inspired a number of spin-off shows. As the clue informs us, the winner of Season 16 of DRAG RACE was Nymphia Wind. Season 17 premiered on January 3 of this year.
• CAT CAFE (29D: Business where you might sip chai with a li’l buddy purring in your lap) I adore the idea of a CAT CAFE. CAT owners essentially live in a 24-hour CAT CAFE. I have sipped many a beverage with my CAT, Willow, on my lap.

• HARDEE’S (41D: Sister chain to Carl’s Jr.) HARDEE’S and Carl’s Jr. are both owned by CKE Restaurant Holdings, Inc.