There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today’s puzzle before reading further! 2BRs
Constructor: Stella Zawistowski
Editor: Amanda Rafkin
What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle
- SARI (33A: “A ___ for Ammi” (children’s book)) A SARI for Ammi is a children’s book by Mamta Nainy, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat. This book tells of two young girls whose mother is a weaver. The girls notice that their mother is a talented SARI maker, but she never wears the SARIs she creates. The girls set out to buy a SARI for their mother, and learn about the process of creating SARIs along the way. I’m always happy to learn about a new children’s book.
- LAMB (43A: Jalamah meat) Jalamah is a LAMB dish that originated in Asir, a province of Saudi Arabia. LAMB is cooked with fat, onions, and Arabic spices (cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, and black pepper).
- LANA (68A: Drag queen ___ Ja’Rae) LANA Ja’Rae competed on the most recent season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, which aired from January 3 to April 18.
Random Thoughts & Interesting Things
- ALOO (16A: ___ paratha (potato-stuffed breakfast dish)) ALOO paratha, which is a flatbread with potato filling, is a dish in Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi cuisine. This is my occasional reminder that ALOO is a South Asian term for potatoes, so when a dish in a crossword clue is described as containing potato, the answer may be ALOO.
- BRENE BROWN (18A: Author of “Daring Greatly”) BRENÉ Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston, where she studies courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy. She’s also an author, podcaster, and lecturer. Her 2012 book, Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead is one of six of her books that have been New York Times bestsellers. I am a fan of BRENÉ BROWN, and if you aren’t familiar with her work, I highly recommend checking it out. Daring Greatly is a good place to start, as is her Ted Talk (which I just recommended to you a few days ago).
- EPA (22A: Org. with a Household Carbon Footprint Calculator) The Household Carbon Footprint Calculator is a tool provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The interactive tool allows you to estimate your carbon footprint in three areas: home energy, transportation, and waste. Tips are also provided to decrease your carbon footprint.
- OTOE (24A: The ___ Missouria Tribe) The OTOE-Missouria Tribe has its headquarters in Red Rock, Oklahoma. The OTOE and Missouria tribes both originated in the Great Lakes region.
- BROOKS BROTHERS (27A: Preppy clothing chain) Henry Sands BROOKS found a clothing store in Manhattan in 1818. His four sons – Elisha, Daniel, Edward, and John – eventually inherited the business, and in 1850 they changed the name from H. & D. H. BROOKS & Co. to BROOKS BROTHERS. The high-end clothing brand is especially known for its clothing for men, though it also makes clothing for women and children. Here’s a not-so-fun fact: Both President Abraham Lincoln and President John F. Kennedy were wearing BROOKS BROTHERS when they were assassinated. On a happier note, many U.S. presidents have worn BROOKS BROTHERS for their inaugurations.
- NATO (34A: 32-country defense group, for short) The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a military alliance established with the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty in 1949. There were 12 founding members, and there are currently 32 NATO members. The most recent country to join NATO was Sweden on March 7, 2024. Three additional countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, and Ukraine) have informed NATO of their desire to join the alliance.
- WALL-E (38A: Pixar film about a trash-cleaning robot) WALL-E, the trash-collecting robot on an uninhabitable, deserted Earth in the year 2805, is the title character of Pixar’s 2008 animated movie. WALL-E stands for “Waste Allocation Load Lifter: Earth Class.” The character is voiced by Ben Burtt. It’s been a while since I’ve watched WALL-E (but I have seen it!); it might be time for a rewatch.
- BROOKLYN BRIDGE (46A: Iconic structure across NYC’s East River) The BROOKLYN BRIDGE connects the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and BROOKLYN. When it opened in 1883, it was the longest suspension BRIDGE in the world, with a span of 1,594 feet. That record now belongs to Çanakkale 1915 Bridge in Turkey, which was a span of 6,637 feet.
- NOAH (56A: Comedian Trevor) Trevor NOAH is a comedian, writer, and producer. From 2015-2022, he was the host of The Daily Show, a late-night talk show on Comedy Central. Trevor NOAH currently hosts a podcast called What Now? He has also hosted the Grammy Awards for the last five years.
- IOWA (10D: State with January caucuses) Every four years, the Democrat and Republican parties hold caucuses in January (or sometimes early February). At the caucuses, voters discuss party business, and most notably, vote on their party’s candidate for president. For many years, the IOWA caucuses have been the first voting opportunity of the presidential primary season. (This was not true for the 2024 Democratic caucuses.) Living in IOWA as I do, I have participated in caucuses. I do so because I feel it’s my civic duty, but I have to admit that the process sometimes feels a bit chaotic.
- HENS (26D: Egg-laying birds) HENS are having a crossword moment. We saw the singular word HEN in the puzzle the last two days.
Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis
- BRENE BROWN (18A: Author of “Daring Greatly”)
- BROOKS BROTHERS (27A: Preppy clothing chain)
- BROOKLYN BRIDGE (46A: Iconic structure across NYC’s East River)
- BREAK BREAD (62A: Share a meal)
2BRs: Each theme answer consists of two words that begin with the letters BR: BRENE BROWN, BROOKS BROTHERS, BROOKLYN BRIDGE, and BREAK BREAD.
In real estate listings, 2BR is shorthand for two bedroom. Today, 2BR is reinterpreted in a fun way, and I enjoyed these 2BR phrases. I also appreciate that the 2BRs span a variety of categories: a person, a brand, a structure, and a saying. Thank you, Stella, for this bright, brilliant puzzle.
Leave a Reply