There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today’s puzzle before reading further! Double Date
Constructor: Zhouqin Burnikel
Editor: Jared Goudsmit
What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle
- EDDIE (19A: Activist Ndopu) South African EDDIE Ndopu was born with spinal muscular dystrophy. Although doctors said he wouldn’t live past the age of five, he now has a masters degree in Public Policy from the University of Oxford in England, was selected by the United Nations to be an advocate for its Sustainable Development Goals, and is a globally recognized humanitarian and activist. His 2023 memoir is titled Sipping Dom Pérignon Through a Straw: Reimagining Success as a Disabled Achiever. I appreciated reading this Time magazine interview with EDDIE Ndopu especially his words on ableism and anti-ableism. He said, “Ableism as a concept … basically says that there’s only one way of being … An anti-ableist framework basically says … there’s more than one way of showing up in the world, and all of that is valid.”
- DEB (55A: YA author Caletti) DEB Caletti’s young adult (YA) books are set in the Pacific Northwest, a place she knows about since she lives in Seattle, Washington. She has written over twenty YA books, as well as some for adults. Her recent books include True Life in Uncanny Valley, Plan A, and The Epic Story of Every Living Thing. I haven’t read any of DEB Caletti’s books, but after perusing her website, I have a feeling I would like them. In answering the question “Did you always want to be a writer?” she says, “Yes, I always wanted to be a writer. There was that brief period of wanting to be Nancy Drew. And I began the application process to become an FBI agent, until I realized there was no way I’d ever be able to climb that rope thing.”
Random Thoughts & Interesting Things
- ULTA (13A: Retailer with a 21 Days of Beauty event) ULTA Beauty holds its 21 Days of Beauty event twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. During the event, ULTA offers special deals every day, with different products on sale each day.
- ARIAS (25A: Tenors’ solos) I enjoy this clue because it’s a reminder that while we often see think of ARIAS as operatic solos sung by women, there are ARIAS for men’s voices as well.
- OLSEN (34A: “WandaVision” actress Elizabeth) WandaVision is a 2021 TV miniseries featuring Marvel Comics characters Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth OLSEN) and Vision (Paul Bettany). The series begins with events occurring three weeks after the action of the 2019 movie, Avengers: Endgame.
- NINA (41A: Singer Simone) Nina Simone (1922-2003) was a singer, songwriter, pianist, and civil rights activist. NINA Simone’s 1992 autobiography is titled, I Put a Spell on You: The Autobiography of NINA Simone. “I Put a Spell on You” is the title track from NINA Simone’s 1965 studio album.
- EARED (49A: Lop-___ (like some rabbits)) Lop-EARED rabbits are rabbits whose ears droop instead of being carried upright.
- IMAN (58A: “Ms. Marvel” star Vellani) Ms. Marvel is a 2022 Disney+ TV series. IMAN Vellani portrays the title character, Ms. Marvel aka Kamala Khan, a Pakistani American teenager from New Jersey with shapeshifting abilities. She took over as Ms. Marvel when Carol Danvers became Captain Marvel. Before she got her superpowers, Kamala Khan wrote superhero fan fiction.
- PAO (6D: Kung ___ shrimp) Kung PAO shrimp is a spicy stir-fry dish made with peanuts, vegetables, chili peppers, and, of course, shrimp. Kung PAO shrimp and kung PAO chicken are classic dishes in Sichuan cuisine.
- DUKE (11D: Jazz legend Ellington) DUKE Ellington (1899-1974) was a jazz pianist, composer, and orchestra leader. From 1923 until his death, he was the leader of The DUKE Ellington Orchestra.
- STEW (12D: Feijoada or cassoulet) Feijoada is a STEW of beans with beef and pork that gets its name from “feijāo,” the Portuguese word for “beans.” Cassoulet is also a STEW of beans and meat. It originated in southern France.
- HIPPO (27D: Mammal whose full name means “river horse”) Two weeks ago when we saw HIPPOS clued as [Semiaquatic African mammals], I wrote: The full name of the HIPPO – hippopotamus – comes from Ancient Greek and means “river horse.” Sometimes I coincidentally provide help for future crosswords!
- ASIAN (30D: Hongkonger or Tokyoite) Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. Tokyo is the capital of Japan. China and Japan are both in Asia, making Hongkongers and Tokyoites ASIAN.
- RINDS (31D: Yuzu outsides) Yuzu is a citrus fruit cultivated mainly in East Asia. Whether it is yellow or green depends on its ripeness. Yuzu is rarely eaten as a fruit, but its RINDS and juice are used in ways similar to lemons.
- INERT (37D: Nonreactive, like xenon) Xenon is in the class of chemical elements known as noble gases. Xenon, like the rest of the noble gases, is odorless and colorless. Although generally INERT, xenon can undergo a few chemical reactions.
Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis
- TOUR GROUP (16A: Pack of sightseers)
- LATE START (29A: Result of hitting the snooze button too many times)
- HOT SECOND (45A: Brief moment)
- BLIND STUDY (59A: Scientific test designed to reduce bias)
DOUBLE DATE: Both words in each theme answer can be paired with the word DATE to form a new phrase: TOUR DATE, GROUP DATE, LATE DATE, START DATE, HOT DATE, SECOND DATE, BLIND DATE, and STUDY DATE.
It’s always interesting when a theme involves every word in each theme answer. As I was pairing up all of these words with DATE, I had the entertaining thought that a couple of the theme answers could be left intact and paired with the word DATE, giving a bit of a different meaning: LATE START DATE and HOT SECOND DATE. Thank you, Zhouqin, for this enjoyable puzzle.
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