Crossword Puzzles

Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Raise Your Glass

Sally Hoelscher

USA TODAY

There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! Raise Your Glass

Constructor: Stella Zawistowski

Editor: Anna Gundlach

What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle

TUMBLER PIGEON (6D: Bird that does somersaults in flight) There are a number of different TUMBLER PIGEON breeds. They are varieties of the rock dove (also known as the rock PIGEON) that have been selected for their ability to roll over backwards during flight. This ability is thought to be a survival tactic to avoid aerial attacks from other birds.

Random Thoughts & Interesting Things

ACTOR (4A: Tom Holland or Tom Hollander) It's a fun decision to choose two ACTORs with similar names. ACTOR Tom Holland has played the role of Spider-Man in six MCU movies (2016-2021). ACTOR Tom Hollander's film credits include Gosford Park (2001), Pride and Prejudice (2005), and The Night Manager (2016-present).
UHURA (14A: Zoe Saldana's "Star Trek" role) Zoe Saldaña first portrayed communications officer Nyota UHURA in the 2009 movie Star Trek, which is a reboot of the original Star Trek TV series. The movie featured the same main characters as the TV series, played by a new cast. Nichelle Nichols played the role of UHURA in the original series. Zoe Saldaña reprised the role of UHURA in the movies Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), and Star Trek Beyond (2016).
TAR PIT (21A: La Brea fossil excavation site) For tens of thousands of years, natural asphalt has seeped up from the ground in the Los Angeles, California area known as the La Brea TAR PITs. The TAR preserved the bones of animals unlucky enough to get caught in the pits centuries ago. The La Brea TAR Pits Museum displays fossils excavated from the TAR PITs.
IRAQ (38A: Mosul's country) Mosul is a city located in northern IRAQ along the Tigris River. It is the second-most populous city in IRAQ after Baghdad. The ruins of the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh are located in Mosul.
PEPSI (39A: Crystal ___ ('90s cola)) Crystal PEPSI was a clear cola that was sold from 1992 to 1994.
BLUE (41A: The "B" in Roy G. Biv) Roy G. Biv (also seen as ROYGBIV) is a mnemonic used to remember the colors of the rainbow in order: red, orange, yellow, green, BLUE, indigo, and violet.
PERU (42A: Country bordering Lake Titicaca) Lake Titicaca is the largest lake in South America. The freshwater lake is found in the Andes, on the border of Bolivia and PERU.
TED (49A: "The Good Place" star Danson) The Good Place (2016-2020) is a TV series about a heaven-like utopia where humans spend their afterlife. TED Danson portrays Michael, an afterlife "architect" who designs the Good Place neighborhood where the main characters of the show reside.
OBI (58A: ___-Wan Kenobi) Our Star Wars friend OBI-Wan Kenobi is making back-to-back puzzle appearances, as we saw this same clue yesterday.
PIG LATIN (61A: Anguagelay okenspay ikelay isthay) Well, this is fun! (Although getting spell check to accept the spelling of these words was a bit of a challenge...) In case your PIG LATIN is rusty, this clue says, "Language spoken like this."
GOBLET SQUAT (3D: Exercise done holding one dumbbell with both hands) A GOBLET SQUAT is a variation of a SQUAT in which a weight is held in front of the chest while performing the SQUAT. GOBLET SQUATs work your upper body muscles as well as your leg muscles.
RASTA (8D: Worshipper of Jah) I have previously written about the religion known as Rastafari, or Rastafarianism, which developed in Jamaica in the 1930s. RASTA beliefs include monotheism, a belief in one God, who is referred to as Jah.
ROTI (11D: ___ canai (Malaysian flatbread) ROTI canai is a popular breakfast and snack in Southeast Asia, especially in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. The flatbread is made by rolling dough out until it is paper thin, and then rolling or folding it to create multiple layers.
OHIO (58D: Cedar Point's state) Cedar Point is an amusement park in Sandusky, OHIO. The park is located on a peninsula that extends into Lake Erie.
LOU (62D: Jazz composer Mary ___ Williams) Mary LOU Williams (1910-1981) was a jazz pianist, arranger, and composer. She wrote and arranged songs for many jazz artists, including Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman.
A couple of other clues I especially liked:
- THE L BOMB (19A: Word "dropped" in a deepening relationship)
- IT ME (2D: "omg i feel seen")

Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis

GOBLET SQUAT (3D: Exercise done holding one dumbbell with both hands)
TUMBLER PIGEON (6D: Bird that does somersaults in flight)
MUG ROOT BEER (9D: Rival of Dad's and Barq's)

RAISE YOUR GLASS: The top word of each vertical theme answer is a type of GLASS: GOBLET, TUMBLER, and MUG.

The word RAISE in the title gave me a good idea that the theme would be found in the tops of vertical theme answers. It's nice that each GLASS is located such that it is being "raised" to the top of the grid. Thank you, Stella, for this enjoyable puzzle.

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