There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today’s puzzle before reading further! Crying at the Nail Salon (Freestyle)

Constructor: Kelsey Dixon

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle

• HOOP (5A: “I like slam dunks take me to the ___ / My favorite play is the Alley Oop” (“Basketball” lyric) Kurtis Blow recorded the song “Basketball” – which includes the lyrics, “I like slam dunks take me to the HOOP / My favorite play is the Alley Oop” – in 1984. The song is about basketball (as one might guess from its title!) and mentions a number of basketball players by name, including Dr. J, Magic (Johnson), Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar), and Wilt (Chamberlain).
• J LO (1D: Jenny from the block) “Jenny from the Block” is a 2002 song by Jennifer Lopez, aka J LO. It was the lead single from her album This Is Me … Then. Since the song’s release, J LO has been referred to as “Jenny from the block.”
• MOONS (48D: Five ___ (group that included Maria Tallchief)) I have previously written about prima ballerina Maria Tallchief (1925-2013). She was the first star of the New York City Ballet when it was founded in 1948. Maria Tallchief was one of the Five MOONS, Native American ballerinas who achieved international recognition. In addition to Maria Tallchief, the Five MOONs include Myra Yvonne Chouteau (1929-2016), Rosella Hightower (1920-2008), Moscelyne Larkin Jasinski (1925-2012), and Marjorie Tallchief (1926-2021). Last week I wrote about the golden dollar coin. The 2023 coin featured Maria Tallchief and the Five MOONS.

Random Thoughts & Interesting Things

• OUTFIT REPEATER (16A: Person committing a certain fashion faux pax, per “Lizzie McGuire”) Lizzie McGuire is the teenaged title character (portrayed by Hilary Duff) of the Lizzie McGuire TV series and The Lizzie McGuire Movie. In the movie, one of the other characters says to Lizzie McGuire, “…You are an OUTFIT REPEATER.” I have never been concerned with being fashionable, and I am definitely an OUTFIT REPEATER!
• ESSENCE (20A: Magazine where “Black Women Come First”) Since 1970, ESSENCE magazine’s monthly issues have covered fashion, beauty, entertainment, and culture in articles written for Black women readers. 
• DEW (26A: Mountain ___ (soda with a Maui Burst flavor)) Mountain DEW Maui Burst is a pineapple-flavored variation of Mountain DEW that is only available at Dollar General stores.
• HORSE (28A: Half of a centaur) In Greek mythology, a centaur is a creature with the lower body and legs of a HORSE and the upper body of a human.
• NONI (31A: “Dreamgirls” actress Anika ___ Rose) Dreamgirls is a 2006 movie adapted from the 1981 Broadway musical of the same name. Dreamgirls is a fictional story inspired by the Supremes. The movie starred Anika NONI Rose, Beyoncé, and Jennifer Hudson.
• RIOT GRRRL (33A: Punk movement influenced by Poly Styrene) The RIOT GRRRL movement began in the 1990s in Olympia, Washington. Combining feminism, punk music, and politics, RIOT GRRRL bands often address issues such as rape, domestic abuse, racism, patriarchy, and female empowerment. Poly Styrene (1957-2011) is one of the artists whose music influenced the RIOT GRRRL movement.
• MARIAH CAREY (48A: “The Emancipation of Mimi” artist) MARIAH CAREY’s tenth studio album, released in 2005, is titled The Emancipation of Mimi. When the album was released, MARIAH CAREY said that Mimi was a nickname her close personal friends used, and the title was a signal she was revealing more of herself to fans.
• LION (58A: Feline that represents Leo) Leo is the zodiac sign for those born between July 23 and August 22, and the LION is its symbol. Although my cat, Willow, is not a LION (though she is a Leo), her fluffy fur makes it appear as though she has a mane.

• ROAN (62A: “Casual” singer Chappell ___) “Casual” is a 2022 song by Chappell ROAN. The song was included on Chappell ROAN’s 2024 debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.
• MATILDA (3D: Kids’ movie with Miss Trunchbull and Miss Honey) MATILDA is a 1996 movie based on Roald Dahl’s 1988 book of the same name. The title character is a young girl who develops psychokinetic properties. Miss Honey is MATILDA’s teacher, and Miss Trunchbull is the principal at MATILDA’s school. These characters also feature in MATILDA the Musical (2010) and the movie MATILDA the Musical (2022).
• OUR (6D: “___ Lips Are Sealed”) “OUR Lips Are Sealed” is a 1981 song by the Go-Gos. OUR Lips Are Sealed is also the name of a 2000 movie starring Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.
• PAPERS (8D: USA TODAY, Chicago Tribune, etc.) Nice opportunity for a self-plug for USA TODAY.
• ESTE (18D: East, in Spanish) I’m taking this opportunity to review my Spanish directions: norte, sur, ESTE, and oeste (north, south, east, and west).
• FONT (24D: Papyrus or Curlz MT)

• NIL (31D: Contract for college athletes (Abbr.)) NIL stands for name, image, and likeness. As the result of a 2021 Supreme Court decision (NCAA v. Alston), college athletes are allowed to earn income from promotion of their name, image, and likeness.
• MRS (32D: ___ White (Clue character)) I’m always happy to see a reference to the board game Clue. In the 2016 editions of Clue, MRS. White was replaced as a suspect by Dr. Orchid. The character made a comeback in the 2023 edition, but is now referred to as Chef White.
• RHEA (34D: Large, flightless bird) Did you think the answer here was “emu” before you noticed it had four letters? Today the puzzle is reminding us that our crossword friend emu is not the only large flightless bird. The RHEA is native to South America, and is the third-largest flightless bird – after the ostrich and emu.
• OCEANIA (38D: Region that includes Fiji) OCEANIA is a geographical region that includes Australasia (Australia, New Zealand, and some neighboring islands), Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Fiji is an island country in the Melanesia region of OCEANIA. About 110 of Fiji’s 330 islands are permanently inhabited. The capital of Fiji is Suva.This is the second time this month we’ve seen OCEANIA in the puzzle.
• CHE (49D: Activist Guevara) CHE Guevara was a major figure in the Cuban Revolution. He served as Minister of Industries of Cuba from 1961-1965, and was executed in Bolivia in 1967.
• HBO (54D: “Veep” channel) On the HBO series, Veep (2012-2019), Julia Louis-Dreyfus plays Selina Meyer, the (fictional) Vice-President of the United States. 

Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis

CRYING AT THE NAIL SALON (Freestyle): There’s no theme today, as this is a freestyle, or themeless, puzzle. The title is a nod to ONE OF THOSE DAYS (53A: “Nothing’s going my way right now”).

The title of today’s puzzle, “Crying at the Nail Salon,” is a lyric from Chappell Roan’s song, “Femininomenon.” “Crying at the nail salon / I’m so sick of online love.” Thank you, Kelsey, for this delightful puzzle.

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