Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Root Around
There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! Root Around
Constructor: Prasanna Keshava
Editor: Anna Gundlach
SURF (32A: Drop in and ride the barrel, at the beach) I know what surfing is ... and that's the extent of my knowledge about this water sport (other than things I've previously learned from crossword puzzles). I was grateful for the "at the beach" hint, which helped me deduce that "drop in" and "ride the barrel" are SURF lingo. To "drop in" means to catch a wave that another surfer is already riding. As you might imagine, basic SURF etiquette says not to do this, as you could ruin the person's wave. The "barrel" refers to the inside tube or curl of the wave. To "ride the barrel" is to SURF inside this wave curl. I'm sure I haven't done the best job of explaining this, so I recommend watching the linked video if you want to know more.
WIFE (30D: Jessica Betts, to Niecy Nash) Actress Niecy Nash and singer Jessica Betts married in August of 2020.
COMMA (1A: Punctuation mark with an Oxford variety) This clue was a fun way to start off this puzzle. In my experience, some people (myself included) can get emotional, opinionated, and outspoken on the subject of the Oxford COMMA. The Oxford COMMA, also known as the serial COMMA, is the COMMA placed after the second-to-last item in a list, just before the conjunction. The COMMA between the words "opinionated" and "and" above is an example of an Oxford COMMA. And by the fact that I used it, you can probably guess how I feel about this punctuation mark! The Oxford COMMA is generally not used in journalism in order to save space. Fortunately, since this article is only available digitally, I am able to utilize the Oxford COMMA when appropriate.
RAY-BAN (27A: Wayfarer sunglasses brand) The sunglass brand RAY-BAN was created by Bausch & Lomb in 1936. In 1952, the company began marketing their Wayfarer line of RAY-BAN sunglasses. A number of celebrities, including Buddy Holly and James Dean, sported Wayfarers in the 1950s and 1960s, helping the brand become popular. In the 1980s when the glasses were becoming less popular, RAY-BAN invested in a product placement deal that resulted in RAY-BAN sunglasses appearing in numerous movies and TV shows. Notably, Tom Cruise wore Wayfarers in the 1983 movie Risky Business.
RHINOS (33A: Huge horned herbivores) The name "rhinoceros" means "nose-horned," a reference to the distinctive horns of these animals. The horns of RHINOS are made of keratin, the same material that makes up the fingernails of humans.
CIARA (66A: "Body Party" singer) "Body Party" is a 2013 song by CIARA.
MGS (3D: Booker T. & the ___) Booker T. & the M.G.'S were a band that played R&B, soul, funk, and instrumental rock. Booker T. & the M.G.'s were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, and the Blues Hall of Fame in 2019.
ANKARA (5D: Capital of Turkey) Turkey's capital city of ANKARA is the country's second-largest city, following Istanbul. Historically known as Angora, the city's name officially changed to ANKARA in the 1930s. Angora rabbits (the source of Angora wool) and Angora goats (the source of mohair) were named after the city.
DARLA (9D: "Finding Nemo" girl with braces) It's been a while since I've seen Disney's 2003 animated movie, Finding Nemo, but I have seen it. I needed some help from crossing answers to remember the name of DARLA, the braces-wearing niece of the dentist in whose office Nemo ends up in an aquarium.
RENO (33D: "The Biggest Little City in the World") RENO, Nevada is located near the Nevada-California border, about 22 miles northeast of Lake Tahoe. RENO is known for its tourism and casino industry, and has earned the nickname "The Biggest Little City in the World."
OCALA (36D: Florida city near Silver Springs) OCALA, Florida is located in the north central part of the state. Its nickname is "HORSE Capital of the World" – a nod to the many thoroughbred training centers in the area.
EAST (38D: Mozambique-to-Madagascar direction) Mozambique is a country in Southeast Africa, with coastline along the Indian Ocean. Madagascar is an island country in the Indian Ocean, located EAST of Mozambique. How about a review of some capitals? The capital of Mozambique is Maputo, and the capital of Madagascar is Antananarivo.
E-BOY (43D: Alt aesthetic popularized on TikTok) The E-BOY and e-girl alternative fashion subculture emerged in the late 2010s, and was popularized by TikTok. The look may include baggy clothes, neon-colored hair, nail polish, and decorative chains.
ITHACA (47D: Cornell's city) Cornell University was founded in ITHACA, New York in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White. Cornell is a land grant university (an institution of higher education given federal land by the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890).
THETA (49D: Greek letter after eta) THETA is the eighth letter of the Greek alphabet. It follows eta and precedes iota. From the top: alpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon, zeta, eta, THETA, iota...
HORSE (51D: Belmont Stakes racer) The Belmont Stakes, known as "The Third Jewel of the Triple Crown," is a HORSE race held on the first or second Saturday of June. The other two HORSE races that comprise the Triple Crown are the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. The Belmont Stakes are held at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.
TAO (63D: "Eternally nameless" philosophy concept) TAOists follow a philosophical and spiritual tradition that emphasizes living in harmony with the natural order of the universe, a principal referred to as "TAO" or "the way." The TAO Te Ching, a fundamental text for Taoism, describes TAO as the natural order of the universe. It is considered "eternally nameless" in contrast to the countless named things in the universe.
BEST KEPT SECRET (16A: Info not many know about)
BEFORE I FORGET (35A: "Oh, also let me quickly say...")
BEAR MARKET (59A: Downward trend on Wall Street)
ROOT AROUND: The ROOT vegetable BEET is found AROUND each theme answer: BEST KEPT SECRET, BEFORE I FORGET, and BEAR MARKET.
As with yesterday's puzzle, "Picture Frame," figuring out today's theme requires an extra step. It is not the word ROOT that is found AROUND each theme answer; it's the ROOT vegetable, BEET. I had a nice "Aha!" moment when I noticed that BEST KEPT SECRET begins with BE- and ends with -ET. Thank you, Prasanna, for this excellent puzzle.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Crossword Blog & Answers for March 15, 2025 by Sally Hoelscher
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There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! Double Time Constructor: Joe Rodini Editor: Jared Goudsmit ETON (65A: John Gurdon's alma mater) Sir John Gurdon is a developmental biologist. In 2012, he shared the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine with Shinya Yamanaka for their (separate) research on stem-cells. John Gurdon attended ETON College before heading to Christ Church, Oxford to obtain his graduate degrees. Here's a fascinating thing I learned about John Gurdon: When he was in high school, he ranked last in science in a class of 250 boys, and one of his schoolmasters told him he had no chance of becoming a scientist. Well, I'd say he proved that schoolmaster wrong. EVAN (8A: Actress ___ Rachel Wood) EVAN Rachel Wood's acting credits include the role of Delores Abernathy in the HBO TV series Westworld (2016-2022) and Madonna in the movie Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022). HERS (13A: Belonging to that woman) and OURS (2D: Belonging to us) Nice use of parallel structure in these two clues. EST (22A: Guinness World Records suffix) Since 1955, Guinness World Records has kept track of a number of records, such as: the LargEST human mattress dominoes (2,355), the HighEST annual earnings for a musician ever (Taylor Swift), and the GreatEST distance travelled with a pool cue balanced on the chin (10,826 ft 9 in). ASPCA (48A: Pet protection org.) The abbreviation of the word organization in the clue alerts solvers that the answer will be an abbreviation – in this case, ASPCA for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. ASPCA is a nonprofit organization founded in 1866. Its mission is "to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States." My cat, Willow, says this is a worthy mission indeed. ASL (56A: Language in Deaf West Theatre shows) Productions at the Deaf West Theatre in Los Angeles, California feature deaf and hearing artists, and combine ASL and spoken English. The Deaf West Theatre was founded in 1991. Their performances are "inspired by deaf culture and the expressive power of sign language." In addition to their stage productions, they have collaborated with artists to produce music videos and performances such as Kelly Clarkson's "I Dare You," and Ingrid Michaelson's "Hell No!" (If you need a bit of joy in your day – and who doesn't? – I highly recommend checking out these videos.) NAOMI (63A: "Birdman" actress Watts) Birdman is a 2014 movie about a former Hollywood actor (portrayed by Michael Keaton) who is best known for playing a superhero named Birdman. NAOMI Watts portrays Broadway newcomer Lesley. TYPO (67A: Mistake in this cclue) I will never get tired of TYPO clues; they make me smile every single time. CLERIC (4D: D&D class skilled in divine magic) In the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), when players create a character they choose a class for that character. Each class gives a character certain perks and abilities. Characters in the CLERIC class can channel divine magic. CHUM (5D: The ___ Bucket ("SpongeBob" restaurant)) On the animated TV series SpongeBob Square Pants, SpongeBob works as a fry cook at the Krusty Krab, a fast food restaurant owned by Mr. Krabs. The CHUM Bucket is a rival restaurant, owned by a one-eyed crustacean named Plankton and his computer wife, Karen. LEGO SET (21D: The 2,022-brick Taj Mahal kit, for example) I like the inclusion of a specific example in this clue. According to the LEGO website, the 2,022-brick Taj Mahal LEGO SET is a retired product (as is a previous 5,923-brick Taj Mahal LEGO SET). Might I interest you instead in a 4,090-brick River Steamboat LEGO SET (for a mere $329.99)? SEA (28D: Poseidon's domain) In Greek mythology, Poseidon is the god of the SEA, storms, earthquakes, and horses. In some tellings, Poseidon became the ruler of the SEA when the world was divided among the three sons of Cronus. Poseidon was given the SEA, Zeus was given the sky, and Hades was given the underworld. ARG (36D: Buenos Aires' country (Abbr.)) Buenos Aires is the capital and most-populous city of Argentina (ARG). It is located on the Río de la Plata, earning it the nickname "The Queen of El Plata." DOHA (37D: Capital of Qatar) DOHA is the capital of Qatar, and is home to over 80% of the country's population. ANI (39D: "32 Flavors" singer DiFranco) "32 Flavors" is a 1995 song by ANI DiFranco. The song's title is a play on Baskin-Robbins' "31 flavors" slogan. WYATT (44D: Labor leader Addie) Addie WYATT (1924-2012) was a civil rights activist as well as a leader in the United States Labor movement. She was one of 12 women named as Time magazine's Women of the Year in 1975, chosen for "speaking out effectively against sexual and racial discrimination in hiring, promotion and pay." AT LAST (46D: Etta James tune with the lyric "My lonely days are over / And life is like a song") "AT LAST" is the title track of Etta James's debut album, which was released in 1960. It became her signature song, and her version of it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. "AT LAST" was originally written for a 1941 musical, Sun Valley Serenade. YEOH (55D: "Everything Everywhere All at Once" star Michelle) Michelle YEOH plays the role of Evelyn Quan Wang in the 2022 movie Everything Everywhere All at Once. She also portrays several alternate universe versions of the character. Michele YEOH won a Best Actress Academy Award for this role. COOP (57D: Chicken's house) and AUTO (58D: Sedan or coupe) It's a small thing, but it was fun to fill in the answer "COOP" and then in the next clue see the word "coupe." A couple of other clues I especially enjoyed: PENS (6D: Pocket protectors may hold them) TSA (31D: Org. that deals with a lot of baggage) FREE LUNCH (16A: No-cost meal in an adage) CLOSING NIGHT (26A: Last chance to catch a musical) HIGH QUALITY (45A: Well-made) ABOUT FACE (61A: Complete reversal) DOUBLE TIME: Each word of the theme answers can be paired with the word TIME to create a new phrase: FREE TIME, LUNCH TIME, CLOSING TIME, NIGHTTIME, HIGH TIME, QUALITY TIME, ABOUT TIME, and FACE TIME. It's ABOUT TIME! The theme is ABOUT TIME, that is. It's always DOUBLE the fun when both parts of the theme answers are directly involved in the theme. Thank you, Joe, for this TIMEly puzzle. USA TODAY's Daily Crossword Puzzles Sudoku & Crossword Puzzle Answers This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Crossword Blog & Answers for June 8, 2025 by Sally Hoelscher
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A cult-favorite Creamy Coconut fragrance rollerball reviewers compare to the pricey Sol de Janeiro version. 👀☀️ This is from TikTok-famous small business brand Kuumba Made, known for its luxury scents at ridiculously affordable prices, so you know they're on their game — reviewers especially love how ~beachy~ and long-lasting this sweet but elevated fragrance feels and how nicely it plays with other scents! A set of DEET-free handy mosquito-repelling bracelets for the ultimate in genius summer investments — these use essential oils, including citronella, to help stop those teensy vampires in their tracks. A coconut-scented, ridiculously cooling after-sun body lotion to rehydrate and replenish your skin after long days in the sun or soaking up the drying chlorine of the pool. The whipped texture and delightful scent will have you feeling like a whole dessert 😋. 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