Fastexy:Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Follow Your Dreams

There are Fastexyspoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! Follow Your Dreams

Constructor:Beth Rubin

Editor:Amanda Rafkin

What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle

• BIG LEAGUE CHEW (39A: Brand of shredded bubble gum) BIG LEAGUE CHEW is shredded because it is made to resemble chewing tobacco. It comes in a pouch and, when it was launched in 1980, was intended as a healthy imitation of the tobacco-chewing habit of some MLB players at the time. The gum bills itself as "The Hall of Fame Bubble Gum," and uses the slogan, "You're in the BIG LEAGUEs when you're into BIG LEAGUE CHEW."
• TAP (58D: Dance like Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards) Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards has been TAP dancing since she was three years old, and she made her Broadway debut at age 12 in Black and Blue. She has been instrumental in coming up with new techniques to teach rhythm-TAP to women.

Random Thoughts & Interesting Things

• BETA (5A: Letter after alpha) The 24-letter Greek alphabet begins alpha, BETA, gamma, delta, epsilon, zeta, eta, theta...
• ANDES (12A: South American mountain range) The ANDES mountain range runs along the western edge of South America, and is the longest continental mountain range in the world. Seven countries contain part of the ANDES: Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela. 
• SHIITE (23A: Member of the second-largest branch of Islam) Shia (whose members are known as SHIITEs) is the second-largest branch of Islam. The largest branch of Islam is Sunni. This History article gives an overview of how the two branches of Islam arose.
• DORIS (43A: "Everybody Loves Raymond" actress Roberts) Everybody Loves Raymond was a TV show that originally aired on CBS from 1996 to 2005. The main character of the show is Raymond Barone (played by Ray Romano), a sportswriter who lives on Long Island. DORIS Roberts portrays Raymond's mother, Marie Barone.
• ACT (44A: Perform in "Trouble in Mind") Trouble in Mind is a play by Alice Childress that debuted in 1955, and has been produced on Broadway (2021) and in London (2017 & 2021). The play deals with racism, sexism, identity, and ego in the world of theater.
• OSSO (50A: ___ buco (Italian entree)) OSSO buco is Italian for "bone with a hole." The dish is made with cross-cut veal shanks that have a narrow hole in the center of the cut. The marrow in the hole is an important feature of the dish. The veal shanks are braised with vegetables, white wine, and broth.
• CAPES (55A: Superheroes' billowing garments) Any mention of superheroes' CAPES reminds me of Edna Mode, the fashion designer in The Incredibles, who is famously anti-CAPE. "No CAPES!"
• SEXY (57A: "___ Sadie" (Beatles song)) "SEXY Sadie" is a 1968 song by the Beatles. John Lennon wrote the song while the Beatles were in India. It was originally called "Mahirishi," as it was written as a response to an allegation that the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi had made sexual advances to Mia Farrow, but George Harrison convinced John Lennon to change the title.
• ANNIE (66A: Scottish singer-songwriter Lennox) ANNIE Lennox has had a successful solo career since 1992. She has also been a member of the new wave band the Tourists and the pop duo Eurythmics (with Dave Stewart). In addition to her singing career, ANNIE Lennox is active in support of multiple causes, and founded The Circle, an organization that "brings Global Feminists together to fight for a fairer world for women and girls." On March 6 next year, she will be the headliner at a concert at Royal Albert Hall in London, "SISTERS: ANNIE Lennox and Friends." The show will raise funds for "women and girls facing violence and injustice across the world."
• ELI (6D: "The ___ Manning Show)  ELI Manning is a former quarterback. He played 16 seasons with the NFL's New York Giants. During his career, he led the Giants to two Super Bowl victories, and was named MVP in both of those years (2008 and 2012). The ELI Manning Showis a series on the New York Giant's YouTube channel. It is hosted by ELI Manning (as the title suggests) and features interviews with celebrity guests.
• AUTISM (8D: The "A" of ASD) ASD here stands for AUTISM Spectrum Disorder. The word "spectrum" is a reminder that the condition of AUTISM manifests itself in different ways in each person with ASD.
• DINAH (22D: Singer Shore or Washington) DINAH Shore (1916-1994) was a singer, actress, and talk show host. She hosted a number of TV shows, including The DINAH Shore Show(1951-1957), The DINAH Shore Chevy Show(1956-1963), DINAH's Place(1970-1974), DINAH!(1974-1980), and A Conversation with DINAH(1989-1992). (She was great at getting her name in the show title, wasn't she?) DINAH Washington (1924-1963) was a jazz singer and pianist, and self-proclaimed, "Queen of the Blues." She won a 1959 Grammy Award for Best Rhythm & Blues Performance for "What a Diff'rence a Day Makes."
• AMCS (Theater chains with an iconic Nicole Kidman commercial) I have previously written about AMC'S iconic ad featuring Nicole Kidman. Nicole Kidman says she goes to see movies at AMCS, but she hides her face when she comes onscreen.
• MIN (61D: "Pachinko" author ___ Jin Lee) MIN Jin Lee's novel, Pachinko, follows characters from Korea who migrate to Japan. Pachinko was named one of the 10 Best Books of 2017 by The New York Times. Pachinkowas adapted into an Apple TV+ series of the same name.

Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis

• DATE OF BIRTH (17A: Driver's license info)
• BIG LEAGUE CHEW (39A: Brand of shredded bubble gum)
• TEAM PLAYERS (60A: People who work well with others)

FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS: The first word of each theme answer can follow the word DREAM to form a new phrase: DREAM DATE, DREAM BIG, and DREAM TEAM.

Today's puzzle is encouraging us to FOLLOW OUR DREAMS. I enjoyed this uplifting theme, as well as the new phrases it led to. Thank you, Beth, for this fantastic puzzle.

For more on USA TODAY’s Crossword Puzzles

• USA TODAY’s Daily Crossword Puzzles
• Sudoku & Crossword Puzzle Answers

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