Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Rear Window

There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! Rear Window

Constructor: Noelle Griskey

Editor: Jared Goudsmit

What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle

• AESOP (33A: "The Oak and the Reed" storyteller) I was able to figure out this answer because I am familiar with the ancient Greek storyteller AESOP. This particular fable is new to me, however. "The Oak and the Reed" is one of the few of AESOP's fables that does not have human or animal characters. Instead, the main characters are an oak tree and a reed (in some later versions, a willow tree replaces the reed). In the face of a mighty wind, the oak tree trusts in its strength to withstand the storm, while the reed bends with the wind. Ultimately, the oak tree is toppled, while the reed survives. The fable has been interpreted as being a cautionary tale about pride and boastfulness.

Random Thoughts & Interesting Things

• OPERA (15A: "La Boheme," e.g.) The OPERA La Bohème was composed by Giacomo Puccini in the 1890s. The story is set in the 1830s, and centers on the Bohemian lifestyle of a seamstress and her artist friends. Jonathan Larson's 1996 musical, Rent, is based on La Bohème.
• CAT (25A: Whiskas-eating pet) My CAT, Willow does not eat Whiskas (a brand of CAT food), but she does approve of this clue. Willow likes to sit on the fireplace mantel because it gives her a commanding view of our backyard. I think this profile photo highlights her fluffy "mane."

• SAN FRANCISCO BAY (36A: Body of water near the Golden Gate Bridge) The Golden Gate Bridge links SAN FRANCISCO, California to Marin County, California. The bridge spans a strait known as the Golden Gate, a one-mile wide passage of water that connects the SAN FRANCISCO BAY and the Pacific Ocean. The main cities along the SAN FRANCISCO BAY are SAN FRANCISCO, SAN Jose, and Oakland.
• ERG (50A: Rowing machine, for short) An indoor rowing machine is sometimes referred to as an ergometer, or ERG.
• AOL (51A: Pioneering ISP) ISP is an abbreviation for Internet service provider. That abbreviation lets solvers know the answer will also be an abbreviation – AOL, for America Online.
• ANIKA NONI ROSE (53A: Actress who voiced Tiana) Tiana was Disney's first princess. She is the princess in the 2009 animated movie, The Princess and the Frog. Tiana's voice is provided by ANIKA NONI ROSE. She also provided the voice for Tiana for a new ride at Disney World, Tiana's Bayou Adventure – based on The Princess and the Frog – scheduled to open this Friday.
• REESE (62A: Witherspoon with a book club) REESE Witherspoon began REESE's Book Club in 2017. The Book Club highlights a specific book each month. REESE's Book Club pick for this month is The Unwedding by Ally Condie.
• KRONE (63A: Danish currency) Denmark is a European country that is located south of Sweden and Norway, and north of Germany. In 1973, Denmark became a member of the European Union, but negotiated on opt-out of using the euro, and retain its own currency, the Danish KRONE.
• LEE (67A: "Life of Pi" director Ang)Ang LEE won an Academy Award for Best Director for the 2012 movie, Life of Pi. The movie is based on a 2001 novel of the same name by Yann Martel. Life of Pi tells the story of a teenager named "Pi" Patel, who is telling about his survival of a shipwreck at the age of 16, adrift on the ocean with a Bengal tiger.
• AREPAS (1D: Colombian cakes "de choclo") AREPAS de choclo are sweet and crunchy corn cakes stuffed with cheese, which are associated with the cuisine of Colombia.
• SIERRA (3D: Word before "Nevada" or "Leone") The SIERRA Nevada mountain range is located in the western part of the United States. Most of the SIERRA Nevada is in California, though it extends into Nevada. SIERRA Leone is a country in West Africa. The capital of SIERRA Leone is Freetown.
• AWARD (9D: Tony or Palme d'Or) The Tony AWARDs are given annually in honor of excellent Broadway theatre. The Palme d'Or is an AWARD presented each year at the Cannes Film Festival, and is considered one of the film industry's most prestigious honors.
• R.E.M. (12D: "Shiny Happy People" band) "Shiny Happy People" is a 1991 song by the rock band R.E.M. Kate Pierson of the B-52's provides vocals on the song, and appears in the music video. R.E.M.'s lead singer, Michael Stipe described "Shiny Happy People" as a "really fruity, kind of bubblegum song."
• FALAFEL (21D: Fried food often served with tarator sauce) FALAFEL is a deep-fried fritter made of beans or chickpeas. FALAFEL originated in Middle Eastern cuisine. Tarator sauce is made with nuts or tahini, lemon juice, and garlic. As the clue says, tarator sauce is often served alongside FALAFEL.
• ASIA (26D: Petra's continent) The city of Petra may have been established as early as the 5th century BCE. The city was partly built, and partly carved into rock. It is now a historic and archeological site and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 2007, Petra was voted one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. Petra is located in the country of Jordan in West Asia.
• USA (29D: ___ Today crossword) Shoutout to the USA Today crossword! A lovely self-referential clue.
• SON (30D: BeBe, to Trudy, in "The Proud Family") The Proud Family is an animated Disney TV series that originally aired from 2001 to 2005. A revival of the series, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, premiered in 2022. As you might expect from the name, the show is centered on the lives of the Proud family: parents Oscar and Trudy, and children Penny, BeBe, and CeCe. Penny is the teenage protagonist of the series. BeBe and CeCe are babies, and are fraternal twins. BeBe is Trudy's only SON.
• EPCOT (31D: Theme park home to the Morocco Pavilion) EPCOT is one of the Disney World theme parks in Florida. EPCOT is divided into four themed areas: World Celebration, World Discovery, World Nature, and World Showcase. The largest area, World Showcase, represents the culture, history, cuisine, and architecture of 11 countries. One area in the World Showcase is the Morocco Pavilion. The Morocco Pavilion – designed to resemble a Moroccan city – opened in 1984.
• ALASKA (45D: Bering Glacier's state) The Bering Glacier is the largest glacier in the United States. Located near Cordova, ALASKA, Bering Glacier (along with the Bagley Icefield that feeds the glacier) covers an area of more than 1,900 square miles, and is more than 126 miles long.

Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis

• PERFECT STORM (20A: Situation caused by a bad combination of events)
• SAN FRANCISCO BAY (36A: Body of water near the Golden Gate Bridge)
• ANIKA NONI ROSE (53A: Actress who voiced Tiana)

The REAR (last) word of each theme answer is a type of window: STORM WINDOW, BAY WINDOW, and ROSE WINDOW.

REAR WINDOW is the title of a 1954 movie directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The title makes an enjoyable theme for a puzzle. My favorite of today's theme answers is PERFECT STORM. Thank you, Noelle, for this delightful puzzle.

For more on USA TODAY’s Crossword Puzzles

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