Crossword Blog & Answers for July 29, 2025 by Sally Hoelscher

Constructor: Zhouqin Burnikel

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Random Thoughts & Interesting Things

• UDON (14A: Noodle similar to kishimen) UDON is a thick noodle popular in Japanese cuisine. Kishimen is a variety of UDON noodle that is flat and has wavy edges.
• MOS (33A: Rapper ___ Def) MOS Def (short for “Most Definitely”) is the former name of rapper Yasiin Bey. He retired the name MOS DEF in 2011, saying he feared “that MOS Def was being treated as a product, not a person.” In addition to being a rap artist, Yasiin Bey is also an actor. He portrayed Chuck Berry in Cadillac Records (2008) and Ford Prefect in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005).
• BOB WOODWARD (38A: Watergate scandal reporter) BOB WOODWARD is an investigative journalist. He was a reporter for The Washington Post in 1972 and – together with Carl Bernstein – did much of the original reporting about the Watergate scandal that led to the eventual resignation of Richard Nixon. BOB WOODWARD has written a number of books about politics, including one about the Watergate scandal, All the President’s Men (1974).
• IDINA (54A: “Let It Go” singer Menzel) Do you need some “Let It Go” in your life today? (The answer is yes, you do!) IDINA Menzel is the voice of Elsa in Disney’s 2013 animated movie, Frozenand the voice behind Elsa’s song, “Let It Go.”
• MAORI (61A: New Zealand people) MĀORI are the indigenous people of New Zealand. Their ancestors migrated to the country now known as New Zealand in the 1300s.
• ERIE (66A: Great Lake prone to algae) Lake ERIE is the shallowest of the Great Lakes. This fact makes it more susceptible than the other Great Lakes to pollution and overgrowth of algae. Our crossword friend ERIE is making its eleventh appearance of the year today.
• ADOPTS (2D: Takes in a rescue pet) My cat, Willow, is a rescue pet, so she is a fan of anyone who ADOPTS a pet. The other day I was looking at some old photos and I found this one of Willow sitting in the bathroom sink, which used to be a favorite place of hers. We’ve remodeled our bathroom since this photo was taken, and interestingly, she never sits in the new sink.

• SNL (4D: NBC show since 1975) The first Saturday Night Live (SNL) episode aired on NBC on October 11, 1975 and was hosted by George Carlin. That means the show is currently in its 50th season.
• SIR (7D: “Aaron Burr, ___” (“Hamilton” song)) “Aaron Burr, SIR” is the second song in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s 2015 musical Hamilton. “Pardon me. / Are you Aaron Burr, SIR?…”
• ELMO (24D: Muppet who talks in a falsetto voice) In addition to talking in a falsetto voice, ELMO also refers to himself in the third person. ELMO is, of course, a furry red Muppet on Sesame Street. He is perpetually three-and-a-half years old.
• OREO (39D: Treat often twisted in half) Our crossword friend OREO is making its seventeenth appearance of 2025 today. As I occasionally remind you, all these numbers mean is that I like data.
• NIAGARA (42D: Word before “Falls” or “River”) NIAGARA Falls is located on the U.S.-Canada border between New York and Ontario. NIAGARA is comprised of Horseshoe Falls, American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls. Of the three, Horseshoe Falls, also known as the Canadian Falls, is the largest. The waterfalls are formed by the NIAGARA River, which flows from Lake ERIE to Lake Ontario.
• ORG (63D: www.worldwildlife.___) The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is an organization that works to preserve wilderness and reduce the impact of humans on the environment. The organization was founded in 1961. It was formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, and that name is still used in Canada and the United States.
• USC (64D: School near downtown L.A.) The University of Southern California (USC) is located in Los Angeles (L.A.), California.