There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today’s puzzle before reading further! Rice Crackers

Constructor: Emma Lawson

Editor: Anna Gundlach

What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle

• LAMB (64A: Meat in tave kosi) Tavë kosi is a traditional Albanian casserole of LAMB and rice in a creamy yogurt and egg sauce.
• CLEO (36D: “___ from 5 to 7” (Agnes Varda film)) CLÉO from 5 to 7 is a 1962 French movie directed by Agnès Varda. The movie follows a day in the life of a singer named CLÉO (portrayed by Corinne Marchand) as she awaits the results of a biopsy.

Random Thoughts & Interesting Things

• SARA (15A: “Love Song” singer Bareilles) “Love Song” is SARA Bareilles’ debut single, released in 2007. “”I’m not gonna write you a love song / ‘Cause you asked for it / ’cause you need one…”
• ROLL THE DICE (20A: Take a chance) and SNAKE EYES (32D: Two, in a game of craps) It was fun to see SNAKE EYES in the grid, as it pairs nicely with ROLL THE DICE.
• AVALON (25A: Island where Excalibur was forged) and CASINO (10D: Excalibur, in Las Vegas) I enjoyed the Excalibur in the CASINO clue as an echo pointing back to the AVALON clue. AVALON is the mythical island that features in the legend of King Arthur. AVALON is where King Arthur’s sword, Excalibur, was made. The Excalibur Hotel and CASINO in Las Vegas, Nevada is named after King Arthur’s sword, and has a medieval castle theme.
• MANE (26A: Lion’s locks) My cat, Willow, is delighted with this reference to her big cat cousin. At times I can relate to Willow in this photo, as I would like to bury my head and pretend the world doesn’t exist.

• TERI (30A: Actress Hatcher) TERI Hatcher played the role of Susan Mayer on the TV series Desperate Housewives (2004-2012). She also portrayed Lois Lane in the TV series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993-1997).
• RISK TOLERANCE (33A: Amount of danger or loss one is willing to accept) One thing I know about myself is that my RISK TOLERANCE is pretty low.
• AREPA (47A: Columbian corn cake) A few days ago, we saw AREPA clued as [Venezuelan cornmeal cake]. AREPAs are associated with the cuisines of Venezuela and Colombian.
• RICHTER SCALE (50A: Measure of earthquake strength) The RICHTER SCALE, which measures the strength of earthquakes, was developed by Charles RICHTER and Beno Gutenberg, who originally called it the “magnitude scale.” At one end of the RICHTER SCALE are the microearthquakes, which measure 1.0-1.9. It is estimated that several million of these microearthquakes happen each year. Although they are recorded by seismographs, they are not felt by people. At the other end of the RICHTER SCALE are the extreme earthquakes that measure 9.0-9.9. These earthquakes cause near total destruction and permanent changes in topography. Fortunately, extreme earthquakes only occur one to three times each century.
• MAKO (54A: Fast-swimming shark) MAKO sharks are a genus of sharks of which there are two living species, the longfin MAKO shark, and the more common shortfin MAKO shark. Several extinct species of MAKO shark have been identified from fossil evidence. MAKO sharks can swim at speeds up to 20 miles per hour.
• ACROBAT (1D: Cirque du Soleil performer) Cirque du Soleil, which is French for “Circus of the Sun,” is a Canadian circus company. Cirque du Soleil produces a number of different shows, each with a different theme. Some of the shows are resident shows – many of them based in Las Vegas – while others are touring shows. All of the shows feature a variety of ACROBAT acts. My husband and I have seen several Cirque du Soleil shows, and each time we have been impressed and amazed by the talent of the ACROBATs.
• STE (4D: Sault ___ Marie, Michigan) Sault STE. Marie is a city located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It sits on the St. Mary’s River, which flows from Lake Superior to Lake Huron. Sault STE. Marie is located on the U.S.-Canada border. The larger city of Sault STE. Marie, Ontario is located on the Canadian side of the St. Mary’s River. Fun fact: Sault STE. Marie was established in 1668, and is the oldest city in Michigan.
• RAO (20D: “Avatar” actor Dileep) Dileep RAO portrays Dr. Max Patel in the Avatar movies. We saw RAO earlier this month clued as [“Inception” actor Dileep].
• ELENA (21D: Supreme Court justice Kagan) ELENA Kagan has been a Supreme Court Justice since 2010. She is the fourth woman to serve on the court. She was also the first female dean of the Harvard Law School, a position she held from 2003-2009.
• MALEK (26D: “Mr. Robot” actor Rami) Mr. Robot is a TV series that originally aired on USA Network from 2015-2019. Rami MALEK portrays cybersecurity engineer and hacker Elliot Alderson. Elliot has dissociative identity disorder and also deals with severe anxiety and clinical depression. Elliot is recruited by a mysterious insurrectionary anarchist known as Mr. Robot (portrayed by Christian Slater) to join a group of hacktivists called “fsociety.”
• ARIANA (42D: Grande who plays Glinda in the “Wicked” film) The 2024 movie Wicked is an adaptation of the first act of the 2003 stage musical of the same name. ARIANA Grande has been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Glinda. Her co-star, Cynthia Erivo, has been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Elphaba. I saw Wicked in the theater last November, and I enjoyed it immensely. I am eagerly awaiting the rest of the story, Wicked: For Good, which is scheduled to be released in November of this year.
• MCRIB (49D: Seasonal Golden Arches sandwich) The MCRIB, a BBQ-flavored pork sandwich, has made occasional appearances on the McDonald’s menu since its introduction in 1981. Since 2006, the MCRIB has generally been available in the fall at most Golden Arches locations. 
• RITA (52D: Poet laureate Dove) RITA Dove was the United States Poet Laureate from 1993-1995. She has also served as the Poet Laureate of Virginia (2004-2006). RITA Dove won a Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1987. She currently teaches at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.
• APP (57D: Bluesky or Bumble) Bluesky is a social media APP, and Bumble is an online dating APP.
• A couple of other clues I especially enjoyed:
  • ACORN (14D: Tree nut with a little cap)
  • PEA (58D: Veggie served mushy in England)

Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis

• ROLL THE DICE (20A: Take a chance)
• RISK TOLERANCE (33A: Amount of danger or loss one is willing to accept)
• RICHTER SCALE (50A: Measure of earthquake strength)

RICE CRACKERS: Each theme answer CRACKs the word RICE: ROLL THE DICE, RISK TOLERANCE, and RICHTER SCALE.

Today’s title told me just what to expect from the theme. I appreciate that each possible split (or CRACK) of RICE is represented: R/ICE, RI/CE, and RIC/E. It occurs to me that someone with a low RISK TOLERANCE (such as myself) is less likely to ROLL THE DICE. Thank you, Emma, for this enjoyable puzzle.

For more on USA TODAY’s Crossword Puzzles

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