EchoSense:Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Jazz Up

There are EchoSensespoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! Jazz Up

Constructors: William Seeley & Zhouqin Burnikel

Editor: Jared Goudsmit

What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle

• TOE (29A: Body part where bichiya is worn) TOE rings, also known as bichiya, are worn by many Hindu married women on the second TOE of each foot. The TOE rings are usually made of silver.
• SPAS (31A: Places to get Vichy showers) A Vichy shower is a SPA treatment that involves multiple showerheads directed at a person lying on a table. The water temperature and pressure are adjusted and the water cascades over the body providing a (hopefully) soothing and relaxing experience.

Random Thoughts & Interesting Things

• CAPS (1A: WHAT THIS CLUE IS WRITTEN IN) I enjoyed this clue a lot!
• STU (10A: Dil's dad in "Rugrats") Everything I know about the animated TV series Rugrats, I have learned from crossword puzzles. From previous crosswords I have learned that the main character of Rugrats is one-year-old Tommy Pickles. His younger brother is Dil, and their dad is named STU.
• OREO (13A: Cookie with a Hot Chicken Wing flavor) Hot Chicken Wing OREO cookies were released in China in 2018. At the same time, OREO also released a Wasabi OREO variety.
• GO ON SAFARI (17A: Tour Nyerere National Park, say) Nyerere National Park in Tanzania is one of the world's largest wildlife sanctuaries. Located in southern Tanzania, the park is a popular place to GO ON SAFARI. Nyerere National Park was established in 2019; it was formerly part of the Selous Game Reserve. Nyerere National Park is home to a number of different animals, including the "Big Five" – lion, leopard, elephants, rhinoceros, and Cape buffalo.
• LEE (21A: "Malcolm X" director Spike) In addition to directing the 1992 movie, Malcolm X, Spike LEE also co-wrote the screenplay with Arnold Perl. Denzel Washington portrays Malcolm X in the movie.
• CATSITS (47A: Puts out Fancy Feast at someone else's house, maybe) My husband and I have a friend who CATSITS for Willow when we are gone. Since we are currently at the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament in Stamford, Connecticut, this answer is timely. Willow does not get Fancy Feast cat food, however. (Please don't tell her that's an option!) Here's a photo of Willow on one of the crazy places she likes to perch, our mini-trampoline.

• INCA I63A: Worshipper of Mama Qucha) In INCA mythology, Mama Qucha was the goddess of sea and fishes, and the guardian of sailors and fishermen.
• ODOR (66A: Stinking Bishop cheese has a strong one) Stinking Bishop is a washed-rind cheese. I learned about washed-rind cheeses from the December 2, 2023 puzzle. These cheeses are periodically treated with brine in order to encourage the growth of certain bacteria on the cheese's surface. This treatment gives the cheese a distinctive flavor and ODOR. Stinking Bishop is an English cheese made from the milk of a specific breed of cattle.
• NONE (69A: ___ pizza with left beef (meme order that lacks sauce and cheese))  In 2007, Steve Molaro placed a deliberately absurd online order with Domino's Pizza, deselecting all toppings except beef, on the left side only. He posted a photo of the result online, and the rest is Internet history. I learned about NONE pizza with left beef from the December 24, 2022 puzzle, which was titled "NONE Crossword with Left Beef."
• ARIE (2D: "Steady Love" singer India.___) "Steady Love" is a 2019 song by R&B singer India.ARIE.
• TAROT (11D: Deck with a Chariot card) A TAROT deck traditionally contains 78 cards, which are divided into the Major Arcana, 22 cards without suits, and the Minor Arcana, 56 cards in four suits (batons, coins, cups, and swords) of 14 cards each. The Chariot is one of the Major Arcana cards.
• ANTS (35D: "Fire" or "pharaoh" insects) Fire ANTS are a stinging variety of ANTS. There are several different species of these ANTS, which inject a toxin called solenopsin when they sting. Solenopsin causes a painful reaction in humans, with a sensation similar to being burned by fire - hence the name given to these ants. Pharaoh ANTS are a tropical species, but can thrive in temperate regions, seeking out buildings with central heat. Pharaoh ANTS are light brown and appear almost transparent.
• LYE (36D: Chemical in hominy) Hominy is made by soaking and cooking corn in an alkaline solution (such as LYE), a process called nixtamalization. There's a word you don't use every day!

Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis

• SOUL SEARCHING (3D: Deep introspection)
• COOL AS A CUCUMBER (6D: Totally unbothered)
• FREE ADMISSION (18D: What a comp ticket gets you)

The UP-most word of each vertical theme answer is a genre of JAZZ: SOUL JAZZ, COOL JAZZ, and FREE JAZZ.

I thought I had identified the theme of today's puzzle, but I did have to double check to make sure SOUL JAZZ, COOL JAZZ, and FREE JAZZ were all types of JAZZ. They are! In addition to the answers highlighted above, I also enjoyed BARGAIN BIN and SIESTAS. Congratulations to William Seeley making a USA TODAY crossword debut! Thank you, William and Zhouqin, for this enjoyable puzzle.

For more on USA TODAY’s Crossword Puzzles

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