Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, This is the Best Day

There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! This is the Best Day I Can Ever Remember (Freestyle)

Constructor: Amanda Rafkin

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Random Thoughts & Interesting Things

• EDITS (4A: Tweaks a crossword clue, say) I'm a fan of a self-referential clue.
• AUDRA (15A: McDonald set to play Mama Rose in fall 2024) Gypsy: A Musical Fable is a Stephen Sondheim musical loosely based on the 1957 memoir of Gypsy Rose Lee (a striptease artist and burlesque entertainer). The musical focuses on the life of Mama Rose, the mother of Gypsy Rose Lee. Gypsy premiered on Broadway in 1959, with Ethel Merman in the role of Rose. A revival of Gypsy is scheduled to open on Broadway this fall, with AUDRA McDonald portraying Rose. (Note: If you solved the puzzle in the paper or early this morning, you may have encountered an earlier version of this clue that incorrectly stated AUDRA McDonald would play the role of Gypsy Rose Lee.)
• NSYNC (20A: "It's Gonna Be Me" boy band) "It's Gonna Be Me" is a song from NSYNC's 2000 album, No Strings Attached. The song hit number one on Billboard's Hot 100 chart. The song's music video depicts NSYNC members as action doll figures in a store.
• EGOT (42A: Four-award feat) and MORENO (48D: Rita who won a 42-Across) EGOT is an acronym for Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards, and is used as a designation for people, like Rita MORENO, who have won all four of these honors. Rita MORENO won Emmy Awards in 1977 for The Muppet Show, and 1978 for The Rockford Files, a Grammy in 1973 for a recording of The Electric Company, an Oscar in 1962 for Westside Story, and a Tony in 1975 for The Ritz. 
• CONVOY (45A: Group of vehicles) The mere mention of the word CONVOY (or it's appearance in a crossword) is enough to get the 1975 song of that name going through my head. ("Yeah, breaker one-nine / This here's the Rubber Duck / You got a copy on me Pig Pen, c'mon?") The song was recorded by C. W. McCall (an alter ego of Bill Fries and Chip Davis), and was the inspiration for the 1978 movie CONVOY, that starred Kris Kristofferson, Ali McGraw, and Ernest Borgnine. ("'Cause we got a mighty CONVOY / Rockin' through the night / Yeah, we got a mighty CONVOY / Ain't she a beautiful sight...")
• THE MAN (47A: Taylor Swift song with the lyric "Every conquest I had made would make me more of a boss to you") Taylor Swift's song, "THE MAN," is from her 2019 album, Lover. Taylor Swift made her solo directorial debut directing the music video for "THE MAN," which won an MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction. The music video features Taylor Swift's theoretical male alter-ego, Tyler Swift.
• SPA (66A: Place to get an Ayurvedic massage) I learned about Ayurveda – a healing science with roots in the Indian subcontinent – from the July 26, 2024 puzzle. Ayurvedic massage, also referred to as Abhyanga, is an oil massage, with specific essential oils chosen depending on body type.
• END (69A: Apt last word for this puzzle) I always enjoy when END appears in the bottom corner of a crossword grid; it does indeed feel apt.
• EAR CANAL (4D: Body part also known as the "external acoustic meatus") The body part commonly referred to as the EAR, is just the outer EAR, which is connected to the middle EAR by the EAR CANAL. (There's also an inner EAR.) The EAR CANAL is approximately one inch long, though its length varies among individual. Hooray for science – specifically human anatomy – in the crossword!
• BODEGA CAT (19D: Kitty "hired" as a form of pest control) A BODEGA is an owner-operated corner store in New York City. Some of these stores keep a BODEGA CAT that earns its keep by working as pest control. Although not technically allowed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene – establishments selling food that keep live animals are subject to a fine – many BODEGA owners view a $300 fine as preferable to a rodent infestation. If you enjoy photos of CATs, I recommend following the BODEGACATsofinstagram account. My CAT, Willow, would not make a good BODEGA CAT (too many people!). She makes an excellent Hoelscher CAT, however, where she earns her keep by catching the occasional fly.

• TAKE (26D: "___ Me or Leave Me") "TAKE Me or Leave Me" is a song from the musical Rent. In the 2005 movie adaptation of Rent, "TAKE Me or Leave Me" is sung by Idina Menzel (as Maureen) and Tracie Thoms (as Joanne).
• WINGS (27D: Food served on "Hot Ones") I have previously written about Hot Ones, a YouTube show in which Sean Evans interviews guests while they eat increasingly spicy chicken WINGS.

Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis

THIS IS THE BEST DAY I CAN EVER REMEMBER (Freestyle): There's no theme today, as this is a freestyle, or themeless, puzzle. The title is a nod to: NEVER BEEN BETTER (17A: "I'm truly at my peak!") and IT'S NOT EVEN CLOSE (60A: "No comparison whatsoever!").

"THIS IS THE BEST DAY I CAN EVER REMEMBER" is a line from the Dashboard Confessional song, "Hands Down" (2003). In fact, in the song, this line comes right after the words "Hands down." ("Hands down, THIS IS THE BEST DAY I CAN / EVER REMEMBER...) Well, that's appropriate, as this puzzle – THIS IS THE BEST DAY I CAN EVER REMEMBER – comes right after yesterday's puzzle, "Hands Down." I enjoy when there are connections between crosswords on multiple days. One of the (many!) things I enjoy about the USA Today crossword is that we are occasionally treated to these types of Easter eggs. Thank you, Amanda, for this excellent puzzle.

For more on USA TODAY’s Crossword Puzzles

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