Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Change of Plans

There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! Change of Plans

Constructor: Dylan Schiff

Editor: Jared Goudsmit

What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle

• EDAMAME (25A: Soybeans in zunda-mochi) Zunda-mochi, sometimes translated as "green soybean rice cake" is a rice cake made of glutinous rice, topped with sweetened mashed EDAMAME (immature soybeans). Zunda-mochi originated in Japan, and is particularly popular in the northeastern part of the country.
• EVANESCENCE (3D: "Bring Me to Life" rock band) The rock band EVANESCENCE was formed in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1994. "Bring Me to Life" is their debut single, from their debut studio album, Fallen (2003). The song won a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance.
• ALANA (32D: Actress de la Garza) ALANA de la Garza portrays Special Agent in Charge Isobel Castille on the TV shows FBI, FBI: Most Wanted, and FBI: International.
• PATE (37D: ___ chaud (Vietnamese pastry)) PÂTÉ chaud is a type of savory puff pastry that originated in Hanoi, Vietnam. A meat filling is wrapped in a light and flaky pastry.

Random Thoughts & Interesting Things

• ASPCA (9A: Pet rescue org.) The abbreviation of the word organization in the clue alerts solvers that the answer will be an abbreviation – in this case, ASPCA for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. ASPCA is a nonprofit organization founded in 1866. Its mission is "to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States."
• TEVA (14A: Sandal brand hidden in "absolute value") TEVA is a brand of footwear that is part of Deckers Brands, the same company that makes UGG boots. TEVA specializes in sports sandals.
• LAMA (18A: The Dalai ___) The Dalai LAMA is a spiritual leader in Tibetan Buddhism. The current and 14th Dalai LAMA is Tenzin Gyatso. A book that I really enjoyed, and have discussed previously, is The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World, which is an account of a week that author, Douglas Abrams, spent with His Holiness the Dalai LAMA and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
• DAVIS (31A: EGOT-winning actress Viola) EGOT refers to Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards. Viola Davis achieved EGOT status in 2023 when she won a Grammy Award for Best Audo Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording (for her 2022 memoir Finding Me). She had previously won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (2015, How to Get Away with Murder), an Academy Award (aka Oscar) for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (2017, Fences), and Tony Awards for Best Featured Actress in a Play (2001, King Hedley II) and Best Leading Actress in a Play (2010, Fences). My husband and I listened to Finding Me early this year while on a road trip. It is excellent, and I can see why it won a Grammy Award.
• MONK (41A: Shaolin Temple resident) The Shaolin Temple, or Shaolin Monastery, is located in the Henan Province of China. It is recognized as the birthplace of Chan Buddhism. Shaolin Kung Fu, which combines Chan philosophy and martial arts, developed at the Shaolin Temple. Shaolin MONKs research and continuously develop and perfect Shaolin Kung Fu.
• AOC (44A: _lexandria _casio-_ortez) This is a spread-out fill-in-the-blank clue (my own term), where each blank represents one letter, rather than a longer blank indicating an answer of any length. In this case, the missing letters are AOC. Alexandria Oasis-Cortez represents New York's 14th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives.
• SITAR (45A: Instrument in Hindustani music) The SITAR was invented in India in the 13th century. This plucked instrument is widely used in Hindustani classical music. A SITAR has 18, 19, 20, or 21 strings. The instrument is played by plucking the six or seven strings which run over raised frets. The remainder of the strings are under the frets, and are "sympathetic strings" that resonate with the played strings.
• CHEETAH (50A: Big cat that can't roar) A CHEETAH is distinctive among the big cats due to its inability to roar. This is due to the shape of its larynx. Instead, a CHEETAH communicates by chirping, stuttering, growling, yowling, and purring. My cat, Willow, does not roar either. However, I think she is aware she is related to big cats.

• DYLAN SPROUSE (55A: He played Zack in "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody") The Suite Life of Zack & Cody is a TV sitcom that originally aired on the Disney Channel from 2005-2008. The series is set in the Tipton hotel in Boston, where twins Zack and Cody live in a suite with their mother who is a singer in the hotel lounge. DYLAN SPROUSE played the role of Zack, and his twin brother, Cole SPROUSE, played the role of Cody.
• NATE (61A: "___ the Great and the Sticky Case") NATE the Great and the Sticky Case (1978) is one of 31 detective stories for children written by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat. In the books, NATE solves mysteries with his dog, Sludge. The first NATE the Great book was published in 1972. I still own some of the NATE the Great books I ordered from Scholastic when I was in elementary school.
• CLUE (62A: 1985 mystery film based on a board game) It's only been four days since I mentioned how much I enjoy the board game Clue. It will likely come as no surprise then, that I also really like the 1985 movie Clue. The movie was produced with three possible endings. When the movie was released in theaters (and yes, I saw it in the theater), different theaters received different versions of the film. Home media and streaming versions include all three endings. Clue had an ensemble cast of Eileen Brennan, Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, Martin Mull, and Lesley Ann Warren. There's also a play adapted from the 1985 movie, titled Clue: On Stage. Yes, I've seen it, too, as recently as last November. I enjoy it as well.
• DENALI (2D: Highest peak in North America) DENALI, with a summit elevation of 20,310 feet, is the highest mountain in North America. Its name is based on a Koyukon word for "high." The Koyukon are a Native Alaskan people. DENALI is part of the Alaskan Range, and is the centerpiece of DENALI National Park.
• CDC (12D: Health org. based in Atlanta) Back-to-back CDC (Center for Disease Control) appearances, as we also saw this org. (organization) in yesterday's puzzle.
• STYLES (45D: "Watermelon Sugar" singer Harry) "Watermelon Sugar" is a song by Harry STYLES from his second studio album, Fine Line (2019). The song was inspired by Richard Brautigan's 1968 novel, In Watermelon Sugar.

Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis

• BANANA SPLITS (20A: Desserts with ice cream and fruit)
• PERSONAL SPACE (38A: You might need more of it if you ask someone to step back)
• DYLAN SPROUSE (55A: He played Zack in "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody")

An anagram (that is a CHANGE of letter order) of the word PLANS is found in each theme answer: BANANA SPLITS, PERSONAL SPACE, and DYLAN SPROUSE.

For me, hidden anagram themes can be tricky to spot, because the anagrammed letters aren't set apart as a separate word. Fortunately, from the word CHANGE in the title, I guessed I might be looking for anagrams today, so I was able to spot it pretty quickly. Congratulations to Dylan Schiff making a USA TODAY crossword debut! Thank you, Dylan, for this enjoyable puzzle.

For more on USA TODAY’s Crossword Puzzles

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