Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Picture Frames

There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! Picture Frame

Constructor: Zhouqin Burnikel

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle

• TOMEI (31D: "In the Bedroom" actress Marisa) In the Bedroom is a 2001 movie based on Andre Dubus' 1979 short story, "Killings." Marisa TOMEI, Sissy Spacek, Tom Wilkinson, Nick Stahl, and William Mapother star in the movie, which deals with family dynamics. The title of the movie refers to the rear compartment of a lobster trap, which is known as the bedroom. The bedroom of a lobster trap can only hold two lobsters; any more than that, and the lobsters will turn on each other.

Random Thoughts & Interesting Things

• BAG (1A: Tote or baguette) I had to think about this clue for some time to remind myself there is a BAG called a baguette, and that this clue isn't referring to a loaf of bread. A baguette is a small, compact handbag, which was designed by Fendi in the 1990s and popularized on the TV series Sex and the City. In fact, Sarah Jessica Parker's Sex and the City character, Carrie Bradshaw, might take issue with this clue. There's a classic scene in the show's third season in which a mugger demands Carrie give him her BAG, and she responds, "It's a Baguette!"
• UCLA (11A: Sch. whose alumni have won 136 Olympic golds) According to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), every Summer Olympics since 1920 has featured a UCLA athlete. In addition to those 136 gold medals, UCLA athletes have won 71 silver and 63 bronze Olympic medals.
• TORTE (19A: Rich, dense cake) It's too bad that a TORTE isn't a pie, because today is Pi Day, the holiday that combines mathematical nerdiness and eating pie. However, since many TORTEs are round, I would argue a TORTE is an acceptable substitute for pie. I would not turn down a piece of TORTE if one were offered to me today!
• HEN (32A: Female lobster) This clue is a reminder that HEN is used to refer to a female lobster, as well as to a female chicken. The term is also used to refer to a females of many other bird species, including turkeys and herons, and to a female octopus.
• ELOTES (35A: Grilled snacks often topped with cotija) Six days ago we saw the singular ELOTE clued as [Cotija-covered corn]. Cotija is a type of Mexican cheese named after the town of Cotija, Michoacán, Mexico.
• SARA (43A: Twin sister of Tegan) The members of the pop duo TEGAN and Sara are identical twin sisters, SARA Keirsten Quin and Tegan Rain Quin. Tegan and SARA have been active in advocating for LGBTQ equality. In 2016, they founded the Tegan and SARA Foundation whose mission is "to invest in the potential of 2SLGBTQ+ communities."
• MUG (48A: Hot cider holder) As I have mentioned before, I have a significant number of MUGs. It brings me great joy to choose my MUG of the day (which usually holds tea instead of cider). I don't have a Pi Day mug, and that seems like a situation that needs to be addressed. In the meantime, I chose a MUG with a round cake on it. One side of the mug says, "You're a true friend..." The other side says, "There are very few people in this world who would split an entire chocolate layer cake with you and not worry about who gets the bigger piece." My husband gave me this MUG many years ago. I'm not specifically saying my husband and I have split an entire chocolate layer cake...

• TAOS (51A: New Mexico town founded in 1615) TAOS is a town in TAOS County in New Mexico. The name TAOS derives from the native TAOS language and means "(place of) red willows." TAOS is a popular place for artists, and the area is home to many art galleries and museums.
• EPEE (65A: Pentathlon blade) The mention of pentathlon reminds me of the time I did a deep dive on the different types of pentathlons. The modern pentathlon – the one that involves the use of an EPEE – consists of shooting, swimming, fencing, equestrian, and cross country running.
• HERMES (7D: Name on some pricey silk scarfs) The HERMÈS luxury fashion house was founded in Paris, France in 1837. It wasn't until a century later, in 1937, that HERMÉS introduced scarves, which became one of their most-recognized items. HERMÉS silk scarves are available in a number of different designs, all of them pricey.
• ART (12D: Origami or ikebana) Origami is the Japanese ART of paper folding.  Ikebana is the Japanese ART of flower arrangement.
• TAHOE (24D: Resort lake with 72 miles of shoreline) Located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Lake TAHOE straddles the state lines of California and Nevada. When I read this statistic, I wondered, "Is that a lot?" Seventy-two miles is certainly a significant amount of shoreline. It would take more than an hour to drive around the perimeter of Lake TAHOE. For comparison, I looked up our crossword friend Lake Erie, and learned that it has 871 miles of shoreline.
• ASIA (29D: Continent home to the most Hindus) More than 94% of Hindus (over 960 million) live in India, which is located in South ASIA. This is the second appearance of our crossword friend ASIA this month.
• SHARK (30D: Fish that loses about one tooth every week) This is a fun animal fact! SHARKs have numerous sets of replaceable teeth. These teeth are constantly replaced throughout the SHARK's life. Depending on how long it lives, a SHARK may lose about 30,000 teeth in their lifetime.
• ADAI (57D: Dosa that pairs well with coconut chutney) A dosa is a thin pancake made from a fermented batter of lentils and rice. ADAI dosa is a variation made with an unfermented batter.
• TOES (59D: Sticky parts of geckos) Here's another fun animal fact. A gecko's TOES are characterized by sticky pads that allow them to climb on smooth and vertical surfaces.

Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis

• SHORT SKIRT (16A: Garment that exposes the lower thigh)
• SHOW SOME RESPECT (38A: "Don't be a jerk!")
• SHOPPING CART (54A: Grocery store vehicle)

PICTURE FRAME: The word SHOT (a synonym for PICTURE) FRAMES each theme answer: SHORT SKIRT, SHOW SOME RESPECT, and SHOPPING CART.

A little bit of extra work was required to get from the title to the theme today. It's not the word PICTURE that serves as a FRAME for the theme answers, but rather a synonym of PICTURE, the word SHOT. I enjoy when I need to work to figure out the theme, as it makes for a satisfying, "Aha!" moment when the theme appears. Thank you, Zhouqin, for this enjoyable puzzle.

For more on USA TODAY’s Crossword Puzzles

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