Crossword

Jan. 31

Lunar New Year’s Eve Reunion Dinner

Courtesy of the Smithsonian

Learn to make three celebratory dishes in about an hour by tuning in to a virtual Lunar New Year’s celebration on Jan. 31, organized by Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art. Kevin Tien of Moon Rabbit, Rosie Nguyen of Rose Ave Bakery, and Yuan Tang of Rooster & Owl will each conduct a cooking demonstration to coincide with discussion about the history and symbolism of food traditionally eaten during Lunar New Year by people of the Asian diaspora. Scholar Hyunjung “Crystal” Rie will also share insights about the customs that characterize the 15-day holiday that often reunites families. The ingredient list is published in advance—in case participants want to cook alongside the chefs. There’s also an option to preorder a “Lunar New Year in a Box” package featuring treats from the trio of chefs through Moon Rabbit on Tock. Tang is making a version of a glutinous rice cake dish he ate as a child, only he’s flavoring the mochi with carrot to make it orange and filling it with black sesame paste and crunchy sea salt. “I chose to do that because this coming New Year is the year of the Tiger,” Tang says. “And my oldest daughter is obsessed with tigers.” Those who pick up the box from Moon Rabbit will get to try it. “When I was growing up, people didn’t care about our culture, so it’s really cool that people now want to know more about it,” Tang continues. The museum’s goal is to highlight tastemakers in D.C. as a part of its mission to stop anti-Asian hate that has proliferated since the start of the pandemic. Lunar New Year’s Eve Reunion Dinner starts at 6 p.m. on Jan. 31, via Zoom. Registration required. events.si.edu. Free, $45 for the Moon Rabbit box. —Laura Hayes

Signature Theatre Daphne played by Rayanne Gonzales

Opens Feb. 1

Daphne’s Dive

After two years, the curtain will open once again on Signature Theatre’s smaller stage, where the cast of Daphne’s Dive will transform the Arlington playhouse into a north Philadelphia bar. Opening night will mark a return of live performances to the theater’s intimate venue and will also deliver a fitting tale for a world two years into a pandemic. As Signature’s Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner tells it, Daphne’s Dive is somewhat of an antidote to loneliness, a beautiful rendering of the “communal experiences” and “belonging” that so many have missed. Written by Quiara Alegría Hudes (author of In the Heights), Daphne’s Dive has earned comparisons to beloved sitcoms, thanks in part to its episodic nature, with scenes sometimes jumping multiple years. The show follows a group of regulars at a bar, run by Daphne, over the course of nearly two decades. Over time, they experience loss, career success, and many more moments of grief and joy. Their multicultural roots, including Daphne’s Puerto Rican heritage, are woven throughout. Actors Rayanne Gonzales, Yesenia Iglesias, James Whalen, Jonathan Atkinson, Quynh-My Luu, and Jyline Carranza are tasked with bringing these regulars to life, selling the stories of a group of “society’s outsiders.” Director Paige Hernandez says that several cast members have direct connections to Puerto Rico, helping bring “authentic storytelling” to the stage. Daphne’s Dive promises to welcome audience members back to the theater with a warm hug, and hopefully send them into the world reflecting on what they value most. Daphne’s Dive opens Feb. 1 and runs through March 20 at Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington. sigtheatre.org. $40-$66. Proof of vax and masks required. —Sarah Smith

QUI COMPONENTS

By Brendan Emmett Quigley

Across 1. Bit of smoke 5. “That was hairy” 9. Skoal in the mouth 13. City on Nevada’s Humboldt River 14. Circle dance 15. Gravy, e.g. 16. It’s just for laughs 17. Closing paragraph? 18. Large key 19. Stop playing the Steinway? 22. Unified 23. Engage in moshing 24. “Sittin’ Up in My Room” singer stabbing others in the back? 29. Brand of mouthwash 30. Month that begins with American Chess Day 31. Say firmly 33. Provençal beef stew 36. Word for word?: abbr. 38. Bonehead? 39. Off adventuring 41. Pick up 43. Conversation topic among gal pals 44. Floating among an antimalarial drug? 48. Gary Numan new wave classic 49. Some brown colors 50. Tough-to-chew piece of tobacco? 55. Last 56. Spitting sound 57. Shakespeare character followed by The Fool 60. “I’ll take the blame” 61. Snowpiercer actor Bremner 62. Nutrient in legumes 63. It’s so yesterday 64. “It wasn’t me!” 65. Smug grunts

Down 1. Wizards head coach Unseld Jr. 2. Similar group 3. Isn’t allowed to play 4. Drink that might make you feel funny 5. Frauds 6. Boxcar sleeper 7. Actor Ebouaney 8. Mashed potato alternative 9. Like a guaranteed winner 10. Ethnic group of Burundi 11. Served perfectly 12. “We ___ just leaving” 15. Cross-reference phrase 20. Adding word 21. “Play it, Sam” speaker 22. Jockey Eddie 24. Issued, as a farewell 25. Balanced the levels 26. Tip over 27. Hockey goalies 28. Salad veggies 32. “I don’t like your ___, mister!” 34. Gambling game with a punto banco variation 35. Intertwined 37. Answer page 40. Donuts in math class 42. Swimsuit that covers the head as well as the body 45. Daniil Medvedev won it in 2011 46. Needy person’s note 47. Do completely perfectly 50. Here today, gone tomorrow employee 51. Singer nicknamed “Queen of New Age” 52. Pencil scraps 53. “Your Song Saved My Life” band 54. Cooking fat 58. Just fine 59. Scrubs wearers, briefly

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