New York Times crossword Feb. 5 / Constructed by Charles M. Deber

How good are you at U.S. geographic trivia? Because this puzzle is predicated on state postal abbreviations, of all things. Luckily, I was the type of nerdy kid who memorized not only the state capitals, but also their two-letter short-hand. (Which doesn’t always conform with AP style, by the way.)

The knowledge served me well today. The eight abbreviations you need to know for this grid are LA (Louisiana), DE (Delaware), OR (Oregon), CT (Connecticut), ID (Idaho), IL (Illinois), AZ (Arizona) and MA (Massachusetts). You’ll have to add these letters — or “annex” them, in the title parlance — to certain answers in order to solve the theme clues.

Take 22 Across, “45-Down near Baton Rouge.” The answer to 45 Down (“Basketball rim”) is HOOP. So a HOOP near Baton Rouge (the capital of Louisiana) is HOOP + LA, yielding “hoopla.” Going back to 22 Across, another word for “hoopla” is EXCITEMENT.

Others: 38 Across (“117-Down near Salem?”) is OPERA SINGER, another word for “tenor” — TEN (“Perfect rating,” 117 Down) + OR for Oregon; 58 Across (“1-Across near Hartford?”) is CONCENTRATE, another word for “extract” — EXTRA (“Superfluous,” 1 Across) + CT for Connecticut; 78 Across (“114-Down near Boise?”) is SPLIT SECOND, a synonym for “rapid” — RAP (“Hip-hop,” 114 Down) + ID for Idaho; and 95 Across (“76-Down near Springfield?”) is PODDED PLANT, a description of “lentil” — LENT (“Spring time,” 76 Down) + IL for Illinois.

And the last three: 111 Across (“61-Across near Phoenix?”) is BIRTHSTONE, a label for “topaz” (my birthstone; yay November!) — TOP (“Blouse, e.g.” 61 Across) + AZ for Arizona; 113 Across (“9-Across near Boston?”) is MORAL TENET, a definition of “dogma” — DOG (“Follow persistently,” 9 Across) + MA for Massachusetts; and 25 Across (“124-Across near Dover?”) is GARDEN TOOL, which describes “spade” — SPA (“Whirlpool,” 124 Across) + DE for Delaware. Funny how DIGS IN (“Doesn’t budge,” 9 Down) crosses with the “D” in GARDEN TOOL.

Pretty creative, if you ask me. Kudos to constructor Charles M. Deber!

More Geography Dept.: “New Jersey town bordering Rahway” is ISELIN (30 Across), but don’t ask me how to pronounce it (even though I always drive past the exit for it when headed toward New York). And “Boston’s Mass ___” is AVE (7 Down), as in “avenue.”

Star-Crossed Lovers Dept.: “Romeo or Juliet” is an ELOPER (23 Down). The words OR UP complete the companion poetic clue for 80 Down: “‘Is she not down so late, ___ so early?’: ‘Romeo and Juliet’.” And in a Spanish translation, perhaps the young Mr. Montague might tell the fair Miss Capulet: “Tu ___ mi amor” — ERES (106 Down).

More Bard Dept.: “How Shakespeare’s Rosalind dresses” is AS A MAN (54 Across), a reference to “As You Like It.” A similarly worded answer is AS TO COST (“Regarding the price,” 5 Down).

Fab Four Dept.: Paul, John, George and Ringo were also mentioned twice in the clues. “The Beatles’ ‘All ___ Got to Do’” is I’VE (19 Across), while “When sung three times, part of a Beatles refrain” is YEAH (42 Across).

Philly Shout-Out Dept.: “Women’s suffrage Amendment” is XIX (2 Down), for 19. The Roman numerals also denote the name of a restaurant in Philly.

Speaking of Roman numerals, I’m off to prepare for a Super Bowl XLVI party!

Questions or comments? Leave them here, visit my Facebook page or tweet me @crosswordkathy. (Also, my buggy iPad format is gone, replaced by the normal blog — yay! Happy solving!)

New York Times crossword Jan. 29 / Constructed by Ian Livengood

Hope you have cable TV — and are a big channel surfer — because today’s puzzle is all about networks. And we’re not talking the Tiffany Network.

The three major stations I grew up with (ABC, CBS and NBC) are nowhere to be found in this grid. Instead, constructor Ian Livengood did an admirable and fun job of fitting the names of eight — possibly 10? — other channels into the theme answers.

The lineup: SPIKE HEELS (“Fancy footwear at a TV station?” 22 Across); E-MARKETING (“Advertising department at a TV station?” 24 Across); ENCORE PRESENTATION (“Slide show at a TV station?” 36 Across); ION EXCHANGE (“Q&A at a TV station?” 56 Across); HISTORY BUFF (“Expert at a TV station?” 72 Across); LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP (“Enrollment at a TV station?” 86 Across); FOX HUNTERS (“Recruiters at a TV station?”) 104 Across); and OXYGEN TANK (“Fish holder at a TV station?” 106 Across).

Two answers that come close to being part of the theme are BASS TUBA (“Instrument with a big bell,” 69 Across) and CHOP CHOP (“Lickety-split,” 58 Across). The clue wording doesn’t follow the same pattern as the other theme clues, but there is a “Bassmasters” program on the Outdoor Channel and a show called “Chopped” on the Food Network.

Dance Fever Dept.: The puzzle also contained an awesome reference to one of Fox’s longest running and most popular shows: “‘The Simpsons’ character with platform shoes” – DISCO STU (8 Down).

Big Apple Dept.: I’m actually in New York this weekend, surrounded by Super Bowl hype for the Giants. A couple of related clues: “Bowl call” is RAH (48 Down), and “___ Levy, four-time Super Bowl coach for Buffalo” is MARV (27 Across), a clue that mercifully doesn’t rub in the fact that he lost all four games.

Very Funny Dept.: “Sidecars might go on it” is BAR TAB (65 Down). “Oil producer?” is a PAINT BRUSH (53 Down).

Shortz Slang Dept.: After the brouhaha over the clue for “illin’” a couple of weeks ago, Will braves modern slang again with 98 Across: “Playful response to a good insult”: OH SNAP!

Three Things I’ve Never Heard Of Dept.: “Leucippus and Democritus, philosophically” – ATOMISTS (49 Down). I tried to read about atomism but it was too early in the morning.

Training Dept.: “Classic toy company whose name is its founder’s middle name” is LIONEL (35 Across).

Questions or comments? Leave them here, visit my Facebook page or tweet me @crosswordkathy.

New York Times crossword Jan. 22 / Constructed by Adam Fromm

Thank you, Will Shortz and puzzle creator Adam Fromm, for giving me an awful earworm today: “Heigh ho, heigh ho, it’s off to work we go …”

Those are the only lyrics I remember from the entirety of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” the Disney fairy tale that serves as the crossword’s theme. In the movie, the beauty’s septet of little people toils in a diamond mine; today’s puzzle indicates that perhaps those jobs are to keep keep them away from less appropriate work.

The uniform theme clues (“Bad occupation for …..”) suggest ill-fitting employment for each dwarf: NIGHT WATCHMAN (Sleepy, 24 Across); GOTH MUSICIAN (Happy, 29 Across); FLORAL ARRANGER (Sneezy, 57 Across); MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER (Grumpy, 63 Across); ALGEBRA TEACHER (Dopey, 73 Across); VILLAGE IDIOT (Doc, 98 Across); and TV PERSONALITY (Bashful, 110 Across).

Hate to complain, but this was pretty lame. It won’t be on my list of favorite puzzle for 2012.

Philly Shout-Out Dept.: “Hallmark of the Philadelphia sound” is HORNS (96 Down). Philly is the home of Gamble & Huff, the songwriting duo responsible for hits like “Love Train” by The O’Jays and “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes (later redone by Simply Red). Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, along with Thom Bell, were the force behind Philadelphia International Records and the lush acoustics that became known as TSOP — “The Sound of Philadelphia.” Unfortunately, the downtown recording studio was ruined by fire in a bizarre incident a couple of years ago. It remains boarded up, although a TSOP souvenir shop was undamaged and remains open.

Speaking of Music Dept.: Until today, the only song I knew called “All the Things She Said” was performed by Simple Minds. Now I know there’s another song done by TATU (“Duo with the 2003 hit ‘All the Things She Said,’” 64 Down). The latter video has more than 21 million views, which is what happens when things GO VIRAL (“Become a YouTube sensation,” 56 Down).

Watch Your Language Dept.: “‘Shoot!’” is DANG (101 Down). “Gives a darn?” is SEWS (89 Across).

Things I Never Knew Dept.: “Relating to the palm of the hand” is VOLAR (98 Down). “Cave ___” is CANEM (4 Down), which I looked up after solving. It means “Beware the dog.” I’ll be sure to teach that to my cat.

Questions or comments? Leave them here, visit my Facebook page or tweet me @crosswordkathy.

New York Times crossword Jan. 15 / Constructed by Finn Vigeland

A weather report? I gotcher weather report right here: I was 60 degrees warmer at this time yesterday. Yes, it was 85 glorious degrees in sunny Aruba, not the 25 degrees it is now in Philadelphia. So what more hurt could a weather-related puzzle inflict?

Well, it could add a little rain. Or a lot of rain. Which is what clever constructor Finn Vigeland did in this fun puzzle, where IT’S RAINING CATS AND DOGS (“Weather comment represented visually by this puzzle’s circled letters,” 66 Across). You’ll find all kinds of furry, four-legged breeds hidden in the theme answers: CALICO, BEAGLE, MANX, PERSIAN, POODLE and BOXER.

Here’s how they break out (I’ve underlined and bolded the circled letters, since I can’t circle them here): CABLE SITCOMS (“Shows that can be racier than their network counterparts,” 39 Down); BREAKING THE RULES (“Cheating,” 41 Down); MASON-DIXON LINE (“It’s north of the South,” 31 Down); ANTI-PERSPIRANT (“You probably raise your arm for this,” 29 Down); PHONOGRAPH NEEDLE (“It’s lowered to hear music,” 13 Down); and BRONX BOMBERS (“Big Apple team,” 34 Down).

Other Long Answers Dept.: The grid was filled with lots of creative, non-theme answers as well. “Dream setting” (22 Across) is a CASTLE IN SPAIN — a reference to daydreaming — while an “Artificial plot device” (114 Across) is a DEUS EX MACHINA (hand of God). Also: COLD CASE (“DNA testing might reopen one,” 1 Across), DRY ERASE (“Like some boards,” 123 Across), FATIGUES (“Battle wear,” 85 Down) and PHALANX (“Troop group,” 21 Across).

You Sweet Thing Dept.: “Dolls” are HONEYS (121 Across) and a “Doll” is a PET (103 Down).

Life In The Fast Lane Dept.: “Nascar Hall of Fame architect” is PEI (11 Down), the firm named for I.M. Pei, whose other structures include the glass pyramids at the Louvre.

In the News Dept.: Susan Orlean, author of fascinating book “The Orchid Thief” (which became the movie “Adaptation”), is out with a new biography about the dog RIN Tin Tin (“___ Tin Tin,” 113 Down). The Denver Broncos and their prayerful “QB Tebow” (TIM, 27 Across) are out of the Super Bowl hunt after a thrashing by the Patriots last night.

Questions or comments? Leave them here, visit my Facebook page or tweet me @crosswordkathy.

New York Times crossword Jan. 8 / Constructed by Tony Orbach

Sorry for the late post! I was in Aruba last week and had to “do without” — as today’s title serendipitously puts it — the NYT crossword puzzle. I know, poor me.

The title also hints at a pretty easy theme: Take common phrases and remove the word “with,” creating an amusing new phrase. Like DON’T PLAY MATCHES (“‘Just do drills for now’?” 24 Across) and KEEP UP THE JONESES (“Disturb one’s neighbors at night?” 30 Across).

Others: GREEN ENVY (“Duffer’s feeling toward a putting pro?” 52 Across); DATE DESTINY (“Meeting one’s soul mate, perhaps?” 54 Across); GET THE PROGRAM (“Successfully perform a download?” 67 Across); SEALED A KISS (“Applied foil at the Hershey’s factory?” 87 Across); I’M THE BAND (“One man’s declaration to an upset party planner?” 91 Across); PASS FLYING COLORS (“Drive by the United Nations?” 105 Across); and I ONLY WANNA BE YOU (“Impostor’s excuse?” 117 Across).

Reading (Almost) Double Dept.: “Went into la-la land, with ‘out’” (127 Across) is ZONED, while “Go into la-la land, with ‘out’” (27 Down) is SPACE.

Geography 101 Dept.: “Glen Canyon reservoir” is LAKE POWELL (4 Down), which is in UTAH (“4-Down locale,” 78 Down). And “New York’s Tappan ___ Bridge” is ZEE (62 Down), which we use frequently to avoid taking the George Washington Bridge through the city.

Cinema 101 Dept.: “Hannibal’s foil in ‘The Silence of the Lambs’” is CLARICE (6 Across). “‘Me, Myself & ___’” is IRENE (124 Across). And “Actor Colin” is FIRTH (11 Down).

Philly Shout-Out Dept.: “What Oliver asked for more of” is GRUEL (109 Down), a reference to Dickens’ “Oliver Twist.” The Philadelphia public library, which has an extensive collection of Dickens’ correspondence and manuscripts, is celebrating a “Year of Dickens” to mark the novelist’s 200th birthday on Feb 7. The Philly library also has Dickens’ pet raven, Grip, stuffed and preserved. More on that in a future post.

Questions or comments? Leave them here, visit my Facebook page or tweet me @crosswordkathy.