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.

Jan. 8

Deepest apologies, but I’m on vacation at a place that does not carry the NYT. There are, however, a lot of lizards. Crossword clue might be: “Island where Papiamento is spoken” (5 letters).

See you next week, when I’ll post on both the Jan. 8 and Jan, 15 puzzles. Happy solving!

New York Times crossword Jan. 1 / Constructed by Patrick Berry

Happy New Year!

Hmmmmmm. I suspect today’s fairly easy puzzle was designed for solvers with wicked hangovers. Each theme answer took a common phrase but added a phonetic “um” syllable to the end _ a literal interpretation of the “add-end-um” title.

So a “Pool ball’s ‘Watch this!’ comment?” is SEE IF I CAROM (18 Across), and a “High-mounted window you can’t stop looking at?” is a HYPNOTIC TRANSOM (23 Across).

Others: STEM TO STERNUM (“Part of a watch touching the breastbone?” 32 Across); OFFICE MAXIM (“‘You don’t have to be busy to look bust,’ e.g.?” 46 Across); SILICON VALIUM (“Pill that relieves computer related anxiety?” 59 Across); BRUTE FOURSOME (“Inhuman group of golfers?” 71 Across); HEAD OF HAREM (“Sultan’s wife, perhaps?” 81 Across); THE LION’S DENIM (“Jungle king’s jeans and overalls?” 99 Across); PARTICLE BOREDOM (“Ennui among quantum physicists?” 110 Across); and PIE A LA MODEM (“Dessert delivered over the Internet?” 116 Across).

Need more Ms? How about 17 Down, “Candy eaten in handfuls”? Answer: M AND M’S.

Mummers Parade, New Year's Day 2012, Philadelphia

Common Answer, Uncommon Clue Dept.: “Best-selling author who wrote ‘I did not write it. God wrote it. I merely did his dictation’” is Harriet Beecher STOWE (29 Down), who penned “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.”

Auld Lang Syne Dept.: Hope you indulged in a sip of MUMM (“Big name in Champagne,” 83 Down) to ring in the New Year! Or maybe you caught Justin Bieber covering the Beatles (oy vey!) on “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” to see if the ball was “About ready to drop” (BEAT, 94 Down). Hope you had a “Great time” (EON, 113 Down) and not a “Bad experience” (BUMMER, 94 Across) on New Year’s Eve.

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

New York Times crossword Dec. 25 / Constructed by Elizabeth C. Gorski

UPDATE: Hello again, this time from my kitchen table in Philadelphia. We’ve had two Christmases so far  – here and in Boston — and have been lucky enough to be invited for a fabulous dinner across the street, so I’ll keep this brief.

Today’s theme was a Christmas two-fer: A sweet theme topped by a connect-the-dots. The key was figuring out 91 Across, “With 100-Across, image revealed by connecting the circled letters alphabetically.” The answer: GINGERBREAD MAN.

The spicy treat was central to several other clues: “16th-century monarch credited with presenting 91-/100-Acrosses to guests” is ELIZABETH (105 Down); “‘The 91-/100-Across,’ for one” is a FAIRY TALE (110 Down); “Aid for making a 91-/100-Across” is a COOKIE CUTTER (16 Down); “91-/100-Across, often” is a TREE ORNAMENT  (4 Down); “Decoration on a 91-/100-Across” is ICING (76 Across); and a “2001 film in which 91-/100-Across is a character” is SHREK. (Although there actually is a movie called “The Gingerbread Man” with Kenneth Branagh, a thriller definitely not associated with the classic children’s tale of the same name. And neither is to be confused with “The Gingerdead Man” starring Gary Busey: “Evil never tasted so good.” Oy vey.)

There were many other Christmas-themed answers. “‘Scrooged’ actor Robert” is MITCHUM (13 Across), though I’m sure that’s probably not the movie he’d prefer to be remembered for; “Arthur Honegger’s ‘A Christmas ____’” is CANTATA (1 Across); “‘Unto us ___ is given’” is A SON (58 Across); “Prepare, as eggnog” is STIR (132 Across); “Partridge’s preferred tree” is a PEAR (133 Across); “Elves, to Santa: Abbr.” are ASSTS (32 Down); “Relaxer for Santa” is HOT MILK (117 Down); “‘Miracle on 34th Street,’ e.g.” is MOVIE (96 Across); “‘Santa Baby’ singer” is KITT (42 Down); “How Santa’s reindeer are harnessed” is IN PAIRS (83 Down); and “Plopped down on Santa’s lap, e.g.” is SAT (114 Down).

Hanukkah Shout-Out: For those who are celebrating the Festival of Lights, all I can offer is 94 Down, “___ B’rith” — BNAI.

Philly Shout-Out: “Approach like an eagle” is SWOOP IN (26 Across), which I’m sure wasn’t written to refer to the Philadelphia Eagles, but I’m feeling charitable. They beat Dallas on the road yesterday, which is always nice, but it was all for naught: They were eliminated from the playoffs with a Giants win. The season was pretty much a disaster, though to their credit they didn’t throw in the towel after a miserable start; they may yet make .500 when it once looked like they’d be lucky to hit .300.

Happy Holidays Dept.: Hope you enjoyed the puzzle, my post and your holiday season! In other words, hope you are like the Gingerbread Man in today’s puzzle: ALL SMILES (“Clearly happy, 26 Across).

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

EARLIER: Merry Christmas from Logan airport in Boston! Solved today’s puzzle in the waiting area but am only posting a photo for now. It’s too hard to blog from my iPhone, so I’ll write a full post once we’re back in Philly.

New York Times crossword Dec. 18 / Constructed by Patrick Merrell

Mobile blogging today from somewhere between Philadelphia and Lancaster, Pa., where we (finally!) redeemed a gift card for a Bed & Breakfast that a generous friend gave us as a wedding present … two years ago. It was worth the wait. If you’re ever out in Amish country, check out the Silverstone Inn & Suites.

In keeping with my Amish weekend, today’s puzzle had a plain and simple theme: Add an “A” to a common phrase and turn it into something different. So “Dislike of the son of Mary, Queen of Scots?” is a KING JAMES AVERSION (22 Across), while “Catwalk no-show?” is a RUNAWAY MODEL (31 Across).

Others: GENTLE AMEN (“Soft-spoken prayer ending?” 45 Across); AMASS MEDIA (“Build a publishing empire?” 48 Across); PEPPER ACORN (“Practical joke used on squirrels?” 66 Across); AROUND ROBINS (“Where worms don’t last long?” 103 Across); and ANABOLIC ASTEROIDS (“What black holes swallow to bulk up?” 116 Across).

The theme also included a reference to my favorite rib place when I was a kid, though I haven’t seen one in ages: TONY AROMAS (“What sweaty dancers create at an annual awards show?” 87 Across). And in a fun coincidence, I was at a coffee shop at the Strasburg Railroad – and across the street from the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania – when I solved 90 Across: “Rush to get on the train?”: DART ABOARD.

"Rush to get on the train?" is DART ABOARD (90 Across). Photo by Jim MacMillan at the Strasburg Railroad.

The puzzle title was a stealth theme answer: “Again?” is really “‘A’ Gain,” because the theme answers “gain” an “A.”

Philly Shout-Outs Dept.: “Catholic university in Philly” is ST. JOE’S (78 Across). Now La Salle is jealous! Not to mention Villanova, though technically it’s in the ‘burbs. Also, everyone here knows that WAWA (“Drink for a toddler,” 32 Down) is the granddaddy of all convenience stores.

Four-Legged Friends (Or Not) Dept.: “Shoe named for a cat” is PUMA (67 Down), while “One who works with canines” is a DENTIST (93 Down).

For Fun Dept.: “They’re often sold by the dozen” are RED ROSES (91 Down); “Geoffrey the Giraffe’s store” is TOYS R US (72 Down); and a “Brit’s bumbershoot” is a BROLLY (17 Down). Translation: an umbrella.

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

New York Times crossword Dec. 11 / Constructed by Timothy Polin

Is that music I hear? Today’s puzzle is another reason to thank my mom for making me take piano lessons when I was young. A basic knowledge of sheet music made me realize that various squares in the grid contain symbols pertaining to musical notes: sharps, flats and naturals. That’s how constructor Timothy Polin squeezed PENCIL (SHARP)ENERS into 26 Across (“Little shavers at school?”), crossing it with JEW(S HARP) (“Instrument played in the mouth,” 6 Down).

I found the crossword enjoyably challenging, but I wonder if the theme was too esoteric for those with tin ears or no formal music lessons. Even the title tested my memory of music terminology: a “half-step” from a natural G note would be G flat or G sharp. (I wish I could explain it better, but my last sustained exposure to music was playing the clarinet in 8th grade Beginning Winds.) And, to be honest, while I could picture the notations for sharps and flats, I couldn’t for the life of me remember the symbol for a natural note. So I just drew a box as a placeholder.

Other SHARPS: RAZOR (SHARP) (“Like trenchant wit,” 39 Across), crossing with (SHARP) SET (“Fixed at an acute angle,” 44 Down); KEEP A (SHARP) LOOKOUT (“Play sentinel,” 59 Across), crossing with (SHARP)EIS (“Wrinkly-faced dogs,” 60 Down); CARD (SHARP)S (“Bottom dealers, perhaps,” 70 Down), crossing with (SHARP)IE (“Trademarked marker,” 93 Across); and (SHARP) OBJECTS (“Dangers for children and klutzes,” 106 Across), crossing with (SHARP)TON (“Al who sought the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination,” 106 Down).

FLATS: (FLAT)WARE (“Knives, forks and spoons, 1 Across), crossing with (FLAT) TOP (“Aircraft carrier, 1 Down); O(F LAT)E (“Just recently,” 32 Across), crossing with (FLAT)TERER (“Sycophant,” 33 Down); HYPER-IN(FLAT)ION (“Economic woe,” 65 Across), crossing with (FLAT)LY (“Way to refuse,” 68 Down); (FLAT) EARTH SOCIETY (“Group that doesn’t believe in revolution?” 76 Across), crossing with (FLAT) CAR (“Part of a freight train,” 76 Down); and (FLAT) FEE (“Fixed price,” 86 Across), crossing with (FLAT)TED NOTE (“F major has just one,” 86 Down).

NATURALS: (NATURAL) HABITAT (“Where a plant or animal thrives,” 12 Across), crossing with (NATURAL) CAUSES (“There’s no foul play when one passes by these,” 12 Down); ALL (NATURAL) (“Organic food label,” 36 Down), crossing with PRETER(NATURAL) (“Extraordinary and unexplainable,” 57 Across); (NATURAL) LAKE (“Body of water in a volcanic crater, for example,” 75 Across), crossing with (NATURAL) SELECTION (“‘The Origin of Species’ concept,” 75 Down); and (NATURAL) BORN CITIZEN (“Immigrant’s opposite,” 111 Across), crossing with (NATURAL) GAS (“Piped fuel,” 111 Down).

Where In The World? Dept.: I knew almost immediately that 95 Down, “It’s found near the toe of a boot,” referred to SICILY. But my geographic knowledge failed me with 88 Across, “Walled city of Spain,” and the crossing clue at 78 Down was no help: “Samoan port.” I guessed AVILA and APIA, respectively, and they turned out to be right.

New Knowledge Dept.: I was not familiar with the terms LABILE (“Apt to change,” 97 Down) and crossing word ALETTE (“Doorway jamb,” 120 Across).

Double Dose Dept.: “Potpourri” is both a HASH (48 Across) and an OLIO (42 Down).

Short Stacks Dept.: “Links chain” is IHOP (38 Down) — the International House of Pancakes, which serves sausage links.

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