Baseball

“I wrote 63 songs this year. They’re all about Jeter.” Just kidding. The game we love, the players we hate, and more.

Culture and Criticism

From Norman Mailer to Wendy Pepper — everything on film, TV, books, music, and snacks (shut up, raisins), plus the Girls’ Bike Club.

Donors Choose and Contests

Helping public schools, winning prizes, sending a crazy lady in a tomato costume out in public.

Stories, True and Otherwise

Monologues, travelogues, fiction, and fart humor. And hens. Don’t forget the hens.

The Vine

The Tomato Nation advice column addresses your questions on etiquette, grammar, romance, and pet misbehavior. Ask The Readers about books or fashion today!

The Vine: April 12, 2006
April 12, 2006 · No Comment

Dear Sars,
When is it okay to come out and tell someone what you really think of them?
I’m in my late twenties and have…an acquaintance. Let’s call her Lola. For
several years, Lola and I have belonged …

The Vine: April 11, 2006
April 11, 2006 · No Comment

Dear Sars,
About six months ago, my family lost our pet. Now, it’s just me and my parents, so to lose the dog that we’ve had since I was five and was my parents’ baby and …

We’re Baaaaack
April 10, 2006 · No Comment

Well, helloooooo!
Man, what a crappy couple of weeks. Basically, I came down with a creeping crud head-cold/flu/allergies/plague combo platter that put me out of commission for ten days, and included a side dish of irony, …

The Vine: March 29, 2006
March 29, 2006 · No Comment

My dearest Sars,
Okay, I’ll keep my question short and sweet.
I’m getting married in September. He’s amazing, my best friend, my muse, blah blah blah soul mate-cakes. The issue is my sister. My sister is 35 …

The Vine: March 28, 2006
March 28, 2006 · No Comment

Dear Sars,
I can’t even believe that I’m in this situation.
I am 28, a professional with a well-paying (85K) job in a large eastern seaboard city. I’ve been dating “the one” for almost a year now …

Hair Today
March 27, 2006 · No Comment

[Since apparently not everyone knew about the contest: I shaved my head for charity.]
The Night Before
Walking down Smith Street after dinner, I keep getting nods and smiles from men on the street — more than …

Heavy Duty
March 20, 2006 · 10 Comments

So…I took Little Joe to the vet last week. Longtime readers of the site can probably see where this is going, but in case you just got here: Little Joe is fat. Said fatness is …

The Vine: March 17, 2006
March 17, 2006 · No Comment

Sars,
Well, if I’m writing to The Vine, we all know it’s a problem with
either guys, grammar or cats…wish I could be more original, but
this time it’s a cat question.
Once upon a time, a boyfriend gave …

The Vine: March 16, 2006
March 16, 2006 · No Comment

Boy confusion (of course)!
I moved to New City about eight months ago and became fast
friends with a guy. We were definitely just friends
at first and he helped me through homesickness by
listening to my inane stories …

The Vine: March 15, 2006
March 15, 2006 · No Comment

Sars —
How much hot sauce is too much hot sauce? And who gets to decide that burning issue?
Here’s the background: I am a Latina from the southwest. I was brought up eating extremely spicy food …