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: January 27, 2006
January 26, 2006 · One Comment

Sars —
I almost hesitate to answer the question about where
“Grown” can find info on political donations, because
I agree it might cause more problems than it solves
for her…
…but just to make sure her grandma’s not donating
thousands …

The Vine: January 26, 2006
January 26, 2006 · No Comment

Thanks to everyone who wrote in with the obvious solution to Mic’s kids-at-the-wedding problem that I didn’t even think of: getting a babysitter or designating a “kids’ room” for the duration of the ceremony.
Dear Sars,
I …

The Vine: January 25, 2006
January 25, 2006 · No Comment

Dr Pepper Lipsmackers. I’ve sworn by it for five years running.
Yeah, it’s a little tween-y, but it gives my fair-skinned, dark-haired
self just enough color when I’m not in a lipstick mood. It doesn’t
have the best …

The Vine: January 24, 2006
January 24, 2006 · No Comment

This is an roommate question wrapped in a cat question wrapped in a vest.
I’m a university student, living for the first time off-campus. I’ve come to live with a friend of mine, and after overcoming …

Dear Movies
January 23, 2006 · No Comment

Dear Movies,
I just had the misfortune of watching The Good Girl last night, and you need to hear the things I am about to tell you, because: no. And: boo. And: zzz. I hope you …

The Vine: January 20, 2006
January 20, 2006 · No Comment

One of my close relatives is in hospital, and I am
very upset about this. My two best (girl)friends are
out of the country, and I’ve needed someone present.
The only other option for that kind of friendshippy
comforty …

The Vine: January 19, 2006
January 19, 2006 · No Comment

Dear Sars,
So how do you completely change your career path?
For the past four years I’ve been working as a
substitute teacher. I took a long-term position this
August that ends next June, and I’m already miserable.
I know …

The Vine: January 18, 2006
January 18, 2006 · No Comment

I was in this position — quite literally — when I was pregnant. Phone calls are great as books, yarn, magazines, et cetera. In the four weeks I was on bedrest, I blew threw all …

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

O Wise Sars,
I have a question for you. It’s not about a boy, but it is, in its own way, about negotiating relationships.
First a little background: I am a Ph.D. student at a large university. …

Spree Association
January 16, 2006 · No Comment

Last week, I had some time to kill before an appointment, so I stopped at a newsstand and bought a paper. I have a special fondness for that particular newsstand, which is set into the …