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: March 20, 2013
March 20, 2013 · 53 Comments
The Vine: March 20, 2013

I am 38 and have two gorgeous sons, the eldest of which is three and pretty much the most awesome kid ever to have graced the planet (not that I’m biased). My younger son was …

Cinemarch Madness: Demme Division
March 19, 2013 · 9 Comments
Cinemarch Madness: Demme Division

The Demme Division presents a by-now-familiar Cinemarch Madness dilemma: what’s your third vote? The Deer Hunter is so challenging, so visually dark it seems to have been filmed from inside a keg, Walken’s face so …

A Word From Our Sponsors: Bleached Blonde Betty
March 18, 2013 · No Comment
A Word From Our Sponsors: <I>Bleached Blonde Betty</I>

Looking for a different theater experience, a walk on the noir side? Or…a risque-but-not-too play at which to stash the visiting relatives who got shut out of Book of Mormon again? Bleached Blonde Betty‘s world-premiere run is …

Cinemarch Madness: Mathias Division Poll
March 18, 2013 · 5 Comments
Cinemarch Madness: Mathias Division Poll

Brutal draw; the only thing I can rule out is Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken, because I think it’s a bit lightweight, but that’s just me.
My votes? Precious and Capturing the Friedmans get honorable mentions, …

Cinemarch Madness: Haneke Division Poll
March 17, 2013 · 17 Comments
Cinemarch Madness: Haneke Division Poll

At last, a no-brainer. Granted, having seen a few others in the division might have made the choice more difficult, but as it is, I can eliminate both the Bette Davis flicks; I like them, …

A Word From Our Sponsors: Audible.com
March 17, 2013 · No Comment
A Word From Our Sponsors: Audible.com

Audible.com is a great way to take the TN Read-Along books with you — or get caught up on the classics. Listen to the great books on your iPod: Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Dickens, and more …

Cinemarch Madness: Truffaut Division Poll
March 16, 2013 · 5 Comments
Cinemarch Madness: Truffaut Division Poll

Frankie, Frankie, Frankie. Ya killin’ me here.
…Okay. I haven’t seen Central Station, The Heiress, Judgment at Nuremberg, or Monster’s Ball, so I won’t vote for them.
That doesn’t help much in terms of ruling things out, …

Cinemarch Madness: Jordan Division Poll
March 15, 2013 · 9 Comments
Cinemarch Madness: Jordan Division Poll

Two clear favorites here in the Jordan Division, just based on nominations-round name-checking: The Killing Fields and Saving Private Ryan. The first I endorse; the second I consider more of an action movie, and the …

The Vine: March 15, 2013
March 15, 2013 · 43 Comments
The Vine: March 15, 2013

Maybe you and Red Cloudsource can help me find a bra! I’m looking for a 36G (or equivalent) bra that must have:

Underwire because “wirefree” bras offer me neither lift nor separation
No padding at all because …

Cinemarch Madness: Herman Division Poll
March 14, 2013 · 16 Comments
Cinemarch Madness: Herman Division Poll

The inevitable division in which I haven’t seen much, alas. A very few words about the films I know, then, starting with Double Indemnity. I watched it for the first time recently (…I know, I …