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!

Girls 102: He’s not your boyfriend
April 23, 2012 · No Comment
<I>Girls</I> 102: He’s not your boyfriend

From my recap of Girls 102, “Vagina Panic,” at Press Play:
Hannah then gets concerned that Adam thinks she’s too flip about the issue, because of course it’s a big deal—but the dialogue raises some interesting, sticky …

The Vine: April 20, 2012
April 20, 2012 · 47 Comments
The Vine: April 20, 2012

Since you have so many well-traveled and/or UK-based readers, I thought this time-sensitive issue I’ve been puzzling over would be perfect for an Ask the Readers. In short, the Life Partner and I will be traveling …

Recently in the Snacksiverse: Reel 22A
April 19, 2012 · 5 Comments
Recently in the Snacksiverse: Reel 22A

In case you missed it, the latest from the Revolting Snacks lab:
Streetos!
Shrimp crackers!

The Vine: April 18, 2012
April 18, 2012 · 12 Comments
The Vine: April 18, 2012

I’m not the parent, but a very supportive godmother to my goddaughter, who is a sophomore dance and biology major. She is highly motivated, takes a heavy course load, is making all As, and realistic …

Girls 101: One Final Push
April 16, 2012 · 19 Comments
<I>Girls</I> 101: One Final Push

From my Girls recap at Press Play:
[H]e pulls a move he obviously thinks is super-hot, biting Hannah’s lower lip and stretching it like four inches off her face; Hannah’s expression in response is equal parts “henh?” …

The Vine: April 13, 2012
April 13, 2012 · 36 Comments
The Vine: April 13, 2012

I find myself in great need of some wisdom from you and The Vine readers. 
First of all, my partner and I have been disagreeing on the question of “stuff” vs “stuffs” when referring to “stuff” …

Death of a Salesman: Strange new world
April 12, 2012 · No Comment
Death of a Salesman: Strange new world

Ben Brantley’s New York Times review of the current production of Death of a Salesman at the Barrymore is very complimentary, but also regretful — that the version doesn’t quite land with him; that, like …

The Vine: April 11, 2012
April 11, 2012 · 29 Comments
The Vine: April 11, 2012

D. and I were friends for six years, close enough that we had weekly get-together. I saw him through a devastating divorce; he saw me through the break up of a seven-year-long relationship, etc., and …

Narc and the art of stillness
April 10, 2012 · 4 Comments
<I>Narc</I> and the art of stillness

I kind of liked Smokin’ Aces, the Joe Carnahan feature that followed Narc with a real more-than-ten-days’-worth budget and some actual names. A number of critics blew off the effort as Tarantinoid, derivative, shallow — …

The Vine: April 6, 2012
April 6, 2012 · 26 Comments
The Vine: April 6, 2012

Do some good on Good Friday; head over to the Dewey Donation drive, and help kids in Thailand and/or Washington DC find their long-lost books! I gave a whole doorstop’s worth of Sandra Boynton this morning …