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!

Big Country Little Car Tour II, Day 22: Northwood, OH to Brooklyn, NY
August 23, 2011 · 20 Comments
Big Country Little Car Tour II, Day 22: Northwood, OH to Brooklyn, NY

I had a hotel room reserved, near Williamsport. It seemed prudent. I wanted to get home, but not to push too hard. The little wrench that appears on the dashboard when it’s time to bring …

Big Country Little Car Tour II, Day 21: Davenport, IA to Northwood, OH
August 22, 2011 · 22 Comments
Big Country Little Car Tour II, Day 21: Davenport, IA to Northwood, OH

I wished I could stay at the hotel longer. So big! Such good coffee in the lobby! So tired of portaging my bags in and out and up and down, getting stuck in doors, making …

Big Country Little Car Tour II, Day 20: Lincoln, NE to Davenport, IA
August 19, 2011 · 10 Comments
Big Country Little Car Tour II, Day 20: Lincoln, NE to Davenport, IA

I’ve found on these trips that biting off a big mileage chunk on a weekend day is a mistake, so I decided to take it easy today, a Saturday — stop and browse around where …

The Vine: August 19, 2011
August 19, 2011 · 33 Comments
The Vine: August 19, 2011

Dear Sars,
Would the Tomato Nation brain trust please help me pick out some skivvies? 
Lately the only things in my top drawer that don’t give me an immediate (and enduring) wedgie are the 3 pairs …

The Vine: August 10, 2011 Special Edition
August 16, 2011 · 96 Comments
The Vine: August 10, 2011 Special Edition

16 August update
Happy Elvis deathiversary, everyone. These tales have been great, hilarious, and super-helpful. I’d like to hear even MORE stories from you guys, specifically about any issues you may have had around the following:

when …

Big Country Little Car Tour II, Day 19: Boulder, CO to Lincoln, NE
August 15, 2011 · 4 Comments
Big Country Little Car Tour II, Day 19: Boulder, CO to Lincoln, NE

I got a perfect country night’s sleep and woke up at 6:30 AM, unprompted. I actually swung my feet to the ground, yawned, and stretched. I never do that. I’m out of bed with my …

TN Read-Along #11: Dolly: My Life Discussion Thread
August 15, 2011 · 10 Comments
TN Read-Along #11: <I>Dolly: My Life</I> Discussion Thread

So sorry to post this late, folks! Let’s get talking. Any surprises in the book for you? Do like Dolly even more now, after reading, or somewhat less?

Big Country Little Car Tour II, Day 18: Rock Springs, WY to Boulder, CO
August 15, 2011 · 5 Comments
Big Country Little Car Tour II, Day 18: Rock Springs, WY to Boulder, CO

Jay told me the day before about a little Siamese that wandered into his room a few times. When I got up and pulled my curtains back, I saw her in a sunbeam in front …

Big Country Little Car Tour II, Day 17: Elko, NV to Rock Springs, WY
August 14, 2011 · 19 Comments
Big Country Little Car Tour II, Day 17: Elko, NV to Rock Springs, WY

There are two kinds of women in the world: the kind who are like, “Sam Elliott? He’s a pretty good actor, I liked him in that Cher movie,” and the kind who would knock you …

Big Country Little Car Tour II, Day 16: San Francisco, CA to Elko, NV
August 13, 2011 · 5 Comments
Big Country Little Car Tour II, Day 16: San Francisco, CA to Elko, NV

Couch Baron and I parted ways at around 10:30 AM, he to the airport, I to find a post office that, if it exists, is in a Macy’s and I never found it. Back to …