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, Days 6 and 7: Minneapolis, MN to Mauston, WI
August 2, 2011 · 23 Comments
Big Country Little Car Tour II, Days 6 and 7: Minneapolis, MN to Mauston, WI

It’s amazing how little time it takes for all my stuff — messenger bag; computer bag; duffel bag; suitcase — to explode across a hotel room. I try to repack as I go along, but …

Dog Days of Summer Movies Film Fest: Summer Stock
August 1, 2011 · 4 Comments
Dog Days of Summer Movies Film Fest: <I>Summer Stock</I>

Welcome to the Dog Days of Summer Movies Online Film Festival! As we “greet” August, a cavalcade of internet-film-buff stars will join me here on Tomato Nation to enjoy the virtual AC and talk about …

Big Country Little Car Tour II, Day 5: Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN
July 30, 2011 · 8 Comments
Big Country Little Car Tour II, Day 5: Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN

As I write about Friday, it’s actually Saturday, and Pop-Up Chapel is underway back in NYC. I’m so thrilled and impressed; congratulations all, big and small. Go to Merchants’ Gate in Columbus Circle to feel …

Big Country Little Car Tour, Day 4: Madison, WI to Minneapolis, MN
July 29, 2011 · 11 Comments
Big Country Little Car Tour, Day 4: Madison, WI to Minneapolis, MN

Morning. Thursday was Biscuit Day at the Clarion Suites breakfast buffet, an “event” that had me more excited than it should have. I collected a few dough pucks and nibbled while answering email; then it …

The Vine: July 29, 2011
July 29, 2011 · 68 Comments
The Vine: July 29, 2011

Sars,
I need recommendations for podcasts. I’ve started a new job recently, and it is boring beyond belief. That’s fine. It’s temporary. That being said, I need listening material. It needs to be light enough to …

Big Country Little Car Tour II: Chicks Dig The Long Haul
July 29, 2011 · 86 Comments
Big Country Little Car Tour II: Chicks Dig The Long Haul

6/30/11
It’s back — and it’s smaller than ever!
…Just kidding. The trip is waaaaay bigger; the car is the same modest size, but will have cruise control this time oh thank sweet achey Jesus.
Big Country Little …

Big Country Little Car Tour II, Day 3: Madison WI
July 28, 2011 · 15 Comments
Big Country Little Car Tour II, Day 3: Madison WI

I won’t lie; I spent a lot of yesterday gazing fondly at my stuff. Occasionally, I would touch some of my stuff, or greet it. “Socks! What’s up, guys?”
I spent the rest of yesterday napping; …

The Vine: July 27, 2011
July 27, 2011 · 35 Comments
The Vine: July 27, 2011

Better late than never, ja? Sorry for the delay; I had cars to rent, and delicious spinach pie to eat. And now, a mid-week Ask The Readers:
Hi Sars! I have been having a fruitless clothing …

Big Country Little Car Tour II, Day 2: Akron OH to Milwaukee WI (sort of)
July 27, 2011 · 39 Comments
Big Country Little Car Tour II, Day 2: Akron OH to Milwaukee WI (sort of)

In retrospect, I can say with confidence that most of this is my fault — starting with yesterday’s playlist tweet, sent just after I’d listened to Junior Brown’s “Broke Down South of Dallas.” That was …

Big Country Little Car Tour II, Day 1: Brooklyn NY to Akron OH
July 26, 2011 · 17 Comments
Big Country Little Car Tour II, Day 1: Brooklyn NY to Akron OH

It took an hour just to get out of the state of New York. Not far into Pennsylvania, I ran into the drenching rain we’d waited on for days back home. Visibility dropped to 20 …