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 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 …

TN Read-Along #11: Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business
July 23, 2011 · 10 Comments
TN Read-Along #11: <I>Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business</I>

Ms. Parton narrowly edges Mr. Gunn to become our next TN Read-Along tome. I probably can’t produce an author chat for this one — although you just never know — so for now, I look …

The Vine: July 22, 2011
July 22, 2011 · 10 Comments
The Vine: July 22, 2011

Help! When I was an early teen (25-30 years ago!), someone gave my sister a bag of stripped books. I loved one of them and it seemed like the start of a series, but it …

The Vine: July 20, 2011
July 20, 2011 · 37 Comments
The Vine: July 20, 2011

I’m about to graduate from grad school, which is great, but I’ve got a bit of a problem.
I’ve been commuting between two cities (4.5 hours apart) for almost two years, every week, because when …

Cultural Blind Spots: Footloose and Lost in Translation
July 19, 2011 · 26 Comments
Cultural Blind Spots: <I>Footloose</I> and <I>Lost in Translation</I>

Owned the soundtrack on LP as a kid; still love the soundtrack, despite the sticky synth and the portentous Kenny Loggins; never saw Footloose before. It’s a pleasant surprise. The premise is utterly contrived, and …

The NC Double Shot: Cheers
July 18, 2011 · 23 Comments
The NC Double Shot: Cheers

Drum roll, please — it’s time to announce our NC Double Shot winner. And the title goes to…

Tomato Nation Read-Along #11: Poll
July 18, 2011 · 12 Comments
Tomato Nation Read-Along #11: Poll

The unsinkable David Grann returns to the poll yet again, along with Angela Chase; first-timers include Dolly Parton, Tim Gunn, and Judy Garland. How will we choose?
Let’s find out! Pick three that look fun; you’ve …