Hillside Makes and Collects Over 300 Blankets and Coats

Roswell participated in a Kids Keeping Kids Warm Drive campaign during November, collecting over 300 blankets and coats for local charities.

The drive was part of a school-wide character study on gratitude and generosity that is part of the Chick-fil-A Core Essentials program.

"It was amazing to see the generosity of the students, staff and parents at Hillside," said John Anderson, Hillside Elementary School interim principal. "This project was the perfect opportunity to teach our students about showing gratitude for what they have and generosity in giving to others."

Every class in the school made their own fleece knot blankets, which were donated to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta to use as gifts to lift the spirits of patients in their care. In addition, students were asked to donate new or gently used blankets and coats. These donations were given to the Drake House, a short-term housing center for women and children and to North Fulton Community Charities.

Designer Trish Summerville Reveals H&M's Secret 'Girl With The Dragon Tattoo' Connection

In Steig Larsson's second novel, "The Girl Who Played With Fire," Lisbeth Salander goes on a shopping spree at H&M, making the studio's fashion partnership with the Swedish retail giant feel tailor-made.

If you're a big fan of David Fincher and are dying to see his The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo when it opens on Dec 21, you may already know that the film's costume designer, Trish Summerville, has designed a small collection of hard core neutral separates for Swedish retail clothing giant H&M – leather jacket, wool coat, skinny jeans, T's, hoodies, boots with subdermal implant designs. All are inspired by the film's cyber-punk heroine Lisbeth Salander, played by Rooney Mara. The collection is available at all H&M outlets in the U.S on Dec 14.

This partnership certainly makes sense since the author of the award-winning Millenium Trilogy series, the late Steig Larsson. was an award-winning Swedish author and journalist. The original film -- starring Noomi Rapace and Michael Nyqvist -- is reputed to be the most viewed film in Sweden and Fincher's remake also takes place -- and was filmed on location in – Sweden.

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But unless you've read Larsson's second book, you may be unaware of the authentic connection between Salander and H&M.

In an exclusive interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Summer explains: “In the second book, The Girl Who Plays With Fire, once she has money, she goes to H&M and has a shopping spree. So it (the collaboration) plays really nicely hand-in-hand. It's extremely relevant because we do use pieces of clothing from H&M (in the first film). It's very much real to what the Salander character. We didn't go off the deep end and do gowns or anything.”

VIDEO: 'Girl With The Dragon Tattoo' H&M Collection in Stores a Aeek Before Film Opens

The studio and the international retail giant contacted Summerville when she was shooting in Sweden to discuss the idea. Originally proposed as a possible T-shirt line, the final decision was to design a definitive capsule collection that captures the essence of Salander. And the clothing will find a tremendous international consumer base since H&M has approximately 2,300 stores in 41 countries.

The H&M Tattoo prices are very reasonable but Summerville predicts the hottest piece will be the most expensive one, the edgy leather jacket. “You're getting a deal at $199. It's so well-made. The leather is beautiful and we did some washing on it and a bit of aging. It's a great key piece to have."

POST: Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Designer Trish Summerville Plans Mikael Blomkvist Menswear Line

The Girl Who Plays The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Rooney Mara already owns and wears the whole collection, says Summerville. “She got to see the samples. To get her nod and David's nod made me feel really good, made me feel like we are on the right track.”

We can't wait to see an H&M 'The Girl Who Played With Fire' collection. And good news for male fans of the film: Summerville also told THR that she would love to do a line of Mikael Blomkvist menswear based on Daniel Craig's costumes. Oh, and if you really want to look like hacker heroine Lisbeth Salander, Trish shows you how to bleach your eyebrows in this video.

GPS items top wish lists of outdoor enthusiasts

As Christmas nears, store shelves are packed with everything from space-aged electronics to low-cost accessories for the outdoor lover and age-group athlete in your life.

No matter what the pastime, remember these three letters for a really special gift: GPS. They stand for Global Positioning Satellite receivers, which triangulate signals from satellites overhead to pinpoint locations on earth within a matter of feet.

An inexpensive receiver aids hikers, hunters, geocachers and others in finding their way in places without signposts. For example, Bass Pro offers the Garmin eTrex 10 Handheld GPS Unit preloaded with a base map and with enhanced geocaching features for $119.

For fishing, GPS can be paired with computer maps to project the image of a boat's relative position to places that might have fishing. Anglers also can store their favorite spots in a unit's memory so they can return time after time. GPS enhances on-the-water safety. Boaters can mark the location of a boat ramp and return after dark or if rain or fog harms visibility. Units range from $150 to several hundred dollars, depending on features.

For cyclists, Scott Davis at Bloomington Cycle & Fitness suggested the Garmin 800, which measures speed and distance. The unit has a base map. No more getting lost on unfamiliar routes. Push a button to find the closest restaurants and other services. The Garmin 800 is also compatible with power meters that advanced cyclists use for training. Cost is $450.

Andre Conton at Vitesse Cycle/Often Running in Normal pointed to the Garmin Forerunner GPS 110 for runners. The Forerunner uses GPS to track distance, pace and overall time, and it's compatible with the Garmin heart-rate monitor, which is sold separately. Cost is $200.

If you have a triathlete on your list, they'd appreciate Garmin's newest GPS-equipped 910XT. The unit that straps to the wrist can measure swim distance, stroke count, lap time and swim efficiency. On land, Forerunner 910XT offers many of the features of Garmin's advanced cycling computers and sport watches to accurately measure time, distance, speed, pace and more. Data can be uploaded into a computer for analysis and to map the route for future reference. Battery life is 20 hours, long enough for an IronMan race. Cost is $450 with a heart rate monitor.

Some other gift ideas:

Heavy snow last winter made cross-country skiing gear a popular sale at WildCountry, according to Dick Smith, who owns the business on Linden Street in Normal and other locations at Eastland Mall in Bloomington and Champaign. Packages including skis, poles, boots and more sell for about $320, which includes a two-hour introductory class to the sport.

Swimmers can enjoy music while swimming endless laps with a SwiMP3 1 GB waterproof MP3 player by Finis. Price is $134.95. Check out www.finisinc.com.

Fishermen can always use another fishing rod. Make the next one special with a custom rod by Paul Center of Normal. Prices vary. Phone [phone].

For hunters or birdwatchers, the Songbird Clear is a high-quality hearing enhancement device for people who want to enjoy the sounds of the world around them. Price is $119.99, available at select CVS and Walgreens locations or through www.songbirdclear.com.

When winter forces cyclists indoors, a trainer lets them keep right on spinning. A CycleOps fluid trainer costs about $350 at local bike shops.

Some people ride their bikes outdoors all winter long. For safety on dark mornings and evenings, Davis suggests the NiteRider Technical Light System with three light levels. Get two to five hours of light. Cost is $120. A powerful dual beam model is $299. Less expensive lights also are available. The Ion Flare Series for front and back sells for $65; Blackburn's Voyager front and Mars rear click lights sell for about $25 at Vitesse.

Runners who like a workout after dark can be safer with the Amphipod Full-Viz Series light for just $15 at Often Running.

Sparked by the book "Born to Run," many runners are adopting a less-is-more attitude when it comes to shoes. Vibrams' FiveFingers are as close as you get to wearing nothing on your feet. Cost is $90 at WildCountry.

Nothing says "Christmas" quite like pepper spray to protect cyclists and runners. Cost is $14.

Warm clothes and gear are always appreciated, no matter the sport. WildCountry has a big selection of both for all kinds of outdoor activities, including the Columbia base layer with reflective material close to the skin to hold in the heat. Cost is $60. Bloomington Cycle and Vitesse Often Running carry garments and accessories for people who ride bikes and run, including windproof jackets and thermal gloves and protective shoe covers.

Temperatures will dip into 30s this week

For some, Florida's cold temperatures are no reason to bundle up.

Saajan Panikar, a 21-year-old wildlife ecology and conservation senior, walked around campus Tuesday in jeans and a polo T-shirt.

The 64-degree temperature outside didn't bother him much.

"I'm from Chicago," Panikar said. "This isn't that cold."

Temperatures will dip into the 30s and not exceed the mid-60s this week, said Marie Trabert, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Jacksonville. Wednesday night will be the coldest with a low of 33 degrees, and there may be frost on cars and along the grass Thursday morning, she said.

The temperatures are about 10 degrees cooler than normal for this time of year.

Panikar said he thinks people who complain about the temperatures or bundle up in heavy winter clothing are "ridiculous."

"Until you've had to wear a parka and still feel cold, don't talk to me," he said.

Staci Didner, an 18-year-old public relations sophomore and New York native, wore a light jacket and jeans Tuesday. The weather in Florida gets "perfectly cold," she said.

"I'm so happy we get the cold without the snow," Didner said.

But for native Floridians, cold weather means scarves, bubble jackets and trench coats.

Stacey Coonts, a 21-year-old anthropology junior from Tampa, prefers layering shirts with sweaters and wearing her handmade crocheted gloves when it's cold outside.

"I absolutely hate the cold," Coonts said. "I've always hated the cold. It's a Floridian thing, I guess."

5 places to order cupcakes without leaving your home

Everyone loves cupcakes these days (myself included) — it seems the little cakes have become a trendy, decadent work of art as opposed to simply a dessert. In Toronto alone, there's a multitude of specialized cupcake shops offering everything from big cupcakes to little cupcakes and vanilla cupcakes to wild chocolate chili cupcakes.

But what about when you just want to mow down on a dozen gourmet cupcakes in your flannel PJ's, without having to leave your warm, cozy home to get them? Never fear, there's options for that too. Here's a list of online-only cupcake shops serving Toronto and the GTA — all one has to do is pick one, place your order, sit back, and wait (impatiently).

Cutie Pie Cupcakes
CutiePie Cupcakes offers a wide variety of creative cupcake flavours, something that's crucial in my books. They'll whip you up a batch of Ya-Ya Yogurt cupcakes (featuring yogurt frosting), citrus-y Key Lime ones, or PB&J Banana Slam cupcakes — a.k.a. a throwback to childhood lunches with a banana topped with peanut butter icing and strawberry drizzle. Yum. CutiePie Cupcakes start at $55 for 30 cupcakes of the same flavour.

Cupcake Factory
Cupcake Factory is an Oakville-based business, but delivers cupcakes all over the GTA. Again there's flavours and toppings galore: S'mores, Neapolitan, and Pineapple & Brown Sugar, to name a few. They'll even bake you cupcakes in ice cream cones (they look just like ice cream cones only not a drippy, sticky mess in summer). Cupcake Factory prices their goodies per cupcake, starting at around $2 each, but you have to order a minimum of 24.

Cupcake World
Cupcake World is like the Walmart of online cupcake shops, and is a division of eCakes, a Toronto based, online cake and treats store. Like most of these online stores, Cupcake World offers mini and regular sized cupcakes in both traditional and fancy flavors, and they specialize in creating custom designs and recipes, so you can get those 12 dozen cupcakes modeled after your childhood dog Snuffy here. Cupcake World is probably the easiest and fastest ordering system — you simply place your order via their online system, pick a delivery time, and (voila!) they arrive.

Eat My Words
Eat My Words offers cupcakes in pre-determined packages, making an edible gift for that special someone easier than ever to order, and they're delivered in really cute hat boxes. Eat My Words has been around since 2001, and while their cupcakes are considerably more expensive than some of these other stores (10 for $69), they donate a portion of their proceeds to the Stephen Lewis Foundation. Eat My Words just moved into a new "home" in the city. While they still don't have a store front, you now have the option of making an appointment to pick up your cupcakes instead of having them delivered — and, presumably, to taste test or go over customized orders.

Sugar Baking
Sugar Baking is the side business of Catherine Chen, a 20-something Torontonian, who spent a summer interning at The Bonnie Gordon School before launching her online-only business. An aficionado of all things cute, tasty, and baked; Chen started up Sugar Baking in 2009 and it's taken off since then. The company offers all sorts of tasty treats — in staple flavours like Vanilla Bean, Chocolate, Chocolate and Vanilla — as well as some more exotic cupcakes, including Pina Coloda, Cookies & Cream, and her self-professed most popular: the Ferrero Rocher cupcake. The best part? If you really, really want an oddball ketchup mustard cupcake with cream cheese icing, Sugar Baking takes custom orders. Prices start at $25 for a dozen and go up from there, depending on your specifications.

Treasure hunters find gems at consignment shops

Rene Stickle calls it an "addiction."

The New Castle resident will travel pretty much anywhere to satisfy her craving. And she tells everyone she can just about get them hooked, too.

"I am addicted to consignment shopping," says Stickle, while shopping at Ambiance in Oakmont. "Look at all of these items that are name brands. You can find one-of-a-kind coats and dresses and shoes and jewelry at reasonable prices. If I find something that doesn't fit me, I will recommend it to my friends, because it is such a great buy, someone should have it."

Stickle's find for that day was a gorgeous long angora Calvin Klein coat for $100 that would have cost $800 to $1,000 brand-new.

She's not alone.

Consignment shopping is on the rise. NARTS: The Association of Resale Professionals reported in its 2010 Operating Survey a growth in net sales of 12.7 percent for 2009 from 2008. Retail sales were down 7.3 percent in 2009 from 2008, according to data from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Consignment is when individuals offer merchandise to store owners who determine whether the piece will sell and for how much. If sold, the original owner receives part of the sale and the other part goes to the store owner. Some consignment shops require a nominal fee to consign. Merchandise not sold after a particular length of time decided on by the store owner can be donated to a charity or returned to the original owner.

The popularity of consignment shopping led to the Bravo show "Fashion Hunters," which follows fashionistas at Second Time Around as they go searching the attics, closets and garages of New York's elite.

Locally, shoppers can find high-end items by big-name designers such as Prada, Tory Burch, Coach, Lafayette 148, Calvin Klein, Stuart Weitzman, Chanel, Jimmy Choo and Louis Vuitton. Some items still carry original price tags, because they were never worn.

"People who previously gave away clothing, household goods and furniture are seeking other ways to dispose of unwanted items during an economic pinch," says Adele Meyer, executive director of NARTS. "Some donate merchandise to a not-for-profit resale shop and take advantage of the tax deductions while helping a charity raise money. Others may choose to sell or consign merchandise at a local resale shop, ... turning their no-longer-needed articles into cash."

"Consignment shopping is like a treasure hunt," Meyer says. "Because you never know what you are going to find."

Western Pennsylvania has some wonderful consignment shops, says Jeanne Goad of South Fayette, while browsing at ecoChic resale boutique in Robinson. She travels for work and knows where the best stores are located.

"I would love to shop at stores like Ann Taylor and J. Crew, until I see some of the prices at those stores, so that is why I shop at consignment stores," she says. "I can still buy those brands but at a fraction of the price. And most of the consignment stores don't look like consignment stores. They look like boutiques. Plus, the customer service is outstanding, and I like to support local businesses."

Having that one-on-one relationship with the customer is key to making this business work, says Terry Chesky, who owns ecoChic and Consignment Cottage in Moon with her mother, Jean Maggio. Chesky has teamed with fellow consignment owners to form Pittsburgh Area Resale and Consignment Shops. They meet monthly to share ideas.

"The vision is to increase the awareness of consignment and resale shopping in Western Pennsylvania," Chesky says. "If someone comes in and is looking for something I don't have, I will gladly refer them to another consignment shop. It's about doing what I can to help keep people shopping consignment stores versus going to the mall. And with all of us communicating with each other, all of our businesses will grow because we learn from each other."

Colleen McKenzie who owns Savvy Fox with locations in Mt. Lebanon and Peters, says joining with others is a way to get the word out about consignment stores through shared advertising, the organization's Facebook page and a coming website.

McKenzie says consignment stores are selective about the items they will accept. They also are careful about making sure the designer pieces they have are authentic, she says.

"We would never sell a fake handbag or fur as real," says McKenzie, who has 4,600 consigners and puts out, at minimum, 200 additional items a day and can put out 600-plus items in one day. "It is important to make sure these items are the real thing."

She says part of the intrigue is the thrill of the hunt in finding that one thing that no one else will have.

"The customer has evolved over time," McKenzie says, "and they want more value for their dollar. I discovered consignment shopping when I had a job where I needed to attend fancy events and needed to be dressed up all the time. If you are only going to wear an item once, like a dress or gown, why pay a lot for it?"

Pat Gregorini of Bentleyville shops consignment stores weekly. "I love bargains," she says.

So does Christine Phillips.

"If consignment stores put out junk, then no one would want to buy anything," she says. "But consignment stores today have really great items that are top-quality. I shop enough to know the (retail) price of something and to know if I am getting a good deal."

Karen Zaborowski of Green Tree says shopping at consignment stores allows you to look high-maintenance, without the cost of high maintenance. They are especially perfect for finding children clothes, she says, because kids grow out of everything so fast.

Each store offers its own merchandise, says Nicole Saniga, owner of Plus Consignment in Castle Shannon.

"If someone is going to shop consignment, they want to know where other consignment stores are," Saniga says. "I really think being part of the local organization, we will all benefit and be able to network with each other and offer our customers other options to find great clothing, shoes, accessories and furniture.

"We plan to have a pamphlet in each of our stores showing where other consignment stores are and to offer other good shopping information about resale shops," she says. "We all need each other. And customers appreciate you calling other stores to help them find what they are looking for. They will remember that, and that will being them back."

Read more: Treasure hunters find gems at consignment shops - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/business/s_769283.html#ixzz1f3MocJBA

Coats for Kids celebrates 25 years

wenty-five years ago, Jack Brown was at a dry cleaning conference when he heard a great idea.

A Milwaukee company called Spic and Span was cleaning and giving away free coats to children whose families couldn't afford to buy them one. Brown, who owned a chain of dry cleaners, brought the idea to Austin.

A quarter-century later, Austin's Coats for Kids project has distributed more than 600,000 coats to children across Central Texas.

"I feel like this is part of Austin," said Amber Brabham with the Junior League of Austin, which runs the annual event. "It's like 'Keep Austin Weird.' It's part of who we are."

Coats for Kids began in 1986 . After returning from his dry cleaning conference, Brown, now 83 , pitched his idea to three community partners: Goodwill Industries, KASE 101 and KVUE . All signed on.

Community members donated the coats. Jack Brown Cleaners dry cleaned them. KASE 101 and KVUE handled promotion. And Goodwill helped store and distribute the coats.

That first year, 2,500 to 3,000 coats were distributed, Brown said. And the project grew from there.

In 1997 , Goodwill Industries dropped out of the effort, saying the project didn't fit its mission of job training and placement. So the Junior League took over.

From now until Dec. 7 , people may drop off coats at donation boxes at any Jack Brown Cleaners. Those coats will be turned over to the Junior League, which stores, sorts, hangs and distributes the coats at the Palmer Events Center.

The Junior League works with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, school districts and several social service agencies to identify children eligible for coats.

Last year, more than 2,600 Coats for Kids volunteers distributed about 35,000 new and gently used coats to low-income families. Coats that are left over are donated to local organizations such as SafePlace, which has a shelter for battered women.

Distribution day is always a good day, Brown said.

"I've seen the kids come wrapped in towels and sheets and about everything else," he said. "They just don't have a coat, and they leave with one. It's been a great experience."

Outdoor Research FR Swoop Mitt Shells

Outdoor Research is a company better known for its commercial outdoor gear than it is for Military contracts, but that doesn't change their use of cold weather outerwear making appearances in the right Military circles. The Outdoor Research FR Swoop Mitt Shell is an example of one of those products which fits a certain niche. This Swoop Mitt is three fingered, and looks like a hybrid between a traditional mitten and glove, taking assets from each to create a level of warmth higher than traditional gloves, while giving better overall dexterity.

I think most people are familiar with fine motor skills, especially when it comes to important ones like trigger control. Heavy gloves make shooting a disaster in most cases, but thin gloves seem to work better for protecting skin from abrasion than actually keeping hands warm. The FR Swoop Mitt Shells cradle the thumb and index finger, while keeping the last three fingers together for warmth. This works well for generic tasks like grabbing items in which mittens would prove to be too cumbersome. However, this isn't going to allow fine motor skills, and for this, the FR Swoop peels its largest section back allowing for fingers (either bare or with liners) to do whatever needs to be done. In addition to setting fingers free, the FR Swoop opening is large enough for the entire hand to go outside the opening. While this may seem strange, I will say its a lot easier to stay warm, not drop, or not lose an item if it never comes all the way off.

Outdoor Research points out the FR Swoop Mitt Shells are part of an overall system, including a liner, and was originally designed for flight crews. With its FR rating, Goretex and seam sealed layers, I can see why guys would want this. While I can think of fewer things colder than being at altitude up in the mountains in the back of a bird as a crew chief or gunner, I can think of my own time humping a belt fed and laying in the cold and snow for hours on end waiting for bad people. Yeah, the aircrews might get this before anyone else, but I can think of other MOSs that can use it as well.

I've started a long term review on these, and they work just the way the pictures show. However, they are so warm that I've found I need colder weather to really get a solid review up. Check back in another month or so, and I'll let you know how they do when the weather gets extra nasty. Click the picture for specs from the manufacturer.

Getting the country groove on in Nashville

Maggie Kollker is spending a rainy holiday Monday nestled inside a crowded, dark dive. The band next to the front entrance is asking for requests, though one of the musicians, hunched over with his low-slung guitar, looks too hung-over to care. Kollker is in her element, sitting among musicians and looking every bit the seasoned local.

But Kollker isn't from Nashville at all; she's a fresh-faced 25-year-old Chicagoan, addicted to the party this city offers. She started visiting Nashville three years ago, and has logged more than a dozen trips since.

"So much talent and the honky-tonks are so much fun," Kollker explains.

Ah yes, the honky-tonks — the dingy bars in Nashville's entertainment district, with dented Nascar fenders and neon liquor signs lining the walls, not to mention the persistent smell of beer wafting up from dirty grey floors. These watering holes spill country music and drunken customers onto the street day and night.

Here Kollker has found a home away from home, and she's not alone. Like a snake charmer, Nashville's music has entranced music fans, especially female ones, as they routinely make the pilgrimage to "Music City" for some good ol' fashioned "honky-tonking."

The music originating in this city has never been more popular, with more than a quarter of Billboard's Top 40 albums often coming from country artists. American Idols are routinely crowned from this genre, Carrie Underwood being their undisputed queen. And one of pop's biggest acts in 2011 is crossover country darling Taylor Swift. Suddenly, country is sexy and people are flocking to Nashville.

On any given night in Nash-Vegas, a term used by locals to describe the neon strip of Broadway and 2nd Avenue known as The District, you'll find crowds of tourists and lineups at standing-room-only bars.

The District is to Nashville what Bourbon Street is to New Orleans. You won't get flashed if you throw beads, so leave those at home, but you will hear a lot of live music and probably stumble upon more than a few stags and bachelorette parties. Venues range in size and style, from the three-storey Wildhorse Saloon, where you can learn to line dance between performances, to Legends, a long, hollow bar where faded country records act as wallpaper and the guys sit and drink while their girls dance next to their tables in tight jeans and cowboy boots.

Taking a swig of beer from the bottle before resting the longneck on her jeans, at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge Kollker has found a comfortable refuge from the persistent rain. Taking a seat at the bar, she complains about her imminent departure from the city that's two-stepped its way into her heart, and the musicians she now calls friends.

"They were attracted to me wanting to hear their own stuff, not covers all the time," says Kollker, clearly in love with the sounds, the people and the city itself.

Embedded in the warped wood tiles of Tootsie's bar, and so many other dives along this strip, is Nashville's history. Country legend Hank Williams used to steal away from shows at the Ryman Auditorium during intermissions for a quick drink across the alley at Tootsie's, before tipsily returning to the stage.

Each of these bars now hosts a long list of aspiring singers, who come to Nashville chasing a dream like their idols before them. Singers like Tara Arender, who's onstage yet dressed like it's laundry day, wearing Nashville's unofficial uniform of a plain T-shirt and jeans. When Arender gets a request she doesn't know, she looks up lyrics on her iPhone and belts out the tune. The show must go on.

Then there's Megan Ellis, a 26-year-old singer from Ohio, who came to Nashville in 2006. You can tell Ellis, with her blow-dried hair, mid-thigh dress and cowboy boots, is grooming herself for the big time as she sings at a smoky bar called "Big Shotz."

"I look at playing downtown Broadway like it's my college; it's hard to get accepted. I don't want to be in it forever. It's a struggle at times, and I learn something new everyday," says Ellis.

But Nashville is more than just chasing dreams and drunken sing-a-longs. The Bluebird Café, a showcase for aspiring songwriters, is one of the city's jewels. This is where country greats like Garth Brooks and Taylor Swift got their start, and it remains a hotbed for up-and-comers who put pen to paper.

Chitchat is not permitted during the performances, and the cramped quarters ensure there's a lineup outside most nights. While some of the singing can be a little raw, the lyrics draw talent scouts and some of these songwriters are just a step away from stardom.

Then there are institutions like the Ryman Auditorium, home to the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974. This venue now hosts a wide variety of acts from every music genre; the acoustics are considered second only to the Mormon Tabernacle.

The Grand Ole Opry, meanwhile, has moved east of the city, but it remains one of the longest-running radio shows in history. It still airs every Saturday, and also features performances from some of country's biggest stars throughout the week.

Like the Opry, Nashville is a city that's forever evolving, and it's becoming sexier as it edges its way from country to cosmopolitan. For Kollker, it's the party that keeps her coming.

"There's cheap beer, nice folk and amazing live music 20 hours a day," she says.

What you likely won't see here anymore are those lonesome cowboys, crying in their beers about their exes, their lost dogs or their pickup trucks. This is a city that has evolved, offering siren singers and plenty of country cuties that come for the music and a taste of country stardom.

The Case for Bobby V

The Red Sox' offseason has been a turbulent one, as befits a team that committed one of the worst regular season collapses in baseball history. (Nearly as bad as...well, never mind.) Their curiously torturous managerial search is the latest example. You'd think there'd be no shortage of candidates for one of the game's most high profile (and most high paying) jobs, and yet somehow the hunt has dragged on longer than the Orioles' quest for a GM. The team's rumored top pick, the immortal Dale Sveum, joined old boss Theo Epstein in Chicago, thus throwing things into further chaos and hysteria.

The latest wrinkle has Boston GM Ben Cherington interviewing Bobby Valentine. Whether Valentine had always been a candidate or is only now being considered out of desperation is unclear. The truth is further muddied by rumors that Red Sox ownership has already made up its mind about hiring Valentine and is simply giving Cherington a thin but face-saving illusion of choice in the matter.

All of these Machiavellian schemes have overshadowed the fact that Valentine may finally have a major league job again, something he has seemingly craved since he was kicked to the curb by the Mets after the disastrous 2002 season. My own thoroughly informal polling of BoSox fans reveals virtually no enthusiasm for this possibility. At best, there is a sense of resignation or acceptance. Most have varying shades of objection, from "I'm not sure about this guy" to "HELL NO."

As an unapologetic fan of Mr. Valentine, I am here to assuage the fears of Red Sox Nation. I'm of the opinion that much of his negative reputation is just as much narrative as it is reality. He is not a man without faults, but I sincerely hope you get to embrace them.

Star-divide

Bobby Valentine's last stateside gig is usually recalled for its turbulence. A USA Today article on his Red Sox candidacy takes all of three sentences to describe him as "confrontational" and say he "rubbed some of his players the wrong way." It's important to remember that he was just one element of a chaotic period in Mets history (though most periods of Mets history are marked by some chaos or another).

When Valentine took over the Mets late in the 1996 season, they were still trying to recover from The Worst Team Money Could By years, and from the flaming wreckage that was Generation K. Less than a year after he took the job, Steve Phillips ascended to the GM seat. His damn-the-torpedoes approach to roster construction wasn't so much team building as it was a very expensive game of Jenga, and it imbued the Mets with a win-now-or-else attitude that would define them (mostly for the worse) for the next decade. Oh, and ownership was feuding with itself, as Fred Wilpon and Nelson Doubleday sniped at each other and struggled to determine the team's direction.

And yet somehow, Valentine is the one who gets the lion's share of the "craziness" of this era. Steve Phillips is probably more responsible than anyone else for the mess the Mets became post-2000. His serial zipper issues are the clear mark of a not-very-good human being, as far as I'm concerned, and far worse than anything Valentine has every done. Despite all this, Valentine remains much less welcome in Queens than Phillips. Just this past year, when SNY produced a special about Ralph Kiner, Phillips was one of many ex-Mets interviewed for the event; Valentine was nowhere to be seen.

The only conclusion I can come to is the differences in how each man handled the press. Phillips played them like a fiddle. He was legendary for the treatment he lavished on writers, from creature comforts to juicy gossip. Valentine? Not so much.

Bobby Valentine was behind the eight ball with the press in New York even before he started. He had a rep from his years in Texas as being combative with reporters, umpires, and opposing players--an entirely deserved rep, to be fair. His tendency to squawk from the highest perch of the dugout earned him the nickname Top Step, which was not meant to be a compliment. He had little collateral or good will on which to draw when he arrived in New York, and he quickly spent most of it with his preternatural ability to aggravate those who covered the Mets.

He'd been a baseball lifer, and yet the fact that Valentine managed a year in Japan (a successful but doomed campaign where he was constantly undermined by the front office) struck some as elitist, effete. His predecessor, Dallas Green, was considered an uncompromising straight shooter. In comparison, Valentine was seen as slick and sophisticated, in the worst sense of the word.