Tennessee's outgoing Finance Commissioner Warren Neel ponders his grandson's future in Insights;Scott McNutt soliloquizes on death, life, and other imponderables in Snarls; while Jack Neely says that pride and planning are new to the Knoxville of 2003 in Secret History.
Citybeat
Barry Henderson reports on Knox County's intention to build several new schools, while Ann Hinch finds out why a mile-stretch of Parkside Drive is getting a lot of attention—not to mention $5 million in tax dollars— from county officials.
Cover * THE HEALTH & FITNESS ISSUE
There's no better time to talk about health than immediately after the pigging out of the holidays and the debauchery of New Year's. So here goes: Adrienne Martini tries out a new underwater massage program called watsu and goes all gushy before it's over; Gayla Owen checks out the unusual and controversial practice of treating allergies with acupuncture; and Joe Tarr finds out how he and everyone else in Knox County is likely to die, thanks to a new study by the Knox County Health Department.
Gamut STANDING IN A CORNER
Drinking, drug abuse, sex, electronic music...Tamar Wilner goes in search of the Knoxville rave scene and finds that it's not quite the way you might imagine it.
Music
, The High Score is looking to make points with sounds reminiscent of some Knoxville bands of the '80s, as Joe Tarr discovers. And Eye on the Scene mourns the loss of two Knoxville mainstays, Gran Torino and Left Foot Down.
Yikes!
Angie Vicars didn't believe it when her neighbors first said her house was haunted. She does now.
Pulp
Mary Karr shows the world how to write a powerful memoir... twice, writes Jeanne McDonald.
Restaurant
Connie Seuer gets the turkey taste out of her mouth with sweet corn cakes and green chile tamales from Hot Tamale.
Movies
As much as Adrienne Martini wanted to rip apart a movie directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, she couldn't find a whole lot wrong with Catch Me If You Can. Movie blurbs, pg. 24: The Metro Pulse movie blurbs: "You can auld lang your syne out the wazoo for all the blurbs care! Bring on the dancing girls! Woo-hoo!"ª P.S.: Movie times return next week.
Spotlights
The Twelfth Night Festival proves that Christmas ain't over until it's over; new KMA director Todd D. Smith makes one of his first public appearances; and Born With A Tail rocks Old City Java.
News of the Weird by Chuck Shepherd
Urban Renewal by Matt Edens. The case for fixing up old houses, courtesy of It's a Wonderful Life.
Crosswordby Montford Manassas
Classifieds