Joe Sullivan wonders whether the mayor's race could turn ugly in Insights, Jack Neely sifts his mail and lends Secret History's approbation to the time-honored practice of street sitting, and guest Color Conscious columnist Jerry Bone reflects on racism and the American experience.
Citybeat
Last week Gov. Phil Bredesen signed a bill that put Knoxville's library system under direct control of the County Executive. Jack Neely examines how Knoxville ended up with a library act all its own in the Tennessee legislature and what the ramifications are for Knoxvillians. And Joe Tarr inquires into what's taking developments on Market Square so long.
Cover * DEFINING FAMILY
Through rose-colored glasses we may view the American family as a 1950s-style Ozzie-and-Harriet institution. But the truth of the American family today is far more complex. In addition to more single-parent homes and a resurgence of extended-family households, even less traditional family forms are emerging, such as those with same-sex and multi-partner parents. In a conservative region such as this, persons from such families are reluctant to go on the record. Nevertheless, Adrienne Martini talked with members of some nontraditional families, and finds the same concerns and commitments as in any traditional family.
Gamut * IT IS AND IT ISN'T
Robinella and the C.C. String Band embrace contradictions and transcend restrictive music labels, blending bluegrass, country, and jazz to create a signature sound all their own. With a host of successful, high-profile appearances behind them and the national release of their new eponymous CD imminent, the band seems poised for the big time. Before Knoxville surrenders up one of its musical gems to an appreciative nation, though, Metro Pulse's Jack Neely sits down with Robinella and Cruz Contreras to discuss their unique musical stylings over herb tea and pecans.
Music
Round red noses, shaggy orange wigs, and floppy shoes, elephants and trapeze artists, cotton candy and sawdust: that's the circus, right? Not exactly, at least, not where the Bindlestiff Cirkus is concerned. Joe Tarr finds that the troupe puts on a show that's a bit sexy, a bit untraditional, but every bit entertaining. Eye on the Scene, meanwhile, looks in on Guitarmegaddon winner Andy Wood and reports on last week's highly successful Knoxville at Night Benefit Festival.
Artbeat
UT's Art and Architecture student Honors Exhibition is always a fun affair, full of surprises and prizes. As Heather Joyner reports, this year's show is no exception.
Pulp
In Their Ancient Glittering Eyes, Donald Hall collects his interviews with seven prominent American poets into a semi-study of the connection between poets and madness. Jeanne McDonald gives us a glimpse of Hall's results.
Yikes!
Angie Vicars starts out with an enormous red ear and ends up with Cubism. Go figure.
Movie Guru
Not to put too fine a point on it, but A Mighty Wind pretty much blows, according to Zak Weisfeld. Movie Blurbs, p. 24: The Metro Pulse Movie Blurbs: "The Blurbers would like to take this opportunity to remind you to watch the lunar eclipse tonight."ª
Spotlights
Scary loud Asiatic rock from Japanese quartet Mono, fond farewells at Kirk Trevor's final KSO Masterworks' concerts, and a future full of promise for Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Jesse Harris.
News of the Weird by Chuck Shepherd
36 Crossword by Montford Manassas
Loco Parentis by Katie Allison Granju. Why do we demonize teenage mothers?
Classifieds