Joe Sullivan hopes that at least design guidelines for downtown result from Nine Counties. One Vision.'s downtown plans in Insights, Scott McNutt finds no hairy Snarls on his balding head, and Jack Neely sees the frequent name changes on local street signs as a ludicrous sign of the times in Secret History. Citybeat
A year after its opening, the Knoxville Convention Center's not doing so good, reports Joe Sullivan. Meanwhile, Barry Henderson looks into how a private contractor is changing Knox County's Child Support Services, and Mike Gibson analyzes whether the city's new Marie Meyers Park will block further work on the South Knoxville Connector.
Cover * GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF THE LINE
It's a question every kid asks: "Where do I come from?" But these days, adults too are asking the question, on a more profound level: They want to know their lineage—where their families came from. So, Genealogy has become a burgeoning business, as web sites for it multiply and historical centers—such as our own East Tennessee Historical Center—offer courses in it. Joe Tarr learns the practices and pitfalls that go with uncovering your ancestors.
Gamut BOBOS IN BEARDEN
What's a Bobo? It's short for Bourgeoisie-Bohemian, a term coined by author David Brooks, who deems those who fit in the category to be America's new upper class. Who are the Bobos? In this highly informative article, Matt Edens takes a tour of Knoxville's Boboville, Bearden, to find out.
Music
Patrick Corcoran declares that whether you call Blackgrass "Goth twang," "Appalachian punk," or "banjo rock," the incongruous foursome make compelling music.
Artbeat
Andrew Saftel plies his skills in a variety of media. His latest show (at the Bennett Galleries), which almost exclusively features his work in woodcut collages, gets a big "thumbs up" from Heather Joyner.
Pulp
Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything makes a dry subject fascinating, while Frank Owen's Clubland: The Fabulous Rise and Murderous Fall of Club Culture makes a sensational murder mundane, reports Adrienne Martini.
Movie Guru
The underground drag-racing story of 2 Fast 2 Furious is just a plain old drag, says Coury Turczyn. Movie Blurbs, p. 30: The Metro Pulse Movie Blurbs: "Smokey and the Bandit was a Blurb favorite."ª
Spotlights
Friday, head up Clinton Highway to the 15th Annual Knoxville Antique Show, then get to Blue Cats for Scott Miller & the Commonwealth's CD release show, and on Saturday, broaden your cultural experience at the By the Rivers of Babylon Festival at the Sacred Hearts Complex on Northshore.
News of the Weird by Chuck Shepherd
Loco Parentis by Katie Allison Granju. "Co-mothers" are universal, no matter what tribe you're in.
Classifieds
Crossword by Montford Manassas