NXT: THE NEXT GENERATION John Ewing/Staff Photographer Keep it local? From '80s to '08, it's been the Geno's way

EYES ON THE PRIZE
Raven-Symone has come a long way since her days as a kid actor on 'The Cosby Show,' and the 22-year-old Disney superstar plans to go much, much farther.

Blind Melon steps back into the light
Twelve years after the death of charismatic lead singer Shannon Hoon, the band is touring again.

JUSTIN ELLISKeep it local? From '80s to '08, it's been the Geno's way

Activist marches on in pursuit of equal rights for all

Films tell Muslims' American stories

The poise of a superstar, yet SUCH the teenager
Taylor Swift, exuberant teen phenom, is on such a roll she's even appearing on MTV, traditionally no place for country women.

Secondhand as first option
There are deals to be had at stores like Goodwill and, the economy behaving the way it is, strong motivation to go looking for them.

JUSTIN ELLISSpreading message of Black History Month all year long

A leap of faith
'Jumper' star Hayden Christensen's career is at a jumping-off point. Where he'll land, he's not sure.

Green light: Eco-chic is here to stay
The parade of environmentally friendly looks during the recent New York Fashion Week is just a preview.

PROTEST SONGS
No shrill rhetoric for the British band Mattafix. Rather, they address issues like gang violence and war with words like 'forgiving.'

JUSTIN ELLISFun and philanthropy in paradise

Feist sings her joy to the world
It's nothing but fun right now for the Canadian singer-songwriter who's enjoying a breakout year.

Hard lessons learned (or not) from the writers strike
First and foremost, without writers, television is pretty weak tea.

Toxic shock
Late in the game, mainstream pop culture is coming to understand the destructive power of methamphetamine, and references to the scourge are showing up in movies and on TV.

JUSTIN ELLISLove it or loathe it, dear readers

'Pillowman': Competent cast, heady horrors

Be a man: Choose your jewelry with care

Keeping up with the Jonases
The road map for the band of sibs known as the Jonas Brothers went through Montana (Hannah, that is) and is charted out almost day by day for the next two years. Destination: Stardom.

In a state of suspendered animation

Skateboard mogul-turned-documentarian focuses his lens on L.A. gangs
Stacy Peralta's 'Made in America' wowed 'em in Utah with its hard look at four decades of 'civil war.'

'Nip/Tuck' actor digs the dark roles
His character is even more tortured this season, and that's just fine with John Hensley.

JUSTIN ELLISHome, sweet HOME
Portland-based Rogues Gallery clothing, worn by hipsters the world over, never had a store ... until now.

Bedingfield basks in 'Sunshine' glow
Adjusting to life in the fishbowl of fame has had its ups and downs
-- mostly ups, to hear the British singer describe it.

Pinching pennies? Do it with panache
Frugality is never a bad quality, but in this economy?
Gotta have it.

REVIEW: Down-home music, fun heat up a frigid night

REVIEW: Breezy 'Fully Committed' makes light of actor's challenges

Scrapbooking gets edgy
It’s an art, it’s an outlet, it’s happy mad sad, and now a new
generation of practitioners has embraced it and made it their own.

JUSTIN ELLISI marched then. Now I know why

Diverse elements elevate Midcoast Symphony

Rule No. 1: Deep-six the cotton
When it's about keeping warm, outdoorwear makers say, 'the most important insulation is the stuff right on your skin.'

And the loser is ... Oscar?
With the writers' strike casting an ominous shadow across the red carpet, Tuesday's Academy Awards nominations will go on as scheduled, with some sure bets and a few dark horses.

JUSTIN ELLISNight life along Congress Street diversifies scene

Honesty works for new star
Speaking her mind hasn't hurt Katherine Heigl's steady rise to success in TV and films.

In fashion, it's cool to look Nordic
Americans like the Scandinavian designers' ability to make cozy
clothes that look hot.

Foo Fighters find fun in adulthood
Things like fatherhood and having trapped miners request their
music give the band depth.

Colleges engaging in 'free for all' in cyberspace
Quicker than you can say YouTube, schools are reaching out to the public in myriad new ways.

Going toe-to-toe with Daniel Day-Lewis? Bring it on!
Paul Dano plays Texas preacher to Day-Lewis' ruthless oilman in
'There Will Be Blood.'

Soulja Boy soldiers on
His ‘Crank That’ started as a download from his MySpace page and
before long had millions dancing.

The greening of our gadgetry
Techies care about the Earth as much as anyone, and the industry
that makes their gadgets is taking note.

JUSTIN ELLISPutting '08 in order, just in time for the ball drop

Alicia Keys is singing a new tune
A lot happened to the artist during the four years between her last album and the new 'As I Am.'

Out of the woods ...

No debate
Jurnee Smollett was first to audition for her role in 'The Great Debaters,' and that was all director and star Denzel Washington needed to see.

Accessories that come through in the clutch
They don't hold much, but they'll bring a lot to your partygoing ensemble.

JUSTIN ELLIS, NXT: THE NEXT GENERATIONNaughty? Nice? Mr. C's wondering

Crossroads for 'Zoey' and its star
Her character's fate on the hit series is up in the air, and so is that of the pregnant actress, Jamie Lynn Spears.

Behold the new face of OPERA
At 27, glamorous soprano Danielle de Niese is spreading the word:
Opera rocks

A capella choir ends year on a high note

Ten to remember from an unmemorable year
The best albums of 2007.