Cover: Just Kiss It
The creators of once boxy and bland machines are embracing a new style of touchy-feely design that reaches out to our collective aesthetic soul: cuddletech.

News: Road to Ruin
A Cupertino woman is leading the fight to stop dynamiting along a road in Yosemite.

Metropolis News Extras

• Willow Glen: The return of the roof rats.
  
• Los Gatos: Council approves revised design for Toll House remodel.
  
• Monte Sereno: Monte Sereno gets 2-for-1 on new deal with Loventhal as manager/planner.

Public Eye: If Eye had a Hammer.

Preaching to the Rock Flock: That old-time rock & roll religion is good enough for the Black Crowes.

Super Smooth: The Heads Up Super Band gives contempo jazz a good name.

Audiofile: Reviews of the latest CDs by Insolence and Plastikman.

On the 'Road Kill' to Success: Bay Area director Matt Leutwyler doesn't want to make calling-card movies--he's focusing on a feature-length future.

Sister Sounds: Musical prodigies Hilary and Jackie grow up in sophisticated real-life weeper.

Burnouts: British comedy Still Crazy satirizes dino-rock.

Stone Cold: Sharon Stone isn't up to remade Gloria.

California Gold: The California Cafe reinvents itself as a culinary gem.

Musing on Mozart: TheatreWorks explores the contradictions of creativity in Amadeus.

Amazons of the Airwaves in Print: A new study compares the 'Tough Girls' of '70s pop culture with today's hardy heroines.