Old Signs: Silicon Valley's Disappearing Legacy

Sign Language: What historic signs say about our lives, and why action is needed to save the valley's scarce reminders of its commercial past.

Plaque Removal: Metro reporter Genevieve Roja takes a neon-lit journey in search of the valley's oldest and most intriguing signs.

Hand-Painted Wonders: Long before graffiti, brick buildings were a palette for sign painters. Today, they are endangered species.

Strokes of Genius: An interview with octogenarian sign-painter Rey Giese.

Telltale Signs: Close-up looks at the Courtesy Chevrolet and Orchard Supply Hardware landmark signs.

Pooch Politics: Famed cartoonist takes doggie-head sign to heart.

Living Large: Giant roadside statues are often 'borrowed.'

News: Public Eye
McEnery's latest bombshell. Honda's phone-book surgery. Prude patrol at Valley Fair.

Metropolis News Extras

• Los Gatos: Los Gatos man faces charges alleging illegal bank scheme.
  
• Saratoga: One way or another, family says it will develop orchard.
  
• Campbell: Mike Honda talks to citizens and answers their questions.

Notes From the Underbelly: Nude on Murphy Avenue.

Work: The future of crash-and-burn business.

Big-Beat Padre: Pete Escovedo, one of the pioneers and stalwarts of Latin jazz in the Bay Area, says farewell to the South Bay.

The Gospel Youth: Bay Area choirs share their inspiration with youths at the All Faiths Gospel Festival.

All Shook Down: Lloyd Cole isn't as famous as he should be--but that's not a bad thing.

Key Figure: Pianist Smith Dobson was at the center of the San Jose jazz scene.

Drum As You Will: San Jose Taiko artists drum to a different beat at 'Rhythm Spirit 2001.'

Bon Jovi Bonhomie: The New Jersey rock band left happy fans dancing in the aisles.

Symphonic Sounds: Despite a cell phone offender, guest conductor Anton Barik displayed his prowess with Bartok, Beethoven and Mendelssohn at the San Jose Symphony.

Keys to the Past: Malcolm Bilson coaxed period sounds out of the San Jose Beethoven Center's 1827 fortepiano.

Aural Fixation: The California Music Awards ceremony beefs up for 2001.

Lend Me Your Ears: Australian Chopper Read sliced and diced his way to fame.

Chess Nut: Gorris' 'The Luzhin Defence' makes all the wrong moves.

Total Bust: 'One Night at McCool's' is big on jiggle but lean on everything else.

Ages of Woman: 'The Day I Became a Woman' offers glimpses into the lives of three Iranian women.

Don't Bother to Knock: During Open Studios, artists welcome visitors to see art in the making.

Puts the 'I' in Italian: Mountain View's Don Giovanni has entrees to lust after.