Cover: Mothers of the Disappeared
One young woman fights to recapture her son in a battle that Child Protective Services, fueled by financial perks, seems to be winning.

Safe Sect
Billionaire air-guitarist Paul Allen's Experience Music Project in Seattle fetishizes the relics of rock & roll.

News: Amazing View
Little Mountain View grows up to withstand the tricky test of managing a bustling downtown in Silicon Valley.

Metropolis News Extras

• Los Gatos: Alternative sites for Alma station are being explored.
  
• Willow Glen: The city's first park designed with disabled kids in mind will open next year.
  
• Saratoga: Dr. Art Anderson has crafted bowls from the controversial eucalyptus tree that came down at the Saratoga School recently.

Fantasy Island: World Wrestling Federation 'Raw is War!' guides Silicon Valley to its inner badass at the San Jose Arena.

Public Eye: Is the attorney general in love? Sheriff shows her catty attitude. Ex-Sunnyvale mayor nowhere to be found.

Work: What is the point of carrying a cell phone when you have a life?

DJ Cam's Musical Mirror: Canny French DJ reflects back American hip-hop, jazz and R&B on 'Loa Project' album.

West Coast Cool: From 'mushroom jazz' to deep house, DJ Mark Farina crafts a fresh approach to dance music.

Aural Fixation: Smash Mouth makes amends with local fans, if not the local media.

Audiofile: Reviews of new CDs by 58 and Erick Onasis.

Fresh 'Blood': The re-release of 'Blood Simple' shows the Coen brothers learning the ropes.

Girls' Camp: Adults try to scare Natasha Lyonne straight in 'But I'm a Cheerleader.'

Mutant Marvels: There's more than just cool special effects in 'X-Men.'

Give War a Chance: In 'Virtual War,' Michael Ignatieff shows how the U.S. tried to bomb its way back to the moral high ground in Kosovo.

California Dreamin': Enduring the mall madness reaps tasty rewards at California Cafe, Valley Fair's savviest bar & grill.

A La Carte: Sunnyvale's Bob Stoddard takes a silver medal at World Beer Cup Competition.