Cover: Marquis Mark
Director Philip Kaufman dips his quills into the life of the Marquis de Sade.

News: Nüz
The dark underbelly of the Potbelly Beach project; a kinder, gentler Critical Mass.

Play Maker: Toy expert Mickey McGowan takes a walk through the icons and idle pleasures of Toys 'R' Us.

Bruce Bratton: Opposition to Home Depot grows; this week's movies; upcoming UCSC Extension classes.

Work: Even for the young, retirement is not as much fun as it's cracked up to be.

Add Versifier Reaction: Faced with the death of its longtime poet laureate, California struggles to anoint a new state bard worthy of the grand tradition of Charles B. Garrigus (who?)

Beat Privilege: Fatboy Slim creates the kind of memorably funky dance music that people actually want to groove to in the privacy of their own home.

Sights & Sounds: Santa Cruz's multitalented Rick Walker keeps busy sitting in with folkies and running a live looping show.

Culinary Treasures: O'mei amazes the taste buds with pliant seafood and bold seasonings.

All Downhill: 'Vertical Limit' plummets fast.

Bargaining Basement: Hostage action-drama 'Proof of Life' is barely alive.

Weekly World Web: All Buffy, all the time.

Please don't forget to write! Metro Santa Cruz welcomes letters. Like any great work of art, they should be originals -- not copies of letters sent elsewhere. Include address and daytime phone (for verification purposes only). Letters may be edited for length and clarity or to correct factual inaccuracies known to us. Postal: Metro Santa Cruz Letters, 115 Cooper St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060. Fax: 831/457-5828. Email:

JavaScript must be enabled to display this email address.