Cover: Raving Mad
Sex, drugs, and sensory overload--a skeptic samples the North Bay's fledgling rave party scene.

News: Uphill Battle
Steep-slope ordinance gains ground as vineyards grow.

The Scoop: When Congress gets sanctimonious.

Up to the Task?: See how your kids' school did in the state Standardized Testing and Reporting program.

Climbing Up on Capitol Hill: Check up on the your Congressional Representatives and U.S. Senators--where they stand, how they voted.

Spins: Orbitones and other oddities; Truckin' anthems; and Plaid.

Holy Moses: Talking Pix guest and biblical scholar Jonathan Kirsch is less than impressed by The Prince of Egypt.

Big Screen's Best: Crack open the Junior Mints--highlights from 1998's cinematic offerings.

Soapy Irish Spring: In Waking Ned Devine, small-town Irish shenanigans lead to a donnybrook.

Yearly Planner: In praise of Spaghetti-Os and M&Ms.

Heard It Through the Grapevine: Get to the root of all things wine.

Last Tango: As we enter the final year of the 20th century, Bay Area tango devotees reflect on the strangely seductive allure of the dance in this time and place.