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Fill ’er Up: This summer, many families are choosing smaller cars over gas guzzlers or driving shorter distances

May 26, 2008 issue
By Linda Stern

Amy and Adam Geurden of Hollandtown, Wis., had planned a long summer of short, fun getaways with their kids, Eric, 6, Holly, 3, and Jake, 2. In the works were water-park visits, roller-coaster rides, hiking adventures and a whirlwind weekend in Chicago. Then Amy did the math: their Chevy Suburban gets 17 miles to the gallon and, with gas prices topping $4, the family would have spent about $320 on fill-ups alone. They’ve since scrapped their plans in favor of a “staycation” around the backyard swimming pool. “I’m really disappointed,” she says.

So is almost everyone else. Nearly 60 percent of Americans are cutting back their vacation plans because of gas prices, according to a survey by Discover Financial Services. Here’s how to squeeze in a little bit of travel fun without breaking the bank.

May 26, 2008 issue

Our top picks for the week

Hear Jesse McCartney’s “Departure.” Well, that explains the title. McCartney, 21, is all grown up and puffing out his chest with his third album. The R&B-heavy beats and well-placed falsetto will have Justin Timberlake watching his “sexy back.”

Rent “Square Pegs: The Complete Series.” Long before Judd Apatow’s “Freaks and Geeks” there was this gem of a sitcom, which stars Sarah Jessica Parker in her pre-Carrie Bradshaw days (circa 1982), as a geeky high schooler longing to fit in among the cool kids.

Surf charitynavigator.org for a list of organizations accepting donations for victims of the earthquake in China and the cyclone in Burma. (Look under “Hot Topics” on the home page.) Mercy Corps and Direct Relief International are two of the recommended relief agencies.

Enter Cook’s Country magazine’s Lost Suppers contest (cookscountry.com/lostsuppers for details). Have a favorite, original make-from-scratch dinner recipe? Send it in by Sept. 1 for a chance to win $10,000, plus inclusion in a cookbook.

Go to the Northwest Folklife Festival in Seattle, an annual celebration of ethnic, folk and traditional arts. The four-day-long festival includes dance performances, visual-arts exhibits, workshops, demonstrations and kids’ activities (May 23–26; nwfolklife.org).

ROAD TEST: SATURN VUE HYBRID
By Tara Weingarten

Saturn goes contemporary and makes families look hip with the new Vue. Moreover, the car is well priced and gets high marks in government safety tests. Though it’s only a partial hybrid, it does eke out six more miles per gallon than its gas-only brother.

Engine: Considered a “mild” hybrid, the Vue has just enough electric power to jump-start the gas motor after it shuts down at a stoplight. The ride is comfortable and stable at normal speeds, but steering can feel a bit disconnected at higher speeds.

Cargo: Front- and back-seat passengers have ample space, and both get reclining seats. But the cargo area is somewhat compromised in favor of back-seat roominess.

Interior: Brushed aluminum trim is sporty and luxe. Climate-control dials are intuitive enough to use without taking your eyes off the road—a rarity in most vehicles.

May 26, 2008 issue

By Anna Kuchment

Gail Simmons of Food & Wine magazine, a judge on Bravo’s “Top Chef” (bravotv.com), eats asparagus at least twice a week in the spring. Now through the end of May marks the peak season for this crisp, sweet, versatile veggie. Simmons shared some tips.

Shopping: “You always want to make sure the tips are tight and the stalks are strong, firm and standing upright,” she says. Mix different varieties—purple, white and green—to play with color, flavor and texture.

Preparation: Break off or cut off the bottoms. If the stalks are thick, peel them with a vegetable peeler to make them more tender. Roast at 500 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool, and serve with dill and lemon vinaigrette. Or chop roasted asparagus and toss with pasta, Parmesan cheese and lots of black pepper. See foodandwine.com for more recipes.

Those plummeting house prices may hold a bit of good news for homeowners who want to cut their property taxes: homes that were assessed during the height of the housing bubble may now qualify for reassessment at a lower level. Typically, property taxes are calculated by multiplying a tax rate against the property’s assessed value. Every local county or district has its own appeal procedures and deadlines, so check your local government’s Web site for the specifics. But the basic order of events is this: check your latest assessment to make sure it accurately lists the dimensions and details of your home. Then find out what your neighbors are paying. Municipalities publish these records; find them at publicrecords.netronline.com, on your local government’s Web site, or by going into the tax assessor’s office and asking to see the records. Review what’s happened to prices in your neighborhood since you were assessed at zillow.com or with a local real-estate agent. If there have been significant declines, you can appeal the assessment the next time you get a tax bill or assessment notice. And now for the not-so-good news: state budget crunches are causing many municipalities to consider raising their property-tax rates, even as they are forced to lower assessments. So even if you get a downward reassessment, you could end up with a bigger tax bill anyway.