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Show nt h ttuit m. -- " For Madeline fans Bemelmans: The Life and Art of Madeline's Creator (Viking, $40, 067088460X) depicts Ludwig Bemelmans s life in such a way that the subtitle could easily be changed to Life Beyond Madeline. Austrian-boBemelmans had a lovely early childhood, but it was interrupted at the age of six years, when his parents divorced. The next few years, spent primarily in Germany, were troublesome for him. Everyone wondered what kind of future awaited him. And while we think we know the rest of the story, Bemelmans gives us the scenic tour. John Bemelmans Marciano, Bemelmans 's grandson, has assembled letters, excerpts, and delightful artwork to reflect his grandfathers lifelong love of drawing. We learn that though Bemelmans was no overnight success and experienced many dark periods throughout his life, his pens and sketchbook never left him. Now, after reading and viewing Bemelmans, do we have the full story? Well, according to Marciano, well know some of it anyway." Miriam Drennan m T 5,000 years and we can only hope will survive for 5,000 more, Jonathan Shipley i For music toveri I j , i j If you are like me, then you know that one of the best places to catch live music on Saturday nights is your local PBS sta-- I tion. Why? Because Austin City Limits always delivers great music. From blues to country, folk to rock, tejano to sw ing, this program showcases almost every imaginable genre of music known to humankind. Austin City Limits: 25 Years of American Musk (Watson-- ; Guptill. $35, 0823083039) celebrates the performers and songs that have made this fascinating program legendary. Packed with photographs and insightful artist pro--j files, this handsome book is perfect for mask lovers. From Jerry Jeff Walker to j ; ma in alphabetkal order in the latest edition of Phaidon Press's handsome gift books. As a reference tod, the book is limited by its format, which restricts biographical information to terse (yet informative and judicious) blurbs. The main attractions, though, are the book's 500 stunningly presented photographs and stills, which will leave movie lovers salivating. For them, the books worth having just for the shot of an exultant John Cassavetes recording the soundtrack for his landmark Shadows. And kudos to Phaidon for cel- ebrating giants of world cinema such as and Abbas Kiarostami Wong Kar-Wnot to mention cult heroes like special- effects genius Ray Harry hausen and nudie auteur Russ Meyer along w ith the expected Tinseltown faves. Five hundred more, please. Jim Ridley j j i J I : j j j j j J , j j For genealogists Looking for that long lost great-auwho once lived in California, got married, and moved to Timbuktu? Well, the key to tracing your ancestry is at nt or your keyboard your fingertips with Genealogy Online. (McGraw-Hil- l. $19.99, 0U7I35I035). a book by Elizabeth Crowe including 50 sites used to conduct genealogical searches online. This comprehensive and informative book has widespread appeal for people interested in finding their toots and creating or discovering their family trees. For those who are not Internet savvy. Part 1: The Basks, provides an excellent introduction to understanding modems, software, Internet jargon, and bask tips for online searches. This guide to online family history searches is interesting, informaAnd you just tive, and might find that elusive aunt after all. A tray of Efa In Gift of the Whale: The Inupiat Bow head Hunt (Sasquaich Books, $40, 157061 1637), Alaska photographer Bill Hess offers a moving portrait of a remote and unforgiving region, a community, and the sacred traditions of the bow head whale hunt that continues to sustain its people to this day. With this elegant and poignant book, we come to know the Inupiat community high in the Arctic region of Alaska. We find powerful images of harpooning. We cheer when hunters help rescue three whales caught in the ice. We worry as a friend is lost in the snow. We leant to understand and appreciate the whaling tradition and its importance to a people who have survived for The dog days of Jerry Lee Lewis. Los Lobos to Lyle Lovett, this book, like the TV show that inspired it, has it all. Charles Wyrick For movie lovers Christmas j j From Abbott and Costello to Close Encounters cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond. The Movie Book ($39.95, 0714838470) covers a century of cine- - o n.TTTT The doctor is in! E inti: j f:i! EOS i The holidays are upon us, the relatives will soon arrive, the shopping has yet to be done. When in the world will you have time to bake? ' j 1 6 DECEMBER mi j j I mix with up to 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, and substitute buttermilk for the water on the package directions. Sandwkh layers of chocolate cake butter-with a quick peppermint-infuse- d j cream frosting, then frost the lop and sides w ith a deep chocolate pan frosting. Place this cake on a silver platter, garnish with sprigs of fresh holly, and wait for the applause. Jr Or, frost those chocolate layers w ith a cream cheese-packe- d white chocolate frosting. Looking for a speedy but superlative gift? Bake loaves of Stacys Chocolate Chip Cake, wrap in parchment paper, and tie with raffia or organdy ribbons. Save those ripe bananas! They are the beginning of a delicious gift or star of i In welcome contrast to typical coffeeart books, George Rodrigues Blue Dog Man (Stewart, Tabori and Chang. $50, 1556709765) provides a glimpse of the artists creative evolution. Millions today are familiar with Blue Dog and his curious stare. Few, however, understand the relationship -table the holiday dessert table. Combine mashed ripe bananas and cinnamon w ith a yellow cake mix batter, frost with an easy caramel frosting, then top with toasted chopped pecans. Whin could be more festive than the flavors of dried cranberries and orange? They come together in a Festive Cran Orange Cake, based on a yellow cake mix with pud- BYANNEBYRN It doesn't take as long as you think, especially if you begin with a box erf' cake mix from your pantry shelf. In my new cookbook. The Cake Mix Doctor (Workman. $14.95 paperback, 0761 17199), I divulge how to doctor up cake mixes to create stellar layer cakes, coffee cakes, sheet cakes, crisps, bars, brownies, even a darling gingerbread house. Youve already got most of the flavor boosters right on hand: lemon zest, coffee, grated coconut, unsweetened cocoa powder, buttermilk, dry sherry, and almond extract So, snip open a packet of cake mix, pour yourself a mug of hot cocoa, and let The Doctor help you find a cure for the common cake this holiday season. 'J5r Enliven a box of devils food cake between the painter and his subject. Bom as a loup garou" (French for werewolf), Blue Dog has grown to symbolize Rodrigues search for truth. Though far from his Arcadian roots, Rodrigue has never forgotten his heritage and home. Without this foundation, there would be no Blue Dog to allow the artist to grow artistically. It is precisely this grow th that has marked Rodrigue as one of the most interesting painters today. Concerned little with whether critics regard Blue Dog as high art or low art. Rodrigue is content that his kon provides him with a means of expression for his journey through life. While Blue Dog Man presents the reader w ith some of Rodrigues finest images, it is the artists prose that makes the book special. This fascinating account of an artist's favorite kon reminds us of one of the most valuable elements of artistic expression: change. Heather Bacon -- i i i i ding. 'Jt Children will clamber for Snowballs, pieces of moist white cake spread with an easy marshmallow frosting and then rolled in soft, sweet coconut. And adults wont pass up Grandma's Coconut Icebox Cake, either. You bake two layers of white cake (which you have enriched with whole eggs, not egg whites), split them in half to form four layers, Mid then sandwich all with an easy sour cream, sugar, and step-by-st- i Berra Harbin j ! j coconut frosting. The hard part is placing this in a dark comer of the refrigerator and not touching it for two days so the flavors can mellow! 'Jt Two are the Holiday Yule Log made by rolling a soft chocolate sheet cake around a whipped cream filling, then glazing with dark chocolate, and the Gingerbread House. It takes two boxes of spice cake mix, a little ground ginger, a cup of oil. a cup of molass. and a little water to make the gingerbread dough. The little ones will have a kx of fun assembling and decorating the house. Mine did. Ideas, ideas, there are so many ideas and ways you can begin with a mix and go from there! Just because its the holidays doesn't mean you should settle for common cake. show-stoppe- rs Ub |