It’s Monday morning and the 40th anniversary of the day American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon. It’s one of those life touchstones for many of us and I have been enjoying reading the memories that more than 370 of you have blogged about here since we first asked for them two weeks ago. Click here to see our original post and the thoughts you all shared. To pique your interest, here are a few unique ones from Americans across the globe at the time. Read more…

What sweet and diverse memories you all have of July 20, 1969: the day American astronauts landed on the moon. More than 200 of you took the time this weekend to tell your personal stories — watching with family, listening at ice cream socials, giving birth to babies — and the result is a look at an historical moment uniquely American (though lots of you were visiting or stationed in different countries at the time.)  I am enjoying reading all of the stories at the original posting here. I urge you to read them too; together they are a slice of Americana. Here’s just a taste of it. Read more…

It was the summer of ’69 and I was in high school in Port Huron, Mich., a small city north of Detroit where Lake Huron begins and Canada is within sight.  I still have the front page of the Port Huron Times Herald ( where later I worked two summers) from that historic day. The yellowed, fragile page is in a trunk in my attic. My memories of the lunar landing are all in black and white because I watched it on a small black and white set and there was no color in newspapers back then. It was an exciting and hopeful moment in the country, a time that even a teen with boyfriends and beaches on her mind could appreciate. Many of us have clear memories of that historic day 40 years ago, and for our cover story this weekend we talked with a number of notable Americans about theirs, including Neil Armstrong, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, John McCain and Sally Ride. Now’s your turn: Tell us in the comments section below where you were when man first walked on the moon.

Face it: When you’re a celebrity, there is usually free stuff to be had. Just think of all the goody bags they give out at the Oscars, with tons of free swag. Chances are, Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise could walk into a bar and probably get comped for a couple drinks. If a well-known celebrity isn’t comped, sometimes this is what happens. In Washington, D.C., the historical eatery Ben’s Chili Bowl even has a sign up stating that only Bill Cosby and President Obama‘s family eat free. Unfortunately, most of us will never get that kind of service, and especially in a down economy, when it comes to travel, we like to get the most we can out of every dollar. That’s why this weekend’s cover story is all about our top 10 free, must-see travel destinations across the United States, just in time for summer. We scoured the country to look for the coolest and most cost-friendly spots, from William Faulkner‘s Mississippi home and whale-watching at Big Sur to the bats at the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin and the Rose Gardens in Portland, Ore. We know that’s only some of the best freebie locales across our great land, so we wanted you to tell us: What’s your favorite free vacation spot? Channel your inner travel writer and let us know in the comments section below.

Opening day of the Major League Baseball season is not only a definite sign that spring has come, but it’s also akin to a religious experience for many baseball fans. It’s a time when every team still has an equal shot to reach the World Series in October, from the perennially snubbed Chicago Cubs to the powerhouse New York Yankees (featuring Derek Jeter, at right, and a new stadium this year) to the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies. Monday marks the opening day for many of these ball clubs (Sunday night for some), and for a piece in this weekend’s issue of the magazine, we asked ESPN baseball writer and commentator Tim Kurkjian to tell us about his memorable opening day experiences. He gave us three recollections, including an Indians/White Sox first game from 1940 that featured a Bob Feller no-hitter. But we bet that our readers have their own memories, too, so tell us below about your favorite opening day game ever.

Photo by Robert Deutsch/USA Today

April 1 will mark 25 years since the passing of one of music’s greatest stars ever, Marvin Gaye. His songs have stood the test of time — What’s Going On, I Heard It Through the Grapevine, Sexual Healing, How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You), Let’s Get It On — and are anthems that are not only musically classic but deep and emotional as well. We have an article in this weekend’s magazine featuring some of today’s brightest stars sharing their favorite Marvin Gaye songs, including Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles, Brian McKnight and Joss Stone. Click read more for some extra celebrity thoughts from the likes of Akon and Randy Jackson, and then share your own favorite Marvin Gaye tunes and memories with us in the comments section below.

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These days, if people aren’t talking about the economy, they’re talking about saving the environment. And going green in terms of transport is a very cool thing to do in Hollywood. Featured in the magazine this weekend is a story on eco-friendly cars, including the very pricey hybrid Lexus LS 600h luxury sedan. Former Beatle Paul McCartney has one of those — he paid a cool, celeb-worthy $158,000 for it. A more affordable car, the Toyota Prius (starting at $22,000) has an A-list of owners, among them Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz. Miley Cyrus, Shaquille O’Neal and Redman probably spent a little more than the $11,000 list price for their Smart Fortwos.

But hybrids aren’t a star’s only means of environmentally correct travel. The actors who own hydrogen-powered BMW Hydrogen 7s ($118,000) — Hilary Swank, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Ed Norton — are like an Oscar voter’s dream team. Hollywood couple Christopher Guest and Jamie Lee Curtis plunk down $600 a month for their Honda FCX Clarity, which runs on hydrogen and electricity. (That’s Curtis and her Clarity pictured.) And who said the electric car is dead? DiCaprio, Will.I.Am and car collector Jay Leno all own the sleek Tesla Roadster sportscar (only $109,000 for that one). We recognize that not everyone is convinced, in Hollywood or not, that hybrids and other non-gasoline vehicles save the environment. So tell us what you think: Are green cars really green? Vote below.

Photo courtesy of Honda

Whoa! I go away for two days and you all get into a hot conversation about popular fiction writers Stephenie Meyer and Stephen King, prompted by Brian Truitt’s below post on King. Your thoughts are definitely passionate and make for interesting reading; thanks to all of you for the more than 400 posts. We’ll be sure to remind you when Brian’s cover story on King runs in the magazine next month.

Director John Singleton departed a big-screen adaptation of the 1980s action TV series The A-Team late last year, and now Joe Carnahan is in negotiations to helm the adventures of a crack unit of eccentric commandos on the run for a crime they didn’t commit. I for one am stoked since Carnahan (Smoking Aces, Narc) is a solid filmmaker, and there’s already a release date: June 11, 2010. So who would you cast in the film as the cigar-chomping leader, Hannibal Smith, or the wacked-out pilot, "Howlin’ Mad" Murdock? Even more important, who do you want replacing the legendary Mr. T as the hard-hittin’, plane-hatin’ B.A. Baracus and spouting such lines as "I pity the fool!"?

It was big news when George Clooney, aka Dr. Doug Ross, announced his much-anticipated return to the long-running NBC drama ER for the series’ final episode. But E!’s Kristin Dos Santos, who’s also a sometime USA WEEKEND contributor, is now reporting that Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon is joining Clooney for the April 2 finale. While details of the episode, including if Sarandon will be donning the always fashionable scrubs, are still under wraps, Kristin did get some behind-the-scenes news that ER series regular Linda Cardellini, who plays Sam, did film a scene with Clooney. So tell us: Are you excited about Clooney’s return to the show that rocketed him to stardom?

Photo by Dan MacMedan/USA Today

Adam West played him on TV in the 1960s. Decades later, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney and most recently Christian Bale have all played him on the big screen. I’m talking about Bruce Wayne, the man who is Batman, and yesterday we reported that Batman is dead. Still, no one in the comics world stays dead for very long so it’s possible that a new mortal will pick up the Batman mantle. Tell us what you think: Is Batman off to the big Batcave in the sky? Or will he somehow return to fight another day? Post your votes and thoughts in the comments section below.

Art courtesy of DC Comics

What celebrity will Donald Trump next dress down in the boardroom and say, in that trademark way of his, "You’re fired!"? We’ll be able to find out soon enough when the new season of Celebrity Apprentice debuts on Sunday, March 1. Piers Morgan of America’s Got Talent prevailed in the first season last year, and one of the newly announced cast of 16 will compete in business tasks and challenges to win Trump’s favor and play for their favorite charities. It’s an interesting crowd to say the least, from athletes (basketball bad boy Dennis Rodman, Heisman winner Herschel Walker, pro golf babe Natalie Gulbis) and singers (country’s Clint Black, R&B’s Brian McKnight) to models (Claudia Jordan, Brande Roderick) and oddball personalities (comedian Tom Green, controversial funnyman Andrew Dice Clay, motorcycle-lovin’ Renaissance man Jesse James, poker standout Annie Duke). And we actually have upcoming stories on two contestants: Melissa Rivers (who will be on the reality show with her mom, Joan) and figure skating’s Scott Hamilton. Of those, who do you most want to see throw down with the Donald in the boardroom?

Photo by Ali Goldstein

TNT is at it again. The cable network has carved out a strong niche for itself in the TV drama arena with such excellent shows as The Closer, Saving Grace and the rookie series Leverage, and it’s continuing onward with two new 10-episode dramas slated to premiere later this year. The Line features Dylan McDermott as the emotionally embattled head of a crack undercover police force, including Logan Marshall-Green (The O.C.), Omari Hardwick (Saved) and Nicki Aycox (Supernatural). Plus, for a cop drama, it’s got great pedigree, as it’s being overseen by super-producer Jerry Bruckheimer (CSI). The second series, Time Heals, stars Jada Pinkett Smith as a single mom and head of nursing at a Charlotte, N.C., hospital who struggles to balance home life and professional life caring for those who need her the most. Keep an eye on the blog for more on these shows, but in the meantime which one sounds like a must-see for you?

Photo by Danny Feld

I’ve been covering people and entertainment for more than 20 years now, so I’ve learned that predicting what happens next week, let alone next year, is foolish. There is, however, much to look forward to in the new year. Here are a few notes from my list.
   * Inaugural parties!
   * A glamorous awards season, unmarred by writers’ or actors’ strikes. It’s opulent, decadent and an antidote to recession blues.
   * Children in the White House. And dogs, too. I bet the new puppy will be a Labradoodle.
   * The return — finally! — of Damages on FX. Glenn Close takes my breath away.
   * Watching Oprah lose those 40 pounds. You know she can do it.
   * Emerging new stars in the Obama cabinet. And I don’t mean Rahm Emmanuel or Hillary Clinton.
   * The new dramedy Trust Me on TNT. Eric McCormack and Tom Cavanagh were born to be together.
   * The spring return of Rescue Me. I’m mad about Denis Leary. And Michael J. Fox guest stars.
   * Rachel Maddow getting more press than Keith Olbermann. (Remember, he once named me a worst person in the world.)
   * Michelle Obama rockin’ the East Wing.
   * Celeb weddings: Jen and John? Angie and Brad? Nicole Richie and Joel Madden? Halle Berry and Gabriel Aubry?
   * Celeb divorces: J.Lo and Marc? David Duchovny and Tea Leoni? Spencer and Heidi?
   * More celeb babies: Tony and Eva? Beyonce and Jay-Z?
   * West Side Story returns to Broadway.
     I also asked my colleagues stuck at work during the holiday weeks to share what they’re looking forward to in 2009 and why, so click read more below for their thoughts. And if there’s something you’re psyched about in the new year, let us know in the comments section.

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Our Who’s News colleague Gayle Carter is eagerly awaiting the New Year. Yes, like the rest of us she’s excited about the inauguration of a new president. But truth be told, she is a TV junkie who is looking forward to the return of many of her favorite TV shows (some long delayed thanks to the writer’s strike) and the debut of some sure-to-be-favorite new ones. In the magazine on Jan. 11, you will find her interviews with Amber Tamblyn and some of the other stars who shine in these new and returning series. Click on read more below to get a sneak peek at some of those stars and outtakes from Gayle’s conversations with them, and let us know in the comments what shows you’re psyched about returning or premiering in the next few months.

Photos by Eric Heilila and courtesy of Fox

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Make sure you pick up a copy of our annual Year in Photos issue this weekend (click here to find out what newspaper near you carries USA WEEKEND), especially if you’re a big fan of the Jonas Brothers! Yes, those three tween heroes are featured on the cover with fresh new pics, and inside you’ll find outtakes from some of our most popular and entertaining cover shoots of 2008, featuring Robert Downey Jr., Will Ferrell, Taylor Swift, Jack Black, Rascal Flatts, Annika Sorenstam (in football pads, no less) and Will Smith. Take a look and let us know in the comments section what your favorite pictures were from this year!

USA WEEKEND’s gone to the dogs this week. On Tuesday, we had this post featuring interviews with the human stars of the new canine-filled flick Marley & Me (in theaters Christmas Day), and in the magazine this weekend, we have a piece written exclusively for us by Marley & Me author John Grogan about life with his new pup, Woodson. Check it out and then tell us: Who is your favorite dog from the movies?

Photo by Barry Wetcher

Tuesday marks the release of one of this year’s most anticipated albums: Fall Out Boy’s Folie a Deux. The guys have made a huge mark on the pop-punk scene with hooky songs and catchy riffs, and this album — featuring collaborations with Lil’ Wayne, Panic at the Disco, Blondie’s Debbie Harry and more — may prove to be bigger than its last two hit records, 2005′s From Under the Cork Tree and 2007′s Infinity on High. Our T.J. Walter traveled to Philadelphia to chat with FOB bassist, songwriter and new dad Pete Wentz — mere days before his wife, Ashlee Simpson-Wentz, gave birth to the couple’s first son, Bronx Mowgli — for a feature in this weekend’s issue (check out more from T.J.’s interview here), and the band was gracious enough to give our readers an exclusive clip from one of the new tracks, America’s Suitehearts. It’s definitely one of our favorites from Folie a Deux — what do you think? Let us know in the comments section.

Photo courtesy of Island Records

We just finished the first major holiday of the season, and I hope you all are recovering from any Turkey overload you may have experienced. Now that it’s officially Christmas season (or at least that’s what the stores want you to believe), USA WEEKEND’s annual gift guide is in newspapers now. Cover girl Miranda Cosgrove, star of Nickelodeon’s hit iCarly, shares her shopping tips and secrets and we share the best gift ideas for 2008. We wondered about our readers’ own gift-getting experiences, because while the season is certainly about the spirit of giving, sometimes the givers are a little misguided. So tell us in the comments below: What was your worst Christmas gift?