BC-Lifestyles Digest

Here is the AP Lifestyles Digest for the week of March 10.

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E-CIG NATION

NEW YORK — On the edge of Soho, The Henley Vaporium is an intimate hipster hangout with overstuffed chairs, exposed brick, friendly counter help — but no booze. Instead, the proprietors are peddling e-cigarettes to "vapers" in a growing movement that now includes celebrity fans and YouTube gurus, online forums and vapefests around the world. By Leanne Italie. SENT: 1,200 words Monday, photos

SPRING FASHION

It's been an unusually cold and snowy winter in many parts of the U.S., with weather keeping even the most fashion-conscious dressers bundled up and some stores reporting lower-than-normal sales volume due to shoppers staying home. But winter clearance sales are under way and the bright colors and fresh styles of spring are starting to appear in store windows. Here's what you need to know about what to wear this season — colors, styles and must-haves (hint: crop tops and high waists). UPCOMING: by 3 p.m. Thursday, with photos and text from Chicago, Dallas and Miami.

PETS-MUTTBOMBS

LOS ANGELES — Take that selfie seriously and leave a little room for Scruffy in case of muttbomb. In just one month, muttbombing has become an Instagram craze so global that an animal shelter in the U.K. would like to duplicate it and the domestic Mr. Peabody is rooting for it to work in California. Dallas Pets Alive started muttbombing as a local dog rescue campaign. Dog pictures seemed to fit perfectly into Instagram selfies, notes were funny and there were instructions on how to adopt. Then they spread to Hollywood and New York, becoming part of the Oscars and a Jimmy Fallon ear-piercing skit. By Sue Manning. UPCOMING: 850 words will move Wednesday, photos.

FOOD

FOOD-HEALTHY-BUFFALO CHICKEN

Invented in Buffalo, N.Y., during the '60s, Buffalo chicken wings have become a national favorite. Big surprise! If fat is where the flavor is, and if everyone's a sucker for flavor, Buffalo chicken couldn't lose. So I decided to tackle this monster and somehow transform it into a healthier weeknight meal. By Sara Moulton. UPCOMING: 540 words and a recipe for creamy Buffalo chicken and peas by 11 a.m. Monday, photos.

FOOD-CULINARY WILD WEST

PORTLAND, Ore. — Far from the expectant gaze of major restaurant critics and the accompanying pressure to produce the Next Big Thing, this little-big city offers chefs a unique opportunity — the chance to experiment without fear of empty tables and For Sale signs after an adventurous flop. And Portland chefs have embraced it. By Nigel Duara. UPCOMING: 750 words by 11 a.m. Tuesday, photos.

FOOD-AMERICAN TABLE-HOMINY STEW

A friend recently made me an amazing pork stew with loads of chilies, cilantro and garlic. The flavors and textures were at once warm, comforting, fresh and exciting. And the minute I tasted his stew tucked into a warm flour tortilla, I couldn't wait to make it again and share it with friends and family. And I instinctively knew that hominy would add another layer to this already delicious stew. By Elizabeth Karmel. UPCOMING: 470 words and a recipe for hog 'n hominy salsa verde stew by 11 a.m. Wednesday, photos.

FOOD-CRAB CAKES

To help get us in the mood for spring, we've given a seasonal makeover to the classic crab cake. We started by adding the fresh flavor of shredded zucchini. It melts into the bolder flavors of the other ingredients, yet still keeps the crab cakes tasting light. By Alison Ladman. UPCOMING: 115 words and a recipe for zucchini crab cakes with lime aioli by 11 a.m. Thursday, photos.

FOOD-CORN SOUP

The warm days and cool nights of spring can make for challenging dinners. During the days, we want to be outside enjoying the sun, but the evenings call for something warm and comforting. Trouble is, warm and comforting dinners require time at the stove. By Alison Ladman. UPCOMING: 100 words and a recipe for spring corn soup by 11 a.m. Thursday, photos.

HOMES AND GARDENING

HOMES-RIGHT-BUILDING TOYS

Building and construction toys have been a fixture in playrooms since, well, forever, and there are many reasons for their enduring appeal. While Lego and Mega Blox are category stalwarts — Lego celebrates its 82nd birthday this year and has a hit movie in theaters — there are other interesting options to consider. By Kim Cook. UPCOMING: 560 words by 11 a.m. Tuesday, photos.

GARDENING-PRUNING BULBS

Veteran bulb growers have learned to put patience ahead of pruning in helping their perennials bloom season after season. They're in no rush to remove the unsightly leaves and stems of these botanical storehouses, which need time after flowering to renew their growth cycle. Tips on bulb care. By Dean Fosdick. UPCOMING: 650 words by 11 a.m. Tuesday, photos.

HOMES-ROOF COLORS

When a storm destroyed their black shingle roof, Carol and Ray Knoff of Vinton, Iowa, opted to top their house in vintage Victorian colors: a clay-like red and gray. It took the neighbors a little while to get used to it. Many homeowners these days are shunning monotone roofs of brown, black or gray and perking things up with color. By Diana Marszalek. UPCOMING: 700 words by 3 p.m. Wednesday, photos.

TRAVEL

BORDER TOURISM-SPRING BREAK

MATAMOROS, Mexico — The sidewalks are empty on Alvaro Obregon Avenue. Restaurants and souvenir shops lining the once popular thoroughfare are gutted and shuttered. The sign in front of an abandoned karaoke bar is now ripped and dilapidated, riddled underneath with three spray-painted tombstones. The thousands of spring breakers who flooded over each March from the nearby Texas resorts are gone. The drug war drove them off, leaving a void of tourism in a city that years ago gave up trying to cater to such crowds. But in the midst of a three-year increase in American tourism in Mexico, communities along the Rio Grande see potential to win back some of the tourists and revitalize an industry that has gone dormant since the cartel violence erupted south of the border. By Olga R. Rodriguez. SENT: 1,000 words Monday, photos. Originally moved on news lines Sunday.

ROUTE 66 SIGNS

OKLAHOMA CITY — After decades of attempts to preserve portions of the old Mother Road, U.S. Route 66, comes an effort to preserve landmarks from the landscape: vintage advertising that touted everything from long-gone motels to car dealers to shaving cream. By Kristi Eaton. SENT: 650 words Monday, photo. Originally moved on news lines Sunday.

HOT WIENERS

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Don't call them hot dogs and don't ask for ketchup. Those are the cardinal rules at Olneyville New York System, arguably the best-known Rhode Island spot for one of the state's signature dishes: hot wieners. By Erika Niedowski. SENT: 700 words, photos. Originally moved on news lines Saturday.

INTERNATIONAL THEATER FESTIVAL

WASHINGTON — The Kennedy Center is opening an extensive international theater festival featuring productions from around the world and exhibits about costume design, puppetry and other elements. By Brett Zongker. UPCOMING: By 3 p.m. Monday, 450 words, photos.

GO FOR THE FOOD-MOBILE

It's easy to miss some tasty seafood restaurants on the northern Gulf Coast: They're hidden on a string of islands and peninsulas in the Mobile Delta. Located along Battleship Parkway, which connects the eastern and western shores at the northern end of Mobile Bay, "Seafood Row" is a collection of more than a half-dozen restaurants with something for anyone who likes seafood in an informal, family setting. By Jay Reeves. UPCOMING: 670 words by 11 a.m. Tuesday, photos.

CALIFORNIA-OLIVE OIL TRAIL

NAPA, Calif. — Come to California wine country taste the . olive oil?

Yes, there's liquid gold hidden amongst the vines, part of an olive oil boom in recent years. You can tour an orchard, learn what extra-virgin olive oil really means and taste your way through lemon-, herb- and even chocolate-infused olive oils. Harvest is usually around the end of the year, but any time is good for a visit. Here are five recommended "pit" stops. UPCOMING: 800 words by noon Tuesday, photos.

SCOTLAND-WALKING THE HIGHLANDS

TARBERT, Scotland — I don't have much to tell you about Scotland, really. It's true, they have whisky, and kilts, and some people speak with an accent so thick that you wonder whether you're hearing English or Gaelic. All of that's fun. But I'm just here to tell you about the paths I walked — around the Isle of Skye, along West Highland Way, and the road to Rhenigidale, a tiny seaside village where I paid for my hostel by leaving money in an "honesty box." By Cara Anna. UPCOMING: 1,000 words by noon Wednesday, photos.

5 FREE THINGS-ASHEVILLE

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — This gem of a city tucked in the Blue Ridge foothills of western North Carolina attracts artists, musicians, foodies, outdoor enthusiasts and a fair share of modern-day Hippies, all lured by the beautiful setting and open-minded vibe. Its gorgeous historic buildings downtown, free music venues, Appalachian art center and lofty nearby peaks are all perfect for travelers looking to please their senses without spending a dime. By Lindsey Tanner. UPCOMING: 800 words by 2 p.m. Thursday, photos.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT (noteworthy stories from previous week):

PARENTING: NEW SAT

FOOD: FRANCE-FRENCHIE; TV WINES

CRAFTS: ST. PATRICK'S

TRAVEL: CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL; CREATURES OF THE KEYS; COSTA RICA BEACH

SPECIAL EDITON: SPRING HOMES

UPCOMING LIFESTYLES EDITORIAL CALENDAR 2014:

BEGINNING WEEK OF March 17: Passover and Easter

CONTINUING March 24: Easter

BEGINNING WEEK OF April 14: Prom

WEEK OF April 28: Mother's Day

STARTING WEEK OF May 5: Get ready for summer; graduation

STARTING WEEK OF May 12: Camps and camping

STARTING WEEK OF May 19: Hit the beach, theme parks

STARTING WEEK OF May 26: Father's Day, World Cup

SPECIAL EDITIONS 2014

April 1 - Weddings

May 6 - Outdoors

June 3 - Boomers

July 8 - Back to School

Aug. 5 - Fall Homes

Sep. 9 - Cars

Oct. 7 - Pursuits

Nov. 11 - Holidays

Dec. 2 - Weddings

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