Favoritism

Here are some of my favorite shops: Santa Monica farmers market, Wednesdays and Saturdays, 2nd Street and Arizona Avenue, Santa Monica. http://www.smgov.net/portals/farmersmarket Intelligentsia, multiple locations, http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com Handsome Coffee Roasters, 582 Mateo St., Los Angeles, (213) 621-4194, http://www.handsomecoffee.com Andrew's Cheese, 728 Montana Ave., Santa Monica, (310) 393-3308, andrewscheese.com Cheese Store of Silverlake, 3926 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, (323)

MILLVILLE, N.J. - Norman Rockwell never visited this small south New Jersey town, but he rendered its likeness in hundreds of paintings, from the low-slung brick storefronts along Main Street to the snow-covered banks of the Maurice River. He painted the people, too, all square jaws and determination. Hard working. Humble. "Salt of the earth," Mayor Tim Shannon says. Shannon should know. In addition to being mayor he's fifth-generation Millvillian, part of a family that first settled here just after the Civil War. "There is a core of Millville people that have been here for generations," he says.

In his first game in 1963 with the San Diego Chargers, Walt Sweeney established a pattern that would mark his 13 seasons as a star in professional football. Even though it was only an exhibition, Sweeney played with a fearsome aggressiveness. As a special teams player, he raced down the field ahead of the veterans, making several tackles over the course of the game and becoming a fan favorite as the Chargers beat the Oakland Raiders. But there was something the fans did not know: Sweeney, then a 22-year-old first-round draft choice from Syracuse University, was so high on speed that his heart would not stop pounding after the game.

Writers from around Tribune Co. choose their favorite Super Bowl commercial. Let us know which one you liked best. Diane Pucin, Los Angeles Times Sweet horses, Fleetwood Mac, winner. Even for someone who hates beer, who gets a little queasy when there's even a hint of hops, the best Super Bowl ad was the Budweiser creation entitled "Brotherhood. " The company has used the iconic Clydesdale horse before but not with such a sweet-looking foal. The baby Clydesdale used in the ad was born on Jan. 16. There was an entire story told.

"Suspect," Robert Crais' 19th crime novel, which hit bookstores last week, introduces two new characters (and one new species) to the award-winning L.A. author's repertoire - LAPD cop Scott James and his K-9 partner, Maggie. The former TV writer, born in Louisiana, is perhaps best known for his 15 books featuring unorthodox detective Elvis Cole and his stone-faced partner, Joe Pike. "Suspect" is about an LAPD officer and an ex-military dog who both have PTSD, which makes them suspect.

The academy liked "Argo," but not its director, Ben Affleck. The Directors Guild of America nominated Affleck, but couldn't find room for "Silver Linings Playbook" auteur David O. Russell, who, naturally, received an Oscar nomination for direction. "Lincoln" won the most Oscar nods, but, now, in a post-Affleck-snub awards-season landscape, finds itself viewed by many pundits as an underdog, a movie admired more than adored. This year's murky, quirky best picture race remains a work in progress, but we should have a some clarity by Sunday night, courtesy of this weekend's Producers Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild awards.

The ukulele takes center stage Feb. 9 and 10 at the Ukulele Picnic Weekend in Honolulu. There will be music competitions, a benefit concert and (of course) a picnic. The activities kick off Saturday morning with the International Ukulele Contest at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort . From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., musicians in three categories will strum their small, guitar-like instruments. The public is welcome and admission is free. From 5:30 to 9 p.m. that day, a benefit concert will be held on the great lawn of the Hilton Hawaiian Village . The evening will features a lineup of Hawaiian and Japanese entertainers, headlined by BEGIN , a pop-music group from Okinawa.

In full-page advertisements this week in newspapers across North America — including this one — the National Hockey League told fans it wanted to "apologize to you for the time we've missed," its quaint spin on the lockout it imposed and the labor dispute that delayed the season's opening. There now, don't you feel better? The ad was signed "The National Hockey League," not "Commissioner Gary Bettman," maybe on the premise fans are more likely to welcome back the league itself than the commissioner who has presided over a lost season and two lockout-shortened versions.

Supercross returns to Angel Stadium for its third race of the year Saturday night with the sport still waiting for one of its preseason favorites to win. Ryan Villopoto, who has won the last two Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series titles, has yet to score a victory and three other former champions - James Stewart, Chad Reed and Ryan Dungey - are off to modest starts. Veteran rider Davi Millsaps of Murrieta won the season opener at Angel Stadium on Jan. 5 for his first win since 2010, and rookie Justin Barcia won last weekend in Phoenix.

Can Serena Williams win a calendar year Grand Slam? Where's Rafael Nadal, and when will he be back? As the 2013 tennis season begins in earnest Sunday (Monday in Melbourne) at the Australian Open, we know that Nadal is not back. He has withdrawn from the first major of the year, as he did from the Olympics and the U.S. Open last year, saying his knee tendinitis has now been trumped by a stomach virus. Williams, though, seems in the best shape of her career and is still on the high of winning Wimbledon, the Olympics and the U.S. Open.