Abundance

They're back -- and they're big. The hip looks of sectionals are grabbing new fans. By definition, the sectional is the sum of its parts -- two or more pieces put together to create a contiguous seating surface. They are shaped like L's, C's, S's or brackets, slipcovered or upholstered snugly, and usually footed to lift their bulk from the floor so they look a little less imposing. For some, the word conjures images of yesteryear's hulking pieces that formed an L-shaped sofa and ate the living room.

In a season in which each local area should have several good golf teams, Baltimore County might feature some of the best talent anywhere. Dulaney, Franklin and Pikesville will likely be among the top teams in the state as well as the county. Pikesville finished second in the state in last year's Class 1A-2A tournament, continuing a recent hot streak during which it finished second in 1998 and won the title in 2000 and 2001. Michelle Grilli won the girls individual state crown last year and returns as Pikesville's No. 1 player this fall.

MEDAL MANIA As the Summer Olympics enter the final weekend, keep track of who's taking home the medals. For real-time updates and archived coverage, go to www.baltimoresun.com/olympics. REALITY TELEVISION See a video of television critic David Zurawik discussing the fall TV season's abundance of reality shows. www.baltimoresun.com/zurawik

ATHENS - The boos rang off the rafters. The foot stomping could be felt in the grandstand railing. The derisive whistles pierced the Olympic decorum. After a week of finger pointing, protests and tantrums, the fed-up crowd at last night's gymnastics final took matters into its own hands and halted competition in an 8 1/2 -minute demonstration of anger. All-around champion Paul Hamm fidgeted silently, waiting for the crowd to quiet so he could perform on the high bar. Finally, Russian gymnast Alexei Nemov - the wronged man in the eyes of the crowd - stepped forward to restore order.

On the last Friday evening of every summer month, a group of Harford County farmers sets up folding tables and tents in a park in Bel Air for the Twilight Farmers' Market. They sell all the items you'd expect to see - meats, cheeses, produce, honey, cut flowers - but there is also live music, wine by the glass, picnic tables and a petting zoo. Shoppers are encouraged to make their purchases and then hang out for a while. The next one is tomorrow night. "This is more of a social occasion," said Kate Dallam, a Harford County dairy farmer who also runs the market.

With restaurants, as with so many businesses, location is key. Sure, great restaurants can be found in even the least attractive strip malls. But restaurants with a water view, or ones that are located in lovingly restored country taverns, carry a special charm. The beauty of the location can turn even an everyday meal into a special occasion. Baltimore County is blessed with many such restaurants, which is not surprising since the county has a wealth of historic buildings, vast stretches of bucolic countryside and beautiful parks.

Options for outdoor recreation in Anne Arundel County are diverse and abundant. State, county and Annapolis parks and trails provide a variety of environments for walking, hiking, biking and picnicking, as well as ball fields, tennis courts and other areas developed for sports. If nautical recreation appeals, Anne Arundel, with its location on the Chesapeake Bay, rivers and creeks, offers opportunities to spend time on the water. Sandy Point offers fun on the water With 786 acres off U.S. 50 at 1100 E. College Parkway, Sandy Point State Park is busiest during the warmer months when its location on the Chesapeake - hard by the bay bridge - makes it ideal for water-related activities like fishing, crabbing, swimming at the beach and boating.

Noting an "abundance of new information," Howard County prosecutors agreed yesterday to the release on bail of three teen-agers accused of raping a 15-year-old girl last week in a boys' bathroom at an Ellicott City high school. Before a courtroom packed with the teen-agers' family members and reporters, Howard District Judge Pamila J. Brown reversed a decision made by another judge Friday -- at the request of the state's attorney's office and based on the severity of the allegations -- to hold the suspects without bail.

I love multi-tasking, especially in plants. Plants that do two or three things at once hold special places in both my heart and my garden. Like climbing beans, which are marvelous multi-taskers. "Climbing beans are a two-fer," observes Jo-Anne Van den Berg Ohms, president of John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds in Bantam, Conn. "You get quite a show and many produce delicious fruits." Of course, some are all show. For example, hyacinth beans (Dolichos lablab) have gorgeous burgundy vines, big green leaves, mauve flowers, and purple pods, yet the pods, while edible, are not palatable.

Paul Warren is relaxing in the family room of his circa 1890 Park Avenue townhouse in Baltimore's Mount Vernon neighborhood. Far from a typical family room, the 40-by-35-foot space is reminiscent of a grand lobby in an art museum. In 1895, the home's original owner, William Knabe, a Baltimore piano manufacturer, added the room to the back of his house. It once served as a conservatory but has been divided into the family room and the kitchen. Solid Italian marble fluted columns - 20 inches in diameter - line the peripheries of the rooms, joining carved oak beams to form a 20-foot ceiling made of glass panes.