Separate content area

Hi,

I’m currently on WP.com but am considering “going rogue”.

One thing I’d like to do is embed a secondary content steam in my blog. It would consist of an area that would show post excerpts of a certain designated category. If these posts could be off the notification feed, so much the better.

I think there are themes that do this by using two bona-fide content columns. But I’m don’t want to divide up the page so drastically. A design element of limited size would be better.

Anyway, I’m open to any suggestions in this regard.

Thanks,
Paul