>i can change the foreground and the background color of the grid controls, i can change or hide the header... but!!! i cant seem to change the OUTLINE box that the grid is in. the thin line that is around the outside edges of the box. can i get this to be any color but black?

No direct way I know. If you're desperately after it than you have at least 2 options :
1) Place a container in front with transparent backstyle and bordercolor of your choice (Nick's click transparency:)
2) Put the grid in a container then place another container with desired bordercolor behind of it.
In both approaches you'd play with the sizes to mask grid' border.
Cetin