Comment by Adam Gopnik. Comment about Ross Perot's art collection, as reported by Dorothy Gelatt in "Maine Antique Digest." In her story she tells where all the tchotchkes in Ross Perot's office come from. "It seemed that Perot did his first shopping for American art twenty years ago, at the Kennedy Galleries, here in...

The Talk of the Town Sunset by James Albrecht. Talk story from an Alaskan friend who, having been away from Anchorage for a few years, climbed Flattop Mountain on the evening of the summer solstice. That evening, as the sun was preparing to dip below the horizon for its four-hour parody of night, 100 or so hikers made...

The Talk of the Town Escalation by Elizabeth Wurtzel. Talk story about New Music Seminar held at the Marriott Marquis Hotel last month, for the 13th time. During the day there are panels with names like "Hip Hop in the Media: Getting a Bad Rap." Every night there are showcases all over town. Ice-T calls it a place...

Fiction Also Available by Louis Menand. Black and white cartoon spread. Six panels describing other presidential candidates: e.g., Harvey "Rust" Perrault, Elvis Presley...

Fiction The Other Family by Robert Bingham. Tom remembers the death (by overdose) and funeral, in Far Hills, New Jersey, of his cousin Drew, whose family Tom's family saw only, because of a 'frigid sisterly rivalry', at funerals and weddings. Tom was talking to a crazy man who had come to the newspaper where he was working...

The World of Business STRATEGIC ALLIANCES by Connie Bruck. THE WORLD OF BUSINESS about the power struggle that resulted in Nicholas Nicholas being removed from his job as the co-CEO of Time Warner after the merger. Tells how Gerald Levin and Nicholas Nicholas had worked together for nearly two years on the idea, and brought along the chairman...

The Theatre L'AUTEUR DANS LE CONNECTICUT by Edith Oliver.

Dancing by Alastair Macaulay.

In Fashion by Holly Brubach.

Musical Events by Andrew Porter.

Letter from Washington by Elizabeth Drew. Tells about the House banking scandal. When Thomas Foley, the House Speaker, moved in late April to block the prosecutor's subpoena, numerous Democrats, terrified of appearing to be hiding something, didn't back him up. Many House Democrats are angry at Foley for not shutting down the bank two years ago...

Books by Anna Shapiro.

Poetry Fireworks by William Matthews. There's the whump when they're fired, the rising sigh...

Poetry Passes by Caroline Fraser. For a real thrill, don't get gas...