The Talk of the Town Showing by Kennedy Fraser. Talk story about a fashion showing in Suite 610 of the St. Regis Hotel. Jim Harp, a business manager of Holly Harp, is showing fall styles to the buying team of Amen, Bob, and Suzanne, who represent a California store. A pair of models is on hand. Mr. Harp offers...

The Talk of the Town Sightseeing: Washington, B.C. by James Stevenson. Talk story in which the writer lists trivia gleaned during a day of sight-seeing in Washington, D.C. Among the pieces of information given are: The statue of Abraham Lincoln in the Lincoln Memorial cost $88,400, lunch in the cafeteria of the Department of Transportation cost $4.75; six members of...

Musical Events Sound and Fury by Andrew Porter.

The Art World (The Art Galleries) A Thousand Flowers by Harold Rosenberg.

The Talk of the Town Kiza by Jane Boutwell. Talk story about the presentation of "Carmen" by Kiza the Tokyo-based amateur theatrical group. The evening began with a speech by Shusaku Endo, Kinza's founder and director, who is also one of Japan's leading novelists. Mr. Endo pointed out that Kinza is Japan's largest amateur theatrical company. He reviewed...

U. S. Journal A STAG OYSTER EAT BELOW THE CANAL by Calvin Trillin. U.S. JOURNAL: GEORGETOWN, DEL., about the writer's visit to the town for the Georgetown Volunteer Fire Company's annual stag oyster eat and dance. He had learned about the event while reading the premier issue of "Shellfish Digest," which is edited by Georgetown resident Robert H. Robinson. Writer visits Robinson, who...

Dancing "Le Sacre" Without Ceremony by Arlene Croce.

Comment by Ian Frazier. Comment on the American Book Awards composed of 17 made-up quotations from made-up people with funny names extolling the event. Samples: "The American Book Awards, by the Association of American Publishers, is a major event! Astonishing! Vivid! More, Association of American Publishers, more!" --Mr. and Mrs. Joe Jones...

The Talk of the Town Reception by Wallace White. Talk story about a reception for the New York City Advisory Council, a volunteer group whose goal is to attract film and television to the city. The reception was given by Mayor Koch as a part of Motion Picture and Television Production Week, and was held in the Susan Wagner...

Fiction Man in the Holocene by Max Frisch. Geiser, a 73-year-old widower, lives in the mountain valley of Ticino, Switzerland. Incessant rains in August have caused a landslide and he wonders if the village will be wiped out by an avalanche. Describes different kinds of rain, thunder, and lightning. Geiser is afraid he is losing his...

Fiction Spill by George W. S. Trow. A vicious oil spill at Bergdorf's ruins hundreds of pretty items. These items, and the damage done to them, are described. Example: "...the oil has ruined several slit-to-the-waist dresses in a silk crepe de Chine that shimmers like a wicked smile in peach, auburn, dusky blue and...

The Theatre HAPPY TALK by Brendan Gill.

Books The Gift of Tongues by George Steiner.

The Current Cinema A Quilt of Horsemen by Roger Angell. Sir Alfred Hitchcock died in the same week in which the most recent film version of John Buchan's The 39 Steps opened in New York. Hitchcock's 1935 version is still the exemplar...

Poetry For A Russian Poet: Cherdyn, June, 1934 by Greg Simon. How dank and sweet that ground...

Poetry Farther Away by Jonathan Aaron. It could be early in the morning...