Musical Events by Desmond Shawe-Taylor.

Comment by Jonathan Schell. A disagreeable word has lately gained a new currency: 'blowback.' It was introduced into general circulation during the recent House Intelligence Oversight Subcommittee hearings on the relationship of the C.I.A. to news organizations, and it refers to deceptions that, having been planted by the C.I.A. in the press abroad to...

Fiction A Vintage Thunderbird by Ann Beattie. Nick and Karen are friends who live in New York. Nick loves Karen and he loves Karen's white '59 Thunderbird convertible. Karen doesn't realize how much Nick loves her. She sees other men, especially a psychology professor. When she is away with other men, Karen lets Nick take the Thunderbird...

Around City Hall AROUND CITY HALL AGAIN by Andy Logan. The program which Congress approved in 1975 to provide federal loans for New York City expires June 30; and a rerun of city official battles for aid has begun. All the original short term loans were paid on time and with interest. More loans are needed along with a federal...

Fiction Split Decisions by Jane Mankiewicz. An Advance Look at Next Week's "Home" Section of the "Times") This parody of articles on alternate life-styles for divorced couples features Bart and Val Hough, both lawyers. Since they spent a good many years remodeling their brownstone on the upper West Side, neither of them moved out when...

The Talk of the Town Roses by James Stevenson. Talk story about visit to Pinchbeck's Rose Farm in Guilford, Conn., where 150,000 roses (mostly Forever Yours variety) are cut and shipped over the Valentine's Day period. Roses are shipped to the American Wholesale Cut Flower Co., 44 W. 28th St., in Manhattan's flower district and to florists in Conn...

Profiles AMERICAN SINGERS by Whitney Balliett. PROFILES of singers Mary Mayo, Barbara Lea, and Teddi King. Teddi King died of lupus erythematosus. She had a generous contralto and a wide vibrato. Describes her singing style further. She lived on the upper West Side with her husband Josh Gerber, a society-band drummer. Quotes Teddi King on...

The Talk of the Town Live by Jane Boutwell. Talk story about tenor Luciano Pavarotti's recent solo recital at the Metropolitan Opera, televised live as part of the "Live from Lincoln Center" series. Pavarotti, 42, is the only classical singer who has ever performed a complete live recital before a national television audience, and the only one who has...

Comment by Julie Hayden. Salutations to Chief Redbird, of the Cherokee Nation, who for more than sixty years, has supplied the White House, gratis, with ceremonial headdresses handmade from eagle or turkey feathers, one headdress per elected President....each accepted and politely responded to the Chief's benison..." Although he is sick in the hospital...

The Current Cinema by Pauline Kael. Review of "Blue Collar"in which Paul Schrader is making his debut as a director. The script was written by him with his brother Leonard...

The Race Track by G. F. T. Ryall. Run Dusty Run won the Seminole Handicap at Hialeah last Saturday. He beat Silver Series - the favorite - by a nose. After the finish, there was an objection by Solomone, who rode Silver Series, that Run Dusty Run had crowded him in the stretch. The crowd had to wait until the...

The Talk of the Town Gordon Davis by Lillian Ross. Talk story about Gordon J. Davis, the new Commissioner of Parks and Recreation, and the first black man to hold the position. Davis, 36, was appointed by Mayor Koch. He is the tenth Parks Commissioner since 1934 when Robert Moses took command of the new department. The Parks and Recreation...

A Reporter at Large PHASE: ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SPECIAL-INTEREST STATE by Elizabeth Drew. REPORTER AT LARGE about Pres. Carter's Administration now in office one year. It's clear now just how hard it is to bring about change in govt. Analysis of constraints involved in drawing up the U.S. budget. Groups who receive federal funds will not permit reductions or an ending to amounts...

Poetry Dusk by Edward Hirsch. The sun is going down tonight...

Poetry Spider Dissertation by Alex Stevens. And what a cleansing thing it is, after all: the...

Poetry Widow's Walk by Elizabeth Spires. Vaporous and drowsy...