Dancing by Arlene Croce.

Fiction Cats by Robley Wilson. Kate Eastman was divorced and her two sons were away at college. She lived with two male cats, Tibb and Cass. She'd recently met a psychotherapist named Barry Miner at the county clerk's office. They started dating. The first time they slept together, she woke him up long before dawn...

A Reporter at Large YOU CANNOT REFINE IT by James Reston. REPORTER AT LARGE about General William Tecumseh Sherman, the Union general in the Civil War. In 1982, writer traveled to Sherman's battle sites, recalling the key characters and commenting on the decisive events. Sherman is considered by some to be the inventor of "total war"; the first general in history...

The Talk of the Town Boats by Tony Gibbs. Talk story about the seventy-fifth National Boat Show, which was held recently at the Coliseum. The show's management the anniversary with a small display of antique motor boats and marine equipment. Chief among the old-time boats was a handsome 1931 Chris-Craft speedboat, the property of Mr. Dale...

Around City Hall AROUND CITY HALL NOTES FROM THE UNDERGROUND by Andy Logan. AROUND CITY HALL about Bernhard Goetz, the "subway vigilante," and the reactions to his actions. On December 22, Goetz, a thirty-seven-year-old white man, was approached on the subway by four black teenagers, all with criminal records, and carrying, although not visible to Goetz, three screwdrivers used to...

Fiction Sunny by Laura Furman. When Sunny was 12 years old, her mother died. After the funeral, Sunny entertained the family&friends who came to pay their respects. Then she rushed down 3 flights to visit with Betty&Russell. They had a 6-year-old daughter named Bebe, who was the same age...

The Current Cinema LOVERS AND FOOLS by Pauline Kael.

Comment by Brendan Gill. For almost 50 years, this magazine has occupied offices in a building whose lobby connects West 43rd and 44th Streets. It was built in the 20's by James T. Lee, a lawyer and real-estate developer who took pride in his buildings. West 44th Street usually has an air...

Books by George Steiner.

The Talk of the Town Up Front by William McKibben. Talk story about Tony Kent, one of the ten men who make radiator grilles for Rolls Royce automobiles at the shop at Crewe, in Cheshire, England. Writer talked to Tony at Carriage House Motor Cars, on East 61st Street...

The Talk of the Town Halley's Comet by Alan P. Lightman. Talk story about Halley's Comet and the five spacecraft which are being launched from Earth to rendezvous with it. The comet makes its visit to this solar neighborhood once about every seventy-six years, and this trip it will be nearest the sun on February 9, 1986. The spacecraft will...

Poetry Now Renting by W. S. Merwin. Nobody remembers/the original site/of course/what was there...

Poetry Mornings in Whitby by James Kirkup. Smoke from smoldering sea coal...