First Person Singular by Wendy Braitman

Making Waves

Illustration by Jean Jullien

With Respect to the Queen

For a tearjerker on many levels, watch Aretha sing Natural Woman at the Kennedy Center Honors.

1971 photo for the New York Times by Tyrone Dukes

Does Anyone Get Off Easy?

There’s a former colleague of mine in the film industry who seems to sail through life. In the 20 years that I’ve been acquainted with him, he has consistently worked for companies producing top-rated films, even winning a few Oscars. He lives in an enviable part of town in a cool mid-century house with lots of art, while also being committed to volunteer work. From my perspective, his life looks easy. But I’ve been around long enough to know that can’t be true.

Illustration by Marc Johns

Jump Start

The New Yorker Cartoon by Seth Fleishman

The Real Deal

I saw Black KkKlansman over the weekend, and LOVED it. Spike Lee has been making movies for over 30 years, and he is at the top of his craft, here. Run, don’t walk. And then, let’s discuss.

Weekend Resolution

Illustration by Daniel Shaffer

Pet Tricks

My dog Rose is part poodle, a breed known for being smart. Or so I’ve heard. 13 years ago, when she was a puppy, a friend trained her within minutes to sit, give you her paw and lie down, and suggested she could be in the movies. Or so I remember. Do you have a pet with a specialty?

Serious dog by Jean Jullien

Mother Nature

Painting by Dennis Wojtkiewicz

Stepping Out

Readers of FPS know that I lean towards a neutral palette. It’s from decades of living in San Francisco, where black, grey and brown dominate the garment landscape. Los Angeles has widened my taste, but only just a bit. Now I own a turquoise t-shirt, which I rarely wear. What’s the boldest thing in your wardrobe?

Illustration by David Shrigley

Documenting Your Life

There’s a single Mom down the hall in my building who lives with her 13-year old daughter. They moved in when her daughter was 9, and it’s been fun watching her grow up. In the last 6 months, I’ve noticed how often her daughter takes photos, whether it’s posing with girlfriends, or even her dog (who now has his own Instagram page). And it got me to thinking about what it will mean for this generation coming up, to be so hard-wired to document all the aspects of their lives.

Andy Warhol by Max Dalton