Features

Holiday Entertaining

French Connection Back before Jean-Georges, before Alice Waters, even before Julia Child, great cooking meant classics like coq au vin, chateaubriand, and, of course, crêpes Suzette. Some of the best French chefs in town show us why returning to these dishes is much more than mere nostalgia. A Bird In Hand Washington Park's Jonathan Waxman gives the dish on how to cook a masterful Thanksgiving dinner (okay, minus the dessert) in just two hours. To Your Health From Aquavit's berry-infused Ice Queen to Wallsé's sparkling elderflower concoction, a sampling of some of the season's best champagne cocktails. Sweet Dreams Killer confections (gingersnaps, peanut brittle, candied citrus peels) from the venerable pastry chefs at Fauchon, Payard, Citarella, and Craft.

Spring Forward

For spring, designers have one mantra: Keep it short. Miniskirts, the sexiest incarnation of the season's snappy, sporty, confident ethos, were all over the runways. Here's the best of what will be coming to a store near you.

Departments

Intelligencer

Mort Zuckerman, Tyson Beckford, Billy Joel, Chris Noth, Marc Jacobs, and more . . .

Gotham

Walk This Way

If Bloomberg really wants to ease traffic, he should direct his road rage at pedestrians.

One Life to Limn by Michiko Kakutani

Dave Eggers, Donna Tartt, and Zadie Smith must be licking their wounds after Times critic Michiko Kakutani's recent drubbing of their sophomore books. But if they want to get back in her good graces, they should stop licking and start limning.

Under a Cloud

As the mayor attempts to stub out smoking, a Manhattan entrepreneur tries to start a cigarette company. A pipe dream?

Beauty Beat

Our intrepid investigator goes "dermaplaning."

The Five W's

The political group "Apocalypse Wow"

Hot Thing

One-Woman Maud Squad

The New Public Offerings

In today's online economy, anything -- and everything -- is legal tender.

Jackass Vs. Grand Theft Auto

Who's the sickest of them all? A cultural timeline . . .

Deal of the Week

A baseball fan's new home is a home run.

Columns

This Media Life

As war has gotten more and more high-tech, the business of war reporting has become corporatized. And no one understands this better than Peter Arnett.

The Bottom Line

Is it crazy to bet on tech? Maybe not. Here are four killer companies that have survived -- and prospered -- amid the great tech die-off.

Best Bets

From candles to quilts to antler chandeliers, accessories for achieving the luxe lodge look

New York Shops

Bold boots for a well-heeled winter

Critics

Movies

Far From Heaven sacrifices substance for style; Eminem makes a sensational film debut in 8 Mile; Brian De Palma indulges himself with Femme Fatale

Theater

Harold Prince brings Carol Burnett's salad days affectionately to life in Hollywood Arms; Jackie Mason returns, as pointed and funny as ever, in Prune Danish

Classical Music

The Met's Il Pirata is an ill-advised gift to Renée Fleming

Pop Music

Nirvana's new release attests to the greatness of Kurt Cobain; Santana goes commercial, again

Television

Candidate Bush mugs for the camera in Journeys With George

Underground Gourmet

Two new takes on all-American, budget-friendly fare