THREE MORE SMALL STONES...

A SMALL STONE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE BAD REVIEW I GAVE AN UPSCALE RESTAURANT LAST WEEK

At the Napa Valley Grille

in Westwood: good bread,

good wine, good food,

and yes, good service--friendly,

but not obnoxiously

nor obsequiously so. As the French

so nicely put it: comme il faut. Exactly

as it should be.

ELLIE'S SMALL STONE, SAME LOCATION

Buzz of voices.

Not knowing

what they say.

AND LATER, IN THE THEATER LOBBY

In the theater lobby, people-

watching, wondering

why it is

that people choose each other. Such

a mystery, such strange couples,

everywhere, not

unlike ourselves...