In State by State: A Panoramic Portrait of America, the entry for New York is in the form of a short play by Jonathan Franzen. A few weeks back, at the PEN Cabaret, we saw a reading of this play in which the Empire State was portrayed by the magnificent Patricia Clarkson. If ever a play is written in which New York City requires personification, we nominate Binnie Kirshenbaum for the role. She may not be an actress, but she is Manhattan: wry without being jaded, warm without being fuzzy; possessing a personal style that is all her own and yet appropriate for every occasion. Read More »