When a heterosexual man meets a woman for the first time, chances are he will, consciously or subconsciously, judge her approachability, her attractiveness and her potential for a great romp in the sack. If he’s a more sensitive guy, he might also try to gauge whether she’d make a good wife or mother. But when a heterosexual woman meets another woman for the first time, she will judge her ability to be a good friend…and her potential as a post-retirement roommate in a split-level ranch house in Miami.

My closest pals don’t know that I’ve already designated which of them will be the Rose and Blanche to my Dorothy, God forbid I’m a widow when it comes time for me to trade my stilettos for orthopedic shoes. (As a neurotic, native New Yorker, I allow myself to play the “God Forbid…” game on occasion.) And I have several back-ups in mind, in case my top roomie picks are unavailable by then—that is, if they are still married, living in a nursing home, or otherwise, ahem, checked out. One of the chosen ladies, like the Rose character, has a heart of gold, a slightly airy temperament and, most important, an endless supply of wacky childhood stories. The other is a sophisticated city gal whom I can definitely imagine evolving into a fun-loving geriatric sexpot, persuading everyone in the house to … //READ MORE

I first became aware of Lena Dunham about four years ago when I watched and became smitten with Tiny Furniture, an indie film she wrote, directed and starred in. The CliffsNotes version: Recent college grad Aura returns home to cushy Tribeca loft with no job, no direction, no boyfriend; experimental sex, evolving relationships, and (gradual) emotional growth ensue. In other words, it’s basically a prequel to Ms. Dunham’s HBO creation Girls, which revolves around the lives of a quirky quartet of friends as they traverse the bumpy terrain of their mid-twenties.

Watching the premiere of Girls, I was happy to see Aura again. Even though she’s several years older and has changed her name to Hannah Horvath, there’s no mistaking her. Now an aspiring writer drinking lots of hipster coffee and living in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, she’s still angst-y, smart, self-involved and plenty entitled. And, of course, played by Dunham, who has made no secret of the fact that she shares similarities with both characters. … //READ MORE

I love going to the ballpark. I love watching the guys take batting practice before the game. I love the crack of the bat when it makes perfect contact with the ball. I love the collective roar of the crowd when the ball sails over the fence or a fielder makes a diving catch. I love sitting in the sun, drinking a cold beer and witnessing the ebb and flow of baseball.

What I don’t love are the times when, because I’m a woman, my fandom is treated like a trite passing interest. I don’t just pretend to like the game because of a boyfriend. I don’t watch baseball because I think Derek Jeter is cute or that Mike Trout has a nice butt. And I most certainly don’t wear a pink baseball hat.

Yet even with all the women out there at the ballpark—or watching football with friends at a local bar, or painstakingly pouring over their brackets during March Madness—patronizing attitudes still exist. … //READ MORE

People, can you believe it’s been 25 years? It’s been 25 years since we first watched a fresh-faced Meg Ryan and a sardonic Billy Crystal argue about whether men and women can sustain friendship, discuss the complexity of ordering pie à la mode, and finally realize, after a lonely New Year’s Eve, that they belong together. The brainchild of writer Nora Ephron and director Rob Reiner, who each brought to the film their unique perspectives on love and relationships, When Harry Met Sally is a true classic. Here, three of my favorite scenes from one of the best rom-coms ever, and the romantic truths that emerged from them.

Truth #1: Ladies, every man secretly wants to bang you. … //READ MORE