Romance

Ah, autumn, the naked trees, the cool panting breeze, and a young man fancies love. Wait a minute, isn't it SPRING when love is in the air? C'mon, love is always and eternal, as these lovers yesterday in the rustic oasis of Washington Square would tell you if they weren't otherwise occupied. To see if today's a good time to engage in a touch of outdoor romance yourself, check the forecast on Page 18.

"Murphy's Romance. " A comedy-drama starring Sally Field and James Garner. Directed by Martin Ritt from a screenplay by Harriet Frank Jr. and Irving Ravetch. Photographed by William A. Fraker. Edited by Sidney Levin. Music by Carole King. Running time: 107 minutes. A Columbia release. In area theaters. The new movie year officially kicks off today, right now, with the release of Martin Ritt's "Murphy's Romance," Paul Mazursky's "Down and Out in Beverly Hills," Sidney Lumet's "Power," Roger Spottiswoode's "The Best of Times" and Peter Markle's "Youngblood.

Next to Mother's Day, Valentine's Day is Philadelphia's busiest restaurant day. Stepping out without a reservation is not advised, which is why we're nudging you now. Since romance's Holy Day of Obligation falls on a Sunday this year, consider brunch. It can be just as nice as dinner, but usually costs less. Consider, too, a restaurant with a fireplace - but make sure you'll be in the right room, and that it will be in use. Deux Cheminees, 1221 Locust St., has five fireplaces, all guaranteed to be blazing.

I'm almost afraid to say how much I enjoyed "Surrender," because if I do, I know I'll get phone calls, letters and dirty looks from readers who went to the film on my recommendation, thought it was dumb and want their five dollars back. And I have to admit that the movie is no comic masterpiece. The story - about an Irish-Jewish bestelling mystery novelist named Sean Stein (Michael Caine) who, repeatedly financially stung by women, is about to renounce them for good when he falls in love with a Daisy Morgan (Sally Field)

What does your vote mean to you? In just eight weeks, Americans will cast votes for president and vice president, senators, U.S. and state representatives, mayors, judges, dogcatchers. So what's it mean to you? Is it a privilege? A duty? A chore? Is it something you do without thinking? Or something to which you give a lot of thought? Well, tell us. Today we start a series titled "Romancing the Vote. " From now through Election Day, we'll run a weekly meditation: Who uses the vote and why, who doesn't and why not. We want to hear stories about getting the vote or losing it. About missing votes.

When the Hold Steady played World Cafe Live Friday afternoon, Craig Finn introduced "We Can Get Together," from the band's album Heaven Is Whenever (Vagrant . ), which comes out today, as a "song about falling in love with rock-and-roll. And maybe falling in love with someone else while listening to rock-and-roll. " Those words could pretty much apply to almost any song on the five albums released since 2004 by the Brooklyn-based bar band par excellence. ( Boys and Girls in America , from 2006, is still the best.

Over the last 15 years, restaurants and chefs have gotten most of the credit for the blossoming of Philadelphia's vibrant food scene. But for local home cooks, no single institution has had a greater impact on boosting the quality of the city's ingredients - and in particular, its cheese boards - than Di Bruno Bros. The Di Bruno's at 930 S. 9th St. has been a jam-packed, 900-square-foot nook of cheese-and-salami bliss since 1939, a gem of South Philly authenticity that remains one of the priceless beating hearts of the Italian Market.