Zodiac

David Toschi, movie star of the San Francisco Police Department, is the fast-driving, quick-talking, quicker-thinking cat who inspired Steve McQueen's character in Bullitt, Michael Douglas' in The Streets of San Francisco, and Clint Eastwood's in Dirty Harry. In Zodiac, Mark Ruffalo, rumpled, shaggy and suggesting Columbo more than screen star, plays Toschi, lead investigator of the murders claimed by the shadowy self-regarding figure who called himself the Zodiac. In the early '70s the serial killer held the Bay Area in his grip of fear.

Dinner was finished, and the summer night air settled over the lawn like a calm sea. "Life is not about the laundry," philosophized Gail Foster, one of the zodiac Cancers celebrating their midsummer births on the lawn of Christopher D'Amanda's converted farmhouse in Chestnut Hill. Fireflies punctuated her Champagne toast. Four of the 15 attending the informal birthday party were born in July, under the sign of the crab. As Cancers, they are said to be sensitive, moody, protective and emotional.

Have you ever wondered why your dog treats your neighbor like its master and treats you like the dogcatcher? It could be that your sun signs aren't compatible. Lorraine Liquori, a Philadelphia pet psychic and astrologist, said animals are governed by the zodiac just like people. "In my opinion, the zodiac also has an effect on animals because they have minds," she said. "The ocean governs the tide and gives off vibrations to this earth - well, the animals are on this earth, too. " Liquori believes knowing the animal's zodiac can be beneficial when choosing a pet. "Taurus people love to travel, so it is important for them to have small pets that can be transported easily," she said.

'Biodynamic" has become one of the great watchwords in naturalistic winemaking - especially in France, where this holistic precursor to organic agriculture is well-ensconced. Inspired by early 20th century Austrian philosopher Rudolph Steiner, biodynamic farming often raises skeptical eyebrows with its attention to the zodiac and lunar cycles, draft horses (instead of tractors), and cow horns buried with manure to activate the soil. But it's hard to argue with the success of great French winemakers like Nicholas Joly, Domaine Leroy, and Chapoutier's Hermitage.

Sly Stallone's mother, Jacqueline, has claimed she once taught astrology at Haverford College. Well, she may have taught astrology somewhere, but Haverford College folks say it certainly wasn't there. "As far as we can tell," a spokeswoman said, "astrology has never been taught at Haverford. " This makes sense. A course in the Zodiac at the prestigious Quaker college is about as likely as George Bush getting an honorary degree at the University of Baghdad. BETTER TO IGNORE HIM NO DICE The Spectrum will be picketed tonight by about 40 people protesting Andrew Dice Clay's "abusive humor toward women.

Editor's note: Our new dining feature, "My dinner with . . . " takes us each week to the favorite restaurant of an interesting person from our town and beyond. They were tough times, those years before Meredith Rainey discovered Vietnam restaurant. These were days without those spring rolls and plum sauce concoction. Hours spent without the curative benefits of thick black coffee laced with even thicker milk. Weeks without seeing rice vermicelli worth its salt. Finally, a friend took Rainey, a Pennsylvania Ballet dancer, to try this great place on 11th Street.

Even cynics who avoid lotteries, horoscopes, tarot readings, numerology and dream decoding may be intrigued by what's coming on Thursday - especially if they're turning 60. Thursday marks Chinese New Year, with the lunar calendar ushering in 4705, the Year of the Rat - creating kismet for those baby boomers born between Feb. 6, 1948 and Jan. 26, 1949 (including myself). Here's the deal: The Chinese/Tibetan zodiac is marked with 12 animal signs (dog, goat, pig, etc.) and overlaid with five elements (metal, water, wood, fire and earth)

Services were planned today for Morris Yuter, a theatrical press agent who brushed elbows for decades with such performing greats as Julie Harris, Helen Hayes, Rex Harrison and Richard Burton. Yuter, 66, died Saturday at Misericordia Hospital after a long battle with lung cancer. He had traveled with such major productions as "Annie," "A Chorus Line," "Fiddler on the Roof" and "42nd Street," said his friend, publicist Sam Bushman. "The first show he ever went out on (was because)

  IN OUR Viagra/Botox world, there may be nothing so subversive as the message in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button": what a drag it is getting younger. The movie stars Golden Globe-nominated Brad Pitt as a fellow who ages backward - born an old man in an old folks home in turn of the century Louisiana, growing younger and stronger as he embarks on a picturesque odyssey comprising continents, war and love. Director David Fincher tells this imaginative story with uncharacteristic warmth (unless you thought "Zodiac" and "Fight Club" were warm)

Many people were astonished, amused, even outraged, by Nancy Reagan's astrological doings and their alleged effect on presidential events. But on the stately Main Line there breathes a successful businesswoman who understands the first lady's stargazing passions and empathizes with her. "I know how she felt. People don't take this seriously, they think you're insane or something," said Suky Rosan, adding that her deep belief in astrology has helped her make a fortune in the bridal business.

'Biodynamic" has become one of the great watchwords in naturalistic winemaking - especially in France, where this holistic precursor to organic agriculture is well-ensconced. Inspired by early 20th century Austrian philosopher Rudolph Steiner, biodynamic farming often raises skeptical eyebrows with its attention to the zodiac and lunar cycles, draft horses (instead of tractors), and cow horns buried with manure to activate the soil. But it's hard to argue with the success of great French winemakers like Nicholas Joly, Domaine Leroy, and Chapoutier's Hermitage.

  IN OUR Viagra/Botox world, there may be nothing so subversive as the message in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button": what a drag it is getting younger. The movie stars Golden Globe-nominated Brad Pitt as a fellow who ages backward - born an old man in an old folks home in turn of the century Louisiana, growing younger and stronger as he embarks on a picturesque odyssey comprising continents, war and love. Director David Fincher tells this imaginative story with uncharacteristic warmth (unless you thought "Zodiac" and "Fight Club" were warm)

Even cynics who avoid lotteries, horoscopes, tarot readings, numerology and dream decoding may be intrigued by what's coming on Thursday - especially if they're turning 60. Thursday marks Chinese New Year, with the lunar calendar ushering in 4705, the Year of the Rat - creating kismet for those baby boomers born between Feb. 6, 1948 and Jan. 26, 1949 (including myself). Here's the deal: The Chinese/Tibetan zodiac is marked with 12 animal signs (dog, goat, pig, etc.) and overlaid with five elements (metal, water, wood, fire and earth)

David Toschi, movie star of the San Francisco Police Department, is the fast-driving, quick-talking, quicker-thinking cat who inspired Steve McQueen's character in Bullitt, Michael Douglas' in The Streets of San Francisco, and Clint Eastwood's in Dirty Harry. In Zodiac, Mark Ruffalo, rumpled, shaggy and suggesting Columbo more than screen star, plays Toschi, lead investigator of the murders claimed by the shadowy self-regarding figure who called himself the Zodiac. In the early '70s the serial killer held the Bay Area in his grip of fear.

Debutantes and celebrities went to Suky Rosan to be outfitted for their weddings, and for good reason: "I believe you make big days out of the big days," the owner of one of the Main Line's most exclusive bridal salons once said. "That's what separates us from the animals. " Ms. Rosan, 85, died Thursday at her Haverford home. For more than 30 years, the former model and fashion commentator matched brides such as Allen Iverson's wife, Tawanna, and WCAU-TV (Channel 10) news anchor Renee Chenault-Fattah with the perfect gown.

Have you ever wondered why your dog treats your neighbor like its master and treats you like the dogcatcher? It could be that your sun signs aren't compatible. Lorraine Liquori, a Philadelphia pet psychic and astrologist, said animals are governed by the zodiac just like people. "In my opinion, the zodiac also has an effect on animals because they have minds," she said. "The ocean governs the tide and gives off vibrations to this earth - well, the animals are on this earth, too. " Liquori believes knowing the animal's zodiac can be beneficial when choosing a pet. "Taurus people love to travel, so it is important for them to have small pets that can be transported easily," she said.

Editor's note: Our new dining feature, "My dinner with . . . " takes us each week to the favorite restaurant of an interesting person from our town and beyond. They were tough times, those years before Meredith Rainey discovered Vietnam restaurant. These were days without those spring rolls and plum sauce concoction. Hours spent without the curative benefits of thick black coffee laced with even thicker milk. Weeks without seeing rice vermicelli worth its salt. Finally, a friend took Rainey, a Pennsylvania Ballet dancer, to try this great place on 11th Street.

Dinner was finished, and the summer night air settled over the lawn like a calm sea. "Life is not about the laundry," philosophized Gail Foster, one of the zodiac Cancers celebrating their midsummer births on the lawn of Christopher D'Amanda's converted farmhouse in Chestnut Hill. Fireflies punctuated her Champagne toast. Four of the 15 attending the informal birthday party were born in July, under the sign of the crab. As Cancers, they are said to be sensitive, moody, protective and emotional.

Services were planned today for Morris Yuter, a theatrical press agent who brushed elbows for decades with such performing greats as Julie Harris, Helen Hayes, Rex Harrison and Richard Burton. Yuter, 66, died Saturday at Misericordia Hospital after a long battle with lung cancer. He had traveled with such major productions as "Annie," "A Chorus Line," "Fiddler on the Roof" and "42nd Street," said his friend, publicist Sam Bushman. "The first show he ever went out on (was because)

Lt. Kim Haus, an Army nurse from Mechanicsburg, Pa., was feeling a little homesick last Christmas. She was on duty in Saudi Arabia. And when she sat down to her Christmas dinner, it wasn't the colorful red and green "Seasons Greetings" message on the paper placemat that cheered her up. She had to look a little closer. The fine print in the bottom right-hand corner came in loud and clear. It read: "Royal, Coatesville, Pa. " "She said she felt like she was back home," said Alan Milberg, vice president of Royal Paper Products Inc. Haus wrote a letter to Royal on the back of the placemat.