Stillman also made “Last Days of Disco,” the story of young New Yorkers and a disco club in the early 1980s. Despite its awful title, this latter film also is a fine look at a society in transition.

Slowin’ It Down

Someone — an advertiser, a parent, a friend — is always telling us to relax, but we rarely do it. Summer or winter, we speed ahead, caught up in a rat race that is often of our own making. This summer, I finally decided to try spending an afternoon or so each week out on the roof/porch of my apartment, sitting in a lounge chair and reading a thick book. The book will probably take all summer to read only because I keep falling asleep. Going out on that porch is like taking a mini-vacation now, but without all the hassles.

Songs You Know By Heart

Jimmy Buffett isn’t the musician I’d want to hear in January, but in July who could be better? This particular album contains his greatest hits: “A Pirate Looks at Forty,” “He Went to Paris,” “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” and more. Break out your blenders and take some time in July to visit Margaritaville.

Downtown shopping

If you’re a local, set aside one of these July Saturdays and head to the downtown nearest you, especially if you haven’t visited in a while. Waynesville, Sylva, Asheville, and other towns now offer a variety of shops, restaurants, and entertainment that draw many tourists to our area. No need for the rest of us to miss out on the fun. Check out the Events pages of this paper for more information.

— By Jeff Minick