April 26, 1998

Talent agents accept handholding, ego boosting and regular crises as part of job; many young agents put in endless hours, feeding on thrill of being insider in high-profile industry with cultural impact that can be global; new generation of agents is bringing its own tastes and styles to business that is largely dominated by older attitudes; some clients of young agents appreciate being able to make generational connection; photos (L)

Residents of Winston-Salem, NC, city closely identified with tobacco industry, have become somewhat defensive with cigarettes under relentless attack; just as there has been profound shift in politics of tobacco in Washington, so has there been marked change in civic culture of Winston-Salem, hometown of R J Reynolds Tobacco Co; smoking not long ago conveyed sophistication, even glamour, and Winston-Salem's sense of itself benefited from its association with tobacco; city feels understandably defensive now that tobacco is under relentless attack as health hazard, with Reynolds at center of accusations about youth marketing and suppression of unfavorable research; photo (M)

Success of Miami Heat pressure on New York Knickerbockers and team leader Allan Houston in first playoff game discussed; Knicks seen playing with watered-down sense of urgency; photos (M)

Edith Head, legendary costume designer, is remembered at celebrity benefit on what would have been her 100th birthday; photos; actresses of several generations and playwright Wendy Wasserstein are among those paying tribute to her talent; controversies that swirled around Head also recalled in light of recent Vanity Fair article suggesting her talent for self-promotion outstripped her design skill (M)

Hudson Loft Associates LLC is converting former printing plant on West 13th Street, New York City, into 47 loft condominiums; photo (S)