Men & women in uniform

Happy Memorial Day weekend! I'll be trying to figure out how to have a great grill-out using only fruits and veggies and hanging out in the garden. I give you a few magazine covers celebrating the armed forces as well as a couple of films I'll be watching this weekend.

The New Yorker August 1943. Cover by Constantin Alajalov

A 4th of July 1943 cover by Constantin Alajalov that is also perfect for Memorial Day

The New Yorker Feb 1943 | Cover by Constantin Alajalov

Lilliput Magazine cover by Walter Trier, July 1942

A lot of of war movies playing this weekend on tv, and there are many excellent ones. I have a personal affinity to World War II films. "From Here to Eternity is one of the best.

This has to be my favorite World War II film. William Wyler's beautiful 1946 drama of soldiers returning home after the war to try and pick up their lives. Playing tonight at 10:30pm EST or 7:30 PST on Turner Classic Movies' Memorial Day Marathon. &… — This has to be my favorite World War II film. William Wyler's beautiful 1946 drama of soldiers returning home after the war to try and pick up their lives. Playing tonight at 10:30pm EST or 7:30 PST on Turner Classic Movies' Memorial Day Marathon. Don't miss it!

Charles E. Martin

While I'm still on my New Yorker archive obsession, here are some of my favorites by Charles E. Martin, who began his 50 years of covers for the magazine in 1938.

Charles E. Martin | New Yorker Feb 28, 1953

Charles E. Martin | The Guggenheim, New Yorker Jan 24, 1970

Charles E. Martin | New Yorker Dec 6, 1941

Charles E. Martin | New Yorker August 4, 1951

Charles E. Martin | New Yorker September 8, 1962

William Steig

I recently subscribed to The New Yorker online so that I could become dangerously addicted to their massive archive of past issues. Here are a few of my favorite covers by Steig, who created thousands of covers and cartoons for the magazine beginning in 1930. Plus... a book I found on Etsy! There's a wonderful postscript to his life here.