Vegas Welcomes a New Miracle

Say good-bye to The Shops in Desert Passage in Las Vegas. Starting tomorrow, you can say hello to the Miracle Mile Shops. So why the name change? According to a press release from the center, the new name was chosen in part to promote the 1.2 miles of retail space the mall covers, and is designed to signal the center’s transformation to a sleeker, more urbanized and contemporary space.

The multi-million dollar makeover focuses on de-theming the original design for its transition into a more streamlined, contemporary look.  The renovation aims to create synergy with the more than $1 billion renovation and re-branding of the Aladdin Resort & Casino into the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.

The Miracle Mile name is also meant to reflect the abundance of new, brand name and internationally recognized retailers that have acquired retail space inside the center. Miracle Mile Shops has already welcomed Urban Outfitters, Ben Sherman, Quiksilver, a Steve Wyrick Entertainment Complex and the “churrasco”-style Brazilian restaurant, Pampas Churrascaria.  Miracle Mile Shops will soon also be home to H&M, Marciano, Trader Vic’s restaurant, Taverna Opa and Hawaiian Tropic Zone.

Architectural firms Gensler and the Friedmutter Group, in conjunction with Studio B Design, are the creative teams that will continue to transition Miracle Mile Shops through its image revamping project and are responsible for the center’s new name, logo, re-branding efforts and creative materials.

Enhancements currently underway include new, brighter interior lighting, streamlined and modernized storefronts and kiosks, and a completely de-themed interior.

Renovations to the center’s exterior include adding people movers for better access into the shops, a backlit sidewalk water feature and state-of-the-art LED video offering continuous streaming imagery. Additionally, many of the mall's entrances and existing retail locations have already been made over with floor-to-ceiling glass vestibule doors and storefronts. A new patio and terrace is also being built to extend out to the sidewalk and invite potential customers inside.

Miracle Mile Shops’ exterior renovations are expected to be completed by June. Miracle Mile Shops’ interior renovations will continue to be completed in phases through 2007 and 2008. So next time you hit up Vegas, you may want to stop by the Miracle Mile Shops and see the transformation for yourself. If you do make a visit, tell the Retail Design Diva all about it...she's dying to know!

--Jessie Bove

What the Heck's a Barista?

In the pre-Starbucks days--my god, was there ever such a time?!--the word barista meant absolutely nothing to the average American consumer. Turns out it still doesn't, at least to the mass majority.

A recent online survey conducted by Krups, the coffee experts and sponsors of the upcoming 2007 United States Barista Championship--yes, it's a real thing that really happens in the real world we live in...really--revealed some interesting results. A national sample of 2,000 Americans were asked, "What is a Barista?" To Starbucks' credit, about 1/3 of respndents did indeed know that a barista is the person who prepares and serves that cup of joe every morning.

As for the rest of the country:

    * 11 percent reported it was a lawyer from England
    * 7 percent thought it was someone who prepares alcoholic beverages
    * 6 percent said it was a fashionable garment
    * 1 percent reported that it was a person who loves burritos
    * 41 percent said they did not know

Burrito lovers...really? Yikes.

--Alison Embrey Medina

Get Your Blacklights and Whoopee Cushions Here!

This is why I love Spencer's. The store at the mall I've only frequented since high school to find halloween wigs and bachelorette party supplies, Spencer Gifts is a place I can spend the better part of an hour rummaging through the masses of "stuff" for sale. For example, there's the Peekaboo Pole Dancing To-Go kit, which includes an instructional DVD, "sexy" garter, 100 "Peekaboo Dance Dollars" and the amazing, expandable chrome-plated dance pole--only $79.99, what a deal! There's the Coors Light String Lights, which of course add a little class to any soiree. And let's not forget about the ever-lovable Humphrey the Humping Dog--ooooooooooooh! This is the best store ever, and the only retailer at the mall who can get away with the product it sells.

The retailer is celebrating the opening of its 100th store bearing its new design (created by JGA in 2004) at Flag Staff mall in Flag Staff, Ariz.

"Our new store design has enabled us to streamline processes and lower construction capital and operating costs," states Steven Silverstein, president and CEO. "We have experienced a significant improvement in the overall construction timeline and process, literally shaving off days from our previous timeline. Operating costs have experienced significant improvements as a result of switching to energy efficient lighting and HVAC units. In addition to the immediate savings in time and money this new design allows for future savings as well by allowing for cost effective and timely future retro-fits."

Spencer's plans to convert another 40-60 stores from its existing store base per year to this new design, in addition to adding new locations to its portfolio. What does that mean for us? More beer goggles, lava lamps and fart machines to go around. Hooray!

--Alison Embrey Medina

A Gehry Surprise

I was dining in this restaurant in New York’s West Chelsea neighborhood with several friends, and when I left the restaurant, there was this amazing architectural vision. Rising above the evening mists, about two blocks away, was a brand new building that was a glowing marvel of planes of glass, all slanted at sexy, intriguing angles. My friends and I walked over to inspect the site, located near the West Side Highway, which was still under construction at the time [this was back in December]. We fell in love with the structure, which was totally unlike any other building in the city. Now, that building has been completed and unveiled. It is the work of celebrated architect Frank Gehry, and it is the global headquarters for Barry Diller’s IAC/InterActiveCorp, and empire that includes Ticketmaster, television shopping network HSN and many other enterprises. The $100 million, 10-story glass tower brightens up an otherwise undistinguished district of warehouses and industrial buildings. Gehry used a clear, low-iron glass for the building, that removes any cast of green, and the results look quite unlike any other glass towers. At night, the building is glowingly transparent, and the diagonal walls lend a sort of "otherworldly" aura to the structure. For this, his first project in New York City, the architect has chosen to make a sophisticated, more subdued statement--very unlike his projects in L.A. and Bilbao. The design works, and it brings a whole new voice to Gehry’s vocabulary.

--RoxAnna Sway

Photo: Albert Vecerka/ESTO Photographics

Reusability Saves Goat

Cookie is a pregnant goat. And apparently, she is also a great, inspirational Earth Day story, according to a press release sharing the same title as this blog. Here's how the story goes: Cookie suffered a severe fracture to one of her rear legs. (No information details how she sustained this injury, but from what I know about goats at the petting zoo, they can be very persistant when in pursuit of something they really want--like your wallet, purse or something else completely inedible.) After finding out that Cookie busted her leg, Mary Jane Martinez--a farmer from the Missouri Ozarks--fashioned a cast/splint from a bottle of Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day All-Purpose Cleaner.

At first, I thought this was a pretty dumb move...trading off a broken leg for some toxic contamination. But after reading more, I realized that the Mrs. Meyer's products are designed to be earth-friendly, biodegradable and cruelty-free household cleaners containing plants found in the real Mrs. Meyer's Iowa garden.

So not only are the cleaning products okay for the environment, but they're good make-shift casts. After eight weeks of wearing the bottle cast, the goat's leg healed just in time for her kid's arrival. What a heart-warming, and strange, Earth Day tale.

--Jessie Bove

A Penneys for Your Thoughts

J.C. Penney Co. is a stodgy, family-oriented department store--right? Wrong. Diva says take another look. What used to be a laggard in the department store sector is now a leader. While there is no argument that the retailer still has a network of some older, out-of-date stores that need major renovation, its newer stores are fresh and appealing. And the merchandise content, in many instances, is close to being as good as some more upscale competitors, including Macy’s. Penneys has brought in Sephora to make its cosmetics and fragrance statement exciting and a host of fashion designers to brighten up apparel offerings. There’s even a deal underway with Polo Ralph Lauren. The company has a lot going for it these days, in its coast-to-coast stores. It has everything, it seems, except a store in New York.

But that’s on the way to being remedied. Last year, Penneys launched a virtual store--sometimes these are called pop-up stores--in New York’s Times Square. This was their second effort at pop-ups in the Big Apple [an earlier effort was a home furnishings store at Rockefeller Center]. The virtual store had merchandise displays and kiosks for online shopping, but no goods to be purchased on-site. It caused a lot of media hoopla, and helped introduce the brand to the city.

Now Penneys has announced that it is bringing a 150,000-sq.-ft. unit to Manhattan, to open in late 2008. The store is plunking down in Macy’s home territory, only a spitting distance [about a block] from Macy’s Herald Square, the biggest Macy’s installation in the country and a long-time New York landmark. [Of course, some of you may recall the hard times that another department store, A&S, experienced in the Manhattan Mall in the past. It is not an easy neighborhood in which to do business.] Additionally, Penneys plans to open 250 new units in the next five years, across the country.

Diva says: is this a brilliant real estate move--or could this be J.C. Penney CEO Myron Ulman’s revenge? [He used to work across the street at Macy’s earlier in his career.] Whatever the case, an interesting battle may ensue between the two retailers. Diva hopes that Penneys will do well, and that a bright new Penneys store will be an incentive for Macy’s to undertake a major renovation of it’s dowdy, neglected Herald Square unit--which is long overdue.

In any event, if you haven’t shopped a Penneys lately, take another look. You might be pleasantly surprised. Diva was, and Diva is a very picky shopper.

--Diva

Photo: The J.C. Penney store that opened in Flower Mound, Texas, March 2007.

Honor Thy Mother

For those of you who might want to start thinking about Mother's Day (May 13), it's less than a month away--so whatever you do, go ahead and mark your calendars right this second.

Of course, this day marks another opportunity for retailers to convert sentimental feelings into dollars. In a study conducted by Brand Keys Inc., a New York City-based brand and customer loyalty research consultancy, 1,000 men and women, 18-65 years of age, were polled about how they were planning to celebrate Mother's Day. Given that almost nine out of 10 consumers (89 percent) plan to celebrate Mother's Day, the study reveals that 90 percent of those polled intend to buy a card. Behind the card are plans to purchase flowers, a brunch/lunch/dinner or gift cards--in that order. Less than 50 percent (the bottom half) plan to either buy clothing, books, jewelry, electronics, spa treatments or candy--in that order. Who would have thought 10 years ago that candy would fall below electronics for this occasion? 

However, the most beneficial information for retailers in the study is where consumers are shopping for Mother's Day gifts:

Specialty Stores  39%
Department Stores 28%
On-line Stores 14%
Catalog 10%
Discount Stores 9%

In my mind, this is one holiday where it is truly the thought that counts, and most mothers appreciate a personal visit (if possible) or a phone call. Brand Keys' study found that 52 percent of participants will telephone their moms, while 30 percent will pay her a personal visit, 12 percent will send her a card as primary means of communication and 6 percent will reach out online (eek!).

However you choose to celebrate motherhood, make it special--because we couldn't live without them!

--Rachel Brown

A Parisian Drive-By

This month, the Boulevard Saint-Germain in Paris will be transformed into a sort of "drive-by" movie theater--no worries it's not that kind of "drive-by" silly. Gabriel Winer and Dana Karwas of New York-based WIKA have designed WA--a site-specific video installation created for Knoll International France as part of an event to promote a new line of Knoll furniture designed by Piero Lissoni and Mark Krusin.

The installation, made of large-scale architectural projections, turns the existing 17th-century façade into a drive-by cinema and pedestrian spectacle. Playing with a two-screen format, the movie re-imagines the story of the company’s founders (Hans Knoll and Florence Schust), how they discovered a minimalist approach to design and came together to create Knoll.

The two videos are synchronized to play with, and against, each other, or as a single vertical image--creating a dialogue between the on-screen characters, the architecture of the building, the street and the viewers. State-of-the-art projection material is used to implant the images onto the skin of the building and live editing software remixes certain scenes, creating a fresh version of the movie each time it plays. Cool! 

Oh, and in case you were wondering, WIKA's current work includes media installations, interactive spaces and events, as well as commercials, music videos and films. Previous works include a scandalous street projection for the Malin and Goetz flagship store, an installation that remixes Italian films for Bar Veloce, an interactive dance performance for the AIA Center for Architecture, a media mirror for Felissimo Townhouse, and a short film for Archi-Tectonics about a building from outer space.

--Jessie Bove

Making Waves on Fifth Avenue

Lord & Taylor's New York flagship store on Fifth Avenue hopes to make a splash with its summer windows on display through May 4. Lord & Taylor Makes Waves are the Fifth Avenue store's summer 2007 windows that celebrate the Georgia Aquarium--where its current catalog was shot earlier this year. A selection of swimsuits, sportswear and dresses are showcased among footage of the deep-sea life found in the Aquarium's vast galleries. According to a press release, "myriad marine species will be displayed in a seamless video wall, while high in the arch above the main doors, a giant LED screen will show images captured at the Aquarium." To further enhance the deep-sea atmosphere, Bluworld's "WaterWall" will create a mysterious underwater effect on the windows flanking the entrance of the store.

The state-of-the art Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta--the world's largest--is made up of five distinct galleries depicting different habitats ranging from Arctic to Tropical. These five galleries feature more than 100,000 animals of 500 different species in more than 8 million gallons of water.

This isn't the retailer's first foray into interesting exhibits. Past Lord & Taylor Fifth Avenue window exhibits include sculptures by Chakaia Booker and Manolo Valdes and the paintings of Red Grooms, Thiery Despont, Richard Estes and Larry Rivers, as well as those of Gu Gan, Guo Jin, Liu Kuo-sung and Yang Yangping. Lord & Taylor has also showcased the photographs of Gideon Lewin and Roberto Dutesco, as well as D. A. Pennebaker's short film, Daybreak Express, shown together with Andrew Garn's historical photographs from the New York Transit Museum.

How the Georgia Aquarium window displays fit into Lord & Taylor's overall rebranding scheme, I'm not quite sure. But one thing is for sure...Lord & Taylor needs to continue bringing out the big guns to get back to the top of their game.

--Jessie Bove

Bad Boys and Hos

I’m scratching my head wondering how all us women got to be called hos in the first place. The women’s lib movement of the '70s certainly would not have put up with that, but many women today seem to think it is perfectly fine to be called a ho. The image of bad boys, gang bangers and their hos--sometimes they are called b_ _ _ _ _ _  instead of hos, [though I am not exactly clear about the distinction between the two]--no doubt, owes its origins to Hip Hop and Rap music, and is an image carefully cultivated by that genre’s musicians and the entertainment community at large. Starting more than two decades ago, it suddenly became hip, trendy and “fly” to be bad; and bad connotations, verbal expressions and modes of dress infiltrated the culture. The exact words sometimes are undecipherable between bars of angry, rap music, but slowly more and more of the patois of certain criminal elements has filtered into mainstream American popular culture. The TV show Saturday Night Live celebrated the cause and perpetuated these symptoms from early on, as did others, especially comedians.

Before long, many American women--black and white--were dressing like hos. [The fashion industry on occasion has referred to this as “slut-wear”]. Certainly, over the past few years, we have seem more and more bare skin and overt sexuality, thanks to hip-rider bottoms; low-cut tops that leave little to the imagination; and skin-tight everything. And it’s not just in clubs; it is also in the work place and at the mall.

Imus’ remark--calling female basketball players hos [you know all about it already, I am sure, so I won’t go into detail], was totally unacceptable--period. No excuses. My intent is not to further the debate about what he did or whether or not he got his due.

But, I think we all need to take a good look around us. Have Victoria’s Secret window displays and Abercrombie & Fitch’s catalogs contributed to this? Have photographs in fashion magazines showing women, partially undressed, imitating the throes of sexual passion, selling handbags and footwear and perfume, contributed to this? One could argue that all these sources  [and more] have been a factor in propagating a culture where women are reduced to mere sex objects--to little more than hos. Maybe it’s time for us all to clean up our act and to begin, once more, to treat all women with respect. 

--Diva

No Satisfaction

The Rolling Stones' song, Satisfaction, may be the perfect way to describe how female baby boomers feel about the lack of desirable apparel selection at retail. If you look at the latest store closings and/or lackluster earnings from brands including Gap (Forth & Towne), Gymboree (Janeville) and even Chico's--the retailer once considered the go-to for baby boomers--it is evident that indeed, something is amiss.

In a recent article from AP, WSL Strategic Retail's Candace Corlett said, "The bodies may change but the spirit is a lot slower to change. When you move into your 50s, you don't become less trendy. You may adjust because you have a different body, but it doesn't mean you abandon the looks you love."

Many female baby boomers are not being served at retail, and that has been evident for years. The emphasis on runway fashions and fast-fashion--while appealing to the younger generations--does not usually cross over to "baby boomer" retail. The AP article also states that "women ages 35 to 54 spent $32.3 billion in the 12 months ended February, according to NPD Group Inc., which was up only 0.6 percent compared to a year ago--the weakest gain in five years."

While other retailers less likely to cater to female boomers are actually making an attempt, such as Lowe's and Best Buy, it's about time that the retailers geared toward this consumer group get it right!

--Rachel Brown

A Curfew...at the Mall?!

Here's a new one. At least 40 malls out of the 1,100 in the United States have put teen curfew and escort policies into effect. That means 16-year-old Tommy now has to have Mommy with him to hit up American Eagle on a Friday night. Bummer. And big bummer for teen-targeted retailers (and foodcourt operators, at that) who are in any one of those curfew-happy malls.

For some of these malls, the curfews start as early as 3 p.m. on Friday and Saturdays, which means no more after-school shopping for the big weekend out. Teens who are not escorted by an adult are asked for identification by security manning the entrances, and if they can't prove they're old enough to be alone or that they're with an adult, their parents are called to pick them up. If the kids refuse to cooperate, police could be called. Not because they were sneaking in to an R-rated movie....but simply because they wanted to buy some socks.

"These policies are not places saying they don't want teens to shop in their centers. They're saying: 'Bring a parent to shop with you,'" said International Council of Shopping Centers spokeswoman Patrice Duker.

I don't know that I agree. Those shunned teens, in few short years, will be that mall's target shopper. Why tarnish that shopper-mall loyalty at the time when it's prime to be fostered? Get them hooked while you can!

--Alison Embrey Medina

How Green Gasoline Is Creating a Corn Crisis

Most everyone thinks that ethanol and biodiesel fuels--made from plant-based energy products derived from corn, palm oil, sugar and other plant crops--are a good thing. After all, oil-based gasoline prices are through the roof, and plant-based fuels seem more natural and “green.” But who knew that eco-friendly, alternative energy for cars would result in higher food prices--worldwide?

While we have all been frustrated with the rising cost of gasoline, rising demand for crops that go into these new fuels are now driving up food prices, and some financial experts say that inflation may soon be on the rise as a result. The explosion of interest in buying corn for conversion to fuel has made it all but impossible for Mexican housewives to afford corn for their tortillas and tacos. According to one source, the price of corn in Mexico has tripled. The same is true in India and in many other developing countries. Effects are already being felt in Europe and are headed for the United States as well.

The price for corn in world markets has doubled in the past year, rising from $2 a bushel to $4 a bushel. Ethanol producers bought 2.2 billion bushels of corn in 2006, which was 34 percent more than in 2005. It is estimated that ethanol production currently absorbs 26 percent of the total annual corn crop and will account for 36 percent of the crop by 2008. Farmers are hustling to bring more fields under cultivation, but the run on corn has also, interestingly enough, caused land and equipment prices to rise (John Deere currently has a shortage of combines, machines used to harvest crops). Corn is a key ingredient of animal feed, and beef, pork and chicken prices are also affected. Experts say it will be years into the future before the demand for corn can be accommodated.

According to an article in Fortune, Campbell Soup, Hormel Foods, Smuckers and Tyson are all warning of higher food prices in the pipeline, in many cases due to rising costs for high-fructose corn syrup, which is used in numerous food products, including soft drinks, canned and packaged foods, juices, desserts and candy,

While Americans may be able to cope with the impact of these rising prices in their garages and homes, this is bringing a potentially catastrophic economic impact to cultures in Mexico, India and other poorer countries where corn is truly the staff of life. For thousands of years in these locales, corn has enabled a low-cost, nutritious diet that is life sustaining and affordable. People in these countries do not have other, cheaper food alternatives to turn to. Corn is already at the bottom of the food affordability index for millions of people around the globe.

Americans see plant-based fuels as a good thing--something to feel positive about and a source of great P.R. for green initiatives. Perhaps it is a sign of the complexity and of the interrelated nature of the global world today that unintended consequences--such as the tortilla crisis--were not factored into the equation.

--RoxAnna Sway

Bloody A&F

Notoriously successful apparel retailer Abercrombie & Fitch opened its first European store last month in London--and boy are the Brits unhappy. According to British tabloid newspaper the Evening Standard, the American retailer is selling its T-shirts, sweatshirts and casual wear with huge mark-ups. In fact, A&F is charging almost DOUBLE for merchandise in its Savile Row store, compared to prices in its U.S. stores. So why the steep labels? A&F claims the higher price tags reflect the increased cost of operating in the U.K. because of business rates, staff and property.

But if you ask me, the reason why Abercrombie is charging such high numbers is...drumroll please...because they can. The legendary retailer launched a massive marketing campaign before its European debut, and no doubt it created a lot of hype. What better to compliment that hype than ridiculous prices? Sure people were probably outraged, but I don't think that stopped too many teens from parting with their cash--especially since the wait in line for a fitting room was reportedly at the 45-minute mark.

And while it may not be the "nicest" move on A&F's part, it certainly is genius. Make people wait a while; create enough buzz; charge a small fortune; watch them empty their pockets. A&F has earned the right to charge whatever they want for a pair of worn shorts--consumers gave them this ability by buying their products over the years. They'd be stupid not to use it to their advantage, and we're stupid for falling for it...

--Jessie Bove

Getting Tough on Crime

Thanks to a new national initiative, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation has teamed up with the National Retail Federation (NRF) and the Retail Industry Leaders Association to create a national online database that will allow merchants to share information regarding organized retail theft.

Apparently, this type of crime (not including petty shoplifting) is costing the industry $30 billion annually. Currently, about 40 retailers are participating in the program and have a password-protected log in. However, while this "national platform" for sharing information on crime allows the participating retailer to remain anonymous. I thought the whole point was to have an open line of communication.

Another issue that is of concern is the format. Online databases can be infiltrated--just ask anyone who's been a victim of identity theft. And this brings to mind another point. Will the new system include reported crimes involving identity theft, where customer information has been lifted from retail transactions? It would make sense. While I'm playing devil's advocate here, I am in agreement with most that this is a step in the right direction.

--Rachel Brown

Coyote Ugly

Picture this: wily coyote checks out the cold case at Quiznos. The Downtown Quiznos in the Windy City played host to a coyote that wandered in off the street through an open door [blame that early spring weather] earlier this week. One employee said the burly beast seemed to be “just looking around,” reported the Houston Chronicle, and “it wasn’t aggressive at all.” Customers quickly left the store, and then there was this coyote, who decided to hunker down in the cold case, checking out the soda pop and just chillin’. The store staff stood guard to be sure he didn’t lumber out with a six-pack [oops, Quiznos doesn’t sell alcohol] without paying. So, if you’re a retailer, worried about store traffic, don’t grumble. You could be courtin’ coyotes. The coyote was rustled up and headed out by animal control--the city has about 15 coyote incidents a year, it says--and hopefully released into the wilds around Chicago. Blame it on global warming--maybe he came in to cool off from the local warm spell.

--Diva

Earth to Retail

 
Get ready everyone, as Earth Day is right around the corner. As the push for cleaner air and better use of resources is upon all individuals and businesses, April 22 is an opportune time to step up your initiative. Think of it as the "New Year" for eco-friendly behavior.

Many retailers and consumer product brands are beginning to go "green." The mass media seems to be very keen on airing information on green products and programs, spotlighting those companies that are going above and beyond. The message to customers is priceless. So, whether it's posting better in-store signage and literature on Energy Star products, or whether it's incorporating the recycling of plastic bags in your stores, doing something to promote the Earth's wellness is just the right thing to do, and it can't hurt business either.

--Rachel Brown

Teletubbies Experience In NYC

You know, no one is a bigger fan of pop-up retail then I am.  Long before it was hip & cool, I was running a company called Location Based Branding (lbbinc.com), where I worked with companies like the WWE, Sports Illustarted and Baywatch to help bring the power of the themed entertainment experience to corporate America.  I started the Northeast chapter of the Themed Entertainment Association (themeit.com) because I thought brands represented the next frontier for the creative folks who built theme parks.  So I get the whole idea of creating pop-up experiences and I really believe that they will continue to help brands of all kinds engage their audiences. But this one, I haven't really liked since I first heard about it.  Not because I don't think the Teletubbies could be the basis for a cool experience, but because I didn't think they had the right strategy behind it.  As I've written about before, Teletubbies just doesn't seem to have the cult status that other kids shows have (like SpongeBob) nor is it kitschy enough like the sing-along Sound of Music.  In fact, while I know that it's wildly popular with its toddler audience, most adults I know can't stand it.  Kinda' like Barney.  And I've thought that creating an experience for Teletubbies and aiming it at older folks just didn't seem to be right.  Kids love them, so why not creating a really engaging experience for toddlers and let the parents be there for their kids.  I've done children's theatre for years and I know you can create content for the kids that the adults will enjoy as well. But this space didn't seem to really look appealing for either audience.  It didn't seem to be a cool place for kids to play.  I didn't really see any activities for kids at all.  And, it didn't grab me as an adult either.  And yea, I know that I'm way old.  But I act a lot like a kid--just ask my wife. Now, I was there at 4:30 on a Thursday afternoon, but I didn't move people out of the way to take these pictures.  Outside of three staff people, there was only one other person there, although she did make a purchase.  I'll try to go back at least one more time to see if it picks up at all. And, I do have to comment on the location.  Sure, they probably had a good laugh thinking about it being in the West Village after Jerry Falwell complained about one of the Teletubbies being gay, but really, not the right location.  I think it's too much of an inside joke, a little too wink, wink.  I thought the space looked great and the staff was excellent.  I just think that they got too off target, trying to be all hip & cool.  They should've really had faith in their ability to attract their real audience.  I think it should've been on the West Side, where they have lots of kids just waiting to be entertained by the Teletubbies. If anyone else has been to the store, let me know your thoughts.  I'm especially interested in an opposing opinion, so please leave your comments.

--David Polinchock

Young Winos Unite!

APPARENTLY, wine is still not cool enough for kids to drink. And by "kids," I mean the 20-25 year old crowd--not under-age drinkers, you sicko--who, according to an international study, have a hard time overcoming wine's "complex image."

Scotch has a complex image. Rubix Cubes have a complex image. Wine, at least in this country, is pretty cut and dry if you ask me. Wine has seen such a boom, thanks to movies like "Sideways" and a bevy of travel shows on The Food Network, it's now considered a rite of sophistication to be able to tell a Pinot Noir from a Merlot. College kids now seek out $1 wine night at the local watering hole as commonly as quarter beer. Wine and cheese parties have become the new bridal shower, and a quick stroll through any Bed Bath and Beyond or Linens 'n Things will prove that wine now makes an absolutely acceptable kitchen décor theme. Like the effect the coffee boom had on decorating (cappucino and mocha are now colors, as well as drinks), what used to be called "Maroon" and "Burgundy" in the paint aisle are now termed "Fine Wine" and "Cabernet." You can't walk through a furniture store today without finding a selection of five to 10 versions of wine racks either (built for every room in the house!).

Wine is now much more acceptable in today's culture, to include the younger set, largely thanks to branding, improved marketing and changes in attitudes to wine.

The survey found that "20-25 year olds want to have a better understanding of wine, which they perceive as refined, cultivated and an aspirational part of growing up. Wine is associated with sophisticated enjoyment and even conferring health benefits." (Duh.)

Here are the survey's reasons for wine's "complex image:"

    Price: wine is perceived to be expensive (not at Costco, trust me!)

    Elitism: the wine culture and vocabulary exclude young adults (unless you've watched even one episode of any of Rachael Ray's 47 shows--which most in this age group have)

    Difficult choices: lack of understanding of the many different wines and wine styles (if you narrow them down by price, which I assure you this age sect is doing, the selection is a lot less intimidating)

    Plethora of choices: bewildering ranges and confusing labels (I choose wine the same way I choose books...best cover wins)

Length of time: perseverance required to learn how to appreciate wine (one sip with a good piece of meat is all the appreciation you need)

Whether you get your wine from the $50-a-bottle import shop, or in a box at Target, the moral of the story is simple. Wine is here, and it's here to stay--for all generations.

--Alison Embrey Medina

Step Up to the Plate, Carefully

In a world where spinach and peanut butter--once considered healthy additions to your diet--have recently come under fire due to potentially fatal contamination (ie., E. coli and salmonella), it's no wonder our own beloved pets aren't safe either.

In the scary world of food production, these days, when things go bad, they really go bad. On March 17, Menu Foods (notice the  initial lack of information on home page when accessing this site) announced a nationwide recall of more than 90 brands of moist pet food as a result of rat poison contamination, declaring that its dry food was still safe. The result of the contamination: kidney failure in cats and dogs, which ended in the sickness and in some cases--deaths--of hundreds (maybe thousands) of pets.

So, where are the answers, and why haven't retailers jerked every last one of Menu Foods-manufactured pet food off the shelves until they get them? In this day and age, pets are part of the family and in many cases, considered four-legged children. If baby food had a recall, can you imagine keeping any food from that manufacturer in stock without an answer as to how it happened and what was being done about it?

Obviously, the costs are too high for Menu Foods to request such a proposal. (And who knew one manufacturer was responsible for that much pet food, with brands ranging from Wal-Mart's lower end Ol'Roy to the higher end Eukanuba from Proctor & Gamble. Menu Foods said it makes pet foods for 17 of the top 20 North American retailers. It is also a contract manufacturer for the top branded pet food companies, including Procter & Gamble Co.) But for the food brands and retailers not to step up and take action, well, I am surprised. The problem is said to have originated from Menu Food's new gluten supplier, which is where the poison was allegedly traced to. However, in a statement to CNN, "At this juncture, we're not 100 percent sure what's happened," said Paul Henderson, Menu Foods' president and CEO. In opposition, "The ASPCA Animal Control Center in Urbana, Ill., said clinical signs in cats affected by the contaminated foods were not fully consistent with the ingestion of rat poison containing aminopterin, a chemical which Menu Foods says is at the root of the contamination." Even the FDA has been avoiding calls, with allegations that it never inspected some of the tainted plants, even after pets began dying. In short, no one has figured it out.

My question is: when will the next recall be announced--before or after our pets have suffered the consequences? I hope those involved are held responsible for this atrocity. Brands and retailers play a key role in directing higher standards and until someone steps up to the plate, maybe its safer to feed your pets homecooked meals.

--Rachel Brown

Photo: Lucie, my hound mix, enjoys a good nap, several times a day. And fortunately eats a brand of holistic dog food.