Pennington is partnering with Canadian designer Janette Ewen in the new GTA-based series Inside the Box with Ty Pennington, premiering Sept. 7 at 8:30 p.m. on W Network. The show puts “armchair designers,” who may be friends, relatives, neighbours or colleagues, in a decorating duel to create a themed room in each of their houses on a two-day deadline. To add to the challenge, the decorators must use everything “inside the box” — a collection of creative finds assembled by Pennington to help push their design imaginations.

In the first episode, best friends face off in a family room makeover, with boxes including a tea set, a pair of underwear and yards of white chain. Pennington’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition will appear on HGTV, Saturdays at noon, beginning Sept. 11.

Also new on the W Network this fall is Canadian series Grin and Build It, premiering Sept. 9 at 10 p.m., which blends the home renovation concept with marriage counselling. Couples with overdue projects are pushed out of their comfort zones — and taught how to wield a drill — as contractor Jonathan Giacomelli and host and designer Heather Smillie help them tackle both their DIY skills and their traditional responsibilities within the relationship.

On the renovation front, Tough as Nails, premiering Oct. 7 at 9:30 p.m. on HGTV, follows the multitasking Cindy Stumpo, a single mother of two managing a multi-million dollar construction and development company.

For anyone who ever wondered whether family can play nice with high style, husband and wife design team Cortney and Bob Novogratz share their secrets on 9 By Design, which premiered Aug. 31, at 9 p.m. on W Network. The couple runs firm Sixx Design while buying, transforming and selling homes, taking on large scale projects, like a hotel, and raising seven kids — all under the camera’s watchful eye.

U.K. series Restaurant in our Living Room, which premiered Sept. 1 at 9 p.m. on W Network, takes the home entertainment genre to a new level as couples transform their homes into fully functioning restaurants in three days, then open up for the public. Diners are asked to pay what they feel the meals are worth, and the couple who earns the most is given an evening meal at a top restaurant.

The DIY Network’s Bath Crashers (Sept. 7, 10 p.m.) is having its Canadian premiere. Series host Matt Muenster ambushes unsuspecting homeowners while they’re out home improvement shopping, then follows them home and overhauls their bathroom. The similarly-themed House Crashers (Sept, 8, 9 p.m., DIY) sees contractor and host Josh Temple stalk big-box home improvement store shoppers them follows them home to remodel their rooms.

October will also bring a slew of new series, including Burn My Mortgage, premiering Oct. 5 at 8 p.m. on the W Network, where host and financial expert Kelly Keehn and sidekick Chad Bisch, teach homeowners how to take control of their finances, with the aim of cutting years — and thousands of dollars — off their mortgage amortization terms.

All for Nothing, premiering Oct. 7 at 9 p.m. on W Network, follows two sets of Ottawa homeowners hoping to sell their properties. While normally such staging involves a hefty investment, competitors are forced to salvage, barter and repurpose to step up their homes for sale with no budget and only two weeks — as well as some helpful advice from local realtor and host, Paul Rushforth, and designer Penny Southam. The seller who increases the value of their home the most wins a commission free listing.

October will also see the return of Peter Fallico to HGTV with his new series Home to Keep, Tuesdays at 8 p.m. starting Oct. 19. The Home to Flip host is now turning his attention to other people’s homes, where he helps them fall back in love with their homes by helping them turn wasted spaces into functional rooms.

November will bring the world premiere of W Network’s Come Dine With Me Canada. Following the format of the successful U.K. series, each episode will face off five wannabe dinner party hosts to determine who can throw the best party. The competitors, over the course of one week, each create their perfect evening and try to out-cook the others.

Classic shows are returning for fall too. Colour Confidential’s Jane Lockhart is back on Sept. 7, 10 p.m., W Network, helping homeowners change the feel of their spaces through their use of colours, while Love Iit or List It realtor David Visentin and designer Hilary Farr will resume duking out the question of whether to renovate or relocate on Sept. 6 at 10 p.m.

HGTV is bringing back 13 series for fall, including Canadian-based crowd favourites Income Property, Mondays at 9 p.m. starting Sept. 6, Property Virgins, Mondays at 9:30 p.m. also premiering Sept. 6 and Property Shop, Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. beginning Sept. 8, and Disaster DIY, resuming Oct. 7 at 9 p.m.

U.S. series returning for fall on HGTV include; House Hunters, 4 p.m. Saturdays and 7 p.m. Sundays; House Hunters International, Fridays at 8 p.m. beginning Sept. 10, Designed to Sell, weekdays at 3 p.m. beginning Sept. 6, My First Place, Mondays at 8 p.m. starting Sept. 6; Bang for Your Buck, Wednesdays at 8 p.m. beginning Sept.8,; Real Estate Intervention, Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. starting Sept. 8; Carter Can, Sundays at 11:30 a.m. beginning Sept. 12, and Location, Location, Location, Fridays at 9 p.m. beginning Sept. 10.

Returning series on DIY include the rather self-explanatory Bathroom Renovations, weekdays at 4 p.m. beginning Sept. 6, and Kitchen Renovations, weekdays at 4:30 p.m., beginning Sept. 6, Sweat Equity, weekdays at 8 p.m. beginning Sept. 6, Man Caves Tuesdays at 9 and 9:30 pm., beginning Sept 7, Cool Tools, Thursdays at 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., beginning Sept. 9, BATHtastic, Fridays at 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., beginning Sept. 9, and Kitchen Impossible, 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., DIY, beginning Sept. 10.

John Derian collection debuts at Target

Starting Sunday, a new John Derian for Target collection will introduce nearly 100 stylish products priced at less than $25. The exclusive home decor and accessories line, including decorative trays, wall art and coasters, stationery, fabric-covered storage bins and tabletop items such as ceramic mugs and melamine dinnerware, will be available for a limited time at select Target stores and at www.target.com. The collection blends the New York City artist's love of nature and appreciation of classic, vintage style with well-designed, purposeful -- and affordable -- products using his signature decoupage techniques.

Gorman's adds Ralph Lauren styles

Sleek mahogany, timeless design, refined style -- they're all features of the new Ralph Lauren furniture collections at Gorman's Home Furnishings in Troy and Novi (and soon to be added at Lakeside and Southfield). Each store will showcase bedroom, dining room and living room vignettes, along with accessories and lighting, from the Avalon, Laurel Drive and Mitchell Place collections.

Garden photo contest winner

Barbara Ledbetter's "Iris Hill" photo of a small section of her large pink and purple perennial garden is this week's winner in Homestyle's garden photo contest. Her Ypsilanti yard also boasts other gardens in different color schemes, including one with white and silver blooms only, another showcasing all burgundy and gold, and two rose gardens, one with all yellow, the other pinks and reds. If you have some garden handiwork you'd like to show off, upload a photo at www.detnews.com/gardenphotos. Please include only your name, e-mail, city and a brief description of the photo in the caption field. Each week Homestyle will choose a great photo and award a home or garden book, with a chance for a grand prize at contest's end.

Franklin stages Art in the Village

"Art in the Village," a cornerstone of Franklin's Labor Day festivities, will showcase the works of more than 75 artists in glass, pottery, jewelry, photography and painting as well as wood, metal, fiber, furniture and sculpture. Shown here is glass art by John Fletcher. The art fair, celebrating its 30th year, runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday in the village center on Franklin Road between 13 Mile and 14 Mile. Also on tap: music by Blackman & Arnold (10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) and Rennie Kaufmann (1:30-4:30 p.m.) and activities at the Franklin Round Up family fair. Check www.franklinartinthevillage.com.

Dearborn garden show

Four Dearborn area garden clubs are joining to present a flower show, "Celebrate With Flowers," next weekend at First Presbyterian Church of Dearborn, 600 N. Brady. Hours are noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 10 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 11. Billed as a "gift to the community," the show will feature horticulture displays and educational exhibits on butterfly gardens, rain gardens, composting and the Blue Star Memorial behind Dearborn's Bryant Library and dedicated to military veterans. Participating clubs are: the Garden Club of Dearborn, Military Hills Garden Club, Dearborn Heights Garden Club and Garden City Garden Club. For information, call (313) 562-5175.

Pete Delantar, chief executive of Nature’s Legacy Eximport Inc., a manufacturer of home accessories using recycled materials, said this is good news for Filipino manufacturers as materials manipulation and design are among the strong suits of Philippine designers and maufacturers.

Nature’s Legacy was among the three local companies chosen by the Asean-Japan Centre to be part of the Asean Pavilion, which is composed of other manufacturers from Asean member countries. Nature’s Legacy was joined by Filipino manufacturers Catalina Embroideries (lamps, cushion covers, mirrors, wall décor, vases) and Maze Manufacturing Co., Inc. (wrought iron furniture, home accessories).

Interior Lifestyle is the leading design-oriented trade event for the Japanese interior market. The fair serves as the top trend pool for kitchen, dining, gift items, home accessories, as well as home textile.

The Philippine participation to Interior Lifestyle was a preview to Manila F.A.M.E. International, a bi-annual tradeshow for home and lifestyle products scheduled on October 18-21 at the World Trade Center.

Nature’s Legacy’s goal is to become a global leader in the home furniture and accessories industry.

According to its Web site, “The company was named Nature’s Legacy because of the very nature of its design policy, which is to incorporate locally abundant raw materials into our product design using its natural aesthetic values, while ensuring that these raw materials are responsibly sourced with careful consideration of the environment. Indigenous materials such as local stone, dead shrubs, and fallen twigs and branches are processed and combined with other mix media using fully integrated manufacturing methods to produce original innovative designs which are executed with superior quality craftsmanship that have been very well received in the world market.”

The company continues to diversify its product lines and expand its business through continuous improvement of production process, responsible use of natural materials and product quality.

Nature’s Legacy was established in 1996 by Pete and Cathy Delantar.

Pete is also president of CVD Ventures, a subsidiary of Nature’s Legacy that handles the production of its more recent pioneering invention and material innovation called Naturescast; and president of Marmor Corporation, a manufacturing company that has produced various innovative home furnishings and high end products made from composite materials.

He is considered one of the pioneers responsible for “greening” the furniture industry. In 2007, Pete was named Environment-Friendly Entrepreneur of the Year given by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and in the same year, he also received the Excellence in Ecology and Economy Award given by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Pete’s inventions are patented in the Philippines, US and Europe. He is a member of the Filipino Inventors Society and the Visayan Inventors Association. His embedded stonecasting technology was recognized as a finalist during the 2005 National Invention Contest at the National Inventors Week sponsored by the Technology Application and Promotion Institute and the Department of Science and Technology.

Naturescast, which is one of his inventions in collaboration with his wife Cathy, caught the attention of the Sustainable Furniture Council, a US-based non-profit balanced coalition of industry players created to promote sustainable practices among manufacturers, retailers, and consumers. He is the first and only Filipino invited to be one of the founding members of the council.

Nature’s Legacy is also one of the prime movers in the stone casting industry. Stonecast is hand made from natural crushed stone, dry-stamped into a mold, simulating how the earth makes limestone. While possessing the same physical and aesthetic attributes found in cut limestone, it is also light weight and durable. Stonecast products are perfect for indoor and outdoor furnishings.

Another Nature’s Legacy innovation is Marmorcast. This is hand made from high grade cast polymer materials with polyester resins, comprised of specially selected particles of filled and polymerised polyester to produce stone or marble finish. Marmorcast can achieve durable seamless designs with mirror-like or piano-like finishes.

be a big trend in the coming season. It really highlights the Indian skin tone and looks effortlessly comfortable. Pick styles in beige or khaki in fabrics like gabardine or cotton for maximum comfort.

Loafers: Guys, it’s time to experiment with bright colours like cobalt, mint green and olive. You might not be used to them yet, but soon everyone will be wearing them and you don’t want to be left out. Loafers are midway between casual and formal and since they’re easy to slip on, they spell easygoing comfort.

Wayfarers: The classic sunglass shape made popular by Rayban could be worn even without lenses if you’re brave enough or double up as reading glasses. You already see a lot of celebrities and media people wearing them, and soon they will filter down to the masses.

Unlined jacket: Perfect for the sultry Indian weather, the unlined jacket is super thin and light, but can easily double up as a dinner jacket when worn over jeans. You can pair it with a printed T-shirt or casual shirt. Get one that is cut slightly short and fitted to your frame. It will immediately dress up a casual outfit, perfect for impressing your date.

Messenger bag: Also known as the sling bag, it frees up the hands for those men who have two phones and can’t live a minute without texting or checking their mail. You can choose the size depending on your requirement and it won’t look stuffy like a briefcase.

SID WILSON OF SLIPKNOT Diesel, Thurs. 7 p.m. $12. 1-800-745-3000.

CATHERINE FEENY Thunderbird Cafe, Thurs. 8 p.m. $8-$10. 1-888-718-4253.

LADY GAGA Consol Energy Center, Sun. 7 p.m. Sold out. 1-800-745-3000.

LINDSAY RAKERS BAND Mr. Small's, Sun. 8 p.m. $8-$10. 1-866-468-3401.

YOUNG DUBLINERS Diesel, Wed. 7:30 p.m. $10. 1-800-745-3000.

TYRONE WELLS Club Cafe, Wed., 7 p.m. $12-$14. 1-866-468-3401.

BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE Byham Theater, Wed., 8 p.m. Also: The Wooden Birds. $32.25-$37.75. 412-456-6666.

Fairs/festivals

ALLEGHENY COUNTY MUSICAL FESTIVAL Sun. 7:30 p.m., Hartwood Acres. $20 per car admission benefits Department of Human Services.

GARFIELD COMMUNITY FESTIVAL Sun. 1-7 p.m., St. Lawrence O'Toole gymnasium.

INDIANA COUNTY FAIR Through Sat. J.S. Mack Community Center, Indiana. LABOR UNITED CELEBRATION Flea market, food, arts and crafts, entertainment and one-ring circus. Children receive unlimited access to petting zoo and carnival, pony and kiddie rides with $3 pass. Sun.-Mon 11 a.m.-7 p.m, Northmoreland Park, Allegheny Township. 724-830-3950.

PENNSYLVANIA ARTS & CRAFTS FESTIVAL Fri. and Mon. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Westmoreland County Fairground, Greensburg. $5.50; $1 kids 6-12. 724-423-5005.

PITTSBURGH RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL Medieval festival featuring combat jousting, games of skill, rides, period food, costumed performers, and artisans' marketplace. Through Sept. 26. Sat.-Sun. and Mon. 10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Off of I-70, six miles west of New Stanton. www.pgh-renfest.com or 724-872-1670.

ON STAGE

*** Denotes new listing.

***ALMOST, MAINE Barbara Russell stars in this family comedy. South Park Theatre, near South Park Fairgrounds, Corrigan Drive at Brownsville Road. Thurs. through Sept. 18. Thurs.-Sat. 8 p.m.; Sun. 2 p.m. $12-$6. www.southparktheatre.com, 412-831-8552.

***BASTARDS & FOOLS Liam Macik's original tale of a king on the verge of continental domination. Seton Center School of Arts, 1900 Pioneer Ave., Brookline. Ends Sat. Thurs.-Fri. 8 p.m.; Sat. 5:30 p.m. $10-$8. www.throughlinetheatre.org.

***KING O' THE MOON A comedy. Comtra Theatre, Route 19, Cranberry. Fri. through Sept. 18. Fri.-Sat. 7:30 p.m. $12. 724-773-9896.

***THE KITCHEN WITCHES Caroline Smith's comedic drama. Apple Hill Playhouse, Manor Road, Delmont. Thurs. through Sept. 19. Thurs.-Sat. 8 p.m.; Sun. 2 p.m. $13-$16. 724-836-8000. www.applehillplayhouse.org.

LOST IN YONKERS Neil Simon's Pulitzer Prize comedy about two young boys sent to Yonkers to live with Grandma. Little Lake Theatre, Route 19 South, North Strabane. Ends Sat. Thurs.-Sat. 8 p.m. $12-$15. 724-745-6300.

***MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING Shakespeare in the Park, Frick Park, Blue Slide Playground, Beechwood Blvd. and Nicholson St. Squirrel Hill. Sat. and Sun. and Sept. 25-26; Allegheny Commons West Park, North Side, Sept. 11-12; Mellon Park, Shadyside, Sept. 18-19. All performances 2 p.m. Free. (Sat. and Sept. 25, catered lunch by Whole Foods, $10). www.pittsburghshakespeare.com.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA The final national tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical. PNC Broadway Across America Presents, at the Benedum Center, Downtown. Through Sept. 19. Tues.-Thurs. 7:30 p.m.; Fri. 8 p.m.; Sat. 2 and 8 p.m.; Sun. 1 and 6:30 p.m.; some exceptions; $37-$125; 412-456-6666.

PITTSBURGH CLO LATE NIGHT CABARET Thurs.: Pittsburgh Improv Jam, $3; doors open at 9:30 p.m. 412-281-3973.

SLEEPING BEAUTY Adapted from the classic fairy tale, the audience becomes part of the story. Gemini Children's Theatre, 7501 Penn Ave., Point Breeze, Through Sept. 29. Sat.-Sun. 1 and 3:30 p.m. $9.50; reservations recommended. 412-243-5201.

'S WONDERFUL: THE NEW GERSHWIN MUSICAL A singing and dancing celebration of the music of George and Ira Gershwin. Pittsburgh CLO Cabaret, Penn Ave., Downtown. Ends Sun. Thurs.-Sat. 7:30 p.m.; Thurs. 1 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. 2 p.m. $34.50-$39.50. 412-456-6666.

SPECIAL SCREENINGS

KUNG FU PANDA Strand Theater, 119 N. Main, Zelienople. Fri.-Sat. 7:30 p.m.; Sun. 2 p.m. $4-$5. 724-742-0400 or www.thestrandtheater.org.

AMERICAN GRAFFITI Pittsburgh Filmmakers' Riding Around in My Automobile series. Regent Square Theater, Edgewood. Sun. 8 p.m. 412-682-4111.

ART Listings

museum EXHIBITIONS

***AMERICAN JEWISH MUSEUM JCC Building, Squirrel Hill, 412-521-8011. Sun.: "Society of Sculptors @ 75 Years," a group showcase of the regions most notable sculptors through the past 75 years, through Oct. 10. Daily.

ANDY WARHOL MUSEUM North Side, 412-237-8300. "Twisted Pair: Marcel Duchamp and Andy Warhol," ends Sun. Permanent collection with more than 500 works of art drawn from the Warhol's collections. Closed Mon.

AUGUST WILSON CENTER FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE Downtown, 412-258-2700. Ongoing exhibits depicting African-American life. Daily.

BUTLER INSTITUTE OF AMERICAN ART Youngstown, Ohio, 1-330-743-1711. "Jackson Pollock: Silver and Black," through Dec. 31. Closed Mon.

CARNEGIE MUSEUM OF ART Oakland, 412-622-3131. "Associated Artists of Pittsburgh," group show, through Sept. 19; Forum 65 Gallery: "Jones, Koester, Nashashibi/Skaer: Reanimation," through Oct. 30; "Life: a Journey Through Time," Frans Lanting's epic photographic project with 64 images from organisms to vast landscapes, through Jan. 9; Hillman Hall "Pittsburgh Adorned: Classic to Contemporary," 80 pieces from the private collections, through Oct. 17; Ailsa Mellon Bruce Galleries: Featuring decorative arts from around the world. Permanent collections throughout. Docent tours available. Closed Mon.

FRICK ART & HISTORICAL CENTER Point Breeze, 412-371-0600. "Small but Sublime: Intimate 19th Century American Landscapes," 20 American artists from the Hudson River School to American impressionism, ends Sun. Permanent collections of paintings and gilded decorative arts from the Frick private collection. Private tours available. Closed Mon.

MATTRESS FACTORY MUSEUM North Side, 412-231-3169. Permanent installation art by Greer Lankton, Yayoi Kusama, Winnifred Lutz, James Turrell and others on display. Closed Mon.

SOUTHERN ALLEGHENIES MUSEUM OF ART Johnstown, 1-814-269-7234. "An American Landscape: Interpretations of the Artist," through Sept. 10. Closed Sat.-Sun.

SOUTHERN ALLEGHENIES MUSEUM OF ART Ligonier. "Brian Ferrell and Lauren Adams: The Aesthetics of Nature," through Oct. 30. Closed Mon.

SOUTHERN ALLEGHENIES MUSEUM OF ART Loretto, 1-814-472-3920. "An American Landscape: Interpretations of the Artist," through Sept. 10. Closed Mon.

TOONSEUM Bruno Building, Downtown, 412-232-0674. "Cartoon Canines," through Sept. 19, original works by Charles M. Schulz, Disney production sketches and more, through Sept. 19. Permanent collection and exhibits on the history of cartooning. Closed Mon.-Tues.

WESTMORELAND MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART Greensburg, 724-837-1500. "Rooted in Tradition: Art Quilts From the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum," through Sept. 19; "Cutting Our Own Paths: Contemporary Works on Paper," work of The Guild of American Papercutters, through Sept. 19; "Born of Fire: The Valley Work," collection of contemporary work that represents of the steel era, ongoing. Permanent collection of American art. Closed Mon.-Tues.

GALLERY LISTINGS
*** Denotes special event or opening

***ART SPACE 105 Homestead, 412-480-7246. Fri.: "Varied Expressions," through Sept. 29, opening reception, 7-10 p.m. Closed Sun.-Tues.

BOTTLEBRUSH GALLERY 539 Main St., Harmony, 724-452-0539. "Harmony," works of ceramic artist Michael Flaherty, through Sept. 12.

***BOULEVARD GALLERY Verona, 412-721-0943. Sat.: Grand opening with Henry Fiore," through Sept. 25. Closed Sun.-Wed.

CONCEPT ART GALLERY Regent Square, 412-242-9200. "Clyde Hare: Memorial Retrospective," through Oct. 2. Closed Mon.

ELAN FINE ART GALLERY Sewickley, 412-324-1996. "James Shipman's Sculpture," ends Fri. Closed Sun.-Mon.

EVERYONE AN ARTIST Lawrenceville, 412-681-2404. Permanent works by artists with disabilities. Closed Sat.-Sun.

FEIN ART GALLERY North Side, 412-321-6816. "Pastel Highlights," Pittsburgh Pastel Artists annual group show, through Sept. 24. Closed Sun.- Mon.

FILMMAKERS GALLERIES Oakland. "Divided Sky," by Michael Sherwin, exhibition of photographs and video, through Oct. 17. Daily.

GALLERY ON BAUM Oakland, 412-621-2286. "The Political Art of Dr. Seuss," WWII cartoons by Theodor Geisel, ends Sat. Closed Sun.-Mon.

***GALLERIE CHIZ Shadyside, 412-441-6005. Fri.: "16th Annual Artists' Studio Clean-up Show," through Sept. 24, opening reception, 5-8 p.m. Closed Sun.-Mon.

GALLERY SIM South Side, 412-586-4561. "Double Exposure" featuring photography of Charlee Brodsky and John Higdon, through Oct. 4. Closed Mon.-Wed.

MANCHESTER CRAFTSMEN'S GUILD North Side, 412-322-1773. "Photonomics," works by Jo-Anne Bates, Alexis Dillon, John Dorinsky, John A. Fobes, Denise Suska Green, Howard Grill, Aaronel deRoy Gruber, Jeanine Hall, Vanessa Kettering, Dan Mohan, Jay M. Ressler, Wesley Smith, Richard Stoner and William Wade, ends Fri. Closed Sat.-Sun.

***MATTHEWS ARTS GALLERY Bellevue, 412-761-0301. Fri.: "The Art of Colleen Tracy," through Sept. 30, reception, 6-9 p.m. Closed Sun.-Tues.

MERRICK ART GALLERY New Brighton, 724-846-1130. Permanent historical collections. Closed Sun.-Mon.

***MENDELSON GALLERY Shadyside, 412-361-8664. Fri.: "Mandalas & Deities," Recent paintings by Harish Saluja, through Oct. 2, opening reception, 7-9 p.m. Closed Sun.-Tues.

***MODERNFORMATIONS GALLERY AND PERFORMANCE SPACE Friendship, 412-362-0274. Fri.: "Deaf and Death" works by Crystala Armagost and Ashley Andrykovitch Crystala, modern iconography and more, through Sept. 24. Open Thurs. and Sat.

NORTH HILLS ART CENTER Ross, 412-364-3622. "The Students of Le Poire, Recent Paintings," through Sept. 10. 412-364-3622. Closed Sun.-Mon.

PITTSBURGH GLASS CENTER Friendship, 412-365-2145. "Hot Stuff," glass art by John Miller, through Sept. 26. Closed Sun.

***PHOTO ANTIQUITIES MUSEUM OF PHOTOGRAPHIC HISTORY North Side, 412-231-7881. "Pop Photographica," jewelry, religious items, advertising and souvenirs through Oct. 16. Closed Sun. and Tues. Admission.

SAINT VINCENT GALLERY Latrobe, 724-805-2010. "Art Reflecting Nature: Wildlife in the Northeastern United States," coverlets and quilts, ends Sept. 5. Closed Mon.-Tues.

SILVER EYE CENTER FOR PHOTOGRAPHY South Side, 412-431-1810. Permanent collections. Closed Sun.-Mon.

SPACE GALLERY Downtown, 412-456-6666. "Paper Politics an International Exhibition of Socially Engaged Printmaking," featuring more than 200 artists, curated by Josh MacPhee, through Oct. 24. Closed Mon.

707 PENN GALLERY Downtown, 412-456-6666. "Poisonous: Anna Rebek," through Sept. 12. Closed Mon.

WORLD WEST GALLERY Washington, 724-225-4663. "Honoring Charles C. Pitcher, 1927-2009," works by Forquer, Pitcher, Basatoni, Marsula and more, through Sept. 13. Closed Sun.

WOOD STREET GALLERIES Downtown, 412-456-6666. "Outer Body/Inner Experiences," multimedia artwork by Jim Campbell, Luc Courchesne, Airan Kand and more, through Sept. 23. Closed Mon.-Tues.

CLASSICAL CONCERTS

CARNEGIE MELLON SCHOOL OF MUSIC Concert to benefit the Hopital Albert Schweitzer in Haiti. Sat. 7:30 p.m., Kresge Recital Hall, College of Fine Arts, CMU campus, Oakland. http://music.cmu.edu.

HECTOR OLIVERA Classical organ concert. Sat. 2 p.m., Keystone Oaks High School auditorium, 1000 Kelton Ave, Dormont. $15 advance; $20 at the door; children and students free with adult admission. patos.mail.@verizon.net, 412-241-8108 or 724-446-9744. www.theatreorgans.com/patos.

OUTDOOR CONCERTS

FIRST FRIDAYS AT THE FRICK Frick Art & Historical Center, 7227 Reynolds St., Point Breeze, 412-371-0600 or www.TheFrickPittsburgh.org. Fri.: The White Tie Group jazz ensemble 7 p.m.

MEGAN INTERMISSION SUITE & COURTYARD Palace Theatre, Greensburg, 724-836-1123. Thurs.: Kenny Blake, 6 p.m.

SOUNDS LIKE SUMMER ON PLUM Elizabeth Borough, 412-384-0504. Thurs.: Fender and Ivory, 6:30 p.m.

IN THE CLUBS

rock

ALTAR BAR Strip, 412-263-2877. Fri.: Battery (Metallica tribute band), 10 p.m., $8 in advance, $10 at the door; Sun.: Semi-Precious Weapons w/Danielle Barbe, Lovebettie, 9:30 p.m., $20; Mon.: Fu Manchu w/Black Turk, It's Casual, German Shepherd, 7 p.m., $15.

BILLY'S ROADHOUSE McCandless, 724-934-1177. Tues.: Hewlett/Anderson 5 p.m.

BRILLOBOX Lawrenceville, 412-621-4900. Fri.: Pandemic, 10 p.m.; Sat.: Meeting of Important People, Mariage Blanc, All Tiny Creatures, 9:30 p.m.

DOWNEY'S HOUSE Robinson, 412-489-5631. Sat.: Suggestion Box, 9:30 p.m.

FRANKIE I'S Washington, Pa., 724-743-3636. Fri.: The Vagrants, 10 p.m.

HARD ROCK CAFE Station Square, 412-481-7625. Fri.: Rising Regina, Anthony Rankin, Caleb Lovely, Pete Bush, 9 p.m., $10 donation to Girls Hope.

HOULIHAN'S Robinson, 412-787-7050. Fri.: Season Zero, 9 p.m.

JUMPER'S JUNCTION North Franklin, Washington County, 724-206-0080. Fri.: Two Thumbs Up, 8 p.m.

MOONDOG'S Blawnox, 412-828-2040. Fri.: Innerstrength w/Dragline, 9:30 p.m. p.m.

NEIGHBORS Jeannette, 724-527-1034. Sat.: The Dave Iglar Band, 10 p.m.

PARADISE ISLAND Neville Island, 412-264-6570. Thurs.: The Dave Iglar Band, 7 p.m.

SEWICKLEY HOTEL 412-741-9457. Wed.: Hewlett/Anderson 8 p.m.

31ST STREET PUB Strip, 412-391-8334. Thurs.: Dominion, 10:30 p.m.; Fri.: TV Buddhas, Fillmore Jive, Thin Sketch, 10:30 p.m.; Sat.: Young Widows, Girlfight, Helmsalee, 10:30 p.m.

THUNDERBIRD CAFE Lawrenceville, 412-682-0177. Thurs.: Catherine Feeney, 8 p.m.; Sat.: 28 North, 10 p.m.

WOOLEY BULLY'S New Brighton, 724-494-1578. Fri.: Hy-Winz; Sat.: Blinding Edge, 10 p.m.

RHYTHM & BLUES

ANTONINI'S Scott, 412-276-2828. Wed.: Sputzy & Jeremy, 8 p.m.

INN TERMISSION LOUNGE South Side, 412-381-3497. Fri.: Michael Todd, 6 to 8 p.m.; Sat.: Chizmo Charles and the Rhythm Aces 4 p.m.

LINDEN GROVE Castle Shannon, 412-882-8687. Fri: Souled Out, 9:30 p.m.

PAPARAZZI'S South Side, 412-488-0800. Wed.: Muddy Kreek Blues Band jam session, 9:30 p.m.

SKYVUE LOUNGE West Mifflin, 412-469-1119. Wed.: The Jaminators dance/jam, 9 p.m.

SAWDUST SALOON Penn Hills, 412-241-9101. Thurs.: Strange Brew, 8 p.m.

THUNDERBIRD CAFE Lawrenceville, 412-682-0177. Fri.: Andrew Jr. Boy Jones, 9:30 p.m.

JAZZ

ALAN AND RUBEN'S BAR AND GRILLE Washington, Pa., 724-223-1038. Wed.: The Dan Baker Group, 5 p.m.

ANDYS WINE BAR Fairmont Pittsburgh, Downtown, 412-773-8884. Wed.: Tania Grubbs, 5:30 p.m.

ANGELO'S RESTAURANT Washington, Pa., 724-222-7120. Fri.: The Dan Baker Group, 9 p.m.

C.J.'S Strip, 412-642-2377. Thurs.: Roger Humphries jam session 8 p.m.; Sat.: The Donna Davis Band, 9 p.m.

CLUB DUO Holiday Inn Select University Center, Oakland, 412-682-0938. Fri.: Marcus Mitchell, 8 p.m., $10.

D'IMPERIO'S Wilkins, 412-823-4800. Fri.: Harold Betters, 8 p.m.

LITTLE E'S JAZZ CLUB Downtown, 412-392-2217. Thurs.: Jessica Lee 5:30 p.m.; Fri.: The Kevin Howard Band, 8:30 p.m.; Sat.: Anqwenique, 8:30 p.m.; Tues.: Sean Jones, 9 p.m.

MORGAN'S RESTAURANT Penn Hills, 412-241-1730. Fri.: Brice Katz; Sat.: Donna Bailey, 8 p.m.

NIKO'S COFFEE HOUSE Robinson, 412-329-6939. Thurs.: Clem Rolin/Kevin Clark and Friends, 7:30 p.m.

REX THEATER South Side, 412-323-1919. Fri.: The Poogie Bell Band, 9 p.m.

RIVERS CASINO North Shore, 412-231-7777. Sun.: The Pittsburgh Jazz Society presents LeRoy K. Wofford, 6 p.m.

EASY LISTENING

D'IMPERIO'S Wilkins, 412-823-4800. Sat.: NightStar, 8 p.m.; Tues.: David Cremonese, 7 p.m.; Wed.: Thom Book, 7 p.m.

DiSALVO'S STATION Latrobe, 724-539-0500. Fri.: Judi Figel, 9 p.m.

LOUNGE AT LEMONT Mount Washington, 412-431-3100. Fri.: Vida; Sat.: Phil & Roxy, 8 p.m.

MISCELLANEOUS

GYPSY CAFE South Side, 412-381-4977. Thurs.: Gypsy Strings 8 p.m.

COUNTRY

AMERICAN LEGION Ambridge, 724-266-5623. Sat.: The Sidewinder Band, 9:30 p.m.

OLDIES

REGINA ELENA SOCIAL CLUB Sharpsburg, 412-781-0229. Sat.: Touche, 9 p.m.

OPEN STAGE

AVA LOUNGE East Liberty, 412-363-8277. Mon.: Open stage with the Interval Trio, 9:30 p.m.

BLOOMFIELD BRIDGE TAVERN 4412 Liberty Ave., 412-682-8611. Tues.: Calliope Songwriter Open Stage, 9 p.m.

BRADFORD LOUNGE Washington, Pa., 724-225-3200. Thurs.: Acoustic open mic hosted by Tom Terling, 9 p.m.

CALICO JACK'S North Shore, 412-322-7380. Wed.: Acoustic open stage, 8 p.m.

CLUB CAFE South Side, 412-431-4950. Mon.: AcoustiCafe Open Stage, 7 p.m.

D'VINE BAR & LOUNGE Pine, 724-933-5533. Wed.: Open Stage, 7:30 p.m.

GENO'S Lawrenceville, 412-781-3432. Wed.: Acoustic Open Stage, 8 p.m.

HILLTOPPERS PUB Troy Hill, 412-322-3676. Sat.: Open stage hosted by Yinzide Out, 9 p.m.

HOT ROD LOUNGE Murrysville, 724-327-1660. Thurs.: Mark Cyler 9:30 p.m.

HOULIHAN'S Robinson, 412-787-7050. Wed.: Open stage featuring The Freudian Hips, 8 p.m.

HQ 132 South Huntingdon, 724-722-4450. Tues.: Randall and Gil, 8:30 p.m.

MOONDOG'S Blawnox, 412-828-2040. Wed.: Open Stage w/J.J. Burner, 9 p.m.

PD'S PUB Squirrel Hill, 412-422-5027. Tues.: Dan Eaby Project, 9 p.m.

SHADOW LOUNGE East Liberty, 412-363-8277. Wed.: Open stage with Dawn Canon, 9 p.m.

SHAFTON FIRE HALL North Huntingdon, 724-863-7918. Thurs.: Gil's Blues Power, 8 p.m.

THUNDERBIRD CAFE Lawrenceville, 412-682-0177. Wed.: Poogie Bell, 9:30 p.m.

VENUE AT HARMONY RIDGE Ambridge, 724-266-2010. Wed.: Acoustic Affair Songwriter Spotlight & Open Stage, 8 p.m.

ACOUSTIC

DOWNEY'S HOUSE Robinson, 412-489-5631. Thurs.: Michael Todd, 9:30 p.m.; Fri.: Jay Wiley, 7 p.m.

ELKS LODGE North Side, 412-321-1834. Wed.: Pittsburgh Banjo Club 8 p.m.

EXCHANGE University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, Hempfield, 724-836-7191. Wed.: Brad Yoder & Jason Rafalak, 8 p.m.

LEAF & BEAN Strip, 412-434-1480. Sat.: Bill Toms & Marc Reisman, noon.

MULLANEY'S HARP & FIDDLE Strip, 412-642-6622. Fri.: Tim & John, 5:30 p.m.

PADDY'S POUR HOUSE Carnegie, 412-279-0770. Mon.: Acoustic Jam 7 p.m.; Wed.: Potters Reel 7 p.m.

STEEL CITY SALOON Coraopolis, 724-218-1438. Thurs.: Corey White 7 p.m.

PIANO

MORE Oakland, 412-621-2700. Fri., Sat.: Judy Marlowe, 8:30 p.m.

COMEDY

CLUB CAFE South Side, 412-431-4950. Fri.: Sean Rush, 7 p.m., $7.

DANCES

BALLROOM Elks, Buttermilk Hollow Road, 412-461-3322. Fri.: Al Louis, 8:30 p.m.

BIG BAND Coraopolis VFW, 412-771-5247. Sun. 8 p.m.

CONTRA Swisshelm Park Community Center, 412-654-7529. Fri.: lesson, 7:30 p.m.; dance, 8 p.m.

COUNTRY Brothers Grimm, Robinson, 412-788-0890. Thurs.: lesson, 7 p.m.; dance, 8 p.m.

COUNTRY RPM's, Bridgeville, 412-221-7808. Wed.: 8:30 p.m.

COUNTRY LINE Palisades, McKeesport, 412-672-2001. Fri. 8:30 p.m.

DANCE, Brothers Grimm, Robinson, 412-788-0890. Sat.: 9:30 p.m.

DANCE, Connolly Club, Sheraden, 412-777-9700. Sat. 9 p.m.

IRISH SET & CEILI Mullaney's Harp & Fiddle, Strip, 412-642-6622. Tues.: lesson, 7 p.m.; dance, 8 p.m.

LINE DANCE, Palisades, McKeesport, 412-672-2001. Fri.: 7 p.m. lesson; 8 p.m. dance

OLDIES Brentwood VFW, 412-881-9934. Sat. 8:30 p.m.

OLDIES Palisades, McKeesport, 412-672-2001. Sun. 4 p.m.

SALSA Dance, Cafe, Ross, 412-401-6499. Fri.: 10:15 p.m.

SINGLES Meridian Vets Club, Butler Township, 1-877-287-4645. Fri.: 8 p.m.

SQUARE Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Monroeville, 412-372-6285. Sat.: 8 p.m.

SWING Wightman Dancehall, Squirrel Hill, 412-341-0292. Sat.: lesson, 8 p.m.; dance, 9 p.m.

WEST COAST SWING Absolute Ballroom, Larimer, 412-526-0399. Tues.: lesson, 7:45 p.m.; dance, 8:30 p.m.

PITTSBURGH PLACES
*** Denotes special event or opening

Check venues for Labor Day holiday hours.

*** Denotes event. Visit post-gazette.com/events for more listings.

BEECHWOOD FARMS NATURE RESERVE Fox Chapel, 412-963-6100. Five miles of trails, open daily.

CARNEGIE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland, 412-622-3131. Exhibits: "Lord of the Crane Flies," photographs, illustrations, specimens and videos on crane flies by CHMH associate curator of invertebrate biology Chen Young, through Oct. 1; "Pittsburgh Adorned: Classic to Contemporary," 60 pieces of jewelry from museum and personal collections, through Oct. 17; and "Journey Through Time," nature photographer Frans Lanting traces Earth's development and celebrates biodiversity, through Jan. 9. Permanent exhibits: Population Impact, Dinosaurs in Their Time; Hillman Hall of Minerals and Gems; Hall of North American Wildlife; Benedum Hall of Geology; Hall of African Wildlife; Polar World; Alcoa Foundation Hall of American Indians; Botany Hall. Earth Theater: "Dinosaur Prophecy," "Night of the Titanic," "Amazon Voyage," "Ovirap Tour." Tue.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thurs. 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sun. noon-5 p.m. $15 adults, $11 children 3-18, $12 seniors.

***CARNEGIE SCIENCE CENTER One Allegheny Ave., North Shore, 412-237-3400. Laser shows: Michael Jackson, Fri.-Sat. 7 and 9 p.m.; Led Zepplin, Fri.-Sat. 11 p.m.; Pink Floyd, Fri.-Sat. midnight. $8, $2 for members ($13 when paired with another laser show). Omnimax films: "Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure" (ends Mon.), "Hubble 3D" (opens Fri.) "Animalopolis" (through 2010) and "The Ultimate Wave Tahiti." Center hours: Sun.-Fri. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Center admission: $17.95 adults, $9.95 children. Omnimax films: $8 adult non-member, $6 child non-member, $7 adult member and $5 member.

***CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF PITTSBURGH Allegheny Center, 412-322-5058. "Curious George: Let's Get Curious" through Oct. 3. Meet Curious George: Sat. 2-2:30 p.m., Wed. 11:30 a.m.-noon. Curious George Storytelling Time: Sat. 1-1:30 p.m. Clowning Workshop: explore European red-nosed clowning with actor, singer and professional clown Gale McNeeley, Sat. and Sun. 2:30-3:15 p.m. Museum hours: Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. noon-5 p.m. $11 adults; $10 kids 2-18; under 2 free. Closed Mon. and Tues.

FRICK ART & HISTORICAL CENTER Point Breeze, 412-371-0600. "Mourning Customs in the Victorian zEra," through Oct. 31. Tours of Clayton, the 23-room turn-of-the-20th-century Frick mansion. Clayton admission: $12 adults; $10 seniors, students, military. Closed Mon.

***GATEWAY CLIPPER FLEET Station Square, 412-355-7980. Captain's Dinner Dance Cruise (Saturdays through December), Rivers Casino Lunch Cruise (Mondays), One Hour Sightseeing Cruise, (weekdays thought September, weekends through October), Sunday Ice Cream Social Cruise (ends Sun.), Moonlight Dance Cruise (ends Fri.). ) Labor Day Sloven Polka Cruise, Mon.; Labor Day Weekend, children 12 and under cruise for $1 on sightseeing cruises.

GOLDEN TRIANGLE BIKE RENTAL 600 First Ave., Downtown. Bicycle rental on the Eliza Furnace Trail. Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. 412-600-0675, www.bikepittsburgh.com.

HEINZ HISTORY CENTER Strip District, 412-454-6000. "Pittsburgh: A Tradition of Innovation," 2nd & 3rd floors, ongoing. Also: Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum. Daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $10 adults; $9 seniors; $5 students with ID and children 6-18; free to members and children under 6.

IDLEWILD PARK AND SOAK ZONE Ligonier, 724-238-3666. Open Sat.-Mon..

KENNYWOOD PARK West Mifflin, 412-461-0500. Open Sept. 4-6, 11-12 and 18-19.

NATIONAL AVIARY West Park, North Side. 412-323-7235. Open daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat., and noon-5 p.m., Sun. $12 adults; $11 seniors; $9.50 kids 2-12; under 2 free.

NATIONALITY ROOMS Cathedral of Learning, University of Pittsburgh, 412-624-6000. Oakland. Narrated tape tours are available, without prior reservation, Mon.-Sat. 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. $3 adults; $1 children 8-18.

PHIPPS CONSERVATORY AND BOTANICAL GARDENS Schenley Park, 412-622-6914. "Gargoyles in the Garden," the summer flower show, through Sept. 12; "Up, Up and Agave," and "Butterfly Forest," several species of butterflies return to the gardens for the summer (ends Mon.). Daily 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Fri. until 10 p.m. $12 adults; $11 students with ID and seniors 62 and older; $9 children 2-18, under 2 free.

PITTSBURGH ZOO & PPG AQUARIUM Highland Park, 412-665-3639. Open daily 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; gates close 4:30 p.m. $13 adults; $12 seniors (60 and older); $11 children 2-13; children under 2 free.

SANDCASTLE 1000 Sandcastle Drive, West Homestead, 412-462-6666. Open Sat.-Mon.

SCHENLEY PLAZA Next to Carnegie Library, Oakland. Lunch time music Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, noon to 2 p.m. (through October).

HISTORICAL PLACES
*** Denotes special event or opening

AIR HERITAGE MUSEUM & AIRCRAFT RESTORATION FACILITY Beaver County Airport, Beaver Falls, 724-843-2820. Historic planes displayed, restored and flown. Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free, donations accepted.

BAYERNHOF MUSEUM 225 Charles Place, O'Hara, 412-782-4231. A 19,000-square-foot mansion formerly owned by Charles Brown III featuring a collection of restored roll-operated music machines and large music boxes from the Gay '90s and Roaring '20s. Guided tours for groups of two to 12 by reservation only. $10 per person.

BLOCK HOUSE Point State Park, Downtown. Built as a redoubt of Fort Pitt in 1764. A national historic landmark and Pittsburgh's oldest building. Open to the public. Wed.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free.

BUSHY RUN BATTLEFIELD Jeannette, 724-527-5584. Historical site of August 1763 battle between the British and American Indians that paved the way for settlements in Pennsylvania. Interpretive exhibits, visitor center, guided tours. Park open year-round Wed.-Sun. $3-$5.

CALVARY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Allegheny Ave., North Side, 412-323-1070. Group tours of the 107-year-old church and its three 30-foot-high Tiffany windows; tours by appointment. Free.

DEPRECIATION LANDS MUSEUM 4743 S. Pioneer Road, Hampton, 412-486-0563 or DepreciationLandsMuseum.org. Exhibits on pioneer living in Western Pennsylvania. Tues., Thurs., Sat. noon-3 p.m.; Sun. 1-4 p.m. $2 adults, $1 children; special event days $5 adults, $3 children.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Sixth Ave., Downtown, 412-471-3436. Tours include 13 Tiffany stained-glass windows, after 10:45 a.m. Sun. service. Group tours by appointment.

FAYETTE CENTRAL RAILROAD SCENIC TRAIN RIDES Through the coal and coke region of the Laurel Highlands foot hills. Sat.: Trains depart Uniontown for Dunbar 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.; train departs Dunbar 12:30 p.m. Sun: Trains depart Uniontown for Fairchance 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., Fairchance 12:30 p.m. 1-877-321-3277 or visit www.fayettecentralrailroad.com.

FORT PITT MUSEUM Point State Park, 412-281-9285. Museum of Colonial life in western Pennsylvania. Historical models, educational programs on the French and Indian War. Daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $5 adults, $4 seniors, $3 students and children 4-17, and free 3 and under

FORT LIGONIER Ligonier, 724-238-9701. A full-scale, on-site reconstruction of the 1758-66 original. $8 adults, $5 children ages 6-14. Open through Nov. 15 Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Sun. noon-4:30 p.m.

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT'S FALLINGWATER Route 381 South, Mill Run, 724-329-8501. Guided tours of architect Frank Lloyd Wright's Edgar Kaufmann house on Bear Run. Thurs.-Tues. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Lectures Thursdays and Fridays at 2 p.m. at The Barn (through November). Cafe museum shop and 20 miles of hiking trails available. Closed Wed. Tours: $18 adults, $12 ages 6-12, $8 grounds-only pass, $65 in-depth tour, $110 sunset tour, $115 brunch tour. Reservations essential. Call visitor services for additional information. www.fallingwater.org.

HARMONY MUSEUM Near Harmony, Butler County, 1-888-821-4822. Exhibits on American Indians, Washington's 1753 mission, German Separatists and more. Tours 1-4 p.m. daily, except Mon. Guided tours: $5 adults; $2 children. Admission: $6 adults, $5 seniors, $3 students, free for children under 6.

HARTWOOD ACRES Allegheny County Park, 412-767-9200. 22-room Tudor mansion, former home of John and Mary Lawrence, features teas, daily mansion tours and other events. Grounds include hiking and walking trails, dog park, open dusk to dawn.

HISTORIC HANNA'S TOWN 809 Forbes Trail, Greensburg, 724-532-1935. Reconstructed Robert Hanna Tavern/Courthouse and Jail, late 18th-century log houses, a reconstructed Revolutionary-era fort, blockhouse and more. Wed.-Sat. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sun. from 1 to 4 p.m. Guided tours, $4 for adults and $3 for children and seniors.

JIMMY STEWART MUSEUM 724-349-6112. Family portraits, film awards, costumes and film clips. Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. noon-5 p.m.

KERR MEMORIAL MUSEUM Oakmont, 412-826-9295. Guided tours of the restored Victorian home. Sat. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $8 adults; $7 seniors; $6 students.

LEMOYNE HOUSE Washington, 724-225-6740. First National Historic Landmark of the Underground Railroad. Tues.-Fri. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat. by appointment.

LOWRIE SHAW HOUSE Butler, 724-283-8116. A circa 1828 home restored by Butler County Historical Society. Tours Sun. 1-3 p.m.

MARIDON MUSEUM Butler, 724-282-0123. "A Collector's Passion," exhibit of Chinese and Japanese art and artifacts covering the Neolithic era to modern times. Also large collection of Meissen porcelain. Tues.-Sat. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. noon-5 p.m. $4 adults; $3 students, seniors.

MEADOWCROFT ROCKSHELTER AND HISTORIC VILLAGE Avella, 724-587-3412. Site of North America's oldest site of human habitation as well as re-creations of 17th-century Native American settlement and life in a 19th-century rural community. Wed.-Sat. noon-5 p.m.; Sun. 1-5 p.m. $10 for adults, senior citizens, $9; children, ages 6-16, $5; children under 6 and Heinz History Center members, free.

MERCER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY 119 South Pitt St., Mercer, 724-662-3490. Sat. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

OLD ECONOMY VILLAGE 270 16th St., Ambridge, 724-266-4500. A landmark that preserves the history and culture of the successful 19th-century religious communal society. Guided tours Fri.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; and self-guided tours, Tues.-Sun, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.. $9, ages 12-64. $6, youth; $8, seniors; free 3 and younger.

OLIVER MILLER HOMESTEAD South Park, Stone Manse Drive, off the circle, 412-835-1554, www.olivermiller.org. Whiskey Rebellion landmark. Docents in period dress provide information and answer questions on self-guided tours and demonstrate pioneer crafts. Site includes original Stone House, Spring House and a reconstructed log house, forge and demonstration shed, barn and gardens. Sun. 1:30-4:30 p.m. $1, $2 on special event days.

PENNSYLVANIA TROLLEY MUSEUM Washington, Pa., 724-228-9256, www.pa-grolley.org. Display building with 30 trolleys from Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia and Brazil. Weekdays 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; weekends 11 a.m.-5 p.m. $9 adults, $8 seniors (62+) and $5 for children 3-15, free under age 3.

PHOTO ANTIQUITIES MUSEUM OF PHOTOGRAPHIC ART North Side, 412-231-7881. "The History of Photography, 1839-1939" and "Women in Photography, 1840-1940," ongoing. Closed Sun. and Tues. Admission $8; free to members.

PROVIDENCE PLANTATION FOUNDATION LIVING HISTORY CENTER 300 Textor Hill Road, Evans City, 724-538-8818, frontier-history.org. Re-enactments of frontier life in Western Pennsylvania during the 18th century. $10 adults; $5 kids under age 12. Open by appointment only.

RACHEL CARSON HOMESTEAD 613 Marion Ave., Springdale, 724-274-5459. Birthplace and first home of ecologist Rachel Carson. Homestead grounds and gardens open year-round. Tours of the house year-round by appointment. $5 adults; $3 seniors, children 5 and older; under 5 free.

RIVERS OF STEEL Homestead, 412-464-4020, riversofsteel.com. Preserves, interprets and manages the historic, cultural and natural resources related to big steel and its industries. Restored rooms from 1892, when Bost Building was the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers headquarters during the Homestead Lockout and Strike. Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. $3 adults; children $1; free for members.

ST. NICHOLAS CROATIAN CHURCH 24 Maryland Ave., Millvale, 412-681-0905 or 724-845-2907; www.vankamurals.org. Murals painted by Maxo Vanka. Guided tours: Tues., Thurs., Sat., Sun. 1-4 p.m. Tours at other times by special arrangement.

SEWICKLEY HEIGHTS HISTORY CENTER 1901 Glen Mitchell Road, Sewickley, 412-741-4487, sewickleyheightshistory.org. Showcases the country homes and equestrian lifestyle of Pittsburgh's early industrialists with photos, film, antique cars and carriages. Weekdays 3-5 p.m.; Sat. noon-2 p.m. Tours by appointment. Free admission.

SOLDIERS & SAILORS MEMORIAL HALL AND MUSEUM Oakland, 412-621-4253. Exhibit: "Slave to Soldier," addressing slavery, abolition, the underground railroad, United States Color Troops and black veterans, whose GAR Post 209 gathered at Soldiers & Sailors Hall for meetings. Largest memorial building in the United States dedicated solely to America's fighting personnel, representing all branches of service. Historical displays, uniforms, documents, docent tours available. Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $5 adults, $3 veterans, seniors; children under 10, free.

WESTINGHOUSE CASTLE 325 Commerce St., Wilmerding, 412-825-3000, www.wilmerdingrenewed.org. Headquarters of George Westinghouse. Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.-4 p.m., for tours of the building, art gallery, museum and 0-gauge train display. $5 adults, $8 family, $3 seniors, kids, students.

WEST OVERTON MUSEUMS Scottdale, 724-887-7910. Pre-Civil War rural industrial village including the Overholt homestead, distillery museum and birthplace of Henry Clay Frick. Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sun. 1-5 p.m. $7 adults, $4 seniors 65 and older and children 6-11, under 6 free.

WOODVILLE PLANTATION Bridgeville, 412-221-0348, www.woodvilleplantation.org. 18th-century home of Gen. John Presley Neville. Historical artifacts, furniture and documents show how Pittsburgh's wealthiest citizens lived from 1780-1820. Guided tours Sun. 1-4 p.m. $5 for adults, $3 per for children ages 6 to 12 and under 6 free

AUDITIONS

BALDWIN PLAYERS For "Witness for the Prosecution" by Agatha Christie. Sun. 7-10 p.m. at Baldwin Community United Methodist Church, Baptist and Weyman roads. Casting all roles. 412-344-7230.

HARMONY SINGERS All ages and voices are welcome. Performance experience and the ability to read music preferred, not required. Rehearsals at Brightwood Christian Church, 5044 W. Library Road, Bethel Park, starting Tues. 7:30 p.m. 724-941-0768 or www.harmonysingers.org.

LITTLE LAKE THEATRE COMPANY For "The Last Night of Ballyhoo" casting the roles of Lala, Sunny, Joe and Peachy. Sept. 12 from 4-6 p.m. No appointment necessary. 724-745-6300, ext. 500, or www.littlelake.org.

THE NUTCRACKER Open auditions for age 5 to adult, male and female. Carnegie Performing Arts Center, 300 Beechwood Ave. Carnegie. Sept. 25, 1 p.m. 412-279-8887 or www.CarnegiePerformingArtsCenter.com.

THE PITTSBURGH WATERCOLOR SOCIETY New-member screening Sept. 12 1 p.m. Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Simmons Hall, Shadyside. E-mail darla.duffy@verizon.net for information.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10245/1084314-388.stm#ixzz0ykCco4pB

“Women have all come to know that exposure to the sun for extended periods of time can lead to sunburn and skin cancer,” she stated. “But what is not commonly known is that UVA rays also cause damage below the skin’s surface, which leads to dark spots that are difficult to get rid of once they show up on your face.” While most women rely on sunblock lotions and creams to protect them from the sun, “not all sunblocks provide UVA protection,” leaving skin unprotected against these blemishes that lay waiting to pop up, according to Pond’s senior brand manager Jacqueline Yuengtian.

To combat less than perfect skin in Manila, Pond’s unveiled its newest addition to the Flawless White family, the Blemish Protection UV Cream. “It has UVA protection that has been rated at four stars [out of five&91; so you know that you can sunproof your face,” explains Yuengtian. Dedicated to the cause of promoting healthy and beautiful skin, the brand decided to introduce the UV Cream at only P99 per bottle for the first three months. “We wanted to make sure we were making beauty easily accessible to all,” Yuengtian adds. “The nice thing about the Blemish Protection Cream is that it is quick absorbent and light and colorless, so you can reapply it over your makeup during the day and it’s well suited to the humid weather,” adds Dra. Oblepias.

Living in an equatorial country, hiding from the sun is even more challenging than hiding from your own reflection. Dra. Oblepias suggests donning a hat with a diameter of at least 7.5 cm while out and about during the hot hours of the day. “The sun is at its strongest from 11 in the morning to around two in the afternoon, so try to stay indoors during those hours,” she specifies. Even those who hide behind glass mirrors are not safe, as “glass allows 72 percent of UVA rays to penetrate, so even when you are driving or at your office near a window, it’s best to always put on sun protection,” she advises. She also debunks the flawed logic of mixing SPF’s to attain better protection. “It’s not as simple as one plus one. While it might increase the SPF by a little, it’s not that straightforward. And, remember, SPF usually only covers UVB rays unless it’s specifically stated.”

As with almost everything, prevention is better than cure. Pond’s takes the adage one step further by making protection the best prevention. And, at less than P100, the beauty giant places protection within everyone’s grasp.

Hamel continued: “I’m delighted that our Ray-Ban team have really got behind this initiative and developed a fantastic, commercially-savy product. Gifting is definitely an area our category can exploit further and I am sure Ray-Ban for Travellers will prove incredibly popular with customers.”

About Luxottica Group
Luxottica Group is a leader in premium fashion, luxury and sports eyewear, with over 6,200 optical and sun retail stores in North America, Asia Pacific, China, South Africa and Europe and a strong brand portfolio.

Luxottica’s key house brands include Ray-Ban, the best known sun eyewear brand in the world, Oakley, Vogue, Persol, Oliver Peoples, Arnette and REVO, while licensed brands include Bvlgari, Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, Donna Karan, Polo Ralph Lauren, Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo, Tiffany and Versace.

In addition to a global wholesale network covering 130 countries, the group manages leading retail brands such as LensCrafters and Pearle Vision in North America, OPSM and Laubman & Pank in Australasia, LensCrafters in Greater China and Sunglass Hut globally. The group’s products are designed and manufactured in six Italy-based manufacturing plants, two wholly-owned plants in China and a sports sunglass production facility in the US.

A It does sound as if you may be suffering with varicose veins, which most often occur in the lower leg and foot region, although any vein in the body can actually be affected.

It’s quite a common condition and roughly 20% of adults will be affected at some point – a higher proportion of women than men, and generally between the ages of 30-60.

The term “varicose veins” basically refers to swollen veins which are darker than average veins and can become bumpy and gnarled in appearance.

In a normal vein, the blood that is circulating flows smoothly to the heart and a series of small valves prevent it flowing backwards by opening and closing to allow the blood through. If these valves become weak or get damaged in any way, the blood can flow the wrong way and pool in sections of the vein, causing it to swell.

The legs are the most common areas to be affected because of the pressure that’s exerted on this part of the body through standing and walking.

For most people, while varicose veins may look unsightly, they will not have any serious associated health implications and other than if you choose to undertake treatment for their physical appearance – which may include things such as injections or laser therapy – will not require attention.

Occasionally, however, there may be complications, which include bleeding or possibly ulcers, so it would be worth a chat with your GP if you’re unduly concerned.

There are a number of things you can do to help relieve the symptoms, one of the major ones being regular exercise.

Conversely, although the legs are the most affected areas due to the additional pressure placed on them, exercise which involves a long walk, jogging or a bike ride, for example, will help to strengthen the leg muscles and improve circulation.

Do try and avoid standing for particularly long periods of time if possible though, as this won’t help – varicose veins are known to affect those who have jobs that dictate they spend a long time on their feet every day. Try and at least shift your weight from leg to leg or take a short walk if you can to relieve the pressure. If there’s nothing you can do to avoid it, at the end of the day, allow yourself an hour or so to sit down with your legs elevated to get the circulation going again.

Elevation is a good thing in general as it makes it easier for the veins to push blood to the heart, so when you’re in bed or even just on the sofa, put a pillow under your feet.

Standing in the same position may not be good but neither is sitting for a long time, especially if you’re in the habit of crossing your legs when you sit down. This compresses the veins and can have an adverse effect on the blood supply, so try to avoid doing it.

Women should try to limit the amount of time they are in high heels as the pressure these cause the legs when walking can be damaging, so a lower heel or flat shoe would be recommended and when it comes to clothing, tight-fitting garments that restrict blood flow won’t help the cause either if you’re prone to suffer. If you are in a job where you are on your feet a lot, wear support tights or stockings when the weather allows. These no longer have to be “Nora Batty” style, as very sheer support tights are widely available and thick, coloured opaque tights are always in fashion.

In general terms, maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle will always help – in this case keeping your weight down is particularly important as the heavier you are – particularly across the middle and lower regions – the more effort your legs have to put in.

There is certain evidence to show that vitamin C helps strengthen blood vessel walls, so try to incorporate this in your diet. Fresh fruit and vegetables are your best source, so making sure you get your five a day will ensure your body is getting the required amount.

It is generally their physical appearance that causes people anxiety rather than them pointing at something more serious, but my advice is always to get these things checked out just to be sure.

Excluding sales at the gas pump, sales at clubs open at least a year rose 1.9 percent, also missing analysts' 2.4 percent projection, according to a Thomson Reuters poll. Sales at locations open at least a year are important because they measure performance of established stores rather than newly opened ones.

For the month total sales rose 4.9 percent to $794.6 million from $757.7 million.

BJ's said departments with the strongest sales growth were bakery, cigarettes, computer equipment, dairy, frozen, housewares, meat, milk, produce, small appliances and snacks. Departments with weaker sales compared with last year were air conditioners, health and beauty aids, household chemicals and prerecorded video.

BJ's sales rose in all major regions with the exception of metro New York, which saw a slight decrease. Excluding sales of gasoline, 3 percent more customers came to BJ's stores but the average transaction amount dropped about 1 percent. Sales of food increased by 4 percent while sales of general merchandise decreased by about 1 percent.

The company currently operates 189 BJ's Wholesale clubs in 15 states.

Market Philippines on Wednesday opened its local office at an 850-square meter space at the 15th floor of the Philam Life Tower on Paseo de Roxas, Makati City, its 6th expansion, as a prelude to a grand launch in April.

Market Philippines country manager Liz Tanchuco said the company eyes initially to sell $12 million in the first year of operations.

Built on the same business model as Market America’s US operations, Market Philippines will revolutionize the online retail business in the country while giving business opportunity to Filipinos, part time and fulltime.

Tanchuco said the potential for internet penetration in the Philippines is growing at a fast clip from the current 24 percent. There are 24 million Filipinos using the internet with 1,100 percent growth cited in the last nine years and 41 million Filipino users projected by 2014.

About 13 percent of internet users buy products and services online with total spending of $312 million.

The company also noted a growing number of Filipino "entrepreneurs" such as those who sell their products via social networking sites, and online resellers like Ayos Dito and Sulit.

"We will be the eBay and Amazon of the Philippines," Tanchuco said.

Tanchuco said the Market Philippines would initially be offering its top products for health, wellness and beauty such as like Isotonix-OPC3 Digestive Enzymes; Ultimate Aloe-Natural and Cranberry Apple; Heart Health Essential Omega III; Motives and; Royal Spa/Skintelligence. By next year, it would offer SNAP home care products.

in three weeks.

The Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin, which preserves cultural materials, launched a public appeal earlier this month to raise $30,000 to restore five dresses worn by Vivien Leigh in the Oscar-winning film.

Fans contribute
The costumes, from the collection of filmmaker David O Selznick who produced Gone With The Wind, A Star Is Born and Rebecca, were described as being in a fragile condition and in need of restoration.

The museum said more than 600 people from 44 US states and 13 countries contributed to the appeal. “These generous donations confirm that the film’s legions of fans do care,” Steve Wilson, film curator at the Ransom Center, said in a statement. He said the donations will help purchase protective housing and custom-fitted mannequins to allow for them to be exhibited according to conservation’s best practices and standards.

The Ransom Center also wants to display the costumes in 2014, as part of an exhibition to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Gone With The Wind and loan the dresses to other museums around the world.

No further damage
Jill Morena, the museum’s collection assistant for costumes, said the Selznick collection came to the centre in the 1980s and the gowns had been kept in humidity and temperature-controlled conditions in acid-free tissue paper in archival boxes, but damage was inevitable.

“Most costumes are not constructed to last beyond the production of the film nor are they finished in the same way as a ready-to-wear garment,” said Morena.

“We’ve taken steps to prevent further damage, but we want to be able to safely display and share the dresses.” The dresses include a burgundy ball gown that Scarlett wore to Ashley Wilkes’ birthday party, the wedding dress when she married Charles Hamilton, a blue velvet peignoir and a green velvet dressing gown.

The collection also includes the green velvet dress that a struggling Scarlett O’Hara made from some curtains before she went to ask Rhett Butler for financial assistance.

London Wedding offers cars with spacious and comfortable interiors in fine finishing as well as a fully equipped bar, a statement said.

“The cars were designed by British interior designers and custom made for the Lebanese market to provide a new experience, a five-star wedding transportation experience,” said Rabih Dib, corporate communications manager of London Taxi in Lebanon.

“The cars were specially made to be a wedding car in terms of the large doors where the groom can easily get inside the car and sit without any problem or worries that she might ruin her wedding dress, while the photographer and the videographer can take wide angle cameras inside the car.”

The car offers privacy inside with its separation glass as well as the curtains, Dib said.

“A DVD /Mp3 player is located on the bar where you can choose from a collection of music along with your champagne or any drink from your choice,” Dib added.

“At the moment we have three London Wedding cars available, and we already started booking, with prices ranging from $600 to $1000 plus, depending on how many hours, the locations and what our clients need in the car,” he concluded. – TradeArabia News Service

Australian gold made way for tangerine orange as the formal team uniform for next month's Commonwealth Games was unveiled in Melbourne on Friday.

But there was also something for the traditionalists, with the competition uniforms still very much the conventional green and gold.

Men's 400m runner Sean Wroe cut some Zoolander moves on the catwalk as he modelled the men's uniform, designed by Australian corporate wardrobe supplier, Table Eight Corporate, who also designed outfits for the past two Commonwealth Games.

Wroe donned a grey corded cotton suit over the orange shirt, with a silver tie and grey slip-on shoes sans socks.

Olympic swimming champion Leisel Jones showcased the women's outfit, which featured a jade green shirt, covered by a three-quarter sleeved grey jacket with a tied waist, and matching wrap-around skirt, which was her favourite item.

While some may be dismayed by the introduction of colours such as orange, and pink and blue which have been used in the casual uniform range, the athletes seemed happy with the spectrum.

"The colours are very bright ... it's very hard to work with green and gold to make it look really good but this is actually a really good shade of green," Jones said.

"I think it's going to be pretty flattering and I think the boys are going to be pretty happy with orange, I think it's a bit different."

Jones said the fabric was light and cool, which would be ideal for the expected hot conditions in Delhi.

Wroe, who is aiming to defend Australia's gold medal in the 400m relay, gave the suit the thumbs up.

"I really like it, it's really light which was the first thing I noticed, which I think will be great for Delhi.

"I was a little bit surprised by the colour of the shirt and some people may not be able to pull it off but it should be a bit of fun."

The Jade Buddha for Universal Peace is in Seattle for about a week as part of its world tour. I went to the Vietnamese Buddhist temple to see it Saturday afternoon. The story of the nine-foot-tall, four-ton sculpture can be found here www.jadebuddha.org.au/en/ See a larger image of the Buddha in the comments.

In a recent interview, Tom talked about his excitement over “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” and his sadness over the end of the series.

“I very much doubt a series of films like this will ever be produced again, and, yes, this is the end of Harry Potter, unless JK Rowling starts writing again, and I would love to return to the part.”

“It’s also been a great stepping stone and a wonderful chance to work with the cream of British film and stage. It has been a truly inspirational cast, and, for us, being so young when we started out on the first film, we’ve learnt so much from these legendary actors and actresses as well as producers and directors.”

"I guess it’s a mixed emotion now it’s all over. On the one hand it was a wonderful experience and great fun, but on the other it is kind of sad.”

ULTIMATE Big Brother star Josie has told OK! Magazine that Jade Goody is her idol.

She said: "To be compared to her is like a dream. I think we would have been mates. I hope so!"

Not least JADE EWEN - as Nadine is recording a song Jade was due to sing on her debut album before she replaced KEISHA BUCHANAN in the SUGABABES.

Jade said: "I don't know how I'll feel when I hear it.

"It will be weird but I guess it will be like when Keisha would have listened to the stuff I re-recorded.

"You can't get caught up in all of that. We're in a positive place right now."

Nadine's future in GIRLS ALOUD is still up in the air but the Sugababes won't be offering any guidance - despite their unrivalled experience coping with internal bust-ups.

Jade's bandmate HEIDI RANGE said: "I don't think we are ones to dish out advice on whether they should replace Nadine or carry on as a foursome."

PLENTY of interested ears will be sounding out GIRLS ALOUD singer NADINE COYLE's new solo album.

Not least JADE EWEN - as Nadine is recording a song Jade was due to sing on her debut album before she replaced KEISHA BUCHANAN in the SUGABABES.

Jade said: "I don't know how I'll feel when I hear it.

"It will be weird but I guess it will be like when Keisha would have listened to the stuff I re-recorded.

"You can't get caught up in all of that. We're in a positive place right now."

Nadine's future in GIRLS ALOUD is still up in the air but the Sugababes won't be offering any guidance - despite their unrivalled experience coping with internal bust-ups.

Jade's bandmate HEIDI RANGE said: "I don't think we are ones to dish out advice on whether they should replace Nadine or carry on as a foursome."

Only the winner of the Key Marco Cat replica knows his or her identity. That’s the way the game worked. Anybody could go into Iberia Bank and get a ticket. If you are among the hundreds who did, check your number. Then contact Keith Dameron at Iberia Bank. The winning number also is posted in the bank.

The Key Marco Cat reproduction is the creation of artist Peter Sottong. He is known for his recreations of Calusa Indian art.

Marco’s new microbrewery is set to open next week

The Marco Island Brewery will open its doors next Friday, Sept. 10. The combination microbrewery, bar and restaurant will serve lunch that day, plus host happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m., as well as dinner and a late night menu. The sure-to-be hot spot is in the space at Town Center Mall previously occupied by Bubbalini’s.

It is the only microbrewery in Collier County. And owner Frank Lacava has virtually gutted the interior space and added outdoor seating, plus 24 flat screen hi-def TVs and the NFL game package. Welcome to the brewery. Cheers!

Life is good, but...

For Dave and Rose Prasek, “Life is Good” is a complicated phrase. First, they bought Island Treasures, the “everything fun” store in Shops of Marco on South Barfield Drive near the Publix.

“At the time we took ownership four years ago this November, store sales were on a downward trend,” Dave says. “But that turned out to be our best year to date. It has continued to decline since then.”

So that is in the “Life is good, but” department.

Then there’s the fact that the Praseks are living in beautiful Marco Island. That, for them and many of us, translates to, “Life is Good, really.”

High on the list of good things is the fact that their son Ryan recently graduated from Florida State University and has a job in a field he loves, sports television production. That’s a “Life is Good, super.”

Down the list of priorities but still a fun factor at the shop is the “Life is Good” line of apparel.

“We have it, it’s popular, and we’re hoping to expand that.”

So what else counts as an “Island Treasure” available at Island Treasures, the store?

“We have items for both visitors and locals. We have Marco-named clothing and gifts, but we also have other items, shirts and shorts for ladies that don’t have the Marco Island name on them. And we carry a lot of picture frames, some with the Marco name, some without.

“What carries us is a lot of T-shirts, souvenir items, like the shot glasses and picture frames. We also have a lot of glassware, Dynasty Glassware, different potpourris and scents, books for kids, educational books about the seashells and fish, and birds of the area.”

Dave and Rose went to the wholesale gift show recently, as they do every year.

“We didn’t go as crazy as in past years, definitely bought more conservatively. We’re gearing up for season and hopefully we’ll get some more people in here and I’ll make some money to cover the bills.”

That would be in the “Life is Good, even better” category.

2wice As Nice offering a ‘thrice as nice’ Labor Day sale

Well, maybe our math is skewed, but the point is, Marco’s only upscale consignment shop for fine men and women’s clothing is going all out for the Labor Day weekend.

The super tag sale runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow, Sept. 4.

Clothes and accessories will be tagged, each color representing a special deal. Among the nine colors of good deals, for example, are yellow tagged items at 50 percent off, a purple tag will get you a 60 percent discount deal and so on.

A reminder: 2wice As Nice now has a men’s clothing department, enjoying its place among the ladies, um, things.

Another deal is, anyone who brings in designer handbags that are accepted for consignment will get 55 percent of the eventual sale price of those items. That offer expires Sept. 15.

2wice As Nice is at 291 S. Collier Blvd. Phone: (239) 389-0227.

Liz Claiborne closing at Prime Outlets mall

The Liz Claiborne outlet store up Collier Boulevard is closing, along with all of the brand’s other outlet stores in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

The reason seems straightforward. The company notes it has had “meaningful operating losses” in its 87 outlet store operations.

A spokesman for the company said there’s no date certain for closing the doors, but that in the meantime, the store is offering deep discounts in its going-out-of-business sale.

Chris Curle is a former news anchor for CNN and for ABC-TV stations in Washington DC, Atlanta and Houston. E-mail chris@chriscurle.com.

Don is a former ABC News correspondent and bureau chief and a former news anchor for CNN and ABC-TV in Atlanta. His Farmer File column appears Fridays in the Naples Daily News. E-mail: don@donfarmer.com.

The event, set for Wednesday, Sept. 8, will begin at the Atrium on Main building here.

Registration begins at 9 a.m., and attendees will receive gift bags with discount coupons for High Point Design Center member showrooms, which will be open all day. A free lunch will be followed by a presentation by Terri Maurer, past president of the national American Society of Interior Designers and co-author of "Interior Design in Practice." CEU credits will be offered to qualified designers.

A raffle is set for 2 p.m. in the Swaim and Christopher Guy showrooms in the Swaim Design Center.

Designers attending the event must provide trade credentials and must RSVP. For more information, contact Jean Kester at billk@northstate.net or (336) 882-7404.

The High Pint Design Center is composed of more than 50 design showrooms and buildings in High Point that are open year-round.

The discount outlet is across the street from the Triangle's only Nordstrom, in Durham's Streets at Southpoint mall on Fayetteville Road. The retailer is betting there will be demand from bargain-hungry shoppers, especially as the economy remains shaky. Merchandise in a Nordstrom Rack typically is 50 percent to 60 percent less than Nordstrom's original prices.

Hundreds of eager shoppers - mostly women - lined up for the grand opening Thursday, arriving early and waiting in a line that snaked past the other storefronts in the center.

Winner Latarsha Casterlow lives in Greensboro and came directly from a shift working as a technician in a pathology lab. Casterlow said this is the first time she has ever won anything and that she had a great time shopping. Having recently lost a lot of weight, she said she focused on basics she needed: skirts, sweaters and fall items. But the one thing she loves most is a brown leather motorcycle jacket. The shopping spree came just in time, Casterlow said. Without it, she may have had to explore other options for building a new wardrobe.

"The whole time I was losing weight, [my friend&91; said she was going to sign me up for 'What Not to Wear,' " she said.

TrueCar.com has come up with a consumer-friendly way of looking at auto pricing data.

Shoppers on the Santa Monica-based company’s site can sort autos by segment and price.

Let’s say you are shopping for a family sedan. You type in your ZIP Code and your price range -– say $20,000 to $25,000 and uncheck all the selections but sedans.  

TrueCar then generates a list of vehicles, including their sticker price, and the price one of the dealers it works with is willing to sell the car for and figures the percentage discount. The prices don’t include sales tax, registration and document fee because those vary by state and city.

You can get the information without disclosing who you are or committing to use TrueCar' auto sales referral service. And it is useful for figuring out what to purchase, what is in your price range and where to start any negotiations with a dealer.

You can also check the pricing against a variety of other data TrueCar offers on its site, including a bell curve and price points for closed transactions in your region, which is particularly helpful information when shopping for a new vehicle.

A search for family sedans in that price range in Southern California turned up everything from a 2010 Buick Lucerne for $24,118, offered at 20% off the sticker price, to a 2011 Toyota Camry for $20,891, 13% off the sticker price.

About 20 percent of the Off 5th merchandise is from full-price stores. Another 20 percent is a mix of Saks private labels, and the remaining offerings come from deals worked out with manufacturers that either have excess fabric or manufacturing capacity.

"It will be very good for the center," said retail analyst Jennifer Black, whose office is in Lake Oswego.

"It will attract more people to Bridgeport because of the value nature Off 5th offers," Curiosity will draw a lot of shoppers.

She cautioned, however, that merchandise made specifically for the store may be of lesser quality than that offered at the full-price Saks.

"You get what you pay for," Black said.

Wallstrom said the when he joined Off 5th in 2007, the economy was strong, and outlet malls were growing and successful.

"We thought it was a great opportunity to capture some market share," he said.

Then when the economy changed, the "value channel" gained strength.

"Going forward, Off 5th will play a role," Wallstrom said. "It's not replacing the full-line retail, it's just another part of the landscape."

As for what will happen to retail in the next few months, Wallstrom said, "Everybody wishes they had a crystal ball."

So far this year, the signs are good, but the future is uncertain.

"We're all watching the economy right now. It's fragile," he said.

[In Pictures: 8 Painless Ways to Save Money.&91;

The first time I opened my mouth and dared to ask for a discount I instantly scored 10 percent off -- a savings of $5 on a pair of denim jeans on clearance. It doesn't sound like much, but over the years I've honed my haggling skills and saved myself thousands of dollars, just by asking the right questions to the right person. You might be surprised by how easy it is to save a few bucks -- just by following these 10 tips you too can get an instant discount on anything.

1. Find the store manager.

Whether you're shopping for shoes or electronics, your golden path to discount nirvana usually starts with the person in charge. Most store managers have the power to instantly discount merchandise by up to 15 percent, while many employees don't have the authority to save you a dime. The key is to always be respectful of store employees since many work on commission, and kindly ask if the manager is available to answer a few questions.

2. Ask the right question.

"Is this the best price you can offer me?" It's a simple question to ask, and politely posing it to the right person is free. The only cost to you is the possible disappointment of walking away with zero savings or leaving the store without your purchase. Just don't be disrespectful or difficult when you deal -- many stores were hit hard during the recession and may not be able to discount to your ideal asking price.

3. Offer to pay in cash.

Merchant credit card transaction fees can range from 2 to 8 percent, costing retailers big bucks. Offering to pay for your purchase in cash could easily save you money if the vendor is able to slash those built-in fees from a cash-only sale. Paying in cash can also help you win the war on plastic -- check out these 5 Ways to beat your credit card debt for helpful tips.

4. Shop the less busy hours.

Consumer Reports says that serious shoppers should learn to time their haggle in the evening or early hours when stores are usually less busy and so clerks have time to talk. "Late in the month, when salespeople are trying to meet their quotas, can be a good time to bargain for big-ticket items."

5. Click to comparison shop.

Before stepping foot in a store, educate yourself first by doing your research online. Always check online flyers and competitor prices to find the best deal of the day and to download printable in-store coupons. Vendors want your business and may beat a posted price if you can show them the competitor's deal.

[See 5 Sneaky Ways to Save $100 a Month.&91;

6. Skip the store, shop online.

If you know your size or don't need it today, ordering online may be your best path to scoring a discount. Many brick-and-mortar businesses offer online shoppers Web deals and deep discounts -- pricing they don't usually offer in-store shoppers due to shelving space costs. And many online retailers can often discount over traditional businesses since they don't have expensive store-front spaces to pay for.

7. Use secret online coupons.

Online shoppers can save even more money by searching the internet for secret promotional or coupon codes. Just launch your favorite Web browser, open your preferred search engine, and enter the retailer's name and the words coupon code. Depending on your search results, you may find several promotional codes that can be entered into your online shopping cart. See 8 Stealth Ways to Uncover Big Savings with Secret Online Coupons for more sneaky cost-cutting coupon tips.

[Visit the U.S. News Personal Finance site for more insight and money management tips.&91;

8. Find the flaw.

Does the table have a visible scratch? Is the shirt missing a button? If you don't mind a flaw or two, then choose to buy the less-than-perfect item to save money. Most retailers will offer discounts on floor models and demonstration merchandise if they show signs of wear and tear but are still perfectly safe and usable. Bigger deals can be found on items sold "AS-IS", but be aware that these generally cannot be returned or exchanged.

9. Review your service plans.

When was the last time you checked your cable, satellite television, internet, or cell phone service plans? Chances are the competition may offer deals for those disgruntled customers looking to make a switch. If you love your current provider, it could still pay to comparison shop the competition and ask your vendor to match the deal.

10. Shop out of season.

Buying an air conditioner in the cold of winter or shopping for snow tires in the heat of summer can save you up to 75 percent off the in-season price. When seasons change, retailers must clear out their inventory to make room for new seasonal stock and will often offer deep discounts to savvy shoppers not bothered by last season's items. So shopping for fancy chocolate after Valentine's Day and stocking up on wrapping paper after Christmas is the smart way to snag a discount when living on a tight budget.

The results provided a sliver of hope for the recovery amid an unrelenting batch of bad news, from slumping home prices and high unemployment, that have pointed to a stalling economy and set up dire expectations for the back-to-school shopping season. Still, the retailers' gains mask underlying weakness in consumer spending as they're being compared with declines a year ago and worries still abound about the critical holiday season.

Shoppers remain selective and are focusing on the necessities, a trend that is expected to continue through at least the holiday shopping season.

The International Council of Shopping Centers's index of 31 major retailers was up 3.2 percent in August, following a 2.8 percent gain in July. August's figure was a little better than the 3 percent increase forecast but is being compared with a 2.0 percent drop a year ago.

The figures are based on revenue at stores opened at least a year, considered a key measurement of retailer health because it excludes the effects of stores that open or close during the year.

In fact, spending on many nonessentials such as fashions is still below 2008 and are roughly equal to five years ago, according to MasterCard Advisors' SpendingPulse, which tracks all transactions including checks.

"We'll finish with an OK back-to-school season, but that's being compared with two back-to-back seasons of declines," said Michael P. Niemira, chief economist at International Council of Shopping Centers. "The overall retail industry isn't seeing enough (sales) lift to bring with it the entire industry."

As retailers reported results Thursday, Costco Wholesale Corp. posted a robust gain, boosted by higher gas prices and improved international revenue. Limited Brands Inc. and Macy's Inc. also had solid revenue increases. Still, a number of clothing stores such as Aeropostale Inc. and Gap Inc. had weak results. Target Corp.'s results came in below expectations.

Retailers, including many teen merchants, aggressively promoted jeans and other fashions in July as they sought to lure jittery shoppers in the stores. Tax-free holidays in nearly 20 states also helped attract customers.But still shoppers focusing on replenishing items and relentlessly hot weather depressed shoppers' appetite for buying fall items.

The Conference Board's monthly survey, released Tuesday, showed shoppers feeling slightly more optimistic in August than July - but not more than a year ago. And there's no reason in sight for them to feel better soon.

Home sales are plunging, and consumers are saving more and spending less as the unemployment rate remains stuck at almost 10 percent. The Labor Department is expected to report the fourth straight month of tepid job gains in the private sector on Friday.

"Consumers are buying what they absolutely need and are being very careful about it," said retail consultant Emanual Weintraub.

Costco said that revenue at stores open at least a year increased 7 percent in August, buoyed by higher gas prices and improved international revenue.

This topped the 4.2 percent rise analysts expected, according to by Thomson Reuters. But fourth-quarter and full-year revenue missed Wall Street expectations.

Target said sales of back-to-school items and food helped revenue in stores open at least a year rise 1.8 percent in August. But the discount retailer's results fell just short of expectations for a 2 percent increase. Food, health care and beauty items were the strongest sellers. Electronics and home decorations were weaker.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. no longer reports revenue at stores opened a least a year on a monthly basis.

Limited, operator of Victoria's Secret and Bath and Body Works, posted a 10 percent gain in August. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters, on average, expected the figure to rise 7.3 percent.

Gap said its key sales figure rose was flat in August, helped by better results at its Banana Republic chain.

Among department stores, Macy's said revenue rose in August as back-to-school shopping helped the company top Wall Street forecasts. Revenue from locations open at least a year rose 4.3 percent during the month.

J.C. Penney Co. had a 2.3 percent increase. Overall, men's and children's apparel were the top performing merchandise divisions during the month. Kohl's Corp.'s reoprted a better-than-expected 4.5 percent gain on strong sales of home and men's merchandise, and footwear.

Among teen retailers, Aeropostale Inc., hurt by the aggressive discounting at competitor Abercrombie & Fitch Co., struggled with a 1 percent decline, missing analysts' expectations of a 1.2 percent gain. The company said it had better results in peak back-to-school regions, showing shoppers are buying more close to when they need the items.

While some overseas designers are refusing to use models who are too thin or too young, Wiren has no such qualms: No restrictions.

"When we are selecting models I'm looking for an attitude and a presence and a look," she says.

Oh, but they do need to fit into the sample size garments. Size, small.

Her job is to design clothes, not to oversee models' wellbeing. She has previously cast girls as young as 14 years, and is happy for guardians to accompany them backstage but says it is up to the agencies to make sure they are looked after.

Last weekend, the Herald on Sunday's revelation that TV3 digitally altered images of New Zealand's Next Top Model contestants to look thinner was not the big shock. The real surprise was that the image retouchers butchered the images so badly. Contestants Amelia Gough and Lara Clare Kingsbeer were left looking as if someone had taken to their legs with blunt snips.

It took less than a week for more allegations of photo tampering to hit the Top Model franchise. Promotional material for the new season of America's Next Top Model, which premieres in the US on Wednesday, appears to show the bodies of two contestants on the same pair of legs.

Utter the word "Photoshop" to most people who work in the fashion or magazine industry and you will be met with a shrug of indifference. All images, they say, are doctored.

In the digital era, images can be manipulated any way its creator desires. Slimmer. Taller. Change skin colour. Swap body parts. Nothing is impossible and nothing is illegal.

Even news organisations are not bound by law when it comes to the images they publish but operate under self-regulating policies. The industry standard is to allow the enhancement of photographs for clarity and definition but altering the composition is a big no-no.

The manipulation of images is spreading. Political candidates put their best face forward on campaign posters and individuals enhance snapshots they post online.

But politicians around the world are calling foul on the proliferation of unrealistic images, particularly in fashion and celebrity media. UK Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone wants a health warning on airbrushed photographs, telling viewers they are not real. French MP Valerie Boyer is advocating the same move in France.

In July, Australia's Federal Minister of Youth Affairs Kate Ellis released voluntary guidelines for the fashion and publishing industries that have been dubbed the "skinny model code of conduct".

The code contains a range of recommendations designed to promote positive and healthy body images by:

* Disclosing when images have been retouched and refraining from enhancing photographs in a way that changes a person's body shape by, for example, lengthening their legs or trimming their waist or by removing freckles, lines and other distinguishing marks.
* Only using models aged 16 or older to model adult clothes on catwalks and in print.
* Refraining from using models who are very thin or male models who are excessively muscular.

In New Zealand, Women's Affairs Minister Pansy Wong says the Government has no plans to legislate to control photographic touch-ups, but she is urging media to accurately portray women.

"New Zealand women come in all shapes and sizes," she adds, "and we should be celebrating that diversity, rather than promoting unrealistic expectations about body shape."

As Auckland gears up for another New Zealand Fashion Week this month, the issue of excessively skinny models is again under the spotlight. The New Zealand fashion industry line is that local models are a healthier size than overseas.

Theresa Peters, acting agency manager for Eden (Eating Difficulties Education Network): "We see clients who are affected by the images they see in the media. We also have seen clients who were in the fashion industry and saw an enormous amount of pressure to be below a certain weight, and that very much affected their eating habits and mental wellbeing."

Eden teaches media literacy and critical analysis courses in schools and the wider community educating people on what goes into creating the glossy photographs. Peters supports the idea of labelling altered pictures.

"Those images are selling product and that's the way the fashion industry are putting them out there, but I think the public has a right to know they are being manipulated and these are not real images," says Peters.

The YWCA also supports more transparency from the fashion industry. When the Australian code of conduct was announced the organisation lobbied Youth Affairs Minister Paula Bennett to adopt a similar policy. It received no response. Bennett refused to comment for this story. Sarah Davies, YWCA strategic development manager, says groups around the country are reporting young women feel pressure to be someone they are not and are developing low self-esteem and eating disorders.

One of the first magazines to sign up for the Australian code of conduct was Australian Women's Weekly whose editor-in-chief Helen McCabe announced her magazine would begin labelling digitally-altered photographs of celebrities.

In Auckland, Next magazine editor Christina Sayers Wickstead thinks having a health warning on manip-ulated images is a "fantastic idea".

"The more women know, the more positive it is for them," she says.

However, photographs in Next undergo some digital polishing.

"We do Photoshop, and the reason we do it is because when you don't sales aren't the same," says Sayers Wickstead.

The trick when adjusting images, she says, is enhancing without turning them into cartoons. It's knowing there is beauty in Cindy Crawford's mole and the gap in Lauren Hutton's teeth.

Occasionally, Metro and North & South art director Jenny Nicholls carries out "kind surgery" on ordinary people.

Models are another story. "I've often Photoshopped a model to make them look fatter," says Nicholls. One turned up for a shoot looking far more emaciated than the photo on the modelling agency website, she says: "Her arms looked like Belsen victim arms."

Top photographer Monty Adams thinks warnings on photographs is "crap". "Models are young, they're slim, they're tall. Not everyone is like that. It's unrealistic from the word go. It's go]]> It's two weeks before the first model struts down a catwalk at New Zealand Fashion Week and local designer Cybele Wiren is still casting for her show.

While some overseas designers are refusing to use models who are too thin or too young, Wiren has no such qualms: No restrictions.

"When we are selecting models I'm looking for an attitude and a presence and a look," she says.

Oh, but they do need to fit into the sample size garments. Size, small.

Her job is to design clothes, not to oversee models' wellbeing. She has previously cast girls as young as 14 years, and is happy for guardians to accompany them backstage but says it is up to the agencies to make sure they are looked after.

Last weekend, the Herald on Sunday's revelation that TV3 digitally altered images of New Zealand's Next Top Model contestants to look thinner was not the big shock. The real surprise was that the image retouchers butchered the images so badly. Contestants Amelia Gough and Lara Clare Kingsbeer were left looking as if someone had taken to their legs with blunt snips.

It took less than a week for more allegations of photo tampering to hit the Top Model franchise. Promotional material for the new season of America's Next Top Model, which premieres in the US on Wednesday, appears to show the bodies of two contestants on the same pair of legs.

Utter the word "Photoshop" to most people who work in the fashion or magazine industry and you will be met with a shrug of indifference. All images, they say, are doctored.

In the digital era, images can be manipulated any way its creator desires. Slimmer. Taller. Change skin colour. Swap body parts. Nothing is impossible and nothing is illegal.

Even news organisations are not bound by law when it comes to the images they publish but operate under self-regulating policies. The industry standard is to allow the enhancement of photographs for clarity and definition but altering the composition is a big no-no.

The manipulation of images is spreading. Political candidates put their best face forward on campaign posters and individuals enhance snapshots they post online.

But politicians around the world are calling foul on the proliferation of unrealistic images, particularly in fashion and celebrity media. UK Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone wants a health warning on airbrushed photographs, telling viewers they are not real. French MP Valerie Boyer is advocating the same move in France.

In July, Australia's Federal Minister of Youth Affairs Kate Ellis released voluntary guidelines for the fashion and publishing industries that have been dubbed the "skinny model code of conduct".

The code contains a range of recommendations designed to promote positive and healthy body images by:

* Disclosing when images have been retouched and refraining from enhancing photographs in a way that changes a person's body shape by, for example, lengthening their legs or trimming their waist or by removing freckles, lines and other distinguishing marks.
* Only using models aged 16 or older to model adult clothes on catwalks and in print.
* Refraining from using models who are very thin or male models who are excessively muscular.

In New Zealand, Women's Affairs Minister Pansy Wong says the Government has no plans to legislate to control photographic touch-ups, but she is urging media to accurately portray women.

"New Zealand women come in all shapes and sizes," she adds, "and we should be celebrating that diversity, rather than promoting unrealistic expectations about body shape."

As Auckland gears up for another New Zealand Fashion Week this month, the issue of excessively skinny models is again under the spotlight. The New Zealand fashion industry line is that local models are a healthier size than overseas.

Theresa Peters, acting agency manager for Eden (Eating Difficulties Education Network): "We see clients who are affected by the images they see in the media. We also have seen clients who were in the fashion industry and saw an enormous amount of pressure to be below a certain weight, and that very much affected their eating habits and mental wellbeing."

Eden teaches media literacy and critical analysis courses in schools and the wider community educating people on what goes into creating the glossy photographs. Peters supports the idea of labelling altered pictures.

"Those images are selling product and that's the way the fashion industry are putting them out there, but I think the public has a right to know they are being manipulated and these are not real images," says Peters.

The YWCA also supports more transparency from the fashion industry. When the Australian code of conduct was announced the organisation lobbied Youth Affairs Minister Paula Bennett to adopt a similar policy. It received no response. Bennett refused to comment for this story. Sarah Davies, YWCA strategic development manager, says groups around the country are reporting young women feel pressure to be someone they are not and are developing low self-esteem and eating disorders.

One of the first magazines to sign up for the Australian code of conduct was Australian Women's Weekly whose editor-in-chief Helen McCabe announced her magazine would begin labelling digitally-altered photographs of celebrities.

In Auckland, Next magazine editor Christina Sayers Wickstead thinks having a health warning on manip-ulated images is a "fantastic idea".

"The more women know, the more positive it is for them," she says.

However, photographs in Next undergo some digital polishing.

"We do Photoshop, and the reason we do it is because when you don't sales aren't the same," says Sayers Wickstead.

The trick when adjusting images, she says, is enhancing without turning them into cartoons. It's knowing there is beauty in Cindy Crawford's mole and the gap in Lauren Hutton's teeth.

Occasionally, Metro and North & South art director Jenny Nicholls carries out "kind surgery" on ordinary people.

Models are another story. "I've often Photoshopped a model to make them look fatter," says Nicholls. One turned up for a shoot looking far more emaciated than the photo on the modelling agency website, she says: "Her arms looked like Belsen victim arms."

Top photographer Monty Adams thinks warnings on photographs is "crap". "Models are young, they're slim, they're tall. Not everyone is like that. It's unrealistic from the word go. It's go]]> http://www.dinnel.com/news/5876/Make-a-smooth-transition-into-fall-with-layering.html Sun, 05 Sep 2010 22:57:11 +0000 http://www.dinnel.com/news/5876/Make-a-smooth-transition-into-fall-with-layering.html Labor Day weekend begins the in-between season. It’s not quite time to put away the summer clothes, but sleeveless tops and sundresses don’t seem entirely appropriate, either.

One way to bridge the gap is through the judicious use of sweaters, tights and leggings. You might be surprised at the mileage you can get by pairing these items with summery dresses, says Julia Doughty, a floor manager at Hemline on the Country Club Plaza.

Hemline’s interpretation of a taffeta dress seen at a French fashion show “has a great statement shoulder — an upside-down bow,” Doughty says. With the addition of a beige sweater, “This piece transitions from a summer evening dress to fall to winter, and from day to evening. It’s very versatile.”

Although Hemline’s sleeveless dress comes in a rich autumnal brown, cheerful print dresses are also candidates for the sweater treatment. Just add a brightly hued cardigan to increase their seasonal staying power.

The macabre tale began when a trunk with the mummified remains of a baby and a foetus was found in the basement of an Los Angeles apartment building.

They were wrapped in sheets and crumpled copies of 1930s newspapers in a trunk which also contained Peter Pan-related memorabilia and that set the investigation trail towards Barrie's homeland.

The abandoned trunk was described as a 1930s time capsule with jewellery, an iron, girdle, figurine, books, photos, documents and a painted cigar box inside.

Two women clearing the basement found the babies when they looked into a doctor's bag in the trunk. It is not known if the babies had been born alive or had been miscarried or aborted.

One of them, a girl, was apparently newborn and extremely well preserved, according to transatlantic sources.

She had thick brown hair and her arms lay by her sides while her legs were folded up to her chest.

The other baby was much smaller and in worse condition. It is believed it could have been a foetus or born prematurely.

There were no signs of trauma to the babies.

Law officers in the States have now said they believe the trunk belonged to a Janet M. Barrie, who emigrated to the US from Scotland in the mid-1920s and was a nurse in Los Angeles.

She died in the 1990s having worked for, and then married, dentist George Knapp.

DNA tests

He is understood to have died in 1968, after which his widow moved to Vancouver and investigators who have tracked down relatives of Ms Barrie in Canada are now awaiting DNA tests.

Angus historian and Peter Pan authority Sandra Affleck said her knowledge of the Barrie family tree did not point to there being a lady of that name closely connected to the writer.

"It doesn't rule out the possibility, people in those days had huge families, but I think this is just an example of people trying to find something that isn't there," she said.

"Barrie was 70 in the 1930s and he was unable to have children. He was not a straightforward character, but neither was he wicked or inappropriate.

"It seems that if someone is successful but, at times a figure of some controversy, then there will always be this type of interest."

Los Angeles police chief Charlie Beck said it was important to continue investing resources into the case.

"Justice, even when delayed, is still justice," said Mr Beck.

While some overseas designers are refusing to use models who are too thin or too young, Wiren has no such qualms: No restrictions.

"When we are selecting models I'm looking for an attitude and a presence and a look," she says.

Oh, but they do need to fit into the sample size garments. Size, small.

Her job is to design clothes, not to oversee models' wellbeing. She has previously cast girls as young as 14 years, and is happy for guardians to accompany them backstage but says it is up to the agencies to make sure they are looked after.

Last weekend, the Herald on Sunday's revelation that TV3 digitally altered images of New Zealand's Next Top Model contestants to look thinner was not the big shock. The real surprise was that the image retouchers butchered the images so badly. Contestants Amelia Gough and Lara Clare Kingsbeer were left looking as if someone had taken to their legs with blunt snips.

It took less than a week for more allegations of photo tampering to hit the Top Model franchise. Promotional material for the new season of America's Next Top Model, which premieres in the US on Wednesday, appears to show the bodies of two contestants on the same pair of legs.

Utter the word "Photoshop" to most people who work in the fashion or magazine industry and you will be met with a shrug of indifference. All images, they say, are doctored.

In the digital era, images can be manipulated any way its creator desires. Slimmer. Taller. Change skin colour. Swap body parts. Nothing is impossible and nothing is illegal.

Even news organisations are not bound by law when it comes to the images they publish but operate under self-regulating policies. The industry standard is to allow the enhancement of photographs for clarity and definition but altering the composition is a big no-no.

The manipulation of images is spreading. Political candidates put their best face forward on campaign posters and individuals enhance snapshots they post online.

But politicians around the world are calling foul on the proliferation of unrealistic images, particularly in fashion and celebrity media. UK Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone wants a health warning on airbrushed photographs, telling viewers they are not real. French MP Valerie Boyer is advocating the same move in France.

In July, Australia's Federal Minister of Youth Affairs Kate Ellis released voluntary guidelines for the fashion and publishing industries that have been dubbed the "skinny model code of conduct".

The code contains a range of recommendations designed to promote positive and healthy body images by:

* Disclosing when images have been retouched and refraining from enhancing photographs in a way that changes a person's body shape by, for example, lengthening their legs or trimming their waist or by removing freckles, lines and other distinguishing marks.
* Only using models aged 16 or older to model adult clothes on catwalks and in print.
* Refraining from using models who are very thin or male models who are excessively muscular.

In New Zealand, Women's Affairs Minister Pansy Wong says the Government has no plans to legislate to control photographic touch-ups, but she is urging media to accurately portray women.

"New Zealand women come in all shapes and sizes," she adds, "and we should be celebrating that diversity, rather than promoting unrealistic expectations about body shape."

As Auckland gears up for another New Zealand Fashion Week this month, the issue of excessively skinny models is again under the spotlight. The New Zealand fashion industry line is that local models are a healthier size than overseas.

Theresa Peters, acting agency manager for Eden (Eating Difficulties Education Network): "We see clients who are affected by the images they see in the media. We also have seen clients who were in the fashion industry and saw an enormous amount of pressure to be below a certain weight, and that very much affected their eating habits and mental wellbeing."

Eden teaches media literacy and critical analysis courses in schools and the wider community educating people on what goes into creating the glossy photographs. Peters supports the idea of labelling altered pictures.

"Those images are selling product and that's the way the fashion industry are putting them out there, but I think the public has a right to know they are being manipulated and these are not real images," says Peters.

The YWCA also supports more transparency from the fashion industry. When the Australian code of conduct was announced the organisation lobbied Youth Affairs Minister Paula Bennett to adopt a similar policy. It received no response. Bennett refused to comment for this story. Sarah Davies, YWCA strategic development manager, says groups around the country are reporting young women feel pressure to be someone they are not and are developing low self-esteem and eating disorders.

One of the first magazines to sign up for the Australian code of conduct was Australian Women's Weekly whose editor-in-chief Helen McCabe announced her magazine would begin labelling digitally-altered photographs of celebrities.

In Auckland, Next magazine editor Christina Sayers Wickstead thinks having a health warning on manip-ulated images is a "fantastic idea".

"The more women know, the more positive it is for them," she says.

However, photographs in Next undergo some digital polishing.

"We do Photoshop, and the reason we do it is because when you don't sales aren't the same," says Sayers Wickstead.

The trick when adjusting images, she says, is enhancing without turning them into cartoons. It's knowing there is beauty in Cindy Crawford's mole and the gap in Lauren Hutton's teeth.

Occasionally, Metro and North & South art director Jenny Nicholls carries out "kind surgery" on ordinary people.

Models are another story. "I've often Photoshopped a model to make them look fatter," says Nicholls. One turned up for a shoot looking far more emaciated than the photo on the modelling agency website, she says: "Her arms looked like Belsen victim arms."

Top photographer Monty Adams thinks warnings on photographs is "crap". "Models are young, they're slim, they're tall. Not everyone is like that. It's unrealistic from the word go. It's got nothing to do with Photoshop."

Adams has no qualms doing whatever it takes to get the best image. He swaps heads on to different bodies and shaves models thinner.

"If a model's got a bit of a saddlebag, why not pull it in a bit? I don't see anything wrong with it. Anyone who is photographed, if they've got something wrong, a big blotch or a pimple, bag under the eye, unfortunate lighting or whatever, you don't want those amplified on a magazine cover. Get rid of it, thank you very much."

Adams photographed the flattering campaign posters of Helen Clark for the last general election. The result, he insists, was as much the magic of lighting, makeup and photographic trickery as digital enhancement.

"She was never as doctored as everyone said. If you photograph Helen Clark straight on her teeth look straight. Her teeth were never straightened, maybe lightened slightly, that's about it. The whites of the eyes cleared up. Absolutely."

But fellow photographer Charles Howells has seen first hand the level to which deception can go on. He worked in New York shooting superstars such as Britney Spears, Beyonce, Jay Z and Black Eyed Peas. "We did major, major surgery to the point that one of the celebrities wasn't even the celebrity. It was a supermodel's body and they dropped her head on it and it became her album cover."

Howells runs a studio in Auckland specialising in beauty and fashion photography.

After being asked to significantly manipulate photographs for a "real women" magazine story, he put his foot down. He stopped doing anything to his images that misrepresents. He will Photoshop to remove skin blemishes and anything else that detracts attention, e.g. flyaway hairs, but won't change body shapes.

Photographer Karen Inderbitzen-Waller believes there is too much retouched work in New Zealand. She prefers to get the basics right - casting the right model and getting lighting and makeup perfect rather than fixing it up later digitally. "Retouching shows a lack of skill and certainly ruins the final image," she says.

Perhaps it's the willingness to "fix up" valuable celebrity clients - clients whose faces are money - that explains why Adams gets jobs to photograph Keisha Castle-Hughes, Judy Bailey, Robyn Malcolm and many of the TVNZ and TV3 campaigns.

Denis Dutton, philosophy professor of arts and aesthetics at Canterbury University, says the manipulation of images is nothing new. It goes back to Stalin deleting people he had liquidated from photographs. Yet we are still learning to determine what is real or not in media.

Dutton calls health warnings "infantile".

"Do politicians really so underestimate the populace that they think a warning ought to go on a fashion image?

"Maybe every woman who uses makeup ought to have a warning tattooed on her neck.

"The entertainment media, in general, traffic in fantasy. In that respect, the manipulation of images is a legitimate part of the job of entertainment producers. We shouldn't expect it to be otherwise. On the other hand, news editors have the responsibility to present to us undoctored realistic news images. These are not difficult distinctions for anyone to make."

Nonetheless, there have been some notable slip ups in the news world. This newspaper breached its standards in 2005 when it published a photo where a designer had shifted a flying cricket bail a few inches to fit on the page. The then editor apologised and said it wouldn't happen again.

The Economist ran into controversy when its June 19 cover showed President Barack Obama looking downcast on a Louisiana beach during the oil spill disaster. He was not alone but the woman he had been talking to was edited. The magazine insisted the composition was changed for clarity, but the publication was heavily criticised for manipulating the image's meaning.

While manipulation of news images is rare, there are instances. Reuters' photos of the Lebanon War were doctored to make damage look more severe and French paper, Le Parisien, published a picture of French footballers with a dismembered hand resting on a player's shoulder - his image had been added into the group later.

New Zealand Press Council principles state: "Editors should take care in photographic and image selection and treatment. Any technical manipulation that could mislead readers should be noted and explained."

The Press Council receives few complaints regarding the manipulation of images. The last complaint to be upheld was against Investigate magazine's September 2007 issue. The Press Council found a story about Air New Zealand flying US troops to Iraq lacked fairness and the cover montage of an armed soldier, a queue of people and the familiar Koru on the tail of an Air New Zealand jet was misleading and inaccurate.

The fashion press tends to fly beneath the Press Council's radar. But it doesn't take much cyber-sleuthing to discover 52-year-old Madonna does actually have wrinkles and Jennifer Aniston is not as blemish-free as we are led to believe - photoshopdisasters.blogspot.com is a good place to start.

Should you wish to dabble in your own electronic makeovers, there are websites which give step by step instructions on how to "sex up your Facebook photos".

Even Next editor Sayers Wickstead admits to sexing up her image. Despite her magazine's support for images of "real women", wrinkles and all, the photo that accompanies Sayers Wickstead's editor's letter is - shall we say - put through a rigorous production process.

"It's not like if a mate sat opposite and clicked one shot, we'd look like that," she admits.

But she is careful not to distort her look too much through retouching: "Other-wise I'd turn up to events and you wouldn't want people to be disappointed."