Shop Talk: Benefit preview for furniture store

SAVE THE DATE . . . Crate & Barrel announces a benefit cocktail buffet and preview of the new furniture store. The event will be held Tuesday, Oct. 28, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the new store, 398 Arboretum Road (next to Nordstrom). Tickets to the event, which benefits Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford, are $25 per person. For ticket information call 497-8344. A percentage of all Crate & Barrel furniture sales, from opening day on Oct. 29 through November, will be donated to the hospital.

CLEANING UP. . . Ladera Chevron in Portola Valley is in the midst of a remodeling mess due to be completed by mid-October. They are installing a "Touch Free Car Wash" on the premises at 104 La Mesa Drive and Alpine Road. Touch Free means there are no brushes or curtains to scratch, mark or damage the car. For $6.99, the "full works" carwash will include a double-foam wash; wheel wash; poly-shine tri-color wax, which is a cleaner; UV protectant and shine enhancer; soft water and spot-free rinse. (Beats the garden hose in the driveway.) A Vortex dryer will dry the vehicle with no water spots. Vacuums will also be available. You'll get a $1-off carwash coupon with a gas fill-up.

HILDA WINS . . . Rosemary's won a window-decorating contest for downtown merchants in Palo Alto sponsored by Stanford Football and the Downtown Marketing Committee. But Hilda gets all the credit. Hilda is a special mannequin visitor to Rosemary's, according to Barbara Demeter at the store. Hilda appeared at the tailgate scene in the window, wearing a custom-knit Stanford football sweater. Deborah Harley, Rosemary Wardell and Barbara Demeter designed the window display. Watch for Hilda's next visit around Halloween. Rosemary's is at 515 Cowper St. Palo Alto Hardware won second place in the contest with its self-made football fan. Perched in El Palo Alto was an owl wearing a Stanford T-shirt, with arms and legs made of dryer ducting, holding red and white pom poms. The finishing touch, says Cindy Crockett at the store, was the electric fan aimed at the owl's pom poms, so they waved continuously. Cindy Crockett, Paula Fournier and store owner Larry Hassett collaborated on the design. Palo Alto Hardware is at 875 Alma St.

FREE TASTES . . . HomeChef, a kitchen store and cooking school, is offering a free one-hour sample class at the Palo Alto store. You'll learn how to make risotto with caramelized leeks and bell peppers, as well as sample the Homechef teaching methods. The class is offered 13 times over the next seven weeks. For more information, or to register for the class, call HomeChef at 326-3191. The store is at 451 University Ave., Palo Alto.

--Dona van Bronkhorst

Send tips about store openings and closings, great deals and places to buy interesting things to Dona van Bronkhorst, Shop Talk, Palo Alto Weekly, P.O. Box 1610, Palo Alto, CA 94302. You can also leave a message for Shop Talk 24 hours a day at 326-8291, ext. 357, or send e-mail to shopping@paweekly.com

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