To get from the Union Square farmer's market to my house involves a near vertical climb to the summit of Highland Avenue. (Just like tackling K-2, minus the treacherous weather conditions and high injury rate.) I love the exercise — but unfortunately, my lack of coordination turns juggling heirloom tomatoes, beets, goat cheese, bread, and assorted other treats on the walk home into an impromptu sketch comedy.

Thankfully, Crate & Barrel has my number:

Yes, this is a decidedly hipper (and, at $49.95, more expensive) version of the carry cart we bought my grandma last summer — but think about how many times and ways you could use this waterproof, lime green trolley. Trip to Market Basket? Check. Stationery binge at Paper Source? Check.

See, I'm already on a roll.

Sale at Vessel this weekend:

Apologies for the lack of posts kids, but I've been at home and feeling sicker than Anna Wintour at a New Jersey outlet mall. However, thanks to a lot of orange juice and pills I'm back with our first weekly round-up of sales.

KARTELL: Kartell hosts a 60th Anniversary Sale with discounts up to 70 percent off of select merchandise (Example: Panier originally $314 reduced to $99). In addition to discounts up to 40 percent on floor samples and second quality items, Kartell will also be offering percent off of all orders of new merchandise.
10 Saint James Avenue 617-728-4442. www.kartell.com

ALAN BILZERIAN: Both locations, Boston and Newton, have 30 to 50 percent off select spring and summer merchandise. The sale runs through the month of June.
www.alanbilzerian.com.

CRATE AND BARREL: The store is starting to sell off summer merchandise, and there are bargains up to 50 percent off around the store. All locations and online.
www.crateandbarrel.com.

remember.. I want to hear about those sales so I can share them here in our weekly post.

and, what did I do while I was home sick? I caught up on a little of this. Enjoy and have a fun weekend, kids.

These cupcakes bring a whole new meaning to the word rich. Designed by prop stylist Lisa Edsalv and shot by Swedish photographer Therese Aldgard, the treats are inspired by the labels of Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Betsey Johnson, and Christian Louboutin. We can only imagine how expensive these would be if they were actually edible:

[Chanel and Louis Vuitton cupcakes]

[Betsey Johnson cupcakes]

Or, if these cakes are too divine for your tastes, maybe the fashion label lollipops modeled after Louis Vuitton, YSL, Chanel and Gucci logos, and envisioned by photographer Massimo Gammacurta, might be more up your alley?

[YSL and Chanel lollipops]

And you thought only new purses at Saks could make you drool.

Last week I saw Alain Delon in "Purple Noon" and developed a man-crush on the spot. It's the 1960 French version of "The Talented Mr. Ripley," and Delon plays Ripley with such style, that this is a requirement for your Netflix cue. Why are the bad ones always so dreamy? [Insert audible swooning here]

Christian Dior is wisely using a 43-year-old image of Delon for the face of its Eau Savage campaign. The cigarette didn't survive photo shopping, but the rest of this tasty French actor is intact. I'll happily hand over the money for this cologne if it will help me look anything like this:

(stop drooling on your keyboards!)

I have a column in today's Globe about the ever-present and sometimes very annoying status updates on Facebook. Do we really need to hear that our friends had a great yoga workout or what they're eating for dinner? I'm also loving this very funny retro-educational film on Facebook manners.

A few years ago I wrote a story about the envelope-pushing perfumer Christophe Laudamiel, who has developed fragrances for Tom Ford, Ralph Lauren, and Estee Lauder. He's the tremendously talented bad boy of the perfume industry. This spring he's staging the world's first scent opera in NYC.

Laudamiel will be in Boston at the French Library on May 11, and if you're remotely curious about the fragrance industry, you should attend his talk. It's $15, or $10 if you're a member of the French Library. You can RSVP at 617-912-0400.

Here's the description of the night's program:
The world renowned French perfume creator will invite us to travel to the heart of our senses, to biological levels within the universe of emotions awakened by smells. He will show us how olfactory senses are a powerful means of communicating and educating, in the business world, as well as in our personal lives. Laudamiel will talk about the use of technologies associated with the spread of a scent in order to create a specifically intended ambiance or concept.

UPDATE!!! In record time, we have a winner. Rose has won the Wrinkle Arrest with a correct answer of Madonna. Congratulations, Rose!

You don't need me to tell you that It was hotter than Hugh Jackman in a sauna yesterday. I hope you slathered on the sunscreen. Now that we're starting to spend more time outside, it's wrinkle season! To help ward off crow's feet and laugh lines, I'm offering a little prize, my chickens. It's Wrinkle Arrest, a "formula which helps reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, discoloration and other signs of aging."

Would you like to win it? Just tell me the name of the pop singer who will once again star in Louis Vuitton's fall ad campaign. Here's a hint: She's a material girl who recently attempted to adopt an African baby. Post your answer in the comments section. First correct answer takes it. Good luck!

In anticipation of this weekend's balmy temperatures, I'm planning some serious outdoor time. I may not get to my local beach -- otherwise known as South Boston's Irish Rivera, but I am planning to do some work on my long-neglected deck. Ikea is selling outdoor solar lights on the cheap -- of course. For $10 and $15, they charge all day, and the LED lights come on automtically at night. Looks like a nice splash of color for little bit of cash.

UPDATE, WE HAVE A WINNER! Say congrats to Jen, who guessed the correct answer of Matthew Williamson.

Ok, 'Philers. Because I've been so busy (re: internet shopping, reading celebrity gossip blogs, and staring at the photo above), I competely forgot to host a giveaway. This was supposed to be in honor of Nordstrom opening at the Northshore Mall last week. Ah, heck. It's still open (unless the dreaded economy has stomped it already). Go check it out.

The kind folks at Nordstrom sent me a few goodies to share -- makeup, moisturizer, etc. All essentials that every lady (and suspiciously neat gentleman) should have in their medicine chest. Would you like to win these, plus a few home design books I'm tossing into the mix because I'm a nice guy?

All you need to do is answer this question: Which British designer's line for H&M goes on sale on April 23?

Post your answer in comments, and good luck!

It's been a cold, nasty week and I'm tired of all the Debbie Downers going on and on about the economy. So, I decided that you all could use a big, happy, sunny Friday giveaway! One of you lucky Stylephile readers could win:

"Project Runway" contestant Daniel Vosovic's book "Fashion Inside Out"

The eco-fabulous interiors book "Dreaming Green"

Plus some spring makeup from your friends at Shu Uemura. All you need to do is answer this one, easy question:

Who designed the clothes for the upcoming film "Confessions of a Shopaholic"?

The first person to e-mail me at muther@globe.com gets the goods. Don't answer in comments! Good luck, kittens.

OK gals, I know you've been waiting for this one.

There's a lip gloss hitting the maket soon from Purple Lab that contains an appetite surppressant. So while your lips shimmer, your tummy will get slimmer. Too good to be true? Well, you'll get your chance to try it out soon. You can read more about it here. At the very least I'd try it out for the name: Lip Shtick. Genius!

I have two left thumbs when it comes to origami. (Read: The crane is way too advanced.) However, I'm honing my folding and creasing skills so I can churn out paper stilettos and A-line skirts with the best of them:

Yes, well-heeled friends. Random gift purveyor Fred Flare is selling this fashion origami set. For $12, you too can experience blisters and paper cuts from creating mini undergarments and hats. Done and done. Throw in a bottle of red wine and a marathon of "America's Next Top Model," and we've got a perfectly delicious and hilarious Sunday afternoon.

You bet your sweet gladiolas you would. Fantastic news, Dame Edna Everage, the most glamorous housewife to come out of Australia, has been named the new face of MAC cosmetics. It's not the first time that the progressive company has named a cross-dressing gent to be its spokesperson, but Edna is much more of a natural beauty than previous spokestranny RuPaul.

I'm all for starting kids on the path to style from a very young age, which is why I'm totally digging these new Old Navy (yes, Old Navy) games for kids that use the work of American modernist Charley Harper. I'm so smitten of these alphabet flashcards I'm thinking they may need to be displayed as budget artwork in my condo. Well, we are in a recession, afterall.

The Charley Harper collection also includes children's tees, blocks and puzzles. They'll be available through December and November.

Don't get jealous, but this morning I took a shower with Brad Pitt. Before this post gets me into trouble I'll just clarify that Mr. Jolie was not exactly in the shower with me, but his shower gel was. Pitt has teamed with Kiehl's to create Kiehl's Aloe Vera Biodegradable Liquid Body Cleanser ($16.50).

It's free of parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate, and dyes — and it's bottled in 100% recycled plastic. All profits will go to JPF Eco Systems, an eco-charity that Brad created with Kiehl's. Because, you know, he's a dreamy humanitarian.

Wait. You want me to put a vibrating wand mere centimeters from my eye? That could be messy.

Lancôme's new Ôscillation mascara &mdash retailing for $34 — vibrates up and down, which apparently provides better lash coverage. Who knew? The product officially launches in November, but is available now online.

Dr. Courtney says: Not recommended for ommetaphobes (those who fear eyes in general).

I'm not one to nitpick, but hasn't the Vessel store in the South End been open for a few months now? I only know this because I regularly gaze into the window and drool longingly over the well-edited selection of products. Well, even if the store has been open for a while, the housewarming party is finally taking place. It takes place on Oct. 30, and their special guest is knife and furniture designer Adam Simha , who I wrote about last year.

The party at the South End store goes from 6 to 9 p.m., and if you feel like swinging by, you should rsvp to rsvp@vessel.com by Oct. 28.

I am obsessed with cool tees, and if you don't believe me, let me show you the part of my credit card bill that goes to Threadless every month. If you want to see how tees are silkscreened, and you happen to be waaaay up in Beverly, Drive-by-Press will be at the Montserrat College of Art Galleries on Oct. 23 demonstrating how they make tee shirts. There's an artist talk at 11:30 a.m. There's also a print-off on Thursday night from 8 to 10 p.m. where you can get your hands inky and buy some tees.

Madonna's make-up artist, Gina Brooke, is teaching a master makeup class tomorrow morning at the Shu Uemura on Newbury Street. The cost of the class is $250, but the $250 is redeemable in Shu Uemura products. Here are the complete details. Fingers crossed that Gina dishes about Madonna's divorce.

WHAT: Master Class with Gina Brooke, celebrity makeup artist

WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008 from 9 AM to 11 AM (by appointment with $250 pre-pay redeemable in product)

WHERE: shu uemura, 130 Newbury St.

HOW: Call to book your seat, 617-247-3500

UPDATE: We have a winner! A shy reader from Watertown correctly answered that the look below was shown by Martin Margiela as a birthday present to Sonia Rykiel.

OK 'philers.. it's giveaway time!

I've got some product sitting on my desk that I'm itching to send you. First, it's AminoGenesis's DermaScyne, an anti-aging compound/moisturizer. This is high end stuff kids, it sells for $139.

Because it's Thursday and I'm in a sassy mood, I'm tossing in a bottle of Waterford's Lismore perfume, it comes in a Waterford crystal bottle that can be used as a bud vase when the perfume is gone.

So, the first person who can answer this style quiz will win these goodies. Remember, if you're my mother or a friend, you're not eligible, sorry mom. Email your answer to muther@globe.com (don't post in comments, e-mail!). Now, look at the photo below, and tell me which designer showed this hairy look on the runways of Paris this week. Good luck!

With each email, you're helping me clean my desk. Next up: I'm giving away "25 Apartments & Lofts Under 1000 Square Feet." If you'd like to win this book email me (muther@globe.com) and tell me which fashion designer just released a limited edition condom (!).

***UPDATE: We have another winner. The ever-fashionable Jamielle Walker knew the answer is Marc Jacobs.. Congratulations!

Next up... "Printing by Hand: A Modern Guide to Printing with Handmade Stamps, Stencils, and Silk Screens." This book can be all yours if you can tell me who won HGTV's "Design Star." First correct response gets the book.

Really? Must Italy outdo us in every facet of design and fashion? How can it be that 300,000 Coca Light bottles will be wearing Roberto Cavalli at fashion week in Milan, while I sit here at my computer in a J. Crew blazer (bought on sale, natch)?

Not fair:

["My, Coca Light, how that dress hugs your curves!"]

The limited edition bottles, featuring Roberto's signature animal prints, will only be available in L'Italia from September to December. Meow.

Frankly, I don't have time to worry whether my portable plastic water bottle could contain bisphenol. I'm pretty busy writing, shopping, socializing, and being generally fabulous. Let's skip the consternation and snag an aluminum bottle instead, shall we?

And what better bottle to buy (say that five times fast) than Shinzi Katoh's adorable apple option:

[Cute to the core, right?]

Katoh is an Japanese illustrator and designer who specializes in zakka: "the things that make people feel happy and exist like a comfortable air," according to his website. Well, his twee designs certainly make me giddy, keep me hydrated, and allow me to be health conscious in style.

Now, that's a tall, cool glass of water if I do say so myself.

More? Here are some other BPA-free bottles for your drinking pleasure.

I'm completely smitten with the new Ray and Charles Eames stamps that arrived at the post office yesterday. And the timing is ideal because I'm getting sick of using the comic book stamps that I've had for the past year-and-a-half. The sixteen stamps feature the Eames's contributions to art, design, and architecture. I'm such a huge Eames fan that I may geek out and buy a set to frame. Stop looking at me like that! You know you were thinking of doing the same thing.

Here's what each stamp respresents:

Christmas Card
Charles and Ray Eames delighted friends and family during the holiday season with Christmas cards they designed themselves.

Hang-It-All
The Hang-It-All was designed in 1953 as an accessory for a playroom or child’s bedroom.

Crosspatch Fabric Design
Crosspatch is one of two fabric designs submitted by the couple to a 1947 competition sponsored by The Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

Stacking Chairs
Introduced in 1955, these stacking chairs feature single-shell seats made of plastic that comfortably support the body. The simple design allows them to be stacked for storage or linked together in horizontal rows, a useful solution for temporary seating in public places.

Case Study House #8
Located in Pacific Palisades, CA, the house was completed in 1949 as part of a program to create affordable homes out of materials and technology developed during World War II.

Wire-Base Table
Portable and practical, the petite table was ready for use anytime, indoors or outdoors.

Lounge Chair and Ottoman
A recognizable symbol of 20th-century design, the lounge chair and ottoman modernized the traditional English armchair and became an instant bestseller.

La Chaise
Charles and Ray Eames submitted La Chaise to the 1948 International Competition for Low-Cost Furniture Design sponsored by The Museum of Modern Art in New York.

The Film Tops
For 7 minutes and 15 seconds, more than 100 tops from around the world dance and whirl across the screen to a score composed by Elmer Bernstein.

Wire Mesh Chair
Introduced by the Eames Office in 1951, it was the first piece of American furniture to receive a mechanical patent.

Magazine Cover
Ray Eames created this cover for the May 1943 issue of California Arts & Architecture, an avant-garde design magazine based in Los Angeles.

House of Cards
Developed in 1952, the deck consists of 54 playing cards decorated with a starburst on one side and a photograph on the other.

Molded Plywood Sculpture
During the 1940s, Charles and Ray Eames experimented with a method for molding or bending pieces of wood in different directions. This abstract plywood sculpture was one of many they created as they experimented with the process.

Eames Storage Unit
Charles and Ray Eames introduced the Eames Storage Unit (ESU) in 1950 as a sleek and practical solution to home and office organization.

Aluminum Group Chair
The Aluminum Group Chair offered an affordable option for those seeking high-quality indoor-outdoor seating for the home or office.

Molded Plywood Chair
One of the Eameses’ most popular designs, the chair was mass-produced using a method for bending or molding plywood that they had developed during the 1940s.

I'm one of those individuals who always thinks if you spend more, you get a better product. I know this is both classist and complete balderdash, but, like my affinity for "Celebrity Rehab" and Little Debbie Zebra Cakes, it's something that I can't change. Anyway, Diptyque, one of my favorites, is always a bit more expensive than the standard candle. But compared to other scented candles, they are absolutely heavenly.

But wait, they also make fragrances?!? To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first Diptyque scent, the company is releasing three unisex scents: L'Eau de L'Eau, L'Eau des Hesperides and L'Eau de Neroli. All three were developed by perfumer Olivier Pescheux. They're fresh, crisp, and great for summer. Natch, they're not cheap. They sell for $150 each at the Diptyque store on Newbury Street.

I'm man enough to confess that I'm am completely obsessed with skin care products. Wrinkle creams, shave oils, toning sprays. You name it, I'll slather it on my face. It's really the only way a gentlemen in his 30's can maintain a youthful, dewy glow -- because Lord knows I'm not about to start eating right and exercising regularly.

In my appointed shopping rounds, I spotted what can only be described as the new Holy Grail of skin care. Estee Lauder has a product called Re-Nutriv Ultimate Youth Creme. There is the small matter of the price ($250), but faster than you can say "credit card debt," I was smoothing it over my epidermis. I'm not sure if it's the Re-Nutriv, or the dozens of others things I use, but I'm noticing that the dark circles are not as obvious.

My other recent skin care favorite is ClarinsMen Skin Difference. It's an oil that I use at night. It claims to make my beard softer for shaving the next day, and it slows down beard growth, so I don't end up with an 11 o'clock shadow if I have a late night. I don't know about slowing down beard growth, but it certainly makes shaving easier in the morning.

UPDATE: I'm going to declare the Estee Lauder cream a winner. My editor has told me that I look "dewy fresh," and another friend said I look like I'm about 12 years old. Success!

I spent half my adolescent Saturdays stressing over the track listings and cover art for the eight million or so mix tapes I made for people in middle school. I mean, giving someone a mix tape was the real deal. Many, many true loves, lifelong friendships, and road trips surely started over scratchy, half-taped-over 10,000 Maniacs and Tears for Fears tunes.

Mix CDs never had the same clout. They always felt too polished, too sterile, too easy, even.

That's why I'm totally jazzed about Turntable Lab's USB Mixtape. It's a 64 MB USB drive disguised as a particularly monochromatic, '80s-looking tape (the storage space equals that of an actual tape, according to Turntable Lab's site). Ingenious! You get the sound quality of MP3's and the organic, hipster goodness of a classic cassette. Hey, why not spend your adult Saturdays sketching trees and creating collages for the covers? Yep, I'm that cool.

As a short person, I am always dragging my pants on the ground. And if I get my pants hemmed, then I can't wear them with heels anymore. It's a pressing dilemma, as you can see. Nice dress pants ain't cheap! Can I get a witness?

I recently found out about a new product called Zakkerz. Weird name aside, the fabric strips with magnetic ends actually hold a pant roll in place, allowing you to go from flats to heels, or pants to capris, on a whim:

[Ch-ch-ch-changes...]

Currently, Zakkerz only come in black, which would look dorky with jeans, in my opinion. However, the sisters behind the company promise that more colors and extra large Zakkerz (sturdier for holding jeans) are soon to come.

Perfect stocking stuffers for your favorite fashionista?

I heart lomography. Lomo-what? You can find a longer explanation here, but lomography basically refers to the use of various photographic effects, such as fisheye, color saturation, and multiple exposures in the same frame, resulting in dreamy and surreal shots. (I'm the proud owner of a Colorsplash camera, which bathed my Italian vacation in blue and gold highlights. Bellissimo!)

Apparently, Jack and Meg White also heart lomography:

[The White Stripes: Fashion plates and shutterflies]

The duo lent their names and telltale colorschemes to two custom lomographic cameras: the "Meg Diana+" and the "Jack Holga." Both models are known for their swirly lo-fi images and color and contrast saturation and each camera includes a red-and-white peppermint filter — for sweeter pictures, obviously.

[Hipsters on film. The "Meg Diana+" camera, $180.]

I'm absolutely craving these kitschy cameras. If you want to be the sharpest sharpshooter on the block, grab yours today — only 3,000 of each camera were made.

Nothing says "I can tell time and look fabulous" like an oversized, in-your-face watch cuff. Over the past few years, I've been amassing these chunky, menswear timepieces -- they are stylish statements when a stretchy Timex just won't do.

Some inspiration:

[Johnny Depp, hip cat and wearer of leather cuffs.]

I recently saw an ad for Nixon watches in Nylon, and was instantly smitten by the surf-and-snowboard apparel company's "Tribella" watch: a black, angular plastic bangle with inlaid triangle face. And it just so happens that when I hopped on Nixon's website, I wanted almost every watch I saw. Here are a few of my favorites:

["Kinky," $100-$130; I love the tan band with the right-now purple face. Don't know if I'd call this watch kinky, but it certainly tickles my fancy.]

["Skyline," $75; This unique watch has a nautical flair and the crisp blue and white color scheme is definitely sophisticated.]

["Trixie," $90; Serious hardware with a touch of glam.]

Now, pretty please ask me what time it is so I can show off my new purchases.

Finally, I know what's happening with all of the wine bottles that I've been recycling (and trust me, there have been plenty). Artecnica has introduced a line called tranSglass designed by Emma Woffenden and Tord Boontje. It's great to see the original shape and color of the bottles cleverly reshaped into candleholders. They've also designed them as vases and tumbler sets.

Wisconsin-based Green Glass Co. is recycling Mexican beer bottles and turning them into tumbler sets. Not as arty as the Artecnica goods, but still charming in its own South-of-the-Border fashion.

While everyone from Spike Lee to Lindsay Lohan is yakking away on their uber-chic, $500 iPhones, the rest of us peons can only drool. No matter, I've found an equally stylish -- yet refreshingly affordable -- solution to my shopping dilemma:

Or, we could all just wait for Apple's latest must-have gadget to come down in price. Le sigh. Why does my super passé cell suddenly make me think of Zack Morris from "Saved by the Bell"?

Source

I'm a bit crazy when it comes to buying greeting cards. I can never resist picking up cards I like, but when it comes time to send a birthday greeting, I usually get lazy and e-mail a singing squirrel instead. I may have a hard time sending out these cards because they're like miniature works of art.

These are embroidered cards from a California company called Townsend Sakai. I'm particularly fond of the Nelson lamps and the Eames chair rendered in thread. Joanne Rossman in Roslindale Village sells Townsend Sakai cards. I'm not sure if she has these particular cards, but maybe of you ask nicely...

Just a little eye candy for you this afternoon. There's a German company called Xexoo selling iPod Shuffles coated in 18 carat gold. Other iPod models are available in gold, but the shuffle is the least expensive of the bunch at nearly $20,000. I think these would be a hit in a New Jersey gym, I'm not so sure how well it would go over at my neighborhood health club.

Source: Web Squirrel

Try selecting a lunch bag for your kid these days.

Lands' End devoted a whopping 10 pages to the lunch bag in this month's catalog.

There are bags with initials stamped on them. You prefer a full name? No problem. There are butterfly motifs, as well as baseballs, footballs, horses and cats.

There's the roll-top lunch sack style, which looks just like a paper bag except its canvas like.

There's the hot-stuff style, to accommodate soup (like any mom is packing that these days).

The choices roll on.

It's almost rather stressful. Is the cat motif too babyish for a second grader? The soccer emblem too cliche? Are these bags too big, in light of the obesity epidemic?

My computer won't allow me to display these bags for you but you can check them out online at landsend.com:

Meanwhile, Children's Place has bags too:

I like this at Target:

Online, LillianVernon.com has cute ones:

All of this selection and it's only July 20. Better move fast.

Of all the lousy timing. I just watched "Fast Food Nation" and decided (once again) that I would go cold turkey from Filet-O-Fish and McNuggets. But tomorrow McDonald's begins a run of Hello Kitty Happy Meals (with cool Kitty prizes). I'm not above ordering fast food for cool product tie-ins. In the fall of 1993 I gained 7 pounds eating at Burger King to collect the entire series of $1.99 "Nightmare Before Christmas" watches. And it was worth every pound.

I'm most looking forward to the Hello Kitty "style kit" and the "back-to-school kit." Yes, I'm a big girl. Get over it.

I have a story in today's Style & Arts section about the Smart, the tiny two-seater that is finally coming to the United States next year. You can test drive them this weekend in Harvard Square in front of the Border Cafe as part of the Smart USA roadshow. The event runs from noon to 8 p.m. both days.

I had an opportunity to drive a Smart yesterday, which for me was more exciting than Christmas, my birthday, or the day Martha Stewart was released from jail.

First, the answer to the question you're dying to ask: Yes, I felt perfectly safe. I drove on the Mass Pike, Storrow Drive, and the Expressway. I had the top down, the wind in my hair, and the admiration of my fellow motorists.

The best part about driving the Smart is the looks from bystanders. I lost count of the number of thumbs up I received from people on the sidewalks of the Back Bay. I might as well have been a shirtless Matthew McConaughey given all the looks and smiles I was getting in the South End.

Shamelessly, I kept driving around the city because I loved seeing people's reactions to the 106-inch Smart's German design. In Harvard Square, a pair of cute young ladies gave an approving wink, and a cab driver asked how many cylinders (the answer is three), and when he can get one (winter, 2008). My favorite reaction was a pair of greasy (and, let's face it, scary) dudes who were giggling at the Smart like a couple of school girls at a Hillary Duff movie.

Sadly, I had to return the car. With it went my new-found popularity.