Columnist Muriel Stevens: Discounts galore at Canal Shoppes

Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2000 | 9:50 a.m.

Muriel Stevens' shopping column appears Wednesdays. Her dining column appears Fridays. Reach her at muriel@vegas.com or 259-4080.

Locals have an incentive for shopping at the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian. Pick up one of the attractive coupon packets available at all of the gondola depots and receive coupons, said to be worth $600 in merchandise, services and entertainment -- you must be 18 or older and have a Nevada ID. The current vouchers are good through the last day of February. Stores rotate every two months.

Included now: Ripa De Monti, which will give $50 off any piece of Venetian glass costing $400 or more; Ca'd'oro invites customers to take $100 off any purchase of $500 or more; Sephora cosmetic and perfumerie is offering $5 off on any Sephora brand product; buy any two rolls of 35mm or APS film and receive the third one free, and bring in the film to be processed and receive a free duplicate set.

Also: Make a purchase of $100 to $200 at Ancient Creations and receive $50 to $100 off; Dolce & Dolce Due Cartier Eyewear is offering 10 percent on a single purchase; New Balance shoe store is giving a T-shirt (while supplies last) with a purchase; present the voucher at Brookstone and receive a free stress-relieving massage; at Simayof Jewelers the coupon is good for a free professional jewelry cleaning -- spend more than $150 and receive a leather pen case; boutique and BCBG Max Azria customers will receive a special gift with every purchase (as long as supplies last).

There's more: Cesare Paciotti is giving a complimentary gondola ride with a purchase of $400 or more; there's a coupon good for $1 at Haagen Dazs; Panda restaurant has a special coupon; so does Madame Tussaud's; buy a $75 ticket for C2K and receive a free companion seat; Theaters of Sensation, 3-D motion adventure rides, is giving $2 off a combination ride package (good for up to four guests); and purchase $175 or more in SpaClub services at Canyon Ranch and get $25 off.

Glammie awards: Glamour magazine just released the names of the beauty products readers say performed as advertised. The contest is a yearly feature of the magazine that covers all sorts of beauty products. Almost all are moderately priced.

Here are some of the winners: Clean & Clear Touch Oil-Absorbing Sheets ($4.99); Estee Lauder Perfectly Clean Foaming Lotion and Gel Cleansers ($16.50, each) -- readers raved about these soap-free cleansers; Clinique Superfit Makeup ($18.50), the absolute favorite; do-it-yourself Clairol Ultress Custom Color ($8.49 at drugstores).

Revlon's ColorStay Liquid Lip Color ($9.25), a long-lasting lip color, was named best makeup; Redken Extreme ($12.95), a leave-in, protein-loaded damage treatment, leaves hair so flexible it's impervious to blow dryers, irons and crimping; and Avon's Skin-So-Soft Bug Guard Plus with SPF 30 ($12) beat the competition for best bath, body or sun care product. Two nail enamels tied for the winners spot as Best Nail Care: CoverGirl Crackle Lacquer ($3.50) and L'Oreal Shine Specialiste ($8.25). The CoverGirl nail enamel is so popular you might not find all of the colors, but it's worth looking for; the L'Oreal product is a topcoat designed to keep nail color from fading.

When the editor of Glamour appeared recently on the "Today" show she showed a slew of winning products. The February issue features just one page of the "Glammie" award winners.