Columnist Muriel Stevens: A shopping trip the L.A. way

Wednesday, May 17, 2000 | 9:37 a.m.

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

It had been years since I last shopped Los Angeles, but during two recent trips for family events I walked the areas near my hotel. Beverly Hills is pretty much the way it was the last time I visited. Rodeo Drive is lined with designer shops offering top-notch attire at top-notch prices.

Just around the corner on Beverly Drive, prices are more down to earth. And you'll find delightful small restaurants and speciality shops here. I must admit that there was little that I was tempted to buy since we now have so many of the same shops. I always stop by Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue, both on Wilshire Boulevard. The Los Angeles branches are much larger than ours and include many things we don't have in our Saks and NM.

There isn't much to see these days on Wilshire Boulevard except the large stores. Almost all of the shopping is on Rodeo Drive and the streets that surround it. Gone are all of the small, funky shops that once dotted the area. High rents chased away these colorful stores. But there is no shortage of customers for the many upscale boutiques and shops.

Walking into Tiffany & Co. the day before Mother's Day to buy a graduation gift was like shopping a discount store. Customers were three deep at the counters; sales clerks were wrapping gifts, showing merchandise and selling, juggling all at the same time. The pace was so frenetic I could hardly believe this was the gracious Tiffany that I liked so much.

I knew what I wanted and hoped that it would still be there when it was finally my turn. It was sheer luck that I got the key ring I wanted. The entire display of key rings had been decimated by the time I reached the counter, but the saleswoman looked for and found the last one of the style I wanted. I asked if they would have sold me the one on display had there not been another. The answer was "no, Tiffany does not sell display items," at least not in Beverly Hills.

Il Fornaio Italian bakery and restaurant was my next stop. Happily, everything was as I remembered. Showcases and racks in the bakery overflowed with wonderful Italian breads and pastries, all of which can be ordered in the restaurant or the outdoor cafe. The weather was just perfect for sitting outdoors, but everyone else had the same idea, so I settled for a window table where I sipped my latte and contentedly munched on pine nut cookies.

Nordstrom disappoints: For the first time in the many years I've been shopping by mail with Nordstrom, I was completely shut out of the recent sale catalog. And I resented the free shipping offer emblazoned on the cover that was limited to Internet customers. Oh, I tried to order; even with shipping charges the values were terrific, but I couldn't get through. A recorded message advised that waiting time for an operator could run as high as 36 minutes!

I tried again a few days later and the message was worse. They were no longer accepting orders from the sale catalog that was just a few days old. The message said the response had been overwhelming and the catalog had sold out! Is this a ploy to get customers to order via the 'Net? There's no question the Internet has advantages -- no repeat phone calls and no operators. I'll do it eventually.

No Internet access? Be prepared for long waits and sold-out catalogs.