Columnist Muriel Stevens: Venetian an international destination

Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2001 | 8:23 a.m.

Muriel Stevens' shopping and travel columns appear Wednesday. Her dining column appears Friday. Reach her at 259-4080 or muriel@lasvegassun.com.

What goes around comes around. Lately I've been saying that a lot, and I'm especially happy to be saying it about the new International News at the Canal Shoppes at Venetian.

Las Vegas once had a number of newsstands offering international and domestic newspapers and magazines. OK, so a couple were covers for bookie joints in the back. It was a sign of the times, but for me these holes in the wall were treasure houses.

International News fills a need for word junkies such as myself by providing a steady list of overseas newspapers and magazines, some of which cover special trades and rare special interests. Included are Classic Racer (England), Ad-Italian (Italy), Organic Living (Great Britain), Gourmet Traveller (Australia), Gentlemen's Quarterly (Spain), Dazed & Confused (England), and Vogue editions from Australia, Italy, France and Germany.

As Fred T. Walters, general manager of Venetian's Canal Shoppes, said: "We offer an extensive list of European publications, including many fashion and sports publications from around the world.

"Now we will be able to be the first to showcase the most trendy fashions in the industry with a firsthand look at the most updated fashion news from around the world."

New magazines and newspapers will be updated bi-weekly as shipments arrive. Additionally, International News offers sundries, Venetian logo merchandise and souvenirs. A shoeshine stand is also available.

No doubt the publications will include ads for the very items sold in the Canal Shoppes' many international stores. Canal Shoppes' hours are Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-midnight.

More news: Borders and Barnes & Noble bookstores offer a small selection of hometown newspapers and a few foreign papers. The international magazine selection does not focus on fashion or sports, but there are some.

I've not had good luck finding what I want when I want it at either bookstore and I've yet to find a copy of the Herald Tribune international edition. Maybe I'll find it at Venetian.

Local inventor has "patent pending": Michael Nosker of Henderson drew his inspiration for a new, improved Christmas tree stand from a model his father built more than 40 years ago. The patent process is in the works. Now Nosker is seeking manufacturers. I doubt that we'll find "Harley's Holiday House," as he calls it, in stores in time for Christmas, but it does sound like an entertaining idea -- a Christmas tree stand incorporated into a miniature house. Perhaps next year. When he's not inventing, Nosker is a bartender at the California hotel and plays drums in a band, Main Street Leftovers.

Carlisle aids New York: Charlotte Hill, fashion consultant for the "By appointment only" Carlisle Collection New York, announced the arrival of the Carlisle Holiday 2001 Collection, and advises that Carlisle will donate 50 percent of the profits from the holiday sales to the Red Cross and the police and firemen's funds in New York. For more information or to schedule an appointment call 735-5414 or 528-7845.