Columnist Muriel Stevens: A walking tour of Vegas malls

Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2002 | 8:21 a.m.

For the past few weeks I've been wandering malls and boutique shops in search of ideas for Valentine's Day. There are so many stores these days, but so little that is new and imaginative that I find myself returning to dependable, tried-and-true malls such as the Forum Shops at Caesars, Fashion Show, Boulevard and lately, Desert Passage.

Win some, lose some: Amandari was a delightful discovery, and so was the new Amen Wardy home store, 4230 S. Decatur Blvd. (734-1433).

Amen Wardy home store at the Forum Shops is filled with unusual home accessories, antiques, gift items and beautifully packaged food items (many snacks) in a broad price range. So successful is the Amen Wardy home concept a second store, a humongous one, has opened on the city's west side.

It was closed the Saturday I went there, but I looked through the many windows and was astounded by the size and the selection. A sign in the window indicated that appointments could be made for weekends, but be aware if you have any questions call the Forum Shop store (734-0480). I've not yet connected with anyone at the new location. (It can be maddening waiting for someone to answer the phone.)

I do know that wedding design is a large part of what this store does. If you've got the time it's worth checking out. I'm sticking with the Amen Wardy at the Forum Shops. It's open from 10 a.m.-11 p.m.

Kiosk shopping: I've never hesitated to shop the kiosks that line the walkways of most malls.

A friend had told me about one at the Fashion Show that sold copies of those trendy high-tech watches with diamond bezels for $39. The bezels on the copies were, of course crystal, but were so cool, she couldn't tell the difference between these and the real thing. She had liked them well enough buy three for gifts.

Sounded good to me, so when I made my weekly progress visit to the Fashion Show I hunted down the kiosk. It was exactly as my friend said, but there were some caveats.

None of the watches I saw were $39, that is, not for one. When I asked about the prices a pleasant young woman told me that one would cost $78, but if I bought two the price would be $75! Such merchandising always raises my antennae. Further questioning made me even more wary.

I must admit that some of these watches looked pretty good, but the quality varied as much as the prices. If you're a savvy shopper and can tell the difference between the tinny ones and the good ones you might get a good deal, but the sellers know the difference, so the buyer's choices are restricted.

When I found one I liked I looked for another of the same kind and was quickly told there weren't any more. This small stall has hundreds of watches, yet the one I chose was the only one of its kind. It may even have been true, but the ones I was being offered as the "free" one in this great deal led me to believe otherwise.

When I asked for a better price on the one I liked a big show was made of dropping the price to $68. It was time to walk, so I did.