Columnist Muriel Stevens: Meadows gets holiday makeover

Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2003 | 8:16 a.m.

An extreme makeover at Meadows mall, 4300 Meadows Lane, has just been completed, making one of the oldest malls in Las Vegas look like one of the newest.

New desert colors, completely new facades and "a new, warm shopping environment" that includes a state-of-the-art multisuite family restroom facility are all part of the Meadows mall makeover.

A grand re-opening Family Day celebration begins at 10 a.m. Friday with the snipping of a symbolic toilet-paper ribbon by Senior General Manager Greg Sims inside the mall. Included in the family facility are two private nursing rooms with glider rockers and two baby-changing areas. Two family restrooms offer adult- and child-size facilities and men's and women's bathrooms.

Saturday's festivities begin with the grand re-opening ribbon cutting outside the mall at 9:45 a.m. Free continental breakfast will be offered in Dillard's court, complete with live jazz.

Food retailers will be offering various tastings all day. On Sunday, Meadows will host Community Service Day with its annual "An Evening of Giving" shopping night from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Tickets are $5 each and benefit a number of local nonprofit organizations, including Las Vegas Academy Choral, Cimarron-Memorial High School and the Summerlin 49er cheerleaders.

Also offered are free gift-wrapping, gift-with-purchase opportunities and more. Customers can register to win a $500 Meadows shopping spree. Purchase a Children's Miracle Network balloon for $10 and receive a free 1-pound box of See's chocolates. Call Meadows for additional information at 878-3331.

Most expensive pen in the world: Now in place at the new Mont Blanc Las Vegas Boutique at the Forum Shops at Caesars is a $125,000, diamond-encrusted Mont Blanc Solitaire Royal.

The pricey, limited-edition fountain pen has 4,810 pave diamonds and accents of 18-karat gold. Not everyone can afford such a distinctive writing instrument, but Mont Blanc features a complete line of upscale watches, leather goods, stationery and jewelry and those coveted pens.

Wall-to-wall decor at Zinaz: A mind-boggling selection of gift items, home accessories, furniture, lamps and dinnerware can be found at Zinaz at the Stephanie Promenade at 225 N. Stephanie St. in Henderson. Prices range from $5 to big bucks for some of the furniture.

Wear comfy shoes and watch your step. There's merchandise everywhere.

Ethel M lights the night: Start the holiday season tonight with the 10th Annual Ethel M Chocolates "Light the Night," Everyone's invited to share this delicious event.

There will be strolling musicians, scrumptious, complimentary Ethel M chocolates, hot chocolate and coffee and Santa. Festivities begin at 5 p.m.

Shortly after the lights will "color the evening sky." It all happens in the glorious Botanical Cactus Garden. Bring a camera and the kids. Don't forget to thank Santa and Ethel M Chocolates. The show remains from sundown to 10 p.m. through Jan. 4.