Columnist Muriel Stevens: Can-do attitude helps charity

Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2003 | 8:29 a.m.

A record 32,000 cans of food will be picked up at Fashion Show mall for the Community Food Bank of Clark County.

This year's donation comes from the generosity of the architectural, engineering and design firms which participated in the 2003 CANstruction competition. Using cans of food as their building blocks, teams from a variety of firms created remarkable structures.

Following strict rules, such as "Structures are to be structurally self-supporting," the teams put the four judges -- Todd-Avery Lenahan, president of AveryBrooks Associates, Ron Frye, vice president of construction for Coast Casinos, Joe Cortez of the School for Boxing Referees on the Internet, and myself -- to the test.

With 10 structures to be judged and only six prizes to be awarded by the four judges, the choice wasn't easy. We carefully viewed the entries from every angle, and even went up to the second level for another perspective. It is amazing what experts can conceive by using food cans as their medium.

We were in sync about the winners: Tates, Snyder, Kimsey Architects received the "Structural Ingenuity" award for its Statue of Liberty, a curving sinuous Lady Liberty complete with crown and torch; Bergman, Walls & Associates, Ltd. presented a fabulous fire truck (I loved the ladder) that took the award for "Best Meal"; the phone and book created by Lochsa Engineering was a winner for "Best Use of Labels;" Klai Juba Architects Dice and Chips was voted "Juror's Favorite." "Honorable Mention" awards were given to TJ Krob Consulting Engineers for its lighthouse complete with a revolving beacon and to Schirmer Engineering for its bright red fire hydrant.

Marnell Carrao offered a colorful replica of a Fisher-Price toy camera, Carter Burgee/CB Nevada presented a normal camera, complete with flash, JVC Associates and Korte Company created a tall playing card (ace of diamonds) and Westar and Engineering Structural Solutions offered a world globe. All were smashing designs and beautifully engineered. To keep the competitive edge high, there will always be more entries than awards.

The entire show has been on display since the judging Friday night. It can still be viewed until the Fashion Show closes tonight. That's when Food Bank head Bessie Bragg and her team of experts will disassemble these splendid works and collect the much-needed cans of food.

Fashion Show update: Most of the new retail space on the East expansion has been leased. Some of the outlets in the Fashion Show's huge food court have already opened, with more to come as each one is completed. "The Cloud," the massive high-tech shade structure that hovers over the dining plaza during the day, will become a giant projection screen at night.

More than 19 new stores have opened this year, making a total of 170 stores. There will be 250 stores when the Fashion Show is completed. Spring 2004 is the goal.

Neiman Marcus at Fashion Show: Throughout October special events will take place in various departments of the store. There will be a NM kids' fashion show and an NM kids' toy fair on Oct. 18. These NM Kids events are always a giggle for everyone. Call 731-3636 for more information.