Columnist Muriel Stevens: Men’s mag is loaded with Cargo

Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2005 | 8:10 a.m.

Women's fashion mags are starting to bug me. If I wanted to see a collection of near-nude fashion models, I'd buy more men's mags. There are times when I have to study a high-fashion photo from all angles before deciding what it's selling. I know what it's saying, but what is it selling?

More to my liking is Cargo, a super men's mag filled with hip, useful info that usually encourages me to buy things I didn't even know I wanted. The groovy staff manages each month to find an item I love.

Among the wares Web Editor Melissa O'Neil just had to have this month include a four-outlet recharging source.

"Instead of dealing with a tangle of wires, I use this box to charge my cell phone and iPod. It'll keep four devices powered and ready," O'Neil said.

The price is $24.95. Visit www.herringtoncatalog.com to order. To subscribe to Cargo, call (800) 274-4438.

Book signing at Williams-Sonoma: Sarah Marks, author of the best-selling book "Reservations Required: Culinary Secrets of Las Vegas Celebrity Chefs" (Huntington Press), will appear with some of the celebrity chefs at Williams-Sonoma stores Feb. 20 through April 2. The chefs will conduct cooking demos and sign books with the author.

Scheduled to appear are chefs Anthony Amorosa (Fiamma, MGM), Claude Gaty (Mon Ami Gabi, Paris Las Vegas), Francesco Schintu, (Zefferino, Venetian), Luciano Pellegrini (Valentino, Venetian), Marc Ritz (Marc's World Cuisine, Lake Mead & Tenaya) and Luigi Bomparola (Canoletto, Venetian).

Cooking sessions will take place at Williams-Sonoma at the Fashion Show mall and at Williams-Sonoma in Summerlin on Rampart Boulevard. For more information, call a Williams-Sonoma store.

Pocket-size "Diary": Keeping a diary of food and exercise is a handy way to keep track of calories, carbs, fat, protein and activity. Allan Borushek, who wrote the "Food & Exercise Diary" ($3.99), says this small guide prevents "calorie amnesia."

To order, call (949) 642-8500 or visit www.CalorieKing.com.

Fauchon in New York: Fauchon, one of my favorite Paris food stores, has a flagship shop in New York that offers a delicious selection of gift items. A chocolate assortment in a signature collectible tin ($30) features a historic view of the Place de Madeleine in Paris, where Fauchon is located. The New York store/cafe is located on Park Avenue at 56th Street.

For more information, call (866) 784-7001 or visit www.fauchon.com.

Fancy footwork: Barielle foot-care products have launched three new pre-polish products to soothe, smooth and strengthen nails. Barielle's new products are designed to restore vitality to winter-weary cuticle beds and nails.

Intensive Cuticle Replenisher with mango butter is a comforting balm of rich oils, beeswax, mango butter, wheat germ and vitamin B ($15).

Hydrating Ridge Filler with Silk Fiber fills in imperfections and provides a smooth nail surface ($16). Restorative Nail Serum is designed to deliver the strengthening agent Nonycosine-E directly to the nail plate.

Barielle nail, hand and foot products are available at Sephora, Dillard's, Ulta, Bath & Body Works and fine department stores and specialty stores. Barielle products are safe and effective and use such natural ingredients as vitamins, oils and plant extracts.

For more information, visit www.barielle.com.