Columnist Muriel Stevens: Watches top shopping highlights

Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005 | 8:38 a.m.

Muriel Stevens' dining column appears Fridays. Her shopping and travel columns appear Wednesday. Reach her at (702) 259-4080 or muriel@lasvegassun.com.

Some quick shopping notes:

Swatch Sin City: This only-in-Las Vegas Swatch watch features images of showgirls, slot machines, roulette tables and the world-famous "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign. The price is right for this special timepiece making its debut Saturday: $45. Las Vegas Swatch is sold exclusively at Swatch stores in the Forum Shops at Caesars and at Fashion Show mall.

Las Vegas joins the Times Square Swatch in becoming a city landmark dedicated timepiece.

Soma by Chico's: Opening today in the Fashion Show is Soma by Chico's, featuring an exclusively designed collection of bras, panties, sleepwear, loungewear and activewear. Designed to make "women look and feel beautiful," Soma offers bra fit experts and free Perfect Fit services. Shop Soma in stores, by phone at (888) 855-4968 or visit chico's.com.

Fair Trade coffee: Taylor's of Harrowgate has added Fair Trade organic coffee to its European-style coffee line. This coffee is specially selected from a farmer's cooperative in Nicaragua that provides premium Arabica high-grown beans. Taylor's of Harrowgate packs the coffee, hot from the roaster, into one-way valve foil bags to allow heat to escape and keep oxygen out. For more information about the sustainable Fair Trade program or where to purchase Taylor's of Harrowgate coffees call (800) 416-8327.

Cashmere: Get more fiber for the money, says Cargo, a hip, hot Men's mag. Cashmere at less than designer prices is available from such big companies as Banana Republic, J. Crew and Land's End. "They have good-quality, affordable lines because they buy in bulk and produce cheaply," Cargo says. Added shopping tips ... stretch part of the sweater. A high-grade knit snaps back into shape. A very low price often means short fibers and a major pill factor. To subscribe to Cargo visit cargomag.com or call (800) 274-4438.

Prescription drugs: The September issue of FDA Consumer, the magazine of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, cautions consumers to think carefully before buying drugs from foreign countries. It may be cheaper, but it could have potential safety risks. FDA is urging consumers to turn to generic drugs. A good suggestion for most consumers, but not for me.

I've had to bite the bullet on a few occasions when a generic did not perform as promised. There is no easy solution for this problem. As the FDA hastens to approve more generic meds it should also hasten to provide a certification program -- one that assures that the generic is identical to the original. Without certification standards how can we be certain that all generics are what they should be?

Safe eggs: Born Free Eggs from Radlo Foods, a sponsor of the 2005 Annual Food Safety Conference that took place at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 19, is the first in the nation to attempt to enact a new egg safety action plan to assure that egg supplies remain safe.

It has been brain storming ever since the conference, when the Homeland Security Department identified eggs as one of the five most likely targets for agro-terrorism. But don't give up your favorite eggs over easy, yet. Check the expiration date on egg cartons and don't buy or use cracked eggs. Enough said.