Trends

Leisure wear

The one in your closet is probably beer-stained and reeks of stale cigarette smoke. Time to fire up the washing machine: Bowling shirts are back in style.

But the obnoxiously-colored, short- sleeved, embroidered shirts are not just for wearing around the alley. The squared-off shirts have increased in value since the last of the style was manufactured during the mid-'80s, when polo shirts and T-shirts took over.

Some bowling shirts, from the 1940s through the '60s, fetch up to $100. Newer shirts, circa 1960 through the early '80s -- in excellent condition with detailed stitching, fabric insets, pleats and buttoned side vents -- cost slightly less.

"One of the things that's neat about bowling shirts is that they're from an era when people really identified with the group," Ann Marie Schreiber, co-owner of Atomic Clothing Exchange in St. Louis, Mo., told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "Look at how much that's changed today, where people are so busy asserting themselves."

After World War II, Schreiber theorizes, "people had a lot of time to socialize, with bowling and cocktail parties and card parties. It really was different from how we socialize now. And to me, that's where the value comes in."

The song remembers when

Here's a new way to fend off homesickness -- or memories of a favorite vacation when you haven't time for another visit: California-based City Songs, Inc. recently released a line of CDs featuring tunes reminiscent of a trio of famous cities.

Wish you could take another bite out of the Big Apple? "New York -- With Fond Memories" includes tunes sung by Lou Rawls ("On Broadway"), Bobby Darin ("Sunday in New York"), Ben E. King ("Spanish Harlem") and Joel Grey ("Give My Regards to Broadway").

San Francisco more your style? That disc, also subtitled "With Fond Memories," features the classic Tony Bennett hit "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," as well as the Village People's "San Francisco -- You've Got Me," and Peggy Lee's "San Francisco Blues."

"Little Old Lady From Pasadena" (Jan and Dean), "26 Miles to Santa Catalina" ( The Four Preps) and "L.A. Freeway" (Jerry Jeff Walker) are among the offerings on the Southern California leg of the series. See the company's website (citysongs.com) for more information.

Peek-a-boo

We've all done it: Poked at a piece of chocolate in a box to make sure it's one we'll like before we commit to devouring it.

A new gadget, called the Sneak-Peek, will save the fingers of curious chocoholics from showing any evidence of an incriminating act.

The spring-loaded tube works like a drill to extract a piece of the candy (from the bottom side, of course) so you'll know beforehand if you're about to bite into caramel, nougat or maple cream. If you're skillful, you may be able to pop the piece back in place -- and no one would be the wiser.

The gizmo can be a bit tricky to use: Room-temperature chocolates produce the best results, and if you happen to hit a nut, your efforts will probably prove fruitless. The Sneak-Peek costs $4.95 including shipping, and may be purchased by writing to Sneaky Stuff, 222 Del Gado Road, San Clemente, CA 92672.

Compiled by Lisa Ferguson

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