Wednesday, May 26, 1999 | 9:38 a.m.
It won't be long before the Fashion Show mall begins a major expansion that will double its size. While we all wait to learn what the anchor in the new section will be (no, not Nordstrom's, which will be in the new shopping center between the Mandalay Bay and Luxor hotels), I've learned a few things about the expansion plans of some of the already-established shops.
Saks Fifth Avenue will build a much larger, free-standing unit close to Fashion Show Drive; Neiman Marcus will add another floor and will include a restaurant and, hopefully, a much larger Epicurean department fashioned after the one in San Francisco.
The expansion will only increase our shopping pleasure.
For me, shopping at the Fashion Show is so convenient. I like the ease of valet parking. You can even get your car hand-washed while you're shopping. Just ask a valet attendant.
Friends tell me the service is good, but ask, before handing over the car, if it's next in line or the wait could be longer than the time you plan to shop. It's a convenient way to get a car washed only if you're not in a hurry.
In addition to Neiman Marcus, Saks, Macy's, Dillard's and Robinson's-May, there are 145 smaller speciality shops and restaurants on two levels.
My list of stops included Neiman Marcus and Williams Sonoma for wedding gifts. Thank goodness for bridal registries. They make shopping for newlyweds so easy. At Williams Sonoma you access the list via a computer, which gives a printout.
I can never stop here without browsing the entire store. I'm especially fond of the tasting bar with olive oils and vinegars. It makes it so much simpler to choose one when you know how it tastes. Bites of bread are included. And the staff is so knowledgeable -- ask a question and you get an informed answer.
Some of my other favorite stops are Papyrus, Game Keeper, Omni Chemists, Sharper Image and the Discovery Channel store.
Papyrus is a wonderful greeting card and stationery store. I discovered this chain in California long before a Papyrus shop opened here. Papyrus features a host of appealing contemporary items.
Game Keeper keeps me up to date on the new games people play, as well as the longtime favorites. There's always something neat at the Game Keeper stores.
Browse Omni Chemists Pharmacy & Drug Store and you'll find things you used to find in drugstores of the past. This crowded store is filled with merchandise and sundries in addition to the pharmacy items. It was the only place where I could find the kind of folding travel mirror that I prefer.
Sharper Image is filled with high-tech stuff for better living. Try out the massage lounge for a quick pick-me-up. There are household and garden gadgets galore, plus some small hard-to-find tools. I always buy too much!
For inexpensive gifts for kids, the Discovery Channel store is a good bet. The selection of merchandise and the price range are first rate. I frequently buy things to put away. The stock of favorites go first. Discovery Channel is always busy.
Of course there are many more shops. To get to know them all, walk the lower level and then return via the second level. You can't possibly visit every one, but it's a good way to learn the locations for your next trip to the Fashion Show.
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