Calling All Shopaholics

Good shopping can give such a thrill. Special sales can feel like a crazy contact sport in which the rules are, there are no rules. On Black Friday, dodging through crowded department stores can be almost dangerous. But finding that thing you just gotta have is such sweet victory. Local fashionistas and shopping fiends can taste just that at two fabulous happenings today. At Gen Art’s Shop Miami Fall 2007 event, it’ll taste like 10 Cane Rum, Baileys, and Johnny Walker, the complimentary cocktails at hand for this four-hour sample sale bash. There will also be music by DJ Induce and free beauty services by Lace Nail Lab and Jean-Claude Biguine. Get your grip on hot couture by Julian Chang, Hip E. Boutique, Ecoist, Lola Miami, Oyuki, and Rucht D’Oleo, among other local designers. VIP tickets (which include a private one-hour sale and a sweet gift bag) cost $40 at the door. General admission is $20. Cash only, babe. Call 305-695-8200, or visit wwww.genart.com.

To swipe your credit card and benefit more than 75 local charities, there’s The Shopping Benefit at Bloomingdale’s. The Aventura store (19555 Biscayne Blvd., Aventura) will be hosting a signing by The Portion Plan diet book author Linda Gassenheimer at 3:30 p.m., which oddly will be followed by a cupcake tasting at 4:00. Better buy some stretchy pants. There will also be a Broadway musical performance and a presentation by wedding expert Karen Bussen. Tickets cost $10 and entitle you to 15 to 20 percent off savings on damn near everything in the store. Call 305-792-1213, or visit www.bloomingdales.com.
Thu., Oct. 25, 2007