Welcome to the Best of New Orleans! Shoptalk 01 18 05

Compare Hotel Rates for New Orleans and Save!
Date of Arrival

Nights

Rooms

Adults


Other Cities

SHOPTALK By Kandace Power Graves

01 18 05

Respond to
this Story

Monkey Business

New, finely detailed, handmade costumes by designer Carmen Notto are available at Funky Monkey.

Customers don't have to give up quality or selection when they shop at Funky Monkey (3127 Magazine St., 899-5587), a true clothing exchange, but they do get a break from the high prices found at other stores.

Owner Sarah Wheelock opened Funky Monkey eight years ago and has continually expanded the store, adding an entire room of men's clothing as well as lines of new apparel and local designers' creations to its already lively trade in used and vintage clothes. This month the store will introduce a new women's T-shirt line featuring Hubig's Pie logo.

Wheelock plans other changes, including opening up her sales floor to consignors. Heretofore, the store bought used clothing, offering either cash or store credit for the items. Above all, she says, the clothing and accessories at Funky Monkey must be in excellent condition and provide a value to customers.

In new clothing lines she looks for well-made pieces with reasonable price tags, such as the new Angel jeans, Tramp and Angie lines for women. "They're inexpensive, well made and stylish," she says. "I don't like disposable clothing."

Funky Monkey has reconstructed vintage clothing and new designs by local labels HowlPop and Upstairs, as well as a wealth of costumes and accessories such as wigs, stockings, shoes, handbags and more. And there are always racks of women's and men's clothing for $10 or less for those seeking extreme bargains.

Celebrate and Save If you're hungry for a bargain and some classy Italian cooking, take advantage of the 20th anniversary special at Andrea's Northern Italian Seafood Restaurant (3100 19th St., Metairie, 834-8583; www.andreasrestaurant.com). To celebrate the restaurant's anniversary, Chef Andrea Apuzzo is rolling back prices for lunch and dinner Monday, Jan. 24, through Wed., Jan. 26, to what they were when he opened the eatery in 1984. &127;