Felissimo, the Asian emporium set in a turn-of-the-century townhouse in midtown, artfully arranges its home accessories by theme – bedroom, dining room, garden room, and so on. With the building undergoing a summer renovation, selected merchandise is now marked down, including a bonsai water fountain, was $585, now $292.50; Tateossian silver globe cuff links, were $285, now $142.50; brightly colored aluminum chopsticks, were $115, now $57.50. Felissimo, 10 W. 56th St. (247-5656); A.E., M.C., V.; Mon.-Sat. 10-6, Thurs. till 8; 5/2 while supplies last.
Selling Yourself
One of TK/PR’s biggest coups was getting Pope John Paul II to wear a pair of a client’s tennis shoes. It does the public relations for a number of big accounts – from Simon & Schuster to Speedo to BusinessWeek – and most of the staff have media backgrounds. Now it’s offering its expertise at a discount: one-hour consultation, was $300, now $150; customized press release, was $250, now $125; media-training half-day session (to prepare for that big TV interview), was $850, now $500. TK/PR Public Relations, Inc., 110 E. 59th St., sixth floor (909-0340); checks accepted; Mon.-Fri. 9-5; 4/27-5/8.
Calling on René
René Lezard – the designer who introduced a hotly anticipated boutique in SoHo last fall – is now opening up his showroom for a sample sale. Pants, suits, jackets, and other stock will be priced below wholesale – about 60 percent off retail. René Lezard, 745 Fifth Ave., near 57th Street, Suite 1408 (753-7363); Tues.-Fri. 9-7, Sat. 11-6; A.E., M.C., V.; 4/28-5/2.
Smell the Roses
If its grounds are anything to go by, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s annual sale will be a great place to buy when you are whipping your own plot into shape. It has a huge selection of indoor and outdoor plants, including annuals, herbs, houseplants, perennials, and plants for water gardens. For example, designer annuals, were $4.25 and up, now $2.75; shrubs, were $18.50 and up, now $14.50 and up; potted rosebushes, were $15 and up, now $12. Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 1000 Washington Ave., at the Cherry Esplanade (718-622-4433, ext. 0); checks only; Wed. 9-7, Thurs. till 3 ; 5/6-5/7.
Ready for Bed
Two sales for sheets and such. Archipelago – a designer and manufacturer of high-end luxury table, bed, and bath linens as well as furniture – is joining forces with ceramist Jonathan Adler for a sample sale. For example, tiered nightstands, retail $600, here $245; cashmere-and-wool-blend pillows, retail $130, here $50 and up; pillow shams, retail $80, here $10. And Area – one of our favorite downtown designers – is also putting its duvet covers, sheets, pillowcases, hand towels, napkins, and tablecloths on sale. Usually its items retail for $25-$500; here they’ll range from $5 to $200. Archipelago, 525 Broadway, near Spring St., eighth floor (334-9460); Wed. noon-7, Thurs.-Fri. 10-7; cash only.; 4/29-5/1. Area, 180 Varick St., ninth floor (924-7084); Tues.-Wed. 10-6, Thurs. till 8; checks accepted; 4/28-4/30.
Epicurean Epicenter
According to style mavens and chroniclers, St. Barts still hangs on to its cachet as the Caribbean Island to be seen on. But even this island has a “low season.” Hotel Guanahani’s package (five nights in a room with an ocean view, breakfast and dinner daily, tax and service charges, and round-trip airport transfers) costs $1,500 per couple – as opposed to the usual $428 per night without dinner. Now you just have to find a reasonable airfare. For reservations, call (800-223-6800); 4/27-8/30 and 10/1-10/31.
All Mark Down
The individual details that go into each of Mark Rossi’s accessories do not match his very reasonable prices (even at retail). Baby bibs, retail $24, here $10; children’s pillows, retail $25, here $15; toiletry bags, retail $55, here $25; hand towels, retail $28, here $5; wood soap dishes, retail $20, here $3; napkin rings, retail $20, here $1. Mark Rossi, 311 Church St., No. 4 (219-0450); Thurs.-Fri. 10-6, Sat. till 4; cash only; 4/30-5/2.
Change Your Image
For all the people who have postponed getting their photo collection in order, the Ultimate Image’s sale just might prove the motivating factor. All digital-restoration and reprinting jobs are 50 percent off (were $100, now $50), and custom color prints are 20 to 60 percent off (eight-by-ten prints, were $15, now $12). Free pickup in midtown for orders over $50. The Ultimate Image, 443 Park Ave. So., near 30th St. (683-4838); A.E., M.C., V., checks; Mon.-Fri. 9-5:30; 5/1-5/30.
Posh Spice
To raise money for The Lighthouse (one of the world’s leading resources for the vision-impaired), the twenty-sixth annual posh sale puts new and slightly used designer merchandise up for grabs. Highlights include: Christian Dior day- and eveningwear and jewelry, was $1,000-$12,000, now $75-$500; a Givenchy suit, was $1,100, now $125. The benefit preview’s admission is $100; other days, entrance costs $10. The Lighthouse, 110 E. 60th St. (821-9300); checks accepted; Fri. 5:30-9, Sat. 10-6, Sun. 11-6; 5/1-5/3.
Here’s the Skinny
Like many other things that seem to get more complicated the more you learn about them, we’ve discovered that what’s new in facials changes as rapidly as it does in fashion. At Advanced Skin Care, the latest addition is the Gaia peel (the fastest peel we know), which is included in its “Spring Quartet” offer (you also get a steam bath, body scrub, renewal facial, and reflexology treatment): was $145, now $99. Advanced Skin Care Day Spa, 532 Madison Ave., at 54th St., third floor (758-8867); A.E., M.C., V.; Mon.-Thurs. 10-7, Fri. till 6, Sat. till 5; 5/1-5/31.
New Age
The new Calvin? Donna? Halston? Famous designers have guided Parsons School of Design’s seniors in creating their own garments. Although some pieces are (not surprisingly) far-out, many are extremely wearable and very well designed. At $100-$1,000 a pop, one could end up with the work of some future design superstar. Parsons School of Design, 560 Seventh Ave., at 40th St., fifth floor (229-8966); cash only; Wed. 11-4; 4/29.
For the Future
We know it’s a little premature to be thinking about your purchases for next fall, but if you’re in a forward-planning state of mind, Shirin Cashmere’s trunk show will feature its entire collection of luxury knitwear. Pay by cash or check and get a 10 percent discount off all purchases; customers can special-order pieces in specific colors and styles. Shirin Cashmere, Regency Hotel, 540 Park Ave., near 61st Street, Suites 1420 and 1422 (759-4100, ext. 1420); Mon.-Fri. 10-6, weekend appointments possible; A.E., M.C., V.; 4/27-5/15.
Little Italy
If a trip to a Tuscan Spa is not in the cards for the immediate future, we’ll wager that the best next thing is a visit to the Terme di Saturnia on 57th Street. Two treatments – an oxygen-therapy facial and a seaweed wrap with a lymphatic-drainage massage – would usually cost $255; they’re now $130. That’s a pretty sweet deal for three hours of spa relaxation. Terme di Saturnia at Studio 57 Skin & Body Care Spa, 57 W. 57th St., Suite 710 (758-6383); Tues.-Sat. 9:30-8; A.E., M.C., V.; 5/1-5/31.
Fossil Watch
Fossilglass – a small design wholesaler on Greenwich Street – specializes in handcrafted glassware reminiscent of beach glass and ancient artifacts. It’s putting samples, one-of-a-kinds, and slightly imperfect models on sale: for example, serving bowl, retail $130, here $45 or less; sorbet dishes, retail $40, here $12-$14. Fossilglass, 430 Greenwich St. (966-2798); Thurs. noon-7, Fri. till 8, Sat. 11-6; cash only; 4/30-5/2.
Into Leather
Hélène’s alligator, crocodile, ostrich, and lizard handbags and accessories are being flown in from Boca Raton for this annual sale. Usually retailing for $650-$4,000, they’re $350-$2,000 here. Wales Hotel, 1295 Madison Ave., near 92nd St. (876-6000); A.E., checks; Mon.-Tues. 10-5:30; 5/4-5/5.