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Letter to the editor

Briefs: March right up to bay area home parades

By Times Staff, Wires
Published February 23, 2008

The Parades of Homes are upon us. The Manatee-Sarasota parade steps off today through March 9 (details are available at paradeofhomesinfo.com). Citrus, Hernando and the Tampa Bay Builders Association (Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas) all hold their parades March 1-16.

Sticky situation could be lucrative

Prom time will be here soon, so high school students had better get busy on their costumes made from duct tape. Duck brand tape is offering a $6,000 cash scholarship to the couple who win its Stuck at Prom contest. Here you see one of last year's finalists in all her duct tape glory. Can you top this? Details are at www.stuckatprom.com.

It's a garage with attached house

Word of the Week: garage mahal. It refers to huge garages that dominate the front view of a home (we know there's a house in there somewhere). It's derived, of course, from the Taj Mahal, the monument in India that's a whole lot nicer to look at than acres of garage doors. NASCAR fans, yes, we know that the headquarters of the late Dale Earnhardt is also called the garage mahal.

Community name is so much more

And another Word of the Week: "branded community." It's not just another subdivision with a name like The Enclaves of Oak Trace or Deer Run at Lake Betty. Now we call them branded communities. You read it here first.

Time to forage for Easter treats

The valentine candy may still be hanging around, but it's time to turn attention to what the Easter Bunny may bring. Real Simple magazine suggests dyeing eggs in deep jewel tones instead of pastels, and using rubber bands to create lines and bands on the eggs. Harry and David, the mail-order fruit purveyors, offer personalized lemon shortbread Easter-egg and chick cookies, 5 inches across; $39.95 for four. Order by March 12 toll-free at 1-800-547-3033.

[Last modified February 22, 2008, 16:40:01]