I don’t know if my theory holds, but I think global warming signals a heavier chance of rain on the Front Range in the spring and fall. But if I’m right, we all need to buy a good pair of rain boots immediately. Luckily, deciding to do so is just half the fun. The choices out there are astounding.

To begin with, it’s only a short surf to www.whatapair.com, a website overflowing with adorable and guaranteed sloshable rain boots by a slew of manufacturers. There, I’m in love with Chooka’s Ed Hardy-style Koi boots ($59.99), a slick pair of Mondrian-esque kitten heels from Jeffrey Campbell ($39.99) and pretty much the entire rain boot line by Capelli New York (also $39.99). And for those with a lighter pocketbook, Target’s admirable knockoffs, including purple plaid, retro bird, and other fanciful designs, sell for only $24.99, and look just as hot. Look in-store or visit www.target.com. And by all means, surf further if you like, the water’s fine.

Just one more thing: If you’re out and about in the rain as I am, consider investing in a VERY GOOD UMBRELLA. Don’t even dream of picking up one of those accidents-waiting-to-happen they sell at Walgreen’s. Shell out and buy something extra large and very sturdy, or at least search the thrift shops for a used one. It probably belonged to someone dead, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing (mine, a gift, once belonged to my friend’s father, and I always feel especially safe under its storied wing). Now you’re ready for anything.

– Susan Froyd

Yesterday it was announced that the proposed Centennial IKEA will be built on 13.5 acres on the west side of I-25 in the Park Meadows Mall area. The Swedish home store will be 400,000 square-feet large and will sell nearly 10,000 exclusively designed items.

The store will also feature 50 "inspirational room settings," three model home interiors, a wonderfully fun children's play area and a 350 seat restaurant featuring Swedish specialities alongside American dishes. I'm especially happy that I'll finally get to buy one of my favorite candies -- the Daim toffee chocolates -- whenever I want.

The new IKEA should create 500 jobs during the construction phase and another 400 jobs when the store opens. Right now there are already new stores being planned in Charlotte, NC, Somerville, MA and Tampa, FL. There is no set opening date for the Colorado store, but let's all keep our fingers crossed that it's soon. I have a bathroom that needs to be redone and only IKEA can do the job.

-- Aubrey Shoe

There's a lot happening in the news these days -- the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac bailout, the energy/housing crisis, the most exciting presidential race in my lifetime. But, really, there is only one piece of news that I care about -- and that's today's announcement that IKEA, the Swedish retailer of all that is affordable, chic and modern for the home, is finally coming here,

It's about time. The Denver Business Journal reported in May 2004 that IKEA had approached the city of Lone Tree about opening a store, but Lone Tree had turned down the store and "potentially millions in sales tax revenue, because its city design guidelines won't accommodate IKEA's signature blue and yellow stores."

Lucky for us, IKEA heard the pleas of thousands of Denver-area fans and the town of Centennial has decided to make the sacrifice of pulling in the millions of dollars that Lone Tree didn't want. Word is that Centennial will even allow the store to be built with its standard colors.

I am so all over Larimer Square this week. The whole street hopped during the DNC, and shows no sign of slowing down now that the excitement’s over. For starters, Wild West wear emporium Cry Baby Ranch will keep the block rockin’ when it presents its biannual Liberty Boots trunk show, where the uninitiated and the true believers alike get to find out why hot-shit folks like Bruce Springsteen and Sheryl Crow are falling all over themselves to order a customized pair of these beauties. While CB Ranch normally carries the pricey footwear, this is your opportunity to order up a pair that’s unique, and for good measure, Comstock Heritage will also be taking orders, while showing off its impeccable silver belt buckles and accessories. The free margs will be poured beginning at 7 p.m. September 6; gather up your courage and your wallet and be there or be square. Cry Baby Ranch is at 1421 Larimer Street, go here for details or call 303-623-3979.

And then, for good measure, there’s the bag: Yep, Larimer Square now markets its own super-chic, green messenger bags, which comes in a variety of colors and is stitched from the Square’s own recycled street banners; the bag retails for $95 and looks cool without openly advertising for anything. Just the thing for a sustainable city gal to hoist over her shoulder this fall: Log on here to order yours. – Susan Froyd

Shoppers are the same, wherever they come from, so whether you’re here as a DNC delegate, ready to paint the town red, white and blue, or a local citizen looking for deals and Obama swag out the wazoo, now’s the time. And though it’s fair to expect independent retailers all over town to keep their doors open a little later and offer specials during the convention, it’s the shopping districts closest to the action that will be going all out.

But in that category, Highlands Square, centered up and down the streets around the intersection of 32nd Avenue and Lowell Boulevard just ten minutes from downtown, wins the blue-state ribbon. The area’s merchants and restaurants have banded together to offer UnCONVENTIONal Fare in Highlands Square, wooing DNC visitors with discounts, special menus throughout the convention’s run, with a free Hop, Skip and a Jump shuttle to and from the Teatro, Magnolia, Monaco and Grand Hyatt hotels, leaving hourly between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on August 26 and 27. Some highlights? At Studio Bead, browsing delegates will be treated to free “Believe it!” charms, while next door at Le Chocolatier, they’ll be handing out chocolate Democratic buttons; on the foodie front, Highland’s Garden Café will open its arms to out-of-towners by serving a special Lean ´n Green, local-centric DNC menu, and wind-powered Swimclub 32 will feed more budget-conscious delegates with $8 pizzas. Hungry? For all the deets, go to www.32ndavedenver.com.

Get a head start on your weekend shopping at Frolik's Third Thursday Celebration sale tonight, Thursday, August 21. From 5 to 8 p.m. the Highland shop, located at 3715 West 32nd Avenue, will feature a $15 and a $25 clothing rack, and if you mention the email they send out, you'll get 20% off all full-priced items through August 24th.

The folks from Greyhound Rescue will also be on hand, along with a few rescued pups. For more information, visit www.frolikon32nd.com or call 303-458-5575.

If this woman doesn’t scare you, enter to win a lunch with her in Stapleton.

Given the hordes of celebs poised to descend on Denver in the next couple of weeks, a Martha Stewart appearance hardly seemed worth mentioning. But then we heard about the cupcake contest…

Stewart is slated to be in town next Tuesday afternoon, August 19, to celebrate the first anniversary of the KB Home development that bears her name in Stapleton. As you may recall from previous Cat’s Pajamas installments, these houses sell for upwards of $320,000, and don’t even include a complimentary cookie on the pillow.

But someone’s got to sell them, and the folks at KB are trying hard. For next week’s event, they’re planning a catered lunch—which they call “luncheon,” because this is Martha Stewart-- tours of model homes, and of course, a cupcake-decorating contest. Yes, Miss Martha herself will be judging the quality of your frosting and M&M’s swirls.

If you can picture such an affair without gagging, then hurry into any KB Home development in the Denver area, and register to win tickets. There are just 100 spots available—50 winners, with each person allowed one guest. For a list of places to register, click here. But hurry; the entry deadline is 7 p.m. Saturday.

—Lisa Rab

One thing I have always loved about fashion is watching the ebb and flow of styles. Sure, every season there is some crazy trend that may stick -- a la the skinny jean -- or culminates in total disaster, like the popped collar. But there are always staples, pieces that don’t dramatically change with the times but stay their course and gently evolve to fit the present.

Perpetual Clothing, located in Denver’s lower Highlands, is like a big closet where you can find these enduring looks. Providing what owner Lanine Baccam calls “modern resale,” the store buys, sells and trades quality brand clothing and accessories for both sexes. It feels like a designer boutique and many of the labels make it one. I saw BCBG, Seven For All Mankind and Kate Spade to name a few. Lanine even provides a card with a list of brands they will not carry, which is a great idea because the less Faded Glory and Dress Barn out in this world, the better.

Besides offering eminent brands and amazing service, Perpetual Clothing presents a state of mind that is often lacking in business. It is one of continuing a cycle, whether it be the obvious re-sale of clothes or the neighborhood support of a small business. They also have a Bags and Tags Recycling Program, where they ask customers to donate lightly used paper and plastic bags from malls or boutiques to be used in the store.

Remember how much fun it was (and still is) to raid your friend’s closets? How something someone else had worn out seemed brand new on your body? Perpetual Clothing brings back that feeling.

Visit them at 2027 West 32nd Avenue or call 303-953-0816 for questions or to set up an appointment. More information can be found of their web site, www.perpetualclothingdenver.com.

-- Rossy Kay

I love accessories! My mom has always had a ton of great jewelry and while I know that my own collection of earrings, pendants and bracelets will never match hers, my shoe collection is quite astounding -- fifty pairs, at last count. I even like to joke that I married my husband so that my last name would be "shoe," in honor of my favorite accessory.

But there's one accessory I've never had more than one of (much to my dismay): eyeglasses. And that's a damn shame, because I am so blind that I really depend on my glasses for everything. However, in addition to being addicted to fashion, I also tend to be hopelessly broke, and while I might occasionally pick up a great pair of Nine West or Steve Madden shoes at Ross or another discount retailer, I've never found a pair of glass frames with my own special prescription already in them.

Happily, at the new SEE (Selective Eyewear Elements) shop in Cherry Creek North, I can not only afford a stylish and unusual pair of new glasses at a great price -- most likely I can afford two or three pairs, which means my eyeglass collection can start to slowly catch up to my shoes. -- Aubrey Shoe

My daughter is into animals. Especially the cute ones infesting the kingdom of YouTube (and in particular the ones found on the YouTube serial, Ultra Kawaii, which she robs off the Internet and e-mails to everyone she knows in the whole entire world.

And why should I mention this, bringing shame and embarrassment upon my family name? I guess because almost everyone likes animals, those beings with whom we’ve co-existed since the beginning of human time (although we like some more than others), and their likenesses have also been part of our lives since the those gnarly cavemen drew them with embers on cave walls.