FYIDC

Time for Art The Mandarin Oriental, in conjunction with the Zenith Gallery, present The Wheel of Time, an exhibit featuring the collage art of Canadian artist Renée duRocher's work. The mixed-media works - which reflect duRocher's observations from her travels in Egypt and China - will be on display in the hotel's mezzanine-level gallery daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The exhibit will run through January 3, 2007. For more information visit www.mandarinoriental.com www.washington.interconti.com or call (202) 942-2700.

Bottom's up Attention gin lovers: Tanqueray has just made your next night on the town a little tastier. The venerable distillery has unveiled its newest product, Tanqueray Rangpur Gin, flavored with rare Indian Rangpur limes to enhance the spirit's classic juniper taste. Area residents are lucky - this new liquor has been available in the Mid-Atlantic region since August, but the rest of the country won't get a taste until early 2007. For more information visitwww.tanqueray.com. call (202) 333-BLEU.

Hail, Redskins! Some people dream of weekend getaways in the mountains or by the beach Washington Redskin fans should be dreaming of the Omni Shoreham Hotel's new Redskins VIP Football Package. This offer includes overnight accommodations, a full American breakfast for two at Robert's Restaurant, two tickets for access to a fully catered VIP suite at the stadium and limousine transportation to and from the game. The package is available for all of this season's eight home games. Rates start at $2,250; for more information visit www.omnihotels.com or call (202) 234-0700.

From Hip to Historical The acts appearing during Strathmore's 2006/2007 season can be summed up in one word: Eclectic. For the adventurous: Tommy the Clown & The Hip Hop Clowns will introduce Krumping (if you're curious, it's an energetic freestyle dance movement from South Central L.A.) on October 8 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; the godfather of go-go, Chuck Brown, plays with The Funky Meters on November 10 at 8 p.m.; and if your kids are Wiggles fans, don't miss Dorothy the Dinosaur's Dance Party on November 24 at 7 p.m. For more information visit www.strathmore.org or call (301) 581-5201.

Scare Tactics It's Alive! To mark the 75th anniversary of Universal Studios'Frankenstein - and just in time for Halloween - AFI Silver Theatre will show a series of films that follow Mary Shelley's mad doctor and monster through the years. From the original 1930's series featuring Boris Karloff to the spoofs from the 1970's (including the Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein), these classic films will give you a fright...or a laugh. October 13 through November 1. For more information visit www.afi.com/silver or call (301) 495-6700.

Play Bill Forget "to be or not to be;"the question is what play to see during the Shakespeare Theatre Company's 2006/2007 offerings at the Landsburgh Theatre. Whether it's a classic like Hamlet or Richard III or an English comedy such as George Farquhar's The Beaux' Stratagem, you'll have plenty of dramatic choices. For more information visit www.shakespearetheatre.org or call (202) 547-1122.

Rock-a-bye Baby Wren & Divine has lots of new pieces in their McLean store. One of the most unique is the Big Top Circus Toy Box, featuring customizable hand-painted details (it can be made to match any room or décor), and has space between the chest and lid to prevent your child's fingers from being caught. The box can be used as a bench when closed. For more information visit www.wrenanddivine.com or call (703) 356-9736.

Political Prose With author events every day (some days have multiple offerings), October looks like a busy month at Politics and Prose, the independent bookstore on upper Connecticut Avenue N.W. The schedule is full of interesting personalities, from local media figure John Dickerson - speaking about his new book On Her Trail: My Mother, Nancy Dickerson, TV News' First Woman Star on October 21, at 6 p.m. - to pop luminaries such as photographer Annie Leibovitz (whose work with Rolling Stone made her famous), who will sign copies of A Photographer's Life: 1990 - 2005 on October 16 at 7 p.m. For more information visit www.politics-prose.com or call (202) 364-1919.

What a Tea(se) What happens when an acclaimed product designer decides to focus on his passion (in this case, tea)? A company like Tea Forté emerges. Peter Hewitt - who has consulted and designed for Ralph Lauren, Starbucks and MOMA, among others - is packaging whole leaf teas with silken infusers in one-of-a-kind designs. With an array of flavors (Chamomile Tisane, Formosa Oolong or China Gunpowder anyone?) there is something to pick you up in the morning or calm you down at night. Available in D.C. at Sam & Harry's at 1200 19th Street N.W., Nusta Spa at 1129 20th Street N.W. and other area retailers. For more information visit www.teaforte.com.

Nike + iPod Remember the times you went running and your energy level plummeted as you reached that last hill? All you needed was something to pump you up. Something like "Eye of the Tiger" pulsing through your headphones. With the new Nike+iPod Sport Kit, you can designate any tune as your "power" song. To get started, you'll need an Apple iPod Nano, a pair of Nike+ compatible shoes and the Sport Kit. Just place the Sport Kit's sensor in your shoe and plug the receiver into your Nano and the screen becomes a display for calories burned, distance covered and workout time. If you press your iPod's center button, the music will soften and a voice tells you all of your workout data in real time - now that's motivation. Nike+ shoes, $80 to $110; iPod Nano, $149 and up depending on memory; Nike+iPod Sport Kit, $29 For more information visit www.nikeplus.com or www.apple.com

Sparkling History VAN CLEEF & ARPELS, the French jewelry house, has just opened a new boutique at 5454 Wisconsin Avenue in Chevy Chase, Md. Over the years the company's designs have been worn by such superstars as Marlene Dietrich, the Duchess of Windsor, Grace Kelly, and Julia Roberts. For more information visit www.vancleefarpels. com or call (301) 654-5449.