Shop special

For snuggle-pots and cuddle-pies

If you are looking for cute, cuddly, stuffed toys the place for you to go is "Pollywog", situated at Gulshan, within the Seventh Day Adventist Clinic premises. Stuffed dolls, golly-wogs, teddy-bears, clowns, hens with their chicks--arranged in neat baskets--cats, dogs and what have you are there for the under eight. The designs are original and are sure to catch the eye of the toddlers. Should you need quilts, pillow covers and sheets with pastel shades and embroidery, and lace for the snuggle-pots at home, you can get them all here at reasonable prices and with a vast range to choose from.

Apart from toys with unbeatable colours, there are carefully done tapestry, mostly in cross stitch. The neat and artistic patterns have delighted both overseas and local buyers. You may order your cushion covers here too, with a vast array of patterns to choose from. They sometimes have touching phrases sewn into the motif. The background is usually pristine white or subtle black, which sets off the beauty of the flowers, birds, houses and what have you carefully worked onto the snow-white backing. Greeting cards with tiny stitches are found here too.

If you should be hankering for home-made chocolate, nut and honey cookies, muffins or cakes of different flavour or even yogurt, you will find it all here. The taste match the prices.

The work is done by needy women living in Mirpur, and so the rock bottom prices. The name of the shop is taken from a wriggling household insect.

By Fayza Haq

Hanging out

Kozmo Lounge

There's been a recent trend in creating meeting places that act as a living room away from home. Food joints are being designed more as an "adda" zone rather than a place to simply gulp down food.

Kozmo Lounge is one such place where the name pretty much says it all. Think of the coffee shop in the comedy series Friends. There's couches as well as tables and chairs. People sit around, laze about and can generally make a fool of themselves as though they were home. Kozmo is like that with the addition of a wide screen television.

The lounge is situated on the second floor of a commercial plaza on Satmasjid Road opposite the lake with the enormous red brick house. From that height in the day time, you get a pretty good view. The best thing about the place is its layout. The floor space is well balanced. One corner contains couches and a wide screen TV that you can use to watch your choice of movies on DVD. It's a good choice for chilling out with a bunch of friends.

If a bit of quiet is what you want another corner offer more couches and a coffee table simulating something like a living room. Then there are the smaller tables and chairs where you can sit and simply focus on eating. At night, the lighting is muted all over. Unlike Chinese restaurants, it's bright enough for you to see what your food really looks like.

Speaking of food, there's a whole assortment of goodies to try out. There are a variety of meals that are competitively priced as other similar establishments. But if you are using the place as a meeting place then lighter food is probably what you will want. You can have your choice of finger snacks like chips and cheese, or you could go for the various brownies and drinks on offer such as coffee, frappes, cappuccino, espressos etc.

It's a good place for informal meetings and dates. The lighting and the atmosphere spells out coziness. It's a place you would go more for its ambience than anything else. That isn't to say that the food isn't tempting. Also, since there are no other big commercial places immediately nearby, car parking is also adequate.

By Ehsanur Raza Ronny

Men's Shoes
There's a famous saying that "Shoes say a lot about a man." This means that even if you wear decent shirts and trousers, if your shoes don't cut it, then neither do you. So do the smart thing and invest in a couple of smart shoes. In recent times Bata has significantly improved its collection of shoes, and we suggest that you go to any of Bata's outlets to purchase your shoes. Prices of their shoes begin from Tk 600 onwards.

Belt
A belt is a lot more than an instrument for holding up your pants. It is a valuable fashion accessory, so the next time you go to buy a belt, put a lot of thought into it. There are many places from where you can buy a belt, but the best place to go to would be the shops of Elephant Road as the choice that they'll be able to offer you is somewhat unrivaled. Prices of belts will depend on their quality, but to give a rough idea we can tell you that they'll cost in excess of Tk 400.

Past O-Level/A-Level Question Papers
Are you a candidate for the January 2006 O-Level or A-Level examinations? If so, then you've got to start solving past question papers. There's no better way to simulate the exam experience than by solving a real question paper. The best place to buy past question papers is Nilkhet. There are quite a few shops that sell past question papers there, and Oxford bookstore is one of them. Prices of past question papers will depend on your ability to bargain, but they'll usually be in excess of Tk 100.

Gel
Does your hair have a mind of its own, one that never agrees with you? Teach it a lesson by using hair gel. The other advantage of using gel is that you'll have a nice wet look to your hair. There are many brands of gel being sold at the supermarkets of Dhaka city, and Nova is one of them. A container of Nova gel can be bought for about Tk 98.

Shalwar Kameez
The shalwar kameez is the Sub-continent's answer to jeans and tees, in terms of comfort and style. You'll find some fab shalwar kameez sets at the outlets of Aarong. The price-tags usually weigh a lot more than Tk 1,000, so make sure your wallet is loaded. Besides going to Aarong for shalwar kameez, you can also check out the shops of Metro Shopping Mall (Dhanmondi), as they also have a good collection.

Suitcase
Do you have plans to go abroad on a summer holiday? Are you a student who will be going abroad for higher studies? If you have answered yes to any of these questions, then one thing that you will definitely need is a suitcase to pack your belongings. If you go to New Market you'll find that there are many shops selling suitcases. The price will depend on the size of the suitcase that you intend to purchase and also your ability to bargain. To give you a rough idea, we can tell you that the price will be around Tk 2,000.

By Sayeed Mahmud Nizam

Essential

You better lose yourself in the music, the moment you own it; you better never let it go. You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow. This opportunity comes once in a lifetime
-- Eminem, OST '8 mile'

This could well describe a job interview. You have to beat out the cutthroat competition and grab the attention of your potential employers, and this all you have to do in a very limited time. Mastering a few simple strategies can increase your chances of success.

Do your homework
We give our kids this advice many times, but often fail to follow it ourselves. Before applying for a post, one should not only know about what the post requires one to know and do, but also as much as one can about the company one is applying to. Nothing impresses potential employers more than a well-informed candidate.

Be prepared
When you're stepping into the interview room, ensure that you've got all your necessary documents, a working pen and scrap paper, and a calculator. Make sure your résumé is up-to-date, and does not exceed two pages. Little details count towards projecting you as efficient and capable.

Be on time
"In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man is king'. Just so, in a society where 'Bangladesh Standard Timing' is a synonym for tardiness, a punctual candidate is a rare and much-sought-after prize. To make your bosses-to-be come running after you, make sure you're on time for your interview.

Dress to impress
Good grooming is a must for creating the right impact. Make sure your clothes are demi-formal, and a bit on the conservative side, as well as fresh and wrinkle-free, and that your shoes are clean and properly shined. The right accessories are also very important. Wear a watch; even if you don't normally use one, it conveys the message that you respect time. Ladies, go easy on the make up; remember that it's a job interview and not a beauty pageant. Perfume should be light, and it would be wise to invest in breath mints.

Ultimately, even though it's your capability and qualifications that get you the job, these little things will make your employers-to-be sit up and take notice, and that's half the journey.

By Sabrina F Ahmad

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