What's new: "One Fifth Avenue" (Voice Books) by Candace Bushnell, author of "Sex and the City."

What it's about: A novel about a hedge-fund genius and his wife who buy the penthouse at fancy One Fifth Avenue, riling old-school residents who are tangled up in their own petty rivalries and botched affairs.

Talking points: Bushnell is hot again, thanks to fans who strapped on their high heels to see the film version of "Sex and the City" over the summer. ("Lipstick Jungle," based on a Bushnell novel, returned to NBC Wednesday). Now she's back with another steamy fictional story about love and lust in Manhattan.

A taste: "That's the difference between girls and women: Girls find men fascinating. Women know better."

Bushnell says: "The city still inspires young women to come here, and they have a completely unrealistic idea about it because of what they've seen on the screen. Lola is 22 years old, and she would certainly have seen 'Sex and the City,' or even grown up watching it."

On sale: Now.

— Carol Memmott, USA Today

IN THE MARKET FOR A NEW HANDBAG?

DFS in Waikiki has launched two new shop-in-shops, one featuring the latest from L.A.M.B., Gwen Stefani's (inset) line and another showcasing Kidrobot.

Kidrobot - known for vinyl collectibles, among other things - launched its handbag line a month ago.

The L.A.M.B. handbags are exclusive to the duty-free store (and no, you don't need a passport to purchase from this part of the store), and the Kidrobot bags are available at select Macy's, as well as DFS.

— Advertiser staff

TAKING IT OLD-SCHOOL

After Acid Wash Wednesday was exiled from NextDoor when the nightclub closed temporarily, the '80s night party bounced around from venue to venue, but the night of dancing, sweat and pure adrenaline has never been the same. On Wednesday, as a tribute to the weekly event, the promoters of NextDoor are bringing back a special event, "Welcome Back," in honor of the era. The Nocturnal Sound Krew, Delve1der, and special guest DJ Benzi from Detroit will be bringing it back to the old school.

"Welcome Back," 9 p.m. Wednesday, NextDoor, 43 N. Hotel St.; no cover, 21-plus; www.djbenzi.com.

— Lacy Matsumoto

WEB WATCH: GET YOUR FIX OF PALIN PARODIES

Since Sen. John McCain named Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin his running mate, there has been an explosion of Palin parodies on the Web.

Funny Or Die posted a parody of Palin starring Gina Gershon, complete with the actress posing in a bikini with a shotgun - mimicking the widely circulated pictures that were altered to appear as if they were the guv.

Found footage has also played a role. There are lots of videos on YouTube of Palin as a sports broadcaster for a local news program in her pre-politics days. (To find them, search "Sarah Palin sports.") In the clips, Palin delivers '80s highlights of basketball, baseball and dogsled-mushing.

And these videos only scratch the surface. There are action figures of the governor for sale at www.HeroBuilders.com. A veritable cottage industry of altered photos of Palin has sprung up.

There's even a site - personal-space.com/script/script.php - that parodies the unusual names of Palin's children (Track, Trig, Bristol, Willow and Piper). Input your own name into a generator to find out what your name would be if Palin was your mother. Jake Coyle's, for example, would be "Flack Gobbler."

— Jake Coyle, Associated Press

SALES & BARGAINS