Q: At the recommendation of a pal in North Carolina, I bought some Claussen hot and spicy chips (not spears) pickles at Publix this summer. Turns out he was right, they are really good. So, of course, Publix immediately stopped stocking them and reported that they cannot special order them. I would be willing to order them online but would prefer to find an Atlanta store. I have looked high and low to no avail. Please help me find these great pickles. Many thanks! — Raemon Polk, email
A: You won’t have to worry about ordering these zesty pickle chips, which are boosted with dried red peppers and garlic. Locally, they’re available for $3.79 at Kroger, 3959 Lavista Road, Tucker, 770-939-6304.
Q: I love NARS brand stick blush in the Palm Beach shade. Last May, I went to purchase another. There were none to be had, but the NARS rep said it would be coming out again for a summer bronzing kit. I dutifully waited and, when the kit came out, the bronzing stick was not the Palm Beach shade. I have tried to find a similar product from other manufacturers to no avail. If you could help in this, I would really appreciate it. There has to be a spare stick somewhere, doesn’t there? — Jaci Johnson, Atlanta
A: Why, yes, Jaci, there is a spare stick of NARS in the Palm Beach shade. In fact, I found nearly a handful of the blush sticks and, depending on where you order them, you’re going to pay a pretty penny. Check out www.amazon.com, and you’ll find two vendors selling the NARS blush stick in your shade. One has two in stock for $61, and another has a single stick for $62. However, if you go to www.ebay.com, you’ll find two of them available for $18.95 each. You know how this goes: When you love a fading product, buy as many as your budget will allow because you might never see it again.
Q: Years ago, when my children were young, I purchased a shaker of Domino Sugar ‘N Cinnamon in a 3-ounce container. My daughter and her husband are now hoping to buy some, but have had no luck finding it in stores. I have found it online, but was hoping to find it in a local store. Thank you. — Nancy Keuler, Fayetteville
A: These whimsical shakers with the yellow lids and collectible cartoon characters come with the perfect blend of granulated sugar and cinnamon, making it easy for kids to serve themselves. Sugar ‘N Cinnamon shakers are available at Publix, 840 Glynn St. S., Fayetteville, 678-817-5415. Each 3-ounce canister costs $1.19.
Q: Please, please, please help me locate any place at all, stores or online, where I can get my Donna Karan Black fragrance. It originally came in a gold-and-black bottle with a curved top and fat base. The last time I found it was in Newport Beach, California, at a small boutique, and it’s no longer carried there. It was a powder instead of the perfume. I don’t care about the packaging, and I am willing to get the powder, perfume, spray, eau de toilette, lotion, deodorant — anything. I have been desperately trying to find it. None of the perfume stores online or in major department stores have it. Thank you for your time and consideration. — Alesa Heberling-Bennett, email
A: Donna Karan created two Black fragrances — Liquid Cashmere Black and Black Cashmere. Liquid Cashmere Black offers fruity cherry notes, and comes in the feminine bottle you described. However, it’s a recently launched fragrance that’s available in quite a few stores, including Ulta Beauty, 1801 Howell Mill Road, Atlanta, 404-355-1326. It’s available in a 1.7-ounce EDP for $88 and the 1-ounce sells for $62. The heavier fragrance, Black Cashmere, was launched in 2002 and is a bit more difficult to find — but not impossible if you go to the source. This fragrance used to come in a smooth oval spray, but it’s been redesigned and now comes packaged in a tall, black canister type of bottle. You can order Black Cashmere, 3.4-ounce EDP spray, for $120 through www.donnakaran.com.
