Hey, Hey, I Wanna Be a Rockstar
The epitome of hip, rocker style, Chrome Hearts sunglasses have adorned the faces of stars like Lenny Kravitz, Cher, Jay-Z, and the whole Osbourne clan. Yet as edgy and fashionable as this über hot brand is, it is also the high quality of the craftsmanship and materials that make it a stand-out in the crowd. Hand-crafted and made from sterling silver and the finest Italian leather, these rockin’ shades boast Carl Zeiss lenses and are enhanced with fleurs de lis, daggers, and floral crosses. And don’t worry, you won’t have to sacrifice fashion for function. Even if you are blind as the bat Ozzy bit the head off of, these can be made into prescription sunglasses for you right in the store. The Chrome Hearts line, available at LA Specs in River Ranch, starts at $599, and the delectable “Double Ds” pictured retail for $1,395. Call 993-8170 for more info. — Maria Capritto

And a hot fudge bunny, too!
Fresh from the pastures of Church Point comes The Ice Cream Cow, a children’s book by Mel LeCompte Jr. It tells the tale of a polka-dotted bovine, I say, I say, a polka-dotted bovine, surrounded by a cast of whacked-out barnyard buddies. Enter dramatic tension: This cow don’t moo! The Ice Cream Cow reads with the cadence of Good Night Moon and the whimsy of Dr. Suess. The author is a native New Orleanian who, by his own account, fell in love with rural life and got it good when he moved to the Buggy Capital to become a teacher. LeCompte still makes his home in Church Point and teaches at Lawtell Elementary. He also worked as a sports writer and cartoonist for the The (Opelousas) Daily World for a short time. Add to the resumé former Goth rocker, and someone demented enough to have nicknamed his children AngelButt and Crackhead, to whom The Ice Cream Cow is dedicated. The book is available at amazon.com and at Church Point Pharmacy and Gifts. — Walter Pierce

Eggzactly what she wanted
Nicole Holcombe is a very patient person, she cops to it herself. “I use a little funnel, you melt the wax, and I am writing on a fresh raw egg.” Then she dips it in dye, draws some more, dips and draws, according to how many colors she wants to layer to create the intricate patterns decorating her delicate pysankis or Ukranian Easter eggs. The Brussels, Belgium, native moved to Alexandria, La., 22 years ago, but she still retains her accent, and her amazement that not everyone believes that they, too, can create these small masterpieces. “Anyone can draw on an egg,” she says. “Practice before you make an omelet.” The small works of fragile art, $25, can be found at Sans Souci Fine Crafts Gallery, 266-7999, or check out Holcombe’s Web site at holcombegallery.com . — Mary Tutwiler