THE CONSUMER WINDFALLS

Sartorial Splendor

Having worked for years as private tailor to the well-suited, Rafael Acevedo now hangs his needle at Giovanni’s Men’s Boutique. Whether it’s the minor adjustments a fine Italian suit requires or the total recut an American version may demand, Mr. Acevedo’s master tailoring will eliminate the pucker, bulge, and pull from an otherwise handsome look. The next time your entire jacket rises with your arm, think of the man who can cut you down to size. Giovanni’s Men’s Boutique, 9820 North Central (The Corners), Suite 500. 692-8838.

Hay Days



Although authentic two-horse power has been replaced by a vintage red tractor, the hay in the wagon is just as sweet as ever a warm evening could require.

A White Rock Stable hayride includes a roll around Flag Pole Hill, a bounce through the bottom, and a picnic fire to top off the evening. Bring your own hot, dogs, your own kids (or not), and your own childhood memories. White Rock Stables, 8949 Lanshire Dr. 348-3110.

Keys to the City

The visitor to New York City, Chicago, or Washington D.C. who plans to do and see all (preferably by public transportation) can exchange that knapsack of maps and books for a slim volume of Flashmaps. The New York edition maps Madison Avenue shops, Soho art galleries, Broadway theater restaurants, and some 43 other building complexes and districts. The books also include emergency numbers, listings for Dial-a-Prayer and racing results, and keys to what radio stations play what kind of music.

To rely on more than the kindness of stangers, carry your Flashmaps. Available at Century Book Stores. Flashmap Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 13, Chappaqua, New York 10514. ($2.50 plus 75C for postage and handling.)

Estate Visits

With European accommodations skyrocketing in price, travelers inclined to nest rather than ramble may find some relief with Inquiline. Founded in 1975, Inquiline publishes a yearly catalogue of homes available for rent throughout Europe, with an emphasis on those in England and France. A little planning can put four in the 19th-century Keeper’s Cottage at the Ragley Hall Estate in the Cotswolds for a mere $370 per week, or seven in the Chateau de Chaudenay (Provence) for $2500. Choices are limited only by cash and imagination. Inquiline, 35 Adams Street, Bedford Hills, New York 10507, (914) 214-0102.