How hot was it?

Coming up Duval in a much-sweated-through T-shirt, I saw the new window display at Banana Republic: "Best of Fall: Luxurious Sweaters." I actually got a little swoony as I thought of myself swathed in cashmere, alpaca or mohair.

We don't have many national chains on Duval -- thank heaven, because they just don't get what life here is like. Home office says sweaters, and they jump, even though it's 94 and just rained, and the first four people you run into use the word "sauna" unprompted.

Fast Buck Freddie's is a direct opposite to Banana Rep in more than geography. Local to its historically funky core, it brings smiles more than swoons with its windows.

Valentine's Day, for example, focused on the marriages of Elizabeth Taylor Hilton Wilding Todd Fisher Burton Burton Warner Fortensky.

This month, instead of sweaters, a big sign asks "How hot was it?"


Bottom line: It wasn't too hot to laugh.