Tub-o-party: This galvanized party tub is a handy way to keep pops and beers chilled and stop stray guests from cluttering up the kitchen. This watertight galvanized tin tub has brass handles and base and can be personalized. 19 3/4 inches wide, 10 inches high, $29.98. Lillian Vernon catalog, (800) 545-5426. Target stores have similar galvanized buckets (not personalized) with wooden handles, $14.99-$19.99.

        Head strong sculpture: Last year's Big Pig Gig set artist Nancy Hopkins of Columbia Tusculum on a new course. The Cincinnati Art Academy graduate had designed tiles and painted portraits of people's pets. But when the Big Pig Gig gave her the opportunity to turn animals into three-dimensional works, her creativity was sparked. (She worked on Typigraphic, which stood on Fourth Street; These Little Piggies, as well as smaller pigs.) Her love for animals kicked in and she came up with these ceramic sculptures which can be used inside or in the garden. (She recommends bringing them in for winter when the temperatures hit the freezing mark.) Priced $70-$350, they can be found at A Show of Hands in its new home at Kenwood Towne Centre. The shop, showcasing Ohio artisans, moved last week from its tiny quarters to a roomier space on the second level by Lazarus.

        Zackaroos: Teaching a little one with fumbling fingers to tie a shoe has sent many a parent screaming for Velcro-tab shoes. Now there's another alternative — Zackaroos. Zack Steven of St. Paul, Minn., came up with a series of elastic bands that fasten in each set of eyelets, turning tie shoes into slip-ons. Each tie can be strung with a series of plastic beads, dolphins, airplanes, dinosaurs and flowers. Ties, $3.99 for a bag of 10 elastic fasteners; $1.99 for bag of charms. They're not in Cincinnati shoe stores yet, but can be ordered at www.zackaroo.com or by calling (612) 869-9794.

        Game chains: The folks at Basic Fun have just made long trips with fidgety kids more tolerable. They have come out with more than 40 key chains of minigames that really work. The mini Scrabble, for example, has a magnetic game board surface and 30 mini magnetic letter tiles. The Mouse Trap miniature lets you “build the trap to catch the mouse” just like the original. Games include Battleship, Cootie, Boggle and Yahtzee. $3-$10. At Target, Wal-Mart, Toys R Us, KayBee and Spencer Gifts.

        Contact Joy Kraft, The Cincinnati Enquirer, 312 Elm St., Cincinnati, Ohio 45202; 768-8467; fax 768-8330; jkraft@enquirer.com

King of the creepy crawlies
Algebra teacher has formula for success
The Insatiable Shopper
: Art school benefit heats up by 98`
Get to it