By Vicki Ingham

I've been looking for a summer-weight scarf
and found a treasure trove at Accenti in the East Village: feather-light viscose shawls in yummy tangerine and watermelon hues, whisper-thin polyester prints, bright crinkly silks and synthetic pashmina in gorgeous solids and prints.

But the coolest of all is the scarf/shrug. Made of a viscose-cotton-spandex blend, it's a doubled length of fabric secured at each end with four buttons, forming short sleeves. Slip your arms through the sleeves and open the scarf to full width for a light over-the-shoulders shrug. To wear it as a scarf, just wrap the doubled fabric once or twice around your neck and thread one end between the buttons at the other end to hold it in place. It's available in black, black and white, and black and stone for $75.

Find Accenti at 400 E. Locust St.; 284-8877.

By Wini Moranville

It's always great to see Central Iowa restaurateurs support local growers and producers, and a sterling example of that is the way in which our chefs bring La Quercia prosciutto--made in Norwalk by Des Moines residents Herb and Kathy Eckhouse--to their tables with great pride.

Michael Bailey, executive chef of Embassy Club West, says, "We have a La Quercia cart that we slice from tableside. ... It is not only a great local product but a worldwide product in quality that I've been very proud to serve on my menus for years."

You can find La Quercia in charcuterie plates at Blue Tomato, Centro, The Cheese Shop of Des Moines, Django, Le Jardin, Splash Seafood Bar & Grill and Trostel's Dish, to name a few. Also find it used in one-of-a-kind recipes at these venues: 

• Alba: Enjoy this creative kitchen's take on chicken saltimbocca, with truffle spring pea risotto, La Quercia prosciutto and a pea tendrils salad.  
  (524 E. Sixth St.; 244-0261)

• Louie's Wine Dive: Hungry? Dig into the four-pork gnocchi, with La Quercia prosciutto, pork shoulder, ground pork and Italian sausage in a red wine and cream sauce. Or try the portobello prosciutto and truffle mac, with a Taleggio cream sauce.
  (4040 University Ave.; 777-3416)

• Centro: La Quercia prosciutto stars with mushrooms and Marsala sauce in this venue's version of chicken saltimbocca. Tip: One order will generously feed two diners, and the kitchen is gracious about splitting entrées.
  (1003 Locust St.; 248-1780) 

If Louis Armstrong were still alive, he'd be 113 years old. Celebrate the jazz legend's birthday Aug. 3 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Salisbury House & Gardens, which is hosting a live jazz concert on the south lawn. While you're there, impress your friends with these little-known facts about the illustrious trumpet player: 

• He wore a Star of David for most of his life to honor the Lithuanian Jewish family who took him in when he was 7 years old.

• In 1937, he became the first African-American to host a national radio broadcast--on the CBS radio network.

• He was the first jazz musician to be featured on the cover of Time magazine (Feb. 21, 1949).

• In 1964, he knocked The Beatles out of the No. 1 spot on the pop charts with his recording of "Hello, Dolly!"

The Ballyhoo Foxtrot Combo will kick off the Salisbury celebration at 2 p.m., followed by the Party Gras Classic Jazz Band at 3:45 p.m. Food and beverages will be available for purchase, or you can bring a picnic. Lawn chairs are provided. Admission is $15 per person, $5 for children 6-12, free for children 5 and under.

Young professionals ages 21-35 can start celebrating the night before, when Salisbury House is transformed into a jazz-era speakeasy with cocktails, appetizers and dancing from 8 to 11 p.m. Advance tickets are $25 for Salisbury House Young Professionals and $30 for nonmembers, $30 and $35 at the door, and include complimentary admission to the Sunday bash. -V.I.