COMING ATTRACTIONS

If you own a Mercedes-Benz, a Cadillac or other car with a prominent hood ornament, better keep an eye on the bauble--because they’re becoming popular as body jewelry, thanks in part to the brat-rap group, the Beastie Boys. A Mercedes spokesman told USA Today that Mercedes dealers ordered 12,600 hood ornaments from the factory in March--triple the number ordered in March of 1985--and said a number of them have shown up in jewelry stores and street corners, attached to gold or silver chains. Mike D of the Beasties sports a Volkswagen hood ornament himself, and the paper said more and more of the things are showing up on urban (and suburban) youth.