Collector Capers, Part II Artomatic Prankster Returns, And So Does an 'Impostor'

Another anonymous letter, this one in e-mail: "I am the real Collector." Whoever was leaving gifts for us at Artomatic was "an impostor." And he could prove it, telling us such details as what color bandanna he wore that night on the Mall. Now he was offering to meet us -- in person -- at Artomatic. (In a later e-mail exchange, the prankster who delivered the trunk acknowledged that he was not The Collector of last year's drama.)

We were waiting at the appointed meeting spot when our cellphone rang. "The Collector is running late," said a youngish male voice, but in the meantime, there was something waiting for us under the skirt of the tall papier-mache skeleton on the seventh floor . . .

It was a red wooden box. Inside: another manifesto, this one calling for support of local artists -- and blasting D.C. galleries, collectors and critics who pay more attention to the international scene. It's a complaint we've often heard from Artomatic denizens.

Also: five little handmade cards in the style of Monopoly's "Community Chest" that single out some of The Collector's local faves -- painters Jeff Wilson and Scott Brooks, sculptor Aaron Quinn Brophy, Long View Gallery and Gallery Neptune.

We were just beginning to process this when the phone rang again. "I've got another surprise." Yeah, we'd sort of guessed: "The Collector's not going to meet you today."

But he was not done with us yet. "Go to the east window," he said. "Do you see me?"

On the Metro platform nearly two blocks away, a man in a hat and shades, long pants and long sleeves in the 96-degree heat was waving to us.

"I'm giving you a photo op," The Collector said. And then he was gone.

Instead of These Two-Buck Talkers, Try . . .

Gennifer Flowers and Paula Jones, who both claim intimate knowledge of Bill Clinton, have teamed up for "Two Chicks Chatting," a tacky Internet site where they discuss details of their alleged encounters with the former president for $1.99 a pop. We got a quick peek -- and all we can say is " Ewww." Four better ways to spend $1.99:

· "Spicy Attitude," an import interview CD with the Spice Girls, at the CD Exchange.