THE HYPE DADDY'S ANGEL WILLIAM SHATNER'S DAUGHTER SHOOTS FOR THE STARS WITH CLOTHING BOUTIQUE.

Along the Valley's major fashion corridor, otherwise known as Ventura Boulevard, is a boutique where angels and aesthetics collide.

It's called Dari (which means ``angel'' in Sanskrit), and the owner is Melanie Shatner, daughter of William Shatner of ``Star Trek'' and the more recent priceline.com fame. While Melanie could have moved away and opened her shop in more chi-chi neighborhoods like Beverly, Melrose or Sunset, this original Valley girl from Sherman Oaks says, ``I stayed because I like the small-town feeling, and I can still roam the hills near my home.''

In regard to her dress shop that looks a little like an Old Hollywood movie set with a lush sofa, tasseled cushions, beaded amber lights and artsy orange Buddha statues, she quips, ``It fits my hippie-spiritual feeling. And although I don't practice Buddhism (which teaches that right thinking and self-denial will enable the soul to reach Nirvana), I think he was a cool guy.''

Among those who frequently stop to shop for haute labels such as California Designer of the Year William B, sip her exotic tea elixirs, and sometimes stay for angel and aura readings by Malibu psychic Kyle Mathews are plenty of celebs. They include Laura San Giacomo, Kristin Davis, Julianna Margulies and Sarah Michelle Gellar, but Melanie says her biggest fan is her dad.

``He comes here often. He's proud to see the store doing so well (the store's almost a year old), and even though I'm 36, he still likes knowing where I am,'' she says with a laugh.

Another frequent visitor is Melanie's husband Joel Gretsch, who stars with Charlize Theron in Robert Redford's new film ``The Legend of Bagger Vance.''

Dari is located at 12184 Ventura Blvd., Studio City; phone [phone].

- Barbara De Witt

VIDEO VIEW

A-B-SEA: Never one to let a good thing linger on the shelf, Disney today is releasing ``The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea,'' a straight-to- video sequel to its 1989 hit. But don't be put off by the straight-to-video designation. Like ``Lion King II,'' another video sequel, this is no cheap followup. While it may not measure up to the original, this story of Melody (the daughter of the first Little Mermaid, Ariel) is pretty good even by Disney's high standards. There are new songs, too, from the songwriting team of Michael and Patty Silversher. The DVD goes for $29.99 and includes extras such as an interactive trivia game. The VHS is $26.99.

-Rob Lowman

< ON THE CHARTS

If your local record store clerk is acting strangely giddy lately, here's why. Today brings the much-anticipated new releases from Madonna, Bjork and Barbra Streisand. Napster was ahead of the release, with tunes from the Madonna album being downloaded last week.

Madonna's ``Music'' (Maverick) is the Material Mom's first studio set since 1998's ``Ray of Light.'' Expect some hot Euro-pop dance rhythms. The title song also debuts today as a ``Shockwave Single'' on www.shockwave.com, which features full-screen animation made with Flash tecnology.

Finland's Bjork serves up ``Selmasongs'' (Elektra), soundtrack to the forthcoming award-winning melodrama ``Dancer in the Dark,'' in which the eclectic singer plays a Czech immigrant with a passion for Hollywood musicals. Radiohead's Thom Yorke duets on the song ``I've Seen It All.''

And Streisand, who appears in what she promises to be among her final concert performances Wednesday and Thursday at Staples Center, offers ``Timeless: Live in Concert'' (Columbia), a double-disc set of her New Year's shows.

- Fred Shuster

GAMING

Going to X-tremes Last year, Tony Hawk Pro Skater sent the videogaming business into a kick-flip of gargantuan proportions, wowing gamers and critics alike with realistic physics, imaginative options and lots of great tricks in an extreme-sports game that rocked. Fans snapped up 2 million units.

Today, Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 makes its debut at the Best Buy electronics store in West Los Angeles (at 11301 Pico Blvd.). The man himself will be on hand between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m., though you can snag the game when doors open at 10 a.m. Or you can wait until Wednesday, when it hits other stores.

- David Bloom

CAPTION(S):

5 photos

Photo:

(1 -- 3 -- color) Melanie Shatner reposes at her Studio City boutique Dari, wearing a top by Foley, $93; vintage belt with sterling ``Spirit'' buckle by Stir, $400; jeans by Frankie B, $100; and leather cuff by Crazie Daisie, $50. Accents and accessories at Dari have a handcrafted look.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer

(4) no caption (The Little Mermaid II)

(5) no caption (Madonna CD cover)