Trick or trial?Party City, a store that...

Trick or trial?

Party City, a store that is opening in West L.A. today, has a new item on the shelves for Halloween: A Judge Ito mask.

We bet it frowns when a TV camera comes near.

WHICH REMINDS US: Wouldn’t it be a fitting climax to the Simpson case if the jury came in with its verdict--or non-verdict--on Oct. 31?

SURPRISE ENDING: We saw the movie “Seven,” a mystery that takes place in a city where it always seems to be raining, subways shake the walls of apartment dwellers, and one character speaks of having lived “upstate.”

The gloomy photography reminded us of why we’re happy not to be living in New York City.

Then we were stunned to see a chase scene where the cops zoom past the Vernon Avenue off-ramp of the Harbor Freeway.

Yes, the city in the movie is L.A.--as you’ve never seen it! Thank goodness.

WOULD NORIEGA LIKE IT HERE?Greener Pastures, whose phone number is 1-800-OUTOFLA, was founded by ex-Angeleno Bill Seavey. The Pahrump, Nev.,-based company sends out literature to those seeking a rural retreat and holds seminars in L.A. and other big cities.

Not long ago, Pastures received a card from the Miami area, requesting its free brochure. The card was signed by Manuel A. Noriega.

“We think this is genuine since a prankster wouldn’t know there is an ‘A.’ in his name,” said a Pastures staffer, who sent us a copy.

We checked with the Bureau of Prisons and the prison I.D. number on the card also checked out. We were, however, unable to contact the general himself. But Noriega, who was sentenced to a 40-year prison term in 1992 on various drug trafficking and money-laundering charges, is unlikely to be moving anywhere soon.

Given the nature of Greener Pastures’ brochure, he seems uninterested in settling in L.A.

Probably heard about all the rain and subway vibrations here.

A LOT OF HOT AIR: When Walt Uchiek of Chatsworth received a one-month bill from the Gas Co., he thought the amount due seemed high. He phoned to complain and says that the Gas Co. rep “began to interrogate me: ‘How many bedrooms in the residence?’ ‘How many people occupy the home?’ ”

Uchiek cut the questioning short by pointing out the amount of his previous bill. The Gas Company said it would investigate. Finally, he was sent a revised bill for $13.30.

He thought that was a fine improvement over the original one, which was for $8,571.83.

THRILL-A-MINUTE L.A.: A colleague felt a jolt in his car as he drove through Downtown L.A. on 4th Street one recent evening. He parked on Main Street and discovered to his shock that a bullet had struck the car. He walked back to 4th Street to investigate. When he returned, he experienced a second jolt: a parking cop had given him a $55 ticket.

miscelLAny Visitors to the Southern California International Auto Show, now being held in Long Beach, can take a free test drive in an electric car--a converted GEO four-door sedan that sells for $19,900. The model is called Lightning. Don’t try to tell us you can have that kind of fun in Pahrump.