Will it be Grandma and Grandpa, or something a little snazzier?

Susan Felt of The Arizona Republic recently discussed how boomers are now re-defining what it is to be a grandparent — no more silver hair and rocking chairs! — and how many of them also want cooler titles to reflect this livelier image.

Here are some alternative names for Grandma and Grandpa, mentioned both in the article and at Grandboomers.com:

Also, here are translations of “grandmother” and “grandfather” into a bunch of other languages (collected mostly from Webster’s dictionary):

Finally, for those of you out there who already have grandchildren: What do they call you?

If Philly is “The City of Brotherly Love,” is Pittsburgh “The City of Boomer Love”?

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting that Pittsburgh is the #1 place in the country for boomers to find love.

Sperling’s BestPlaces conducted a study (using Census data) and found the 45-to-65 set in Pittsburgh experiences a lower-than-average divorce rate and a higher-than-average marriage rate.

If Pittsburgh doesn’t top your list of places to visit, you could also try Salt Lake City (Utah) and Raleigh (North Carolina) — two other good cities for singles, according to the study.

I just read an interesting article on the fashion frustrations many female boomers are experiencing.

It seems that specialty clothing stores (like Forth & Town, Janeville and Martin + Osa) are having trouble catering to baby boomers. They just can’t seem to figure out what older shoppers want.

What’s the problem?

Stores are making a mistake in segregating boomers, said Candace Corlett, principal at WSL Strategic Retail, a retail consultancy.

“The bodies may change, but the spirit is a lot slower to change,” she said. “When you move into your 50s, you don’t become less trendy. You may adjust because you have a different body, but it doesn’t mean you abandon the looks you love.”

Even Chico’s, “which pioneered the retail concept for selling to boomers,” is having this problem and seeing sales drop as a result.

On the flip side, though, once-disappointing department stores are now “starting to see their fortunes reverse” in this — err — department. While specialty stores falter, stores like Macy’s are really learning how to connect with older women — definitely something to consider the next time you go shopping…