BEST BUYS -- Greer Wylder

Greer Wylder

The Christmas Company Shopping Extravaganza 2001 will take place today

through Tuesday at the Orange County Fairgrounds. More than 90 specialty

boutiques from around the country are participating. There are also daily

special events. Today’s events will include a preferred shopping

breakfast at 9:30 a.m. for $25, a luncheon at noon featuring Mary Kelly

Selover of Gracious Interiors for $30, and family night from 6 to 8 p.m.

that’s free with admission. Monday’s event will be a noon luncheon

featuring humorist Diana Jordan. Jordan will discuss “The Power of a

Happy Heart” for $30. Nutritionist Yvonne Nienstadt, from the Cal-a-Vie

Spa and Health Resort, will host a spa breakfast at 9 a.m. Tuesday for

$20. Proceeds from the Christmas Company benefit projects of The Junior

League of Orange County that include Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove,

Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley, Laura’s House, Olive Crest and

Free Arts for Abused Children. During the event, the Junior League will

collect donations such as fast-food gift certificates, movie gift

certificates, movie rental gift cards, music gift cards and toiletry

items. Donations will be accepted in lieu of the general admission fee.

Items will be donated to one of the Junior League’s projects that

benefits abused abandoned and neglected children. The Orange County

Fairgrounds is at the Costa Mesa Freeway and Fair Drive in Costa Mesa.

AT&T; Wireless in Newport Beach is offering a great deal on an Internet

ready phone by Ericsson. The deal is that if you buy an Ericsson R289LX

for $99, you’ll get a $50 mail-in rebate, and a $50 AT&T; Wireless mail-in

service rebate. The final cost in $0. To get the AT&T; Wireless mail-in

rebate, you must sign up for one of the two-year AT&T; Wireless calling

plans at $29.99 a month and above. AT&T; Wireless is at 4667 MacArthur

Blvd., Suite 100-B, Newport Beach. (949) 476-2125.

Restoration Hardware’s popular once a year fall lighting sale is

happening through Oct. 28. On sale are Tristan task lamps at $129,

Chelsea double nickel sconce at $139, Teacher’s Schoolhouse light at $75,

Benjamin Club floor lamp at $99, Benjamin Stick table lamp at $59, Paris

pot lamp at $109, Beaux Arts torchier at $195, San Sebastian chandelier

at $155 and a Paris pot lamp at $109. Restoration Hardware is at Fashion

Island in Newport Beach. (949) 760-9232.

Roger’s Gardens always has the best Halloween decor. A room or two is

transformed every year into a haunted room, complete with sound and

special effects. This year, there are all kinds of ceramic pumpkins,

candles, candy bowls, baskets, bats, spiders, snakes and more. Roger’s

also has unusual alternatives to traditional orange pumpkins -- there are

albino pumpkins, gourds with watermelon skin and banana squash -- ideal

for carving. Roger’s Gardens is at 2301 San Joaquin Hills Road, Newport

Beach. (949) 640-5800.

Marmi is a new women’s shoe store that opened last week in Corona del

Mar Plaza. The specialty European footwear store carries a nice selection

of hard to find width and sizes for the perfect fit. Footwear comes in

sizes 4 to 12 and 13, and in widths from super-slim to wide. The latest

styles are in from Sesto Meucci, Van Eli and Rangoni of Florence. While

supplies last, Marmi is giving away a Marmi spa foot kit with any

purchase. There’s also a selection of handbags, hats and accessories to

compliment the shoes. Marmi is at Corona del Mar Plaza, on the corner of

MacArthur Boulevard and Coast Highway. (949) 721-1325.

Acanthus Gallery for fine decorative accessories and antique prints is

celebrating its fourth anniversary with a sale through Oct. 31. On sale

is its entire inventory reduced 10% to 70%. It’s open from 11 a.m. to 5

p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Acanthus

Gallery is at 2908 E. Coast Highway, Corona del Mar. (949) 640-1470.

* BEST BUYS appears Thursdays and Saturdays. Send information to Greer

Wylder at 330 W. Bay St., Costa Mesa, CA 92627, or via fax at (949)

646-4170.