Get your spring started off green

BEST BUYS

Don’t miss the 15% off sale at Laguna Gardens Nursery through the end

of the month. Everything in the gift store is reduced. The nursery

stocks some of the best perennials, sages, iceberg roses, herbs,

lavenders and fuchsias. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 21065

Raquel Road (next to the dog park). (949) 497-4950.

Get a reproduction of history

Fiori carries one of the most diverse collections of

Renaissance-inspired Majolica dinnerware and accessories outside of

Italy. Owner Bonnie Wolin says many customers look for pieces that

they won’t see in catalogs. Fiori is known for its one-of-a kind

decorative and reproduction pieces from museums. Exclusives to the

store are ceramic pieces from George Hatzopoulos of Greece; The

Goddess Collection of dinnerware, six patterns that mix and match;

pieces from old master painters; and portrait plates already in

museums by younger painters. Fun gift items range in price from $25

to $89 for letter holders and spoon rests. Large urns and statues

priced up to $3,500. A large selection of plates, serving pieces,

collectibles, masks, and more. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through

Thursday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday. 214 S. Coast

Highway in Laguna Beach, (949) 494-9954.

Rocks and rolls

Kristalle Natural History Gallery is one of Laguna’s most unusual

stores specializing in minerals, rocks, fossils and rare shells.

“Most people have no idea what we have here,” says manager Stephanie

Andrews. “About 10% of what we have upfront is polished stone,

because most people can’t relate to unpolished pieces.” Kristalle

specializes in specimens from their natural state for collectors.

Minerals come from Pakistan, Poland, Peru, Spain, India, Peru and

Afghanistan. Rare pieces include: drawers filled with meteorites; a

200-million-year-old dinosaur track found in Massachusetts; and a 44-

to 50-million-year-old sting ray fossil. Kristalle accommodates all

budgets. Kids can buy 50-cent tumbled stones and collectors from all

over the world can spend thousands on specimens. 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. 875 N Coast Hwy.

in Laguna Beach, (949) 494-7695.

An exclusive way to Italy

Serena d’Italia sells exclusive Italian shoes and handbags for

less. Owner Bhagu Bhatia started his company in the 1970s on Madison Avenue in New York, catering to celebrity clients like Barbara

Streisand and Jacqueline Onassis. He’s had two other successful

stores at the El Paseo Collection in Palm Desert and Fashion Island

in Newport Beach, before moving to Broadway Plaza in Laguna Beach.

“My priorities have changed,” says Bhatia. “Now that I have two

teenage kids.” Bhatia’s secret for offering low prices is that he’s

found contacts in Italy where his shoes are custom made, with the

same quality as high-end designers. By buying them directly from the

manufacturers, Bhatia can sell them for less. Customers from all over

the country know of Serena d’Italia and some order 25 pairs over the

phone. Serious shoppers go with Bhatia to his Santa Ana warehouse

where he keeps 5,000 pairs of shoes and bags. The small boutique

carries women’s shoes, handbags and some men’s shoes. 10 a.m. to 5

p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Broadway

Plaza - 303 Broadway, Suite 111 in Laguna Beach, (949) 376-4070.

A place to lose your mind

Go crazy at Clothes Minded and you won’t go broke. Everything is

priced at $15 or less. Bargains on girl’s swimsuits, shorts, capris,

jeans, dress pants, pants, shirts, dresses and belts. Moderate

quality. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. 252 Forest Ave. in Laguna Beach,

(949) 376-2015.

This marks the spot

X owners Kat Story and Vladimer Prodanovich use their artistic

talents to create clothing and accessories that can’t be found

elsewhere. They design 90% of their merchandise, and Prodanovich, a

local established artist, does all of the hand painting and silk

screening. Dresses, t-shirts, jeans, and one-of-a kind belts.

Customers love their eclectic designs. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. 226

Ocean Ave. in Laguna Beach, (949) 497-7097.

* BEST BUYS is a weekly feature of the Coastline Pilot. Send

information to Greer Wylder at [email protected]; at P.O. Box

248, Laguna Beach, CA 92652; or by fax at 494-8979.