Top notch beauty at Ropage

BEST BUYS

Ropage Beauty Supply and Salon has the best customer service and

products. It’s having a moving sale with discounts from 30% to 70%.

As of June 1, it will relocate from 272 Forest Ave. to 435 Ocean Ave.

Most of the staff has beautician licenses and they know products.

They have only the latest and greatest supplies available, and fill

special orders too. First-rate shampoos like Alterna, Phytotherathrie

and Pureology are sold here, as well as quality skin care lines from

Murad and MD Formulations. Plus nail polishes, hair accessories,

cosmetics and hair color treatments. There’s an in-store salon for

hair and skin care. Sales are in June, July and late August/early

September. Open 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10

a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at 272 Forest Ave. (949) 494-8411

www.ropagebeautysupply.com.

INTO THE WILDERNESS

The Sanctuary and Anne Weiler Designs is Laguna’s destination for

contemporary Native American totemic symbols and sculptures. Known as

a mini trading post in Laguna, you can find percussion instruments,

beads, drums and more. Weiler can create custom totems as well. It’s

also a gathering center for multicultural learning, offering art

workshops, drumming circles, spiritual events and excursions to the

Southwest, Baja and a new art retreat center on Vancouver Island. Art

Workshops for stone carvings, rawhide drums and buffalo beaters,

dream catchers, talking, marriage and spirit sticks. Open by

appointment only. The Sanctuary is not easy to find. It’s behind the

Sawdust Art Festival off Laguna Canyon Road. From Laguna Canyon Road,

turn at the traffic light at Canyon Acres Drive, continue down to the

one stop sign, turn right, follow the sign to The Sanctuary. Limited

parking. Information: (949) 494-7734 or www.sanctuarylaguna.com.

An upcoming art excursion workshop to Bamfield West on Vancouver

Island takes place from September 21 to 27. It’s called Animals of

the Northwest: Adventures in British Columbia Wildlife art and

photography. It’s ideal for photography and painting enthusiasts.

Anne Weiler, an animal artist and photographer, will take

participants on hikes through rugged beaches and forests, and boats

to outer islands. Weiler will teach watercolor and acrylic painting

techniques she has used on her famous animal totem drums, from

feathers and fur to dramatic eyes. Daily watercolor journaling or

photography ventures in the wilderness, including one day of boating.

Arrive Sunday, Sept. 21, in Bamfield West, with classes Monday

through Friday, departing on Saturday, Sept. 27. Lodging will be at

the Imperial Eagle Lodge and include breakfast, box lunch and gourmet

dinner and wine. It’s $900/double occupancy; $1150/single occupancy

-- all inclusive without transportation. Adults only; color brochure

available or check on line for many photos and details

www.sanctuarylaguna.com reservations require a $300 deposit by check

or credit card.

Also Weiler has moved to a new studio in the Laguna Canyon Artists

Complex. More than 30 artists are hosting an open house through May

here. The complex has more than 30 artists in a large U shape

one-story complex across from the Laguna Wilderness. Weiler has

drums, as well as a series of new, large mixed media paintings at

3251 Laguna Canyon Road. The complex has a Web site at

www.lagunacanyonartists.com.

FOUND: THE HARD TO FIND

Backstage Boutique showcases a unique mix of hard-to-find clothing

styles in Laguna. Men’s and women’s lines represented from Los

Angeles to Barcelona include Panacea, Cannibal, Divinas Palabras,

Kunna Jeans, Chromestar, FredericHoms and more. They have unique

jewelry and accessory pieces from local and other recognized artists.

The shop is at 967 Glenneyre St. Information: (949) 497-8953.

TWO TIMES THE BAGS

Laguna Hand Bags has two locations in Laguna. Owners Fay

Badamchian and her son Peter Nez select beach bags to evening bags.

Most are handmade. During the summer they carry straw bags from all

over the world that you can’t find anywhere else.

“Beaded bags are so popular,” says Badamchian, “So we try to find

the best, the unusual, and one-of-a-kind bags.”

Select bags are always marked down 50%. Hats and leather jackets

available too. Open 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday,

10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Friday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunday at 490 S. Coast Highway No. 5 and 384 Forest Ave., Suite 1A in

Laguna Beach. Information: (949) 497-5405 or (949) 494-6700.

* 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.