GREER WYLDER -- Best Buys

So much is happening at South Coast Plaza this month. There are many

exciting additions.

The Westin Hotel is opening after the completion of a major remodeling

with $4.5 million in improvements. All of the rooms and suites have new

“heavenly” Simmons beds, overstuffed chairs, drapes, carpet, bathroom

counter tops and granite flooring.

For shoppers there is the new BOSS Hugo Boss store -- the largest Hugo

Boss store in the U.S. It carries the complete collection of men’s

apparel. Eddie Bauer is moving to a much larger store, and is introducing

a casual dress line. A new optical boutique is opening called Max & Co.

It will provide prescription and nonprescription lenses, eye wear and

sunglasses, as well as optical accessories. You’ll be able to find the

best in bedroom linens at the new Frette store, the first in Southern

California. It will carry luxury linens, tabletop, ready-to-wear, gifts

and baby items. Toward the end of the month a great children’s bookstore

is scheduled to open called The White Rabbit. It features more than

35,000 titles for children. Other new stores are Tiny Computers, Borders,

Diesel, Fossil, and Sunglass Hut and Watch Station.

Its family fun day today at the Newport Beach Public Library. The free

event is part of the county’s Imagination Celebration going on through

May 14. It’s a festival of the arts for children, teenagers and families.

There will be magic, music, storytelling and balloon art for all ages in

the afternoon. Also, there will be entertainment in the library’s outdoor

Bamboo Courtyard, and face painting and hands-on arts and crafts. Inside

the library a choral program and dramatic storytelling will take place.

The library is at 1000 Avocado Ave. in Newport Beach. For more

information please call (949) 717-3801.

Bike enthusiasts will love the Specialized Bike promotion that’s going on

at Sea Schwinn Bike & Shop. With the purchase of selected models of a

specialized brand bike through May 31, you’ll get up to $140 in free

equipment. A Stumpjumper FSRxc model is selling for $2,319.99 and comes

with a $139 team mountain-racing shoe for free. With the purchase of

selected $1,109.00 Rockhopper models, you’ll get up to $85 in all-terrain

riding shoes for free. Selected Hardrock models sell for $549.99, and

come with $70 in Body Geometry comfort products. The Hardrock Sport bike

sells for $259.99 and is considered to be one of the best mountain bike

values available. The shop is at 420 E. 17th St. in Costa Mesa. For

information, call (949) 646-7706.

The Newport Beach Athletic Club is having an open house event for its

women’s personal training center from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through

Friday. The club will be offering personal training sessions for women,

and is offering a free trial session. After the tour of the new center,

you’ll receive a free T-shirt. The Newport Beach Athletic Club is at 1367

Avocado Ave. in Newport Beach. For information, call (949) 644-8910.

Old Navy always has best buys for the entire family. It’s currently

stocked up on summer merchandise. There are all kinds of Old Navy

tankinis, board shorts, swim bottoms, T-shirts, swim trunks, bathing

suits, flip-flops and hats. You won’t believe the prices, everything is

so affordable. T-shirts for baby boys are $7 to $8.50, boys’ T-shirts are

$6.50, men’s T-shirts are $8.50 to $12.40. Swim trunks and shorts for

baby boys are $9.50 to $10.50, boys’ trunks and shorts are $12.50 to

$16.50 and men’s are $14.50 to $19.50. Board shorts for baby girls are

$10.50, girls’ shorts are $14.50 and women’s board shorts are $17.50 to

$22.50. Girls’ tankini tops are $8 each and women’s tankini tops are

$12.50. There are also swim sets that include a mask, snorkel and fins

for $12.50, and flip-flops are $3.50 to $5.50. Old Navy is at 901 South

Coast Drive in Costa Mesa. For information, call (714) 540-3817.

Roger’s Gardens is ready for Mother’s Day with the addition of three

beautiful plant arrangements that will far outlast a bouquet of flowers.

There is a basket filled with pink calla lilies, begonias, ivy and fern

that sells for $50. Ivy topiaries always make perfect gifts and Roger’s

are especially nice, trimmed with ribbon for $85. Pink cymbidium orchid

baskets are also filled with birch branches, pink cyclamen and green ivy.

They make a spectacular arrangement for $150. Roger’s Gardens is at 2301

San Joaquin Hill Road in Newport Beach. For information, call (949)

64-5800.