GREER WYLDER -- Best Buys

Mila Graves is a great chef working at Trader Joe’s in Costa Mesa. She

cooks simple dishes in the back of the store using Trader Joe’s

ingredients and will gladly share her recipes. Graves’ extensive cooking

background started at two cooking schools and then as a chef at the Ritz

Carlton in Laguna Niguel. Today, she’s content with sharing her passion

for food with others by working on her cookbook, due out this summer, and

having her personal chef service. Graves is available for catering small

parties and also as a local personal chef. Every month, Graves posts new

recipes on her Web site and offers tips to make meals more enjoyable and

easy to prepare. For more information on Graves, check her Web site at

o7 www.chefmila.comf7 or write to Chef Mila’s Recipes and Tips, P.O.

Box 1671, Newport Beach CA 92659.

The Balboa Island Business Assn. is holding its seventh annual Memorial

Weekend sidewalk sale Friday through Monday. Participating stores will be

offering wonderful bargains. “There should be sun, fun and great deals,”

says Helen Shull at Even Sisters, an island apparel shop will offer

incredible savings on Roxy, Fresh Produce, Rusty, Yellow Box shoes, and

many other name brands. Also on sale, at 50% off, are Danielson Design

picture frames and many more wonderful gifts. Other deals will be on all

retired Ty Beanie Babies (two for $6), and the Muffy Vanderbear

collection is reduced by 50%. Shull would also like readers to mark their

calendars for the annual Balboa Island parade “The Jewel of the Harbor”

coming up at 11 a.m. on June 4. Even Sisters is at 207 Marine Ave. on

Balboa Island. For information, call (949) 673-2130.

Steve Furlaw of Costa Mesa says there’s a great clothing business called

Looking Glass owned by his friend, Pat Derby, at the Orange Count

Marketplace. Looking Glass sells hand-painted baby clothing and has been

at the Orange County Marketplace since 1984. The space is G-199 and can

be found through the Marketplace’s computerized directory. Among Derby’s

35 designs are a choo-choo train, airplane, fire engine, motorcycle,

police/sheriff, dolphins, angels, sailboat, heart balloons, as well as

sports designs and designs for people shopping without yet knowing the

gender of their expected baby. The hand-painted baby three-piece gift set

include a playsuit, bib and socks for $19.95. The personalizing is free.

They come in sizes for 6 to 24 months. Pat Derby can be found at the

Marketplace every weekend (weather permitting) the marketplace is open.

For information, call (949) 548-6882.

Von Hemert Interiors is having a warehouse sale in which all home

furnishings are reduced by 20% to 75%, today through June 4. There are

more than 500 new European pieces on sale, and hundreds of new and

antique rugs on sale. There are also factory showroom specials. Popular

furniture name brands include Henredon, Baker, Century, Jeffco,

Maitland-Smith and Hickory White. There will also be a parking lot tent

showcasing the best bargains. Von Hemert Interiors will also have

extended store hours during the sale: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through

Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. It’s at 1595 Newport Blvd. in

Costa Mesa. A delivery service is available. For information, call (949)

642-2050.

Robinsons-May has some great deals on swimwear for misses, juniors and

ladies at its annual swim sale, which runs through Friday. On sale are

all bikinis, tankinis, tanks, maillots, cover-ups and separates.

Robinsons-May is at Fashion Island in Newport Beach, and at South Coast

Plaza in Costa Mesa.

Zany Brainy is gearing up for summer with a sale on summer-related toys

through June 17. For the water, a dive watch, Hydro Glider shark and mask

are priced at $9.99 each. For the sand, a lifeguard chair and adjustable

umbrella are $14.99; a seven-piece toy wagon is $19.99; a dumper and

loader truck set is $19.99; and all swim gear is reduced by 25%. Outdoor

toys, two for $10, include ring toss, horseshoe and paddle games. Zany

Brainy is at Corona del Mar Plaza in Newport Beach. For information, call

(949) 640-5131.

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

Wylder at 330 W. Bay St., Costa Mesa 92627, or fax it to (949) 646-4170.