GREER WYLDER -- Best Buys

Everyone’s favorite orchid greenhouse, Green Systems International, is

having a last-minute Christmas sale. “If your orchid is too big for its

pot, we will show you how to repot your orchids during our 10 a.m. and 2

p.m. orchid potting seminars [no charge],” owner Richard Moriarty said.

The orchid potting sale and Christmas sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 4

p.m. Dec. 23. The next scheduled sale will be held Jan. 6. Green Systems

International is at 20362 Birch St., Newport Beach. Information: (949)

756-1211.

Triangle Square is transformed every weekend into a winter wonderland,

complete with the Grinch and Santa Claus, now through Dec. 24. The

shopping center has arranged a Santa to visit from noon to 4 p.m. every

Saturday and Sunday. Children can have photos taken with Santa. The

Grinch will have an interactive store and play at 11 a.m. and at noon

Dec. 23. Other activities include a free bounce house, a Discovery Toys

play zone, relaxing music, balloons and bubbles with Jingles the

Christmas Jester. Participating merchants include NikeTown, Edwards

Theatres, Virgin Megastore, The North Face, The Gap, GNC, Barnes & Noble,

The Closet, Johnny Rockets, Chong’s Upper Crust Pizza, The Sunglass Hut,

Humphrey Yogart, Color Me Mine, Sprint PCS, Whole Foods Market and The

Town Square Gallery. Triangle Square is on the corner of Newport

Boulevard and 19th Street in Costa Mesa.

Zany Brainy is packed with holiday gifts for kids of all ages. There

are toys, interactive computer games, books, videos, arts and crafts, and

the popular Razor scooters. Many of the items are specially priced for

the holidays. Zany Brainy only carries top of the line toys, including

Lego, Knex, Playmobil, Thomas and the Magic Railroad, Brio and Lincoln

Logs. Specials include a Zack Frost plush toy for $9.99, with a $50

purchase; a nativity set on sale for $19.99; Mega-Byte the Hound Droid on

sale for $24.99; a Playmobil Fairy Tale Castle on sale for $169.99; a

three-story wooden doll house on sale for $99.99; and a wood game chest

for $19.99. You’ll find the complimentary gift wrap at Zany Brainy

especially handy during the holidays. Zany Brainy is in the Corona del

Mar Plaza on Avocado Avenue in Newport Beach. Information: (949)

640-5131.

Good deals on teak furniture can be found at Nautilus Teak in Costa

Mesa. Longtime Costa Mesa resident Manuel Casillas fills the store with

plantation-grown teak outdoor and indoor furniture. The store is open to

the public and to the trade. Casillas works with interior designers,

builders and architects supplying furniture for restaurants, golf

courses, hotels, spas, and commercial complex lunch areas. Casillas also

designs teak furniture for custom orders. For the holidays, floor pieces

have been reduced 20%, and selected pieces are reduced 50%. The store

hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5

p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Nautilus Teak can also be found at the Orange

County Market Place throughout the year. It’s at 639 Paularino Ave.,

Costa Mesa. Information: (714) 546-0670.

Roger’s Gardens always has the best holiday decor, and Christmas is no

exception. The rooms are filled with wreaths, garlands, Paul Ecke

poinsettias, Christopher Radko collectible ornaments, Steinbech

nutcrackers, pre-lighted artificial trees, and all kinds of gift items.

One of Roger’s most popular gift items is its English Basket Gardens.

These indoor and outdoor plants are filled with trailing ivy or ferns and

have beautiful ribbons. For Christmas tree decorating ideas, Roger’s

Gardens has 25 decorated trees. Some of the trees have themes, including

angel, music, cats and dogs, baby, elegant Santa, garden flowers,

gingerman, Faberge/religious, into the woods, nautical, Old World Santa,

silver and gold, sports, Tannenbaum, and toy box. Roger’s Garden is at

2301 San Joaquin Hills Road, Newport Beach. Information: (949) 640-5800.

At-Ease is having a special on Roger Comstock leather jackets. If you

bring the ad with you to the store, you’ll get $50 off your next purchase

of $500 or more. The ad cannot be used on already discounted merchandise.

At-Ease carries the best in traditional men’s clothing. It’s at Fashion

Island in Newport Beach. Information: (949) 759-7979.

* 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.