Greer Wylder -- Best Buys

All in a Basket is a new seasonal store that opened just in time for

the holidays at Eastbluff Village Center in Newport Beach. It offers

customized gift baskets in every price range. The baskets can be filled

with gourmet food items, champagne glasses, coffee and tea samplers, and

holiday ornaments. All gift baskets are hand-wrapped with French ribbons

or personalized ribbons, such as “Happy holidays from the Smiths.” The

most popular baskets are about $50; they can go up to $100 or more. Also,

for hostess gifts or present exchanges, All in a Basket has organza wine

bags filled with gourmet popcorn and tea samplers for less than $10 each.

Free delivery is available within Newport Beach, Corona del Mar and Costa

Mesa. A Web site for viewing the assortment of gifts, or placing orders

is at o7 www.allinabasketofnb.comf7 . Eastbluff Village Center is at

Eastbluff Drive and Vista del Sol in Newport Beach.

California Style Home Collection is a new store at Westcliff Plaza

that specializes in French country home furnishings and accessories. In

celebration of its grand opening, everything is marked down 10%. The

store carries Italian pottery, French European antiques, home

accessories, seasonal decor, custom silk florals, one of a kind items and

it has a custom upholstery and furniture service. It’s open from 10 a.m.

to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. California

Style is at 1044 Irvine Ave., Newport Beach. (949) 548-8899.

The Village Framer Restaurant recently opened “The Tea Room,” a

semiprivate room that’s the only restaurant in the South Coast Plaza area

where you can get traditional English tea. The Tea Room menu features a

“Lady’s Afternoon Tea,” with butternut squash soup and spinach quiche, a

selection of tea sandwiches, assorted desserts, a freshly baked scone and

a pot of tea for $18 per person. The “Gentlemen’s Tea,” “Afternoon Tea”

and “Cream Tea” also come with a menu selection and brewed teas. Tea is

served from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week, with the last seating at

3 p.m. The Tea Room is also available for private parties. The Village

Farmer is at South Coast Plaza Village, off Bear Street, across from

South Coast Plaza. Information: (714) 557-8433.

South Coast Plaza has opened seasonal stores for holiday decor, gift

giving and custom wrapping. The Wrapper offers custom gift wrapping,

executive gift baskets, premium wines, champagne and gourmet foods. It

has two locations: in the Saks Fifth Avenue wing on Level One and at the

Macy’s Home Store wing on Level One. Home Holidays and Traditions offers

handmade gifts and collectibles by local crafts makers and artisans.

There are all kinds of holiday-themed gifts, toys, clothing and

collectibles for infants and children. It has two locations: at the

Macy’s Home Store wing on Level One and at the Carousel Court on Level

One. The Christmas Place at Robinsons-May offers holiday decor and

trimmings, holiday gifts and professional wrapping. It’s at the

Robinsons-May wing on Level One. The Calendar Club has hundreds of

calendars. It’s at the Macy’s Home Store wing on Level One.

Hobie Sports Ltd. in Corona del Mar has a trade-in program for kids

buying ski or snowboard equipment. The program allows kids to trade in

their used ski or snowboard equipment for a larger size and receive 50%

off what they paid for that item toward the purchase of a new item. The

offer is good for skis, ski boots, bindings or any snowboard or snowboard

boots. The offer is not good on clothing. Hobie Sports Ltd. is at 2831 E.

Coast Highway, Corona del Mar. Information: (949) 675-9700.

Flowers Direct has specials on holiday greenery and centerpieces.

Current prices are garland at 99 cents per foot, door wreaths at $12.99

and up, cedar greens at $5.99 per bunch, pine greens at 99 cents per

stem, holly at $5.99 per bunch and Christmas centerpieces at $24.99 and

up. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 9

a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Flowers Direct is at 882 W. 16th St., Newport

Beach.

* 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.