Finding the key to Christmas shopping

Holiday shopping is in full gear this weekend at Fashion Island,

starting with the annual tree lighting ceremony tonight and Saturday

at 6 p.m., as well as special events at select stores.

This year’s theme is “The Key to Christmas,” and the program

features Orange County High School of the Arts students. Special

guests include Tony Award nominee Jodie Benson, the voice of Ariel in

“The Little Mermaid.”

Today, Garys Per Donna will host an Isabella Fiore trunk show from

11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Customers will receive a free gift with any

Isabella Fiore purchase or special order. Call (949) 721-5730.

Also today, Martin Lawrence Galleries will have a champagne

reception from 6:30 to 9 p.m. with a personal appearance by artist

Liudmila Kondakova. The artwork of the “School of Paris” exhibit will

feature Kondakova’s original paintings, sketches and limited edition

graphics, plus original works, rare prints and turn-of-the-century

lithographs by Pierre Bonnard, Marc Chagall, Toulouse-Lautrec,

Alphonse Mucha, Pablo Picasso and others. Call (949) 759-0134.

On Saturday, Sunshine in Newport will host a holiday open house

with cotton candy for kids from noon to 2 p.m., a Fresh Produce trunk

show from 2 to 4 p.m., and a wine and hors d’oeuvres reception from 6

to 9 p.m. With any $100 Fresh Produce purchase, receive a free

T-shirt. There will also be a drawing to win a $100 gift certificate.

Call (949) 644-9440.

HOLIDAY FEST AT THE PLAZA

At South Coast Plaza, the holiday festivities start at 11 a.m.

today with a visit from Cathy Rigby, who is playing the Cat in the

Hat in “Seussical the Musical,” coming to the Orange County

Performing Arts Center in December. The Kids Next Door from Orange

County High School of the Arts will perform holiday favorites. The

ceremonies will take place at the Jewel Court on Level One, by

Macy’s. Call (714) 435-2000.

SUNFLOUR THANKSGIVING

Don’t forget to pick up some of the best bakery items for

Thanksgiving at SunFlour Natural Bakery.

Among the finds this holiday season are pumpkin-shaped sourdough

dinner rolls (nine pack for $3.65); a Thanksgiving cookie decorating

kit (six pumpkin- and six turkey-shaped sugar cookies with three

tubes of different color icing and three tubs of sprinkles for

$14.95); fabulous pies (pumpkin, apple, pecan, cherry, cranberry,

apple and a new sugar-free pumpkin at $7.95 to $9.25); and delicious

potato dinner rolls (12 for $3.25).

SunFlour Natural Bakery is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday

through Friday and from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. The store is at

427 E. 17th St. in Costa Mesa. Call (949) 646-1440.

A ‘BLOCK PARTY’

View the latest fashions from five hot designers at South Coast

Plaza’s “block party” today from 6 to 9 p.m. It’s free and features

modeling, surprises, music and more at each store.

Participating stores include Diesel, Hugo Hugo Boss, Miss Sixty,

Puma and Traffic. Don’t miss the other third floor stores: Air De

Paris, Friends, Gap, Gap Kids, Global Passport, GNC, Merle Norman,

Sport Chalet, Soho and Verizon.

MIKIMOTO DESIGNER

Ms. Lisa Broggian, a designer with Mikimoto’s Milano Collection,

will be at South Coast Plaza’s Mikimoto Store today from noon to 8

p.m. Traveling from Italy, Broggian will show the latest Italian

designs of Mikimoto South Sea pearls. Clean lines and sophisticated

styling have made this line a favorite with Mikimoto customers. The

store is on Level One in the Nordstrom wing. Call (714) 424-5440.

SALLEY AT THE WHITE RABBIT

Author Colleen Salley will be at The White Rabbit Children’s

Bookstore, South Coast Plaza, at 2 p.m. Sunday to sign her latest

book, “Epossumondas.” Salley is known worldwide for her storytelling

gifts.

A French Quarter resident, Salley is also a popular figure at

Mardi Gras, where she’s known as Queen Colleen. The store is on Level

Two in the Sears wing. Call (714) 445-0010.

BLOOMIN’ YEARS

Local watercolor artist Julie Ann Hermann is taking orders for her

2003 “Bloomin’ Years” calendars in Lucite frames and gift cards.

Calendar refills are $12 or, with Lucite frame or magnets, $16. The

note cards, which contain travel scenes and floral paintings, are $6

to $12 depending on size. Hermann can be reached at (949) 760-6693 or

by e-mail at [email protected].

* BEST BUYS appears Mondays and Fridays. Send information to

Greer Wylder at [email protected] or 330 W. Bay St., Costa Mesa,

CA 92627, or via fax at (949) 646-4170.