Holiday fun hits Newport-Mesa shops

GREER WYLDER

SOUTH COAST SANTA

Santa photos are available at two locations through Wednesday, at

the Carousel Court and at the Macy’s Home Store wing on level one in

South Coast Plaza, and a free train ride is offered with all Santa

photo purchases. South Coast Plaza’s carousel has a new look --

horses will be replaced with Santa’s reindeer through Dec. 28. Rides

cost $1. Dickens carolers and talented musicians fill the center with

holiday song classics through Wednesday, and Santa’s Village at the

Carousel Court offers craft activities for all ages at the Alpine

Wood Shop, Holiday Trimmings and Village Bake Shop. At the Alpine

Wood Shop, children can decorate an ornament or wooden toy. At the

Village Bake Shop, children can create a teapot, napkin or napkin

rings, and at the Holiday Trimmings Shop children can design their

own stuffed bear or reindeer. Craft prices vary. For a perfect gift

for everyone on your list, there are holiday gift certificates

available at a booth, next to Sephora, level one.

GREEN SURF’S UP

The Green Room Surf Shop just set a precedent as the first surf

shop on Amazon.com. The Web site, the second largest retailer behind

WalMart, will offer the Green Room’s surf merchandise, which includes

surfboards, skateboards, wetsuits, apparel and accessories.

Surfboards available include locally shaped Palaoa, Monson, and J.A.

by Keith Atchley. It’s Newport’s best resource for used boards. The

extensive selection of skateboards includes long-boards from Gravity,

Madrid and Jimmy Slinger. Classic surf-wear includes Planet Earth,

Lost, H.I.C., Rietfield, Reef and the increasingly popular Sullen.

The Green Room, at 6480 W. Coast Highway in Newport Beach, is open

from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday. Call (949) 548-9944.

ISLAND EVENTS

Stop by Fashion Island for a wide variety of holiday events. You

can visit Santa’s Village at the Atrium Lawn for memorable Santa

photos through Wednesday. Store hours are from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Holiday

entertainment will be provided daily from noon to 4 p.m. through

Wednesday. A beautiful Menorah-lighting ceremony will be at 3 p.m. on

Sunday in the Bloomingdale’s Courtyard. It’s hosted by Rabbi Reuven

Mintz of the Chabad Jewish Center in Newport Beach, and will include

lighting the menorah along with music, dancing, and gelt and dreidels

for children who attend.

OCEANIC CHRISTMAS

The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach just opened a holiday

cart at Fashion Island in Bloomingdale’s Courtyard. For those who

have beach- or sea-inspired Christmas trees, this is a must-see.

Select from beautiful ornaments, colorful fish and other whimsical

sea life decor. It’s convenient for finding holiday gifts. It also

sells passes to the Aquarium of the Pacific. The Aquarium of the

Pacific, a nonprofit institution, is home to more than 12,500

animals, hands-on Discovery Labs staffed by knowledgeable volunteers,

the interactive exhibit Shark Lagoon and more. Call (949) 720-8082.

NEW BRAZILIAN ASSETS

Tight Assets received new arrivals just in time for the holidays.

From Brazil, there are five of the hottest lines of workout wear in

incredible Supplex fabrics, new colors and fashionable styles. The

selection includes work-out pants, bra tops, soft fleece warm-up

suits and velour sets. Available lines include Amma, Bia, Brazil, F

Brazil, Body Language and Juliet Michelle. Tight Assets, at 488 E.

17th St. in Costa Mesa, is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through

Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.

BLUE CHRISTMAS SALE

Blue Springs Home will celebrate the holidays with a sale through

Jan. 15. Items on sale include luxury adult and baby bedding by Bella

Notte, reduced 20%; House Inc. adult and baby bedding, reduced 30%;

fabulous maternity wear by NOM, reduced 50%; and select furniture,

art, mirrors and antiques, reduced 20 to 50%. A special sale table

features items reduced up to 75%. Blue Springs Home, at 369 E. 17th

St. in Costa Mesa, is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through

Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Call (949) 642-3632.

THE GIFT OF JEWELS

Blackman Ltd. Jewelers has exceptional gift-giving ideas. A few

high-quality jewelry choices include South Sea pearls, a delicate

fairy pin by Masiera, a pink sapphire bracelet with matching ring and

a carved Ametrine pendant set by local artist Jean Francois. Other

great gift ideas include an unusual noon cannon -- made of teak and

brass -- a replica of the ones used in the early 1700s by European

royalty. It’s weatherproof and fires black powder at noon. There’s

also a French, eight-day, brass lobster wall clock. Shoppers can also

choose among wooden animals from Bali, Africa and Thailand, whimsical

frogs from noted British bronze sculptor Brian Arthur, limited

edition signal flag Baccarat decanter and set of tumblers, or a

Chelsea ship-bell clock. Beautiful collectibles include Georg Jensen

sterling silver, Limoges boxes, sterling-silver animals from Milan

and more. Blackman’s, at 3408-1 Via Oporto in the Lido Marina Village

in Newport Beach, also has estate jewelry, as well as jewelry from

the Orient and Europe. The store is open from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Monday through Saturday. Call (949) 673-9334.

* BEST BUYS appears Thursdays. Send information to Greer Wylder at

[email protected]; at 330 W. Bay St., Costa Mesa, CA 92627; or by

fax at (949) 646-4170.