Best Buys -- Greer Wylder

A ticket to the upcoming Summer Solstice: A Festival of Fine Food and

Wine can feed a family of four for three months and will provide an

evening of gourmet samplings, premium wines and live music. It’s

happening from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday at South Coast Plaza’s Crate &

Barrel/Macy’s Home wing. The festival is in its ninth year and is an

opportunity for the community to raise money for the Second Harvest Food

Bank of Orange County and Someone Cares Soup Kitchen in Costa Mesa. These

two organizations work endlessly to assist the 400,000 men, women and

children in Orange County at risk of going to bed hungry. Top local

restaurants participating include: Antonello Ristorante, Armani Cafe,

Bangkok Four, Bluewater Grill, Cafe Pascal, Champagne French Bakery Cafe,

The Clubhouse, Darya, Gustaf Anders, Maggiano’s, Morton’s of Chicago and

Royal Khyber. Each one will be offering samples from their critically

acclaimed menus. Wineries throughout California will also be

participating in the event, including Allied Domecq Wines, Atlas Peak,

A.V. Imports, Banfi, BV Vineyard, Callaway, Clos Du Bois, Columbia,

Dunnewood, Farallon, Ironstone Winery, Kunde enterprises, Luna del Launa,

Van Rockel and William Hill. Tickets to Summer Solstice 2001 are

available at South Coast Plaza for $40 in advance and are $50 at the

door. There is a special discounted rate for group tickets of 10 or more

at $30 per person. For information on purchasing tickets, call Jennifer

Gordon at (714) 435-8517.

Newport Harbor High School is having a fireworks presale today from 10

a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Anchor on Irvine Boulevard in Costa Mesa. If you

buy fireworks scrip today 50% of the profits will be donated to the

Newport Harbor High organization of your choice. For example, you can

choose football, swimming, band, volleyball or drama. Also you’ll receive

an additional 10% off your total purchase (including scrip) if redeemed

at the school’s fireworks stand on July 1 only. The Phantom Fireworks

Stand is at Irvine Boulevard and East 17th Street by Blockbuster Video.

The stand will be open July 1 through 4. Fireworks scrip can be purchased

with cash, Visa and MasterCard. Information: (949) 515-6346.

Treds and Threads recently changed its name to Sportsworld, and it’s

having an inventory reduction sale. Sportsworld carries popular name

brands, including Nike, Reebok, Adidas, Saucony, Asics, New Balance and

more. All cleats are reduced 20% to 70%, and all baseball equipment is

reduced 20% through July 18. It’s at 270 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa.

Information: (949) 548-3323.

Kristen’s Lingerie is having a summer clearance sale on select

lingerie, sleepwear, robes and more reduced 50%. It’s in Westcliff Court,

at 1719 Westcliff Drive, Newport Beach. Information: (949) 631-7399.

Gary’s Per Donna is having its semiannual sale on shoes, handbags and

accessories reduced up to 60%. It carries many of the top designer name

brands. It’s at Fashion Island in Newport Beach. Information: (949)

721-5730.

Bruno Magli is having a 30% off sale on its women’s and men’s designer

shoes and leather accessories. It’s at South Coast Plaza, on the second

level, in the Macy’s wing, across from Gucci. Information: (714)

966-2600.

Elizabeth Benefield is having its biggest sale of the summer. The

upscale home furnishings store carries all kinds of English-style

antiques, decorative accessories, art, lighting and more. Everything is

reduced 20% to 40%. It’s at 240 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach.

Information: (949) 640-0327.

All accent and decorator pillows are reduced 10% to 15% at Villa Bella

Consignment Furniture. Villa Bella carries furniture and accessories.

It’s at 369 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa. Information: (949) 515-1884.

A free gardening seminar is happening at Sherman Library & Gardens at

9:30 a.m. today called “Everything You Wanted to Know About Gardening but

Were Afraid to Ask.” The seminar is part of the Weekend Gardener Series.

Sherman Library & Gardens is at 2647 E. Coast Highway, Corona del Mar.

Information: (949) 673-2251.

* 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.