A bargain hunter’s natural habitat

Habitat for Humanity, the nonprofit organization that builds homes for low-income families, relies heavily on donations of labor, building supplies and cash. In 2001, with the economy in a downturn, Habitat for Humanity South Bay/Long Beach was sorely lacking the third. At the same time, it had a surplus of building supplies: “We were getting up to 100 calls a week, people wanting to donate materials from renovations, etc., and we were turning people down,” says President Erin Rank. “It occurred to me that we could utilize the donations by opening a retail home improvement store.”

Rank began banking donations and found a 10,000-square-foot warehouse in Gardena. Word spread among homeowners, construction firms and manufacturers, and when the Habitat for Humanity South Bay/Long Beach Home Improvement Store opens its doors Labor Day weekend, expect a broad selection, with prices at about half retail: new and used windows and doors, tile and brick, furniture, carpeting, appliances, paint, roofing materials, lumber, cabinets. And, with donations being tax deductible, inventory expands by the hour.

Grand opening: Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Regular hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Habitat for Humanity South Bay/Long Beach Home Improvement Store is at 17700 S. Figueroa St.; (310) 323-5665, www.shophabitat.org.

-- Steven Barrie-Anthony

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Dashboard dining in decline

Americans are notoriously busy. We’re so tethered to work that we resist vacationing -- more than 30% of us forfeit vacation days due us, and when we do take time off, 32% check office voicemail and e-mail, according to a recent study by Expedia.com. Kids are equally busy, prepping for the SATs in grade school and slogging through college-level classes in high school.

But contrary to our workaholic reputation, “dashboard dining,” or dining on the run, is on the decline: 75% of Americans eat dinner at home with their families at least five nights a week, according to a recent study by the American Furniture Manufacturers Assn.

Among other dining habit findings:

* 88% dine at the kitchen table

* 74% eat at the dining room table

* 72% occasionally dine on the sofa or couch

* 97% chat while dining

* 74% watch TV

* 30% read.

-- Steven Barrie-Anthony

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Where cabin fever proves contagious

Strategically situated on Big Bear’s main drag, Suzan Fellman’s rustic, redwood cabin does double duty as a weekend retreat for the L.A.-based New Hampshire native and as command central for her burgeoning summer antique market. Fellman, a vintage textile dealer bent on making Big Bear a legitimate antiquing destination, held her inaugural “At the Cabin” market over Memorial Day weekend. Dealers and dickerers from the L.A. swap meet circuit turned up to haggle over cabin collectibles such as Beacon wool blankets, 1920s snowshoe chairs and turn-of-the-century braided rugs. The season continued with a second installment on July 4 and culminates this weekend with a blowout Labor Day bash. Intrepid seekers of antiques can expect to make bona fide discoveries in the eclectic collection, from cases of antique tools and vintage lanterns to Stickley rocking chairs. Those just along for the ride -- and the fresh mountain air -- will appreciate the root beer floats and Fellman’s famous blueberry pie.

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Monday, 40169 Big Bear Blvd., Big Bear Lake; (213) 300-7089.

-- Audrey Davidow

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A place to catch some zzzs

A home run for kids’ decor, this giant baseball glove headboard is made of poly resin and stained.

The headboard, modeled after a solid wood original by Headboard Art Designs President Scott Goldsack, is detailed and weighty and will attach to any twin-sized metal bed frame.

The company offers the item only on the Web ($399 plus shipping).

Basketball and skateboard versions are in the works, and if properly motivated, Goldsack might make a king-size headboard for that very special Dodger fan.

Go to luxurytots.com or call (713) 898-7325.

-- Lisa Moricoli Latham