BEST BUYS -- greer wylder

A great Halloween-theme fund-raiser perfect for the whole family is

coming to South Coast Plaza on Oct. 24 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. The 8th

annual Pumpkins and Pancakes, a child’s Halloween extravaganza, benefits

the abused and neglected children who are being served by the CASA and

CAST programs in Orange County.

The Friends of CASA/CAST have organized the event for children of all

ages to enjoy live music, arts and crafts, carnival booths and trick or

treating. Halloween costumes are encouraged but not required. The cost is

$15 per person in advance and $20 at the door. Children 2 and under are

free. The ticket price includes breakfast and all activities. CASA

advocates and CASA children are guests of The Friends of CASA/CAST and

attend at no cost. For reservations please call Susan at (714) 780-8733.

South Coast Plaza is at 3333 Bear St. in Costa Mesa.

Cindy Cantwell, an East Side Costa Mesa resident with 12 years

experience as a licensed day-care provider, offers the best in a home

preschool atmosphere. Cantwell has activities for 22-month-olds and above

that include story time, circle time, arts and crafts, two snacks, naps,

and she has a huge enclosed backyard with tons of Little Tikes cars and

play-on toys. There are half-day and full-day openings available Mondays

through Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. And she offers drop-ins for

moms that need to run errands or who have appointments. Cantwell has

Early Childhood Education experience and she is CPR certified. For more

information, please call Cantwell at (949) 548-7067.

If you’re not already familiar with Ansari Fabrix, at (949) 675-8200,

it’s a local designer fabric showroom where you can buy the same fabrics

that are used in couture clothing by top designers like Giorgio Armani,

Chanel and Christian Dior. The owner and designer, Nasrin Ansari, travels

to Europe to purchase the beautiful fabrics and then sells them in her

Lido showroom. The latest fall/winter 1999 collection of European

designer fabrics have arrived. The store is at 3363 Via Lido in Newport

Beach.

Via Lido Drugs, at (949) 723-5858, is celebrating its grand reopening of

its specialty boutique Seaside Gardens floral and gifts as well as its

Christmas boutique, A Very Lido Christmas on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. It’s

at 3445 and 3475 Via Lido in Newport Beach. Seaside Gardens carries all

kinds of home decor, including waterfalls, fountains, silk florals, and

garden baskets.

Paddle Power, at (949) 675-1215, is having its annual used kayaks and

canoes sale starting Friday through Tuesday. There will be great values

on single and double kayaks, both sit-on-tops and closed kayaks. It’s

selling its entire fleet of rental boats at unbelievable prices. If you

come in today you can put 50% down on your favorite boat to reserve it

until the sale starts. Paddle Power is at 1500 W. Balboa Blvd. in Newport

Beach.

Robinsons-May is having a huge clearance sale on the entire stock of

summer merchandise reduced an extra 60% off. Inside the store you’ll find

savings on ladies clothing for misses, petites, women’s and children.

Robinsons-May is at Fashion Island and South Coast Plaza.

Local garden experts say that October is the best month for planting in

Orange County. If you’d like to take advantage of the weather this month,

you can learn even more about gardening at Roger’s Gardens seminars,

featuring speakers who are garden experts. On Sunday at 9:15 a.m. the

special guest speaker is Julian Dowle, who is an internationally

recognized garden designer and winner of nine gold medals at the

prestigious Chelsea Garden Show. Dowle will share her garden wisdom with

a touch of British humor.

On Oct. 16 and Oct. 23 at 9:15 a.m. you can learn everything you’d

want to know about spring bulbs and fall planting from Cristin Fusano.

Fusano also will teach you how to combine bulbs with cool season annuals

and showy perennials for a lovely winter/spring garden. Roger’s Gardens,

at (949) 640-5800, is at 2301 San Joaquin Hills Road in Corona del Mar.

One of the best places to find deals on shoes, especially for kids who

wear through shoes almost overnight, is Famous Footwear. It carries most

of the top name brands you’ll find at department stores and other shoe

stores, but the prices are less. Top name brands available include Nike,

Reebok, Skechers, New Balance, Adidas, Bass, Esprit, Nunn Bush, Rockport,

Keds, and Hush Puppies. Famous Footwear, (949) 650-7358, is in the Costa

Mesa Courtyards at 1835 Newport Blvd. in Costa Mesa.

* BEST BUYS is published Thursdays and Saturdays. If you know of a good

buy, send a fax to (949) 646-4170 or write to Daily Pilot, Best Buys, 330

W. Bay St., Costa Mesa 92627.