Greer Wylder -- BEST BUYS

Zany Brainy, one of the best toy stores around, is having all kinds of

playshops this month for preschool children up to 7 years old.

On Mondays, preschoolers can have craft time with different projects,

including dough projects, arts and crafts, kite making and dot pictures.

On Tuesdays, there are board book buddy playshops. Kids can develop

vocabulary, improve their language skills and learn that reading is fun.

On Wednesdays, it’s activity time. Kids can learn basic concepts like

sorting, organizing, catching and more. Preschool events are all at 10:30

a.m.

On Thursdays at 4 p.m., the playshop will feature fun and games ideal for

kids ages 4 to 6. On Fridays at 7 p.m., there will be more fun and games

for kids, including Dr. Seuss classics, game math club, a viewing of

Barney’s new video, poetry readers club meeting, Pokemon Jr.

Concentration and other games.

Zany Brainy is filled with more than 15,000 items of children’s

merchandise, including educational toys; electronic learning games;

software and CD-ROMs; thousands of book titles; video tapes; audio tapes

and CDs; craft kits; supplies and teacher’s resources. Zany Brainy is in

the Corona del Mar Plaza in Newport Beach. Call (949) 640-5131.

South Coast Plaza has added a new tenant: Bruno Magli, the famous Bologna

shoe company, on the second level near Versace. Under the creative

direction of Rita Magli, Bruno Magli has become as well-known for its

recent cutting edge style as for its old-world quality.

The Lido Consignment Gallery has opened a second location at 3636 Central

Ave. in Newport Beach. The store is filled with artwork, collectibles,

mirrors, traditional antiques and contemporary furniture. The stores

receive new merchandise daily. The original Lido Consignment Gallery is

at 3439 Via Oporto in Newport Beach. Call (949) 723-6480.

It’s the last weekend of the Toshiba Senior Classic at Newport Beach

Country Club. Some of the greatest names in golf are participating,

including Lee Trevino, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Hale Irwin, Tom Kite, Gary

McCord and Arnold Palmer. Tickets to the tournament are available at

Roger Dunn Golf Shops. Tickets start at $14. For more information, please

call (949) 515-4840.

Future brides can get good ideas on dresses for their bridesmaids at

Macy’s, located at Fashion Island and at South Coast Plaza. Each store

has a full-service shop for bridesmaids. A complete collection of spring

dresses can be found in the special occasions department. On Tuesday, the

South Coast Plaza store is having a bridal gift registry event. There

will be product experts on hand to help you create a gift registry that’s

ideal for you and for later anniversaries. The event begins at 6:30 p.m.

Reservations are recommended. Please call 888-92-BRIDES for reservations.

If you’re looking for good deals on furniture and home accessories, stop

by Furnishings Direct. The warehouse showroom carries discontinued and

overstocked items from popular national stores, such as Z-Gallerie and

Restoration Hardware. Available are sofas, chairs, sleepers and leather

sofas. There are also armoires, beds, handmade rugs, desks, lamps and

entertainment centers. The store is open Thursdays through Mondays from

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Furnishings Direct is at 2035 Placentia Ave. in Costa

Mesa. Call (949) 515-4450.

The best meat selection can be found at Celestino’s Quality Meats. It’s

been in Costa Mesa for the last 30 years. Current specials are Southern

slab bacon at $3.99 per pound, boneless skinless lemon chicken breast at

$4.99 and Italian stuffed chicken breast at $5.99. Celestino’s makes

cooking easier. The oven temperature and time to cook the meats are

written on the packages. If you don’t have time to cook, there are

pre-made dinners available, including crab cakes, beef meatballs,

enchiladas, chicken fingers and more. The deli also carries

top-of-the-line board head meats and homemade beef or turkey jerky.

Celestino’s is at 270 E. 17th Street in Costa Mesa. Call (949) 642-7191.

* BEST BUYS appears on Thursdays and Saturdays. Send information to Greer

Wylder at 330 W. Bay St., Costa Mesa 92627, or via fax at (949) 646-4170.