GREER WYLDER -- Best Buys

Alaskan Ice & Beverage is the place to go for ice. It has ice for every

possible situation. There’s ice for parties; dry ice for Halloween and

therapeutic needs; block ice for fishermen, boats and camping; and an ice

packaging service. There’s also ice for something that I’ve never heard

of -- a 300-pound block of ice called a luge. Holes are drilled on the

top and bottom of the ice for pouring liquor and sending it down the luge

for drinking. The block of ice stands 4.5 feet tall. Owner David Binnix

says it’s very popular for parties and can be really decorative when you

add food coloring. Binnix also says it’s popular in Mexico to send a

goldfish down the “luge” with the liquor and, yes, drink the little fish.

I couldn’t imagine that people are drinking goldfish here as well, but

Binnix says that, yes, some people do. I don’t know where I’ve been, but

apparently it’s very popular with 21- to 28-year-olds. Binnix is offering

Best Buys readers a 10% discount on purchases by mentioning this column.

You’ll also find beverages and liquor in the store, but sorry, there

aren’t any goldfish. Alaskan Ice & Beverage is at 1834 Newport Blvd. in

Costa Mesa. Information: (949) 646-1932.

If you’re in need of new car stereo equipment, the best place to go is

Newport AutoSound Mobile Electronics. It’s a one-stop store for auto

stereo, auto video, car alarm and cellular phone equipment. It’s been in

business for 15 years and all of the salespeople are very knowledgeable

with at least 10 years experience. Customer service is a priority at

Newport AutoSound. Top name brands in stereo equipment available include

Sony, Blaupunkt, Pioneer, Kicker and there’s a great video entertainment

system that they’ve been installing in sport-utility vehicles. Newport

AutoSound is at 1743 Newport Blvd. in Costa Mesa. Information: (949)

548-1160.

One of the best children’s clothing stores, This Little Piggy Wears

Cotton, is having a summer sale. The store is filled with darling clothes

for babies, girls and boys. There are also toys and more. This Little

Piggy Wears Cotton also has a Web site at o7

https://www.Littlepiggy.comf7 . You can send e-mail and request items

you’d like to find. The store is at Fashion Island in Newport Beach.

Information: (949) 718-0533.

Antiques 4 You is having a semiannual clearance sale. Everything in the

store is reduced up to 40% during the entire month of June. The store is

making space for new merchandise. Inside, you’ll find china, silver,

porcelain, lamps, furniture and more. The store is at 312 Old Newport

Blvd. in Newport Beach. Information: (949) 548-4123.

Fitigues has received its new summer catalog and the Fashion Island store

has a lot of the new merchandise. The clothing is so comfortable and, as

the years go by, the designs are getting more and more stylish. New

fabrics and colors are always getting better. There are now form-fitting

and flattering pants, tanks, swimsuits, dresses, skirts, reversible tees,

capris, cardigans and more. The store can outfit the entire family with

apparel for ladies, men, children and babies. There are also maternity

clothes and a new gym line. All summer, the store will have a stand with

children selling $1 glasses of lemonade -- the Fitigues Lemonade for Life

campaign is raising money for pediatric brain tumor research. The

campaign started when the founders of Fitigues, Steve and Andi

Rosenstein, met the parents of Rory David Deutsch, a 7-year-old

Chicago-area boy who died from a brain tumor. The Rosensteins were so

moved by the Deutsch family that they felt they needed to be a part of

the Rory David Deutsch Foundation. The Fitigues for Life campaign will

continue every summer through 2003 with the goal of raising a total of

$250,000 for the foundation. Community groups, such as schools, churches

and PTAs, organize the lemonade stands with child volunteers in each

community. The Fashion Island store is seeking more volunteers.

Information: (949) 644-6485.

* 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.