GREER WYLDER -- Best Buys

The best place to celebrate the Fourth of July is at the 27th annual

parade and party at Mariners Park. The festivities start off with a bike

parade, entertainment by the Ensign Middle School band and Newport Harbor

High School cheerleaders. The parade starts at 10 a.m. on the corner of

Commodore Road and Mariners Drive, and participants will start gathering

as early as 9 a.m. At the park, there will be $5 wristbands for sale --

for unlimited rides on a colossal slide, a giant obstacle course and a

mountain climber. Barnaby the Clown will have fun games for the kids and

there will be face painting for children. Kids can also explore a police

car and fire truck. Great prizes will be given away at a raffle and you

won’t want to miss the silent auction. Proceeds will benefit the Mariners

Elementary Foundation.

Fourth of July parties and barbecues are easy to plan for if you shop at

Smart & Final. The economy size merchandise is ideal for large groups,

and the prices are very low. Current specials: boneless and skinless

chicken breasts are $10.99 for a four-pound bag, ripe watermelons are

$2.50 each, sliced American cheese is $6.99 for five pounds, Farmer John

beef wieners are $5.49 for five pounds and Ready Pac garden salad is

$1.99 for a three-pound bag. The best deals are on drinks: Gatorade at

$11.99 for 12, 32-ounce bottles; Budweiser, Bud Light, Coors and Coors

Light at $14.99 for 30 12-ounce cans; and 7-Up or Pepsi at $4.99 for four

six-packs. Of course you’ll want to sign up for the Smart Advantage card

so that you’ll always get the best prices. Smart & Final is at 707 W.

19th St. in Costa Mesa. Information: (949) 548-8473.

Promelis is a great place to stop to buy meats and more for a summer

barbecue. The selection makes party planning easy. The local market is

stocked with homemade sausages, wasabi steaks, New York prime beef, baby

back ribs, kebabs, cheeses, marinated tri-tips, prepared salads,

specialty dips and wine. Inside you’ll find a butcher shop, deli, fresh

produce, fish, and an extensive wine selection. Promelis also offers

local delivery. It’s at 2121 Westcliff Drive in Newport Beach.

Information: (949) 548-2500.

Another ideal place to find fresh meat and fish for upcoming barbecues is

at Celestino’s. It always has a great selection and its current specials

are fresh halibut at $9.99 per pound, fresh salmon at $7.99 per pound,

swordfish at $6.99 per pound, lemon chicken at $2.39 per pound and lemon

garlic tri-tips at $5.99 per pound. Other regular specials are Maui

Kebabs in chicken or beef, pesto chicken and New York or fillet mignon

steaks. For easy entertaining ideas, there are tamale trays, enchilada

trays, shrimp platters, deli meat trays, sandwich platters, lasagna

platters and cheese trays. Celestino’s is at 270 E. 17th St. in Costa

Mesa. Information: (949) 642-7191.

For some of the best selection of lighting choices, stop by Hodson

Lighting. The showroom stocks an extensive selection of chandeliers,

sconces, table and floor lamps and all kinds of outdoor lights. If you

don’t find what you need in the store, there are catalogs to help you

find the right size, design and finish. Hodson Lighting is at 1510

Newport Blvd. in Costa Mesa. It’s open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m.

to 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Information: (949)

548-9341.

You can stock up on every kind of Fourth of July party supply and

decoration at Where’s The Party? It’s an ideal spot to find the right

decoration for the bike parade at Mariners Park. Where’s The Party?

carries party goods, invitation, greeting cards, balloons, wedding

invitations, custom gift wrapping and rents helium tanks. It’s at 270 E.

17th St. in Costa Mesa. Information: (949) 722-1803.

The Field Fresh Produce Stand is having specials on extra large Fuji

apples, large Valencia oranges, fresh broccoli crowns, peaches,

nectarines, cherries, crisp Iceberg and Romaine lettuce. It’s at 333 E.

17th St. in Costa Mesa. Information: (949) 400-7659.

* 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.