GREER WYLDER -- Best Buys

Fitigues is helping the local charity Help the Children by having a

clothing donation in the store. You can bring in your Fitigues clothing

and it will be distributed to a local shelter for kids, men and women.

Also, by donating your clothing, you’ll get a 15% off discount on new

purchases. The Help the Children benefit will last through Dec. 24.

Fitigues has also added a new ski line. About half of the collection has

arrived, and it comes in sizes for children from 6 months to 12 years old

and for men and women. All of the ski wear is Teflon-coated for water

resistance. There are also ultra-warm felted cashmere sweaters. The

prices are reasonable. Most pieces are $116. Fitigues is at Fashion

Island in Newport Beach. Information: (949) 644-6485.

Waterworks carries the ultimate in bathroom textiles, accessories,

decorative furnishings and more. It’s also a great place to find holiday

gifts. The gift choices run from fragrances, Frette cotton terry robes

and towels, Italian toothpaste and toothbrushes, French soaps, shower

gel, bath salts and room spray, candles, vanity mirrors, a tub caddy,

razors and shaving brushes. Waterworks is in the Corona del Mar Plaza.

Information: (949) 717-6525.

There’s an upcoming Balboa Island Home Tour and Marine Avenue Open

House on Dec. 3. Home Tour tickets can be purchased from Balboa Island

merchants including Even Sisters, Persimmon Tree, Martha’s Bookstore,

Island Home and Balboa Porch. There’s also an annual tree lighting

ceremony on Dec. 9. Santa Claus will be there, and there will be snow for

kids to play in, as well as caroling and refreshments. Most stores will

be open until 9 p.m. during the Boat Parade on Dec. 17 to Dec. 23, with

hot cider and cookies.

Old Newport Eye is having a special through December: All sunglasses

are 15% off and prescription eye wear or sun wear is 20% off if you

mention this column. Old Newport Eye carries high-end eye wear including

Giorgio Armani, Calvin Klein, Persol, Fendi, Maui Jim, Kohsakai, Edward

Beiner, Gucci, Moschino, Ralph Lauren, Fossil and Nine West. There are

also gift certificates available for the holidays. You can ask for

Kendall Williams, the optician who also does eye exams and contact

lenses. It’s at 522 Old Newport Blvd. in Newport Beach. Information:

(949) 650-9060.

For the best in authentic Japanese merchandise, stop by Kura Japanese

Antiques and Restoration. The new shop carries imports from Japan

including tansu chests, carved netsuke, prints, bronzes, baskets,

screens, kimonos, ceramics, lacquer, dolls, textiles and more. Kura

Japanese Antiques is at 3441-C Via Lido in Newport Beach. It’s open from

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Information: (949) 723-5002.

There’s a big after-Thanksgiving sale under way at Bloomingdale’s. The

store opens early today and Sunday for the sale. There are discounts from

20% to 50% throughout the store. Bloomingdale’s is at Fashion Island in

Newport Beach. Information: (949) 729-6600.

If you love planting tulips but don’t want to bother with

refrigerating them for months, Roger’s Gardens will do it for you.

Roger’s Gardens is chilling hundreds of tulip bulbs for the upcoming

tulip season. If you’re interested in purchasing bulbs, you can fill out

an order form at Roger’s Gardens and return Dec. 2 or 9 to pick them up.

Roger’s recommends that you plant them the same day you pick them up.

Roger’s Gardens is at 2301 San Joaquin Hills Road in Newport Beach.

Information: (949) 640-5800.

Tuesday Morning is open for the holiday season through Dec. 30. Items

now on sale include Cuisinart cookware, with savings from $40 to $80 per

item; French crystal goblets, regularly priced at $14, now $2.99; and

Venetian glass stickpins at $9.99. The regular retail price is $35.

Tuesday Morning sells everything at 50% to 80% less than regular retail

prices. It’s at 230 E 17th St. in Costa Mesa. Information: (949)

650-0455.

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

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

646-4170.