GREER WYLDER -- Best Buys

You can play in the snow today without leaving town at Newport’s

Winter Wonderland event in Corona del Mar. Twenty tons of fresh snow will

“fall” at Grant Howald Park on 5th and Iris avenues from 10 a.m. to 1

p.m. Santa Claus will make an appearance, kids can make holiday crafts,

and a snowman building contest are scheduled. Kids can bring carrots and

sticks to adorn their snowman. The Newport Beach Community Services

Department sponsors the event. Information: (949) 644-3151.

A seasonal Hickory Farms store has opened at Westcliff Plaza. It’s

filled with prepackaged gift boxes. Hickory Farms specializes in cheeses,

meats, mustards, cookies and candies. Take advantage of a special on the

store’s award-winning hickory smoke beef stick -- a three-pound beef

stick is $9.99; it’s regularly priced at $13.99. Hickory Farms is at

Westcliff Plaza, on the corner of East 17th Street and Irvine Avenue in

Costa Mesa. Information: (949) 642-4263.

Posh is having a special on winter sportswear that is ideal for the

holidays. On sale are pure cashmere sport coats priced at $495 from $695;

merino wool long-sleeve polo shirts are $95, reduced from $145; and wool

gabardine trousers are $115, reduced from $165. Posh is in Fashion Island

in Newport Beach. Information: (949) 640-8310.

The Closet is having a weekend Christmas sale. The skateboard and

snowboard apparel store is filled with bargains on snow gear. Reductions

are 40% to 70%. Apparel name brands available include Special Blend, 4

Square, Lib Tech, Forum, Volcom, Salomon, Diesel, Smooth Co., Stussy,

Rioal, Girl, Chocolate, Obey, Earl and Paul Frank. There are also shoes

on sale, as low as $30. Shoe brands available include Globe, ES, DC,

Etnies, Converse, Adidas, Nike, Puma and New Balance. During the weekend

sale, you can enter a raffle to win prizes. The store is at 1870 S.

Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa. Information: (949) 645-1979.

If you’ve always wanted a pool table for a game room, there are

bargains at Triangle’s Gameroom Gallery. The new billiard and game room

shop is having a Christmas special on pool tables starting at $1,599.

When you buy a pool table, you’ll also receive a free accessory package

that includes a set of Belgium balls, six cues, one two-piece wall rack,

one wood triangle, one bed brush, one rule book, one bridge head and a

bridge stick. Other game room items available are air hockey,

shuffleboard, darts, juke boxes, darts and Foosball. Triangle’s also

makes custom cues. It’s across from Triangle Square at 1844 Newport

Blvd., Costa Mesa.

There are great prices on fresh holiday greenery and floral decor at

Flowers Direct, which sells flowers at wholesale prices to the public.

The specials are Casablanca lilies at $5.99 a stem, garland at $1.25 a

foot, cedar at $5.99 a bunch, babies’ breath at $6.99 a bunch, and pine

at $5.99 a bunch. Flowers Direct is at 882 W. 16th St., Newport Beach.

Information: (949) 650-5700.

There are more bargains on flowers that are ideal for the holidays at

the Flower Warehouse in Costa Mesa. The specials are peonies at $3 each,

imported roses at $1.50 each, Stargazer lilies at $1.75 each, babies’

breath at $4 a bunch and 20-inch wreaths at $9.99 each. The Flower

Warehouse also carries holly, swags, pepperberry and garlands. It’s at

1308 Logan Ave., Costa Mesa. Information: (714) 545-1310.

Famous Footwear is having another one of its popular half-price sales.

When you buy one pair of shoes, you’ll get the second pair of equal or

lesser value at half-price. Famous Footwear carries shoes for the entire

family. It carries popular name brands such as Vans, Nike, Skechers,

Buster Brown, New Balance, and Adidas. Famous Footwear is in the Costa

Mesa Courtyards at 1835 Newport Blvd., and at 2300 Harbor Blvd., Costa

Mesa.

* 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.