GREER WYLDER -- Best Buys

Nikki Twigs has found a new home. It will still carry the same

eclectic mix of antiques, art, home furnishings and garden accessories as

it did in its Santa Ana Avenue location in Costa Mesa. The new shop has a

nice selection of merchandise for spring. It’s at 660 W. 17th St.,

Quonset Hut 23. It’s open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through

Saturday. Information: (949) 642-8944.

Pet’s Central will celebrate its grand opening today through Sunday by

offering a 15% discount on everything in the store (except dog and cat

food). Pet’s Central specializes in everything you need for a pet.

There’s also a special on Professional brand dog food (buy one, get one

free) and a 35-pound bag of Nutromax food at $19.99 (save $5). There are

other specials on Purina Proplan food -- buy one bag, you’ll get the

second one free. Pet’s Central is in the Harbor Plaza, at 2300 Harbor

Blvd., Costa Mesa. Information: (949) 642-5673.

Office Depot has all kinds of best buys at its inventory clearance

sale. Select merchandise in all departments is reduced up to 80% for the

sale. It’s open seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through

Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Office

Depot is in Costa Mesa at 2200 Harbor Blvd. Information: (949) 548-8228.

It’s Girl Scout Cookie sale season, but the local Girl Scouts council

says the latest sale has some changes. The cookie boxes will have a new

look for the first time in a decade (not that the box ever determined

their appeal), and there’s a new cookie: Aloha Chips, with macadamia nuts

and white chocolate. Old standbys are still available, such as Thin

Mints, Samoas, Trefoils, Do-si-dos, Tagalongs, Lemon Drops and Apple

Cinnamon. All varieties are $3 a box. The cookie sale helps to generate

funds for Girl Scout troops’ activities and service projects, as well as

helps the council provide campsites, educational opportunities and more.

It’s also a plan to help young girls learn money-management, as well as

goal-setting and decision-making skills. For information on cookie booth

locations, you may call the Girl Scout Council of Orange County at (714)

979-7900, Ext. 315.

Big Kmart has slashed its prices even further on men’s, women’s and

children’s apparel. All clearance apparel is reduced from 50% to 80%.

Examples of savings are long-sleeve knit tops at $5, boys’ and girls’

tops at $5, men’s sweaters at $5, boys’ and girls’ tops at $4, and men’s

long-sleeve knit tops at $4. Big Kmart is at 2200 Harbor Blvd., Costa

Mesa. Information: (949) 646-7701.

Zany Brainy will offer a fun, free art program called the Zany Brainy

Art Club for kids 4 to 6. It will meet at 7 p.m. on five consecutive

Fridays. The first session will be March 9, and the last will be April 6.

The art club sessions are “Follow the Lines and Find the Shapes”; “Draw,

Brush and Blot”; “Hide and Seek”; “The World through Zany Glasses”; and

“Writing Companions.” As the sessions progress, kids will work on a more

advanced project, building on the skills they develop. Kids will work

with crayons, paper, glue, gel paint, Crayola Model Magic, stamping

markers, glitter glue, pencils and washable markers. Kids will get a

free, take-home project at the end of the art club. Parents must

preregister their children because space is limited. Zany Brainy is at

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

Costa Mesa Designer Outlet is celebrating a grand reopening with

savings of up to 80% off department store prices. The outlet store sells

men’s jeans from $9.99, men’s shirts from $7.99, women’s dresses from

$12.99, and women’s T-shirts from $5.99. The current special is on select

women’s suits priced at $19.99. The regular retail price is $99 to $149.

It’s at 3491 S. Bristol Ave., Costa Mesa. Information: (714) 825-0202.

Passione Corona del Mar specializes in Italian home furnishings and

accessories. You may also bring in pieces for restoration and custom

finishes, and there’s an interior design service available. It’s at 3565

E. Coast Highway, in Corona del Mar. Information: (949) 723-5222.

* 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.