BEST BUYS -- Greer Wylder

With soccer season fast approaching, it’s time to look for soccer

gear. 4Soccer is a specialty soccer shop in Newport Beach. It’s having a

special package for all new soccer AYSO players that includes shoes, shin

guards and a ball for $26.99. It carries all major brands of soccer

equipment. If you mention this Best Buys column, 4Soccer will give you a

10% discount on all other soccer equipment. It’s at 3400 Irvine Ave.,

Suite 201, Newport Beach. (949) 476-2237.

I hate to admit it, but there really are some great looking pieces at

the Agnes B. Boutique -- which I always thought of as too trendy and

expensive -- at South Coast Plaza. Before there ever was an Agnes B. at

South Coast Plaza, fashion aficionado friends of mine wouldn’t think

twice about driving to Beverly Hills to check out the latest Agnes B.

sweater, coat or pants. Half of the time I thought the clothing looked

more like a basic from the Gap, J. Crew or Banana Republic, but now I’m

starting to get the allure. Agnes B. has some really great pieces that

can’t be found elsewhere. The new winter 2001-02 collection has arrived.

(714) 241-5928.

Roger’s Gardens is a wonderful mecca for garden lovers. I’ve convinced

myself that the reason everything looks so perfect is that Roger’s is in

an ideal environment that can’t be replicated elsewhere -- even at my

home five miles away. An annual seminar on how to achieve the same sort

of beauty Roger’s Gardens creates is being offered this weekend in the

form of the “Complete Fall/Winter Garden Planning” seminar. The seminar

will be offered at 8:30 a.m. today and Sunday. Renowned horticulturist

Cristin Fusano will share her knowledge of how to create the ultimate

winter garden. Fusano’s topics will include pruning, fertilizing,

dividing and maintaining your garden. Roger’s Gardens is at 2301 San

Joaquin Hills Road, Newport Beach. (949) 640-5800.

Glabman’s Furniture & Interior Design is having its annual sale. The

high-end furniture store has reduced furniture and accessories throughout

the showroom for its biggest sale of the year. Glabman does carry my

favorite Barbara Barry Collection by Baker Furniture, and it’s all

included in the sale. Barbara Barry is definitely one of the best-looking

furniture lines available, all done in a “java” mahogany finish. The

collection includes cocktail tables, beds, sofas and more. It’s at 3089

Bristol St., Costa Mesa. (714) 540-3822.

I know it’s not a chi chi place, but the best in women’s shoes can be

found at Macy’s. The selection and prices are unbeatable, and there are

sales that pop up all the time on in-season shoes. If you’re looking for

ultra high-end designer shoes such as Gucci, Prada, Robert Clergerie and

Chanel, forget it. You’ll have to go to Neiman Marcus. But Macy’s does

carry such high-end designer shoes as Donald Pliner, Yves Saint-Laurent,

Donna Karan, and Stuart Weitzman. There are always good-looking BCBG

shoes in the mid-price ranges that look a lot like Prada knockoffs. The

Macy’s sales team is very helpful and, as with some department stores,

there are some pre-sale specials where you can purchase shoes at a

discount before the sale officially starts. The only catch is that you

can’t bring them home until the sale starts. Macy’s is at Fashion Island

in Newport Beach and South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa.

If you don’t mind no-frills shopping, Tuesday Morning is a favorite

spot for some bargain hunters. The close-out store carries everything

from linens, pillows, kitchen accessories, gourmet foods, lamps, toys,

dishes and crystal. Its current specials are on lace sheet sets from

$14.99 to $29.99 per set, goose-down comforters of any size at $39.99 and

Martex pillows at $9.99. Tuesday Morning advertises that its prices are

50% to 80% off retail prices. If you’re not familiar with Tuesday

Morning’s different concept of closing and reopening sales events, it

will remain open through Sept. 7, and the next sales season will be from

Sept. 11 through Dec. 31. It’s at 230 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa. (949)

650-0455.

Neiman Marcus is showing the latest Jean Paul Gaultier collection of

fragrance bottles that were inspired by his couture collection from 3 to

5 p.m. Wednesday in the cosmetics department. The bottles will be on

display through Sept. 1. Neiman Marcus is at Fashion Island in Newport

Beach. (949) 759-1900.

* 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.