Best Buys -- Greer Wylder

Susan Irby will sign her latest cookbook, “Cooking with Susan -- A

Collection of Favorite Southern Family Recipes” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

today at the Blue Springs, Ala. store in Costa Mesa. Susan Irby is

well-known for her IrbyDerby pecan and IrbyDerbys chocolate-chip cookies

that will be at the store and are sold online at o7

https://www.susanirby.comf7 . The pecan cookies are $8.50 per dozen, and

the chocolate chip cookies are $6.60 per dozen. Irby’s cookbook is a

traditional Southern cookbook, featuring more than 95 recipes, cooking

tips and “helpful hints from mom.” Her next cookbook, “Cooking with Susan

-- Volume 11, 100 Ways to Make Chicken,” is due out in July. A portion of

the proceeds will go toward the Olive Crest Child Abuse Foundation. Blue

Springs, Ala. is at 369 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa. (949) 642-3632.

Smart & Final has a big selection of bulk Halloween candy at low

prices. The selections include a four-pound bag of Tootsie rolls for

$5.39, plain and peanut M&Ms; at $6.49, Hershey’s snack size at $6.99,

Starburst and Skittles variety packs at $5.99, Hershey’s miniatures at

$5.49, Tootsie Pops at $7.29, Reese’s jumbo snack bags at $4.29, and M&M;

variety bags at $8.79. Smart & Final is at 707 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa.

Tom Stansbury Antiques is expanding. The new location is called Next

Notch, in a 3,000-square-foot space, and is filled with fine antique

furniture and accessories, painting and lamps. The new location is close

to Jefferies Ltd., another great antique store, at 840 Production Way,

Newport Beach. (949) 642-1272.

Shape-Up Fitness Center is offering a six-week trial membership for

$89. The fitness center offers Pilates, sports medicine, strength

classes, yoga, child care, tai chi, steam rooms, group exercise and

microdermabrasion. There are also corporate and family memberships

available. Shape-Up is at 2101 E. Coast Highway, Corona del Mar. (949)

760-9335.

Armstrong Garden Centers is having a special on spring bulbs that

should be planted in the fall. The selection includes Dutch iris, 10 for

$1.99; ranunculus, 10 for $3.99; freesia, 10 for $1.49; Dutch master

daffodils, 10 for $2.97; Dutch tulips, 10 for $3.99; and 18 varieties of

bearded iris, $1.99 each. There’s also a special on roses: If you

preorder roses, you’ll save 10% off the January price. There are 34 new

roses, and more than 150 roses are available on the Web site at o7

https://www.armstronggarden.comf7 . The sale will last through Tuesday.

Armstrong Garden Centers is at 1500 E. Coast Highway, Newport Beach (949)

644-9510, and at 2123 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa (949) 646-3925.

The 13th annual Taste of Newport has changed its date to Friday and

Oct. 6, from 6 to 11 p.m. Tickets with the original dates may be used.

The event includes more than 30 local restaurants, 15 wineries and live

entertainment. Participating restaurants include Aysia 101, Bayside,

Bistango, Blue Water Grill, Buca Di Beppo, Ciao, Clayton Shurley’s Real

BBQ, The Clubhouse Restaurant, Five Crowns, Gelato Paradiso, Gina’s Pizza

& Pastaria, Gulliver’s, Haagen Dazs, Ho Sum Bistro, Kitayama, Koto,

Marrakesh, Margaritaville, McCormick & Schmick’s, Newport Fish Company,

Pavilion at the Four Seasons Hotel, Ristorante Mamma Gina, Royal Thai

Cuisine, Rusty Pelican, Sabatino’s Lido Shipyard Sausage Co., Sage, Santa

Monica Seafood, Soprano’s, Tapa, Tommy Bahama’s, Tropical Cafe &

Emporium, Villa Nova and Wolfgang Puck Cafe. The Taste of Newport is at

Newport Center Drive at Fashion Island.

Summerhill Floral & Gifts will open a new holiday store on Sunday. The

original store has discounted all floral arrangements by 50% and has new

fall merchandise. Summerhill specializes in silk florals, home

accessories and custom floral arrangements. It’s open from 10 a.m. to 6

p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4

p.m. Sunday. It’s at 369 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa. (949) 646-6745.

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.