GREER WYLDER -- Best Buys

My favorite Christmas tree lot, The Christmas Tree Jamboree, has the

most beautiful trees every year, and this year it’s selling a specialty

tree, if you want an ideal tree. The premium trees range in price from

$89.99 to $124.99. All other trees, which are nice as well, are priced by

height. A 4-foot tree is $29.99, a 5-foot tree is $34.99, a 6-foot tree

is $39.99 to $44.99, a 7-foot tree is $49.99 to $54.99, an 8-foot tree is

$64.99 to $69.99, a 9-foot tree is $74.99 to $79.99, and 10- to 12-foot

trees are $199 to $299. The Christmas Tree Jamboree is next to Newport

Dunes Waterfront Resort, off of Jamboree Road in Newport Beach.

Dish is one of the best local kitchen supply and cooking schools, and

it’s having a holiday sale on selected items, marked down 15% to 40%

through Dec. 21. The store is filled with top-of-the-line kitchen

supplies and gourmet items. Dish is at 435 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa. (949)

574-2433.

Newport Beach resident Susan Eaton, a volunteer for UNICEF, says that

many Daily Pilot shoppers come for the treasures available at the gift

shop at the United Nations Assn. Center in Santa Ana. The center shop

operates to raise funds for UNICEF and offers an educational resource

center for support of the United Nations. “In order to do this, we have

exquisite international gifts for sale from around the globe of interest

to collectors and others desiring something a little different for a gift

or for themselves,” Eaton says. “Many husbands come in to get their wives

a special piece of ethnic jewelry.” Eaton says the shop is run entirely

by volunteers, and it’s busy during the holiday season. There’s a variety

of ornaments, UNICEF cards and gifts from around the world. Other items

available include masks, boxes, animals, games, ceramics, wall hangings,

woodcarvings, glassware, instruments, rain sticks, figures, clothing,

books, toys, flags, dolls and U.N. literature. Some items are posted on

its Web site at o7 https://www.una-oc.orgf7 . The store is closed the

week of Christmas, but it will reopen Jan. 2 for its annual winter sale.

The center is at 2428 N. Grand Ave., Suite F, Santa Ana, in the Grovemont

Center between the Garden Grove Freeway and 17th Street.

South Coast Plaza has an extensive selection of corporate gifts ideal

for the holidays.

At Baccarat, there’s a Baccarat corporate account that offers custom

engraving, presentation pedestals, gift-wrapping and delivery, and

corporate discounts. The gift choices include everything from crystal

clocks to Dom Perignon champagne flutes. To receive a corporate catalog,

call (714) 435-9600.

At Bodega Chocolates, there’s a new corporate gift pack collection

that can be personalized with a ribbon imprinted with a name or logo. The

gift packs come filled with a variety of Bodega’s fudge truffle bars,

English toffee and chocolate shortbread cookies. They range in price from

$20.92 to $68.37, plus shipping and handling. Information: (714)

429-1057.

At Bulgari, there are corporate gifts that include interchangeable

steel, mother of pearl and black onyx centered cuff links, watches and

lapis lazuli key holders. Information: (714) 751-7833.

At Colorado Pen, there are leather agendas, portfolios, clocks and

writing instruments. Colorado Pen offers corporate discounts, engraving,

embossing and screening, and gift-wrapping. Information: (714) 556-0643.

Crabtree & Evelyn has a corporate gift plan that features gift sets

starting from $12 to $65. There are also custom gift baskets filled with

bath and body care, home and garden, and gourmet food selections. For

large volume orders, there are shipping service, complimentary gift wrap

and business-to-business discounts available.

Gucci offers key chains, small leather goods, cell phone straps,

watches, sunglasses, men’s ties and luggage. Corporate discounts are only

available at the Gucci boutique at South Coast Plaza.

Montblanc has a business catalog with all kinds of corporate gift

items that include the popular carbon fiber and stainless steel writing

instrument and the 2001 limited edition Charles Dickens writing

instrument available in a fountain pen, ballpoint pen and mechanical

pencil. Information: (714) 424-5270.

Tiffany & Co. has a Business Holiday 2001 catalog filled with business

gifts, awards, trophies, recognition programs and customized holiday gift

ideas. Information: (714) 662-4820.

A breakfast with Santa event complete with a holiday presentation by

Jim Gamble Puppet Productions will take place in the Zodiac restaurant at

Neiman Marcus during the next two weekends: 9 a.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.

Sunday, and again at 9 a.m. Dec. 22 and 10 a.m. Dec. 23. Children of all

ages will love the surprise guest appearance by Santa. Credit card

reservations are required. Information: (949) 759-1900, Ext. 2424.

* 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.