GREER WYLDER -- Best Buys

South Coast Plaza is offering holiday events for children. There’s a

Santa’s Village Shoppes and Activity Pass that allows children to enter

Santa’s Village and work on creative crafts. At The South Coast Plaza

Holiday Trimmings Shoppe, children can make a keepsake holiday craft. At

the Alpine Wood Shoppe children can decorate a wooden holiday ornament or

wooden reindeer. At the Village Bake Shoppe, children can design a cookie

plate. All Shoppes are at the Carousel Court. Activity passes are $5 per

child. The carousel in the Carousel Court has been transformed from

horses to Santa’s reindeer. Children can ride for $1. Carousel Express

cards are sold in $5, $10 and $25 values. There’s also a Santa Express

train for $1 (complimentary with any Santa Photo purchase) in the Crate &

Barrel/Macy’s Home wing on level three. There are also Dicken’s Carolers

every Friday, Saturday and Sunday performing throughout South Coast

Plaza.

Fitigues at Fashion Island is accepting “gently worn” Fitigues

clothing through Dec. 24 that will be donated to local women’s shelters

and to Help the Children, an organization that provides clothing, food,

medicine and supplies to kids in needs. In exchange for the clothing

donations, Fitigues will take 15% off on any purchase from the men’s,

women’s or children’s Holiday 2001 collection. The collection has ski and

cruise apparel. Fitigues is at Fashion Island in Newport Beach.

The American Legion Post 291 offers a best buy during the Christmas

boat parade. For seven nights, from Dec. 17 to Dec. 23, you can view the

Christmas boat parade from the American Legion Hall on Newport Harbor and

have dinner for $10. Dinner begins at 7 p.m., and seating is limited for

the first 150 persons. Tickets are $10 per person and $8 for children

under eight. It’s at 215 15th St. in Newport Beach. For information and

reservations contact Russ Hunt at (714) 540-0363.

Back to Basics Health & Wellness Center is offering a special on a

holiday gift massage -- a full body one-hour massage is just $30 (it’s a

$65 value). The offer is for new clients only. Back to Basics is at 1617

Westcliff at Dover in Newport Beach. (949) 650-0736.

Corona del Mar is having snow today from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at its

annual winter wonderland at the Grant Howald Park at the Community Center

at 5th & Iris. Children can create holiday crafts and compete in a snow

creature contest. Santa Claus will also be at the event. The winter

wonderland is free, thanks to the Newport Harbor Elks Club. Information:

(949) 644-3151.

Flare for Women is having a holiday sale today. Selected items are

reduced up to 30%. It’s at 369 E. 17th St. in Costa Mesa. Information:

(949) 650-6360.

Little People + Me is having a 20% to 70% off sale on its entire stock

of children’s clothing and accessories through Dec. 24. It carries

clothing for girls and boys sizes infant to 14-16. All sales are final.

Little People + Me is at 1829 Westcliff Drive in Newport Beach.

Spa Gregories is offering holiday specials that include free gifts

with purchases of gift certificates valued at $120 or more. The free gift

includes selected products from its Aromafloria Herbal Therapy line. The

featured products are the Phytobath Gel, the Phytobody lotion and the

Ocean Mineral Salt. The gifts are already wrapped. Spa Gregories has

two-signature gift packages ideal for holiday gift giving. The Spa Date

for two ($160) is for couples who receive the combination of two massages

or facials and a $15 voucher for dinner at Tutto Mare’s, Hornblower

Yachts and Cruises, Dave & Busters and Renato Restaurant. Other popular

packages are the Ancient Royal Bathing Ritual at $120, the Wine & Roses

package at $195, and the Aloha Paradise at $150. An entire list of spa

treatments and packages can be viewed on its Web site at o7 https://

www.spagregories.comf7 . Spa Gregories is at 200 Newport Center Drive in

Newport Beach. Information: (949) 644-6672.

* 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.