Best Buys

Greer Wylder

For unlimited ideas and choices in home design, stop by Expo Design

Center, A Home Depot Company in Huntington Beach. The massive showroom

contains 10 separate specialty departments under one roof. There’s a

section for kitchens, baths, lighting and lamps, tile, stone and wood

flooring, appliances, carpet and rugs, fabrics and window treatments,

closets and organization, accessories and outdoor decor. To make life

easier, the center also offers a professional design service,

installation, financing and delivery. The installation services are

really extensive. They do a lot of installations that you’d expect, but

there are also unusual services available including faux finishing,

stained glass, furniture reupholstery and gas log replacements. Many of

the appliances, fixtures and decorative items are high end, but the store

does cater to all budgets. Examples of popular kitchen appliance products

available include: Gaggenau, Bosch, Miele, Frigidaire, Thermador, Marvel

and GE Profile. Bathroom fixtures available include: Kohler, American

Standard, Pearl, Moen, Delta, MIco and Pegasus. Flooring and counter top

choices include travertine, granite, marble, wood, laminate, slate,

specialty tiles and marble. Expo Design Center is at 6912 Edinger Ave. in

Huntington Beach. Information: (714) 842-9091.

Spoil the pet in your life

Pet spoilers (and you know who you are) will flock to Wiskers Pet

Beastro & Bowteek for gourmet treats and animal paraphernalia. The dog

and cat haven carries everything centered on loving pets including

stuffed animals, pet-themed cards, frames, art, furniture, candles and

bath products. Some of the biscuits are a little over the top, but so are

gourmet dog treats. The flavors are peanut butter, chicken, very veggie,

barbecue, oatmeal, cinnamon, minty fresh and garlic and cheese. Wiskers

is at 301 Main St. in Huntington Beach. Information: (714) 969-8478.

A surf school specially for girls

Girls can learn how to surf as well as anyone else at the HB Wahine

Surf School in Huntington Beach. The surfing school caters to girls only

and it offers lessons for beginners and intermediate surfers. The classes

are designed for ages 6 and up. Instructors will teach you the skills you

need for surfing including: safety, right-of-way and surf etiquette, surf

break awareness, paddling skills, how to push through waves; stand up

techniques, stance riding and more. The surf clinic packages are offered

through Aug. 26, and there are two-, three- and five-day camps available.

The clinic lasts from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. A two-day summer camp clinic is

$98, the three-day clinic $140, and five-day clinic is $225. The surf

clinic packages include: surfboard and wetsuit usage, stand-up

techniques, one on one coaching, certificate of completion, surf clinic

T-shirt, beach party, group activities, ocean conservation and beach

safety. The HB Wahine Surf School is at 18854 Coolwater Lane in

Huntington Beach. Information: (714) 317-3722.

If you have a bargain in mind . . .

If you’re looking for bargains on clothes, there’s Clothes Minded. The

shop is filled with clothing that’s priced at $15 or less. Inside, you’ll

find girls’ clothing including swimsuits (both pieces), shorts, capris,

jeans, dress pants, pants, shirts, dresses and belts. It’s at 200 Main

St. in Huntington Beach. Information: (714) 374-1323.

Cool shades of summer

Main Street Eyewear & Boutique carries many of the popular designer

frames including DMO, Diva, Maui Jim, Rudy Project, Arnette, Jones NY,

DKNY, Revo, Ralph Lauren, Guess, Gucci, Giorgio Armani, Fendi, Christian

Dior, Calvin Klein, Persol, Killer Loop, Ray Ban and Carrera. It also

specializes in providing single vision, bifocal, progressive and

transition lenses. It’s at 200 Main St. No. 107 in Huntington Beach.

Information: (714) 536-6300.

Bathing suits galore and more

Bikini shoppers won’t be disappointed by the selection at Merrilee’s

Swimwear on Main Street in Huntington Beach. The shop carries mix and

match bikinis in solids and prints, and there’s also a nice selection of

clothing from Mavi and French Connection. There are also sunglasses,

belts and shoes ideal for summer wear. It’s at 124 Main St. in Huntington

Beach. Information: (714) 960-8433.

* BEST BUYS Send information to Greer Wylder at o7

greerwylder@yahoo.comf7 or 330 W. Bay St., Costa Mesa, CA 92627, or via

fax at (949) 646-4170.