Best Buys -- Greer Wylder

Cute as a bug

Ladybugs and Inchworms is one of the best local spots to find adorable

children’s clothing (newborns to 10-year-olds) and gifts. In addition to

apparel you’ll find shoes, tons of hair accessories and jewelry,

balloons, cards and gift baskets. By popular demand, owner Lisa Stewart

has recently added women’s apparel to her store, mostly for mom’s and

loyal customers who miss her old store, Lisa Stewart. The store carries

some of the best children’s lines including Baby Lulu, Silky, Cherry Pie,

Hula Moon, Brio, Klutz, Manhattan Toy, Padders and Tickles and Giggles.

Also, on Fridays at 11 a.m. there’s story time and face painting. It’s

open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday from

11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Ladybugs and

Inchworms is in Plaza Almeria, at 412 Olive Ave. in Huntington Beach.

Information: (714) 374-7260.

Surf City Summer treat

Surf City Candy owner Ken Vasilik says his store has “the most on the

coast” as far as candy selection goes, and I wouldn’t doubt it. The candy

lovers dream store has everything you could imagine, including more than

36 varieties of salt water taffy, red, black and salted licorice,

assorted toffee and caramels, assorted Gummis (regular, tart and sour),

Jelly Belly beans (more than two dozen flavors) sugar free candies --

they even carry post cards, souvenirs and British treats. There’s also

hot and cold drinks and Haagen-Dazs ice cream. Surf City Candy is at 126

Main St. No. 102 in Huntington Beach. Information: (714) 374-1946.

Carmel apple heaven

Another place to satisfy your sweet tooth is at Rocky Mountain

Chocolate Factory. The chocolate shop hand makes 65% of the treats in the

store daily. If you’re into caramel apples, here’s what you can get:

caramel apple with walnuts, Butterfingers, apple pie, mud pie,

cheesecake, Rocky Road, German chocolate cake, monster and Huntington

Beach apple. It also has chocolate dipped-fruits, truffles, taffy,

Australian licorice, cocoa, and sugar free chocolates. Rocky Mountain

Chocolate Factory is at 200 Main St. in Huntington Beach. Information:

(714) 969-0795.

Meaty specials

If you need something a little meatier, try the new Omaha Steaks

retail store at 5 Points Plaza in Huntington Beach. The company has been

around since 1917, and is known in the Midwest for supplying high quality

beef and gourmet foods including seafood, pork, poultry, lamb, veal, side

dishes and appetizers. Through Labor Day, Omaha Steaks is offering grand

opening specials on its steaks. Examples of special prices are four

five-ounce filet mignon for $29.99 (regularly $51.99); six six-ouce filet

mignons for $49.99 (regularly $72); four seven-ounce boneless strip

sirloin steaks for $34.99; four seven-ounce filet of prime rib steaks --

beef, rib eye steaks for $29.99 (regularly $52); four five-ounce top

sirloin steaks for 19.99 (regularly $35); six six-ounce top sirloin

steaks beef for $29.99 (regularly $49.99); two 16-ounce T-bone steaks for

$29.99 (regularly $49.) Also, if you make a purchase of $25 or more,

you’ll receive four free burgers and four free potatoes. Omaha Steaks is

at 18563 Main St. in Huntington Beach. Information: (714) 841-8733.

Work it off

If you need to work off the carbohydrates and steaks, Huntington Beach

Ultimate Training Center offers more than 20 group classes per week

including cardio kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, submission wrestling,

box aerobics and more. Personal training is also available. You can call

the center for a free workout. It’s open Monday through Friday from 9

a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Ultimate Training

Center is at 19400 Beach Blvd. in Huntington Beach. Information: (714)

593-9335.

Your dishes by junior

You can get really creative at Color Me Mine, a hand-painting pottery

store. You’ll get to choose your unfinished pottery; a plate, vase, cup,

figurine, or bowl; and then paint it using any colors you want. The store

glazes and fires your piece. In about three days it’s ready to pick up.

It’s currently offering a painting special -- for children pay $6 per

child or $10 per child all day. It’s open Sunday through Thursday from 11

a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight. It’s at

200 Main St. in Huntington Beach. Information: (714) 960-3834.

Dress for success

The Closet Unorthodox, carries a lot of boutique items for people who

like to follow the latest fashion trends. There’s a big selection of Paul

Frank apparel and accessories, OP Classics, Volcom Anti Fashion, Fresh

Jive, Diesel, Green Apple Tree Amerikan and shoes and sunglasses. The

store also carries a nice selection of snowboards and snowboard apparel.

It’s at 121 Main St. in Huntington Beach. Information: (714) 536-9535.

* 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.