Keep your eye on great prices at Ziggy’s Optical

Ziggy’s Optical is one of the best local eyewear shops. It’s been

in business for the last 21 years, and Ziggy says his success is from

serving 95% repeat and referral customers. Ziggy’s has a great

selection of quality eyewear at great prices. Eyewear collections

available include Dolce & Gabbana, Giorgio Armani, Calvin Klein,

Alain Mikkli, Gucci, Fendi, Tura, Silhouette, Chanel, Escada, Maui

Jim, Persol, Oakley, Kio Yamato and Lafont. There’s a lab on the

premises to ensure that work is accurate and controlled, and it

provides fast service. Ziggy’s Optical is at 3417 Via Lido, Newport

Beach. (949) 673-1883.

Marketing experts

Costa Mesa has the best new Japanese market called Marukai on

Harbor Boulevard. Marukai has a great produce department, as well as

seafood, meats, sushi, snacks, household items, kitchenware, health

care and beauty care, and snacks. Inside the store, there is also a

fresh bakery department, a food court for takeout or sit-down meals

and a crepe stand where you can get dessert or sandwich crepes.

Murakai offers a membership card for extra savings at $10 a year.

Murakai is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9

a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. It’s at 2975 Harbor Blvd. (714) 751-8433.

Update your style

If you’re wardrobe is out of style, stop by Flare for Women to

find out what’s in. “We bring forth current trend-setting styles to

the fun, daring and independent leaders in fashion within a beautiful

and stylish setting,” says Heather Lindbergh, manager. Flare for

Women has high-quality apparel and accessories. Some of its most

popular lines include Allen B, Bella Dahl, Cosabella, Dita Eyewear,

Ex-Ex Jewelry, Frankie B, Justine Bateman, Juicy Couture and Miss

Sixty, as well as Paper, Denim, Cloth. It’s at 360 E. 17th St., Costa

Mesa. (949) 650-6360.

Even more at South Coast

I know I just listed the latest shops to open at South Coast

Plaza, but now there’s more. New stores opening soon include Club

Monaco, Book Soup, Claire’s Accessories, Miss Sixty and Puzzle Zoo.

Club Monaco is going to be a great addition at South Coast Plaza, and

you won’t have to drive to Beverly Hills to get great style for men’s

and women’s apparel at reasonable prices. The Orange County exclusive

boutique will also carry its lines of color cosmetics. Book Soup’s

West Hollywood location has been popular for the last 27 years, and

now its second location will open in September. Book Soup caters to

readers who love literature, film, music and art, and it carries a

nice selection of hard-to-find books and gifts. The store will have

celebrity book readings and signings. Claire’s Accessories is a

specialty shop for teen fashion accessories. Claire’s has the latest

in fashion for girls 7 to 26. The store will open in September and

offer everything from earrings, hair accessories, jewelry and purses.

Miss Sixty features the work of designer and co-founder Wichy Hassan,

whose designs are inspired by her love of main streets in big cities.

Miss Sixty’s apparel caters to fashion-forward young women. The Miss

Sixty Boutique will open in October and is the first to open in

California. Puzzle Zoo is a toy store that will carry the latest

puzzles, action figures, stuffed toys, games and collectibles from

the hottest manufacturers. It will open in mid-October.

CAR TALK

The Auto Club in Costa Mesa will have a one-day sale Saturday,

from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., on used cars for members. The AAA

administrative office on Fairview Road will function as a

full-service dealership, while the lot is filled with hundreds of

late-model Enterprise cars sold at discount prices. Financing and

auto insurance will also be offered. Cars will be sold at mid-Blue

Book or lower prices to eliminate negotiating, as well as a 12-month

or 12,000-mile limited powertrain warranty and a seven-day or

1,000-mile buy back guarantee. Also, cars have already passed the

Auto Club’s 86-point vehicle inspection program requirements through

its auto repair program. The inspection is offered at a lot of Auto

Club-approved repair shops at $89.95 and helps to eliminate a lot of

the problems associated with used-car purchases. The AAA

administrative office is at 3333 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa.

* BEST BUYS appears Mondays and Fridays. Send information to

Greer Wylder at greerwylder@- yahoo.com or 330 W. Bay St., Costa

Mesa, CA 92627, or via fax at (949) 646-4170.