Newport’s top-notch antiques

Serious antique collectors love Tom Stansbury’s shops in Newport

Beach -- The Next Notch and Tom Stansbury Antiques. Both stores are

filled with fine antiques; The Next Notch has room for larger pieces.

Stansbury’s 35-year passion drives him to work almost

seven-days-a-week acquiring antiques. Along the way, he’s made

contacts with dealers from San Diego to San Francisco from whom he

purchases 16th century to 19th century antiques. Most pieces are

European, and the rest are Asian and American. Period furniture,

interesting lamps, bronzes, crystal, porcelain and garden pieces.

Spanish Colonial and Italian pieces are popular. Discounts are

offered to dealers and designers. 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through

Saturday. Tom Stansbury Antiques. 466 Old Newport Blvd. in Newport

Beach. (949) 642-1272. The Next Notch Fine Antiques. 840 Production

in Newport Beach. (949) 646-8840.

EQUESTRIAN BALLET

Exclusive performances of Theatre Zingaro are running five

evenings a week from Oct. 12 through Nov. 8 in Costa Mesa. The

internationally renowned French equestrian ballet company is the main

event of the Eclectic Orange Festival, a project of the Philharmonic

Society of Orange County. Performances will take place on the site

designated for the Orange County Performing Arts Center expansion.

Theatre Zingaro’s latest production called Tryptyk features a cast of

23 horses and dancers from Kerala, India who specialize in an ancient

Indian martial art form. Tryptyk is a three-part show featuring Igor

Stravinsky’s “The Right of Spring,” Pierre Poulez’s “Dialogue de

l’ombre double” and Stravinsky’s “Symphony of Psalms.” Horses live in

Zingaro Village, a newly constructed area consisting of tents,

stables and riding facilities. The village area is attached to the

large performance tent that seats about 1,500. Tickets are $45 to

$75. (949) 553-2422 or www.EclecticOrange.org.

TOYS FOR SHOTS

John L. Blom’s annual Toys for Tots special is running through

Nov. 15. You can bring in new toys in exchange for a child’s sitting.

You’ll also receive 15% to 25% off portraits. 3732 E. Pacific Coast

Highway in Corona del Mar. (949) 675-3130.

www.johnblomphotography.com.

FLIGHT PATH FLOWERS

Beneath the flight path of John Wayne Airport, there’s a funky

greenhouse filled with beautiful orchids at unbelievable low prices.

Green Systems International also specializes in palms, tropical and

aquatic plants. Owner Richard Moriarty opens his wholesale nursery to

the public on weekends. Sales are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.

Orchids are priced from $5 to $40. More than 1,000 orchids are in

stock. 20362 Birch St. in Newport Beach. (949) 756-1211.

SHAPE UP

Corona del Mar’s Shape Up Fitness has a six-week trial membership

for $89. The amenities at Shape-Up include: semi-private men and

women’s areas, free weights and equipment, Pilates studio and mat

classes, spinning theater, 16 personal trainers, childcare from 8

a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday through Friday, yoga, tai chi, stretch

classes, step, power pump and cardio, skin care, physical therapy

center, showers, steam and towels. Hours are 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday

through Thursday, 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday. 2101 E. Pacific Coast Highway

in Corona del Mar. (949) 760-5054.

RECYCLED EXERCISE

Sports Consignment offers a great variety of gently used exercise

equipment. Some equipment includes: treadmills, ellipticals,

steppers, lifecycles, recumbent bikes and more. Everything is at a

fraction of the original price. You can also turn in equipment for

instant cash. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10

a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. 670 W. 17th St. in Costa Mesa. (949)

548-0660.

* BEST BUYS appears Mondays and Fridays. Send information to

Greer Wylder at greerwylder@-

yahoo.com or 330 W. Bay St., Costa Mesa, CA 92627.