Party in prehistoric fashion

BEST BUYS

You’ll feel like you stepped back in time after entering

Prehistoric Pets. Exotic creatures look like they should already be

extinct. Rare reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates from all over

the world are sold here, and they claim to be the largest reptile

breeders worldwide. Customers stop by and pay $2.99 for a handful of

worms, just to feed the turtles and carnivorous fish, or to check in

on Goliath, the 450-pound Galapagos tortoise. Reticulated pythons,

priced from $199 to $15,000, are in demand. Other exotic pets

include: golden Greek tortoises, Russian tortoises, baby bearded

dragons, crocodile geckos, Burmese pythons, Taiwan beauty snake,

pink-bellied snake-necked turtle and emerald tree boas. Kids love the

party side of the business, Jurassic Parties. In-store and at-home

parties supply hours of fun and education. Exciting presentations

with at least 15 animals, including tarantulas, scorpions, lizards,

frogs and even a 15-foot python are offered. A one-hour educational

presentation at home or in a classroom is $175, and a deluxe two-hour

hands-on presentation with party favors is $325. From 10 a.m. to 8

p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.

18822 Brookhurst St. (714) 964-3525. www.PrehistoricPets.com or

www.JurassicParties.com.

One-stop tennis shop

Pro Tennis is one-stop shopping for all tennis gear. Its same-hour

re-stringing service keeps tennis players happy and its professional

lines of shoes, rackets and clothing are hard to beat. Best-selling

rackets are from Wilson, Dunlap, and Volkal; specialty shoes are from

Lotto, Head, Reebok. From 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday though Saturday.

18830 Brookhurst St. (714) 965-1320.

CHEAP READS

Camelot Books is 4,000 square feet of used and rare books.

Co-owner Bill Phillips says it’s a for-profit store and can’t accept

donations: “We’ll only buy books for cash or give store credit.”

Phillips accepts most books -- except children’s. He’s sitting on

about 8,000 children’s books and is desperately trying to sell them.

Book topics include: history, art, religion, foreign language,

mythology, animals, fiction and photography. For students there are

required reading classics, and tons of Cliff Notes. Signed and first

edition books are locked in a glass case. There’s a rare copy of

“Ripley’s Believe It or Not!” signed by Robert Leroy Ripley, and an

$800 first edition book, “Bettina: Portraying Life in Art,” one of

100 copies. From 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from

11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. (714) 963-3122. camelfv@earthlink.net.

Bargain costumes

The Assistance League of Huntington Beach has a thrift store

called Bargain Box. It’s currently filled with tons of Halloween

costumes in good condition. Other items available are retro and

vintage clothing for creative costume ideas. Proceeds go toward

community projects. Closed Thursdays and Sundays. The rest of the

week from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 16582 Gothard St., Huntington Beach.

(714) 847-6511.

Stay for less

Hotel Huntington Beach is offering fall specials. A room with a

king bed or two double beds is reduced to $79, from $107, a king

executive room is $125, reduced from $160, and a two-room suite is

$225, reduced from $270. The hotel has an indoor pool/Jacuzzi,

satellite TV, a lounge and Pasta’s Restaurant. 7667 Center Drive,

Huntington Beach. (714) 891-0123.

Storytime

Kids love the story time at Barnes & Noble Booksellers in

Huntington Beach. A pajamarama story time is on Saturdays from 7 p.m.

to 7:30 p.m., and Mondays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to noon. 7777

Edinger Ave. in Huntington Beach. (714) 897-8781.

The Huntington Beach Library also has a story time for kids ages

18 months to 3 years old from 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Tuesdays and

Saturdays, and for kids ages 3 to 5 story time is on Fridays from 10

a.m. to 11 a.m. 7111 Talbert Ave., Huntington Beach. (714) 842-4481.

* BEST BUYS 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.