Cabins open up at Newport Dunes

Newport Dunes Resort is offering an alternative to expensive hotel

rooms with the debut of 12 cottage-style cabins beginning March 8.

The cabins are offered for those who don’t have access to campers,

but want to stay at the waterfront resort.

“The cottages are ideal for family and friends of our RV guests,

as well as for youth groups, wedding parties, international visitors

and those who are interested in enjoying the beauty and majesty of

waterfront living in Newport Beach but do not wish to pay the higher

prices that nearby hotels demand,” says the Dune’s general manager,

Andrew Theodoruo.

The 400-square-foot cabins have soaring ceilings, spacious

bedrooms, screened porches, full-service kitchens and private

bathrooms. Other amenities are hardwood floors (southern yellow

pine), natural birch and cedar panel walls and a dining area. For

more information about the new cottage-style cabins or to make

reservations, call (949) 729-DUNE or visit www.Newportdunes.com.

Newport Dunes Resort is a state-of-the art 406-site RV park.

Amenities include doublewide spaces that are individually fenced for

maximum privacy, outlets for cable TV and 20-, 30- and 50-amp

electrical service. On-site conveniences include a waterfront

restaurant, a market/grocery store, pool and spa, game room, fitness

center, tiled restrooms and a 450-slip marina, seven-lane boat launch

ramp, dry boat storage and extensive conference and meeting

facilities. Recreational activities include water aerobics,

ecological tours and sailing lessons. Rentals of windsurfers, kayaks,

Rollerblades, pedal boats, boogie boards, bicycles, 18-foot electric boats and 14-foot fishing boats also are available. For rest and

relaxation, the Dunes has a quiet waveless beach.

SUNSET DINING AT A DISCOUNT

Want sunset dining overlooking Newport Harbor at affordable

prices? Villa Nova Restaurant has a new Twilight Dining menu. The

menu offers assorted pasta dishes from $7.95 to $8.95, chicken

parmigiana for $9.95, veal Milanese for $9.95 and fruitti di mare

with shrimp, mussels, scallops and clams served on fresh linguini for

$13.95. The popular Grand Marnier chocolate souffle with fresh

raspberries and whipped cream is only $3.95. Fine wines for $20.

Twilight dining is from 5 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 4 to 5

p.m. Sundays at 3131 W. Coast Highway, Newport Beach. (949) 642-7880.

SMOG TESTS AND REGISTRATION TAGS

The Automobile Club of Southern California’s Vehicle Inspection

Center is offering a smog test only service beginning Tuesday. It’s

so convenient for those who want vehicle registration stickers and a

smog test at the same time. The smog tests are $55 for members and

$65 for nonmembers. If a car does not pass inspection, the price is

$46.75 for members and $56.75 for nonmembers. Inspections are offered

between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Repairs are not done at the inspection

center. Instant annual plate registration stickers for cars and DMV

transactions are among the services available here. Open Monday

through Friday at 3340 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa. Call (800) 713-0003

or (714) 424-7805.

MOST STYLISH OF SHOES

Sergio Rossi is an upscale Italian men’s and women’s shoe and

accessories store. Fans know the shape makes Rossi’s shoes extremely

comfortable. Depending on the season, Rossi designs with eel skin,

lizard, and ostrich, satin, suede, kidskin and high-quality leather.

Casual and evening styles include flats, stilettos and loafers. There

are handbags and gloves, too. Open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday

through Friday; from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday; and from 11 a.m. to

6:30 p.m. Sunday at Level Two, at South Coast Plaza. (714) 751-7311.

www.sergiorossi.com.

RECOMMENDED CARPET CARE

Carpet cleaners can be unreliable. I’ve never tried Mazzone’s

Carpet Cleaning, but a Best Buys reader highly recommends them.

Mazzone’s cleans carpets by transferring soil from the carpet fibers

to cotton pads without foam or excessive applications of water.

Airlines, hospitals, hotels and motels have used his system.

“There is no long waiting for carpets to dry, they are ready to

walk on after just 30 minutes,” owner Tom Mazzone said. “Also, there

is no worry about shrinkage, and carpets will last two to three times

longer because there is no scrubbing involved. Dirt is removed, not

just shampooed out of sight. Grease spots, coffee, tars, etc., become

a thing of the past.”

Call Tom in Costa Mesa at (714) 569-5779.

* BEST BUYS appears Mondays and Fridays. Send information to

Greer Wylder at greerwylder@yahoo.com; at 330 W. Bay St., Costa Mesa,

CA 92627; or by fax at (949) 646-4170.