A tropical grand opening

GREER WYLDER

Up Country Tropicals celebrates its grand opening Saturday. The

wholesale interior tropical plant and home furnishings store is open

to the public. Although it’s in an obscure area, on the Westside of

Costa Mesa, it’s worth a visit. Up Country Tropicals offers great

savings on Hawaiian and Polynesian tropical plants. Shoppers may

choose from 4-inch ivy, bromeliads and African violets, and up to

12-foot palm, ficus and Draceana trees. Pacific Rim home furnishings

include exotic wood furniture, pottery, baskets, orchids and other

gifts. Co-owner Kevin Campbell helped convert the 5,000-square-foot

warehouse into a tropical showroom. There’s piped-in, relaxing

Hawaiian tunes and a peaceful, indoor waterfall and stream. It’s open

8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday. It’s at 776 W. 16th St., Costa

Mesa. (949) 650-PALM (7256).

SHIRTS AND TIES

Anglo-Italian style best describes Kuhlman, the maker of

affordable shirts and ties. The fashion brand offers top quality

fabrics similar to Hugo Boss and Ermenegildo Zegna with meticulous

detailing-standards for a high-end designer, not value apparel. All

100% cotton shirts cost $55, silk ties are $35. Shirt styles vary

with French cuffs, two-button collars, or two- and three-button

cuffs. And fits differ -- there are boxy, fitted, casual and dress

shirts. It’s open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Friday; 10 a.m. to 8

p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday. It’s at Level 2, at South

Coast Plaza’s Crate & Barrel/Macy’s Home store wing, 3333 Bear St.,

Suite 219, Costa Mesa. (714) 540-1412. www.kuhlmancompany.com.

FAMILY OWNED HOME FURNISHINGS STORE

Family owned Dupuis manufactures its own line of home furnishings.

This Mexico City-based store offers hand-painted furniture with wood

inlays, upholstery, hand-painted ceramics (talavera) and silver and

metal items. Many of the lines have Asian and French-design

influences. Furniture can be customized. Shoppers can find a mix of

temple jars, Mexican pewter, and mercury balls for the garden,

hand-blown glass pieces with silver accents, and travertine and white

onyx bathroom accessories. There’s also a large selection of

entertaining pieces. Hand-painted and signed ceramics are inspired by

antique Mexican designs and colors. Interior design services are

available, too. It’s open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Friday; 10 a.m.

to 8 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday. It’s on Level 1,

South at South Coast Plaza’s Crate & Barrel/Macy’s Home Store wing,

3333 Bear St., Costa Mesa. (714) 241-8222. www.dupuis-store.com.

SOUTH COAST PLAZA FASHION SHOW

MaxMara at South Coast Plaza will present “an evening of summer

elegance with a fashion presentation” from 6 to 9 p.m. today. It

debuts the MaxMara Summer 2004 collection. Cocktails and hors

d’oeuvres will be served. Guests can receive a $50 credit toward a

purchase of $200 or more during the event. It’s open 10 a.m. to 9

p.m. Monday to Friday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 6:30

p.m. Sunday. It’s at Level 1, Jewel Court at South Coast Plaza, 3333

Bear St., Costa Mesa. (714)754-7900.

CAMP FOR KIDS

Registration is available online for Apple’s second annual Camp

for Kids July 13 through Aug. 5 at its Fashion Island and South Coast

Plaza store. It’s geared for kids 8-12. Space is limited, and the

Camp is free! Kids can participate in one or all four workshops

including, , Meet Your Mac (learn about your computer, how to print,

save files, send e-mail and use the Internet); Photo (all campers

make digital photo albums and take them home on CD); Music (campers

make their own music with GarageBand and take home a CD with their

songs); and Movies (each camper makes a movie and takes home a DVD

with their movie). Find out more information and sign up at

www.apple.com/retail/camp.

FLOWER SHOP WITH BIG-APPLE STYLE

Megt Flora is a floral shop known for its New York-SoHo style. The

shop is very customer-service oriented. Designers don’t stop with

flowers, they’ll work with props and fabrics to design and coordinate

events. Garden renovations are available, too. They are especially

popular for weddings. Open 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays through

Saturdays. It’s open by appointments only on Mondays. It’s at 120

Tustin Ave., Newport Beach. For more information, call (949)

631-9136.

WORLDLY AWARDS

Looking for a unique award? Penny Fleming of Awardpro offers

awards from around the world. Fleming just returned from a buying

trip to the South Pacific where she purchased unusual items and art

from Australia, Tahiti, New Zealand and Fiji.

“The most unique item I discovered was a boomerang,” Fleming said.

“This highly polished, true-returning boomerang is made of beautiful

hardwood.” Awardpro can mount and engrave the boomerang with a

company logo, or any information. They’re ideal, for example, as a

“comeback award” for improved sales from the previous year. Other

awards come from Canada, Asia and Europe. For information, contact

Penny Fleming at (949) 645-3190 or (800) 361-7206.

* BEST BUYS appears Thursdays. 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.