Something new in The Lab

GREER WYLDER

Two unique malls, The LAB and The CAMP, across from one another on

Bristol Street in Costa Mesa, are offering a giant sidewalk sale on

Saturday, July 17. Visitors can enjoy food, activities,

entertainment, learn outdoor skills at clinics and partake in

hands-on demonstrations featuring the latest outdoor gear. Select

apparel and gear will be reduced up to 60%.

The LAB is at 2930 Bristol St. in Costa Mesa and www.thelab.com.

The CAMP is at 2937 Bristol St. in Costa Mesa and

www.thecampsite.com.

The LAB has gone through a revamping and has designed a “Living

Room” in the heart of this alternative-shopping mecca, known for its

offbeat appeal. The gathering place features 1960s inspired kitschy

chandeliers, a hallway of mirrors, flowing drapery and a display of

poodle plates.

The LAB’s grown-up, glamorous decor reflects its new persona. It’s

a far cry from its youth of swap-meet-style sofas and campy decor.

The LAB attracts a loyal following whose tastes are maturing.

“We are seeing a shift in trends much similar to the ‘60s, as

young innovators inspire fashion, music and art itself,” said Julie

Shumaker from The LAB. “The ‘60s modern and luxurious influences

paved the way for social mobility, daring fashion photography, easier

travel abroad, the new music of the Beatles, pop art and more, in

which the youth became the leaders of fashion. We at The LAB have

always believed in the power of the ‘60s, and our current Living Room

pays homage to the era.”

The LAB was developed on the 3-acre site in the early 1990s. The

open and relaxed retail complex appeals to Orange County’s hip and

urban youth culture. It fits this group’s lifestyle demands by

supplying fashion, music, food and art merchants. It currently offers

14 specialty stores and restaurants including Urban Outfitters,

Buffalo Exchange, Black and Blue, The Gypsy Den Cafe, Crew Salon,

Habit, Carve, Blends, Roboculture, Habana Cuban Restaurant, Zipangu

Sushi Restaurant, Shine and Dr. Freecloud’s.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Fashion Island’s Annual Summer Concert Series, a Newport Beach

tradition for 37 years, started yesterday. The six-week series is

held at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in the Bloomingdale’s Courtyard of

Fashion Island. Concerts are free, but VIP seating is available for

$20. On July 21, Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals perform their pop hits

from the 1960s and 1970s. Their songs earned them a spot in the Rock

& Roll Hall of Fame. Guests can enjoy classics such as “Groovin’,” “A

Beautiful Morning” and “Mustang Sally,” among many others. The Lovin’

Spoonful, another Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band, performs on July 28.

The group is known for its hits “Do You Believe in Magic?” and

“Summer in the City.” On Aug. 4, The Fixx will perform popular hits

from the ‘80s, including “One Thing Leads to Another” and “Saved by

Zero.” The band has had a dozen top-10 hits and will have its

original lineup, including lead vocalist Cy Curnin, Jamie West-Oram

on lead guitar, Rupert Greenall on keyboards and drummer Adam Woods.

The newest addition is bass player Gary Tibbs, formerly of Adam and

the Ants and Roxy Music. On Aug. 11, Dave Mason returns to the Summer

Concert Series. Mason was an original member of the group Traffic and

penned the hit “Feelin’ Alright.” He then left to pursue a solo

career and recorded four gold albums and had the top-10 hit “We Just

Disagree.” He also has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of

Fame as a member of Traffic. On Aug. 18, Grammy-winner Poncho Sanchez

will be the final performer in the series. Sanchez plays his popular

style of Latin jazz on his legendary conga drums. His band performs

along on percussion, brass and piano. His hit songs include “Mama

Guena,” “Prestame Tu Corazon” and “Watermelon Man.” Fashion Island’s

concert series debuted in 1967 and has attracted as many as 10,000

people in one night. Preferred tickets are available at the Fashion

Island Concierge. VIP ticket holders will have access to a no-host

martini and wine bar, with proceeds benefiting Project Independence,

a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping developmentally

disabled adults in Orange County live and work independently. (949)

721-2000.

SAY CHEESE

Figge Photography is offering two specials this summer. Figge is

in the process of remodeling the studio -- which should be finished

by Aug. 15 -- and its shooting room will be dark for several weeks.

In August, sittings are 50% off in the studio and 25% off at the

beach. The summer special includes 25 complimentary 5x5 prints,

perfect for holiday cards. Figge does really well with this offer, so

it’s best to call ahead to reserve a time. Figge Photography, 240

Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach. (949) 644-6933.

RHYMES WITH ORANGE

For 20 years, the Orange County Museum and South Coast Plaza have

offered the public a free satellite gallery and museum store that’s

introduced the visual arts to millions. Now they’re expanding their

partnership by opening the Orange Lounge on July 31 at South Coast Plaza. The new lounge shares two innovations: it’s the first museum

space on the West Coast specifically devoted to audio works, digital

and video art; and the only space of its kind in a shopping mall. The

Orange Lounge offers a flexible project space for large-scale

projections, a lounge area with different seating configurations for

viewing works on monitors and plasma screens and a listening station

for presentations of audio works. The Orange Lounge also features

“curated” selections of items related to digital culture for

purchase. The space was designed to create a unique experience for

the visitor, expanding the viewing of media art beyond sitting on a

bench in a dark room or at a “workstation.” The Orange Lounge

provides a variety of social settings for interaction with

exhibitions and eight programs annually of related presentations,

performances and discussions to examine the impact of digital media

on contemporary visual culture. In addition to viewing temporary

one-person shows and thematic group exhibitions, visitors can access

two educational resources on an ongoing basis. The Orange Lounge

website will introduce visitors to the Internet art community. The

Orange Lounge video will provide access to the museum’s growing

collection of single-channel works by artists such as Douglas Gordon,

Gary Hill, Joan Jonas, William Kentridge, Christian Marclay, Paul

McCarthy, Nam June Paik, Pipilotti Rist, and William Wegman. San

Francisco-based artist Amy Franceschini and her collective,

Futurefarmers, will work with the museum to design the user interface

for both of these projects. “Hypermedia” opens the new Orange Lounge.

This exhibition features video works from the museum’s collection and

marks the launch of a new online exhibition site and new media

resource. Diana Thater’s “Wicked Witch” (1996) transforms the Orange

Lounge’s 800-square-foot project space into a psychedelic poppy field

inspired by the film classic “The Wizard of Oz.” Also featured in

Hypermedia is video work by Christian Marclay entitled “Telephones”

(1995). Marclay creates works that explore ways in which sound is

experienced. “Telephones” is a fast-paced single-channel video

featuring fragments of telephone conversations from well-known

films.Orange Lounge at South Coast Plaza. Level 3, Crate & Barrel

wing, next door to the Paul Frank Store. 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.

Admission is free. (714) 662-3366. www.ocma.net.

IN THE GROOVE

At Tiffany’s, Paloma Picasso has designed a hip, graphic bracelet

and necklace called Paloma’s Groove. It’s summer’s hottest jewelry

item for men and women. It’s a grooved silver cylinder on a sleek

black rubber cord, intended to send a surge of energy through style.

The 17” long necklace is $195 and the bracelet is $125. Tiffany & Co.

Level 1 at South Coast Plaza. (714) 540-5330.

* 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.