Experiment with style at the Lab

GREER WYLDER

The Lab celebrates its Diamond Anniversary from noon to 6 p.m.

Saturday with a giveaway of pseudo-diamonds and other festivities.

The day is devoted to thanking loyal customers for more than 10

years of prosperity in retail diversity. The event, showcased in the

promenade and open-air living room areas of the retail center, will

include: photo opportunities with a James Bond look-alike (3 to 5

p.m.); a DJ spinning ‘60s-inspired music; a James Bond look-alike

contest; free anniversary cake, courtesy of the Gypsy Den, while

supplies last; and free Lab Diamond Anniversary commemorative

T-shirts, while supplies last.

Also, a retrospective photography exhibit will highlight the Lab’s

rise from a night-goggle factory to a retail innovation.

The Lab was developed in the early 1990s on a three-acre site on

Bristol Street in Costa Mesa. The retail complex offers 14 specialty

stores and restaurants, appealing to Orange County’s hip and urban

youth culture with cutting-edge fashion, music, food and art

merchants.

2930 Bristol St. in Costa Mesa. https://www.thelab.com

The Lab’s merchants include:

Black and Blue: Discover the latest and greatest names in

progressive fashion for men and women at Black and Blue. The boutique

stocks the hippest styles from new designers to established labels,

along with great skin-care products too. Open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Monday to Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. (714) 966-6600.

Blends: This store carries a plethora of sneakers, from street

styles to athletic footwear and skate shoes. Blends also captures

hard-to-find sneakers and limited editions. (714) 241-0666.

Buffalo Exchange: Hip recycled fashions can be found at the

Buffalo Exchange. This resale boutique accepts clothing and

accessories that can be bought, sold and traded. Men’s and women’s

apparel can also be exchanged for home accessories and jewelry. You

can also find designer wear, vintage pieces, leather and more. Open

10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

(714) 825-0619. https://www. buffaloexchange.com

Carve: This is a street-wear boutique for men and women. Choose

from stylish and contemporary apparel, plus an array of artist

collaborative T-shirts and accessories. Open 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Monday to Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. (714) 434-0166.

Crew Salon: The hair industry’s latest concepts in cuts, color,

texturizing and finishing treatments are available at Crew Salon. Top

hair-care brands are also sold here. Open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday to

Monday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday. (714) 751-0111.

Dr. Freecloud’s: Since 1994, Dr. Freecloud has supplied

underground music to Orange County. You can find a wide range of

modern dance, hardcore techno, techno pop, electronica, industrial

and drum and bass music. Open 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday

and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. (714) 545-8811.

The Gypsy Den Cafe: This restaurant specializes in healthy,

homemade dishes including soups, salads and sandwiches. Breakfast is

served all day. Premium organic coffee and teas are served in a funky

bohemian atmosphere. Open 7:30 a.m. to midnight Monday to Saturday

and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. Food is served food until 10 p.m.

nightly. (714) 549-7012.

Habana Cuban Restaurant: Award-winning Cuban dishes are on the

menu at Habana Cuban Restaurant. Flamenco dancers entertain

Wednesdays at 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. You can explore the country’s

culinary delights and try their famous lemon-drop martinis. Inside,

there’s a dimly-lighted dining room and bar and a large heated patio

for enjoying a cigar. Open 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Friday and

11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. (714) 556-0176.

https://www.restaurant habana.com

Habit: This clothing boutique offers a full spectrum of labels,

from high-end designers to local artists. You will find men’s and

women’s sporty apparel and shoes. Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to

Friday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. (714) 556-9141.

Roboculture: Pop culture collectibles are Roboculture’s specialty.

It’s the place to find the latest imported toys from Japan,

hard-to-find action figures, Anime figures and model kits. You can

also find related clothing, DVDs and other novelties. Open 11 a.m. to

9 p.m. Monday to Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. (714) 556-2106.

Shine: This shop has an array of silver and platinum jewelry. It

also specializes in designer sunglasses, watches and other fashion

accessories. (714) 556-0244.

Urban Outfitters: The oldest store at the Lab is Urban Outfitters.

Catering to the MTV generation, Urban Outfitters stocks women’s and

men’s clothing, accessories and housewares. Mature customers can shop

for clothing comparable to Gap basics. Hip-hop customers will want

Triple Five Soul apparel and athletic wear from Nike and Adidas.

Teenagers can get Diesel clothing, and punk customers will want the

as-is or revamped vintage clothing. The housewares collection

includes affordable rugs, pillows, window coverings and shower

curtains. Open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8

p.m. Sunday. 2930 Bristol St. in Costa Mesa. (714) 966-1666.

https://www.urbanoutfitters.com

Zipangu Sushi Restaurant: Authentic Japanese cuisine and modern

fusion specialties are on the menu here. Guests have the choice of

ordering the chef’s traditional selections or fusion dishes and can

try Japanese exotic cocktails in the bar and lounge. Open for lunch

Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m., and noon until

2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Open for dinner 5:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

Monday through Saturday and 5:30 to 10 p.m. Sunday. (714) 545-2800.

https://www.zipanguOC.com

* 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.