Greer’s Best Buys:

Newport’s premier food and entertainment festival, the Taste of Newport, celebrates 21 years at Fashion Island today through Sunday.

The weekend party attracts more than 60,000 guests who come to sample gourmet foods from more than 30 local restaurants, to taste wines, cocktails and handcrafted beers, and to hear live bands perform throughout the event.

This year’s main acts include Sugar Ray tonight, Train on Saturday, and American Idol Winner David Cook on Sunday. The event has allowed the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce to give more than $172,000 over the years to local organizations through the Taste of Newport Grant Program.

Sample cuisines range from casual to fine dining choices. A partial list includes Canaletto Ristorante Veneto, Kimera, Kitayama, Rockin Baja Coastal Cantina, Chakra Indian Cuisine, Sutra Lounge and many more. General-admission tickets at the gate cost $25. A limited number of VIP tickets are also available for $125 each.

A VIP experience includes valet parking, event admission, up-front section seating, private restrooms, etc. 6 to 11 tonight, 4 to 11 p.m. Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. Newport Center Drive in Fashion Island. For more info, call (949) 729-4400 or go to tasteofnewport.com.

OC Restaurant Week arrives

Orange County Restaurant Week has been a huge hit already and will extend through Sept. 26! Most of the more than 120 participating restaurants have confirmed to extend their offers for another week. Now you have even more opportunities to dine at top restaurants at great prices! Most restaurants offer a three-course prix-fixe lunch for $10, $15 and $20 per person, and dinner costs $20 to $40. You can make reservations online or by calling participating restaurants directly. For a list of restaurants, check out www.OrangeCountyRestaurantWeek.com.

Find luxury designer labels

At Corona del Mar’s onQueStyle, you can find new or lightly worn haute couture pieces from luxury designer labels such as Donna Karan, Fendi, Versace, Oscar de la Renta and Hermes.

Choose from apparel, shoes, jewelry, bags and other accessories. And it’s run by A-list stylist Kirsten Prosser, who has major connections with top designers, so onQueStyle regularly hosts private trunk shows with the most au courant fashions seen on the runways of Paris and New York.

And lucky for you, onQueStyle is hosting a private showing of Versace Signature’s fall line from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday. Only 75 guests are invited to enjoy an afternoon of complimentary champagne and appetizers provided by Versace.

“Versace’s fall/winter collection is fitted, colorful and very sexy,” Prosser says. “Their separates, dresses and accessories are always in style and work well for women who want an edge.”

Guests must have RSVP’d by Thursday at (949) 717-7795. Valet parking is complimentary. onQueStyle is at 2900 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar. More information is available at www.onquestyle.com.

Discount haircuts, Botox

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Images Salon in Corona del Mar, haircuts cost just $40 and 100% of the proceeds will go to Childhelp group homes in Orange County, dedicated to the prevention and treatment of child abuse.

Also, Beverly Hills Derma Surgeon, Dr. Nettles, will offer Botox at $8 per unit. All appointments must be pre-paid. Raffle baskets and incredible silent auction packages are also featured. 2515 E. Coast Hwy. in Corona del Mar. For information, call (949) 675-5531. More information is available at www.imagessalon.net.

Special trunk show

Dana Davis, the new footwear collection that combines luxury styling with invisible comfort technology, celebrates its fall 2009 collection and Orange County debut at a special trunk show from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, at Nordstrom South Coast Plaza. Founder Dana Davis will be at the event presenting her chic design-driven shoes handcrafted in Italy. Shoes have incredible cushioning, customized arch supports and built-in or removable orthotics. Nordstrom South Coast Plaza, in Costa Mesa. For more information, all (714) 549-8300. More information is available at www.danadavis.com.

GREER WYLDER writes Best Buys, which runs Fridays. She’s the founder and president of www.greersoc.com , a free daily e-mail service that provides the latest in Orange County fashion, dining and trends.