Greer Wylder -- BEST BUYS

Some of the best bargains of the year can be found at the Balboa Beach

Company’s end-of-summer sale, which starts Friday. For 10 days, the

Balboa Island store will offer savings of 25% to 75%. Examples: Balboa

Beach Company T-shirts, $7.99; backpacks from $9.99; famous-brand shorts

and shirts, $14.99; and heavyweight sweatshirts, $14.99.

The fine forms at 9 a.m. Friday with free Balboa Beach Company

T-shirts for the first 100 people. The store opens at 10 a.m.

If you’d like to learn more about computers, there are free computer

training classes offered at the new Gateway Country store on East 17th

Street in Costa Mesa. The classes are offered almost daily from 9 to 10

a.m. It’s best to make reservations. On Friday and Monday, there’s a

digital photography class; on Saturday, there’s an “ask a tech� class. On

Tuesday, the lesson is on downloading music from the Internet. On

Wednesday, there’s an introductory course on the Internet. And on Aug.

17, there’s a “your first PC� class. Gateway Country is a showroom for

Gateway computers and software. If you decide to purchase a computer at

Gateway, they’ll custom-build it for you and ship it to you. Information:

(949) 642-5176.

South Coast Plaza has opened a new concierge desk on the first level

near the glass elevators in the Crate & Barrel wing. The full-service

desk will provide the following services: gift certificates; stamps; taxi

and limousine services; foreign language assistance; lost and found;

package clerk; restaurant reservations; corporate gift certificates;

strollers and wheelchairs; and seasonal gift guides. There are also new

store openings and relocating others this month.

New stores include Diesel, a cutting-edge fashions store for men and

women, and Roxy, a trendy clothing and accessories store for girls and

teens. Then there’s Louis Vuitton’s global store, featuring a full line

of luggage and handbags as well as its exclusive shoe and apparel

collection. Southern California’s first Macy’s Home Store features

189,000 square feet filled with home furnishings as well as cafes and an

in-store demonstration kitchen. For shoes and accessories, there is

Charles David, and for timepieces and accessories, there is Watch Gear.

Relocations set to open are The Limited for women’s clothing, and

Origins, makers of products for face and body.

The Discovery Shops of Corona del Mar has recently acquired new

furniture. “Attention all estate and large professional business owners,�

says Gloria Godfrey of the Discovery Shops. “We just received a custom,

5-foot by 5-foot black glass coffee table, appraised at $3,000, that’s on

sale for $500.� Other furniture available are two pine armoires, two

four-poster king pine beds, and seven different dining room chairs.

There’s also a summer clearance sale going on: 75% off on clothing and

furnishings.

Designer Betsey Johnson’s boutique at Fashion Island in Newport Beach

is having a final reductions sale on summer and spring merchandise. On

sale are dresses, skirts and pants. Information: (949) 720-0186.

Hemphill’s Rugs & Carpets is having its biggest sale ever. All Masland

rugs are reduced by 50%. Karastan discontinued rugs and all Pande Cameron

rugs are drastically reduced. The sale ends Aug. 26. Hemphill’s is at 230

E. 17th St. in Costa Mesa. Information: (949) 722-7224.

If you haven’t been to the Orange County Market Place lately, you

might want to know it has 1,200 vendors selling all kinds of services and

merchandise every Saturday and Sunday at the Orange County Fairgrounds in

Costa Mesa. For bargains, there are also manufacturer’s outlets, the

Automotive Road of Dreams, boutique and traditional foods, farm-fresh

fruits and vegetables, fresh-cut flowers and entertainment. Other

services include a hair salon, ATM machines, a key maker and handicapped

parking. The hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $2 and general

parking is free. Preferred parking is $3. Daily value admission passes

are available: 10 passes for $10. To reach the fairgrounds, take the Del

Mar/Fair Drive exit off the Costa Mesa Freeway. Information: (949)

723-6616 or visit the Web site at o7 https://www.ocmarketplace.comf7 .

DiMarie Interiors is a 3,000-square-foot showroom featuring interior

design services and merchandise. Currently, there’s a 25% to 40% off sale

on selected home furnishings. Inside the showroom you’ll find patio

furniture, custom upholstery, Bali imports, window treatments, Italian

imports, area rugs, custom bedding and table linens, fine china and

flatware. It’s in the Westcliff Plaza at 1044 Irvine Ave., Newport Beach.

Information: (949) 515-1825.

* BEST BUYS is published Thursdays and Saturdays. Send information to

Greer Wylder at 330 W. Bay St., Costa Mesa 92627, or via fax at (949)

646-4170.