GREER WYLDER -- Best Buys

The second annual Ocean Discovery Day will begin at 10 a.m. today at

Shellmaker Island in the Upper Newport Bay. The free event will feature a

shark camp, marine biologist station, marine “touch” tank and arts and

crafts. Information: (949) 640-9956.

Di Marie Interiors is having a 25% off sale on all home furnishings. The

Westcliff store’s 3,000-square-foot showroom houses home furnishings;

custom upholstery; custom window treatments; hand-wrapped silk florals

and trees; custom bedding and table linens; fine china and flatware;

custom area rugs; Hunter Douglas and Graber blinds; patio furniture; and

a complete design service. Di Marie Interiors is in Westcliff Plaza, 1044

Irvine Ave., Newport Beach. Information: (949) 515-1825 or visit the Web

site at www.accessguide.net/dimarieinteriors.

Selected merchandise from the increasingly popular English designer

Burberry are reduced 30% to 40%. The hip South Coast Plaza store features

clothing, shoes and accessories. Information: (714) 556-8110.

Yuen Lui Portrait Photography is having its semiannual children’s

portrait sale. For $19.95, you can select one 8-by-10 photo from six

color proofs (regularly $84). Add $5 for two or more children, who must

be 12 or under. The photo studio is in the Crate & Barrel wing of South

Coast Plaza. Information: (714) 545-8845.

Other local photography studios offering specials around Father’s Day

include John L. Blom in Corona del Mar -- at (949) 675-3130 -- and Figge Photography in Newport Beach -- at (949) 644-6933.

There are great buys to be found at TSE, an upscale cashmere clothing

store, which is having a sale. TSE is in South Coast Plaza. Information:

(800) 801-8873.

Men looking for an executive athletic club might want to check out the

University Athletic Club, which is under new ownership. The club has

always been popular with local businessmen who want an exclusive place to

workout or take a client to lunch. And now the new owners have spruced up

the place even more. The club has all the latest gym equipment: an indoor

basketball court, racquetball courts, swimming pool, dining room,

conference rooms and even billiards. You can get a guest pass and tour to

check it out for yourself. The University Athletic Club is near the

airport at 1701 Quail St., Newport Beach. Information: (949) 752-7903.

Draper’s & Damon’s is having a wonderful dress sale. Buy one dress and

get 50% off a second dress of equal or lesser value. Draper’s, which has

great dresses and floats for mature women, is in the Westcliff Shopping

Center at the corner of Irvine Avenue and Westcliff Drive in Newport

Beach. Information: (949) 646-5521.

Furnishings Direct, a factory outlet store, has some great buys. It sells

discontinued and overstocked items carried by national retailers.

Everything is new, obtained straight from the factory. For slipcovered

sofas, you can special order from more than 200 fabrics. The store is

open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday through Monday. Information:

(949) 515-4450 or visit the Web site at www.sameforless.com.

I usually don’t remember it until I’m driving down Pacific Coast Highway

on the weekend, but there’s a great farmers market each Saturday from 9

a.m. to 1 p.m. in a parking lot at Bayside Drive and Marguerite Avenue in

Corona del Mar. It’s especially nice in the summer, when the sun’s out

and the fruit is at its best.

* BEST BUYS appears on Thursdays and Saturdays. Send information to Greer

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

646-4170.