GREER WYLDER -- Best Buys

Borders Books, Music and Cafe at 1890 Newport Blvd. in Costa Mesa is

having a special event today to celebrate the release of the latest Harry

Potter book. Free balloons in the shape of lightning bolts, Harry Potter

glasses and other items will be created and handed out by Mr. Twist from

8 to 10 a.m. And for the release of the fourth book, the store will open

an hour early today at 8 a.m. There will also be more Harry

Potter-related giveaways, such as miniature peel-off Hogwarts pennants,

Harry Potter body stickers, Qudditch World Cup patches and crossword

puzzles. For kids who are really crazy about Harry Potter, there’s a book

club that will be meeting to discuss the newest book at 11 a.m.

Wednesday. The book club will be discussing chapters one and two, and

it’s geared for fourth- to sixth-graders. For kindergarten to third-grade

book club members, the featured book is “The Magic Pebble.” The book club

will meet again at 11 a.m. July 27 to discuss the Harry Potter book. The

kindergarten through third-grade readers’ feature is “Chocolate Fever.”

Information: (949) 631-8661.

There’s a great cleanup contest being held today to spruce up

Newport’s beaches. The contest will be held from 7 to 11 a.m. at the

Santa Ana River Jetty and 26th Street. The person who picks up the most

trash will have a chance to win prizes, such as surfboards and clothes.

Sponsors of the event include Hobie Sports Ltd.; Surfer Magazine; Surfing

Magazine; Quiksilver; Russell Surfboards; Rietveld; Surfrider Foundation;

New Surfboards; Billabong; and Hurley. Information: (949) 645-7873.

Cal’s Caddyshack is offering a deal on golf balls. With the purchase

of any dozen Taylor Made Inergel golf balls, you’ll receive three balls

free. The offer is good through July 15. Cal’s Caddyshack is a one-stop

shopping destination for golf-related items. Inside the store you’ll find

top name brands such as Callaway, Ping, Titleist, Foot-Joy and Adams.

There is also apparel for men, women and children. Services offered

include 24-hour regrips and repairs and custom fittings. It’s at 1784

Newport Blvd. in Costa Mesa. Information: (949) 646-7714.

Furnishings Direct is a showroom specializing in new furniture that’s

been discontinued from popular home furnishings stores like Z Gallerie

and Restoration Hardware. There are also more than 200 fabrics to choose

from for slipcovers and upholstery items. Furnishings Direct is at 2035

Placentia Ave. in Costa Mesa. Information: (949) 515-4450.

The Antique Row and Garden Cafe consists of nine shops for furnishing,

antiques, services and more. At the shops you’ll find candles,

chandeliers, custom picture framing, gifts, garden decor, collectibles,

used and rare books and furniture restoration. The Garden Cafe serves

breakfast, lunch, tea and has an espresso bar. It’s at 130 E. 17th St. in

Costa Mesa.

For shabby chic furnishings, try Blue Springs Antiques. The store is

filled with Rachel Ashwell’s Shabby Chic bedding, linens and fabrics.

There are also unique pieces selected by the owner from buying trips all

over the country. Those items include antiques, chandeliers, lamps,

shades and garden pieces. Blue Springs is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Monday through Saturday, and on Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. It’s at 369

E. 17th St. in Costa Mesa. Information: (949) 642-3632.

Antique print collectors can find prints from 1613 to 1850 at the

Acanthus Gallery for fine decorative accessories. The boutique

specializes in copper engravings, mezzotints and aquatints. Featured

artists include Johann Weinmann; Giovanni Ferrari; J.J. Grandville;

Pierre Turpin; George LeClerc Buffon; Basilius Besler; Sir John Hill; Dr.

Robert Thornton; Abraham Munting; William Daniell; Nicholas Marechal;

Giovanni Piranesi; and Luigi Rossini. The gallery is at 2908 E. Coast

Highway in Corona del Mar. It’s open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday

through Saturday, and from noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. Information: (949)

640-1470.

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

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

646-4170.