BEST BUYS -- Greer Wylder

The 40th annual Sandcastle Contest will be held Sunday at Big Corona

del Mar State Beach from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The viewing is free, but if

you want to compete you’ll have to get a team together and sign up at the

Newport Harbor Chamber of Commerce. The fees are $60 for the Master’s

Class (architectural firms), $40 for business class (all other

businesses), and $20 for families and other organizations (civic groups,

youth groups and service clubs). Prizes and plaques will be given out for

different categories, ranging from best creation, most unique, most

humorous and best sculpture. All entrants will receive a free round-trip

ticket on the Catalina Flyer. Call to make a reservations. (949)

729-4400.

Strouds is having its fall sale through Oct. 7. Throughout the store,

there are markdowns on pillows, towel, rugs, bedding, panels and sheers,

slipcovers, mirrors, art, candles, and table linens. Sale merchandise is

reduced 20% to 70%. Strouds is at the Costa Mesa Courtyards, 1835 Newport

Blvd., Costa Mesa. (949) 722-7655.

Friday is Nars national makeup artist event at Neiman Marcus. At the

Nars cosmetic counters, you can preview the Nars fall 2001 colors and get a make-over by artists from the Nars team. To schedule an appointment,

call (949) 759-1900, Ext. 2019. Neiman Marcus is at Fashion Island in

Newport Beach.

Whole Foods Market makes prepackaged kids’ lunches for $2.99. The

Whole Kids On-The-Go lunches are healthy and come with a free prize.

Whole Foods Market is at 1870 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa. (949) 574-3800.

The American Cancer Discovery Shop in Corona del Mar is having an end

of the summer sale. Select merchandise is reduced 25% to 75%. The store

is making room for fall clothes, accessories and the estate merchandise

it’s expecting. It also has brand new ceiling fans that arrived from the

manufacturer at 25% off. There is a gift with a purchase for the first 25

customers. The shop is at 2600 E. Coast Highway, Corona del Mar. (949)

640-4777.

Hand-smocked children’s clothes will be available today through

Saturday at a Newport Heights home in Newport Beach. The sale will be

from 4 to 7 p.m. today, 1 to 5 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Saturday. Julie Rutter will be selling the matching boys’ and girls’

clothing, Christmas designs and linens by Orient Expressed, a New

Orleans-based clothing company. The clothing ranges in price from $30 to

$65. Visa and MasterCard will be accepted. (949) 646-8133.

Sea Schwinn will have a parking lot sale Friday through Sunday. The

sale is a final close-out sale, and bicycles are priced to move. Also

included in the sale are helmets, bags, pedals, clothing, pumps,

computers and more. The sale hours are from noon to 7 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.

to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Sea Schwinn/Two Wheels

One Planet is at 420 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa. (949) 646-7717.

Mainly Seconds has discounted a lot of its already low-priced items

for a clearance sale. Among the eclectic mix of sale items are 5- and

8-foot silk trees in Raphis palms, fichus and bamboo, doormats, rubber

stamps, calculators, Banana Boat lotion and sunscreen, and potting soil.

Mainly Seconds is at 1785 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa. (949) 548-7710.

Tuesday Morning, another discount store, is having a special on Pink

Willow place settings from Royal Wessex through Friday. The Pink Willow

place setting includes four dinner plates, soup/cereal bowls, cups and

saucers. They are dishwasher and microwave safe. The sets are $29.99.

It’s a retail value of $150. Tuesday Morning’s next sale dates will be

Tuesday through Dec. 31. Tuesday Morning is at 230 E. 17th St., Costa

Mesa. (949) 650-0455.

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

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

646-4170.