All sorts of didgeridoos

BEST BUYS

You won’t have to travel to Australia to find all of the country’s

exports. The LA utback store carries everything from candies, food,

teas, music, gifts, clothing and shoes. The store’s claim to fame is

that it’s the leading U.S. importer and distributor of didgeridoos,

that’s an ancient Aboriginal wind instrument.

They have the biggest selection including eucalyptus, agave, hemp

and plastic didgeridoos. You can learn how to play some traditional

Aboriginal rhythms at a free class offered twice a month. All the

merchandise has been available through the internet for the last six

years but the shop is fairly new; it opened a year and a half ago.

It’s at 1100 S. Coast Highway, Suite 108. Information: (949)

464-9626. www.laoutback.com.

Cup o’ joe and a bit of history

Everyone loves the Orange Inn, and it claims to have the best

coffee in town, although I know the coffee is also great at the

Laguna Coffee Company, and at Heidelberg, both on the Coast Highway.

The Orange Inn moved to its present location 14 years ago, from its

famous spot built in 1931 and looking the cliffs on Coast Highway.

Among its many notables is the fact that it’s the home of the

original smoothie and California date shake, and it offers

fresh-baked cinnamon rolls, muffins, cookies, bagels, healthy

sandwiches, fresh soups and salads and homestyle cooking. It opens at

6 a.m. for breakfast and lunch daily. It’s at 703 S. Coast Highway

in. Information: (949) 494-6085.

Shocking amount of sugar (and sugar free)

A great place to satisfy sugar cravings is at Rocky Mountain

Chocolate Factory. The chocolate shop hand-makes 65% of the treats in

the store daily. If you’re into caramel apples, here’s some of what

you can get: caramel apple w/walnuts, Butterfinger, apple pie, mud

pie, cheesecake, Rocky Road, German chocolate cake, monster and

Huntington Beach apple.

The shop also has chocolate-dipped fruits, truffles, taffy,

Australian licorice, cocoa and sugar-free chocolates. Rocky Mountain

Chocolate Factory is at 248 S. Coast Highway. Information: (949)

497-3799.

Remodel with expertise

You can find all kinds of ideas for remodeling projects at Skyline

Kitchen & Bath’s showroom. Skyline does it all, including

entertainment centers, plumbing, tile flooring, lighting, window and

door replacements, granite fabrication, cabinet refacing, tile

flooring and custom cabinets. You can also get free estimates and

consultations at Skyline. It’s at 31671 S. Coast Highway.

Information: (949) 499-5052.

Family photos with style

Family and individual portraits can be commissioned at The Michael

Bryan Art Gallery. The gallery is filled with Bryan’s original works

and limited edition prints. His artwork is very colorful and lively,

and his themes range from cigars, liquor and the good life, places,

sports, street scenes, cars and motorcycles, music, western and

tropical scenes. It’s at 303 Broadway #104. Information: (949)

675-2925.

Take a trip to the body shop

Coast Therapy is celebrating its 15th anniversary of offering just

about every kind of physical therapy you can imagine. Its services

aren’t only for athletes. They include personal training, massage

therapy, sports medicine, hand and upper extremity therapy and

Palates. It’s at 1100 S. Coast Highway Suite 221. Information: (949)

376-1892.

* GREER WYLDER writes Best Buys for the Coastline Pilot. She can

be reached at greerwylder@yahoo.com or P.O. Box 248, Laguna Beach, CA

92652, or via fax at 494-8979.