Nice way to spend Labor Day

BEST BUYS

Great art up for auction

Von Hemert Interiors, a fourth-generation family-owned home

furnishings and interior design business, is having its first ever

art auction at 10 a.m. on Labor Day at the outlet store. More than

300 pieces of original art from reputable artists, and quality

reproductions will be auctioned. A preview will be Sunday from noon

to 4 p.m. A portion of the proceeds will help benefit children at the

Orangewood Foundation 345 N. Coast Highway. Hours are 9 a.m. to 7

p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Information: (949) 494-6551.

Getting enough Zinc?

Zinc Market is attached to the Zinc Cafe, and really carries some

of the best gift items and take-out gourmet foods in Laguna Beach. It

has a little bit of everything like vases, frames, plates, glasses,

knobs, candles, rugs, coat racks and pillows. Its food selection

includes gourmet honeys, Zinc’s own vinaigrette, oatmeal, olive

spread and wines. The menu items are available in take-out containers

or on prepared plates ready for the table. Zinc Cafe & Market can

prepare any quantity of foods you need, with one to three days notice

to guarantee large orders. The menu offers appetizers, muffins,

scones, pastries, soups, sandwiches, salads, entrees, cakes and tarts

and treats. Zinc Cafe is open from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through

Friday and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Zinc Market is open

from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday. It’s at 350 Ocean Ave. Information: cafe, (949)

494-6302; market, (949) 494-2791.

European selection

Gallery One specializes in 16th century to contemporary art. It

carries a huge selection of oil paintings by more than 30 European

and Eastern European artists. The selections of paintings are so

plentiful that you’ll have to thumb through the stacks resting on the

floor to see them all. Some are framed. Owner Ken Uranga says lately

there’s been a big interest in Russian icons. They also carry Chinese

antiquities, Venetian style mirrors, china, crystal and silver. Open

10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Monday, 1220 N. Coast Highway.

Information: (949) 494-4444.

Gallery One International also carries art and antiques like its

next door neighbor, but it specializes in larger accessories, bronzes

and estate pieces. It also offers commissioned art, mostly for family

portraits. Open 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Monday, 1200 N.

Coast Highway.

Impressive by design

Design Intervention is an architectural design firm with 20 years

experience in Orange County. The firm does both commercial and

residential work. Its client list is impressive. Past clients include

The Irvine Company, Gotcha, The Koll Company, R&B; Commercial

Management and Virgin Interactive. Almost 10 years ago owner Kirk

Nelson expanded Design Intervention to include construction services

for building and general contracting. His home that he designed and

built was chosen as Laguna Beach Charm House 2001. Its new location

is one block south of its former location at 1590 S. Coast Highway.

Information: (949) 376-5357 or www.designinter.com.

Variety of body work

Laguna Yoga, established in 1998, is Laguna’s original studio

devoted to yoga. It offers more than 35 classes per week including a

variety of yoga styles: Pilates mat, meditation, and “mommy and me.”

At 12:30 p.m. every Tuesday and Friday there are community classes

for $5. “Most drop-in classes around town are $15 and upward,” says

Barbara McMurray at Laguna Yoga. “These classes are taught by fully

qualified instructors at the cozy, intimate, calm-inducing studio, on

the second level of the Village Fair complex between Brooks and Oak

Street on the Coast Highway.” The gentle-to moderate-level classes

last 90 minutes and are designed for all ability levels. 1100 S.

Coast Highway. Information: (949) 497-2022 or www.lagunayoga.com.

* BEST BUYS appears Thursdays and Saturdays. Send information to

Greer Wylder at greerwylder@yahoo.com or P.O. Box 248 Laguna Beach,

CA 92652, or via fax at 494-8979.