Vintage Poster offers array of historical pieces

BEST BUYS

The Vintage Poster is a great find for original European

advertising and lithograph movie posters. All of the posters can be

seen in miniature -- photo albums are displayed for easy viewing --

and separated in categories including theater, Olympics, fashion,

radio, rock, magic, wine and spirits. And if you’re lucky, owner Gary

L. Gibson will show you each and every poster while explaining every

intricate detail of why the poster is so special. Gibson has one of

the first false advertisements -- a 1906 ad for a heating pad that

guaranteed to cure rheumatism. He also has the hottest posters

selling in Los Angeles such as Russian work progressive posters from

the 1920s. “They’re getting astronomically expensive,” Gibson said.

“You can easily spend $10,000 to $20,000 on one.” Most of the

gallery’s posters are priced from $1,000 to $4,000. Gibson has

posters from Rene Gruau, “the most famous living graphic artist in

the world,” and other world class artists like Paul Colin, Bernard

Villemot, Jean D’Ylen, Razzia and Erte. And he has the largest

collection of World War I posters in Southern California. Posters are

primarily Italian and French and most range in size from 36 inches by

50 inches to a large standard size, 47 inches by 63 inches. Gibson

says horizontal posters are the most asked for, and the rarest. The

Vintage Poster also does custom framing. It has a private parking lot

in the back. Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday,

and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. 1432 S. Coast Highway. (949) 376-7422.

www.thevintageposter.com.

Yummy

Locals love Andree’s Patisserie, a tiny French bakery hidden in

the Art Center behind the Art of Framing. Since 1981 dedicated owner

Ron Reno has been baking all by himself, from scratch, every day,

except Sunday. Everything is popular. The ham and cheese croissants

always sell out, as well as the croissants, Danish, muffins, scones,

eclairs, lemon squares, biscotti and on Saturdays, Copenhagen

squares. Reno also has pre-made sandwiches, and you can call for

cakes and special orders. Hours are 7:35 a.m. through 3 p.m. Monday

through Saturday. 1456 S. Coast Highway. (949) 494-1577.

Offering of the unique

Owner Connie Apple at Pure Living admits owning a store in Laguna

Beach can be tough. “To be successful in Laguna, you have to be

unique,” Apple said. “I’ve seen so many wonderful stores close in the

past eight years.” Location also plays a big role. “Locals consider

this area Downtown, and they don’t want to fight the tourists,” Apple

added. “We’re lucky since we have the underground parking. That’s

important.” Apple says that despite her “Downtown” location, she has

a big local following and considers her store the “best little shop

in Laguna” although she highly praises the brilliance in

merchandising at Areo and at the Laguna Colony. Pure Living is a home

furnishings and accessories store. Lamps do very well here, as well

as specialty hand-painted tables, chests, decorative pillows, French

milled soaps and towels. Pure Living has two sales a year in January

and one usually at the end of summer. This year’s sale is on today

through Sept. 16. Everything in the store is reduced 20% to 70%.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 9

p.m. Friday through Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. 540 S.

Coast Highway, Suite 100. (949) 376-8867.

Wash and wear art

Gallery of Wearable Art is a women’s boutique specializing in

“soft dressing” for sizes small to 3x. Co-owner and designer Dinah

Brazelton says the clothing line called Dinah Lee is sold at more

than 300 boutiques across the country, and prices are 25% less here

than you’ll find in other stores. “We have a lot of special occasion

wear, for mother of the brides, and travel wear,” Brazelton said.

“Our fabrics are washable and don’t wrinkle.” By appointment. 805

Laguna Canyon Road. (949) 494-5568.

Souvenirs and Hawaiian themes

Chicken Little’s opened in the 1970s, and it’s still popular,

mostly with tourists who come in for the souvenirs and Hawaiian-theme

clothing. It’s primarily a gift store with a good card selection,

Nick & Nora PJ’s, beach bags and casual clothing. Hours are 10 a.m.

to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. 574

S. Coast Highway. (949) 497-4818.

* BEST BUYS appears weekly in the Coastline Pilot.. Send

information to Greer Wylder at greerwylder@yahoo.com or P.O. Box 248

Laguna Beach, CA 92652, or via fax at 494-8979.