Plenty of gifts for the home

BEST BUYS

Don’t miss Laguna’s best shop for finding home accessories and

gifts, The Laguna Colony Company. It’s known for its extensive card

selection, gift books, children’s gifts, luxury linens, dish ware,

bake ware and stylish furniture. Exclusives in town are

Mariposa-aluminum serving dishes popular for wedding gifts, Simon

Pearce hand-blown glass and Match Italian pewter. Serving trays,

local art cards and Mitchell Gold furniture are its biggest sellers.

Mitchell Gold is a boutique line from the same company that does

Pottery Barn and Restoration hardware upholstery. It’s sister store,

The Malibu Colony Company is much more high-end; it’s popular with

celebrities like Barbara Streisand and Pierce Brosnan. Bargain

shoppers wait for its semi-annual sales: at the end of summer,

usually in late August or early September, and the day after

Christmas. Locals line up outside to get 50% off decor. Open from 10

a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunday. 384 Forest Ave. (949) 497-8919.

Display of ethnic flair

Thee Foxes’ Trot owner Rosalie Gelston’s love of African and Asian

art is easy to spot. She fills her store, named after an estate in

England where her grandfather grew up, with art and functional

objects with an ethnic flair. Seasonal decor is also big here.

“People are flipping out over the hand-crafted Halloween witches,”

Gelston said. “And a fabulous selection of jewelry arrives in

November, just in time for Christmas.”

Other items include tableware, candles, pillows, frames, coffee

tables books and clothing. Gelston’s visually stunning window

displays have won awards from local associ- ations. Open from 10 a.m.

to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

264 Forest Ave. (949) 497-3047.

Fresh baked and yummy

Scandia Bakery is the most popular bakery in Laguna, and for good

reason. It has a first-rate deli for sandwiches, salads and soups.

There are fresh bakery items, gourmet coffees and cakes for weddings

and birthdays. Regulars can’t get enough of the exceptional cookies,

Napoleons, eclairs, petit fours, puff pastries and tiramisu. Open

from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday; from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday; and from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. 248 Forest Ave.

Shoe store for the feet

The Shoe Cellar is missing an underground level, but it does stock

plenty of feet-friendly shoes. Go elsewhere if you want 6-inch

stiletto heels. This store is all about comfort. Men and women shop

here for top-of-the-line shoe brands, including Ecco, Mephisto,

Donald J. Pliner, Birkenstocks, Timberland and Finn Comfort. Your

podiatrist will be so happy. Open from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday

through Thursday; from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and

from10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. 245 Forest Ave. (949) 376-0563.

Who needs a little color?

If you’re looking for the perfect little party dress or white

blouse you’ll find it at White House/Black Market. It’s a national

chain of boutiques specializing in women’s black and white apparel.

They’re known for feminine casual wear and evening dresses, not for

career suits. Bargains are found in the sales section. Laguna’s

stores are opposite each other at 361 Forest Ave. (949) 497-6728,

(949) 497-7882. www.whiteandblack.com.

Beauty know how

When you purchase beauty supplies at Ropage Beauty Supply & Salon,

you’re getting the best in customer service. Almost all of the sales

staff have beauticians licenses and they know the products. They

carry the latest and greatest supplies, such as the new Sebastian

hair-care line, and will gladly make special orders. First-rate

shampoos such as Alterna, Phytotherathrie and Pureology are sold

here, as well as quality skin care lines from Murad and MD

Formulations. Other items available are nail polishes, hair

accessories, cosmetics and hair color treatments. In the back of the

store is a salon for hair and skin care. The big sales are in June

and July and late August and early September. Open from 9:30 a.m. to

7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

272 Forest Ave. (949) 494-8411. www.ropagebeautysupply.com.

* BEST BUYS appears Thursdays and Saturdays. Send information to

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

CA 92652 or via fax at 494-8979.