Shopping

Costa Mesa's crack "shopping cart patrol" may have set a bar even the most by-the-book traffic cop can't meet. In its first month on the job, the patrol -- consisting mainly of Hernandez Cart Retrieval Services, with a little aid from the city's code enforcement division -- netted 740 abandoned shopping carts. That rounds up to 25 per day. (And, if the workers keep up the pace, it'll mean a cost of $5.45 per cart at the $48,000 annual cost. That cost could be offset by the $150 fine for stores for each cart the city retrieves after the fifth one in any 12-month period.

Alicia Robinson On a Friday night, it's not unusual to find trendy twentysomethings listening to hip hop music, drinking cocktails, and ... shopping? South Coast Plaza already has the shopping covered, so a handful of the shopping center's stores have added the music and drinks in the hope of wooing the elusive younger crowd in greater numbers. A "block party" with music, fashion shows, hors d'oeuvres and giveaways held Friday at South Coast Plaza was the third such event the center has tried, and it was expected to be the most successful.

CORONA DEL MAR — Looking beyond carved Halloween pumpkins, Roger's Gardens is set to show off its 2006 holiday collection today with 24 themed Christmas trees. For the last two days, more than 1,000 preferred customers were able to mosey around and check out what they may want for their home come December. "The themes are like childlike wonder," said Eric Cortina, the garden shop's creative director who helped develop the themes. "Unfortunately we think back when Christmas was full of awe and wonder and just to have that back for an hour or so while shopping is great."

Marisa O'Neil On Christmas Eve, few people could match 5-year-old Brian Robinson's excitement. Brian jumped and danced and twirled excitedly as he waited in line at South Coast Plaza to have his photo taken with Santa Claus and tell him his Christmas wish. "I've been asking him what he wants, but he said it's a secret, he'll only tell Santa," said Brian's grandmother, Carole Meldau. "He really wanted to see Santa, and no one had time to take him, so I thought I would."

As all ladies know, shopping is an intensely individual experience. Finding a store or designer that dovetails perfectly with one’s own personality can be the highlight of a day (or week). Enter Boutiquing.com , a Costa Mesa-based blog that seeks to pre-evaluate area stores for their devoted readers. Co-founder April Madigan and her crew separate the wheat from the chaff — and give away tons of goodies during their popular Facebook Friday giveaways. What made you decide to found Boutiquing.

It has been a most fashionable and festive time on the Orange Coast to kick off the holiday season. The Junior League got Newport-Mesa in the mood with their annual Christmas Company shopping extravaganza at the Orange County fairgrounds. The four-day event began with a gala opening night followed by a shopping breakfast, afternoon tea parties, cooking demonstrations with a special event featuring the League’s own cookbook “Orange County Fare,” celebrity speakers including Olympian Janet Evans and best selling authors Dr. Beth Hamilton and Dr. Stephanie McClellan , and of course holiday items showcased by some 90 international vendors.

Shoppers from all income levels were out in force at Newport-Mesa malls and stores Friday. They were scouting around for post-Thanksgiving Day bargains on clothes and electronics on Black Friday, the start of the holiday shopping season. Black Friday 2009 promised to attract more shoppers to South Coast Plaza, as the upscale shopping center recorded a 6% increase in sales by early afternoon, compared with last year. But while many were out shopping, others, who are still struggling with the economic downturn, were shopping more conservatively or cutting out spending wherever they could.

Calling all shoppers. Let The Westin South Coast Plaza be your headquarters for holiday shopping this year by providing exclusive special offers and valuable savings. With internationally renowned South Coast Plaza within walking distance, The Westin is offering an ultimate shopping package just in time for the holidays. For $199 per night, you?ll receive a $100 South Coast Plaza gift certificate, complete with a discount coupon book to over 100 stores, complimentary access to the shopping center?

The Daily Pilot went to Metro Pointe at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa to ask kids, 'What's your favorite summer pastime?' 'Hanging out with my friends because I like to go shopping or to the movies.' JULIE TRAN, 12, Santa Ana 'I like to go to water parks because it's hot.' JOSEPH TRAN, 12, Santa Ana 'I like to go shopping because I want to go buy clothes.'JACQUELINE TRAN, 9, Santa Ana 'I like to go on vacation. I went to Germany to see my uncle.

Shopping fanatics unite: One of the world’s largest and highest-grossing malls just got a little bigger. Costa Mesa’s South Coast Plaza announced the opening of nine new stores in its 280-store mall, including an Oscar de la Renta, ROLEX flagstore, and Calvin Klein shop. “Offering the finest shopping experience is our No. 1 goal,” Executive Director of Marketing Debra Gunn Downing said in a news release. “[This year] promises to be an exciting year as we welcome world-renowned international fashion houses, classic American designers and a celebrated restaurateur to the center.

A purl of knitting wisdom: Sometimes the pattern chooses the yarn and, other times, the yarn chooses the pattern. "It's a magical experience," said Jennifer Nimmrichter, owner of Suzoo's Wool Works, where towers of bright, rainbow-hued bundles obscure nearly every inch of wall space. When Nimmrichter took over her mom's knitting business in 2009, she found that it was time for a new pattern. The store was downsized from 2,400 square feet to about 900, and with the help of friend Joie Phillips, more classes and workshops were added to the line-up to transform the business into a true fiber arts studio, she said.

Photographer John L. Blom, who has been taking custom portraits in Corona del Mar for more than three decades, has sold his East Coast Highway studio. Blom said he will continue photography from his Newport Beach home, working with families by appointment and shooting on location. "By mid-May, I won't be here anymore," he said. "I'm cutting back. My real love is photographing families and kids, and I'll do that more on location. " Blom studied photography at the Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara, then worked at a photography studio in Phoenix.

Love it or hate it — swimwear season has arrived. Looking to help women dive into the warm weather months with style, KCeeG Boutique owners Christy Godber and Kelli Genova have launched KCeeG Swimwear at the OC Mart Mix. The pop-up shop debuts at the alternative shopping hub within the South Coast Collection on Hyland Avenue, on Saturday, with Godber and Genova balancing stocking bikinis while still keeping an eye on KCeeG Boutique, also...

The owners of Triangle Square are rebranding the struggling Costa Mesa shopping center as The Triangle, where an upscale restaurant, entertainment and retail will mix with late hours, alcohol sales and a 10-lane bowling alley. Newport Beach-based Greenlaw Partners, with the help of outside finance partners, is attempting to revitalize the commercial complex that has been suffering high tenant vacancies in recent years. The master plan for its project received city approval in March.

Newport is set to get even sweeter this summer with the opening of Sweet and Saucy Shop at the Crystal Cove Promenade. "We're shooting for the beginning of June and it looks like we're on track for that to happen," said Eileen Francabandera, who co-owns the shop along with her daughter Melody Brandon. It's the second location for the Long Beach-based bakery, known for its beautiful, modern, custom cakes, cupcakes, cake lollipops, cookies and mini desserts that are a favorite with celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Miley Cyrus, LeAnn Rimes and Tori Spelling.

When Danish duo Christian Toxboe and Laura Nielsen brought their gelato recipe to the U.S., they wanted to make it different. They wanted to make it nice. Using fresh, organic ingredients, they launched N'ice Cream: Nielsen's Homemade Gelato and Sorbet, a Venice Beach-based dessert and espresso shop. Each morning, 16 flavors are whipped up in-store using a formula that is lower in fat and sugar than traditional ice cream. "We opened on the notion that it is possible to bring a group of kids somewhere that moms don't have to be worried about artificial flavors and sweeteners," Toxboe said.

Running a shop stocked with imported and domestic artisan cheeses is a lot like taking care of children. "Every morning I take the cheese out of the case to see how it's doing," said Dawn Mednick, co-owner of the Cheese Shop at the OC Mart Mix in Costa Mesa. "I unwrap the paper and make sure that it's not too moist. "It's a lot of work. It's a lot like running a preschool. When I see a cheese that didn't get proper care, it's like I lost my own kid. " Opened Jan. 28 in the Mix - an eclectic indoor shopping hub at 3313 Hyland Ave. that's reminiscent of San Francisco's Ferry Building Marketplace - the store offers 45 cheeses, meats, sandwiches, chocolates, spreads and other pairings that complement the Mix's wine and coffee vendors.

NEWPORT BEACH - It's been a busy couple of years for Fashion Island, which added 40 new stores and restaurants as part of a $100-million cash infusion. As the wave of change for the Irvine Co.-owned coastal shopping center trickles off - this month marked the Island Cinemas' reopening as officials announced Whole Foods Market's arrival in the fall - weekend foot-traffic is up 20% over last year, said Dan Sheridan, president of the Irvine Co.'s retail properties. "The idea behind the reinvestment was building upon a location that cannot be replicated," Sheridan said, referring to the center's proximity to the coast, parks, open spaces and affluent neighborhoods.

Seeking to celebrate the season but have no idea where to start? Our annual guide to all things holiday will help guide the way, regardless of where you live, work or play. First up: the food. For those shuddering at the thought of preparing a meal on Sunday, several top restaurants will be open for brunch and dinner, Choose from many options like a four-course champagne brunch from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. or dinner from 4:30 to 10 p.m. at Las Brisas, 361 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach; a three-course meal at the Californian at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, 21500 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach, that includes entrée selections like roast turkey or an all-natural filet; and a brunch buffet with special holiday items at the Palm Terrace Restaurant in the Island Hotel, 690 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach.

More than 60 vendors will participate in the Shopping with a Heart charity holiday boutique Wednesday at the OC Mart MIX, an organizer said this week. The more than two-decades old annual event put on by the Newport Beach chapter of the National Charity League will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the shopping center on Hyland Avenue in Costa Mesa, said co-Chairwoman Sue Willett. Vendors will donate 15% of sales to benefit local charities, including Girls Inc., Second Step, Heritage House, Orange Coast Interfaith Center and Special Camps for Special Kids.