Best Buys -- Greer Wylder

Network 17 will hold a grand reopening sale today with all kinds of

back-to-school specials. At the event, Network 17 will give out freebies

to customers, and all soft goods will be discounted 20% through Aug. 26.

The newly expanded store carries all kinds of surf and skate merchandise,

including such popular labels as Roxy, Circa, Quiksilver, Hurley, Volcom,

Etnies and more. The store now carries boys’ and children’s sizes, and

women’s and girls’ clothing. It also has a Web site for browsing and

shopping on the Web at o7 https://www.network17.comf7 . Network 17 is at

440 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa. Information: (949) 646-1544.

Chocoholics will not want to miss the “pleasures of Valrhona

chocolate” event from 3 to 7 p.m. today at Whole Foods Market in Costa

Mesa. The market will offering free samples of various selections of

chocolate, chocolate creations, as well as a demonstration on making

chocolate ice cream and sorbet. Valrhona is one of the finest

chocolatiers in the world. According to experts at Whole Foods, French

Valrhona chocolate is pure. It contains no added fat, extenders or butter

oil and has fewer calories than other chocolates. Whole Foods has invited

Chef Jean Marc Viallet to demonstrate how to make chocolate ice cream and

sorbet. The event is free. Whole Foods Market is in Triangle Square at

1870 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa. Information: (949) 574-3800.

If you’re looking for bargains on all kinds of products and services,

stop by the Orange County Market Place. It’s open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

every Saturday and Sunday at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa.

It features more than 1,000 vendors with fresh flowers, fruits and

vegetables; a butcher shop; packaged foods to go; manufacturers’ outlets;

a hair salon; and food concessions featuring many specialties, including

homemade churros, fresh squeezed lemonade and more. The new Automotive

Road of Dreams Museum is filled with dozens of classic, antique,

celebrity and novelty cars, including Charlie Chaplin’s 1929 Pierce

Arrow. It’s open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every weekend beginning this

weekend. Swap meet admission is $2 (13 and older) and is free for kids 12

and younger. Parking is free. Preferred parking is available for $3. The

fairgrounds are located at 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. Information: (949)

723-6660 or visit the Web site at o7 https://www.oc.marketplace.comf7 .

Tomato Saturdays are happening at Smith & Hawken at South Coast Plaza.

Heirloom tomatoes will be celebrated from 2 to 5 p.m. today in a variety

of colors, ranging from purple to yellow to green and red. The tomatoes

are provided by Whole Foods Market, and free recipes and tips on how to

grow your own heirloom tomatoes are available in the Quill & Trowel

award-winning guide, “100 Heirloom Tomatoes for the American Garden.”

Smith & Hawken is next to Sears.

Best buys on used books are available today from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at

the Newport Beach Central Library. Books are on sale at $1 for a bag.

Proceeds will go toward the library system. It’s at 1000 Avocado Ave.,

Newport Beach. Information: (949) 759-9667.

Huge savings on luxury linens and accessories are at Frette in South

Coast Plaza. The world-renowned linen maker has duvets, bedding, towels,

ready-to-wear and robes on sale. Frette is on the second level, near

Rizzoli. Information: (714) 556-7080.

Yuen Lui has a wedding photography special. The special includes four

hours of photography, 20 8-by-10 color portraits and one leather album

for $695. It regularly costs $1,243. Yuen Lui is in the Crate &

Barrel/Macy’s Home Store wing of South Coast Plaza. Information: (714)

545-8845.

Bloomingdale’s is having its August home sale. There are markdowns

from 20% to 50% throughout the store on bedding, linens, towels, table

linens, flatware, glassware, stemware, place settings, cookware and

kitchen accessories. Bloomingdale’s is at Fashion Island in Newport

Beach. Information: (949) 729-6600.

* BEST BUYS appears Thursdays and Saturdays. Send information to Greer

Wylder at 330 W. Bay St., Costa Mesa, CA 92627, or via fax at (949)

646-4170.