A Whale of a Tale: Where Books Come to Life

A Whale of a Tale caters to kids of all ages with books and collectibles that thrill the imagination. The staff brings books to life here; they know them best, and they imbue all they do with the warmth, passion and good humor that comes with great literature.

A Whale of a Tale is more than just a business, it’s a calling; the shop is based on traditions of integrity, service, respect, love of books and community. It was honored with the prestigious Lucille Pannell Award, given annually to one American bookstore that does the most to inspire kids’ love of reading.

The shop is known for megastar book signings: J.K. Rowling, Brian Jacques and Julie Andrews have appeared here. Check the website for hours and more information.

A Whale of a Tale
4199 Campus Dr.
Irvine, CA 92612
(949) 854-8288
http://www.yelp.com/biz/a-whale-of-a-tale-irvine

Stylish Footwear Ships Free of Charge on These Three Websites

Ordering shoes online offers you a much wider selection and more convenience than shopping in stores, but the shipping fees can make it very expensive. Once you add up the cost of the shoes, taxes, and shipping and handling fees, those new shoes often end up costing you much more than they would in the store. Here are three popular online stores that offer the shoes without the shipping costs.

Zappos
Zappos is widely known for its vast selection of name brand shoes at affordable prices, but many shoppers don’t realize that the site doesn’t charge for shipping. Men’s, women’s and children’s shoes from brands like Nike, Steve Madden, and Sperry all ship entirely free of charge—and arrive at your doorstep within five business days. Better still, if that new pair of sneakers doesn't fit, a free return shipping label is provided.

Piperlime
Piperlime is a stylish sister site of Gap, and it offers designer women’s shoes with the same fashionable feel. There are a wide variety of trendy styles like wedge booties, wide leather sandals, and ballet flats, as well as clothing and handbags to go with them. Best of all, Piperlime also offers free shipping and returns on any order.

Shoebuy
This site operates similar to a discount warehouse, but it also offers the convenience of shopping from your computer. Shoebuy carries brands like UGG, Frye, and Clarks, and the site offers free shipping, free return shipping, and no sales tax on any purchase.

Trail’s End Cycling Center: Biker’s Delight

Open Mondays through Fridays, Trail’s End Cycling Center is there for you whether you need to buy a new bike, have your current bike repaired, or stock up on cycling accessories. If you’re looking for some wheels, the center features an impressive and extensive showroom of road and mountain bikes along with cruisers from trusted brands like Scott, Jamis, and Cyfac. They also offer bike fittings for a personalized touch that assures comfort. Run by a knowledgeable owner and staff, biking buffs can entrust their darling bikes in Trail’s End’s hands. The website lists the prices of various services from basic tune-ups and brake adjustment to replacing cables and installing shifters. The staff knows how to handle bikes of many varieties — even vintage — and the store stocks basic parts. Call in advance to schedule a servicing appointment to guarantee a quick turnaround.

Trail’s End Cycling Center
1920 E. Warner Avenue
Suite 3C
Santa Ana, CA 92705
(949) 863-1982

Claro’s Italian Market

Claro’s Italian Market wears its function on its sleeve—it sells all manner of Italian meats and cheeses, including imports, to all manners of guest, a family-owned chain with a special emphasis on providing delicious ingredients and delicious food. The variety in the deli section is enough to stall an indecisive shopper for hours but if you’re looking to eat instead of cook you can snatch up a made-to-order sandwich made with fresh ingredients for less than seven dollars. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and cooking classes are available in case you’d like to turn your top of the line ingredients into a nice meal yourself. The Tustin market is a little small and can fill up pretty quickly, especially around the times of year when home-cooked meals reign supreme (Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.), and there is nowhere to sit as there so rarely is in a market, but overall Claro’s is an excellent place to grab either a bite to eat or the materials to assemble one.

Claro’s Italian Market
1095 E Main St
Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 832-3081
http://www.yelp.com/biz/claros-italian-market-tustin

Orange Circle Antique Mall: A Treasure Seeker’s Dream

Centrally located in Olde Towne Orange, the Orange Circle Antique Mall is a browser’s paradise. The mall, which is the largest antique mall in Orange County, houses many vendors peddling goods from truly antique (think 1800s) to retro (think 80s). Open for over 40 years, Orange Circle is a veritable labyrinth of antique goods, and the sheer volume of items for sale often shocks first-time visitors to the mall. Frequent visitors rave about the bountiful selection of antique estate jewelry, vintage records, and unique old-fashioned toys. Though prices vary by vendor, bargain hunters tout Orange Circle as a great place to find a fair price on a special item. With everything from furniture to knick knacks and anything in between, the Orange Circle Antique Mall is a gold mine for those who love to browse through history’s best collectables and find something special to take home.

Orange Circle Antique Mall
118 S. Glassell Street
Orange, CA 92866
(714) 538-8160

A SoCal Favorite Pastime: A Visit to Shoreline Village

Yeah, it’s a tourist trap, but there’s a reason Long Beach’s Shoreline Village has had such staying power even among locals: It’s one of SoCal’s best spots for fishing, watercraft riding, biking along the beach, shopping, dining, drinking—you name it, they’ve got it—and with the warm California sunshine in spades to boot. The shops are cute boutiques; the restaurants have hot happy hours. Check out Tequila Jack’s for food and drinks, or the Funnel House for funnel cakes (of course!), and do not miss Rocky Mountain Chocolate. A quick word of warning: Finding parking can be a bit difficult, but the views—especially the view of the Pacific at night, and the Queen Mary cruise ship out on the ocean—and the plethora of cutesy shops more than make up for any parking-related hassles. 

Shoreline Village
429-P Shoreline Village Drive
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 435-2668
shorelinevillage.com

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