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Retail Therapy: Building up to Black Friday

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Discover reading: The Barnes & Noble bookseller at Bella Terra, 7881 Edinger Ave., No. 110, Huntington Beach, is hosting a Discovery Friday event Nov. 22 featuring a full day of activities for the entire family, along with giveaways and book signings. At 5 p.m., Huntington Beach Independent columnist and author Chris Epting will host a meet-and-greet and signing. Illustrator Kazu Kibuishi will commemorate the 15th anniversary of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” with a presentation and signing at 7 p.m. Participants can also enjoy a “Duck Dynasty” beard-on-a-stick photo station and a quotation competition. Storytime events and activities for kids and teens are also planned. For full details, including wristband information for the Kibuishi event, call (714) 897-8781.

Girl power: Children’s apparel designer Girlfriends by Anita G. will host a warehouse sale at 3505 Cadillac Ave., G1, Costa Mesa, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, offering a selection of girls’ fall clothing styles as well as higher-end jewelry for women. All sales are final; no children are permitted inside during the sale. Information: (800) 717-0789.

They put the ‘fun’ in fundraising: The Christmas Company, presented by the Junior League of Orange County, returns Friday through Sunday at the Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa, 3050 Bristol St. The event raises funds for children’s charities throughout Orange County. Events including a girl’s night out, breakfast, gala, painting lesson and Fancy Nancy high tea are planned. Information and tickets: shoptcc.com.

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Speedy See’s: See’s Candies is opening a new, larger format shop Friday at the Market Place in Tustin, with more than double the floor space of any other See’s store. The shop will offer an additional counter to assist with custom orders.

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Eat Thanksgiving out

Remember the pie: The Irvine Marie Callender’s is the unofficial grande dame of the chain restaurant on Thanksgiving, serving up a complete dinner with soup or salad, turkey or ham with all the trimmings, and a slice of pie for $19.99 (kids are $8.99). Information: mariecallenders.com.

All at the mall: Lots of budget options are available in the South Coast Plaza area, including the Capital Grille, serving up turkey and all the trimmings from noon to 9 p.m. for $36 per adult and $15 for kids ages 12 and under; Royal Khyber offering a tandoori turkey as an alternative as part of its three-course, prix-fixe $25-per-person menu; Seasons 52 offering up a turkey entrée for $26.95 (child’s portion $12.95); and Scott’s Restaurant and Bar serving up a three-course dinner with a variety of options for $35 per adult and $12 for children under 12. Information: southcoastplaza.com.

Family style: Prego Ristorante, 18420 Von Karman Ave., Irvine, will offer a traditional family-style Thanksgiving meal from noon to 8 p.m. for $36 per adult and $15.50 for children ages 10 and under. Information: (949) 553-1333.

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Dine for top dollar

Choose Charlie: Charlie Palmer at Bloomingdale’s South Coast Plaza will serve a $75-per-adult ($25-per-child) three-course menu from 2 to 7 p.m., with options like Maine lobster chowder, roasted heirloom beet salad, slow-based organic turkey, poached Scottish salmon, and pumpkin tart. Information: charliepalmer.com.

Eat out, stay in: In Laguna Beach, Sapphire Laguna, 1200 S. Coast Hwy., will offer a $55-per-person, three-course prix-fixe menu with upscale classics from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Children’s portions are half-price, with an a-la-carte kids meal also available. For those who prefer to dine at home, a complete meal-to-go and a-la-carte options also will be offered with advance order. Information: (949) 715-9888 or sapphirelaguna.com.

Harvest buffet: The Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach will offer a Thanksgiving Harvest buffet from noon to 7 p.m. for $68 per adult and $25 per child (children ages 3 and under are free), with seafood, salads, soup, cheeses, carved meats, sides, and desserts. Information: (714) 698-1234.

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Black (Friday) magic

Whether you’re planning to head to the mall straight after the pumpkin pie or sleep in until a relatively late hour, retailers have pulled out all the stops in 2013 to ensure a sufficiently crazed experience. (If you would rather shop in bed, in your PJs, confirm your preferred retailer’s online sale start time — and time zone — and be aware that many online deals are postponed until Cyber Monday.)

Join the Frenzy: The Irvine Spectrum Center has planned a Black Friday Frenzy event, with stores opening at 11 p.m. on Thanksgiving. From 11 p.m. to 8 a.m., the center will offer free ice skating, Ferris wheel and carousel rides, as well as free valet service. A $500 gift card will be given away each hour from midnight to 4 a.m. From 4 a.m. to 8 a.m., shoppers who spend $250 at the Spectrum will receive a $50 gift card; a portion of sales during that period will be donated to the Irvine Public Schools Foundation. The center also will debut its first-ever Disney Magical Holiday Lights music-and-light show at 11 p.m. on Thanksgiving; it also will show every hour from 5 p.m. to closing each night through Jan. 5 in the courtyard in front of the Edwards movie theater.

Irvine Company offerings: Fashion Island will open at 8 a.m. on Black Friday, with a pop-up show featuring the season’s hottest gift ideas, and opportunity drawings. The Market Place opens at 8 a.m. on Black Friday, and will feature holiday entertainment throughout the day. Shoppers who spend $250 at the center from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. will receive a $50 gift card. A portion of sales will benefit the Tustin Unified School District. The Crystal Cove Shopping Center will feature live holiday music on both evenings, as well as select additional evenings throughout the season. For more information, visit holidaystyleoc.com.

Head for the Coast: South Coast Plaza retailers will open at a variety of times. Sears and Macy’s stores will open at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving night, with many other stores opening at midnight, 4 a.m., 5 a.m., and later; the shopping center’s regular hours on Black Friday will be from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Retailers’ special offers are being added to southcoastplaza.com every day. For example, Quiksilver, which opens at 5 a.m., will offer 40% off nearly the entire store until noon, and Charles David will offer all stock for 60% off until 1 p.m. Those who spend $100 at Fresh will receive a free Fresh Life eau de parfum rollerball. Room & Board will host a floor sample sale, with 70% off floor sample rugs and 50% off floor sample lighting. For a full list of deals, visit southcoastplaza.com.

Orange Friday: If the great outdoors is more compelling to you than great sales, stop by the family-friendly Orange Friday from 2 to 5 p.m. Friday at Irvine Regional Park, 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, which includes activities for mountain bikers, hikers and equestrians. Costumes are encouraged, and the event is followed by the opening night of the Christmas Train at Irvine Park Railroad. The event is free; parking is $3 per vehicle. Information: (714) 973-6835 or ocparks.com/parks/Irvine.

Have a hot sale tip, or know about a new local business that you think deserves a little attention? Contact CANDICE BAKER at candicebaker@gmail.com.

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