The Best and the Rest of O.C.

[This post is late on at least two counts. First, it was supposed to be Friday's post, and I'm over two hours late for that. Secondly, it really should have been posted last month. Better late than never, I suppose.]
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The Register’s “Best of Orange County” guide is always pretty hilarious – My favorite example being the selection of Mimi’s Café as the best “French restaurant” in O.C. Here are a few entries (some good and some questionable) from this year’s guide that pertain to local history…
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BEST MUSEUM went to Bowers in Santa Ana. Yes, it’s one of the most expensive museums in the country to visit, but is it worth it? It’s hard for me to say, since I have very little interest in ancient Chinese nose flutes or the funerary toothbrush holders of the Incas. I liked it better when they still followed their charter and focused on local history.
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BEST ANTIQUE MALL went to the Orange Circle Antique Mall at 118 S. Glassell St., in Orange. (I hear my Orange friends yelling “It’s a plaza, not a circle!”) Second place was a tie between Country Roads Antiques & Gardens in Orange, and Gramma’s Attic in Huntington Beach. The guide also cited Old Barn Antiques at 31792 Camino Capistrano, in San Juan Capistrano, as a “Hidden Gem.” I haven’t been to “Gramma’s Attic,” but I’ve found good stuff at the other locations.
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BEST THRIFT STORE honors went to Goodwill (#1), The Salvation Army (#2) and the Lutheran High School Thrift Shop (#3) at 686 N. Tustin St, in Orange. Of the three, I like the Lutherans the best. Their stock isn’t as cherry-picked. Actually, my current favorites are the St. Vincent De Paul Thrift Stores. I’m more likely to find odd local publications, LPs of local high school bands, and other items of interest to local historians.
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BEST CAMERA STORE went to Ritz Camera, which has super-high prices and a small selection. Number two went to Cal’s Cameras at 1770 Newport Blvd, in Costa Mesa, which has a big selection, knowledgeable staff, and both new and used inventory. Number three went to Samy’s Camera which is badly organized and where they’ve tried to sell me damaged goods at full price. The article failed to mention The Used Camera Store, which is just across Newport Blvd. from Cal’s. The Used Camera Store has an ever-changing selection of older photographic equipment – both “silver” and digital. And watch for their $5 clearance box, which sometimes features old box brownie cameras and the like.
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BEST SWAP MEET went to the Orange County Market Place, where ordinary retail outlets drag their stock outside for the weekend. Second place went the Golden West College Swap Meet and third place went to the Orange Coast College Swap Meet. Both are pretty seedy, but you can find jewels in the rough.
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The biggest surprise was the glaring omission of a BEST USED BOOK STORE section in this year’s guide. Although the Book Baron is closing, there are still a lot of good shops out there worth haunting, including my recent favorite, The Bookman.