Greer's OC

On a recent visit to the Orange County Market Place we were in awe of the incredible values of merchandise, delicious foods and the range of vendors available each Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the OC Fairgrounds.

Be forewarned, you may leave disappointed in yourself for paying top dollar for the same merchandise at other retailers.

Start or finish your holiday shopping at the swap meet---not only will you be saving money, but you’ll find great gifts. Right now, you can find surf/skate and snow apparel at bargain prices at Jack’s Surfboards temporary shop.

You can also buy furniture, bicycles, overstock deals on top name brand merchandise, 1,000-thread count sheets, salon-grade shampoos, beautiful succulents and cacti at incredible prices, and designer denim.

You can even get a great haircut, purchase a car, and find vintage designer purses such as Louis Vuitton.

The OC Market Place is home to some of the world’s best homemade churros and taquitos at Carlo’s Cantina, as well as homemade tortilla chips. Pick up some gourmet candy apples at Sinfully Sweet Apple Company; tasty hummus and pita bread from Baba Foods; dips, olives, tapenade, cheese spreads from GreekMama.com, Bob’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream; our favorite marinade Drunkin' Priest Dippin' Sauce; organic produce and much more. 

Bring the entire family, you’ll find something for everyone. Live entertainment  changes weekly on stage across from Carlo’s Cantina; and get free photo opps with Santa Claus this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (across from Westside Grill.)

There’s also an artisans’ and crafters’ corner, and fun activities for the kids.

Admission is all of $2, children below age 12 and free. Open Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Orange County Market Place, at the O.C. Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive in Costa Mesa. 949.723.6616.

A Great Heart!

We’re hoping that none of you will ever need this, but we are so fortunate that Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach is opening one of the world’s most advanced cardiac operating suites. Thanks to a generous $2 million donation by Bob and Marjie Bennett of Newport Beach,  Hoag Hospital unveiled a hybrid cardiovascular operating room yesterday that includes a custom robot—designed by BMW and featuring an imaging system with 3D and 4D reconstructive software—that is used to see blood vessels, tissues and organs during cardiac surgery, angioplasty and endovascular procedures.

“It allows us to open the body in a way that’s kinder and gentler to patients; it’s minimally invasive procedure, and we can open up an artery to prevent a heart attack,” said Dr. Subbarao Myla, who leads  the endovascular therapy and cardiovascular research at Hoag Heart and Vascular Institute.

Dr. Myla compares the hybrid cardiovascular operating room to “a sophisticated GPS for the body.”

At the unveiling yesterday, Dr. Aidan Raney, head of the cardiovascular surgery at Hoag Heart and Vascular Institute, said that the CVOR “opens up a whole new frontier for people who have cardiovascular disease.” Their plan is to do the first Transcatheter Aortic Heart Valve procedure in February.

“This treatment will help people who are too sick to tolerate open heart surgery,” Dr. Raney said.

Bob Bennett is a nationally renowned broadcaster and philanthropist, who founded Metromedia, which is now Fox Television. He and his wife are honored to help bring this revolutionary care for patients to Orange County. The Bob and Marjie Bennett Hybrid Surgical Suite at Hoag Hospital promises to be one of the country’s best cardiac care facilities.

Hoag Hospital is at One Hoag Drive in Newport Beach. For more information, visit www.hoag.org.