Columnist Muriel Stevens: Enjoying the perks of Fashion Island

Wednesday, June 16, 1999 | 9:51 a.m.

Muriel Stevens' shopping column appears Wednesdays. Her dining column appears Fridays. Reach her at muriel@lasvegassun.com or 259-4080.

Until this past week it had been years since I shopped at Fashion Island in the Newport Center in Newport Beach, Calif.

During the days when I summered in Newport Beach, Fashion Island was a favorite place to shop. This was long before we had malls of our own.

Through the years there have been many changes in the size and makeup of Fashion Island. Most of the upgrades were inspired by strong competition from newer malls in the area.

Today Fashion Island is a wondrous place, not only for shopping but for dining, and just sitting and watching the world go by. Featured are more than 200 stores and restaurants. Some offer a lovely view of the Pacific Ocean. One could easily spend a day here and not cover all of the shops.

New York's Bloomingdale's has two stores at Fashion Island: one is a department store for every member of a family; the other an irresistible home store.

I managed to withstand the allure of the home store, although I coveted many things, including the elegant bedding.

We'll have our own Bloomingdale's when the Fashion Show mall builds the new addition.

Meanwhile I'm content to order from the Bloomingdale's catalogs.

Another captivating store for women, men and the home is Anthropologie.

The name has little to do with the merchandise, which is an ecletic mix of trendy clothing and accessories. Anthropologie is a large store with an interesting mix of merchandise geared to the younger set. Still, it was interesting to see the many different collections.

I happily meandered through the shops and eateries on the Atrium side of the mall. How different it all is from the way I remember it. I would come in through Robinsons' (now Robinson-May) lower level, do each floor, then walk the entire mall in less time than it took me just to do the two Bloomingdale's stores.

With little time to shop I decided to stay within the area where I was to meet friends, but there was much to see: Adorable children's shops such as This Little Piggy Wears Cotton for the politically correct kid, and Rag Baby for small ones. The merchandise was adorable. It's a terrific place for gifts as well.

I'm especially fond of the Restoration Hardware stores. There's one at Fashion Island. No word so far that we will have one of these marvelous links to the past when any of the new malls open, but I'm wishing.

RH does have a mail-order catalog. Call 800-762-1005 to receive one. The new catalog is just out. Mine is already earmarked with things I want to order, especially the French wire fly swatter and some of the furniture polishes and waxes that are so difficult to find.

There are many dining choices at Fashion Island in addition to a sizable food court. The venerable Bob Burns steakhouse is still going strong and now there's a Wolfgang Puck Cafe, Cheesecake Factory, Hard Rock Cafe and California Pizza Kitchen.

There's a mall concierge who will assist with dinner reservations. The concierge desk is on the main level of the Atrium Court and is open during mall hours.

So, what was my favorite part of the mall? Sitting under a tree and breathing in the delicious ocean air ... all free.