Season of last-minute buys

Many chain restaurants, like California Pizza Kitchen, Red Robin and Denny’s, are offering the opportunity to receive a free gift card with purchase. The typical return is 20%; for example, purchasers can receive a $5 gift card for every $20 in gift cards they purchase.

Buca di Beppo, 7979 Center Ave., is offering a 25% return; purchasers will receive a $25 gift card when they purchase $100 in cards. Papa John’s pizza buyers will receive a free medium pizza with $25 gift card purchase.

However, many of these bonus gift cards need to be used in early 2009; read the fine print before purchasing, and check to make sure the restaurant chain isn’t going out of business any time soon.

For more information on the Buca deal, call (714) 891-4666.

For the offspring

The Rascals to Rebels children’s boutique in the Seacliff Village shopping center, 7101 Yorktown Ave., Suite 103, which offers designer brands and exceptional gift ideas, will hold a special “Sip N Shop” event from 6 to 9:30 tonight, where all items in the store are 25% off — even the store’s 50% off rack is eligible for the discount. Guests will enjoy complimentary drinks, hors d’oeuvres, coffee and desserts.

For more information, call (714) 374-9937 or visit rascalstorebels.net.

For the aesthete

The OMC Gallery for Contemporary Art & Design is holding a holiday art bazaar featuring paintings, small sculpture, digital art, photography, drawing books and more from 2 to 6 p.m. daily through Saturday. The gallery is in the Old World Village at 7561 Center Ave., No. 32. For more information, call (714) 421-0476 or visit omc-llc.com.

For the out-of-towner

People with family and friends from afar can visit California Greetings, 301 Main St. No. 110, for Surf City-themed ornaments, cards, shirts, beer mugs and more.

The shop has several Huntington-specific ornaments that feature the pier and other landmarks, and even a surfing Santa. For more information, call (714) 960-1688.

CANDICE BAKER may be reached at (714) 966-4631 or at candice.baker@latimes.com.