RETAIL ROUNDUP

We are very pleased to note that July will be National Hot Dog Month.

Clearly this is a momentous time for the fair city of Newport Beach,

which is home to the fine Wienerschnitzel corporation, purveyor of such

gustatorial delights as the Chili Dog and the Chili Cheese Dog.

Wienerschnitzel has planned a few events in July to commemorate the

special month, but unfortunately they will be held in Burbank and we must

pass over them in silence.

Why, one wonders, can’t we have some sort of hot dog festival right here

in town?

These are challenging issues, but Newport Beach, we firmly believe,

deserves the best. And we deserve it slathered with chili and cheese, if

at all possible.

NOT SO BAD AFTER ALL

We’re aware, of course, that some people don’t like the Harry Potter

books that entrance zillions of young readers. The novels are satanic,

some people say, or at least unwholesomely pagan in some form or other.

But was not the rock institution known as Led Zeppelin once tarred with

this same charge?

We say Harry Potter is excellent.

And we bring it up because a number of Barnes & Noble stores around town,

including the Metro Pointe and Fashion Island locations, will open at

midnight for the July 8 release of Harry Potter IV.

Far from being afraid of the occult elements in the book, the stores

actually seem to be embracing them.

IT’S LIKE THE INTERNET, BUT EXTRA

Finally, we note that the Newport Beach company KORE has completed an

Extranet for the Universal Music Group, which is the world’s largest

music company.

Sounds impressive. But we have no idea what an “Extranet” is.

The world is getting far too complicated for our primitive brains. Just

pass the chili dogs, crank up some Zep and we’ll be happy.