RETAIL ROUNDUP

We don’t know if Orange County really qualifies as a banana republic

-- an unstable country dependent on one crop. Unless, perhaps, that crop

is retail.

Banana Republic, the apparel maker, is “celebrating the spirit of

Orange County” with a store opening tonight at South Coast Plaza,

complete with food, drink and entertainment.

The grand-opening event, scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m., will benefit the

Orange County Museum of Art, to whom the company will donate 15% of the

night’s proceeds.

What a good idea -- buy clothes for your next adventure and support

the adventurous artists whose work graces the Newport Beach museum.

A class for the bread winner

After a long, hard day of work, we think pummeling something into

shape sounds like a great idea. We knead to relax, and the King Arthur

Flour Co. has just the solution.

On Feb. 13, the royals are, in conjunction with Ralphs, presenting two

free two-hour classes on bread-making at the Radisson Hotel in Newport

Beach. From noon to 2 p.m., instructor Michael Jubinsky will teach the

art of making sweet doughs. From 7 to 9 p.m., things will really start

baking with a session on rustic bread and sourdough.

King Arthur, started in Boston in 1790 and now headquartered in

Vermont, is America’s oldest flour company.

For more information, call (800) 827-6836.

A do-nothing assistant. Perfect.

We are starting to feel so old. First Mr. Whipple retires, after years

of telling us not to squeeze the Charmin. Now, the Maytag repairman, who

rarely has anything to do, is getting a young assistant. And here we

thought television stopped time.