RETAIL ROUNDUP

Always looking for a bargain, we at Retail Roundup are happy to say

that we’ve found a new place to shop -- the Lighthouse Thrift Store at

2165 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa. The nonprofit store, which opened this

week, is operated by the Lighthouse Ministries of Mariner’s Church and

hopes to support a number of local organizations, including Court

Appointed Special Advocates and Habitat for Humanity.

Carrying clothes, jewelry and more, the thrift store will be open from

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturdays. However, it will be closed today and Friday while the staff is

in training, said Susan Akins, senior manager for Lighthouse Ministries.

How wonderful to be able to shop and know the money is going to help

the community.

A wonderful plate for a lover’s meal

It’s not even February, yet all we can see is red, red and red.

Between special “Cupid’s Arrow” drinks at TGI Fridays and entreaties from

Site59 to check out the online joys of surprising your loved one

(https://www.site59.com), we are inundated with hearts and flowers.

The best offer we’ve seen so far is from Wedgwood USA, which will be

hosting a food stylist and food from a local chef at Macy’s in South

Coast Plaza from noon to 1 p.m Feb. 11.

Stylist Angie Mosier will tell trade secrets for a picture-perfect

meal to those who would woo their loves through the culinary arts. The

effect of a “beautifully presented meal on Wedgwood Fine Bone China

dinnerware” will apparently win over a heart or two.

Though the meal -- linguine with wild mushrooms, pumpkin seed-crusted

Ahi tuna, bittersweet chocolate cake with raspberry sauce -- sounds

wonderful, apparently this is a session of showing the food rather than

telling how to make it. Maybe they could also show us how to properly

plate the pizza we plan to order on Valentine’s Day, which falls on a

Wednesday this year.