RETAIL ROUNDUP

It turns out more people have birthdays in August than in any other

month. Imagine that. According to Hallmark, which by the way is based in

Kansas City, Mo., about 21 million Americans, or 9.14% of the population,

celebrate birthdays this month. If you doubt it, check your wallet to see

if it looks any lighter compared with other months.

Hallmark also wants everyone to know that it has teamed up with Disney

to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Walt Disney’s birth. As if the

world doesn’t do that enough with every purchase of a plush Mickey Mouse.

Walt Disney was a genius, though. Who knew that an oversized rat would

win over the hearts of children worldwide?

Wonder how many kids would take to a giant, yet cute, cockroach. Randy

Roach has a ring to it.

Old jewelry stopping by at South Coast Plaza

But forget the theme parks. LeVian through the Centuries will make its

second California appearance from 3 to 7 p.m. today at South Coast Plaza.

The priceless collection of more than 70 pieces of jewelry privately

owned by the LeVian family made its debut in the state Tuesday in

Thousand Oaks.

The late founder of A. LeVian and Co. emigrated from the Persian

region and founded the American division of the company. LeVian jewelers

sprouted up in some form in Persia in the 15th century and became so

trusted that Emperor Nadir Shah trusted them with his priceless -- and

perhaps stolen -- treasures back in 1746. But can they watch some shoes

that always end up missing?

Among the spectacular objet d’art from the collection is a beautiful

40-pound jeweled, turquoise elephant, which stands 11 inches tall and is

about a foot long. The 6,602 pieces of natural turquoise totaled about

12,000 carats. Each eye on the tusked elephant is a 2-carat round ruby

while the tusks are hand-carved ivory. Bet a 300-pound gorilla would

complete that marvelous collection.