Greer’s OC: Happy hour all over the county
Happy Hour Week in Orange County continues through Saturday. Restaurants, bars, pubs and breweries throughout Orange County are mixing and pouring their best drinks and offering tasty appetizers. Some restaurants are following themes, including a “haunted happy hour” or offering “happy hour, all day…all week.” For all you need to know, including participating establishments and special bar menus for both food and drinks, visit https://www.happyhourweek.com.
Some favorites include the Bluewater Grill in Newport Beach and Tustin. It’s serving all-day, all-week small-plate selections, including Bluewater garlic fries, burger slider, calamari burger slider, a pair of oyster shooters and grilled fish tacos at $4 each, and drink specials in the bar only. The restaurant is at 630 Lido Park Drive in Newport Beach, (949) 675-3474, and 2409 Park Ave. at the District at Tustin Legacy, (714) 258-3474.
The Sundried Tomato in Laguna Beach, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano is offering specials from 2 to 7 p.m. Try a Halloween-inspired Karamel Apple martini with Sobieski Karamel Vodka, Apple Pucker and Godiva Chocolate Liqueur with a caramel rim ($5). Draft beers and well drinks cost $6. Delicious appetizers ($6) include crispy blackened chicken spring rolls with honey-cilantro pesto; braised beef sliders with portobello and goat cheese; and herb pepper goat cheese and sundried tomato hummus duo with toast points and water crackers. The restaurant is at 361 Forest Ave. in Laguna Beach, (949) 494-3312; 31781 Camino Capistrano in San Juan Capistrano, (949) 661-1167; and 821 Via Suerte in San Clemente, (949) 388-5757.
No Ka Oi in Huntington Beach is offering a Happy Hour menu from noon to closing daily. All beer costs just $3; and all specialty drinks are half off. Try a specialty martini with a half order of coconut shrimp ($10); a beer with your choice of small nachos or half Kahlua pork quesadilla ($10); or a beer with Kahlua pork sliders or shrimp and vegetable tempura ($5); and a baby killer Mai Tai with three mahi mahi fish tacos ($5). The restaurant is at 215 1/2 Main Street in Huntington Beach. For more information, call (714) 960-8300.
Pink Laundry is back
After a summer closure due to fire damage, Pink Laundry, a contemporary women’s boutique has reopened their Newport Coast location. And in celebration, they’re offering Greer’s OC readers 15% off everything through Nov. 5 (just mention Greer’s OC). Pink Laundry proudly carries an array of must-have brands at varying price points including Madison Marcus, Elizabeth and James, Ella Moss, BB Dakota, Vince, Geren Ford and Hudson. It offers something for everyone from casual to dressy wear, accessories, including shoes, jewelry and handbags, as well as a selection of baby and children’s items. The fresh interior boasts a variety of plush, sweet yet chic features including distinctive floral wall coverings, wood floors, hot pink settee, sparkling chandelier, as well as an assortment of exciting new designers. The store is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Newport Coast Shopping Center at 21558 Newport Coast Drive, at San Joaquin Hills Road, in Newport Coast. For more information, call (949) 640-2206.
Home furnishings on sale
Von Hemert Interiors is celebrating its 90th anniversary with a sale through Nov. 7 at its Laguna Beach and Costa Mesa locations. All home furnishings are reduced 25% to 50% including Stickley furniture. Stop by the store and let the savings and designers inspire you! Top furniture manufacturers include Baker, Century, Councill, Hancock & Moore, Theodore Alexander, Hickory Chair, Hickory White, Sligh, Italian imports and much more! The entire collection can be viewed at https://www.vonhemert.com.
Choose from bedroom and dining room furniture, leather and upholstery sofas and sectionals, art, accessories and more. The store is at 345 N. Coast Hwy in Laguna Beach, (949) 494-6551, and 1595 Newport Blvd. in Costa Mesa, (949) 642-2050.
Off to Neverland for Halloween
Treat the little ones to “Peter Pan” this Halloween! The magical journey is performed in a pavilion adjacent to the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa. Sunday, at a matinee performance at 12:30 p.m., all children (under 12) will receive a free Neverland map poster from the Orange County Register; and at 6 p.m., every ticket for the show is available at the children’s price. (Use promotion code TREAT for this special savings.) The offer is not available on previously purchased tickets. Due to popular demand, the show has been extended through Jan. 2. The Orange County Performing Arts Center is at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa.
Frog House may stay
Thousands of fans of the Frog House on Coast Highway in Newport Beach have rallied around their favorite surf shop, which may be in danger because of new city zoning laws that prohibit businesses in residential neighborhoods. The outpouring of support has generated optimism that the Frog House can remain at its current location, though its owner, T.K. Brimer, still faces a months-long rezoning process and ultimately needs the blessing of the City Council and Coastal Commission. So why does the unassuming Frog House generate such passion from its customers? “
“We’ve resisted change that swept the surfing industry,” says Brimer, who bought the store from the original owner 43 years ago. “We’re not controlled by clothing manufacturers that dominate surfing — it has bothered me. Surfing is a sport, not a lifestyle.”
Brimer, who still surfs five days a week, has always kept his shop 70% hard goods (surfboards, wetsuits and impossible to find, kneeboards) and only 30% clothing.
“The average shop is exactly the other way around,” Brimer says. “There’s a ridiculously low mark-up on surfboards. The money is in the apparel. Other shops make a lot more money than I do, but they don’t get to surf as much.
“Ever since I was a little boy, I wanted to own a surf shop when I grew up. I kept my eye on the prize. I loved the smell of the resin, the people who worked there. But I never wanted to own a clothing store.”
The Frog House carries the best in surf gear, and if he doesn’t have what you need, Brimer will tell you where you can get it. Real surfers work at the Frog House, and though the pay isn’t much, they love their jobs. On average, they stay 17 years (one employee has logged 29 years).
The store is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at 6908 W. Coast Hwy. in Newport Beach. For more information, call (949) 642-5690 or visit https://www.froghouse.com/home.php.
GREER WYLDER writes Greer’s OC for the Huntington Beach Independent each Thursday and the Daily Pilot and Coastline Pilot each Friday. She’s the founder and president of greersoc.com, a free daily e-mail service that provides the latest in Orange County fashion, dining, music, events and trends. Her blog can be viewed https://www.greersoc.com and she can be contacted at greer@greersoc.com.