More Than Just Surf and Sand: A Summer Place

With the long, hot days of summer upon us, millions will be flocking to Southern California beaches for sun, sand and surf. Most will head for the relative safety of piers and public parking lots with boardwalk-close eateries and sunscreen shops.

Those in the know will head to West Newport Beach, where the good waves and uncrowded beach is well worth the ultimate challenge . . . finding a place to park.

Parking here requires patience; repeatedly driving up and down River and Neptune avenues looking for a vacant spot of curb. Having a small car helps. Having a few strong friends to slide the rest of the car into a tight fit after parking it nose-first helps too.

Swim Near a Lifeguard

Perhaps the most distinguishing features of West Newport Beach, ranked among the top five urban beaches in the U.S. by Surfrider Foundation in May, are the rock jetties that extend into the ocean from about 28th to 56th streets. Constructed in the early ‘70s to prevent sand erosion, the rock formations have made distinct pockets of surf for swimmers, surfers and boogie boarders.

“[The jetties] have created a specific zone where people can surf,” said Capt. John Blauer, spokesman for the Newport Beach Lifeguard Division. “West Newport always had some good waves for riding. Fifty-Second to 56th streets are very well-known for body and board surfing and 40th to 41st streets for swimming. The regulations allow swimmers and body surfers to play without fear of getting run over by a board.”

A system of flags flying above lifeguard towers lets swimmers and surfers know their places. A yellow flag with a solid black circle indicates that no hard objects, like surfboards or skimmer boards, are allowed in the water.

Useful as they are, the jetties also create one of the bigger problems for swimmers and lifeguards. The jetties force surf back out to the ocean, meaning lifeguards perform about 5,000 rescues each year. “The best thing for swimmers is to stay away from the jetties,” Blauer says “[A lifeguard] will give the best indication of which side of the jetty may be safest. Always swim near a lifeguard and check with them for conditions.”

During the summer months, lifeguard towers begin opening at 8 a.m. with all towers open at 11 a.m. and begin closing at 4 p.m. with the last tower closing at 7 p.m.

No Fooling the Customer

The best pizza in Newport Beach comes from an Iranian-born restaurateur with a degree in industrial engineering. Hans Khademi, owner of Gina’s, a Slice of Sicily (4507 W. Coast Highway, [949] 722-1236), has been in the business for 30 years and has operated the Italian restaurant for the last 12.

His secret?

“No frills,” Khademi says with genuine enthusiasm. “Just give good food and charge a reasonable price and [customers] come back. No fancy this or that, just good food.”

The lunch special is a wedge of crisp crust pizza--cheese, pepperoni, vegetable or Hawaiian--with heaps of sweet tomato sauce and a huge garden or pasta salad for $4.95. And the best part is that the pizza isn’t greasy.

“We do everything there in the kitchen; nothing’s frozen, from the sauce to the meatballs,” Khademi said. “And it works. We have very informed customers. You cannot cheat them.”

Gina’s is open daily at 11 a.m. and closes weekdays at 9:30 p.m. and weekends at 10 p.m.

Not a Mechanic--a Craftsman.

Tony Parry, owner of Chicago Bike! (4525 W. Coast Highway, [949] 650-4203), does not like to be called a mechanic or technician, but a bicycle craftsman. And with more than 20 years experience and having visited more than 300 bicycle shops across the United States, he’s got bragging rights.

Parry first fell for the art of bicycle repair and design while stationed in Italy with the Army.

“[In the United States], it’s just kids bike stores; it’s a void,” Parry said. “Back in Europe, they’re master craftsmen, with a 70-year-old man straightening out your front tire.”

After returning from Italy, Parry jumped into the business, visiting 60 New York bikes shops in three days. He worked in bike shops until he opened his own, catering to touring and mountain-biking fanatics. It almost cost him his business.

“I was failing miserably with them,” Parry said. “I felt they should have been knocking down my door. But they would just come in for the expert advice, flash the OK sign and leave to do it themselves.”

Parry turned his focus to what he calls the other 80%, the family bike riders.

“Family folks used to wait patiently while I did a rush job on a racer’s bike,” Parry said. “Now, they’re my No.-1 customers. They remind me of the things I forget to charge them for.”

Tune ups cost $30 to $40, with specialty work costing $50 per hour. Rentals run $5 per hour or $20 a day.

For those looking to really jazz up their cruiser, Parry and his crew have more than 40 different twisted-spoke rim designs, costing $50 to $200.

“I’ve been across the country and seen maybe 10 or 12,” Parry said.

“We have such a great reputation in this town because we focus on the average biker and they get their bikes back in the same day, clean, and they love it.”

Chicago Bike! is open daily at 10 a.m. and closes weekdays at 7 p.m., Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m.

The Doughnut End

Kids have been coming to the Frog House (6908 W. Coast Highway, [949] 642-5690) for more than 30 years, wanting typical things such as surf wax, leashes and quality, home-grown surfboards. But they always leave with a little something extra.

“We administer good, common sense to the kids of the area,” owner T.K. Brimmer said. “In a city like Newport Beach, [the kids] don’t get honesty and integrity. With the $60,000 cars and million-dollar houses, they might start thinking the almighty dollar is more important than a good soul.”

Brimmer said it’s not uncommon to have parents come into the shop to thank him for helping to keep their children away from drugs.

“This is the doughnut-end of Newport Beach. We’re surrounded by dough but it’s empty in the middle,” Brimmer said with a sly grin, pointing to his heart.

Aside from the soul food, surf wax is available for 50 cents, leashes are $12 to $30, and sunscreen is about $4 a bottle. But the major attractions are the surfboards, $365 to $460, with balsa long boards as much as $1,000.

The Frog House is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 8 p.m. to 5 p.m.

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IF YOU GO

* Getting There: Take the Costa Mesa Freeway south until it becomes Newport Boulevard. Turn right at 17th Street and left onto Superior Avenue.

* Romantic Post-Surfing Dinner Date: The Spaghetti Bender (6204 W. Coast Highway, [949] 645-0651) features great ambience with excellent Northern Italian dishes about $10 per plate. With more than 30 items on the menu, there’s something for everyone. Open daily at 5 p.m., closes at 10 p.m. weekdays and 11 p.m. weekends.