Crab Cooker in Newport Beach

It used to be a bank.

Now they keep fish in the vault.

This is just one of the fun reasons why you should have a meal at the Crab Cooker in Newport Beach, California.

Printed on the paper placemat:

These walls once housed treasures of the Bank of America but now they house the treasure of our fish. Yes, right where the vault of the bank was we have our fish in refrigeration. We are the only seafood joint that keeps its fish in a vault.

This building was constructed in 1936 for the Bank of America. The insignia of the Bank of America can still be seen on the outside corners of this building about 16 feet above the ground. Ain't we lucky to be fishermen and also own a bank?

Eating at the Crab Cooker is a bit like having an indoor picnic - plastic fork, paper plate, even little plastic cups for the wine.

And you can shake out bread balls and breadsticks till you get full.

The seafood, oh the seafood.

It is prepared simply.

No fuss, no muss, just tasty and fresh.

And if you ask your server nicely, she will take your camera back to the kitchen and take snaps of the outside and inside of the vault!

Order the swordfish.

With a cup of chowder or a shrimp cocktail...

Early Halloween

The pumpkins and skeletons were out in full force on Labor Day weekend...which I guess is slightly more bearable than seeing a tinsel-decorated tree while temperatures hover around 90 degrees.

Difficult to enjoy Fall stuff without Fall weather.

That being said, I LOVE HALLOWEEN.

And Roger's Gardens knows how to set the scene!

Succulent Purses

As lovely as they are...

Probably not an "every day" bag.

Cuz there is no room for lipstick.

Roses are Red and pink and yellow

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."

Wiliam Shakespeare

Blooming in the heat of Labor Day Weekend.

I wouldn't have thought that Julia Child would smell like licorice.

An indelicate moniker for such a pretty rose.

Two toned petals.

Now that is an enchanting name!