Nightspot to dance once more

A local restaurant will be given its dance permits despite concerns from neighbors about noise and disruptions.

The planning commission unanimously approved dancing at La Petite Paris nearly one year after police stripped the tiny club of its entertainment permits. Owner Bill Pham told the commission that his Adams Avenue eatery has cleaned up its image, hired extra security and drawn in a new clientele that won’t disturb neighbors living behind the restaurant.

The City Council could still revoke the dance permit, but planning commissioners hope the protective measures they put in place will suffice. Pham must separate the dance floor from the rest of the restaurant and provide adequate parking, the commission said. He must also appear before the planning commission in six months and give a progress report on the dancing permit. Neighbors will be given a chance to speak at the hearing and address any concerns with the restaurant.

Neighbor Dai Phung wasn’t happy about the decision. Phung and several neighbors started a campaign to close the club, formerly called Moulin Rouge, in early 2004. Phung said the club would play loud music, and patrons would hang out in the parking lot talking and occasionally fighting.

“It was so loud, I might as well have been inside that nightclub,” he said before the new permit was granted.

The restaurant collected 63 police complaints and $6,000 in fines during a six-month period, and Police Chief Ken Small revoked the restaurant’s entertainment permit.

Pham appealed the decision to the City Council, but the council unanimously upheld the revocation. Pham responded by suing the city in federal court, alleging discrimination against his mostly Asian clientele. His case was dismissed by a federal judge and is awaiting appeal.

Pham said he has made a lot of improvements at the new restaurant. He poured more than $300,000 into an ambitious remodeling to transform it into a high-end eatery and spent another $50,000 on soundproofing equipment. To handle concerns about the parking lot, Pham said he has switched to a valet system whenever the restaurant offers live entertainment.

Pham said his new business also enjoys a new clientele because he lost most of the old Moulin Rouge customers when the entertainment permit was revoked. Since receiving a new permit, Pham said he’s switched the format from karaoke to contemporary live music.

“Our clients are saying, ‘You have great music, and we want to dance to it,’” Pham said.

Locals night is back

With summer crowds dying down, Surf City restaurateurs are looking to locals for support and have brought back Tuesdays as locals night. Now through Memorial Day, local residents can get a deal from local eateries the last Tuesday of every month beginning Oct. 25.

If you show a valid Huntington Beach ID, some hotspots will discount orders up to 30%.

The program, in its third year, is part of the Shop, Play and Dine program, which gives residents a chance to try new restaurants and spend their money in Surf City.

“We are trying to stimulate business among H.B. residents during the slower winter season,” said Ron Mclin, president of the Huntington Beach Restaurant Assn.

Participating restaurants include Aloha Grill, BJ’s Pizza, BrewBakers, Duke’s, Hurricanes, HB Beer Company, Inka Grill, Jersey Joe’s, Longboard, Lucci’s, Palm Court at the Hilton, Pauly’s Beach Café, Pete Mallory’s at the Hyatt, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Ruby Palace Chinese, Spark Woodfire and others.

Newly participating restaurants are listed at hbrestaurants.com. For information, call (714) 969-3492.

Doctor wins community health award

Latino Health Access will celebrate community work and present its annual Golden Tamal award to Huntington Beach’s Dr. Jerry Sebag at the Salsa Fiesta Brazilian Celebration Friday at the Grove in Anaheim.

The Golden Tamal award is bestowed upon a professional who is willing to be inconvenienced in order to make a difference in other people’s lives. The tamal or tamale -- a traditional Latino dish -- symbolizes community-building and unity; it is often prepared in a communal setting during the holidays.

“We are proud to present the 2005 Golden Tamal award to Dr. Sebag for his outstanding contribution to our community. He has provided diagnostics and eye surgeries for people in our community who do not have health insurance,” said America Bracho, president and CEO of Latino Health Access, in a recent news release. “Dr. Sebag saves patients’ vision and vitality, without which they could no longer support their families.”

Sebag is a vitreo-retinal ophthalmologist who has provided sight-saving surgeries to Latino Health Access diabetes patients for many years. Patients who come to the diabetes self-management program often have had no medical care and have not understood their condition for years. Those with advanced stages of retinopathy (diabetes-related eye disease) risk permanently jeopardizing their vision if treatment is delayed.