Iconic tar misses watch

Marisa O’Neil

Where in the world has Woody gone?

Woody, the until-now omnipresent captain who has floated in his

skiff atop Woody’s Wharf for four decades, has gone missing. The

restaurant’s new owners are wondering what happened to their mascot

and hoping he returns.

“Our customers, once they heard, they were all shaking their

heads,” part-owner Mark Serventi said. “People at the bar used to

toast to Woody.”

Woody, said to represent the restaurant’s first owner, Woody

Payne, stands about 3 1/2 - to 4-feet tall, Serventi said. The figure

wears a peacoat and a cap and, until recently, scanned the passing

traffic on Newport Boulevard.

Woody is made of ceramic and is valued at $4,000, Newport Beach

Police Sgt. Bill Hartford said.

Serventi first noticed the empty boat atop Woody’s Wharf on Sunday

morning. He climbed up onto the roof, thinking Woody might have

fallen over and was maybe resting in the boat.

But Woody had vanished, and with him a bit of Newport Beach

history.

“We’re trying to find out if maybe someone just did it for kicks,”

Serventi said.

That’s often the case when such landmarks disappear, Hartford

said.

A large elephant statue in front of Royal Thai on Coast Highway

also went missing once, he said.

It later tuned up in a West Newport apartment, and the culprit was

arrested, Hartford said. The elephant was returned to its home in

front of the restaurant.

Serventi, who took over Woody’s Wharf with his business partners

last month, would like to see Woody back in his rightful place as

soon as possible. And, he said, whoever tracks down the mascot can

enjoy a toast to Woody and dinner at the best waterfront table -- on

the house.

WHERE’S WOODY?

* Anybody with information about Woody, the mascot missing from

Woody’s Wharf, can call Mark Serventi at (949) 390-4936 or Newport

Beach Police at (800) 550-6273.

* MARISA O’NEIL covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (714) 966-4618 or by e-mail at marisa.oneil@latimes.com.