LAGUNA BEACH : Alley to Be Renamed in Honor of Activist

An alley behind the Cottage Restaurant will probably be renamed Moon Walk or Harry Moon Lane after the beloved city activist who originally owned the restaurant and who died last month after a long struggle with Parkinson’s disease.

Harry Ansel Moon Jr. was a self-proclaimed “Lagunatic” whose passion for Laguna Beach was reflected in his ongoing commitment to the local business and environmental communities. His restaurant frequently was used by civic groups for fund-raisers and other meetings.

Noting Moon’s contributions to the city and his efforts to try to help solve the area’s traffic woes, the City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to direct city staff to explore ways to rename the part of Cedar Way alley behind the restaurant in Moon’s honor.

City staff will ask Moon’s family for help in deciding on a new name.

“I think it’s a marvelous idea,” Moon’s sister, Helen Ann Tenutas, said of the plan. Tenutas said the idea surfaced at a memorial service for her brother at the restaurant last week.

Cedar Way alley will probably be renamed between Jasmine and Aster streets, the block that runs behind the restaurant, which Moon owned for 24 years.

Moon died of heart failure on Feb. 17 at age 64.