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April Forth
The Easter Bunny Comes to Westcliff Plaza...


Happy 4th of April, Back Bay-bies! On this day, in 1581, Sir Francis Drake was knighted by Queen Elizabeth I aboard the Golden Hind after circumnavigating the globe. It kind of makes the Newport to Ensenada Yacht Race seem a bit pedestrian. If your birthday is today, you share it with Maya Angelou, Heath Ledger (RIP😢), and Robert Downey Jr. Share this newsletter with a friend and we will give you a birthday shoutout of your choice. People won’t remember what you said on their birthday, but rather how you made them feel on their birthday. Think about it…
In today’s Buzz:
El Ranchito Newport Beach Celebrates 50 years
The Easter Bunny is coming for Newport
Costa Mesa Gets a new Poet Laureate
Weekend Agenda
— Jon Dougher, Publisher, Back Bay Buzz

Avila’s El Ranchito Celebrates 50 Years

The only part of Covid we miss was when you could order a jug of margaritas to go…
To celebrate their 50 year anniversary, Avila's El Ranchito is bringing back the legendary $5 all-you-can-eat Taco Tuesday! What began as a small family restaurant in Huntington Park in 1966 became a local staple when Sergio Avila transformed Newport’s old Bayside Fish Market in 1975. Join the festivities starting at 5 p.m. on April 22nd and 29th, as they revive the beloved tradition from 1995-2015. Grab exclusive merch—t-shirts, hats, and mugs—available only in-store. Plus, throughout April, they're proudly supporting Miracles for Kids, helping families battling life-threatening illnesses. Eat tacos, celebrate history, and make a difference! 🌮✨
Costa Mesa Names First Poet Laureate

Proof English Studies is still a viable major…
Costa Mesa has just named its first-ever Poet Laureate—and Danielle Hanson is ready to bring poetry to life. An instructor at UCI, Hanson has spent years immersed in verse, publishing two acclaimed poetry collections, Ambushing Water (2017) and Fraying Edge of Sky (2018), and is currently at work on her third. Chosen unanimously for her passion and creativity, Hanson will serve a two-year term, using poetry to energize city-sponsored events, workshops, and even imaginative experiences like "poetryoke" in local parks. This new program—part of Costa Mesa’s commitment to becoming a true "City of the Arts"—highlights poetry’s vibrant role in the community. “At its best, a poet laureate is a cheerleader for poetry,” Hanson says. “That's how I approach it.”
Power Outages Strike Newport Heights

At least we got an excuse to use all the Bath & Body Works candles we got for Christmas…
Listen, if there are any typos in this newsletter, just know our editor was blindly fumbling for candles and matches last night as power outages struck the Newport Heights area (our homebase) for several hours. Intermittent power and the subsequent internet and phone issues plagued many in the area between 9pm and midnight. SoCal Edison was unavailable for comment as they were (we assume) feverishly wrenching on a transformer substation for most of the night.

📺️ What to Watch 📺️
We haven’t laughed as hard as we have in a long time watching Apple TVs The Studio, as Seth Rogan bumbles his way around a Hollywood studio like a drunken schoolboy. With cameos from A list stars and directors including Martin Scorcese, Charlize Theron, Anthony Mackie and Ron Howard, it really makes you wonder: “is it really like that?” Here’s what else we are binging this weekend:
Y2K - Apocalyptic Sci-Fi with lots of 90s Nostalgia - MAX
A Real Pain - Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin Bro Down - Hulu
The Bondsman - Kevin Bacon gets real dark - Prime
The Studio Ep 3 - Seth Rogan flirts/fights with Ron Howard - Apple TV
1923 S2 Ep 7 - Will Spencer Finally make it back to the Ranch? - Paramount+
White Lotus ✨ Season Finale ✨ - Parker Posey’s NC accent is living rent-free in our heads - MAX
—What to Do—
Farmers Market Pop-up - The Lab - Fri 4/4 10-2pm - Info
Community Garage Sale - Harbor & Baker to Gisler St (Hosted by Heritage Coast Homes) - Sat 4/5 7am-2pm - Info
Easter Bunny Photos, Egg Decorating - Westcliff Plaza - Sat 4/5 10am-4pm - Info
Easter Egg-vent - Anthill (Westcliff Plaza) - 360 Photo Booth, Balloon Twisting, Face painting, Easter Basket Raffle - Sat 4/5 10am-2pm - Directions
🎧️ Silent Disco(chella) - Seagerstrom - Sat 4/5 7pm - Info
Soldaze Studio Ring Making Workshop - The Lab - Sun 4/6 1-3:30pm - Info
🍣 Japanese Food and Culture Fest - OC Fairgrounds - April 4-6 - Tickets
Find the best Gin for a Gin & Tonic - Prepare to go down a botanical rabbit hole (paywall)
🔈️ Have an event, story or business you think should be included in the newsletter? Reply to this email or send us the scoop at [email protected]

UPCOMING:
🐰 Easter Bunny @ the Atrium Lawn - Fashion Island - 3/21-4/19 Mo-Sun 11am - Info
🍷 OC Wine Fest (21+) - OC Fairgrounds (The Hangar) - Sat 4/12-Sun 4/13 - Tickets
WOODEN EASTER EGG CRAFTING WORKSHOP - The Lab - Sat 4/12 11am-2pm - Info
🗝️ All-Island Garage Sale - Balboa Island - Saturday April 12th 7:30a-1p - Info
South Coast Plaza Garden Show - South Coast Plaza - Fri 4/25-4/28 - Info
Newport to Ensenada Yacht Race - 4/25-4/27 - Info
Air | Water Porsche Experience - OC Fairgrounds - Sat 4/26
🌎️ Earth Day Festival - Costa Mesa City Hall - Sat 4/26 10am-2pm - Info
🛥️ Newport Beach International Boat Show - Want to hobnob with some bajillionaires? Check out the Newport Beach International Boat Show (NBIBS, s’cyute) and be sure to invite us out for a sunset cruise once you lock down a sugar zaddy - May 2nd-4th - Tickets
🏃 OC Marathon - OC Fairgrounds - Sat-Sun 5/3-5/4
Newport Beach TV Fest - June 5-8 - Info
🍕 Half-Off Pizzas - Stag Bar - Every Tuesday - Dine-in Only - Info
❤️ Know anyone who would appreciate the Newsletter?
✨ Share the love and earn sweet S W A G ✨
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3 referrals = A cookie from Crack Shack
5 Referrals = Back Bay Run Club Socks (They are really cool socks)

Friday
52🌡️ 65 I ☀️ I 0% Rain I 10mph 🌬️
Saturday
53🌡️ 71 I ☀️ I 0% Rain I 12mph 🌬️
Sunday
56🌡️ 74 I ☀️ I 0% Rain I 11mph 🌬️
🌊 Water temp = 57º

This Weekend:
CdM Songs & Stories - Newport Beach Public Library - Fri 4/4 10:30-11am - Info
Shearing Day at Tanaka Farms-Hannah Field 🐑 - Sat 4/5 9am-4pm - Tickets
Easter Bunny, Egg Decorating - Westcliff Plaza - Sat 4/5 10am-4pm - Info
Good to Go Fair (Free Event!) - Pretend City Irvine Parking Lot - Sat 4/5 9am-2pm - Info
Egg-a-pool-looza at the Irvine William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center ($12- Registration Required) - Sat 4/5 1-5pm - RSVP
Bike Skills Workshop w/ Bike Course & Free Helmets - Sat 4/5 10am-2pm - Info
Outdoor Movie: Wicked - Irvine Spectrum Lawn - Sat 4/5 7pm - Info
PLAN AHEAD:

Friday
Saturday
Hartmanni (Acoustic) - Lido Deck, Lido Village - 12pm
Erick Roebuck - Salty Bear Brewing - 3pm
Angry Samoans - Tiki Bar - 6pm
DJ Night - Cowboys and Poodles (The Camp) - 7pm
Death Cab For Karaoke - Wayfarer - 9pm
Sunday
Natalie Clark - Lido Deck, Lido Village - 12pm
Andy & Alie Show - The Winery - 6:30pm - Info
Kash'd Out with SensaMotion and Brewfish - Wayfarer 8pm
Plan Ahead:
Chelsey Sanchez (Acoustic) - The Camp (courtyard) - Wed 4/16 11am-1pm
Ben Folds (That Ben Folds?) - Seagerstrom - 4/25-4/26 8pm - Tickets
Thanks! Please ignore any typos, our editor was working off a wifi-hotspot while the power went out 3 times last night.

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