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

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

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

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)

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

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:

• Spring Camp Costa Mesa - Balearic Community Center - 4/7-4/11 - Info

• Imaginology - OC Fairgrounds - Sat April 12-13 - Info

• Spring Hootenanny (Fundraiser for Little Folk House) - Saturday 4/12 10-11am - Info

• Springfest 2025 (A (Easter?) Pirate Adventure) - Lions Park - Sat 4/19 10a-2p - Info

Friday

• Smoking Data Guns, Kevin Nichols, Siam Jem, Sano - Wayfarer - 6pm

• Silent Disco(chella) - Seagerstrom - 7pm - Tickets

• WUB - Tiki Bar - 7pm - Tickets

• DJ Night - Cowboys and Poodles (The Camp) - 7pm

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.