Hello and happy Friday Back Bayers! To the hundred or so readers who joined us since our last send, welcome! We hope your Easter brunch reservations went better than ours—we procrastinated, and now we're brunching suspiciously close to breakfast. We are crossing our fingers for a bright and sunny Easter weekend in the sister cities. Rain or shine, there are still plenty of options for things to do, see and eat in town as we welcome a much needed holiday.

In today’s Buzz:

• Get that ragged boat and tote repaired at the Fix-it Fair

• Last Minute Easter activities

• Reminder: All Target Stores Closed for Easter - Sunday 4/20

— Jon Dougher, Publisher, Back Bay Buzz

Earth Day Fix-It Fair Comes to Seagerstrom

This Saturday, sustainability takes center stage in Costa Mesa with the inaugural Fix It Fair, a vibrant community event presented by Seagerstrom Center for the Arts in collaboration with Eco Now, Orange County’s pioneering zero-waste store. Designed to promote eco-conscious living, reduce landfill waste, and champion a culture of repair, the fair invites residents to bring their cherished but damaged items for expert fixing—entirely for free.

Skilled professionals including seamstresses, jewelers, plant specialists, bike mechanics, and handymen will provide their expertise to revive everything from torn clothing and broken jewelry to wilting houseplants and household goods (electronics and relationships excluded, organizers humorously note).

“I’m thrilled to put my sewing skills to work, whether mending a beloved tote or customizing your favorite jeans,” says Emily Wallace, Eco-Sewist from Eco Now. “Together, we’ll give your wardrobe new life, reduce waste, and make sustainability stylish.”

The event lineup offers a rich variety of activities:

• Community Bike Ride: Hosted by Santa Ana Active Streets, this guided group ride is the perfect eco-friendly transport to the fair (RSVP required).

• Compost Workshop: Eco Now will show attendees how to transform ordinary containers into home composting kits.

• Refill Station: Visitors can take home complimentary 4 oz. samples of soaps, shampoos, lotions, or detergents, promoting waste-free living (available while supplies last).

• Junk Journaling: DIY Craft Club invites attendees to bring unused craft materials and creatively repurpose them into personalized journals.

• Plant Care & Repotting: Plant Matter Shop will offer hands-on plant care demonstrations and repotting tips for healthier greenery.

• General Repairs: Experts from Urban Workshop will guide visitors in repairing common household items.

• Jewelry Care: Made with Love By JAX offers tips on cleaning, storing, and preserving jewelry.

• Sewing & Alterations: Eco Now and Salad Bowl Dress team up to teach simple sewing skills and help alter or mend clothing.

• Bike Repairs: The Bicycle Tree will provide quick tune-ups and repairs to ensure smooth rides.

• Eco-Friendly Crafts for Kids: Engaging and educational crafts using sustainable, upcycled materials.

• Live Music: DJ Crisanto will set the scene with a lively soundtrack, ensuring good vibes throughout the event.

The Earth Day Fix It Fair operates on a first-come, first-served basis. While repair success isn't guaranteed, attendees are promised an inspiring community experience that demonstrates the power of repair and sustainability in everyday life.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This is a free event, but you must sign up for a free “Plaza Pass” to enter. If you don’t already have one, sign up asap as they can take up to 24-36 hours get emailed out. Sign up for Plaza Pass here.

📺️ WHAT TO WATCH 📺️ 

A friend of ours suggested we include Wrestlemania 41 (Peacock) in this week’s “what to watch” section. We told them our readers are from Newport and Costa Mesa, not Huntington Beach. Besides, the writer’s strike is over, and there is bevy of good shows and movies coming out this weekend. Take a look:

• Sinners - This one is getting G O O D reviews - Theaters

• Government Cheese - Weird. Retro. We’ll take it . - AppleTV

• The Rehearsal - “Nathan Fielder burns massive amounts of production money on comically impractical, cockamamie ideas” - MAX

• Ransom Canyon - Yellowstone 🤝 Friday Night Lights - Netflix

• The NBA Playoffs - (ESPN, ABC, TNT)

• The NHL Playoffs - (ESPN, ABC, TNT, TBS, TruTV)

—WHAT TO DO—

• Get your Thrift on: Buffalo Exchange Earth Day $1 Sale - The Lab Costa Mesa - Sat 4/19 11-4pm - Info

  • PAINT A POT AT PLANT MATTER

    Paint A Pot workshop at the picnic table outside Plant Matter & Pen Pals (also at The Lab) from 11am-4pm!

• Go Vintage: Springtime Market at the Quonset Hut Village, hosted by Silver Wings Vintage - Saturday 4/19 9-1pm - Info

• Get your dinner jacket monogrammed: Free Embroidering at The Great - Lido Village - Friday 4/18 All Day - Info

• Get Social: Morning Brew Crew - Humanity Coffee (Newport Beach) - Sat 4/19 8-10am - Info

• Adult Easter Egg Hunt - Wild Goose Tavern - Sun 4/20 12pm - 3pm - Info

• Wip up a DIY NY-Style Pizza (spoiler alert: you have to let the dough sit overnight, so you should probably get started now)

This Weekend:

• 🐰 Easter Bunny @ the Atrium Lawn - Fashion Island - 3/21-4/19 Mo-Sun 11am - Info

• Reminder: All Target Stores Closed for Easter - Sunday 4/20

UPCOMING:

• 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

54🌡️ 62 I ⛅️ I 24% Rain I 🌬️ WSW 11mph

Saturday

55🌡️ 67 I 🌥️ I 6% Rain I 🌬️ W 12mph

Sunday

56🌡️ 67 I ⛅️ I 10% Rain I 🌬️ WSW 12mph

🌊 Water temp = 60º

This Weekend:

• Easter Bunny Photos - Tanager Park - “Torelli Realty hosts Egg-Citement! Enjoy pictures with the Easter Bunny, Egg Hunts, Face Painting and so much more!” - Tanager Park - Sat 4/19 10-12pm- Info

• Easter Bunny Photos - IKEA Costa Mesa - Saturday 4/19 9:30-11am - Info

• 🥾 Free Pancake Breakfast, Family Activities, and Hiking at Quail Hill Trailhead - Irvine - Sat 4/19 9-11am - Info

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

• Kidstock - Pretend City Children's Museum - Fri-Sat 4/18-4/19 11am-2:30pm - Info

PLAN AHEAD:

• High School Internship at the Sherman Library & Gardens Application Due Date - CDM - Wed 4/30 - Info

• Touch A Truck - Irvine Great Park - Sat May 17th 2pm - Tickets

Friday

• The Sextones with Andre Cruz and Chris Lujan - Wayfarer - 7pm - Tickets

• Art of the Stoked - Tiki Bar - 7pm - Tickets

Saturday

• Lauren Black (acoustic) - The Lido Deck, Lido Village - 12pm - Free

• Turbulence Band - Salty Bear Brewing - 4pm - Info

• Ladrones with Venna - Wayfarer - 8pm - Tickets

• Cubensis - Tiki Bar - 7pm - Tickets

Sunday

• Joe Marx (acoustic) - The Lido Deck, Lido Village - 12pm - Free

Plan Ahead:

• Ben Folds (That Ben Folds?) - Seagerstrom - 4/25-4/26 8pm - Tickets

• Emo Nite - Time Nightclub (Costa Mesa) Thurs 4/24 10pm - Tickets

• BECK - Pacific Ampitheatre - Wed 7/30 7:30pm - Tickets

Thanks! Please ignore any typos, our editor ate his weight in Trader Joe’s sour jellybeans and is feeling not quite himself.