🌊 Local Intel for the Week Ahead

Hello Back Bay Beaus, happy Monday.

If you are new here, The Back Bay Buzz is dedicated to bringing you just the right amount of news and events for locals of Newport Beach and Costa Mesa. No crime, politics, spam or boring stuff.

The marine layer remains persistent, with cooler days ahead this week and a warming spell the following week. We hope you got a sufficient base tan on Memorial Day weekend. Summer activities are in full swing, here is what we are looking at this week:

PS: We had some work done. Can you tell?

In today’s Buzz:

• Batting Cages Open at TeWinkle Park

• Mesa Motel Approved for Affordable Housing conversion

• Rye Goods Soft Opening

• Jazz Night @ Semi Tropic

• OC Public Library’s “Library of Things” stocked with summer toys

— Jon Dougher, Publisher, Back Bay Buzz

Batting Cages Are Open at TeWinkle Park Athletic Complex

The city of Costa Mesa unveiled the new batting cages at TeWinkle Park Athletic complex on Friday, allowing players of all age levels to hone their skill at America’s favorite pastime. The cages, along with the adjacent fields can be reserved in advance for practice or games depending on availability. To learn more, visit the city website or call 714-754-4860 for more info.

Mesa Motel Approved for Affordable Housing

Another step forward for affordable housing in Costa Mesa: the long-abandoned Mesa Motel on Harbor Boulevard is getting a new lease on life. Once a roadside stop from the ‘50s, it’s now being transformed into housing with priority for veterans, seniors, and people with disabilities. The proposal originally went before the planning commission back in April. 

The project is being fully funded by Dr. Nikan Khatibi, a local physician and entrepreneur who says it’s less about business and more about giving back. “If I’m lucky, I’ll break even,” he told the Planning Commission, which approved the project 5–1.

When complete, the development will offer 47 single-room units for very low-income residents—defined as anyone earning under $59,250 a year in Orange County. While some commissioners raised concerns about the long-term purpose of the project, others emphasized the city’s urgent need for more homes, no matter the label.

“It’s not about what kind of unit it is,” said Commissioner Jeffrey Harlan. “It’s a home—and we need more of them.”

THIS WEEK:

• Watch the US Open - Stag Bar (NB) - 6/12-6/15 - Info

• Jazz Night: Joe Trio - Semi Tropic Wines - Thursday 6/12
  Food by Posse California 5-9, Happy Hour 9-close

• Rye Goods Soft Opening 🥖 🤫 - Thu 6/13 7am-4pm - Directions

• Free Country Music Show @ Wayfarer (CM) 🤠 - Thu 6/12 7:45pm - Info

UPCOMING:

• Wooden Boat Festival - Balboa Yacht Club - Jun 13-14th - Info

• Headshot Happy Hour - Spark Studios - Wed 6/18-17 4pm - Info

• Pour Your Own Candle Workshop - Semi Tropic Wines (free glass of wine included 🍷 )- Wed 6/18 6pm-9pm - Info

• Summer Nights Party with 818 Tequila (hosted by Newps, “the first social club for females in their 20s”) - Whaler - Thu 6/19 7-9pm - RSVP

• 3rd Thursdays CDM - Thurs 6/19 5-8pm
  Live music, good eats, community, and those golden-hour strolls that just hit different. 🌙🎶 - Info

• Pet A Porter: Dog Market and Fashion Show 🐕️ - The Camp - Sat Jun 21 11am-4pm - Info

• Calling All Artists 🎨 : Apply to Costa Mesa’s annual juried art exhibition - Deadline: July 28th - Info

• Fun Run 5k 🏃 - OC Fairgrounds - Aug 10th 8am - Register

Monday
62🌡️ 68 I 🌤️ I 10% Rain I 🌬️ ↗️ SSW 9mph

Tuesday
63🌡️ 70 I 🌤️ I 9% Rain I 🌬️ ↗️ SSW 9mph

Wednesday
63🌡️ 71 I 🌤️ I 7% Rain I 🌬️ ↗️ SSW 9mph

Thursday
63🌡️ 72 I 🌤️ I 7% Rain I 🌬️ ⬆️ S 9mph

Friday
63🌡️ 73 I 🌤️ I 7% Rain I 🌬️ ⬆️ S 9mph

🌊 Water temp = 65º
Suit Rec: Summer Suit

We were looking for a bocce ball or cornhole set to play over the weekend and could not find a single one for sale at Target Lite (17th st), CVS, Big Ralph’s, little ralph’s, Ace Hardware or Anthill. We could not be bothered to make the trek up Harbor to Big 5 or Regular Target. What we did not know was that  OC Public Library’s “Library of Things” allows you to rent out an entire selection of games, tools, musical instruments and appliances for free with your library card. We thought we would spread the word to anyone looking to test out that bongo set before making a questionable purchase. Thanks to our reader Chris for the tip!

This Week:

• Trash Truck Storytime at Costa Mesa Mesa Verde Library
  Tuesday, 10 June

  11:00 am - 12:00 pm
  Info

• Balboa Branch Preschool Storytime in Newport Beach
  Tuesday, 10 June

  10:30 am - 11:00 am
  Info

• Pretend City BOGO Deal with Madres Collective OC (Irvine)
  Tuesday, 10 June

  10:00 am - 4:00 pm
  Info

• Kids Club Craft at IKEA Costa Mesa
  Wednesday, 11 June

  5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
  Info

• World Play Day Planet Lego Build at the LEGO Store South Coast Plaza (Register!)
  Wednesday, 11 June

  5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
  Info

• Seaside Kids Concert with Zach Churchill at Lido Marina Village in Newport Beach
  Thursday, 12 June

  10:30 am - 11:15 am

• Newport Dunes Outdoor Summer Movies (Free Except for Parking)
  Friday, 13 June

  7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
  Info

PLAN AHEAD:

• Wild Tales Storytime, Hike, and Craft in Newport Beach (RSVP!)
  Friday, 13 June

  10:00 am - 11:00 am
  RSVP

• OCME Free Train Rides in Costa Mesa
  Saturday, 21 June

  10:00 am - 3:30 pm
  Info

• Down to A Science Camp 🌿 🔬- June 23rd-August 22 - Info

This Week:

🎶 Costa Mesa

• Comedy Night – The Harp Inn – Monday, June 9, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM 

  • Pub Quiz Trivia – The Harp Inn – Wednesday, June 11, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

• Live Jazz by Chromasique - Mesa Lounge (The Camp)- Wednesday 7:30

• Live Music @ Cowboys and Poodles - The Camp - Thursday 7pm

• Grounded – The Harp Inn – Thursday, June 12, 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM 

• Blame My Youth – Tiki Bar – Thursday, June 12, 7:00 PM 

• Valley Rats – Tiki Bar – Friday, June 13, 7:00 PM 

🎶 Newport Beach

• JAX SongStage – Katie B, Bree Wareh, Nick Justice, Majo Insuasti – Campus JAX – Tuesday, June 10, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM (Free show, happy hour 4–6 PM)

• Dave Murdy Trio – Campus JAX – (Date between June 9–13, Refer to calendar) – exact date/time TBD (campusjax.com)

• David Rosales – Lido Marina Village (Lido Deck) – Thursday, June 12, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM 

🎵 ⏩️ PLAN AHEAD:

• Summer Concert Series at VEA Newport Beach: Teddy Robb (Country) - Thur 6/19 5:30pm - Tickets

• Jimmys Buffet - The Hangar (OC FAIR) - July 20th 7:15 - Tickets

• Fitz and The Tantrums + Aloe Blacc - Pacific Ampitheater - July 25th - 6:30pm - Tickets

• Ellis Bullard - Wayfarer Fri 7/18 7pm - Info

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

Thanks! Please ignore any typos, our editor had an unfortunate incident playing soccer with the office Golden Retriever.

PS: Feel free to let me know any feedback or inside scoops you have for the newsletter. Just reply to this email, I read every one. Thanks!