Off to the 🐖 Races

Hello Back Bay Bebes, happy Monday.

The OC Fair started on Friday, which means that the on-ramp to the 55 from the 73 will be perpetually gridlocked every day at 4pm weekdays, and all day on weekends.

To the 100 or so new readers since our last send—welcome! The Back Bay Buzz delivers just the right amount of news and events for locals in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa. No crime, no politics, no spam—just the good stuff. We scan newspapers, blogs, social media, business journals, and Google alerts so you don’t have to.

In today’s Buzz:

• Pig Race Trivia

• 21st Aluminum Man Winner

— Jon Dougher, Publisher, Back Bay Buzz

Who Are the OC Fair Racing Pigs?

One of the most beloved traditions at the Orange County Fair is the All-Alaskan Racing Pigs—a high-energy, piglet-powered spectacle that’s been delighting crowds for over 30 years. Founded by Bart and Deanne Noll, the show features young Gloucester Old Spot piglets (an English orchard breed) dashing around a track, leaping over hurdles, and racing to the finish line for the ultimate prize: a cookie. Despite their reputation, pigs are naturally athletic, and these piglets are trained using their instincts—plus a bit of well-placed bribery. Each season, 10 pigs travel in style aboard a climate-controlled “Piggy Penthouse” trailer, rotating between racing and resting days. Fairgoers can often meet one of the stars after the show for a photo op, although petting is limited due to crowd size. When not racing, the pigs get plenty of playtime, and once they retire, many are placed with farmers to help preserve their rare breed, rather than being sent to market. The show is as much about fun as it is about celebrating the charm and agility of these unexpectedly lovable animals—all with a mission to entertain and educate. We sincerely hope they are down-wind of the stall selling bacon-wrapped pork belly.

Mutt Lynch’s Hosts 21st(ish) Aluminum Man

To say that Newport Beach has a vibrant drinking culture would be a dramatic understatement. Last Saturday, Mutt Lynch’s, the fabled beach-front public house, hosted the 21st annual “Aluminum Man” race, which begins with the singing of the National Anthem, immediately followed by drinking one schooner of beer, running barefoot from Mutt’s to 36th St, swimming around the jetty, running back, and drinking another schooner, all before 11am. It is described as “The hardest 20 minutes of your life” and is open to day-drinkers of all (legal) ages, genders and ethnicities (mostly white, as you can imagine). The event benefits the Wounded Warrior foundation. All credit to the men (and women) in the arena!

THIS WEEK:

• Try-It Tuesday - Hi-Time Wine Cellars
  Tuesdays, 6-8pm ($20)
  Info

• Paint Night - Wild Goose Tavern
  Tues July 22nd 6-8pm

• Good Boy’s Social Club Wine Event - Third Place Wine Bar
  “Entry for you, and one well-behaved pup– A free glass of wine, beer, or non-alcoholic beverage– Access to a laid-back, dog-friendly community”
  Wed July 23rd 6-9pm
  RSVP

• Country Kickback - The Camp
  live music, free line dancing classes, hat bar, mechanical bull
  Thursday July 24th 3-10pm
  RSVP

UPCOMING:

• Native Newport Classic Annual Volleyball Tourny - Newport Beach (tower TBD)
  Sat July 26th
  Info

• Sterling Silver Ring Making Workshop - Methra (Costa Mesa)
  Sat July 26th - Info

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

• Summer Garden Party - Sherman Gardens
  Sat Aug 9th 4-7pm
  Info

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

• Pacific Wine and Food Classic - Newport Dunes
  Sat Sep 20th 1pm-5pm
  Tickets

Monday
65🌡️ 72 I 🌤️ I 12% Rain I 🌬️ ↗️ SW 10mph

Tuesday
64🌡️ 72 I 🌤️ I 10% Rain I 🌬️ ↗️ SSW 11mph

Wednesday
64🌡️ 71 I 🌤️ I 6% Rain I 🌬️ ↗️ SSW 12mph

Thursday
64🌡️ 74 I 🌤️ I 6% Rain I 🌬️ ↗️ SSW 13mph

🌊 Water temp = 69º
Suit Rec: Shorty

THIS WEEK:

• Newport Beach Central Books & Babies
  Monday, 21 July

  10:30 am - 11:00 am
  Info

• Corona Del Mar Songs and Stories - CDM Branch Library
  Thursday, 24 July

  10:30 am - 11:00 am
  Info

• Strolling Jazz Quartet - Lido Village
  Every Thursday 5:30pm-7:30pm

• Little Seedlings Storytime at Sherman Library and Gardens in Corona Del Mar
  Friday, 25 July

  10:00 am - 10:30 am
  Info

PLAN AHEAD:

• Kyle Tiernan's Draw Along Art Workshop in Corona Del Mar
  Saturday, 26 July

  11:00 am - 12:00 pm
  Info

🎶 Costa Mesa – July 21–25, 2025

• Comedy Night – The Harp Inn – Monday, July 21, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

• Pub Quiz Trivia – The Harp Inn – Wednesday, July 23, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

• Big Dog Band – The Harp Inn – Friday, July 25, 9:00 PM

• Hayden Charles – Tiki Bar – Thursday, July 24, 7:00 PM

• Shaky Feeling – Tiki Bar – Friday, July 25, 7:00 PM

• Golf Alpha Bravo – The Wayfarer – Friday, July 25, 7:00 PM

• SEGA Genecide – The Wayfarer – Friday, July 25, 10:00 PM

🎶 Newport Beach – July 21–25, 2025

• Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse Showcase – Campus JAX – Monday, July 21, 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM

• Tricia Freeman & Friends – Campus JAX – Wednesday, July 23, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

• Bill Cantos & Friends Play Bill! – Campus JAX – Thursday, July 24, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM

• Zach Churchill – Lido Marina Village (Lido Deck) – Friday, July 25, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM

🎵 ⏩️ PLAN AHEAD:

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

• Led Zepplica - Led Zeppelin Tribute - The Hangar (OC FAIR)
  Fri July 25th doors 7:15pm - Tickets

• Dispatch, John Butler with Band - Pacific Amphitheatre
  Sat July 26th Doors 4:30pm - Tickets

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

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

• Oliver Anthony - Pacific Amphitheatre
  Fri August 1 Doors 6:30pm - Tickets

• Ludacris, Ying Yang Twins - Pacific Amphitheatre
  Thurs August 7th Doors 6:30pm - Tickets

• Mickey Avalon (yes That Mickey Avalon)- Wayfarer
  Sat October 18th

Thanks! Please ignore any typos, our editor got sunburnt to an absolute crisp on his weekend jaunt up to Montecito.

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!