OC Preps for "Fools Spring"

Good Morning beautiful Back Baybies. Happy Monday. The holidays are officially over, schools are back in session, and it’s time to begin preparations for the most wily of the 12 seasons of California: The Fools Spring. The perfect time to get a tan before Ski Week.

In today’s Buzz:

• New Year, New E-bike rules

• Tree removal causes kerfuffle at ENC

• Mario’s Pickle Sandwich raises eyebrows

• Updated Events Calendar

Let’s dive in!

Jon Dougher, Back Bay Buzz

AND THEN WHAT HAPPENED?

New E-bike Rules Drop Just in Time for Back To School

Roughly 18,000 students enrolled in Newport Mesa Unified School district will return to school this week. This means that thousands of middle and highschoolers will fly their ebikes down Irvine and 17th in competition for who can do the longest wheely in the center lane. Due to new regulations in California that went into effect on 1/1/25, many of these ebikes are now riding dirty. According to the new rules, bikes that go over 20mph on throttle alone (not pedal assisted) may not be classified as “ebikes” and could possibly require registration as mopeds or electric motorcycles. Popular off-road ebike brands like Talaria and Surron will almost certainly no longer be street legal. BTW, all the kids doing wheelies are trying to go viral like this kid.

Save the Tree

Tree removal crews interrupted daytime children’s programs at Newport’s Environmental Nature Center on Monday, December 23rd as they began cutting down trees on a contested property line that abuts the adjoining lot. Due to a re-evaluation of a property line that borders Newport’s Environmental Nature Center and its neighbor (leased to Newport Bay Hospital, owned by Gallant Family LLC), the owners of the neighboring property assert that the existing fence did not follow the correct property line and began removing trees to replace the fence along the newly surveyed route without any warning. The existing fence and property line had been uncontested for nearly 50 years. The ENC, which hosts a nature pre-school and other children’s outdoor activities has asked the public for support in finding ways to block the removal of more trees but has little in the way of legal recourse. A single Coast Live Oak tree remains intact from the old growth. Sign up for email updates at this link, and be sure to select “ENC Land Protection Updates” Full story here. 

Pickle Mania Hits Newport

It's a great day to be a pickle. Our social media feeds are flooded with pickle-flavored everything—Slim Jims, chips, crackers, ketchup, scented candles, even vodka (yes, vodka). Folks just can’t get enough of that tangy, salty goodness. Seemingly on trend and in defiance of God, Mario’s Butcher Shop in Newport Beach is adding a new Pickle Sandwich to its menu. But here’s the twist: instead of bread, they’re using slices of pickle to sandwich the sandwich. Pickles instead of bread. Pickles around pickles. Pickles sandwiching a Pickle sandwich. It is unclear at this time if the sandwich will be making it on the permanent rotation of the menu, but it is without question that pickle mania has made it to Newport and is here to stay. May the lord have mercy on our souls.

EVENTS COMING UP!

• Comedy Night - The Harp Inn - Monday Jan 6th, 8pm

  • Not Dry January Friendly (see our previous note on Irish Pubs)

  • 130 E 17th St, Costa Mesa

• Trivia Night & Taco Tuesday - The Wayfarer - Tuesday Jan 7th - 7pm

• Weekly Yoga at Casa Romantica San Clemente - Wednesday Jan 8th - 9:15am

  • Every Wednesday in partnership with YNG Studios, take a weekly yoga class at Casa Romantica. Participants should bring their own yoga mat. This class is free for members, $10 for general.

  • sign up here

• Pilates in the Park - Where Moms Meet OC - Thursday Jan 9th

  • registration links posted soon here

• Farmers Market - OC Fairgrounds - Thursday Jan 9th

  • 9am - 12pm

  • Shop local at this OC Farm Bureau certified farmers market featuring produce, fresh flowers, fish, hummus, honey, hot sauce and more. Some vendors also sell hot food for lunch such as tamales and tacos/burritos

WEATHER

Monday

48 🌡️ 65 I ☀️ I 0% Rain I 6mph 🍃 

Tuesday

47 🌡️ 68 I ☀️ I 0% Rain I 18mph🍃

Wednesday

52🌡️ 66 I ☀️ I 0% Rain I 14mph 🍃

Thursday

47🌡️ 67 I ☀️ I 0% Rain I 5mph 🍃

Water temp = 57º

Water temperature readings taken from Balboa Harbor the night before publication

FAMILY FRIENDLY

• Kids Club at Bella Terra

  • Monday Jan 6th - 10:30am

    • Kids Club takes place on The Green in front of Century Theater.

• Baby Steps at Pretend City Irvine

  • Tuesday Jan 7th - 8am

    • Pretend City Children's Museum, Hubble, Irvine

    • More info here

• Little Explorers - Big and Small Creatures in Laguna Beach

  • Friday Jan 10th - 9:30am

  • Advance registration required, register here

LIVE MUSIC

Wednesday

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

Thursday

• David Rosales (acoustic) - The Lido Deck, Lido Village - 12pm - Free

• Live Music (artist TBD) - Cowboys and Poodles (The Camp) - 7pm - Free

• Peacepipe, Volume (metal) - The Wayfarer - 7:45pm - Tickets

Saturday

• Jake Dupre - Salty Bear Brewing (The Camp) - 2pm

Thanks!

Please ignore any typos, our editor threw out his back putting Christmas decorations away.