In today’s Buzz:

• Trash Wheel is live

• Laguna River Wave “biggest I’ve ever seen”

• “Did you feel the earthquake?”

• St. Paddy’s Day Crafts

Let’s dive in!

Jon Dougher, Back Bay Buzz

Back Bay Trash Collector is Live

In just a few weeks, this $5.5 million, eco-friendly trash-eating machine has already scooped up nine dumpsters’ worth of junk from Upper Newport Bay—including a mattress, and over 50 spray paint cans. Unveiled with much fanfare on Friday, this floating garbage gobbler is the first of its kind on the West Coast, designed to snatch up 80% of the junk that would otherwise float from the San Diego Creek into the bay. Powered by river currents and soon-to-be-installed solar panels, it’s already proving that good things come to those who wait (the project was first proposed in 2015). Former Mayor Marshall “Duffy” Duffield (yes, THAT Duffy), who championed the idea, cheered its arrival, calling it “cool” and promising it’ll be a long-term solution to the daily deluge of trash. With a second interceptor working nearby in the Santa Ana Delhi Channel, Newport is now catching 90% of the gunk before it hits the ocean. Paddleboarders, rowers and kayakers in the Back Bay can now paddle in the Back Bay trash free. I think we, as proud West Coast residents, can come up with a better name than “Mr. Trashwheel”. Since this project was dubbed the “Newport Beach Trash Interceptor Project (NBTIP), may we suggest “Tippy”?

Laguna Beach River Wave Bombing

We may have to add Laguna to the BBB coverage area as there always seems to be something fun, wacky, or dangerous going on there. Last week saw a situation that was a little bit of all three. Under certain conditions, like last week’s heavy rainfall, the sand berm separating the Aliso Creek from the ocean is breached, forming a temporary channel connecting the creek with the shore. When the flow is heavy enough, this causes the water to form an irresistibly ridable standing wave until the sandbar shifts and the berm is, uh, re-bermed. Last week’s rainfall caused just such a breach, forming a standing wave described by locals as “the biggest [they have] ever seen”. This unique geography has been the source of some contention in the past as beachgoers have sometimes dug holes in the berm to release the water and subsequent swell, which city officials say releases potentially contaminated creek water into the ocean at a higher rate. This has caused the city to issue citations for digging at the creek in the past, with a potential ordinance in the works for banning digging of any kind at the site. This makes last week’s natural break to be even more popular as wave riders seek to have a chance to (legally) ride the wave as long as they can. Check out full video courtesy of Beefs T.V. here.

Did you feel the Earthquake?

at ~1:03pm yesterday afternoon, a 4.1 magnitude earthquake struck in the mountains of Malibu Springs, with tremors felt as far north as LA and as far south as San Diego. While no major damage was reported, it is always a wakeup call to OC residents that the “big one” might be coming soon. While it may seem like there have been more earthquakes than usual this year, it is actually a quieter year for the state that sees 2-3 earthquakes in any given week. This is reminding us to need to re-stock our go-bag with wine and beans.

This Week:

• 🧑‍🌾 Tustin Farmers Market - Wed 3/12 9-1 - Info

• 🥬 Costa Mesa Farmers Market - Thu 3/13 - 9-1 - Info

• 🎎 MINISO Grand Opening - Tustin Marketplace - Fri 3/14 11am - Info

Upcoming:

• 🍕 Half-Off Pizzas - Stag Bar - Every Tuesday - Dine-in Only - Info

• 🧘‍♂️ Pre-Detox for St. Paddy’s Day (free yoga, Celtic Music, Clothing Swap, for those that like their granola Extra Crunchy)- The Camp - Fri 3/14 - Info

• ☘️ Luck of the Irish St. Paddy’s Day Pub Crawl - Pubs Various, NB - Sat 3/15 - Tickets

• 🎟️ Rent in Concert - Segerstrom Arts Center - Sat 3/15 7:30p - Tickets

• ⛳️ Hoag Classic Golf Tournament - Mar 19th-23rd - Tickets

• 🥫 St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Packing Party - Volunteer to help sort and pack food from the ongoing food drive in partnership with Project Hope Alliance - Sunday 3/23 11:45a - RSVP

• 🍣 Japanese Food and Culture Fest - OC Fairgrounds - April 4-6 - Tickets

• 🗝️ All-Island Garage Sale - Balboa Island - Saturday April 12th 7:30a-1p - 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

Monday

49🌡️ 63 I ☀️ I 0% Rain I 7mph 🌬️ 

Tuesday

51🌡️ 58 I 🌦️ I 65% Rain I 7mph 🌬️ 

Wednesday

52🌡️ 61 I 🌦️ I 50% Rain I 12mph 🌬️ 

Thursday

49🌡️ 55 I 🌧️ I 85% Rain I 21mph 🌬️ 

Water temp = 57º

• 📖 Balboa Preschool Storytime - Balboa Public Library - Tues 3/11 10:30-11a - Info

• 🍑 Baby Wearing Barre - Newport Peach - Wed 3/12 10am - Info

• 🎶 Little Lido Music Class with Zach Churchill - The Lido Deck (Lido Village) 3/13 10:30a

• ☘️ St. Paddy’s Day Crafts at Mariners Library - Thur 3/13 (all day) - Info

• 🤖 Createspace at Costa Mesa Donald Dungan - Thurs 3/12 - Info

PLAN AHEAD:

• 🎶 Little Lido Music Class with Zach Churchill - The Lido Deck (Lido Village) 3/13 10:30a

• 🧚 Free Fairy Broom Workshop - The Camp - Fri 3/14 3p - RSVP

• 🎶 Little Lido Music Class w/ Magic Steps - The Lido Deck (Lido Village) - 3/30 10:30a

Monday

• Comedy Night - The Harp Inn - 8pm - Tickets

• Casey Conley with Violet Iris and Kyrie Varieur - The Wayfarer - 7:30 - Tickets

Tuesday

• Singer Songwriter Night - The Harp Inn - 7pm - Tickets

• Vienna Philharmonic with Yannick Nézet-Séguin - Segerstrom - 8pm - Tickets

Wednesday

• Turbulence - The Wayfarer - 8pm - Tickets

Thursday

• Counterpunch with Versus The World, Taken Days, and Wes Hoffman & Friends - The Wayfarer - 7:45 - Tickets

Thanks! Please ignore any typos, our editor is still a little shaken up by that earthquake.