Rooftop Bar coming to Mariner's Mile

New ARC in NB, Good Boys at Almond Surf, Last Chance for Summer Concerts

Hello Back Bay bonbons, happy Friday!

We hope you had a nice short week. The humidity has dropped a scootch, making the 80° days more bearable as we head into a high 70s weekend. We know it still feels like summer (and it is), but we had to add upcoming pumpkin patches opening this month in OC. Dog friendly meetups, DJs and night markets combine for a great little weekend to kick off September. Cheers!

CORRECTION: The Hazmat scare in CDM was previously reported to be a chlorine gas leak, but it was in fact a mixture of ammonia and chlorine bleach, a potentially fatal combination.

To the 100ish 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:

  • Rooftop Bar Coming to Mariner’s Mile

  • Good Boy Social Club @ Almond Surf

  • Sunset Sessions @ Milligram

  • Pumpkin Patches Opening in OC

Jon Dougher, Publisher, Back Bay Buzz

ARC Carne & Cantina Coming to Mariners’ Mile

Newport Beach’s Planning Commission has given the green light to ARC Carne & Cantina, a new three-story restaurant with rooftop dining set for 2902 West Coast Highway. The project, backed by local restaurateurs Noah and Marin Blom (of ARC Butcher & Baker and ARC Food & Libations), promises a high-end Mexican and Central/South American concept designed as both a community gathering spot and a catalyst for the corridor.

Plans call for a 6,874-square-foot buildout featuring a ground-floor dining room, mezzanine bar, and a 1,700-square-foot rooftop complete with an oyster bar and ocean views. Parking will be handled with a mix of on-site and valet spaces, and city staff said traffic impacts will be minimal. While a few neighbors raised concerns about rooftop noise and parking overflow, commissioners emphasized that the restaurant is not a bar—no live entertainment or amplified sound is planned—and that ambient PCH traffic will likely drown out any chatter.

The commission voted unanimously in favor, praising the project’s design, local ownership, and ability to reenergize Mariners’ Mile with a new destination dining spot. It is about time Starfish had some competition.

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WEEKEND REC:

The Fowl Italiano at Crack Shack

Your beach body can wait, winter is coming…

  • Porron Society Pickup - Semi Tropic Wines
    (I/we/our editor doesn’t know what a porron is and at this point we are afraid to ask…)
    Friday
    Info

  • Sunset Sessions: Aaron Tebay - Milligram CM
    Fri Sep 5
    5:30-7:30pm
    Info

  • After Hours in the Garden at Sherman Library and Gardens in Corona Del Mar

    Friday, 05 September

    5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
    Info

  • Makers Hive Market - The Camp
    Sat Sep 6th
    11-4pm
    Info

  • School Spirit Weekend - Buffalo Exchange (The Lab)
    Sat Sep 6th- Sun Sep 7th
    Info

  • Canines & Coffee - Almond Surf
    Dog-centric meetup hosted by Good Boys Social Club
    Sat Sep 6th
    9-12pm
    Info

  • Songs of Summer After Party Singalong - Wayfarer CM
    Hosted by Beer & Hymns OC
    Sunday Sep 7th
    Info

  • 626 Night Market at OC Fair and Event Center

    Fri-Sunday, 5th-7th September

    4:00 pm - 11:00 pm
    Info

UPCOMING:

  • REDO Vintage Market - OC Fairgrounds
    Sep 12-13th
    Info

  • Pacific Wine and Food Classic - Newport Dunes

    Sat Sep 20th 1pm-5pm

    Tickets

  • Art in the Park - Newport Beach Civic Center Green
    Live Music, Artwork, Sculpture, food & wine pavilion, kids activity
    Sat Sep 20th 10-5pm
    Info

  • Sparks & S’mores - Urban Workshop Costa Mesa
    free s’mores, blacksmithing
    Monday Sep 22nd
    6pm-9pm
    RSVP

  • Art Walk - The Camp
    Fri Sep 26th
    4-8pm
    Info

  • Chili Cook Off - Estancia Park (CM)
    Sun Sep 28th
    11am-4pm
    Info

  • Newport Beach Volleyball Invitational - NB
    October 7-11
    Info

WHAT’S GOING ON IN SOUTH OC?

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The Scene: South OCSign up for a curated roundup of hidden patio bars, best happy hours, secret gardens, local trails and everything worth doing in South OC all with minimal driving! 📬 Join the list for weekly picks.

South Coast SwellYour free weekly newsletter covering the best of San Clemente, Dana Point & San Juan Capistrano.

FRIDAY
66🌡️ 76 I 🌤️ I 14% Rain I 🌬️ ➡️ SW 10mph

SATURDAY
67🌡️ 76 I 🌤️ I 12% Rain I 🌬️ ➡️ SW 10mph

SUNDAY
68🌡️ 79 I 🌤️ I 7% Rain I 🌬️ ➡️ SW 10mph

🌊 Water temp = 71º
Suit Rec: Shorty

THIS WEEKEND:

  • Midnight Market Halloween Boutique at Rogers Gardens
    All Week

    9:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Info

  • After Hours in the Garden at Sherman Library and Gardens in Corona Del Mar

    Friday, 05 September

    5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
    Info

  • $5 Games and Inflatable Slides at The Layover in the Great Park (Irvine)
    Saturday, 06 September

    10:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Info

  • Barnes and Noble Storytime at Fashion Island

    Saturday, 06 September

    11:30 am - 12:00 pm
    info

  • Biodiversity Bash at Back Bay Science Center

    Saturday, 06 September

    1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
    Info

  • Public Tour of Orange County Museum of Art

    Sunday, 07 September

    1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
    Info

  • 626 Night Market at OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa

    Fri-Sunday, 5th-7th September

    4:00 pm - 11:00 pm
    Info

Farmers Markets 🥬🥕:

Costa Mesa - SOCO (Saturdays 9-2)

Corona Del Mar - PCH & Marguerite (Saturdays 9-1)

Newport Beach - Newport Pier (Sunday 9-1)

OC Pumpkin Patches 🎃 👻 

Irvine Park Railroad
Opens September 13
Reservations required on weekends

Tanaka Farms
Opens September 13

Hana Field
Opens September 27
Closed on Mondays

Hana Field, 2021 (colorized)

FAMILY PLAN AHEAD:

  • School for Scallywags - Ocean Institute (Dana Point)
    “…master maritime skills, and find out if you have what it takes to become a true pirate”
    Sat-Sun Aug 13th-14th
    9:15am, 11:15am, 12:15pm
    Info

  • REDO Vintage Market in Costa Mesa ($10-$20)

    Saturday, 13 September

    9:00 am - 4:00 pm
    Info

  • Little Lido Kids Club: Music Class with Magic Steps - Lido Village
    Thurs Sep 18th
    10:30am
    RSVP

  • $5 Movies at AMC - AMC Tustin, Irvine
    “Get a steal of a deal on tickets to some of your favorite past animated films every week with Summer Movie Camp, now through 8/13”
    Info


  • Art Walk - The Camp
    Fri Sep 26th
    4-8pm
    Info

Bands in Town(s):

🏙️ Costa Mesa – August 25th–29th, 2025

  • Cerebellion, Stronger Than Machines, Tornadic, Villisa - Friday 6pm

  • Death Cab for Karaoke - Sat 9pm

  • Live Forever - Fri 7pm

  • Jon Nichols Band - Sat 7pm

  • Sunglasses at Night Band - Sat 8:30pm

🌊 Newport Beach – August 25th–29th, 2025

  • Chicago Tribute Experience - Sat 8:30pm

  • Julie Morimoto and Her Jammin Big Band - Sunday 6:30pm

  • Lauren Black (Lido Deck) - Sat 12pm

  • Alex Maes (Lido Deck) - Sun 12pm

*Have a band or music venue you want featured? Email [email protected]

🎵 ⏩️ PLAN AHEAD

  • Young the Giant - Pac Amp - Fri Sep 12th

  • ZZ TOP - FOGHAT - Pacific Ampitheatre - Sat Aug 30th - Tickets

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

Thanks! Please ignore any typos, our editor is busy arguing about the differences between a ‘panaché’ lager’, a radler, and a shandy. We told him there isn’t one. This is not the first time he has threatened to quit.

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!

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