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- Rooftop Bar coming to Mariner's Mile
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
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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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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
InfoSunset Sessions: Aaron Tebay - Milligram CM
Fri Sep 5
5:30-7:30pm
InfoAfter Hours in the Garden at Sherman Library and Gardens in Corona Del Mar
Friday, 05 September
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
InfoMakers Hive Market - The Camp
Sat Sep 6th
11-4pm
InfoSchool Spirit Weekend - Buffalo Exchange (The Lab)
Sat Sep 6th- Sun Sep 7th
InfoCanines & Coffee - Almond Surf
Dog-centric meetup hosted by Good Boys Social Club
Sat Sep 6th
9-12pm
InfoSongs of Summer After Party Singalong - Wayfarer CM
Hosted by Beer & Hymns OC
Sunday Sep 7th
Info626 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
InfoPacific Wine and Food Classic - Newport Dunes
Sat Sep 20th 1pm-5pm
Art in the Park - Newport Beach Civic Center Green
Live Music, Artwork, Sculpture, food & wine pavilion, kids activity
Sat Sep 20th 10-5pm
InfoSparks & S’mores - Urban Workshop Costa Mesa
free s’mores, blacksmithing
Monday Sep 22nd
6pm-9pm
RSVPArt Walk - The Camp
Fri Sep 26th
4-8pm
InfoChili Cook Off - Estancia Park (CM)
Sun Sep 28th
11am-4pm
InfoNewport Beach Volleyball Invitational - NB
October 7-11
Info
WHAT’S GOING ON IN SOUTH OC?
Check out our great partner newsletters:
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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 Week9:00 am - 6:00 pm
InfoAfter 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 September10:00 am - 5:00 pm
InfoBarnes and Noble Storytime at Fashion Island
Saturday, 06 September
11:30 am - 12:00 pm
infoBiodiversity Bash at Back Bay Science Center
Saturday, 06 September
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
InfoPublic Tour of Orange County Museum of Art
Sunday, 07 September
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Info626 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 Tanaka Farms Hana Field | ![]() 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
InfoREDO Vintage Market in Costa Mesa ($10-$20)
Saturday, 13 September
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
InfoLittle 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”
InfoArt 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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