Time sure flies when you are scouring 47 different news sites, forums, magazines and social media 24/7 to get the best and latest content for you all. We have prepped our beach day gear go-bag for when the weather warms up and are filling our calendar with all the upcoming spring to-do’s in OC. Also, Did anyone grab a rib at Harper Barbecue’s grand opening on Thursday??

In today’s Buzz:

• The Chick-Fil-a on Newport Blvd will be drive-thru-less

• Cooler weather inbound

• The Easter Activities have just begun

• Updated “Plan Ahead” Events

PS: Please respond to this email with your favorite April-Fools prank!

— Jon Dougher, Publisher, Back Bay Buzz

The Chick-fil-a on Newport Blvd Will Open Soon, No Drive-Thru

Despite REPEATED requests for a grand opening date for the newest Chick-fil-a in Costa Mesa, the owner-operators of the location could not be reached for comment. However, we can confirm that the new location on the corner of Newport Blvd and 17th will be without a drive-thru, in direct competition with Trader Joes two blocks down for the city’s prestigious “hairiest parking award”. While the actual venue will retain most of the parking space left to it by the Outback Steakhouse (RIP 🥹), the actual getting-to the parking lot is going to be difficult, given the intersection of 17th and Newport is one of the busiest intersections in central OC. Come summer, hungry groms, sunburnt tourists, and every Inland Empire kook with a surfboard will clog this intersection tighter than our editor’s vena cava after the grand opening. At least we can look forward to quiet Sundays. We will keep you posted if/when the grand opening date is finally announced. In the meantime, join us for a Spa Day and a cookie at Crack Shack.

 📺️ What to Watch 📺️ 

The memes blooming from this season of White Lotus are single-handedly reviving our spirits this spring. While decidedly NSFW, the endlessly quotable Parker Posey and her scene-stealing husband, Lucius Malfoy—sorry, Jason Isaacs—have quickly ascended into TV infamy, at least until our collective short-term memory falters again. Meanwhile, Walton Goggins and Patrick Schwarzenegger prove that the right show can resuscitate careers—assuming viewers can think of Schwarzenegger junior without immediately recalling his recent... indiscretion. Here’s what else to binge this weekend:

• The Studio - Mad Men meets Entourage meets The Office. This show is laugh out loud funny y’all (AppleTV+)

• Holland - Starring Nicole Kidman and Matthew Macfadyen (Tom from Succession). (Prime)

• Death of a Unicorn - A24’s deliciously weird thriller with an incredibly stacked cast. (Theaters)

• A Working Man - Jason Statham Jason Statham-ing. (Theaters)

• The Woman in the Yard - For you thrill seekers. (Theaters)

• Side Quest - From the world of Mythic Quest. (Appletv+)

• Sweet 16/Elite 8 - You know what to do. (CBS, TBS and truTV)

—What to Do—

• Have a Laugh - Laughin’ in Costa Mesa Comedy Show - Moongoat Coffee Roasters - Saturday 3/29 7:30pm

• CDM High School Car Show - Sun 3/30 9a-11a  - Info

• OUTDOOR YOGA AT THE CAMP (fonts a little aggressive, no?) - Friday 3/28 - 9am-11am - Info

• Fourth Fridays Vintage Market on the Lido Deck - Lido Village - Fri 3/28 12-5pm - Info

• Get Your Sweat On - TURF led fitness session at VEA Newport Beach - Sat 3/29 8:30am-11:30am - RSVP

• 🍷 OC Wine & Food Festival - (not to be confused with the OC Wine Fest, see below) - Laguna Beach - Sat 3/29 3-6pm - Info

• Community Day at Back Bay Science Center - Sun 3/30 10a-2p - Info

• Get a complementary monogram at Eberjey - Lido Village - Sat 3/29 12-6pm - Info

UPCOMING:

• 🐰 Easter Bunny @ the Atrium Lawn - Fashion Island - 3/21-4/19 Mo-Sun 11am - Info

• Farmers Market Pop-up - The Lab - Fri 4/4 10-2pm - Info

• 🎧️ Silent Disco(chella) - Seagerstrom - Sat 4/4 7pm - Info

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

• 🍷 OC Wine Fest (21+) - OC Fairgrounds (The Hangar) - Sat 4/12-Sun 4/13 - Tickets

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

• Air | Water Porsche Experience - OC Fairgrounds - Sat 4/26

• 🌎️ Earth Day Festival - Costa Mesa City Hall - Sat 4/26 10am-2pm - 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

• 🏃 OC Marathon - OC Fairgrounds - Sat-Sun 5/3-5/4

• Newport Beach TV Fest - June 5-8 - Info

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

Friday

56🌡️ 62 I ⛅️ I 20% Rain I 10mph 🌬️ 

Saturday

55🌡️ 62 I ⛅️ I 10% Rain I 10mph 🌬️ 

Sunday

57🌡️ 61 I ⛅️ I 20% Rain I 8mph 🌬️ 

🌊 Water temp = 57º

• 🩰 Ballet Playdate at Tutu School Newport Beach - Friday 3/28 3:30pm-4:30 PM - Info  

• Little Seedlings Storytime - Sherman Library and Gardens (CDM) - Fri 3/28 10-10:30am - Info

• Community Day at Back Bay Science Center - Sun 3/30 10a-2p - Info

• Color Rush! - Capture the Flag - Downtown Rec Center - Sun 3/30 12pm-3pm - Info

PLAN AHEAD:

• Bike Skills Workshop w/ Bike Course & Free Helmets - Sat 4/5 10am-2pm - Info

• Little Lido Kids Club: Music Class with Zach Churchill - The Lido Deck (Lido Village) - Thurs 3/27 10:30a

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

• Spring Camp Costa Mesa - Balearic Community Center - 4/7-4/11 - Info

• Spring Hootenanny (Fundraiser for Little Folk House) - Saturday 4/12 10-11am - Info

• Springfest 2025 (A (Easter?) Pirate Adventure) - Lions Park - Sat 4/19 10a-2p - Info

Friday

• Live Music on the Lido Deck: Zach Churchill - Lido Deck - 12pm

• Lioneer with The Mercy Stone and Rome Apart - Wayfarer - 6pm

  • Sega Genecide - 10pm

Saturday

• Boys in Shorts - Tiki Bar (Costa Mesa) - 7pm - Tickets

• Big Fun with Shock Therapy, Con, Mom and the Mailman - Wayfarer - 8pm

Sunday

• Sunday Night Karaoke with Bobby Vegas - Wayfarer - 10pm

Plan Ahead:

• Chelsey Sanchez (Acoustic) - The Camp (courtyard) - Wed 4/16 11am-1pm

Thanks! Please ignore any typos, our editor fell off a ladder prepping an ill-conceived and needlessly elaborate April Fool’s prank.