Hello Back Bay, Harbor, Heights, Cliffs, Bluffs, Castaways, Coast, CDM, Eastside, Westside, & Monticello (did we miss anyone?) & happy Monday. If you are new here, The Back Bay Buzz is dedicated to bringing you just the right amount of news and events for locals of Newport Beach and Costa Mesa. The spirits are high this week as we descend into warmer weather (OC Register is calling it a ‘heatwave’). This is our official reminder to book that restaurant for Memorial Day Weekend brunch before it’s fully booked.

In today’s Buzz:

• Season Starts at the Wedge

• OC Fair opens the Ranch

• Plan Ahead for Memorial Day Weekend

— Jon Dougher, Publisher, Back Bay Buzz

The Season Kicks Off at the Wedge

🔗 It was a powerful beginning to surfing this season at The Wedge on the Balboa Peninsula, with regular waves over 12 feet on the face. A balanced array of surfers and boogie boarders took advantage of the opportunities. Surfing photos by Lawrence Sherwin. Click here for full gallery.

OC Fairgrounds Debuts New Ranch Community Center with Discovery Day

After more than a year in the works, the OC Fair & Event Center officially opened its new Ranch Community Center this week with a lively Discovery Day event. Over 500 local kids were invited to explore the equestrian-themed space, meet horses, and engage with hands-on exhibits about agriculture, animal care, and Orange County’s rich ranching history.

Highlights included mounted demos by the OC Sheriff’s Department and California State Guard, pettable ponies from Tanaka Farms, and equine therapy insights from nonprofit Walk Intuit. Kids enjoyed bunny and llama encounters, stick-horse rodeos, and hay bale photo ops. The event also marked a return to riding lessons, now led by trainer Sara Zomo of Zequestrian Riding Academy.

“This is exactly what we envisioned,” said outgoing CEO Michele Richards. “It’s the next chapter in agricultural education here at the fairgrounds.” Click here for full article (🔺paywall)

THIS WEEK:

• Trivia Night - Crack Shack - Tue 5/20 - Info

• Farmers Market + Kids Eat Free + Free Farm in Costa Mesa
  Thursday, 22 May

  9:00 am - 1:00 pm

• 💘 IKEA Date Night - Costa Mesa IKEA - Thu 5/22 6-7:30 - Info

UPCOMING:

• Newport Dunes Waterpark Opens for the Season
  The Inflatable Aquatic Park opens on Friday, May 23! You can reserve your time on the aquatic park or water sports rentals in advance to guarantee your fun during the busy weekend. INFO

• Newport Beach Wine & Spirits Festival - Balboa Bay Resort - Fri 5/23 - Sun 5/25 - 1-5pm - Info

• Silent Disco at Irvine Spectrum
  Saturday, 24 May

  6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
  Info

• Scottish Fest - OC Fairgrounds - Sat 5/24-5/25 9am-5:30pm - Tickets

• Spring Social Luncheon hosted by the Costa Mesa Historical Society - Costa Mesa Women’s Club - Sat 5/24 11am-1pm - Tickets

• Beach Cleanup - Tower 71, Newport Beach - Sat 5/24 8-12pm - Info

• Memorial Day Live Music - The Lab - Mon 5/26 12-2pm - Info

• Community Dinner - The Camp - Thu 5/29 6-9pm - Tickets

• Newport Beach Jazz Festival - Hyatt Regency NB - May 30th -Jun 1st 11am-11pm - Tickets

• 626 Night Market - OC Fairgrounds - May 30-Jun 1 4pm-11pm - Tickets

• Balboa Island Parade - Balboa Island - Sun 6/1 11am - Info

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

• Wooden Boat Festival - Balboa Yacht Club - Jun 13-14th - Info

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

Monday

62🌡️ 6 I ⛅️ I 7% Rain I 🌬️ ↗️SW 10mph

Tuesday

62🌡️ 72 I ☀️ I 6% Rain I 🌬️ ↗️ SW 10mph

Wednesday

64🌡️ 73 I ☀️ I 3% Rain I 🌬️ ↗️SSW 9mph

Thursday

64🌡️ 73 I ⛅️ I 3% Rain I 🌬️ ↗️SSW 9mph

🌊 Water temp = 62º

This Week:

• Watercraft STEAM Lab at Newport Beach Central Library
  Tuesday, 20 May

  4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
  Info

• Kids Club Craft at IKEA Costa Mesa
  Wednesday, 21 May

  5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
  Info

• Critter Investigation: Turkey Vultures in Newport Beach
  Wednesday, 21 May

  10:00 am - 11:00 am
  RSVP

• Little Lido Storytime at Lido Village Books
  Thursday, 22 May

  10:00 am - 10:45 am
  RSVP

• Newport Beach Preschool Storytime at Central Library
  Thursday, 22 May

  10:30 am - 11:00 am
  Info

• Mamas and Matcha Beach Workout in Newport Beach
  Friday, 23 May

  9:30 am - 10:30 am
  Info

PLAN AHEAD:

• Live Music, Food Trucks, and Waveless Beach at Newport Dunes
  Friday, 23 May

  5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
  Info

• Reading in the Redwoods in Newport Beach ($5-$7 - Registration Required)
  Saturday, 24 May

  10:00 am - 11:30 am
  Info
  

• OC Fair Hiring Event
  Perfect for students or recent grads! - Sat 5/31 - Info

• PlayPie Coming Soon to Irvine - Info

Monday

• Tequila, Tequila - Wayfarer - Monday 5/19 - 8pm - Tickets

Tuesday

• Mt. San Antonio College presents Singcopation - Campus JAX - 7pm - Tickets 

Wednesday

• Human Impact with CNTS and Sorry Baby - Wayfarer - 7pm - Tickets

Thursday

• The Grinns with Happy Rabbit, American Woman, Tunnels - Wayfarer - 7pm - Tickets

• Switch Crooks - Tiki Bar - 7pm - Tickets

• Jamie Shew - Spicy, Classy, (and a little) Sassy! Album Release Party - Campus JAX - 7pm - Tickets

🎵 PLAN AHEAD:

• Dig with Devon Thompson and Bloody Love Affair - Wayfarer - Fri 5/23 6:45 - Tickets

• Memorial Day Live Music - The Lab - Monday, 5/26 - 12PM-2PM - Info
  

• Audio Bomb - Tiki Bar - Fri 5/23 7pm - Tickets

• Fu Manchu with O Zorn! - Wayfarer Sun 5/24 9pm - Tickets

• Jimmys Buffet - The Hangar (OC FAIR) - July 20th 7:15 - Tickets

• Fitz and The Tantrums + Aloe Blacc - Pacific Ampitheater - July 25th - 6:30pm - Tickets

• Ellis Bullard - Wayfarer Fri 7/18 7pm - Info

• BECK - Pacific Ampitheatre - Wed 7/30 7:30pm - Tickets

Thanks! Please ignore any typos, our editor is recovering after looking a gift horse in the mouth…

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!