Hello Back Bay Beaus, happy Friday! We curate dozens of local newsletters, newspapers, blogs, facebook groups, venues and social media posts to find you the best things to do this weekend. It’s exhausting. We sift through the spammy clickbait and toenail fungal cream ads so you don’t have to. But every week we are reminded why Newport Beach and Costa Mesa are the best places to live in Orange County. Even if the parking is becoming non-existent. LOTS going on in the next few days. If you still come up empty-handed for a Father’s Day gift after this weekend’s pop-up markets, don’t blame us—we practically gift-wrapped the idea for you.

In today’s Buzz:

• Rye Goods opening in Costa Mesa

• Triangle Square Makes The Big Time

• Pop-ups on Pop-ups

— Jon Dougher, Publisher, Back Bay Buzz

Rye Goods Puts Final Touches on Costa Mesa Location

Founded in 2016 by self-taught baker Sara Lezama, Rye Goods began as a home-based operation in Tustin, California. Lezama transformed her garage into a professional kitchen, baking sourdough bread and pastries for local coffee shops and catering events. The bakery's foundation is a rye sourdough starter named "Winona Rye der," which Lezama received over two decades ago and continues to use in nearly all of their baked goods.

Rye Goods is renowned for its commitment to organic, locally sourced ingredients and traditional small-batch baking techniques. The bakery mills its own flours and sources heritage grains and wild yeast, emphasizing fresh, seasonal, and local produce in its offerings. Their menu includes a variety of rustic breads, pastries, sandwiches, and specialty coffee drinks .

After initially operating from Lezama's garage, Rye Goods expanded to a storefront at Lido Marina Village in Newport Beach. The success of this location led to further growth, with additional sites opening in Tustin and Laguna Beach.

Teasing a soft opening date “soon”, Rye Goods is set to open a new location at 234 E 17th Street, Suite 105, in Costa Mesa's Paseo 17 center. This expansion will replace the Lido Village location and will feature an expanded menu, including a deli and a curated organic wine bar. The Costa Mesa shop aims to provide a more spacious environment to accommodate the bakery's growing customer base and to enhance the overall dining experience.

Looking ahead, Lezama plans to continue expanding Rye Goods' presence, with aspirations to reach communities beyond Orange County. The bakery's dedication to quality, sustainability, and community engagement remains at the heart of its growth strategy.

Triangle Square Hits the Travel Channel Spotlight

Costa Mesa’s Triangle Square is stepping back into the limelight with a featured segment on the Travel Channel’s American Dream airing this Friday at 7 a.m. Hosted by local real estate agent and former House Hunters producer Holly McDonald, the 5-minute feature highlights the center’s recent revival and growing popularity. Viewers will get a glimpse inside buzzy tenants like Westwood Coast—an upscale Western steakhouse and lounge with country line dancing—as well as Prince Street Pizza, La Vida Cantina, Cafe Sevilla, and Tavern & Bowl. Once a crown jewel of Costa Mesa, Triangle Square is undergoing a renaissance, and this national exposure aims to showcase the vibrant, modern experience now offered at the fully-leased 200,000-square-foot complex

📺️ WHAT TO WATCH 📺️ 

HBO to HBO Max to Max and now back to HBO Max. Whatever. We are just excited for Duster (MAX) the network’s newest series starring Josh Holloway. Fun Fact: we named our dog after Holloway’s character in LOST. Actually, we named our other dog after a LOST character too. God, we miss that show. Anyways, here is what else we are bingeing this weekend:

• Hurry Up Tomorrow. The Weeknd goes dark. Like real dark. (Theaters)

• Duster. Sawyer from LOST kicks butt and takes names. (Max)

• Murderbot. Space hippies? (AppleTV+)

• Bad Thoughts. Tom Segura let his intrusive thoughts win. Make sure the kids are in bed before flipping this one on. (Netflix)

• The Quilters. Inside the sewing room at South Central Correctional Center. (Netflix)

• Welcome to Wrexham, season four premiere. (FX, Hulu)

• The Preakness. (NBC, Peacock)

• PGA Championship. (CBS, ESPN)

—WHAT TO DO—

• Swap Some Parts: Sand Sports Super Swap - OC Fairgrounds - Sat 5/17 8am-2pm - Info

• Patronize the Arts: 30th Annual Balboa Island Artwalk - Balboa Island - Sun 5/18 - 9am-5pm - Info

• Find your Zen: Free outdoor yoga class - Irvine Spectrum - Sat 5/17 9am-10am - RSVP

• Find your Ohana: Aloha Summer Market - Westcliff Plaza (NB) - Sat 5/17 10a-4pm - Info

• Meet your Maker(s Market): DAYDREAM Surf Shop will host a makers market with food by Ahba, drinks by Semi Tropic Wines and music by Joey Trio - Info

• Get Railed: Rails x LSPACE ‘Playa Del Sol’ Launch Party at Fashion Island - Sat 5/17 - 11am-3pm - First Look: Be the first to shop the Rails x LSPACE ‘Playa Del Sol’ Collection, available for a limited time at Rails and LSPACE Fashion Island Stores.

  • Don’t Forget the champagne: Fashion Island Garden Sips Chandon Pop-up goes til May 28th

• Farmers Market Sunday: Newport Beach Pier - Sun 5/18 - 9am-1pm

UPCOMING:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Friday

60🌡️ 66 I ⛅️ I 9% Rain I 🌬️ ↗️SSW 11mph

Saturday

59🌡️ 64 I 🌥️ I 24% Rain I 🌬️ ⬆️ S 12mph

Sunday

59🌡️ 66 I ⛅️ I 4% Rain I 🌬️ ⬆️S 11mph

🌊 Water temp = 62º

This Weekend:

• Newport Dunes Outdoor Summer Movies (Free Except for Parking) - Fri 5/16 7pm-9pm - Info

• Kids' Entrepreneur Day in Woodbridge Irvine - Sat 5/17 10am-4pm - Info

• Field of Honor at Castaways Park Newport Beach - Sat 5/17-5/26 - Info

• UPDATED LOCATION: Touch A Truck - Peninsula Park Newport Beach - Sat May 17th 9am - 12pm (consider going early to avoid the crowds/parking) - Info

• Community Day @ Back Bay Science Center - Sun 5/18 10-2pm - Info

• $6 Movie Day at Triangle Square Starlight Cinemas (Harbor & Newport Blvd, Costa Mesa) - Sunday til 6pm

PLAN AHEAD:

• PlayPie Coming Soon to Irvine - Info

Friday

• Yachty by Nature - Tiki Bar - 7pm - Tickets

Saturday

• Them Evils and The Alive with Spliffriff and Gearheart - Wayfarer - 8pm - Tickets

• Inna Vision - Tiki Bar - 7pm - Tickets

Sunday

• Comedy Night Featuring Jenny Zigrino, Sean White, Maggie Maye, Keith Carey - Wayfarer - 7pm - Tickets

Plan Ahead:

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

• Audio Bomb - Tiki Bar - Fri 5/23 7pm - 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 sprained his wrist playing with the office golden retriever (Hurley, from Lost)

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!