Happy Monday, Back Bay-bes! Hope your holiday brunch was delicious and your sunny Easter weekend breezy enough to forget how much you spent on eggs. Next stop: Mother's Day. But first—plenty of Earth Day happenings and springtime fun popping up across our sister cities.

In today’s Buzz:

• Costa Mesa Approves another dispensary

• Crazed sea lion chases surfers

• Date Night @ IKEA

• Post Easter Detox activities

— Jon Dougher, Publisher, Back Bay Buzz

Costa Mesa Approves 30th Dispensary

Costa Mesa residents and business owners are raising concerns about cannabis oversaturation after the Planning Commission narrowly approved a new dispensary, Green Mart, in a 3-2 vote. The city is nearing its 35-store cap, with 30 cannabis permits either approved or in progress, and only 12 storefronts currently open.

The permit approval is now under appeal, and City Council will decide Tuesday whether to uphold it or reject the plan based on complaints from nearby property owners. Concerns include traffic, parking, delivery logistics, and incompatibility with neighboring businesses and residences.

Costa Mesa legalized retail cannabis in 2020 and established the 35-store limit in 2024. While proponents point to increased tax revenue funding public safety and youth programs, critics argue the concentration of shops risks disrupting community balance.

Green Mart’s developers say the dispensary will be well-run and community-focused, but nearby property managers question whether yet another cannabis storefront—especially one across from an existing one—is necessary in an already crowded zone. They have already missed a golden opportunity with a name like “Green Mart”. They should have gone with “Highkea”, “Spliffany & Co.” or our editors personal favorite: “Dank of America”.

Crazed Sea lion Attacks Surfers in Newport

listen, we don’t really report on crime here at the BBB. However, we make an exception for interspecies violence. Surfers at a popular Newport Beach break were chased ashore this won Friday—not by waves, but by a sea lion suffering from domoic acid poisoning. The disoriented animal repeatedly charged beachgoers, a troubling sign of a worsening toxic algae bloom along the Southern California coast.

The Marine Mammal Care Center says it’s overwhelmed with sick animals impacted by the bloom, now in its ninth week. The crisis has already killed two whales, numerous dolphins, and thousands of sea birds and sea lions. Experts say this year’s bloom is far worse than anything seen in the past three years.

“These domoic acid events are getting bigger, worse, and more frequent,” said John Warner, CEO of the Marine Mammal Care Center.

Adding to the problem is saxitoxin—another neurotoxin causing seizures, brain damage, and unusual aggression in marine mammals. The sea lion in Newport was later euthanized after vets deemed it beyond recovery.

This Week:

• Trivia and Taco Tuesday - Wayfarer - Tue 4/22 7pm - Info

• Sundown Social (hosted by Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce) - Kenwoods Kitchen and Tap - Wed 4/23 5:30-7:30pm - Info

• Date Night @ IKEA (18+) - Costa Mesa - Thu 4/24 5:30-8pm - (Note: it looks like you need to both RSVP online, then buy your tickets in person at the Swedish Cafe at IKEA) - Info

UPCOMING:

• Fourth Fridays Vintage Market - Lido Village - Fri 4/25th 12-5pm - Info

• Sugar Paper Chainstitch Event - Lido Village - Sat 4/26 11-3pm - Info

• South Coast Plaza Garden Show - South Coast Plaza - Fri 4/25-4/28 - Info

• Newport to Ensenada Yacht Race - 4/25-4/27 - Info

• Spring Herb Garden Workshop with French Buckets - Lido Village - Sun 4/27 11-12:30pm - 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

• Mother's Day Marketplace - Lido Village - Sat 5/10 10-4pm - Info

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

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

Monday

56🌡️ 64 I ⛅️ I 12% Rain I 🌬️ SW 11mph

Tuesday

57🌡️ 64 I ⛅️ I 23% Rain I 🌬️ SSW 12mph

Wednesday

57🌡️ 63 I ⛅️ I 18% Rain I 🌬️ SSW 12mph

Thursday

56🌡️ 63 I 🌥️ I 5% Rain I 🌬️ S 11mph

🌊 Water temp = 60º

This Week:

• Earth Day Planting in Decorated Pots - Costa Mesa Mesa Verde Library - Tues 4/22 4-5pm - Info

• Family Bingo - NB Central Library - Tues 4/22 4-5pm - Info

• Corona Del Mar Songs and Stories - NB Central Library - Fri 10:30-11am - Info

PLAN AHEAD:

• The Gruffalo's Child (Play) - Seagerstrom - 4/26-27th - Tickets

• High School Internship at the Sherman Library & Gardens Application Due Date - CDM - Wed 4/30 - Info

• Touch A Truck - Irvine Great Park - Sat May 17th 2pm - Tickets

Monday

• Dinerboy with Tables Turned, Bayonette, Hartsale - Wayfarer - 7:30pm -

  Tickets

Tuesday

• Concordia University Commercial Music Concert - Campus JAX - 7pm - Reservations

Wednesday

• Tricia Freeman & Friends - Campus JAX - 6:30pm - Reservations

Thursday

• Thee Almighty Majestics with Ground Whiskers, The Real Big Bad - Wayfarer - 8pm - Tickets

• 60s vs 70s - Tiki Bar - 7pm - Tickets

• Ryan DeWeese and His RAD Jazz Orchestra - Campus JAX - 7pm - Reservations

Plan Ahead:

• Ben Folds (That Ben Folds?) - Seagerstrom - 4/25-4/26 8pm - Tickets

• Emo Nite - Time Nightclub (Costa Mesa) Thurs 4/24 10pm - Tickets

• It Was Never a Phase (Emo Tribute Fest) - Newport Beach Peninsula - Sat 5/10 - Info

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

Thanks! Please ignore any typos, our editor nearly died laughing at his own “Dank of America” joke.