Hello Back Bay Bisous, happy Monday.
We sprang forward, and are still a little fuzzy. While Saturday shook a few branches loose with a high wind advisory, Sunday was warm and balmy whale watching weather. If you are into that kind of thing. Now that the clocks are reset, we are on track for bright summery evenings on the patio of our favorite restaurant, cafe or wine bar. Good thing we have a few of those around towns. And pack your sunscreen, its going to be a repeat low 80s this Friday.
To our new readers—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:
A Restaurant turns 100
OC Restaurant Week
Art and Play at OCMA
— Jon Dougher, Publisher, Back Bay Buzz
A Century of Flavor: Happy 100th to "A Restaurant"
What started in 1926 as a simple roadside diner named by a ten-year-old contest winner has officially hit its centennial. Originally known as The Arches—thanks to its iconic Mediterranean architecture—this Newport Beach landmark has evolved from a Prohibition-era gas station and cafe into the sophisticated steakhouse we now know as A Restaurant. Over the decades, it has hosted Hollywood royalty like Humphrey Bogart and John Wayne, secured the city's very first liquor license, and eventually transitioned into the hands of the River Jetty Restaurant Group. Today, partners McG and Jordan Otterbein are honoring that 100-year legacy by maintaining its status as a community cornerstone, serving up those famous Tuesday night chicken piccatas alongside a year-long celebration of "exciting announcements" and local philanthropy.
Newport Beach Restaurants Participating in OC Restaurant Week
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“There’s no crying on the Duffy”
UPCOMING:
Newport Needlepoint Club Meetup - Newport Needlepoint
“2026 is the year for Grandma hobbies”
Tuesdays 6-8pm
InfoTrivia Night - Bootlegger’s Brewery
Tuesdays 7-9pm
DirectionsFree Yoga Class - Seed Peoples Market
Wednesdays @ 10am
InfoBaby Goat Yoga - Tanaka Farms
Saturdays 10am (Hana Field)
InfoDate Night Couple Prixe Fixe - Lido Bottleworks
$150 per couple for OC Restaurant Week
March 8-14th
InfoLive Music, Free Yoga On the Green - The Camp
Saturday Mar 14th
10am-4pm
InfoFree Fitness Class: Intro to MELT Method - Newport Coast Community Center
Saturday Mar 14th
9am and 9:45am
Register (class code: NCC276 or NCC277)Overland Expo 2026 - OC Fairgrounds
March 14-15, Sat 9-5, Sun 9-4
InfoCottagecore Spring Faire - Woodbury Town Center (Irvine)
Saturday-Sunday Mar 14th & 15th
10am-4pm
InfoCalTrans Costa Mesa Virtual Public Meeting
Monday Mar 16th
6pm
InfoSpring Equinox - The Lab
Live music, good vibes
Friday Mar 20th
4-8pmSouthern Edge Sailing & Surf Film Showing - Daydream Surf Shop
Exploration of Tasmania, 50% of ticket sales donated to Surfrider Foundation
Saturday Mar 21st
6pm
InfoREDO Vintage Market - OC Fairgrounds
Fri-Sat Mar 20th-21
4pm-9pm, 9am-4pm
InfoBig Boat Show (NBIBS) - Lido Village
April 16th-19th
InfoRecord Store Day - Various Locations
Saturday Apr 18th
Check out all locations in The Back Bay Map RoomAirIWater Porsche Lifestyle Event - OC Fairgrounds
Saturday Apr 25th
9am-3pm
TicketsSongs in the Canyon - Canyon Park (Costa Mesa)
June 12-14
Info
WHAT’S GOING ON IN SOUTH OC?
Check out our great partner newsletter:
The man who was Thursday would like a word with our girl Friday…
🌊 Water temp = 60º
Suit Rec: Spring suit/Full suit 3/2, maybe booties (widdle puss in booties?)
THIS WEEK:
Barnyard Storytime at Tanaka Farms ($6/person, 2 and under free)
Tuesday, 10 March
10:30 am - 11:00 am
InfoFamily Game Night at Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library
Tuesday, 10 March
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
InfoArt + Play (ages 0-2) at OCMA Costa Mesa
Wednesday, 11 March
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
InfoFREE Seaside Kids Concert with Zach Churchill at Lido Marina Village
Thursday, 12 March
10:30 am - 11:15 am
InfoLittle Seedlings Storytime at Sherman Library and Gardens in Corona Del Mar
Friday, 13 March
10:00 am - 10:30 am
Info
Plan Ahead:
Critter investigations - Upper Newport Bay
3rd Wednesday of each month
10-11am
InfoStem Workshop - Carters x Kiwi Co. (Tustin Market Place)
Second Saturday of Every Month
10am -12pm
RSVPAquarium and Planetarium Open House - OCC
Free Planetarium shows and open aquarium walkthrough
Saturday Mar14th
12pm-4pm
InfoCottagecore Spring Faire - Woodbury Town Center (Irvine)
Saturday-Sunday Mar 14th & 15th
10am-4pm
InfoOC Uke Fest - Campus Jax
Sunday Mar 22nd
Info
Farmers Markets 🥬🥕:
Newport Pier Farmer’s Market
Costa Mesa - SOCO (Saturdays 9-2)
Corona Del Mar - PCH & Marguerite (Saturdays 9-1)
Newport Beach - Newport Pier (Sundays 9-1)
Newport Harbor - Dover Dr & 16th St (Saturdays 9am-1pm) Launching Spring 2026
🌴 Costa Mesa
Thanks! Please ignore any typos, our editor still looking for whales at the Dana Point Whale festival…
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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