Hey Back Bay Breezes, happy Friday!

Costa Mesa’s Eastside picked up a fish market and a brewery in the same week, which we’re choosing to read as the universe concluding Sober October early. Everywhere else it’s full Halloween lockdown — two separate Spooktaculars, a Trunk or Treat, a ghost hunt at Mariners Library, and a dog costume pop-up at The LAB. Water’s still 71º, so if the rain wrecks the costume, just call it a wetsuit.

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:

— Jon Dougher, Publisher, Back Bay Buzz

🍻 Fresh Fish, Fresh Pints & a Burger Break on the Eastside. Newport favorite Bear Flag Fish Co. has landed in Costa Mesa at 154 E. 17th St., in the former Santa Monica Seafood space, which closed in February after nearly 30 years. Expect the same fish they catch on their own boats, plus the poke, tacos, burritos and market counter locals already love. Their soft launch was on Monday and will be “opening soon” to the general public. Over at The LAB Anti-Mall, Long Beach’s Ambitious Ales opens its first Orange County taproom this Saturday, Oct. 24, at 11 a.m. The brewery is best known for its Great American Beer Festival gold-medal hazy IPA, Professional Human Being. The openings come as Matty’s Patty’s Burger Club, the smash-burger spot from celebrity chef Matty Matheson and RVCA founder Pat Tenore, announced it will pause operations at its Newport Boulevard location, where it has served burgers since December 2024. 🍔🐟🍺

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🌊 Water temp = 73º
Suit Rec: Summer suit

Thanks! Please ignore any typos, our editor got stuck behind the sand wall…

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