Hello Back Bay Bogans, Happy Monday.

It is the week between Christmas and NYE, what is time? Who are we? There are still a few things to wrap up before we begin the year fresh. The adult activities are light this week, but there are quite a few family friendly events around the towns. Hope you have some more PTO to cash in before the new year takes us by storm (literally).

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:

• Fashion Island Theater to be replaced by condos

• NB gets a new mayor

• Last minute NYE recs

— Jon Dougher, Publisher, Back Bay Buzz

Regal Theater to (Maybe) be Demolished for Luxury Condos

Two new luxury condo towers just got floated for Newport Center, and if they happen, they’d likely become the tallest housing project in the Fashion Island area. Irvine-based Related California sent the city a Nov. 4 proposal to demolish the existing buildings at 300 and 210 Newport Center Drive, including the Regal Edwards Big Newport movie theater, and replace them with two residential high-rises (18 and 21 stories) totaling 140 for-sale condos plus a 280-space parking structure.

This comes as Newport Center is one of the areas Newport Beach is planning to rezone for more housing under California’s state mandates, with the city approving zoning capacity for 2,439 new units in the district, but Related’s letter doesn’t say whether these 140 condos count toward that requirement and it notes the units would be market-rate only, as being poor is simply not allowed on the Island. We will keep you updated as the story develops.

New Year, New Mayor for Newport

At the final Newport Beach City Council meeting of the year (Tuesday, Dec. 9), the council did its annual shuffle and picked new leadership for 2026.

Lauren Kleiman was unanimously elected Mayor, and Noah Blom was elected Mayor Pro Tem in a close 4–3 vote over Robyn Grant.

Outgoing Mayor Joe Stapleton wrapped up his year with a thank-you tour of City Hall staff, first responders, and residents, plus a few fun stats from his term (Joe signed 100 eggs for the Mayor’s Egg Race, which is harder than it looks).

Kleiman said 2026 will focus on the basics: productive council meetings, tangible outcomes for taxpayers, and protecting what makes Newport Newport. She flagged a few priorities, including website upgrades, stronger community outreach, public safety, customer service, and better wireless coverage around the city.

As an attorney, businesswoman and mother, Lauren joked she’ll try to keep the household running too.

THIS WEEK:

• Comedy Night - The Harp Inn
  Monday Dec 29th 8pm
  Info

• Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert - Segerstrom Concert Hall
  Tuesday Dec 30th @ 8pm
  Tickets

• NYE Bar Crawl - Stag Bar
  Wednesday Dec 31st @ 6pm - Late
  Tickets

• Irish New Years Eve (4pm) - Harp Inn
  “It’s Midnight on the The Auld Sod, love…”
  Wednesday Dec 31st @ 4pm
  Info
  

UPCOMING:

[We are currently waiting for local businesses and venues to update their ever-loving calendars for 2026, standby]

WHAT’S GOING ON IN SOUTH OC?

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🌊 Water temp = 62º
Suit Rec: Spring suit

THIS WEEK:

• Free Hot Chocolate and Snowfall by the Ocean at Malibu Farm in Lido Village

  Monday, 29 December

  5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
  info

• Holidayz at the Park in Irvine

  Monday, 29 December

  4:30 pm - 8:00 pm
  Info

• Family Game Night at Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library

  Tuesday, 30 December

  4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
  Info

• Noon Year's Eve at Tustin Library

  Wednesday, 31 December

  11:30 am - 12:00 pm

• New Year's Eve Around the World at Pretend City ($22)

  Wednesday, 31 December

  10:00 am - 3:00 pm
  Info

• Last Chance for WinterFest at OC Fairgrounds

  Friday, 02 January, 2026

  5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
  Tickets

FAMILY PLAN AHEAD:

• Read to a Dog at Newport Beach Central Library

  Tuesday, 06 January, 2026

  4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
  Info

• Nature Walk & Book Club for Littles at Turtle Rock Nature Center in Irvine ($10)

  Wednesday, 07 January, 2026

  10:00 am - 11:00 am
  Info

• Storytime by the Beach at Marina Park in Newport Beach

  Wednesday, 07 January, 2026

  10:30 am - 11:00 am
  Info

Thanks! Please ignore any typos, our editor threw out his back breaking down all the amazon boxes from Christmas.

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!