Hello Back Bay Buddies, happy Friday!
At a week in, we are almost acclimated to the time change. Our editor is not, apologies for the late send. We are in for another warm weekend, the Wedge is having one the biggest March swells on record, and most of us are falling off the wagon for St. Patrick’s Practice. Come stay a while and maybe join us for a cocktail on the patio.
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:
Newport Considers All-Out Ebike Ban
St. Patrick’s Practice
Rays For Days to Replace Spaghetti Bender
— Jon Dougher, Publisher, Back Bay Buzz
Newport Mulls All-Out Ebike Ban for Schools
Heads up, Newport-Mesa families: the school run might be getting a bit more "old school" soon. The district is seriously considering a ban on e-bikes for most students after safety stats showed that e-bikers were at fault in nearly 44% of local bicycle accidents last year. Under the proposed rules, K-6 students would be grounded from electric rides entirely, while 7th graders and older would only be allowed to ride if parents sign paperwork taking full responsibility. With Newport Beach already cracking down with fines and potential impounds, the district's goal is to shift the liability—and the safety education—back to the home front. As Motor Officer Zach Varela pointed out, the best "safety feature" for a student on an e-bike is still just having a parent riding alongside them.
Rays for Days to Replace Spaghetti Bender
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“There’s no crying on the Duffy”
St. Patrick’s Practice: All the Irish Pubs Mapped
This map was originally published in the Mar 17th 2025 Newsletter
Dolce by Tina Pop up - Lido Marina
small batch cookies
Sat Mar14th - Sun Mar 15th
9am-5pm
InfoLive Music, Free Yoga On the Green - The Camp
Saturday Mar 14th
10am-4pm
InfoGRAND OPENING: Newport Harbor Farmer’s Market - 798 Dover Dr NB
Saturday Mar 14th
9am-1pm
InfoOverland 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
Info
UPCOMING:
Singles Only Social Club: Marg Monday - Zinque Newport
Monday Mar 16th
7-9:30pm
InfoNewport Needlepoint Club Meetup - Newport Needlepoint
“2026 is the year for Grandma hobbies”
Tuesdays 6-8pm
InfoTrivia Night - Bootlegger’s Brewery
Tuesdays 7-9pm
DirectionsVintage Shop Happy Hour - Silver Wings Vintage
Booze - Bites - Boogie
Wednesday Mar 18th
InfoJazz and Wine - Bar Tinto
Wed Mar 18th
7pm
InfoFree 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
InfoFree Fitness Class: Intro to MELT Method - Newport Coast Community Center
Saturday Mar 14th
9am and 9:45am
Register (class code: NCC276 or NCC277)CalTrans 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
InfoSUP Yoga - Patrol Beach NB
hosted by Ekam Yoga & Pilates
Sat Mar 28th
10-11:30pm
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:
🌊 Water temp = 60º (is the marine heatwave in the room with us?)
Suit Rec: Spring suit/Full suit 3/2
THIS WEEKEND:
Baby Goat Storytime ($15/person, 2 and under free)- Tanaka Farms
Friday(s) March 13th
10:30am
InfoAquarium 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
InfoFREE Wagon Rides and More at Tanaka Farms Open House
Parking passes are requiredSaturday, 14 March
9:30 am - 2:30 pm
InfoOrange County Fire Authority Open House - Irvine
note: no onsite parking is availableSaturday, 14 March
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
InfoPlanetarium & Aquarium Open House in Costa Mesa
Saturday, 14 March
12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
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
RSVPOC Uke Fest - Campus Jax
Sunday Mar 22nd
InfoSpringfest: A Pirate Adventure - Lions Park
Treasure Egg Hunt
Saturday Apr 4th
10-2pm
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 is probably passed out in a ditch somewhere…
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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