Hello Back Bay Belladonnas, Happy Friday!

For a brief moment yesterday, southern California was the hottest place in the US. As it should be. High 70s in January is exactly what we pay for. Restaurant Week continues into the (mostly) sunny weekend, Trolleys are coming to Newport, and the Early Bird might just get a free breakfast burrito (Earlybird’s grand opening is tomorrow). See you out there!

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:

• Trolleys Are Coming to Newport

• Brentwood Updgrades

• Art Workshop for Kids

— Jon Dougher, Publisher, Back Bay Buzz

Trolleys, Other Improvements Coming to Newport

Newport Beach City Manager Seimone Jurjis told a Corona del Mar Chamber crowd on Jan. 8 that the city is pushing a slate of practical upgrades aimed at easing congestion and modernizing core services. The headline item: Newport Beach has ordered its own natural-gas trolleys, with a plan to expand beyond the seasonal Peninsula pilot into a broader route network that could link the Peninsula, Corona del Mar, Fashion Island, and potentially Crystal Cove, with a target launch in summer 2027. Jurjis also highlighted cost-conscious facility planning, including a proposed combined Balboa fire station and library, and noted the city is testing parking tech that would guide drivers to available spots, with hopes of rolling it out by year’s end. Our suggestion of a direct trolley from John Wayne straight to Huntington Beach was ignored.

Brentwood Park Gets Makeover in Costa Mesa

After years of being “next on the list,” Costa Mesa’s Brentwood Park is finally getting a long-awaited refresh. City staff broke ground Jan. 9 on upgrades funded by $250,000 in capital improvement dollars and $400,000 in park development fees, including new playground equipment, a dedicated play area for ages 2–5 (with swings), and more shade via a picnic structure. A grant partnership with GameTime Playground Solutions is covering about $50,000 of the play equipment cost, and the city says construction should wrap by March.

PSAs:

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Closures: City halls and public libraries in both Newport Beach and Costa Mesa will be closed on Monday, January 19 in observance of the holiday. Trash pickup schedules will likely be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.

• Knit Class ($75) - Jenni Kayne NB
  Champagne, light bites and yarn provided
  Saturday Jan 18th
  11am-1pm
  Sign Up

• EarlyBird Breakfast Burritos Grand Opening - The Lab
  Saturday Jan 17th
  10:30am
  Info

• Beach Cleanup - CDM State Beach
  Sunday Jan 18th
  2-4pm
  Register
  

• Restaurant Week Kicks Off 🎉 - Newport Beach
  Jan 15-25th
  Info

• Floral Workshops with French Buckets - Lido Village
  Sunday Jan 18th
  11am-1pm
  Info

UPCOMING:

• Trivia Night - Bootlegger’s Brewery
  Tuesdays 7-9pm
  Directions
  

• Free Yoga Class - Seed Peoples Market
  Wednesdays @ 10am
  Info

• Newport Needlepoint Club Meetup - Newport Needlepoint
  “2026 is the year for Grandma hobbies”
  Tuesdays 6-8pm
  Info

• Restaurant Week Kicks Off 🎉 - Newport Beach
  Jan 15-25th
  Info

• Vintage and Collectibles Sale for Charity - OASIS Senior Center (801 Narcissus Ave, NB)
  Sat Jan 31st @ 9am
  Info

• Raising Canes Grand Opening - Newport Blvd Location
  February 24th

• Overland Expo 2026 - OC Fairgrounds
  March 14-15, Sat 9-5, Sun 9-4
  Info
  
  

WHAT’S GOING ON IN SOUTH OC?

Check out our great partner newsletter:

🌊 Water temp = 62º
Suit Rec: Spring suit

THIS WEEKEND:

• Corona Del Mar Songs and Stories

  Friday, 16 January

  10:30 am - 11:00 am
  Info

• Free Breakfast Burritos (first 100) - Earlybird Breakfast Burritos Grand Opening

  Saturday, 17 January

  10:30 am - 12:30 pm
  Info

• Art Workshop at Orange County Museum of Art in Costa Mesa

  Saturday, 17 January

  11:30 am - 4:30 pm
  Info

• OCME Free Train Rides in Costa Mesa

  Saturday, 17 January

  10:00 am - 3:30 pm
  Info

• Park Habitat Restoration Days in Costa Mesa

  Saturday, 17 January

  9:00 am - 10:00 am
  RSVP
  

FAMILY PLAN AHEAD:

• Coffee + Castaways Park Walk with The Mom Walk Co. Newport Beach

  Friday, Jan 23rd

  9:30 am - 10:30 am
  Info

• Bike Skills Workshop - Costa Mesa City Hall (77 Fair Dr, Costa Mesa)
  Saturday Jan 24
  9am-12pm
  Info

Thanks! Please ignore any typos, our editor is nursing an unexpected sunburn.

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!