Hello Back Bay Buoys Happy Friday!

And just like that, Dry January was over and we are back in Fool’s Spring. With a January that was somehow cold and windy but also hot and dry, temps are pushing 80 this week and it is a great time to get back into the swig of things and have a well earned mimosa by the beach.

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:

• Petition Gets Council to Re-think Surf Park Expansion

• Vintage & Collectible Sale for Charity

• Comedy Night

— Jon Dougher, Publisher, Back Bay Buzz

Council Pulls Back Surf Park Approval

Newport Beach is reversing course on the surf park plan at the privately operated Newport Beach Golf Course. After residents gathered enough verified signatures to force a vote, the Council on Tuesday rescinded its October approval of a general plan amendment that would have let the project expand by an extra 40,000 sq. ft. Instead of sending it to the ballot, members opted to save the election costs and honor the petition; Noah Blom recused due to a potential conflict. This doesn’t kill the project outright—existing approvals like the conditional use permit and environmental review remain—but it shrinks the scope back to the already-allowed 20,000 sq. ft. For now, the wave pool vision is smaller, and the referendum campaign gets its win without an election.

• Vintage and Collectibles Sale for Charity - OASIS Senior Center
  Proceeds go to German Shepherd Rescue of OC
  Artwork, collectibles, vases, lamps, mirrors, crystal, vintage jewelry and more!
  Sat Jan 31st @ 9am
  Info

• Comedy Night - Durty Nelly’s
  Saturday Jan 31
  7pm
  Info

• Grab a House Burger at Milligram - Milligram Costa Mesa
  Outdoor grilling and Prosecco flowing all weekend
  Info

UPCOMING:

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

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

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

• Paint & Sip Workshop - Old Spaghetti Factory
  Thursday Feb 5th
  6pm-8:30pm
  Info

• Princess Bride @ Lido Theatre
  “As you wish…”
  Thursday Feb 5th
  7am-9pm
  Tickets

• Cookie Decorating - Helmsman Alehouse
  Thursday Feb 12th
  7pm
  Info
  

• Galentine’s Day - The Lab
  Friday Feb 13th 3-7pm
  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/Full suit 3/2

THIS WEEKEND:

• Little Seedlings Storytime at Sherman Library and Gardens in Corona Del Mar

  Friday, 30 January

  10:00 am - 10:30 am
  Info

• Corona Del Mar Songs and Stories

  Friday, 30 January

  10:30 am - 11:00 am
  Info

• Barnes and Noble Storytime at Fashion Island

  Saturday, 31 January

  11:30 am - 12:00 pm
  Info

• Aquatic Community Day at Back Bay Science Center in Newport Beach

  Sunday, 01 February

  10:00 am - 2:00 pm
  Info

Thanks! Please ignore any typos, our editor is back from hibernation but he doesn’t look so good…

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!