Hello Back Bay Barnacles, Happy Monday.

Happy Groundhog Day! What a gorgeous sunny weekend that was. Temps and spirits (and waves) are high this week as we descend into February with Val/Galentines events, live music and lots of Plan Aheads added to the calendar. Did we pick up any vintage art or collectibles at the charity sale?

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:

• Costa Mesa’s New Self Checkout Rules Explained

• The Notebook opens to live audiences

• Baby Goat Yoga

— Jon Dougher, Publisher, Back Bay Buzz

What Costa Mesa’s New Self Checkout Rules Actually Mean

Costa Mesa is poised to set new rules for self-checkout at big groceries and pharmacies: the City Council voted 3–2 on first reading to require one employee for every three kiosks, cap self-checkout at 15 items, ban alcohol and locked-case items from those lanes, and require at least one staffed register open before kiosks run. The law would cover about 22 stores (15,000+ sq ft), allow customers or employees to report violations, and fine stores $100 per day up to $1,000 per incident. Supporters (Gameros, Chavez, Marr) say it eases worker overload and cuts glitches/theft; opponents (Stephens, Pettis) call it government overreach that could push shoppers elsewhere. If it clears a second vote, Costa Mesa would be the second U.S. city after Long Beach to regulate self-checkout.

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

• Baby Goat Yoga - Tanaka Farms
  Saturdays 10am (Hana Field)
  Info

• “The Notebook” Live Performance - Segerstrom Theater Costa Mesa
  Tuesday Feb 3rd - Sunday Feb 8th
  Tickets

• 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

• Valentines Day Dinner ($89/Person) - Tanaka Farms
  Saturday Feb 14th 6-9pm
  Info

• Valentine Book Swap - OC Books and Bows (Mission Viejo)
  Sunday Feb 15th
  12-2pm
  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?

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🌊 Water temp = 61º
Suit Rec: Spring suit/Full suit 3/2

THIS WEEK:

• Toddler Tea Party with a Princess ($37) - Balboa Island

  Monday, 02 February

  10:30 am - 11:30 am
  Info

• Barnyard Storytime at Tanaka Farms ($6/person, 2 and under free)

  Tuesday, 03 February

  10:30 am - 11:00 am
  Info

• Storytime by the Beach at Marina Park in Newport Beach

  Wednesday, 04 February

  10:30 am - 11:00 am
  info

• The Craft Lab at Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library

  Wednesday, 04 February

  4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
  Info

• Wild Tales Storytime, Hike, and Craft in Newport Beach (RSVP!)

  Friday, 06 February

  10:00 am - 11:00 am

Worth The Drive:

• Free Plant Cutting and Scion Wood Sharing Event - Irvine Great Park
  “You can also bring gardening items you no longer need i.e. books, sprinkler fittings, chemicals, old tools, pots etc.“
  Saturday Feb 7th
  10:30-12pm
  Info

• Tiny Tots, Little Sprouts at the Ocean Institute - Dana Point
  Spring Session March 2nd-April 23rd
  Info

Thanks! Please ignore any typos, our editor saw his shadow so he has gone back into hibernation…

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!