Save Newport Real News in Newport Beach
1) Events (from Daily Pilot):
What: Old Glory Boat Parade
Where: Newport Harbor and around Balboa Island
When: 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday
Admission: Free
Details: The patriotic-themed parade will start off Collins Island. A Harbor Patrol fire boat will lead close to 100 decorated boats through the harbor. The event sponsor is the American Legion Yacht Club.
Information: alyc291.com
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What: Star-Spangled Groovy Fest on the Back Bay, with concerts on two stages, a festival and fireworks
Where: Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina, 1131 Back Bay Drive
When: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday
Admission: $50 per car
Details: Food and live music start at 2 p.m. A beer and wine garden pass is $40. Fireworks start at 9 p.m.
Information: newportdunes.com or (800) 765-7661
2) Fireworks: Fireworks will begin at surrounding cities at 9pm tomorrow. Get to a high spot in order to have the best viewing. From Balboa Peninsula, you can see at least 6 cities from 2 stories up.
NOTE: For people who have fireworks, remember that Police will be cracking down on people who want to celebrate the birthday of the Land of The Free using fireworks, even including things like sparklers, so be careful out there.
3) Police in the War Zone: The police will be using a Show of Force on Balboa this year, in an attempt to stop what newly elected councilwoman Diane Dixon described as “inappropriate celebrations”. Last year was the first year that the roads were NOT shut down, and they will also NOT be shut down this year. Expect that there will be a continuing effort to destroy over 100 years of traditional street celebration on Balboa, in an effort to make it more “family oriented”.
4) Drunk Driving & Parking: If you are coming to Balboa Peninsula, consider riding in an Uber, Lyft, or cab. The police will be out, the drunk drivers will be out, and the parking will be absolutely atrocious (it already is).
New users of Uber can use my code of JTF63 and it will pay for the first $20 of your fare. You can download Uber here
You can download Lyft here: [android] [apple]
You can call a Yellowcab at 1-800-4-MY-TAXI
4) Dogs Thundershirts
If you have a dog, I cannot recommend more highly the Thundershirt to keep them calm from the noise of fireworks on the 4th. I don’t know why being constricted and wearing shirts has a comforting effect on dogs, but it does!
5) Supplies: Stock up!!! You know parking spots will be gone this entire weekend, so use services like Drizly to deliver alcohol, PostMates for food, or many other services which are springing up throughout Newport. Or, if it comes down to it, simply call a ridesharing company to help you get to and from the store.
6) Fines: According to the OCRegister: “Citations for open container, igniting fireworks and public urination will cost more as will the town’s most prevalent summer offense: illegal parking.
Examples of car-related wallet damage: If a driver blocks a driveway or a fire hydrant, normally $55, it will cost at least $165. Parking at a red curb will cost $234 instead of the usual $78. And parking in a Newport Beach handicapped spot? $1,353.
Additionally, a tow away could cost a lot of dough: a minimum of $264, according to the two companies that haul illegally parked cars from Newport Beach.”
