News

Last city council meeting, the Newport Council unanimously decided to beg the county for $224,430 in new taxpayer funds in order to create a commercially unsustainable taxi industry on the peninsula, or bail out an existing one (depending on which angle you want to view it from). As everyone knows, there is no problem getting from Newport Pier to Balboa …

Today is the birthday of one of Balboa’s most beloved restaurants, the Newport Landing.  As they are celebrating 30 years of history here on the waterfront, they are offering patrons a whopping 40% off their already reasonably priced menu items on both their upstairs and downstairs menu (alcohol beverages are not discounted). For those unaware, the menus are largely the same, but the …

The Newport Beach Police Department Traffic Unit will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License Checkpoint tomorrow, Friday, January 29th, 2016 at an undisclosed location in Newport between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. DUI Checkpoints are claimed to reduce drunk driving mostly by deterrent, but also serve to actively arrest those who are driving under the influence.  They also cause significant …

Newport Beach Councilman Tony Petros (Dixon endorser and Woody’s Wharf anti-dancing crusader) recently penned an article saying that we have $25 million just sitting around ready to spend for capital improvements, but instead of fixing the sewer system which has been neglected for decades and is crumbling beneath our feet, he wants to build another monument– this time, it will be …

Ah, the good ole days.  Back when Balboa’s Fun Zone had not just the great Ferris Wheel (which still remains) but also had the sidewalk rides, the bumper cars, the scary dark ride, the carousel, and countless other family-owned businesses in the FunZone complex. Sushi 21 was another great amenity which was forced out of their space by ExplorOcean management, and Newport …

First, thanks for understanding on my extended absence.  Things have been busy at work, and as you know I only do this in my spare time– but this one is a good one: About 24 hours ago, I sent a letter regarding Dog Beach to Newport’s City Council and copied in reporters from the DailyPilot, OCRegister, Newport Indy, and the OC …

With great sponsorship from Dory Deli, ECO-Warrior, and We Are Ocean, and promotion and organization from SaveNewport, The Ben Carlson Memorial Foundation, and many others, the turn out for the beach cleanup couldn’t have been better– and couldn’t have been more needed! At 9am, the turnout was about 75 people.  Dory Deli distributed bags, gloves, and had people sign for them (ensuring a …

When we get our big rains, our fertilizers, oil deposits, roadkill remnants, garbage, and other chemicals and debris (like trash!) wash off into the ocean.  As the storm drains bring this water right out into our bay and ocean, it also washes immeasurable amounts of bacteria and trash right into our local oceanfront.  This is the result of what is often called the …

PLEASE SIGN AND SHARE! This is the last call for you to join the 2,800+ signatures to help save Newport’s beloved Dog Beach– where dogs can roam freely off-leash at the border between Newport and Huntington.  Newly-minted mayor Diane Dixon released a “public outreach campaign” on her very first day as mayor; ostensibly, this outreach was to determine how many …

Lido Theater– the building– has been home to several businesses.  Regency was the last movie theater to occupy the building, followed by Lido Live, who [as their name may suggest] focused primarily on live music shows.  Without any real explanation, they lost their lease, and their last day operating as Lido Live was on December 31st, leaving a hauntingly nerdy …