News

TONIGHT and tomorrow night are the peak nights to watch the Orionids meteor shower!  Actually, it will technically be early Thursday and Friday morning– but you get the drift!  The waxing gibbous moon will be out the during the evening hours, but it will set before the prime time viewing hours. Halley’s comet is actually to blame for this series of …

I have intentionally steered very clear of doing anything like obituaries or memorials or anything else, because of the door that leaves open… But this last week in Newport has been a real doozy. Pat Wall, a longtime bartender Blackies and friend to everyone he met, passed peacefully in his sleep last week.  On a personal note, Pat was one of …

The beach from 10th to 44th street in Newport is closed, due to a hammerhead shark sighting.  Initially skeptical of the reports, the shark was later sighted by lifeguards, who opted to close the beach shortly after it was reported at approximately 10:45am, according to the Daily Pilot, who included this photo, taken by an unknown bystander: Though authorities were …

California isn’t known for poisonous sea snakes, but El Nino waters have brought the Yellow Bellied Sea Snake as far north as Oxnard (by Santa Barbara).  If you see this snake, do not handle it, as it is a rare snake that is highly venomous. Please see a map of their normal habitat areas, here: These sightings mark the first time …

Woody’s Wharf has gone through a long, hard, expensive, and emotion-wrenching rollercoaster ride in its legal battles with the city, but last night in a 4-3 vote, they finally prevailed. First, I need to issue a correction: You may have seen my articles where I explained that Dixon had struck the deal with Woody’s, and I welcomed her to the good …

After years of behind the scenes efforts by management of the District Lounge, the old Stag Bar will be returning– but this time, with pizza! As you may have noticed, the last several months the District Lounge has undergone a huge renovation and expansion, creating an indoor/outdoor dining area, kitchen, and adjoining door to the longtime watering hole that everyone is …

These hot streaks in October remind us that El Nino is still in full effect!  We have heard about the impending El Nino for several years now, but this one is definitely the most noticeable in local weather patterns– and now NASA scientist Bill Patzert has proclaimed this El Nino event “too big to fail“. We originally covered some of what …

Friday, the Newport Beach Indy published my latest article regarding Woody’s Wharf.  You can pick this up in the front of most public locations, and find my article on Page3, or you can read it here:

Wednesday, a meeting took place at the California Coastal Commission, a board created to approve or deny any developments which may affect coastal access.  Loads of people were in attendance, both to promote the Lido Hotel (on the old City Hall property) and also to rally against development in Banning Ranch.  Coastal Commission staff recommended approval on the former and rejection …

UPDATE: As of noon on 10/6/2015, the school is no longer on lockdown. This is a bit outside of Newport, but I know that many Newporters have close ties or even children here, so I am covering it: At about 10am this morning, Huntington Beach High School went on lockdown after unconfirmed reports of an ex-teacher running around naked with a gun. …