Hello Newport Beach! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Sawdust art festival, family art day, and summer movies on the lawn + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Summer arts celebration: Laguna Beach's 60th Sawdust Art Festival will open Friday, June 26, turning a eucalyptus-lined canyon into a 10-week artist village with 180-plus creators, live glassblowing, three stages, and $12.50 tickets -- get all the details.
Connected care for Orange County: Orange County United Way launched The OC Way campaign Monday to link nonprofits via 211OC, share real-time needs data, and speed housing and food assistance, backed by major local philanthropies -- see the OC Way launch.
Mixed-use shift continues: Irvine Company bought the 51-year-old Newport Beach Car Wash near Fashion Island for $11.8 million, a 1.26-acre site beside its planned apartments as Newport Center adds more housing -- see the car wash sale.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half -- this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
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02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Arcade night, anyone? When you need a quick dopamine hit that isn’t another cold brew, the newly renovated Fun Zone Arcade & Game Room packs brand-new racers, shooters, and ticket-spitters on the Balboa boardwalk. Perfect for a post-dinner Mario Kart grudge match or bribing the kids with squeaky prize glory.
Neighborhood sanity saver: When you need low-stress fresh air without leaving the neighborhood, Mariners Park & VJ Community Center delivers with open fields, a playground, tennis and basketball, and picnic basics like tables and barbecues. Perfect for a lazy catch, kid energy to burn, or a casual meetup between errands.
Not Your Average Bouquet: Urban Gardener is a longtime Newport Beach favorite tucked into Westcliff Court, crafting European-style arrangements that feel artful rather than fussy. Pop in for seasonal blooms, or wander the Votivo candles and European pots while they whip up something that actually matches your coastal-casual vibe.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
Makeup for skin that's changed, now up to 65% off: Laura Geller has built its following on formulas made for mature skin, led by the baked foundations women over 40 keep coming back to. Right now, new email subscribers get up to 65% off plus an extra 22%. Enter your email on the page and the discount activates. *See the VIP pricing →
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Buy one window treatment this summer, get the second 50% off: “My fourth order over 8 years. Product reliability, consistency to values & warranty kept me returning!” See what keeps customers coming back to 3 Day Blinds. Book your free consultation and enjoy summer savings on blinds, shades, and drapery. *Claim your summer savings →
Carrying $5,000 or more on your cards? Stop the interest charges: A balance that size racks up interest fast, and at today's rates it barely budges no matter how much you pay. This card gives you 0% intro APR until 2028 on balance transfers (made in the first 60 days), with a $0 annual fee. That means almost two years to pay down what you owe with no interest charges. *See if it's a fit →
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🎨 Family Art Day @ Education Commons | Wednesday (6/24) at 10:30 AM – Every Wednesday, the Commons becomes Crystal Cove’s craft and curiosity zone. It’s a relaxed, drop-in blend of hands-on art and bite-size science for all ages. Think quality time without screens, just sea breezes, curiosity, and a little paint under the nails.
🐦 Wild Tales @ Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve | Friday (6/26) at 10:00 AM – Back Bay is rolling out Wild Tales every Friday, with outdoor story time in the freshly renovated amphitheater, a kid-friendly hike, and a classroom craft, all free. Think story hour meets mini trek, plus glue sticks, fresh air, and your sanity intact.
🇬 Irvine Greek Fest 2026 @ St. Paul's Greek Orthodox Church | Friday (6/26) at 5:00 PM – Take a break from the 405 grind and go full Greek in Irvine, no passport, just appetite and comfy shoes. Gyros, souvlaki, baklava, and loukoumades, plus live music, dancing, drinks, and shopping. Family friendly, gloriously festive, and the best kind of noisy.
🎬 Summer in the City: Movies on the Lawn @ Hicks Canyon Community Park (Irvine) | Friday (6/26) at 6:30 PM – Nothing beats a movie on the lawn, especially when it is Lilo & Stitch getting the live action treatment. Bring low-back chairs, blankets, and a picnic, or let the gourmet trucks and snack bar handle dinner. Extra parking at Hicks Canyon Elementary and Viewpark.
🎶 Conservatory Spotlight Day @ OC Music & Dance (Irvine) | Saturday (6/27) at 10:00 AM – If your tween lives in leotards, or your teen keeps borrowing the good guitar, the Conservatory Spotlight Day is worth a peek. Meet faculty, explore pre-conservatory and conservatory programs, and see how serious training, performance experience, and mentorship help grades 6 to 12 grow.
⚽ Orange County Soccer Club Kids Clinic @ Pendry | Saturday (6/27) at 4:30 PM – Orange County Soccer Club is bringing a kids soccer clinic to Pendry Newport Beach, turning the Garden Lawn into mini-pitch magic for all skill levels. Expect upbeat coaching, plenty of running, and happy chaos, while you network with other sideline pros, coffee in hand.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Newport Beach report Weather forecastToday — High: 72°F — Low: 63°F — Precip: 0%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 70°F — Low: 62°F — Precip: 0%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. This house is wildThis expansive Port Streets home offers 4,240 square feet of polished comfort on a rare 9,450 square foot lot in Newport Beach. Built with quality expansions in 1995 and 2005, it features vaulted ceilings, a chandelier-lit entry, wood floors, granite countertops, a downstairs ensuite, and a backyard with a covered loggia, BBQ pavilion, pond, and towering trees.
Take a peek inside → |
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