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🏖️ High surf, rip currents, and 100 reasons to thank a lifeguard this week

🏖️ High surf, rip currents, and 100 reasons to thank a lifeguard this week

Also inside: A $15M grant for local nonprofits, a spot with a secret wine cellar, and ocean excursions.

July 23, 2026

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There’s something especially nice about Newport Beach in late July. The days are long, the harbor is lively, and even a quick trip outside can turn into a fun evening.

This week’s lineup has plenty of that easy summer energy, with concerts, markets, library events, and ocean adventures. We also have a great local restaurant recommendation for your next dinner out. Take your pick and enjoy the week!

🛟 Lifeguards pull off 100 rescues in a single day

The Gist: Newport Beach Fire Department lifeguards pulled off roughly 100 rescues on Sunday, July 19, after high surf pushed swimmers toward rip currents, rocks, and jetties. Led by Chief Lifeguard Brian O'Rourke, the team also issued more than 3,000 warnings to keep beachgoers out of harm's way. Best of all, thanks to their quick work, every single swimmer went home safe.

Why It Matters: With high surf rolling in, it is a great reminder of how lucky we are to have such vigilant guards watching our coast. Their incredible work turned a high-risk weekend into a big win for local safety, keeping our favorite weekend spot safe for everyone.

💛 $15 Million total for 89 Orange County Nonprofits

The Gist: The Samueli Foundation, based in Corona del Mar and led by longtime Newport Beach residents Henry and Susan Samueli, announced its 2026 Breakaway and Build OC Fund grants: $15 million spread across 89 Orange County nonprofits. Since launching the fund last fall, the foundation has directed $32 million to 235 organizations in nine months.

Why It Matters: The grants target unsexy but essential things nonprofits usually cannot fundraise for: transportation for seniors and kids, technology upgrades, leadership training, building repairs. The Samueli family has now given more than $1 billion through its various entities over the last twenty-five years.

🍷 Classic Northern Italian with a secret cellar

2407 East Coast Hwy, Corona Del Mar

Rothschild's has been the quiet backbone of Corona del Mar since 1977. Frank Fassero Reiss still cooks his father's Northern Italian recipes, though summer brings bright seasonal upgrades.

You just know it’s time for a chilled wedge salad, grilled peaches with creamy burrata, and fettuccine Bolognese before the season shifts. Don’t skip the strawberry shortcake, and note the private wine cellar downstairs for special gatherings.

Dinner only, from 4 p.m. Dress a little. 😉

🐳 Ocean giants and the late night harbor breeze

400 Main St, Newport Beach

Excursions from Davey's Locker have been heading out from the historic Balboa Pavilion since the 1940s, and summer brings prime ocean sightings. Blue whales slide right past the deck alongside massive dolphin pods, while local waters are currently teeming with dorado, calico bass, and limits of bluefin tuna.

Sunset shifts into twilight fishing trips every night from seven to midnight, offering cooler air, gear rentals on site, and steady action past the jetty.

Click here to be the business everyone hears about next week!

Cali is an adult Domestic Short Hair cat with a gentle spirit

Weighing under six pounds, this small female feline prefers a calm, quiet environment in Irvine, California. She takes time to warm up, but once settled, she cherishes being brushed and petted.

Cali would thrive in a cat savvy home with older children and no other pets.

To learn more about this shy girl,

🎸 Summer Concert in the Park with Vintage Vinyl | Peninsula Park, Balboa Island | 07/24 | More
Bring a blanket for classic-rock favorites at golden hour. Free.

🎉 The Week of Celebration | all Newport Beach Public Library locations | 07/26-08/01 | More
Share favorite book memories on a colorful community wall display.

🧘 Camp Stroller Edit: Stroller Sculpt Class | Lido Marina Village | 07/26 | More
A lively workout set to nostalgic pop music followed by community connection.

📖 Little Seedlings Story Time | Sherman Library & Gardens | 07/31 | More
Gentle picture book readings and nature poems set among blooming gardens.

🌸 Experience A Hummingbird Summer | Roger's Gardens | through 08/23 | More Discover nectar plants and watch wild pollinators inside a lush sanctuary.

🍷 Bayside Drive Tasting and Demo | Pavilions | 07/23 | More
Sample refined Napa Valley vintages during an intimate tasting experience.

🎸 Led Zepagain: Led Zeppelin Tribute | Campus JAX | 07/24 | More
The world's most authentic Zeppelin re-creation, and Jimmy Page agrees.

🎹 Brian Culbertson | Hyatt Regency Back Bay | 07/24 | More
Grammy-caliber jazz-funk keyboards under the stars.

🎨 Painting in the Gardens Demonstration | Roger's Gardens | 07/25 | More
Watch an impressionist artist bring botanical landscapes to life on canvas.

🎤 Feelin' Good: The Michael Bublé Experience | Campus JAX | 07/25 | More
Eleven-piece orchestra behind a crowd-pleasing modern crooner set.

🎷 Live on the Lawn: A Tribute to James Williams | Fashion Island | 07/25 | More
Tradition-rooted hard bop jazz performance set outdoors on a sunlit lawn.

🎼 SongStage Singer-Songwriter Showcase | Campus JAX | 07/28 | More
Top local artists trade acoustic guitar and piano originals. Free.