🌭 NB's most American hot dog has been here since the Fire Chief days

If your group chat hasn’t mentioned Duffy boats yet, give it another day.

Memorial Day weekend and the start of Newport Beach festival season tend to bring everyone back outside at once. This week’s Scoop includes wine tastings, jazz festivals on the horizon, waterfront BBQs, and harbor sunsets.

The city feels lively right now, and honestly, this might be one of the best stretches of the year to enjoy it.

🎉 We are officially the "Festival Capital" of Southern California

The Gist: Visit Newport Beach has rounded up five back-to-back festivals across May and June that earn the city the title of Southern California's Festival Capital. The lineup starts Memorial Day weekend with the Newport Beach Wine & Spirits Festival (May 22–24 at Balboa Bay Resort), continues with the 30th anniversary Newport Beach Jazz Festival (May 29–31 at Hyatt Regency), Newport Beach TV Fest (June 4–7), the Wooden Boat Festival (June 13 at Balboa Yacht Club), and culminates with NOBLE Wine & Dine at Pelican Hill (June 26–28) headlined by Michelin-starred Chef Daniel Boulud.

Why It Matters: Five distinctly different festivals over six weeks is a remarkable run for any city, and the breadth speaks to what Newport Beach is best at: bringing food, music, art, and the waterfront together at scale. Memorial Day weekend is when it all kicks off, and the calendar from there to the end of June is genuinely stacked. Worth bookmarking and planning around.

🦴 Hoag Orthopedic hosts International Hip Surgery Fellowship

The Gist: Hoag Orthopedic Institute, one of the nation's leading providers of orthopedic and spine care and the West Coast's leader in joint replacement surgery, will host the Anterior Hip Foundation's Traveling Fellowship program for the second consecutive year from May 22 to 24. The program brings early-career orthopedic surgeons to Newport Beach for OR observation, mentorship, and participation in the world's largest meeting on anterior hip replacement surgery.

Why It Matters: Hoag's reputation as a national leader in orthopedics isn't just a marketing line; programs like this one, which bring rising international surgeons to Newport Beach to learn directly from HOI's team, are part of what builds it. For residents, it's another quiet reminder that one of the best joint replacement programs in the country happens to be a few miles from home.

🌭 A classic beachside frank on Balboa Island

Memorial Day plans call for a perfect American hot dog, and Crocker's “The Well Dressed Frank” has been the answer on Marine Avenue for over a decade. Set just steps from the ferry, this neighborhood go-to is celebrating the long weekend.

It is the island’s favorite perch for a proper Chicago dog with a natural-casing snap or the bacon-topped Wet & Wild Chili Dog. Summer is officially calling, so grab your franks alongside one of their fresh strawberry or Oreo cheesecakes, and take it all to a bench by the bay.

⚓ Floating living rooms for sunny afternoons

There is nothing quite like drifting along Newport Harbor in a Voyagers Duffy with the salt air in your hair and your favorite people by your side.

Setting off right next to the Balboa Island Ferry, these electric boats come equipped with cozy seating, canopy tops, and Bluetooth sound systems for your handpicked playlist. You can pack a charcuterie board, bring some rosé, and even add custom balloon arches for upcoming summer celebrations.

Oscar is a gentle, quiet soul looking for a patient companion.

A 2-year-old Domestic Shorthair mix, this small grey and white fellow has been a calm presence at our Newport Beach shelter since last summer. He is a bit shy and appreciates having his own space to unwind, but he truly blossoms around other cats, making him a great match for a home with a confident feline friend.

Oscar does best in peaceful environments without the hustle and bustle of young kids or dogs. His adoption fee is $50.

To learn more about this handsome boy,

🎨 120 Years of Welcome Museum Exhibition | Balboa Island Museum | Newport Beach | opens 05/22 | More 
Historical retrospective tracking local coastal tourism through photographs and more!

🃏 Newport Showcase Collectibles Show | Liberty Baptist Church Campus | Newport Beach | 05/22-05/23 | More 
Hobbyist market: trading card variants, sports memorabilia, and rare collections.

🪖 17th Field of Honor | Castaways Park | Newport Beach | until 05/25 | More 
A landscape of waving flags honoring military heroes and local defenders.

🎖️ Memorial Day BBQ | Balboa Island Park | Newport Beach | 05/25 | More 
Neighborhood cookout: classic grilled favorites, raffle prizes, and veteran honors.

🥩 Memorial Day BBQ | Tree Shack at Pendry | Newport Beach | 05/25 | More
Elevated poolside holiday cookout featuring artisanal grilled selections and live music.

🤠 Redneck Rodeo | Newport Dunes Waterfront | Newport Beach | 05/22 | More
Beachside country music performance with food trucks, water rentals, and more!

🍷 Newport Beach Wine & Spirits Festival | Balboa Bay Resort | Newport Beach | 05/22–05/24 | More 
Premier celebrations: winemaker dinner, grand tastings, and waterfront parties.

🎸 80s Cover Band Dance Party with FlashPants | The Blue Beet | Newport Beach | 05/24 | More 
Retro pop-rock and synth classics with electric club vibes steps from the sand.

🪖 Field of Honor Memorial Day Ceremony | Castaways Park | Newport Beach | 05/25 | More 
Distinguished keynote speakers, military decoration honors, and reflection.

🛍️ Serena & Lily Memorial Day Sale | Lido Marina Village | Newport Beach | through 05/27 | More 
Seasonal design event with exceptional savings on premium coastal home decor.

Thanks for reading Our Newsletter! We’ll have more updates for you next week!

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