🏖️ Newport just made visiting family easier

Labor Day weekend is usually the unofficial signal that summer is winding down, so we're taking the hint and making the most of it. This week's calendar has family events, live music, food, markets, and a few things you probably won't find on the typical weekend list. We're also spotlighting Konpa Nikkei in Corona del Mar, where Japanese technique meets Peruvian flavors. If you've been meaning to try somewhere new, this one is worth knowing about.

🏖️ Newport Beach Launches Free Kids Club

The Gist: Newport Beach just rolled out the Vacation Kids Club, a free program packed with family perks, special offers, and curated itineraries. It's built for the shoulder season, when the weather stays warm but summer crowds thin out. Think harbor boat rentals, the Balboa Fun Zone, and kid-friendly hotel programming at spots like Pendry and Pelican Hill.

Why It Matters: Locals can point visiting friends and family to an easy, free planning tool that shows off the best of our coastline once school's back in session.

☕ Meet Newport Beach Officers At Crystal Cove

The Gist: The Newport Beach Police Department is hosting a mobile cafe on Saturday, Sept. 12, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Crystal Cove Shopping Center on East Coast Highway. Residents can stop by to meet and greet local officers, ask questions about the department's work, and learn about crime trends impacting the community.

Why It Matters: It's a casual, in-person chance to talk directly with the officers who serve your city.

Blending Japanese and Peruvian Flavors

Konpa Nikkei is Chef Jason Yamaguchi's brick and mortar in the heart of Corona Del Mar, serving Nikkei cuisine that fuses Japanese technique with the bold ingredients of Peru, and it holds a 4.8-star rating from 77 reviews. The menu runs from signature bowls and handcrafted sushi wraps to musubi, with reviewers praising the fresh maguro Konpa Bowl with crunchy chili oil and a tender prime short rib musubi with crispy papas.

Chef Yamaguchi, born in Los Angeles and raised on O'ahu, trained under his uncle, renowned Chef Roy Yamaguchi, and now builds each dish to order with fresh seafood and house-made sauces. For locals, that means a one-of-a-kind Japanese-Peruvian meal without leaving Corona Del Mar.