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By Garry Brown, Executive Director / Orange County Coastkeeper Just above Newport Harbor is the Upper Newport Bay, a sanctuary to many species of plants, birds and marine organisms. The Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve and Ecological Reserve is an estuary, a wetland with a mix...

“This is more than a diet, more than a focus on food,” explained Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church, author of “Purpose Driven Life” and co-author of “The Daniel Plan.” “Friends and faith are the secret sauce that make the plan so effective. Thousands of books deal with...

February was a huge month for sailboat racing in Newport Harbor and outside our jetty. We had the winter series and the Mid-Winter, and Balboa Yacht Club had Team Racing in their Alan Andrews designed super-sport sloops usually reserved for the Governor’s Cup. The Team Racing...

By Kurt English First I would like to thank Scott Peotter for his columns during the last two years, and the Newport Beach Independent for giving me the opportunity to share ideas and information with you every two weeks. As a student, I came to Newport Beach with friends on...

It has been fun writing for the Newport Independent about all the political happenings in Newport for these last two years. I have decided that after being involved first hand as a planning commissioner, and then as an observer writing about the issues, it is time to take the...

I’m standing on the curb at San Francisco International Airport. It’s a typical San Francisco grey, chilly day. The forecast promises the sprinkles will give way to a heavier rain in the afternoon. Lisa, my college roommate and friend for two decades, pulls up to where I’m...

Planning a wedding can be stressful. You have to find a venue, choose a menu, pick a dress not only for yourself but also for your bridesmaid (and in some cases a suit for your “bridesMAN”), not to mention you still have to continue working, parenting and trying to have a life....

By Christopher Trela and Catherine Del Casale | NB Indy  First we had Newport Beach Restaurant Week, then OC Restaurant Week, which ends March 1. Now comes OC Cocktail Week, running March 2 – 8. Nearly 50 restaurants throughout OC are participating, including seven in Newport...

Under Cover Book Club is back in session. I hope you all enjoyed February’s book, “Code Name Verity,” by Elizabeth Wein. Without having to provide too big of a spoiler alert, I absolutely loved how the last chapters made us reexamine the series of events we had accepted as...

Fizzing with romance and a flair for the dramatic, March pops the cork next week on a pair of must-see arts events. Promising to enchant the senses while celebrating masters of classics both centuries-old and perfectly modern, two of Orange County’s favorite venues welcome in the...

City Council unanimously approved moving forward with a not-so-new idea Tuesday: Water taxis in the harbor. Council voted to direct the Harbor Commission to form two ad hoc committees to evaluate pilot programs for developing a taxi service in the harbor and using a multiple...

Former Newport Beach Planning Commissioner Scott Peotter has announced that he is running for Newport Beach City Council in the 6th district in November 2014. The 6th District is in Corona del Mar and includes parts part of Newport Coast. This seat is currently occupied by City...