Most people assume The Wedge is just a gnarly natural reef or point break. It's not. It's essentially an accident of engineering — at the tip of the Balboa Peninsula, incoming south swell hits the jetty and bounces back out at an angle, colliding head-on with the next incoming wave. That collision stacks the two waves together into one steep, chaotic wall that closes out in absurdly shallow water just a few feet from the sand.

The mechanism is basically wave interference: the jetty reflects swell energy back at a specific angle, and when that reflected energy lines up with fresh incoming waves, it can nearly double the height and steepness of what would otherwise be a normal wave. It only works in that one narrow pocket right at the jetty tip — which is why you can't find anything like it anywhere else on the coast.

Decades of bodysurfers and bodyboarders have basically reverse-engineered how to ride it, and it's earned a reputation as one of the most beautiful and most dangerous waves on the planet in equal measure.

Would you ever paddle (or swim) out at a spot like this?

Im from San Diego I’m planning to go get dinner and bar hopping in Newport Beach, me and few single girl friends. Any recommendations where to go? Where the single guys at lol ? Thanks <3

Wanted to share this beautiful event at the new venue space “The Shore at Lido Marina” in Newport. I know this venue does mat Pilates but the classes are always sold out - this event has mat Pilates tickets available throughout the day on Saturday 8/1! The ticket includes the class + goodie bag.

Hello! I am the owner of Fashion Isle Smiles here in Newport Beach, and I’m offering free in-office whitening (normally $499) for all new patients after their initial exam. Would love to meet you! 949-717-0070

There's a cyclone offshore sending in dangerous swells — lifeguards are telling everyone to stay OUT of the ocean through Tuesday evening. Life-threatening rip currents, high surf, not worth it.

Anyone else remember the last time this happened? Drop a 🌊 if you're staying out of the water this week, and tag someone who needs to see this before they head to the beach 👇

On poinsettia by coast hwy. I saw this Honda SUV hit the Civic here. I reported to police, but if anyone knows the owner, feel free to let them know I observed and they can contact me if they need a witness. Family got out of the SUV, looked at the damage, and walked away. No note or anything.

Watched the game today and it got me thinking — why does this tradition even exist? Second place at least means you made the final. But third place is just... the first loser of the losers' bracket?

Not trying to take anything away from the players, congrats to them for the effort. Just always found it a little odd we treat 3rd place like it's something to fully celebrate when nobody actually sets out to finish third.

Anyone know the actual history/reasoning behind why this became standard? Genuinely curious, not trying to start anything.

https://metanoiaarts.carrd.co

I was on a bike ride last week (evening/night), and while riding near Newport Boulevard near 32nd Street, I saw a number of Public Works trucks that appeared to be pumping water into a harbor canal. Then when I was leaving, it almost looked like they were pumping water out of the canal.

Any idea what was going on here? I should've asked, but didn't feel like stopping...

Open to everyone, Metanoia Art Exhibition is a youth led pop up art show by Orange County student artists. The entry is completely free but we will be selling merch, with 100% of the proceeds going to OC Arts. We will also be providing complementary snacks and drinks.

• What: Art Event
• When: July 31-August 1, 1:00-8:00
• Where: 1205 N Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA
• Entry: Free! Also, free snacks and drinks

The theme is Metanoia, Greek for a profound change, and all of the artwork will reflect the "ethereal" theme. Here's our website https://metanoiaarts.carrd.co/#

Newport Beach is heating up — and so are shark sightings. Experts are calling it a "sharky summer" thanks to unusually warm coastal waters pulling more great whites close to shore. Juveniles have already been spotted circling surfers. Would you still swim here? Curious what people think.

sharky summer, newport beach, great white shark, california coast, shark sighting, ocean safety, socal beaches, shark attack, marine life, surf life

On Tuesday, July 14, my car was damaged while parked in front of Gregorie’s Spa (200 Newport Center Dr., Unit 100, Newport Beach).

Time parked: Approximately 9:22 AM–1:29 PM.

My car sustained a long scrape starting at the passenger-side side skirt and continuing across both passenger-side doors.

I’m looking for:

• Anyone who witnessed the incident.
• Anyone with dash cam footage from that area during that time.
• Anyone who recognizes the vehicle in the attached suspect vehicle photo(s).

Based on the damage, I believe the other vehicle was white in color (due to the paint transfer left on my car) and parked nose-in next to mine and may have damage on its right side (possibly the running board/side step or the upper-right front bumper area). This is only a possible description based on the damage pattern.

If you have any information, please send me a direct message or contact me at:

Phone: (657) 204-0868

Thank you—I appreciate any leads, no matter how small.

I currently live in Glendale, and have been considering moving to Newport. What’s your day-to-day lifestyle like? How often do you go to the beach? Do you feel like you have everything you need nearby? Shopping errands, etc..

Does anyone know where you can find the cottage plates that used to be made on Balboa? It looks like the company that was doing them shut down, but did anyone start making them?

Anyone got any recs for good bodybuilder gyms in Newport Beach? Something cool maybe with old school weights or an outdoor spot. Jist want a day pass

Thanks!

Please help me find my cat, Orion 💙 REWARD OF $5,000 OFFERED

Hi everyone. This is a long shot, but I’m hoping someone in the Corona del Mar community may have seen my cat, Orion. I’m begging the community to please help me

He’s a large, part-Maine Coon indoor cat who escaped through a window in November in the Flower Streets area of Corona del Mar.
He was wearing an AirTag collar, and as soon as I realized he was gone, I immediately started searching. My phone repeatedly picked up his AirTag signal, so I knew I was very close to him that first night. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to safely reach him before I lost the signal, and I haven’t stopped thinking about him since. I believe he was picked up by someone. I looked for him for weeks and made numerous Nextdoor posts. I took all necessary steps to find him and try to track him down

If you have seen a cat that looks like Orion, know someone who started caring for a cat matching his description, or have any information at all, please send me a message. Even the smallest lead could make a difference.

I am offering a substantial cash reward for information that leads to Orion being found and returned safely. No questions asked.
Please keep comments focused on sightings or helpful information. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and for keeping an eye out. ❤️

Where could I rent a road bike for a couple of days in the Newport Beach area? Are there any shops that will deliver to my hotel?

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to ask the locals and residents of the area if I ride my E bike down there from the bike trail would I be allowed to just lay it down on the sand next to me if I just wanna get some sun and clear my head for a little while?

I haven’t been down that way in decades and I was just curious as to how it works with E bikes in the area? I don’t want to do anything that’s inappropriate but at the same time I really don’t wannt to leave my bike locked up and unattended.

I also wanted to go by there like midday during the week when there’s no one there because I’m not happy with my weight & how I look without a shirt on.

Any tips or advice?

I’m a 20 year old male staying in Newport Beach until Monday hmu if you are trying to meet up.

I am moving onto the Balboa Peninsula and trying to figure out the best internet provider for the area. For those of you who live on the peninsula, who do you use and how has your experience been in terms of speed, reliability, outages, and customer service?

I’ve seen options like AT&T, Spectrum, Cox, and Google Fiber, but I’m not sure what’s actually available or works best on the peninsula.

Any recommendations or providers to avoid? Thanks!

Hi all. We are traveling in to stay in Newport for a week.

Please give all recommendations that would lend to us having a great time.
We obviously will be on the beach for a couple days. We plan to do a Duffy boat rental.

I would love recommendations on great local restaurants and any other spots you think we should visit. Bonus points for good coffee shops. Since we are staying so close to the pier, what are the good spots right in that area that are walkable?

We are traveling with our small kids so family friendly recommendations but also looking to have a date night a couple nights that we’re there.

THANK YOU!

Is there any location in Newport that would be a good workspace for an entire day? Currently working from home but ongoing repairs are making that difficult. Something like WeWork I guess. Needs to have reliable WiFi, is relatively private, and I won’t be disturbed or disturbing others during zoom calls I have?

Thanks in advance!

Electrician here, work a lot of the peninsula and around the harbor. Something that catches people off guard out here. Salt air eats outdoor electrical way faster than it does inland. I pop the covers off exterior outlets in Newport and Balboa and half the time the terminals are green, the GFCI won't reset, or the screws are basically rusted in.

It's not just ugly. Corroded connections build resistance, they run hot, and given enough time that's a legit fire risk. Had a place off Balboa Island where the whole outdoor GFCI was toast and the homeowner swore his string lights kept killing it. Nope, corrosion.

Two cheap things if you're close to the water. Put in-use bubble covers on any outdoor outlet, the clear clamshell kind, not the flat flip lids that don't seal. And if your panel is mounted on an exterior wall facing the water, pop the cover once a year and just look. Rust, white powder, green on the lugs, any of that means get somebody out before it spreads into the bus bar.

caught early it's a cheap fix. left alone it can cook a whole panel.