There’s plenty to do this summer

Irvine resident Brian Anderson and his two Costa Mesa buddies Billy Drake and Brent Kerlick decided to take a low-key approach to kicking off summer on Memorial Day weekend. The pals just hung out downing brews at a beach house on Sunday.

“This is definitely our official start of the summer,” Anderson said as the guys sipped beer on a patio near 49th Street in Newport. Drake and Kerlick eagerly made it a unanimous vote.

The three guys make a habit of hanging out at Anderson’s family home near 49th Street on Memorial Day Weekend and throughout the summer.

“We’ll probably just be here, hanging out, riding bikes, relaxing,” Anderson said.

The trio’s plans might have sounded pretty good to all those people stuck in traffic heading toward the Newport Peninsula on Sunday. Traffic crawled as Memorial Day Weekend marked the “unofficial” start to the summer beach season.

By 11 a.m., some beachgoers claimed their spot on the sand as others cruised the boardwalk on their bikes. Newport Beach lifeguards have noticeably beefed up patrol.

Like many others who make the trip to the peninsula, Anderson, Drake and Kerlick plan to check out some of the area’s classic hot spots ? Sharkeez, Woody’s Wharf and Mutt Lynch’s ? as well as the always busy Cabo Cantina in Balboa.

“There’s a lot of cool local bars to go to,” Drake said as he listed off his favorite watering holes.

The peninsula is a popular hangout for locals and out-of-towners, but be careful how you get from one place to the other.

“Basically [a DUI] in a car is the same thing as on a bike,” Newport Beach Police Sgt. Lloyd Whisenant said. “Basically it’s the same?. People think using a bike is the way to go while drinking, but it’s not.”

Many times once the case goes to court there might be lesser charges, Whisenant said.

Bicycles can be a dangerous mode of transportation after drinking heavily, with the possibility of impaired bike riders hitting other people, fixed objects or going into traffic, Whisenant said.

People were out in full force on their beach cruisers Sunday, with the boardwalk fairly crowded and at least 10 riders crossing Pacific Coast Highway toward the beach during peak hours.

“We’ve got pretty good crowds right around the parking lot areas,” said Newport Beach Lifeguard Capt. Jon Mitchell around 11 a.m.. “The surf is 2- to 3-feet, and even though people are probably going to Huntington Beach for the [Assn. of Volleyball Professionals] volleyball tournament ? we have a pretty good crowd.”

Mitchell said that around this big holiday weekend, authorities increase the staffing on most of the beaches, with guards at just about every other tower on the busiest stretches.

“Swim near open towers and check in with the lifeguards for water conditions,” Mitchell suggested. “With the water temperature creeping up, more people are getting in the water. Don’t go out past your abilities, use two fins if you’re bodyboarding and always swim with a partner.”

Mitchell also stressed that beachgoers should use plenty of sunscreen and remember to reapply after getting out of the water.

The Skin Cancer Foundation dubbed May Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and if you’re heading down to the beach, officials stress the importance of slathering the lotion on. According to the foundation, more than 90% of skin cancer is caused by being out in the sun, but less than one-third of all people use sunscreen.

“It’s all about using common sense,” Anderson said. “If you want to use sunscreen, go for it, if not, it’s a roll of the dice.”

A group of Tustin girls who try to make it down to the beach once or twice a week during the summer unanimously agreed that sunscreen is one of the most important aspects of beach safety.

“Sunscreen and avoiding anything that has teeth in the water,” joked Caley Martin, 16.

But there’s more to do than frolic on the beach this summer.

The Hyatt Regency Newport Beach hosts its annual jazz festival in its summer jazz amphitheater, beginning June 9 and continuing every Friday through Oct. 6. Concertgoers can enjoy the balmy Newport Beach evenings while listening to the sounds of world-renowned musicians like Ottmar Liebert and Luna Negra, a guitarist known worldwide for his work, which is influenced by flamenco, jazz, classical, merengue and a host of other eclectic musical styles. Liebert will play June 9 at the second concert of the series.

Costa Mesa has The Orange County Fair at the Orange County Fair and Exposition Center. The fair, which takes place from July 7 through July 30, has a host of rides, musical performances and other attractions. This year, the fair has acts like Bill Cosby, the Moody Blues, the Rollins Band, Seal and the Steve Miller Band, which has played in Pacific Amphitheater for the past few summers.

There are many other daily events going on in and around Newport-Mesa. For more information about events in Costa Mesa or Newport Beach, visit the cities’ websites www.ci.costa-mesa.ca.us and www.ci.Newport-beach.ca.us.

“We’re happy it’s almost summer,” Caley said. “We’re going to be going to the beach, traveling, barbecuing ? doing whatever’s outside, really.”dpt.29-summer-1-CPhotoInfo071RE8K220060529ikb649ncMARK C. DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT(LA)Emil Davis, 14, of Newport Beach skim boards on the south side of the Balboa Pier.