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Don’t Miss the Magic! Visit the Great Park’s Holiday Displays Before December 29

Issue # 0309

Author

Joshua Tjia
13 Dec

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh Of The Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

🎄⭐️🎄 Don’t Miss the Magic! Visit the Great Park’s Holiday Displays Before December 29

🎊🤸🏻🎨 Fitness, Tech, Creativity: Programs for Every Goal at Irvine Senior Services

🎄🎶 Concordia University Brings Holiday Cheer with Annual Christmas Concert

📷🎞️ Capture the Fun: K PhotoLaVie Brings Korean Photo Booth Magic to University Center

🧑‍💻🖥️ IUSD Celebrates Computer Science Education Week with Hands-On Coding Activities

🏥🌟 UCI Health’s Dr. Sumit Garg Named Among Top 2024 Healio Honorees

🌱🥾 Join Restoration Day to Revive Native Habitats at Peters Canyon

🎄🐐 Holiday Fun at Tanaka Farms: Craft Workshop and Storytime for the Whole Family

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

🐈🪀 Holiday Gift Ideas to Pamper Your Pets This Season

🎾 UC Irvine Men’s Tennis Announces 2025 Schedule, Aiming for Another Big West Title

🏀🏐🎾⚾ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

🏀 Northwood and Crean Lutheran Girls Basketball Teams Claim Big Tournament Wins

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🚔🚨 Irvine Man Arrested for Slingshot Vandalism in Cypress Village

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

🌟🏪🎉Irvine’s Best Kept Secrets: Is Your Business One of Them?

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

How do you wash your hands over the holidays?

With Santatizer.

We hope this joke brings some laughter to your day! 😁

Don’t Miss the Magic! Visit the Great Park’s Holiday Displays Before December 29

Illuminate Irvine kicked off the holiday season at the Great Park, and the festivities continue through December 29. Visitors can enjoy sparkling lights, festive decorations, and winter-themed photo backdrops at the Palm Court Arts Complex daily from dusk to 9 p.m. The Holidayz Pop-Up, featuring additional holiday fun, is open Fridays from 5 to 9 p.m. and weekends from 1 to 8 p.m. For more information and updates on holiday closures, visit cityofirvine.org/holidayz.

Fitness, Tech, Creativity: Programs for Every Goal at Irvine Senior Services

Irvine Senior Services offers a range of programs to help older adults achieve their New Year goals and enhance their well-being. Participants can stay active with Fitness Center memberships and fitness classes, improve their technology skills through tech classes or personalized one-on-one tutoring, and explore creative pursuits with beginner-friendly classes like card making, harmonica, or dance. With a variety of options, Irvine Senior Services is dedicated to supporting the community’s wellness and growth. More information is available at cityofirvine.org/yourirvine.

Concordia University Brings Holiday Cheer with Annual Christmas Concert

Celebrate the season with Concordia University Irvine’s annual Christmas concert at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Featuring over 200 performers from eight vocal and instrumental ensembles, including choirs, handbells, and an orchestra, the event showcases festive carols and Christmas favorites under the direction of Dr. Michael Busch, Dr. Jeff Held, Dr. Clarissa Shan, and Alex Guebert. Don’t miss this cherished holiday tradition!

Capture the Fun: K PhotoLaVie Brings Korean Photo Booth Magic to University Center

K PhotoLaVie: Now open at University Center, K PhotoLaVie offers a fresh, fun, and friendly Korean photo booth experience where you can capture unique moments and celebrate your culture through elevated photography. Located at 4237 Campus Dr #B155, Irvine, CA 92612, this new addition complements the vibrant mix of stores and restaurants in Irvine and Newport Beach's Neighborhood & Community Centers. Call (949) 438-0779 or visit their website for details and directions.

IUSD Celebrates Computer Science Education Week with Hands-On Coding Activities

Computer Science Education Week (Dec 9-15) encourages students worldwide to explore coding and develop critical skills for the digital era. Irvine Unified School District (IUSD) actively participates by offering engaging opportunities across grade levels. Elementary students engage in activities like coding, stop-motion animation, and robotics, while middle and high school students design rockets, create 3D-printed models, and build robotics. These experiences prepare students for the future, supported by IUSD’s Career Technical Education (CTE) programs and comprehensive computer science courses. Learn more at iusd.org/ComputerScienceWeek2024.

UCI Health’s Dr. Sumit Garg Named Among Top 2024 Healio Honorees

Dr. Sumit Garg, medical director of UCI Health Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, has been recognized in the 2024 Healio Honors program for his exceptional patient care, being one of only 15 ophthalmologists honored nationwide. Known for his expertise in advanced cataract, corneal, and refractive surgeries, he has transformed care for patients with complex conditions like keratoconus, exemplified by a case where his customized treatment restored a patient’s vision without a transplant. A principal investigator in clinical trials and a prolific researcher, Dr. Garg also serves as a professor and vice chair at UC Irvine School of Medicine, contributing significantly to the field through publications, a co-edited cataract surgery textbook, and international lectures.

Join Restoration Day to Revive Native Habitats at Peters Canyon

Join a morning of stewardship on Saturday, December 14, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., to help improve native habitats at Peters Canyon Regional Park. Volunteers will assist with tasks like weeding, watering, or planting at restoration sites. Bring gardening gloves, water, snacks, sun protection, and wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. Advance registration is required, and the event is open to ages 10 and up. For questions, contact Shelly Marshall at (714) 973-6625 or [email protected].

Holiday Fun at Tanaka Farms: Craft Workshop and Storytime for the Whole Family

Get festive at Tanaka Farms with holiday-themed events! On Sunday, December 15th, at 11 AM, join the Barnyard Craft Workshop to create charming wooden pallet snowmen, visit barnyard animals, and enjoy hot cocoa—all included with your ticket.

Today, Friday, December 13th, at 10:30 AM, don’t miss Barnyard Storytime, featuring author Cat Weissman reading 12 Hungry Days of Christmas, along with a fun scavenger hunt. Perfect for the whole family, these events promise holiday magic and adventure. Book your spots now! 

Upcoming Northwood High School’s Music Calendar

  1. Fri, December 13, 7:00 - 8:30 PM: Winter Gala Concert

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://timbmusic.org/events/

Upcoming University High School's Choirs Calendar

No further events scheduled for December.

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://www.uhschoirs.org/2024-25-season.html

Upcoming Woodbridge High School's Music Calendar

  1. Fri, December 13, 7:00 - 9:00 PM: Winter Concerts: Concert Band, Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://www.whs-music.org/

Upcoming Woodbridge High School’s Vocal Music Calendar

No further events scheduled for December.

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://woodbridgechoirs.weebly.com/calendar.html

Upcoming Irvine High School's Music Calendar

  1. Wed, December 18, 6:00-10:00 PM: IM Winter Concert

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://www.vimb.info/calendar

Holiday Gift Ideas to Pamper Your Pets This Season

Spoil your furry friend this holiday season with these thoughtful gift ideas:

  • For playful pups: Durable chew toys, interactive puzzle feeders, fetch balls, and frisbees.

  • For cozy cats: Soft plush beds, catnip toys, and window perches.

  • For senior pets: Orthopedic beds, gentle grooming tools, and calming supplements.

Visit cityofirvine.org/animals for more resources or to send a holiday gift to a center pet.

UC Irvine Men’s Tennis Announces 2025 Schedule, Aiming for Another Big West Title

UC Irvine men's tennis kicks off its 2025 season in mid-January with road matches against UCLA, Pepperdine, and San Diego State. The home opener is set for Feb. 7 against Pacific, followed by a seven-match homestand in March featuring teams like Navy and Yale. The regular season concludes with six Big West matches, including trips to Hawai'i and Cal Poly and home games against UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara. The Anteaters aim to defend their title at the Big West Championship in San Diego from April 25-27.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

No further upcoming home games for December

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS 

Women’s Basketball

  1. Sat, Dec 14: vs Glendale, 3:00 PM

Men’s Basketball

  1. Fri, Dec 13: vs Mt. San Antonio, 5:00 PM

  2. Fri, Dec 20: vs Cypress, 7:00 PM

  3. Mon, Dec 30: vs Alumni, 6:00 PM

Northwood and Crean Lutheran Girls Basketball Teams Claim Big Tournament Wins

Northwood defeated University 52-32 in the Santa Ana Elks Classic Tournament, thanks to a dominant 20-2 second-quarter performance. Junior Mya Glezman led Northwood (3-9) with 21 points, including three 3-pointers, while freshman Joey Tito added 10 points with two 3-pointers. University (3-7) was led by senior Julia Holmes with seven points and eight rebounds, and sophomore Selin Haytoglu contributed seven points off the bench.

Crean Lutheran beat Downey 60-31 in the Sunny Hills Tournament, with Sydnee Norwood scoring 15 points, Jane Hewitt 13 points, and Jordyn Norwood adding nine. Crean Lutheran advances to Friday's semifinals.

High School Athletics Calendar

** Updated With December Schedule

Upcoming Irvine High School’s Varsity home games:

December 2024  

Saturday, December 14

  • 02:30 PM: Basketball, Girls VR vs. Apple Valley at Irvine High School Game Gym

Tuesday, December 17

  • 05:00 PM: Water Polo, Girls VR vs. Edison at Woolett Pool

  • 05:00 PM: Soccer, Boys VR vs. University at Irvine High School Stadium

  • 05:30 PM: Basketball, Girls VR vs. Cajon at Irvine High School Game Gym

Irvine Man Arrested for Slingshot Vandalism in Cypress Village

Irvine police arrested Sang Min Lee, 55, after a string of vandalism incidents in Cypress Village involving a slingshot used to damage vehicles and homes. Following an investigation, officers obtained a search warrant and found Lee hiding in a closet. Several slingshots and pellets were recovered. Lee faces felony vandalism charges and additional warrants related to vandalism in Los Angeles.

Irvine’s Best Kept Secrets: Is Your Business One of Them?

We know our community is brimming with businesses that have fascinating stories and big hearts. If you’re a local business owner making waves, crafting unique experiences, or simply putting a smile on our faces, we want to chat with you! “Irvine Insider” is eager to shine a light on the unsung heroes of our city. Let’s collaborate and let the community know what makes your business special.

Click the link below and fill out the Local Business Spotlight Application Form to be featured and let’s celebrate the spirit of Irvine together!

Irvine Insider is sent to a local audience of Irvine residence Monday through Friday with 50% - 60% open rate. Our newsletter is a great way to reach Irvine residents.

  • Kaiser Permanente Irvine Farmers Market

  • Saturday Farmers Market at Mariners Church Irvine

    • When: Saturday, 8 AM - 12 PM

    • Where: 5428 Bonita Canyon Dr, Irvine, CA 92603

  • Great Park Certified Farmers Market

  • Manassero Farmers

    • When: Daily, 9 AM - 4:30 PM

    • Where: 33 Irvine Valley, Irvine, CA 92604

  • Tanaka Farms

    • When: Daily, 9 AM - 5 PM

    • Where: 5380 3/4 University Dr, Irvine, CA 92612

    • More Info:Tanaka Farms

November 1 - December 14 Annual Holiday Toy Drive

November 18 – December 13 Letters to Santa

November 29– December 29 Hikari Festival of Lights

December 7 - 15 Holiday Makers Mart 10 AM - 4 PM

December 14 Holidays Around the World 11 AM

December 14 Fiesta Navidad 8 PM

December 17 Holiday Organ Spectacular 7:30 PM

December 20 - December 21 Joss Stone: Merry Christmas, Love 8 PM

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