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Eat, Sip, and Celebrate: Don’t Miss UmamiFest This July in Irvine

Issue # 0443

Author

Joshua Tjia
15 Jul

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh Of The Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

🍡🍣🍙 Eat, Sip, and Celebrate: Don’t Miss UmamiFest This July in Irvine

🚓 Irvine Police Conduct High-Visibility Enforcement on East and West Yale Loop

🍈 Tanaka Farms Melon Tasting Tours Open Through July 20

🧋🍉 Watermelon Cooler Returns to Sunright Tea Studio Starting July 16

🎨 49 IUSD Students Selected for 2025 Junior Art Exhibit at Laguna Beach Festival of Arts

🛟🩺 Keep Your Family Safe This Summer: Steps for Emergency Preparedness

🪶 Summer Birdwatching Walk at Peters Canyon Set for July 16

🫟 Get Creative This Summer at Woodbridge Art Camp

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

🐕🐈 Low-Cost Pet Vaccine & Microchip Clinic Comes to Portola Springs July 20

⚾️ Seven UC Irvine Baseball Players Selected in 2025 MLB Draft

🏀🏐🎾⚾ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🚓💳 Irvine Police Investigate ATM Card Swap Theft at Culver & Michelson

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

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

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

Why did the orange become juice?

It couldn't handle the pressure.

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

Eat, Sip, and Celebrate: Don’t Miss UmamiFest This July in Irvine

UmamiFest is coming to Westpark Plaza from July 26–28, offering a flavorful celebration of Japanese, Asian, and Pacific Islander cuisine and culture.

  • Enjoy a wide array of savory street food, sweets, and drinks like craft beer and sake, along with live performances, martial arts, and cultural showcases.

  • The event also features shopping for unique goods and handmade crafts.

  • It's family-friendly and runs from 11 AM–7 PM (Sat), and 11 AM–6 PM (Sun). Tickets are available on Eventbrite.

Irvine Police Conduct High-Visibility Enforcement on East and West Yale Loop

Irvine Police conducted a High-Visibility Enforcement operation on Wednesday along East and West Yale Loop to improve road safety. Officers issued 53 citations, including 21 for stop sign violations, 15 for cell phone use, and five for disobeying traffic signs. With stop sign violations being a major cause of local traffic collisions, IPD remains focused on reducing these incidents.

Tanaka Farms Melon Tasting Tours Open Through July 20

Tanaka Farms' Melon Tasting Tours are now running through July 20! Guests can enjoy:

  • tasting fresh-grown melons

  • picking a veggie to take home

  • taking a scenic tractor ride

  • visiting barnyard animals

Find more information here

Watermelon Cooler Returns to Sunright Tea Studio Starting July 16

Sunright Tea Studio’s fan-favorite Watermelon Cooler returns on July 16! This refreshing summer drink blends fresh watermelon, ice, and jasmine tea for the perfect cool-down. Available for a limited time only!

49 IUSD Students Selected for 2025 Junior Art Exhibit at Laguna Beach Festival of Arts

Nearly 50 IUSD students had their artwork selected from nearly 1,800 entries for the prestigious 2025 Junior Art Exhibit at the Laguna Beach Festival of Arts, running through August 29. The 49 chosen works span all grade levels and include 2D and 3D art as well as short films.

Visit iusd.org/FestivalOfArts2025 to see the full list of student artists and their creative work.

Keep Your Family Safe This Summer: Steps for Emergency Preparedness

Medical emergencies can happen anytime—at home, the pool, or a sports field—so being prepared is crucial. Physicians Dr. Agran and Dr. Koutures stress the importance of basic first aid and CPR training, especially as summer activities and swim season increase risk. Drowning is the leading cause of death for young children, making water safety and rapid emergency response essential. Families are encouraged to:

Summer Birdwatching Walk at Peters Canyon Set for July 16

Join OC Parks for a free Summer Birdwatching walk on Wednesday, July 16, from 7:30–9:30 a.m. at Peters Canyon Regional Park. Led by a knowledgeable volunteer, the two-hour interpretive stroll will explore nesting birds in trees and shrubs. Bring binoculars, sun protection, and comfy shoes.

Sign up here

Get Creative This Summer at Woodbridge Art Camp

Woodbridge Village Association is hosting a creative art camp where kids can explore drawing, painting, sculpture, and more. Campers will work on fun projects like painted mandalas, textured monster drawings, and clay animals while learning core art elements.

To register, visit the office at 31 Creek Road or call (949) 786-1800 during business hours.

We will resume with the high school music calendar events when the schedule is available for the fall semester.

Low-Cost Pet Vaccine & Microchip Clinic Comes to Portola Springs July 20

Take care of your pet’s health at the Vet Care Pet Clinic on Sunday, July 20, from 8–10 a.m. at Portola Springs Community Park.

  • This low-cost, walk-up clinic offers vaccines and microchipping for dogs and cats on a first-come, first-served basis — no appointment needed. Veterinary staff will be on-site to assist and answer questions.

  • More info and pricing: vetcarepetclinic.com.

Seven UC Irvine Baseball Players Selected in 2025 MLB Draft

UC Irvine had a standout showing at the 2025 MLB Draft with seven Anteaters selected, including a record five in the first 10 rounds, matching 2024’s impressive draft class.

  • Riley Kelly (Rockies, 4th round) and Colin Yeaman (Orioles, 4th round) were the highest picks, followed by Jacob McCombs (Twins, 7th), Anthony Martinez (Guardians, 8th), and Max Martin (Royals, 10th).

  • Later-round selections included Junior Barajas (Giants, 11th) and Chase Call (Astros, 16th).

  • The group features several All-Big West honorees, school record-setters, and players with strong postseason performances.

  • Head Coach Ben Orloff has now guided 28 draftees in seven seasons, contributing to UC Irvine’s all-time total of 146 MLB Draft picks, including 43 in the top 10 rounds.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

We will resume with UCI’s athletic calendar events when the schedule is available for the fall quarter.

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS 

We will resume with IVC’s athletic calendar events when the schedule is available for the fall semester.

We will resume with the high school athletic calendar events when the schedule is available for the fall semester.

Irvine Police Investigate ATM Card Swap Theft at Culver & Michelson

A recent distraction theft at the Culver and Michelson ATM highlights a growing crime trend in Orange County. A suspect tricked a victim by pretending to help, then swapped her debit card, which was later used fraudulently. Similar incidents have been reported involving suspects dropping money to distract victims and steal ATM cards.

Police urge the public to:

  • stay alert at ATMs

  • never accept help from strangers

  • cover the keypad when entering PINs

  • report any suspicious activity immediately

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

July 15 Library Card Sign-Up Event 4:30 - 6:30 PM

July 22 Library Card Sign-Up Event 4:30 - 6:30 PM

July 26 Umami Summerfest 11 AM - 7 PM

July 26 Spectrum Silent Disco 6 - 9 PM

July 27 Umami Summerfest 11 am - 6 pm

July 29 Library Card Sign-Up Event 4:30 - 6:30 PM

We could use your help

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