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Explore OC History with Exhibits, Music, and Hands-On Activities at the Great Park

Issue # 0578

Author

Joshua Tjia
27 Feb

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh of the Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

🍜🍲 From Stone Pot Noodles to Wagyu Shabu: Irvine’s New Soup Scene

📚📗 Shop Books, Support Local Libraries: Visit Irvine’s Friends of the Library Bookstores

🥞🍫🍓 New Farm-Fresh Breakfast Items Debut This Weekend at Tanaka Farms in Irvine

🚌📝 From Robotics to Culinary Arts: Middle Schoolers Discover Career Pathways

🩺🌟 UCI Health Named One of Becker’s Top Places to Work in Healthcare for 2026

🌳🌳Back on the Trails: Bommer & Shady Canyon Reopen

🖼️🍊 Explore OC History with Exhibits, Music, and Hands-On Activities at the Great Park

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

🐈🐕 Help Foster Pets Thrive: Irvine Animal Care Center’s March Foster Drive

🏀UC Irvine Women’s Basketball Tops CSUN 60–57 on Senior Night, Stays First in Big West

🏀🏐🎾⚽️ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

🏀 Irvine Valley Men’s Basketball Upsets Moorpark 66–58 in 3C2A Playoff Opener

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🔬🔍 FBI and National Guard Investigate Suspicious Materials at Irvine Residence

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

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

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

What’s a dancer’s favorite kind of vegetable?

Spin-ach!

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

From Stone Pot Noodles to Wagyu Shabu: Irvine’s New Soup Scene

Several new Irvine-area restaurants are putting soup front and center, offering everything from Chinese rice noodle bowls and Vietnamese pho to Japanese wagyu shabu.

New Soup Spots:

  • Ten Seconds Yunnan Rice Noodle (Campus Plaza):
    Rice noodle soups served in 300-degree stone pots, from mild pork bone broth to bold Sichuan spicy. A standout dessert: Durian Lava Balls.

  • Soup Shop (Los Olivos Marketplace):
    This Vietnamese spot offers 10 pho styles with 24-hour slow-cooked beef bone broth, customizable with rib-eye, brisket, meatballs, oxtail, or chicken and shrimp with veggie broth.

  • Mikiya Wagyu Shabu House (Westpark Plaza):
    An all-you-can-eat wagyu shabu experience with four broths and tiers of Japanese, Australian, and American wagyu, plus included appetizers and optional seafood and premium meats.

Shop Books, Support Local Libraries: Visit Irvine’s Friends of the Library Bookstores

Irvine Public Library is supported by Friends of the Library groups that raise funds, advocate for the library, and engage the community. Each branch has a Friends bookstore selling gently used, donated books, with all proceeds supporting library programs.

📚 Heritage Park Friends of the Library
14361 Yale Ave., Irvine, CA 92604
🕒 Mon–Thu 11 a.m.–5 p.m. | Fri–Sat 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
📞 949-724-0168 | 🌐 heritagefol.com

📚 University Park Friends of the Library
4512 Sandburg Way, Irvine, CA 92612
🕒 Mon & Wed 10 a.m.–6 p.m. | Sat 9:30 a.m.–3 p.m.
📞 949-724-0167 | 🌐 friendsirvineuplib.org

📚 Katie Wheeler Friends of the Library
Coming in 2026
13109 Old Myford Rd., Irvine, CA 92602

New Farm-Fresh Breakfast Items Debut This Weekend at Tanaka Farms in Irvine

Tanaka Farms is serving up two new breakfast favorites in Irvine: Dubai Chocolate Strawberry Pancakes, featuring fluffy stacks topped with fresh farm strawberries, rich chocolate, and pistachio, and a hearty Portuguese Sausage Scramble with rice. Whether you’re craving something sweet or savory, both are now on the menu for Breakfast at the Farm this weekend.

View the full menu at TanakaFarms.com.

From Robotics to Culinary Arts: Middle Schoolers Discover Career Pathways

As part of CTE Month, IUSD is spotlighting middle school career exploration, which helps students spark curiosity, build self-awareness, and connect their interests and strengths to future possibilities. Through hands-on courses like engineering and robotics, digital media, video production, fashion design, and culinary arts, students begin developing career-ready skills that support success in high school, post-secondary education, and beyond.

Learn more at iusd.org/CTE.

UCI Health Named One of Becker’s Top Places to Work in Healthcare for 2026

UCI Health has been named one of Becker’s Top 165 Places to Work in Healthcare for 2026, recognizing its commitment to employee well-being, satisfaction, and professional growth. As Orange County’s only academic health system, UCI Health was highlighted for its employee-informed values, supportive workplace culture, comprehensive benefits, and emphasis on work-life balance.

Back on the Trails: Bommer & Shady Canyon Reopen

Bommer Canyon and Shady Canyon open space trails have reopened and are ready for visitors, while the Quail Hill Loop Trail remains closed due to wet and muddy conditions.

Explore OC History with Exhibits, Music, and Hands-On Activities at the Great Park

Arts in Irvine invites the community to the free OC Archives Bazaar: Beyond the Archive on Saturday, March 14, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Great Park. This one-day event brings Orange County’s cultural history to life through immersive exhibits, presentations, music, and hands-on activities for all ages, highlighting the voices, stories, and artifacts that have shaped the region.

Learn more at cityofirvine.org/arts.

Upcoming Northwood High School’s Music Calendar

No further events scheduled for this month.

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

Upcoming Woodbridge High School's Music Calendar

  1. February 26-28: Cinderella Musical, WHS Performing Arts Center

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

Upcoming Woodbridge High School’s Vocal Music Calendar

  1. February 26-28, TBD: Cinderella, WHS Performing Arts Center

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

Upcoming Irvine High Choral’s Music Calendar

  1. February 25-28, 7:00 PM: Seussical, IHS PAC

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://www.ihschoralmusic.org/calendar.html 

Upcoming Portola High School Music’s Calendar

No further events scheduled for this month.

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://www.phsmusicbooster.org/buy-ticket

Help Foster Pets Thrive: Irvine Animal Care Center’s March Foster Drive

Irvine Animal Care Center is celebrating all things foster with a March 1–31 Foster Drive, collecting much-needed supplies like Feline Breeders Edge, Miracle Nipple syringes, and acrylic pet playpens to help puppies, kittens, and pets in foster care thrive.

  • Swing by the drive-thru donation celebration on Saturday, March 7, from 1–3 p.m. for a treat and an IACC Supporter sticker.

  • Or donate anytime through the Amazon or Chewy wish lists at cityofirvine.org/fosterdrive.

Every donation helps make a big difference for a furry friend waiting for their forever home 🐾💛

UC Irvine Women’s Basketball Tops CSUN 60–57 on Senior Night, Stays First in Big West

UC Irvine women’s basketball edged CSUN 60–57 on Senior Night at the Bren Events Center. The Anteaters improved to 24–4 (15–2 Big West), stayed in first place, and now head to UC Santa Barbara for a road game on Feb. 28.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

Women's Water Polo

  • Fri, Feb 27 – vs Hawai'i, 6:00 PM

Men's Volleyball

  • Fri, Feb 27 – vs UCLA, 7:00 PM

Men's Basketball

  • Sat, Feb 28 – vs UC Santa Barbara, 7:30 PM

Irvine Valley Men’s Basketball Upsets Moorpark 66–58 in 3C2A Playoff Opener

Irvine Valley men’s basketball pulled off a 66–58 road upset at Moorpark in the 3C2A SoCal Regional opener. Matt Mowers led IVC with 16 points and 8 rebounds as the 19th-seeded Lasers advanced to face Cerritos.

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS 

Baseball

  • Sat, Feb 28 – vs LA Mission, 12:00 PM

High School Athletics Calendar

**

Updated With February Schedule

Upcoming Irvine High School’s Varsity home games:

February 2026

Saturday, February 28

  • Baseball - 11:00 AM vs San Juan Hills

FBI and National Guard Investigate Suspicious Materials at Irvine Residence

The California National Guard’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team is assisting the FBI and local authorities in an Irvine investigation after suspicious materials were found inside a home near Cartwheel and Iluna. Officials say the situation appears contained, no evacuation was needed, and specialized testing will continue on site over several days.

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

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