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From Better Sleep to Less Stress: How Spending Time Outdoors Offers Mental Health Benefits

Issue # 0630

Author

Joshua Tjia
12 May

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh of the Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

🥗🥝🥪 Four New Healthy Dining Spots Bring Fresh Flavors to Irvine

❤️🤍💙  Honor Fallen Service Members at the Northwood Candle Lighting Ceremony on May 24

🧓🏼🤝 Irvine Adult Day Health Services Launches Spring Fundraiser to Support Older Adults

🌱🍦🌱 SomiSomi Launches New Pistachio Swirl Flavor for May

🐎📖 Saddle Up for Frontier Stories Night at Bommer Canyon Preserve May 30

🎨🏥 Healing Through Creativity: UCI Health Burn Survivors Share Their Stories Through Art

🌳🛌 From Better Sleep to Less Stress: How Spending Time Outdoors Offers Mental Health Benefits

🎻🪈 Tips for Choosing the Right First Instrument for Your Child

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

🐈‍⬛🐕‍🦺 Irvine Animal Care Center Celebrates Six Pet Adoptions and Two Reunions

⚾️ UCI's Zach Crandall Claims Big West Player of the Week Award Following Strong Week at the Plate

🏀🏐🎾⚽️ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

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

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

Why was the artichoke so generous?

It had a big heart!

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

Four New Healthy Dining Spots Bring Fresh Flavors to Irvine

May is bringing a fresh mix of health-conscious dining destinations to Irvine. The latest openings bring a variety of fresh flavors, ranging from protein-packed bowls and organic ingredients to gluten-free snacks and fruit-filled beverages.

• Veggie Grill by Next Level — Plant-based burgers, grain bowls, chick’n sandwiches, and smoothies made with organic and non-GMO ingredients.

• La La Land — Café serving colorful matcha drinks, banana cloud lattes, coolers, and avocado toast.

• Ubatuba Açaí — Brazilian-inspired shop offering housemade açaí bowls, empanadas, chimichurri, and gluten-free pão de queijo made from tapioca flour.

• Sweetgreen — Seasonal salads, protein bowls, and kids meals prepared with fresh ingredients.

Honor Fallen Service Members at the Northwood Candle Lighting Ceremony on May 24

The City of Irvine invites the community to the Northwood Memorial Candle Lighting Ceremony on Sunday, May 24 at 4 p.m. at the Northwood Gratitude and Honor Memorial in Northwood Community Park. The special ceremony will offer a time of reflection and remembrance to honor American service members who lost their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets and join the community for this evening of remembrance and tribute.

Irvine Adult Day Health Services Launches Spring Fundraiser to Support Older Adults

Irvine Adult Day Health Services is inviting the community to “spring into giving” this May by supporting its Spring Fundraiser benefiting older and disabled adults in Irvine. Donations of any amount, along with items from the organization’s Amazon wish list, will help provide activity and programming supplies that bring engagement and enrichment to participants at the center. Supporters can donate online, in person, or by mail.

SomiSomi Launches New Pistachio Swirl Flavor for May

SomiSomi is kicking off May with a sweet surprise — Pistachio swirl is now officially on the menu. Celebrate the sweet news by stopping by one of their Irvine locations for a fresh swirly treat.

Saddle Up for Frontier Stories Night at Bommer Canyon Preserve May 30

The Irvine Public Library is inviting families to enjoy Frontier Stories on the Ranch at Bommer Canyon Preserve Cattle Camp on May 30 from 5–8 p.m. This fun all-ages event will celebrate the spirit of the Wild West with Western storytelling, music, hands-on activities, and stories inspired by the works of Louis L’Amour in a welcoming ranch setting.

Healing Through Creativity: UCI Health Burn Survivors Share Their Stories Through Art

UCI Health’s Regional Burn Center recently brought burn survivors and their loved ones together for a art workshop focused on healing, confidence, and community. Led by burn survivor and artist Grace Flott, participants transformed their scars into artwork by creating prints directly from their skin, helping reframe scars as symbols of strength, meaning, and resilience.The event also highlighted UCI Health’s ongoing support for burn survivors through counseling, support groups, and community programs that continue long after medical treatment ends.

From Better Sleep to Less Stress: How Spending Time Outdoors Offers Mental Health Benefits

Taking time to get outside can do more than provide fresh air — it can also support better mental health and overall well-being. Irvine Ranch Conservancy shares how spending time in nature, whether through a short walk, self-guided hike, or volunteer-led outdoor activity, can help people feel more refreshed, focused, and connected.

  • Helps lower stress and anxiety

  • Improves focus and mental clarity

  • Boosts mood and emotional resilience

  • Encourages mindfulness and being present

  • Supports better sleep quality

  • Increases Vitamin D production

  • May reduce symptoms of depression

Tips for Choosing the Right First Instrument for Your Child

Choosing a beginner instrument for band or orchestra can feel like a big decision for families, but the best fit usually comes down to your child’s age, size, personality, school recommendations, and excitement level. Renting can make the process much easier by keeping costs manageable, giving families flexibility if interests change, and providing access to lessons, repairs, and supplies along the way.

  • Popular elementary school choices: Violin, viola, cello, recorder, and keyboard

  • Common middle school band instruments: Clarinet, flute, trumpet, trombone, alto saxophone, and percussion

  • Why many families rent first: It is flexible, budget-friendly, and great for first-time student musicians

  • Helpful things to consider: Your child’s comfort, school guidance, and what instrument genuinely excites them

  • A helpful reminder for families: Learning a new instrument takes time, and it is completely normal for beginners to need practice and patience

  • Local support can help: Irvine Art & Music offers rentals, lessons, repairs, accessories, and instrument sales all in one place for Orange County families

Upcoming Northwood High School’s Music Calendar

  1. May 15, 5:00-8:00 PM: Jazz at the Oaks, NHS

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

Upcoming Woodbridge High School’s Vocal Music Calendar

  1. May 29, 7:00 PM: ​Broadway Rocks Concert, 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. May 29-30, 7:00 PM: Voices 2026, Irvine High PAC

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

Upcoming Portola High School Music’s Calendar

  1. May 14 - 15: PORCHELLA 2026, Portola High Amphitheater

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

Irvine Animal Care Center Celebrates Six Pet Adoptions and Two Reunions

The Irvine Animal Care Center celebrated six pet adoptions from May 4–10, with dogs Hailey, Pierre, and Quartz and cats Cinder, Cupcake, and Sirius finding new homes. The center also reunited two cats with their owners.

Find adoption information and operating hours at https://cityofirvine.gov/irvine-animal-care-center

UCI's Zach Crandall Claims Big West Player of the Week Award Following Strong Week at the Plate

UC Irvine Anteaters catcher Zach Crandall earned his first Big West Field Player of the Week award after batting .471 with eight hits, three doubles, and multiple RBIs in all four games during UCI’s 3-1 week. Crandall hit his first career home run against San Diego Toreros, had two three-hit games, drove in 11 total runs, and did not strike out once in 21 plate appearances.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

Baseball

  • Thu, May 14 - Cal State Bakersfield, 6:00 PM

  • Fri, May 15 - Cal State Bakersfield, 6:00 PM

  • Sat, May 16 - Cal State Bakersfield, 1:00 PM

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS 

No further upcoming home games for this month.

High School Athletics Calendar

**

Updated With May Schedule

Upcoming Irvine High School’s Varsity home games:

No further upcoming varsity home games for this month.

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

May 12 Formosa Quartet 8 PM

May 14 Free Grocery Food Box 9 AM - 12 PM

May 17 PSSS: Recomposed 1 PM

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