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Irvine Ranked Most Pet-Friendly City on the West Coast

Issue # 0703

Author

Joshua Tjia
04 Sep

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh of the Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

📢 Announcement

🌺🎶 The Mākaha Sons Bring Traditional Hawaiian Music to Irvine Barclay Theatre, Sep. 25

🐈‍⬛🏙️ Irvine Ranked Most Pet-Friendly City on the West Coast

🚆🚧 Weekend Train Delays Expected Through Irvine During Construction

🍂🥧 Pumpkin Pie Frozen Yogurt Arrives at Yogurtland

💵 Financial Planning Workshop for Families at Heritage Park Library

🩺 UCI Health Expands Robotic Surgery Program in Orange County

🌳🥾 Get Moving After Work With a 3.5-Mile Hicks Haul Road Hike on Sep. 16

🎻🎹 Violin and Piano Concert Coming to Concordia University Irvine, Sept. 12

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

🐾 How Dogs and Cats Sense Human Emotions

🎾 Southern California’s Learner Tien Advances to Round 3 at US Open

⚽️ UC Irvine Women’s Soccer Earns First Win of the Season

🏀🏐🎾⚽️ 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

What is the cutest season?

Aww-tumn.

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

We will be taking a break on September 7 in observance of Labor Day. We wish you all a restful weekend and will see you again on September 8 as we resume our usual schedule!

- Irvine Insider Staff

The Mākaha Sons Bring Traditional Hawaiian Music to Irvine Barclay Theatre, Sep. 25

The Mākaha Sons, one of Hawai‘i’s best-known traditional music groups, will perform at Irvine Barclay Theatre on Friday, September 25, at 8 p.m. The group is known for its beautiful harmonies, Hawaiian storytelling and more than 20 award-winning albums. Featuring Jerome Koko, Kimo Artis and Hanale Kaʻanapu, the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame inductees will bring the sounds of Hawai‘i to Irvine for a special evening of live music.

Irvine Ranked Most Pet-Friendly City on the West Coast

A new WalletHub study ranks Irvine as the most pet-friendly city on the West Coast and 10th overall in the U.S. The study compared the nation’s 100 largest cities using 23 factors, including veterinary costs, pet businesses, walkability, outdoor spaces, and access to animal care. Irvine scored especially well for its outdoor amenities and access to pet care.

Weekend Train Delays Expected Through Irvine During Construction

Metrolink and Amtrak riders may experience 10–20 minute delays through Irvine from Friday, September 4 at 10 p.m. to Monday, September 7 at 5 a.m. as trains share one track during utility work for the Marine Way Undercrossing and Extension Project. The project will eventually create a new route beneath the railway for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists, connecting the Great Park and Irvine Spectrum area.

Pumpkin Pie Frozen Yogurt Arrives at Yogurtland

Yogurtland is welcoming fall with its new Pumpkin Pie Frozen Yogurt, a seasonal flavor inspired by the classic autumn dessert. Stop by and try this limited-time flavor for an early taste of the pumpkin season.

Financial Planning Workshop for Families at Heritage Park Library

Join a free, in-person financial planning workshop for adults Saturday, September 5, from 2–3 p.m. at Heritage Park Library. Presented by Capstone Partners Financial and Insurance Services, the session will cover practical financial topics for families, including budgeting, understanding benefits, preparing for emergencies and planning for the future.

UCI Health Expands Robotic Surgery Program in Orange County

UCI Health has become the first health system on the West Coast to use Medtronic’s Hugo Robotic-Assisted Surgery System for patient care. Urologic oncologist Dr. David Lee performed the system’s first prostatectomy at UCI Health on Aug. 18, with the patient returning home the same day and recovering well. The technology is designed to support minimally invasive procedures with advanced 3D imaging, flexible surgical configurations and video capabilities for education and research. UCI Health now has three Hugo systems across its Orange and Irvine locations, including one dedicated to training.

Get Moving After Work With a 3.5-Mile Hicks Haul Road Hike on Sep. 16

Join an After Work Fitness Hike at Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve on Wednesday, September 16, from 6–7:30 p.m. The hike follows the paved Hicks Haul Road for about 3.5 miles round trip, climbing 450 feet to Loma Ridge with sunset and panoramic Orange County views along the way. Participants can walk, jog, or run at their own pace.

Violin and Piano Concert Coming to Concordia University Irvine, Sept. 12

Salastina guest artists Maia Jasper White on violin and HyeJin Kim on piano will perform at Concordia University Irvine on Saturday, September 12. The program will feature early and lesser-known works by Tchaikovsky and Bartók, offering a different look at the music of the celebrated composers.

Find tickets here

Upcoming Northwood High School’s Music Calendar

No events scheduled for this month.

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

Upcoming Woodbridge High School’s Vocal Music Calendar

No events scheduled for this month.

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

Upcoming Irvine High Choral’s Music Calendar

No events scheduled for this month.

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

Upcoming Portola High School Music’s Calendar

No events scheduled for this month.

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

How Dogs and Cats Sense Human Emotions

Dogs and cats can pick up on human emotions by noticing changes in body language, facial expressions, tone of voice, and even scent. While dogs often respond more noticeably, cats can also recognize changes in their owners’ moods and may offer comfort in their own way.

  • Dogs read emotions: They can recognize feelings such as happiness, sadness, fear, and anger through facial expressions and voices.

  • They use their noses, too: Dogs may detect scent changes associated with stress and other physical or emotional states.

  • Cats notice moods: Cats can respond to human emotions, sometimes becoming more affectionate or staying nearby.

  • Body language matters: Posture, movement, and tone can help pets tell when something has changed.

  • Every pet responds differently: Some seek closeness, while others may become quiet or keep their distance.

  • Strong bonds help: Familiarity and trust can make pets especially attentive to their owners’ behavior and emotions.

Southern California’s Learner Tien Advances to Round 3 at US Open

Irvine native Learner Tien defeated veteran Gael Monfils in straight sets to advance to the third round of the 2026 US Open. The 21-year-old Tien reached Round 3 in New York for the first time and will next face No. 17 seed Jakub Mensik. The match also marked the final Grand Slam appearance for 40-year-old Monfils, who received a warm farewell from fans after a memorable career.

Watch the highlights here

UC Irvine Women’s Soccer Earns First Win of the Season

UC Irvine women’s soccer earned its first win of the season with a 1-0 victory over Southern Utah, thanks to Mimi Dominguez’s game-winning goal in the 86th minute off an assist from Oona Hartman.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

Men’s Soccer

  • Sat, Sep 5 - vs Missouri, 6:00 PM

  • Tue, Sep 8 - vs San Diego, 6:00 PM

  • Thur, Sep 10 - vs San Diego, 6:00 PM

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS 

Women’s Volleyball

  • Fri, Sep 4 - vs MiraCosta, 6:00 PM

  • Fri, Sep 18 - vs Santa Ana, 6:00 PM

  • Wed, Sep 23 - vs Santiago Canyon, 6:00 PM

  • Fri, Sep 25 - vs Pasadena City, 6:00 PM

  • Wed, Sep 30 - vs Riverside, 6:00 PM

Men’s Soccer

  • Fri, Sep 18 - vs Rio Hondo, 4:00 PM

Women’s Soccer

  • Tue, Sep 22 - vs LA Valley, 3:00 PM

  • Tue, Sep 29 - vs Santa Ana, 3:00 PM

High School Athletics Calendar

**

Updated with September Schedule

Upcoming Irvine High School’s Varsity home games:

September 2026

Friday, September 4

  • Football - 7:00 PM vs Woodbridge

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

September 10 Free Grocery Food Box 9 AM - 12 PM

September 12 Catfish Fishing Derby 6 AM - 1 PM

September 12 Concordia University: Salastina 6 - 7:30 PM

September 12 - 13 Modern Makers Mart: Woodbury Town Center 3 - 8:30 PM

September 13 E-Bike and E-Moto Buy Back 10 AM - 1 PM

September 13 Fiesta Latina en Irvine 11 AM - 4 PM

September 15 My Hero Academia in Concert 7:30 PM

September 25 Healthy Living Expo 9 AM - 12 PM

September 25 The Mākaha Sons 8 PM

We could use your help

We’ve got big plans as we get up to speed! But we need your help!

One huge way that you can help us is to spread the word for us.

Know somebody who lives in the Irvine and surrounding areas and would benefit from being kept in the know?

Please share Irvine Insider with them! It’s simple!

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