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Irvine Ranks Among Top 10 Healthiest U.S. Cities for Fitness and Active Living

Issue # 0280

Author

Joshua Tjia
30 Oct

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh Of The Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

🏙️🌳🤸🏻 Irvine Ranks Among Top 10 Healthiest U.S. Cities for Fitness and Active Living

🥩🍴 Napa Valley’s Popular Brazilian Steakhouse Galpão Gaucho Opens New Irvine Location

🍓🍑 BOGO 50% Off Every Wednesday at Nekter Orchard Hills

🐈‍⬛🧯 From Car Rescue to Cozy Home: Kitten Rescued by OCFA Becomes Staff Member’s Beloved Pet

🎃♻️ Recycle Your Halloween Pumpkins at Discovery Cube OC's Impact Event on November 2

😷🩺 Preventing Stroke: How Diet, Exercise, and BE FAST Awareness Make All the Difference

🎃🪶 Spooky Season Safety: Protecting Birds During Halloween Celebrations

🧑‍🎨 Monday Art School: Learn Art Fundamentals on November 18 at Irvine Fine Arts Center

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

🐈 Give a Cat a Forever Home: Adopt from Irvine’s Animal Care Center Today

⚽️ Anteaters Chase Playoff Spot: UC Irvine Women's Soccer Set for High-Stakes Showdown with UC Riverside

🏀🏐🎾⚾ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

🏈 Northwood Girls Flag Football Upsets Woodbridge 20-7 in CIF Quarterfinals

🏈🎾 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

How does a ghost cow laugh?

Moo-ha-ha-ha.

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

Irvine Ranks Among Top 10 Healthiest U.S. Cities for Fitness and Active Living

Irvine is recognized as one of the nation’s healthiest cities, achieving top 10 rankings in fitness and overall health according to both the American College of Sports Medicine and WalletHub. The city’s thoughtful planning, which allocates one-third of its area to preserved open spaces, allows 90% of residents to live within a 10-minute walk of parks and trails. This design promotes an active community where residents, such as Minh Sorci, a local mother and Zumba instructor, benefit from convenient access to outdoor recreational spaces. Similarly, Lynda Randall, founder of the Silver Spokes Women’s Cycling group, cites Irvine’s expansive, well-maintained bike lanes as ideal for safe and leisurely group rides. With its emphasis on accessible health amenities and open spaces, Irvine provides an exemplary environment for active, health-focused lifestyles.

Napa Valley’s Popular Brazilian Steakhouse Galpão Gaucho Opens New Irvine Location

Galpão Gaucho, a renowned Brazilian steakhouse from Napa Valley, recently opened a new location in Irvine, bringing Southern Brazilian churrascaria traditions to Southern California. Inspired by the gaucho culture of São Miguel do Oeste, the restaurant features rustic design elements with modern touches and offers an 18-cut selection, including specialties like a 24-karat golden steak and grilled chicken hearts. Diners can enjoy a full churrascaria experience, complete with a salad bar, for $75 at dinner and on weekends, or $55 for weekday lunch. Signature dishes include pão de queijo, feijoada, and grilled cheese with honey, while the drinks menu highlights Brazilian cocktails and Napa Valley wines.

BOGO 50% Off Every Wednesday at Nekter Orchard Hills

Head to Nekter Juice Bar at Orchard Hills every Wednesday after 4 PM for a refreshing mid-week treat! Enjoy BOGO 50% off on any menu item. Bring a friend, savor delicious juices, smoothies, and more—perfect for a health boost or just a tasty treat.

From Car Rescue to Cozy Home: Kitten Rescued by OCFA Becomes Staff Member’s Beloved Pet

Yesterday, in celebration of National Cat Day, OCFA shared a heartwarming update on Smokey, a kitten rescued in June 2023. Smokey's adventure began when he got stuck in the underbody of a stranger's car; after hearing his meows, the car owner brought her vehicle to Station 61, where OCFA crews freed the small gray kitten. Amparo, an OCFA Division 7 Administrative Assistant, adopted Smokey, who now spends his days playing with stuffed animals, eating, and enjoying life in his "fur-ever" home. This rescue story highlights OCFA's dedication to saving lives—no matter how small or fluffy.

Recycle Your Halloween Pumpkins at Discovery Cube OC's Impact Event on November 2

Recycle your leftover pumpkins at Discovery Cube OC’s Impact Event on Saturday, November 2, from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm at 2525 N. Main Street, Santa Ana. Bring pumpkins for composting, enjoy eco-friendly activities like a worm meet-and-greet, compost giveaway, and the Eco Challenge indoors. Pumpkin drop-off is in the overflow lot, and each drop-off earns a free child ticket with an adult ticket purchase.

Preventing Stroke: How Diet, Exercise, and BE FAST Awareness Make All the Difference

Lifestyle changes are vital for preventing strokes, with high blood pressure, often driven by excess salt intake, as the leading risk factor. This risk is notably higher in Asian and Latino populations. Dr. Wengui Yu of UCI Health highlights that controlling hypertension can cut stroke risk by up to 50%.

Key preventive steps include:

  • reducing salt

  • eating fruits and vegetables

  • moderating calorie intake

  • regular exercise

  • hydration

  • quitting smoking

  • limiting alcohol

Recognizing stroke signs—BE FAST (balance, eyes, face, arms, speech, time)—and seeking immediate medical attention is crucial. UCI Health’s Comprehensive Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center provides 24/7 specialized stroke care for better outcomes and prevention.

Spooky Season Safety: Protecting Birds During Halloween Celebrations

Halloween fun can sometimes bring unexpected risks for our feathered friends, but a few simple steps can keep them safe.

- Skip outdoor fake spider webs—they can trap birds and cause injuries.

- Add spooky decals to your windows! Not only do they look great, but they also help prevent birds from flying into glass.

- Keep pumpkins away from traffic and windows; try turning them into bird feeders with some seeds for a treat.

- Pick up any candy wrappers to keep curious birds from nibbling on them.

- Choose natural decor, and if you can, plant some berry-producing native plants for a bird-friendly fall setup.

- And remember, driving slowly on Halloween night helps protect trick-or-treaters and local wildlife alike.

Monday Art School: Learn Art Fundamentals on November 18 at Irvine Fine Arts Center

Young artists ages 9–13 are invited to dive into art fundamentals during the Monday Art School workshop on Monday, November 18, from 3:30–5 p.m. at the Irvine Fine Arts Center Drawing and Painting Studio. Sign up soon to secure a spot: cityofirvine.org/yourirvine. 

Upcoming Northwood High School’s Music Calendar

  1. Wed, November 6, 5:00-8:00 PM: Band Spectacular

  2. Thu, November 21, 7:00 - 8:00 PM: Vocal Music Winter Concert

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

Upcoming University High School's Choirs Calendar

  1. Thu, December 5, 7:00 PM: A Winter Celebration at Big Theater.

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. Wed, November 6, 7:00 PM: IUSD Band Spectacular.

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

Upcoming Woodbridge High School’s Vocal Music Calendar

  1. Wed, October 30, 7:00 PM: IUSD High School Vocal Festival at Portola HS.

  2. Tue, November 5, 1:00 PM: Concordia Treble Chorus Festival, TBD.

  3. Fri, December 6, 7:00 PM: Winter Celebration Concert at WHS Performing Arts Center.

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

Give a Cat a Forever Home: Adopt from Irvine’s Animal Care Center Today

Yesterday was National Cat Day! The Irvine Animal Care Center celebrated by showcasing some adorable cats currently awaiting adoption. If you’re thinking about welcoming a new furry friend, remember to adopt locally to give a cat in need a loving home. For details on adopting, visit cityofirvine.org/animals.

Anteaters Chase Playoff Spot: UC Irvine Women's Soccer Set for High-Stakes Showdown with UC Riverside

UC Irvine's women's soccer team approaches their final regular-season match with a chance to secure a Big West Tournament berth. The Anteaters, currently sixth in the Big West with 13 points, have earned two Big West honors this season: Emilie Castagna as Offensive Player of the Week and Milan Heisdorf as Freshman of the Week. UCI's five wins have all been achieved by scoring in the first half, and the team remains unbeaten (4-0-2) when scoring in the second half. The team, hampered by key injuries to veterans like Suus de Bakker and Aislynn Crowder, has relied heavily on its freshmen, who have accumulated over 4,500 minutes across 17 matches. UC Irvine has a strong history against UC Riverside, holding a 17-4-2 record in previous encounters. The Highlanders, winless in Big West play with a 2-12-4 overall record, present an opportunity for the Anteaters to clinch a postseason spot, either by winning or depending on results from other conference games.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

Men's Basketball

  1. Wed, Oct 30: (Exhibition) vs Vanguard, 7:00 PM

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS 

Men's Soccer

  1. Tue, Nov 5: vs Fullerton, 3:00 PM

  2. Fri, Nov 8: vs Santiago Canyon, 3:00 PM

Northwood Girls Flag Football Upsets Woodbridge 20-7 in CIF Quarterfinals

Northwood High School’s girls flag football team defeated Pacific Coast League rival and No. 4-seeded Woodbridge 20-7 in the CIF Division 2 quarterfinals, overturning two prior losses. Junior quarterback Natalie Keith led Northwood with two touchdown passes and a key interception return for a touchdown, setting the Timberwolves on a winning path. With this victory, Northwood advanced to face top-seeded Long Beach Poly in the semifinals. Head Coach Harry Lee praised the team’s resilience, while Assistant Coach Mike Stewart emphasized their confidence. Strong defensive efforts from Rebekah Welch and Nicole Theodorou, alongside key contributions from Elisa Kung and Marissa Lee, played vital roles in the win.

High School Athletics Calendar

** Updated With October Schedule

Upcoming Irvine High School’s Varsity home games:

November 2024  

Wednesday, November 18

  • 03:30 PM: Water Polo, Girls VR vs. Tesoro at Woolett Pool

Monday, November 19

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

Tuesday, November 21

  • 04:00 PM: Water Polo, Girls VR vs. Alta Loma at Woolett Pool

Thursday, November 21

  • 03:30 PM: Water Polo, Girls VR vs. Aliso Niguel at Woolett Pool

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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