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Irvine’s Park System Once Again Named Among the Best in the U.S.

Issue # 0637

Author

Joshua Tjia
21 May

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh of the Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

🌳🏞️ Irvine’s Park System Once Again Named Among the Best in the U.S.

🪩🎉 Bingo, Line Dancing, and More Planned for Irvine’s “Better Together” Community Event

🍿☀️ Enjoy $1 Family-Friendly Movies This Summer at The Market Place

🍑🧋 Sip Into Summer With Sunright Tea Studio’s White Peach Oolong Series Deal

🚌🌟 University High Makes History With Top 10 Finish at Academic Decathlon Nationals

🤸🏻🩺 Staying Connected Matters: UCI Researcher Shares Insights on Healthy Aging and Longer Life

🌳🧘‍♀️ Explore Bommer Canyon with a 5-Mile Hike and Relaxing Yoga Session

🛍️🎶 Live Music, Crafts, and 90’s Fun Coming to Irvine This June

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

🐶 Spend Your Summer Helping Puppies with Irvine Animal Care Center

🏃🏾‍♀️ Women’s Track: Halle Sutherland Earns Anteater of the Week Honors for UCI

🏀🏐🎾⚽️ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

💻🚔 Irvine Police Arrest Teen Suspect After Armed Robbery During OfferUp Laptop Sale

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

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

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

How do you fix a broken tomato?

Tomato paste!

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

Irvine’s Park System Once Again Named Among the Best in the U.S.

The Irvine park system was ranked No. 2 in the nation for the second year in a row by the Trust for Public LandParkScore Index, while also remaining the top-ranked city in California. The ranking highlights Irvine’s strong park access, investment, and amenities, with 94% of residents living within a 10-minute walk of a park and perfect scores earned for playgrounds, basketball hoops, senior and recreation centers, and public restrooms. Irvine has now placed in the national top 10 for 11 straight years and continues expanding its park system with projects like the Great Park, new pickleball courts, the Jeffrey Open Space Trail extension, and the city’s first municipal fieldhouse planned for 2027.

Bingo, Line Dancing, and More Planned for Irvine’s “Better Together” Community Event

City of Irvine is hosting “Better Together,” a free all-ages community event featuring bingo, line dancing, self-defense demonstrations, games, opportunity drawings, and other fun activities designed to bring people together and encourage connection through shared experiences.

Residents can sign up here

Enjoy $1 Family-Friendly Movies This Summer at The Market Place

Regal Edwards Market Place is bringing back its Summer Movie Express from June 1 through August 13, offering family-friendly movies for just $1 every Monday through Thursday at 11 a.m. at The Market Place. Guests can enjoy popular films like Kung Fu Panda 4, Sing, and How to Train Your Dragon, along with discounted $3 Snack Packs.

Check out the line up here

Sip Into Summer With Sunright Tea Studio’s White Peach Oolong Series Deal

Sunright Tea Studio is offering a special promotion on its White Peach Oolong drinks from May 16 through June 16. Fans can enjoy White Peach Oolong Milk Tea, White Peach Oolong with Cheese Foam, and the limited-time Lychee White Peach Oolong for $5.50 each.

University High Makes History With Top 10 Finish at Academic Decathlon Nationals

University High School’s Academic Decathlon team placed seventh in the nation at the 2026 U.S. Academic Decathlon National Competition and earned Division I Rookie of the Year honors as the highest-scoring first-time team at nationals. The team also became the first Orange County team in more than 30 years to advance to nationals. Several students earned individual medals, including Samantha Hanson (bronze in art and team MVP), Tea Vu (silver in speech, bronze in essay and literature), Emily Sun (gold in literature), Aritri Saha (silver in speech), and Avril Zhang (bronze in music). Congratulations to the entire team on an impressive national finish.

Staying Connected Matters: UCI Researcher Shares Insights on Healthy Aging and Longer Life

Researchers at University of California, Irvine say staying socially engaged may play an important role in living a longer, healthier life. In findings from the long-running 90+ Study, Claudia Kawas highlighted that physical activity, a balanced diet, a positive outlook, and regularly connecting with others were among the strongest factors linked to longevity. The study, which has followed more than 2,000 seniors continues to explore how everyday habits can help add healthier years to life.

Explore Bommer Canyon with a 5-Mile Hike and Relaxing Yoga Session

Join a guided five-mile fitness hike and beginner-friendly yoga session at Bommer Canyon Preserve on Friday, June 5, from 8–11 a.m. Participants will hike through rolling hills with scenic canyon views before enjoying a yoga session at the historic Bommer Cattle Camp, focused on strength and relaxation through breathwork.

Sign up here

Live Music, Crafts, and 90’s Fun Coming to Irvine This June

Modern Makers Mart is bringing an “I ❤️ 90’s” themed event to Woodbury Town Center on June 13–14 from 3 to 8:30 p.m. Guests can enjoy nostalgic 90’s vibes with live music, crafts, handmade shopping, and free jelly bracelets while supplies last, making it a fun throwback event for families and friends in Irvine.

Upcoming Northwood High School’s Music Calendar

  1. May 20-21, 7:00-8:30 PM: Instrumental Pops Concert, NHS Theater

  2. May 29, 7:00-8:30 PM: Pops Gala Concert, NHS Theater

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 29, 7:00 – 9:00 PM: Portola High School Pop Concert, PHS Performing Arts Center

  2. May 30, 6:30 – 9:00 PM: Portola High School Spring Instrumental Concert, Portola High School Amphitheater

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

Spend Your Summer Helping Puppies with Irvine Animal Care Center

The Irvine Animal Care Center is inviting the community to spend the summer fostering puppies and giving them a safe, caring place to grow before adoption. The flexible volunteer opportunity offers a fun and rewarding way to help animals in need while enjoying plenty of playful moments with adorable puppies. Those interested can learn more and sign up through the City of Irvine foster volunteer program.

Women’s Track: Halle Sutherland Earns Anteater of the Week Honors for UCI

UC Irvine Athletics junior sprinter Halle Sutherland was named Anteater of the Week after helping the Anteaters win back-to-back Big West championships. She won the 200m title with a personal-best 23.24, placed fourth in the 100m with another personal best, and helped UCI take gold in the 4x100 relay.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

No further upcoming home games for this month.

🏐⚽🏀 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 Police Arrest Teen Suspect After Armed Robbery During OfferUp Laptop Sale

An OfferUp meetup involving the sale of an Apple laptop turned into an armed robbery in Irvine Saturday night, but Irvine Police quickly located the suspect vehicle with help from the Real Time Crime Center, dispatch, officers, and La Palma Police Department. A 16-year-old suspect was arrested and the stolen laptop was recovered.

Irvine Police encourage residents to use the city’s E-Commerce Exchange Zone or meet in well-lit public places with cameras and nearby officers when arranging online transactions for added safety.

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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