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Irvine Welcomes New EAT UP: Food Hall Featuring Asian Cuisine and Sweet Treats

Issue # 0734

Author

Joshua Tjia
13 Nov

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh of the Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

🏙️🌟 Irvine Receives National Procurement Excellence Award for 21st Consecutive Year

🍜🍤🧋 Irvine Welcomes New EAT UP: Food Hall Featuring Asian Cuisine and Sweet Treats

🚂📝 Irvine Park Railroad Hiring Seasonal Staff for Santa’s Village

🐟🥜 Sweet News: SomiSomi Introduces Hotteok Taiyaki on November 20

🚨🏡 Irvine Police Warn Against Social Media “Door Kick Challenge”

🥣🍌 What to Eat and Drink When You're Sick: Helpful Tips for Faster Recovery

🍁🌳 Four Scenic Orange County Hiking Trails to Explore This Fall

🎨 Tell Your Story Through Art at Irvine’s Three-Day Creative Camp

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

🐕 Help Irvine's Senior Pets Find Loving Families This November

🎾 UC Irvine's Alex Guajardo Named Anteater of the Week After Tennis Championship Win

🏀🏐🎾⚽️ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

🏐 IVC Women’s Volleyball Sweeps Cypress 3-0

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

✍🏻 Three Irvine High School Athletes Sign with Colleges

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🚔🚨 Encino Man Arrested in Irvine on Multiple Felony Charges

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

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

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

What did the dog say when he sat on sandpaper?

Rough! Rough!

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

Irvine Receives National Procurement Excellence Award for 21st Consecutive Year

The City of Irvine has received the Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award from the National Procurement Institute for the 21st consecutive year. The award recognizes the City’s commitment to responsible purchasing, innovation, and getting the best value for taxpayer dollars. In 2026, Irvine was one of only 88 cities across the U.S. and Canada to receive the honor and one of just two cities in Orange County.

Irvine Welcomes New EAT UP: Food Hall Featuring Asian Cuisine and Sweet Treats

The new EAT UP! Food Hall is now open inside 99 Ranch Market at Culver Plaza in Irvine, featuring five food concepts offering a variety of Asian-inspired dishes. Visitors can enjoy crispy fried chicken, rice bowls, Taiwanese street food, boba drinks, and sweet treats, all in one convenient location. Discover these five Asian-inspired food vendors:

Irvine Park Railroad Hiring Seasonal Staff for Santa’s Village

Irvine Park Railroad is hiring seasonal staff for Santa’s Village, running November 27–December 30. Open positions include event staff, cashiers, and ticket scanners, with pay ranging from $17.50–$20 per hour, possible bonus pay, free lunch, and paid training.

Find more informaiton here

Sweet News: SomiSomi Introduces Hotteok Taiyaki on November 20

SomiSomi is introducing its new Hotteok Taiyaki on November 20. This sweet treat is a golden, fish-shaped pastry inspired by Korean hotteok pancakes, filled with a warm, gooey, nutty filling. It's a cozy dessert to enjoy during the cooler season.

Irvine Police Warn Against Social Media “Door Kick Challenge”

The Irvine Police Department is warning residents about the return of the “Door Kick Challenge,” a social media trend where participants kick someone's front door, record it, and run away. Police emphasize that this is vandalism, not a harmless prank, and can lead to property damage, frightened homeowners, dangerous confrontations, criminal charges, or serious injuries. Residents are reminded that a few laughs or likes online are not worth the real-world consequences.

What to Eat and Drink When You're Sick: Helpful Tips for Faster Recovery

Eating the right foods and staying hydrated can help your body recover when you're sick. Dr. Kwame Akoto of Kaiser Permanente shares simple food and drink recommendations for common illnesses, including colds, flu, COVID-19, digestive problems, and sore throats.

  • Cold, Flu, or COVID-19: Drink plenty of water, herbal tea, electrolyte drinks, and warm soup. Choose fruits, yogurt, oatmeal, and nutritious foods containing zinc and vitamin D.

  • Diarrhea: Stay hydrated and eat bland foods such as bananas, rice, applesauce, toast, crackers, and boiled potatoes. Avoid greasy, spicy foods, caffeine, and dairy if they worsen symptoms.

  • Constipation: Eat fiber-rich foods such as whole grains, leafy greens, apples, pears, and vegetables. Increase fiber gradually and drink plenty of water.

  • Nausea: Try ginger tea, crackers, toast, pretzels, and small sips of fluids to settle your stomach.

  • Sore Throat: Choose soft foods such as oatmeal, yogurt, scrambled eggs, smoothies, and warm soups. Avoid hard, crunchy foods that may irritate your throat.

Four Scenic Orange County Hiking Trails to Explore This Fall

Fall is a great time to explore Orange County’s scenic hiking trails, with cooler temperatures, fewer crowds, and beautiful seasonal views. Here are four recommended hikes featuring colorful canyons, rolling hills, wildlife, and coastal scenery:

  • Red Rock Canyon (Foothill Ranch): 4.2 miles, easy to moderate. Features striking red sandstone cliffs, oak groves, and seasonal colors.

  • Dripping Springs (Irvine): 7 miles round trip, moderate. Offers scenic canyon views, wildlife, and seasonal water features.

  • Bommer Canyon & Shady Canyon (Irvine): 3–8 miles, moderate. Features rolling hills, oak trees, and panoramic views of the coast and mountains.

  • Buck Gully Reserve (Newport Beach): 5.2 miles round trip, easy to moderate. Offers peaceful coastal canyon trails, native wildlife, and ocean breezes.

Before heading out, check trail conditions and closures, especially after rain.

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Tell Your Story Through Art at Irvine’s Three-Day Creative Camp

Arts in Irvine invites students in grades 6–9 to join Art Speaks: Create & Curate, a three-day art camp focused on storytelling through creativity. Students will explore color, composition, and symbolism while creating artwork using oil pastels, charcoal, and mixed media. Each participant will develop an original three-piece collection and learn how to present their work at a student-curated exhibition for family and friends. No previous art experience is required.

Upcoming Northwood High School’s Music Calendar

No upcoming events

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

Upcoming Woodbridge High School’s Vocal Music Calendar

No upcoming events

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

Upcoming Irvine High Choral’s Music Calendar

No upcoming events

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

Upcoming Portola High School Music’s Calendar

No upcoming events

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

Help Irvine's Senior Pets Find Loving Families This November

November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month! The Irvine Animal Care Center invites residents to consider welcoming an older pet into their homes. Senior pets often have established personalities, gentle temperaments, and familiarity with daily routines, making them wonderful companions. If you're thinking about adding a furry friend to your family, consider giving a senior pet a loving home!

Visit cityofirvine.gov/animals to meet the pets available for adoption.

UC Irvine's Alex Guajardo Named Anteater of the Week After Tennis Championship Win

UC Irvine sophomore Alex Guajardo was named Anteater of the Week after winning the men's tennis singles championship at the SoCal Intercollegiate. He won all four matches without dropping a set, including a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Saint Mary's Paulo Etchecoin in the final.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

Men’s Water Polo

  • Fri, Nov 13 -vs Pacific, 6:00 PM

Baseball

  • Sat, Nov 14 -vs Fresno State, 12:00 PM

Women’s Volleyball

  • Fri, Nov 13 -vs CSUN, 6:00 PM

  • Sat, Nov 14 -vs Cal State Bakersfield, 5:00 PM

IVC Women’s Volleyball Sweeps Cypress 3-0

Irvine Valley College women’s volleyball swept Cypress 3-0, improving to 15-7 overall and 12-3 in conference play while holding second place. Cassidy Lister led with 10 kills.

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS 

Men’s Soccer

  • Fri, Nov 13 - vs Orange Coast, 2:30 PM

Three Irvine High School Athletes Sign with Colleges

Three Irvine High School athletes celebrated their college commitments during a signing ceremony on Thursday. Kota Seshimo will play football at Fresno State, Midori De Los Santos will play softball at Manhattanville University in New York, and Evan Wainberg will join the rowing team at Tufts University.

High School Athletics Calendar

**

Updated with November Schedule

Upcoming Irvine High School’s Varsity home games:

November 2026

Tuesday, November 17

  • Wrestling, Boys - Open Dual Date, 4:00 PM

  • Wrestling, Girls - Open Dual Date, 4:00 PM

Encino Man Arrested in Irvine on Multiple Felony Charges

Irvine Police Department's Specialized Investigations Unit (SIU) detectives arrested Armani Anthony Holly, 29, of Encino, during an investigation involving suspected illegal adult companionship services in Irvine. Holly attempted to flee from detectives but was quickly apprehended and booked into Orange County Jail on multiple felony charges and for resisting arrest.

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

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