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Join a Live Classical Music Concert with Coffee and Desserts on May 17

Issue # 0624

Author

Joshua Tjia
04 May

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh of the Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

🎶🎻🍰 Join a Live Classical Music Concert with Coffee and Desserts on May 17

🍊🍽️ Go Behind the Scenes at Second Harvest Food Bank—Join a Community Tour, May 12

🐐🐄 Spend Your Summer with Farm Animals at Tanaka Farms—Volunteer Orientations Begin This May

🍧🍓🧀 Sweet Spring Treats Arrive at SomiSomi: Taiyaki, Soft Serve, and More

🛟🏊 Pool Safety Made Simple: Easy Ways to Protect Kids This Summer

🩺 UCI Study Finds Potential Association Between PFAS Exposure and Childhood Leukemia Risk

🚧🚲 Multiple Irvine Trails Closed May 4–11 for Tree and Trail Maintenance

🪭 Get Creative: Make Your Own Paper Fans This Wednesday

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

🐈 Help Your Cat Love Their Scratching Post and Keep Your Furniture Safe

🏐 UCI Men’s Volleyball Upsets UCLA, Advances to NCAA Semifinals

🏀🏐🎾⚽️ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

🏈 Irvine Valley Women’s Flag Football Rallies Late to Win OEC Title Over Cypress

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

⚾️ Woodbridge Baseball Wins Pacific Coast League Title with 18–2 Victory

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🚔💳 Irvine Police Seek Help Identifying Credit Card Theft Suspect

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

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

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

What do Penguins like to eat?

Brrrrritos!

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

Join a Live Classical Music Concert with Coffee and Desserts on May 17

Join Romantic Virtuosity on May 17 at 3 PM in the Samueli Theater as part of Café Ludwig— an inviting afternoon where guests can sip coffee, enjoy desserts, and experience chamber music led by pianist and host Orli Shaham. Featuring principal musicians of Pacific Symphony, the program highlights works by Nadia Boulanger, Paul Hindemith, and Erich Korngold in a rich and expressive performance.

Go Behind the Scenes at Second Harvest Food Bank—Join a Community Tour, May 12

Join a behind-the-scenes tour of Second Harvest Food Bank’s 108,000 sq. ft. Distribution Center in Irvine and see how the community comes together to fight hunger. The next available tour is Tuesday, May 12 from 12:30–1:30 p.m. While food isn’t distributed during tours, it’s a great way to learn how you can get involved or support the mission.

Spend Your Summer with Farm Animals at Tanaka Farms—Volunteer Orientations Begin This May

Tanaka Farms is inviting the community to join its summer barnyard volunteer program, running mid-May through August 16, with at least one shift per week. Volunteers will help care for animals and assist with farm tasks. To get started, join one of the upcoming orientations sessions:

  • Hana Field: May 14, 4:30 p.m.

  • Irvine: May 21, 4 p.m. and May 23, 10 a.m. or 4 p.m.

  • Find more information here

Sweet Spring Treats Arrive at SomiSomi: Taiyaki, Soft Serve, and More

SomiSomi, a Korean-inspired dessert shop known for its signature fish-shaped taiyaki cones filled with soft serve, is celebrating May with fresh spring treats like strawberry matcha milk, milk swirl soft-serve, and cheddar taiyaki. Their desserts are fully customizable with different fillings, flavors, and toppings, creating a fun mix of warm and cold textures in every bite.

Pool Safety Made Simple: Easy Ways to Protect Kids This Summer

Swimming is a great way for kids to stay active and enjoy the summer, and with a few simple precautions, families can feel more confident and prepared while spending time in the water.

Key Pool Safety Tips for Kids

  • Use Sun Protection
    Apply sunscreen before swimming and reapply every 2 hours. Use rash guards or protective swimwear for added coverage.

  • Prevent Swimmer’s Ear
    Dry ears after swimming and consider preventive ear drops. Avoid over-cleaning ear wax and remove earrings if needed.

  • Avoid Swimming When Sick
    Do not swim with colds or diarrhea to prevent breathing issues and water contamination.

  • Practice Safe Water Entry
    Teach kids to enter feet-first in shallow water or dive with arms extended to reduce injury risk.

  • Always Supervise
    Ensure a responsible adult or trained lifeguard is actively watching children at all times.

  • Use Proper Flotation Devices
    Avoid floaties; instead, use a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket for better safety.

UCI Study Finds Potential Association Between PFAS Exposure and Childhood Leukemia Risk

A new study led by the University of California, Irvine found that prenatal exposure to PFAS, known as “forever chemicals,” may increase the risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common childhood cancer.

  • Researchers analyzed newborn blood samples from Los Angeles County and detected multiple PFAS chemicals—especially PFOA and PFOS—with higher levels linked to greater cancer risk, though the study does not prove causation.

  • Experts note the findings should be interpreted cautiously due to the study’s limited scope, but they add to growing evidence that environmental exposures during pregnancy may play a role in childhood cancer.

  • While PFAS exposure has declined over time, these chemicals remain widespread in everyday products, and researchers emphasize the need for larger studies and broader evaluation of newer PFAS compounds.

Multiple Irvine Trails Closed May 4–11 for Tree and Trail Maintenance

Several Irvine trails will have temporary closures this week for tree and trail maintenance.

Closures to know:

  • San Diego Creek Trail: Closed May 4–7, 7 a.m.–3 p.m. (Sand Canyon Ave to SR-133)

  • University Trail: Closed May 8 & May 11, 7 a.m.–3 p.m. (Ridgeline to I-5)

  • Shady Canyon Trail: Partial closure through May 8 for maintenance

Get Creative: Make Your Own Paper Fans This Wednesday

Join a fun and free “Create-It-Yourself: Paper Fans” craft night for adults on Wednesday, May 6 from 6–7:30 p.m. at Heritage Park Library. Get creative decorating your own paper fan with all supplies provided—walk in and enjoy while supplies last, no registration needed.

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 9, 7:00 PM: Open Mic Night, Black Box

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

Upcoming Irvine High Choral’s Music Calendar

  1. May 9: Glendale Festival, Glendale HS

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

Help Your Cat Love Their Scratching Post and Keep Your Furniture Safe

Help your cat actually use their scratching post with a few simple tweaks—scratching is natural, and the right setup can protect your furniture while keeping your cat happy.

  • Match the texture: Choose a material similar to what your cat already prefers to scratch

  • Get the right height: Make sure your cat can fully stretch while using it

  • Know their style: Pay attention to whether your cat prefers vertical or horizontal scratchers

  • Keep it sturdy: A stable, non-wobbly post is more likely to be used

  • Place it wisely: Keep the scratcher in areas where your cat already spends time

  • Make it rewarding: Use treats, praise, or catnip to encourage use

UCI Men’s Volleyball Upsets UCLA, Advances to NCAA Semifinals

No. 6 UC Irvine men’s volleyball stunned No. 1 UCLA with a 3-2 comeback win, rallying late in the fifth set to win 16-14 and capture the Los Angeles Regional. UCI improves to 20-8 and advances to the NCAA semifinals, where they will face Ball State Cardinals on May 9.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

Women's Track & Field

  • Fri, May 8 - Big West Multi-Event Championships, TBA

  • Sat, May 9 - Big West Multi-Event Championships, TBA

Men’s Track & Field

  • Fri, May 8 - Big West Multi-Event Championships, TBA

  • Sat, May 9 - Big West Multi-Event Championships, TBA

Irvine Valley Women’s Flag Football Rallies Late to Win OEC Title Over Cypress

Irvine Valley College’s women’s flag football team came from behind to beat Cypress 32–27 in the Orange Empire Conference Tournament Final. A late interception touchdown and a final scoring pass from Akayla Chaple secured the win, finishing the season 15–4.

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS 

No further upcoming home games for this month.

Woodbridge Baseball Wins Pacific Coast League Title with 18–2 Victory

Woodbridge baseball won the Pacific Coast League title with an 18–2 win over Sage Hill, finishing first in league play. Led by strong offense, pitching, and key contributions from players like Caden Camacho and Henry Uhrik, Woodbridge finished 12–2 in league play and now heads into its final non-league game before the CIF playoffs.

High School Athletics Calendar

**

Updated With May Schedule

Upcoming Irvine High School’s Varsity home games:

May 2026

Tuesday, May 5

  • Baseball - 3:30 PM vs Orange

Irvine Police Seek Help Identifying Credit Card Theft Suspect

The Irvine Police Department is asking for help identifying a man connected to a stolen credit card taken from a parked vehicle at Wholesome Choice. Surveillance shows the suspect later using the card to make purchases at a store in Santa Ana. Anyone who recognizes him is asked to contact Detective Mena at [email protected].

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 9 Splash into Safety 5:30 PM

May 14 Free Grocery Food Box 9 AM - 12 PM

May 17 PSSS: Recomposed 1 PM

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