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Join Irvine’s Tchaikovsky Spectacular: Music, Fireworks & Hope at Great Park Live

Issue # 0473

Author

Joshua Tjia
26 Aug

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh Of The Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

🏙️🚏 Irvine Deploys Robots to Survey 950 Miles of Sidewalks and 9,000 Curb Ramps

🎻🎶 Join Irvine’s Tchaikovsky Spectacular: Music, Fireworks & Hope at Great Park Live

🚌🍚  Make School Nights Easy with Southern Spice Takeout — Get 20% Off $40+ Orders

🥮🍫 Indulge in 85°C Bakery’s Chocolate Mooncake & Mooncake BOGO Deal

📝🔬 Support IUSD Science Fair: Volunteer at Ask-a-Scientist Night

☀️ Summer Heat & Active Kids: Hydration Tips for Parents

🦆🌱 Help Students Discover Wildlife: Join Sea and Sage Audubon’s Fall Program

🎨 Last Call: Apply for Irvine’s Holiday Faire by Aug. 31

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

🐈🐕 Adoption Success: 19 Pets Find Forever Homes in Irvine

⚽️ Isaac Powell Named Big West Offensive Player of the Week in Men’s Soccer

🏀🏐🎾⚽️ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

🏈 Irvine Opens 2025 Football Season With Statement Win vs Northwood

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🚓📦 Irvine Police Seek Help Identifying Package Theft Suspect

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

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

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

What did the broth say to the corn starch?

You thicken me

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

Irvine Deploys Robots to Survey 950 Miles of Sidewalks and 9,000 Curb Ramps

Daxbot robots Smokey and Jack have begun assessing Irvine’s sidewalks, curb ramps, and trails for hazards and ADA compliance.

  • Over the next several months, they will survey 950 miles of sidewalks, 9,000 curb ramps, and 70 miles of trails.

  • The information collected will be used to support accessibility and safety improvements.

  • This week, the robots are operating in Westpark.

  • More details are available at cityofirvine.org/daxbot.

Join Irvine’s Tchaikovsky Spectacular: Music, Fireworks & Hope at Great Park Live

Join the Tchaikovsky Spectacular: Concert of Hope on Saturday, September 6, at 8:00 PM at Great Park Live.

  • Part of SummerFest, the evening includes the Waltz from Sleeping Beauty, Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 by pianist Natasha Paremski, the dramatic Francesca da Rimini, and a grand finale with the 1812 Overture and fireworks.

  • Sponsored by City of Hope Orange County, the concert honors the resilience of cancer patients, survivors, and families.

  • Guests can also join early for a performance by the Huntington Beach Concert Band from 6:45–7:45 p.m.

Make School Nights Easy with Southern Spice Takeout — Get 20% Off $40+ Orders

Southern Spice, a favorite spot for authentic Indian flavors in Irvine, is making back-to-school nights easier with a special deal! Enjoy their homestyle dishes—spend $40 on takeout and get 20% OFF with code AUG20. Grab a few of their flavorful dishes before offer ends on August 31!

Indulge in 85°C Bakery’s Chocolate Mooncake & Mooncake BOGO Deal

85°C Bakery Café is giving mooncakes a chocolate twist! Their Chocolate Mooncake blends a traditional Cantonese-style shell with a rich filling of chocolate ganache and chocolate white bean paste — a modern, fudgy take on a classic treat. Perfect for anyone craving something sweet and festive.

And don’t miss the Buy 1 Get 1 50% OFF individual mooncakes (8/8–10/6, in-store only).

Support IUSD Science Fair: Volunteer at Ask-a-Scientist Night

IUSD is calling on scientists, engineers, and STEM professionals to volunteer for Ask-a-Scientist/Engineer Night on September 17, 6:00–7:15 p.m. at the IUSD Learning Center.

  • Volunteers will meet one-on-one with 6th–12th grade students for 10–15 minutes each to help guide their Science Fair projects.

  • A brief orientation with light snacks begins at 5:30 p.m.

  • Sign up here

Summer Heat & Active Kids: Hydration Tips for Parents

Dehydration can be especially dangerous for children, but with a few simple steps, you can help prevent it and keep your little ones healthy. Here’s what to watch for and how to protect them:

  • Symptoms to Look For: Thirst, dry mouth, fatigue, dizziness, headaches, dark urine, confusion, and muscle cramps.

  • Offer Water Often: Encourage frequent sips, even if your child doesn’t say they’re thirsty.

  • Skip Sugary Drinks: Avoid sodas or caffeinated beverages, which can worsen dehydration.

  • Add Hydrating Foods: Fruits like watermelon, oranges, and cucumbers help boost fluid intake.

  • Extra Care in Heat or Illness: Increase fluids during hot weather, fevers, vomiting, or diarrhea.

  • Set Reminders: Remind kids to drink before, during, and after play or sports.

Help Students Discover Wildlife: Join Sea and Sage Audubon’s Fall Program

The Sea and Sage Audubon Society is offering its Outdoor Adventures Fall Naturalist Training this September at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine.

  • The program includes 4 classes + 9 practice sessions on Tuesday/Thursday mornings (9:00 AM–12:30 PM, make-up dates available).

  • After training, volunteers guide 4th–5th grade students through fun, hands-on science activities with binoculars, microscopes, and bird specimens.

  • No bird expertise is needed.

  • Volunteers commit to only 2 mornings per month, with flexible scheduling.

  • To learn more or get the Fall schedule, email Trude Hurd at [email protected].

Last Call: Apply for Irvine’s Holiday Faire by Aug. 31

The Irvine Fine Arts Center Holiday Faire is back on November 8 at the Great Park Palm Court Arts Complex, bringing holiday cheer with music, food, and hundreds of shoppers searching for unique, handcrafted gifts.

  • Artists of all kinds—fine art, jewelry, ceramics, textiles, and more—are invited to apply for this tradition and connect with the Orange County arts community.

  • Applications close August 31—apply now at cityofirvine.org/holidayfaire .

We will resume with the high school music calendar events when the schedule is available for the fall semester.

Adoption Success: 19 Pets Find Forever Homes in Irvine

From August 18–24, the Irvine Animal Care Center celebrated 19 adoptions —

  • 5 dogs (Dyson, Leo, Riley, Valentina, and Winter)

  • 14 cats (including Alexander Israel, Baracuda, Catsby, Mochi, Mulberry, and more) found loving homes

  • 1 cat, Gigi, was sent to rescue, and 4 dogs along with 1 cat were happily reunited with their owners.

Learn more about adoptions and hours at cityofirvine.org/animals.

Isaac Powell Named Big West Offensive Player of the Week in Men’s Soccer

Isaac Powell powered UC Irvine to a 2-0 victory over UCLA with a clutch 63rd-minute goal, earning him Big West Offensive Player of the Week honors—the first conference award of his career. Powell now has four goals as an Anteater, three of them game-winners, adding to UCI’s growing list of conference accolades after three weekly awards in 2024.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

Men’s Soccer

  • Thu, Aug 28 – 6:00 PM – vs Cal State LA

  • Sun, Aug 31 – 4:00 PM – vs North Florida

Men’s Water Polo – UCI Invitational

  • Fri, Aug 29 – 10:00 AM – vs LMU

  • Fri, Aug 29 – 4:15 PM – vs California Baptist

  • Sat, Aug 30 – 11:30 AM – vs Cal State Fullerton

  • Sat, Aug 30 – 6:00 PM – vs Concordia University Irvine

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS 

Men’s Soccer

  • Tue, Aug 26 – vs El Camino, 3:00 PM

Women’s Soccer

  • Fri, Aug 29 – vs Grossmont, 3:00 PM

Irvine Opens 2025 Football Season With Statement Win vs Northwood

Irvine High opened its 2025 football season with a 34-14 win over crosstown rival Northwood at Irvine Stadium.

  • Senior QB Sina Saferzadeh led the way with three touchdown passes, a rushing score, 137 passing yards, and 108 rushing yards.

  • After leading 12-7 at halftime, the Vaqueros broke the game open with three second-half TDs, including key plays from Seamus Hoffman and Cole Riedel.

  • Northwood answered with an 84-yard kickoff return TD by Jack Schultz, but Irvine’s defense shut them down the rest of the way.

High School Athletics Calendar

** Updated With August Schedule

Upcoming Irvine High School’s Varsity home games:

August 2025

Tuesday, August 26

  • Boys Water Polo – 4:30 PM vs. Capistrano Valley at Woolett Pool

  • Girls Volleyball – 5:15 PM vs. Sage Hill at Irvine High School Game Gym

Thursday, August 28

  • Girls Tennis – 3:15 PM vs. El Toro at Irvine High School Heritage Park

  • Girls Golf – 4:00 PM vs. University at Irvine High School

  • Girls Flag Football – 7:30 PM vs. Dana Hills at Irvine High School Stadium

Friday, August 29

  • Girls Volleyball – 6:30 PM Alumni Scrimmage at Irvine High School Game Gym

Irvine Police Seek Help Identifying Package Theft Suspect

Irvine Police are asking for the community’s help in identifying a woman responsible for stealing packages from a Spectrum apartment mail room on three separate occasions. The suspect was caught on camera and is now wanted in connection with the thefts. If you recognize her or have any information, please contact [email protected]

S

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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