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Join the Celebration: Mid-Autumn Festival at Great Park

Issue # 0482

Author

Joshua Tjia
09 Sep

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh of the Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

🎹🎶 Pacific Symphony Opens 2025–26 Season with Rachmaninoff & Sibelius

🌕🥮 Join the Celebration: Mid-Autumn Festival at Great Park

🥬📦 Help Feed Local Families — Volunteer with Irvine’s Food Box Program

🧋🍟 Study Break Deal: Save on Tastea’s Fries & Tea Combo

🚌🍽️ IUSD Continues Free Daily Breakfast and Lunch for All Students

🤧 Summer Colds: Causes and Simple Ways to Feel Better

🦆📚 Discover Nature-Themed Storytime at the Audubon House

🖼️ UCI Exhibit Brings California Landscapes to Life with Sound

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

🐕🐈 27 Pets Find Homes in First Week of September

⚽️UCI Men’s Soccer Stays Unbeaten with 1-0 Win Over Cornell

🏀🏐🎾⚽️ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

🏈 Portola Girls Flag Football Opens Season 9-2

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🚔🍎 Suspect Wanted in $12,000 Apple Store Credit Card Fraud

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

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

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

Why didn’t the baby grizzly leave his mom?

Because he couldn’t bear it!

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

Pacific Symphony Opens 2025–26 Season with Rachmaninoff & Sibelius

Pacific Symphony opens its 2025–26 season with a program of resilience and triumph at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Sept. 18–20.

  • Pianist Alessio Bax returns to perform Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, paired with Sibelius’ bold Symphony No. 1, led by guest conductor Ludovic Morlot.

  • Experience the power and beauty of music that celebrates the indomitable human spirit.

Join the Celebration: Mid-Autumn Festival at Great Park

Join Irvine’s 5th annual Mid-Autumn Festival on Friday, Sept. 26, 5–9:30 p.m. at the Great Park. This free, family event features cultural performances, live entertainment, food trucks, crafts, and moon festival traditions.

Help Feed Local Families — Volunteer with Irvine’s Food Box Program

Join Irvine’s Free Grocery Food Box Program as a Volunteer. The City of Irvine and Community Action Partnership of Orange County provide free 30-lb food boxes each month to families in need. Join as a volunteer and help make a difference for hundreds of residents.

What’s in the box:

  • Fresh produce, beans, canned goods, juice

  • Meat/poultry/fish (when available), dairy

  • Rice, cereal, pasta

How you can help:

  • Food drop-off

  • Packing boxes

  • Distribution

  • Delivery for residents without transportation

Get involved:

Study Break Deal: Save on Tastea’s Fries & Tea Combo

Treat yourself at Tastea with a $2 OFF Combo Deal! From Sept. 8–11, 3–5 PM, grab a Buttload’a Fries and a 20oz Specialtea for less. Perfect for a study break or snack run!

IUSD Continues Free Daily Breakfast and Lunch for All Students

This school year, all IUSD students are provided one free breakfast and lunch each day on campus.

  • Breakfast/snack is available during morning recess or nutrition break at all schools, and also before school at high schools.

  • Families who qualify for the Federal Free or Reduced-Price Meal Program may also access extra benefits, including discounts with school and community providers.

More information is available at iusd.org/FreeAndReducedMeals.

Summer Colds: Causes and Simple Ways to Feel Better

Even in the sunshine, a summer cold can sneak up on you. These are caused by viruses—not the weather—and usually pass in a week or two. With a little care, you’ll be back to feeling like yourself soon.

  • How it spreads: Through touch, shared items, or tiny droplets when someone coughs or sneezes.

  • Common signs: Runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, sneezing, cough, headache, and sometimes a light fever.

  • Cold or allergies?

    • Colds may bring fever and thicker mucus.

    • Allergies tend to linger longer, start all at once, and cause clear, watery drips.

  • Gentle ways to recover: Rest well, stay hydrated with water or tea, eat nourishing foods, wash hands often, enjoy some fresh air, and try remedies like a humidifier or over-the-counter relief.

  • When to check in with a doctor: If symptoms last more than 3 weeks or start to get worse.

Discover Nature-Themed Storytime at the Audubon House

The Sea and Sage Audubon Society has opened a brand-new Children’s Library on the Audubon House porch at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, 5 Riparian View, Irvine, CA 92612.

  • The library features short, nature-themed books for ages 3–8, perfect for reading on the porch bench or picnic blanket.

  • Open during Audubon House hours—come perch on the porch and share storytime with your little ones!

UCI Exhibit Brings California Landscapes to Life with Sound


UC Irvine’s Langson Institute and Museum of California Art opens its fall show Habitat: Making the California Environment on Sept. 20, featuring early 1900s landscapes paired with sound by composer Andrew Weathers. His piece Landscape Hocket links a 1915 painting with field recordings from the site and native grasses, inviting visitors to see and hear everyday sounds—like rolling suitcases or brewing coffee—as music.

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

27 Pets Find Homes in First Week of September

From September 1–7, Irvine Animal Care Center celebrated 27 successful adoptions, including:

  • 5 dogs (Baby, Glinda, Honey, Lucy, Orion),

  • 18 cats (such as Acai, Bambi, Olive, Russell, and Thunder…)

  • 4 rabbits (Bean, Clover, Coconut, Saja)

  • 1 cat (Jalen) was transferred to rescue

  • 8 dogs and 4 cats were happily reunited with their owners.

Learn more about adoption opportunities and operating hours at cityofirvine.org/animals.

UCI Men’s Soccer Stays Unbeaten with 1-0 Win Over Cornell

UC Irvine men’s soccer stayed undefeated with a 1-0 win over No. 22 Cornell, moving to 4-0-1.

  • Freshman Zac Smuck scored his first college goal in the 59th minute, and goalie Joe O’Shaughnessy made four big saves for his third shutout.

  • The Anteaters play Yale next on Friday, Sept. 12 at 6:00 PM.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

Women’s Soccer

  • Thu, Sep 11 – vs Santa Clara, 6:00 PM

  • Sun, Sep 14 – vs Washington State, 1:00 PM

Men’s Soccer

  • Fri, Sep 12 – vs Yale, 6:00 PM

Men’s Water Polo

  • Sat, Sep 13 – vs USC, 1:00 PM

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS 

Men’s Soccer

  • Fri, Sep 12 – vs San Diego Mesa, 2:00 PM

  • Tue, Sep 23 – vs Cuyamaca, 4:00 PM

  • Tue, Sep 30 – vs Orange Coast, 3:00 PM

Women’s Volleyball

  • Fri, Sep 26 – vs Orange Coast, 6:00 PM

Women’s Soccer

  • Fri, Sep 26 – vs East Los Angeles, 1:00 PM

Portola Girls Flag Football Opens Season 9-2

Portola High’s girls flag football team is 9-2 this season under Coach Julie Primero.

  • The Bulldogs won the Division 2 Labor Day tournament and beat Rosary Academy 27-12 in league play.

  • Standouts include Amelia Atchison, Joey Nesland, Camden Everett, Sophia Reyna, and Chelsea Wong, with senior captains leading the way.

  • Portola (2-1 in league) faces Sage Hill next as they chase a playoff spot and league title.

High School Athletics Calendar

** Updated With September Schedule

Upcoming Irvine High School’s Varsity home games:

September 2025

Tuesday, September 9

  • Girls Tennis – 3:30 PM vs. Woodbridge (League)

  • Boys Water Polo – 4:30 PM vs. Servite at William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center (Non-League)

Wednesday, September 10

  • Girls Flag Football – 3:30 PM vs. Woodbridge (League)

Thursday, September 11

  • Football (11 person) – 7:00 PM vs. Laguna Hills at Irvine High School Stadium (Non-League)

Suspect Wanted in $12,000 Apple Store Credit Card Fraud

A suspect is wanted in connection with a vehicle burglary at Doheny State Beach, where credit cards were stolen and later used to make $12,000 in unauthorized purchases at the Apple Store. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Mena at [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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