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Local Irvine Bakeries and Cafés Worth Waking Up For

Issue # 0627

Author

Joshua Tjia
07 May

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh of the Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

🥐🍳🥯 Local Irvine Bakeries and Cafés Worth Waking Up For

🏙️💵 Irvine Officials Review Budget Deficit as Parking Fees and Library Cuts Are Considered

💐🥞 Celebrate Mother’s Day with a Farm Brunch at Tanaka Farms

🚔📲 Irvine Police Warn Residents After Elderly Man Loses $25,000 to Scam Callers

⚽️ UC Irvine Athletics Launches 2026 Soccer Camps for All Skill Levels

❤️🩺 Simple Heart Health Tips and Blood Pressure Reminders

🌱🐝 Join a Free Gardening Workshop Focused on Pollinators at Great Park, May 9

🎻🎶Join Pacific Symphony Santiago Strings for a Free Season Finale Concert May 17

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

🐶 Help Give Rescue Puppies a Safe Start Through Fostering

⚾️ UC Irvine Baseball Rallies From 4-0 Down to Beat San Diego 9-4

🏀🏐🎾⚽️ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

⚾️ Woodbridge Baseball Rallies Late to Defeat Beckman 4-3

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🚔🏬 Irvine Police Investigate and Arrest Suspect in Kohl’s Shoplifting Case

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

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

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

What do penguins wear on their heads?

Ice caps!

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

Local Irvine Bakeries and Cafés Worth Waking Up For

These Irvine small businesses are serving up popular morning treats that might make waking up a little easier. From flaky pastries and cronuts to soufflé pancakes and beignets, these local spots offer a variety of sweet breakfast favorites across Irvine.

  • Pandor —Light and fluffy beignets with cinnamon sugar or Nutella, plus savory eggs Benedict served on beignets.

  • Mag's Donuts & Bakery — Popular for its maple bacon cronut with sweet and savory flavors.

  • Bag of Cakes — Offers croissants in flavors like churro and chocolate-hazelnut.

  • Bluberry Social — Customers love the blueberry lemon ricotta pancakes at this newer brunch spot.

  • Burnt Crumbs — Serves popular soufflé pancakes in original, blueberry, strawberry, and seasonal flavors.

  • Paderia — Features crispy Portuguese egg tarts with flaky pastry and creamy custard filling.

Irvine Officials Review Budget Deficit as Parking Fees and Library Cuts Are Considered

Irvine officials are reviewing the city’s growing budget deficit and considering possible cost-cutting measures, including new parking fees and reductions to library expansion plans.

  • City staff warned the annual deficit could exceed $47 million by the end of the decade without major financial changes, while audits and budget reviews move forward to better understand the causes.

  • Current libraries will continue operating, but new branches and major upgrades are unlikely for now due to limited funding.

  • Officials are also exploring higher user fees, including possible parking charges at the Great Park, while emphasizing they do not plan to lay off city employees or reduce salaries and benefits.

  • The council voted 5-2 to have staff return within 90 days with more detailed budget analyses and projections.

Celebrate Mother’s Day with a Farm Brunch at Tanaka Farms

Tanaka Farms in Irvine is hosting a special Mother’s Day brunch on May 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hilltop area, featuring an all-you-can-eat menu with smoked tri-tip, orange glazed pork loin, maple chicken, farm salads, mac and cheese, seasonal sides, fresh strawberries, desserts, and strawberry lemonade, with vegan options also available. The event also includes a tractor ride, but seating is limited, so guests are encouraged to reserve tickets early.

Irvine Police Warn Residents After Elderly Man Loses $25,000 to Scam Callers

An 80-year-old Irvine resident lost $25,000 after scammers used phone spoofing technology to make it appear calls were coming from the Irvine Police Department. According to police, the victim was told his identity had been connected to criminal activity and was instructed to withdraw cash and deliver it to a stranger in a parking lot. Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage and communications related to the case. Irvine police remind the public that law enforcement agencies will never request money over the phone and encourage residents to verify suspicious calls using official contact information.

UC Irvine Athletics Launches 2026 Soccer Camps for All Skill Levels

UC Irvine Athletics is offering 2026 Soccer Camps for players of all ages and skill levels, led by the UC Irvine men’s and women’s soccer teams. Youth Soccer Camps help younger players build fundamental skills through fun games and activities, while Technical Skills Camps provide higher-intensity “ball mastery” training for experienced players looking to improve their game.

Find more information here

Simple Heart Health Tips and Blood Pressure Reminders

Taking care of your heart starts with small, consistent habits. High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of heart disease and stroke, but regular checkups, healthy choices, and knowing your numbers can make a big difference. Since high blood pressure often has no clear symptoms, it’s important to monitor it regularly and follow your doctor’s guidance.

Helpful Heart Health Tips:

  • Check your blood pressure regularly.

  • Take medications as directed.

  • Avoid smoking.

  • Reduce salt intake.

  • Eat a balanced diet with nutritious foods.

  • Stay active with safe, doctor-approved exercise.

A Few Important Reminders:

  • Heart attack symptoms can include shortness of breath, jaw, neck, arm, or stomach discomfort — not just chest pain.

  • High blood pressure can affect anyone, including older adults, even without noticeable symptoms.

  • Healthy fats and regular physical activity can support heart health when enjoyed in moderation.

Join a Free Gardening Workshop Focused on Pollinators at Great Park, May 9

Great Park is hosting a free garden workshop, “Bees, Butterflies & Other Pollinators,” on Saturday, May 9, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Great Park Farm + Food Lab. The demonstration-based session will teach participants how pollinators help plants grow and share simple ways to create gardens that attract and protect bees, butterflies, and other important species.

Register here

Join Pacific Symphony Santiago Strings for a Free Season Finale Concert May 17

Pacific Symphony Santiago Strings will celebrate the end of their season with “PSSS: RECOMPOSED” on May 17 at 1 p.m. at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Conducted by Dr. Johanna Gamboa-Kroesen, the free performance will feature a mix of classical and contemporary music, including Max Richter’s reimagined Four Seasons Recomposed, Carlos Gardel’s “Por Una Cabeza,” Martin Ellerby’s Bridgewater Serenade, and more.

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 Give Rescue Puppies a Safe Start Through Fostering

The Irvine Animal Care Center is looking for puppy foster volunteers to provide temporary homes for at-risk puppies before they are adopted. Foster volunteers help by giving puppies a safe, caring environment during their early weeks, helping them grow healthy and ready for their future homes. Those interested can sign up at cityofirvine.org/foster.

UC Irvine Baseball Rallies From 4-0 Down to Beat San Diego 9-4

UC Irvine baseball erased an early 4-0 deficit and scored nine unanswered runs to defeat San Diego 9-4. Daniel Polasek and Zach Crandall each hit their first home runs of the season, while the pitching staff shut down San Diego over the final seven innings.

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

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS 

No further upcoming home games for this month.

Woodbridge Baseball Rallies Late to Defeat Beckman 4-3

Woodbridge baseball rallied with two runs in the seventh inning to defeat rival Beckman 4-3, extending the Warriors’ winning streak to 10 games heading into the CIF playoffs. Vaughn Tase delivered the game-winning RBI double, while Vincent DeMarco helped lead the comeback with key hits and closed out the win on the mound.

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 Investigate and Arrest Suspect in Kohl’s Shoplifting Case

Irvine Police Department arrested a 26-year-old man from Tustin following an alleged shoplifting incident at Kohl’s in Irvine on Saturday. According to police, the suspect allegedly stole several items from the store before officers located and detained him. The man was arrested on suspicion of shoplifting, resisting arrest, providing false identification, and possessing drug paraphernalia.

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 Forever K-Pop 3 PM

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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