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New Exhibitions, Free Art Workshop, & Live Jazz at Great Park Gallery This Week

Issue # 0554

Author

Joshua Tjia
23 Jan

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Fun Fact Friday

🌤️ Irvine Weather

🌺🏝️🎶 An Evening of Hawaiian Legends: Keola Beamer & Henry Kapono Live in Irvine

🎻🎵 99 IUSD Student Musicians Chosen for California All-State Music Ensembles

🚒🧯 OCFA Open House Set for March 14 With Live Demos and Family Fun

🌸🐎🌸 Ring in the Lunar New Year at Woodbury’s Night Market with Food & Music

💗🎨 Glue, Glitter & Hearts: Valentine Craft Fun for Kids in Woodbridge

🍛🍲 Cozy One-Pot Meals That Make Healthy Winter Dinners Easy

🌱🍅 Small Space, Big Impact: Try Vertical Gardening This Winter

🖼️🎷 New Exhibitions, Free Art Workshop, & Live Jazz at Great Park Gallery This Week

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

🐶🐾 Puppy Playtime 101: Simple Ways to Keep Your New Pup Happy and Healthy

🎾🔥👀Irvine Native Learner Tien Advances to AO Round of 16, Medvedev Rematch Up Next

🏀 UC Irvine Women’s Basketball Rallies Late to Defeat UC Riverside, 74–68

🏀🏐🎾⚽️ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

🏀 Irvine Valley Women’s Basketball Upsets Orange Coast, 67–57

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

🏀 Woodbridge Boys Basketball Defeats Sage Hill in League Play

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🚔🏬 Three Arrested Following Series of LEGO Thefts at OC Target Stores

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

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

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

Did you know…?

A horse’s heart is enormous—weighing about 8 to 10 pounds, compared to a human heart that averages around 11 ounces. This powerful heart helps pump oxygen efficiently throughout their large bodies, supporting their strength, stamina, and ability to run long distances.

We hope this fun fact brings a smile to your day! 😁

An Evening of Hawaiian Legends: Keola Beamer & Henry Kapono Live in Irvine

Enjoy a special night of Hawaiian music with legends Keola Beamer and Henry Kapono, joined by Moanalani Beamer, on Saturday, January 24, at 8 p.m. at the Irvine Barclay Theatre. Rising to prominence in the 1970s, Beamer and Kapono helped redefine Hawaiian music and have remained influential for decades.

  • Keola Beamer is known for bringing back traditional Hawaiian slack-key guitar.

  • Henry Kapono is known for his work with Cecilio & Kapono and a prolific solo career with Grammy recognition and 21 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards.

  • Moanalani Beamer adds hula, chant, and traditional instruments, making this a rich cultural experience.

99 IUSD Student Musicians Chosen for California All-State Music Ensembles

Nearly 100 Irvine Unified School District students were selected for the prestigious California All-State Honors Ensembles and performed at the All-State Music Education Conference in Sacramento. In total, 99 students from multiple grade levels earned spots in these highly competitive, statewide ensembles, with Chloe Grace Chen also chosen for the Choral Leadership Academy student conductor program. Students spent several days in intensive rehearsals, learning and performing with top conductors and music educators from across California.

OCFA Open House Set for March 14 With Live Demos and Family Fun

Orange County Fire Authority is hosting a family-friendly Open House on Saturday, March 14, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring live fire demonstrations, fire engines and equipment on display, hands-on safety education, and activities for all ages. More details coming soon.

Ring in the Lunar New Year at Woodbury’s Night Market with Food & Music

Celebrate Lunar New Year at the Woodbury Night Market on February 22 from 4–7 p.m. at Woodbury Town Center. Enjoy a lively evening with 30+ food vendors, K-POP DJs, and a drone show lighting up the sky at 6:45 p.m., making it a festive community night filled with food, music, and culture.

Glue, Glitter & Hearts: Valentine Craft Fun for Kids in Woodbridge

Woodbridge Village Association is hosting a Valentine-themed arts and crafts class for kids ages 4–10 on Friday, February 13, from 3:30–5:00 p.m. at the Woodbridge Community Center. Children will enjoy creating a variety of fun, love-inspired crafts in a creative and festive setting.

Register at rec.wva.org.

Cozy One-Pot Meals That Make Healthy Winter Dinners Easy

Short winter days call for simple, nourishing meals—and these one-pot recipes deliver big flavor, solid nutrition, and easy cleanup in 30 minutes or less. Created by UCI Health’s culinary and nutrition experts, each dish is packed with protein, vegetables, and immune-supporting ingredients, making healthy winter cooking both practical and comforting.

  • Egg & Vegetable Casserole: A protein-rich, make-ahead favorite combining eggs, spinach, red bell peppers, and part-skim mozzarella for a nutrient boost of iron, calcium, and vitamins C and D—perfect for busy mornings or meal prep.

  • Curried Coconut Red Lentil Soup: A hearty, warming soup loaded with red lentils, kale, coconut milk, and anti-inflammatory spices like turmeric and ginger, delivering fiber, plant protein, and gut-friendly benefits in every bowl.

  • One-Pot Chimichurri Chicken & Rice: A vibrant, family-friendly dish featuring lean chicken, a blend of cauliflower and long-grain rice, bell peppers, and a zesty herb chimichurri sauce for balanced nutrition with bold, comforting flavor.

Small Space, Big Impact: Try Vertical Gardening This Winter

Short on space but still want a vibrant outdoor area this winter? Irvine Ranch Water District suggests gardening vertically. Vertical gardening is a simple, sustainable way to maximize small yards, patios, and entryways while adding color, texture, and personality to your landscape.

Vertical Gardening Tips:

  • 🌿 Make an entrance: Add an arbor at your entry and train roses, wisteria, or ivy using hooks, twine, or wires for a bold focal point.

  • 🍅 Grow upward with ease: Tomatoes are beginner-friendly and thrive when supported with stakes, cages, or even hanging baskets.

  • 🌸 Stack your plants: Use tiered or stacked planters for herbs, succulents, or winter blooms like jasmine to save space and add dimension.

Learn more: Find additional gardening ideas in IRWD’s quarterly newsletter, The Dirt, at IRWD.com/thedirt.

New Exhibitions, Free Art Workshop, & Live Jazz at Great Park Gallery This Week

Arts in Irvine invites the community to experience a fresh take on the Great Park Gallery this week, with a newly reimagined layout showcasing three distinct solo exhibitions.

Events & Highlights:

  • 🖼️ New Exhibitions On View:

    • Daniela García Hamilton: Embroidered Paintings — oil painting and embroidery

    • Kristina Rose Baker: The Diver — large-scale paintings inspired by the ancient Tomb of the Diver and the movement of water

    • Vonn Sumner: This is Krazy — a colorful, playful take on Krazy Kat

  • 🎉 Opening Reception: Sunday, January 25, from 1–3 p.m.

  • 🎨 Free Orizomegami Workshop: Pattern & Color at Great Park Studio, 1–3 p.m.

  • 🎷 Live Music: Jazz in the Palm Court, 1–3 p.m.

Plan Your Visit: cityofirvine.org/arts

Upcoming Northwood High School’s Music Calendar

No further events scheduled for this month.

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

Upcoming Woodbridge High School's Music Calendar

No further events scheduled for this month.

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://www.whs-music.org/

Upcoming Woodbridge High School’s Vocal Music Calendar

No further events scheduled for this month.

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

Upcoming Irvine High Choral’s Music Calendar

  1. January 23 - 24: Advanced Choirs Retreat Weekend, Pali Retreat

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

Upcoming Portola High School Music’s Calendar

No further events scheduled for this month.

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

Puppy Playtime 101: Simple Ways to Keep Your New Pup Happy and Healthy

Welcoming a new puppy is a joyful (and busy) time. During the first few days, it’s helpful to schedule a vet visit, ease into routines, and keep play and training gentle and short. Starting slowly and paying attention to your puppy’s cues helps build healthy habits and a strong bond.

Tips to Get Started:

  • 🐾 Arrange an early veterinary check-up

  • ⏱️ Keep play and training sessions brief and positive

  • 🧠 Rotate toys and activities to encourage curiosity

  • 🦴 Limit long or high-impact exercise during growth

  • 🦷 Provide safe chew toys for teething

  • 🎓 Begin simple, consistent training at home

Irvine Native Learner Tien Advances to AO Round of 16, Medvedev Rematch Up Next

Irvine native Learner Tien grew up playing tennis in his hometown before attending USC and turning professional. Now competing at the Australian Open, Tien just defeated Nuno Borges in the third round to advance to the Round of 16. Up next is a familiar challenge—Daniil Medvedev. How deep can Tien go at this year’s Australian Open? Could history repeat itself after his thrilling five-set upset of Medvedev last year?

UC Irvine Women’s Basketball Rallies Late to Defeat UC Riverside, 74–68

UC Irvine women’s basketball rallied in the fourth quarter to earn a 74–68 comeback win over UC Riverside, outscoring the Highlanders 20–10 in the final period. Seniors Hunter Hernandez and Jada Wynn led the charge as UCI extended its program-record win streak to 16 games and improved to 8–0 in Big West play.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

Women’s Basketball

  • Sat, Jan 24– vs UC San Diego, 2:00 PM

Baseball

  • Sat, Jan 24– vs Alumni Game, 12:00 PM

Men’s Basketball

  • Thurs, Jan 29– vs Hawai'i , 8:00 PM

Irvine Valley Women’s Basketball Upsets Orange Coast, 67–57

Irvine Valley’s women’s basketball team earned a 67–57 road win over Orange Coast, improving to 17–3 overall and 3–1 in conference. The Lasers trailed at halftime but pulled away in the second half behind Symantha Barnett’s 23 points, with Alexis Price adding 17.

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS 

Men's Basketball

  • Fri, Jan 23 - vs Santa Ana, 5:00 PM

  • Wed, Jan 28 - vs Fullerton, 5:00 PM

Women’s Basketball

  • Fri, Jan 23 - vs Santa Ana, 7:00 PM

  • Wed, Jan 28 - vs Fullerton, 7:00 PM

Baseball

  • Sat, Jan 24 - vs Long Beach, 12:00 PM

Woodbridge Boys Basketball Defeats Sage Hill in League Play

Woodbridge boys basketball earned a 38–30 Pacific Coast League win over Sage Hill with the return of standout Jaiden Sabino after a broken hand. Sabino scored seven points and added key defense and rebounding, while Garrett DiCostanzo (9), Jahan Adloo (8), and Nate Hill (7) provided balanced scoring.

High School Athletics Calendar

**

Updated With January Schedule

Upcoming Irvine High School’s Varsity home games:

January 2026

Friday, January 23

  • Soccer, Boys - 5:00 PM vs University

  • Basketball, Girls - 5:30 PM vs Northwood

Three Arrested Following Series of LEGO Thefts at OC Target Stores

Irvine Police arrested three suspects accused of stealing LEGO sets from Target stores across Orange County, linking them to at least five theft cases in Irvine. Investigators say the group worked together to take the items and flee, but their operation eventually fell apart. Those arrested were Itzel Janett Garcia Quezada, 38, of Santa Fe Springs; Oscar Rodriguez, 23, of Los Angeles; and Itzel Alejandra Crespin Garcia, 18, of Los Angeles.

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

January 24 Free Paper Shredding Event 9 - 11 AM

January 25 Jazz in the Palm Court 1 - 3 PM

January 28 Seong-jin Cho, piano 8 PM

February 3 Free Tax Filing Services 12 - 6 PM

February 12 Free Grocery Food Box 9 AM - 12 PM

February 14 Hide & Squeak 6th Anniversary 11 AM - 2 PM

February 14 - 15 Modern Makers Mart: Woodbury Town Center 10 AM - 4 PM

February 15 America 250 3 PM

February 21 Lunar New Year 8 PM

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