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Now Open: Blk Dot Coffee Brings Signature Vietnamese Coffee to Alton Retail Center

Issue # 0610

Author

Joshua Tjia
14 Apr

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh of the Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

🏙️💵 City of Irvine Reviews Budget Gap and Future Spending Plans

☕️🥛 Now Open: Blk Dot Coffee Brings Signature Vietnamese Coffee to Alton Retail Center

🫖🍰 Tea, Treats, and Fun: Scouts and Families Invited to Spring Tea Fundraiser in OC

🌈🍋🥭 Limited-Time Sparkling Rainbow Lemonade Now at Hello Kitty Cafe Irvine

📖📚 Irvine Libraries Offer Free Study Spaces at Heritage Park and Katie Wheeler

🐟🍐 From Savory Fish to Sweet Pears: Discover the Benefits of Steaming and Poaching

🌳🌧️ Several Irvine Trails and Athletic Fields Closed Following This Week’s Rain

🎶🎭 Pacific Symphony Brings My Fair Lady to Life with Full Orchestra This April

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

🐾 Happy Tails in Irvine: 8 Pets Adopted and More Reunited with Families

🎾 UC Irvine Women’s Tennis Earns 4-3 Home Win Over Cal Poly

🏀🏐🎾⚽️ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

🏐 IVC Women’s Beach Volleyball Earns Fifth Season Victory With 5-0 Sweep

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🚓💊 Irvine Police Arrest Man After Traffic Stop Leads to Guns and Narcotics Discovery

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

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

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

What happened when a red ship crashed into a blue ship?

The crew was marooned!

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

City of Irvine Reviews Budget Gap and Future Spending Plans

Irvine city officials are addressing a $6 million budget shortfall from the previous fiscal year and evaluating the city’s long-term financial outlook amid increasing expenditures and fiscal uncertainty.

  • Increased spending has been driven by major city projects, inflation, healthcare costs, higher service demands, and a significant expansion in full-time staff since 2020.

  • Officials are expected to discuss possible measures such as a hiring freeze, spending reductions, and whether to explore public feedback on a potential sales tax increase.

  • While city leadership has stated that Irvine’s financial reserves remain strong and the current shortfall is manageable, several council members have emphasized the need for greater transparency and proactive structural adjustments to maintain long-term fiscal stability.

Now Open: Blk Dot Coffee Brings Signature Vietnamese Coffee to Alton Retail Center

Blk Dot Coffee is now open at its new location at Alton Retail Center in Irvine, now serving its popular signature Vietnamese coffee drinks, including the Traditional Vietnamese Coffee and the Dulce Vietnamese Latte. Known for bold flavors, specialty beverages, and a warm community atmosphere, the new café offers a welcoming spot for coffee runs, casual meet-ups, and fresh food made with local ingredients.

Tea, Treats, and Fun: Scouts and Families Invited to Spring Tea Fundraiser in OC

Families, Scouts, and community members across Orange County are invited to the Parent-Scout Spring Tea Party on Saturday, May 2, from 2–4 p.m. at Pamela’s Tea Room in Old World Village, Huntington Beach.

  • Guests can enjoy an afternoon of tea, sandwiches, family-friendly activities, and time to connect and unwind, while also learning more about Scouting America.

  • The event is open to the community, and all funds raised will support local scouting programs.

Registration is available online here

Limited-Time Sparkling Rainbow Lemonade Now at Hello Kitty Cafe Irvine

Hello Kitty Cafe Irvine is serving a limited-time Sparkling Rainbow Lemonade, featuring a mix of strawberry and mango lemonade topped with blue raspberry cold foam— give this sweet treat a try while supplies last!

Irvine Libraries Offer Free Study Spaces at Heritage Park and Katie Wheeler

Need a quiet place to focus? Irvine Public Library offers three free study rooms by reservation — two at Heritage Park Library and one at Katie Wheeler Library. Each room can be reserved for up to two hours per day, providing a desk, chair, and quiet workspace ideal for school or work.

Reservations are free and available online at irvinelibraries.org.

From Savory Fish to Sweet Pears: Discover the Benefits of Steaming and Poaching

Steaming and poaching are simple, healthy cooking methods that use moist heat to preserve more nutrients than boiling, frying, roasting, or grilling, while keeping meals low in unhealthy fats. According to UCI Health dietitian Katie Rankell, steaming helps retain water-soluble vitamins like B and C and enhances the natural flavor, texture, and color of foods, while poaching gently cooks delicate proteins and fruits without drying them out.

  • Steamed fish with scallions and ginger: A light Chinese-style fish dish packed with lean protein and omega-3 fatty acids, plus anti-inflammatory benefits from ginger and scallions. Great served with steamed vegetables and rice or a whole grain like quinoa.

  • Poached pears with cinnamon, honey, Greek yogurt, and granola: A naturally sweet and nutritious dish rich in fiber, antioxidants, and probiotics, making it a healthy option for breakfast, snack, or dessert.

Find recipes here

Several Irvine Trails and Athletic Fields Closed Following This Week’s Rain

Due to this week’s rain, the City of Irvine has temporarily closed several trail underpasses and athletic fields for safety. The following trail areas are currently closed until City staff complete cleanup and clearing:

  • San Diego Creek Trail — Los Olivos underpass

  • Peter’s Canyon Trail — Warner underpass

  • Peter’s Canyon Trail — Railroad Tracks / Como Channel Trail underpass

  • Peter’s Canyon Trail — Harvard underpass

  • Peter’s Canyon Trail — I-5 Freeway underpass

  • Peter’s Canyon Trail — El Camino underpass

  • Athletic fields at community and neighborhood parks

Updates on park and athletic field conditions are available here and for Great Park here

Pacific Symphony Brings My Fair Lady to Life with Full Orchestra This April

Pacific Symphony brings My Fair Lady in Concert to life April 24–25, at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. This special concert production features Lerner and Loewe’s beloved Broadway classic performed live with a full symphony orchestra. Conducted by Adam Turner, the performance stars Analisa Leaming as Eliza Doolittle and Trevor Martin as Henry Higgins.

Find tickets here

Upcoming Northwood High School’s Music Calendar

  1. April 15: IUSD Jazz Festival, Woodbridge HS

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

Upcoming Woodbridge High School’s Vocal Music Calendar

No further upcoming events 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. April 15, 6:00 PM: SPUR Awards, PAC

  2. April 18, 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM: Choirs Host Forum Festival

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

Upcoming Portola High School Music’s Calendar

No further upcoming events for this month

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

Happy Tails in Irvine: 8 Pets Adopted and More Reunited with Families

From April 6–12, the Irvine Animal Care Center celebrated 8 adoptions, including:

  • 4 dogs (Kira, Mr. Sanchez, Gus, and Polar)

  • 4 cats (Jynx, Latte, Lavender, and Pirate)

  • 6 dogs and 2 cats were also safely reunited with their owners.

For adoption details and current operating hours, visit the center’s website.

UC Irvine Women’s Tennis Earns 4-3 Home Win Over Cal Poly

On Senior Day, UC Irvine women’s tennis defeated Cal Poly 4-3. Senior duo Carolyna Fowler and Amanda Perez clinched the winning point with a 6-3 victory, giving the Anteaters their second ranked win of the season.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

Men’s Tennis

  • Fri, Apr 17 - Hawai'i, 12:00 PM

Baseball

  • Fri, Apr 17 - UC Santa Barbara, 6:00 PM

  • Sat, Apr 18 - UC Santa Barbara, 1:00 PM

  • Sun, Apr 19 - UC Santa Barbara, 1:00 PM

Men’s Volleyball

  • Sat, Apr 18 -Long Beach State, 6:00 PM

IVC Women’s Beach Volleyball Earns Fifth Season Victory With 5-0 Sweep

Irvine Valley College’s women’s beach volleyball team earned its fifth win of the season with a 5-0 Orange Empire Conference victory, improving to 5-17 overall. The Lasers swept all four played matches and received a forfeit on the fifth court.

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS 

Men’s Tennis

  • Tue, April 14– Ventura, 3C2A SoCal Regional Semifinals, 2:00 PM

Baseball

  • Thu, April 16 – Santa Ana, 2:00 PM

High School Athletics Calendar

**

Updated With April Schedule

Upcoming Irvine High School’s Varsity home games:

April 2026

Tuesday, April 14

  • Softball - 3:30 PM vs Portola

  • Golf, Boys - 4:40 PM vs Portola

  • Volleyball, Boys - 5:15 PM vs Portola

Irvine Police Arrest Man After Traffic Stop Leads to Guns and Narcotics Discovery

Irvine Police officers conducted a traffic stop near Jamboree Road and Irvine Boulevard last week after observing a traffic violation. During the stop, officers found a firearm and narcotics inside the vehicle. With assistance from the K-9 unit, they discovered additional narcotics and another firearm at the man’s home. He was arrested and booked into Orange County Jail.

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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