Pop-up Library Sundays Begin June 15

Issue # 0427

Author

Joshua Tjia
13 Jun

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh Of The Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

👞👠  Master Cobbler James Chon Marks 35 Years of Shoe Repair in Irvine

🌅🍨 Golden Hour Gatherings: Gelato & Summer Fun at Irvine Spectrum

☀️📖 Pop-up Library Sundays Begin June 15

🍦🥄 Golden Spoon Oak Creek Celebrates 1-Year Anniversary with Weeklong Deals

🚌🌟 Five IUSD Students Earn College-Sponsored National Merit Scholarships

☕️🥐 UCI Health Opens Tony and Daisy Fan Family Café at Irvine Cancer Center

🌼🌾 Getting to Know Invasive Plants: Fountain Grass and Stinknet

👾 Explore 45 Years of PAC-MAN at Great Park Gallery

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

🪺🪶 What to Do If You Find a Baby Bird: A Guide to Helping Without Harming

🔪 Liam Miksic Places 12th in NCAA Javelin, Earns All-America Honors

🏀🏐🎾⚾ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

🥎 East Rallies to Tie West in OC Softball All-Star Game; Hay Inducted into Hall of Fame

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🚓🚨 Irvine PD Arrests Individual for Inappropriate Behavior at Apartment Gym and Pool Area

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

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

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

What kind of tree fits in your hand?

A palm tree!

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

Master Cobbler James Chon Marks 35 Years of Shoe Repair in Irvine

For over 35 years, 86-year-old James Chon has run James Shoe Repair in Irvine’s Harvard Place, crafting and restoring footwear with a level of skill rooted in decades of experience.

  • Originally from Korea, Chon’s journey began in hardship—losing his parents young, leaving school early, and immigrating to the U.S. in 1972 with just $5.

  • He found his way from a Hollywood custom shoe shop—where he made boots for stars like Wonder Woman and Sonny Bono—to Irvine, where he and his wife Linda built a beloved local business.

  • Known for his intuitive craftsmanship and uncompromising quality, Chon has no apprentice to carry on his art, making each repaired sole a piece of living history.

  • For him and his family, Irvine symbolizes everything they hoped for in America: peace, pride, and purpose.

Golden Hour Gatherings: Gelato & Summer Fun at Irvine Spectrum

Irvine Spectrum Center’s Golden Hour Gatherings continue this summer on select Fridays at 5 PM near Dave & Buster’s. Upcoming events include:

  • June 20 – Gelato Fun with Bacio di Latte (near Regal)

  • July 18 – Swing into Summer with melin & OluKai

  • August 1 – Summer Refresh with Pressed

  • August 15 – Cookies & Caricatures with Hudsons Cookies

Enjoy treats and fun for the whole family!

Pop-up Library Sundays Begin June 15

The Irvine Public Library is hosting weekly Pop-up Library events every Sunday from June 15 to July 13, between 1:00–4:00 p.m. at the Heritage Park Middle School YAT office (14301 Yale Ave. at Walnut Ave.).

  • Visitors can sign up for a library card, check out books, enjoy make-and-take crafts, and explore online resources.

  • For more info, visit irvinepubliclibrary.org.

Golden Spoon Oak Creek Celebrates 1-Year Anniversary with Weeklong Deals

Celebrate Golden Spoon Oak Creek’s 1-Year Anniversary with a full week of sweet deals! From June 16 to June 22, enjoy daily promotions exclusively at the Oak Creek Shopping Center location. Each day brings a new reason to treat yourself:

  • Mini Monday – $3.99 mini cups all day

  • BOGO Tuesday – Buy one, get one 50% off from 2 PM to 5 PM

  • Waffle Wednesday – $5.99 waffle cones (choose up to 2 flavors)

  • Topping Thursday – One free topping with any size purchase

  • Flavor Friday – $1 off all regular and large cups from 4 PM to 6 PM

  • Surprise Saturday – Mystery deal revealed at the register

  • Sunday – Spin-to-Win Wheel with prizes like free toppings or discounts

Five IUSD Students Earn College-Sponsored National Merit Scholarships

Five IUSD students have been awarded prestigious college-sponsored National Merit Scholarships, recognizing their academic excellence, leadership, and community involvement. This is the first of two rounds of such awards, with the final announcement set for July, marking the conclusion of the 2025 National Merit Scholarship season.

UCI Health Opens Tony and Daisy Fan Family Café at Irvine Cancer Center

UCI Health staff celebrated the grand opening of the Tony and Daisy Fan Family Café, located in the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and Ambulatory Care building in Irvine.

  • The café features offerings like pastries and avocado toast from Crema Artisan Bakers and drinks from Moongoat Coffee Roasters.

  • Chief Operating Officer Nathan Shinagawa emphasized the café’s role in supporting patient healing through nutrition.

  • The space offers fresh food, natural lighting, and mobile ordering for added convenience. It’s open Monday–Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Getting to Know Invasive Plants: Fountain Grass and Stinknet

Some plants, while attractive at first glance, can disrupt the balance of the local environment. Two such species currently being managed are Fountain Grass and Stinknet.

  • Fountain Grass is a hardy, ornamental grass with feathery seedheads, but it tends to outgrow native plants and contributes to wildfire risk.

  • Stinknet, with its small yellow globe-shaped flowers, spreads quickly and can take over natural spaces, limiting room for native growth.

Explore 45 Years of PAC-MAN at Great Park Gallery

Ever wonder why each PAC-MAN ghost acts a little differently? A new exhibit at the Great Park Gallery in Irvine, “Journey Through the Maze: 45 Years of PAC-MAN,” explores how thoughtful design and creative storytelling helped turn a simple maze game into a global icon. From the unique personalities of Blinky and Clyde to rare memorabilia and behind-the-scenes insights from creator Toru Iwatani, this exhibit offers a fun and nostalgic look at the legacy of PAC-MAN.

Visit yourgreatpark.org/arts for details.

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

What to Do If You Find a Baby Bird: A Guide to Helping Without Harming

During spring and summer, it's common to come across a baby bird on the ground. In most cases, the bird may not need help—especially if it's a fledgling learning to fly while still being cared for by its parents.

  • If the bird is a nestling (not fully feathered and unable to stand), it’s best to gently return it to its nest or place it safely nearby in a small container.

  • Despite popular belief, parent birds will not reject a baby due to human scent.

  • Intervention is only recommended if the bird shows signs of injury or illness—such as bleeding, abnormal posture, labored breathing, or if the parents haven’t been seen for 24 hours.

  • In these cases, it’s important to keep the bird warm, quiet, and avoid feeding it until professional help is available.

  • Ultimately, trained wildlife rehabilitators are best equipped to provide the care needed to return the bird safely to the wild.

Liam Miksic Places 12th in NCAA Javelin, Earns All-America Honors

UC Irvine senior Liam Miksic placed 12th in the javelin at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, throwing 70.13m (230-1)—just shy of his personal best.

  • It marked his second career 70-meter throw, earning him second-team All-America honors.

  • Miksic ends his collegiate career as a four-time NCAA regional qualifier, three-time Big West champion, and school record holder, becoming the first UCI athlete to hit 70 meters since the javelin redesign in 1986 and one of only three in Big West history to win three straight titles.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

We will resume with UCI’s athletic calendar events when the schedule is available for the fall quarter.

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS 

We will resume with IVC’s athletic calendar events when the schedule is available for the fall semester.

East Rallies to Tie West in OC Softball All-Star Game; Hay Inducted into Hall of Fame

The Orange County Coaches Senior All-Star Softball Classic at Deanna Manning Stadium delivered a dramatic finish as the East and West teams tied 7-7 in the second game of the doubleheader.

  • After trailing early, the East rallied in the final inning to even the score, highlighted by a leadoff double and game-tying run from Mater Dei’s Sophia Rolon.

  • Local players like Abby Sasaki (Irvine) and Mia Tamkoc (Woodbridge) made strong contributions, with Sasaki driving in two runs and Tamkoc closing out the game with a scoreless inning on her home field.

  • The night also celebrated coaching excellence, with Marina’s Dan Hay inducted into the OC Coaches Hall of Fame.

  • The event, filled with energy and emotion, gave seniors a memorable farewell and showcased top OC softball talent.

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

Irvine PD Arrests Individual for Inappropriate Behavior at Apartment Gym and Pool Area

On June 11, Irvine Police arrested 25-year-old Gavin Christian Mestas of Irvine in connection with reported lewd conduct at a community gym on Murica Aisle.

  • Surveillance footage from June 2 and June 8 showed a man—later identified as Mestas—allegedly entering the facility without authorization and engaging in inappropriate behavior, including filming individuals at the nearby pool.

  • Authorities believe that minors may have been present during at least one of the incidents.

  • Following a search warrant, detectives recovered evidence linking him to the case. Mestas was taken into custody and booked on multiple charges, including public lewd conduct and unlawful recording.

  • Anyone with relevant information is encouraged to contact Detective Vasquez at 949-724-7223.

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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