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Share the Christmas Spirit: Irvine Hosts Drive-Thru Toy Drive for 2/11 Marines, Dec. 13

Issue # 0534

Author

Joshua Tjia
11 Dec

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh of the Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

🫔🎉 Where to Find the Best Tamales in Orange County This Holiday Season

🎄🧸 Share the Christmas Spirit: Irvine Hosts Drive-Thru Toy Drive for 2/11 Marines, Dec. 13

🚒🥾 Irvine Firefighters Join OCFA’s “Fill the Boot” Fundraiser on Dec. 13

🌸🍰🌸 Hello Kitty Café Launches Limited-Time Pink Holiday Menu

🎼🎶 Get Ready for a Cozy Night of Choir & Community at Portola High School, Dec. 12

🏥 UCI Health — Irvine Is Now Open as the Nation’s First All-Electric Hospital

🎶🐦‍⬛ Discover Bird Calls: Join the California Bird Sounds Workshop

🎭 UCI and South Coast Repertory Launch ‘The Next Stage’ to Train Emerging Theatre Artists

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

💧🚰 Keep Your Pipes Happy This Holiday Season with These Easy Tips

⚽️ UCI Men’s Soccer Lands Record Five All-Far West Region Honorees

🏀🏐🎾⚽️ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

🏀 IVC Women’s Basketball Dominates LA Mission 53–32

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🚓🎧 Stolen MacBook and AirPods Recovered; Irvine Police Arrest Suspect in Santa Ana

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

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

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

What do you call Santa when he takes a break?

Santa Pause.

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

Where to Find the Best Tamales in Orange County This Holiday Season

Tamales are everywhere in Orange County this time of year—at family-run stands, classic restaurants, modern taco shops and lively holiday festivals. Here is a short roundup of some of the best places to enjoy tamales across the county this season.

• Ruby’s Tamales – Santa Ana
Banana-leaf costilla tamales, torta de tamal, red pork, chicken verde, rajas con queso, sweet strawberry, and champurrado.

• Sarinana’s Tamale Factory – Santa Ana
OC’s oldest Mexican restaurant with classic chicken, pork and beef tamales—perfect for big holiday orders.

• Las Brisas de Apatzingán – Santa Ana
Home of uchepos, slightly sweet Michoacán fresh-corn tamales served plain or preparado.

• Taco Mesita – Tustin
Seasonal modern tamales like sweet corn and chile colorado with oaxaca cheese.

• Flor Blanca – Garden Grove
Soft Salvadoran-style banana-leaf tamales with chicken, potato and recaudo sauce.

• El Molino de Oro – Multiple Locations
Classic pork, chicken, beef, rajas, pineapple and strawberry tamales, plus fresh pan dulce.

• El Fortín – Fullerton & Stanton
Oaxacan-style tamales wrapped in banana leaves.

• Tamales Mireya – Garden Grove
Handmade red and green chile tamales; banana leaf or corn husk options.

• El Campeón – San Juan Capistrano
Fresh, traditional pork and chicken tamales served throughout the day in a bustling mercado-style setting.

Festivals & Community Events

• Santa Ana Tamalfest – Dec. 13
15 vendors, live music, parade and an all-evening tamal celebration.

Share the Christmas Spirit: Irvine Hosts Drive-Thru Toy Drive for 2/11 Marines, Dec. 13

Irvine’s 2/11 Marine Adoption Committee is hosting a Holiday Toy Drive drive-thru drop-off on Saturday, December 13, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Irvine Civic Center. Community members can donate new, unwrapped toys, games, books, holiday gift sets, warm clothing, stocking stuffers, and gift cards to help bring comfort and cheer to local military families.

Irvine Firefighters Join OCFA’s “Fill the Boot” Fundraiser on Dec. 13

OCFA firefighters will be out on Saturday, December 13, from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. for the annual Fill the Boot fundraiser, collecting donations to support research for muscular dystrophy, ALS, and other neuromuscular diseases. Irvine residents can contribute at any of the three designated intersections listed below.

Irvine Collection Locations

  • Culver Dr & Barranca Pkwy

  • Michelson Dr & Carlson Ave

  • Irvine Blvd & Sand Canyon Ave

Hello Kitty Café Launches Limited-Time Pink Holiday Menu

Hello Kitty Café is celebrating the season with limited-time Pink Holiday drinks and treats now through December 31. Guests can enjoy festive sips like the Pink Peppermint Dream, Pink Hot Chocolate, and Pink Peppermint Cloud Cold Brew, along with seasonal sweets such as Pink Sprinkle Maple Donuts, a Pink Apple Pocket Pie, and a Pink Giant Gingerbread Cookie. These seasonal specials are available for a short time, so stop by before they’re gone.

Get Ready for a Cozy Night of Choir & Community at Portola High School, Dec. 12

Portola High School invites families and friends to enjoy the Spirit of the Season Choir Concert on Friday, Dec. 12 at 7 PM. Enjoy performances from Treble & Bass Choir, Vocal Performance, Canta Bella, Treblemakers, and Portola Singers. Grab your tickets and enjoy a festive night of music!

UCI Health — Irvine Is Now Open as the Nation’s First All-Electric Hospital

UCI Health — Irvine has officially opened, marking a major milestone for Orange County with the nation’s first all-electric acute care hospital.

  • The seven-story, 144-bed facility completes a $1.3 billion medical campus and brings advanced services in cancer, cardiology, neurology, orthopedics, digestive health, imaging, and emergency care closer to local residents.

  • Patients benefit from private rooms with floor-to-ceiling views, smart TVs, healing gardens, and innovative treatment programs including the county’s first inpatient bone marrow transplant and cellular therapy program.

  • The campus emphasizes high-tech medicine blended with restorative, nature-focused spaces to elevate patient comfort, caregiver support, and community access to world-class healthcare.

  • More information

Discover Bird Calls: Join the California Bird Sounds Workshop

Join the Learning California Bird Sounds workshop from Sea & Sage Audubon, a friendly Zoom-based introduction that helps you start identifying birds the way experts do—by sound! Since seasoned birders recognize more than 90% of birds with their ears, this class is a great way to level up from bird-watching to bird-listening. Classes run January 5–8, 2026.

UCI and South Coast Repertory Launch ‘The Next Stage’ to Train Emerging Theatre Artists

UC Irvine’s Claire Trevor School of the Arts and South Coast Repertory have launched The Next Stage, a new program that gives drama students paid, real-world experience inside a professional theatre company.

  • Beginning in 2026, students will train alongside SCR artists in acting, design, dramaturgy, and stage management while also receiving mentorship, coaching, and classroom instruction.

  • More than 500 students will participate, supported by $1.5 million in donor funding.

  • The partnership is designed to strengthen career pathways for emerging theatre artists and serve as a model for similar collaborations nationwide.

Upcoming Northwood High School’s Music Calendar

  1. December 12 , 7 - 8:30 PM: Winter Gala Concert – Jazz Ensemble I, Wind Symphony, Philharmonic, and Vocal Music, NHS Theater

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

Upcoming Woodbridge High School's Music Calendar

  1. December 11 - 12, 6:30 - 8:30 PM: Winter Concerts, WHS Performing Arts Center

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. December 16, 7 PM: Jazz the Halls, TBD

  2. December 18, 7 PM: Holiday Concert, IHS PAC

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

Upcoming Portola High School Music’s Calendar

  1. December 12, 7 - 9 PM: PHS Choir Concert – SPIRIT OF THE SEASON

  2. December 13, 3 PM: PHS Choir Concert – SPIRIT OF THE SEASON Matinee

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

Keep Your Pipes Happy This Holiday Season with These Easy Tips

Keep your home’s plumbing running smoothly during the busy holiday season with these simple pipe-saving habits that prevent clogs and sewage backups. These quick tips help protect both your home and the community system.

  • Keep grease out of drains: Pour leftover grease into sealed containers and throw them away. Wipe greasy pans with paper towels before washing.

  • Skip flushing “flushable” wipes: Only toilet paper breaks down properly—wipes do not and can cause major blockages.

  • Toss dental floss in: Floss doesn’t break apart and can clog pumps, so always throw it in the trash.

UCI Men’s Soccer Lands Record Five All-Far West Region Honorees

UC Irvine men’s soccer made history with a record five players earning All-Far West Region honors. First Team picks Brady Treinen and Misael Gonzalez Lopez led strong defensive and offensive performances, while Agaton Pourshahidi, Isaac Powell, and Big West Championship MVP Nolan DiCenzo secured Second Team spots. The achievement marks the most all-region selections in a single season under head coach Yossi Raz.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

Women’s Basketball

  • Sat, Dec 13 – vs California Baptist, 2:00 PM

IVC Women’s Basketball Dominates LA Mission 53–32

Irvine Valley College women’s basketball earned its fifth straight win with a strong 53–32 defensive performance. Next, IVC goes for win No. 10 on Friday at Citrus.

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS 

Men's Basketball

  • Sat, Dec 13 - vs San Diego Miramar, 5:00 PM

  • Tue, Dec 30 - vs LA Valley, 5:00 PM

High School Athletics Calendar

**

Updated With December Schedule

Upcoming Irvine High School’s Varsity home games:

December 2025

Thursday, December 11

  • Basketball, Girls - 5:30 PM vs Dana Hills

Friday, December 12

  • Soccer, Boys - 5:00 PM vs Northwood

Stolen MacBook and AirPods Recovered; Irvine Police Arrest Suspect in Santa Ana

Irvine officers tracked a stolen MacBook and AirPods from a vehicle theft on Watermarke Place using Apple’s Find My feature, locating the items in Santa Ana after triggering the “Play Sound” alert. They found the AirPods in the suspect’s backpack and arrested 43-year-old Julian Charles White for possessing stolen property, drug possession, and providing a false name. The stolen items were safely returned to the victim.

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

November 28 - December 30 Santa's Village

November 28 - December 28 Hikari: Festival of Lights

December 11 Free Grocery Food Box 9 AM - 12 PM

December 21 Tis the Season!

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