Three New Performing Arts Schools Open in Irvine

Issue # 0489

Author

Joshua Tjia
18 Sep

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh of the Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

🥁🩰🎶 Three New Performing Arts Schools Open in Irvine

🚧 Nighttime I-5 Closures for Jeffrey Trail Bridge Work

☕️🎉 BLK Dot Coffee Opens at The Market Place on September 21

🍁🧋🍁 Pumpkin Spice Season at 85°C Bakery — Limited-Time Fall Drinks

📄 Hands-On Paper Engineering Workshop for Teens, Sept. 30

💉 Flu Shots Now Offered at Hoag Urgent Care Across Orange County

🚲🚏 Free Shuttle Service Expands Access to Irvine’s Trails

🚜🌾 Tanaka Farms Opening Celebration with Artist Steven Harrington Sept. 20

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

♻️🗑️ Sorting Made Simple: Easy Ways to Sort Waste at Home

⚽️ Anteater of the Week: Gonzalez Leads UCI Men’s Soccer to 1-0 Win

🏀🏐🎾⚽️ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🚓💧 Man Arrested for Stealing Water Valves in Irvine

🍏🥭🍑 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 a line of strawberries?

A traffic jam!

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

Three New Performing Arts Schools Open in Irvine

Irvine has introduced three new performing arts schools, expanding opportunities for young students to explore music and dance in structured, creative settings.

  • Music Around (Crossroads) – Offers private and group lessons in piano, voice, strings, guitar, and drums, combining classical technique with contemporary styles and improvisation.

  • Tutu School (Crossroads) – Provides ballet classes for children ages 18 months to 8, focusing on creativity, movement, and motor-skill development through classical music and dance.

  • Nine Beats Drummer Academy (Orchard Hills) – Features lessons in drums, guitar, rock band, and music production for ages 5 and up, with digital learning tools and access to a professional recording studio.

Nighttime I-5 Closures for Jeffrey Trail Bridge Work

Crews are working on the Jeffrey Open Space Trail Bridge, which means nighttime freeway closures.

  • Sept. 18: Lane closures on northbound I-5.

  • Sept. 19–20: Full northbound I-5 closure from SR-133 to Jeffrey Rd., plus lane closures southbound.

The closures are to remove steel beams and forms over the freeway. Learn more at cityofirvine.org/jostextension.

BLK Dot Coffee Opens at The Market Place on September 21

Join BLK Dot Coffee for its grand opening on Sunday, September 21, starting at 8:00 AM at The Market Place.

  • The first 100 guests will receive a raffle ticket with purchase to spin the prize wheel

  • From 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, customers can enjoy a complimentary photo booth picture with any purchase.

Pumpkin Spice Season at 85°C Bakery — Limited-Time Fall Drinks

85°C Bakery Café is bringing back fall flavors with three limited-time pumpkin drinks! Choose from the classic Pumpkin Spice Latte, a Matcha Oat Pumpkin Spice Latte with creamy oat milk and premium matcha, or the sweet and spiced Pumpkin Spice Milk Tea. Available now at all store locations—get them while they last!

Hands-On Paper Engineering Workshop for Teens, Sept. 30

Join University Park Library on Tuesday, September 30, from 6–7 p.m. for a free Teen STEAM: Paper Engineering workshop. Open to teens ages 13 and up, this drop-in program requires no registration—walk-ins are welcome while supplies last.

Flu Shots Now Offered at Hoag Urgent Care Across Orange County

Flu shots are available at Hoag Urgent Care locations throughout Orange County. While not a guarantee against the flu, the shot helps lower your risk of catching it and can reduce the severity of illness if you do get sick. Walk-ins are welcome, or you can reserve a spot online at hoagurgentcare.com

Free Shuttle Service Expands Access to Irvine’s Trails

Irvine CONNECT provides a free shuttle service with stops at several popular bike trails, offering a convenient way to commute, travel to school, or enjoy weekend rides.

Trails served by the shuttle:

  • Hicks Canyon Trail

  • Venta Spur Trail

  • Peters Canyon Trail

  • San Diego Creek Trail

  • Jeffrey Open Space Trail

More information is available at irvineconnect.org.

Tanaka Farms Opening Celebration with Artist Steven Harrington Sept. 20

Tanaka Farms has partnered with LA artist Steven Harrington to bring immersive art installations to this year’s pumpkin patch. The season kicks off with an Opening Celebration on Saturday, Sept. 20, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. at Tanaka Farms in Irvine. Guests can enjoy colorful art-meets-harvest displays throughout the patch. Tickets are available here.

Upcoming Northwood High School’s Music Calendar

  1. September 30, 7-8:30 PM: Vocal Music Fall Concert, NHS Theater

  2. October 6, 7-8:30 PM: Fall Orchestra Concert, NHS Theater

  3. October 7, 7-8:30 PM: Fall Band Concert, NHS Theater

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

Upcoming Woodbridge High School's Music Calendar

  1. October 16, 6-8 PM: Fall Orchestra & Vocal Concert, 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

  1. October 16, 7 PM: Fall Concert, WHS Performing Arts Center

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

Upcoming Irvine High Choral’s Music Calendar

  1. October 9,16, 23, 3:30-4:30 PM: Vaquero JR Voices Rehearsals

  2. October 30, 7 PM: Vaquero JR Voices Concert

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

Sorting Made Simple: Easy Ways to Sort Waste at Home

Making small changes at home can make a big difference. Here’s an easy guide to help you know what belongs in compost, recycling, or trash.

  • Compost: fruit & veggie scraps, coffee grounds, eggshells, grass clippings, leaves

  • Recycle: clean paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, cans, glass jars

    • Keep food and greasy pizza boxes out

  • Trash: chip bags, styrofoam, pet waste

  • Helpful hint: a quick rinse keeps recyclables cleaner and easier to process

Anteater of the Week: Gonzalez Leads UCI Men’s Soccer to 1-0 Win

Freshman Gustavo Gonzalez earned Anteater of the Week after scoring the game-winner in UC Irvine’s 1-0 victory over Yale and helping hold the Bulldogs to one shot on goal.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

Special Event

  • Fri, Sep 19 – Rameelo Raas Garba with Jignesh Barot, 7:00 PM

Women’s Soccer

  • Sun, Sep 21 – vs UC Riverside, 1:00 PM

Women’s Volleyball

  • Fri, Sep 26 – vs Long Beach State, 6:00 PM

  • Sat, Sep 27 – vs UC San Diego, 5:00 PM

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS 

Men’s Soccer

  • Tue, Sep 23 – vs Cuyamaca, 4:00 PM

  • Tue, Sep 30 – vs Orange Coast, 3:00 PM

Women’s Volleyball

  • Fri, Sep 26 – vs Orange Coast, 6:00 PM

Women’s Soccer

  • Fri, Sep 26 – vs East Los Angeles, 1:00 PM

High School Athletics Calendar

**

Updated With September Schedule

Upcoming Irvine High School’s Varsity home games:

September 2025

Thursday, September 18

  • Girls’ Tennis – 3:30 PM vs. Sage Hill at Heritage Park

  • Girls’ Golf – 4:00 PM vs. Woodbridge at Oak Creek Golf Course

Monday, September 22

  • Girls Flag Football – 3:30 PM vs. Portola at Irvine High School Stadium

Man Arrested for Stealing Water Valves in Irvine

Irvine Police arrested Julio Salinas Cartagena, 40, of Westminster, after he was caught stealing water backflow valves made of copper and brass, often sold for scrap.

  • Detectives linked him to a May theft on Research Drive and suspect him in other Orange County cases.

  • When arrested in Santa Ana, another stolen backflow was found in his car. Cartagena was booked at Orange County Jail for grand theft.

/S

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

September 20 Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch Opening 9 AM - 6 PM

September 20 IPD Open House 10 AM - 2 PM

September 25 Limón Dance Company 8 PM

September 26 Mid-Autumn Festival 5 - 9:30 PM

September 27 Joshua Redman Quartet 8 PM

September 28 Barclay Block Party 1 PM

September 30 Calidore String Quartet 7 PM

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