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Hi Irvine, hope you’re having a great weekend!
In today’s in-case-you-missed-it edition: California’s $150,000 down payment lottery, Dumpling Fest, and Tudor queens reclaim the mic + the top stories from this week & a sneak peek at next week.
Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around Irvine protect their savings as gold and silver continue to gain momentum. Their free guide explains what’s driving the surge… and what to know before adding precious metals to your portfolio. Grab your free copy here.
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📰 Most-clicked stories this week
Support for homebuyers grows: California’s Dream For All program is accepting applications, offering first-generation buyers up to $150,000 for down payments via a lottery through March 16. It could help with Irvine’s high prices — see eligibility and funding details.
Locally inspired seasonal dining: Hilton Irvine/Orange County Airport has debuted its rebranded Trellis & Tide Kitchen & Bar, led by Executive Chef Leonel De Leon, serving breakfast, dinners, cocktails, beers, wines, and spirit-free sips — read the full story.
From offices to homes: Foxfield and IRA Capital sold Irvine’s Von Karman Creative Campus to Lennar, with the sale closing January 28 after a multi-year entitlement effort in collaboration with the City of Irvine — read the full story.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
All the crowd favorites:
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🏆 Gold and silver are heating up
Together with our sponsor American Hartford Gold
Gold just posted its strongest run in decades… and the momentum is carrying into 2026. Silver has become one of the most talked-about assets as investors look for ways to stay ahead of market volatility.
While many are still sitting on the sidelines, others are quietly repositioning.
If you’re wondering whether you’re missing something, AHG has a free guide explaining what’s driving the renewed interest… and how investors are approaching precious metals right now.
It’s free and worth reading before the next move.
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🫶 This week’s top finds
Weeknight burger fix: When you want dinner with no drama, Nice Burger 100% Vegan serves charbroiled classics, crispy tenders, and dairy-free shakes that taste like pure nostalgia. Ideal for a quick solo bite, a last-minute hang, or that inevitable “nobody’s cooking” group text.
Burger craving, solved: In Irvine, The Cut Handcrafted Burgers serves juicy seared patties, playful builds like the Savory Burger or Truffle & Brie, and crispy tots. It’s the place where a quick bite turns into fries and conversation, keeping the burger game sharp.
Handmade pasta cravings: Angelina’s Pizzeria Napoletana brightens the week with silky house-made fettuccine Bolognese, pillowy gnocchi, and other cozy plates, plus VPN-certified pizza for that “just one slice” urge. When cooking ambition fades, consider this your carb reset.
Thinning hair? It only gets worse: A few months ago, I noticed my ponytail getting thinner. I tried the usual stuff (biotin, shampoo, etc.) but mostly just hoped it would fix itself… until I learned that active follicles can permanently go dormant if you don’t do something about it. The good news? You can get treatment that actually works with no office visits or trips to the pharmacy. Learn more about my favorite online options here.
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📆 Sneak peek at next week
Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
🥟 Dumpling Fest @ Mayflower Dumpling Express (Anaheim) | Wednesday (3/11) at 5:00 PM – Treat yourself to a progressive dumpling crawl across Anaheim, sampling Chinese soup dumplings, Indian kofta, Korean mandu, Nepalese momos, and yes, tamales, because we’re flexible. It’s self-guided by car or transit, family friendly, and advance tickets only, so plan accordingly.
👩 Women’s Conference @ Irvine City Hall | Friday (3/13) at 8:30 AM – Celebrate Women’s History Month the smart way, with a conference at City Hall, Irvine-style, organized and on time, with panels on wellness, safety resources, money smarts, and entrepreneurship. Councilmember Betty Martinez Franco opens, journalist Jessica De Nova closes, breakfast and lunch included, registration required.
🛍 Mercadito @ Cafe Biaani’ (Anaheim) | Saturday (3/14) at 9:00 AM – Second Saturdays are for Mercadito, where you can browse local crafters and small businesses, chat with neighbors, and pretend you only came for a coffee. Shop with less guilt, because 10% of every purchase goes to a featured nonprofit, and your karma appreciates it.
🧘 Forest Bathing and Meditation @ Huntington Beach Urban Forest | Saturday (3/14) at 10:00 AM – Need a reset without leaving HB? A certified guide leads slow, mindful forest bathing in the Urban Forest, a gentle 1 to 2 mile wander with quiet pauses and a closing tea. Wear shoes, breathe, and let trees handle the therapy, all for twenty bucks.
📚 OC Archives Bazaar @ Great Park | Saturday (3/14) at 10:00 AM – Skip the dusty textbook version and hit Great Park for a free, one-day dive into OC’s living history. Immersive exhibits, talks, and hands-on bits surface the voices, sounds, and artifacts that built this place, no field trip bus required. Bring the kids, or don’t.
🏎 7th Annual Carroll Shelby Tribute @ Lyon Air Museum (Santa Ana) | Saturday (3/14) at 10:00 AM – Think a museum day can’t smell like race fuel? The Carroll Shelby Tribute lines up Cobras, GT350s, and more on the Lyon Air Museum flightline, with warbirds, WWII artifacts, and sharp docents, plus Marigold coffee. Shelby owners, pre-register for flightline parking.
🍀 Shamrock ‘n Run @ Anaheim, California | Sunday (3/15) at 8:30 AM – Throw on some green, the Shamrock ‘n Run 5K and 2K turns Yorba Regional Park into a PYLUSD pep rally on foot, with leashed pups, strollers, and actual neighbors. Run, walk, or proudly shuffle, it all supports student enrichment, and yes, brunch after totally counts.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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🔥 Worth a peek
We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.
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📻 Irvine report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 90°F – Low: 55°F – Precip: 0%
Sunny, with a high near 90. Northeast wind 0 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 55. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 74°F – Low: 53°F – Precip: 4%
Sunny, with a high near 74. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Someone Googled you this week 👀
It may feel like an invasion of privacy, but unfortunately It’s the new normal. Whether you’re joining a committee, selling something locally, dating again, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up online.
Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.
Thankfully, there’s a really easy way for you – or someone you care about – to clean up outdated results that no longer tell the real story. Learn more here.
Most popular house this week
This 5-bed, 5.5-bath Master’s Collection showplace sits at a cul-de-sac end in Shady Canyon on over half an acre with sweeping golf course, hills, and glittering city lights. Resort grounds star an elevated spa, lazy river, grotto, and waterfall. Inside, a chef’s kitchen and dramatic media lounge shine. The primary enjoys its own wing. Guest casita and owned solar included.
Take a peek inside →
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