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Hello Irvine! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning.
In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Tudor queens reclaim the mic, a $150k down payment lottery, and a home with a 70-foot waterfall + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Today’s sponsor, Spot Pet Insurance, is something I wish I had before a late-night emergency vet visit left me with a $10,000 credit card bill. It’s cheaper than Netflix… and means you never have to choose between your pet and your savings. It takes less than 5 minutes to sign up – get started here.
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📰 In the news
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.
Local biomanufacturing gets a boost: Avid Bioservices has opened an Early Phase Center of Excellence in nearby Costa Mesa, expanding its development footprint and bringing end-to-end development and manufacturing capabilities closer to Irvine — read the full story.
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.
Gold & silver are hot: Coming off gold’s best year since 1979, the momentum is carrying well into 2026 with silver remaining one of the most talked-about assets. Curious why they’re back in focus? American Hartford Gold has a free guide that explains what’s happening and how people are approaching it today. It’s free – and definitely worth a read.
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.
Highlights this week:
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🐾 One pet emergency can cost $10,000+
Together with our sponsor Spot Pet Insurance
Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache.
From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving.
As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Spot.
It’s super affordable and reimburses up to 90% on qualified vet bills. It was too late for me, but it’s not too late for you. Sign up today.
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🫶 We got your back
Tapas night, upgraded: Craving graze-worthy plates? Vaca channels Barcelona-to-Basque energy in Costa Mesa with tapas, paella, and a Spanish-leaning lineup of wines and cocktails, all under Chef Amar Santana. Bring a friend, share a spread, and linger over another pour.
Gear for surf and snow: From fresh wax and dialed boot fits to the “this is the season I finally drop in” setup, Surfside Sports outfits locals for dawn patrols, park laps, and everything in between. Gear chosen by people who actually ride keeps the fun meter climbing, tuned for surf and snow.
Indie night out: When your algorithm feels stale, head to The Frida Cinema for repertory gems, cult marathons, and community screenings that make moviegoing fun again. Grab a friend and choose something weird or wonderful… they plan the surprises, you bring the enthusiasm.
Access cash without selling your home: A reverse mortgage can help anyone over 62 cover everyday expenses, support healthcare needs, fund home improvements, or even reduce pressure on 401(k) withdrawals – all while staying in your home. Longbridge offers a free calculator to estimate how much flexibility your home could provide, with no commitment required.
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📆 Fun for the whole fam
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.
🌈 Holi Milan @ Sweet Shade Park | Wednesday (3/4) at 5:00 PM – Celebrate Holi on the actual day, right at Sweet Shade Park, with color, laughter, and that neighborly chaos we secretly love. It’s free, BYO colors and snacks to share, and yes, wear the shirt you never quite forgave. Everyone’s welcome, kids to grandparents.
🍽 Shine: Honoring Her Story @ University United Methodist Church | Wednesday (3/4) at 5:30 PM – Nothing beats a free community dinner that feels like community, celebrating Women’s History Month and honoring women in faith, history, and right here at home. All ages welcome, with crafts, activities, and a low-key service project, no pre-registration, just neighbors, conversation, and someone else cooking.
🚗 Vikings Cruise Car Show @ Marina High School – Home of the Vikings | Saturday (3/7) at 10:00 AM – Roll into Marina High for a hometown car show with sea breeze, chrome, and DJ Curt keeping the vibe smooth. Support the Class of 2026 while you kick tires, trade stories, and eye those shiny trophies. Registration opens soon, so limber up your polishing arm.
🏛 Historical Downtown Walking Tour @ Huntington Beach Visitor Information | Saturday (3/7) at 10:00 AM – Swap the usual pier loop for a 1.5-mile ramble through Downtown, getting real HB backstory and maybe a peek inside a few landmarks. Tickets are $10 for adults, kids free. Dog, stroller, and wheelchair friendly, ending with a complimentary drink at Longboard’s; advance tickets required.
🏛 Women in History Tours @ Fairhaven Memorial Park & Mortuary | Saturday (3/7) at 11:00 AM – Trade brunch gossip for a 45-minute golf cart tour at Fairhaven Memorial Park, where trailblazing women rest and their stories move. Meet the first woman to fly solo in the U.S., OC’s first female attorney, a Holocaust rescuer, a princess, and more. Registration required.
💃 Abba LA @ Lido Theatre | Saturday (3/7) at 8:00 PM – Whether you wore out your ‘Arrival’ LP or learned the words at weddings, ABBA LA is turning Newport’s Lido Theatre into a glittery sing-along. Expect greatest hits, big choruses, unapologetic joy, and a perfectly respectable excuse to test your disco hips, responsibly.
🎩 Mad Hatter’s Tea Party Playday @ Huntington Central Park Equestrian Center | Sunday (3/8) at 10:00 AM – Mad Hatter play day at Huntington Central Park Equestrian Center, open to the public, new date March 8. Dress up, BYO horse for $10 a class, or skip the saddle and enjoy the food truck, face painting, and top-tier people-watching.
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: 72°F – Low: 51°F – Precip: 0%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. South wind 0 to 10 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51. South wind around 5 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 73°F – Low: 49°F – Precip: 0%
Sunny, with a high near 73. West wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Later: Clear, with a low around 49.
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.
This house is wild
Inside Orchard Hills’ gates, this home crowns the highest single-loaded street with sweeping city and ocean views. A 22-foot foyer with dual staircases opens to indoor-outdoor living. Dual-island Wolf and Sub-Zero kitchens shine. Outside, a sunken fire pit meets a 70-foot waterfall. A luxe primary spa, a theater-ready loft, and 22kW solar with four Tesla Powerwalls headline the upgrades.
Take a peek inside →
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