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Hi Irvine, we made it to Thursday! 

In today’s fun-for-grown-ups edition: New Greek restaurant Nēsos, an international boat show, and a dumpling fest + plenty of reasons to put on real pants 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.

📰 In the news

New flavors on the horizon: Craving Greek near the coast? Nēsos will open in Newport Beach in coming months, serving rustic dishes from a wood-burning oven at the former Pizzeria Mozza spot on Coast Highway — get all the details.

Bold design meets innovation: Newport Beach International Boat Show runs April 16 to 19 as Tide Craft Boats showcases designs at Lido Marina Village, including a pink and white Catalina 13 to turn heads — get details on featured models.

Union-backed checkout changes explained: Starting in April, Costa Mesa’s Safe Stores are Staffed Stores rule will cap self-checkout at 15 items and require monitors, with stores facing $1,000 fines after 15 days to comply — see what changes for shoppers.

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:

• Tudor queens reclaim the mic
• Celebrate 17 years of Pure Barre OC
• Experience SoCal’s premier overlanding expo
• This top-tier home warranty is 50% off right now
• Save on self-care during the CVS Epic Beauty Sale

🐾 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.

🫶 We got your back

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.

Roll into the week: Irvine Inline offers daily public roller skating on full-size sport court surfaces, with skate rentals and SkateMate helpers if you’re rusty. It’s an easy way to move, meet friends, and let kids burn energy without turning your living room into a racetrack.

Little city, big imaginations: Got cabin fever? Pretend City Children’s Museum transforms kids into shopkeepers, firefighters, and farmers in a pint-size town built for open-ended play. Developmental screenings and a recurring Neurodivergent Family Night make the experience inclusive and intentional, blending imagination with growth.

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.

📆 Irvine for grown ups

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.

🍷 Love Grows by Giving Wine Tasting @ Hyatt Regency | Friday (3/6) at 5:30 PM – Proof you can be charitable and picky about pinot, this Hyatt on PCH soirée pours wine and beer, shakes martinis, serves local bites, and adds live entertainment and auctions, all for Waymakers Huntington Beach Youth Shelter. Early birds save, everyone leaves happy, and fed.

🔧 Fix a Leak Workshop @ IRWD Headquarters | Saturday (3/7) at 9:00 AM – Nothing beats slaying a sneaky water bill with neighbors who know where the shutoff is. IRWD’s free Fix a Leak Workshop packs leak-finding know-how, expert Q&A, and dye tablets, plus gift card drawings and a sweepstakes boost. IRWD customers only, 16+, registration 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.

🐠 Yellow Tail Carving Fundraiser @ Fisherman’s Table Yamasaki | Tuesday (3/10) at 6:30 PM – Whether you can tell toro from traffic or just like good fish, this fundraiser starts with a carving by a master, then all-you-can-eat yellowtail sushi and sashimi. It supports HB Sister City Association, happens at Fisherman’s Table, and spots are scarce. $130, drinks extra.

🥟 Dumpling Fest @ Mayflower Dumpling Express | Wednesday (3/11) at 5:00 PM – Clear your evening for a self-guided dumpling crawl around Anaheim, where soup dumplings, mandu, momos, tamales, and more punch your taste-bud passport. You roam by car or transit, collect tasting plates, and pretend it’s cardio between stops. Tickets are advance-only, online.

Live music & entertainment:

• 3/5 Descendents and more @ House of Blues – 6:00 PM
• 3/5 Tony Guerrero & Friends @ Campus JAX – 6:30 PM
• 3/6 Love Grows by Giving Wine Tasting @ Hyatt Regency – 5:30 PM
• 3/6 Steel Parade @ Taco Surf – Surf Side – 6:00 PM
• 3/7 Saturday Brunch with Vintage Vinyl @ Sea Legs at the Beach – 10:00 AM
• 3/7 Live Music Memories @ FLOE Lounge – 6:00 PM
• 3/8 Heated Rivalry Drag Brunch @ Irvine Improv – 1:00 PM

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🔥 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.

• Thinning hair? Don’t wait – here are 3 treatments that work
• This free tool helps connect you with the right financial advisor
• Got debt? You may be able to pay less than you owe
• Protect your pet from disaster with this pet insurance plan
• You can own physical gold and silver in your retirement account

📻 Irvine report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 76°F – Low: 50°F – Precip: 0%

Sunny, with a high near 76. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Later: Clear, with a low around 50. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 75°F – Low: 52°F – Precip: 0%

Sunny, with a high near 75. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 52.

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

This 6,000+ sq ft modern Spanish Colonial crowns an elevated corner lot in The Groves’ Vistas, capturing sweeping hillside views. Over $1M in upgrades showcase dual glass staircases, a 20-foot clerestory dining hall, and a chef’s kitchen with Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Miele. Pocket doors open to a California Room, vanishing-edge quartz pool, 100 SF spa, and Lynx-equipped outdoor kitchen.

Take a peek inside →