Good morning, Irvine! In today’s edition: AI-powered church exhibit, Holey Moley and Hijinx Hotel, Medi-Cal changes, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

🏆 Most popular this week

Curated by popular demand — here are this week’s most-clicked events, local spots, and stories.

New approach to appliance repairs: My Appliance Crew has expanded same-day repair services in Orange County, adding technicians certified by major brands and refocusing operations to deliver faster responses for families and emergency appliance needs — get all the details.

Modern take on faith: A new exhibit at Christ Cathedral near Disneyland uses AI and digital projection to draw young Christians, spotlighting an AI rendered Jesus and a high resolution Shroud of Turin replica — read the full story.

Fresh thrills and puzzles: Holey Moley and Hijinx Hotel are now open at Irvine Spectrum Center. Hijinx Hotel offers 15 challenge-themed rooms to play, not stay, with both mental and physical game rooms. It is designed for games rather than lodging. Get all the details.

New Year Resolution Hike @ San Joaquin Wildlife Santuary | Sunday (1/11) at 10:00 AM – Kick off the year with an easy loop on the Carlson Trail at San Joaquin Marsh, then reward your virtue with brunch at UTC. Expect wetlands views, friendly chatter, and ducks judging your pace, not your life choices, plus that phrase locals love, free parking — see the event listing.

Commitment to safe births: U.S. News & World Report recently recognized Hoag as a best hospital for maternity care, highlighting high-performing care for uncomplicated pregnancies at its Newport Beach and Irvine hospitals — read the full story.

What the new rules mean: Medi-Cal changes took effect Jan. 1, 2026, reinstating asset limits and freezing full-scope enrollment for nonpregnant adults without satisfactory immigration status, a shift that applies only to new applicants — see deadlines and eligibility changes.

Are you overpaying? The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. I was paying over $300 for ONE car until I checked out various quotes, switched providers, and ultimately cut my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably losing money too — this free comparison tool makes it easy.

Gold & silver are hot: Gold just had it’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150% in 2025… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. If you’re curious about adding precious metals to your portfolio as a market hedge, American Hartford has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.

A new haircare solution: My hair’s been thinning and I’ve been quietly ignoring it, hoping it’ll fix itself. Plot twist… it hasn’t. When I finally started looking into what I should do, there were so many options I didn’t know where to start. I stumbled on Keranique, and its simplicity really sold me. One kit, no pills, no choosing products, and no confusion whatsoever. It’s also on sale with a money-back guarantee (although I doubt you’ll need it).

📆 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.

🇪 Parent and Toddler Spanish Classes @ LangoKids Irvine | Monday (1/12) at 9:00 AM – Give your tiny negotiator some Spanish that isn’t just no, and sneak in a workout via music, movement, and play. These parent-and-toddler classes, for ages 2 to 3 and trusted by OC families, send you home with simple skills. Free demos available, call 714-864-4680.

🎭 An Evening at the Improv @ Irvine Improv | Tuesday (1/13) at 8:00 PM – Call it a laugh tune-up at the Irvine Improv with Joseph Vecsey, Helen Hong, and more. It’s 21+, phones away, and there’s a two-item minimum, so consider it dinner that heckles back. Grab general admission, park at the Spectrum early, and thank me later.

🚴 Thursday Ride @ Deerfield Community Park | Thursday (1/15) at 8:30 AM – Clip in for BCI’s Thursday roll out from Deerfield Park, route TBA but expect those Long and Long Plus favorites. Midweek mileage, weekend attitude, friendly wheels, and just enough climb to earn coffee and a pastry you absolutely already deserved.

📚 Toddler Storytime @ Mariners Library | Thursday (1/15) at 10:30 AM – Bring your tiny tornado to Mariners for toddler storytime with books, songs, and all the wiggles. They’ll practice sitting, sharing, and roaring like a lion, you’ll meet other sleep-deprived pros, and your living room gets a break. Short, sweet, and librarian-approved.

🍻 New Members Welcome Mixer @ Hangar 24 Orange County | Friday (1/16) at 6:00 PM – A laid-back new members mixer at Hangar 24, where fresh pours, friendly faces, and actual conversation beat another night of scrolling. Meet fellow locals without the name-tag panic, enjoy good beer, and follow @mixandmingleoc for updates, stories, and the occasional humblebrag.

🧾 Conférence – La fiscalité Franco-Américaine @ Industrious | Friday (1/16) at 6:00 PM – Take a break from spreadsheets and hit a free, in-French tax talk in OC from Jade Fiducial with Tony Gousselot and Pierre-Alban Martinant. Decode IRS vs. impôts, expat quirks, and paperwork purgatory. Bring questions, leave calmer, with deductions, and your sanity.

🎤 Mohsen Namjoo @ Irvine Barclay Theatre | Friday (1/16) at 8:30 PM – Craving something beyond your usual Irvine routine? Catch Mohsen Namjoo at the Barclay, the Iranian icon whose gravelly wail and setar weave rock, jazz, and Persian folk into goosebumps. Parking is civilized, the emotions are not, possibly your best date night this season.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📣 Own or manage a local business?

Meet BaseLocal Business — a free and easy way to get your business happenings in front of our readers.

How it works:

• Sign up (it takes less than 5 minutes)
• We’ll manually verify your business is legit
• Once verified, you’ll be able to share events, news, and special deals with us any time

Everything you share is reviewed, and approved submissions are automatically considered for future newsletters. AKA… your business has a much higher chance of being featured in front of thousands of Irvine locals who live, shop, eat, and share good things with their friends.

We also regularly spotlight verified businesses just because we think they’re great.

Click here to get started (it’s free) →

📻 Irvine report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 70°F – Low: 49°F – Precip: 0%

Sunny, with a high near 70. East wind 0 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 49. North wind 0 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

—

Tomorrow – High: 73°F – Low: 49°F – Precip: 0%

Sunny, with a high near 73. Northeast wind 0 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 49. Northeast wind 0 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Most popular house this week

Single-level, 12th-floor penthouse-style residence at Plaza Irvine with south-facing, 180-degree panoramas. The 2,000 square foot modern plan offers sit-down city lights from Saddleback to UCI and sunsets over Newport Beach and Catalina. Marble floors, granite counters, Viking appliances, and Lutron shades elevate the finish. A view-forward primary suite adds a walk-in closet and spa bath, paired with an ensuite guest room and a full laundry with built-ins.

Side-by-side parking and an oversized storage unit add ease. Concierge service, a 5,000 square foot fitness center, club and sports rooms, plus conference and business spaces round it out. Border location puts beaches, shopping, and John Wayne Airport close.

Take a peek inside →