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Hey Irvine, hope your week’s off to a good start! In case you missed yesterday’s email, BaseLocal Business went live last week… and it’s going way better than I ever could have imagined!
If you run a local business and haven’t signed up, you can join here for free.
The more businesses we have on the platform, the more events, announcements, news, cool spots to check out, and deals we’ll have to share with you all every week. So if you know of a local business that belongs in the newsletter, forward this email to them or send ‘em here so they sign up too! The more the merrier 🙂
That’s all for today – let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Smarter devices and systems: Orange County tech firms showcased gadgets at CES, including Skyworks smart home modules and Kwikset’s Aura Reach lock, along with Syntiant AI audio and new platforms from Broadcom and Lantronix — check out the full lineup.
The power of quick action: Orange County high school football coach Rob Frith reunited with OCFA firefighter John Rowlands, who saved him after a December heart attack on a pickleball court, warming Irvine — read the full story.
New leadership for transit board: Dana Point Councilman Jamey Federico was selected as OCTA chairman last week in a unanimous vote, succeeding Doug Chaffee, who stays on the board. He has served since January 2023 — read the full story.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per 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.
Gold & silver are hot: Gold just had its 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.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
What to bring and avoid: OC Waste and Recycling staff explain safe disposal at Anaheim’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center, with free drop-off for Orange County residents. The site is at East La Palma and North Blue Gum. Irvine residents can pick up free paint and cleaners from the material exchange. Improper disposal harms health. Get disposal guidance and locations.
Make it your blend: Feel like playing winemaker without leaving Irvine? McClain Cellars has a cozy blending lounge where you can sample Santa Ynez barrels and craft your own custom bottle. Ideal for a low-key date night, or for impressing friends with your newfound tannin talk.
Step easier this week: Feet barking after all those Spectrum steps? In Quail Hill, The Shoe Clinic is a pedorthic clinic that fits you for comfort footwear, builds custom or prefab arch supports, and handles shoe mods… so your favorites keep working as hard as you do.
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).
An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.
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📆 Around town this 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.
This week
🏛 Global Threads Extended Museum Hours @ Bowers Museum | Friday (1/23) at 4:00 PM – Skip the couch and swing by Bowers, open late for Global Threads: India’s Textile Revolution. Wander through riotous color, intricate patterns, and centuries of craft, then smugly call it culture. Ideal for date night, friend night, or a solo stroll.
📚 OCWLA Book Club Gala @ Country Garden Caterers | Friday (1/23) at 5:00 PM – Bookworms who clean up nicely, this is your moment. OCWLA kicks off its first annual Book Club Gala, with cocktails, smart conversation, and mingling that feels like networking but tastes like sauvignon blanc. Dress up, show up, claim you finished the epilogue.
🧵 India’s Textile Legacy and Global Influence on Trade @ Bowers Museum | Friday (1/23) at 6:00 PM – Bowers is hosting a smart, juicy deep dive into India’s textile legacy with Professor Nalini N. Rao, tracing painted and printed cottons from Cairo to London, and through centuries. Think Global Threads meets spice routes, less hemming, more history, and tickets coming soon.
This weekend
🥯 5th Ave Bagelry Grand Opening @ 5th Ave Bagelry | Saturday (1/24) at 8:00 AM – Tustin finally gets a proper bagel shop. First 100 on Saturday get a free bagel with cream cheese, plus BOGO bagel sandwiches all weekend, a bounceback deal, and a KitchenAid and gift card raffle. Free parking, no more pretending grocery store ones are fine.
🍲 January Cooking Class: Cozy Winter Dishes @ Sol Hub Irvine Coworking, Meeting, Event Space near Irvine Spectrum, Orange County | Saturday (1/24) at 10:15 AM – Craving something cozier than your thermostat? Trade takeout for a hands-on cooking class where you’ll whip up warm, delicious winter comfort food, swap a few stories, and leave with recipes you’ll actually use, plus that smug glow only a good simmer can deliver.
🐦 Winter Wonderland Bird Walk @ Irvine Regional Park | Sunday (1/25) at 9:00 AM – Trade screen time for birdsong and join Rita Robinson for a crisp winter morning walk at Irvine Regional Park. Binoculars up, pace down, and plenty of pauses to actually spot the locals with wings. Low-key, rewarding, and a sneaky way to practice patience.
🎨 Orizomegami Workshop: Pattern & Color @ Great Park | Sunday (1/25) at 1:00 PM – Swap spreadsheets for splashy paper at an Orizomegami workshop where you fold, dip, and reveal patterns that are part geometry, part happy accident. It’s free, self-guided, and kid-to-grandparent friendly, no registration required. Consider it Irvine-approved chaos, tidy and colorful.
Live music & entertainment:
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Irvine report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 74°F – Low: 51°F – Precip: 0%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. West wind 0 to 5 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. South wind 0 to 5 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 71°F – Low: 52°F – Precip: 2%
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. South wind 0 to 5 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52.
This house is wild
Behind the gates of The Groves at Orchard Hills in Irvine, this distinctive home blends soaring ceilings, wrought iron, and bold beams. The chef’s kitchen with white cabinetry, custom counters, high-end stainless, and a large island links the great room and conservatory. Accordion doors expand living outside.
The primary suite adds a spa bath and dual walk-in closets, with secondary bedrooms all en suite. Upgrades feature a premier shade system, surround sound, a tankless water heater, paid-off solar, and a built-in EV charger. Outdoors, a California room, turf mini golf, wood-paved entertaining, and a stone wall fountain pair with community pools, trails, courts, and the Orchard Hills Shopping Center and award-winning schools.
Take a peek inside →
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Thanks for reading! If you know someone who’d love BaseLocal, send ’em here so they can sign up too 🙂
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