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Good morning, Irvine! In today’s edition: Hoag’s maternity honor, Medi-Cal rule changes, Hijinx Hotel puzzle rooms, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
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.
County greenlights safety investments: Orange County supervisors approved over $11 million for safety initiatives, including HCA cleanup of leaking underground tanks and retroactive grants for Cow Camp Road construction and Aliso Viejo traffic improvements — get all the details.
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.
Protect your nest egg: Savvy investors are turning to gold amidst today’s inflation, national debt, and market uncertainty for a reason. It holds its value when everything else feels shaky. Case in point: it’s up ~62% since this month last year. If you’re curious about adding it and other precious metals to your portfolio, American Hartford has a super helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free, and definitely worth a read — check it out here.
*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
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.
Big energy, indoors. When the kids are bouncing off the walls, Pretend City Children’s Museum delivers a kid-size city of hands-on play, think grocery runs, building zones, and pretend emergency calls, so they burn energy while you steal a few peaceful breaths.
Indoor rallies, no wind: Skip the weather roulette and stay sharp at West Coast Pickleball. In Yorba Linda, you’ll find skill-organized open play and clinics on climate-controlled indoor courts, plus an easygoing, locals-first vibe. Get consistent reps, meet partners, and dodge the sun while your game keeps climbing.
Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I discovered Keranique’s hair regrowth system. Everything with them is surprisingly easy: no quizzes, no pills, no choosing between dozens of products. Just grab the kit and follow the instructions. The best part? It’s $75 off right now, you’ll get three free gifts, AND you’ll get your money back if you don’t love the results.
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📆 Around town this week
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
📚 Free Spanish Classes @ LangoKids Irvine | Monday (1/5) at 9:00 AM – Whether your kid rolls their Rs like a lawnmower or thinks hola rhymes with granola, this free demo week lets all kids test drive OC’s favorite Spanish program. Jan 5 to 10, pick a time, watch them light up, and sip coffee in peace.
📚 Melissa De La Cruz: Rings of Fate @ Barnes & Noble | Tuesday (1/6) at 6:30 PM – Trade the group chat for actual conversation and catch Melissa de la Cruz celebrating her adult fantasy debut, Rings of Fate, with a talk and signing at Barnes & Noble in Huntington. Expect bookish banter, fresh ink, and the oddly comforting café smell.
❤ Orange County Speed Dating for Singles Age 55+ @ ZENTRL Kitchen + Bar | Tuesday (1/6) at 6:30 PM – Newport Beach speed dating for the 55-plus crowd, where you can meet up to 12 potential matches, no swiping required. PRE-DATING has racked up thousands of success stories, so bring your charm, your patience, and a favorite harbor story, then see who sticks.
✨ Shine: Compassion in Action @ University United Methodist Church Irvine | Wednesday (1/7) at 5:30 PM – Think dinner you didn’t cook, activities you didn’t plan, and impact you can feel. Join this free all-ages get-together for card-making and conversation, while we partner with Families Forward to pack care packages and hygiene kits for OC neighbors. We even do the dishes.
🏮 Anne’s Treasures | Paper Lanterns @ Bowers Museum | Thursday (1/8) at 10:00 AM – Make a glowing paper lantern with soft watercolor washes and unapologetic Sharpie details, then take home the mood lighting. Materials are $3, Bowers members 62+ are free, general is $7. Easy, relaxing, and no glitter to vacuum.
🏛 Museum Tour and Lunch with James Irvine Swinden @ UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art | Friday (1/9) at 11:30 AM – Take a breather from the usual scene and join fellow Collectors’ Circle members for an intimate tour with James Irvine Swinden, Chair of The Irvine Museum Collection. Expect art, stories, and a proper lunch. Finally, networking without the awkward name tags.
🐾 Grand Opening: Livewell Animal Hospital @ Livewell Animal Hospital of Huntington Beach | Friday (1/9) at 5:00 PM – Over on Beach Boulevard, consider it your chance to convince the dog the vet is a party. Livewell’s grand opening brings behind-the-scenes tours, meet-the-team chats, free pet caricatures, and treats for humans and furballs. Bring pets, patience, and your camera-ready cat side-eye.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Irvine report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 64°F – Low: 52°F – Precip: 17%
A slight chance of rain showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 64. Southwest wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: A slight chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Southeast wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
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Tomorrow – High: 65°F – Low: 49°F – Precip: 19%
A slight chance of rain showers before 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 65. South wind 0 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 49.
This house is wild
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 →
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