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Built for breakthroughs and excellence
For decades, Irvine healthcare professionals have championed advances that change treatments throughout the world. A pioneering trial to treat Huntington’s disease is one of the…
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Oct 1, 2026
Taco Bell to move to larger office space
Taco Bell and sister chain Habit Burger & Grill will move into a 330,000-square-foot campus at Alton HQ by 2028. …
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Oct 1, 2026
Nature Reserve celebrates 30 years
Conservation leaders gathered last month at Quail Hill Community Center to mark the 30th anniversary of the Nature Reserve of …
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Oct 1, 2026
Love Irvine set for Citywide Serve Day
Hundreds of volunteers are expected to gather across Irvine on Nov. 7 for the sixth annual Citywide Serve Day, tackling …
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SunWheel soars to great heights
The new wheel at Spectrum Center captures community spirit
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10 happenings in October
1. Monster SplashDive into Halloween celebrations with pool deck trick‑or-treating, a floating pumpkin patch and seasonal decorating stations. Guests can…
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Sweet spots
New dessert destinations with a difference
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Brewing the best meal ideas for fall
Try these beer and food pairings that complement and contrast
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Q&A: UCI actor takes SCR stage
South Coast Repertory’s production of “Into the Woods” runs through Oct. 18. We chatted with Jake Stiel, a UC Irvine…
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OC readers vote Irvine into top spot again
Irvine has again been named the best city to live in, securing the top spot for the 11th consecutive year…
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Tween’s small first step leads to running success
He talks about how reaching goals requires patience and persistence and about how, over time, all the small things can stack up to become something very big. Junho Eo is 12. His perspective is much older than that. “If I keep running, keep studying, keep getting stronger and keep working on myself, I believe that someday I will reach the goals I have set,” he explains. “And when I do, I want to set another goal and take the next step.” The next step. Such a fitting viewpoint for a runner. A year of accolades Still relatively new to the…
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Irvine sports roundup (October 2026)
BECKMAN H.S.Girls volleyball starts strong Beckman’s girls volleyball team has started well, compiling a 19-7 overall record and earning a No. 40 ranking in the…
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Pro baseball coming to Great Park in 2027
A new Pioneer Baseball League franchise, a partner of Major League Baseball, will begin play at Great Park Baseball Stadium next year. The Irvine team…
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Irvine softball teams win championships
Northwood High School’s softball team won the Division 5 final to earn its first CIF title. Irvine High School captured its second CIF softball title…
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Q&A: Swim star credits Irvine’s summer swim league for success
Ella Eastin won 12 NCAA titles, broke four American and NCAA records and helped the Stanford swim team win three NCAA championships. She started at…
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Go wild in your garden this year
Native Seed Farm offers tips for which native plants are best for attracting pollinators
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What’s the buzz about bees and butterflies?
California is home to about 1,600 species of native wild bees, with hundreds of unique varieties living in Southern California. Unlike honeybees, roughly 70% of…
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Rare-bird sighting lures crowds to marsh
A rare purple gallinule has drawn hundreds of bird-watchers to the San Joaquin Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary following the first documented sighting of the species in…
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Nature Reserve celebrates 30 years
Conservation leaders gathered last month at Quail Hill Community Center to mark the 30th anniversary of the Nature Reserve of Orange County, a partnership that…
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20 years of National Natural Landmark distinction
In 2006, the U.S. Department of the Interior and the National Park Service designated much of The Irvine Ranch open space, permanently preserved by Irvine…
Master Plan
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New pedestrian bridge creates citywide connection
When the city of Irvine celebrated the grand opening of the 1,200-foot Jeffrey Open Space Trail Bicycle & Pedestrian Bridge, it marked more than a…
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New vision for Oak Creek Golf Club unveiled
Over the past nine months, a collaborative community effort has shaped the evolving vision for the Oak Creek nature park and village. Through extensive resident…
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How freeway improvements impact Irvine
Mobility in Irvine is about more than getting from point A to point B; it is about the integration of neighborhoods, retail centers, schools, parks…
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The Irvine advantage
Cities inevitably change. A well-conceived master plan’s value lies in how its fundamentals can remain consistent even as conditions change over the years. By identifying…
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Irvine is area’s best city for renters
Irvine once again affirmed its reputation as one of the nation’s premier places to live by earning the top spot among Southern California cities for…
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Best city for families in Southern California
WalletHub recognized Irvine as the fourth-best city for families in the U.S. for 2025.
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Irvine is top city in the state
Irvine has been named California’s best city to live in – and the fifth best in the U.S. – by Niche, a national platform for…
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Irvine earns Master Plan accolade
The master-planned city of Irvine has been recognized as the nation’s best planned community by Zonda, an international real estate research organization.
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Irvine schools receive $200K to integrate AI in classrooms
Irvine Unified School District students will soon have greater access to personalized lessons and faster feedback under a new $200,000 grant to expand classroom artificial intelligence programs. The innovation grant from the Irvine Public Schools Foundation will help pay for AI software such as Gemini, Snorkl and MagicSchool in local classrooms. It follows major national recognition the district’s technology initiatives received earlier this year. Irvine Unified was named one of 12 educational institutions in the country to receive the AI K-12 Student Agency Award. The award recognized the district for involving students directly in shaping its AI policies, through shadowing…
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Accolades add up for Sierra Vista teacher
Henry Miller was named a CMA Music Teacher of Excellence this year for the second time
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Beckman High artist wins grand prize
Beckman High School student Steve Han has won the $6,000 grand prize in the 11th annual international ARTEFFECT competition. The global contest challenged middle and…
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Four named National Merit Scholars
Irvine high school students accounted for four of 11 seniors in the county who were awarded prestigious college-sponsored National Merit Scholarships. The Irvine winners are…
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Behind the dynasty
Forget track spikes and starting pistols. At Sierra Vista Middle School, the most fiercely contested sport on campus is played with safety goggles, data sheets…
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A family affair at Irvine’s Redstraw Tea Bar
At Redstraw Tea Bar in Cypress Village Shopping Center, some regulars don’t have to order. The staff, known as tea artists, start making their drinks as soon as they come through the door. “Redstraw is special because of the connection,” says Ian Lee, who works part time at the shop his parents run. “We just know their order when they walk in, and see their smile once it’s ready.” His parents, Eunyoun Seo and Ki Lee, are Irvine residents. Seo managed the Jeffrey Road location for several years before taking it over as the franchise owner. Ki Lee, her husband,…
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Celebrating Small Business: Crossroads
Tutu School creates early love for ballet in kids Brooke Luminelli missed out on learning ballet at a young age. She was 10 by the…
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Taco Bell to move to larger office space
Taco Bell and sister chain Habit Burger & Grill will move into a 330,000-square-foot campus at Alton HQ by 2028. The three-building site, owned by…
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Timberland now open at Spectrum Center
Outdoor apparel brand Timberland has opened a location at Irvine Spectrum Center. Known for its workwear-inspired style, the brand landed next to fellow outdoor retailer…
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Iceye plans to make satellites in Irvine
Microsatellite manufacturer Iceye US plans to start building its radar-imaging spacecraft in Irvine, where the company is headquartered, according to an Orange County Business Journal…
Sustainability
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Irvine among first Clean California Communities
The city of Irvine has been named one of the first 33 communities in the state to earn the new Clean California Community designation from Caltrans, the state agency responsible for highway maintenance and transportation infrastructure.
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Concepts of environmental sustainability were pioneered in Irvine and continue to guide the city today
Nature was on the minds of Irvine Company planners as far back as 1959. Though “environmental sustainability” is widely recognized today, it was largely unknown…
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Irvine among nation’s greenest cities
Thanks to its abundance of parks, open spaces and trees, Irvine has been named one of the “Greenest Cities in America” by the finance website…
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EV drivers boosted by more city chargers
Electric vehicle owners in Irvine have a growing number of options to charge up.
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Water-wise tips for fall
In September, plants’ water needs drop by approximately 30% even if the temperature is hot. Because the days are shorter, evaporation decreases. Plus, plants begin…
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