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Irvine Spectrum Celebrates 30 years
Three decades after its opening, Spectrum Center remains a dynamic gathering place and lifestyle center with more than 17 million visitors a year.
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Sep 4, 2025
Report: Best housing market for big cities
Irvine ranks as the top real estate market in the nation for large cities in WalletHub’s 2025 Best Real Estate …
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Sep 4, 2025
Irvine is best in state for work-life balance
Irvine has been ranked the top city in California for work-life balance, according to CoworkingCafe’s 2025 national study.
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Sep 4, 2025
IVC ranked as one of nation’s top community colleges
The value of Irvine Valley College is being recognized nationwide. WalletHub’s 2025 Best Community Colleges rankings placed IVC No. 12 …
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Mid-Autumn Festival returns to Great Park
The city of Irvine and South Coast Chinese Cultural Center will present the fifth annual Mid-Autumn Festival at Great Park…
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Expect the unexpected at these landmark Spectrum Center restaurants
Three of the most enduring restaurants at Irvine Spectrum Center, now marking its 30th anniversary, are also among its most…
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The Market Place moves forward
A significant reinvestment project at The Market Place is set to debut its initial phases, with new restaurants and a…
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So Gong Dong opens at Los Olivos
So Gong Dong Tofu, a Korean restaurant known for its signature tofu soup, has opened its first California location at…
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Kiyoraka highlights global treat
Kakigori is a Japanese shaved-ice dessert: a mound of fine ice flakes topped with syrup, fruit and condensed milk.
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Irvine Barclay Theatre marks 35 years
A record-breaking year for ticket sales ushers in the venue’s anniversary.
HIghlights
Columnists
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Athletes of the Year
These Irvine students performed at the highest level in multiple sports.
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A stunning start
Irvine’s Learner Tien took Professional tennis by storm to start this season, beating two of the best players in the world before the French Open.
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UCI’s summer sports camps offer life skills and growth
Each summer, UC Irvine’s fields, courts and pools come alive with the energy of thousands of young athletes.
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High school sports roundup: No-hitters and Beckman volleyball
Baseball and softball no-hitters abound in Irvine Irvine High School senior Drake Brito threw a no-hitter for the Vaqueros in a 4-0 Pacific Coast League…
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On target
Prodigy Carson Chan earns accolades for his archery skills as he prepares to go for Olympic glory.
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Hike Quail Hill to Laguna Canyon and back: Bring a picnic lunch
Many Irvine hikers and walkers know about Quail Loop, a pretty – and pretty easy – 2-mile trail that begins at the trailhead near the fire station off Shady Canyon Drive.
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Nix Nature Center: A great destination for kids
Inside Nix Nature Center, in addition to the topographical map that offers a hawk’s-eye view of Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, there are hands-on activities that…
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Getting started is easier than you think
Hiking is one of the simplest forms of exercise, which is something I realized in my 40s. I needed a way to work off calories…
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3 great starter hikes in Irvine
1. Hicks Canyon Trail Ideal for families, Hicks Canyon Community Park offers plentiful shade – as well as playgrounds, restrooms and picnic spots – along…
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3 in a row: Irvine parks best in the state again
Each summer, Irvine residents are reminded how lucky they are to live within one of America’s best citywide park systems when the Trust for Public…
Master Plan
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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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Hidden in plain sight: Subtleties of the Master Plan
A master plan may sound like a formidable document full of statistics and theories, but done right – as in Irvine – it’s a blueprint…
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A secret to Irvine’s beauty
The landscape architecture of Irvine is a key part of why the city is such a desirable place to live. Pick a place in Irvine,…
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Early attention to infrastructure pays off
Every great city is built upon a solid foundation, known as infrastructure. Across America, it’s often overlooked or crumbling. In Irvine, however, infrastructure was master…
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Irvine home values are strongest in U.S.
The city’s Master Plan is key to continuing appreciation, experts say.
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Star-struck teen leads internship team at NASA
Yunji Lee fell in love with the stars when she was 8 years old.
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Back-to-school with Irvine Unified Superintendent Cassie Parham
Irvine families welcomed a new school year last month as students embarked on the 2025-26 year at campuses across the city. Irvine Unified Superintendent Cassie…
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IVC ranked as one of nation’s top community colleges
The value of Irvine Valley College is being recognized nationwide. WalletHub’s 2025 Best Community Colleges rankings placed IVC No. 12 overall for affordability, student outcomes…
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New performing arts schools
Irvine enhances its reputation as a growing performing arts-education magnet with the openings of three new schools for young people. “Talent is cultivated, voices are…
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Orchard Hills robotics team honored
Five Orchard Hills Middle School students recently earned international recognition at the 2025 VEX V5RC World Championship in Dallas. The RoboHawks 8838D team of Carlos…
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Flex+: A blueprint for small-business success
Next IT Solutions co-founder Josiah Schaffer, addressing his team at the company’s Innovation Office Park space, says the Flex+ program has helped the company move seamlessly between office spaces as it has doubled in size every year.
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Aspiring students join business leaders
More than 150 high school and college students in UC Irvine’s Future Leaders Initiative visited Irvine Spectrum Center for a day of learning with local…
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Irvine tableware shop dishes out creative cutlery
A ceramic resting place for chopsticks that’s in the shape of a smiling orange rabbit.
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A perfect blend: McClain Cellars pours fun
In August, for many of us a lazy time of year, McClain Cellars winery founder Jason McClain will be crazy busy – as usual.
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The heart of Irvine’s medtech economy
A decade before Irvine became Irvine, a retired electrical engineer made a decision that would help shape the city’s future – and touch millions of…
Sustainability
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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 then.
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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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City to establish new preserve
Irvine announced plans to acquire and close the All American Asphalt plant in North Irvine and transform the area into a natural open space preserve.
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