WELCOME to the HOLIDAYS
Friends and neighbors,
It’s the season for merriment and joy. We have everything you need for memorable holidays with loved ones.
Ice skate at the base of a 75-foot holiday tree or enjoy our new “Palm Lights, Musical Delights” with music accompanying the lighting of palm trees at Irvine Spectrum Center. Winter Workshops full of family-friendly activities and giveaways take center stage at The Market Place. These are just a few examples of the festive settings, one‑of‑a‑kind goods and world-class stores you’ll find to keep your spirits bright for the whole season.
Our curated gift guide highlights Irvine residents who know a little something about specific trends this year.
Check out their suggestions for everyone on your list and be impressed by their talents.
Spending time together makes this time of year even more special, and we hope this year’s Holiday Gift Guide will offer plenty of inspiration to do just that. We wish you joy, wonder and delight throughout this holiday season.
Irvine Company Retail Properties
Seasonal Style
Fashion influencer and Woodbury resident Christine Kong dishes out impeccable style advice with her top picks from Nordstrom at Irvine Spectrum.
Cryo dual roller, $85
Small Loulou leather puffer bag, $3,200
Pedestal candle gift set, $50
T-line croc-embossed leather money clip wallet, $690
51 mm rectangular sunglasses, $517
Gold Lust collection, $115
Double crystal bow pointed-toe pump, $1,145
The Freya bangle bracelet, $375
Twelve Days of Ornaments scented gifts, $240
Sauvage Eau de Toilette, $68-$240
Toys & Treats
Irvine kids Savannah Koch, Sakura Kimura and her brother Kotara headline American Ballet Theatre’s “The Nutcracker.” The trio suggests gifts they’d love to get.
ABD bucket bag, $35, Irvine Spectrum Center
“The Chronicles of Narnia” hardcover box set, $140, Irvine Spectrum Center
Crosley Voyager Bluetooth Record Player, $110, Irvine Spectrum Center
Crosley Voyager Bluetooth Record Player, $110, Irvine Spectrum Center
Kids cotton crew socks,
$12, Irvine Spectrum Center
LoveShackFancy’s Forever in Love Eau de Parfum, $125, Irvine Spectrum Center
Holidaze Stretch Bracelet Set of 8, $48, Irvine Spectrum Center
Rubi The Holiday Bow Beauty Bag, $20, Irvine Spectrum Center
Meta Quest 3 VR/Mixed Reality Headset – 512GB, $500, The Market Place
Stripe It Up Cool Down beanie, $28, Irvine Spectrum Center
Irit Design diamond and sterling silver cuff, $3,000, Crystal Cove Shopping Center
Grandmaster-Eight, $975, and Mach-Five, $1,150, Fashion Island
Kids NASA spaceship T-shirt, $20, Irvine Spectrum Center
One Piece mini backpack by Loungefly, $80, Irvine Spectrum Center
AirPods Max with free engraving, $549, Irvine Spectrum Center
Tudor Black Bay 58 18K, $32,100, Fashion Island
Workout Wish List
Haydee and Joshua Graves are Walnut Village residents and owners of Fitness on Fire in Irvine. They offer gift ideas for fitness fans.
Ignite by SPRI resistance 3-in-1 band kit, $20, multiple locations
Garmin Forerunner 965 GPS Smartwatch, $600, Alton Marketplace
Hyperice Hypervolt GO 2, $129, The Market Place
Selkirk Luxx Control Air S2 pickleball paddle, $250, Alton Marketplace
Bushnell Tour V6 Shift Rangefinder, $399, Alton Marketplace
BodySport yoga wheel, $22, multiple locations
Kawela women’s breathable golf shoes, $150, Irvine Spectrum Center
New Crew logo backpack 22L, $98, Irvine Spectrum Center
Hoka Anacapa Breeze mid hiking boots for men, $170, Alton Marketplace
Women’s fleece Restfeel slide, $78, Irvine Spectrum Center
Specialized 2025 S-Works Levo SL bike, $14,000, Woodbury Town Center
Everywhere belt bag 1L fleece, $58, Irvine Spectrum Center
Habana General Manager
Rey Abreu
Memorable Holiday Meals
What makes a restaurant ideal for a holiday gathering? Dishes you won’t forget, special-occasion ambience and, of course, that it’s open on holidays. Here are three fine-dining destinations that offer memorable menus and decor and are open 365 days a year – including Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day, Lunar New Year … whatever you wish.
— BENJAMIN EPSTEIN
HABANA
Irvine Spectrum Center
“Every day is festive at Habana,” General Manager Rey Abreu says. The holidays also bring photo booths, poinsettias and special dishes. There’s live music on New Year’s Eve and Cuban brunch on New Year’s Day. Last Christmas Day proved unforgettable. “We had a beautiful wedding proposal,” Abreu says. “Rose petals trailed from the entrance to the table, and what a response. All the guests wanted to be part of it. I have goosebumps talking to you about this. What a memory!”
MEIZHOU DONGPO
Culver Plaza
How popular is elegant Meizhou Dongpo for the holidays? “One time, we had customers for more than 50 tables in line,” says Operations Manager Jay Jiao. “Another, we made a long table from one end of the restaurant to the other for a family of 30.” Holidays often bring special dishes or menus. Elaborately presented and always cause for celebration: the roast duck, Royal Hot Pot, Angus short ribs and sweet-and-sour squirrel fish.
FOGO DE CHÃO
Irvine Spectrum Center
The high-end Brazilian steakhouse offers its churrasco experience every day – 18 skewered and fire-roasted meats carved tableside and endless sides at the Carrara Market Table. Holidays might bring torresmo (pork belly) with malagueta honey; 21-day-aged 30-ounce wagyu porterhouse; and seasonal hummus with pumpkin seeds and pomegranate. A la carte and festive any time: “The whole branzino, it feeds six,” General Manager Mario Heinrich says.
SWEET TREAT
SECRETS AND SUCCESS
Pawel Pietrasinski, owner of Honey & Butter Macarons, has seen plenty of holiday seasons at Irvine Spectrum Center, as the shop opened in 2016. “I only have good things to say about Irvine Spectrum; they are great to work with.” He shares some of his favorite things about sweet treats, gift ideas and this time of year.
What’s the key to your success?
We’re lucky we have really good people, lots of fans and a good product.
You can’t find something like this anywhere else. We’re making fresh macarons with a chewy bite and delicious filling that melts in your mouth.
What about these intriguing flavors?
Today we have purple yam sticky rice; who would have thought of that? We have a very international flavor. I’m from Poland, my wife is Vietnamese, and we are making French cookies with an Italian method in the U.S.!
Where do you get inspiration for the flavors?
My wife loves to garden. She has persimmons, mango, passionfruit and more. We have a lot of passionfruit variations in our macarons. It’s a really good flavor, very refreshing.
What’s special about the holidays for you?
I like to create special macarons for the holidays, like creature cookies decorated by hand. Our classic macarons are good, too. Like peppermint mocha is something people ask for every year.
Do you have a holiday tradition?
Usually, we like to work a lot this time of year. December is really good for us, and then in January, it’s time to rest. You have to make the best of the busiest times.
Are macarons good gifts?
Absolutely! The magic of macarons is they are beautiful, delicious and perfect for any occasion. Everyone likes a good treat, right?