Irvine, California

Most of the residents here are mild mannered, keeping busy with work and family. A large majority of the community is Asian American. It's a city influenced by the business professional with businesses and restaurants catering to the fast paced scene.

Residents are active, involving themselves in organizations, clubs, religious groups. If you want to get to know your beighbors, it might be a good idea to join some type of social group. There you will be able to meet, talk business and find out a little more what Irvine has to offer.

Finding a bar or club in this city will be difficult if not impossible. There isn’t really a place locals like to hang out at aside from UCI’s pub. If you’re looking for a night on the time, you might consider going to Newport or Huntington which is right next to Irvine. There you can go bar hopping till 2 am.

Restaurants in this city outside of Asian cuisine consist of big chain establishments like Lucille’s or Claim Jumper. There isn’t much variety when it comes to good food. Everything here caters to the business professional. The mentality is, whatever gets the job done fast. There are a few Pho houses and Chinese restaurants but with Garden Grove being so close, you’re better off making the drive over to one of the neighboring cities.

Now before you decide that Irvine is a social wasteland, one area unmentioned is the Irvine Spectrum. This outdoor mall hosts a few bars like Yard house, Maki Maki and Dave and Buster’s. Many locals and college students come to eat and drink at the various happy hours provided. This might be the only place aside from Tustin Market Place worth checking out on a weekend night. However, if you love the bar scene, Newport and Huntington is still your best shot.

The quality of life in Irvine is measured by its beautiful weather in a calm and relaxed setting. The city is designed to near perfection. Each plaza, road, home is strategically located to cater to each resident's need.

When considering value, you must consider other areas that have similar rent fees. And Irvine, in many residents opinions is one of the top cities in Southern California. This may be the only negative about Irvine.

It's just too perfect. There is rarely anything out of place and there is little crime and poverty which makes the area a bit artificial. I suppose this is something worth enduring.

For being a modern metropolis, Irvine traffic is congested and slow. The signals seem to be controlled by timers rather than sensors. Because of this, driving locally may take longer than expected. Mid-day proves to be a task because of various businesses plazas located in Irvine. Don't expect the easy and relaxed lifestyle to translate on the road.

If you don't have access to a car, Irvine provides a public bus transit service. This should be a last option when finding transportation because the bus schedule is not as frequent as other cities due to its lack of use. Taxi's can be accessed by phone. Other than that, you won't be able to flag them down like in New York or Chicago.

Real estate in this area tends to be pricey. However, the Walnut community, located off the 5 freeway on the East side of Irvine, offers moderate prices for their homes and apartments. Compared to the rest of Irvine, this area is a steal. I don't know the availability of this neighborhood but if your looking for a home, you might want to take a look.

There's not much rental advice I can give in this city because most of the real estate is owned by the Irvine Company. It's pretty much a monopoly of sorts and the only way around this is by moving somewhere outside the city bordering Irvine.

Irvine offers a few sources for entertainment and recreation. The Tustin Marketplace, Irvine Spectrum and the District are the top three hotspots that attract the most attention. These modern promenades are a great place to come spend a free afternoon with friends and family. Each plaza, although unique, are similar in some sense. By providing guests with major chain stores, restaurants and movie theaters, it will be easy finding a place to go.

Most of the plazas in Irvine are like the top three excluding some stores and amenities. Most locals here spend their recreation time in other neighboring cities. Irvine isn't really known for its entertainment and recreation. With Fullerton, Anaheim and the beach being so close, who could blame them.

Each commercial plaza has a major bank or two to accommodate to its guest. Due to a large population of Asian American residents, some plazas offer Chinese and Korean banks to fit those specific needs. Driving down Culver or Jamboree is your best shot at finding a bank service.

There are also grocery stores scattered throughout the city. It won't be hard finding your local grocery store because they have been conveniently placed. Although most of the grocery stores are from major chains, Wholesome Choice is a local favorite, located at the corner of Michelson and Culver. This market boasts a hot foods section that will drive your senses wild. They also have a bakery that produces fresh bread daily. This market sets the standard for all competing grocery stores so it comes highly recommended.

Like any city, there are a few popular gyms like 24 Fitness, LA Fitness and Curves. However, the best deal here is the Anteater Recreation Center. Although this gyms serves as the UCI rec center, annual membership is still available for residents. This is the best deal because of its low rates and top notch facilities and equipment. If you live near the area, don't pass up the opportunity.

Finding a job in this area depends on what you’re looking for. It will be easier for you to find a job here if you’re a business professional. Knowledge of computers will come in handy because many of the company’s here are web based.

There are a number of jobs available in this area. However, it is a very competitive market here so finding a job may not be as difficult as nailing it. It also helps to have an inside source or connection when searching for employmeny.

Here is a list of Irvine's top employer's starting from bottom to top.

- University of California, Irvine - Education

- Irvine Unified School District - Education

- St. John Knits - Clothing

- Irvine Company - Real Estate

- Parker Hannifin - Aircraft

- Allergan - Pharmaceutical

- Freedom Communications - Media

- New Century - Mortgage & Finance

- Parker Aerospace - Aerospace & Defense

- Option One Mortgage - Mortgage & Finance

Irvine provides an educational system highly recognized in Orange County. All schooling facilities are well maintained and consistently renovated to set the bar for other schools in Southern California. Along with the communities support, UCI is added inspiration for students in Irvine to excel and seek higher education outside of high school. Irvine's educational system shines in all areas, pre school to its university. It is difficult to recommend a school being that each institution is exceptional. There is nothing to worry about when providing a strong academic setting when you live in Irvine.

Compared to Irvine's surrounding cities, real estate is pricey. The Irvine Company owns most of the land in this area which makes them practically a monopoly. Purchasing a home or paying rent will be much more than homes in Santa Ana or Tustin. However, the amenities and intangibles you receive surpass that of surrounding areas in Orange County. You get what you pay for.

Every day is picture perfect. You won't have any complaints about the weather. Because of its proximity to the ocean, there is always a cool breeze to compliment the Southern Californian sunshine. Aside for a few rainy days in winter, you will love the environment you live in. And if you're only visiting, you'll want to come back.