Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Tag Archives: downtown

Santa Ana’s free Plaza Wellness celebration and 5K run set for Saturday, August 29

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Santa Ana 5K run

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community Alert: SECOND TIME FOR 5K RUN AT SANTA ANA’S HISTORIC DOWNTOWN

The public is invited to attend the City of Santa Ana’s free Plaza Wellness celebration on Saturday, August 29, 2015 in Downtown Santa Ana at French and Fourth Street from 8am to 12pm. Plaza Wellness has something for everyone including a Health Fair, VIP Basketball game and Zumba activity.

Plaza Wellness will begin promptly at 8am with a free 5K race. The scenic route highlights some of Orange County’s most historic and recognizable buildings including the Old Courthouse, Spurgeon Tower, and the Second Street Promenade. This year’s course also heads out to the Santa Ana Stadium.

Free, on-line registration is available at www.santa-ana.org/parks/wellness5Krun/. On-line registration will close on Wednesday, August 26th. Same-day, on-site registration will be available starting at 6:30 am on the day of the race. Everyone is encouraged to register on-line for an opportunity to receive a free t-shirt while supplies last. Post-race refreshments and healthy snacks will be provided to all race participants. Continue reading→

The DTSA Farmers’ Market turns one

Posted on by Posted in Food, Santa Ana Leave a comment

DTSA Farmers' Market

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community: The DTSA Farmers’ Market Turns One

The DTSA Farmers’ Market is celebrating its one year anniversary!

A community-oriented, chef-driven certified farmers’ market – here’s a recap of what year one looked like:

• The DTSA Farmers’ Market launched on March 27, 2014, providing the community with a weekly event with organic produce, artisan foods, live local music, and a free kids’ craft table.

• In May they began to offer a “Friends of the Market Program” to residents and shoppers. With a DTSA Farmers’ Market tote bag, you can get discounts all over town, every Thursday. This has helped to create a destination feeling for the downtown area, with the market being one of a number of stops for shoppers. Continue reading→

The gentrifiers take hateful aim at the Santa Ana Wellness District proposal

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Development, Latinos, Racism, Santa Ana, Tim Rush 24 Comments

Gentrifier hate

Downtown Santa Ana’s gentrification mob wants you to believe that they are not racist but the reality is that they have hated Mexicans forever and gentrifying the Downtown simply provided them with a means to an end.

One of them admitted as much when they sent a hate package to O.C. Register reporter Alejandra Molina.  They scribbled over an article she wrote about the gentrification of our Downtown, scribbling this hateful message, “We made it over the border, whoopee…or our parents did.”

Now Santa Ana’s haters are riled up about the Santa Ana Wellness District.  One of our readers forwarded us a particularly vitriolic message from a fellow named Tim Rush.  Rush was one of many neighborhood activists who supported the illegal street barricades that were installed in Santa Ana’s French Park – to keep Mexicans out.  The barricades had to be taken down after the ACLU beat the haters in court.  Continue reading→

Downtown Santa Ana traffic on 10/5 will be a mess due to the Ciclovia

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Santa Ana, Traffic, Transportation Leave a comment

Santa Ana Ciclovia

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SOMOS EVENT ADVSORY – TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT

On Sunday, October 5th, between 6 AM and 5 PM, the Santa Ana Police Department’s Traffic Section will be working the City sponsored SOMOS event. This event includes a complete closure of Main St. between 3rd Street and Warner for the entire day.

The streets for this event will be posted “No parking” starting at 6 AM until 5 PM to help facilitate the event. Violations in the designated “No Parking” areas will be enforced and vehicles are subject to being towed. Continue reading→

A look at downtown Santa Ana’s hip restaurants and bars’ health violation record

Posted on by Posted in Bars, Food, Health and Medical, Public Safety, Santa Ana 9 Comments

clowns cooking

Downtown Santa Ana has been invaded over the past few years by eateries that cater to hipsters and yuppies – not to the local populace.  These establishments are pricey but we have found that their food safety and hygiene record is not always what you would hope for.

Unfortunately our Board of Supervisors voted a few years ago to not allow letter grade ratings of our local eateries.  So we are supposed to go online and look for ourselves, but hardly anyone ever does that.

Here are our latest findings for the year 2013, as reported by the Orange County Health Agency, into what is going on in Downtown Santa Ana’s hip restaurants and bars. Major Violations (in red) pose the highest risk of causing food poisoning (or foodborne illness. Major violations are sometimes resolved during the inspection or a reinspection may be scheduled to verify compliance. Minor Violations (in blue) pose less risk of causing food poisoning (or foodborne illness), and do not warrant immediate verification of compliance.

The Little Sparrow, located at 300 N. Main St., in Santa Ana: Continue reading→

Omar Ávalos Gallegos wades into the Downtown Santa Ana mural controversey

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Santa Ana 6 Comments
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder...

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder…

Commentary: Arts in Politics and Vice Versa

By Omar Ávalos Gallegos, Santa Ana Sentinel

Art is tied to politics. Some of the greatest works of art have messages tied to all kinds of political topics including social justice, economic disparity, economic policies and history, just to name very few topics.

Politics are not only present in visual art, where they perhaps are most evident, but also in musical art. Politics occur when an orchestra conductor or a philharmonic society that he or she serves decides what music gets programmed. Continue reading→

New downtown hipster deli open now but wouldn’t you rather eat a torta?

Posted on by Posted in Food, Restaurants, Santa Ana 26 Comments

My daughter Becky loves to go to Chapter One: the Modern Local, with her boyfriend Alan.  She says they have the best drinks in town.  Now the guys who opened that restaurant have expanded with a new venture – a hipster deli called C4: the Cure for the Common.  It is located across from the Memphis at Santora, in the historic 1931 Empire building at the corner of Third and Broadway, near Chapter One.

For lunch, C4 plans to offer a variety of sandwiches – from classics like corned beef and pastrami to specialty creations such as a beef tongue sandwich served with baby octopus and heirloom potato salad.  Sandwich prices will range from $6 to $18 – the latter price reserved for some “crazy,” yet-to-be named sandwiches, Hall said, according to the O.C. Register. Continue reading→

Poll: Which Orange County Downtown is your favorite?

Posted on by Posted in Brea, Fullerton, Huntington Beach, Orange, Orange County, Santa Ana 2 Comments
Which is your favorite O.C. Downtown/City Center? (Vote for up to 2)

It is a big night tonight in Downtown Santa Ana – with both the First Saturday Downtown Santa Ana Art Walk and the OC Film Fiesta – but does the general public in Santa Ana care about any of this?

Most Santa Ana families were fighting to stay cool today and many were out and about supporting youth sports.  The MainPlace Mall was full of families enjoying their air conditioning as was the MainPlace Picture Show Theater where you can watch a first-run movie, several weeks after its release, for just two bucks. Continue reading→

Downtown businesses should not be paying any more fees to replace the PBID

Posted on by Posted in Santa Ana 2 Comments

stop pbid

The Santa Ana City Council Monday night set a public hearing for July 1 to hear protests from business owners regarding a newly proposed tax to replace the property taxes that funded controversial Downtown Inc, according to the Voice of OC.

Under a settlement agreement, the city would for three years provide $400,000 annually for Downtown Inc.’s cleaning and security services. The proceeds of the new district would be equally split between two groups — Downtown Inc. and the Santa Ana Business Council, a group composed of merchants who opposed the special property tax and are likely to conduct more Latino-oriented promotions. Continue reading→

Downtown Santa Ana’s “The Crosby” is turning five this Monday

Posted on by Posted in Bars, Entertainment, music, Restaurants, Santa Ana 3 Comments

Can you believe it?  On Monday, April 1, 2013, Downtown Santa Ana’s “The Crosby” turns 5 years old!  The owners of The Crosby are opening on Monday night at 5 pm for dinner and to celebrate their fifth anniversary.

Several DJs who have either played as guests at The Crosby in the past or who currently have residencies will play a quick set in honor of The Crosby still being here. DJ rotation begins at 8pm and will go until 2am. Continue reading→

Art & Music Festival set for 11/17 in Downtown Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Entertainment, music, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Keepin’ it local, keepin’ it tasty, keepin’ it real! Join us for the Art & Music Festival at the Blue Lot in Downtown Santa Ana, on Saturday, Nov. 17, from 4 to 10 pm.

Enjoy live music from local bands, purchase local art, and enjoy delicious foods from Downtown Santa Ana’s local restaurants. Continue reading→

Support the Santa Ana Noche de Altares at the Catrina Ball on Oct. 13

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Charities, Entertainment, Latinos, mexico 1 Comment

You can support this year’s Santa Ana 2012 Noche de Altares (Day of the Dead/Dia de los Muertos) event by attending the first annual Catrina Ball at Bistro 400, at 9:30 pm.  Bistro 400 is located at 400 W. 4th St., in Downtown Santa Ana, by the Federal Courthouse.

El Centro Cultural de Mexico and Calacas are among those who are organizing the Noche de Altares event.  They apparently turned down a $10,000 donation from Downtown, Inc., the association that manages the money that is taken from Downtown Santa Ana property owners and spent by a select board.  Bravo to El Centro and Calacas for turning down this dirty money! Continue reading→

10th Annual Santa Ana Noche de Altares set for Nov. 3

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Entertainment, Latinos, mexico, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Announcing the 10th Annual Noche de Altares, which will take place on Saturday, November 3rd, 2012, from 1:00pm – 10:00pm., at 4th & Birch Street, Downtown Santa Ana.

Take part in this unforgettable community event by participating as an altar builder in the 10th Annual Noche de Altares! Build an altar dedicated to a loved one or to bring awareness to a social issue.

Schedule of Events: Continue reading→

OC Film Fiesta features free films and music from Sep. 1-16

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Entertainment, Movies, Santa Ana Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community: OC Film Fiesta Features Three Weekends of Films and Music Free Fest Celebrating Orange County’s Cinema Heritage Runs Sept. 1-16

The 3rd Annual OC Film Fiesta

returns to Santa Ana September 1-16 for a three-week cinematic celebration of Orange County’s multicultural heritage. Presented by the City of Santa Ana, the 2012 OC Film Fiesta takes place in Santa Ana’s vibrant downtown Artists Village.

The OC Film Fiesta presents an award-winning selection of feature films, documentaries, short films and activities for a diverse audience of families, students, artists, professionals and lovers of cinema from throughout the county. Continue reading→

Free 2012 Summer Sensation Concert today at the Yost Theater in Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Charities, Entertainment, Health and Medical, music Leave a comment

Don’t miss today’s 2012 Summer Sensation Concert at the Yost Theater, in Downtown Santa Ana, from noon to 5 pm.  Learn about local resources available to the youth of Santa ana as you enjoy a day of live entertainment! Support local youth talent!

Learn about the resources some of your local organizations provide to youth including Latino Health Access, The Center OC, KidWorks and Building Healthy Communities.

Organized by youth from: YEN, YETA, CORE and Teen Space.  For more info: Barbara 714-878-1658,  Barbara@kidworksonline.org.

FREE FOOD FREE MUSIC FREE RESOURCES! Continue reading→