Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Tag Archives: downtown

Which Santa Ana small businesses will you shop at this Saturday?

Posted on by Posted in Business, Restaurants, Santa Ana 3 Comments

Stop by Calacas tomorrow and say hi to Rudy and Jackie!

President Barack Obama is urging Americans to shop at local businesses this Saturday, which is the annual Small Business Saturday.  So which Santa Ana small businesses do you plan to shop at?

Here are a few ideas:

  • Calacas  – Not only can you start your shopping there, at the new Calacas Cafe, but you can also pick up all kinds of neat stuff at their store.  You won’t find another store like it in Orange County!  They are located at 324 W 4th St #B, in downtown Santa Ana.
  • The Road Less Traveled – For over 5 years Road Less Traveled has supplied Orange County & greater Southern California with non-toxic, green and fair trade goods.  They specialize in hard to find, special and unique items for the home, kitchen and gifts. 2202 1/2 N. Main St., Santa Ana, CA 92706 · Get Directions Continue reading→

9th Annual Dia de los Muertos event drew thousands to downtown Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Latinos, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Thousands of people gathered downtown Saturday afternoon for an annual Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead celebration that has mushroomed in size over the past nine years, according to the O.C. Register.

The event was masterminded by Jackie and Rudy Cordova, owners of Calacas and the new Calacas Cafe.  This was the Ninth Annual Noche de Altares event.  Check out Calacas’ Facebook page for pictures of yesterday’s event.

In related news, Belinda De La Libertad has started a new website called “Altares Por Siempre” which will gather pictures of Day of the Dead altars, to forever commemorate the dearly departed. Continue reading→

Irv Chase’s promoter blames the “dirty Mexicans” in Downtown Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Business, Latinos, Santa Ana 43 Comments


Irv Chase’s promoter, Archer Altstaetter, told NBC yesterday that the Chase family is “upgrading and investing in their buildings, without any malice toward anyone.”  ”It’s no different than the Irvine Company or any other retailer in a mall saying hey, if your stores are not clean, you’re out,” said Altstaetter.

Excuse me?  Did Archer just blame the “dirty Mexicans?”  You can see his commenting about this in the video provided above. Continue reading→

Celebrate Dia de los Muertos in Santa Ana on Nov. 5

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UPDATE: Click here for pictures and a recap of the 2011 Noche de Altares (Day of the Dead/Dia de los Muertos).

For the 9th year in a row, Centro Cultural de México is organizing Noche de Altares (A Night of Altars/Day of the Dead/Dia de los Muertos) on Saturday, Nov. 5. This year Centro is proud to present this free event in partnership with Calacas Inc., a Santa Ana business that promotes art and culture through products made by indigenous people living in México and local artisans living in Southern California.

Noche de Altares is a community-based event celebrating Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), one of México’s oldest, indigenous festivals. Organized by volunteers, the purpose of the celebration is to honor the ancient traditions of the festival and bring community members together through art, culture, and compassion. Continue reading→

How will the PBID affect two new Downtown Santa Ana businesses?

Posted on by Posted in Business, Development, Fashion, Santa Ana 26 Comments

Not the Quinciniera store…

Tim O’Connor, one of the owners of Downtown Santa Ana’s Chapter One: the Modern Local restaurant, recently opined at a Santa Ana City Council meeting that there are too many quinciniera shops in the area.  Here is how he was quoted in the pages of the OC Weekly:

“This is specifically for most of the stuff on Fourth Street,” O’Conner remarked, even though he was addressing the City Council and not a Chamber of Commerce meeting. “You can’t have the same shop, the same stores, the same exact same quinceanera shop across from the exact same quinceañera shop…exact same thing over and over again and expect to be successful. Times have changed. Fourth Street should change with those times.”

I visited Downtown Santa Ana’s monthly Art Walk last night – and stumbled across both a new dress shop – that, you guessed it, did indeed offer quinciniera dresses – and a new costume store called OUTrageous Costumes and Couture, owned by Archer Alstaetter, the promoter of Santa Ana’s East End, which used to be called the Fiesta Marketplace.  How do you think the two shops compared?  The answer may not be what O’Conner would expect! Continue reading→

The Register labeled Santa Ana gentrification “ethnic cleansing” in 2004

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Business, Claudia Alvarez, Historical, Santa Ana 11 Comments

Did you know that the O.C. Register started using the term “Ethnic Cleansing” with regard to the gentrification of Downtown Santa Ana way back in 2004?

Santa Ana Planning Commissioner Sean Mill wrote a letter to the Register that they published on August 1, 2004.  I have reproduced the letter above.  The Register’s letters editor came up with the headline of “Ethnic Cleansing in Santa Ana?”  Mill did NOT use that term in his letter! Continue reading→

Latin Showcase & Music Festival at Santa Ana’s East End Promenade on Aug. 6

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Visit Santa Ana’s East End promenade this Saturday, August 6, from 6 pm to 10 pm, for a Latino Showcase, Music (+ More) Festival that not only celebrates the renovated Promenade, but also the grand opening of The Yost Theater, the new Friday Night Downtown Summer Concert Series, Posse on Broadway, the extended Downtown Artwalk, new Downtown businesses and neighbors, and the future of Downtown Santa Ana as it continues to grow and develop as the cultural epicenter of Orange County.

Come visit the 4th Street Mall & listen to some great music!!!  Continue reading→

Men Alive Gay Men’s Chorus coming to Downtown Santa Ana on Saturday

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Entertainment, LGBT, music, Santa Ana 8 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Carolyn De Freitas , Cell phone : 949-291-7077, Email : Marketing@MenAliveChorus.org

FIESTA ABRIENDO CAMINOS

Men Alive – The Orange County Gay Men’s Chorus collaborates with local Latino performers in a gala celebration of the Latino influence in Orange County.

The performance will be held at Festival Hall, 220 E. Third St., Santa Ana, Saturday, July 30 at 6:00pm. Following the performance, food will be served across the street in the plaza in front of The Yost Theatre to the strains of a Mariachi band. Admission is FREE. Continue reading→

Downtown Santa Ana Summer Concert Series begins tonight

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

Downtown Inc’s Summer Concert Series launches on Friday, July 22, from 5 pm to 9 pm.  This series features 10 weeks of Friday night concerts with over 48 different music and entertainment groups.

Bring a lawn chair, relax and enjoy the music. Beer and wine garden accessible to 21+ with valid ID.  Continue reading→

Hot Rod Resurrection in Downtown Santa Ana today

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, automobiles, Entertainment, Food, Historical, music, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The ACES Car Club will be having it’s 9th Hot Rod Resurrection Car Show on June 25th, from 10 am to 3 pm, for pre-1965 American Traditionally built Hot Rods, Customs, Choppers, Bobbers, & Hot Rod builds in Progress, at 125 N. Broadway, in Downtown Santa Ana.

  • Live Rockabilly Bands
  • Art Gallery at the Grand Central Art Center
  • Trophies
  • Food
  • Vendors and More!!!

The Velvet Lounge, Santa Ana’s gay nightclub, is reopening soon

Posted on by Posted in Bars, LGBT, music, Santa Ana 3 Comments

The Velvet Lounge, Santa Ana’s all gay bar & nightclub, is going to be reopening soon.  They were granted modifications to their Conditional Use Permit this week, by the Santa Ana Planning Commission.  They were seeking to expand into their basement level and extend their hours to 7 am to 2 am nightly.

They were allowed the extended hours with the exception that under age visitors will be prohibited after 1o pm.

The Velvet Lounge is located at 416 W. 4th St, in Downtown Santa Ana.  It is situated at the old Jason’s Downtown Restaurant and Wine Cellar.

The Velvet Lounge features a friendly bar, comfortable lounge, huge patio, and a great dance floor.  They are centrally located in OC, Velvet is on a quiet street, steps away from great restaurants and art galleries, in the revitalized Santa Ana Art District.

  • Nightly events & entertainment and Southern Californis’s best DJs
  • Huge patio
  • Comfortable bar and lounge
  • Dance floor
  • Drink Specials
  • State of the art video & lights
  • No cover charge for most events
  • 18 & over for select events

You can read their Yelp reviews by clicking here.  And click here to see their Facebook page.

Santa Ana High to host “Arts in the City” on Friday, May 27

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Santa Ana High to Host Arts in the City on Friday, May 27

The Santa Ana High Visual and Performing Arts Department will host “Arts in the City: Fantasy on a Japanese Folk Song” on Friday, May 27 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The event is a collaboration with the City of Santa Ana, Downtown, Inc. and Arts Orange County as part of the Imagination Celebration.

The event will honor the culture and people of Japan, and will be held on the 2nd St. Promenade in the heart of the Artist’s Village in Downtown Santa Ana. Refer to the attached FLYER for additional information.

Imagination Celebration at the CSUF Grand Central Art Center on May 14

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Dance, Entertainment, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Don’t miss the Imagination Celebration at the CSUF Grand Central Art Center, in downtown Santa Ana, this Saturday, May 14, from  11:00am – 2:00pm.

Location: Grand Central Art Center, located at 125 N Broadway, in Santa Ana.

Come participate in free art projects for kids of all ages! Collage shadow boxes, clay sculpture, face painting, flamenco dancing, and more!

The next Santa Ana Art Walk is coming up this Saturday

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The next Downtown Santa Ana First Saturday Art Walk will be held on May 7!

Parking available on 3rd & Broadway, additional parking available on 4th & Birch.

Time: Saturday, May 7 · 6:00pm – 10:00pm

Location: Downtown Santa Ana Artists Village

CSUF Grand Central Art Center:

Main Gallery-The Curiosities of Janice Lowry

The Curiosities of Janice Lowry is a retrospective exhibition that will feature more than 100 artworks including; assemblage, collage, painting, drawing and personal collections. In 2007 OC Weekly named Lowry the region’s best visual artist, praising her assemblages generated from found objects. Lowry is best known for her assemblages, which she described as a way to solve the problem of expensive framing, and for her journals she drew, painted, and collaged for over 30 years. In October of 2007 all of Lowry’s journals, future journals and papers pertaining to her art career were accepted into the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Archives of American Art in Washington D.C. In April 2009 Lowry was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. She faced the finality of her future in the same way she faced everyday of her life. September 20, 2009 she succumb to the disease at age 63.

Book Release: A beautiful 256-page full-color hardbound standard and special-edition retrospective book will be available for purchase during the exhibition. This publication will include over two hundred works of construction, sculpture, and collage with essays by Jon Gothold, Mike McGee, Mark Ryden, and Joanna Roche.

Project Room-Empire

Texas-based artist Bale Creek Allen will be the next artist-in-residence at Grand Central Art Center. Allen grew up in Fresno, California, but now resides in Austin, Texas. Fresno and Texas, particularly Lubbock where his father is from, have strong influences on Allen’s art. He has been inspired by tumbleweeds, tire treads, and roadkill. As part of his residency Allen will exhibit sculptures from his Empire series in the GCAC Project Room. Empire consists of bronzed objects most of which evoke the feel of Americana: stars, stripes, lone ranger mask, and paper planes. Other objects are a reflection of Allen’s environment: tire treads, and taxidermy rattlesnakes.Allen has an impressive artistic pedigree and works in many different media: painting, drawing, wood work, bronze, ceramics, photography, film, writing, acting, playing drums, and singing. His parents are visual artist and songwriter Terry Allen, and actress Jo Harvey Allen.

Book Release: Grand Central Art Center is publishing a catalog featuring artworks from the Empire series and an essay from Michael Solway.

Sales Gallery-nona decima morta: viscurrealistic fabrications by Ron Ulicny
Portland-based assemblage artist Ron Ulicny exhibits his latest sculptures.

ART WALK SOCIETY/EMINENT RUTH/ BAD DREAMS @ PROOF

DJ VIRTIGO PRESENTS: THE ART WALK SOCIETY TAKING PLACE THE FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH @ PROOF BAR

PERFORMING LIVE:

BAD DREAMS AT 8PM
EMINENT.RUTH AT 9PM

COME OUT AND GET LOOSE WITH US WON’T YAH!

Be n Walker Art Show

Time: Saturday, May 7 · 7:00pm – 10:00pm
Location: Raven Studios
207 N. Broadway – Suite E, Santa Ana, CA

Join Ben Walker on May 7th from 7-10pm at his new home in the Raven Studios.  He will be displaying some new tree paintings mixed up with paintings from my love sex death series. The event coincides with the Santa Ana Art Walk and there are tons of artists studios, galleries along with live music and great food – all open for you to explore.

If you are in the area stop on by.

Located in the Historic Santora Arts Building

Raven Studios
207 N Broadway, STE E
Santa Ana, CA 92701

Superheroes invade Santa Ana – comic book art show tonight

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Platinum Ink Studios is hosting a comic book and superhero art show tonight, March 5, from 6 pm to 11:30 pm, at the Santa Ana Art Walk, which is free to all.  This is a family event, so please come and enjoy the show, whether you are an artist and or an art lover.

Platinum Ink is located at 208 N. Broadway, in Downtown Santa Ana.  Click here to RSVP for the art show.

Platinum Ink Studios is featuring artwork from pro, to street, cells to figurines, classics to the newest looks. You will also be able to meet some of the comic book artists.

Also, Platinum Ink will have an onsite artist airbrushing custom items for you, so bring any “plain, new” item that you wish to get airbrushed on.

For more information, visit Platinum Ink’s Facebook page by clicking here.