Downtown Santa Ana
Moving from vibrant Mexico to suburban Mission Viejo was definitely a drastic change that was hard to adjust to.
I looked different, the biggest event in town was the Thanksgiving Turkey Trot, and we needed to turn down our music past 10:00PM (which is when the party really started in Baja California). The moment I got my license was when I truly explored other areas of Orange County and found the places where I fit in—one of them being: Downtown Santa Ana.
I see Downtown Santa Ana as a hidden gem of culture and art. Locals express themselves through the food they create, the music they perform, and the murals displayed all over town. The streets have a rustic yet eclectic vibe that always bring me back to my Mexican roots, and there seems to be a business or an event for every occasion you could think of.
I was invited by Downtown Santa Ana’s social media to attend their biggest foodie event of the year: Savor Santa Ana. I also attended the town’s weekly open mic and jam session: The Coollab Project.
These two events displayed Downtown Santa Ana’s passion for getting together a community of likeminded individuals while giving back to the town via their own unique craft.
Ahead is a recap of both experiences:
Savor Santa Ana
Over forty restaurants participated in the four hour tasting tour, and I am very glad they did.
With the food tickets I was provided, I decided to highlight five different local businesses:
Alta Baja Market: Mini Michelada “La Bruja” (lime/coconut/pinapple/charcoal)
CHAPTER ONE: MAPPLE AND SHERRY-GLAZED BACON WRAPS
The Copper Door: PUMPKIN SMASH
MIEL: VEGAN OAXACAN HORCHATA
Black Market Bakery: Golden Child (Gluten Free)
The Coollab Project
You can feel the energy shift from the moment you walk into The Coollab Project.
It was my first time going back to this weekly open mic since it first opened its doors in 2017—all I can say is not much has changed, with the exception of the crowd; it’s definitely more engaged and bigger than just a couple of full benches.
Throughout the night, I met a girl who decided to wear a costume because it felt like the most comfortable outfit choice in her closet—which if you know me, you’ll know that she definitely gained my respect for that.
I met an elderly man who has been attending since 2017, and is now a key part of the town’s weekly open mic community. He was probably my favorite person at Coollab and his creative ideas reminded me a bit of my jazzy grandpa.
From all the conversations I had at The Coollab Project, I noticed that the community shared the same philosophy:
Every artist gets love, support, and respect.
And I couldn’t agree more with that statement…
If you would like to experience this open mic and jam session:
head to the 4th Street Market on Thursdays from 7–9:30PM
I promise you will enjoy every second of it and walk out more inspired than ever.
