Ten years ago, maybe not so hot. But these days, bustling downtown Santa Ana is part quaint Mexican pueblito and part artsy urban “village” for the young and creative-minded. The lofts sitting above restaurants and galleries mean that those who live in downtown Santa Ana emerge daily to consume its goods—whether they be botanical supplies or a burger from Memphis. Art students living in the Cal State Fullerton lofts crowd the Gypsy Den during open-mic nights, while others spill out from the lofts across the street or near the train station for other art-themed nights. It's not New York, but it's quaint, urban, young, hip and one of the few centers in the county where living and going out to eat or grab a drink doesn't involve wide lanes and highways.
