Downtown Santa Ana's Hottest New Show Highlights Hidden Gems

In the second episode of “The Hot Hour,” we got to explore Downtown Santa Ana with Maria the Hot Tortilla and meet some amazing individuals! Maria took us to so many cool places that showed off some of the best parts of DTSA. Through interviews, good food, and shopping, Maria learned more about the vibrant culture that makes up Santa Ana. 
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To kickoff her journey, Maria introduced us to Thomas, the owner of the newly opened boba shop in Fourth Street Market! He shared that Loose Leaf Boba offers fresh-pressed teas, artisanal drinks, fresh ingredients, and even organic matcha! Their menu offers a variety of customizable options that makes their boba unique. Support their business by stopping by and enjoying a hand-crafted drink!

Maria then took us to GCS Clothing, a store that has been a cultural hub for Santa Ana for 11 years. GCS not only carries an impressive collection of clothing and art supplies but also hosts ongoing art shows and performances. We met a local photographer, Jazmine Woods, who showed some of her work with us! At GCS, there are always talented artists cycling in and out so you know that whenever you visit, there will be some fascinating work by local artists. 

In the dynamic Fourth Street Market, Maria took us to Patches and Pins, a fun and unique flea market that offers collectables, clothing, food, and more! Maria then met with the owner and artist behind Donnies, a shop that has vintage comic books, sneakers, clothing, patches and pins!  Gente Night Market is a monthly event that takes place at The Blue Lot, a popular spot for the community of Santa Ana to share art, music, food, and good times. To showcase all of the markets unique finds, Maria took us on a virtual walthrough, meeting some interesting vendors along the way like @jstrailmex_snacks and so many more talented vendors!

Maria also got to share an exclusive interview with the owner of Slushcult, a quirky mini mart that offers the community of Santa Ana a great place to express individualism and cultivate a tight-knit community. The owner of Slushcult shares the origin story of the brand and what it has evolved into today. 
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Fourth Street Market is Maria’s next stop, highlighting Alta Baja. We get to meet the owner, Delilah Snell, who tells us about their wine club, as well as their amazing menu!

Maria then meets up with Loni over some food to talk about the Amigas Social Club, an empowering community for women who want to connect and inspire others! Together, they visited some local stores, including Ninos Bridal Couture, Stussy Archive, and La Michoacana Express. 

The beauty of DTSA is that there's so much more left to explore! Join Maria The Hot Tortilla for the next episode in October for some brand new, exclusive content! 

You can watch all of our videos on our Youtube channel! Don't forget to subscribe, comment, and share!

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Story by Breanna Policar