East End: OC’s Newest Cultural Destination in the Works
Orange County’s newest cultural destination in the works, East End in Downtown Santa Ana, formerly known as the Fiesta Marketplace, is an upcoming venue for restaurants, retailers, and entertainment. The newly branded East End district dissects historic 4th Street between 3rd and 5th, and French and Bush. The developers have nearly completed the multi-million dollar revitalization and rebranding project that includes a 140,000 square foot retail, office, and entertainment center.
The East End’s established music culture, from Yost Theater (Orange County’s oldest theater, built in 1912) and Yost Studios, have more recently become a mecca for electronic dance music by attracting world class DJs and prominent EDM producers, as well as a variety of concerts and events. The Yost will be expanding next door to the historic Ritz Hotel. The Musselman Block Building houses the Yost Studios, a state-of-the art music rehearsal facility offering lockouts to an array of musical talents. More entertainment additions include the indie Frida Cinema for independent films, film festivals, student films, foreign films, and film related programming debuting in January.
The East End is also home to culinary adventurous concepts such as Playground from Chef Jason Quinn known for his creative dishes using fresh, local, and unique ingredients. Quinn’s Playground 2.0 is an intimate 17-seat culinary theater next door to Playground offering themed dinners, tasting menus, private dining, invite only events, and pop ups by guest chefs.
We’re most excited about the upcoming 4th Street Market that will offer chefs and food trucks looking for an opportunity and a place to shine. The endeavor will include ten food stands, a wine bar and beer garden, a local specialty market, butcher shop, bakery, and coffee roaster. The new market will also offer ten incubator kitchens (including gluten free and confection) that can be rented by the hour, and artisan can sell their products at the specialty market.
Also opening at The East End is the third Eat Chow in Orange County, Yojie Japanese Fondue, Native Son Alehouse (focusing on hard to find specialty beer), Beirbar (German and Belgium beer and brats), and El Mercado, the second concept by Chef Danny Godiez of Anepalcos Café in Orange offering Mexican cuisine accented by South American Bar setting and features craft beers and cocktails.
Shoppers will appreciate the unique boutique shops such as Blends, a cutting edge sneaker boutique; Safehouse by Crooks and Castles, an urban lifestyle brand, and Bespoke Cut & Sew’s first flagship, a hat customization brand. Other East End retailers include ThemGoods/Valo flagship, a high quality roller blade brand, American Barbershop, Charlie’s Piercing & Tattoo Supplies, R & R Boutique and Left of the Dial Records. Some other newcomers include Tarte Vintage, Vapor Lair, and Brooklyn Harper, a hip women’s streetwear boutique.
Del Taco just launched Epic Burritos, a trio of premium burritos with epic size, flavors and value. The new burritos range from 14.0 to 18.5 ounces in weight and are priced from $4.99. Del Taco is celebrating the launch by offering a free medium drink to guests who purchase an Epic Burrito today through Nov. 20, 2013. Also, like and leave a comment on our Facebook page and you'll be entered to win a gift card for an Epic Burrito. We'll announce the winner Friday.
Here are your three choices:
Epic Fajita Burrito is inspired by a sizzling fajita platter and includes freshly-grilled chicken or steak, a blend of roasted vegetables, pinto beans slow-cooked from scratch throughout the day, cotija cheese, lime rice, black beans, sour cream and guacamole.
Epic Steak & Potato Burrito with freshly-grilled carne asada steak, Del Taco’s famous Crinkle-Cut fries, chipotle sauce, bacon, freshly-grated cheddar cheese and sour cream.
Epic Chicken Chipotle Ranch Burrito includes marinated chicken grilled fresh in each Del Taco restaurant all day along with lime rice, chipotle and ranch sauces, bacon, freshly-grated cheddar cheese, crisp lettuce, guacamole and hand-made pico de gallo salsa.
