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Holly Nance

The Gypsy Den on Third and Broadway in Downtown Santa Ana is a popular brunch spot.

After years of major remodeling, downtown Santa Ana (“DTSA”) has come alive in the past few years and shaped itself into a trendy spot.

Just 2.5 miles away from Mater Dei, DTSA offers an array of hip eateries, live performance venues, artistic cinemas, art galleries and stylish boutiques. DTSA stretches from about East First Street to East 10th Street between North Flower Street and North Lacy Street.

“DTSA is trendy while still maintaining the Santa Ana culture,” senior student Tyler Prado said. “The combination of local heritage and newer cafes, venues, and boutiques makes DTSA really unique.”

During the daytime, check out popular spots like the Gypsy Den for great coffee and cool decor and Eat Chow for fantastic Asian food with a flair. After grabbing a bite to eat and perusing the CSUF art gallery on Broadway Street, there are plenty of cute shops to wander through. From record stores, to clothing stores, to pop-up DVD shops – DTSA has it all.

When winding down the night, 4th Street Market is the best place to grab dinner. With dozens of food options and a back patio with games and music, the 4th Street Market is the most lively part of the charming DTSA area.

Close the night out in the best way by supporting local indie films at the Frida Cinema, right next to the 4th Street Market. The Frida Cinema prides itself on their showings of traditionally underrepresented film categories, often showing student films, old films, and low-budget indies.

The Frida holds two free events every month. On the last Sunday of the month, they play a film on a 30-foot screen on the roof behind the cinema. The second free event takes place on the last Wednesday of every month on the back patio of the 4th street marketplace and is aimed at an older crowd.

“Usually about 400 or 500 people from the community come, and they’re usually family-friendly events” said Trevor Dillon, general manager for the Frida Cinema.

The next special event is Nov. 26 when the cinema will be playing “Batman: Mask of the Phantasm” on the roof behind the theater. Bring blankets, snacks and friends to create a night to remember in DTSA.