Floral Park - Santa Ana

Vintage Orange .    Wednesday, March 29th 2017

Long before master planned communities and sprawling housing developments, the Orange County neighborhood of Floral Park was already in bloom. This enclave of 600 vintage homes is tucked away on the north side of Santa Ana, just blocks from the 5 Freeway.

This week, Floral Park residents will tell the history of their neighborhood and the reasons why it is such a special place to live.

During the weekend of April 29-30, The Floral Park Neighborhood Association will be hosting their annual Home Tour, which will feature selected homes and gardens.

Listen to the Podcast Here

Blas Aguilar Adobe

Vintage Orange .         Wednesday, March 22 2017

In 1794, the Mission San Juan Capistrano built a number of adobes to house soldiers and the local Native Americans who worked at the mission. Don Blas Aguilar purchased two of these adobes in 1845, which he named "La Hacienda Aguilar.”

The south wing adobe was called Casa Tejada; it unfortunately is no longer standing. The north wing adobe was called Casa de Esperanza, or "House of Hope." It still stands on the east side of the plaza.

This week, San Juan Capistrano historian Jerry Nieblas, tells us about the restoration efforts at the Blas Aguilar Adobe, an important heritage site.

Listen to the Podcast Here

Baseball in Orange County

Vintage Orange                  Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Long before the Angels came to Anaheim in 1966, Orange County had a rich baseball heritage.
Legends like Walter Johnson, Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio are all part of local baseball lore.

This week, Author Chris Epting returns to Vintage Orange to tell the stories of Orange County's baseball history.

Baseball in Orange County

Listen to the Podcast Here.

Historic Orange County Restaurants

Vintage Orange .    Wednesday, March 8 2017


In honor of Orange County Restaurant Week, we're focusing on some of Orange County's most historic eateries.

Although may of the best spots are no longer around...there are still plenty of places to get a taste of Orange County's past.

Five Crowns Restaurant and Steakhouse - Corona Del Mar

Harborside Restaurant at The Balboa Pavilion

Ramos House Cafe - San Juan Capistrano

El Adobe - San Juan Capistrano

Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant - Buena Park

The Cellar - Fullerton

Watson's Soda Fountain and Cafe

Sam's Seafood (Don The Beachcomber) - Seal Beach

Orange County: A Literary Field Guide

Vintage Orange      Wednesday, March 1 2017

Orange County writers Andrew Tonkovich and Lisa Alvarez call their new anthology, "Orange County: A Literary Field Guide." because the collection of essays and poems give the same sense of place that you would find in a traditional guide book. But instead of describing the local flora and fauna, readers learn about the Orange County experience through the eyes of the writer.

The book is organized by geographic region and takes the reader on a literary tour of Orange County.

Andrew Tonkovich joined me for a discussion of the project, which brought together some of the best literary treatments of Orange County, featuring writers such as Michael Chabon, Oakley Hall, Joan Didion, and Jessamyn West.  The anthology casts a wide net and brings together a diverse collection of voices, all sharing their unique slice of Orange County.

For more information on upcoming Book Signings and events, check out OCFieldGuide.com

Listen to my Conversation with Andrew Tonkovich Here.