Orange, California: Better Late Than Never (2011)

[Buckeye Native 001]

I'm finally starting to get caught up with this crap.

And its probably not a good idea to call these photos "crap" if I want any hope of people looking at them, but whatever. You know how I am.

Lets kick it off with some Orange County music:
• Video Link

These are photos I took on my little 10mp Insignia point-and-shoot around Chapman University (my undergraduate alma mater) and Old Towne Orange in February 2011. I usually go back to Orange (located in, believe it or not, Orange County, California) once a year for a Super Bowl party my friends throw.

Chapman's campus has changed so much since I graduated (2006) that I hardly recognize parts of it anymore (for comparison, check out these photos from 2005). Its still ridiculously expensive (probably more so now than when I was a student there in the early 2000s).


Chapman University 2011-02-05 01 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

The entrance to Kennedy Hall, which houses the Law School. The university saved the facade of an older building and built the rest of the structure behind it.

Chapman University 2011-02-05 02 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

A buddy of mine went to law school here and advises me against ever going to law school. He's probably right.

Chapman University 2011-02-05 03 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

The school celebrated its 150th anniversary last year. The alumni office spent a significant number of hours calling me wanting donations.

Chapman University 2011-02-05 04 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

The founder himself, Charles C. Chapman

Chapman University 2011-02-05 05 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

The school still has a weird connection to the United Church of Christ (UCC) and Christian Church/Disciples of Christ (DOC). The All-Faiths Chapel opened in 2004. My college roommate married his long-time girlfriend here in February 2012.

Chapman University 2011-02-05 06 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

The library also opened in 2004.

Chapman University 2011-02-05 07 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

But I don't know when the fountain opened.

Chapman University 2011-02-05 08 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

The white building with black glass next to the library is the basketball gym. I spent many hours there covering women's volleyball for the school's newspaper

Chapman University 2011-02-05 09 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

The refurbished football stadium has seats that spell out "CHAPMAN" in red. You can see it on approach to John Wayne Airport since the campus is along the flight path

Chapman University 2011-02-05 10 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

Wilkinson Hall, constructed in 1904, originally sat in front of Memorial Hall on the main lawn. It was moved off its foundation in the 1950s to its current location, where its currently waiting to collapse on any poor bastards who happen to be stuck there whenever the next major earthquake strikes

Chapman University 2011-02-05 11 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

Allegedly the second largest piece of the Berlin Wall on any campus in the US. Yes, tour guides point this fact out to prospective students ad nauseum.

Chapman University 2011-02-05 12 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

Memorial Hall, and the lawn on which Wilkinson Hall once sat

Chapman University 2011-02-05 14 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr


Chapman University 2011-02-05 13 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

And from Glassell Street

Chapman University 2011-02-05 15 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

Orange doesn't really have a skyline per se, but it has a couple mid-rise buildings off in the distance, near The Block shopping center and Angel Stadium. And yes, you can hear the Disneyland fireworks at around 9pm each night and yes, they annoyed the ever loving hell out of me when I was studying

Orange 2011-02-05 01 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

The optical zoom on the Insignia is only 3x, which kinda sucks but it serves its purpose nonetheless.

Orange 2011-02-05 02 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

The District, along with Paul's, are two of the only bars in Orange within walking distance of the university. Honestly, your best bet at scoring booze is by going to any one of the house/fraternity/sorority parties thrown Monday thru Thursday nights during the school year...

Orange 2011-02-05 03 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

About a half mile south along Glassell is the (in)famous Old Towne Orange traffic circle, where Glassell and Chapman Avenue intersect. Orange likes to claim its the "Antiques Capitol of Southern California," but I'm not sure why they'd be proud of such a distinction.

Orange 2011-02-05 05 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

Looking east along Chapman Avenue. The Santa Ana Mountains are way off in the distance if they're not obscured by haze/smog/whatever the hell it is that gives the air a sickening yellow tint

Orange 2011-02-05 06 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

There's a lot of early 20th Century housing in Old Towne, including many bungalows and California Craftsman-type homes

Orange 2011-02-05 07 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

One of the few buildings in Old Towne constructed post-2000

Orange 2011-02-05 08 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

This might be how Orange got its name

Orange 2011-02-05 09 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

Looking north on Glassell, towards the traffic circle

Orange 2011-02-05 10 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

Did I mention anything about the popularity of antiques in this town?

Orange 2011-02-05 12 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr


Orange 2011-02-05 11 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

I kinda like this building. Its better than the parking lot that used to occupy that site

Orange 2011-02-05 13 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

Haha, "muff"

Orange 2011-02-05 14 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

Yes, I have the maturity of a 10-year-old boy

Orange 2011-02-05 15 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr


Orange 2011-02-05 16 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

There's a nice little park inside the circle that's a bitch to get to when traffic is heavy

Orange 2011-02-05 18 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

There used to be a Starbucks inside the bank, but they bought out Dietrich's across the circle and moved there. Which is a shame, because the interior of this building is really cool-looking

Orange 2011-02-05 19 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

There's that plaza again

Orange 2011-02-05 20 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

Hollywood sometimes comes down to shoot movie scenes that are supposed to take place in the Midwest (or any small town, for that matter)

Orange 2011-02-05 22 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

My father insisted we eat here at least once every time he came to visit

Orange 2011-02-05 21 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr


Orange 2011-02-05 23 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

There's that plaza again

Orange 2011-02-05 24 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

I'm pretty sure the second story of this building consists mostly of apartments

Orange 2011-02-05 25 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

The movie theater at the end of this row of buildings is now some type of church

Orange 2011-02-05 26 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

Citrus City Grille: Ridiculously expensive

Orange 2011-02-05 27 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

Somewhere along this strip is a sushi bar which is actually pretty damn good considering how cheap it is

Orange 2011-02-05 28 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

Jalapenos and Zitos Pizza: The staples of many Chapman students' diets

Orange 2011-02-05 29 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

Its a lab...for running?

Orange 2011-02-05 30 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

Kinda "blah"

Orange 2011-02-05 31 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

There's that plaza again

Orange 2011-02-05 33 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

Oh shit guys, now we're going INSIDE the plaza!

Orange 2011-02-05 34 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

Looking north on Glassell

Orange 2011-02-05 36 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

Fountain. Yay.

Orange 2011-02-05 38 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

I don't know what happened here

Orange 2011-02-05 39 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

Felix's Cuban Cafe is a great little place with some really nice owners. We ate lunch here at my first-ever forum meet (which, oddly enough, I hosted) back in November 2004

Orange 2011-02-05 41 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

Looking south on Glassell

Orange 2011-02-05 42 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr


Orange 2011-02-05 43 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

I was trying to get as many pretentious shots of the fountain and the people as I could

Orange 2011-02-05 45 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

Looking east on Chapman. Hey, that's my fatass shadow!

Orange 2011-02-05 44 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

A Buckeye Native 001 Pretentious Asshole Shot

Orange 2011-02-05 49 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

And another BN001PAS (patent-pending)

Orange 2011-02-05 48 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

And finally, looking west on Chapman and another glorious California sunset

Orange 2011-02-05 50 by buckeyenative001, on Flickr

So thanks all for taking a look at my photos. Next up: Albuquerque in October 2011 (if you're a fan of Breaking Bad, it should be worth your while)

[arkitekte]

Nice set! I visited my older brother in Orange back in March. Downtown was really nice. Thanks for sharing these.

[rockyi]

Beautiful! Nice to see so many well-kept early 20th century structures. I love the mix of older buildings and tropical foilage. (maybe with global warming we'll soon be able to grow palm trees here in Iowa/Illinois.)

[ChrisLA]

Nice photos, I was just thinking about Felix the other day. I haven't been there in a while, and could go for some cuban food. I have cousins that grew up directly across the street from Chapman, they still live there. Each year they love it when the school year ends, too much partying I guess.

BTW I remember our first forum meet with you it went very well. It was a long time ago, but I recall you were a little hesitate at first. I guess meeting up with folks you never me before who could have been a bunch of psychos. Anyway I also learned they filmed Big Momma's House in the Old Town Orange.

[ColDayMan]

Great stuff!

[mello]

And remember "You won't get a Lemon, at Toyota of Orange!" *Radio Jingle for an awesome car dealership* Sweet pics, gotta love those little pockets where Orange County shows its more than just post war Bland burbs. Kinda like that Silicon Valley thread by one of they Bay forumers that opened our eyes a bit.

[stepper77]

I really like the downtown area of Orange, the roundabout square is quite nice. Great photos, thanks!

[SLO]

I didnt know Orange was so happenin, thanks for the pix....