Kimberly Luu of According to Kimberly Gives us the Grand Tour
Written By: Kimberly Luu Get to Know The District at Tustin, Union Market with Blogger Kimberly Luu Tustin Union Market
Photographed By: Kolini Faagata
My blog According to Kimberly is a life and style blog that was created to share my passion for fashion, food and travel along with some life lessons. You may frequently spot me wearing a maxi dress while traveling the world or exploring new food destinations.
On this particular adventure, I’m checking out The District at Tustin Legacy. Honestly, this place has it all. Whether I’m craving some golden, crispy French fries (what’s up Five Guys?), a Neapolitan shake from In-N-Out or a refreshing treat from It’s Boba Time, The District is my go-to destination. Or if you’re on a healthy grind, Bowl of Heaven has eight kinds of açaí bowls plus refreshing juices—the Heart Beet uses lemon, apple and beet to give your juice an extra boost. One of these heavenly bowls is an excellent finish to a session at nearby Caffe Yoga.
Beyond food, The District also has plenty of shopping options. For that perfect pair of ripped jeans, The Denim Lab never disappoints and if I’m looking for boutique fast fashion, then I’ll head to Jasper Plum. You can’t go wrong with their selection of patterned ponchos and floral dresses. You’ll also find iconic kicks at Vans—a pair of classics or slip ons make essential elements of Southern Californian style. For guys or anyone looking to get active, Sports Treasure is another not-to-miss spot. To finish off your style mission, head to Ulta to get the best beauty supplies or take a few tutorials at Fashion Camp.
At Fashion Camp, kids, teens and adults can learn everything there is to know about being at the top of their style game. Take Sewing 101 and learn how to create an emoji pillow, stop in for a class on custom bows or attend a workshop on fashion sketching.
But shopping and dining aren’t the only options at The District. When you have an afternoon off or date night rolls around, you can do the classic movie theater experience at AMC to catch the latest blockbuster. Or if you’re feeling more adventurous, try tipsy painting at Pinot’s Palette or get in the fast lane at Bowlmor.
At Pinot’s Palette, you can access your inner artiste with a little liquid encouragement. Follow the instructor’s lead or paint to the beat of your own drum, all while sipping on a great selection of wine and craft beer. The calendar is also always filled with special class deals such as $5 mimosas on Sunday and $4 wine on Thirsty Thursdays.
Bowlmor has 30 lanes of striking fun (glow-in-the-dark bowling makes for an eye-catching Instagram, by the way). Bowlmor has just the right amount of retro surfer kitsch and if hitting the pins isn’t quite your thing, there’s a luxury sports bar, billiards and ping pong.
There’s also a new hotspot inside The District to add to your foodie list: Union Market, a massive building filled with lots of delightful goodies inside for both kids and adults. Once you walk inside, you can’t help but notice polished concrete design juxtaposed with wooden décor, making for a cozy, right-at-home feeling. You can immediately tell that this place is unlike any other and it will quickly steal your (hungry) heart away.
Reinventing comfort food, The Kroft was created with a “farm-to-table” concept utilizing fresh ingredients. Their popular porchetta sandwiches showcase slices of pork with crispy skin that gives it that perfect crunch when you bite into the sandwich. It’s so good and definitely one of my favorite things to eat here! Also, check out their tasty chicken sandwich, pulled pork poutine fries and flavored lemonade.
Freshly made pasta and locally sourced produce is what makes Market2Plate special. They make the pasta dishes right in front of your eyes. I tried their pesto pasta and you can really taste the freshness.
Remember those childhood days of dunking cookies into your milk? Well, now you’ve got the cookie shot: a cookie formed into the shape of a shot cup filled with your choice of milk.
Gourmet popsicles on a stick anyone? Whether you’re craving something fruity or creamy, they have a variety of flavors here including strawberry lemonade, mango pineapple and dark chocolate sea salt. Also try their creamsicles (50/50 bars) for fun flavors like blueberry lemon creamsicle and root beer float. Then top off your popsicles with chocolate, sprinkles, nuts or coconut shavings!
Now you don’t even need a bonfire to have a s’more anymore. At Torch S’more Co. you can pick out your graham cracker, chocolate and marshmallow to customize your own s’more. Take the kids here because they will love ordering this.
Before you leave the marketplace, don’t forget to stop by Crêpe Coop for some amazing dessert! You can try one of their signature crêpes or create your own version. I got the strawberry short-crêpe (their take on a strawberry shortcake with sliced strawberries, bananas, whipped cream and strawberry ice cream) with the Speculoos spread and it was incredibly delicious! So, if you also like crêpes (I mean what’s not to like, right?) then you are going to love this place—I highly recommend it!
Central Bar
Situated in the center of the marketplace, Central Bar gives off definite cool vibes. It’s the place to go if you want to just relax with a craft cocktail for a casual date night out. Hint hint: Their blood orange martini is really good. Try it!
Locally made in Orange County, Drinkbar Juicery offers organic, cold-pressed juices, açaí bowls and juice cleanses. I always like the ones with beets so I choose their carrobeet raw juice. Come by and get a bottle of their freshly made juices to go.
Looking for a little caffeine kick? Grab a coffee from Portola Coffee and watch them do the latte art! It’s a great spot to meet up and hang out with friends.
If you’re looking for natural, soy wax candles then you can find them here. I’m a huge candle collector and love adding new scents to my home. They also make great gift ideas for friends and family!
Upgrade your kitchen with unique spices and custom floral arrangements from Spice&Tulips. You may even discover a new Turkish-inspired spice to complement one of your dishes.
After eating, burn off some calories while doing some hardcore shopping. At The Shangri-La they carry a variety of handmade, dainty jewelry that’s perfect for layering.
Looking for an outfit? Look no further! Luella Boutique features trendy clothes and the latest styles.
Churning the Tables: With fresh ingredients sourced straight from Italy, the ice cream from Churned Creamery is also at the top of our list of cool spots at Union Market. Check out their CroCream, a croissant ice cream sandwich.
Oh Snap!: Union Market partnered with Woodsnap to present Focal Point, a photography exhibition. Woodsnap prints photographers’ work on birch wood canvases, creating a distinct look that gives the colors a filter you just can’t recreate on Instagram.
Follow along for more of my food adventures online (@kimberly_luu) and at AccordingtoKimberly.com!
S T A T E /// of the Union: Kimberly Luu Dishes on The District at Tustin’s Best Spots.
