The Riversider Magazine April/May 2023

Victoria Avenue’s Family Farms

Inland Exposures

It's been a winter for the record books.

Photo by Julian Jolliffe

DEPARTMENTS

2 Inland Exposures

Highlighting our best images of Riverside Photography by Julian Jolliffe

8 Love Letter To Riverside The Barn is Back!

12 Riverside's Finest Jose Medina

14 Local Retailer Raincross District

16 Hidden Gems

The Barn at UCR

18 Eastside Arthouse Meet Eric Martinez

20 Community Riverside Insect Fair Restaurant Review

42 Mission Grove Romano's Chicago Pizzeria

44 Bar & Restaurant Guide

The Riversider ’s guide to all the best bars and eateries

54 Postcards From Yesterday Old City Hall

FEATURES

22 Strollin' In Style

A preview of this year's Vintage Home Tour

28 Victoria Avenue's Family Farms

Riverside's protected greenbelt ensures fresh produce for our city

34 Historical Riverside

Restoring Eden: The story of the Trujillo Adobe Historic Site

38 Day in the Life of the Mayor

An inside look of a typical day at work for Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson

Love Letter to Riverside

We’ve survived the torrential rains of the winter season and are so grateful spring has finally arrived! We thought it would be a great time to highlight the family farms along beautiful Victoria Avenue. Stretching from Washington Street to Irving, there are three distinct family owned and operated produce farms. Riverside is truly lucky to have such a magnificent greenbelt along our beloved Victoria Ave. It intentionally hasn’t been overdeveloped because it’s a protected agricultural area. Our former mayor, Rusty Bailey, explains the fascinating and unique greenbelt laws in the city of Riverside in his article.

We hope you love the behind scenes feature on a typical busy day in the life of our current

mayor, Patricia Lock Dawson. We documented her from early morning until late afternoon and were worn out just trying to keep up with her momentum. We don’t know how she does it, but she does it well!

An article in this issue that’s close to our hearts is our spotlight on The Barn at UCR. For generations of Riverside youth, The Barn has been the epicenter for live independent music. We both spent our high school and college years religiously going to live shows there, ranging from ska to hardcore and even disco! Since its heyday in the late 1990s, The Barn has gone through some major transformations. The stage has moved outdoors, creating a new live venue setup that is

simply fantastic! We are really excited to go to live shows at The Barn again. They have many more seating options, excellent food, and lots of bar space. It’s been redesigned for a new generation but it is still a hallowed ground, as a center of live music in the IE that carries on.

We hope you enjoy these stories and more in the following pages, and take an opportunity to soak in this sunny spring weather.

Hatebreed at The Barn, 1997

Supersuckers, 1998

The Barn patio, 1998

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April/May 2023

Co-Publisher

Alondra Figueroa alondra@theriversider.com

Co-Publisher

Zach Cordner zach@theriversider.com

Design Director/Co-Founder

Dwayne Carter dwayne@theriversider.com

Editor at Large

Ken Crawford ken@theriversider.com

Associate Editor Mano Mirandé mano@theriversider.com

Copy Editor

Shelby Rowe

Staff Photographer

Julian Jolliffe

Marketing Director/Hypeman

Jarod DeAnda jarod@theriversider.com

Advertising

Please contact: advertising@theriversider.com

Contributors

Rusty Bailey, Cate Moses, H. Vincent Moses PhD, Chris Napolitano, Philip Falcone

Special Thanks:

Kaitlin Bilhartz, Patricia Lock Dawson, Philip Falcone, Jeremy Leyva, Shane Clark, Evelyn Cordner, Jack Amarillas, The Standerfer Family, Amber Lussier, Leslee Gaul, Lucia Winsor, Riverside Museum, and all of our advertisers.

Distribution

Kimo Figueroa, Abijah Hensley

Dedicated to the memory of Aaron Schmidt 1972-2022

Facebook.com/TheRiversiderMagazine @riversidermag

All inquiries, please contact info@theriversider.com

Published by: Riversider Media, Inc. ©2023

The Riversider Magazine 17130 Van Buren Blvd. #595 Riverside, CA 92504

On the Cover: The Corona Family Farm is a shining gem of Victoria Avenue and the Casa Blanca neighborhood. Photo by Julian Jolliffe

CERAMIC BEACON

30 YEARS OF CERAMICS

1 ticket, 2 locations!

January 28 – July 9, 2023

Riverside Art Museum presents a major survey of three decades of work by Pasadena-based sculptural ceramic artist and provocateur Joan Takayama-Ogawa. Known for her playful and witty artistic narratives, the artist unequivocally and fearlessly spotlights key issues, ranging from the housing crisis and fossil fuel dependency, to the pandemic, internment camps, and human-induced loss of species. Her Ceramic Beacon: Joan Takayama-Ogawa exhibition is on view in Riverside, California through Sunday, July 9, 2023.

Joan Takayama- O gawa

A ticket to the Riverside Art Museum also includes entry into The Cheech.

“Jose Medina’s interest and involvement in politics never wavered from his early years as a student activist throughout his career in education."

Riverside's Finest Jose Medina

Jose Medina has been a public figure in Riverside over the past few decades. Perhaps most recognized for serving as a California State Assemblyman from 2012 through 2022, he has also spent a lifetime dedicated to improving education from teaching to overseeing legislation. Along with his extensive career in politics and education, Jose Medina remains rooted in his beliefs of fighting for social justice, youth empowerment, and equality. His journey has been anything but linear, but the many paths he has taken have inevitably led back to his Riverside home and the community he proudly serves.

Jose Medina was born March 29, 1953 in San Jose, CA, where his father earned a degree in Civil Engineering from SJSU the same year. Just a few weeks after his birth, his family moved back to their native home of Panama where they remained for the next four years. They returned to California in 1957, settling in the small mountain town of Ojai where his father accepted a position working for the Ventura County Water District.

Jose learned to adapt to his new environment despite cultural differences and language barriers. Spanish was Jose’s first language, having spent the first four years of his life in Panama and had no knowledge of English when he entered Kindergarten in Ojai. He attended Catholic School through the eighth grade where the nuns discouraged him from speaking Spanish and, just before entering high school, his family once again decided to move back to Panama in 1968. Since his parents were now U.S. citizens, he attended high school in the American Canal Zone and joined the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).

Upon graduating high school, Medina received a ROTC scholarship to Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana in 1971 where he studied political science with a focus in international relations— influenced by his experience of being raised in both Panama and the United States. Not only was this the beginning of his political education, it was

also where his passion for political activism sparked. While attending Purdue, Medina worked with the United Farmworkers and organized a boycott of non-union lettuce among students in the dorms. This was during the Vietnam War, which Medina was strongly opposed to and joined in marches and protests in support of the anti-war movement. Mid-way through his junior year in 1972, he made the conscious decision to resign his Army ROTC scholarship and drove cross-country to attend UC Riverside, sight-unseen, as one of only two UC’s that offered a major in Latin American studies. This was the first time he had ever laid eyes on Riverside and today, nearly 50 years later, he continues to proudly call it his home.

The year following his graduation from UCR in 1974 was one of Jose Medina’s most memorable in his early life. He joined the Peace Corps and worked in a men’s prison in Medellin, Colombia where he taught general education to imprisoned youth. Soon after, he traveled across Europe for several months before returning home to his family who now live in Sacramento, CA, where he worked as a correctional officer at Soledad State Prison.

Although Jose experienced so much in only a year’s time, he felt drawn to pursue a career in education and returned to UCR in 1975 to earn a teaching credential. This marked the beginning of Jose’s professional career as an educator and he held numerous positions over the following years. He worked with inmates at the California Institution for Women, taught bi-lingual education for Jurupa and Redlands Unified, and was eventually hired by Riverside Unified School District in 1984.

Medina worked for RUSD for the next ten years, beginning at the elementary school level. He taught Spanish and history classes at Chemawa Middle School before being hired at Poly High School in 1994. Medina’s passion for social justice continued while employed at Poly. He was appointed as student advisor for MEChA and organized

student walkouts in opposition of Prop 187, which threatened immigrant rights in California.

Jose Medina’s interest and involvement in politics never wavered from his early years as a student activist throughout his career in education. This made his transition to a professional career in politics a natural decision given his experience. The first position he held as an elected official was when he was voted onto the Jurupa School Board in 1989. He also worked with the Democratic Party on a local and state level, and was elected to the RCC Board of Trustees in 1997— a position he held for thirteen years while teaching evening classes at the Riverside campus.

It was at the end of this term that Medina ran for State Assembly for the first time in 2000 and eventually won the election in 2012. Over the next decade as State Assemblyman, he became Chair of the Committee of Higher Education and oversaw all legislation dealing with community, state, and university colleges in California. After retiring from the position in 2022, he recently received an award from the Commission on Student Aid in Sacramento in March 2023.

There is no end in sight for his political aspirations and dedication to improving education and his local community. Medina is currently launching his campaign to run for Riverside County Board of Supervisors in 2024 and hopes to return to his Alma Mater to teach a class at the UCR School of Public Policies.

In addition to his lifelong passion for politics, teaching, and social change, Medina also helped allocate $10 million in state funding towards The Cheech Center for Chicano Art in downtown Riverside during its early stages of fundraising, having understood its importance and the impact it would have on the local community. It is because of the countless contributions Jose Medina has made throughout his lifetime and his compassion for others and his community that he has rightfully earned the title as one of “Riverside’s Finest.”

WORDS: MANO MIRANDÉ PHOTO: ZACH CORDNER

Raincross District

turned it into a great meditation space, featuring a yoga pit for a calm and centered practice. They offer Mediation Mondays, and had their first New Moon ceremony to inaugurate the space in February.

I can’t tell you how excited I was about this new vintage-focused creative venture in Downtown Riverside! It was definitely worth the wait and as you walk through the glass doors of the Raincross District, you are instantly smitten.

It’s incredibly welcoming, beautifully designed, and the vendor spaces are perfectly procured. The Raincross District, as you see it now with its voluminous interior and exquisite dark espresso rafters, was most definitely a labor of love. It’s clear this space has been painstakingly renovated by the forward thinking and collaborative-minded couple, Ana Brown and Michael Carey.

Ana and Michael lived in Corona, but fell in love with Riverside’s Mt. Rubidoux while running and walking all the beautiful trails. Ana, a loan officer, was inspired by the idea of opening a wellness studio and loved the energy of downtown Riverside. Ana knew she was on the right track when she brought this up to Michael, who was

studying for his MBA at the time, and he didn’t flinch. Instead, he rolled up his sleeves, continued working on his degree while he got his contractor license, and helped her transform the building and their lives completely.

When she first opened the doors to the old gymnastics studio, she saw the huge space completely gutted to the bones without plumbing or even electrical outlets. Ana immediately knew it was going to be much more than a wellness studio. It would become a bustling marketplace and a wellness studio with a focus on sustainable living, including sustainable fashion and home goods, while supporting local vendors.

Ana was quick to share that they did not do all of this alone. She graciously mentioned it was due to many serendipitous events and all of the right people coming together as a small support team to help make her dream come to fruition.

In addition to the marketplace, there is the event space and wellness studio in the back of the building. Interestingly, they partially built in the foam pit from the old gymnastics studio and

Ana and Michael were so grateful for the support given to them, they wanted to find a way to give back to the community. Ana immediately thought about donating the open wall space to local artists. They aspired to provide an artistic space for creative minds to showcase their talented work, and have truly done this by not taking any commission.

“We just wanted to give back to the community by letting artists have a legit space here where they can hang out and create art,” said Ana.

They have done exactly that, and a remarkable job. The Raincross District is a very chill place to peruse cool vintage fashions and collectibles, as well as a wonderful place to enjoy artists and their art. The collaborative artistic feel draws you immediately in and all of the gorgeous goods from various vendors will keep you coming back for more.

Be sure to stop by to check it all out and say “hi” to Ana, the pretty lady with the long dark hair and killer smile. You will love the vibe so much that you may never want to leave!

WORDS: ALONDRA FIGUEROA PHOTOS: ZACH CORDNER

Owners Ana Brown and Michael Carey with resident artist Richie Velazquez aka Deladeso.

Riverside has earned international recognition for its long legacy as a live music destination since the 1960s. In the late ‘80s and 1990s, local venues like Spanky’s Café and the Showcase Theater offered live shows almost seven nights a week and welcomed a diverse variety of genres for all ages audiences. While these venues undoubtedly revolutionized the local music scene, one of the most iconic and influential venues in Riverside’s history is The Barn at UC Riverside.

Built in 1917, the 25,000 sq. ft. property was originally purposed as a horse stable and Citrus Experiment Station before being converted into the first student dining hall at UCR in 1954. By the 1960s, it evolved into a popular entertainment venue and hosted such iconic acts as Bob Dylan, Tim Buckley, and Tina Turner. By the 1990s, The Barn became an epicenter for live music in the Inland Empire with performances by countless legendary acts such as Rage Against the Machine, Korn, Blink 182, Radiohead, Sublime, Social Distortion, Suicidal Tendencies, and No Doubt. The Barn’s original exterior has remained intact since its construction, and its iconic wood beam

The Barn at UCR

infrastructure has provided a memorable setting for thousands of concertgoers.

By the late 1990s, The Barn fell into disrepair and closed its doors as a live concert venue before being converted into a dining facility once again. From 2010 to 2015, The Barn experienced a live music revival, and began offering weekly concerts sponsored by campus radio station KUCR 88.3FM, which included performances by popular contemporary acts like Little Dragon, Madlib, Del the Funky Homosapien, People Under the Stairs, and Peanut Butter Wolf.

The Barn closed for remodeling in the summer of 2018. The $30 million renovation and expansion included increased seating for indoor dining and the addition of two outdoor dining areas complete with a patio bar and stage for live performances. A separate facility was also built adjoining the stage, appropriately named The Stable, with an indoor bar and private event space for the intended use of campus faculty and staff. Project construction of the entire complex was completed in April 2020, although its scheduled reopening was delayed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Limited

dining operations resumed in the fall of 2021, and The Barn hosted its first live concert in seven years on St. Patrick’s Day in March 2022. This inaugural concert was followed by several live shows throughout the spring and summer and by the fall of 2022, The Barn had returned to its weekly format of live entertainment and regular dining hours. Since its reopening in the fall of 2021, The Barn has exclusively offered free concerts to both students and the general public, but beginning in the upcoming spring quarter in April 2023, The Barn will host ticketed events in order to provide top tier national headliners to a new audience. While the original wood beam rafters inside The Barn’s historic structure remain intact today, there is little else left recognizable for those who attended concerts in its 1990s heyday.

While the nostalgia shared by thousands of concertgoers who knew and loved The Barn during this era has faded into memories from their youth, a new chapter of the venue’s history has just begun.

The Mismiths

WORDS: MANO MIRANDÉ

PHOTOS: ZACH CORDNER

Our Real Estate Legacy - "selling riverside for generations"

PROUDLY SERVING RIVERSIDE CITY AND SURROUNDING AREAS FOR OVER 25+ YEARS, MOLLY AND CHRISTIAN (MOTHER + SON) ARE DEDICATED TO FULL SERVICE RESULTS FOR THEIR BUYERS AND SELLERS WE EDUCATE, ADVOCATE, AND DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO GIVE OUR CLIENTS THAT FIVE STAR SERVICE.

Meet YOUR LOCAL ARTIST!

PRESENTED BY EASTSIDE ARTHOUSE

Written by Dominique Mackey

Photos by Rosy Cortez & Sara Martinez

school.” He took his counselor’s advice and ultimately attended California State University, Fullerton. Originally enrolled in the University’s animation program, Eric found his “true creative calling” when he discovered the Drawing and Painting program. In 2010, Eric earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Drawing and Painting.

Eric considers himself a surrealist painter—channeling his unconscious mind, he removes the chains of logic from his artwork. “I depict the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of my experiences in one frame. My approach is to paint the reality I see and feel from my perspective.”

Eric Martinez

Age: 35

Occupation: Artist and Preparator

Instagram: ThePoetandthePainter

Website: poetandpainter.com

Eric Martinez is a third generation Chicano, native of the Inland Empire and one of the first artists to join the Eastside Arthouse—a communal art studio located in Riverside, CA.

Eric’s art journey began in school. “My high school counselor noticed a drawing on the cover of my binder and encouraged me to enroll in art

The only way to view Eric’s artwork is to experience it with all of your senses. His most infamous piece, The Great Flood invites viewers to engage with the transmission of mythology across space and time. “This painting is the first of many in which I explore the myths we are conditioned to believe in and how they shape our understanding of the world.”

Art allows Eric to show up authentically in the world. “It’s the only place where I can speak my truth. It’s my job as an artist to document what I see and how I feel about it.”

Building community through the Eastside Arthouse is another way Eric is able to stay true to himself and his artwork. He is thankful to Juan Navarro, founder of the Eastside Arthouse for creating connections among artists in Riverside. “Being an artist in this society can be extremely difficult, but it’s much easier when you have a good support system.”

The generosity and support of the arts community is abundant. Eric uses the power of art to build community and foster creativity.

Eric’s artwork can be viewed by appointent only. For more information, visit www. poetandpainter.com.

Riverside Insect Fair

Somewhere buried in our minds, we all know the world is run by bugs. Most of us don’t want to think about the creepy crawly nature of the order of the biological world. It’s much easier to assign the role of occasional home intruder or the anonymous splat on the radiator grill.

The truth is, however, we know. We know it’s the bees that keep us eating, the worms and beetles that devour the rotten around us, and the whole lot of land-based arthropods holding down the bottom of the food chain. None of this makes it less shocking when a roach scurries across the kitchen floor or less terrifying when we pick up the shovel in the shed and see the characteristic crimson marking of a Black Widow spider.

So, why would the University of California Riverside have an annual celebration of bugs? Why would presumably smart people dedicate their passion to such an icky endeavor? Are they trying to keep people away? Is it the impenetrable barrier of “ew gross” that hides a dark agenda coming to fruition in the Ivory Towers at the base of Box Springs Mountain? Probably not.

“If events like this can help educate the public, by answering specific questions, or just demystifying things, then that’s great. We’re a state-funded institution and we take our responsibility to serve the public very seriously. Most of what we do—and

we do a LOT—doesn’t get much exposure, but the Insect Fair is a chance to showcase a lot of the different things we do,” Doug Yanega of the UCR Department of Entomology said.

While I still don’t understand why we need mosquitoes, I appreciate his explanation. Aside from the formal education of students and research done at institutions of higher education, it is critical that universities interface with and educate their greater communities. The Insect Fair is a means of letting us know what’s going on up there. Riverside has been doing valuable work in Entomology for over 100 years and pioneered the study of insects as agricultural tools. UCR is still a leader in new species identification.

I’ve been to the Insect Fair. My boys looked forward to it when they were younger and I looked forward to taking them. I will admit, I was less engaged than they were. They had no problem with a bug that looked like a four-inch stick or a beetle with a horn inching up their arms and across their chest, adorning their t-shirts like a scarab brooch. I was watching from right outside what I estimated their leaping range might be. I wasn’t so put off by the caterpillars and butterflies but I never ventured into the ‘stunt bug’ categories.

Like almost everything else, the Insect Fair took a break in 2020 and returned “virtually’ in 2021. Last year the event moved down Mission

WORDS: KEN CRAWFORD PHOTOS: ZACH CORDNER

Inn Blvd. to the new Main Branch Library where it will return on April 22, Earth Day. Why bugs on Earth Day? Doug Yanega had something to say about that, as well.

“There does seem to be a trend for members of the public to be both more aware about the natural world, and maybe even more concerned, as part of the general increasing awareness of issues like climate change and ecosystem collapse. Insects are a big part of that picture, both in terms of lines of evidence for scientists, and also as an example of what it is we stand to lose. People hear news items about native pollinators being threatened with extinction, or about native species

being threatened by invasive species, or about native species being threatened by climate change, and that leads to people asking, ‘well, what ARE our native species?’ —and that’s precisely the sort of question that I and other people at UCR are able to help with, since the overwhelming majority of native species (well over 90 percent of our biodiversity) are insects.”

The environment is simply the whole world. Awareness of how our relationship with insects affects the world around us is important because insects are such a huge part of every ecosystem. Helping those of us that don’t study this as a matter of discipline better understand is an

important function. Even with all the creepyeepies, this is a fun event with an important lesson to be learned.

The Riverside Insect Fair is Saturday, Aprill 22 from 10AM- 4PM at the Riverside Main Library, 3900 Mission Inn Ave. For more info go to: riversideinsectfair.com or on Instagram @riversideinsectfair

Strollin’ In Style

Celebrate the Vintage Home Tour turning thirty by taking a stroll through forty years of Riverside architecture

WORDS: PHILIP FALCONE  PHOTOS: ZACH CORDNER

Native Riversiders and tourists alike rejoice at the diverse and expansive residential architectural styles found in town. For the last three decades, the heavy iron hinges on the doors of these Victorian, Craftsman, and Spanish Colonial Revival homes creaked open to welcome hundreds of eager visitors at the Old Riverside Foundation’s annual signature event—the Vintage Home Tour.

As the tour turns the big 3-0, the Old Riverside Foundation is utilizing this year’s event as a crash course on the evolution of architecture. The theme, “A Stroll Through the Decades,” is personified with a signature home from each decade spanning 1910-1950. The earthy hues of the 1910s fade into the heavy velvets of the 1920s, then to the elements of Greek antiquity in the 1930s and the simple stylings of the wartime 1940s, to the flashy chrome and Space Age optimism of the 1950s, all to capture a snapshot of American homes in the first half of the 20th century.

1910s

Acclaimed local historian Jennifer Mermilliod states, “Think about it—in all our favorite television shows and movies, the setting is always a historic home. We connect the idyllic, camera-worthy life with homes and neighborhoods of the early 20th century.” Perhaps most commonly utilized in film are the homes of the 1910s and 1920s.

The Craftsman style of the 1910s was inspired by the British Arts and Crafts movement some fifty years prior. In this style, an emphasis is paid to the structure blending with nature—horizontal lines, natural materials such as stone or brick, spacious front porches with heavy, tapered post columns and an obvious homage to the mechanical form through joints, bolts, pegs, and hinges.

A 1913 California bungalow built by developer William Urdice on University Avenue is holding the

1910s

mantle for this decade on the tour. The home, previously featured on the popular television show “Restored,” boasts rich, natural wood floors, builtins, and ceiling beams paired with soft earth tone walls and art of natural landscapes. A familiar residential architectural style in its day, Riverside developers constructed hundreds of these California bungalows throughout Downtown and beyond. The features, color palette, and uses of a Craftsman home last the test of time and this University Avenue bungalow exemplifies the American Arts and Crafts movement.

1920s

Arguably California’s most recognizable architectural style is one of the venerable European revivals—the Spanish Colonial Revival. Known for red clay tile roofs, white-washed plaster walls, ornate wrought iron gates and balconies, and vibrant ceramic tile bathrooms, this style is associated with the luxurious locales of Hollywood and Santa Barbara.

The romantic Spanish style spread across Riverside in the 1920s from stately mansions in Downtown and Victoria Woods to Spanish bungalows in the Wood Streets. A 1927 Spanish Colonial Revival estate designed by Henry L.A. Jekel for Hiram and Buena Whitehead in the Rockledge Park section of Victoria Woods is the 1920s representative on the tour. The central, cylindrical tower houses the front door and entry foyer welcoming guests to a kaleidoscope of jewel-toned tiles and patterns that exude the lavish Spanish style of the era.

1920s

1930s

Despite the Great Depression in the 1930s, homes of prestige were still constructed across the country. A revival of the early-American Colonial style took off—a style that was previously inspired by Greek architecture from thousands of years prior. This Colonial Revival style was also known as Neoclassical Revival, however, it diverted from the tenets of early-American Colonial and Neoclassical style of the 18th and 19th centuries by embracing asymmetry in its form.

The asymmetry in this 1932 Neoclassical Revival home built by Garrett Van Pelt Jr. is evident. Stately white columns flank the front entryway with large, abundant asymmetrical windows on the first and second floors. Formal landscaping leads guests beyond the black lacquered front door and bronze bald eagle door knocker into a formal sitting room, dining room, study, and kitchen all sprinkled with gilded Neoclassical Revival furnishings and lavish draperies. The home—Gore Manor—on prestigious Prince Albert Drive was built for Thomas E. and Marian Gore with exceptional views of the Victoria Club golf course and clubhouse. Thomas was a realtor involved in many city activities as well as a citrus grove owner.

1930s

1940s

1940s

The uncertainty of life could not be overstated in the early 1940s as the world is at war. As a result, simplistic residences sprung up modeled after cottages of the East Coast—particularly Massachusetts with the popular Cape Cod Colonial style. The nostalgia of old Americana and simpler times seeped into architecture, even in California. Cedar shake siding, high pitched roofs and patriotic color palettes of white and blue houses became signature of this style.

A block away from the Parent Navel Orange Tree at Magnolia and Arlington Avenues is this 1941 Cape Cod Colonial home built for C. “Dale” and Frances Lynn Cunnison. Through the lemon-yellow front door, design features of both the 1940s and 1950s are on display. Early mid-century furnishings in a calm, cool beach-like interior unite the Cape Cod style of the early 1940s with the burgeoning style changes of the late 1940s.

Both college educated, Dale came from Berkely and Frances from UCLA. The couple later added a 1950s guest house on the home’s spacious lot. Today, arbors of lush and fragrant wisteria frame the view from the patio to the swimming pool and guest house.

1950s

1950s

The post-War optimism, financial boom, and desire for change ushered in the Space Age and the dawning of a new frontier in America. Architects eagerly sought for new, innovative style and design—utilizing sleek materials with walls of glass, chrome, slate, and teak wood. Residences were long and low to the ground to be one with nature, furthered by horizontal features such as carports, linear ponds, and narrow Norman brick. The rise in car culture paired with the affinity for aerodynamic design created furnishings with unusual, geometric forms complimented by bold pops of color.

Representing this increasingly popular decade on the tour is a 1956 Mid-Century Modern home, also on Prince Albert Drive, built for C.T. Shope. The linear slat lattice along the façade allows for soft light to stream into the home’s rooms. Contrasting aqua and canary-yellow accents are quintessential mid-century colors and found throughout the home. A central fireplace with floating hearth seating was another sleek feature that homes of the era coveted. Views out the rear walls of glass are of a ravine with flowering groundcover and the soft hills and valleys of the Victoria Club golf course.

The sheer variety of architectural styles found in Riverside is sure to make any home and history lover’s heart flutter. Join the Old Riverside Foundation for their thirtieth time opening the doors to Riverside’s best homes to share the

craftsmanship and style of over four decades of architectural design. Learn more on how to purchase tickets and attend the Vintage Home Tour on May 20, 2023 at oldriverside.org

Victoria Avenue’s Family Farms The Greenbelt Laws

WORDS: RUSTY BAILEY PHOTOS: ZACH CORDNER

Every city and its leaders have tough decisions to make, especially about growth. With Prop R and Measure C, Riversiders made a deliberate choice to trade rooftops for green space, polluted air for orange blossom aromas, and traffic for bike lanes.

Local laws can and do make a difference in people’s lives and in the quality of life for society. In this case, they improved Riverside’s quality of life for generations to come because of the belief that growth doesn’t equal progress. Progress comes through diversity of place and spaces that inspire us to ponder our past, enjoy our present, and dream

about a future that is better for our city.

With the passage of Proposition R in 1979 and Measure C in 1987, voters expressed real community resolve to protect the Arlington Heights Greenbelt from urbanization and preserve the space as a community treasure. These city policies also served to protect natural hillsides, arroyos, and other important features all around the Riverside.

The main points of the law require property owners within the boundaries of the designated area to a minimum five -acre lot with one primary residence. Basically, one house per five acres. It

also created a “residential conservation” zone that restricted building on hills elsewhere in the city, and allowed agricultural uses with the greenbelt—maintaining the ability of Riversiders to become ‘gentleman (or woman) farmers.’

When the City Council took advantage of a clause that allowed a two-thirds majority to get around Prop. R’s restrictions, active citizens rose up once again to pass Measure C in 1987, tightening and elaborating on the earlier measure, to “correct city abuse of Proposition R,” according to its own language.

The Corona Family Farm at the corner of Victoria Avenue and Madison Street.

Back in 1979 and again in 1987, the authors of these local measures continued a legacy of love to honor the citrus industry that reigned throughout Inland Southern California for more than 50 years, making Riverside the epicenter of oranges and the wealthiest city in the country at the turn of the 20th century.

Today, most residents agree that Prop. R and Measure C have succeeded in limiting development and have maintained a way of life that our Riverside founding fathers so thoughtfully provided us since the 1880s.

The former Mayor of Riverside, Rusty Bailey, really wants you to support the Victoria Greenbelt farm stands!

Victoria Avenue’s Family Farms The Gaytan, Corona, and Raul Farms

There is nothing new about farms in Riverside. I remember Doi’s farm stand behind Castle Park, the strawberry farm at Central and Van Buren, and even the Christmas tree farm at Central and Hillside. Of course, we have the last orange farm standing in Gless Ranch, a true Riverside Institution. We’ve also had many farmers markets. Downtown on Wednesday nights and Saturday morning, the parking lot at Sears on Fridays and Shamel Park

on the weekends. Most of these are no longer around. Those that offer a valuable alternative to grocery stores, often having greater variety at competitive, if not better, prices.

Defunct farms and weekly farmers markets aren’t unique. Southern California is built on fertile land and food is easy to grow. Most cities have some agricultural history and farmer’s markets tap into the nostalgia of purchasing things

from the people that produce them and outside of the grocery store.

What most cities don’t have is an existing retail farm economy that is not only sustaining legacy farms but attracting new investment in an emerging market. Consumer demand for fresh, local, and seasonal produce combined with a policy environment in Riverside that, uniquely, limits development of residential and commercial property along and around Victoria Avenue has allowed for viable agricultural development in their place.

Beginning at Victoria and Washington and heading East toward LaSierra, there are several farms. Some have been around for decades and some are new. I’ve chosen three Victoria Avenue farms to start our coverage of the Greenbelt. Gaytan Family Farm on Washington Street, Corona Farms on Madison, and Raul and Family Farms on Irving.

Gaytan Family Farm Stand is the newest farm on the list. It has only been open for a couple months. Aside from seasonal produce grown on site, Gaytan also sells honey, eggs, and a few other products produced locally and purchased from or traded with other farmers. I spent an hour or so there while researching the article and there was a steady stream of customers. Unlike any other of the retail farms, customers can access Gaytan from the Victoria Bike Path. This makes access convenient and likely stimulates impulse buying.

WORDS: KEN CRAWFORD

ZACH CORDNER

Gaytan Family Farm Stand on the corner of Victoria and Washington.

Gaytan has a large variety of fruits and vegetables, fresh and colorful and well-displayed. There is a sense of polish here that you don’t always see at farm stands. What separates Gaytan from the rest is the fresh, homemade salsas and pickled vegetables. The family also owns a restaurant in Mira Loma (stop by and ask if you want to

know which one) and sells the salsas used at the restaurant at their stand.

I tried several salsas, including the chilaquile/ enchilada sauce, and it was fresh and delicious. My favorite was the peach-habanero salsa. It offered a sweet heat and smooth texture that would pair well with lighter fare like fish tacos.

Corona Farms is a long-time player on the corner of Madison and Victoria. They have been running a retail stand at that location since 2008. Corona Farms has a large, gravel parking lot and has a steady stream of customers. The Saturday I was there for this story it was bustling. Customers from the neighborhood and guys in suits and ties were in and out of the farm stand. Customers are greeted upon entry, and the staff is knowledgeable and displays a sense of pride in the service they provide.

Corona only sells produce grown on site and does not trade with or purchase from outside farms. This means that they offer only in season fruits and vegetables. From what I observed, specialty produce is popular here. Romanesco broccoli was prominently displayed and the expanding spiral shape looks great on the table. A couple customers came just for that and were excited that it was in stock. The cashier was eager to let them know that it was almost sold out and the next harvest would not be for a couple more weeks. That may be different from some of the new farms, but Juan from Corona farms seems pretty secure in his farm’s position as an established leader on the scene. He likes to see the growth and believes more farms are good for his business.

Corona relishes their position as one of the most established farms on the block and has a swagger about them that comes with the confidence of experience. Emeralda, who provides excellent customer service and comprehensive knowledge of the produce sold, had something to say about being around for a while. “When we first opened, people thought we were crazy,” she said. “But sometimes crazy is good.”

The Corona Family Farm Stand

Raul and Family Farm on Irving and Victoria has been around a while, too. They have been running their stand since 2000. Any business would be proud of a twenty plus year run. Raul’s is one of the smaller farms and supplements their stock by trading with other local farmers. This means, despite their size, they sell things that others may not. Raul was the only farm I visited that offered apples. They also happen to be tucked into a corner with tract housing on two sides and pedestrian access is very good.

I spoke with Mariela Buenrostro of Raul and Family Farms and though she welcomed the expanding farming community, she did express that it has become more difficult to expand as land is becoming less available.

“I remember we were one of the first fruit and vegetable farmers in the area when it was mostly orange groves. We are all for local farming. We think it is important for the community. Frankly as long as their hearts are in the right place, we’re happy for the community and the new farmers. We would like to continue farming more land as well but, unfortunately, it’s not as accessible as it once was.”

The idea of community was something that all of the farmers I spoke with mentioned. They also spoke with a sense of purpose and saw what they did as a mission as much as a business. We saw during the pandemic what happens when we build reliance on foreign grown food and take for granted the reliability of our food logistics systems. Some things got very expensive and some things simply were not available.

There is a romance to buying food where it grows but it is also very practical. I can walk to these farms from my house. Many of us started to grow food during the lockdown. As we emerged and returned to our regular jobs and routines we realized that, while growing our own tomatoes and chilis at home is a gratifying hobby that yields a real product, it is difficult to grow enough food at home to feed an entire family. These local farms fill that gap nicely. It allows us to be present where these fruits and vegetables are being grown. It keeps our money in the community and mitigates the risk that the truck may just not show up that day.

It is gratifying to reflect that Riverside put into place a policy environment that allows local farming to thrive. It is exciting that the conditions are allowing that market to expand. Victoria Avenue offers so much aesthetically and practically. It serves as a point of pride for Riversiders as a unique pastoral thoroughfare in an era that is increasingly paved. I am looking forward to finding and telling more stories about the farms, nurseries, and people that make up the Victoria Greenbelt.

“ When we first opened, people thought we were crazy, but sometimes crazy is good.”

—Esmeralda of Corona Family Farms

ZACH CORDNER (2)

Restoring Eden The Heroic Tale of Lorenzo Trujillo, La Placita de los Trujillos and the Trujillo Adobe, 1845-2022

WORDS: H. VINCENT MOSES, PHD

July 12, 2022, $10.4 million for the Restoration of the Historic Trujillo Adobe

Nancy Melendez, Darlene Trujillo Elliott, and their cousins in the Spanish Town Heritage Foundation were ecstatic! Governor Gavin Newsom’s 2022 state budget had just allocated $10.4 million earmarked to the Riverside County Regional Park & Open-Space District for the preservation and enhancement of the Trujillo Adobe Historic Site in the City of Riverside. Finally, they had scored a resounding victory sought for over a decade.

Nancy, Darlene, and their Spanish Town Heritage Foundation had secured the funding via Senator Richard D. Roth (D-Riverside) and Assemblymember Jose Medina (D-AD6). “It has been an honor…to procure state funding for the preservation and renovation of the Trujillo Adobe,” said Roth. “Riverside’s oldest historic landmark tells our Inland Empire story, a diverse story of indigenous peoples, Mexican and European settlers. That history will now be preserved for our community to learn from and enjoy for generations to come.”

“Trujillo Adobe … is a critical reminder of our heritage. I am proud that we secured over $10 million in the state budget to help restore and maintain this historic site,” said Assemblymember Jose Medina, putting an exclamation point on the state grant.

Nancy and Darlene established the Spanish Town Heritage Foundation to champion “the Hispanic legacy of the Inland Empire’s first settlers by sharing their stories, creating cultural learning opportunities, and…to restore and revitalize La

Placita de los Trujillos, a place of history, learning, entertainment and the arts.”

As defined on the Foundation website, “La Placita de los Trujillos (The Village of the Trujillos, or Little Place of the Trujillos) in today’s Northside neighborhood in Riverside, CA. Its sister community across the Santa Ana River, Agua Mansa is in Colton, CA. Together these communities comprised San Salvador, the largest non-native settlement between Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Los Angeles, California in the first half of the 19th century. This place matters.”

The full story of La Placita de los Trujillos, however, goes much deeper, and more salient as a tale of the early 19th century colonization of indigenous lands on the so-called Western frontier in the San Bernardino Valley. This is the heroic story of Lorenzo Trujillo and the eighteen Genizaro families that moved with him from Abiquiu, New Mexico to the San Bernardino Valley in 1843, the original homeland of Cahuilla, Serrano, Tongva, Luisseno, and related indigenous peoples of the Valley.

Establishing Eden: Lorenzo Trujillo, New Mexican Genizaros and the Colonization of the San Bernardino Valley, 1843-1870

In 1841, Lorenzo Trujillo and his family lived in Abiquiu, New Mexico, the eastern jumping-off place of the Old Spanish Trail. There he held a small land grant from the Mexican government in a Placita, a small, irrigated farming village of fellow Genizaros (Missionized and Mexicanized

Three-year-old Olive Trujillo and brother Ted with mom pose in front of the Adobe, circa 1910. Courtesy, Museum of Riverside.

de-tribalized native peoples of often mixed lineage).

The Placita tradition, first established in Mexico and transferred to New Mexico and later California, came about as a means of settling frontier areas and securing them by hiring converted indigenous peoples as mercenaries to combat hostile “Indians” in newly colonized areas. Small grants of land to groups of Genizaros ensured their loyalty to the donor. Trujillo led his Placita and built a reputation as a fierce “Indian” fighter and scout for pack trains bound for California.

In 1841, the Rowland-Workman Party, including Benjamin “Benito” Wilson, hired Trujillo and his cousin Jose Antonio Martinez de La Rosa as scouts and herded sheep for their party headed to Southern California along the Old Spanish Trail. Enroute west, Trujillo won the trust of both John Workman and Benjamin Wilson, who later rose to be a very prominent Anglo-Californian who would be key to the establishment of a new Trujillo Placita in the San Bernardino Valley.

By Lorenzo’s arrival in the San Bernardino Valley, at the time a sparsely populated Mexican frontier, the area was divided into two principal Mexican land grants: Rancho San Bernardino, belonging to the Lugo family, and the Jurupa Rancho belonging to Juan Bandini. Both grants were for grazing cattle and horses. A conundrum persisted in the region, however, threatening the success of both ranchos. Walkara, a famous and fierce chieftain of the Ute people, along with Paiutes and Anglo rustlers made frequent raids down the Cajon Pass, taking cattle and prized horses and mules out of the valley. Bandini and Lugo had to do something about it or face ruin.

Once the Rowland-Workman Party arrived in the valley, word of Trujillo’s prowess as a scout and recognized New Mexican Placita leader reached the ears of Jose del Carmen Lugo. The Don of Rancho San Bernardino immediately offered Trujillo and Martinez de La Rosa a grant of land in return for protecting Rancho San Bernardino from raids by Walkara and related rustlers. The two men agreed and brought their eighteen families west to set up a new Placita along the Santa Ana River near today’s city of Colton. Unfortunately for Lugo, failure to finalize the grant to Trujillo and Martinez, and the penchant of Lugo’s son Vicente to drive cattle across Trujillo’s irrigation ditches led to a break with the Lugos.

The 1843 Bandini Donation and the Rise of La Placita de los Trujillos y Agua Mansa

Just as Trujillo and Lugo went to loggerheads, Benjamin D. Wilson, later affectionately known as “Benito,” entered serious negotiations with Juan Bandini to purchase the Rancho Jurupa. Bandini needed funds to invest in his Rancho Rincon and a logging grant in the San Bernardino Mountains. Aware of the threat to cattle and horse ranching in the San Bernardino Valley, Wilson held up the purchase until he obtained a donation of land from Bandini for Lorenzo Trujillo and his Placita of Genizaros at the northeastern corner of the Jurupa as a hedge against raiders, including Walkara.

The deal with Bandini was finalized in May 1843, including 1.5 leagues, i.e., 2,200 acres for Trujillo and his Genizaro families to establish a

ZACH CORDNER

Nancy Melendez, President of the Spanish Town Heritage Foundation.

A look inside the current state of the Trujillo Adobe.

The ruins of the adobe are protected by this shelter.

Historical Riverside

Placita. The Trujillo property lay immediately north and adjacent to Wilson’s property on both sides of the Santa Ana River, now known as Riverside’s Northside Neighborhood. The Genizaro land came to be identified as the” Bandini Donation.” Though challenged later by the new owner of the Jurupa, Abel Stearns, the donation

stood up in court and became the center of Spanish-speaking migrants from Mexico and the United States for the next fifty years.

Trujillo and his band fulfilled their duties as mercenary defenders of the Jurupa Rancho, known widely as “Eden in the Jurupa Valley.” They joined Benito Wilson between 1845-1848 on several rigorous and dangerous expeditions into the desert and El Cajon Pass to recover cattle, sheep, and horses from raiding Utes, Paiutes, and Anglo rustlers like the John “Red” Irving Gang.

By the mid-1850s, Major Horace Bell described the Pueblo of San Salvador: La Placita de los Trujillos y Agua Mansa as a “miniature Eden” and “the most beautiful little settlement I ever saw.” At the time, Trujillo’s San Salvador community, made up of Agua Mansa and La Placita de los Trujillos, occupied both sides of the Santa Ana River, with Agua Mansa on the Northwest side at a lower elevation subject to flooding.

Trujillo’s Placita, 1855-1890

Trujillo’s pueblo survived the rigors and threats of the 1840s only to face a new test after California became a state. While the dreaded Ute Chief Walkara (Wak) had died in 1855, removing the ongoing threat of fierce raids down the valley, the great flood of 1862 wiped out Agua Mansa on the northwest side of the Santa Ana River, including the original Trujillo Adobe. Two years of devastating drought followed the flood, impeding recovery and laying further waste on village farms and cattle.

Fortunately for the residents of Agua Mansa, former Danish Sea Captain Cornelius Jensen, whose ship got stranded in San Francisco Bay due to the Gold Rush, joined the Agua Mansa community in 1854 upon his wedding to Mercedes Alvarado, the sixteen-year-old daughter of noted Californio Don Francisco Alvarado in 1854.

Jensen and Mercedes opened a store in Agua Mansa and became valued additions to the community. Jensen went on to serve on the San Bernardino County Board of supervisors for nine years, ably representing his area of the San Bernardino Valley. By the time of the flood, Jensen owned several hundred head of cattle and provided food for the displaced residents of Agua Mansa through his herd.

Jensen later purchased land from Louis Rubidoux, the new owner of the Rancho Jurupa, and in 1868, with Chinese brick masons from Los Angeles, built the first non-adobe residence in the area on higher ground southwest of Agua Mansa y La Placita de los Trujillos. The Jensen

Antonino Trujillo plowing bottom land in the Bandini Donation. Courtesy, Museum of Riverside.

Cornelius and Mercedes Alvarado Jensen, circa 1868. Courtesy, Museum of Riverside.

Trujillo School students and teachers, circa 1911. Courtesy, Museum of Riverside.

Agua Mansa church

Ranch is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and a Riverside County Parks and Open Spaces Historic Park.

Lorenzo’s Placita faced additional difficulties with the arrival of the Southern California Colony

Association, which founded Riverside. The “Bandini Donation,” under Mexican law had granted grazing rights outside the Bandini Donation as part of the agreement with Wilson. These lands included what became the new colony of Riverside in 1870.

Under California law, farming superseded grazing, throwing the residents of La Placita de los Trujillos into conflict with the new Angloorange growers. Cattle grazing among the groves and trampling through the orchards did not sit well with growers. The law forced the Placita residents away from cattle and sheep raising into labor for the American settlers.

Certain members of the Trujillo settlement went to work for the British Syndicate that owned most of Arlington Heights. They grew citrus on 3,500 acres and became skilled citrus workers and tradesmen. Joseph Martinez rose to manage the Martinez Camp for the Brits at Cleveland and Jackson Streets in Arlington Heights. Martinez Camp housed up to 200 Mexican and Japanese workers at its peak.

Even with the loss of grazing rights and the shift to other means of livelihood, small businesses thrived in the community well into the 20th century. The Catholic Church in the community also survived well into the 20th century. The most important

and iconic relic of the “miniature Eden,” however, remains the Trujillo Adobe rebuilt in 1862 on the east side of the Santa Ana River after the great flood of 1862 destroyed the first Trujillo house on the west side of the river in Agua Mansa. Nancy Melendez calls it “grandma’s house.”

The Trujillo Adobe Reclaimed

The County of Riverside purchased the Trujillo Adobe in 1977 intent on making it into a historic park. It is registered by the State of California as a Point of Historical Interest and a Riverside County and the City of Riverside Landmark.

The Trujillo Adobe is historically significant as the only one of its kind in Riverside, illustrating “how Spanish, Mexican, European, and American settlers colonized indigenous lands relying on well-established trade routes and trails set by indigenous peoples over hundreds of years,” according to the UC Riverside History Department.

Lorenzo Trujillo, his Placita de los Trujillos, and the Trujillo Adobe bequeathed Riverside a particularly significant icon of the 19th century settlement of the San Bernardino Valley. Lorenzo’s descendants intend to restore and interpret that legacy for generations to come. They now have $10.4 million which says they can do it. Riverside and the region will be better for their concerted effort to preserve this important reminder of our joint heritage.

The Trujillo Adobe is located at 3669 West Center Street. For more info please go to: savetrujilloadobe.com

Marker for Lorenzo Trujillo at Agua Mansa Cemetery.

Courtesy of National Park Service

Day in the Life of the Mayor

A behind-the-scenes view of a typical day for Riverside’s Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson

WORDS: PHILIP FALCONE PHOTOS: ZACH CORDNER

The morning alarm buzzes at 5 o’clock for Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson—it’s a Monday and the next fourteen hours will be the typical busy day in the life of the mayor of California’s twelfth largest city. The morning starts with an at-home workout, meditation—the only 30 minutes of quiet time she will have for the day—followed by taking her white shepherd, Scout, on a morning walk through the Canyon Crest neighborhood.

7:19 a.m.

First on the Mayor’s itinerary for the day is working with the Public Works department at the City’s Corporation Yard. Riverside is one of the few cities in Southern California to have its own sign shop for designing, fabricating, and installing street signs. A small team in the sign shop oversees the thousands of signs across the city. Mayor Lock Dawson jumps in to help with the fabrication of a new turning sign.

8:26 a.m.

The Magnolia Center stop on the Coffee with the Mayor tour brings over sixty residents and business owners to Condron Coffee to discuss everything from economic development to infrastructure to policing with Mayor Lock Dawson and city staff. After the formal question and answer portion of the agenda, Mayor has one-on-one conversations with residents about what matters most to them and how she can better serve them.

9:58 a.m.

Mayor Lock Dawson welcomes a delegation of City Councilmembers and community leaders from Riverside’s German Sister City, Erlangen, with a proclamation signing in the Mayor’s Ceremonial Room at City Hall. The proclamation reaffirms Riverside and Erlangen’s international bond and focus on education and cultural exchanges between the two cities. Mayor Lock Dawson then tours the delegation around City Hall, City Council Chambers, and the Military Wall of Honor on Main Street.

2:00 p.m.

Kaiser Permanente’s Riverside campus embarked on a $735 million expansion in late 2022. Mayor Lock Dawson throws on the sneakers and hard hat to check out the construction progress while meeting with hospital executives, architects, and contractors. A five-story hospital, two-story diagnostic and treatment facility, and five-story parking structure are just a few of the pieces in this project.

12:15 p.m. No time for lunch as Mayor darts over to the County of Riverside Administrative Center to represent the City of Riverside on the Regional Conservation Authority Board. This board oversees the conservation of open lands for native plants and animals. Mayor Lock Dawson’s experience as a National Park Ranger and wildlife biologist make topics of conservation and ecology her specialty. At this meeting, the board votes in favor of acquiring specific plots of lands within the county to maintain as open space.

3:23 p.m.

Following weeks of unprecedented rains, the skies clear up enough for Mayor Lock Dawson and the Riverside Police Department to jump in an off-roading vehicle and go survey the Santa Ana River on the western edge of town. The flowing water and wild, natural terrain of the River make it unsafe for human inhabitation. Mayor Lock Dawson and police officers engage with homeless individuals to get them connected with the City’s available services while informing them of the anti-camping ordinance which, as of late 2022, does not permit camping in Riverside’s wildlands such as the River and Hole Lake.

4:27 p.m.

Mayor Lock Dawson shakes off the dirt and dust from the backwoods of the Santa Ana River and heads to the historic Loring Building at Mission Inn Avenue and Main Street to go over design plans for a large-scale mural as part of the Mayor’s Beautify Riverside initiative. Longtime arts champion Kathy Allavie records the Mayor’s feedback on the design before the start of painting. Since July 2022, Beautify Riverside has installed a dozen new murals across town. This Loring Building mural will be the largest to date—towering at 3.5 stories tall.

5:05 p.m. As Downtown Riverside’s nightlife starts to come alive, Mayor Lock Dawson stops by small business—The Brickwood—to have a beer and reflect on the action items from the day that will need follow-up later in the week. While here, she is greeted by patrons at various tables who recognize her in her bright red suit.

6:14 p.m. Back down Main Street to City Hall for a final meeting of the day—a Zoom call with California’s Big City Mayors. The mayors of the thirteen largest cities in California meet bi-weekly

to discuss issues that matter most to municipalities and how they can advocate for legislation in Sacramento. In 2022, the Big City Mayors focused on mental health care reform which materialized in the passage of CARE Court. This year the focus is on public safety and homelessness.

8:03 p.m. Mayor Lock Dawson’s calendar clears up for the next ten hours and she heads home to review reports for the next day’s City Council meeting and to prepare for other meetings and speaking events she has later in the week.

From the strike of the morning alarm, the day is a whirlwind of happenings to advance the quality of life in Riverside and the city’s prominence in California and beyond. Some review the daily itinerary in awe, some are exhausted just from reviewing it, but Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson does not bat an eyelash because it is just another day in the life.

Have an idea for the Mayor? Get in touch with her at (951) 826-5551 or 2Mayor@RiversideCA.gov

Dining: Mission Grove

Nestled in the Mission Grove Shopping Center right across from the movie theater, you’ll find Romano’s Chicago Pizzeria. Romano’s isn’t just a pizzeria, folks…it is a Chicago-style pizzeria which means they feature that amazingly thick Chicagostuffed pizza that will absolutely blow your mind!

Romano’s proudly celebrated their twentieth year in the Mission Grove Shopping Center in February 2022 and are still thrilled to be a part of the ever growing community. Upon entering Romano’s, you’re immediately taken back to your childhood by the old school pizzeria vibe. Small and large booths with dark wooden tables create

Romano’s Chicago Pizzeria

a nostalgic appeal perfect for family, friends, and good times.

For those wanting a more adult vibe, the bar is just on the other side of the dining area through the brick archway. The bar area has ample seating, nice new TV’s to watch your favorite game, pool tables, and they even offer live music.

Romano’s is well known for their support of local high school sports teams, often donating meals to celebrate the kids and all their hard work. We even noticed all the different local high school football team helmets displayed throughout the restaurant. Love to see the genuine support!

We were thrilled to get the chance to chat with owner and local Riversider, Gary Romano about his restaurant. Born in Chicago, Gary’s family moved to Riverside in 1984 to escape the Midwestern winters and continue their contracting business in the California sunshine. Gary attended Poly High School and joked with his friends about starting his own pizzeria because being from Chicago, he was never quite satisfied with the West Coast version. Even then, he knew he needed to bring his beloved Chicago style pizza to town for everyone to enjoy! Gary is literally living the dream and we are so glad he decided to bring his dream to life in our beloved Riverside.

Romano’s has a good size menu with a great mix of appetizers, entrees, and three different types of pizza—all delicious! We were lucky enough to try a sampling of some of their best offerings. We started out with the crispy Bruschetta which consisted of a toasted sliced baguette generously covered with fresh mozzarella, roma tomatoes, garlic, basil, red onion, and drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. It was so flavorful!

Next, we tried the Angel Hair Pomodoro which was marvelously simple and totally delicious! It was a large serving of beautiful angel hair pasta

tossed with olive oil, roasted garlic, tomato, and chunks of fresh mozzarella. So simple and yet superb. It was my favorite entree of the night. We also tried the Penne Mushroom dish, which was penne pasta covered in a remarkable rose cream sauce mixed with fresh sauteed mushrooms. It was so rich and tasty!

The final delicacies we shared were, of course, pizzas! Starting with what a real Chicago native would call a “sissy pizza,” a.k.a. thin crust. We had the Romano’s Combo which boasts pepperoni, sausage, ham, mushrooms, black olives, and bell peppers. The crust has just the right crispiness to each bite and the toppings were loaded edgeto-edge, it was so good!

The finale was none other than their Chicago's Famous Stuffed pizza, which was humongous. Its thick two-inch crust was filled to the brim with cheese and pepperoni, then topped with their spectacular pizza sauce that you just know is made fresh in house. In fact, everything at Romano’s is made on site. The bread, pizza dough, and all the sauces are all proudly made in house, so you can dine confidently knowing you’re getting the absolute best ingredients in every bite.

Overall, it was a wonderful and warm experience facilitated by a nice, young staff that was very attentive and helpful. Romano’s served us great food that all tasted fresh, authentic, and delicious, just like it should be. When you’re looking for an inviting environment to share a genuine enjoyable time featuring lots of great food, stop by Romano’s Chicago Pizzeria in Mission Grove.

Romano’s Chicago Pizzeria

285 Alessandro Blvd (951) 780-7399

Romanosrestaurants.com

@romanosmissiongrove

The

WORDS: ALONDRA FIGUEROA PHOTOS: ZACH CORDNER

Chicago's Famous Stuffed Pizza

Penne Mushroom

Bruschetta

Liberty Senior Care Liberty Senior Care

Bar & Restaurant Guide

The Riversider | April/May 2023

AMERICAN (NEW)

Pixels Bar And Eatery

3535 University Ave

(951) 683-7957

ProAbition Whiskey Lounge & Kitchen

3597 Main St (951) 222-2110

The Rustik Fork Eatery 1355 E Alessandro Blvd Ste 101 (951) 656-3555

The Salted Pig 3750 Main St Ste 103 (951) 742-5664

Yard House 3775 Tyler St (951) 688-9273

BAKERIES/DONUTS

American Donuts

3355 Iowa Ave (951) 329-3238

Baguette Bakery & Café 767 W Blaine St B (951) 788-5300

Baker’s Dozen Donuts

6100 Magnolia Ave (951) 369-0198

Beignet Spot

4019 Market St (951) 224-9830

Better-Be Donuts Café

1015 E Alessandro Blvd (951) 653-0166

Cakebox

3557 Main St A (951) 660-4179

Casey’s Cupcakes

3649 Mission Inn Ave (951) 328-6908

Chela’s Panadería 4022 Park Ave (951) 680-9983

Christy’s Donuts 8151 Arlington Ave (951) 977-8166

Cookie Co. Riverside 195 E Alessandro Blvd (951) 521-0846

The Cookie Plug 2915 Van Buren Blvd J1 (951) 505-0146

Cupcakes & Curiosities

3569 Main St (951) 452-6271

Delicias del Horno Bakery

3969 Chicago Ave (951) 456-9448

Donut Cravings 7132 Van Buren Blvd

(951) 789-8324

Donut Tyme

5225 Canyon Crest Dr

(951) 788-5043

Donut Queen 5501 Mission Blvd

(951) 369-8797

Dunkin’ Donuts 18641 Van Buren Blvd

(951) 384-2882

Dunkin’ Donuts 4922 La Sierra Ave

(951) 777-8377

Freshh Donuts

781 W Blaine St

(951) 682-5648

Isabella’s Cupcakes & More 5225 Canyon Crest Dr #28 (951) 782-9200

Linda’s Donuts 3950 Pierce St (951) 351-8288

Lindmair Bakery 9230 Magnolia Ave (951) 688-2131

Lola’s Bakery 4026 Chicago Ave (951) 683-1219

Miss Donuts & Bagel 3962 University Ave (951) 787-0193

Mochinut 1242 University Ave (951) 534-0756

Mr. Blue’s Donuts 19009 Van Buren Blvd Ste 123 (951) 780-3188

Nothing Bundt Cakes 3639 Riverside Plaza Dr #502

(951) 787-1885

Ochoa’s Mexican Bakery 10330 Arlington Ave #3 (951) 359-8128

Ortiz Bakery 421 Iowa Ave #A

(951) 787-9138

Pepe’s Panaderia 3511 Madison St

(951) 353-8801

Rainbow Donuts 3758 La Sierra Ave

(951) 688-7889

Randy's Donuts

3519 Van Buren Blvd

(951) 588-5678

Riverside Cookie Shoppe 6737 Brockton Ave (951) 686-6374

Simple Simon’s Bakery & Bistro

3639 Main St (951) 369-6030

Star Donut

5145 Jurupa Ave #H (951) 530-8006

Steve’s Donuts 7201 Arlington Ave Ste C (951) 323-7153

Uncle Chuang’s Bakery

3740 Iowa Ave #109 (951) 275-8800

Urban Dripp 3750 University Ave #175

(951) 742-5949

US Donuts 4786 La Sierra Ave (951) 352-1893

Winchell’s Donut House

1705 University Ave (951) 682-8834

Woodcrest Donuts

19510 Van Buren Blvd Ste F7 (951) 653-5054

Yvette’s Bakery 6729 Indiana Ave (951) 742-5541

Yum Yum Donuts 3247 Arlington Ave (951) 683-5489

BAR & GRILLS

Art’s Bar & Grill 3357 University Ave (951) 683-9520

Duke’s Bar & Grill 3221 Iowa Ave (951) 248-1143

Events Sports Grill

10560 Magnolia Ave #A (951) 352-2693

Fire Up Grill

3750 University Ave

(951) 289-9071

Flat Top Bar & Grill

17960 Van Buren Blvd

(951) 780-0114

Hotz Kitchen & Cocktails 3720 Mission Inn Ave (951) 782-3212

Joe’s Bar & Grill 10909 Magnolia Ave (951) 637-3931

Law’s Restaurant 9640 Indiana Ave (951) 354-7021

Raincross Pub & Kitchen 3557 University Ave

(951) 780-6000

Shooters Sports & Grill

10226 Indiana Ave

(951) 785-9588

Sire Restaurant 6440 Magnolia Ave (951) 683-7473

BARS/LOUNGES

Downtown Experiment 3601 University Ave (951) 355-2606

Lake Alice Trading Co 3616 University Ave (951) 686-7343

Locals Public House 191 Alessandro Blvd (951) 780-1800

Mezcal Ultra Lounge 3737 Main St Ste 100 (951) 333-8558

The Brickwood 3653 Main St (951) 352-2739

The Lobby 3730 Main St (951) 742-5020

The Menagerie 3581 University Ave (951) 788-8000

The Presidential Lounge 3649 Mission Inn Ave (951) 784-0300

VIP Nightclub & Restaurant 3673 Merrill Ave (951) 784-2370

W. Wolfskill 4281 Main St (951) 374-1176

BBQ

Charley Rokk’s Authentic Texas BBQ 5145 Jurupa Ave (951) 774-0039

Cowboy Burgers & BBQ 5573 Arlington Ave (951) 977-9454

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit 3540 Riverside Plaza Dr Ste 314 (951) 683-9700

Gram’s BBQ 3527 Main St (951) 782-8219

Messi Soul Kitchen 4270 Riverwalk Pkwy #104 (951) 588-6252

Mongolian BBQ 1242 University Ave STE 7 (951) 686-0702

Smoke & Fire Social Eatery 5225 Canyon Crest Dr #9 (909) 542-9054

BREAKFAST DINERS & CAFES

Amy’s 10635 Magnolia Ave (951) 689-0296

Brandon’s Diner 10246 Indiana Ave Ste A (951) 359-3617

Brandon’s Diner 9646 Magnolia Ave (951) 637-2782

Brandon’s Diner Jr Of City Hall 3900 Main St (951) 778-2588

Cafe Le Reve 141 E Alessandro Blvd Ste 10A (951) 215-0007

Crest Cafe 5225 Canyon Crest Dr Ste 40 (951) 784-2233

Daily Brew Coffee House 2955 Van Buren Blvd (951) 352-7477

Flo’s Farmhouse Cafe 5620 Van Buren Blvd (951) 352-2690

Joanna’s Cafe 17950 Van Buren Blvd (951) 789-8843

Kountry Folks 3653 La Sierra Ave (951) 354-0437

Soup Shoppe 6712 Magnolia Ave (951) 781-4710

The Riverside Airport Cafe 6951 Flight Rd (951) 688-3337

Rodeo Cafe 17136 Van Buren Blvd (951) 780-0388

BREWERIES

All Points Brewing Co. 2023 Chicago Ave Unit B8 (951) 213-6258

Euryale Brewing Company 2060 Chicago Ave Ste A-17 (951) 530-8865

Packinghouse Brewing Company 6421 Central Ave Ste 101-A (951) 333-9261

Route 30 Brewing Company 9860 Indiana Ave Ste 19 (951) 776-7083

Route 30 Tap Room 3740 Mission Inn Ave

Stone Church Brewing & Bistro 3737 Main Street (951) 233-0323

Thompson Brewing 9900 Indiana Ave (951) 289-7533

BURGERS

Baker’s Drive Thru 2221 Main St (909) 884-5233

Baker’s Drive Thru

6686 Indiana Ave (909) 884-5233

Baker’s Drive Thru 1300 Blaine St (909) 884-5233

Baker’s Drive Thru 10225 Magnolia Ave (909) 884-5233

Baker’s Drive Thru

5396 Mission Blvd (909) 884-5233

Boys Burgers 10737 Magnolia Ave (951) 689-1294

Burger Boss 2585 Canyon Springs Pkwy (951) 656-6500

BurgerIM 10920 Magnolia Ave Unit 105 (951) 441-8868

BurgerIM 1201 University Ave #110 (951) 783-9555

Chris’ Burgers 407 Iowa Ave (951) 781-8542

Cowboy Burgers & BBQ 5573 Arlington Ave (951) 977-9454

Dairy Queen 8610 California Ave, Suite 101 (951) 343-4075

Farmer Boys 3400 University Ave (951) 680-0900

Farmer Boys 2901 Iowa Ave (951) 782-9003

Farmer Boys 3303 Madison St (951) 351-9700

Fatburger & Buffalo’s Express 3457 Arlington Ave Suite 106 (951) 369-4950

George’s Drive-In 9910 Magnolia Ave (951) 688-2471

Johnny’s Burgers 4825 La Sierra Ave

(951) 688-1000

Johnny’s Burgers

3394 Madison St (951) 687-3599

Mission Burgers

4606 Pine St

(951) 682-7272

MGM Burgers 1691 Main St

(951) 276-1744

Monty’s Good Burger 3605 Market Street

(213) 915-0257

Nikko’s Burgers 9295 Magnolia Ave STE 112

(951) 352-7290

Original Tommy’s

7504 Mission Grove Pkwy S

(951) 780-4201

R Burgers 5980 Van Buren Blvd

(951) 358-9203

R Burgers 1666 University Ave

(951) 784-4350

Riverwalk Burgers & Grill 3812 Pierce St

(951) 353-0919

Slaters 50/50 3750 University Ave Ste 125

(951) 742-5585

Star Burgers 7207 Arlington Ave

(951) 689-5050

Zorba’s Restaurant 450 Iowa Ave (951) 686-5830

Zorba’s Express 770 University Ave (951) 787-0094

CHINESE

Big Sky Bistro 1575 University Ave Ste A

(951) 328-1688

Canton Chinese Food 1756 University Ave

(951) 684-6126

China Wok Inn 5771 Mission Boulevard

(951) 680-9810

Chen Ling Palace 9856 Magnolia Ave

(951) 351-8511

Chinatown 10935 Magnolia Ave

(951) 785-6197

Dragon House 10466 Magnolia Ave

(951) 354-2080

Frice Szechuan Restaurant 1299 University Ave #104-E

(951) 686-2182

Greedy Cat 1400 University Ave Ste 108

(909) 655-7235

HK BBQ House 3740 Iowa Ave #102

(951) 777-1368

Ho Choy’s 10352 Arlington Ave

(951) 785-1188

Ho Ho 3511 Madison St (951) 637-2411

Hong Kong Fastfood 1490 University Ave

(951) 686-2223

Jade China 2712 Canyon Springs Pkwy (951) 653-9200

Little Beijing Chinese Fast Food

5800 Van Buren Blvd (951) 509-1188

Lucky Wok 2995 Van Buren Blvd (951) 688-2888

Monark Asian Bistro

5225 Canyon Crest Dr #64 (951) 683-1073

Mr. China Express 8451 Colorado Ave #8301 (951) 687-8967

Mr. You

19530 Van Buren Blvd G7 (951) 653-1740

Peking Restaurant 11170 Magnolia Ave (951) 687-4822

Wok In Kitchen 5050 Arlington Ave #101 (951) 343-7888

ZiZi BBQ House 3740 Iowa Ave (951) 534-0960

COFFEE/TEA/JUICE

7 Leaves Cafe 1201 University Ave Ste 101 (951) 530-8666

Arcade Downtown

3870 Main Street (951) 266-6839

Arcade Coffee Roasters

3672 Chicago Ave Ste A (951) 266-6839

Arcade Coffee Roasters

5225 Canyon Crest Dr. Ste 17A (951) 266-6839

Back to the Grind 3575 University Ave (951) 784-0800

Boba Fiend Tea House 3375 Iowa Ave (951) 823-0700

Bobaloca

19009 Van Buren Blvd (951) 789-8646

Bolcupop 3605 Market Street (951) 595-4513

The California Lounge

3649 Mission Inn Ave (951) 784-0300

Coffee Court Bistro

3607 10th St (951) 328-0866

Condron Coffee

3696 Sunnyside Dr (951) 880-3354

Crave Coffee & Tea

3590 Central Ave (951) 289-9436

Daily Brew Coffee House

2955 Van Buren Blvd (951) 352-7477

Ding Tea 1575 University Ave Ste E (951) 429-9706

Flavor Theory

11090 Magnolia Ave (951) 977-9698

Goodwin’s Organics Cafe 191 W Big Springs Rd (951) 682-2667

JUJUBAR 19040 Van Buren Blvd (951) 780-0224

Kung Fu Tea 3678 Central Ave Ste 102 (951) 254-9609

Kraemer’s Coffee Bistro 6734 Brockton Ave (951) 686-4400

Lift Coffee Roasters 2060 Chicago Ave Ste A10 (951) 742-7413

Mi Cafecito Coffee 3605 Market St Ste 2

Molinos Coffee 3660 Mission Inn Ave (951) 276-7147

Nekter Juice Bar 5225 Canyon Crest Dr Ste 7B (951) 224-9842

R&B Tea 1889 University Ave Unit 105 (951) 462-4142

Sharetea 10920 Magnolia Ave Ste 103 (951) 406-5165

Sharetea 3740 Iowa Ave Ste 103 (951) 530-8536

Tastea 11130 Magnolia Ave Unit C (951) 588-8138

Tim Boba 1450 University Ave Ste N (951) 462-1929

Toasted 6160 Arlington Ave Ste C9 (951) 977-9847

Twee Coffee 9344 Magnolia Ave (951) 335-0599

Krak Boba 3907 Chicago Ave Ste B (951) 742-5341

DELI/SANDWICHES

Backstreet Restaurant 3735 Nelson St (951) 683-6650

Butch’s Grinders 4602 Pine St (951) 781-8511

Cheba Hut 3505 Market Street Ste 101 (951) 777-1117

Diane’s Deli 2900 Adams St #B1 (951) 689-2900

D’Elia’s Grinders 2093 University Ave (951) 683-7380

D’Elia’s Grinders 9009 Van Buren Blvd (951) 780-3354

European Intl Market &Deli 7120 Indiana Ave G (951) 274-9100

Firehouse Subs 10080 Magnolia Ave (951) 588-8785

Jimmy John’s 3747 Central Ave Ste 102 (951) 779-0010

Jimmy John’s 4270 Riverwalk Pkwy Ste 122 (951) 977-9672

Jimmy John’s 10277 Magnolia Ave (951) 354-2149

Marisa’s Italian Deli 5225 Canyon Crest Dr #20 (951) 788-3899

M & M Deli 1960 Chicago Ave #D1 (951) 684-6861

My Hero Subs 355 Iowa Ave A (951) 784-7370

RiverCrust Deli 6235 River Crest Dr Ste F (951) 656-8145

Subs & Spuds

5225 Canyon Crest Dr Ste #83a (951) 369-1491

The Sub Station 3663 Canyon Crest Dr (951) 683-4523

Tummy Stuffer 1159 Iowa Ave O (951) 369-1266

Bar & Restaurant Guide

The Riversider | April/May 2023

The Upper Crust Sandwich Shoppe

3573 Main St (951) 784-3149

FILIPINO

Nanay Gloria 10959 Magnolia Ave (951) 977-8831

FRENCH

Le Chat Noir 3790 9th St (951) 786-9266

GERMAN

European International Market & Deli 7120 Indiana Ave G (951) 274-9100

HAWAIIAN

Ohana Cravings 3740 Iowa Ave, Ste 104 (951) 742-5555

Ono Hawaiian BBQ 3531 Madison St (951) 351-0888

Ono Hawaiian BBQ 3540 Riverside Plaza Dr #324 (951) 328-1988

Ono Hawaiian BBQ 2721 Canyon Springs Pkwy #101 (951) 656-6188

Park Ave Polynesian Restaurant 4038 Park Ave (951) 344-1090

ICE CREAM/FROZEN YOGURT

Afters Ice Cream 1201 University Ave

Baskin-Robbins 7024 Magnolia Ave (951) 682-3131

Canyon Crest Ice Cream & Water

5225 Canyon Crest Dr #27 (951) 675-7385

Cherry On Top 3560 Riverside Plaza Dr (951) 213-6018

Cherry On Top 19009 Van Buren Blvd Ste 125 (951) 780-0800

Cold Stone Creamery 9867 Magnolia Ave Ste C (951) 637-0920

Dairy Queen 8610 California Ave, Ste 101

(951) 343-4075

Dairy Queen 6665 Magnolia Ave

(951) 684-6280

Frostbites Crepes & Frozen Delights

10347 Magnolia Ave

(951) 352-4903

La Michoacana 3961 Chicago Ave

951) 248-9142

The Loop 3678 Central Ave, Ste 104

(951) 742-5685

Mixies Ice Cream & Cookies

3605 Market St

(951) 595-4520

Spoonful Yogurt Café 4270 Riverwalk Pkwy #120

(951) 729-5882

Toi Moi Italian Ice & Juice Shop 10181 Hole Ave

(951) 343-4146

Yogurtland 1242 University Ave Ste A

(951) 683-1950

Yogurtland 3510 Tyler St #104

(951) 772-0229

INDIAN

Bombay Stores

1385 W Blaine St (951) 788-3042

Gandhi Indian Cuisine

1355 E Alessandro Blvd #205

(951) 653-4147

India Sweets & Groceries 779 W Blaine St

(951) 784-7400

Masala Mischief 223 University Ave Ste 150

(951) 224-9692

Namaste Indian Kitchen

6061 Magnolia Ave

(951) 275-5316

Punjab Palace Cuisine of India

1766 University Ave

(951) 686-9968

ITALIAN/PIZZA

Aloha Pizza & Pasta

755 W Blaine St

(951) 788-8830

Antone’s Italian Food 4125 Sunnyside Dr (951) 682-5900

Antonio Pizza 195 E Alessandro Blvd (951) 776-1888

Antonious Pizza Cafe 3737 Main St (951) 682-9100

Bella’s Pizza

5196 Arlington Ave (951) 351-3131

Blaze Pizza

3540 Riverside Plaza Dr (951) 789-3212

Blaze Pizza 10920 Magnolia Ave Suite 107 (951) 474-5855

Bricks & Birch

3605 Market Street #5 (951) 500-7776

Capone’s Pizza 7207 Arlington Ave F (951) 689-3520

Dave’s New York Style Pizza 1490 University Ave #102 (951) 787-9900

DeMatteo’s Pizza

7030 Magnolia Ave (951) 682-6198

Dematteo’s Woodcrest 18590 Van Buren Boulevard (951) 429-7317

D’Caesaro Pizza & Italian 6160 Arlington Avenue C4 (951) 687-0777

Enzo’s Pizza

10170 Indiana Ave (951) 351-2375

Farfalla’s Cucina Italiana 5250 Arlington Ave (951) 354-5100

Fast 5 Pizza 5300 Arlington Ave (951) 977-9090

Fast 5 Pizza 1889 University Ave #108 (951) 781-3838

Fiesta Pizza

6110 Van Buren Blvd (951) 353-8007

First Class Pizza & Pub 4290 Riverwalk Pkwy (951) 354-7900

Lava Coal-Fired Pizza 1725 Spruce St Suite #101 (951) 823-0238

Mamma Mia Restaurant and Bar

10971 Magnolia Ave (951) 729-5555

Marcello’s Pizza & Pasta 783 W Blaine St (951) 781-9996

Marcello’s Pizza & Pasta 6519 Clay St A (951) 681-9797

Mario’s Place 3646 Mission Inn Avenue (951) 684-7755

MOD Pizza 3444 Arlington Ave (951) 374-5255

New York Pizza Co

3570 Van Buren Blvd (951) 688-4000

The Old Spaghetti Factory 3191 Mission Inn Avenue (951) 784-4417

Papa Joe’s Pizza 5115 Jurupa Ave B3 (951) 680-9090

Papa Joe’s Pizza 10555 Indiana Ave (951) 688-1188

Pietro’s Italian Cuisine 6788 Brockton Ave (951) 784-1310

The Pizza Place... 18955 Van Buren Blvd (951) 780-5588

Romano’s Chicago Pizzeria 285 Alessandro Blvd (951) 780-7399

Romano’s 5225 Canyon Crest Dr UNIT 58 (951) 781-7662

Scratch Pizza 4950 La Sierra Ave #8 (951) 359-2023

Shakey’s Pizza Parlor 5941 Van Buren Blvd (951) 689-7700

Tower Pizza 3375 Iowa Ave (951) 518-4300

University Pizza Company 1201 University Ave #116 (951) 823-0630

Viano’s Restaurant 16810 Van Buren Blvd (951) 780-3000

JAPANESE/POKE

RAMEN/SUSHI

AhiPoki 3540 Riverside Plaza Dr STE 310 (951) 530-8255

Amagi Sushi 19510 Van Buren Blvd Unit F6 (951) 656-8144

Big Tuna 4270 Riverwalk Pkwy (951) 343-0201

Joe’s Sushi

Japanese Restaurant 9555 Magnolia Ave (951) 353-1929

Kotsu Ramen & Gyoza 3522 Madison St Ste 101 (951) 299-8889

The Lowkey Poke Joint 11860 Magnolia Ave (951) 299-7699

Mokkoji Shabu Shabu 1575 University Ave Ste B (951) 905-4007

Ohana Sushi 195 Alessandro Blvd Ste 8A (951) 789-0443

Oishii Sushi 6133 Magnolia Ave (951) 784-2550

Ooka Sushi & Hibachi Steak House 3525 Riverside Plaza Dr #200 (951) 779-0099

Otsuka Ramen & Bar 10949 Magnolia Ave (951) 353-9888

Pacific Cabin Sushi 3770 9th St (951) 782-0888

Poke Bar 3740 Iowa Ave (951) 405-8233

Poke Bistro 3375 Iowa Ave Ste K (951) 394-8580

Pokilicious Riverwalk 4290 Riverwalk Pkwy #306 (951) 376-1377

Ramen Okawari 3740 Iowa Ave #104 (951) 680-9411

Rohey’s Wok & Grill 4294 Riverwalk Pkwy (951) 359-5272

Saku Ramen 3643 Main St (951) 742-5849

Soho Ramen Riverside 3605 Market St (951) 595-4528

Sumabi 3530 9th St (951) 823-0278

Sushi Asahi 2955 Van Buren Blvd Suite #D2 (951) 637-1313

Sushi Ok 5228 Arlington Ave (951) 689-8054

Sushi Okoku 10380 Magnolia Ave (951) 343-2225

Sushi R91 1630 Spruce St (951) 682-1323

Sushi Station 19029 Van Buren Blvd #115 (951) 789-0068

Sushi Times 1400 University Ave Ste A101 (951) 777-1037

Sushingon 6060 Magnolia Ave (951) 224-9590

Taiyos Sushi & Poki 11120 Magnolia Ave (951) 343-1112

Teriyaki Plus 7120 Indiana Ave (951) 788-8337

Tomo 7 Sushi

5519 Van Buren Blvd (951) 343-5991

Top Grill

5225 Canyon Crest Dr Ste 94 (951) 530-8668

Vanilla Fish 5225 Canyon Crest Dr Ste 55 (951) 777-1950

Zen Street 3600 Central Ave #1 (951) 683-3648

KOREAN

Chimak House

11120 Magnolia Ave, Unit A (951) 343-1120

88 Korean Corn Dog 3740 Iowa Ave

Manna Grill

1201 University Ave #110B (951) 530-8033

Kimchichanga

1995 University Ave (951) 684-9800

Koreana Grill 10051 Magnolia Ave Ste A1 (951) 688-9000

Saet Byul Asian Market 9555 Magnolia Ave (951) 637-5652

Wang Cho Korean BBQ 3639 Riverside Plaza Dr (951) 788-8889

MEDITERRANEAN

Elias Pita

1490 University Ave Ste 103 (951) 686-6800

Fufu’s Mideast Grill

3605 Market Street

(951) 595-4527

Georgie's Mediterranean

5225 Canyon Crest Dr Ste 57 (951) 823-0440

Greek Street Grill

3312 La Sierra Ave Ste 103

(951) 352-0801

The Halal Guys 1201 University Ave, Ste 102

(951) 742-7656

Kabab EL Basha

365 Iowa Ave

(951) 289-9511

Kabob House 10901 Magnolia Ave

(951) 353-9711

Lucky Greek 3887 Merrill Ave

(951) 686-2621

Panini Kabob Grill

1298 Galleria at Tyler

(951) 352-6318

Sam’s Pita & Kabab

9799 Magnolia Ave

(951) 376-1269

MEXICAN

Acapulco Pollo

8151 Arlington Ave Ste O

(951) 406-1215

Ahumadas Mexican Grill

7614 Evans St (951) 368-4583

Anchos Southwest Grill & Bar

10773 Hole Ave

(951) 352-0240

Antojitos Mexicanos La Ribera 4773 Tyler St Ste 2d

(951) 353-1852

Armando’s Mexican Food 4294 Riverwalk Pkwy Ste 200

(951) 343-5896

Ay Mi Pa

3775 Tyler St #1B

(951) 729-6174

Azteca Market

5125 Jurupa Ave A2

(951) 530-8791

Bajio Mexican Grill

3760 9th St

(951) 786-9573

Birrieria Little Tijuana

12702 Magnolia Ave Unit 25

(951) 268-6895

Birrieria Xolos

9696 Magnolia Ave

(951) 376-1226

Brandon’s Diner Jr Of City Hall

3900 Main St

(951) 778-2588

Cactus Cantina 151 E Alessandro Blvd

(951) 789-0211

Cañada's Grill 10436 Magnolia Ave

(951) 588-6758

Casa Mota 8151 Arlington Ave (951) 352-7383

Carlos's Tijuana Tacos 3980 University Ave

Castaneda’s Mexican Food 6751 Indiana Ave (951) 786-0996

Castañeda’s Mexican Food 1450 P University Ave (951) 786-0996

Chilitos Mexican Grill 3847 S Pierce St Ste F (951) 509-1002

Cielito Lindo 10277 Arlington Ave (951) 352-3214

Costa Delmar 4561 La Sierra Ave (951) 588-8798

El Chapala Seafood Restaurant 8201 Arlington Ave (951) 359-7560

El Fogon Mexican Grill 765 Blaine St (951) 782-8959

El Habanero 6160 Arlington Ave (951) 343-5868

El Ojo De Agua 2115 University Ave (951) 779-6293

El Patron 3204 Mission Inn Ave (951) 777-1131

El Silencito 1091 Center St (951) 312-6542

El Torito 3639 Riverside Plaza Dr Ste 526 (951) 684-6816

El Trigo 4155 Park Ave (951) 787-6937

Fire Up Bar & Grill

3750 University Ave (951) 289-9071

Fish Taco Xtreme 16960 Van Buren Blvd Ste D (951) 800-9061

Fuego 360

Rotisserie Chicken 3866 La Sierra Ave (951) 456-3705

Green Taco 3812 Pierce St (951) 353-2272

Habanero Mexican Grill 2472 University Ave (951) 224-9145

Ixtapa 4093 University Ave (951) 777-1132

Joe Aguilar’s Templo Del Sol 1365 University Ave (951) 682-6562

Juan Pollo 6055 Magnolia Ave (951) 683-3513

Kalaveras 1690 Spruce St (951) 742-5761

Kimchichanga 1995 University Ave (951) 684-9800

La Bufadora Baja Grill 497 E Alessandro Blvd Ste B (951) 776-2881

La Bufadora Baja Grill

5650-52 Van Buren Blvd (951) 687-7237

La Cruda Mariscos 6733 Indiana Ave (951) 777-0862

Las Campanas 3649 Mission Inn Ave (888) 326-4448

Las Nuevas Islas 4920 Jackson St (951) 772-0020

Little Green Onions 6723 Brockton Ave (951) 328-1273

Los Cabos Tacos 11840 Magnolia Ave (951) 352-2653

Los Fredo’s Mexican Food 9111 Magnolia Ave (951) 525-3411

Los Novillos Market 2650 Main St (951) 530-8893

Lucies Locadas 1601 University Ave (951) 423-4828

M Taco 4111 Main St (951) 784-7135

Maria’s Mexican Kitchen 17028 Van Buren Blvd (951) 780-2034

Mariscos El Camaron Loco 3340 Mary St (951) 682-3882

Mercado Don Juan #3 3375 Iowa Ave (951) 787-9292

Mezcal Cantina Y Cocina 3737 Main St Ste 100 (951) 888-2240

Miches De La Baja 1242 University Ave Ste 5 (951) 742-5633

Mi Lindo Apatzingan 9948 Magnolia Ave (951) 688-0908

Mr. Taco 2435 Main St (951) 682-4020

Mr. Taco 18590 Van Buren Blvd (951) 776-9900

Olivia’s Mexican Restaurant 9447 Magnolia Ave (951) 689-2131

Palenque 3737 Main St (951) 888-2240

Pepitos Mexican Restaurant 5225 Canyon Crest Dr Ste 42 (951) 783-9444

Pepito's Mexican Restaurant 8845 Trautwein Rd (951) 776-8262

Placita 1805 University Ave (951) 405-8730

Ramiro’s Cocina 9418 Magnolia Ave (951) 354-6146

Ranchito Tacos Al Carbon 2995 Van Buren Blvd Ste A1 (951) 359-8646

Rancho La Perla 3700 Van Buren Blvd Ste 109 (951) 688-8682

Retro Taco 3744 Main St (951) 742-5606

Rico’s Tacos El Primo 1788 University Ave Ste 102 (951) 782-9610

Rodrigo’s Mexican Grill 3848 La Sierra Ave (951) 687-2280

Rolando’s Taco Shop 19530 Van Buren Blvd Ste G6 (951) 656-0304

Señor Baja 6033 Magnolia Ave (951) 369-5720

Sushingon 6060 Magnolia Ave (951) 224-9590

Taco Station 4088 Mission Inn Ave (951) 782-8226

Tacos Y Más 10203 Hole Ave (951) 687-1344

Taqueria Azteca 5959 Arlington Ave Ste E (951) 509-3670

Taqueria 2 Potrillos 10088 Magnolia Ave (951) 588-8772

Taqueria Mi Ranchito 4724 La Sierra Ave (951) 352-0528

Bar & Restaurant Guide

The Riversider | April/May 2023

Taqueria Tomateros

9164 Magnolia Ave (909) 257-1545

The Tamale Factory

3663 Main St (951) 342-3023

Tijuana’s Tacos 8151 Arlington Ave (951) 343-7777

Tina’s Mexican Food 2421 University Ave (951) 686-1524

Tio’s Mexican Food 19009 Van Buren Blvd Ste 124 (951) 780-7776

Tio’s Tacos 3948 Mission Inn Ave (951) 788-0230

Tony’s Mexican Food 3870 Chicago Ave (951) 788-4410

Tony’s Mexican Grill 9670 Magnolia Ave (951) 729-6141

Tuxies Juices 6030 Magnolia Ave Ste 3 (951) 781-1048

Yoli’s Mexican Grill 3225 Market St (951) 801-7104

Zacatecas Cafe 3767 Iowa Ave (951) 683-3939

PAKISTANI

Al-Karam Pakistani Cuisine

3457 Arlington Ave Ste 101 (951) 742-5610

Mirchi Restaurant 1385 W Blaine St (951) 400-2825

Punjab Palace 10359 Magnolia Ave (951) 351-8968

SEAFOOD

California Fish Grill 10920 Magnolia Ave Suite 101 (951) 405-6880

Market Broiler 3525 Merrill Ave (951) 276-9007

Pacific Grill 1299 Tyler St (951) 643-8168

Pier 76 Fish Grill 3555 Riverside Plaza Dr Ste 108 (951) 341-9297

Rockstar Shrimp 767 W Blaine St (951) 530-8620

Seafood & Crawfish 10173 Magnolia Ave (951) 359-5999

Star Crab 10051 Magnolia Ave (951) 977-9440

STEAKHOUSES

Duane’s Prime Steak & Seafood 3649 Mission Inn Ave (888) 326-4448

Flat Top Bar & Grill 17960 Van Buren Blvd (951) 780-0114

THAI

Angel Thai Cuisine 6736 Brockton Ave (951) 788-1995

Sam's Bann Thai 3203 Mission Inn Ave (951) 742-7694

Best Thai Cuisine 1735 Spruce St F (951) 682-4251

Gra Pow 497 E Alessandro Blvd #D (951) 780-1132

Monark Asian Bistro 5225 Canyon Crest Dr #64 (951) 683-1073

Morefire Thai 2955 Van Buren Blvd #F1 (951) 359-1331

Riverside Thai Kitchen 7755 California Ave (951) 729-6675

Royal Orchid Restaurant 9791 Magnolia Ave (951) 354-6100

TK Thai Cuisine 11860 Magnolia Ave Ste T (951) 509-3701

VEGETARIAN/VEGAN

Craveabowl 3434 Arlington Ave Ste 20 (951) 742-5878

Goodwin’s Organic 91 W Big Springs Rd (951) 682-2667

La Sierra Natural Foods

11550 Pierce St (951) 785-2563

Monty’s Good Burger 3605 Market Street (213) 915-0257

Oasis Vegetarian Café 11550 Pierce St (951) 688-5423

Plant Power Fast Food 3940 University Ave (951) 905-5222

Roots Restaurant & Bar 3700 12th St (951) 405-8324

Veg & Go 1201 University Ave Ste #115 (951) 213-6233

VIETNAMESE/PHO

5 Stars Pho Restaurant 4950 La Sierra Ave (951) 772-0700

Cha2o 1400 University Ave Ste A104 (714) 406-3090

Ocean Pho 4069 Chicago Ave Ste 100 (951) 742-5272

Pho 81 2995 Van Buren Blvd Ste A13 (951) 977-8869

Phở 99 4557 La Sierra Ave (951) 688-2671

Pho Anh 5646 Van Buren Blvd (951) 977-9889

Pho Anh Hot Pot & Crayfish 10271 Magnolia Ave (951) 729-6668

Pho Anh Hot Pot & Crayfish 231 E Alessandro Blvd (951) 215-0585

Pho DJ 5180 Arlington Ave (951) 354-2799

Pho Ha 10185 Magnolia Ave (951) 354-8918

Pho Ha #7 1820 University Ave #101 (951) 680-0790

Pho Star Bowl 10051 Magnolia Ave (951) 299-8130

Phở Vinam Restaurant 1201 University Ave #107 (951) 784-4290

WINE BARS/WINERIES

The Brickwood 3653 Main St (951) 352-2739

Canyon Crest Winery 5225 Canyon Crest Dr Ste 7A (951) 369-9463

Mario’s Place 3646 Mission Inn Ave (951) 684-7755

Open Everyday 6:30am to 2pm

Live Music

Every Sat. & Sun. 10am-1pm

Open all day Friday from 6:30am - 9pm

Riverside's #1 breakfast & lunch spot!

6951 Flight Road

Riverside, CA 92504

951-688-3337

riversideairportcafe.com

@theriversideairportcafe

PAPER. POSTAGE. TIME.

GO PAPERLESS

Ahorre papel. Ahorre franqueo. Ahorre tiempo. NO USE MÁS PAPEL.

SWITCH TO PAPERLESS BILLING TODAY

Simply choose to Go Paperless with your Riverside Public Utilities bill. Get notified about your new bills via email and securely view/pay your bill anytime and anywhere.

HOW DO YOU SIGN UP?

• Click on Pay Your Bill

• Create an RPU Online Account

• Click on My Profile

• Choose Communication Preferences

• Select Email for Bill Notifications

CAMBIE HOY A LA FACTURACIÓN ELECTRÓNICA

Simplemente elija Go Paperless con su factura de Riverside Public Utilities. Reciba notificaciones sobre sus nuevas facturas por correo electrónico y vea/pague su factura de forma segura en cualquier momento y lugar.

¿CÓMO SE REGISTRA?

• Haga clic en Pagar su Cuenta

• Cree una cuenta en Línea de RPU

• Haga clic en Mi Perfil

• Elija Preferencias de Comunicación

• Seleccione Email para las Notificaciones de Factura

RiversidePublicUtilities.com/GoPaperless

When you shop local, you’re supporting your community. Riverside has a wide variety of stores, restaurants, and services to choose from that you won’t find elsewhere. Money you spend at local stores or restaurants stays in your community, helping to create jobs and support local businesses. Most importantly, shopping local is fun! You get to know the people who own and work at your local businesses, and you develop a sense of community pride as you support your neighborhood’s unique businesses and character. So get out there and GO FOR IT, shop Riverside!

Cuando compra en un comercio local, está apoyando a su comunidad. Riverside cuenta con una amplia variedad de tiendas, restaurantes y servicios para elegir que no encontrará en ningún otro lugar. Ese dinero que gasta en la tienda o restaurante local se queda en su comunidad, ayudando a crear puestos de trabajo y apoyando a las empresas locales. Lo más importante es que comprar en un comercio local es divertido. Tendrá la oportunidad de conocer a los propietarios y a los trabajadores de los comercios locales y se sesentirá orgulloso de su comunidad porque apoya el carácter y los comercios únicos de su comunidad. Así que salga, ¡compre en Riverside!

Sammy

Consejos Gratis 2023 Tour

Saturday, September 16