The April/May 2025 issue of the Riversider Magazine
Experience the Year of Arts & Culture in Downtown Riverside’s Arts and Culture District
Downtown Riverside has long been a hub for creativity, innovation, and artistic expression, but this year marks a truly special celebration—The Year of Arts & Culture in the Arts and Culture District (ACD). With a year-long lineup of events, exhibitions, and performances, the ACD is set to showcase Riverside’s rich artistic landscape like never before.
THE HISTORY BEHIND THE ARTS AND CULTURE DISTRICT
In 2005, a version of this Arts and Culture District footprint was identified in the Riverside General Plan as the location in the city with the highest concentration of museums, public art, and cultural institutions. Despite the approval of the plan, the district was not a priority at the time. Now, twenty years later, amid the update to the General Plan there is renewed interest in the ACD and commitment to see its full realization.
Most cities, especially in downtown areas, follow the district model of mapping, branding, and wayfinding. Cities have theater districts, financial districts, warehouse districts, and arts districts. Instead of reinventing the wheel, Riverside is embracing this district model and branding this cluster of similarly-minded institutions that already exist and do great work.
The driving force to recognize such a district is to recommit Riverside’s long-standing passion for the arts. With a history deeply rooted in artistic expression, the district is designed to be a central gathering place for artists, performers, and
cultural institutions. Riverside’s earliest residents cared deeply about the arts with the construction of the Loring Opera House in the heart of the city at Mission Inn Avenue and Main Street in the 1800s, followed by the Mission Inn’s historic Music Room which offered free twice-daily concerts to guests and residents for years starting in 1910. The downtown art scene further flourished in the 1920s, with the development of landmark venues such as the Riverside Municipal Auditorium and the Fox Performing Arts Center. Over the years, the city’s dedication to supporting local talent and preserving cultural heritage led to the formation of a downtown where old and new architecture is complimented with public art and engaging events from food festivals to historic walking tours.
A DISTRICT THAT CELEBRATES CREATIVITY
The Arts and Culture District, nestled in the heart of downtown Riverside, spans north and south from 3rd to 10th Streets and west to east from Fairmount Boulevard to Lime Street. It is home to an eclectic mix of galleries, theaters, studios, and cultural spaces. Whether you’re an art aficionado, an architecture enthusiast, a music lover, or simply looking for new ways to experience the city, the ACD offers an immersive setting that connects the community with artists and performers from all disciplines. The district’s character is defined by its range of cultural institutions, each contributing to a shared goal of making the arts more accessible to locals and visitors alike.
WHAT’S IN STORE FOR THE YEAR OF ARTS & CULTURE?
This year-long celebration promises something for everyone, with a packed calendar of experiences that highlight Riverside’s commitment to the arts. Here are just a few things you won’t want to miss:
• Monthly Art Walks: Encounter open galleries showcasing diverse artwork, live performances that bring the streets to life, and a bustling marketplace filled with local artisans selling handmade goods.
• Live Performances: Enjoy music, dance, and theater productions at venues such as the Fox Performing Arts Center, The Box, and Riverside Municipal Auditorium.
A COMMUNITY UNITED BY THE ARTS
• Public Art & Galleries: Discover stunning murals, interactive art installations and exhibits in renowned galleries, such as The Cheech and Civil Rights Institute.
• Workshops & Classes: Engage in hands-on art experiences through community-led workshops in painting, ceramics, and more.
• Cultural Festivals: Celebrate Riverside’s rich diversity through festivals that showcase global traditions, music, and dance.
• Film Screenings & Literary Events: Enjoy independent films, poetry readings, and book discussions that foster a deeper connection to storytelling and creativity.
The Year of Arts & Culture isn’t just about entertainment—it’s about fostering a deeper connection between artists and the community. Local businesses, educational institutions, and city leaders have all come together to make this initiative a success, ensuring that the ACD continues to evolve as a space where creative minds collaborate and inspire. Public and private partnerships are playing a key role in expanding the district’s reach, offering more opportunities for artists to display their work and for audiences to engage with a variety of artistic expressions.
PLAN YOUR VISIT
With events happening all year long, there’s always something new to explore in the Arts and Culture District. Whether you’re a lifelong resident or visiting for the first time, the ACD invites you to experience the transformative power of the arts in Riverside.
Inland Exposures
The Riversider | April/May 2025
The last light of the day falls upon a freshly snowcovered Keller Peak. Photo by Julian Jolliffe
The evening flow along University Avenue in the Eastside neighborhood.
Blumenthal & Moore, Inland Southern California’s pre-eminent criminal defense firm, is devoted exclusively to the defense of the accused.
The firm’s trial-tested attorneys handle a range of criminal matters, from simple to complex. They are often retained in difficult cases, and defend people from all walks of the community.
In every case, the client benefits from a team approach. By combining their expertise, the attorneys at Blumenthal & Moore bring more than 100 years of legal experience to every case, providing each client with the best possible defense.
Virginia Blumenthal, Jeff Moore, Brent Romney and Heather Green all contribute unique strengths and perspectives, along with thorough knowledge of the court system in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Mr. Moore and Mr. Romney are tough former prosecutors who put their experience to work in defending cases, while Ms. Green has a passion for defending those with mental health disorders – prioritizing justice for everyone, regardless of mental health status.
Founding attorney Virginia Blumenthal, known for opening the first female-owned law firm in the region, has been named one of the Top 100 trial lawyers in the United States by the National Trial Lawyers. Over time, she has received a long list of awards for her courtroom excellence and volunteer service in the community.
Most recently, Ms. Blumenthal was named Best Lawyer in the Inland Empire by Inland Empire Magazine (2024); received a Champions for Justice Award from the Fair Housing Council of Riverside County (2023); received the Civil Rights Law Giant Award from the Riverside County NAACP Youth Council (2023); and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Corona Chamber of Commerce (2023).
Also in 2023, the team at Blumenthal & Moore received the Small Business Eagle Award from the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce – an honor that reflects a culture of excellence, experience and nearly five decades of commitment to clients.
(951) 682-5110
3993 Market Street
Riverside, CA 92501
blumenthallawoffices.com
Love Letter to Riverside
Spring is here and with it comes a sense of renewal and excitement. This issue is focused on Riverside’s Eastside neighborhood that is also having a bit of a rebirth. We are highlighting the importance of Eastiside’s historical legacy. This vibrant and richly diverse community has always been hardworking and strong. You can read all about it in this issue's historical piece written by the collaborative group known as A People’s History of the I.E.
We are proud to feature the Riverside Art Museum’s first artist-in-residence, Juan Navarro, who deserves credit for helping beautify the Eastside community with multiple murals and changing the ways this community has been viewed through art. Juan is the founder of the
Eastside Arthouse, which is a collective of local artists whose goal is to share a creative space to foster the arts within the community and showcase their work. He is currently curating an exhibition at The Cheech museum called “Hecho en Park Ave.” This exhibit documents Eastside and is a collaborative effort among some of Riverside’s up and coming artists, so be sure to check it out.
You can also read about the recently opened Buenos Dias Cafe located right across from Lincoln High School. They are Latina and family owned and breathing fresh air into an area that has never had a community cafe before. Their coffee and food is made to order, served hot and is really good! You will love their horchata latte and breakfast entrees like their avocado toast and chilaquiles.
Don’t forget about Riverside’s upcoming events in the spring including the annual Tamale Festival at White Park and the Anime Riverside returning to the convention center. Those events never fail to entertain and bring people of all walks of life together.
We hope that this issue really helps all Riversiders get to know more about the Eastside community and all of its rich history that makes Riverside such a unique and interesting place to call home.
ZACH CORDNER
Riverside's newly designated historical landmark in the heart of Eastside, the Orange Valley Lodge #13.
Philip Falcone, Catherine Gudis, Audrey Maier, Addie Schnirel, Jennifer Tilton
Special Thanks:
Kaitlin Bilhartz, Patricia Lock Dawson, Philip Falcone, Evelyn Cordner, Jack Amarillas, The Standerfer Family, Amber Lussier, Leslee Gaul, H. Vincent Moses, PHD, Lucia Winsor, Riverside Museum, and all of our advertisers.
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Tamara Cedré: To Rise Above Ruins
We envision a thriving arts community that promotes imagination, uplifts the people of our region, and informs national dialogue.
March 22, 2025 – September 28, 2025
Riverside Art Museum
ECLIPSE: What’s Your Perspective?
March 29, 2025–September 28, 2025
Riverside Art Museum
Hecho en Park Avenue
March 29, 2025 – September 28, 2025
The Cheech
The Versatility of Pulp - Members Show
April 12, 2025 – October 5, 2025
Riverside Art Museum
Noé Montes: Regional History
October 11, 2025 – April 19, 2026
Riverside Art Museum
Live from the Frontline: Valley Truck
Church Doors Opening Out to
, 2024
Images from top to bottom: Polaroids of Malik Laing and Jonathan Arthurs taken by Dominic Boykins; Noé Montes, Estella Hernandez (2019), Danza de Los Viejitos (2015); Details of Bryan Garcia, Mi Barrio Lindo, 2025; Tamara Cedré, Sold Parcela in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, 2018,
Warehouses, St. Mark’s Missionary Baptist Church, San Bernardino (from
Farms)
Riverside's Finest Nati Fuentes
WORDS: MANO MIRANDÉ
Born on Christmas Day, 1936, Porfirio and Otilia Fuentes welcomed their daughter Natividad into the world. Fondly known as “Nati,” or “Ms. Nati” by her loved ones, community, and peers, Fuentes was the fourth of seven girls and three boys raised in the home built by their father in the Eastside neighborhood of Riverside. Nati learned from an early age about the importance of education and contributing to the improvement of her community. She graduated from Poly High School and attended courses at Riverside Community College before later returning to earn a bachelor’s degree from Cal Baptist University.
Her lifelong career in child development and public service began when she was only twenty years old, working at the Busy Bee Nursery School from 1956 until 1972. She later became a Neighborhood Worker for the Office of Economic Opportunities where she assisted low-income families to better understand local government policies on education and how to access bilingual programs for their children.
In 1980, Fuentes joined the Concilio Child Development Center for the Spanish Speaking of the Inland Empire, a local non-profit established in 1979 and worked at their newly constructed Centro de Niños child development facility on Victoria Avenue near 14th Street in the heart of the Eastside. Throughout her 26-year career at the Centro de Niños, Nati climbed the ranks from Lead Teacher to Interim Director and eventually became Executive Director until she retired in 2006.
In addition to her work at Centro de Niños, Nati was an avid supporter of numerous local community groups, organizations, and committees. She was a founding member of the Latino Women’s Health Forum, Chairperson of the Eastside Neighborhood Advisory Committee, and worked with Project REACH, the Urban League Board of Directors, LULAC, Women’s Democratic Club, Latino Network, Arrowhead for Children Association, the Fiesta de la Familia Committee, and many more.
Fuentes earned an impressive number of awards and achievements throughout her career as well, including the Riverside Citizen of the Year Award, YWCA Women of Achievement Award, Eastside Community Action Award, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Award, Jack B. Clarke Good Neighbor
Award, the Congreso de Pueblos Unidos Community Service Award, and the Hispanic Image Non-Profit of the Year Award, among many others.
Her lifelong commitment in service to her community was commemorated in 2009 when the Centro de Niños moved into its new location at Bordwell Park on 14th Street and renamed in her honor as the “Nati Fuentes Centro de Niños.”
The 12,500 square-foot facility doubled the size of the center’s enrollment, staff, and number of
classrooms, and included a spacious multi-purpose room, administrative offices, kitchen, and wireless computer access. The $5 million construction and design of the new facility was part of the “Riverside Renaissance” program, a $1.8 billion, five-year project funded by the City of Riverside to improve public works. The realization of the Centro’s new location was largely thanks to the efforts of Nati Fuentes’ colleague and Concilio board member Ofelia Valdez-Yeager, who advocated for its construction since 2001.
Anyone who knew and loved Ms. Nati can attest to her passionate and, at times, fierce personality. “She was a tough cookie, but she was a kind cookie,” Art Alcaraz said, former president of the Latino Network and longtime friend of Fuentes. Her strength and courage were not only instrumental in successfully impacting positive change for countless families and children within her community, but a necessary tool for survival in her battle against prejudice and adversity she faced as a first-generation Mexican American woman.
“Starting her career during challenging times in our nation and before the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Nati opened many doors so others could succeed,” Alcaraz added. “Her work is recognized, appreciated and valued.”
Nati was also committed in her faith and a
dedicated parishioner of Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine, her neighborhood church since childhood where she attended the 10:30 a.m. mass every Sunday morning. She collaborated with the church in organizing its annual “La Gran Fiesta Ranchera,” a community festival founded in 1967 that continues to be held every summer at the Centro de Niños’ original location on Victoria Ave. The Fiesta is not only a celebrated tradition for members of the Eastside community, but it has also become an integral part of the neighborhood’s history, culture, and identity.
It was at Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine that Nati Fuentes’ services would be held after she sadly passed away on July 3rd, 2024, at 88 years old. Hundreds of friends, family, and peers attended her memorial, filling the church’s interior and spilling out onto its front steps. The massive gathering was a testament to Nati’s impact as a beloved leader and hero to her community. Loved ones paid respects by sharing stories and cherished memories of a woman who was truly one of a kind.
Although Nati is no longer with us on a physical plane, her legacy, spirit, and contributions will live on in the hearts of her loved ones and the many lives she touched throughout the Eastside neighborhood that she so passionately loved and was proud to call home.
Tamales and Tradition
How a Food Festival is Preserving Riverside's Spanish Heritage
Riverside celebrates its twelfth annual Tamale Festival in 2025. Over that time, it has evolved from a modest culinary event into a vibrant cultural celebration that draws thousands of visitors.
Founded by descendants of Spanish Town settlers, the festival has grown from a foodiefocused gathering into a much larger production celebrating the pre-Riverside history of Spanish and Native American culture. More than just a food festival, it serves as a crucial fundraiser to bring awareness to one of California's oldest standing structures, the historic Trujillo Adobe, near the Riverside border with Colton.
The festival features local vendors offering countless tamale variations, from traditional recipes passed down through generations to innovative modern interpretations. Live music, dance performances, and cultural demonstrations create a lively atmosphere where families and friends gather to enjoy the festivities while supporting a worthy cause.
This cultural celebration points visitors toward local history that predates modern Riverside. The
Trujillo Adobe represents the foundation of La Placita and Agua Mansa, twin settlements that once flourished on opposite banks of the Santa Ana River. These villages were established by adventurous settlers who journeyed from New Mexico along the Spanish Trail, drawn by promises of fertile, free land in California.
"As the building continued to deteriorate, the movement to save what is left and create something new is thriving," explained Sharon Kasner-Trujillo, a Trujillo descendant and Spanish Town board member who has witnessed both the adobe's challenges and the festival's evolution through the years.
Though weathered by time, the adobe now rests protected from further deterioration by a purpose-built structure shielding it from elements and vandalism. The restoration efforts have become part of the city's larger plan to revitalize Riverside's Northside neighborhood, transforming historical vulnerability into cultural strength.
The Tamale Festival embodies what makes Riverside special. For locals, tamales are reason
enough to gather, a delicious excuse to come together as a community. But when culinary tradition couples with another passion of Riverside residents, their history and the preservation of their history, the result is a powerful event that resonates across generations.
The festival transforms food into a vehicle for historical appreciation, making heritage accessible through one of humanity's most universal languages: food. Each bite connects them to the journey of those New Mexican settlers who traversed the Spanish Trail seeking new beginnings.
The Tamale Festival proves that historical preservation doesn't have to be a solemn affair. It can be joyous, flavorful, and communityminded—a celebration that nourishes both body and civic pride while ensuring that Riverside's rich cultural heritage continues to thrive for generations to come.
The twelfth annual Riverside Tamale Festival returns to White Park on Saturday, April 26. For more info please visit rivtamalefest.com or their Instagram @rivtamalefest
WORDS: KEN CRAWFORD
PHOTOS: JULIAN JOLLIFFE
Inside the Trujillo Adobe
Children who have been abused and neglected deserve the opportunity to
Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteers provide hope.
Children enter foster care because they have been abused, neglected, or abandoned. The Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) model empowers trained volunteers to advocate for the needs of children and help judges make the most informed decisions for children’s futures. In Riverside County, Voices for Children is the only nonprofit organization designated by the courts to train and support CASA volunteers for children living in foster care.
With the support of a CASA from Voices for Children, a child is more likely to receive essential services, and find a safe, permanent home. Over time, a CASA often becomes the most consistent adult in a child's life—someone the child knows they can count on. Join us in making a lasting impact on the lives of these children in need. Volunteer to support local youth in foster care.
Meet Your Local Artist
Rosy Cortez
Presented by Eastside Arthouse
Written by Chris Menezes
Photos by Danny Zúñiga
Before you know her story, you can feel it in her work. In a portrait of her mother, exhausted yet unbreakable. In a mural of Indigenous women rooted to their land, history written into every line. For Rosy Cortez, painting has always been a way to honor where she comes from—and to remind others they belong too. Her own path wasn’t easy. Rosy walked away from a job as a product photographer and took a leap—trading the security of a steady paycheck for a shot at becoming a full-time artist. With no connections or clear path forward, she started small, listing her paintings on OfferUp for a dollar, sometimes
painting has always been a way to honor where she comes from
less. She applied for every opportunity she could find. Slowly, things started to shift. An artist residency with UC Riverside’s Latino and Latin American Research Studies Center gave her the support to deepen her voice. It was there she began anchoring her work in community empowerment —using art not just as expression, but as connection. That same spirit brought her to Eastside Arthouse, where she trained under renowned muralist Juan Navarro. Through his mentorship, Rosy learned what it meant to paint with people, not just for them. She quickly found her place as a muralist. Her work began appearing across the region—from a large-scale mural project in Moreno Valley College to an Altura Credit Union-sponsored community mural and schools in the Val Verde Unified School District. But painting wasn’t enough. She wanted to open doors for others, too. Rosy began advocating for more city-funded mural projects, helping secure opportunities for other local artists. She now serves on the city’s Arts Commission board, using her seat to amplify the voices of artists who often go unheard. Recognition followed, and with it, milestones. Her painting Work Ethic, a powerful tribute to her mother as a warehouse worker, was
acquired into the permanent collection of The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture. It was a defining moment—but not the one that defines her. That came with Still Here, a nearly 3,000-square-foot mural created in front of Riverside’s Historic Courthouse.
Painted in collaboration with local Native community leaders and guided by Serrano teacher and filmmaker Rosy Aranda, the piece features three generations of Indigenous women, each blending into their native landscapes. It begins with a Cahuilla phrase U’mun Chemqal Eppa—We Are Still Here— which grounds the work in survival and presence. It’s a visual declaration of resilience, both personal and collective. Rosy’s reach continues to expand. She’s exhibited her work in San Diego, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Texas. Soon, she’ll contribute to the expansion of The Great Wall of Los Angeles under the direction of legendary muralist Judy Baca—a fullcircle moment for someone who once gave her art away just to get it seen. Through it all, Rosy remains grounded in the Riverside community that shaped her—and committed to lifting others along the way. Her work speaks for itself, for others, and for her.
UC Riverside takes center stage: 13 must-see performing arts events this spring
With UCR’s diverse array of programming, there’s something for everyone
Let creativity ignite your senses! Each spring quarter performance at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) marks the culmination of a year’s work for its students. These events promise to deliver unforgettable audience experiences, from gripping theater and high-energy music to powerful dance and thought-provoking literary conversations.
PHOTO: DENNIS CHA / UC RIVERSIDE
PHOTO: DENNIS CHA / UC RIVERSIDE
stage:
THIS IS BEYOND MERE ENTERTAINMENT.
It’s an opportunity to connect with the arts, support local talent, and enjoy performances that resonate with you long after the final curtain falls.
The stage is set. The lights are up. WILL YOU BE THERE?
A DOLL’S HOUSE
UCR’s Department of Theatre, Film, and Digital Production (TFDP) presents A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen, a tale of one woman’s decisive conflict between her own desires and society’s expectations.
Date(s): Thu-Sat, May 8-10 & 15-17, 8 p.m. Sat., May 17, 2:30 p.m.
Location: Studio Theatre, ARTS 113
Tickets: $15 general, $12 students/UCR alumni cardholders, senior citizens & children
PLAYWORKS
Playworks and New Works Festivals will showcase emerging playwrights and their original works.
Date(s): Wed-Thu, May 28-29, 7 p.m.
Location: Studio Theatre, ARTS 113
Tickets: Free and open to the public
NEW WORKS FESTIVAL
Date(s): Wed-Fri, June 4-6, 7 p.m.
Location: Studio Theatre, ARTS 113
Tickets: Free and open to the public
TFDP FILM SHOWCASE
The TFDP Film Showcase will spotlight original short films by students in UCR’s Department of Theatre, Film, and Digital Production.
Date(s): Tue, May 20, 7 p.m.
Location: University Theatre
Tickets: Free and open to the public
SPRING FORWARD
Performing Arts
Spring Forward will feature original choreography from UCR Department of Dance students.
Date(s): May 2025
Location: (location, dates, & times TBD)
Tickets: TBD
WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL
Date(s): Fri, May 2, 7 p.m.
Location: University Theatre
Tickets: Free and open to the public
MEXICAN MUSIC & DANCE
Date(s): Thu, May 22 @ 8 p.m.
Location: University Theatre
Tickets: $10 general, $8 students/seniors, $6 child
Tickets: $10 general, $8 students/seniors, $6 child
WRITERS WEEK
The 48th annual Writers Week festival will gather authors, poets, and critics for engaging discussions and readings that explore the power of the written word.
Tickets: $10 general, $8 students/seniors, $6 child
DISCOVER PROMISING NEW TALENT AT UC RIVERSIDE.
Located in the heart of the Inland Empire, UCR is home to emerging new talent in dance, music, theatre, and creative writing. UCR is located at 900 University Ave. in Riverside. Ticket purchase and details for the following events can be found at performingarts.ucr.edu
Anime Riverside
The Festival You Didn't Know You Were Missing
WORDS: KEN CRAWFORD
PHOTOS: ADDIE SCHNIREL
Anime Riverside drew 17,000 visitors to the Riverside Convention Center and Marriott Hotel in 2024, and more than that is expected this year. The growing pains phase at Anime Riverside wasn’t long. In its third year, this Squirtle is well on its way to Blastoise. Set for May 31-June 1, 2025, at the Riverside Convention Center, this celebration of Japanese animation and pop culture has quickly become one of the biggest recurring events in Riverside, alongside the Festival of Lights and Dia De Los Muertos celebrations.
Don't be scared off by the “Anime.” While anime (Japanese animation) is at its core, Anime Riverside is designed as an accessible festival for everyone, whether you're a dedicated fan or simply curious about experiencing something new and vibrant. The event is particularly familyfriendly, with free admission for children twelve and under.
The festival takes over every inch of the convention center complex, inside and out. It spills into the adjacent parking lots and the Marriott hotel, creating a multi-faceted entertainment experience that feels more like a carnival than a convention. Beyond the colorful costumes and artwork, you'll find activities that appeal to all interests: a free arcade area with classic and modern video games, live wrestling performances that blend sports with theatrical storytelling, and a car show featuring vehicles with custom designs.
Food lovers won't be disappointed either. The event offers everything from familiar comfort foods to Japanese-inspired treats. One unique highlight is the Dreamland Café, where servers in costume create an immersive dining experience unlike anything you'd find at a typical restaurant. Think of it as interactive dinner theater.
As day turns to night, the atmosphere transforms with an official after-party and music events providing entertainment into the evening. Live performances, dance areas, and lounges offer spaces to relax or energize, depending on your preference.
The beauty of Anime Riverside is its variety— you can spend a few hours casually exploring the marketplace for unique handcrafted items, catch a live performance, try some international cuisine, and leave having experienced something completely different from your usual weekend routine. You can also dive deeper, attending panels that introduce you to this colorful world and maybe discover a new passion.
From Niche to Mainstream: Why Japanese Animation is Everywhere Now
The aesthetic of anime has become increasingly familiar. Japanese animation has steadily woven itself into American popular culture over the past few decades, influencing everything from Disney films to Netflix originals.
In the 1980s and 90s, accessing Japanese animation in America required serious dedication. Early fans traded grainy videotapes and dog-eared comic books, often with homemade translations. Shows like Voltron and Sailor Moon that made it to American television were heavily edited, removing cultural references and more mature themes that made the originals distinctive.
The internet changed everything. Today, Japanese animation has moved from obscurity to the mainstream, with major streaming platforms investing billions in acquiring and producing animated content. Hit shows like Attack on Titan and films like Oscar-winner Spirited Away have introduced millions of Americans to a style of storytelling that offers something refreshingly different from typical Hollywood fare.
What makes Japanese animation distinctive? Unlike American cartoons traditionally aimed at children, anime targets a larger variety of genres and audiences. There are animated romantic comedies, intense thrillers, science fiction epics, and slice-of-life dramas. The animation style often features expressive characters with large eyes, colorful hair, and exaggerated emotions that
make the stories universally relatable despite cultural differences.
This accessibility has allowed anime to influence mainstream entertainment in unprecedented ways. Shows like Avatar: The Last Airbender and films like Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse have adopted its distinctive visual styles and storytelling approaches. Fashion designers, musicians, and visual artists regularly draw inspiration from anime aesthetics.
For newcomers, events like Anime Riverside offer an entry point into this wild world. Rather than feeling lost in the thousands of shows and movies, you can experience highlights curated by enthusiasts and professionals. The festival atmosphere makes exploring this cultural phenomenon fun rather than intimidating, with no prior knowledge required to enjoy the vibrant energy and creative displays.
A Festival Where Everyone Belongs
The most compelling reason to visit Anime Riverside isn't the specific content but the positive atmosphere these gatherings create. Many social spaces feel increasingly divided or exclusive, and anime conventions have developed a reputation for being extraordinarily welcoming to people of all backgrounds.
The magic begins with costumes. Known as "cosplay" (costume play), dressing as fictional characters is a central tradition at these events. While some attendees create elaborate outfits that take months to perfect, others participate
and to connect over shared interests without the social barriers that can define everyday interactions.
The festival's diverse programming ensures something for everyone, regardless of age or interest level. Families can enjoy age-appropriate entertainment during the day, while adults find more sophisticated content in the evening. Food options cater to various dietary preferences, and accessibility accommodations ensure that visitors with disabilities can participate fully.
with simple accessories or casual interpretations. There's no judgment either way, the point is expression and enjoyment rather than competition. This spirit extends throughout the festival. Unlike some cultural events that can feel intimidating
to newcomers, anime conventions cultivate an atmosphere where asking questions is encouraged and enthusiasm trumps expertise. Attendees often report feeling a refreshing sense of freedom, the liberty to express joy, to embrace creativity,
What makes Anime Riverside particularly special is how it draws attendees from all backgrounds, creating a melting pot that enriches the experience for everyone. Many first-time visitors are surprised to discover the community that quickly develops among strangers united by curiosity and openness to new experiences. In a time when many people report feeling increasingly isolated despite digital connectivity, the in-person nature of the festival provides something valuable: authentic human connection. Whether you're a lifelong anime enthusiast or someone who couldn't name a single Japanese show, you'll find people ready to welcome you into conversations, activities, and shared moments of discovery.
After attending, many visitors report that the most memorable aspect wasn't any specific attraction but the feeling of having stepped into a space where imagination is celebrated and finding connection feels effortless. In creating this pocket of joy and acceptance, Anime Riverside offers something increasingly precious: a place where everyone can feel like they belong.
As event organizer Colin Bass puts it, "Anime Riverside is more than just a convention! With celebrities, vendors, live entertainment, and tons of free games and activities all weekend long, there’s literally something for everybody. The city of Riverside has been amazing to us, and we are so happy to come back for year four! (in 2026)."
Anime Riverside returns to the Riverside Convention Center May 31-June 1. For more info visit animeriverside.com or their Instagram @anime.riverside
The Artist Next Door
Juan Navarro Showcases
Eastside Heritage in “Hecho en Park Avenue” Exhibition
WORDS: KEN CRAWFORD
PHOTOS: ZACH CORDNER
"Hecho en Park Avenue," currently on display at the Altura Credit Union Community Gallery through September 28, documents the Eastside neighborhood's cultural heritage through the work of artist Juan Navarro and his Eastside Arthouse collaborators.
The exhibition, funded in part by U.S. Bank, is hosted by The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture and focuses on Park Avenue, a central thoroughfare in Riverside's historic Eastside neighborhood. It shows how the Chicano people of Riverside have maintained a legacy of advocacy and cultural pride, with artists reflecting neighborhood residents' experiences.
The exhibition includes paintings, photography, and interactive elements inviting viewers to contribute their vision for the neighborhood's future. Visitors can experience how Riverside's Eastside has evolved while maintaining its cultural identity through periods of change and development.
"With the right murals the people feel seen, the neighborhood becomes humanized and selfworth elevated," Navarro said. "It is hard to dehumanize a community filled with vibrant color."
While the mobile part of the exhibition is housed in the Cheech’s Community Gallery, Navarro encourages visitors to explore the neighborhood itself. Murals don't travel well, and the scale and context of public art is best appreciated in person. The Park Avenue Arts District features nine distinct murals, each addressing different aspects of community identity and history.
The new exhibition at The Cheech is curated by Michelle Espino and Juan Navarro.
Juan Navarro, "El Padre Dedicado," 30” x 40”, 2025, acrylic on wood panel. Dedication to David Garcia and J. Feliz Garcia, Spotless Detail Supply.
Multiplying What He Was Given Behind "Hecho en Park Avenue" lies the story of Navarro's residency with the Riverside Art Museum. Navarro has grown from student artist to established creator during this period.
As the founder of Eastside Arthouse, a coworking studio for local artists, Navarro explained, "The big change was when individual projects with one to two months gaps of no work turned into monthly projects then turned into an offering of an artist in residency application—not only did it include an annual commitment for programming, but The Branch, which is a physical house that was placed in the neighborhood that I served."
This placement of "The Branch" in the community itself rather than within the museum's walls marked a significant shift in how the museum engaged with the Eastside neighborhood. Having a physical space embedded in the community allowed Navarro to build deeper relationships with residents and create work that responded directly to local needs and histories.
If you've driven through Riverside's Eastside neighborhood or visited local institutions, you've likely seen Navarro's murals. His work also appears on walls in other parts of the city, for organizations like Altura Credit Union, Riverside Community Health Foundation and Sandals
Church, spreading his sense of serving the community throughout Riverside.
"I am predominantly a community based muralist, creating placemaking projects that reflect the local people and contribute to beautification efforts," Navarro explained. "I see this as a way to make our city iconic in the arts and building local pride. Transforming our landscape with textures of high culture is something that inspires me to keep going."
With an associate's degree in Human Behavioral Studies from RCC, Navarro brings a unique perspective to his social practice approach. His education has allowed him to position public art
Navarro views artist Daniel Toledo's extraordinary painting of the late and great Ofelia Valdez Yeager at the "Hecho en Park Avenue" exhibition.
The Branch
Andrea Lopez, Pan de Vida, “Ten mi niña ya tenemos suficiente para comer," 2025, 22” x 28” oil on canvas, framed. Dedication to Chela’s Bakery.
not just as decoration but as a catalyst for neighborhood cohesion. Throughout his residency at "The Branch," Navarro has developed projects that directly engage community members, documenting local heritage while encouraging residents to imagine their community's future.
The residency provided consistent structural support, allowing Navarro to develop projects systematically rather than sporadically. This consistency proved essential for building community trust and allowing longer-term initiatives to take root and flourish.
The Park Avenue Storefront Revitalization project became a key element of his residency work. The initiative created multiple art locations along the corridor, including sites dedicated to themes like "Lincoln Park History and Civil Rights Leaders," "Mexican Beauty," "Monarch Paradise," and "Polynesian Patterns." This collection of public art provides a foundation for ongoing creative work.
Each mural location was carefully chosen to enhance the neighborhood's existing character while addressing historical elements often
overlooked in mainstream narratives about Riverside. The "Lincoln Park History and Civil Rights Leaders" mural, for instance, commemorates the park's history as a gathering place for community organizing and civil rights activism, a history many younger residents were unaware of before the project began.
"I am very grateful for the Riverside Art Museum for always letting the community lead when it came to programming," Navarro reflected. "The Park Avenue Storefront Revitalization project has transformed not only the visual landscape of
Eastside Arthouse members art show in 2024.
Right: Rick Garcia, "This Is Your Sign," 2025, 40” x 30” , acrylic on canvas.
the community but has created a more warm atmosphere for people to thrive in."
Navarro's approach to working with institutions reflects a pragmatic philosophy about creating change. "I am definitely not anti-institution," Navarro stated. "But instead find ways to collaborate with institutions for the well-being of our community. Being involved in processes with institutions allows me to be a witness to positive change and holding leaders accountable. Creating opportunities for the arts to collaborate with initiatives not only builds you as an artist but also makes you a stakeholder in community leadership and civic engagement."
This perspective positions artists as potential bridges between institutions and communities— not simply creators making work about communities, but active participants in civic processes affecting neighborhood development and cultural representation.
Navarro’s work builds on a foundation of working muralists in the community, including Cosme Cordova with Division 9 Gallery, Mano
Mirande with Mano Y Mano Productions, Jeff Soto, Max Gramajo, Ronald Del Cid and Ken Stansbury who have long contributed to the city's public art scene.
These successful artists paved the way for Riverside's current cultural ecosystem, creating a network of artists and organizers working across different neighborhoods and contexts. Navarro does not see other artists as competition has focused on building relationships that amplify collective impact.
The residency has also included educational components, with Navarro mentoring emerging artists and leading workshops for community members interested in participating in public art projects. This knowledge-sharing approach ensures that the skills developed during the residency period extend beyond Navarro's individual practice.
Not Done Yet
As his residency at "The Branch" concludes, Navarro faces the immediate challenge of finding new housing. Despite this transition, he desires to stay in Riverside long-term. The city's support for arts and his connection to the community drive this decision.
"The grass is green where you water it," Navarro said about artists considering Riverside as a home base. "Staying in Riverside as a young artist to grow your journey is not easy, but with a lot of effort, collaboration, grit and willingness to grow your skill set, there is always a way to become successful. I see it happen in the Eastside Arthouse everyday."
This commitment to place runs counter to familiar narratives about creative success
Art installation at Eastside Arthouse.
requiring relocation to major art centers like Los Angeles or New York. For Navarro, success means building sustainable artistic practice within the community where his work has the most direct impact and meaning.
The Eastside Arthouse remains open and active as Navarro pursues his next moves. He wants to help create structured pathways for local artists to access commercial clients while receiving fair compensation for their work. It addresses both practical economic needs and larger questions about valuing creative labor in community contexts.
"At times I see artists are shamed out of profitability as if art for community was a religious practice that should not have economic gain," Navarro observed. "Meanwhile no one questions IT contractor fees. Art is a human need and artists
are bearers of culture. As much as technological advancements are needed, so is cultural identity needed to have a thriving city."
His desire addresses a common challenge: talent migration to larger cities. By connecting local artists with commercial clients, Navarro hopes to ensure fair compensation while keeping artistic skills within the community. This approach marks a shift from earlier generations who avoided commercial connections.
"A simple way to measure a city that appreciates artists is if the artist can afford to own a home in the city that it serves," Navarro noted. "This is the goal for every young artist that wants to stay in the community they were born and raised."
This focus on economic sustainability represents a holistic view of what makes arts communities thrive; not just cultural appreciation
but material support that allows artists to remain rooted in place over time. It acknowledges that while passion drives creative work, practical considerations determine whether artists can maintain their practice in specific locations.
Navarro also would like to continue and expand his teaching practice, sharing technical skills and community engagement approaches with emerging artists. These educational efforts will concentrate on creating pipelines for local youth to develop artistic skills that can translate into career opportunities.
As "Hecho en Park Ave" demonstrates, Navarro's work represents his artistic vision, his sense of community, his “big picture” planning strategies, and the soundness of Riverside’s investment in Juan Navarro.
Map of Murals
A People’s History of the Inland Empire Eastside Riverside
WORDS: CATHERINE GUDIS, AUDREY MAIER, & JENNIFER TILTON
Here in the Eastside, Black, Brown, you know, very poor, a lot of time there wasn't food at home. ...And so my dad grew up eating soul food and many of his friends who were Black, knew about chile verde, menudo... if they didn't have any food they'd go to Zacatecas when we opened up in 1963. I don't remember my mom turning down anybody at the restaurant who didn't have money. – Bill Medina, 2024
But that was how our community was back then. That was the beauty of it. It was that we took care of each other and it wasn't this color thing. – Melba Scott, 2023
Joe Venegas Sr. (bottom left, next to his son) and braceros, working at L.V.W. Brown groves, 1950s. Courtesy of Manuel and Yolanda Venegas, peopleshistoryie.org
Racial Segregation in Riverside in 1940 showing multi-ethnic Eastside & segregated white neighborhoods.
Mapping Race in the IE 1900-1940, peopleshistoryie.org
For the last five years, A People’s History of the I.E. has met with Eastsiders who grew up in the neighborhood in the 1960s and 70s. Though the era was marked by segregation and the efforts to gain civil rights, their stories portray a vibrant, working-class, multiracial neighborhood that offered space for joy, resistance, and especially good food and great music.
Interviews like these allow us to experience history from the ground up in the voices of the people who lived it. Organized by Drs. Catherine Gudis, Jennifer Tilton, and Audrey Maier, A People’s History of the I.E. (peopleshistoryie.org) is a digital archive, mapping platform, and public art collaborative that documents historic communities of color, working people, and LGBTQ+ individuals in Riverside and San Bernardino. The project collects oral histories, photos, and other archival sources and maps these materials and census records to let us see patterns of settlement and segregation that shaped our region. Our work builds upon other collections assembled by Riverside Public Library for Shades of Riverside; Vince Moses for Museum of Riverside; Leslie Caroline at riversider. org; the Riverside African American Historical Society; and Doug McCulloh and Susan Straight.
Allen AME Chapel Rev. Touissant and Ruth Patterson with extended family at Walter and Duchess Williams’s Riverside garden party for May birthdays, c. 1932. Courtesy Alma Stokes Patterson, peopleshistoryie.org
From the start, the goal was to create a more representative interpretation of the region, and to demythologize founding narratives of Riverside’s citrus heritage. Eliza Tibbets didn’t cultivate the first navel orange tree on her own— John B. Adams, a Black laborer from North Carolina helped bud and graft the fruit; Native people cleared the land they had been removed from and were pressed into wage labor; and Chinese immigrants from Guangdong province brought knowledge that grew the industry. We worked with the Relevancy & History Project partnership between California Citrus State Historic Park and UCR to do archival research and interviews that uncovered how the Eastside became home to the diverse waves of immigrants who came to fill Riverside’s agricultural needs. Chinese men
lived in wooden shacks when they built the railroad here in the 1880s. Korean families later moved in, creating Pachappa Camp—the first organized Koreatown in the U.S. right beside a Japanese settlement, which later became home to Mexican families. It was labeled on maps as “Korean Shanties” and was across the street from “Japanese Shanties.” Decades later this was relabeled “Mexican Shanties.”
African Americans formed the spine of the Eastside as early as the 1880s, founding churches including Park Ave and Second Baptist, the Colored Mercantile Hall in 1905, and the first NAACP in 1919. By the 1920s and 30s, their names were interspersed with those of the Lozano, Sakaguchi, and Chavarrias families, who owned shops on Park Avenue and lived in the adjacent homes. All
were confined by housing segregation to the eastside of the railroad tracks.
To learn more about Eastside, A People’s History collaborated with other groups—the model it has always used—to host community collection events and showcase findings (see sweetandsourcitrus.org ). Families like the Venegas’ brought historic family photographs that became part of a new digital archive. Materials shared by local families bolstered research, showing that by the 1920s, Mexican workers became the main labor force in the citrus groves and the packinghouses that lined Commerce Avenue (then called Pachappa). Family members often traveled across the region to help with the harvest. The smallest kids, fondly called “ratas,” scrambled under the trees to find fallen fruit, or to pick
Korean boy near a settlement along the railroad tracks. Special Collections & University Archives, UC Riverside. Courtesy YOK Center for Korean American Studies.
Commerce St. car show, 2023. Photo by Diana Campos, peopleshistoryie.org
Eastside Merchant Team, 1948. Riverside County Mexican American Historical Society, peopleshistoryie.org
Dell Roberts saved this and other photos of Food Machinery & Chemical Corporation plant workers from the trash. Courtesy Dell Roberts, peopleshistoryie.org and inlandcivilrights.org
View of outdoor installation of Eastside history exhibit in progress on Commerce at 6th St., January 2025.
Photo by Zach Tilton Kreines, peopleshistoryie.org
View of the corner of Fifth and Commerce St before the historic citrus warehouse burned down, Riverside, 2024. Photo by Henry Apodaca, peopleshistoryie.org
from the lowest branches. Digitized photographs— including 500 from Riverside County Mexican American Historical Society now hosted at peopleshistoryie.org–illustrate these stories.
Oral history interviews shed light on Eastside’s tight social networks, with Lincoln Park at the heart of the community. It was built in 1924 with a pool and three buildings to house the Community Settlement Association. Children including greats like Bobby Bonds grew up playing baseball, or watching it at the wildly popular and competitive nighttime games. In the 1940s, team rivalries became newsworthy, as when the crowds got rowdy when the Mexican Dons sponsored by Tillie’s (the Black mortuary) defeated the all-Black Settlement House Dukes.
In the 1960s, painter-sculptor Leer Larkin hosted outdoor art classes in the park, until he opened Nosotros Fine Arts Workshop, which he ran from the 1970s until he died in 1992. He made Nosotros a cultural gathering place for poets, artists, and youth of all ages, and consistently
stood up for social justice. Eastside Arthouse today builds on this legacy.
Oscar and Josefina Medina opened Zacatecas restaurant in 1963, a cafe without color lines, where all were welcome. Though it has moved twice since, Zacatecas remains a family-run Eastside hub, as much for the chismé (gossip) as the food. Melba Scott and Suzie Medina recall how people watched out for each other within the neighborhood, which felt like a small town built within the boundaries of the segregated city of Riverside. Many people of color left agricultural and domestic service to open similar businesses serving the Eastside community. George Sakaguchi opened a market on 11th and Park that Juanita Chavarrias later bought, so her son Tony would have more opportunities than citrus could offer. (It’s still there today as Tony’s Market.) Eddie and Peggy Streeter held multiple jobs, including a real estate office. Their son Herman, as one descendant explained “was an Army trained lab technician and real estate
salesman for his father… He wanted to go on to premed. To make extra money, he showcased performers at the Tahitian Club.”
Master storytellers like Dell Roberts brought us back to what Eastside was like in the 1960s:
“Park Avenue had Black businesses all the way from 14th to University. It had barber shops, restaurants, a Blue Lantern Cafe, pool halls, and Lincoln Park was a part of that. So, you know, it's like if you went out of town, the last thing you did before you left was to drive down Park Avenue. And you'd be waving at people so everybody would know you were going out of town. When you came back, they were all, ‘Oh you made it back!’ It was really this family type.” He and many others remembered the good music at Palmer’s Chicken House and a honky tonk down 10th Street in Green Hollow.
Much of the citrus and industrial history of the neighborhood is out of view today—the groves and warehouses gone. Driving down Commerce Street, a few dilapidated 19th-century warehouses
Max and Josefina Medina sitting at the counter of Zacatecas, c. 1971. Courtesy of William Medina, peopleshistoryie.org
Tony, Mary, Juanita, and Betty Chavarrios with their friend Lucy at Tony’s Market (late 1940s). Riverside County Mexican American Historical Society, peopleshistoryie.org
Gilbert G. Vasquez (1933-2024), seen here in uniform, had a similar trajectory as other Eastside Latinos of his generation. The military was a route out of citrus work. Vasquez went on to serve 30 years in the Sheriff’s Department. Riverside County Mexican American Historical Society, peopleshistoryie.org
Suzi Medina and Leer Larkin at Zacatecas on University Ave., 1990. Courtesy of William Medina, peopleshistoryie.org
A People’s History of the Inland Empire: Eastside
Riverside
are all that remain of the once-booming citrus packinghouse industrial district. But the street has a secret life, where on select weekends multitudes of vintage lowriders congregate—many brought by longtime, multigenerational Eastsiders willing to hazard the drive along abandoned railroad tracks.
These industrial ruins inspired A People’s History of the I.E’s public art project Live From the Frontline, which explores the long history of logistics in eight neighborhoods, including Eastside. Live from the Frontline brings artists into the archives and the infrastructural landscape of railroads, warehouses, and irrigation canals to explore the roots of environmental racism in the I.E. Eastside’s relationship to this history was highlighted in a pop-up exhibit at the Civil Rights Institute (January 12-February 14, 2025) and a bilingual outdoor photo installation and Historic Landmark signs that now beautify the chain link fence along Commerce at 6th Street.
Significant development is planned for Commerce Street, including a cut-through at Fourth Street to make way for the Third Street. underpass and a residential development for Commerce from Mission Inn Avenue to Fifth Street. Despite redevelopment, community members continue to preserve and tell the stories of the Eastside, landmarking important sites like Mercantile Hall/Orange Valley Lodge, Community Settlement Association, and Miné Okubo’s childhood home, and acknowledging the historic context for Japanese, African American, and Latino sites so they are saved. As part of Live from the Frontline and other projects, A People’s History and the Civil Rights Institute continue to invite Eastsiders and all Riversiders to share stories and photos— not just with us, but with the educators and culture keepers who bring these collective memories to life for the next generations through art, curriculum, and life lessons.
Contact us to share your stories at peopleshistoryie@gmail.com.
Wedding of Susan Enid McCoy and Reginald Errol Strickland, Riverside, 1956. Courtesy of Eric Strickland, peopleshistoryie.org
Michelle Strickland and her cousin Natalie Lawless at Civil Rights Institute, 2025. Their relatives came to Riverside in the late 19th century. Photo by C. Gudis, peopleshistoryie.org and inlandcivilrights.org
Historical Riverside
Mercantile Hall – Orange Valley Masonic Lodge #13 City of Riverside Landmark No. 150
WORDS: PHILIP FALCONE
In 2022, the City of Riverside received grant funding from the National Park Service to identify historically signification people, places, and events in Riverside through the African American community lens. These are known as context surveys or statements and follow the National Park Service and U.S. Department of the Interior’s framework for cataloging history. The survey examined the African American experience in Riverside from 1970 to 2022.
A question of why cities or government agencies should catalog such history seemingly always arises among contrarian perspectives. A counter of a larger question seems appropriate: why do we care to catalog any history, of any kind? The United States is a country that cares deeply about history—one of the primary roles of the U.S. Secretary of the Interior is to be a national custodian of the country’s historical record. More locally, to say Riverside values its history would be an understatement. It is one of the greatest charms of Riverside to be a city that is no longer a sleepy citrus town—larger than 99 percent of all cities in the nation—yet still has a deep, personal connection to days since past.
A cornerstone of the context statement is to identify historically significant buildings. The research found nineteen buildings in Riverside that met the criteria for being historically significant
and worthy of protection. These nineteen were also evaluated for National and California Register eligibility—these two registers are the state and federal lists of historically protected sites.
Locally, there is a list of 150 City of Riverside landmarks—both publicly and privately owned— that, in an ideal circumstance, ensure protection of the physical structure in perpetuity. Several of these landmarks are considered obvious like the Mission Inn, Heritage House, and Fox Theater but there are several that simply judging from the architecture one would not assume them to be worthy of landmark designation. However, architectural significance is just one prong of a multi-pronged criterium for landmark designation. Significant architects, significant architecture, and significant historical events that occurred at the site are three of the most common “buckets” historians examine when determining applicability for landmark designation.
On March 11, 2025, the Riverside City Council declared Mercantile Hall – Orange Valley Masonic Lodge #13 as city landmark number 150. The Lodge, located at 2931 12th Street in the Eastside neighborhood, has roots dating back to 1905.
The following excerpts from the context statement provide background information on the founder and builder of Mercantile Hall, David Stokes and the Stokes Family:
The Riversider | April/May 2025
Mercantile Hall, 1912
In 1900, out of the nearly 8,000 residents in the City of Riverside, only a few hundred were African American. Although Riverside offered better economic opportunities and improved social conditions than places in the South, discrimination by employers did limit occupation and wealth building opportunities throughout the nineteenth and into the twentieth centuries. The earliest African American “pioneers” in Riverside would become role models for the following African American community—owning land, opening businesses, and building a tight-knit community.
While there is little information on the majority of the nineteenth century African Americans in the City of Riverside, a few pioneers of the era are remembered by historians and local residents. These include Nicey Tibbets, Robert Stokes, and the Decatur, Dumas, Streeter, Carter, and Williams families. Robert Stokes, who arrived with a Caucasian family from Georgia, and Nicey Tibbets, who accompanied Eliza Tibbets, both came to Riverside in the 1870s. The Stokes family raised hogs prior to Robert Stokes becoming the first Black policeman in 1889.
Come 1900 there were still a small number of entrepreneurs within the African American community focused in the Eastside neighborhood. As African American and Latino entrepreneurs opened stores, a small concentration of businesses along Park Avenue and University Avenue emerged into the 1920s and1930s. One such entrepreneur was David Stokes. David, Robert Stokes’ nephew, came to Riverside after hearing from his uncle that Riverside offered better opportunities than he could find in the South. In 1905, he and associates built the Colored American Mercantile Hall on 12th Street. According to The Colored Citizen
“On March 11, 2025 the Riverside City Council declared Mercantile Hall –Orange Valley Masonic Lodge #13 as city landmark number 150.”
newspaper, “This was the biggest enterprise undertaken by the colored people of Riverside.” It served as a multipurpose building for the Eastside African- and Mexican American communities. It housed businesses and was home to the Black fraternal orders. David was treasurer of the Second Baptist Church and a member of the Orange Valley Lodge #13 Masons.
In retrospect, the Stokes family checked off more Riverside “icon status” when David’s son, Oscar Stokes, helped his father plant the first Washington navel orange trees in 1917 on the grounds of University of California, Riverside Citrus Experiment Station. Oscar once said, “The ground was so hard we had to blast holes in it” to plant the trees in the granite-rich dirt in the shadows of the Box Springs Mountains.
David Stokes and Aaron Wiley ran the Stokes and Wiley Grocery Store on the first floor of the Mercantile Hall building along with an ice cream and sweet shop run by Will Goodwin. The second floor of the Hall was used for a multipurpose gathering space. It was at this time that the Orange Valley Masonic Lodge #13, of which David Stokes was a member, was established due to segregation that prevented African Americans from joining Caucasian fraternal organizations and social clubs. This second floor meeting room become the Masonic Lodge’s headquarters.
Fraternal organizations served various goals: mutual aid and insurance, political interests, or social functions, but they each offered their members the comfort of stability and belonging in a dynamic and rapidly industrializing society— but were also strictly segregated and male-only. Notable examples of such organizations are the Freemasons, the Knights of Columbus, the
Rechabites, the Odd Fellows, the Good Templars, the Elks, the Shriners, and Rotary Clubs.
In 1931, the African American community met at Mercantile Hall to raise funds for the defense of the Scottsboro boys, nine African American male teenagers wrongfully accused of raping two white women in Tennessee. By the 1950s, the building’s primary use and owner was the Masonic Lodge.
The building answered the community call once more when in 1965 it became a “Freedom School” along with nearby churches and homes in the boycott of de facto segregation in Eastside public schools after the burning of Lowell School— one of the Eastside’s two schools and one of only three schools in the city with a near one hundred percent minority population.
For the following decades the Lodge remained a hub for the community, offering temporary shelter for those without a home, a warm meal during the holidays, event days and giveaways for local children and more. In 2021, the façade and western sides of the building were transformed with murals. On the front, a blue and orange mural depicts the profiles of Cesar Chavez and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The west side elevation features a mural painted by Juan Navarro, Maryam Crogman and Willis Salomon that celebrates Eastside history including a representation of the Stokes & Wiley store.
The certifying of the landmark designation simply codified into City of Riverside code what the Eastside community and beyond have known for years—Mercantile Hall and Orange Valley Masonic Lodge #13 are foundational to the history and legacy of the African American experience in Riverside and worthy of such formal recognition and preservation.
Images courtesy of the Museum of Riverside and the African American Museum & Library at Oakland
From the Ashes of Lowell School, A New Eastside School Rises
WORDS: PHILIP FALCONE
The Eastside community is one of Riverside’s oldest neighborhoods—one that has a deep pride in place and a generational tradition that results in residents being born, raised, and living their entire lives all within a few blocks radius. However, some would say this was not a choice, rather, a forced option or an act of necessity in pre-Civil Rights era Riverside. Many minority groups—particularly Blacks and Latinos—were relegated to “the other side of the tracks,” east of predominantly white and wealthy Downtown Riverside where families lived in small bungalows and worked in nearby citrus packing houses.
While historic, the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, many American schools continued to remain largely racially homogeneous due to neighborhood segregation that had predominantly white students living around
predominantly white schools and the same for minority students and schools.
Come 1965, seventeen percent of Riverside’s student population were minority students and while nearly every school had some minority students, two of Riverside’s three segregated schools were in the Eastside neighborhood—Lowell and Irving Schools. The third was Casa Blanca School. These three schools were almost one hundred percent minority students since their respective neighborhoods mirrored these demographics. Just before the start of the school year in 1965, Lowell School was burned by an arsonist—who to this day is still unknown.
Following the turmoil of 1965, Riverside went on to be the first school district in the nation to voluntarily integrate. However, forced busing in the name of integration was done to counteract the de facto segregation that was caused by Riverside’s neighborhoods being largely segregated.
This was initially encouraged by Black leaders in the Eastside to bus their students to area schools with less than ten percent minority students. They also advocated for the shuttering of Irving School. If all were to continue attending their nearest school, the district would have still been a quasi-segregated district. Required busing coupled with the loss of Lowell School and the demands for the closing of the second school on the Eastside meant that hundreds of students were bussed as long as an hour each morning and an hour each evening to remote corners of town in the name of equal access.
As the years went on, elementary schools Longfellow and Emerson were constructed which helped with some closer-to-home options for Eastside students, but 1,400 were still being bused out of the neighborhood due to the Eastside’s—and Riverside’s—burgeoning population. Come 2005, the school district was prepared to build an additional
elementary school on the Eastside but due to an inability to find a suitable location, that plan withered on the vine. The community leaders continued to press on and for the subsequent ten years advocated at every turn to deliver a new school for the neighborhood.
In 2016, the passage of the Measure O bond brought new hope to the discussion. The $392 million bond was written with the purpose of renovating existing schools and acquiring land for the construction of new schools. The RUSD Board of Education and community committed to finding a suitable location and constructing the school—pledging to not allow history to repeat itself. After lengthy community outreach and searching for the right location, only one site had enough workable land. In 2024, RUSD began acquiring the necessary parcels on 14th Street and Howard Avenue near Lincoln Park and Lincoln High School to be the site for the new elementary school.
Today, nearly all the lots are acquired and a large construction fence surrounds the expansive site that has been cleared of former automotive shops and houses. Tall signs at each corner project above the fence line and proudly display the architectural rendering for the new $118 million school. Construction is scheduled to begin this year to welcome the first students in August 2027. Discussions will soon be underway on the naming of the school.
While a bumpy road to get to this point, and full awareness is shared that this school construction will not solve all the challenges of busing and the historical educational discrepancies of the Eastside community, this is a step in the right direction to allow local students to walk to school, attend classes with their neighborhood friends, and participate in after school extracurricular activities. Rising from the literal ashes of Lowell School, the return of an elementary school in the heart of the Eastside is a story in righting a wrong.
The Eastside's Lowell School was firebombed in 1965.
Aerial view of the new school site.
Dining: Eastside
The Riversider | April/May 2025
Buenos Dias Cafe
I am thrilled to say that Eastside’s up and coming artsy vibe has the whole town buzzing. The newest addition to this burgeoning scene is the Buenos Dias Cafe. Family owned and run by two lovely Latinas, the Cafe recently took over the spot on 14th Street right across from Lincoln High School.
Wow, does it have a completely different feel from any place that’s tried to settle in there. When we arrived we noticed the vibrant Frida Kahlo mural on the side of the building as well as the cool tiles representing some of the beauty of Mexican culture. They were playing my favorite Bad Bunny song and, as I grooved, I observed all the thoughtful decor in this cute Cafe.
The Riversider crew had a chance to sit down with Xochilt Retamoza who co-owns the cafe with her sister in law, Susana Perez. She shared that Buenos Dias is a total family affair with also aunts, uncles, and cousins working there, so naturally they are all rooting for it to be successful.
Xochilt also noted that they have been generously embraced by the community and have been feeling the love and support from the locals. I can see why. Their coffee drinks are delicious and different. Their food is somehow a mix of classic yet with a totally modern Mexican flair.
“When you come here we want you to feel like you are eating at home, something your family would make,” Xochilt said. We were happy to try some of their most popular items from their fresh, home made menu.
We started with their avocado toast and it was fantastic! The bread itself is a thick piece of toasted sourdough covered in fresh guacamole, topped with a fried egg and bits of tomato and onion—super yummy. It was simple but really delicious.
Next was the loaded breakfast burrito which consists of your choice of two proteins, potatoes,
WORDS: ALONDRA FIGUEROA
PHOTOS: ZACH CORDNER
egg, cheese, sour cream, and avocado. Mine was made with sausage and weenies (hot dog), and boy did that take me back! So many of us remember having eggs with weenies at home from when we were kids, and it is now even better at Buenos Dias Cafe. Xochilt volunteered that this is a must try on their menu to bring back that nostalgic feeling of Mama's homemade desayunos (breakfast). I tried their horchata latte and was pleasantly surprised at how ingenious it was. Lots of cinnamon and real horchata flavor topped with a marshmallow foam that knocks your socks off.
The chilaquiles, made with your choice of red or green salsa over whichever protein you want, were crispy, cheesy, and perfectly spiced. Tasty and with some heat but not overwhelming; absolutely awesome!
I also tried the dulce de leche iced drink, and, oh my gosh, it was glorious! Dulce de leche is the Latino version of caramel, and theirs is both decadent and light, muy rico! I sampled their new take on fresas and cream in a drink which featured strawberries and cream on the bottom and green matcha on top. This was super cool looking and tasted even better. What a different kind of treat!
Something I really like about their style of service is that they quickly realized that their customers were usually college students and working folk who needed their things to go. Now they serve all of their items essentially in to go containers to make things easier for customers to pick up and go to back to class or work. I love this kind of thing as it shows they really listen to their clientele and value them.
They also make it clear that they welcome everyone of all walks of life to their establishment. Their attention to detail from their bathroom decor to the cool looking cups with heart shaped stoppers made for their housemade agua frescas
are amazing. I tried the cucumber and citrus ones and they were both refreshingly light and sweet, but not overbearingly like others can be. These were perfect.
Last but not least we tried their chicken tamale and new Gansito (chocolate/ berry twinkie style treat) tamales which they may bring to the Tamale Festival in April, so keep an eye out for them there. The Gansito Tamale was a complete shock as I’ve never had such a thing! It was quite good and again very innovative and unique.
Our experience at the Buenos Dias Cafe was excellent. We look forward to seeing them continue to blossom in the Eastside Community. Xochilt mentioned that soon they would be opening up their space for events to support the Eastside Community. They will be hosting live music cycling classes starting in April and look forward to hosting more events in the future.
The future also entails a new location opening up in Colton in April, and they will be serving alcohol! We are so happy to hear that they are doing well and opening another location. Be sure and stop by soon to try some of their coffee and delicious freshly made food…I'm sure you'll be back for more!
Loaded Breakfast Burrito with Orange Agua Fresca
Fresas con Crema Matcha
Avocado Toast
I am a true local agent, born and raised in Riverside, where I graduated from college and ran a business. My deep knowledge of the city and surrounding areas ensures you’ll make informed decisions when buying or selling a home. I am friendly, easygoing, and tenacious when negotiating the best deals for you.
My love for Riverside and commitment to SERVICE are the foundations of Tavaglione Realty Group.
James Antoyan & A Mindful Property Management Company Blumenthal & Moore
SPECIAL THANKS City of Riverside
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Proceeds support the Riverside Art Museum making art and culture more accessible to Inland Empire residents
Postcards From Yesterday
JULIAN
Shade GOES A LONG WAY
With Riverside Public Utilities’ Tree Power Program, you can enjoy cooler summers, lower energy bills, and a more beautiful yard—while also helping the environment. Get up to $40 per tree when you plant approved shade trees, and watch your home’s comfort and efficiency grow. It’s a simple step toward a greener, more sustainable Riverside. Claim your rebate and start planting today!
Looking for an even easier way to add shade? RPU electric customers get a free shade tree each year! Check your March utility bill or, if you’re enrolled in paperless billing, look for your coupon in the mail. Redeem it at participating nurseries through June 30 and start growing your savings today!
Chris Tucker
Saturday, April 19
Bronco
Sunday, April 13
Iliza The Get Ready Tour
Saturday, May 3
Seether The Surface Seems So Far Tour
Sunday, May 25
Charley Crockett
Friday, June 6
Clint Black Back on the Blacktop Tour
Friday, July 4
Los Ángeles Azules
Sunday, October 12
Brett Young Back to Basics World Tour 2025
Friday, May 2
Tom Jones Defy Explanation
Sunday, May 11
An Evening with Jeff Foxworthy Friday, May 30
Bingham’s Bourbon Presents Ryan Bingham and The Texas Gentlemen
Friday, June 13
David Foster and Chris Botti Featuring Katharine Mcphee
