Issuu

August/September 2026

The 50th Anniversary of

BALLET FOLKLORICO DE RIVERSIDE PAGE 28

GAME

ON!

RIVERSIDE FOOTBALL SEASON RETURNS

NEVER MISS A GAME LOCAL FOOTBALL COVERAGE 2026

Football is back! Starting Friday, August 21, 2026, catch live Riverside football all season long. Watch for free on RiversideTV.com/Local-Sports or on cable TV

WATCH LIVE RiversideTV.com/Local-Sports

@CityofRiverside

Plus, don’t miss Friday Night Pep Rally with Pep Fernandez every Friday at 11 p.m., your weekly source for highlights, standout performances, top plays, and a preview of next week’s matchups.

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ZACH CORDNER

Inland Exposures

The Riversider | August/September 2026

Cheech Turns Eighty The legendary Cheech Marin celebrated his 80th birthday recently alongside 1,500 Riversiders at the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Arts and Culture. He took a few big swings at his birthday piñata before breaking it open to reveal a new pair of custom Crocs shoes. His collection of art and the museum where it is housed has become a gathering place for the community and a destination for art enthusiasts all over the world.

JULIAN JOLLIFFE

The Riversider Magazine

ZACH CORDNER

JULIAN JOLLIFFE

ZACH CORDNER

Volume 6 Issue 4

August/September 2026

D E PA R T M E N T S 4 Inland Exposures Cheech Turns Eighty 10 Love Letter To Riverside Summertime in Riverside 14 Riverside's Finest Estella Acuña 18 L ocal Retailer Typewriter Muse 20 L ocal Business Properchop Barbershop 26 Eastside Arthouse Meet Your Local Artist Esmeralda Garcia 40 Community The Newest Riversiders Share Their Impressions of the City 42 Arts Mucho Gusto Festival

Restaurant Review 44 Food Trucks Canvas Pizza 46 Bar & Restaurant Guide The Riversider’s guide to all the best bars and eateries 54 Fast Forward to Yesterday American Fruit Growers Packing House, 1971

F E AT U R E S 22 Sight Unseen Reframed A new photography exhibition featuring blind photographers 28 The 50th Anniversary of Ballet Folklorico de Riverside Celebrating the diverse regions of Mexico through Ballet Folklorico 34 Where to Have Fun & Beat the Heat Indoors in Riverside A list of local businesses that keep it cool in the summer heat

This year's spectacular Fourth of July Mt. Rubidoux fireworks show viewed from the top of City Hall. Photo by Julian Jolliffe

The Riversider Magazine

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.

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ALTURA CREDIT UNION IS PROUD TO BE

JULIAN JOLLIFFE

The finale of this year's Ballet Folklorico de Riverside's 50th Anniversary Showcase at UCR.

Love Letter to Riverside We’re in full summer-mode here in Riverside. This time of year is always rough when it hits triple degree temperatures. Lots of Riversiders leave town for places with cooler climates, but what if you don’t leave town? Well for this issue, we wanted to give you a guide for indoor places to have fun, stay cool, and keep out of the sun. We came up with a list of our favorite activities to do during the summer heat waves. Some of our favorite places are old Riverside standbys, like the arcade at Castle Park and bowling at Arlington Lanes. These spots have been around for decades and are s till fun and nos t algic destinations for longtime Riversiders. We also mention unique one-of-a-kind places like Glo Golf at the Galleria at Tyler and Riverside Archery. We hope it inspires you to get out and experience some new things in town! Our cover stor y for this issue features the legendar y Ballet Folklorico de Riverside. The Riversider Magazine

This year is the organization’s 50th anniversary. It ’s quite an accomplishment that deserves a spotlight in our magazine. The founder, Ana De La Tejera, has dedicated her life to preserving the many regional dances of Mexico. Showcasing the vast regional differences throughout Mexico through dance helps us all understand and appreciate their culture and deep rooted heritage. We wanted to celebrate Ana and her legacy in this issue with beautiful photos taken this year at their 50th Anniversary Showcase held at UCR. We know that this is the last stretch of summer before kids go back to school and hope you and your family can enjoy every minute of it. Try to stay cool, be kind to one another, and we will see you all this fall!

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Volume 6 Issue 4

August/September 2026

Co-Publisher Alondra Figueroa alondra@theriversider.com

Co-Publisher Zach Cordner zach@theriversider.com

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On the Cover: Dancers perform at this year's Ballet Folklorico de Riverside 50th Anniversary Showcase held at UCR. Photo by Zach Cordner The Riversider Magazine

what

do you consider sacred?

solo exhibition by Perry Picasshoe

September 5, 2026 ---------- January 31, 2027 sagradx.com

Riverside's Finest Estella Acuña WORDS: MANO MIRANDÉ PHOTO: RAYMOND ALVA

Estella Acuña has been an advocate and leader within the local community for over three decades. As Director of Chicano Student Programs at UCR since 2008, she has impacted lives and opened opportunities for countless students in not only earning college degrees but helping them to achieve continued success well beyond. Although her journey has been anything but easy, Estella’s unwavering persistence and drive have been instrumental in helping her get to where she is today. Born in the small agricultural community of Florence, Arizona in 1974, her parents divorced when she was only three years old, causing her mother to relocate Estella and her two older sisters to California. “My mom packed up two suitcases, which we still have, they’re very significant for us, and we went on a Greyhound bus from Arizona to Indio,” she recalled. They temporarily moved into a small apartment with her aunt, who had five children of her own, before her mother was able to receive government assistance and move them into a hotel on Indio Boulevard. “From that point, we were transient in a way, we lived in hotels, we didn’t have a car, we didn’t have a lot.” Despite the many hardships they faced, Estella and her family were able to get by and stayed in Indio throughout high school. Her mother eventually remarried and gave birth to Estella’s younger brother and twin sister when she was ten years old. These would become formative years for Acuña as she was immersed in the Chicano street culture prominent at the time which included lowriding, parties, and gangs. “I grew up in the ‘90s. My older cousins and my sister were cholas, and at that time my mom and my tia were like, ‘If you want to go out, you have to take the kids.’ So, we were always with them,” she said. “We saw their lifestyle, and it was just something that really spoke to us.” During this time, Estella met her boyfriend and now husband, Beto Tijerina-Cantu, while cruising Indio Boulevard when she was going into ninth grade. Although Beto was involved in gang culture as part of his upbringing, he decided to enroll at College of the Desert after graduating high school where he was introduced to community activism through student organizations such as MEChA. Then a junior in high school, Estella began accompanying Beto to many of these meetings and attended marches and actions that contributed to her awareness and understanding of the positive The Riversider Magazine

impact they could have on her local community. “In eleventh grade, there was a switch,” she explained. “People that were involved in these organizations started talking to us about Chicano Studies, and the conditions of our families, and why we’re in those positions, and I saw it. My little sister got pregnant when she was fourteen, my brother was shot and incarcerated, I had family members that were killed by gun violence, and you see the farmworkers and what’s around you, and it started making sense.” As a senior, Estella joined MEChA and started an organization called “Somos Atzlan” where she helped coordinate marches, mural projects, and other community events. While attending a “500 Years of Resistance” celebration in San Diego, she was introduced to members of the Brown Berets, a Chicano organization dedicated to protecting their communities, which she not only became a member of, but helped establish a chapter in Coachella Valley while still in high school. In 1993, she moved to Riverside and enrolled at Riverside Communit y College, a personal milestone for Estella as the first in her family to attend college. Her passion for activism continued to flourish at RCC. She joined MEChA, the Diversity Council, and the College Ambassador Program which helped educate youth about the importance of higher education. She also organized a two-day celebration featuring prominent activists in the Chicano movement as guest speakers including Dolores Huerta and Jose Montoya. Huerta had initially declined her invitation, but Estella was able to convince her to attend. “She wasn’t going to come,” Acuña said. “But I was so persistent, I wouldn’t take no for an answer and when she finally agreed, she even signed my banner, ‘Continue to be persistent.’” After earning her Associate’s Degree from RCC in 1996, Acuña enrolled at UC Riverside and joined Chicano Student Programs (CSP). Although it was her first year as a student at UCR, she was already familiar with the program and worked as a volunteer through her relationship with Beto, who had since transferred to UCR and joined CSP while Estella was still at RCC. Acuña graduated from UCR in 1999 and, after a brief hiatus, she returned to work as Program Coordinator for CSP in 2001. In 2008, she was promoted to Program Director of Chicano Student Programs—a position that she proudly maintains today, nearly two decades later. Established in 1972, Chicano Student Programs not only serves as a valuable resource center

where students can access services such as printing, educational materials, a conference room, and kitchen, it also provides a place where students can connect, build relationships, and find support. “ It ’s a home away f rom home,” Acuña explained. “ We want to make students feel a sense of belonging, that they ’re valued, and that they’re able to persist and graduate.” The program’s three pillars, familia, orgullo, y corazon, (family, pride, and heart), are at the center of its purpose and has been an integral part of its longevity and success. CSP also offers cultural and social events to students such as their Dia de los Muertos celebration “Semana de la Mujer” and an annual Chicano Student Conference. They engage in community outreach by hosting an average of six-to-seven school visits per quarter, giving campus tours and informing students from local schools about the program and university. Her involvement with the Riverside community extends well beyond her role with C S P, s h e i s o n t h e b o a r d o f s e v e r a l l o c a l organizations including the Riverside Art Museum, the Inland Empire Latino Lawyers Association, and UNIDOS. Her many contributions and lifetime of commitment were recognized in 2019 when she received a “Woman of the Year” award by State Senator Richard Roth. Despite her many achievements, Acuña has always stayed true to her roots and identity and strives to share their impor tance to the countless students she mentors. “I like to be ver y authentic in who I am, that’s why I still wear my Cortez and my hoops,” she explained. “You don’t have to change who you are to be successful. The education inside the classroom is important, but the education outside the classroom is just as important. You don’t have to check those things at the door. You can be authentic to yourself, and that is so important to teach the students.” Estella’s persistence continues to drive her passion for her work and local community and she has no plans of stopping any time soon. “I just celebrated my 25th year [with CSP], but there is still so much more to do. I still get excited to do the work and still feel proud of the work and enjoy it,” she said with a smile. “Riverside is home; that’s why I’m involved because I believe in it, and a lot of times the IE is overlooked. There’s a long history and legacy of Chicano activism here, and I feel that par t of my responsibilit y is to continue to build and give back.”

Local Retailer The Riversider | August/September 2026

Typewriter Muse WORDS: KEN CRAWFORD PHOTOS: ZACH CORDNER

The click-clack of the keys, the chime of the margin bell, and the ratchet of the return was the soundtrack of the modern office for much of the twentieth century. A room full of people working sounded like a room full of people working. Now people at screens make almost no sound at all. Bob Marshall sells the noise back, and not as a souvenir. He sells working machines, for working. A niche, at times, looks a lot like a cornered market. Entrepreneurship is supposed to be a predictive game. You find the spot and occupy it just before everyone else shows up. Marshall did the reverse. The space he works in was abandoned decades ago. He got very good at something the culture had cast aside, then waited while it turned from scrap into scarcity. “Sometimes, moving forward means going backward,” he said. He is not old enough to be nostalgic about the machines he sells. His whole adult life has been well within the era of personal computing, so every hour he spent learning these machines was intentional. Bob knows more than typewriters. He can fix motorcycles and guitar amplifiers. He plays the mandolin. He’s a blue-collar Renaissance man, investing time into the things he loves. Bob is not running a curio shop. He is not selling decorations. Most of what leaves his shop goes to people who intend to t y pe on it. A conversation piece only has to look right. A working machine has to survive a person, daily, and come The Riversider Magazine

Owner Bob Marshall

back for service in ten years. That is a harder promise, and it is the only kind that builds a business instead of a fad. Sell junk and you get one generation of novelty buyers, after which the novelty becomes a broken object on a shelf. He has earned the trust of a diverse group of customers, from law enforcement officers looking for absolutely secure means of communication to celebrities. Tom Hanks is an avid t ypewriter collector and the Typewriter Muse’s biggest customer. Some of what he repairs has stayed in one family for five or six generations. Rubber perishes the way tires do, so those parts get replaced. The marks do not. There is a worn spot where somebody’s grandmother rested her wrist. The paint on the X key is worn through. These are fingerprints of a person rather than a machine. He could refinish all of it. He leaves it. He fixes what stopped working and keeps the evidence of who used it. “We are all just stewards of these cool writing machines,” he said. “ They will be around for hundreds of years after we are gone.” Marshall makes the case better than an essayist would. The typewriter, he says, is a machine that will “get out of the way” and let you write.

“Yes, it shows you your mistakes. Yes, it takes practice to use correctly; just like AI, a chef’s knife, or an acoustic guitar.” He is not against the new thing. He declined to let convenience decide what he would be good at. Asked whether that is romantic and he does not hedge. “I cannot think of anything more romantic or nostalgic than that.”

Typewriter Muse 1960 Chicago Ave., Ste D17 (951) 384-0646 typewritermuse.com @typewritermuse

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Local Business The Riversider | August/September 2026

Owner Ethan Fjeld

Making The Cut: Properchop's Mission To Connect With Riversiders WORDS: MAXWELL PORTER PHOTOS: JESSE LOPEZ

Located oﬀ Arlington Avenue and Madison Street, Properchop Barbershop is more than just buzzing clippers, clean line-ups, and fresh fades. It’s a community driven hub that shapes and styles Riversiders and leaves them feeling a better version of themselves. Properchop brings that traditional barber aesthetic and matches it with a focus on community. First opened in December 2024, 31 year-old owner Ethan Fjeld was well aware of the challenges that would come with the shop. Despite this, opening a barbershop had always been a long term career plan for Fjeld. The seeds were planted well before the shop’s opening, and all that was left was time. “I’m thankful to have given it the necessary The Riversider Magazine

time to grow in my vision and philosophy,” Fjeld said. “The greatest challenge would be our growth individually and collectively as a team. It intertwines with the community and builds genuine long-term relationships.” Since the shop’s arrival, the mission has been setting the bar when it comes to clean cuts, affordable prices, and an environment that doesn’t feel transactional. Within Properchop on any given afternoon, the eﬀect of the shop comes to life. The sound of clippers buzzing, oldies music playing through the speakers, and laughter between barbers and clients fills the air. Ethan Fjeld has created a blueprint when it comes to taking care of customers. To Fjeld, the connection with clients and attention to detail is

what sets Properchop apart from others. “It’s natural when you enjoy what you do and working with people,” he said. “A great haircut is an essential fraction of the shop’s heartbeat.” For Properchop's clients, it ’s the expert barbers and community that warrants their loyalty. The reputation of the shop is important to the barbers, however, it comes as no surprise that clients keep coming back with a friendly smile. To Fjeld and his barbers, the equation is simple. “When you make the person in your chair top priority and you can be counted on over the years, you’re sure to succeed,” Fjeld said. For the Riversiders, Properchop has proven to consistently be more than a place to get a haircut. The familiar feeling that customers get when they walk in drives home the community aspect of the shop. Riverside’s identity is based on being able to adapt to the changes it is faced with. For Properchop, adapting to the times while oﬀering an experience that is true to the history of Riverside is vital. Properchop is a shop that takes you back in time with a group of barbers that make you feel the now. Properchop doesn’t just style the heads of its clients, they style the identity of Riverside itself.

Properchop Barbershop 5132 Arlington Ave. (951) 324-1456 properchopbarbershop.resurva.com @properchop.951

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Douglas McCulloh

SIGHT UNSEEN REFRAMED A New Photography Exhibition Featuring Blind Photographers WORDS: AUDREY MAIER

The Riversider Magazine

In 2023, the late Douglas McCulloh proclaimed, “Here is the truth. Blind photographers operate at the heart of the medium; they are the zero point of photography.” His understanding came from working closely with blind photographers who challenged his own assumptions about what it means to see and to create images. “I’ve been obsessed with blindness and photography for almost three decades. I arrived carrying a clueless assumption: A blind artist making a photograph would be, literally, a shot in the dark. The images would be visual guesswork, chance operations. I placed blind and visually impaired photographers at the outer edge of photography. But I didn’t know anything then, and I was wrong about everything.” These reflections came fourteen years after McCulloh f irst debuted Sight Unseen, a groundbreaking exhibition of blind photographic work, at the California Museum of Photography. Since opening in 2009, the exhibition has toured across the world from the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg, Canada to the Sejong Center in Seoul, South Korea. Douglas McCulloh was an artist, writer, and curator and executive director of UCR ARTS until his untimely passing in the first days of 2025. On the occasion of McCulloh’s planned retrospective, Dispatches: The Photography of Douglas McCulloh, 1990 –2025 at UCR ARTS, opening in October, The Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California is bringing McCulloh’s important curatorial work back to Riverside as Sight Unseen Reframed , sponsored by Altura Credit Union. The exhibition has been “reframed ” by McCulloh’s widow and collaborator, Dawn Hassett, a longstanding consultant with The Civil Rights Institute, and Timothy LeBlanc, a close collaborator with both McCulloh and Hassett. Sight Unseen Reframed focuses on blind photographers who have lived and worked in California, seven of the original twelve artists, and includes a new design that integrates 3D printed braille exhibition text and tactile photographs alongside an audio guide with visual descriptions of each artwork. The exhibition retains McCulloh’s curatorial lens while expanding its reach by ensuring that visitors including those with no or low vision can experience it with their other senses.

Kurt Weston, Do you see the Big E? © Kurt Weston

Bruce Hall, Desperation 0479 © Bruce Hall

The following excerpt from McCulloh’s article Shot In the Dark: Blindness and the Zero Point of Photography in Afterimage (2012) demonstrates McCulloh’s thesis and frameworks for the exhibition. “When you spend time with the world’s major blind photographers, you discover sight has many layers, and that we are blind to most of them. … These artists occupy the pure, immaculate center— image as idea, idea as image. And their modes of working pose troublingly persistent questions for sighted photographers. Blind photographers are as divergent and individual as any collection of art-makers. Nonetheless, at the risk of oversimplifying, I’ve put considerable thought into a three-part framework that I find useful for examining the making of this work. The Riversider Magazine

One group of these artists construct, curate, and maintain internal galleries of images. Then they use cameras to bring their inner visions into the world of the sighted. … For these artists, photography is the process of creating physical manifestations of images that already exist as pure idea. “I slip photos under the door from the world of the blind to be viewed in the light of the sighted,” summarizes Pete Eckert. A sizable list of blind photographers operate mainly in this mode: Bavčar (Paris), Eckert (Sacramento), Alice Wingwall (Berkeley), and many members of the Seeing With Photography Collective (New York). Their images are elaborately realized internal visualizations first, photographs second. A second category of blind photographers

deploys cameras to capture the outside world, but, being blind, operate free of sight-driven selection and self-censorship. Marcel Duchamp famously wrote of “non-retinal art,” art of the mind, of concept, of chance. These artists are engaged in non-retinal photography. The results are pure, unfiltered, and inherently conceptual. They operate beyond the logic of composition or the tyranny of the decisive moment. … Interestingly, many of these artists employ senses other than sight as pathways to vision. Henr y Butler, an acclaimed blues pianist highly attuned to the auditory world, uses sound to guide his street shooting in New Orleans. The third group is legally blind, but retain ver y limited, highly at tenuated sight. Most photographers see to photograph. These artists photograph to see. They rely on seeing devices, cameras key among them, to maintain a tiny toehold in the visual world. Their visual space is made possible by mechanically enhanced sight. Bruce Hall (Irvine) has five percent of normal physiological vision, but uses a Nikon D700 with a full frame sensor and 51-point autofocus. When he looks into your eyes, it’ll be on the screen of his 40-inch Sony high-definition monitor. His photos literally occupy the gap bet ween the limitations of physical sight and the desire for images. It’s double vision—“I take what I think I see, later I can see what I saw.” Hall’s central ongoing project illustrates the process. In the guise of obsessively continuous photo documentation, he attempts to see, to understand, and to endure his profoundly autistic twin sons. Hall’s images look like someone who can’t see hauled a camera into a madhouse, and that ’s painfully close to the truth. Annie Hesse (Paris), meanwhile, could be classified as an after-the-fact photographic flâneur. She’s lived on four continents and travels incessantly. “In the chaos of a foreign place, I might be attracted to something about the color, or the sound, or vague forms. I’ll be right in front of it and not know what it is. So I’ll capture it. Later, I use the picture to figure out what it was that I saw.” Susan Sontag called photographs objects “that make up, and thicken, the environment we regard as modern.” By this logic, Hall and Hesse lead hypermodern lives—they have constructed their entire visual worlds one image at a time using their own photographs as building blocks. Among other artists operating mainly in this mode are Michael Richard (Los Angeles), and Kurt Weston (Huntington Beach, California). Photography by the blind is its own intense, unapologetic world, and the finest photographs conjure a breathtaking poetry. They create small pools of illumination within a sea of infinite dark. Filling even a tiny area of that night with light and meaning is all one can hope for, honorable work for a lifetime. Sight Unseen Reframed is an opportunity to celebrate the incredible artistic and curatorial legacy of McCulloh but also garner a greater understanding of the breadth of civil rights organizing. As The Civil Rights Institute Executive Director Sabrina Gonzalez reflects, “We have seen how disability advocacy has gotten left out of the

civil rights conversation. Bringing back Sight Unseen and sharing it with the community will showcase how important this advocacy is.” In an effort to grow the region’s discourse about movements for disability justice The Civil Right s Ins titute is launching “ Touchpoint s: Community Dialogues about Seeing Differently” alongside the exhibition. “Touchpoints” is a fourpar t hands - on wor k shop ser ies hos ted in collaboration with Blindness Support Services and UCR Arts that brings together blind arts and accessibility experts to foster conversations about art, access and abilit y. This series was made possible with support from California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities, through their Connecting California Grant program that seeks to strengthen social connection and cohesion across California’s diverse communities. Each “Touchpoints” workshop centers the voices of individuals with no or low vision including photographers Bruce Hall and Kurt Weston, ceramicist Don Katz, and active members of Blindness Support Services, a local blind-led resource organization. Each “Touchpoints” workshop is designed to foster open and honest discussions and challenge assumptions our society has about differently abled bodies to promote empathy and action.

Join The Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California for the opening of Sight Unseen Reframed on August 27, 2026, at The Civil Rights Institute located at 3933 Mission Inn Avenue, Suite 102, Riverside, CA 92501. The event is from 6PM to 9PM, and doors open at 5:30 PM. Mark your calendars for all four “Touchpoints” events: Vision Beyond Sight: Tech and Accessibility in Action (September 20, 2026, 1-4PM) A live demonstration and discussion in collaboration with Blindness Support Services. Attendees will learn how technology is reshaping access and creating more inclusive environments. Sensing Form: A World Beyond Sight (October 18, 2026, 1-4PM) A hands-on ceramics workshop led by Don Katz where participants will work with optional blindfolds to explore touch, form, and sensory awareness. Digital Futures: Photography Beyond Sight (November 5, 2026, 6-8PM) A moderated conversation with blind photographers Bruce Hall and Kurt Weston with curator Timothy LeBlanc in collaboration with UCR Arts. Photographing to See: Youth photography workshop (November 6, 2026 2-4PM) Photographer Bruce Hall will lead a workshop in collaboration with UCR Arts for youth of varying visual abilities on the techniques professional blind photographers use in their work. Participants will use cameras to produce their own artworks.

Bruce Hall, Perception 1375 © Bruce Hall

Meet Your Local Artist

Esmeralda Garcia

The Riversider Magazine

Presented by Eastside Arthouse Written by Chris Menezes Photos by Juan Navarro

Esmeralda Garcia: Where Grief Blooms Esmeralda Garcia wraps grief in flowers. In her paintings, pets sit beneath electric skies, skeleton hands lift sunflowers, and sugar skulls bloom in red and violet. Blending portraiture and fantasy, she uses saturated color to make memory, affection and loss vivid enough to hold. “I like portraying negative and intense feelings in a vibrant way,” Garcia says. “There is always a positive to a negative. You’re not stuck.”

Garcia has called Riverside home since she was 11. In high school, she won art competitions and exhibited at the Riverside Art Museum. After studying interior design, she spent years working at a pet resort and caregiving before helping with her mother’s housekeeping business.

“THERE IS ALWAYS A POSITIVE TO A NEGATIVE. YOU’RE NOT STUCK.”

Influenced by nature, music and Día de los Muertos, Garcia memorializes pets that have passed away. In “No More Time,” she portrays herself with her dog during his final days, surrounding an impending goodbye with flowers and color.

While impostor syndrome kept her art sparse, during the pandemic she renewed her focus and intention, which led to her first Riverside Artswalk in 2021.

Her path mirrors her work, where care and color make room for life to grow again. “For many years, I didn’t make art, even though it was my passion,” she says. “If you really want it and it’s a dream, don’t give up on it. Eventually, life will bring you back.”

Find Esmeralda Garcia at Riverside Artswalk and follow her on Instagram at: @lala.garci_art

Her next opportunity came from an act of kindness. Garcia had painted Maggie, the cat of her mother’s longtime client Chani Beeman, as a Christmas gift. Years later, Beeman remembered her work when Eastside Arthouse introduced a program through which community members sponsor a local artist for one year. At the end of the sponsorship, the artist creates an original piece for the sponsor. “She told me, ‘We see your talent, and we want to help you,’” Garcia recalls. “It was such a surreal moment.” Today, Garcia creates paintings, pet portraits and handmade jewelry while developing her mural skills through Eastside Arthouse. She hopes to paint murals around Riverside, exhibit at The Cheech and support animal rescue organizations.

EASTSIDE ARTHOUSE 4177 Park Avenue www.eastsidearthouse.studio @eastsidearthouse

The 50th Anniversary of

BALLET FOLKLORICO DE RIVERSIDE WORDS: ALONDRA FIGUEROA

The Riversider Magazine

JULIAN JOLLIFFE

ZACH CORDNER

Founder Ana De La Tejera

It was absolutely spectacular to see the amazing performance of the beautiful dancers celebrating the many diverse regions of Mexico through Ballet Folklorico at UCR this summer. The bright colors, the gorgeous folk style dresses, and cultural costumes coupled with the regional dances were mesmerizing and captivated the audience for the entire two hours. With this level of talent it should come as no surprise to find out that this is their 50th year in production! It all began in 1976 when then 27 year old mother of two, Ana De La Tejera, started teaching her own children at their father, Baldo De La Tejera’s request for them to perform the Jarabe Tapatio, the traditional Mexican Hat Dance, at the Our Lady of Guadalupe’s fiesta to benefit the church on 9th Street. Ana’s young children who were inspired by their father to dance, as he once did as a child, performed the Jarabe Tapatio at this casual get together. This little performance sparked others to ask Ana if she could teach their children the dance as well. As a young busy mom, Ana was reluctant to take teaching on, but the community would not take no for an answer! Elders told her she had the perfect personality to teach the kids and encouraged her to share their culture and so she agreed. Ana shared that at first it was a family thing with nieces and nephews and family friends practicing in people’s homes or on their driveways. Their first performance with just thirteen children was at an old orange packing house literally among the oranges and packing materials. The small audience, including parents of the kids and workers, were so happy and received them with open arms. They cheered and threw coins and money at the kids in celebration. Ana saw the pure joy from the kids and the warm reception from the crowd, especially the workers. She realized then that this performance mattered and it was important. The parents were so proud and super excited. The workers loved it and everyone wanted it to continue. For Ana, this performance

meant everything and for our community it meant the birth of the Ballet Folklorico de Riverside, formerly de Arlanza. “I just saw the joy in everyone all the way around. Parents were there encouraging their kids and not to mention the workers were so happy and that sparked up to me, personally, a need and I just felt…I think I’m going to continue this.” Hard to believe that moment stemmed into where they are now! From there they got more dancers and just kept growing and this all without an official home. The largest group she had for ten years was about 30 dancers practicing wherever they could. It wasn't until 1988 that they were able to get their first little studio. Ana again notes that this was able to happen due to the encouragement of

parents and the community support for her to have her own place. With the help of families fundraising and support from the City of Riverside, they continued to grow and established their first board of directors. Ana also mentioned that through 110 percent of support from the community and the Riverside Arts Council they became a nonprofit in 1989, which allowed them to apply for grants and gain more exposure. This encouraged more people to join and even more fiestas for her dancers to perform at. As they continued to share their rich Mexican culture and highlight their heritage through ballet folklorico, they outgrew their small studio and are now located by the Riverside Airport. Ana’s little dancers that started with her grew into adults that wanted their own children to start dancing

JULIAN JOLLIFFE

ZACH CORDNER

ZACH CORDNER JULIAN JOLLIFFE

and learning about their culture as well. They really wanted to help Ana and to be a part of the Ballet Folklorico. She realized that she couldn’t do it all by herself as they’d grown larger and needed to start training teachers to further expand their group. In 1990, they joined the Asociación Nacional de Grupos Folkloricos (ANGF) and attended their first conference in San Jose, California. This opened up a whole other world to them as ANGF brought

maestros (teachers) from Mexico who could share their vast knowledge of dancing techniques. For a whole week they learned the history of ballet folklorico and trained to teach the regional dances themselves. This created even more enthusiasm for not only the teachers but the students as well. Ana and her group have attended the conference yearly for 30 years! She is very proud that this year they took 30 young dancers to the Los Angeles conference to celebrate and learn their heritage

through dance. This new generation of kids came back with a bright new enthusiasm, shared positive energy, and really bonded over their trip. What a wonderful experience for all these young people to enjoy and learn about their Mexican Heritage! Last year Ana had the opportunity to travel to Oaxaca and see their Ballet Folklorico during their Guelaguetza which is their annual indigenous cultural event and celebration in the city of Oaxaca. Ana shared that she watched their groups perform Ballet Folklorico for four hours and was not once bored. Instead, she was riveted. You might say four hours is a long time, so why and how? Ana said, “They pour their hearts out into what they are doing. They give you a whole stor y in ten minutes of their little villages, of their communities. They give you a story and insight into their culture and what they believe through their performances. How beautiful is that? To be able to connect so well to a region that I had never been to was such a blessing.” Ana mentioned that Ballet Folklorico is such a powerful way for us to learn about cultures and people that we may never visit. It also teaches us to appreciate the vast regional dif ferences throughout Mexico. She stated, “Am I going to these mountain villages or all of these communities? No, but it’s nice to know that these rituals are still carried out. It is something that we have to say to ourselves: what do you want to do? What do you want to leave for others? And when I see my Folklorico putting their passion into what they do it’s truly a blessing, and it means that what I started back in ‘76 is there to stay.” One can say the same for the Ballet Folklorico de Riverside’s amazing performances this summer at UCR. As an Argentine American, I am not familiar with all of Mexico’s culture and found the different

ZACH CORDNER

regions and unique dances so engaging! It was so beautifully done and The Riversider is thrilled to celebrate Ana and her perseverance with her group throughout the last 50 years, and their never failing to bring the beauty of Ballet Folklorico to our Riverside Community. The 50th Anniversary Showcase performances were all so wonderfully unique and special. One

of the highlights for us was the adorable wedding ceremony dance performed by children dressed as brides and grooms. Oh my gosh, it was too cute! I personally loved the Colima region’s dancers with their pinkish red and white flowing dresses almost hypnotizing the audience with their impeccably precise choreography and soft swirling skirts. They were absolutely stunning!

Truly touching were the beautiful video dedications to Ana shared during the Showcase’s intermission. Ana shared that it helped her see how impactful the Ballet Folklorico was to her students' lives over the past 50 years. These dedications really touched her heart and soul. “I can honestly say that I feel like my mission in life was to do Folklorico and to spread the love of our culture with others.” We couldn’t agree more, Ana. We are proud of you and all of your dancers whose ages range from five to 75 and can't wait to see more performances soon. We also wanted to mention that Ana and the Ballet Folklorico de Riverside are intricately involved with the annual Riverside Day of the Dead festival. Ana shared that she and DOTD founder, Cosme Cordova, have been collaborating for over twenty years. Ana is proud to say that she coordinates the programming for the Aztec Stage including all the folklorico performances as well as the Aztec dancers. It is awesome to see how the festival has grown from its humble beginnings in a parking lot to the massive two day cultural event it has become. It is also the largest event that her dancers perform at all year, so be sure to check it out this year! Ballet Folklorico means so much to so many people in our community and while other dance g ro ups may travel to other s t ates or even internationally, Ana prefers to stay dedicated to Riverside and the Inland Empire to share the Mexican culture here in our very own community, like a true Riversider. When asked if she has plans to retire anytime soon, she quipped, “No, not at all. To me, it’s a legacy and gives me purpose in life. and I will be there with them until the end.”

For more info on Ballet Folklorico de Riverside please visit bfdriv.org and follow on Instagram @bfderiverside

JULIAN JOLLIFFE

The Riversider Magazine

Where to Have Fun & Beat the Heat Indoors in Riverside WORDS: KEN CRAWFORD

The kids may be back to school but that doesn’t mean that summer is gone. We still have a couple months of heat to go and we would like to share some local businesses that keep it cool for you and the kids when Mother Nature brings the heat.

HANGAR 18 INDOOR CLIMBING GYMS Two Riverside locations cover bouldering, top rope, and lead climbing for every skill level. Auto belay stations mean you do not need a partner to get on the wall, and day passes and gear rentals run cheap by the standards of the sport. One caveat for the heat-averse: these gyms are not cool inside but they are a great way to practice bouldering and top-rope climbing out of the direct sun.

Riverside: 6935 Arlington Ave. (951) 359-5040 climbhangar18.com/riverside East Riverside: 2111 Iowa Ave., Ste. A (951) 742-8479 climbhangar18.com/east-riverside

ZACH CORDNER

ARLINGTON LANES The bowling alley keeps the lanes cold, the arcade stocked, and the kitchen running hot. Forty lanes, a full bar, and pool tables make for a straightforward family afternoon, though call ahead on weekends. League play and tournaments can eat up the lanes.

7100 Arlington Ave. (951) 688-2695 goarlingtonlanes.com ZACH CORDNER

GLO MINI GOLF Blacklight mini golf, 27 holes of it, plus an arcade, virtual reality, escape rooms, and an ice cream bar inside the Galleria at Tyler. The neon and the dark keep the sun a distant memory. It runs family-heavy and gets loud, which is either the appeal or the warning depending on your afternoon.

1299 Tyler St., Ste. E106 (888) 896-8419 glominigolf.com/riverside The Riversider Magazine

JULIAN JOLLIFFE

ICETOWN RIVERSIDE The LA Kings-branded rink on Magnolia keeps two sheets of ice open year-round, with public skating seven days a week and rental skates at the counter. You do not even have to lace up to keep cool: the facility runs adult hockey leagues and youth travel hockey. So, on the right night, you can grab a seat and a snack and watch a game from the cold bleachers. Nothing else in town drops you from triple digits to below freezing in the length of a parking lot. Public skate times and game schedules shift around the lesson calendar, so check before you drive out.

10540 Magnolia Ave., Ste. A (951) 637-3070 icetownriverside.com RIVERSIDE GAME LAB

JULIAN JOLLIFFE

The Fox Entertainment Plaza “barcade” downtown is the after-dark option: more than 100 arcade and pinball machines, VR booths and a full bar, right next door to the Food Lab. The floor is open to all ages, but the bar is 21 and up. The doors do not open until 5pm on weekdays and 3pm on weekends, so it is an evening play rather than a midday one.

3633 Market St. (951) 679-9320 riversidegamelab.com

CASTLE PARK ARCADE

JULIAN JOLLIFFE

Most of Castle Park is out in the sun, but the arcade lives inside the castle itself, and it got a recent overhaul. The remodeled floor mixes the latest video games with the old standbys, and the tickets still cash out for a wall of prizes. You can play the arcade without buying a wristband, which makes it a cheap way to park the kids somewhere cool for an afternoon.

JULIAN JOLLIFFE

3500 Polk St. (951) 785-3000 castlepark.com/ attractions/arcade

RIVERSIDE ARCHERY The oldest archery pro shop in California, open since 1974, runs a thirteen-lane, twenty-yard indoor range that doubles as an unlikely refuge from the heat. Lessons are available for beginners of any age, and the air-conditioned bay beats the driveway on a 105-degree afternoon.

1919 Atlas Dr. (951) 684-9192 riversidearcheryca.net The Riversider Magazine

ZACH CORDNER

FREE SUMMER SUNDAYS AT RAM AND THE CHEECH Through the summer, admission to both the Riverside Art Museum and The Cheech is free every Sunday. The June 28 lineup drew more than 600 people downtown for salsa dancing and a zine workshop. Free, indoors, and cultural is a hard combination to beat when the thermometer will not quit.

Riverside Art Museum 3425 Mission Inn Ave. (951) 684-7111 riversideartmuseum.org/series/free-summer-sundays The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture 3581 Mission Inn Ave. (951) 684-7111

Community The Riversider | August/September 2026

The Newest Riversiders Share Their Impressions of the City WORDS: KEN CRAWFORD PHOTOS: ZACH CORDNER

Summer School ELD students with their Riversider covers.

Victor Cisneros came to this country at ten years old with his parents speaking no English. He learned the language by the end of high school. He now coordinates multilingual programs for Riverside Unified School District’s secondary schools. This connection is important to Cisneros. He knows the challenges and can demonstrate success. The group of students are from all over the world. The program intends to add Riverside to the places these students feel at home. Cisneros said, “We all come with various different stories of where we come from and have joy to be here in this country.” The district’s summer program for newcomer and English learner students focuses on encouraging each student to tell their story. They came from all over the world to Riverside. They bring their The Riversider Magazine

stories here and teach us about ourselves as they learn the land and the language. For the “Hands on History” program, students designed their own versions of Riversider covers, putting themselves and their new city on the front of this magazine. They also spoke. One by one, students took a microphone and talked about the stand out Riverside places and experiences that have most affected them. From Mine Okubo to The Cheech, the students selected the people and places that have had the greatest impact on them so far. The curriculum, in practice, was the city itself. The Mission Inn Foundation walked them through how Riverside became a citrus town, down to Eliza Tibbets and the first navel orange trees. They sat in the council chamber at City Hall, where

council member Philip Falcone explained what a council is for. They toured the Mission Inn and walked the campus at Riverside City College. And they spent a morning in the grove at Citrus Heritage Park, eating the fruit the city was built on. There are worse ways to become a Riversider. Asked afterward what they liked best, the students used their best English. “I liked being able to interact with people,” wrote Jose Angel. “My favorite trip was Citrus Park.” Jimmy Lin picked RCC for its buildings and

its programs. Yoland Zhu said friends and teachers because they helped her study. Roqia Sherzad’s teachers were patient and took the extra time to make sure she understood. Maria Revelo Hernandez learned about the variety and diversity of Riverside. Safina Latifova said the welcome she got made the classes exciting and left her more confident in her English. Jesus reported that the laughs never ended. Hajira’s favorite day was Grant Elementary because the parents could come. The places they named are the places any

of us would name. The Citrus Park, downtown, the Mission Inn, the colleges. They have been here only months and have already made the same short list. Many of the students expressed a desire to remain in Riverside but many talked about futures in international business. Several of the students wanted to study law and medicine so they could help people. Their resilience and power to face challenges, combined with a burgeoning love of Riverside, is a reflection of the best of us.

Arts The Riversider | August/September 2026

Festival Art Director Richie "Deladeso" Velazquez

Mucho Gusto Festival WORDS: KEN CRAWFORD PHOTOS: ZACH CORDNER

A border isn’t just a boundary between countries, it’s a dividing line placed at the edge of something. A “festival without borders” means all of that. Mucho Gusto is a place to set aside what divides us and focus on what brings us together. North Park, just across the 91 from downtown, is a rarely used venue. Most weekends the gates stay locked and the park goes unnoticed. But one day a year Mucho Gusto takes over, and our shady

The Riversider Magazine

patch beside the Old Spaghetti Factory turns into brightly colored festival grounds. The festival is well attended, but it still feels intimate. It feels like you’re experiencing the ‘I was there before it got huge’ phase of Mucho Gusto. The festival at North Park is still the anchor, but the organizers have started carrying the work west. This summer they staged a second volume of affinity events in Los Angeles, billed as Mucho

Gusto Summer Series. The festival itself is not staying inside its own lines. É. Arenas played Mucho Gusto in North Park in 2024, a standout Riverside music moment. Arenas is a true rockstar with a command of crowd and stage. His mixture of English and Spanish lyrics and his rare ability to mix technical proficiency, humor, and a dare-you-not-to-dance rhy thm make him a must-see.

43 JULIAN JOLLIFFE

This year Bardo Martinez is on the bill with him. The two spent sixteen years building Chicano Batman together, and since the band’s end in 2024 they haven’t shared a stage. They still won’t, exactly. Each plays his own set. But for fans of the band and of the solo careers that grew out of it, having both names on one bill in one small park is a reunion of sorts. “Bardo and É. Arenas, founding architects of Chicano Batman, didn’t just make great music, they reshaped what was possible for a generation of artists. They gave Mexican American and Latinx musicians permission to be expansive, to trust their instincts, and to fully embrace their identity without limitation. Their impact is undeniable. They opened doors and shifted expectations while inspiring a generation to see themselves reflected in what they create. Bringing them to Mucho Gusto celebrates that legacy while also recognizing that it continues to evolve.” Eddie Valencia, co-founder of Mucho Gusto, said. The stage is one corner of North Park. Riverside artist Richie “Deladeso” Velazquez is responsible for the rest. He is the festival’s art director, a title he assigned himself along with everyone else in the room. “We kind of created roles for each other,” he said. “I wanted to be an art director, and I had the opportunity to be one because we’re doing it.” The medium is piñata. Cardboard, papier mache, oversized and freestanding, built to be walked up to and touched. “That’s why we picked the piñata format,” Velazquez said. “It’s cardboard. If it falls over, it’s fine. It’s not intended to hurt anybody.” The pieces come from contributing artists, and Velazquez walks them through the park before they build so they can see where their work will sit. Velazquez’s whimsical piñata theme mixed with contributed objects from local artists, including Martin Sanchez of Tio’s Tacos, create the scene. The music dares you to dance, the environment dares you to explore. This inconspicuous little park becomes a little enclave of fluorescent fantasy for one day a year. “I try to show them their piece of real estate,” he said. “We’re building this Ooflandia (the name Velazquez has given the aesthetic environment he has created). This is our world we’re building together. This is your neighborhood.” Direction varies by artist. Some want a brief, some want to be left alone, and after several years most of the returning artists already know what the park will look like. “They kind of have the autonomy to do their own greatness, so let them,” Velazquez said. “If they’re good at what they do, let them do that.” Installation takes about a week, most of it by volunteers who are themselves artists. “We’ve got a week to put this together,” Velazquez said. “It’s chaotic, but it’s a feeling too. It’s an art party.” That word matters to him. Everyone is doing festivals now, and he thinks people are tired of hearing the word. What Mucho Gusto sells for the price of a ticket is a party a family can walk into. Ask him whether he has ever wanted to build something monumental and he goes the other direction.

“My big things are lit tle stupid things,” Velazquez said. “I have this vision of a super tall payphone, 30 or 40 feet in the air, just ringing. Big but little.” Big but little is a good description of what goes on at Mucho Gusto. It’s not the big festival experience that leaves you totally spent on energy and cash. But the concept is big. A limitless world where people have figured out that many of the things res tric ting us are self-imposed. The dif ferences between us shrink rapidly in the presence of an irresistible rhythm.

T his year ’s Mu cho G us to is S a t urday, September 19 and is located at Riverside’s North Park at 3200 Mission Inn Ave. Performers include Plenazo Tribe, Luna Luna, Pahua, Bardo, Rumbo Tumba, and É Arenas.

For tickets and more information go to: muchogustofest.com and follow on Instagram @muchogustofest

Dining: Food Trucks The Riversider | August/September 2026

Detroit style pizza

The Rosehill

Canvas Pizza

WORDS: ALONDRA FIGUEROA PHOTOS: ZACH CORDNER

Canvas Pizza has become widely popular with pizza lovers and once we tasted their specialty sourdough pizza dough, we completely understood why. It is different, but not so different that you don’t recognize it as delicious homemade pizza. Everything that they make is made to order fresh, hot, and delicious right from the oven straight to you. They have quality ingredients and great service, so even though it’s not housed in a brick and mortar you don’t miss out on anything. In fact, they have an awesome custom pizza trailer that they can and do take anywhere! In doing so, they have become a fixture at events all across town. Owners Arthur White and Clayton Chavez are dedicated to creating great pizzas for everyone to enjoy, and it’s clear that it’s a labor of love for both of them. Arthur graduated from Poly High and Clayton from Canyon Springs High, so they are both home grown Riversiders with a history in this town. Arthur learned about the art of pizza while working at Condron Coffee where he was first introduced to the magic of sourdough by Mike Vaona from Rosehill Pizza, and Mike still supports them whenever he can. Arthur began his own pizza making adventure in 2020 selling pizza out of his home and then started pop-ups at breweries, bars, and all kinds of events. This grassroots approach really helped get their name out and then drew in more and more people through word of mouth. They immediately started growing and realized they The Riversider Magazine

needed to scale up to meet the demand, and that’s how their cute custom trailer was born. Currently they are open five days a week. Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday they are open from 4-9pm, and Thursday and Sundays they are at Riverside Community Hospital from 11am-5pm. They post their weekly schedule on Mondays through their Instagram (@canvaspizza) so you will always be able to find them. We were happy to try several of their standard twelve inch pizzas starting with their pepperoni pizza, and it was stellar! The dough is covered in red sauce, mozzarella, and their pepperonis are perfect little cups filled with joy. If you want you can even add hot honey—yum! Stepping it up from pepperoni is their SPP which consists of red sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, jalapeno, Guero chile, and hot honey. This one was so great and has a definite kick, so keep that in mind when ordering. We also tried the Rosehill, named as a nod to their mentor Mike V., which I really enjoyed as it has mozzarella, parmesan, pepperoncinis, and confit garlic, and it was truly awesome! For something vegetarian and very unique you should try the lemon frenzy which has a mozzarella provolone blend, thin slices of lemon, shallots, confit garlic, parmesan, and topped with hot honey, basil, and a garlic ricotta sauce, just wow! Last but certainly not least we tried their newer and very popular Detroit style pizza which is super cool! It’s baked in a special narrow deep

Owners Arthur White and Clayton Chavez

dish style personal pan which creates a thicker style pizza with a very crispy cheese edge all around it. This is absolutely delicious and a must try! We are really impressed with the quality of Canvas pizza, and Arthur and Clayton work really hard to make us all the perfect pie every time. Be sure to check out their Instagram to see where you can find them next, and tell them The Riversider sent you!

Canvas Pizza canvaspizza.com @canvaspizza

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Bar & Restaurant Guide The Riversider | August/September 2026

AMERICAN (NEW) Batter Rebellion

1393 University Ave (951) 901-9357

Bushfire Kitchen

5225 Canyon Crest Dr Ste 92 (951) 534-0697

ProAbition Whiskey Lounge & Kitchen 3597 Main St (951) 222-2110

The Rustik Fork Eatery

1355 E Alessandro Blvd Ste 101 (951) 656-3555

The State

3800 Main St (951) 728-3330

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

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

Wonderland Bake Shop 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 The Riversider Magazine

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

P.S. I Crepe You

6095 Magnolia Ave (951) 742-5167

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

Mochi Lion

Riverside Cookie Shoppe

Sire Restaurant

Brandon’s Diner

Simple Simon’s Bakery & Bistro

BARS/LOUNGES

Buenos Dias Cafe

6737 Brockton Ave (951) 686-6374

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 3720 Sunnyside Dr (951) 823-0797

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

6440 Magnolia Ave (951) 683-7473

Bar Ni Modo

1393 University ave (951) 223-6829

Dapper Dine & Lounge 3203 Mission Inn Ave (951) 620-0004

Downtown Experiment 3601 University Ave (951) 355-2606

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

Locals Public House 285 E 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 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

1242 University Ave (951) 534-0756

BAR & GRILLS

4281 Main St (951) 374-1176

Mr. Blue’s Donuts

Art’s Bar & Grill

BBQ

19009 Van Buren Blvd Ste 123 (951) 780-3188

Mr. Baker

10466 Magnolia Ave (951) 299-8932

Nothing Bundt Cakes

3357 University Ave (951) 683-9520

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

Events Sports Grill

3639 Riverside Plaza Dr #502 (951) 787-1885

10560 Magnolia Ave #A (951) 352-2693

Ochoa’s Mexican Bakery

Fire Up Grill

10330 Arlington Ave #3 (951) 359-8128

Ortiz Bakery

421 Iowa Ave #A (951) 787-9138

Pepe’s Panaderia

3750 University Ave (951) 289-9071

Flat Top Bar & Grill

17960 Van Buren Blvd (951) 780-0114

Joe’s Bar & Grill

3511 Madison St (951) 353-8801

10909 Magnolia Ave (951) 637-3931

Rainbow Donuts

Law’s Restaurant

3758 La Sierra Ave (951) 688-7889

9640 Indiana Ave (951) 354-7021

Randy's Donuts

Shooters Sports & Grill

3519 Van Buren Blvd (951) 588-5678

10226 Indiana Ave (951) 785-9588

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit

3540 Riverside Plaza Dr Ste 314 (951) 683-9700

Gram’s BBQ

3527 Main St (951) 782-8219

Mongolian BBQ

1242 University Ave STE 7 (951) 686-0702

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

Spirit of Texas BBQ

9646 Magnolia Ave (951) 637-2782 2790 14th St (951) 405-8031

Crest Cafe

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

Flabob Airport Cafe 4130 Mennes Ave (951) 213-6030

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

Riviera Family Restaurant 5633 Mission Blvd (951) 274-9509

Rodeo Cafe

17136 Van Buren Blvd (951) 780-0388

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

Brüe Crüe

11626 Sterling Ave, STE G (951) 299-8860

Carbon Nation Brewing 9860 Indiana Ave, Unit 19

Hangar 24

5225 Canyon Crest Dr Unit 58 (951) 213-4777

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

Route 30 Brewing Company

3965 Market St (951) 462-1117

9860 Indiana Ave Ste 19 (951) 776-7083

BREAKFAST DINERS & CAFES

Thompson Brewing

Amy’s

9900 Indiana Ave (951) 289-7533

10635 Magnolia Ave (951) 689-0296

BURGERS

Brandon’s Diner

2221 Main St (909) 884-5233

10246 Indiana Ave Ste A (951) 359-3617

Baker’s Drive Thru

Baker’s Drive Thru 6686 Indiana Ave (909) 884-5233

Star Burgers

7207 Arlington Ave (951) 689-5050

Peking Restaurant

Flavor Theory

11170 Magnolia Ave (951) 687-4822

11090 Magnolia Ave (951) 977-9698

Diane’s Deli

2900 Adams St #B1 (951) 689-2900

Baker’s Drive Thru

Zorba’s Restaurant

Red Chilli Noodle Star

Goodwin’s Organics Cafe

D’Elia’s Grinders

Baker’s Drive Thru

Zorba’s Express

Wok In Kitchen

JUJUBAR

19040 Van Buren Blvd (951) 780-0224

D’Elia’s Grinders

5050 Arlington Ave #101 (951) 343-7888

CHINESE

COFFEE/TEA/JUICE

Kung Fu Tea

European Intl Market &Deli

Canton Chinese Food

7 Leaves Cafe

Kraemer’s Coffee Bistro

M & M Deli

Lift Coffee Roasters

My Hero Subs

2060 Chicago Ave Ste A10 (951) 742-7413

355 Iowa Ave A (951) 784-7370

Molinos Coffee

RiverCrust Deli

1300 Blaine St (909) 884-5233

10225 Magnolia Ave (909) 884-5233

Baker’s Drive Thru 5396 Mission Blvd (909) 884-5233

Boys Burgers

10737 Magnolia Ave (951) 689-1294

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

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

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

Nikko’s Burgers

9295 Magnolia Ave STE 112 (951) 352-7290

Original Tommy’s

450 Iowa Ave (951) 686-5830

770 University Ave (951) 787-0094

1756 University Ave (951) 684-6126

Changan Kitchen 1299 University Ave (951) 213-6790

Chen Ling Palace 9856 Magnolia Ave (951) 351-8511

Chinatown

10935 Magnolia Ave (951) 785-6197

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 Express 1490 University Ave (951) 686-2223

Jade China

2712 Canyon Springs Pkwy (951) 653-9200

LOC Chinese Kitchen

1223 University Ave, Ste 130 (951) 204-1521

Little Beijing Chinese Fast Food 5800 Van Buren Blvd (951) 509-1188

Lucky Wok

7504 Mission Grove Pkwy S (951) 780-4201

2995 Van Buren Blvd (951) 688-2888

R Burgers

Master Gan

5980 Van Buren Blvd (951) 358-9203

1299 Galleria at Tyler

R Burgers

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

1666 University Ave (951) 784-4350

Urban Skillet

1223 University Ave, Ste 150 (951) 213-1760

Smash Papas 3605 Market St

Monark Asian Bistro

Mr. China Express

8451 Colorado Ave #8301 (951) 687-8967

Mr. You

19530 Van Buren Blvd G7 (951) 653-1740

4069 Chicago Ave, Ste 100 (951) 584-3645

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

191 W Big Springs Rd (951) 682-2667

3678 Central Ave Ste 102 (951) 254-9609 6734 Brockton Ave (951) 686-4400

3660 Mission Inn Ave (951) 276-7147

Mundial Coffee

2093 University Ave (951) 683-7380 9009 Van Buren Blvd (951) 780-3354 7120 Indiana Ave G (951) 274-9100

1960 Chicago Ave #D1 (951) 684-6861

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

Subs & Spuds

Back to the Grind

1725 Spruce St (951) 777-1225

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

Nekter Juice Bar

Tummy Stuffer

Boba Fiend Tea House

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

1159 Iowa Ave O (951) 369-1266

R&B Tea

The Upper Crust Sandwich Shoppe

3575 University Ave (951) 784-0800 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

Cafe Oro Dos Aztecas 3521 Main St (657) 933-1685

Coffeecito House 3882 12th St (951) 405-4599

Condron Coffee

3696 Sunnyside Dr (951) 880-3354

Copper Goat Coffee 3563 Main St (951) 744-4364

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

Earth Cafe

10051 Magnolia Ave, Ste B4 (951) 406-1001

1889 University Ave Unit 105 (951) 462-4142

Sharetea

3573 Main St (951) 784-3149

10920 Magnolia Ave Ste 103 (951) 406-5165

ETHIOPIAN

TRA Boba & Snack

Sekela Ethiopian Restaurant

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

12702 Magnolia Ave UNIT 22 (951) 407-1021

FILIPINO Sarap Social

1393 University Ave, Ste 109 (657) 272-1186

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 Kaua Hawaiian BBQ 10949 Magnolia Ave (951) 624-3900

Ohana Cravings

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

Bar & Restaurant Guide The Riversider | August/September 2026

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

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 Azaad Indian Cuisine

4290 Riverwalk Pkwy, Ste 306 (951) 299-8307

Bombay Stores

1201 University Ave

1385 W Blaine St (951) 788-3042

Baskin-Robbins

Cali Tardka

Afters Ice Cream

7024 Magnolia Ave (951) 682-3131

Benedetto Gelato

1393 University Ave, #112 (951) 213-6984

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

9212 Sunridge Drive (951) 376-0566

Gandhi Indian Cuisine

1355 E Alessandro Blvd #205 (951) 653-4147

India Sweets & Groceries 779 W Blaine St (951) 784-7400

Mantra Indian Cuisine 10359 Magnolia Ave (951) 417-4539

Namaste Indian Kitchen 6061 Magnolia Ave (951) 275-5316

Blaze Pizza

10920 Magnolia Ave Suite 107 (951) 474-5855

5115 Jurupa Ave B3 (951) 680-9090

Papa Joe’s Pizza

Ohana Sushi

Bricks & Birch

Papa Joe’s Pizza

Oishii Sushi

Bricks & Birch

Pietro’s Italian Cuisine

Ooka Sushi & Hibachi Steak House

3605 Market Street #5 (951) 500-7776 1393 University Ave

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

Dough Bros

5300 Arlington Ave (951) 977-9090

Dough Bros

1889 University Ave #108 (951) 781-3838

Fiesta Pizza

6110 Van Buren Blvd (951) 353-8007

Cold Stone Creamery

Punjab Palace Cuisine of India

Dairy Queen

ITALIAN/PIZZA

10971 Magnolia Ave (951) 729-5555

Aloha Pizza & Pasta

Marcello’s Pizza & Pasta

9867 Magnolia Ave Ste C (951) 637-0920

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

Handel's Ice Cream 5225 Canyon Crest Dr (951) 742-5013

La Michoacana 3961 Chicago Ave 951) 248-9142

Mixies Ice Cream & Cookies 3605 Market St (951) 595-4520

1766 University Ave (951) 686-9968

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

Mamma Mia Restaurant and Bar

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

10555 Indiana Ave (951) 688-1188

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

SF Hole In The Wall Pizza 1725 Spruce Street (951) 215-4444

Scratch Pizza

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

Tower Pizza

3375 Iowa Ave (951) 518-4300

Tommy Salami's

17040 Van Buren Blvd (951) 780-6000

The Outpost

3692 Sunnyside Dr

Slasher Pizza

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

Dada Kitchen

1393 University Ave STE 113 (951) 213-6253

Fuego Hibachi 3750 Main St (951) 742-5039

Ichi Sushi & K-Food 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

Momo Sushi

9844 Magnolia Ave (951) 999-9123 The Riversider Magazine

195 Alessandro Blvd Ste 8A (951) 789-0443 6133 Magnolia Ave (951) 784-2550

3525 Riverside Plaza Dr #200 (951) 779-0099

Poke Bistro

3375 Iowa Ave Ste K (951) 394-8580

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

Shabu Garden

11120 Magnolia Ave (951) 373-4727

Silverlake Ramen 3775 Tyler St (951) 934-9160

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

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

Zen Street

3600 Central Ave #1 (951) 683-3648

KOREAN bb.q Chicken 3770 9th St (951) 534-0254

Chimak House

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

Manna Grill

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

Koreana Grill

10051 Magnolia Ave Ste A1 (951) 688-9000

Ok Tofu House

10560 Magnolia Ave, Ste D (951) 509-0808

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

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

MEXICAN

2650 Main St (951) 530-8893

El Torito

M Taco

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

4111 Main St (951) 784-7135

El Trigo

Maria’s Mexican Kitchen

4155 Park Ave (951) 787-6937

17028 Van Buren Blvd (951) 780-2034

Antojitos Mexicanos La Ribera

Estrella Taqueria Lounge

Mariscos El Camaron Loco

3635 University Ave (951) 999-4323

3340 Mary St (951) 682-3882

Armando’s Mexican Food

Fire Up Bar & Grill

Mezcal Cantina Y Cocina

Ahumadas Mexican Grill 7614 Evans St (951) 368-4583

Anchos Southwest Grill & Bar 10773 Hole Ave (951) 352-0240

4773 Tyler St Ste 2d (951) 353-1852

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

Blue Burro

1201 University Ave Ste 109B (951) 742-5353

Birrieria Little Tijuana

12702 Magnolia Ave Unit 25 (951) 268-6895

Birrieria Xolos

MEDITERRANEAN Elias Pita

Cactus Cantina

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

Kabob House

10901 Magnolia Ave (951) 353-9711

Lucky Greek

3887 Merrill Ave (951) 686-2621

Mandi Express

3940 University Ave (951) 777-1043

Panini Kabob Grill 1298 Galleria at Tyler (951) 352-6318

Sam’s Pita & Kabab 9799 Magnolia Ave (951) 376-1269

Los Novillos Market

3204 Mission Inn Ave (951) 777-1131

9696 Magnolia Ave (951) 376-1226

1490 University Ave Ste 103 (951) 686-6800

El Patron

151 E Alessandro Blvd (951) 789-0211

Casa Mota

8151 Arlington Ave (951) 352-7383

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

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

3750 University Ave (951) 289-9071

3737 Main St Ste 100 (951) 888-2240

Fish Taco Xtreme

Miches De La Baja

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

1242 University Ave Ste 5 (951) 742-5633

Fuego 360 Rotisserie Chicken

Mi Lindo Apatzingan

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

Mariposas

1690 Spruce St (951) 742-5761

9948 Magnolia Ave (951) 688-0908

Morena's Mexican Cuisine 3457 Arlington Ave Ste 106 (951) 266-6333

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

La Bufadora Baja Grill

Ramiro’s Cocina

La Bufadora Baja Grill

Ranchito Tacos Al Carbon

497 E Alessandro Blvd Ste B (951) 776-2881 5650-52 Van Buren Blvd (951) 687-7237

9418 Magnolia Ave (951) 354-6146

2995 Van Buren Blvd Ste A1 (951) 359-8646

La Cruda Mariscos

Rancho La Perla

Las Campanas

Rico’s Tacos El Primo

Las Nuevas Islas

Rodrigo’s Mexican Grill

6733 Indiana Ave (951) 777-0862

3649 Mission Inn Ave (888) 326-4448 4920 Jackson St (951) 772-0020

Los Cabos Tacos

11840 Magnolia Ave (951) 352-2653

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

3700 Van Buren Blvd Ste 109 (951) 688-8682 1788 University Ave Ste 102 (951) 782-9610 3848 La Sierra Ave (951) 687-2280

El GoGo'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

The Taco Stand

1393 University Ave (951) 266-6295

Tacos La Piedad

3522 Madison St Ste 104 (951) 578-0892

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 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

Yeye's Kitchen

18181 Van Buren Blvd, Ste 103 (951) 398-7075

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

Zacatecas Cafe 3767 Iowa Ave (951) 683-3939

Bar & Restaurant Guide The Riversider | August/September 2026

PAKISTANI Al-Karam Pakistani Cuisine

3457 Arlington Ave Ste 101 (951) 742-5610

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

SEAFOOD

Shrimp Shack Cajun Fusion 3605 Market St, Ste 9 (951) 742-5558

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

Star Crab

10051 Magnolia Ave (951) 977-9440

Gra Pow

Goodwin’s Organic

Phở 99

91 W Big Springs Rd (951) 682-2667

4557 La Sierra Ave (951) 688-2671

Monark Asian Bistro

La Sierra Natural Foods

Pho Anh

497 E Alessandro Blvd #D (951) 780-1132 5225 Canyon Crest Dr #64 (951) 683-1073

Chaam Eatery

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

Riverside Thai Kitchen

10920 Magnolia Ave Suite 101 (951) 405-6880

STEAKHOUSES

7755 California Ave (951) 729-6675

Market Broiler

Steakhouse at Mission Inn

3649 Mission Inn Ave (888) 326-4448

Royal Orchid Restaurant

California Fish Grill

3525 Merrill Ave (951) 276-9007

Pier 76 Fish Grill

3555 Riverside Plaza Dr Ste 108 (951) 341-9297

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

Flat Top Bar & Grill

17960 Van Buren Blvd (951) 780-0114

9791 Magnolia Ave (951) 354-6100

TK Thai Cuisine

11860 Magnolia Ave Ste T (951) 509-3701

THAI

VEGETARIAN/VEGAN

Angel Thai Cuisine

Blue Bowl Superfoods

6736 Brockton Ave (951) 788-1995

1393 University Ave Ste 108

11550 Pierce St (951) 785-2563

Oasis Vegetarian Café

5646 Van Buren Blvd (951) 977-9889

Pho Anh Hot Pot & Crayfish

11550 Pierce St (951) 688-5423

10271 Magnolia Ave (951) 729-6668

Veg & Go

Pho Anh Hot Pot & Crayfish

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

VIETNAMESE/PHO 5 Stars Pho Restaurant

4950 La Sierra Ave (951) 772-0700

Pho 81

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

231 E Alessandro Blvd (951) 215-0585

Pho DJ

5180 Arlington Ave (951) 354-2799

Pho Ha

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

10185 Magnolia Ave (951) 354-8918

Pho Ha #7

1820 University Ave #101 (951) 680-0790

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

The The Riversider Riversider Magazine Magazine

Baba's Hot Chicken Beer Farm

Fred's Red Tacos Smash Papas

ZACH CORDNER

Can’t find our latest issue? Grab one at The Food Lab! Riverside Food Lab 3605 Market St.

Brass Monkey Social

Mixies Ice Cream & Cookies

Bricks & Birch

Shrimp Shack Cajun Fusion

Fufu’s GreenShack Maki Sushi & Cocktails

SoHo Ramen Tasa

Life Grows Here.

Stylish Finish Package

Gather. Play. Host.

Welcome home to North Grove, Riverside’s newest brand-new one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartment community where modern design meets everyday ease. These spacious homes are crafted with premium interiors, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, in-home washer and dryer, and your choice of stylish finish packages, while resort-style amenities invite you to unwind by the pool, gather in the clubroom, or fire up the courtyard grills with friends. Perfectly positioned near UC Riverside, Fairmount Park, and Downtown Riverside with quick access to the 215, North Grove puts the entire Inland Empire within reach. Now leasing - schedule your tour today and be among the first to call Riverside’s most exciting new community home. LiveNorthGrove.com | 3461 La Cadena Dr, Riverside, CA 92501

DISCOVER A NEW CHAPTER AT Begin a new chapter in a place that feels like home. At Discovery Commons Raincross residents experience the freedom of maintenance-free living, and are able to focus on what brings them joy. With a variety of social gatherings, engaging activities, and enriching programs, each day fosters connections and memorable experiences. From housekeeping and chef-prepared meals to personal support, everything is thoughtfully managed for comfort and peace of mind. Discover what this new beginning can bring at Discovery Commons Raincross Assisted Living and SHINE® Memory Care, where comfort and connection await.

Call 951.268.9275 to Schedule a Tour Today

UNLOCK SAVINGS NOW!*

DiscoveryCommonsRaincross.com

5232 Central Avenue, Riverside, CA 92504 Assisted Living | SHINE® Memory Care *Savings for new residents only. Speak to the community’s Director of Sales for more details. ©2026 Integral Senior Living Management, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Prices, plans and programs are subject to change or withdrawal without notice. Void where prohibited by law. Managed by Integral Senior Living Management, LLC. RCFE LICENSE #331880774 DCRC-0075 01/26

1st Blue Zones Approved Restaurant in Riverside!

6951 Flight Road Riverside, CA 92504 951-688-3337 riversideairportcafe.com @theriversideairportcafe

Open Everyday 6am–3pm

Happy Hour Specials Monday through Friday 1pm–3pm Happy Hour menu $10

BOTTLES $3 DRAFT $5

Now Open!

Join us at our second location, Flabob Airport Cafe!

Pastrami Fries Carne Asada Fries 2 Ortega Cheese Sliders & Fries 2 Bacon Cheddar Sliders & Fries Half Riverside BLT & Fries Half Four Cheese Grilled Cheese & Fries Grilled Chicken Caesar Wrap & Fries Platter Choose 3 appetizers

Fast Forward to Yesterday The Riversider | August/September 2026

American Fruit Growers Packing House, 1971

The Riversider Magazine

JULIAN JOLLIFFE

2026

ATTENTION RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES’ CUSTOMERS

r u o Y p Amp U

S G N SAVI BY

POWERI N G

DOWN

When temperatures rise, so can your energy bill, but staying cool doesn’t have to cost more. Simple habits like setting your thermostat to 78°F, using fans wisely, unplugging unused electronics, running appliances during off-peak hours, and keeping blinds closed can help you save. For even more ways to save, Riverside Public Utilities offers rebates and programs to help residents improve energy efficiency at home.

RiversidePublicUtilities.com/Rebates

YOUR WEEKEND PLANS JUST GOT FUNNER.

Scan for tickets.

Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo Thursday, October 8 Anuhea

Country Night

Friday, August 7

Sunday, August 16

Nurse John Live

Los Ángeles Azules

Performing Poolside at Dive

Thursday, September 3

Cumbia Sin Fronteras US Tour

Daughtry

Josh Turner

Saturday, October 3

Foreigner

Celebrating Fifty Years

Sunday, October 25

Sunday, September 6

This Country Music Thing Tour

Sunday, October 4

KC and the Sunshine Band Friday, November 13

Straight No Chaser

Blue October

Saturday, November 14

Thursday, February 11

Making Spirits Bright Tour

Foiled 20th Anniversary World Tour

Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com Learn more at HarrahsSoCal.com Must be 18 or older to attend shows.

The Riversider Magazine

Entertainment subject to change. Must be 21 or older to attend events and gamble. Know When To Stop Before You Start®. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Owned by the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians. Trademarks used herein are owned by Caesars Entertainment® and its affiliated companies. Managed by HCAL, LLC. ©2026, Caesars Entertainment. All rights reserved.