W e e k l y RIALTO RECORD
Vol 20, NO. 45
July 28, 2022
R a q u e l ’ s Ja z z L o u n g e i s a u n i q u e g e m s p e c i a l t o the City of Rialto
www.iecn.com
Rep. Aguilar
Rallies the IE to Donate Blood
Amid Criticall y Low Shor tage
Pg. 3
Songstress performs at Raquel’s Jazz Lounge, which holds live jazz performances on Saturdays.
By Adriana Lopez
In downtown Rialto on Riverside avenue is Raquel’s Jazz Lounge, an establishment that has been open for over 30 years. Once known as Alley Kat Jazz Lounge, Raquel’s has undergone some renovations, ownership change, and survived a pandemic.
Current owners Patrick Smith and Timothy Stansell have been the backbone of the jazz
lounge for eight years, and have used their shared experiences as promoters to ensure the survival of Raquel’s.
“Nowadays people dont want to see a flyer, they want to see a video of what people look like in your establishment and who they’re hanging out with,” Smith said. Understanding the need for visual appeal reflects in the lounge's appearance. The brick walls are covered in original art-
work, the light fixtures are bright enough to illuminate the lounge but don’t disrupt the peaceful ambiance, there isn’t a tear in sight on any of the booths or chairs.
The outdoor patio offers a continuation of the lounge's ambiance, with tables spaced far enough to keep from feeling overcrowded, but close enough to invite friendly conversation. A friendly, inviting environment is what
Smith and Stansell strive for. To Stansell, offering a place where patrons can communicate with one another is the major contribution that Raquel’s makes to Rialto. “It brings everybody together, it brings everybody to understand what else is going on, good, bad, or indifferent,” Stansell said. “It's a chance for people to exchange business ideas. There is no loss when
PHOTO
ADRIANA LOPEZ
people come in to network.”
Raquel’s Jazz Lounge also offers the chance to hear a live band perform, a rare characteristic as most clubs and lounges choose to have DJs or employees in charge of creating a playlist for guests to hear over speakers.
Songstress is one of the bands that Raquel’s Lounge, cont. on next pg.
Rialto Resident Henr y Figueroa reaches 100 gallons in
Caden
Henderson
weighs in on the most over rated NBA atheletes
going into the 2022-2023 season Pg. 4
H OW TO R E A CH U S
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R
Community News
ialto resident Henry Figueroa, 75, first donated blood 50 years ago at the El Toro Marine Corps base in Irvine, California.
On Friday, July 22, Figueroa reached his lifetime blood donation milestone, becoming a 100-Gallon Donor at LifeStream Blood Bank's San Bernardino Donor Center, 420 E. Hospitality Lane. Figueroa shared he started giving blood after his wife, Lucille, had two Caesarean secLifestream, cont. on next pg.
blood donations