CITY LIFE & FINE LIVING
RIVERSIDE o c to b e r - n ov e m b e r 2 014
m ag a z i n e
TEDx comes
to town
Crust and pie: Riverside pizza delights Drought-sensible ideas
about-face
Gregory Adamson flips art and career
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contents
RIVERSIDE M
O C TO B E R - N OV E M b E R 2 014 • VO L U M E 7, I S S U E 5
FEATURES 8 Get online, make a difference Riverside nonprofits will band together again for a 24-hour web-a-thon to raise funds for good works. The Nov. 13 Give Big Riverside County campaign begins at 12:01 a.m. Calendar and Hot List, Page 10 14 Making a splash ... He sees the world from his own unique perspective. No wonder. When Gregory Adamson walked away from a career in banking, he discarded his suits and ties in favor of jeans and paint-spattered tennis shoes. Today he’s a performance ar tist and will be a speaker at TEDx Riverside. His topic: Reinventing your life with your passion. 20 … And now appearing locally Since 1984, TED has been quietly working to revolutionize the way we think about Technology Enter tainment and Design. This year TEDx, a community initiative designed to spark local ideas and connections, arrives in Riverside. Speakers include singersongwriter Melissa Manchester, animatronics innovator Garner Holt and CBU instructor and Hollywood Bowl discovery Sarah Horn. Speakers list, Page 21
24 Green ideas for a brown season It’s hot, we’re in a drought and rain isn’t expected soon. One way to beat the heat and take strain off local water suppliers is to conver t green spaces to drought-tolerant plantings. Local and regional gardens have a variety of ideas. 26 An eye for pie Even in the embrace of fitness and nutrition crazes, Americans love their pizza. And Riverside is no different, perhaps in par t because of the variety and quality of pies here. From Mario’s wood-fired oven classics to the New York Pizza Company’s fold-it-in-half slices, there’s something for everyone.
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from the editor
Inspiration – any way you look at it
‘T
hey must have gotten the words on the cover turned upside-down.” If that was your first thought after picking up this issue, we achieved our goal. Given that the main story is about performance artist Gregory Adamson, it seemed apropos to have them that way because an aspect of his work is about flipping perspective. Using a rapid-style technique set to music, Adamson paints large-scale portraits that start out upside-down. Then, several minutes later as he’s about to finish the work, he turns the canvas upright to reveal the image. A longtime banking executive, Adamson himself had a change of perspective after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2011. “Like all of us, it hit me in my own profound ways,” he says. “Life is so precious. I started wondering how
Arts Center on Oct. 16. In what promises to be a day of inspiration, Adamson will be joined by 18 other speakers — many offering their takes on the same theme. For an artist, Adamson says, the hardest thing in the world is to be different. But he has Gregory Adamson, during the photo shoot for the cover found his place. “It was never in my heart to paint much more of it I was going to spend trees, but it was in my heart to paint,” not doing the things I wanted to do.” he says. “The thing about art is you Change was in order, and he decided want to explore everything.” to follow a long-held passion — art. And find your own perspective. Now, well into his second career, he often will try to encourage others to find passion in what they do and to follow their heart. That will be the focus of his presentation during TEDx jerry.rice@langnews.com Riverside, coming to the Fox Performing 951-541-1825, @JerryRice_IE
Jerry Rice
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NONPROFITS
Giving big,
helping a community Written by Luanne J. Hunt Photo by Micah Escamilla
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pending a few minutes online can go a long way to help important causes, and that’s the idea behind Give Big Riverside County, a 24-hour web-a-thon to benefit local nonprofits. Presented by The Community Foundation, the third annual campaign returns Nov. 13 at 12:01 a.m. and will allow individuals to donate to a variety of causes via http://givebigriversidecounty.org. “Our main website will link to the websites of our nonprofits where people can give to them directly,” said Sharilyn Hunke, TCF’s director of communications and lead organizer of Give Big Riverside. “All donations will be tracked on a leader board on our main site and after the event, the top 10 nonprofits in each category that received the most donations will win a cash prize.” This year, the goal is to raise at least $350,000. For 2012, when 93 nonprofits took part, and last year, when the number of nonprofits jumped to 113, the total raised during the two years was slightly more than $500,000. As many as 160 nonprofits are expected to participate in November’s event, including the Assistance League of Riverside, Hope Through Housing Foundation, Living Free Animal Sanctuary, Teen Challenge of Inland Empire, and the Special Olympics. The minimum donation accepted will be $10, and the tax-deductible gifts can be made using a credit or debit card. “Several days before the big event, the public can
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| riversidethemag.com | october-november 2014
go to our website and link to the websites of the nonprofits for the purpose of finding out more about them,” Hunke said. Sponsors for Give Big Riverside include the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce, The Norris Group, Corona Chamber of Commerce, Bank of America, City of Riverside Public Utilities, The California Endowment, CalNonprofits Insurance Services, The RAP Foundation and Western Municipal Water District. “We have received amazing feedback from the past two web-a-thons. We are helping nonprofits attract younger donors, which is made possible through social media,” Hunke said. “If we don’t cultivate a younger demographic of people who are open to giving in this way, it could become a big problem for the nonprofit sector down the road. This is a big part of our mission.” Give Big Riverside County What: A 24-hour web-a-thon that raises funds for nonprofits throughout Riverside County. When: Nov. 13, star ting at 12:01 a.m. Information: www.givebigriversidecounty.org
‘We have received amazing feedback from the past two web-athons. We are helping nonprofits attract younger donors, which is made possible through social media. If we don’t cultivate a younger demographic of people who are open to giving in this way, it could become a big problem for the nonprofit sector down the road.’ — Sharilyn Hunke, The Community Foundation’s director of communications and lead organizer of Give Big Riverside Representatives from dozens of nonprofits that will benefit from Give Big Riverside County gather at the Fox Performing Arts Center.
hot list JERRY LEWIS OCT. 11 – Fox Performing Arts Center, 3801 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside; 6 p.m.; 951-779-9800; www.riversidelive.com. Also: Wanda Sykes, Dec. 4; The Brian Setzer Orchestra Christmas Rocks! Extravaganza, Dec. 17; Straight No Chaser: The Happy Hour Tour, Dec. 30; So You Think You Can Dance Live Tour, Jan. 24; Kathleen Madigan, March 7. MAYOR’S CELEBRATION FOR ARTS & INNOVATION OCT. 11 – Music, exhibitions, dance, performances by Riverside’s arts organizations, and cuisine prepared by some of the city’s top chefs. Benefit for arts programs, presented by the City of Riverside, the Riverside Arts Council and SmartRiverside. Fox Entertainment Plaza, 3635 Market St., Riverside; 6-10 p.m.; $75; 951-680-1345; www.mayorscelebrationriverside.com. ZOMBIE CRAWL OCT. 18 – Halloween- and zombie-themed
calendar ROMANO’S CONCERT LOUNGE THROUGH OCT. 10 – The Spazmatics, Oct. 4; Gold Rush Country, Oct. 10. 5225 Canyon Crest Drive, Riverside; 951-781-7662; http://theconcertlounge.com. FILM SCREENINGS THROUGH OCT. 18 – “The Immigrant,” Oct. 10-11; “Omar,” Oct. 17-18. Culver Center of the Arts, 3834 Main St., Riverside; 951-827-4787; http://culvercenter.ucr.edu. RIVERSIDE PLAZA THROUGH OCT. 25 – Live music in the theater courtyard every Saturday through Oct. 25. 3639 Riverside Plaza Drive; 6-8 p.m.; free; 951-683-1066; www.shopriversideplaza.com. LAW’S RESTAURANT THROUGH OCT. 31 – Entouraj, Oct. 10; Heymakers, Oct. 17; Eighty Percent Band, Oct. 24; Southbound, Oct. 31. 9640 Indiana Ave., Riverside; 951-354-7021; www.lawsrestaurant.com. ‘FUGURATIVE LANGUAGES’ THROUGH NOV. 1 – Selections from seven 10 | riversidethemag.com | october-november 2014
activities and entertainment, including facepainting, zombie survivalist training, costume contest and parade. Pedestrian Mall, between Mission Inn and University avenues, Riverside; 2-6 p.m.; 951-341-6550; www.facebook.com/RiversideZombieCrawl. RIVERSIDE COUNTY PHILHARMONIC NOV. 22 – “More Holiday Magic,” with
performances of holiday favorites and an audience sing-a-long. Program includes “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” “Feliz Navidad” and David Fick’s “Symphony of Carols.” Arrive early for the pre-concert talk by music director and conductor Tomasz Golka. Fox Performing Arts Center, 3801 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside; 951-787-0251; www.thephilharmonic.org.
ARCHAEOLOGY DISCOVERY WEEKEND NOV. 15-16 – Sixth annual event features a simulated excavation for kids and parents, hands-on labs, lectures by international archaeologists and a Bedouin hospitality tent. A teachers’ workshop also will be held. Topics include “The Galilee Boat,” “Iron Age Deep Water Shipwrecks” and “The Ports of Ancient Carthage.” Presented by La Sierra University’s Center for Near Eastern Archaeology. 4500 Riverwalk Parkway, Riverside; 951-785-2632; http://lasierra. edu/cnea/discovery-weekend.
artists working in painting, drawing and collage that explore creative approaches toward the figure. Sweeney Art Gallery, UCR ARTSblock, 3824 Main St., Riverside; 951-827-4787; http://sweeney.ucr.edu. Also: “Domesticating Disturbances,” new work by Nathan Huff, through Nov. 1. ‘BUT NOT FORGOTTEN’ THROUGH FEB. 21 – Selections from the Steve and Mary DeGenaro postmortem and memorial photography collection. Reception, 6-9 p.m. Nov. 1. UCR/California Museum of Photography, 3824 Main St., Riverside; 951-827-4787; http://artsblock.ucr.edu. Also: “100 Japanese Cameras: 1925-2014,” through Oct. 11. ‘CAHUILLA CONTINUUM’ THROUGH AUG. 31 – Exhibit tells the story of a Southern California native people, the Cahuilla, through more than 160 artifacts. Metropolitan Museum, 3580 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside; 951-826-5273; www.riversideca.gov/museum. Also: “John Muir & The Personal Experience of Nature,” through Oct. 26; “Telling Riverside’s Story in 50 Objects,” through Jan. 4; “Force of Arms” and “Nature Lab,” ongoing.
CITRUS CLASSIC BIKE RIDE OCT. 12 – Rides of 28, 50 and 100 miles in addition to a 7-mile family ride and a kiddie ride. Free bike festival for everyone featuring music, food, vendors, beer garden and other activities. Proceeds benefit the Riverside Educational Enrichment and Alvord Educational foundations. Riverside Plaza, 3535 Riverside Plaza Drive; first ride begins at 6:30 a.m.; www.rusdlink.org/citrusclassic. CLASSIC CAR SHOW OCT. 12 – Monthly car show presented the second Sunday of each month. Canyon Crest Towne Centre, 5225 Canyon Crest Drive, Riverside; 4-7 p.m.; 951-686-1222; www.cctownecentre.com. LOOK WHO’S TALKING TOO OCT. 13 – Chef Marla Cohen wraps the second Riverside Art Alliance speaker series with a cooking demonstration and her talk, “From the Bowels of the Basement to Rubbing Shoulders with Hollywood.” Riverside Art Museum, 3425 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside; $25; 951-684-7111; www.riversideartmuseum.org. CHORAL FESTIVAL OCT. 15-18 – La Sierra University, 4500 Riverwalk Parkway, Riverside; 951-785-2241; www.lasierra.edu. Also: Wind Ensemble
Concert, Nov. 1; Orchestra Concert, Nov. 15; Wind and Percussion Chamber Concert, Dec. 2; Jazz Combo Concert, Dec. 3; 67th Candlelight Concert, Dec. 5; Chamber Music Series, Dec. 7; Student Chamber Music Recital, Dec. 10; Big Band Concert, Dec. 13. ONES TO WATCH OCT. 16 – Cherub, Ghost Beach and Gibbz in concert. Riverside Auditorium & Events Center, 3485 Mission Inn Ave.; 951-779-9800; www.riversiderma.com. Also: Mint Condition, Oct. 17; The Janoskians, Oct. 24; Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Jan. 3. ‘NEXT TO NORMAL’ OCT 17-26 – Revival of the Tony and Pulitzer winning rock musical, presented by Creative Arts Theater. The Box, Fox Entertainment Plaza, 3635 Market St., Riverside; 951-826-2427; www.riversideblackbox.com. Also: “The Pillowman,” presented by Gestalt Theatre Project, Oct. 31-Nov. 2; “Assassins,” presented by Riverside Repertory Theatre, Nov. 7-23. ‘DEFENDING THE CAVEMAN’ OCT. 18 – Comedy by Rob Becker about the misunderstandings between men and women, part of the Broadway in Riverside series. Fox Performing Arts Center, 3801 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside; 2 and 7 p.m.; 951-335-3469;
www.riversidelive.com. Also: “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” Nov. 18-19; “Anything Goes,” Nov. 25-26; “Mark Twain Tonight!” Jan. 17; “Mamma Mia!” Feb. 4-5; “Memphis,” Feb. 13-14. TROLLEY DANCES RIVERSIDE OCT. 18 – Site-specific choreography presented at various sites along Riverside Transit Authority bus routes. Downtown Riverside; 951-222-8669; www.trolleydancesriverside.com. RIVERSIDE TRIATHLON OCT. 19 – Third annual 5K run, 12-mile bike ride and 150-meter swim, featuring individual competitors and team relays, to benefit the Riverside Police Foundation’s efforts to promote youth programs and community outreach. Bobby Bonds Sports Park, 2060 University Ave., Riverside; race-day registration 6-7:30 a.m.; www.riversidetriathlon.com. GHOST WALK OCT. 24-25 – Original tales of ghosts and ghouls, featuring local high school drama groups and noted community speakers, and incorporating local landmarks. Five tour options set out from the Main Street Pedestrian Mall, including two family friendly excursions. Downtown Riverside; $15; 951-787-7850; www.crballet.com.
DICKENS TRILOGY NOV. 14-15 – Gerald Dickens, the greatgreat-grandson of the literary master, will perform “Sikes and Nancy,” “A Christmas Carol” and the U.S. premiere of “Top Hole!” at three different locations. Downtown Riverside; 951-781-3168; www.dickensfest.com. FALL PLANT SALE OCT. 25-26 – Nearly 10,000 plants in more than 500 varieties will be available for purchase. UC Riverside Botanic Gardens, 900 University Ave.; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday; 951-784-6962; www.gardens.ucr.edu.
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VETERANS DAY NOV. 11 – Annual ceremony begins in the amphitheater at 11 a.m. Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Blvd., Riverside; 951-653-8417; www.rncsc.org. Also: Wreaths Across America, 9 a.m. Dec. 13. ‘ABSURD PERSON SINGULAR’ NOV. 14-30 – Meet three couples in their kitchens on Christmas Eve of three consecutive years in this three-act comedy by Alan Ayckbourn. Riverside Community Players Theater, 4026 14th St., Riverside; 951-686-4030; www.riversidecommunityplayers.com. Also: Noel Coward’s “Private Lives,” Jan. 23-Feb. 8; “No Sex Please, We’re British,” March 27-April 12; “The Importance of Being Earnest,” May 15-31; “Nunsense,” July 10-26. ‘SHREK THE MUSICAL’ NOV. 7-16 – Production, based on the Oscar-winning animated movie, is presented by Performance Riverside. Landis Performing Arts Center, 4800 Magnolia Ave., Riverside; 951-222-8100; www.performanceriverside.org. Also: “In the Heights,” Feb. 6-15; “Ragtime the Musical,” April 3-12; “Clybourne Park,” May 6-9. RIVERSIDE LYRIC OPERA NOV. 8 – “HMS Pinafore.” First Congregational Church, 3755 Lemon St., Riverside; 7 p.m.; 951-781-9561; www.riversidelyricopera.org. Also: “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” Dec. 28.
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ARTS WALK NOV. 6 – Browse more than 20 art galleries, studios and museums with exhibits in various art mediums. Special performances, poetry, theater, hands-on art activities, refreshments and more. Continues the first Thursday of every month. Downtown Riverside; 6-9 p.m.; 951-682-6737; www.riversidedowntown.org.
MISSION INN RUN NOV. 9 – 37th annual event featuring a half-marathon, 5 and 10K runs, 5K walk, and shorter events for kids. Start/finish downtown Riverside, between Mission Inn Avenue and Sixth Street; www.missioninnrun.com. DOWNTOWN FARMERS MARKET ONGOING – Fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers and more. Downtown, Main Street between Fifth and Sixth streets, Riverside; 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays; 951-826-2434.
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cov e r story
Turning a
Gregory Adamson uses his talents and rare painting style to wow audiences and support nonprofits
on its h
g art
s head
H
Written by Amy Bentley Photos by Eric Reed
is art is explosive. The paintings expand across large canvases in the space of minutes, and people are willing to pay thousands of dollars to own one. Meet Gregory Adamson, a performance artist who helps charities raise much-needed funds by allowing them to auction his paintings following live performances. Oh, and the portraits he does are upside-down on the canvas until he’s nearly finished. Then he rotates the canvas, turning the image right-side up, to complete his work. Using brushes and sometimes smearing and smudging the paint with his hands, Adamson amazes audiences as he creates colorful, large-scale portraits of music icons, sports legends, political leaders and other pop-culture celebrities as popular tunes are playing during a jaw-dropping, fast-paced performance he calls “Facing the Music.” While his energetic manner gives the appearance that his performance is a spontaneous free-for-all, it’s hardly random. In fact, Adamson spends hours in his Upland studio perfecting his craft, planning each brush stroke and using the musical playlist for timing cues. “It starts with a lot of practice, prototyping, trying to figure out a way of creating an image of a person that will work and be simplified,” said Adamson, 57, who lives in Claremont and is active in the Riverside arts scene as a board member for the Riverside Art Museum. Each of the songs he uses during a performance is carefully selected to keep the audience engaged. Segments from 11 songs may be used during an 11-minute performance. “I weave it all together, and there’s a lot of editing,” he said, adding that the tempo and timing have to be just right. Performance ar tist Gregory Adamson paints to music with bare hands or brushes, creating huge masterpieces in just minutes. His subject matter includes historical leaders, spor ts legends, music icons and other pop culture celebrities, such as Marilyn Monroe.
october-november 2014 | riversidethemag.com | 15
“Paintings never come out the same way twice,” Adamson said. “But by planning, practicing and putting it all together as meticulously as I do, that allows me to be freer on stage because I’ve resolved all those things. Then I can have some fun and enjoy the process.”
To make every “Facing the Music” performance a success, his work has to be the likeness of a person who can easily be identified by the audience. “It also has to be a good painting, so I am trying to bring in all those variables,” Adamson said, adding that the late
Beatle, John Lennon, is his favorite subject. “I love the Beatles, and I love his music,” he said. “He has such an iconic face and is a joy to paint.” Other subjects have included sports figures Kobe Bryant and Tommy Lasorda, and musicians Bono, Jimi Hendrix, Diana Krall, Katy Perry, Robert Plant and Carlos Santana. During events on the behalf of patriotic organizations, he will paint a large eagle. For the Grammy Foundation’s MusiCares events, he has painted Neil Diamond, Carole King, Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Barbra Streisand and Neil Young. Commissioned works are owned or exhibited by celebrities, elected officials, corporations and public institutions, and have been displayed around the country. Adamson has painted during concerts with major recording artists and at regional and national political events. He also has entertained members of Congress and other national leaders, Olympic officials and dignitaries during
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the 2012 Games in London, and performed for the USO, the nonprofit that supports America’s troops and their families. In August, Adamson emceed the Riverside Art Museum’s inaugural “Brush Off ” event, where seven artists faced off during a timed art-making competition. Drew Oberjuerge, the RAM executive director, says that Adamson inspires others with his talent and focus on helping charities. “His art career has completely taken off — from performing at the London Olympics to throughout Southern California. He’s one of the most hard-working people I know. “His art is fun, it’s inspiring, and it’s engaging,” she added. “He’s excited about the process of making art. He really makes that happen before your eyes.” Adamson will be a featured speaker during TEDx Riverside on Oct. 16 at the Fox Performing Arts Center, where he plans to discuss “reinventing your life with your passion” — a topic he knows a lot about.
A fierce passion to paint is what led Adamson to chase his dream of becoming a professional, full-time artist after a successful career as a banking executive. He started in the field as a teller at the age of 20, and by the time he left banking for good 34 years later, he was a vice president/senior credit executive at Union Bank. “It was a job; it was never my dream. I always wanted to be an artist from the time I was a kid,” said Adamson, who grew up in South Dakota, the son of a farmer who taught his son a strong work ethic. “I made a declaration to myself in
2001 that I was going to reinvent my life, and I knew it was going to take me a number of years before I was going to leave banking,” he said. “Financially, I wanted to position myself and make a transition when I was ready. I worked hard on just learning to paint again since it had been a number of years since I’d been actively working. I started doing chalk festivals, painting with chalk.” With his second act in life in full swing, Adamson has grown out his hair long and is thrilled that he no longer has to wear a tie. His new work uniform includes sneakers, which are covered with layers of paint. He jokes that his parents used to tell him to cut his hair when he was a teen; now, it’s his kids who want him to get a haircut. “I tell people it’s taken a village to build my art career because I’ve had so many people help me in so many ways,” he said. “I don’t believe I had a huge gift. I had a little talent. The gift is the passion to do it — that’s the gift.”
The Riverside Countyy Philharmonic Presents
More Holiday Magic November b 22, 2014 • 7:30 p.m. FOX PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Tomasz Golka, Principal Conductor
Start your holiday season with the Philharmonic in concert. Seasonal favorites and audience sing-a-longs. WENDEL A Classical Overture to Merry Christmas FICK Symphony of Carols PUGH A Charlie Brown Christmas FELICIANO/LOWDEN Feliz Navidad HOLCOMBE Christmas Jazz Suite & T’was The Night Before Christmas (with a surprise grest narrator!) COHEN A Klezmer Nutcracker HUMPERDINCK Hansel & Gretel Tickets from $27 to $97 through the Fox Box Office at (951) 779-9800 and Ticketmaster. Ask about our family pass. The Fox Performing Arts Center is located at 3801 Mission Inn Ave, Riverside • Information: Riverside County Philharmonic (951) 787-0251 www.thephilharmonic.org • Program subject to change.
october-november 2014 | riversidethemag.com | 17
sponsored content
YWCA’s Women of Achievement
Celebrating a 30-year legacy This past year has been one of growth and change for the YWCA of Riverside County. On behalf of the Board of Directors and the organization, we thank our partners and champions in the community for supporting us in our journey. On Friday, September 19, 2014, we celebrated our 30th Annual Women of Achievement Awards with a luncheon at the Riverside Convention Center. The annual Women of Achievement Awards allows the YWCA of Riverside County and its communities to nominate local women for their accomplishments in the workplace and community which forward our mission of eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. We celebrated the 2014 Honorees and welcomed them into a 30-year legacy of women of distinction; women who have
Michelle Bitonti
Dr. Nichola Kinsinger
Board President
Michelle Adams
WOA Committee Chair Executive Director
“I am proud that Riverside has a YWCA that embraces an enduring commitment to work for the empowerment of women and the elimination of racism. Throughout the years, the YWCA has provided needed programs to support and strengthen young girls, women and families. Their annual recognition of women who do just that is evidence of how seriously they hold to that commitment.” Ofelia Valdez-Yeager President, Latino Network 1993 Honoree
“The YWCA means to me 30 years of special recognition to our local heroes; initiatives which improve the lives of struggling women; and unique programs that create a new generation of doers, thinkers and contributors. The Riverside YWCA forms the foundation for women to achieve their full potential, thus building a more successful community for all!” Dr. Pamela S. Clute Special Assistant to the Chancellor, UC Riverside, 1988 Honoree 18
and continue to contribute with passion to the civic, economic and cultural vitality of our community while serving the mission of the YWCA. The upcoming year holds so much promise for the YWCA with the start of new, dynamic programming, the enhancement of current programming and the resurrection of programs that epitomize our mission. Through our programming we look forward to providing opportunities for women and girls to overcome challenges, empowering them to be the next group of trailblazers, leaders and mentors. Thank you, again, to an amazing group of donors and supporters, and to our Women of Achievement who continue to be our champions in the community helping us further our mission of eliminating racism and empowering women.
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“It’s amazing to see the sheer number of lives that the YWCA has touched over the years — including my own. Their commitment to quality of life issues, the development of leaders, empowerment of women, elimination of racism, and avocation for peace makes the YWCA a testimonial to all mankind. Keep moving forward, YWCA!!” Rose Mayes Executive Director, Fair Housing Council of Riverside County, 1997 Honoree
“It is so important to have an organization that is devoted to women. The YWCA recognizes women of accomplishment, assists women in need, retrains women to enter or reenter the workforce, helps women with their childcare needs and teaches our community that women are an equal, wonderful and a significant part of our society.” Virginia Blumenthal Attorney 2008 Honoree
the Honorees 2014 Donna Doty Michalka Stefanie Field Jennifer O’Farrell (EL) Leni Zarate 2013 Victoria Brodie Cleda Givens-Bullock Rebeccah Goldware (EL) Evie Guin Katherine A. Wright 2012 Cathy Kienle Robin Kilcoyne Raquel Marquez Susan J. Rainey Dr. Joan Roberts Rachel Rola Samantha Wilson (EL) 2011 Beverly Bailey Donna Dahl Cyndi Monroe Dr. Sandra Paniagua Lea Petersen Ruth Weir Prystash Karin Roberts 2010 Betty Folsom Collette Lee Debra Murphy Barbara Purvis Teresa J. Rhyne Colleen Walker 2009 Sally Andriamiarisoa Cherie Curzon Jane Farmer Susan Strickland Jody White-Judkins Shelly Yarbrough
2008 Michelle Broad Virginia Blumenthal Jean Easum Nancy Hart Patricia Reynolds Cindy Roth 2007 Judy Carpenter Laura Froehlich Dr. Helene Kalfuss Dr. Linda Lacy Rita Norton Barbara Robinson Karen Spiegel 2006 Karen Bradford Dr. Brenda Davis Inland Agency Junior League of Riverside Kaiser Permanente Karen Allen Salon & Spa Rose Marie Oliver Alan Pauw Dell Roberts Katherine Westley 2005 Eliza Daniely-Woolfolk Kathleen Hartman Irene C. Morales Jennifer Vaughn-Blakely 2004 Kathy Allavie Mary Figueroa Natividad “Nati” Fuentes Margaret A. Lais Kathy McAdara Richonette “Ricki” McManuis 2003 Carrie Dao Allan Della May Condon, Ph.D. Aban Daruwalla, Ph.D. Robbie Motter Waudieur “Woodie” Rucker-Hughes Judge Vilia Sherman
2002 Judith Auth Valerie Hill Adrienne Simms Susan Straight
1995 Sumi Harada Sylvia Martin Jane Walton Candace Hunter Wiest
2001 Esther Velez Andrews Jane Block Lisa Conyers Meredyth Meredith
1994 1988 Josefina Canchola Sally J. Anderson Melba Dunlap UCR Kay courtesy photos Ceniceros Marcia McQuern Dr. Pamela Clute Dr. Flora Ortiz Mary Curtin Katherine Siva Saubel Amy Sue Harrison Beverly Wingate Maloof Sue Frances Steding 1993 1987 Dr. Lulamae Clemmons Kathy Bolte Kathleen Daley Penny J. Newman Debbi Guthrie Karen Oppenheim Meredith A. Jury Dr. Rosemary S. J. Dr. Carolyn Bennett Schraer Murray Grace Sevier Ofelia Valdez-Yeager Lt. Col. Karen S. Williams 1992 1986 Sheryl Ball Lois Anderson Zelma Beard Patricia Beatty Sue Mitchell Dr. Lucille Fostvedt June Foreman Janet Goeske Peggy Fouke Wortz Irene Hernandez Sharon Koski Cheryl Miller Jean Mansfield Dr. Hazel Russell Fay Anne Springer 1991 Tulleners Elois Brooks
2000 Cheryl M. Brown Janis K. Duke Virginia MacDonald Rosanna Scott Ruth B. Anderson Wilson 1999 Connie Beasley Daria Burnett Katie Greene Eleanor Jean Grier Concha Rivera Mildred Thomas 1998 Diana M. Asseier Martha Crawford Monica E. Garcia Maryann Stalder Tina Worthington 1997 Carol Addiss Maria Evans Rose Mayes Patricia McSweeny McCauley Benita Roberts Audrey Wilson 1996 Julie Bornstein Debra Burr Kathleen Gonzalez Alberta Mable Kearney Carolyn E. Wylie Tomi Hadfield
Jane Carney Nancy Dolensek Dr. Catherine Larson Eleonora Palagi Grace Slocum 1990 Dr. Carol TomlinsonKeasey Lois Krieger Sandra Rowe Joan Sparkman Anne T. Thomas Dixie Walker
1989 Jolene S. Anderson Sue Gozansky Marylin Jacobsen Jacqueline M. Mimms Dr. Susan A. Stark
1985 Lois J. Carson B. Carolyn Knight Judge Janice McIntyre Lt. Col. Michele Plaudis Pat Ruckle Tianne Sanders Dr. Jolinda A. Traugh Alice Lowery-Westerfield
october-november 2014 | riversidethemag.com | 19
TEDx is coming to town
I
deas, information and inspiration. That will be the order of the day during TEDx Riverside: Ovation for Innovation on Oct. 16 at the Fox Performing Arts Center. With a lineup of speakers that includes the winners of a Grammy, Pulitzer and Nobel Prize, it’s a uniquely special event for the city, organizers say, and will cover a range of topics — from the city’s history to the impact of human trafficking to the future of artificial intelligence. “It will highlight both the great people of Riverside and the city’s institutions and, on the flip side, it will be a great opportunity for amazing speakers from outside the region to come here,” said Al Zelinka, community development director for the city of Riverside. “Some of them are nationally and internationally recognized with extensive networks. They’ll have exposure to Riverside, and after they leave they’ll be ambassadors and spread the good word about what’s going on in the city. It’s really a value-added for the community.” TED, an acronym for technology, entertainment and design, is a nonprofit devoted to “ideas worth spreading.” It started as a four-day conference in California almost 30 years ago and now licenses independently organized TEDx events worldwide — all designed to help communities, organizations and individuals spark thoughtful conversation, become inspired, connect and exchange creative ideas. At TEDx events, audiences enjoy a mix of live presenters and TED Talks videos. 20
| riversidethemag.com | october-november 2014
Written by Amy Bentley and Jerry Rice
‘As long as you follow your passion and train yourself in the talent that you have, you can inspire others.’ — Sarah Horn, music teacher at California Baptist University
One of the primary goals of TEDx Riverside is for the event to inspire local high school students and encourage them to attend college, pursue an education in science, math, technology and engineering, and, “really aspire for something big,” said Dr. Michael J. Pazzani, UC Riverside’s vice chancellor for Research and Economic Development and the local event’s lead organizer. Complementary tickets will be given to Riverside Unified high schools so that 500 students can attend. Other goals for the event — a class
project for the 2014 graduates of Leadership Riverside — include inspiring local arts and entrepreneurial groups, and to promote Riverside as a city of art and innovation to the rest of California, Pazzani said. The speakers at TEDx Riverside have impressive resumes and amazing stories, including: Richard Schrock, a Nobelwinning chemist; Steve Breen, a Pulitzerwinning editorial cartoonist and UC Riverside grad; and Grammy-winning singer Melissa Manchester, who was in town a year ago to perform a fundraiser for the Fox Riverside Theater
Speakers Gregory Adamson Bio: A former banking executive, Adamson is well into a second career as a performance ar tist. He’s profiled in the cover story that star ts on Page 14. TEDx topic: Reinventing your life with your passion Kermit Alexander Bio: Alexander was an All-Pro defensive back with the San Francisco 49ers, but his life changed forever after his mother, sister and two nephews were murdered during a home invasion in 1984. TEDx topic: Check out those stats (How math combines with football)
Giovanni Dubois Bio: Dubois is founder of Latin American Media, a tech and marketing star tup that helps brands reach the Latino affluent market via digital media and professional/social events. TEDx topic: Creating valuable relationships Scott Hill Bio: Hill is regional vice president of the College Board, which provides curriculum, instruction and assessment programs that serve educators and institutions. His office covers 12 Western states. TEDx topic: Potential and obligation in education Garner Holt Bio: After being inspired by Disneyland’s Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln attraction, a young Holt began making animated figures and movie props. In 1977, at the age of 16, he launched a company that today is a leader in the design and production of animatronic figures, show and ride systems, special effects and other items for Knott’s Berry Farm, the Walt Disney Company, NASA and hundreds of other clients. TEDx topic: From my parent’s garage to Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom
James Andrew Beck Bio: In 2011 — star ting April Fool’s Day, no less — Beck embarked on a year-long journey with the goal of serving one family in each of the 50 states, doing such tasks as chores on a farm and helping plan a par ty for the 20th anniversary of a hear t transplant. His only request was that each recipient do a good deed for someone else. TEDx topic: SerfBliss: Pay-it-forward Gordon Bourns Bio: As board chairman and CEO of the Riverside technology company that bears his name, Bourns oversees a firm that creates products used in autos, cell phones, notebook computers and even a vehicle on Mars. The company was founded in 1947 by his parents, working in the garage of their Altadena home. TEDx topic: Hands-on STEM education Steve Breen Bio: An editorial car toonist for the San Diego Union-Tribune since 2001, Breen won the Pulitzer for editorial car tooning in 1998 and 2009. He also writes and illustrates picture books for Penguin, and graduated from UC Riverside in 1992. TEDx topic: Creativity: You can’t turn it off
Foundation. Local presenters include Gordon Bourns, chairman and CEO of Bourns, Inc.; Garner Holt, a master of theme park animatronics and Hollywood special effects; and Jennifer O’Farrell, executive director of Big Brothers/Sisters Inland Empire. Another presenter will be Sarah Horn, a Riverside music teacher and musical theater enthusiast who became an internet sensation in August 2013 after attending a concert at the Hollywood Bowl. She was picked from the audience to perform a duet on stage with Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth, who was immediately impressed by Horn’s vocal skills on “For Good,” a song from the Tony Award-
Sarah Horn Bio: A lifelong music devotee and musical theater enthusiast, Horn is a talented singer who has performed with a variety of theater companies and symphonies. She gained notoriety — literally overnight — last summer when she was randomly selected for a duet with actress and singer Kristen Chenoweth at the Hollywood Bowl. Horn’s standout performance became a YouTube sensation. TEDx topic: Be inspired. Be ready. Lessons learned from the Hollywood Bowl.
winning musical “Wicked.” Within 24 hours after a video of the performance was posted on YouTube, it had received nearly a million views and to date it has topped more than 3.2 million. “It was nothing I could have prepared for because if I knew what was going to happen I would have psyched myself out,” said Horn, adding that she had sung “For Good” countless times through the years. “When I was singing with Kristen, I actually forgot the words, but I opened my mouth and the correct words came out anyway because I had done it so much,” she said. For TEDx Riverside, Horn will be
talking about how an idea or a moment of inspiration can be a major influence. “As long as you follow your passion and train yourself in the talent that you have, you can inspire others,” she said. “Knowing that an artistic moment sparks a flame that inspires millions of people worldwide is really something to hold on to. It was an impossible dream that happened. An impossible dream can happen — if you’re ready for it.” TEDx Riverside When: Oct. 16, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where: Fox Performing Ar ts Center, 3801 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside Tickets: $50-$99 Information: www.tedxriverside.com october-november 2014 | riversidethemag.com | 21
George John Bio: As co-founder and CEO of Rocket Fuel, John is par t of the leadership team at one of the world’s fastest-growing technology companies that you probably have never heard of. It’s an adver tising technology firm that relies on ar tificial intelligence to better connect clients with customers. Rocket Fuel’s clients include AARP, Denny’s, Lufthansa and Toshiba. TEDx topic: Ar tificial intelligence, real results Brian Levin Bio: Levin’s work has taken him from Alabama, where he was a corporate litigator, to the streets of New York City as a police officer, and now to San Bernardino, where he is a criminal justice professor and director of the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism. TEDx topic: Navigating connections in a digital age Melissa Manchester Bio: An accomplished singer, songwriter and actress, Manchester was a Grammy winner for best female vocalist in 1982, co-wrote the radio hit “Whenever I Call You Friend” with Kenny Loggins and had a recurring role in TV’s “Blossom.” TEDx topic: Musings from a musician Melinda Muganzo Bio: Muganzo is the owner of Make Success a Mindset, which provides management/leadership training, along with coaching and
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mentorship. She also is a contributing author in the for thcoming book, “Mastering the Ar t of Success.” TEDx topic: Give me my energy back! Gladys Muir Bio: Since completing her nurse-midwifery training at Baylor College of Medicine in 1992, Muir has sought to help reduce maternalnewborn morbidity and mor tality around the world, working in Ethiopia, Kenya, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uzbekistan and several other countries. TEDx topic: Nature that nur tures Sarah Suverkrup Mundy Bio: Riverside’s director of Museums & Cultural Affairs is responsible for several city gems, including the Metropolitan Museum, Harada House and the Fox Performing Ar ts Center. Last year, Mundy was a force behind the fundraising effor t and the purchase of the Robinson House, which eventually will be used as an interpretive center for the historic landmark Harada House next door. TEDx topic: Riverside’s Harada House Jennifer O’Farrell Bio: O’Farrell is a local leader in the effor t to fight human trafficking, providing intensive case management on behalf of victims and developing services for them. She is the regional executive director for Big Brothers Big Sister of the Inland Empire. TEDx topic: From global to local: Modernday slavery Sally Rockey Bio: Rockey is a deputy director with the National Institutes of Health, where she oversees the development and implementation of the critical policies and guidelines central to the successful conduct of NIH-suppor ted biomedical research. TEDx topic: Becoming a superhero of science Richard Schrock Bio: A 1967 graduate of UC Riverside, Schrock’s work as a chemist at E.I. duPont de Nemours and Company led him to MIT in 1975 and some three decades later to a Nobel Prize in chemistry. In addition, he has published more than 550 research papers and supervised more than 170 Ph.D students and postdocs. TEDx topic: The path from UCR to Nobel Laureate Adam Young Bio: Although he was born with cystic fibrosis, Young star ted dancing at the age of 6 and years later, after attending UC Irvine on a full scholarship, danced professionally for the Nashville Ballet. But at the age of 25, CF had forced him to quit dancing, and he even required oxygen at all times to breathe. Last year, he received a double-lung transplant and is dancing again. Young is developing a project about his struggles and triumphs, and it is expected to debut in August. TEDx topic: Dancing on air
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october-november 2014 | riversidethemag.com | 23
c inadrought.com the garden
This deser t willow can be found at Claremont’s Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, where all of the plants are Southern California natives.
Despite its generally rough exterior, the deser t willow has lovely delicate blossoms.
Landscapes that defy drought
W
ith California in the midst of its most severe drought emergency in decades, many homeowners are looking for options that will help them maintain a nice-looking yard while cutting back on water use. The 32nd annual Friends of UC Riverside Botanic Gardens fall plant sale may have some answers — nearly 10,000 of them, actually. That’s how many plants will be available for purchase during the two-day event, Oct. 25-26. Varieties will include California natives and selections from other parts of the globe that are well-suited for drier climates.
Before going to the sale, public gardens are great places to visualize what the plants will become when fully grown, says Theresa Arial, manager of the 40-acre UCR Botanic Gardens. “When you go to a Home Depot, Lowe’s or another one of the massmarketers, you may see something in a one-gallon or five-gallon pot, but you
The California Meadow for All Seasons at Descanso Gardens contains a variety of grasses and plants that are drought-tolerant.
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have no idea what it’s going to look like until you do some research,” she said. “It’s always nice to see mature plants in the right setting, which is one of the beauties of a botanic garden.” Gardens and public spaces featuring drought-tolerant plants: Nearby • UC Riverside Botanic Gardens 900 University Ave., Riverside 951-784-6962; http://gardens.ucr.edu
Descanso also has several varieties of agave plants, including this one near the historic Boddy House.
UCR courtesy photos
A California native, monkey flowers produce the most blooms when planted in full sun. This one is at the UC Riverside Botanic Gardens.
• Casa Blanca Library 2985 Madison St., Riverside 951-826-2120 Farther afield • Chino Valley Water District, Water Conservation Campus 4594 San Bernardino St., Montclair; 909-626-2711; www.cbwcd.org/145/WaterConservation-Center-Campus • Descanso Gardens — Los Angeles Botanical Garden
The flowers on a beaver tail cactus, also at the UCR Botanic Gardens, give way to an oval fruit with many seeds.
1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge; 818-949-4200; www.descansogardens.org • Fullerton Arboretum 1900 Associated Road, Fullerton 657-278-3470; http://fullertonarboretum.org • Huntington Botanical Gardens 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino; 626-405-2100; www.huntington.org • The Living Desert 47900 Portola Ave., Palm Desert
Astrophytum ornatum, or Bishop’s Cap, reaches more than 6 feet in height. This one was at the Huntington Botanical Gardens.
760-346-5694; www.livingdesert.org • Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia; 626-821-3222; www.arboretum.org • Maloof Discovery Garden 5131 Carnelian St., Rancho Cucamonga; 909-980-0412; www.malooffoundation.org • Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden 1500 N. College Ave, Claremont; 909-625-8767; www.rsabg.org
Round barrel cactus make an attractive cluster when planted together, shown here at the Huntington Botanical Gardens. photos by John McCoy
august-september 2014 | riversidethemag.com | 27
taste
The New Haven Fresh White Clam Pizza from Mario’s Place on Mission Inn Avenue
The Basilicious Pizza from First Class Pizza on Riverwalk Parkway, also in Riverside
Any way you
Slice it! From the rare to the uncommonly good, Riverside is a paradise for pizza lovers Written by David Cohen
N
o matter what part of the city you’re in, pie is nearby. And many delicious options are readily available — New York-style thin crust, the Chicago deepdish, thick rectangular Sicilian style, as well as shatteringly thin-crust pizzas scattered with cured meats and arugula, and a Neopolitan style with a thin crust that is lightly fried and then baked until the edges char and blister.
The pizzas explored here were selected for their style and, in some cases, uniqueness rather than as a compendium of the “best of.” An effort also was made to balance the choices geographically. Looking for specialties? Mario’s Place has recently started to offer Neopolitan style pies. Romano’s appears to be the only place in Riverside specializing 26
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in Chicago stuffed pizza, and the New York Pizza Co. is one of the few pizzerias to sell New York-style pizza by the slice. First Class Pizza offers a wide array of specialty pizzas that are well-made and hand-tossed, and DeMatteo’s does a classic thick-crust style which has been perfected over 20 years.
Mario’s Place Chef/co-owner Leoni Palagi has perfected the dough for his Neopolitan Margherita with blobs of mozzarella, a San Marzano tomato sauce, and oregano — simple and delicious. The char and pliancy of the dough are perfectly done. All pizzas are cooked in a woodburning oven. There will always be a very thin crust selection on the pizza menu. We opted for the gorgonzola dolce cheese and pear slices, which offers a nice balance of sweetness and pungency. Another version rarely seen elsewhere is the New Haven fresh white Manila clam pizza. It was created in New Haven, Conn., and features a delicious blend of garlic, Italian parsley and a generous scattering of clams. It’s worth a trip just to sample this unique offering. Recommended beers: Weinstephaner lager, Alesmith extra pale, Ballast Point Sculpin IPA 3646 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside Dinner: Monday through Saturday Prices: $13-$22 Info: 951-684-7755, www.mariosplace.com
Ovals of mozzarella begin to bubble up on a Neopolitan Margherita pizza baking in a wood-burning oven at Mario’s.
First Class Pizza It takes some boldness to call yourself First Class Pizza, but it is a perfect description of what excellent pizza should taste like. The dough here is made fresh daily and is hand tossed. It’s so good it can be eaten by itself — a bit of a chew, slightly crunchy and thick on the edge. (A bit of garlic powder and a bit of truffle oil and I’d be in pizza heaven.) The pizza sauce contains eight herbs and spices. All vegetables used are freshly cut. They also do thin crust. Overall, First Class had the best-tasting pizza of the places I visited. Two reasons why: Basilicious, a thick-crust pizza with fresh crushed tomatoes, mozzarella, basil and chopped garlic was a highly aromatic vegetarian delight; and Great White, a thin-crust pizza with superbly flavored grilled chicken topped with housemade Alfredo sauce, mushrooms and freshly grated Parmesan dished up striking flavors and complementary textures. Recommended beers: Newcastle brown ale, Fat Tire, Firestone Walker 805 ale 4290 Riverwalk Parkway, No. 310, Riverside Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and until 10 p.m. Saturday; noon to 9 p.m. Sunday Prices: $5-$27 Info: 951-354-7900, http://bit.ly/1uHjM0J
The Bad, Bad LeeRoy Brown, deep dish meat lover’s pizza paired with Blue Moon beer at Romano’s Chicago Pizzeria in Riverside. 30
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Romano’s Chicago Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant The Chicago style stuffed pizza is the way to go. Thin crust pizzas — which they call “sissy pizza” — also are available. These ingredient-filled monsters are around 3 inches thick and are a lovely gooey mess. They take 30 to 40 minutes to prepare, so order an antipasto to tide you over! It’s best eaten like a piece of pie, with a knife and fork. The classic is the Chicago pie loaded with spinach. For the ultimate carnivorous dream, get the Bad, Bad LeeRoy Brown, which is chock full of sausage, pepperoni, ham and meatballs. Owner Gary Romano’s favorite contains green peppers, mushrooms and sausage. Recommended beers: Blue Moon, Stella Artois, Columbus 285 E. Alessandro Blvd., Riverside Also 5225 Canyon Crest Drive, Riverside; and in Redlands Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday Prices: $10-$28 Info: 951-780-7399, www.romanosrestaurants.com
DeMatteo’s Pizza Pasta Subs They do both a thin and thick crust and also make a personal-size pizza. The lightly brown crust’s appearance is very appealing. Recommended offerings include the Spicy Chicken with white sauce, a thin crust version containing strips of some very pungent pepperoncinis, and buffalo sauce is added to accentuate the heat level; and the Gourmet Veggie, done with red sauce (white also is available), with red onions, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, basil, olives and roasted red peppers. Also, you can also add meat toppings if so inclined. The sliced meatballs were dense and had good Italian flavor. I’d pass on the thin-sliced cube steak, though. All pizzas are hand-tossed. The lunch special is a personal pizza with two toppings and a drink for $6.99. Also available are strombolis, which is half-moon-shaped pizza dough stuffed with various ingredients and topped with garlic butter and Parmesan cheese and a cup of marinara sauce on the side. 7030 Magnolia Ave. (near Arlington), Riverside Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, until 11 p.m. Friday, until 10 p.m. Saturday Prices: $4-$21 Info: 951-682-6198, www.dematteos.com
What’s on top counts... Nearly four in 10 of us typically go for the plain cheese pizza, according to a national survey by Foodler.com. For everyone else, toppings matter. So we went to Karen Anderson, the owner of First Class Pizza, to get some insider information.
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Pepperoni: It’s easily the most popular topping. “Pepperoni is the top-selling pizza on the planet,” she says. At First Class, they go through 120 pounds of Hormel pepperoni every week, including a beef variety. Pineapple: A case of Dole pineapple is used every week, mostly paired with Canadian bacon to make Hawaiian pizzas. Tomatoes: 25 pounds are sliced and diced weekly — all supplied by a US Foods distributor in Corona. Bell peppers: About a pound and a half is fresh-cut and used every day. Bacon: 10 pounds of Farmer John bacon is cut into pieces and tops several pizza varieties, including the Porker. Artichoke hearts: Two cans wor th find their way onto the Chicken Delight, Buffalo Chicken and other pizzas every week. Olives: Used on the Four Seasons, Veggie and several other pizzas. Jalapeños: Some like it hot, ordering a pizza with nothing but sauce, cheese and sliced spicy jalapeños. For an extra kick, they top it with sriracha hot sauce and pepper flakes. — Jerry Rice
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CA St. Lic. #890749 october-november 2014 | riversidethemag.com | 29
It’s all about the dough, man ...
New York Pizza Company
When it comes to pizza and dough, Mansoor Zameer, at left, knows his stuff. During a given shift at First Class Pizza, where the 26-year-old has worked for the past six months, he often will prepare and bake as many as 100 pies. We had three questions for Zameer: Question: What’s the secret behind making good pizza dough? Answer: It’s all in the ingredients and the timing. It’s also the oven. Our recipe is pretty basic and straightforward, but they do have a secret ingredient and they’re not going to tell what it is. The oven is a Roto-Flex rotating type of oven. Many other restaurants use a conveyor belt type of oven, and this is more of a brick-oven style. It gives the pizzas a little more thorough cook. Q: Thick or thin — what’s best about each? A: The traditional crust is much more filling, but I prefer the thin because there’s less bread and you can taste more of the flavors of the toppings. There’s less dough and less bread on palate. But if you want to get full, order the regular crust. Q: What’s your favorite pizza? A: A double-beef, pepperoni, with chicken and honey mustard — that’s really good. – Jerry Rice
It’s mainly an outdoor covered patio/takeout place. The Statue of Liberty on the flier and the pizza-by-the-slice are the sole things that will evoke memories of New York. New York style slices are huge, quite thin and have a sheen of oil resulting from the high fat content mozzarella and pepperoni (if ordered). These slices can be folded in half to make it easier to consume, as the short end tends to droop if you attempt to bite into the unfolded piece. We also ordered the supreme (sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, onions, green peppers, ham and too much cheese). The slices from the whole pie are too thick to fold and the crust, itself, was thicker than you’d expect in a New York style pizza. Also available is a deep-dish Sicilian style, a stuffed pizza and a 16-inch chicken and garlic version with either white or red sauce.
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| riversidethemag.com | october-november 2014
3570 Van Buren Blvd. (close to the 91 Freeway), Riverside Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily Prices: $7.95 to $33.74 (2 foot diameter!) Info: 951-688-4000, www.newyorkpizzariverside.com
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YWCA’s Women of Achievement Awards
For three decades, the YWCA of Riverside County has been honoring women of distinction via its Women of Achievement Awards. The organization hosted its annual luncheon recently at the Riverside Convention Center, and more than 270 guests celebrated this year’s honorees: Donny Doty Michalka, Stefanie Field, Jennifer O’Farrell and Leni Zarate. Information: www.YWCARivCo.org
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(1) Valerie Backstrom, left, Yoginee Braslaw and Felicha Dailey (2) Niki Barnes, left, and Laurie Erickson (3) Leni Zarate, left, Donna Doty Michalka and Stefanie Field (4) Margie Haupt, left, and Kathy Hartman (5) Janice Rooths, left, Gail Ronveaux, Sharon Schumm and Nicole Rashid (6) Lizette Hurtado, Monique Osorio, Jennifer O’Farrell, Erika Gomez and Jenna Fuller (7) Joanne Ornelas, left, Kathy Michalak, Nan Lewis, Amalia Clements and Christine Morgando (8) Mina Escamilla, left, Amanda Nelson, Marlene Allen, Michelle Adams, Dr. Nichola Kinsinger, Deisy Ruiz and Michelle Bitonti (9) Nathieli Diaz, left, and Cynthia Wright (10) Samantha Jobelius and Eugene Kim (11) Andrea De Leon and Brian Pearcy Ph o t o s by B r e n d a Fl owe r s
october-november 2014 | riversidethemag.com | 31
seen In a fun fundraiser, six artists were challenged to turn random “junk” items into works of art during the Riverside Art Museum’s recent Brush Off competition. About 120 supporters cheered on the artists, including Martin Sanchez who won Best in Show. Over the years, Sanchez has used countless recycled items to beautifully decorate his downtown Riverside restaurant, Tio’s Tacos. Proceeds from the event will support RAM art education programs. 6
Riverside Art Museum’s Brush Off 2
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(1) Susan Simonin, left, Renee Glynn, Cole Benner and Dan Benner (2) Jean Aklufi, left, Judy Davies and Drew Oberjuerge (3) Margarita Irigoyen, left, and Ariana Cervantes (4) Barbara and Steve Wallace (5) Patsy Herrera Loya and Mario Loya (6) Carolyn Schutten (7) Douglas McCulloh (8) Jim Behrman (9) Duane and Marlene Pratt (10) Sam Lemon (11) Greg Adamson, left, Patrick Brien and Roger Clarke (12) Gary Rainsbarger (13) Jonathan Yorba, left, and Jerry Ruiz (14) Sue Mitchell (15) Martin Sanchez, left, and Bob Kain (16) Virginia Minot, left, and Laura Ryan (17) Peg Scott, left, Camille Sanders and Tom Powell Ph o t o s by A i M . Ke l l ey
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| riversidethemag.com | october-november 2014
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Riverside County Philharmonic 1
Opening its 55th season, the Riverside County Philharmonic returned to its longtime home, the Municipal Auditorium, with a get-together before the concert and a program that included works by Jean Sibelius and Johannes Brahms. The Phil’s next performance is a holiday show at the Fox Performing Arts Center on Nov. 22. Information: www.thephilharmonic.org
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(1) Steven Morford, left, William Schnack, Cathy Morford, Susan Rainey and John Collins (2) Valerie Foucrier, left, Louise Moore and Cindy Lambert (3) Donna Wing, left, and Barbara Wilson (4) Donna Knox, left, and Philharmonic guest artist Joseph Swensen (5) Mireille Savona, left, Geraldine Bowden and Lucerne Snipes (6) Daniel and Leila Price (7) Carrie Garrett, left, Taffy Geith and Jo Turner (8) The orchestra Ph o t o s by A n a Wa t t s
sav e th e date
charitable events
Oct. 13 — Smar tRiverside’s eighth annual charity golf tournament to suppor t and expand the programs and services the nonprofit organization offers. Victoria Club, 2521 Arroyo Drive, Riverside; 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; 951-826-5109; www.smar triverside.org/golf. Oct. 18 — Black & White Gala to End Hunger, presented by Feeding America food bank serving Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Enter tainment by Band of Brothers. Riverside Auditorium & Events Center, 3485 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside; 6-11 p.m.; $125; 951-359-4757, ext. 108. Oct. 18 — UC Riverside Chancellor’s Dinner, a benefit for UCR scholarship initiatives,
includes a desser t reception and enter tainment by student groups. RSVP by Oct. 9. UCR Highlander Union Building’s third-floor ballroom, 900 University Ave., Riverside; 5:30 p.m. reception, 6:30 p.m. dinner and program; $200; 951-827-5667, http://chancellorsdinner.ucr.edu. Nov. 8 — Second annual Unforgettable Bachelor Auction, a benefit for The Unforgettables Foundation. Morongo Casino, 49500 Seminole Drive, Cabazon; 6 p.m.; $50 general admission, $75 VIP ticket with pre-event par ty; 909-335-1600; http://unforgettables.org. Nov. 15 — Step Out Walk to Stop Diabetes,
sponsored by the American Diabetes Association. Fairmount Park, 2601 Fairmount Blvd., Riverside; 619-234-9897, ext. 7449; www.diabetes.org/stepoutriverside. March 14 — Banquet for Life, annual benefit for Riverside Life Services, an organization that has helped more than 10,000 women in the area during the last 37 years. Riverside Convention Center, 3637 Fifth St., Riverside; 951-784-2422, www.riversidelifeservices.org. May 2 — Riverside Area Rape Crisis Center’s 34rd annual banquet auction gala. Proceeds suppor t services and community education provided by the RARCC. 951-686-7273, www.rarcc.org. october-november 2014 | riversidethemag.com | 33
rising talent
Photo by Billy Bustamante
Back home in a ‘Beauty’ of a role
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Written by Amy Bentley
Hometown roots: Melissa Jones, 29, was born in Upland and lived all over the Southland as her parents, both CHP officers (now retired), moved around for their jobs. She worked in community theater in Redlands and elsewhere in SoCal before striking out for the Big Apple. “I packed up my car and drove to New York the day after my 22nd birthday. It was very, very scary. I didn’t know a soul,” she recalled. In New York, she completed the American Musical and Dramatic Academy’s two-year program and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theater from The New School. On the road: For “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” Jones auditioned before the original Broadway director, choreographer and designers. “I heard they saw over 9,000 people in nine cities,” she said. “You could tell they really put their heart and soul into finding the people they wanted. “The process was long but wonderful. It felt like we were being brought into a family, like we are part of the legacy.” This is Jones’ first stint with a major touring company. The production will take the cast to 50 cities in 30 states plus four more locations in Canada before it ends in May. Feeling the part: In the role of Babette, Jones portrays a maid in the Beast’s castle who is transformed into a feather duster because of a spell placed on the prince and his castle. “Babette’s big thing is she is deeply endeared to Lumiere. I’m a feather duster, and feathers move so there’s always a little bit of wiggle to everything I do. I keep it light and playful.” Looking ahead: After the tour, Jones plans to return to New York — and more opportunities. “As scary as it is not knowing what comes next, one of the things I love is there is always the potential for something new and a new family to be a part of. It’s very exciting. I love a challenge.” At the Fox: “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” has been seen by more than 35 million people in 13 countries and comes to the Fox Performing Arts Center as part of the Broadway in Riverside series. Performances are Nov. 18 and 19. Information: www.riversidelive.com
| riversidethemag.com | october-november 2014
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| riversidethemag.com | october-november 2014