NEWS BITES

CD | Riding Park to Host Horse Jumping Show in May

Come Mother’s Day, San Juan Capistrano will play host to a big regional equestrian show that will have implications for a subsequent international competition.

The Longines Fédération Équestre Internationale Nations Jumping Cup USA will be held at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park, off Ortega Highway, on May 14. The event is a horse jumping event for the FEI and serves as a qualifier for an international competition to be held in Barcelona, Spain, this September.

The event is the only Nations Cup series qualifier that will be held in the U.S., according to a news release. The event was scheduled to happen at the riding park in May 2022, but it was canceled due to a horse viral outbreak.

“The Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park is proud to host the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup USA,” the news release said. “This international event combines a weeklong equestrian competition May 10-14 with a 3-day VIP social event May 12-14.”

Competing under the U.S. Equestrian team banner are Karl Cook from Rancho Santa Fe, California; Nick Dello Joio from Wellington, Florida; Lillie Keenan from New York, New York; Laura Kraut from Royal Palm Beach, Florida; and McLain Ward from Brewster, New York.

The top four riders will go on to represent the U.S. during the global showdown in Barcelona.

The team will be led by coach Robert Ridland, who also manages the riding park along with his wife, Hillary Ridland, through Blenheim Facility Management. Other regional qualifiers will be held in Europe and the Middle East.

CD | River Street Marketplace Announces Slate of Food, Retail Tenants

An ice cream shop, Mexican restaurant, and other food options are coming to San Juan Capistrano’s Los Rios Historic District later this year.

River Street Marketplace, a new shopping and community center helmed by local developer Dan Almquist, recently announced a slew of more than 20 business tenants that have signed on and will eventually open in the area.

The center will have several buildings, each with a theme and intended to replicate what visiting a working ranch feels like.

“Much has been said about San Juan

Capistrano becoming a hotspot destination, and we’re so incredibly proud to help usher in a new chapter for the city and community,” said Almquist, managing partner of ALMQUIST, a development firm formerly known as Frontier Real Estate Investment.

Mexican restaurant La Vaquera will be among the restaurants opening. The eatery is helmed by Acme Hospitality Group out of Santa Barbara. McConnell’s Ice Cream will provide the sweeter offerings with its first Orange County location.

Other tenants include fried chicken spot Bred’s Hot Chicken, local brewery Capistrano Brewing, female clothing boutique Common Thread, Western clothing shop Wildfire Mercantile, boba tea spot Kozan Teahouse & Boba, and butcher shop The Meat Cellar Market and Steakhouse.

River Street Marketplace is expected to open toward the end of this year and will have open space for pedestrians to walk around and relax.

CD | Young San Juan Equestrian Continues to Shine in Riding Competitions

The Ortega Equestrian Center’s own Cora Bro Dollar continues to ride high in regional horse show competitions.

Dollar, 12, was the only rider to place in every class of the Green Rider division during a West Coast Ranch Horse show held recently in Temecula. Dollar rode a horse named Miss Piggy and competed in the youth division.

“She was also the reserve champion in the Green Rider Rail Stakes class and is currently leading the Green Rider division for the series buckle and end-ofyear division saddle,” Ortega Equestrian Center owner Kathy Holman said. Dollar will also compete in other horse shows at the end of April and on May 7, the latter being the final buckle series show.

CD | Dog Pawrk Brewing Wins State Brewing Award

One of the craft brews you can order at The Dog Pawrk Brewing Company is El Hefe-Dognito—an American Hefeweizen that won a bronze medal in the 2023 Brewers Cup of California.

Dog Pawrk won the award in the Light American Wheat Ale or Lager category. The contest is organized by the Sacramento Area Brewers Guild with support from the Central Coast, Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego guilds.

“Winning meant a lot for us. It justifies the hard work we’ve put into what we are passionate about,” co-owner Nathan Beckham said. “While it’s always awesome to hear from your customers that they

Community Meetings

TUESDAY, APRIL 18

City Council

5 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano City Council will hold a regularly scheduled meeting open to the public. Nydegger Building, 31421 La Matanza Street. sanjuancapistrano.org.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19

CUSD Board of Trustees

7 p.m. The governing board for the Capistrano Unified School District will meet to decide on local education matters. CUSD Headquarters, 33122 Valle Road, San Juan Capistrano. capousd.org.

FRIDAY, APRIL 21

Coffee Chat

8:30 a.m. A town hall forum on community issues. The first Friday session of the month will be held virtually via Zoom video conference; all other Friday forums will take place in person at Hennessey’s Tavern in San Juan Capistrano, 31761 Camino Capistrano. Follow Coffee Chat SJC on Facebook for information.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26

Learning English Class

10-11:30 a.m. The La Playa Center is hosting free English classes for adults on Wednesdays. Students will be provided materials and workbooks. La Sala Auditorium, 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. crossculturalcouncil.com.

Planning Commission

5 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano Planning Commission will hold a meeting open to the public. Nydegger Building, 31421 La Matanza Street. sanjuancapistrano.org.

FRIDAY, APRIL 28 like your beer, there’s something to be said when someone that doesn’t owe you anything or even knows you validates it.”

The next print issue of The Capistrano Dispatch publishes.

The competition had a total of 1,309 entries from 191 independent craft breweries and more than 50 expert judges, according to a news release.

“The California Craft Brewers Cup recognizes the best beers in the state,” competition director Mike Witherow said. “The awarded beers are truly of the highest caliber and showcase the talent and dedication of the breweries that made them.”

The Dog Pawrk Brewing Company is located in the Capistrano Business Center at 27122 Paseo Espada, #904. The brewery is dog-friendly.