Inland Exposures
The Riversider | August/September 2023
Riverside's favorite 4th of July fireworks show returned this year to Mt. Rubidoux. Some of the best seats in the house were at Evergreen Cemetery. Photo by Julian JolliffeDEPARTMENTS
2 Inland Exposures
Highlighting our best images of Riverside Photography by Julian Jolliffe
8 Love Letter To Riverside Public art enriches our urban landscape
12 Riverside's Finest Cosme Cordova
14 Hidden Gems Meraki Plants
16 Pat Casey Rememberance In memory of Pat Casey
18 Eastside Arthouse Meet Rick Garcia
20 Community
The Riverside Artswalk
22 Local Business
Power of 2 Realty & ADU Makers
24 Historic Homes
The James M. Wood Mansion at 2490 Prince Albert Drive
30 The People's Art
How Riverside’s evolution of public art has made it the City of Arts and Innovation
36 Historical Riverside
Built from a Kit! The Historic Pacific Ready-Cut Homes of Riverside, 1919-1930
Riverside artist Tiffany Brooks has been sweating through the summer, all by herself, to bring this masterpiece to life in downtown Riverside. Her mural on the backside of the historic Loring building is the largest ever painted in the city. See it in person at 447 Mission Inn Avenue.
Love Letter to Riverside
Driving around, you can’t help but notice the amount of murals popping up all over town. Buildings are being steadily transformed into works of art and we are here for it! Public art enriches our urban landscape. It catches our eye and brightens our day. In this issue, we are thrilled to feature the Mural Movement that has helped make Riverside the City of Arts and Innovation.
Speaking of art…we wanted to highlight the Riverside Artswalk, which happens the first Thursday of every month. It has evolved over the years to become a bustling marketplace that focuses on local artists and their work. Be sure to go and peruse the artwork—we know you won’t be disappointed.
Check out our feature on local Hidden Gem, Meraki Plants, where you can step into another
world of beautiful greenery to find a cool calm in the sweltering summer heat on Main Street. Homegrown Riversiders, Ally and Savannah, share their dream of having a collaborative space for all to enjoy at Meraki Plants. Be sure to take advantage of their plant education workshops. You'd be surprised to know that with some simple tips from Meraki, everyone can become a greenthumb.
With school starting soon and fall around the corner, we hope you can enjoy the last days of summer and appreciate all the lovely art showcased throughout our city.
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Riverside's Finest Cosme Cordova
Riverside is proudly known as the “City of Arts and Innovation.” The city’s support for the arts can be seen through its recent renaissance in public murals and the opening of The Cheech Center for Chicano Arts in 2022. Long before the city adopted this motto, Cosme Cordova’s contributions as an artist, gallery owner, and event organizer for over three decades have been instrumental to the progression of the local arts scene and the Riverside community alike.
Born in the small town of San Pedro de la Cueva, Mexico, Cordova’s family moved to the Arlanza neighborhood of Riverside when he was five years old. As a child, he struggled to learn English through the ESL program, and his performance in school suffered as a result. He was placed in special education classes by the time he reached high school at Norte Vista, but it was also at this time that his formal art training began.
Cordova was drawn to art from an early age. It provided him the freedom of expression and validation he couldn’t find in school. At Norte Vista, Cordova was heavily influenced by his high school art teacher, Mrs. Gritson.
“She was one of those teachers that if she saw you had a talent, she’d just encourage you, and that goes a long way, encouragement,” Cordova said.
With her support, Cordova gained recognition for his talents by winning several awards from community art contests that Mrs. Gritson encouraged him to enter. He also met other local artists in her class including Jeff Soto and Max Gramajo, who both have successful careers in art and continue to work with Cordova. Mrs. Gritson’s influence and the support of his fellow artists led Cordova to enroll at Riverside Community College to become an art teacher after graduating from Norte Vista in 1990.
At RCC, Cordova was professionally diagnosed as dyslexic, a discovery that hindered him from earning a degree in art.
“It was like hitting a brick wall, I had to relearn elementary math, English, writing, and reading in order to transfer to another college to become an art teacher,” Cordova said.
With only a few classes left to graduate, Cordova made the difficult decision to leave RCC
and work full time to support his family. He worked three jobs at a fast food restaurant, an art supply store, and a print shop where he created his own clothing line.
Despite numerous setbacks, Cordova continued to paint and show his work at galleries and exhibitions throughout Southern California. At age 29, he founded the Division 9 Art Gallery in the basement of the Life Arts Building in downtown Riverside in 1999. He named the gallery after a piece of drywall he discovered during construction with the words “Div 9” printed on it. Division 9 became a muchneeded home for local artists to network and showcase their art. It was one of the first galleries of its kind in downtown Riverside and continues to be an essential part of the local art community today.
A few years later, a friend invited Cordova to visit the Pomona Artswalk, a concept entirely foreign to him at the time. He saw the opportunity to bring a similar format to Riverside, and with the support of the Riverside Community Art Association (RCAA), founded the first Riverside Artswalk in 2001. Initially comprised of only two locations between the RCAA gallery and Division 9 along with and a handful of unsanctioned artists selling their work along University Avenue, the Artswalk has become a staple in the Riverside art community and an integral part of the city’s history, culture, and identity over the past twenty years.
The Arts Walk was only the beginning of Cordova’s career as a community event organizer; he is also credited with founding Riverside’s annual “Day of the Dead Celebration,” held every first Saturday of November. Started in 2004 with only two altars, three vendors, and a band in the parking lot across from the Division 9 Gallery on Lemon Street, Cordova understood the event’s importance since its inception.
“Day of the Dead is a celebration of people who have passed away. You want to honor them and, at that time, that culture wasn’t really accepted. There wasn’t a lot of people who could go back to Mexico. So, by doing the event, it was a way for people to go back to Mexico without going back to Mexico,” Cordova said.
Today, the celebration attracts over 50,000 attendees and features more than 80 altars throughout White Park, as well as twelve live musical performances on multiple stages, Ballet Folklorico and Aztec dancers, Luchadores, and over 100 artists and food vendors between University Avenue and 14th Street in downtown Riverside.
In June 2022, Cordova’s long dedication to the arts and his contributions as a community events organizer were recognized when he was invited to curate the inaugural local artist gallery at The Cheech Center for Chicano Arts. He also coordinated its grand opening celebration, which attracted thousands of visitors and featured multiple musical acts, live local artists, dancers, vendors, and community activities. Due to its success, Cordova was asked to curate the second installment of the local artist gallery at The Cheech and organize its one-year anniversary celebration in June 2023.
Cordova’s community involvement continues to grow. He is currently organizing a Mexican Independence Day Celebration at Tio’s Tacos on Saturday September 16, 2023, as well as the co-promotion of the “Mucho Gusto” International Music Festival at North Park in downtown Riverside on Saturday, September 23. He remains involved in organizing the Riverside Artswalk every first Thursday in collaboration with The Riverside Arts Council, as well as their annual “Riverside Art and Music Festival” at White Park on Saturday October 7.
Despite language barriers, educational challenges, and financial struggles, Cordova has never lost sight of his goals as an artist.
“Art has become my vehicle; it has led me in many different directions,” Cordova said.
While his dream of becoming an art teacher wasn’t realized, he is a mentor and provides opportunities for countless local artists through his unwavering dedication to the arts. Cosme Cordova has earned his recognition as one of “Riverside’s Finest.” Were it not for his contributions and efforts, Riverside would not be known as the “City of Arts and Innovation” we know and love today.
WORDS: MANO MIRANDÉ PHOTO: DAVID FOUTSHidden Gems
Meraki Plants
I was coming out of the Downtown Bookstore into the hot Riverside afternoon recently when I noticed this hidden gem and their beautiful lush green plants waving at me from across the street. Like many of us since COVID, I simply cannot resist flora and greenery and have become a blooming plant lady. As soon as I stepped through the door of Meraki Plants, co-owner, Ally, was quick to greet us with a warm welcome and kind smile. I absolutely loved that and always appreciate good customer service with a genuine, positive attitude.
This positive collaborative attitude, hard work, and attention to detail shines through in everything Meraki does and stands for. The name Meraki (pronounced “Mer” like mermaid and “Aki” like teriyaki) itself is of Greek origin and means “to do everything with soul, love and creativity leaving a piece of yourself in everything you do.”
Homegrown Riversiders, Ally Ramos and her sister-in-law, Savannah Leon, came into the plant business in 2020 after bonding during COVID. Savannah had brought crates of plants with her during the shut down when she moved in with Ally and her brother. Ally had also been a florist and they immediately sparked a connection over cultivating plants in their family greenhouse.
Their home based plant project bloomed when Savannah started posting their various plants online. These girls were so sweet, they didn’t even charge for the plants! Soon more and more people were asking for their beautiful plants, wanting to buy online and pick them up curbside at the house. They also began collaborating with
local coffee shops to have plant pop-ups and they were selling out! Things really blossomed in 2021 when Savannah asked Ally if she wanted to open a plant shop to showcase their plants and give back to their community in a variety of ways.
Both Ally and Savannah dreamed of having a business that touches people's lives and wanted to create a hub for the community to get to know plants and each other. They have done exactly that! Everyone is welcome at Meraki—those brand new to plants can learn through their workshops and those with a green thumb can sharpen their skills or trade plants in their monthly plant swaps. This is an evening event where you bring a plant or cuttings and trade with another plant owner for free. It is a great way to try out new plants and meet other plant people.
They have clients of all ages and walks of life. Their youngest client is around eight years old and brings their parents in to buy them plants! How awesome is that? The plant education workshops are provided in both English and Spanish, y que bueno!
For now, Savannah and Ally are happy to provide a collaborative space and plants for the Riverside community and love being on Main street in downtown. Their future plans include pop-ups and possibly expanding to other cities such as Temecula and Orange County. It is definitely worth the trip downtown to Meraki Plants, where you will find yourself in a serene oasis filled with greenery you can take back to your place.
Altura Credit Union is honored to sponsor the Casa Blanca mural and is proud to support our local artists and the amazing work they do to make our local communities more vibrant.
In Memory of
Pat Casey (1993-2023)
WORDS: JORDAN THOMAS
When we lose a local Riversider, it rocks our community. And, the passing of Pat Casey, professional BMX rider and three-time X Games medalist, is no exception. He will be remembered for his passion for his sport, by the memories held dear to his family, and the bounds he pushed in BMX. Gone too soon and dearly missed, we dedicate these pages to Pat Casey and his life well lived.
On Tuesday, June 6, Pat passed at the age of 29 after attempting a motorcycle jump at Slayground Motorcross Park, a private track in Ramona of San Diego County. The news shattered the BMX community, with the X Games sharing the following words on their Instagram page:
“We are deeply saddened by Pat Casey’s passing and our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, children, parents and siblings. A true legend in the action sports community, Pat will always be a member of the X Games family and an inspiration to everyone’s life he touched.”
Additional figures in BMX and fellow riders publicly expressed their condolences, including NASS (National Adventure Sports Show) of the NASS Festival in the U.K (he had participated in the 2016 festival) and USA Cycling in which Casey was a member of their inaugural BMX Freestyle
National Team in 2018. He was additionally the first BMX rider to execute the “decade backflip” and the “double decade backflip” during competitions. Many riders who considered Casey to be an inspiration for them in their own journey of BMX shared similar sentiments, but no one in the BMX world has been impacted by this significant loss more than his family.
Pat grew up in Orange County and his family had resided in Riverside up until his passing. He developed an interest in BMX and motorcross riding at an early age. Even at the age of two, he attended a GT Air Show in a stroller. At the age of five, he was enrolled into BMX riding by his parents, even suggesting in his school papers that he would grow up to be a professional BMX rider. He first attempted a motorcycle backflip at ten, practicing at nearby ramps. Six years later, he entered his first professional competition and medaled during the 2012 and, respectively, 2013 editions of the X Games. He had earned his first gold medal eight years after.
Pat’s passion and admiration for the sport never wavered, even building a backyard maze in the first house he bought at age sixteen. In the thirteen years spent in his craft, Pat personified
grit, innovation, and commitment, improvising new tricks when riding. Due to starting at an early age, his longevity allowed him to influence new coming riders of all ages while he was still here. He was able to set an example especially for riders who were fathers and passing on their interest to their kids. The dedication to BMX, along with his use of the freecoaster, set him apart in the world of motocross, maintaining a standard and example that has yet to be topped or equalized. He is survived by his wife, Chase, and two children, Reid, 8, and Taytum, 7.
In addition to his life of BMX, he was a dedicated man of family, faith, and being a positive influence. Chase recently recalled in a candid conversation that Pat was always intrigued with the various cultures of wherever he was when traveling across the world. When other riders would participate abroad and stay at their hotel rooms, Pat was always outgoing and eager to learn about the people and culture of where he was at during the competitions.
This is no surprise to Chase, who reminisced about Pat’s interest in geography with a keen ability to pinpoint different countries. Just this year alone, he traveled to places such as Saudi Arabia, Japan, France, and the Czech Republic.
To Chase, it is still taking time to get accustomed to Pat’s passing especially as it is still recent and according to her, Reid and Taytum are the reason she keeps going. A family friend set up a GoFundMe to assist with funeral
expenses. While the last day of any human is unpredictable, the life of Pat Casey was undoubtedly short, yet it continues to be preserved by family, friends, and fellow BMX riders, in-person and on social media. He had
set an example of being an influence for good everywhere he went, something our city, community, and world as a whole can always use a little more of each day.
Meet YOUR LOCAL ARTIST!
PRESENTED BY EASTSIDE ARTHOUSE Written by Dominique Mackey Photos by Rick Garcia & Amanda Garcia Suttonhe comes from a family of artists that nurtured his artistic talents.
Movies, cartoons, and comics during Rick’s formative years also began to shape his style. Vibrant colors, exaggerated character designs, and dynamic storytelling can be seen infused throughout his signature brand, Save The Panduhs.
Over the course of fifteen years, Save The Panduhs has grown and evolved, becoming a
unique and recognizable brand with a dedicated following.
“I have many supporters that love and collect my art; they keep me going,” said Rick. “For young ‘Rick’ that dreamt of being an animator, I do this for him.”
Family is another motivator for his artwork. “My daughter and wife are my muse,” said Rick. “They fuel me with confidence and inspire me to create.”
Occupation: Artist
Instagram: @savethepanduhs
Website: www.savethepanduhs.co
Growing up in the bustling city of Los Angeles, there is no place to turn without seeing art. The colorful murals on warehouse walls to iconic street art— creativity is all around you.
Emerging from that city is Rick Garcia, artist, muralist, and owner of the popular brand, Save The Panduhs.
“Being raised in a diverse neighborhood where art was in almost every building, you can’t help but be inspired by those styles,” said Rick.
At an early age Rick’s mother taught him how to draw. An inherited passion,
Name: Rick Garcia“I have many supporters that love and collect my art; they keep me going”
Now, a proud resident of Riverside, Rick has experienced tremendous growth. “This city is so supportive of their local artists and there are so many opportunities.”
Riverside’s communal art studio, Eastside Arthouse, opened its doors to support Rick during his fifteen-year anniversary celebration for Save The Panduhs. Eastside Arthouse, founded by multidisciplinary artist, Juan Navarro, is a safe space for artists to exercise their creative skills, refine entrepreneurship, and focus on personal growth.
“The Arthouse has been a staple to the success I am achieving now,” said Rick. “I love being able to create art more. There have been endless opportunities given to me and other artists from the studio.”
The southwest wall of the Eastside Arthouse displayed Rick’s very first public mural, “The Best is Yet to Come.”
“Because I’ve put myself out there and wasn’t afraid of failing I’ve had various opportunities that I could only dream of,” said Rick. “Believe in yourself before anything—the best is yet to come!”
Rick will have a closing reception of the mural “The Best is Yet to Come” at the Eastside Arthouse, and an extended fifteen-year anniversary celebration on Saturday, August 19 from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Rick will airbrush live, display his art and provide exclusive merchandise for purchase.
The Riverside Artswalk
The streets of Downtown Riverside come to life the first Thursday of every month as hundreds of visitors fill the Main Street walkway to attend the Riverside Artswalk. The monthly event has been a part of Riverside’s history and culture for more than twenty years and features vendors and art exhibitions at over fifteen galleries and museums with free admission to the public. It is a valuable platform for local artists to showcase their work and a vital resource for community vendors to sell various goods including handmade crafts, art, jewelry, and clothing.
Founded in 2001 by local artist and Division 9 Gallery owner, Cosme Cordova, the Artswalk began as an unsanctioned event held every other Sunday and included only two galleries, The Riverside Community Art Association and The Division 9 Gallery, as well as a handful of local artists who sold their work along the sidewalks of University Avenue. In 2011, the Riverside Arts Council (RAC) took over responsibility for organizing the event and moved its local artist vendors from the sidewalk into the parking lot at the corner of Lemon Street and University Avenue where it remained for over a decade. The RAC prides itself on keeping the Artswalk affordable and accessible for all participants. Interested vendors can fill out an online application through the RAC website and once approved, pay a modest fee of $15 cash at check-in.
In January 2023, the Artswalk moved to the Main Street walkway from 5th Street to City Hall
and its relocation has been well received by both the community and local businesses in the area. Vendor space has nearly doubled in size to include over 120 vendors and foot traffic has increased from guests at the Mission Inn and patrons of local restaurants and businesses. The expansion has also allowed the addition of live bands in front of City Hall, DJs, and live painting by local artists.
Since its humble beginnings over two decades ago the Riverside Artswalk has grown substantially. Its longevity is a testament to the city’s support for the arts and it has established itself as an asset to the local artist community and an integral part of Riverside’s culture and identity. As Riverside continues to develop and grow, the Artswalk has remained a consistent community attraction that
welcomes all walks of life. From the dedication of longtime supporters, to those experiencing it for first-time, The Artswalk will continue to be a part of Riverside’s legacy for years to come.
For more info about Riverside Artswalk please visit riversideartscouncil.com or follow on Instagram @riversideartswalk
Power of 2 Realty & ADU Makers
Jared Jones and Brian Hopkins started Power of 2 Realty in order to find solutions to affordability in the housing market. First time home buyers and young people looking to live on their own are experiencing challenges not seen in generations. As purchase prices increase, even in suburban communities that have been reliably affordable, prices on rent and housing related ancillary services increase and finding single-family housing at a price that can be easily afforded on wages provided in those labor markets becomes a challenge.
Housing is a necessity and people don’t have time to wait for market conditions to shift in their favor. When something can not be put off and waiting for systemic change doesn't help you have a place to stay right now then creative solutions must be found to maximize availability within the current market conditions.
When Jared and Brian started Power of 2 in 2018, the California Accessory Dwelling Unit or
ADU market was only a couple of years old. The methods and principles that drive that industry were, and to a degree still are, being developed. Jared and Brian saw ADUs as a solution to affordability and as an investment alternative to house flipping that was dominating California real estate.
An Accessory Dwelling Unit is an additional, separate living space created on the lot of an existing single family residence. This can include dividing and repurposing existing spaces, like a garage conversion, or the construction of a new structure on the lot of a single family residence. This allows investors to purchase houses at market price, invest in the construction of an ADU, and collect enough in rent to secure a good return on investment while providing lower cost rental products to people who had been priced out of the local market.
In early 2021, during the COVID lockdown, my wife and I realized that my mother’s dementia
had progressed to the point that she could no longer live on her own. Assisted living and memory care facilities were not only expensive but were also a “super spread’ environment. Our house had no available bedrooms and was a little on the small side so we started researching ADU construction. I reached out to a friend and real estate attorney and he put me in contact with Jared Jones. Jared came over to our house and we walked the property. He asked me a few questions about what we needed then he hit me with the news.
My property was big enough to build an ADU but construction was backlogged. The unit we wanted to build would be over a year out and a couple hundred thousand dollars, and we just didn’t have the time or money to make that work. It was a bit discouraging but Jared had a solution for us. Jared offered us a house he had under contract, very close to our current home that was
significantly larger and would have an attached apartment for my mother by the time of sale. We went and looked at the house, looked at our financial situation and decided to pull the trigger. Jared helped us through every step of the process. He connected us with Lara Locke who helped us with the loan on the house and included us on design decisions on work that had already begun on the house.
Power of 2 Realty had us living with my mother in a couple months rather than an entire year and at a price that was close to the combined value of our existing home plus the cost of the ADU we no longer had to construct. Jared and Brian have sold a lot of houses and built a lot of ADUs but his attention to my individual and family needs showed me the character of the company. Jared’s experience in the industry combined with a belief that a company can be successful while fulfilling a higher purpose made
what was a difficult decision in a difficult time as easy as possible. The variety of services Power of 2 offers meant Jared was able to offer me more than one way to fulfill my specific need.
Power of 2 aims to serve the community on a level above just matching sellers with buyers and buyers with homes. While they do those things, they also believe they can help increase available, affordable housing in and around Riverside. Jared gave me the short answer on what he believes his company does, “Creating more units, affordable units, makes it accessible for people to stay in state, making it accessible for people to get out of their parents' proverbial basements and into their first place. Creating that product is a value proposition that we want to lean into.”
Power of 2 and its associated company ADU Makers provide full services to investors, singlefamily customers, and renters. They offer realty
and brokerage services, there is a lender in the office, design and architectural services are available, and they even have a licensed construction company. They offer significant value through integration and claim twenty to 30 percent savings on basic ADU construction by managing the costs of all aspects of the process from the initial property purchase, through design and construction and property management once the units are rented.
No need is too big or too small. If you need to rent, sell, or buy a property or if you are an investor looking to learn about opportunities and ADU construction from experts in the local market, the team at Power of 2 has someone to help.
Powerof2realty.com Adumakers.com
The James M. Wood ManSion at 2490 Prince Albert Drive
The Home Designed By A Colorado Springs Opera House Architect, For A Chicago Opera House Architect Is Now The Home To Riverside’s Most Devoted Art Enthusiast
Strolling down a narrow lane lined with stately mansions perched atop the bluff of the infamous Tequesquite arroyo—there can be only one destination in Riverside that fits this description: Prince Albert Drive.
The origin of this fine lane is credited to the James M. Wood House constructed in 1891 and believed to be Riverside’s first residential example of Classical Revival architecture. But before the history of the house, some broader Riverside historical perspective is needed.
Come the start of the 1890s, Riverside was a city on the rise—becoming the wealthiest city in the nation, per person, in 1895 because of the success of the navel orange industry. Riverside was where hundreds of wealthy people from around the country—particularly the East Coast— would come and spend their winters. These wealthy “Snowbirds” valued art, architecture, and sophistication.
Of these annual snowbirds was a man by the name of Charles M. Loring, a civic leader and businessman from Minneapolis, Minnesota who spent his winters at the Mission Inn starting in
1886. Loring was a staunch advocate of the City Beautiful approach to public planning where the beautification of urban centers was top priority. In 1889, Loring contracted famous Chicago architect James M. Wood to construct a civic center across Main Street from the Mission Inn. This building would also have an opera house for the growing love of the performative arts in Riverside—known as the Loring Opera House.
Soon after, Wood became enthralled with Riverside and he and his wife purchased forty acres of land at the edge of the Tequesquite Arroyo. For months, workers leveled, graded, and terraced the property to construct lawns, roads, and pathways—all with curb and gutter. Wood hired friend and fellow opera house architect, A.C. Willard of Colorado Springs, to construct a home near the center of the property. In October 1891 the $57,000 home was completed in the Classical Revival style—which was quickly growing in popularity across the country. The style takes design motifs from Greek and Roman antiquity such as ionic and corinthian columns, porticos, symmetrical facades, and decorative frieze and
cornice detailing. Wood referred to this home as his “ranch house” and in early reporting on the house it was said to be the most “beautiful, modern home in Southern California.”
The exterior was heavily cladded with wooden shingles, a semi-circular portico with eight, paired ionic columns covered the front door, and a third story attic dormer with three lattice-designed wooden windows peaked out of the cedar shingle roof. The entry parlor was constructed of oak paneling with a rust-colored tile fireplace and large central staircase. The stairs lead to five bedrooms on the second story and a disguised door on the back of the staircase leads one level below to a spacious basement with a coal room for the home’s multiple fireplaces.
James Wood was a busy architect in high demand across the United States, making his residency in Riverside short and infrequent. In 1893, he sold the house to a relative, Benjamin Wood, who then leased the home to a family for nearly a decade. The street had not yet been named Prince Albert Drive, and the home’s address was 1581 Sedgewick Avenue. The Wood family lost the home to foreclosure in 1899 and in 1900
it was sold at auction for $22,040. In 1903, the Victoria Club and golf course was constructed in the arroyo; the home overlooked the clubhouse and course. The Victoria Club remains today as a country club for Riverside’s elite.
Over the next thirty years, the home was bought and sold multiple times. In 1930 the fortyacre property was subdivided into eighteen large residential properties and the neighborhood was named Queen’s Terrace. It was at this time that the main street which lined the eighteen properties was named Prince Albert Drive—an homage to the husband of Queen Victoria. The James Wood House was then flanked with 1930s Classical Revival mansions, blending seamlessly with their forty-year predecessor.
For the last forty years, the home has been lovingly maintained by Dr. John and Kathy Allavie. Kathy reigns from two affluent families in Riverside history—the Yeager and Stalder families. Her relatives left small Tomah, Wisconsin in the 1870s to settle in Riverside—the same relocation story of the Mission Inn’s patriarch Frank Augustus Miller. The Allavie’s home has been a hub of activity for decades—many Riverside political campaigns
have passed through their halls, every type of art fundraiser imaginable has been held on the property, countless weddings hosted on the lush grounds, and even a few movies filmed here. This November, to honor Kathy Allavie for her fifteen years of service as an elected Riverside Unified School District Board of Education member, being Riverside’s most stalwart arts advocate and philanthropist, as well as her close familial connection to the Mission Inn, she will be awarded one of Riverside’s highest honors: the Frank Miller Civic Achievement Award. Beyond the historical significance of the James M. Wood House, the impact this home and its current owners have had on the arts in Riverside cannot be overstated.
Today, this bright ivory beacon atop the arroyo at 2490 Prince Albert Drive is subtly disguised from the street by mature trees. The pathway stretching from the street to the front door is adorned by rows of flowering plants and leads visitors to what remains one of the most beautiful homes in Riverside whose owners—both past and present—have connections to all corners of art and architecture in Riverside and beyond.
THE PEOPLE’S ART
How Riverside’s evolution of public art has made it the City of Arts and Innovation
WORDS: PHILIP FALCONE PHOTOS: ZACH CORDNER
THE PEOPLE’S ART
The public art craze is all the rage in cities across the country—where blighted walls are turned into vibrant kaleidoscopes of color and design, and sculptures tower to the sky attracting locals and visitors alike to marvel at the artistic skill and expression.
Public art—and murals in particular—have not always been so common. Murals and ancient frescos from around the world date back tens of
thousands of years but rarely, especially in the United States, was the government involved in ensuring all people had access to art. America’s involvement with public art took off in the 1930s when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, through his New Deal legislation, funded art programs which hired artists to paint murals in and around government buildings depicting imagery of national pride.
Many of these art deco-style murals still exist and can be viewed by the public on a tour of the Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C. Various other New Deal arts programming altered the way in which society viewed artists— making the work of these artists accessible to the masses.
During the 1970s, on the heels of the Civil Rights Movement, public art shifted to be less
centered on national pride and more about the public—everyday people, social issues, and greater artistic freedom. Since that time, the infatuation with public art has only grown stronger and now it is common to find murals, sculptures, memorials, and other types of art in small towns and large cities— owned by the public and created for public viewing.
As for Riverside, the road to today’s expansive variety of public art was slower than other cities. Riverside’s earliest settlers were people who valued art however they viewed art in the more traditional sense—that is, in a gilded frame mounted above a fireplace. While wealthy Riversiders of the day such as Charles Loring of the venerable Loring Building (former Loring Opera House, among other uses) at the corner of Main Street and Mission Inn Avenue were stalwart supporters of city beautification initiatives, public art was not included in the efforts. City beautification meetings and seminars were held at the Loring Building where dozens of committed locals would gather to brainstorm projects, ideas, and gain knowledge on how to make Riverside a more attractive city.
It was not until the 1950s and 60s when Riverside began to see art publicly displayed and accessible; and not until the 1970s when the local government began funding art for display.
In 1975, then-Mayor Ben Lewis called upon Jacques Yeager and Birk Hinderaker to chair the Mayor’s Civic Center Art Fund Committee which
would raise private donations for public art in and around the new City Hall which was under construction at Main and Tenth Streets.
In a letter from Jacques Yeager to donors he states, “It is expected that half of our $80,000 art budget will be spent for an important public art sculpture to stand in front of City Hall and the remainder will go for paintings, murals, ceramics, and other art on display within the new building.” Some of the original art pieces remain at City Hall today.
The “important public art sculpture” Yeager writes about is the infamous red Tripod by James Rosati, which sat on Main Street near Ninth Street from 1976 until 2010 when it was relocated to the intersection of Arlington and Hillside Avenues adjacent to Fire Station 5. The red sculpture was controversial when installed on Main Street in 1976; its high modernism style caused many extreme reactions—it was either loved or hated— and one can argue that the purpose of art is to make people feel emotion and think.
The subsequent decades saw a shrinking of public art in Riverside. Murals in particular were not allowed. Artists seeking public expression of their work were essentially committing acts of graffiti when painting walls in those days. Come the early 2000s, following Riverside being named an All-American City and in vastly modernizing times, the city underwent a branding overhaul paired with a $1.3 billion capital improvement initiative called the “Riverside Renaissance.”
True to the name, art was foundational to the work of the Renaissance and murals began to spring up in Downtown Riverside. These murals were largely created by artist Ken Stansbury and depicted classical imagery such as opera, ballet, and idyllic landscapes of Riverside. Riverside then rebranded to the “City of Arts and Innovation” and began welcoming murals along with funding public art projects through an Arts & Cultural Affairs Division at City Hall.
In an effort to expand the arts consciousness of Riverside, artists like Jeff Soto, Max Gramajo (Maxx242), and Geoff Gouveia began painting murals a decade ago in new, modern, and avantgarde styles. Many of these murals remain—such
as Soto and Gramajo’s piece near the corner of University Avenue and Lime Street. At the time of its installation, it was directly across the street from Stansbury’s classical ballet mural which created an interesting artistic juxtaposition when traveling west on University Avenue.
From this time on, Riverside had a steady drumbeat of public art appearing in various corners of town. The reception by Riversiders
was a desire for more. Every dynamic city at home and abroad has a robust public art mural program. Some cities such as Sacramento and Austin have mural festivals throughout the year where the goal is to leave no wall untouched—or better yet, unpainted.
The Riverside Art Museum became strong advocates for public art around this time and began their artist in residency program in the
Eastside with artist Juan Navarro. A “Park Avenue Revitalization Project”has been the cause of numerous murals painted throughout the Eastside. Since then, Navarro founded the Eastside Arthouse where local artists gather, create, hold showcases, and can connect with city leaders and property owners who are interested in creating public art. Navarro’s work extends beyond the Eastside and in spring 2023 he completed a mural in Casa Blanca that has become one of the most popular in town—depicting aspects of the neighborhood and its history in a vibrant orange and green collage. This mural was sponsored by Altura Credit Union and part of the Mayor’s “Beautify Riverside”initiative.
In 2019, the City of Riverside, in partnership with artist Martin Sanchez, created Mariposa Alley between Ninth and Tenth Streets by utilizing Sanchez’ iconic style of taking cans and bottles and creating art. Large-scale butterflies were constructed of flattened cans, painted, and installed in the alleyway. The success was immediate, and the alleyway has since gained additional public art with the longest mural in downtown painted on the opposite wall in 2021 by artists Joey Koslik and Patrick Barwinski entitled “How to Fly.” At the southern end of the alleyway, a butterfly garden was installed—the Mayor’s Monarch Garden— which ties the beauty of the public art to the environmental importance of butterflies.
Artist Mano Mirandé took his public art mural
of “Greetings from Riverside” and made it into popular merchandise of t-shirts, postcards, and mugs—so popular that the shirt ended up on Cheech Marin on the cover of this magazine last summer. Mirande’s mural was completed in 2019 and its retro style made it a fast favorite, welcoming travelers to downtown near the corner of Brockton and Mission Inn Avenues.
In spring 2022, artist Darren Villegas was the first local artist to take to the skies—well, sixty feet above the ground—to paint a towering mural on the back of the Fox Theater. This mural is entitled “Riverside Resilience” and has imagery of Riverside history, strength, hope, and opportunity as the world returned from the grips of a global pandemic. Villegas’ mural was commissioned by the Leadership Riverside Class of 2021.
In July 2022, Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson launched “Beautify Riverside.” One of the aspects of this initiative is to take blighted, graffiti-riddled buildings and beautify them with public art murals by Riverside artists. Beautify Riverside is funded through donations and has been the source of the explosion of public art over the last twelve months with twelve murals completed, three in progress, and five in planning. Some of the murals created because of Beautify Riverside include a new Sunnyside Drive mural district near the Riverside Plaza featuring large murals by artists
Raymond Argumedo, Geoff Gouveia, Juan Navarro, Ekaterina Olrovie, and Darren Villegas.
This mural district is the first of its kind outside of downtown. Several of the murals created through Beautify Riverside have an innovative edge to them. Mayor Lock Dawson welcomed entrepreneurs from Chile to Riverside who created a paint additive called Photio which captures carbon dioxide from the air once the paint is dried on the wall. This additive gives an environmental benefit to the public art.
A Beautify Riverside mural completed in August 2023 is the latest feather in the cap for public art in Riverside. The Mission Inn’s resident artist Tiffany Brooks painted the largest mural in Riverside—at nearly 6,000 square feet—depicting images of historic Riverside on the rear wall of the Loring Building. It is this mural that brings the beautification efforts of Riverside in full circle.
While Charles Loring and other early Riversiders did not have public art as a focus in their plans for the city, their reverence for city beatification to create a better place for all to call home lives on and is felt through the depictions of life, imagination, nature, and modern art sprinkled throughout Riverside. Areas that were once bland and blighted now welcome expression and imagination—a true sign of a City of Arts and Innovation.
Mural by Darren Villegas Mural by Mano MirandéThe Rise of Manufactured Kit Houses in America
When my niece’s home burned to the ground a few years ago in the big Station fire that decimated Big Tujunga Canyon, she replaced it with a modern prefab house. It cost less than rebuilding from scratch; she bought it from a reputable manufacturer. Did you know that today’s prefab houses dealers were not the first to offer kit houses to America? Well, they were not.
By the early 1920s, three dealers dominated the burgeoning kit house market. Pacific Ready-Cut
Homes, Sears, Roebuck, Company, and Aladdin had delivered at least 100,000 -200,000 kit houses to buyers nationwide. Pacific Ready-Cut Homes alone counted thousands of homes around the American West, mostly in California, the ripest home market in America in the 1920s. Like Sears and Aladdin, Pacific Ready-Cut provided varied models from its inventory of ready-to-assemble structures. Those models mainly centered on housing for the middle class and rental duplexes, and along with the big three, offered large model houses for the upper classes and even kit plans for commercial buildings.
Pacific Ready-Cut Homes in Riverside, 1920-1930
Between 1908-1940, Pacific Ready-Cut Homes, headquartered in Los Angeles, sold about 37,000 houses in the American West, mostly in California. Pacific Ready-Cut bragged that “with its tremendous financial resources, its 24 acres of manufacturing facilities, its 1,000 skilled employees, its staff of expert architects, its armies of construction craftsmen, plus the sincere and abiding determination of its executives to see that you are unconditionally satisfied presents you
Pacific Ready-Cut Home, Style 385, one of the most popular styles among Riverside buyers.with the finest opportunity you will ever have,” to own your own fine home.
By 1923, Pacific Ready-Cut’s surging sales in the San Bernardino-Riverside area led the company to name a new distributor in Riverside to take the burden off the existing company business in San Bernardino. They chose Mead and Mitchell, with offices at 666 West 7th Street. Messrs. Mead and Mitchell were well placed to take over in Riverside. Mead served as President of the local Kiwanis Club and President of a local bank. Mitchell built houses and took charge of the field operations.
Like other kit house manufacturers such as Sears, the Pacific Ready-Cut Home Company milled, cut, and numbered everything at a large central facility and shipped it to the building site on the back of a truck or train. The Pacific ReadyCut company offered a do-it-yourself option for on-site assembly by a local contractor and a fullservice choice with Pacific Ready-Cut tradespeople
erecting the structure and local subcontractors handling the finished project's plumbing, electrical, and other specialty components.
Although authenticating historic kit houses isn’t easy, we will explore, six Riverside Pacific Ready Cut houses in this issue. We will also look at one “custom” designed home by Henry L. A. Jekel, one of Riverside’s noted architects of the early 20th century. Cate and I believe Jekel modified Style 493, a Pacific Ready-Cut Home, and presented it as his own. The law allowed the appropriation of kit house designs if the local architect changed the plan by a few square feet or by altering exterior details. In turn, kit house manufacturers often appropriated the work of architects by adapting their strategies to serve aa model options.
Local preservationists and cultural resource experts are convinced many more kit dwellings are scattered throughout Riverside, from Aladdin, Sears, and Pacific Ready-Cut, and so am I. The Riverside Daily Press reported that Mead and Mitchell, the newly minted Riverside Pacific ReadyCut Distributors, would sell and erect at least 50 more homes during the remainder of 1923. That’s a good indication that we have just now scratched the surface of Pacific Ready-Cut houses in our fair city. This article may spur kit house hunters in town to identify more.
For this article, I am grateful to Scott Watson, Preservation Officer in City Planning, Nancy Parish of Old Riverside Foundation Historic House Tour fame, and preservation consultant and my friend, Jennifer Mermilliod, for helping me identify the homes we explore here.
The list of authenticated Ready-Cut houses in Riverside is limited, though it could grow with serious research. While driving around the downtown neighborhoods and the Wood Streets, Cate and I saw several apparent kit houses by Pacific Ready Cut and possibly Sears. For now, let’s review six that we can identify and one that we think Henry L. A. Jekel, architect, most probably took as a base plan and modified as one of his designs. Jekel would not have been alone in doing so. The protections around kit house plans were quite lax, allowing local architects to alter stock plans and adopt them as their custom work.
3862 McKenzie Street and 3144
Fairmount Boulevard: (Not Shown)
Pacific Ready-Cut Style 385, 1923
The Pacific Ready-Cut house at 3862 McKensie Street appeared in The City of Riverside ArcGIS Inventory and was also pointed out by Nancy Parish. It’s the classic version of this style. My friend and preservation consultant, Jennifer Mermilliod, found this flipped version during her preservation contracts for Alan Mruvka, who was then moving it for his new project M-Sole on Market Street. She identified it as possibly Pacific Ready-Cut Style 385. It’s an exact copy of the Ready-Cut 385 except flipped, with the projecting bay on the opposite side of the porch. Style 385 proved one of the company’s most sought-after models, and many more are probably yet to be found in Riverside’s historic neighborhoods.
5390 Magnolia Avenue, 1920, (Not Shown)
This house appears on the City of Riverside GIS Inventory. When Cate went to the address to photograph the house, to her surprise, she realized it had belonged to Hal and Virginia Dunnegan, docents during my tenure with the Riverside Metropolitan Museum (Museum of Riverside). Virginia was a stalwart volunteer at Heritage House and especially loved the Christmas Season there. We couldn’t find the exact style of this home though there is no doubt its Pacific Ready Cut lineage.
5438 Grand Avenue, 1922 (Not Shown)
We couldn’t find this house's exact Pacific Ready Cut Style number, but it appears on Scott Watson’s City of Riverside GIS Inventory of kit houses. It cuts a handsome presence on the east side of Grand Avenue. Cate and I are still searching for its Style number. Or maybe it’s a Sears or Aladdin kit house. Perhaps you can help confirm its heritage.
4524 Beacon Way, 1920; Pacific Portable Construction Company, forerunner of Pacific Ready-Cut (Not Shown)
This house sits next door to Cate and me on Beacons Way. Local contractor J. Burrow erected this house for T. J. Hendrickson in 1920 as an investment. Hendrickson quickly sold it to Mrs.
Katherine Bartlett, a New York City widow who had been vacationing at the Mission Inn and decided to make Riverside her home. This plan appears outside the Pacific Ready-Cut catalogs. It is more custom, though the parts came from the Ready-Cut factory in Los Angeles. On the original building permit for this house, the Pacific Portable Construction company appears as the builder. Pacific ReadyCut was initially incorporated as Pacific Portable Construction Company in 1909 in Los Angeles.
Incidentally, the home’s most notable resident was Federal Judge Virginia Phillips, who, several years ago, ruled the military’s rule “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” unconstitutional. Unfortunately for Cate and me, Ginny was promoted to Chief Judge of the Federal District Court in Los Angeles and had to move. For a few years, however, she owned a bona fide Pacific Ready-Cut house on Little Mount Rubidoux, Riverside.
3707 Elmwood Court, Style 379, 1921
Mr. Mead reported in the Riverside Daily Press that this was one of his favorite styles of Ready-Cut Homes. Nancy Parish, famed for the Old Riverside Foundation Historic Home Tour, made me aware of this one.
3543 Larchwood, 1920
We were not wholly successful in identifying the exact model for this house, but again, the original building permit helped to confirm it as a Ready-Cut Home. It looks like more than one of the Ready-Cut Styles and might be a custom combination of two styles. While driving around the immediate vicinity of the house, we came upon more than one house that we are sure are Pacific Ready-Cut model.
4470 Fifth Street, 1922: Pacific Ready-Cut Style 493, modified by architect Henry L. A. Jekel as his design for a house for Harry Ross, 1922 (Not Shown)
Nationally known architect Henry L. A. Jekel and his wife Amanda moved back to Riverside in 1922 from a stint in Pasadena designing and supervising the build-out of a high-end forty-acre tract for a New York capitalist. Jekel was well known in town from his earlier work with architect Myron Hunt on the Spanish Renaissance Style First Congregational Church of Riverside, 1911-1914. Based on Jekel's reputation as skyscraper architect and engineer, Hunt hired him to engineer the church’s threetiered Churrigueresque tower and superstructure,
including drafting the exterior Churrigueresque detail to scale for Fred Schupbach, Ornamental Cement Company, who cast the concrete pieces from Jekel’s scale drawings. Jekel and Amanda had returned to Riverside in 1922 to make the town their permanent home. Over the next 35 years, Jekel designed more than 70 custom homes and, during the 1930s, dominated the downtown business structures with his California DecoModerne remodels of major building facades.
In early 1922, William Kennedy, recently retired, who knew Jekel from Buffalo, New York, commissioned the architect to design a downtown Riverside cottage for him and his wife. Kennedy wanted the house to remind his wife of upstate New York house design, i.e., somewhat American colonial. Given the required rapid turnaround necessary to prepare the home for the arrival of Kennedy and his spouse, Jekel took the liberty of appropriating the floor plan, with slight variation in the footage, for Ready-Cut Style 493 and modifying the exterior look of the front elevation to meet the legal requirements for using the company’s stock floor plan for Kennedy’s new house. Cate and I were inside the house for our Jekel book research and can confirm the floor plan. The Kennedys enjoyed their custom home for several years.
Conclusion: Kit Houses to Discover Riverside’s historic housing stock contains hundreds of undiscovered yet unauthenticated Pacific ReadyCut Homes, Sears, Roebuck and Company, and Aladdin kit houses. Our challenge to you is to help us find them. Pacific Ready-Cut catalogs and Sears kit catalogs are out there to see, and reproductions of a few can be purchased in softcover, including the 1925 Pacific Ready-Cut catalog, reprinted by Gentle Beams Publications. Sears catalog reprints are available as well. Please go out and chase down their contributions to Riverside during the pre-World War Two era! You will have much fun. Good hunting!
Pacific Ready-Cut Home, Style 385, Larchwood, The Wood Streets, Riverside.Sovereignty Glass
WORDS: ALONDRA FIGUEROA PHOTOS: ZACH CORDNER
Between the beautifully intricate glass pieces that are mesmerizing to the eye and stunning color work that has captivated connoisseurs since 2007, Sovereignty Glass has truly set itself apart. Those who know serious glasswork know that Sovereignty is in a class of its own.
We were lucky enough to sit down with the notoriously private owner of Sovereignty Glass, Steve Corydon, to discuss his local business and what it’s like being one of the most sought after glass artists in Southern California.
Corydon is a homegrown Riversider that interestingly grew up with both owners of the Riversider magazine. He went to school with me and was family friends with Zach. This was unbeknownst to us as children, but as adults it gave us the chance to see Corydon’s tremendous artistic progress first hand.
When asked why he chose Riverside to launch his business, he shared that it was to be back home. Many of us venture out of Riverside to learn, to expand our wings and grow, but we often come back home to thrive. As was the case for Corydon and the art of glasswork. It was while attending UC Santa Cruz that he first saw folks blowing glass at a local shop which immediately sparked an interest in him unlike anything else he was studying. However, taking a glass blowing lesson in Pomona bought by his mother really solidified that glasswork was his calling.
Sovereignty’s factory is near the UCR area and houses a dozen or so employees and yes, that is where the magic happens! Corydon spends most of his days working on collaborations and custom pieces that have been carefully screened. Sovereignty Glass is highly sought after and collectors are willing to pay prices that can range up to thousands of dollars. What kind of glass work is worth that much, you might ask? The kind that those who enjoy cannabis use daily. Water pipes, glass pipes, dab rigs, etc.– all the necessary gear to have a great time!
Let me be clear, this is not the ordinary glass you might find at your local dispensary. This is truly functional art. These pieces are the result of over twenty years of glass blowing experience, using masterful techniques that take hours upon hours and days to create. Corydon has continued to push the envelope of design and innovation with his revolutionary percolators and kaleidoscope of colors woven through each piece to provide luxury filtration. While Sovereignty’s factory is closed to the public, you can order a specialty piece for yourself or a dear loved one through their website. You can also check out their work on Instagram. We look forward to Sovereignty’s continued growth and to the opening of their full online shop within the next year.
D’Elia’s Grinders
WORDS: KEN CRAWFORD PHOTOS: RAYMOND ALVAI tried to confirm the claim that when the D’Elia and Perrone families opened D’Elia’s Grinders in 1955, it was the first Grinder shop east of the Mississippi. The data is elusive, but I WANT it to be true and that is better than data.
So…when that first generation moved thousands of miles west from Connecticut to bring Riverside a version of a successful familyrun deli and bakery, they were pioneers on a mission of sorts. When they planted a crusty roll in the ground on 8th Street (now University Avenue), they were spreading the good word that quality meats and cheeses with fresh vegetables on a big loaf of bread is simply better.
I’m comfortable making the assumption that D’Elia’s Grinders was first. I don't need to assume anything, however, to make the claim that D’Elia’s has grown to something much more than a place to get a sandwich. D’Elia’s is an enduring institution.
In 2023, there are plenty of places to get a grinder around town. There is something about D’Elia’s that sets it apart. There isn’t much left in Riverside that is almost 70 years old. D’Elia’s has done it with the confidence that comes with lasting success.
Third generation owner, Brian Perrone, thinks it’s pretty simple. "'It's The Bread' is right there on our signage...the vessel is the bread. If the bread sucks, so does the sandwich. Wouldn't
matter how good the quality of the stuff inside of it. In our case, because of the crusty nature of our bread, it is usually a love or hate kind of thing. Very few people are in the middle.”
The polarization of opinions on the crusty bread at D’Elia’s may be Riverside’s great food controversy. As with most great things, a line must be drawn. No business lasts three generations appealing to fencewalkers, right? To foster the type of loyalty that D’Elia’s has gained, you do things your way and bring people along with you.
I’m a sandwich guy and I like D’Elia’s. I get the Sicilian with pickled yellow chiles and I shake on crushed red peppers until my arm starts to hurt. I keep it simple but there are plenty of toppings for those who need the customization. I prefer cold sandwiches but I have finished off a meatball grinder or two for my kids and it’s good stuff. The marinara sauce even tames the crunch of the bread a bit if that’s an issue for you.
The simple style, quality ingredients and their baked in-house bread make D’Elia’s an easy recommendation. If you’ve been around town a while you've eaten there. If you’ve eaten there, you have your own opinion. If you haven’t, you should, if only to get your Real Riversider card punched. I know it’s just a sandwich place but restaurants like D’Elia’s add to the character of Riverside.
D’Elias Grinders #2 19009 Van Buren Blvd (951) 780-3354 deliasgrinders.com
Liberty Senior Care Liberty Senior Care
Route 30 Tap Room
3740 Mission Inn Ave
Stone Church Brewing & Bistro
3737 Main Street (951) 233-0323
Thompson Brewing 9900 Indiana Ave (951) 289-7533
BURGERS
Baker’s Drive Thru 2221 Main St (909) 884-5233
Baker’s Drive Thru 6686 Indiana Ave (909) 884-5233
Baker’s Drive Thru 1300 Blaine St (909) 884-5233
Baker’s Drive Thru 10225 Magnolia Ave (909) 884-5233
Baker’s Drive Thru 5396 Mission Blvd (909) 884-5233
Boys Burgers 10737 Magnolia Ave (951) 689-1294
Burger Boss 2585 Canyon Springs Pkwy (951) 656-6500
BurgerIM
10920 Magnolia Ave Unit 105 (951) 441-8868
BurgerIM 1201 University Ave #110 (951) 783-9555
Chris’ Burgers 407 Iowa Ave (951) 781-8542
Cowboy Burgers & BBQ 5573 Arlington Ave (951) 977-9454
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
Fatburger & Buffalo’s Express
3457 Arlington Ave Suite 106 (951) 369-4950
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
Monty’s Good Burger 3605 Market Street
(213) 915-0257
Nikko’s Burgers 9295 Magnolia Ave STE 112 (951) 352-7290
Original Tommy’s 7504 Mission Grove Pkwy S (951) 780-4201
R Burgers 5980 Van Buren Blvd
(951) 358-9203
R Burgers 1666 University Ave
(951) 784-4350
Riverwalk Burgers & Grill
3812 Pierce St (951) 353-0919
Slaters 50/50 3750 University Ave Ste 125 (951) 742-5585
Star Burgers 7207 Arlington Ave
(951) 689-5050
Zorba’s Restaurant 450 Iowa Ave
(951) 686-5830
Zorba’s Express 770 University Ave
(951) 787-0094
CHINESE
Big Sky Bistro 1575 University Ave Ste A
(951) 328-1688
Canton Chinese Food 1756 University Ave
(951) 684-6126
China Wok Inn
5771 Mission Boulevard
(951) 680-9810
Chen Ling Palace 9856 Magnolia Ave
(951) 351-8511
Chinatown 10935 Magnolia Ave
(951) 785-6197
Frice Szechuan Restaurant
1299 University Ave #104-E
(951) 686-2182
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 Fastfood 1490 University Ave (951) 686-2223
Jade China 2712 Canyon Springs Pkwy (951) 653-9200
Little Beijing Chinese Fast Food 5800 Van Buren Blvd (951) 509-1188
Lucky Wok 2995 Van Buren Blvd (951) 688-2888
Monark Asian Bistro
5225 Canyon Crest Dr #64 (951) 683-1073
Mr. China Express
8451 Colorado Ave #8301 (951) 687-8967
Mr. You 19530 Van Buren Blvd G7 (951) 653-1740
Peking Restaurant 11170 Magnolia Ave (951) 687-4822
Wok In Kitchen 5050 Arlington Ave #101 (951) 343-7888
ZiZi BBQ House 3740 Iowa Ave (951) 534-0960
COFFEE/TEA/JUICE
7 Leaves Cafe 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
Back to the Grind 3575 University Ave (951) 784-0800
Boba Fiend Tea House
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
Coffee Court Bistro
3607 10th St (951) 328-0866
Condron Coffee
3696 Sunnyside Dr (951) 880-3354
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
Flavor Theory
11090 Magnolia Ave (951) 977-9698
Goodwin’s Organics Cafe 191 W Big Springs Rd (951) 682-2667
JUJUBAR 19040 Van Buren Blvd (951) 780-0224
Kung Fu Tea 3678 Central Ave Ste 102 (951) 254-9609
Kraemer’s Coffee Bistro 6734 Brockton Ave (951) 686-4400
Lift Coffee Roasters 2060 Chicago Ave Ste A10 (951) 742-7413
Mi Cafecito Coffee 3605 Market St Ste 2
Molinos Coffee 3660 Mission Inn Ave (951) 276-7147
Nekter Juice Bar
5225 Canyon Crest Dr Ste 7B (951) 224-9842
R&B Tea 1889 University Ave Unit 105 (951) 462-4142
Sharetea 10920 Magnolia Ave Ste 103 (951) 406-5165
Sharetea 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
Diane’s Deli 2900 Adams St #B1 (951) 689-2900
D’Elia’s Grinders 2093 University Ave (951) 683-7380
D’Elia’s Grinders 9009 Van Buren Blvd (951) 780-3354
European Intl Market &Deli 7120 Indiana Ave G (951) 274-9100
Firehouse Subs 10080 Magnolia Ave (951) 588-8785
Jimmy John’s 3747 Central Ave Ste 102 (951) 779-0010
Jimmy John’s 4270 Riverwalk Pkwy Ste 122 (951) 977-9672
Jimmy John’s 10277 Magnolia Ave (951) 354-2149
Marisa’s Italian Deli 5225 Canyon Crest Dr #20 (951) 788-3899
M & M Deli 1960 Chicago Ave #D1 (951) 684-6861
My Hero Subs 355 Iowa Ave A (951) 784-7370
RiverCrust Deli 6235 River Crest Dr Ste F (951) 656-8145
Subs & Spuds 5225 Canyon Crest Dr Ste #83a (951) 369-1491
Bar & Restaurant Guide
The Riversider | August/September 2023
The Sub Station 3663 Canyon Crest Dr (951) 683-4523
Tummy Stuffer 1159 Iowa Ave O (951) 369-1266
The Upper Crust Sandwich Shoppe 3573 Main St (951) 784-3149
FILIPINO
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
Ohana Cravings 3740 Iowa Ave, Ste 104 (951) 742-5555
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
Afters Ice Cream 1201 University Ave
Baskin-Robbins
7024 Magnolia Ave (951) 682-3131
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
Cold Stone Creamery 9867 Magnolia Ave Ste C
(951) 637-0920
Dairy Queen 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
La Michoacana 3961 Chicago Ave
951) 248-9142
Mixies Ice Cream & Cookies 3605 Market St
(951) 595-4520
Spoonful Yogurt Café 4270 Riverwalk Pkwy #120
(951) 729-5882
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
Bombay Stores 1385 W Blaine St (951) 788-3042
Gandhi Indian Cuisine 1355 E Alessandro Blvd #205 (951) 653-4147
India Sweets & Groceries 779 W Blaine St
(951) 784-7400
Masala Mischief 223 University Ave Ste 150 (951) 224-9692
Namaste Indian Kitchen 6061 Magnolia Ave (951) 275-5316
Punjab Palace Cuisine of India
1766 University Ave
(951) 686-9968
ITALIAN/PIZZA
Aloha Pizza & Pasta 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
Blaze Pizza
10920 Magnolia Ave Suite 107 (951) 474-5855
Bricks & Birch
3605 Market Street #5 (951) 500-7776
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
Fast 5 Pizza 5300 Arlington Ave (951) 977-9090
Fast 5 Pizza 1889 University Ave #108 (951) 781-3838
Fiesta Pizza 6110 Van Buren Blvd (951) 353-8007
First Class Pizza & Pub
4290 Riverwalk Pkwy (951) 354-7900
Lava Coal-Fired Pizza
1725 Spruce St Suite #101
(951) 823-0238
Mamma Mia Restaurant and Bar
10971 Magnolia Ave (951) 729-5555
Marcello’s Pizza & Pasta
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
Papa Joe’s Pizza 5115 Jurupa Ave B3 (951) 680-9090
Papa Joe’s Pizza 10555 Indiana Ave (951) 688-1188
Pietro’s Italian Cuisine 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
Scratch Pizza 4950 La Sierra Ave #8 (951) 359-2023
Shakey’s Pizza Parlor 5941 Van Buren Blvd (951) 689-7700
Tower Pizza 3375 Iowa Ave (951) 518-4300
University Pizza Company 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
Big Tuna 4270 Riverwalk Pkwy (951) 343-0201
Fuego Hibachi 3750 Main St (951) 742-5039
Joe’s Sushi Japanese Restaurant 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
Mokkoji Shabu Shabu 1575 University Ave Ste B (951) 905-4007
Momo Sushi 9844 Magnolia Ave (951) 999-9123
Ohana Sushi 195 Alessandro Blvd Ste 8A (951) 789-0443
Oishii Sushi 6133 Magnolia Ave (951) 784-2550
Ooka Sushi & Hibachi Steak House 3525 Riverside Plaza Dr #200 (951) 779-0099
Otsuka Ramen & Bar 10949 Magnolia Ave (951) 353-9888
Pacific Cabin Sushi 3770 9th St (951) 782-0888
Poke Bar 3740 Iowa Ave (951) 405-8233
Poke Bistro 3375 Iowa Ave Ste K (951) 394-8580
Pokilicious Riverwalk 4290 Riverwalk Pkwy #306 (951) 376-1377
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
Silverlake Ramen 3775 Tyler St (951) 934-9160
Soho Ramen Riverside 3605 Market St (951) 595-4528
Sumabi 3530 9th St (951) 823-0278
Bar & Restaurant Guide
The Riversider | August/September 2023
Señor Baja 6033 Magnolia Ave (951) 369-5720
Sushingon 6060 Magnolia Ave (951) 224-9590
Taco Station 4088 Mission Inn Ave (951) 782-8226
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 Mi Ranchito 4724 La Sierra Ave (951) 352-0528
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
Yoli’s Mexican Grill 3225 Market St (951) 801-7104
Zacatecas Cafe 3767 Iowa Ave (951) 683-3939
PAKISTANI
Al-Karam Pakistani Cuisine 3457 Arlington Ave Ste 101 (951) 742-5610
Mirchi Restaurant 1385 W Blaine St (951) 400-2825
Punjab Palace 10359 Magnolia Ave (951) 351-8968
SEAFOOD
California Fish Grill 10920 Magnolia Ave Suite 101 (951) 405-6880
Market Broiler 3525 Merrill Ave (951) 276-9007
Pacific Grill 1299 Tyler St (951) 643-8168
Pier 76 Fish Grill 3555 Riverside Plaza Dr Ste 108 (951) 341-9297
Rockstar Shrimp 767 W Blaine St (951) 530-8620
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
STEAKHOUSES
Duane’s Prime Steak & Seafood
3649 Mission Inn Ave (888) 326-4448
Flat Top Bar & Grill 17960 Van Buren Blvd (951) 780-0114
THAI
Angel Thai Cuisine 6736 Brockton Ave (951) 788-1995
Sam's Bann Thai 3203 Mission Inn Ave (951) 742-7694
Best Thai Cuisine 1735 Spruce St F (951) 682-4251
Gra Pow 497 E Alessandro Blvd #D (951) 780-1132
Monark Asian Bistro 5225 Canyon Crest Dr #64 (951) 683-1073
Morefire Thai 2955 Van Buren Blvd #F1 (951) 359-1331
Riverside Thai Kitchen 7755 California Ave (951) 729-6675
Royal Orchid Restaurant 9791 Magnolia Ave (951) 354-6100
TK Thai Cuisine 11860 Magnolia Ave Ste T (951) 509-3701
VEGETARIAN/VEGAN
Craveabowl 3434 Arlington Ave Ste 20 (951) 742-5878
Goodwin’s Organic 91 W Big Springs Rd (951) 682-2667
La Sierra Natural Foods 11550 Pierce St (951) 785-2563
Monty’s Good Burger 3605 Market Street (213) 915-0257
Oasis Vegetarian Café 11550 Pierce St (951) 688-5423
Plant Power Fast Food 3940 University Ave (951) 905-5222
Roots Restaurant & Bar 3700 12th St (951) 405-8324
Veg & Go 1201 University Ave
Ste #115 (951) 213-6233
VIETNAMESE/PHO
5 Stars Pho Restaurant 4950 La Sierra Ave (951) 772-0700
Cha2o 1400 University Ave Ste A104 (714) 406-3090
Ocean Pho 4069 Chicago Ave Ste 100 (951) 742-5272
Pho 81 2995 Van Buren Blvd Ste A13 (951) 977-8869
Phở 99 4557 La Sierra Ave (951) 688-2671
Pho Anh 5646 Van Buren Blvd (951) 977-9889
Pho Anh Hot Pot & Crayfish 10271 Magnolia Ave (951) 729-6668
Pho Anh Hot Pot & Crayfish
231 E Alessandro Blvd (951) 215-0585
Pho DJ 5180 Arlington Ave (951) 354-2799
Pho Ha 10185 Magnolia Ave (951) 354-8918
Pho Ha #7 1820 University Ave #101 (951) 680-0790
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
Open Everyday 6:30am to 2pm
Live Music
Every Sat. & Sun. 10am-1pm
Open all day Friday from 6:30am - 9pm
Riverside's #1 breakfast & lunch spot!
6951 Flight Road
Riverside, CA 92504
951-688-3337
riversideairportcafe.com
@theriversideairportcafe
Now planning our 2nd Annual Trunk or Treat!
Please contact us for sponsorship opportunities to help make this a memorable event for the community!
Roosevelt Palm
Originally Queen Victoria Palm Planted By President Theodore Roosevelt May 8, 1903
WORDS: H. VINCENT MOSES-PHD
In the late afternoon of May 7, 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt, on a campaign stop in Riverside, officially bestowed his presidential blessings on this 45-foot-tall Washingtonia Robusta Palm in honor of Queen Victoria. Cornelius Earle Rumsey, wealthy Riverside orange grower and head of the Victoria Avenue Improvement Association, had the tree pre-set at the head of Victoria Avenue and Myrtle for TR’s arrival that afternoon. With his usual bravado, TR ceremoniously deposited the first shovel of dirt at the tree’s base for Her Majesty the Queen.
The local chapter of the Native Daughters of the Golden West installed the plaque identifying the tree in 1965, though they named the wrong date for the planting as May 8, 1903. TR dedicated the tree in the late afternoon of May 7, 1903.
PLANS FOR TONIGHT?
¿TENGA PLANES PARA ESTA NOCHE? COMPRE EN RIVERSIDE, RIVERSIDE.
Whether it’s cheersing at a local brewery, sharing tapas at a restaurant, singing along to live music, or simply laughing with friends at a nearby coffee shop, Riverside’s nightlife has something for everyone.
When making plans for tonight, remember to THINK LOCAL. A portion of every dollar you spend within city limits goes right back into helping fund community services. Shop Riverside, Riverside!
Ya sea haciendo un brindis en una cervecería local, compartiendo tapas en un restaurante, cantando música en vivo o simplemente riendo con amigos en una cafetería cercana, la vida nocturna de Riverside tiene algo para todos.
Cuando haga planes para esta noche, recuerde PENSAR LOCAL. Una porción de cada dólar que gasta dentro de los límites de la ciudad vuelve y ayuda a financiar los servicios comunitarios. ¡Compre en Riverside, Riverside!