Out & About – 01/29/2011

Lunar Festival
Visitors stroll Mission Inn Avenue in downtown Riverside during Saturday’s celebration marking the Chinese New Year.
Six months after being announced, the Riverside Plaza store of Nordstrom Rack is nearing its April 3rd opening date. The sibling of the high-end retailer will take up residence within a portion of the former Harris/Gottschalks/Forever 21 building, taking up a reported 45,000 sq. ft. on the ground level. The 3-story building underwent an extensive…
Four area colleges — including three in Riverside — received high marks in the latest college rankings from U.S. News & World Report. 2001Carillon Tower – UC Riverside 2005California Baptist University UC Riverside, California Baptist University, La Sierra University, all located in Riverside, and the University of Redlands, were each ranked within their respective categories,…
Late last year, we stumbled upon a crew filming on the pedestrian mall between the Mission Inn and the Loring Building in downtown Riverside. Intrigued by what appeared to be a doctor standing next to a tall mirror, we stopped for a few minutes to watch. Upon the call for “action,” a middle-aged couple approached…
One of the finest neon signs from Riverside’s post-war past may soon be coming down in the name of progress. The owner of the Thunderbird Lodge located at 2711 University Avenue is in the midst of a $1.3 million overhaul of the atomic-era motel. Sadly, not included within the renovation are plans to keep the…
After nearly two years of renovation and seismic upgrades, downtown Riverside’s historic Municipal Auditorium was rededicated by city officials during an open house held earlier this month. Included in the $10 million makeover of the 1928-29 structure is better seating, lighting, acoustics and fully-renovated lower level and backstage areas. A large open area in front…
Over the past 96 years, downtown Riverside has seen 2 main post offices built, the first in 1912 and the second in 1939. First came the 1912 Federal Building/Post Office located on Seventh Street (Mission Inn Avenue). Sporting Italian-Renaissance architecture, the building served as the city’s main post office for nearly 30 years. Afterward, the…