Riverside Roundup — 06/02/2013
Kudos to the Los Angeles Times for “rediscovering” downtown Riverside and its growing arts and culture scene. From a recent article:
Many people heading to Riverside make a beeline for the Mission Inn and spend the weekend at its spa, restaurants and pool. They barely venture outside, and that’s a shame because, as my husband and I discovered, downtown Riverside has blossomed into a fine arts and culture district. There are many examples of classic California architecture and more than a dozen sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Los Angeles Times – June 6, 2013
Cited in the article were Fox Performing Arts Center, Riverside Art Museum, UCRArtsBlock and The Salted Pig gastro pub as well as the recently-opened Hyatt Place hotel.
It’s nice to finally get some long-overdue recognition by the important — yet, often myopic — Los Angeles media giants. Heck, it’s just plain nice to see the Times “rediscovering” anything in Riverside (and Inland Southern California, for that matter).
At any rate, be sure to check out the short, but sweet, article by the Times’ travel department, which has virtually overlooked nearly all of Inland Southern California in its recent quest for “weekend escapes.”
In related news, our own local media giant — The Press-Enterprise — has again been paying closer attention to local happenings in downtown Riverside as well. Local business reporter Laurie Lucas reports on yet another addition to the downtown dining and nightlife scene — Euphony Restaurant & Lounge.
Located in the former Union Pacific train depot (c.1904) on Vine Street — near Sevilla and Old Spaghetti Factory restaurants — the new establishment takes over a spot that previously housed the popular Coffee Depot (for about 10 years).
The owners hope that their club, which they describe as a cross between the Improv and the House of Blues, offering Southern Creole and American food, agrees with the community.
“They’re providing another dimension to the type of offerings we have downtown,” said Janice Penner, executive director at the Downtown Riverside Partnership.
Riverside Press-Enterprise – May 30, 2013
Riverside’s Save Our Chinatown Committee will be holding an estate sale this weekend (June 7-9).
The fundraising event is being produced by Odekirk’s Estate Sales, a long-time Riverside antiques and estate sale company. It will run from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Friday and Saturday (June 7, 8) and from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Sunday (June 9).
Check out odekirks.com on the sale date for the actual location.
Also set to open soon is Riverside’s new Bonaminio Park (officially known as Ryan Bonaminio Park at Tequesquite Arroyo).
Final touches on the long-promised park for Riverside’s “Wood Streets” neighborhood have been accelerating over the past several weeks. Plans are to have it open in time for the July 4th fireworks atop Mount Rubidoux.
The park, which sits atop former dairyland, was named in honor of fallen Riverside Police officer Ryan Bonaminio, who was killed in the line of duty in November 2010.
Speaking of Mount Rubidoux fireworks, don’t forget about the annual “Founders’ Day Celebration” on July 4th at downtown’s historic Evergreen Cemetery.
Enjoy live music, good food (including In-N-Out burgers), fun & games plus guided tours of notable graves. And, of course, a front row seat for the fireworks. Proceeds will help continue funding the refurbishing and upkeep of the historic sections of Riverside’s first cemetery, which is looking better than ever following recent (and on-going) renovations.
And speaking of cemeteries, we’re busy working on compiling a historical overview for Riverside’s “second” cemetery — Olivewood Memorial Park on Central Avenue.
Only 16 years “younger” than downtown’s historic Evergreen Cemetery, Olivewood also has its share of history — and is also the final resting place for several of Riverside’s historical and notable civic/business leaders as well. The cemetery will be hosting a day of historic walking tours on Sunday, October 20th (2013), which we’re assisting with presenting.
In the meantime, be sure to check out the Times and P-E articles listed. But more importantly, go check out downtown Riverside! You’re likely to find that there’s something for everyone. (To help get you started, here are three short walking tours we created last year.)
Related
- ExploreRiverside.com
- Los Angeles Times – Downtown Riverside is blossoming, right outside your hotel (June 2)
- Riverside Press-Enterprise – Restaurant/Lounge to open soon in Riverside (May 30) | Bonaminio Park gets grass, finishing touches (May 22)
- Euphony Restaurant & Lounge
- Save Our Chinatown Committee | Odekirk’s Estate Sales
- Evergreen Memorial Historic Cemetery
- Olivewood Memorial Park
- RaincrossSquare.com – Small boutiques add flavor to downtown pedestrian mall (May 2013) | Slate of eateries, bars and shops opening in downtown Riverside (Dec. 2012) | Out & About – Historic walking tours of downtown Riverside (Feb. 2012)
Sources: Los Angeles Times, Riverside Press-Enterprise, Save Our Chinatown Committee, Evergreen Memorial Historic Cemetery, Olivewood Memorial Park
