Following the 1956-57 opening of the Riverside Plaza mall, downtown shopping began a slow but steady decline. In response, city leaders quickly began working at remaking the city’s civic center. Discussions took place regarding additional parking, modernized storefronts, and streetscape improvements. In June 1958, Los Angeles architectural firm Welton Beckett & Associates presented a downtown…
After several years of planning and 1.5 years of reconstruction, the doors swung open March 1 on the extensively renovated Riverside Convention Center in downtown. Located at the northern end of the Main Street pedestrian mall at Fifth Street, the convention center began life in 1976 as Ben H. Lewis Hall at Raincross Square. It…
Each year, thousands of visitors gather in and around the Mission Inn and along the pedestrian mall in downtown Riverside for the ‘Festival of Lights,’ which includes approximately 4 million holiday lights and over 400 animated figures. What began in 1993 as a modest, hotel-only event has grown into one of the premier holiday lights…
One of the charms of downtown Riverside is the handful of small, one-of-a-kind shops, boutiques, bars and eateries, most of which are located on or near the Main Street pedestrian mall. Two such clothing boutiques — The Parrott and Toni Moore — were spotlighted this week by reporter Laurie Lucas of The Press-Enterprise. Owned by…
Built by Frank Augustus Miller in seven major phases between 1902 and 1931, the historic Mission Inn hotel covers an entire city block in downtown Riverside. The Inn’s four “wings” — Mission, Cloister, Spanish and Rotunda — are a collection of varying and eclectic architectural styles. The primary architects of the Inn were Arthur Benton,…
This month marks the end of an era in Riverside as Mayor Ronald O. Loveridge departs from city office since first being elected in 1979. Though we prefer not to get overly political on this site (there are plenty of other places for that), say what you will, but we feel Loveridge will be recognized…
This year marks a milestone as the annual Festival of Lights marks its 20th season. What began in 1993 as a modest, hotel-only event has grown into one of the premier holiday lights displays in the country. Each year, thousands of visitors gather in and around the Mission Inn and along the pedestrian mall in…
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…
Ever wanted to peek inside Riverside’s historic Fox Theater? The recently renovated Municipal Auditorium? The red sandstone Universalist Church? Or maybe the former Rouse Department Store (now UCR/Culver Center of the Arts)? This Saturday (10/13), you will get your chance during a day-long event — “Discover Riverside” — presented by the AIAIC (American Institute of…
Featured here is a 1961 postcard for Riverside. Pictured is the Carillon Tower at the Mission Inn, the Peace Tower on Mount Rubidoux overlooking downtown and the Buena Vista Bridge crossing Seventh Street (now Mission Inn Avenue). The back of the card, which was produced by Western Publishing & Novelty Company of Los Angeles, reads:…
