Archive for the 'Food & Drink' Category

01
Nov

Pix from Halloween

I spent my Halloween evening watching several great bands, including one of my all time faves, The English Beat, and a new fave of mine (and local talent) The Bsharps.

The B Sharps

Tickets

Tickets

The location of the show was the Trevi Entertainment Center in Elsinore, which was such a trip!  It is actually a very cool place, decorated in early “Sultan’s Palace”.  I wish I had taken more pictures but all I had was my phone.  If you ever get a chance, check it out.

What did everyone else do?  What was THEE top spot to spend Halloween in Riverside?  I want to see pix!

23
Oct

New “Best Of Riverside” restaurants added!

Check out my “Best of Riverside” page to see some pix about some places I ate this week.  Want to know where the best Agua Fresca is or where the best 3.99 breakfast can be found?  Check it out and let me know what you think.

05
Sep

Stuff To Do This Weekend: 9.5 - 9.7

A three day work week for me.  I love the latter part of the year.  There are tons of holidays and days off.  Plus the nice weather is coming soon.  I’m sick of the heat (but next spring I’ll be dying for a hot summer day).

Friday 9.5:

66ers game at Arrowhead Credit Union ballpark, begins at 7:30 pm.

The L.A. County Fair begins at the Pomona Fairplex.  I love the fair!  Tonight is opening day.

Saturday 9.6:

Mariachi Festival at Fairmount Park from noon till 9 pm.  $7.50 in advance (by Friday), $10 the day off the event.  There will be music, cultural arts and games, vendor booths (i.e. food).  Parking is $5.

Farmer’s Market downtown Riverside. 8 am - 12 pm

Rock collecting and fossil shack fun at the Jurupa Mountain Cultural Center.  That’s a fun place to take the kiddies or just explore  yourself.

Sunday 9.7:

First Sundays at the Riverside Metropolitan Museum means Family Fun Day.  1 pm.

Remember our Heroes event at Fairmount Park 3 pm - 8 pm.

01
Sep

Happy Labor Day

We did absolutely NO Labor today.  Except for the effort it took to make dinner.  Here it is:

Beef Loin Porterhouse steaks on the grill

Beef Loin Porterhouse steaks on the grill

Perfectly seasoned steaks

Perfectly seasoned steaks

Big ass juicy steak and potato with veggies

Big ass juicy steak and potato with veggies

Celebrating Labor Day with cupcakes

Celebrating Labor Day with cupcakes

There is also a very happy dog somewhere in our house.  She got two bones to chew on and some scraps.  Lucky!

01
Sep

Something to Look Forward To This Month: FOOD

The Riverside Greater Downtown Fine Dining Group is hosting Riverside Restaurant Week September 14th - 19th.  The festivities will kick off with the Overture Gala, a fundraiser for the Arts at the Riverside Art Museum.

Restaurants in the group are:

  • Mario’s Place
  • Ciao Bella Ristorante
  • Mission Inn Restaurant
  • Sevilla
  • Olio
  • Saffron
  • Via Veneto Trilussa
  • Restaurant Omakase

Another food festival in our area is the annual Jurupa Valley Food Fest, taking place at the Jurupa Spectrum on Limonite (check out more info on the Fest and other local festivals) on September 27th.  Tickets are $15 per person and can be purchased at Albertsons and True Value Hardware (both on Limonite), Riverside County Record News or at the event.  There will be 25+ booths, music, auctions and competitions.

30
Aug

Red Bull Cans on Parade

J and I were coming back from Circle K (Powerade Zero and Powerade 1 liter bottles 2 for 2.22) and we saw the weirdest thing.  A parade of Red Bull vehicles cruising up 14th Street in a row, making a u-turn at Olivewood and cruising back down.  What’s up with that?

22
Aug

Best Of Riverside: Best Banana Split

There may be fancier places, bigger places, pinker places and hipper places to get a banana split but you can’t beat Dairy Queen with a stick.  The DQ on Magnolia has Banana Splits for 2.29.  Drive down Magnolia a bit and you can get the same for 5.99.  No thanks.

Yummy Banana Split

Yummy Banana Split

DQ on Magnolia

DQ on Magnolia

05
Aug

No Trans Fats for Cali

The Gov just signed a bill that prohibits restaurants from using trans fats in its food preparation and serving.  Restaurants and other retail food establishments can no longer use items such as oil, margarine and shortening that contain trans fats.  Although a few other cities have banned trans fats, California is the first state to adopt the law statewide that reaches restaurants.  Restaurants that don’t stop using the banned fats will be fined.  California residents have until 2010 to stop using trans fats, with baked goods extended to 2010

“Today we are taking a strong step towards creating a healthier future for California,” said Gov Schwarzenegger.

Good news for Taco Bell, KFC, Rubios and Pat and Oscar fans - these restaurants have already moved away from the heart threatening trans fats.  Bad news for Jack in the Box lovers as there are still several items  still on the menu, including the Sourdough Ultimate Cheeseburger with 4.5 grams of trans fats.

31
Jul

Earthquake Aftermath: The Photo

The damage caused by 5.4 earthquake on Miss Carolina Moon's Frigidaire

The damage caused by 5.4 earthquake, centered in Chino Hills, on Miss Carolina Moon's Frigidaire.

24
Jul

Drinks Buzz: The Old Spaghetti Factory

Order a Tuaca Raspberry Lemon Drop for $6.50 and get a delish drink. Order an Italian Sunset and get a helluvah drink.It’s a much stronger with an extra splash of something I have forgotten. Its not on the menu so you should ask for it. And its not in the computer so they’ll charge you for the less alcoholic aforementioned Drop. Bartenders are knowledgeable and not in your face. And the drink is strong and tasty.

Hungry at the bar? Give the Shrimp Spinach Artichoke Dip (7.50) a whirl. Just enough to keep you from going over the edge after your Sunsets.

Island Sunsets at the Old Spaghetti Factory

Island Sunsets at the Old Spaghetti Factory

16
Jul

Best Granola in Riverside

Simple Simon’s has the best homemade granola that I personally have eaten in the grand city of Riverside.  It is $4.95 and comes with fresh fruit and milk.  The fruit present in mine on Saturday and a couple days later, were bananas and strawerries.

If anyone knows of better, point it out to me, please.  I’m on the hunt for delish granola and faboo breakfasts.

Granola with fresh fruit - Simple Simon's

Granola with fresh fruit - Simple Simon's

04
Jul

Happy 4th of July

Hope everyone is having a great 4th!  Congrats to Joey Chestnut!  God Bless the USA!

14
Jun

Last Minute Father’s Day Stuff

Last minute comments or ideas on celebrating Father’s Day:

Where’s a good local place to take Dad for his day?  Try one of the 25 Best Restaurants in Riverside, a guide by Allen Borgen, tv personality (Let’s Dine Out) and food/restaurant critic.

Or stay away from the crowds and stay close to home.  Cook Dad a great meal and then enjoy the Finals game.   The Food Network has different menus to match the different types of men in our lives.   For example, there are Outdoorsman, Coffee Lover and Sports Fan menus, among others, with corresponding gifts.  Mmm dessert recipes include Strawberry Shortcake and Frozen Lemonade Pie.  Leave all of the thought to Food Network.

Giftwise, if you haven’t bought anything yet, you still have a couple of hours.  The best gift -a gas card.  That’s like giving gold.  Have the kiddies do some quick crafts to name him King for the Day. If your pops is pro-green, he will appreciate earth friendly gifts.

If you’re reading this on Father’s Day and you still haven’t taken your dad out, made or bought him anything, you can still send an eCard.  Don’t send one of those lame, 80’s esque cards.  Send something funny or unnerving, like from Wrongcards.   My favorite is:

Happy Father’s Day to all of you dads out there!  My dad is not here, but I will spend the day remembering him.  Love you, Dad!

13
Jun

Stuff To Do This Weekend: 6.13 - 6.15

Friday, 6.13:

It’s Friday the 13th, the only one in 2008.  Get lucky!

Celebrate the Grand Opening of the Mission Tobacco Lounge.  Don’t miss this event!

Saturday, 6.14:

It’s Flag Day!

High Tops, Disorderly Youth, Horror Vision and Street Spirt at Red Planet Records.

Sunday, 6.15:

Today is Father’s Day!   A special remembrance goes out to two of the greatest men ever to walk the earth - John Kirchofer and my own dad Tom Lopez.  Love you always!  Hug your pops if he’s alive.  He’ll appreciate it even more than the barbecue tongs you were planning on buying him.

The Orange Empire Rail Museum in nearby Perris is celebrating dads on Saturday and Sunday with a barbeque and electric trains.

The Mission Tobacco Lounge is having the Lowrider band from 4 to 7 (dinner show) and 8 to close. A DJ will be playing after the second show as well.  Get your VIP mezzanine spot now.

Game 5 of the NBA finals is scheduled for Sunday at 6 pm.   You can watch it and celebrate Father’s Day at John’s Incredible Pizza Co. in Riverside.

08
Jun

Walking Through the Farmers Market: 6.7.08

Walking through the Farmers Market in the most perfect weather imaginable. Even our favorite two vendors, the hummus guy and the bread guy, agreed.  This is one of the photos I took right before my Nikon’s battery drained completely.  After that, it was my new camera phone and I was lucky to have it.  (It is my first camera phone btw!)  If not, I wouldn’t have gotten any pics of Mission Tobacco Lounge.

07
Jun

Mission Tobacco Lounge: Riverside’s Best Kept Secret… but not for long

The Fox and I were on the prowl for just THEE right spot to spend a Saturday afternoon. You know the kind of place. The joint where you can get a “stiff ass” drink and a cool atmosphere. We stumbled into The Mission Tobacco Lounge and we could not have made a better choice.

You may have rolled through here back in the day when it was just smokes and cigars. Roll through today. The power of booze compels you. I promise you you will not be disappointed.

Bill, the owner slash proprietor, showed us an exclusive tour of the newly refurbished lounge, poured us THEE best dirtys and bloodys evah and promised the best cougar night in town. Ladies, Wednesday is YOUR night. $4 margaritas, martinis and daquiris.

The harried businessperson is NOT forgotten. Happy hour is Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 pm and includes $3.50 domestics and wells plus a complimentary buffet. Where are you going to get generously poured drinks and a free meal. Past chow has included nachos, tacos, burritos and rice and beans.

You want more? Well, friends, MTL happens to have full service massage services available right here. Know Knot’s Massage is located right on the premises of this faboo spot. Ask them about their deals when you imbibe at MTL. They also provide massages for a dollar a minute for us tired, overworked downtown business people in addition to a full array of services.

Okay, final joy: they have purse hooks underneath the bar. Can’t beat that with a stick.

I will post pix asap. Get your ass over here.

Update:

Here are some photos from the exclusive tour.  Not the best photography since my camera ran out of juice.  I took them with my BlackBerry Curve.  Enjoy!

Daily specials.  Something every day!

Tables facing stage.  Check out their site for entertainment schedule.

Private lockers.

Best Bloody Mary, especially if you love a kick!

Nice dirty martini.

Delicious turkey sandwich just the way YOU want it.  Much better in person.

04
May

Happy Cinco De Mayo

Today is Cinco De Mayo, a non-obligatory but extremely fun holiday for my people. I made homemade tacos and rice for dinner on Sunday as part of an early celebration and so that I could go out and celebrate Monday night also. Might as well enjoy a couple days worth of fun.

What’s going on?

If you want to make a healthy CDM meal, unlike mine which was abounding with fat and deliciousness, increase the vegetable content and try reduced fat cheese. Otherwise, try CDM recipes from the Food Network, especially that Michelada or Margarita recipe.

There were a couple of things on the weekend, a parade and celebration at Villegas Park and a car show and celebration in Corona. I hope everyone had a fun time at those events. There were just too many things going on this very weekend to enjoy them all.

Lake Alice is celebrating Cinco De Mayo with Superbad and drink specials. So is El Torito @ The Plaza and Park Sierra. X103.9 is celebrating Drinko De Mayo at Stingers in San Bernardino (get a DD for that one!) and 99.1 KGGI will be at RockNLounge in Redlands. If you know of anything else going on, leave a comment! Be safe and no drinking and driving!

04
May

Countdown to Cinco De Mayo

The Ville on Uni is celebrating early.  Check out their flyer.

29
Apr

Drunks: Avoid Highland Friday Night

Keep your drunk, dangerous asses at home Friday night, especially if you are near Highland.  There will be a DUI (pronounced DOO-EE) check point “somewhere in Highland” Friday night beginning at 6 pm until 2 am.  That’s for all tu co-workers who want to bebida tequila and celebrate Cinco De Mayo before leaving each other for the weekend.  Go straight home and do not pass El Torito.  No doubt there will be extra LEOs and DUI checkpoints all over the Empire.

29
Apr

Don’t Forget: Riverside’s Carolina Moon Burlesque @ Tiki Invasion

It’s going to be a busy Saturday.  There’s the car show, Tiki Invasion (where Carolina Moon is performing - DON’T MISS!!) and Russell Scott & His Red Hots @ Raxx.  There’s gonna be some tired kittens and cats Sunday.

25
Apr

Stuff To Do This Weekend: 4.25 - 4.27.08

Friday 4.25:

Coachella - Duh! Opening night. You know my feelings on this one. I didn’t want to go when it was first announced because I had been a couple of times and remembered how hot and crowded it was. But now, I’m remembering, with a tear in the eye, how fun it was and how great the music and vibe was. So yes, I’m regretful I’m not there this year. But to all of you who are there, have fun! And to those who aren’t - checkout the webcast via Kroq & AT&T.

Hobo Jazz at Back to the Grind; Trainwreck at Lake Alice, Mansion at Sevilla,

Saturday, 4.26:

Walking tour of Downtown Riverside - All you need to know is RMM, 2 PM and $5 (kids free).

Newer Topographics: Photographs of Digitally- Altered Urban Landscapes, Eri at the UCR/California Museum of Photography.

12
Apr

Got 99 Problems and Taxes Are One - Except at Killarney’s

Paying a bill in taxes? Don’t trip. Killarney’s is hooking you up on Tax Day (April 15 for all of you non tax paying, non jobbed up fools). Killarn’s will pay your taxes on whatever you order. Take them up on their offer. You know you need the cash. There’s no shame.

12
Apr

Drunks: Mo Valley is Not THE Place To Be Drunk

Once again Moreno Valley is NOT the place to be driving drunk. 65 cars were impounded Friday night at the intersection of Perris and Santiago. If you are an Inland Empire drunk, stay the f*** home over the weekend lest you be caught up in the hot mess of a checkpoint.

Saturday I spent all weekend with The Fox, shopping and hanging and spending the day alternating taking our minds off of or celebrating THEE SILVER FOX (RIP and more to follow). We were either Wii’ing at my house with Mr. College PC himself, shopping or hanging out with Lenny & Julie, golfing, drinking, chowing at Killarney’s and just plain f**king off. Didn’t take my camera with me so here’s what the Fox captured for me.

06
Apr

Meetups near Riverside, CA - Meetup.com

Want to meet and do stuff? Check out an extensive list of Meetups near Riverside.

29
Mar

Stuff To Do This Weekend: 3.28 - 3.30

Friday, March 28th:

Happy birthday, Scott.

Lawrence of America at Back To The Grind.

Saturday, March 29th:

Fly down to the 16th Annual Riverside Air Show, at the Riverside Airport. Military aircraft and vehicles, classic cars, carnival food.. no doubt some funnel cake in the mix.

Twigface at Lake Alice. Club Scandal at Pepitos. Club X-statica at Incahoots. Flawless at VIP.

Icognegro: New Works by Steven Greenfield at Sweeney Art Gallery at UCR. Today is the last day to catch it.

Sunday, March 30th:

Sundays with the Johnsons at The Coffee Depot on Mission Inn Ave.

Trans-personae: Robbie Miller, Nadia Oslen and Bob Debris at UCR/California Museum of Photography

Prickly Palace Open Gardens and Plant Sale in Riverside. Learn about drought tolerant landscaping and pick up some of the 600+ plants.

20
Mar

Stuff To Do This Weekend: 3.21 - 3.23

Yesterday was the Vernal Equinox and doesn’t it effin’ feel like Spring?? If I weren’t in love already, I’d fall in love today just because it was so beautiful.

Friday, March 21:

Moonlight Hike in the foothills.  It’s perfect weather for this.  I would love to go *hint hint*.  The meet up is in Claremont but definitely check out the Sierra Club’s site for what to bring and wear and the details.

 

Saturday, March 22:Paid Dues Festival at the Nos Events Center. Like independent and underground hip hop? This is for you, son! Thanks Scoop Brenenstuhl for the tip.

Lily Tomlin performing at the Riverside Municipal Auditorium, to benefit the Inland AIDS Project.

Riverside author Ruth Strother will be signing (and reading) her book “W is for Woof: A Dog Alphabet” at the Redlands Barnes & Noble.

Lunafest is a national traveling festival of short films by, for and about women. One of its last stops is here in Riverside, at the YWCA on Magnolia. Each ticket sold will raise money for breast cancer research. It looks pretty good. Check it out with a woman you love.

Wondering where you can still take pix with the Easter Bunny? Inland Center Mall, hang a left at the Teacup Cottage. Saturday is your last day! It’s also the day every park who is any park has some kind of egg hunt, bunny friend, candy giveaway, or Easter related activity. Too many to list here.

Sunday, March 23:

It’s Easter! I think the best place to be in Riverside is going to be at Mt. Rubidoux. Where is everyone spending their Easter?

19
Mar

Don’t Steal From Del Taco!

This guy got arrested for scamming a Del Taco in Rialto, filming it and putting it on You Tube.  The charge originally for stealing $15 worth of food was for felony commercial burglary but was reduced to a misdemeanor.

17
Mar

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

Hands down, the place to be in Riverside is Killarney’s at the Plaza.  Everyone that I know celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, except for Jessi and Erick who are at an Irish pub in Fullerton, is at Killarney’s.  Bag pipers, dancers, drink specials, beer garden… What more can you ask for?   It’s not too late!

drinkspage.jpg

14
Mar

St. Patrick’s Day Update: Back To The Grind

Private party at Back To The Grind this Saturday night.

13
Mar

Stuff To Do: St. Patrick’s Day in Riverside

Green beer, anyone? Everyone is Irish on Monday, so put on your green and let’s hang out and drink! Some of us are more Irish than others, especially my favorite red head Jen. This is for you, Miss Firecrotch.

The Falc (The Royal Falconer) is having an Irish breakfast from 8 am to 11 am. Mmm eggs, bangers and beer. It’s 5′oclock somewhere, maybe even in Ireland.

After you’re sated from The Falc, digest, work up another appetite and head over to Killarney’s for their St. Patrick’s Day Bash. Bag pipers and a parking lot beer garden!

What else is going on for the holiday???




 

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