Daytripping to Riverside’s Mission Inn

The Mission Inn

It’s not often that the Franklin Avenue crew makes it to the Inland Empire — er, the 909. But our pals Denise and Geoff were finally making things legal, so it was off to San Bernardino county on Saturday.

The couple — who met at Variety, by the way (it’s a Hollywood trade paper romance!) — got hitched at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church (across the street from Boys Republic) in Chino Hills, then held the reception at Riverside’s famous Mission Inn.

We’ve always wanted to check out the Mission Inn, particularly during the holidays, but never had the urge to drive all the way to Riverside. Turns out it’s not that bad a haul, as long as you take the 210 east. And Riverside’s downtown is a pleasant surprise, although we didn’t get much of an opportunity to explore it (we’ll be back). It’s nice to see the historic Fox Theatre being restored, and quite a selection of shops and restaurants surrounding Mission Inn.

But clearly, Mission Inn is the heart of Riverside’s downtown. And rightfully so. It’s such a fascinating oddity, with nooks and crannies on the inside and outside that command exploration.

According to Wikipedia (which is always right, right?!), Mission Inn began as the two-story, 12-room adobe boarding house “Glenwood Cottage” in 1876, pre-Riverside. Christopher Columbis Miller began the project; his son Frank continued building onto it until he died in 1935.

Says Wikipedia:

Miller built in reinforced concrete and developed an accomplished, expressive vernacular style drawn from random historical styles. Accumulating one section over another, addition upon addition, the result is an enormously complicated and intricate built environment, comparable to.. a self-contained medieval European city.

Funny, that’s exactly what Maria remarked when we bumped into the St. Francis chapel, as seen below.

St. Francis chapel, on the second floor.

More from Wikipedia:

The Mission contains narrow passageways like a Tuscan village, exterior arcades, a prominent medieval-style clock overlooking the Spanish patio, a deep but sun-drenched five-story rotunda, innumerable patios and windows, towers, minarets, a Cloister Wing (with Catacombs), a high pedestrian bridge, and a five-story spiral staircase, among many other features. The 1914 Spanish Wing in itself contains a castle courtyard, open arcades, Mexican tiled roofs, flying buttresses and Mediterranean domes.

Some pics from our Saturday visit:

Inside the Mission Inn lobby

Mission Inn’s courtyard

Random flourishes are everywhere.

Outside archways

Image of the Mission Inn, painted on an enlarged apple orange.

Riverside!

Meanwhile, 2008 is shaping up to be our year of the Daytrip. Check out our other recent excursions here.

Daytripping to Riverside’s Mission Inn

The Mission Inn

It’s not often that the Franklin Avenue crew makes it to the Inland Empire — er, the 909. But our pals Denise and Geoff were finally making things legal, so it was off to San Bernardino county on Saturday.

The couple — who met at Variety, by the way (it’s a Hollywood trade paper romance!) — got hitched at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church (across the street from Boys Republic) in Chino Hills, then held the reception at Riverside’s famous Mission Inn.

We’ve always wanted to check out the Mission Inn, particularly during the holidays, but never had the urge to drive all the way to Riverside. Turns out it’s not that bad a haul, as long as you take the 210 east. And Riverside’s downtown is a pleasant surprise, although we didn’t get much of an opportunity to explore it (we’ll be back). It’s nice to see the historic Fox Theatre being restored, and quite a selection of shops and restaurants surrounding Mission Inn.

But clearly, Mission Inn is the heart of Riverside’s downtown. And rightfully so. It’s such a fascinating oddity, with nooks and crannies on the inside and outside that command exploration.

According to Wikipedia (which is always right, right?!), Mission Inn began as the two-story, 12-room adobe boarding house “Glenwood Cottage” in 1876, pre-Riverside. Christopher Columbis Miller began the project; his son Frank continued building onto it until he died in 1935.

Says Wikipedia:

Miller built in reinforced concrete and developed an accomplished, expressive vernacular style drawn from random historical styles. Accumulating one section over another, addition upon addition, the result is an enormously complicated and intricate built environment, comparable to.. a self-contained medieval European city.

Funny, that’s exactly what Maria remarked when we bumped into the St. Francis chapel, as seen below.

St. Francis chapel, on the second floor.

More from Wikipedia:

The Mission contains narrow passageways like a Tuscan village, exterior arcades, a prominent medieval-style clock overlooking the Spanish patio, a deep but sun-drenched five-story rotunda, innumerable patios and windows, towers, minarets, a Cloister Wing (with Catacombs), a high pedestrian bridge, and a five-story spiral staircase, among many other features. The 1914 Spanish Wing in itself contains a castle courtyard, open arcades, Mexican tiled roofs, flying buttresses and Mediterranean domes.

Some pics from our Saturday visit:

Inside the Mission Inn lobby

Mission Inn’s courtyard

Random flourishes are everywhere.

Outside archways

Image of the Mission Inn, painted on an enlarged apple orange.

Riverside!

Meanwhile, 2008 is shaping up to be our year of the Daytrip. Check out our other recent excursions here.

Last Call for Snow

It may be 80 degrees down in the Valley, but up above in the Angeles National Forest, there’s still snow… for now. Given these temps, I can’t imagine it will be around much longer.

That’s why you oughta drive up there in the next few days. If you want to get in some sledding or a good snowball fight, act now, before winter is officially history.

We got quite a bit of reaction from our last visit up into the mountains a few weeks ago. When I tell people of how we “drove up to the snow,” and suggest they do the same, everyone assumes we were talking about Big Bear.

Too far, and too much traffic, they said.

Exactly. That’s why you should be heading up the Angeles Crest Highway — also known as the 2 — instead. From our home in Glendale to the snow, it’s about a 45 minute drive. That’s it.

On Saturday, we recruited a few family members — including two of Evan’s cousins — to once again hit the snow. After lunch at Newcomb’s Ranch (the only restaurant up there; review to come), we still found huge hillsides full of snow.

A lot of snow has definitely disappeared since our last visit; but seeing how it was several feet in places back then, there’s still plenty to go around.

This time, we came prepared: Container tops that doubled as sleds. Ski pants. Gloves. It may be 60 degrees up there, but the snow itself is still cold.

A few tips, if you’re gonna head up there in the next few days:

– It’s warm up there right now, so light jackets are fine. Perhaps ski pants and gloves, since you’ll still be playing in the snow. Bring snow toys, such as a sled. And your camera, to send shots of you frolicking in the snow under 70 degree temps for your unbelieving friends and family.

– Fill the tank and bring a few snacks. You’re driving into the forest, and there are no gas stations or stores, save the Newcomb’s Ranch restaurant.

– From L.A., take the 2 freeway north to the 210 east. Get off on the first exit, the one that reads “Angeles Crest Highway.” Take a left on to the Angeles Crest — and that’s it. You’ll be driving straight up into the mountains. Once you pass La Canada Flintridge into the mountains, it’s a curvy drive the entire way.

– Purchase a $5 parking pass at the ranger station you encounter about 20 minutes in; this is at the one fork in the road, where you have an option to drive to Palmdale. (Don’t drive to Palmdale.) The pass allows you to park anywhere in the Angeles National Forest. Also, for peace of mind, ask the ranger if there’s snow up above.

– Keep driving, even as you start to see snow on the ground. For the ultimate experience, you want to drive above 7,000 feet, where the snow (at this moment, at least) remains plentiful. How will you know you’ve made it? Once you pass the Mt. Waterman ski resort, which is still bustling with snow play. At that point, keep your eyes peeled for relatively flat breaks in the hills, and parking on the side of the road. Yes, this is D.I.Y. snow play.

– Marvel at how you left your house at noon, drove up to the mountain and spent an hour in the snow, and were still back home by 3.

Catching Crabs in Oxnard

We’ve been on a quickie road trip kick lately; you may remember our jaunt up to the Angeles National Forest to see the snow a few weeks back. That same weekend, we hit Oxnard.

Oxnard? As in, Ventura County, but not Ventura? Yes — and for one reason: Seafood.

Oxnard’s Fisherman’s Wharf (located at Channel Islands Harbor) is pretty much a sad shell of what I assume it once was; with redevelopment on the way, for now it’s mostly empty storefronts. But I kinda like it that way. The experience is almost that of heading to an old, run-down town in New England. Crowds are sparse, the buildings are closed, yet yes, it’s still alive with boats (we watched a Coast Guard vessel come ashore for lunch). The architecture is also very Cape Cod.

We came for lunch. While most of the wharf is empty, the Channel Islands Seafood Market is still open, and still packs a crowd. It was there where we met up with the extended family to celebrate the birthday of Maria’s brother Jeremy. Crab, fish, etc., all there and prepared to your specifications.

A few more pics:

Having been fed around the wharf for years, the birds here are aggressive. Our nephew walked a way from his plate for just a minute — but that was enough time for a pack of birds to swoop in and devour his slice of birthday pie.

Stay Classy, Oxnard!

Boats, kayaks, etc. rented here.

What will come of the Fisherman Wharf’s fake lighthouse, among other things, once redevelopment finally gets underway?

As the Ventura County Star has been covering, Oxnard has approved an almost complete teardown of its Fisherman’s Wharf, to be replaced by a new multi-use development.

The new development promises as much as 200,000 square feet of shops and restaurants and nearly 800 apartments. But it’s not without controversy:

Ventura County, which owns Channel Islands Harbor, spent years searching for someone to take on redevelopment of the crumbling Fisherman’s Wharf center. In June, the county awarded (developer Edward) Czuker a five-year lease, with an option for 65 more years, if he spends at least $20 million on improvements.

That lengthy deal has concerned some. Meanwhile, Czukerhas come up with a Mediterranean-themed set of three buildings that will house stores and restaurants on the first floor, with two to four floors of apartments.

A new Fisherman’s Wharf is still years away; plans aren’t expected to be approved by the California Coastal Commission until late 2009 or early 2010, the paper said.

That means you still have time to take in the solitude of the current Fisherman’s Wharf, before it turns into another dime-a-dozen mixed use property on the water. (Take the 101 north.)

Catching Crabs in Oxnard

We’ve been on a quickie road trip kick lately; you may remember our jaunt up to the Angeles National Forest to see the snow a few weeks back. That same weekend, we hit Oxnard.

Oxnard? As in, Ventura County, but not Ventura? Yes — and for one reason: Seafood.

Oxnard’s Fisherman’s Wharf (located at Channel Islands Harbor) is pretty much a sad shell of what I assume it once was; with redevelopment on the way, for now it’s mostly empty storefronts. But I kinda like it that way. The experience is almost that of heading to an old, run-down town in New England. Crowds are sparse, the buildings are closed, yet yes, it’s still alive with boats (we watched a Coast Guard vessel come ashore for lunch). The architecture is also very Cape Cod.

We came for lunch. While most of the wharf is empty, the Channel Islands Seafood Market is still open, and still packs a crowd. It was there where we met up with the extended family to celebrate the birthday of Maria’s brother Jeremy. Crab, fish, etc., all there and prepared to your specifications.

A few more pics:

Having been fed around the wharf for years, the birds here are aggressive. Our nephew walked a way from his plate for just a minute — but that was enough time for a pack of birds to swoop in and devour his slice of birthday pie.

Stay Classy, Oxnard!

Boats, kayaks, etc. rented here.

What will come of the Fisherman Wharf’s fake lighthouse, among other things, once redevelopment finally gets underway?

As the Ventura County Star has been covering, Oxnard has approved an almost complete teardown of its Fisherman’s Wharf, to be replaced by a new multi-use development.

The new development promises as much as 200,000 square feet of shops and restaurants and nearly 800 apartments. But it’s not without controversy:

Ventura County, which owns Channel Islands Harbor, spent years searching for someone to take on redevelopment of the crumbling Fisherman’s Wharf center. In June, the county awarded (developer Edward) Czuker a five-year lease, with an option for 65 more years, if he spends at least $20 million on improvements.

That lengthy deal has concerned some. Meanwhile, Czukerhas come up with a Mediterranean-themed set of three buildings that will house stores and restaurants on the first floor, with two to four floors of apartments.

A new Fisherman’s Wharf is still years away; plans aren’t expected to be approved by the California Coastal Commission until late 2009 or early 2010, the paper said.

That means you still have time to take in the solitude of the current Fisherman’s Wharf, before it turns into another dime-a-dozen mixed use property on the water. (Take the 101 north.)

To The Snow and Back In Three Hours Or Less

Somewhere inside the Angeles National Forest

Here’s another reason why I love Los Angeles: On a lark, we decided this morning that we wanted to play in the snow. (Er, that Blogger Toddler wanted to play in the snow.) Just 45 minutes after leaving our house, we were doing just that.

It’s one of those weird, wonderful things that makes living here so great. In the total time span of just over three hours, we had a snow-filled road trip that actually felt light years away from the metropolis on the other side of those mountains. It takes longer to get to Disneyland than it does the snow. Hell, it takes longer to get to Brentwood. And, strangely enough, it would have taken just as long to get to the beach.

Angeles National Forest info -- here's where you buy the $5 usage pass

Our field trip was inspired by Sunday’s Los Angeles Times. The paper covered the reopening of the small Mt. Waterman ski resort this weekend, and the allure of snow so close by was too great to pass up.

So we headed up the Angeles Crest Highway (the 2), north of La Canada Flintridge, as the road turns twisty and the views turn breathtaking. The city is quickly left behind, as you make your way up into the Angeles National Forest.

About half an hour in, when the highway forks (stay on the 2; the other prong heads to Palmdale), you hit the information building at Clear Creek. Hand over your $5 for an “Adventure Pass,” which allows you to park in the National Forest.

Angeles Crest Highway

As we made our way up in elevation, patches of dirty snow started to appear. Blogger Toddler couldn’t contain his excitement. “STOP. NOW.” We tried to explain to him how the snow would get even better higher up, but that kind of reasoning is lost on a toddler who sees snow and doesn’t understand why we wouldn’t stop immediately to play with it.

The snow started getting impressive at around 6,000 feet. The ranger at the information building noted that much of the Angeles Crest had been closed until recently because of the massive snows.

Mt. Waterman

We finally passed by the Mt. Waterman ski area (above; even smaller than I expected, but we didn’t obviously go to the top), and about a mile down the road found a parking spot near a nice patch of snow.

Evan provides the snowman with some assistance

The snow was mostly the consistency of a snocone. Perfect for building snowmen — we saw several alongside the highway. Also perfect for snow ball fights, though just icy enough that such a battle could turn dangerous quickly.

It was at least 60 degrees out, with the sun shining strong — leading to the bizarre juxstaposition of freezing cold snow and ice on our hands and feet, yet a warm sun causing us to sweat with our jackets on.

Taking advantage of flat ground

But even with the sun, I wouldn’t worry about losing the snow just yet: As we can attest, the snow in the area is nearly a foot deep. (Notice the Stop sign in the photo above — yes, that’s snow piled all the way up to the actual sign!) According to the LAT story, the Mt. Waterman resort faces north, which means less direct sunlight.

Evan and Maria in the snow

So our trip was impromptu enough that beyond bringing gloves and a hat for Evan, we came ill-prepared. So gloves for Maria and me. No sled-like contraption to glide down the hills (we improvised with a flat vinyl organizer — the kind with a pocket that you put under a car seat, to store baby stuff). And no change of clothes to remove the inevitably soaking wet pants, socks and shoes you’re wearing.

But whatever. That’s the fun of impromptu quickie road trips.

Other than a pair of hikers who passed by us at one point, we were the only people in the particular stretch of hill and valley where we enjoyed the snow. Talk about a nice contrast to those busy snow resorts up around Big Bear (and elsewhere). Not only is the stretch of snow-covered Angeles Crest close by, but it’s not a crazy scene.

I was kinda worried that the LA Times article might trigger a rush of people up into the mountains (like us), but it wasn’t the case. It was a holiday, for Pete’s sake, and yet Angeles Crest was empty for most of our drive — there was never a problem with the two-lane highway in terms of traffic.

Not a bad view for miles

I was a tad disappointed that, because Blogger Toddler fell asleep on the drive back, we decided to take a pass on Newcomb’s Ranch — the only restaurant on Angeles Crest (below). We’ll hit it next time. (Seriously, we’re already plotting a return trip next weekend — gotta get more snow time in before winter’s over.)

Newcomb's Ranch

There you go — if you’ve ever wondered if that old L.A. cliche, “Ski in the morning, surf in the afternoon,” could actually work, here’s proof. We ultimately spent about three hours from the time we left our house to the time we got back — leaving us plenty of time to do other things. Like surf, if I knew how.

To The Snow and Back In Three Hours Or Less

Somewhere inside the Angeles National Forest

Here’s another reason why I love Los Angeles: On a lark, we decided this morning that we wanted to play in the snow. (Er, that Blogger Toddler wanted to play in the snow.) Just 45 minutes after leaving our house, we were doing just that.

It’s one of those weird, wonderful things that makes living here so great. In the total time span of just over three hours, we had a snow-filled road trip that actually felt light years away from the metropolis on the other side of those mountains. It takes longer to get to Disneyland than it does the snow. Hell, it takes longer to get to Brentwood. And, strangely enough, it would have taken just as long to get to the beach.

Angeles National Forest info -- here's where you buy the $5 usage pass

Our field trip was inspired by Sunday’s Los Angeles Times. The paper covered the reopening of the small Mt. Waterman ski resort this weekend, and the allure of snow so close by was too great to pass up.

So we headed up the Angeles Crest Highway (the 2), north of La Canada Flintridge, as the road turns twisty and the views turn breathtaking. The city is quickly left behind, as you make your way up into the Angeles National Forest.

About half an hour in, when the highway forks (stay on the 2; the other prong heads to Palmdale), you hit the information building at Clear Creek. Hand over your $5 for an “Adventure Pass,” which allows you to park in the National Forest.

Angeles Crest Highway

As we made our way up in elevation, patches of dirty snow started to appear. Blogger Toddler couldn’t contain his excitement. “STOP. NOW.” We tried to explain to him how the snow would get even better higher up, but that kind of reasoning is lost on a toddler who sees snow and doesn’t understand why we wouldn’t stop immediately to play with it.

The snow started getting impressive at around 6,000 feet. The ranger at the information building noted that much of the Angeles Crest had been closed until recently because of the massive snows.

Mt. Waterman

We finally passed by the Mt. Waterman ski area (above; even smaller than I expected, but we didn’t obviously go to the top), and about a mile down the road found a parking spot near a nice patch of snow.

Evan provides the snowman with some assistance

The snow was mostly the consistency of a snocone. Perfect for building snowmen — we saw several alongside the highway. Also perfect for snow ball fights, though just icy enough that such a battle could turn dangerous quickly.

It was at least 60 degrees out, with the sun shining strong — leading to the bizarre juxstaposition of freezing cold snow and ice on our hands and feet, yet a warm sun causing us to sweat with our jackets on.

Taking advantage of flat ground

But even with the sun, I wouldn’t worry about losing the snow just yet: As we can attest, the snow in the area is nearly a foot deep. (Notice the Stop sign in the photo above — yes, that’s snow piled all the way up to the actual sign!) According to the LAT story, the Mt. Waterman resort faces north, which means less direct sunlight.

Evan and Maria in the snow

So our trip was impromptu enough that beyond bringing gloves and a hat for Evan, we came ill-prepared. So gloves for Maria and me. No sled-like contraption to glide down the hills (we improvised with a flat vinyl organizer — the kind with a pocket that you put under a car seat, to store baby stuff). And no change of clothes to remove the inevitably soaking wet pants, socks and shoes you’re wearing.

But whatever. That’s the fun of impromptu quickie road trips.

Other than a pair of hikers who passed by us at one point, we were the only people in the particular stretch of hill and valley where we enjoyed the snow. Talk about a nice contrast to those busy snow resorts up around Big Bear (and elsewhere). Not only is the stretch of snow-covered Angeles Crest close by, but it’s not a crazy scene.

I was kinda worried that the LA Times article might trigger a rush of people up into the mountains (like us), but it wasn’t the case. It was a holiday, for Pete’s sake, and yet Angeles Crest was empty for most of our drive — there was never a problem with the two-lane highway in terms of traffic.

Not a bad view for miles

I was a tad disappointed that, because Blogger Toddler fell asleep on the drive back, we decided to take a pass on Newcomb’s Ranch — the only restaurant on Angeles Crest (below). We’ll hit it next time. (Seriously, we’re already plotting a return trip next weekend — gotta get more snow time in before winter’s over.)

Newcomb's Ranch

There you go — if you’ve ever wondered if that old L.A. cliche, “Ski in the morning, surf in the afternoon,” could actually work, here’s proof. We ultimately spent about three hours from the time we left our house to the time we got back — leaving us plenty of time to do other things. Like surf, if I knew how.

Commerce in the City of Commerce: Visting The Citadel

We probably make one trip a year to the Citadel outlet shopping center in Commerce (right off the 5), usually around the holiday season… and this Saturday, we decided it was time to make that annual journey.

The Citadel seems to have recovered nicely after losing some of its shine at the end of the 1990s. It’s still not nearly as big as other regional factory outlet malls, such as the ones in Camarillo and Cabazon. But it’s obviously a helluva lot closer, and since remodeling, has added quite a few more well-known stores (many more with a designer bent too). I remember visiting once in the late 1990s when the choices were rather barren; the Citadel now boasts most of your standard factory outlet fare: Banana Republic, Eddie Bauer, Old Navy, Tommy Hilfiger, Levi’s, etc.

The other reason to visit: Seeing the unusual, Assyrian palace-inspired architecture up close. Built in 1929 as the Uniroyal Tire plant, the site boasts a 1,700-foot-long wall that features statues of kings and griffins. After the plant shut down in 1978, the site sat empty for a decade. Trammell Crow Co. and Copley Real Estate Advisors eventually spent $118 million to turn the site into an outlet mall… but after things soured in the late 1990s, the City of Commerce took control of the Citadel in 1998. The city sold the outlet mall to Craig Realty Group, which also owns the Cabazon and Carlsbad outlets (and helped launch the Camarillo one) in 2002.

We managed to score a decent parking space (not an easy feat this time of year) and do a fair amount of Christmas shopping. Some sights:

This shoe store had a long line out the door all day long. The sign out front said “all shoes $10.” I guess that’s a draw for some, but really, how good could those shoes be?

Good luck to KB Toys, as it works hard to reestablish traditional gender household roles.

Yes, this is L.A.: Palm tree meets Christmas tree.

At the Citadel, the live, cheesy rock instrumentals are free.

Commerce in the City of Commerce: Visting The Citadel

We probably make one trip a year to the Citadel outlet shopping center in Commerce (right off the 5), usually around the holiday season… and this Saturday, we decided it was time to make that annual journey.

The Citadel seems to have recovered nicely after losing some of its shine at the end of the 1990s. It’s still not nearly as big as other regional factory outlet malls, such as the ones in Camarillo and Cabazon. But it’s obviously a helluva lot closer, and since remodeling, has added quite a few more well-known stores (many more with a designer bent too). I remember visiting once in the late 1990s when the choices were rather barren; the Citadel now boasts most of your standard factory outlet fare: Banana Republic, Eddie Bauer, Old Navy, Tommy Hilfiger, Levi’s, etc.

The other reason to visit: Seeing the unusual, Assyrian palace-inspired architecture up close. Built in 1929 as the Uniroyal Tire plant, the site boasts a 1,700-foot-long wall that features statues of kings and griffins. After the plant shut down in 1978, the site sat empty for a decade. Trammell Crow Co. and Copley Real Estate Advisors eventually spent $118 million to turn the site into an outlet mall… but after things soured in the late 1990s, the City of Commerce took control of the Citadel in 1998. The city sold the outlet mall to Craig Realty Group, which also owns the Cabazon and Carlsbad outlets (and helped launch the Camarillo one) in 2002.

We managed to score a decent parking space (not an easy feat this time of year) and do a fair amount of Christmas shopping. Some sights:

This shoe store had a long line out the door all day long. The sign out front said “all shoes $10.” I guess that’s a draw for some, but really, how good could those shoes be?

Good luck to KB Toys, as it works hard to reestablish traditional gender household roles.

Yes, this is L.A.: Palm tree meets Christmas tree.

At the Citadel, the live, cheesy rock instrumentals are free.