Exhibit of Route 66 photography by Michael Graves captures sites from Needles to Santa Monica, with an emphasis on San Bernardino County. "I've always liked the mystique of Route 66," he tells me. Show is up through Aug 1 in Claremont. (gift link) www.dailybulletin.com/2026/07/16/r...

1959 Ganesha Park bandshell in Pomona is red-tagged as a safety hazard. For the summer, the Pomona Concert Band has moved indoors (!) to the Palomares Park Community Center. Repairs to the bandshell won't be quick or cheap, City Hall says. Uh-oh. (gift link) www.dailybulletin.com/2026/07/14/1...

Coming Sept 1! "Such Great Heights: 2011 to 2015" collects 75 of my best columns from those five years. Events to come starting this fall! www.pelekinesis.com/catalog/davi...

Volunteers with Friends of the Mission Inn funded a $10,000 repair of a 17th century marble artwork, continuing the volunteer group's role to protect the hotel's art and artifacts. Recent removal by the former Inn owner of two paintings was concerning. www.pressenterprise.com/2026/07/12/f...

The Inland Empire gained population in 2025 even as California overall (and LA and OC) lost residents. I look at the state Dept of Finance estimates for population and pull out intriguing -- as well as puzzling or comical! -- stats. www.dailybulletin.com/2026/07/09/i...

I check MLB ballpark No. 19 off my list by seeing a game in Atlanta. In a bonus, my team, the Cardinals, won. While in ATL, I visited MLK sites, walked the Beltline on July 4 and dealt with middling transit. www.dailybulletin.com/2026/07/07/v...

What I read in June: "Dune." Yes, "Dune" in June. Very cinematic. Someone really oughta make two movies out of it. Also, Raymond Chandler, Allen Ginsberg and a local history book about the San Bernardino Depot. www.insidesocal.com/davidallen/2...

For America250, exhibit salutes Riverside’s old-fashioned patriotism. “An All-American City” surveys presidential visits to Riverside and the city’s all-out response to the Bicentennial. It got me thinking about 1976 and 2026. www.pressenterprise.com/2026/06/28/f...

Inglewood, SoCal's World Cup venue, both is and isn't Los Angeles. I offer a geography and civics lesson about the vastness of LA. www.dailybulletin.com/2026/06/21/w...

Riverside city manager's resignation closes a tenure that degenerated into soap opera, comedy and threats of litigation. There's a lot to unpack. www.pressenterprise.com/2026/06/18/d...

Historian Matt Garcia finds that Padua Hills Theatre in Claremont and the “Ramona” pageant near Hemet have a shared story about Latino representation. Also, a Shake Shack fan/elected official and I share burgers, fries and frozen custard at a rival, Freddy’s. www.dailybulletin.com/2026/06/16/h...

1931 Zodiac ceiling at Bridges Auditorium to get $1 million in restoration. Also in this rare-all Claremont column, updates about the movie theater and Walter's, news about a former funeral home and a paean to the chocolate shop that closed after 50 years. www.dailybulletin.com/2026/06/14/z...

Meanwhile, attorney says the two paintings whose departure caused an outcry are "personal property" of former Mission Inn owner Kelly Roberts and were excluded from hotel's sale. I continue following the news that set Riverside's teeth grinding. www.pressenterprise.com/2026/06/11/s...

The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin’s page A3 today has four stories. Remarkably, three are about Pomona, including my column in the center. For one day, the Pomona Progress-Bulletin is back!!

Two aunts and family friend say Artemis II astronaut Victor Glover of Pomona was "brilliant" as a boy and has kept his feet on the ground despite his historic space flight. They accepted the Mayor's Award on his behalf at the Mayor's Gala. www.dailybulletin.com/2026/06/09/v...

Waiting for the inevitable (?) headline on the LA mayoral race shouting “PRATT FALL”…

Food stall in Redlands offering frozen custard, a rare treat in the IE, closed last week. I went in for one last cup. Also: a few thoughts on the election results, including a comeback in Pomona and an Uplander who got 260,000 votes. (gift link) www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/2026/06/07/f...

'We the People: Chicano Art in the USA" exhibit debuts at The Cheech in Riverside. Exhibit assembles a mosaic of Latino life via 126 artworks from 61 artists. Cheech Marin approves. www.pressenterprise.com/2026/06/04/w...

Although the president says "everything's by mail" in California, we know better. As an LA County resident, I cast my ballot Sunday afternoon at the Hall of Administration in downtown LA. There's nothing quite like voting in person. www.dailybulletin.com/2026/06/02/v...

Route 66 through San Bernardino County fuels media attention. The NY Times stayed at San Bernardino's Wigwam Motel and ate in Yermo. The LA Times slept in Barstow and ate at San Bernardino's Mitla Cafe. Also, more items from around the IE! www.dailybulletin.com/2026/05/28/r...

Friends gather at ONT Field for baseball, camaraderie and logo caps. A bunch of us took in a game recently at Ontario's new ballpark and came away impressed. (The ones who invested in caps came away $50 poorer.) www.dailybulletin.com/2026/05/26/f...

At the LA County Fair, man gets his kicks showing his Route 66 collection. John Atwater has space in Expo Hall 9 devoted to memorabilia from the eight states and to the route itself, including the '60s TV series. "Route 66 has it all," he says. www.dailybulletin.com/2026/05/24/l...

Art removal by owner of Riverside's Mission Inn is called 'vindictive.' Two massive paintings bought in the 1910s by hotel founder were taken away Wednesday, 8 days before the hotel sale closes. The famous Taft chair remains absent. www.pressenterprise.com/2026/05/21/a...

Pomona City Council confers protections on 1954 McDonald's building, the seventh in the chain and now the second-oldest survivor. “It has the potential to become something with the right owner and the right vision," one councilman says. www.dailybulletin.com/2026/05/19/1...

Two curators proposed a show on the Pomona fairgrounds this fall. They were asked if they'd want to put it on during the LA County Fair, under 3 months away. They gulped and said yes, and the result is "Play Pavilion." It's fun and worth seeing. www.dailybulletin.com/2026/05/17/l...

I’m a big fan of the Los Angeles County Fair’s #tablescaping competition. This year, one entry paid homage to two beloved #ChinatownLA restaurants: Hop Louie (1941-2016) and Grandview Gardens (1925–1991). #mahjong #LACountyFair

2nd-oldest McDonald's may get historic status in Pomona. The City Council may offer landmark protection to 1954 building that was 7th in the chain and predates Ray Kroc. Now a donut shop, it's still got many of the original design elements. (gift link) www.dailybulletin.com/2026/05/14/2...

Remembering the 85th birthday of musician Ritchie Valens (1941–1958) with this mural painted in his hometown of Pacoima (located here -> maps.app.goo.gl/cXaTyrsbryFg... ): Also, there will be a #RitchieValens tribute show at Grand Performances on Aug 22nd. www.grandperformances.org/events/ritch...

What I read in April: Laila Lalami's excellent The Other Americans (set in Yucca Valley), not one but two Riverside histories, and a 1901 post-apocalyptic novel. www.insidesocal.com/davidallen/2...

Film noir festival brings the heat for Palm Springs movie fans. Rare suspense films are seen by hundreds, including yours truly. I also note how PS has an indie theater and series of screwball comedies, widescreen classics and Marilyn films. (gift link) www.pressenterprise.com/2026/05/12/f...

A Line trains are creating buzz from Pomona westward. Riders discuss the pluses and minuses of the new Metro service (cheap, frequent, foothill cities, no bathrooms) in comparison to Metrolink (comfortable, straight shot downtown, bathrooms). www.dailybulletin.com/2026/05/10/a...

At Riverside City Council meeting, Mike Futrell is both welcomed back as city manager and compared to hapless George Costanza for taking a job in Pasadena and then deciding to stay in Riverside. www.pressenterprise.com/2026/05/07/r...

LA County Fair runs one day extra in 2026, a modest boost. Event is 17 days, the longest fair in four years. I say: Bring it on! Also: items from Ontario, San Bernardino and Riverside. www.dailybulletin.com/2026/05/05/l...

I got around by bus, train and walking for 24 days while my car was out of commission. How did I do it? Careful planning, Google Maps and a run of nice weather. I detail my transit odyssey in my latest column. (Gift link) www.dailybulletin.com/2026/05/03/3...

'Hacks' pushes anti-littering message in Cajon Pass on road to Las Vegas. Billboard urges motorists to "keep the Deborah Vance Highway beautiful." Ha! Also: items about Rancho Cucamonga, the A Line, Woolworth... and the repair of my car! www.dailybulletin.com/2026/04/28/h...

I look at the first 5 months of ridership numbers for the Metro A Line extension. They're low but trending upward. More than half the riders are boarding in Pomona. With multiple trains every hour, this is a great amenity for the region. www.dailybulletin.com/2026/04/26/a...

LACMA's curvy new home is the massive, art-filled Geffen Galleries. The $724 million new home for museum's permanent collection opens May 4, but it's now open to members. I'm one, and after visiting on the first day, I like it, mostly. www.dailybulletin.com/2026/04/23/l...

Restoring 1928 theater organ was no pipe dream for San Bernardino. After 5,000-hour overhaul, rare Wurlitzer (only one of its kind still playable) is back in full working order at the California Theatre. "You're so lucky to have this in San Bernardino," says restorer. www.sbsun.com/2026/04/21/r...

After 1.2-mile walk to coffeehouse, I mention to barista that I’m getting around by bus and on foot. Customer, interjecting: You’re old enough I’ll bet for that service where you get free rides from your door. Me: … Me: Thanks a lot!

Back to the Grind celebrates 30 years of coffee, community and culture in Riverside. Spacious coffee shop that opened April 20, 1996 in the then-sleepy downtown is now a beloved staple. As a regular, I pay tribute to one of my favorite hangouts. www.pressenterprise.com/2026/04/16/b...

Woolworth name calls up memories of lunches with mom, ice cream treats. Readers share stories of childhood visits to the onetime 20th century staple. Also: they reflect on age 62 and aging. www.dailybulletin.com/2026/04/14/w...

In Moreno Valley City Council debate over a youth boxing academy, the gloves came off. I write about an unusually sharp council meeting -- while dropping as many boxing puns as I can! www.pressenterprise.com/2026/04/12/i...

A fare deal for seniors: transit rides are as low as 35 cents. (But mostly 75 cents.) Senior discount generally starts at age 62. I got a senior TAP card last weekend for Metro and @foothilltransit.bsky.social and am putting it to use. www.dailybulletin.com/2026/04/09/a...

Pomona to study new park uses for dormant Palm Lake Golf Course. $500k grant will go toward public engagement and planning for site, whose deed requires recreational use. www.dailybulletin.com/2026/04/07/p...

Woolworth's brought variety to Inland Empire downtowns. Riverside, Redlands, San Bernardino, Ontario and Pomona all had Woolworth stores, major in their day but now nearly forgotten. I sketch their histories. www.dailybulletin.com/2026/04/05/w...

On her way to winning the Ward 7 City Council seat, Treasure Ortiz told San Bernardino voters in 2024 that she'd never been arrested. Records unveiled Wednesday say otherwise. Ortiz was censured that night by the City Council for unethical conduct. www.sbsun.com/2026/04/02/s...

This 'Bill and Ted' site isn't really in San Dimas but in Tempe, Arizona. Former Circle K there stood in for movie version of San Dimas. Also from my road trip, I ate twice in Blythe -- once at a Japanese restaurant! (gift link) www.dailybulletin.com/2026/03/31/t...

What I read in March: a dystopian novel about a world in which women's choice to bear children or not is taken away, an outstanding LA history, a novel set in 1950s Rialto and an anthology on Chinese Am history in LA. www.insidesocal.com/davidallen/2...

Jack Garlinghouse of Cole's P.E. Buffet may have invented the French dip sandwich. His great-grandson, Tim Peron of Pomona, shares a photo and some family history. Cole's closes today (March 29) after 118 years. www.dailybulletin.com/2026/03/29/m...

Westways magazine finds few kicks on Route 66 in Inland Empire. Tour of the eight-state route has nothing between Amboy and Santa Monica. Also: IE-related items about Bob Dylan, John Oliver and the New Yorker. www.dailybulletin.com/2026/03/26/w...