Neighbor of the Week: Michael J. Elderman
Michael’s career in Riverside showed him early on that the city values history, culture, and preservation, something his hometown of Atlantic City, NJ, lacked. He quickly became involved in documenting historic buildings such as the Courthouse, Mission Inn, California Museum of Photography, Culver Center, Muni Auditorium, and, of course, the Fox Theater, which was the subject of his 2010 book on its restoration. Michael has donated a significant amount of photography to institutions like the Fox, Evergreen Cemetery, and arts organizations including IECF, Riverside Arts Council, Division 9, and RCAA Galleries downtown. He is proud to have created a comprehensive archive of Riverside’s culture, architecture, art, events, and the personalities behind them.
What does Riverside mean to you? We all know that Riverside is a big city now of 330,00 people. But it is the biggest small town I have ever known. People here know one another, respect one another, and help one another without any considerations of race, religion, or gender. We are a city proud of its history and culture, and that makes it so much easier for all of us to live and work together without the negative influences that might intervene. When I came here, some streets that are now major boulevards were two-lane roads, and some of them dirt roads at that. We have grown, become more sophisticated, and become more conscious of where more than a century as a city has led us. I am grateful for all of that and more, including the fact that I met my wife Kathryn at UCR almost 50 years ago when she was a student and I was employed there. That’s Riverside’s greatest gift to me.
What is your Mt. Rubidoux summit count (estimated)? Like Tom Donahue last week, I have only climbed the mountain perhaps 50 times. And now that I recently had knee replacement surgery, I yearn to try it again. That will happen soon.
What is your favorite restaurant outside of Downtown or Magnolia Center? Two very different restaurants come to mind. One is Zacatecas, where I have been eating just about since they opened 60 years ago (I’m a few years short, having only gotten to Riverside 58 years ago). Zacs, as we call it, became a part of Riverside’s culture and history almost immediately, and that continues to this day. The other is Ancho’s, on Hole Avenue. We have been going there since the mid-1980s, and it never disappoints. Recently, we have also begun to visit Bushfire Grill regularly.
What is the most beautiful building in Riverside? The historic Courthouse downtown is a beautiful and traditional architectural creation. There are so many different ways to photograph it, just by turning a few inches left or right, or by visiting it in the day or night. I also very much appreciate the Peter Weber House, and recommend that everyone take the opportunity of go there and see astonishing craftsmanship at work.
What is your favorite Riverside small business? Back to the Grind has been a part of my life in Riverside since it opened about 20-some years ago. Darren Cronkerite, a major figure in downtown Riverside, has struggled through the infancy of his coffee house and even through the tight times of the COVID pandemic. He has made a store that welcomes everyone and judges no one.
What is your favorite Riverside non-profit organization? I photograph for many of our local nonprofits, so I’m not going to express a favorite, but rather just stay politically correct and, as my Mom used to say, “Hush your mouth.”
The Festival of Lights: Every year on opening night or maybe on a Tuesday? I always photograph the lighting on the opening night, whether just for myself and my archive or for a client like the Mission Inn or the Chamber of Commerce. I wouldn’t miss it, and Tuesday is a much more comfortable visit than opening night crowds!
What is your go-to sandwich in town? Ham and Swiss (perhaps with a side of navy bean soup) at the Honeybaked Ham shop on Arlington Avenue. And then there’s the Riverside perennial, The Backstreet.
What is your idea of a perfect weekend day in Riverside? I drive around and visit and photograph at the UCR Botanic Gardens, Fairmount Park, Sycamore Highlands Park, historic buildings, our universities and colleges, and anywhere there’s art on the walls. Then Kathryn and I go to dinner and relax.
What is your favorite spot for a date night? The Palagi family gets two nods here. We eat at Mario’s for special occasions like birthdays or anniversaries. And Art’s Bar and Grill (Riverside’s “5-star Dive Bar”) for their great menu and the live music.
Do you call it the Galleria or Tyler Mall? Tyler Mall.
What is one place in Riverside you would bring back if you could? It’s not a place, exactly. I wish the Fox Theater would bring back its open mic that they had every Monday night for about a year, hosted by Patrick Maloney, who is still very active on the music and entertainment scene here. There was a special camaraderie there – kind of a musical and people comfort-food sensibility, that made us all feel really good.
If you could put one message on a billboard on the 91, what would it be? “The Eyes of Riverside are upon you.” With either one of my photos or of me (or both)!