David Allen

Mr. Milk Bottle is gone, but iconic sign in Pomona will stay The tuxedoed mascot has beckoned to motorists since 1960. The sign was declared historic and may become part of a new development, columnist David Allen writes.

My latest: Mr. Milk Bottle, a former drive-through dairy that was a part of Pomona since 1960, has been demolished. But its whimsical sign has been declared historic and will remain. I was stunned, btw, to learn the business once bottled in its own milk. www.dailybulletin.com/2025/10/09/m...

Riverside City Hall marks 50 years with festivities, reminiscing 300 people showed up Monday to the anniversary event, with elements that echoed the building’s Oct. 6, 1975 dedication, columnist David Allen writes.

My latest: Riverside City Hall marks 50 years with festivities, reminiscing. Some 300 people showed up to Monday's event, which carried deliberate echoes of the Oct. 6, 1975 dedication: It took place the same date, day of the week and time. www.pressenterprise.com/2025/10/07/r...

Stack of four books on the edge of a bookshelf

What I read in September: Octavia Butler stories, a Philip K. Dick biography, a first-time novel by a local nonagenarian and a one-volume history of California. What about you? www.insidesocal.com/davidallen/2...

Norm on ‘Cheers’ may have been modeled on San Bernardino official Norman Baffrey, a city parks official before his 1994 death, was sometimes identified as the real-life inspiration for the sitcom character, columnist David Allen learns.

My latest: Just as "Cheers" drew inspiration from Gay 90s pizza parlor and bar in Redlands, the character of Norm Peterson had his roots in a Gay 90s regular. Who? Probably Norm Baffrey, a portly San Bernardino parks and rec official and Gay 90s fixture. www.sbsun.com/2025/10/05/n...

Stories of unsung women in Riverside are focus of history book “Anthology of Women in Riverside” has 64 contributors and 100 articles in its 400 pages, columnist David Allen writes. It debuts Sunday at the Local History Book Fair.

My latest: Stories of unsung women in Riverside are focus of history book. "Anthology of Women in Riverside 1870-1970" tells 100 stories. It debuts Sunday with a presentation at Local History Book Fair. (I'll have a table.) www.pressenterprise.com/2025/10/02/s...

San Francisco vacation: baseball, stairs, murals and a ‘rush’ ticket Columnist David Allen spent four days in the city, where he saw the Cardinals beat the Giants, climbed stairs and steep streets, and saw a play for $15.

My latest: I make my annual visit to San Francisco, where I watch the Cardinals win (!), climb some stairs, admire a Millard Sheets mural and buy a $15 rush ticket to a play. www.dailybulletin.com/2025/09/30/s...

But, this Houstonian thinks they only got it partially correct. As someone who walks into and out of downtown Houston regularly, I find plenty to do and see and eat and drink. Although, I do agree with the writer that some weekends can be laughably short on activity. Yet, we have this:

Readers praise Houston, debate merits of Portland and Seattle Two ex-Houstonians in the IE have nice things to say about their former hometown, while others share split views over Portland and Seattle with columnist David Allen.

My latest: Two ex-Houstonians in the IE have nice things to say about their city, which I visited last summer (and where I stumbled across a drive-in theater). Also, more pro and con views of Portland and Seattle, Robert Redford links in the IE, and more. www.dailybulletin.com/2025/09/23/r...

Selfie in red StL cap and blue “away” shirt, diamond behind me

Ready to root, root, root for the @stlouiscardinals.bsky.social in SF tonight, one of the last games of the season. Go Cards!

Photo of my newspaper on my stoop with lead headline “Trump connects Tylenol to autism”

Make Aspirin Great Again

Ontario Tower Buzzers? Team name gets stinging response Reveal gets tepid response and social media is deriding the name, columnist David Allen observes. Still, thousands flocked to the launch event.

My latest: Ontario Tower Buzzers? Name for city's new minor league team gets tepid response in person, stinging response on social media. What are your thoughts? www.dailybulletin.com/2025/09/21/o...

Ha!

Gene Harvey created magic at region’s single-screen theaters From the 1960s into the 2010s, Harvey, who died recently, ran movie theaters from San Bernardino to San Dimas and beyond. Columnist David Allen pays tribute.

My latest: Gene Harvey ran movie theaters around the IE and SGV from the 1960s into the 21st century. His specialty was single-screen theaters, before they were crowded out by multiplexes. I pay tribute to him after his recent passing. www.dailybulletin.com/2025/09/18/g...

Ha! 😂

Readers play ball in contest to name Ontario baseball team Dozens of silly, sarcastic or sincere names were submitted for columnist David Allen’s contest to name Ontario’s baseball team. The real name will be revealed Thursday.

My latest: Since Ontario's new baseball stadium is called ONT Field, I asked for your ideas for the team name and mascot. Dozens of entries came in. (The real names will be announced Thursday.) www.dailybulletin.com/2025/09/16/r...

Neon, cars, signs, toys: Ontario hobbyist’s Americana to be auctioned Auto restorer, 83, decides to unload everything, albeit with mixed feelings. Total value might be $3 million. Columnist David Allen visits.

My latest: Ontario auto restorer decked out his shop with neon signs, road signs, kiddie rides, 1930s toy boats and other bits of Americana. Due to poor health, he's selling everything via auction. www.dailybulletin.com/2025/09/14/n...

Contest: What airport-style name should Ontario’s baseball team use? Since the team will play at ONT Field, columnist David Allen guesses the name will involve aviation. He’s launching a contest.

My latest: If the new ballpark is ONT Field, the yet-to-be-announced team name and mascot may also reflect air travel. So I'm asking readers to suggest silly, sarcastic or sincere names and mascots. Details in the column! www.dailybulletin.com/2025/09/11/c...

How did Kimberly Crest’s garden grow? Tours in Redlands will explain Docent-led tours of the grounds start Sunday at the 1897 estate. Seeking to become better rooted, columnist David Allen gets a preview.

My latest: How did Kimberly Crest's garden grow? Tours in Redlands will explain! The 1897 estate, gifted to the public and run by a nonprofit, has offered docent tours of the house since 1981, but until now it's never done docent tours of its gardens. www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/2025/09/09/h...

Portland vacation proves polarizing. In 2025, what isn’t? Many people had a negative opinion about columnist David Allen’s recent vacation in Portland and Seattle. One said he should have gone on a police ride-along.

My latest: My Portland and Seattle vacation proves polarizing. In 2025, what isn't? Some IE readers had a negative reaction. One objected to "the ideology." Another said I should have gone on a police ride-along. www.dailybulletin.com/2025/09/07/p...

The day The Press-Enterprise won a Pulitzer for righting a wrong Reporting about corruption among judges, attorneys and businessmen got George Ringwald and the paper the journalism prize in 1968, columnist David Allen writes.

My latest: The @pressenterprise.bsky.social won a Pulitzer Prize in 1968 for meritorious service after a series of exposes on a ripoff of Agua Caliente members in Palm Springs. I read some of George Ringwald's stories and about the day the prize was announced. www.pressenterprise.com/2025/09/04/t...

Of Houston, school names, curmudgeons, local T-shirts and more Columnist David Allen says that while he found things to like in Houston, the lack of activity downtown was a surprise. Also: items from around the IE.

My latest: Throwing together some items that hadn't run yet, here are a few belated words on my visit to Houston (kind of ... boring?), O'Day Short Elementary, curmudgeons, Google's AI and a serendipitously worn T-shirt. www.dailybulletin.com/2025/09/02/o...

What I read in August: Calvin Trillin, Sax Rohmer, Charles Hillinger and the manuscript for the upcoming North of Foothill by Orlando Davidson. What about you? www.insidesocal.com/davidallen/2...

‘Sunset Boulevard’ is loved, but maybe not in Pomona In the movie released 75 years ago, one line of dialogue takes a jab at the supposed poor taste of the city’s moviegoers, columnist David Allen reminds us.

My latest: "Sunset Boulevard" is loved, but maybe not in Pomona. The classic, released 75 years ago this month, contains a much-quoted putdown of the city. Also: a Banning reader recalls St. Louis, and I recall when IE Weekly gave me a backhanded honor. www.dailybulletin.com/2025/08/31/s...

Portland and Seattle are ‘craphole cities’? Puh-leeze Donald Trump Jr. derided the two cities on Aug. 21, the day columnist David Allen arrived in Portland for vacation, before moving on to Seattle. He had a fine time both places.

My latest: Back from vacation, I write about my visits to Portland and Seattle. Coincidentally, both were derided last week by a political scion as "craphole cities." Really? They're so nice! www.dailybulletin.com/2025/08/28/p...

Deal for Ontario’s Graber Olives fails, leaving future in doubt Rescue plan by developer falls through, putting beloved company’s ability to can olives this fall in jeopardy. “We’re crushed,” family member tells columnist David Allen.

My latest: Deal for Ontario's Graber Olives fails, leaving future in doubt. As developer backs out of partnership, plans to can olives for the first time since 2022 are now in question. Says one Graber: "We're running out of time." www.dailybulletin.com/2025/08/18/d...

It does get me amped up!

Tesla Supercharger station, dark for 5 weeks, is back up in Upland Station reopens after San Bernardino County reinspection, columnist David Allen reports. Drivers say they love the station’s size and pricing.

My latest: Upland's Tesla Supercharger station, dark for five weeks, is back up. Chargers had been covered in white sheaths after SB County said the amperage stickers were incorrect. "Look at it, it's awesome," one driver says of the 64-charger lot. www.dailybulletin.com/2025/08/16/t...

At Cole’s French Dip, one last lunch amid early LA atmosphere Columnist David Allen drops by Cole’s on a whim and finds no line at all. He enjoys one last meal at LA’s oldest restaurant, which is due to close in September.

My latest: On a whim, I check out the line at DTLA's Cole's French Dip last Sunday, only to find there is no line. So I breeze in, enjoy one last (?) meal and observe the scene inside LA's oldest restaurant, due to close next month. www.dailynews.com/2025/08/14/a...

In 1995, couple may have been first to wed at Ontario’s Graber Olives Couple persuaded the Graber family to allow a wedding on the property in 1995, columnist David Allen writes. Also, art shows honor centennial of painter Karl Benjamin.

My latest: In 1995, couple may have been the first to wed at Ontario's Graber Olives. Also: retrospectives showcase the paintings of Karl Benjamin, and a piece of speculative fiction about the IE of 2047 invoked a certain real-life figure. www.dailybulletin.com/2025/08/12/i...

‘Cheers,’ and possibly Norm, were inspired by old Redlands bar Sitcom’s creators attended University of Redlands and one frequented the bar Gay 90s, columnist David Allen writes. Unconfirmed reports are that a Gay 90s regular inspired the character Norm.

My latest: 'Cheers' was partly inspired by the old Redlands bar Gay 90s, where co-creator Les Charles drank and tended bar while attending University of Redlands. Norm was reputed to be drawn from a regular there. Also: two more items from Redlands. www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/2025/08/10/c...