12/28/2025 At Dwayne's Steak And Seafood Restaurant, Mission Inn
It's tradition! We always visit the Mission Inn during Christmas and this way we get to stop at Robin and Bob's to visit their wonderfully decorated home! before going shopping and dining in luxury at Duane's.
This year we are going to be missing a key member of the visiting team! Dr. Nick is in Texas enjoying a 75 degree day! But wait, January is coming and the average low were he is living will be around 40-42°F (5-6°C).
New years is only three days away!
Before we departed for Corona, Mary made me open another Christmas present and try it on. The present arrived late due to the herd of Warthogs, needed for the manufacturing process, was stranded in Africe due to a snow storm. Warthog hair is perfect for Mary's present to me!
After wearing it for a while, I began to make Warthog sounds much to the chagrin of everyone around me!
In Summary...
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Mary was so excited about going, she said she might fly there ahead of me. I did not believe my eyes but off she went! She can do anything she sets her mind to do!
Click the small arrow at the left-hand side of the image below!
She finally came down to Earth and we got into the car and drove to Corona.
Robin showed us her latest artwork. She used water beads.
Did You Know? - Water beads are tiny, colorful polymer spheres that absorb massive amounts of water, expanding up to 100 times their size into squishy, jelly-like balls, used in crafts, decor (like vase fillers), and sensory play for kids, but they pose serious risks if swallowed, as they continue to grow inside the body, causing blockages, infections, and even death, especially for young children.
Mary gets a quick class in how to make the decoration using YouTube
Robin explains the process.
Mary now understands how the candy canes seem to float in mid-air!
Robin and Bob's home is beautifully decorated for Christmas!
Mary's rendition of Binx The Cat was on the wall!
The "regular tree" is on the den!
The Disney Tree is in the Living Room!
Looking good!
"Big Smiles!!"
Photo-bombed!
We are having too much fun!
We are in our matching New Years shirts!, the Dragon!
We are ready for New Years. Notice, no toupe, no sounds!
The motley crew!
A tour of the tree revealed a Texas decoration just for Nick!
Speaking of Nick.
Mary's Christmas gift to Robin was on display!
We departed Corona for Riverside around 3:00 pm giving us time to walk through the junk stores (oops, antique vintage treasure troves).
Santa was still at work!
The main drag in front of the inn was closed to automobile traffic
Wait until after dark and the building will be covered in lights!
Roughly 4,000,000 LED's cover the outside.
The Mission has quite a history!
Did You Know? - The Mission Inn in Riverside is famous for its unique architecture (Spanish/Asian blend), hosting 10 U.S. Presidents, hosting movie shoots, and its elaborate Festival of Lights; trivia includes its start as an adobe guesthouse, the "oldest bell in Christendom," its unique artifacts like Tiffany glass, and themed presidential drinks honoring guests like Taft, Hoover, and the Reagans, who honeymooned there, all part of its nearly 150-year history.
No one gets runover by a car tonight!
Did You Know? - This whimsical antique store is a stark contrast to the more modern shops next to it.
Stepping through its doors immediately whisks you to a never-ending world filled to the brim with antiques of all kinds. All four floors of Mission Galleria Antiques are packed with small porcelain figurines of bears, lamps made of moonshine mason jars, loud patterned jackets fitted with thick shoulder pads and the like.
Jewelry displays are in abundance near the entrance, with glass displays boasting large silver rings adorned with giant jewels, and necklaces draped from shoulder to shoulder on mannequin busts.
But at times you'll spot a glimpse of modernity in the endless aisles of the past — something that seems out of place like a gray t-shirt with a "Squid Game" graphic, Funko Pops or the classic millennial mom signs with bad kitchen puns.
Opened around 1999, Mission Galleria Antique Shoppe contains over 100 vendors who come together to sell their products and finds from the past. The store is divided up by numerical space, giving each seller their own space, clearly labeled on their own laminated paper signs. In the rightmost corner of the store, one vendor specializes in rocks, crystals and old forms of monetary currency. Another sells antique items with a 21st century coquette aesthetic, like floral painted teapots or angelic porcelain children holding signs with slightly religious connotations.
To get around the store, you walk up and down red carpet-lined stairs, with slight creaks from the wooden floor that accent the feel of the historical goods lined in wooden shelves. With every new floor comes a new corner, a new space, a new shelf and a new piece of history to discover. Pieces of history that caught my eye were the American coins used in the Civil War during Lincoln's presidency and German coins used in World War II as propaganda.
Is this a "must have"?
At least they are honest!
I thought of my cousin Claudia who collects Precious Moments!
You could almost hear the marching music.
Did You Know? - Nutcracker dolls originated in 17th-century Germany's Ore Mountains, traditionally carved by miners to bring good luck, with Friedrich Wilhelm Füchtner starting mass production in 1872, making figures of soldiers and kings; they gained global fame through Tchaikovsky's 1892 ballet and American soldiers bringing them home after WWII, becoming a beloved Christmas symbol despite early criticisms of cultural insensitivity in the ballet's dances.
We had one of these in the 1950s! It was an Argus C3!
Did You Know? - The Argus C3, nicknamed "The Brick," was a massively popular, rugged, budget 35mm rangefinder camera (1939-1966) known for teaching generations of amateurs photography with its fully manual controls, featuring interchangeable lenses (like the 50mm Cintar), a unique film loading, and even being used by WWII photographers like Tony Vaccaro, despite its heavy, boxy design and quirky features.
Checkout the mirror carefully.
I remember these from the 1950s.... This one is REAL METAL!!
Did You Know? - Tonka trucks trivia includes their origin as Mound Metalcraft in Minnesota, the name "Tonka" meaning "great" from Sioux honoring Lake Minnetonka, their famous durable steel build, the iconic yellow Mighty Dump Truck debuting in 1965, and their evolution from garden tools to toy titans, eventually acquired by Hasbro.
So, while the iconic all-steel trucks are now collector's items, you can still buy new Tonkas with plenty of real metal and "Tonka Tough" durability, especially if you look for the "Classic Steel" or "Retro" lines.
Mary found a friend!
We have the metal portion on our living/TV room.
Mary wanted more travel bags for when we cruise.
Interesting?!
I remember these cans well!
Did You Know? -
Butter-Nut Coffee, an Omaha classic by Paxton & Gallagher, was famous for its unique gas-roasting method for freshness and featured in retro ads with celebs like Betty White; it was a huge hit, selling millions of pounds and even winning state fair gold medals, solidifying its status as a beloved American coffee brand known for its sweet, nutty flavor.
Today it is difficult to find but sometimes it is sold under the Fodgers product line!
Hannah and Lisa need one of these! So does Cassie!
We did NOT have to go down this aisle!
Scary!
It was open and full of people!
Love the sign!!
Made me rethink my dinner plans!
Mary got a chuckle out of this sign.
These little music boxes are tiny, 1" by 2" and play music!
Kids today would NOT understand this item!
Did You Know? - First Greeting: "Ahoy!" was suggested by Bell, while "Hello" came from Edison.
My grandfather had these around the house for his pipe!
Love the sign!!
We sent this to Dianne immediately!
Just a reminder!
Bob and I made it outside without buying anything!
The girls, not so much. Mary found a vintage dress!
We walked over to the Mission Inn around 4:30 pm since or reservation at Duane's was for 5:00 pm. The inside of the Mission Inn was a sight to see!
We are ready to enter!
Us too!
Love that girl!
Mary has a new friend.
Did You Know? - An elf is a magical, human-like being from folklore, traditionally seen as nature spirits with supernatural powers, varying from tiny mischievous sprites to tall, wise beings, known in modern times for their role as Santa's helpers.
They are often depicted with pointed ears, youthful looks, and a deep connection to nature, acting as either benevolent helpers or troublesome tricksters, capable of causing illness or bringing good fortune.
He seems to like being scratched!
They hide in the bushes all over the property!
Key Characteristics:
Origin: Rooted in Germanic folklore, appearing in Old Norse, Old English, and medieval texts as spirits of nature.
Appearance: Ranges from small, fairy-like figures to human-sized, graceful beings; often characterized by pointy ears.
Nature: Ambivalent; can be mischievous, cause nightmares (Alpdrücken in German), steal babies (changelings), or offer healing and blessings.
Howdy!
BOOM!!!! This gives a new meaning to cannon fodder.
Did You Know? - Cannon fodder characters are expendable, often nameless individuals (soldiers, aliens, zombies, extras) in stories used to show how strong protagonists/antagonists are, build atmosphere, or advance the plot through their mass defeat, originating from WWI soldiers as literal "food" for cannons, highlighting their disposability for minor plot points or to make leads look better.
How do you do?
Trees are everywhere inside the Inn
Bob spotted a green tree, where is the Grinch?
Soldier guard some of the trees!
Only a few short steps away was Duane's, a first-class dining experience.
Did You Know? - Duane's (not Dwayne's) at the Mission Inn is an AAA Four Diamond steakhouse named after co-owner Duane Roberts, famous for its USDA Prime steaks, extensive wine list, and award-winning service; trivia includes its connection to the Roberts family's success with frozen burritos, its role in saving the historic inn
The doors were not open when we arrived so....
Entering the world of fine dining.
We were led into a small room with only six tables and there were only three tables occupied all evening long meaning we could talk!!!
Did You Know? -
Robin asked about "aged steaks".
Dry Aging: Meat hangs in open air, low humidity, cold temps, developing a hard outer crust (pelle) that's trimmed off.
Aged steak trivia reveals that aging concentrates flavor and tenderizes meat as enzymes break down fibers, creating nutty, buttery, or even blue-cheese notes, with dry-aging forming a protective crust trimmed off, while longer aging (45+ days) yields intense, funky flavors, making it a pricey delicacy for serious beef lovers.
Even grocery store meat is aged, but high-end steakhouses use controlled environments for weeks or months to achieve complex taste profiles, with some restaurants even mimicking flavors with blue cheese butter.
Champagne flowed!
The semi-private room was great!
Now that there is a steak!!!!! I could almost hear it moo!
Robin has a smaller version.
Drink a little, eat a little, repeat!!
We dined slowly as we re-swapped memories from years gone by!
Someone had dessert!
Time for an after-dinner drink!
Paul, the two fisted drinker, had an Empress 1908 Gin purple gin and Glenlivet 18 Year Single Malt Scotch Whiskey.
Did You Know? - Empress 1908 Gin trivia centers on its magical color change (indigo to pink/lavender with citrus) from butterfly pea blossom, its inspiration from the iconic Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, BC, its use of the hotel's signature black tea as a botanical, and its all-natural ingredients and handcrafted process. Produced by Victoria Distillers, it's known for its subtle earthy notes balancing juniper and citrus, making it a visually stunning, modern gin.
We did a toast to family and friends who could not be here this evening!
The "clink" was heard all over the inn!
Robin tried the scotch... her feelings were obvious!
She was offered another taste just to make sure!
Mary was given the same test!
We got the same reaction, it's obvious, Scotch is for boys!
At the end of dinner, we had accumulated a collection of glassware!
After meandering through the Mission Inn lobby and taking a short walk down the street, Bob safely got us to Corona where we observed his outdoor decorations all lit up!
Everywhere we looked there were surprises. Roses in December???
Dang ladies, you add sparkle to an already sparkly room!
Sisters? Maybe!
Just then, the old buzzard arrives on scene!
Nice group! We liked Bob's coat and apparently ghe got it off a drunk last week on the way home from work!
The Grinch Tree is still standing!
Outside a sea of humanity met us as we walked under the portals.
The trees were covered in lights.
Santa's good and naughty list computer was already working on next year!
We followed the ladies!
Two city blocks of shopping and lights!
Even the office buildings were decorated!
Do you see the tree on the side of the building done in lights?
We walked to the other end of the street to find our chariot!
Rumor says the Inn had 4,000,000 lights!
We only counted 3,999,921!
Thank goodness the streets or cordoned off allowing people to walk down the street without fear of cars.
He rolled down the window was was yelling, "On Honda, On Lexus
, On Hyndai, On Buick"... It was embarrasing!!
The Duda decorations are spot on!
One more little kiss before we head for Orange!
I love my Christmas present!
