Columnist

David Allen

David Allen writes a metro column focused on the Inland Empire for the Southern California News Group. Regular topics include people, places, local history, arts and culture, and local government, often with a light touch. The Illinois native has lived in California since 1986. His columns have been collected in five books to date. Interests include music, books, comics, art, food, urban walks, public transit and, please forgive him, the St. Louis Cardinals.

Location: Rancho Cucamonga, California, USA

The Wigwam Motel off of Route 66 in San Bernardino is seen in June 2025 Before cars could drive themselves, the Mother Road beckoned Americans westward. . (Phto by E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

Route 66 through San Bernardino County fuels media attention

May 28, 2026 at 12:53 p.m.

The New York Times drives the route with stops in San Bernardino, Yermo, Newberry Springs and Amboy, columnist David Allen learns.

John Atwater presides over a Route 66-themed area at the Los Angeles County Fair filled with his memorabilia. It’s dubbed Johnny’s Trading Post, as if it were a roadside attraction. Here he holds sheet music for the song “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66.” (Photo by David Allen, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

LA County Fair 2026: He gets his kicks showing his Route 66 collection

May 24, 2026 at 7:30 a.m.

Exhibit of memorabilia pays homage to the Mother Road. Pop culture collector John Atwater tells columnist David Allen: "Route 66 has it all."

The 1874 painting “California Alps” is removed Wednesday from the lobby of the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, where it had reportedly been hanging since 1915. This painting and another are said to have been claimed by hotel owner Kelly Roberts, eight days before the hotel changes hands to a new owner. (Courtesy Nancy L. Cox)

Art removal by owner of Riverside’s Mission Inn is called ‘vindictive’

May 22, 2026 at 11:11 a.m.

Two paintings bought more than 100 years ago by the hotel's founder were taken by Kelly Roberts 8 days before her sale of historic hotel closes, columnist David Allen reports.

Preservation advocate Chris Nichols, in red, speaks to two city officials April 27 outside the 1954 restaurant in Pomona that housed the seventh-ever McDonald’s and is now the second-oldest survivor. The City Council voted Monday, May 18 to designate it as a historic landmark. (Photo by David Allen, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

1954 McDonald’s building is named a historic landmark by Pomona

May 19, 2026 at 3:58 p.m.

City Council confers protections on building that was the seventh in the chain and is now the second-oldest survivor, columnist David Allen writes.

Keith Ballard and Rebecca Ustrell co-curated “Play Pavilion,” the multi-artist exhibition in the Millard Sheets Art Center at the L.A. County Fair. Behind them is a mural by Willis Garcia Salomon, “MFA: Masters in Food Art.” (Photo by David Allen, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

L.A. County Fair 2026: Playful art exhibit was curated in a mad rush

May 17, 2026 at 7:30 a.m.

Two curators proposed a show for this fall and were asked instead to do one during the fair in May. The result is "Play Pavilion," bringing together work by 63...

A photo believed to depict the 1954 McDonald’s in Pomona is shown against a backdrop of the building today. Originally the seventh in the chain, and the second oldest McDonald’s building still standing, the site at 1057 E. Mission Blvd., now a donut shop, may get city landmark status. (Photo by David Allen, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

2nd-oldest McDonald’s building may get historic status in Pomona

May 14, 2026 at 5:19 p.m.

City Council may offer landmark protection to 1954 building that was the seventh-ever McDonald's, columnist David Allen writes. It closed as a McDonald's in 1968 and is now a donut...

Patrons walk through the lobby of the Palm Springs Cultural Center on May 8 shortly before a rare screening of “Gunn,” a stylish suspense film. The 1967 movie was part of the lineup at the Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival. (Photo by David Allen, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Film noir festival brings the heat for Palm Springs movie fans

May 12, 2026 at 11:26 a.m.

Rare suspense films are seen by hundreds, among them columnist David Allen. He finds the city also has movie screenings of screwball comedies, widescreen classics and Marilyn Monroe films.

Passengers disembark from an A Line train at the Pomona North station on Wednesday, May 6. The station, the end of the line, is attracting some 1,800 riders a day. (Photo by David Allen, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

A Line trains are creating buzz from Pomona westward

May 10, 2026 at 7:30 a.m.

Riders discuss the pluses and minuses of the new service compared to Metrolink in comments to columnist and transit fan David Allen.

Chili dogs from Hollywood’s famous Pink’s Hot Dogs are among the midway staples at the Los Angeles County Fair, seen here in 2025. The 2026 fair runs May 7-31. (Photo by David Allen, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

LA County Fair runs one day extra in 2026, a modest boost

May 5, 2026 at 3:30 p.m.

Event is 17 days, the longest fair in four years, columnist/fair fan David Allen writes. Also: items from San Bernardino, Ontario and Riverside.

This electronic billboard along the 15 Freeway in the Cajon Pass has TV character Deborah Vance from “Hacks” urging motorists to “keep the Deborah Vance Highway beautiful.” (Courtesy John Evans)

‘Hacks’ pushes anti-littering message in Cajon Pass on road to Las Vegas

April 29, 2026 at 10:29 a.m.

"Keep the Deborah Vance Highway beautiful," billboard urges. Also in David Allen's column: news from Rancho Cucamonga and stories about Woolworth stores.

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