This longtime Valley nursery (it originally opened in 1979!) was recently acquired by new owners and given a full-blown glow-up. The 4-acre garden center features flowers, plants, and cacti of every size, shape, and color, a plethora of pretty pots, a conservatory with gorgeous displays, a coffee kiosk with a sunny patio, an arrangement bar, and a high-end gift shop. When it comes to all things flora and fauna, Madison Gardens has you covered!
This high-end gift shop/design studio is endlessly charming! Stocked with highly unique, upscale gifts and décor, this is the place to head when on the hunt for a present for that hard-to-buy-for friend. Offering everything from cards to candles to pillows to furnishings to whimsical accessories, there’s something for everyone here. The boutique also provides professional interior design services for those seeking to re-create Modern Hippie’s stylishly warm ambiance at home.
A desert icon, Shields Date Garden was originally established in 1924 and remains a landmark today. The onsite store opened its doors in 1953, offering myriad date delicacies, as well as toys, spices, décor and games. The place is best known for its shakes, though, recognized by California’s 56th Assembly District as The Official Date Shake of Riverside County. Thick, creamy and delicious, it’s the addition of the company’s signature date crystals, which pack an unexpected crunch, that really does it for me! While there, be sure not to miss “The Romance and Sex Life of the Date,” a fun film detailing the fruit’s cultivation process that is played regularly in the onsite theater.
This beloved eatery started serving up savory crepes (or what owner Marcel Ramirez describes as a “French burrito”) in 2020 and quickly became a sensation, with Guy Fieri (who popped in to shoot an episode of his popular “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives”) deeming the BBQ chicken crepe a “destination dish.” And Gabino’s truly is a destination! Offering little slices of handheld heaven, Marcel’s crepes consist of incredibly tasty (not to mention hearty) fillings like pesto chicken and rib-eye cheese steak enveloped in a perfectly crunchy wrap crafted from flour, eggs and cheese. A meal at Gabino’s is truly like nothing else in the world! Bonus – there is also a sister location in Palm Springs for those on the west side of town.
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If you’re into franks, Sumo Dog is the place to be! Offering beef, pork, and vegan varieties accompanied by such accouterments as wasabi relish, miso mustard, guacamole, and katsu, the options are imaginative and delicious! My preferred order is an Angus beef frank, bacon wrapped with togarashi cheese sauce, but even the basic Chicago-style dogs make this spot worth a visit.
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