Next Saturday, Inka Trails Peruvian Restaurant in Claremont will host a grand reopening event and the public is invited to join in for a night of Peruvian cuisine, art, poetry, music and community.

Between 2000 and 2015, Inka Trails Restaurant was a staple in Claremont, but life told owner Patty Rodriguez to give up the restaurant business in favor of missionary work, according to Patty’s daughter, Natalie Rodriguez. After the pandemic, life somehow guided Patty back to the restaurant business and the beloved Claremont restaurant was reborn in 2021.

Patty wrote in an email that she was excited to be back opening her doors to the art community. As part of reopening festivities, the restaurant is hosting “Quilla’s Dream,” a three-part event showing the art of Natalie, including her first mural unveiling.

“The art of Natalie Rodriguez (AKA Quilla Nabella) is a representation of what goes on in her subconscious. She uses vivid colors, patterns, and imperfect details to create a ‘collage of doodles’ that at first seems chaotic and overwhelming, but as the eye focuses on one detail at a time the viewer starts to see the harmony of the whole piece. Each illustration is a reflection of the hidden inner world of the mind,” Patty said. “The artist’s intention for ‘Quilla’s Dream’ was blending two parts of her identity: her subconscious dream world and her personal experience living in Peruvian culture.”

The evening will also feature other local artists, including Nate McMullen, Maudi Carlile, Stella Cruz, LApetitmort, Kirk McConnell, SoLange and Jordanna Kirschner. The artists will have works and other items for sale.

The event will also include an open mic session hosted by community advocate Ceasar Aguilar, the man behind the Obsidian Tongues Open Mic at Cafe Con Libros each month during the Pomona Art Walk.

The event is free and open to the community. Inka Trails Peruvian Restaurant is located at 1077 W. Foothill Blvd. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. on March 26. The mural unveiling will take place at 7 p.m. and the open mic will begin at 8 p.m.

For more information, contact the restaurant at (909) 971-3543.