Friday Gazette: April 4, 2025
Hello Riverside, and Happy Friday!
In light of the new “Founder’s Menu” at the Del Taco on Riverside, I may have celebrated National Burrito Day a little too much. I have a hard time coping with the built-in heartbreak of limited-time fast food offerings. It just got here, and I’m already saying goodbye.
There’s so much going on around town this weekend, as always—check our calendar for ideas. A few standouts include a musical version of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott at CBU, the Third Annual Citrus Festival, the Riverside International Film Festival, and the Riverside Arts Council Mayor’s Ball.
Oh! Today is National Hug a Newsman Day, and I’m not sure I fit the bill, but I’ll take the hug if you see me around!
COMMUNITY
Midtown Signs Signal New Identity for Magnolia Center
Area keeps historic neighborhood names while unifying business district under recognizable brand.
Magnolia Center, a central commercial district in Riverside, is undergoing a rebranding initiative with the introduction of "Midtown" signs throughout the area.
Driving the news: The rebranding effort aims to create a cohesive identity for a historically fragmented area while preserving established neighborhood names.
- City Councilmember Stephen Robillard reports "almost overwhelmingly positive feedback" from residents.
Why it matters: The initiative focuses on unifying business districts without altering residential neighborhood identities, addressing the area's lack of a unified character.
- "Midtown" is chosen as a universally recognized term that accurately describes the area's central location.
The big picture: This change represents more than just new signage; it's an attempt to foster a sense of community and identity in a key part of Riverside.
- The rebranding preserves names like Brockton Arcade, the Plaza, and Sunnyside within the broader Midtown area.
What's next: As the new signs appear, residents and businesses will adapt to the Midtown branding, potentially influencing the area's future development and community engagement.
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SPORTS
Sports Shorts: Riverside Schools Running Into the Weekend
Big track and field action and the final in conference rivalry battles between CBU and GCU.
Riverside Track Programs Head to Bay Area for Prestigious Mike Fanelli Classic
Both of Riverside's Division I track and field programs will be making the journey to the Bay Area this weekend to compete in the 16th annual Mike Fanelli Track Classic. California Baptist University and UC Riverside athletes will test themselves against loaded fields at the prestigious distance-focused meet, which has become known nationwide for producing fast times under ideal weather conditions.
The event, formerly known as the San Francisco State Distance Carnival before being renamed in 2019 to honor track and field historian and three-time USA National Team Coach Mike Fanelli, has grown significantly since its 2008 inception. For CBU and UCR, this represents a valuable opportunity for their distance specialists to post qualifying marks against top-tier competition as the outdoor season builds momentum.
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ART & ENTERTAINMENT
Review: RCC's "RENT" Captures Current Social Climate Through '80s Nostalgia
RCC students breathe new life into Larson's iconic musical, proving its themes of resistance and community remain relevant in today's social landscape.
Riverside Community College Theater Department's production of RENT is giving a voice to marginalized communities. Nowadays, when protesting for the voiceless has resulted in deportation for some, Jodi Julien's production of Jonathan Larson's timeless play serves as a call to resist the oppression of queer people, individuals with disabilities, and artists in our society.
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COMMUNITY
Beyond Bougainvillea: Riverside's Utility Box Beautification
Project turns often ignored fixtures into points of pride.
Riverside is turning mundane utility boxes into vibrant works of art and historical storytelling. The initiative, spanning the Wood Streets and Downtown areas, aims to beautify the city while celebrating its rich cultural heritage.
Driving the news: Local artist Katya Orlovie is hand-painting utility boxes in the Wood Streets, while Downtown boxes are being wrapped with Arts and Culture branding graphics featuring historical summaries.
- Seven boxes have been painted in the Wood Streets, with a dozen more planned. Downtown has three wrapped boxes, with three more in the design phase.
Why it matters: This creative approach transforms potential eyesores into unexpected points of interest, adding character to the cityscape and engaging residents with local history.
- The initiative demonstrates Riverside's commitment to arts and culture, even in unexpected places.
What's next: More utility boxes are slated for transformation, including locations on Market Street and Orange Street in Downtown Riverside.
The big picture: As the City of Arts, Riverside is proving that even infrastructure can serve as a canvas for creativity, turning everyday walks into opportunities for discovery and appreciation.
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COMMUNITY
Indigenous History of Mt. Rubidoux Focus of Documentary Screening
RUSD parent group hosts Pá'Čapa: A Mt. Rubidoux Story at Poly High April 8.
The Riverside Unified School District's Native American Parent Advisory Council is hosting a screening of "Pá'Čapa: A Mt. Rubidoux Story," a documentary that showcases Native perspectives on the popular Riverside landmark.
Driving the news: The film challenges the mountain's current identity, which is largely associated with settler colonial history, by presenting indigenous cultural connections that predate European-American associations by thousands of years.
- Directors Rosy Aranda, Blossom Maciel, Daisy Ocampo, and Lorene Sisquoc crafted the documentary to center on Serrano, Cahuilla, and Tongva cultural ties to the mountain.
Why it matters: Mt. Rubidoux, known to indigenous communities as Pá'Čapa, attracts over 1,000 visitors daily but is primarily celebrated for its European-American historical connections.
- The documentary aims to educate viewers about the mountain's significance as a sacred Native place.
The big picture: The screening event specifically targets RUSD families seeking to learn about Riverside's history and its connection to local tribal communities.
Go deeper: The screening takes place on April 8 from 6–10:30 p.m. at Poly High School Theatre, 5450 Victoria Ave.
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Adoptable Pet of the Week
Meet Buster!
Meet this week’s featured furry friend from the Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center. Dedicated to eliminating pet homelessness, the center provides compassionate care and facilitates adoptions for animals in need of loving homes. Find your new companion and help support their mission of humane care and responsible pet ownership.
Meet Buster! He’s got it all—except a home to call his own. This charming, playful, and affectionate 7-year-old, 28lb pup loves car rides, stuffed toys, and leisurely walks. He’s potty-trained, great on a leash, and happiest just spending time with his people. Currently in foster care—email fostercare@petsadoption.org to meet him!
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Noteworthy
Former CA District 63 Assemblymember Bill Essayli, who represented part of Riverside, has resigned his position following his appointment as US Attorney for Southern California by President Trump.
Fast-fashion retailer Forever 21 closes all U.S. stores after filing for second bankruptcy, leaving local shoppers like CBU student Lauren Nalian "shocked and sad" while others noted the brand's failure to compete with online retailers like Shein despite once reaching $4 billion in sales.
Students in Riverside County are getting automatic admission to their choice of 10 Cal State campuses, through a pilot program that aims to boost university enrollment.
Riverside County health officials report the first confirmed measles case since 2018 in an adult.
A coalition of civil rights groups is urging Riverside County to separate the sheriff and coroner offices after 226 in-custody deaths from 2011 to 2022, citing inherent conflicts of interest in death investigations.
What's Happening in Riverside
Friday, April 4
- 26th Annual Cesar E. Chavez Memorial Breakfast at Marriott Riverside at the Convention Center
- Riverside Sunrise Rotary at Zacatecas Mexican Cafe
- Courthouse, Murals and Heroes Walking Tour at Mission Inn Foundation ($23.18)
- Little Women at The Wallace Theatre at California Baptist University ($9- $14)
- Nights with the Museum - "Climate Action in the City!" at Riverside Main Library Community Room
- Riverside Public Library | 2025 Riverside Reads Book Discussion at Arlington Library
- Spring Musical: Fiddler on the Roof at Woodcrest Christian School ($12- $15)
- World Premier Melodrama by Westmont Village Masquers Theatre Club at Westmont Village
Saturday, April 5
- Downtown Certified Farmers Market at Main Street at 5th
- 3rd Annual Citrus Festival at California Citrus State Historic Park
- 4th Annual Downtown Riverside Tweed Ride Begins at Riverside Historic Courthouse
- Alzheimer's & Dementia Support Group at Discovery Commons Raincross
- Barking Bunco - Rolling the Dice for Rescue Animals at Packinghouse Brewing Company ($30)
- Cars and Coffee at Harvest Church at Harvest Church
- Hands Off Rally at Market St. and University Ave.
- In/VISIBLE, Un/HEARD: Riverside’s Civil Rights Stories at Multiple Sites
- Riverside Arts Council's Mayor's Ball for the Arts at Barbara & Art Culver Center for the Arts ($100)
- Riverside International Film Festival 2025 at The Box Theater
- UCR Men's Soccer vs Alumni at UCR Soccer Stadium
Sunday, April 6
- Architectural Walking Tour of Downtown Riverside at Mission Inn Foundation ($28.52)
- Authority Zero w/ Venomous Pinks & Codename Rocky at The Concert Lounge- Romano's Mission Grove
- The Bonner Singers at Trinity Lutheran Church
- First Sundays at Downtown Riverside
- Italian Architecture in Riverside - Riverside Historical Society at Riverside Medical Clinic Basement Meeting Room
- Reptile Hunter Joseph Hart - Museum of Riverside at Downtown Riverside
- UCRBG Pop Up Shops at Botanic Gardens
Save the Date
- April 12: Braver Angels Red/Blue Workshop at Joyce Johnson Community Center at Nichols Park
- May 17: Blue Zones Project - Riverside Kickoff Festival at Riverside Airport
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