Sunday Gazette: April 17, 2026
Hello Riverside, and Happy Sunday! Today is Bicycle Day, and Riverside has something fitting to celebrate. The Blue Zones Project Riverside launched its first moais yesterday, including the Biking Moai: a 10-week Saturday morning ride through the city, hosted by the Riverside Light Parade crew. It's relaxed, it's open to everyone, and it meets at Fairmount Park at 8 a.m. If you want the full story on what Blue Zones has been building here over the past year, it's worth a read.
See you tomorrow!
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HISTORY
Still Standing: Post 79's Clubhouse Turns 100
Built on land donated by a Riverside mayor, the American Legion's Lake Evans home has served veterans for a century.
One hundred years ago, on August 8, 1925, Riverside Post 79 laid the cornerstone for a clubhouse on the shores of Lake Evans. Seven months later, on April 9, 1926, the building was completed and dedicated. One hundred years later, that historic clubhouse still proudly stands and serves the present members of the local American Legion.
World War I ended with the armistice signed by the Allies and Germany on November 11, 1918. A few months later, on March 15-17, 1919, members of the American Expeditionary Force gathered in Paris to set up an organization for veterans. On May 8-10, a gathering was held in St. Louis, and the official name of the American Legion was adopted, along with a draft of a constitution. The United States Congress officially chartered the American Legion on September 16, 1919. The American Legion was founded.
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SPONSORED
Where to Find the Best Coffee in Riverside? Arcade Coffee Roasters Has Spent 13 Years Earning That Answer
Tips on what to plant, when to pick, and what to watch out for in your home garden.
On the roasting floor of Arcade Coffee Roasters' production facility, Monday and Tuesday are the most important days of the week. That's when head roaster Westin Mills and lead roaster Gabe Beltran work through a schedule of single-origin coffees, blends, and wholesale orders — roasting, bagging, and getting everything on shelves by Wednesday.
Everything on those shelves was roasted the day before you buy it.
"You are the last line of defense to make sure this coffee is good," co-founder Stevie Hasemeyer tells his team. "This coffee started at a farm in Colombia. That guy worked hard to make sure the soil was good, that there was enough water. Then it got processed, dried, shipped here. There's so much work that went into getting it to that point — don't mess it up."
That sense of accountability — to the coffee, to the farmer, and to the customer — is what has made Arcade Coffee Roasters the benchmark for specialty coffee in Riverside and across the Inland Empire. Co-founders Stevie Hasemeyer and Shane Levario started roasting out of a small home roaster in the early 2010s. Today, Arcade operates three Riverside locations: Downtown, the Tasting Room in the University neighborhood, and the Bakehouse in Canyon Crest. The obsession that built those locations hasn't changed.
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NEIGHBOR OF THE WEEK
Neighbor of the Week: Sir Williams
Neighbor of the Week is a series profiling the hidden heroes of Riverside, doing incredible works of service throughout our different neighborhoods.
Sir Williams came to Riverside looking to move forward with his education. What he didn't expect was finding an opportunity to mentor youth the way he had been mentored during his own high school years through Young Life.
These days, when he's not hitting the books as a finance major at California Baptist University, you might find him at Tyler Mall chatting with Riverside youth over a Cinnabon or hot pretzel. As a dedicated Young Life leader, Sir consistently shows up for local high school students, building meaningful relationships and creating a safe, supportive space where teens feel valued and encouraged. He volunteers countless hours mentoring students, attending their games and events, and walking alongside them through the challenges of adolescence.
What sets Sir apart is his genuine care for the youth he serves. Through Young Life clubs, camps, and weekly time spent with students, he has made a lasting impact on many young people in Riverside. His commitment, humility, and passion for serving others make him exactly the kind of neighbor who makes a real difference — and Riverside is better for it.
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CREATIVE PROMPTS
Ring, Ring
A prompt to encourage your practice of creativity this week from Riversider and local author Larry Burns.
This week’s creative nudge uses something that we try to make as noticeable as possible. In fact, some would say that this week’s object is often on display…and always broadcasting. This week our creative push comes from a ring.
It might be the ones you wear on your digits—gold or silver or prize from a vending machine. It could also be the one on many front porches—the digital eye, the corporate-branded “Ring,” watching comings and goings like a polite but nosey neighbor. A ring can mean commitment, status, memory, identity. It can record something personal or broadcast something public.
When I take walks and trigger a Ring just by walking on the sidewalk, I have to admit being a little annoyed by the robotic intrusion into the community space. Perhaps choosing this nudge is a way for me to see these moments in a more creative way.
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This Week in Riverside
Sunday, April 19
- Gardening for Butterflies at Botanic Gardens
- Prayers and Public Information Meeting at Riverside Baha'i Center
- The Bonner Singers at Trinity Lutheran Church
- Curator-led Tour of From Here to the Horizon at California Museum of Photography
- Dancing for Fun at Janet Goeske Center
- Family Concert - Maracas & Magic, with UCR Orchestra and Chamber Singers at University Theatre, University of California, Riverside
- Hideaway Lounge History & Paranormal Tours at The Hideaway Cafe & Lounge ($44.52)
- Sunday Experiment After Dark at Downtown Experiment
Monday, April 20
- Volunteer Interest Hour at Riverside Meals on Wheels
- Goeske Bingo at Janet Goeske Center ($20- $100)
- Monday Carillon Recitals at UCR Bell Tower
Tuesday, April 21
- Earth Day Storytime at Marcy Library
- Karaoke Tuesday Competition at The Hideaway
- National Library Week Scavenger Hunt at Marcy Library
- ScotSurplus Public Sale at ScotSurplus, UCR Corporation Yard
Wednesday, April 22
- Stretch & Dance Class at Janet Goeske Senior Center
- 2026 Earth Day Festival at UCR-Pierce Lawn
- Bordwell Park Advisory Committee at Stratton Community Center
- Celebrate Earth Day at the Marcy Library at Marcy Library
- Earth Day Painting & Mixed Media Artivity at Marcy Library
- Eastside Library at Lincoln Park | Earth Day Storytime and Scavenger Hunt at Eastside Library at Lincoln Park
- History on the Rocks - Round Two! Presented by The Mission Inn Foundation at Mission Inn Foundation ($71.21)
- Reading Assistance Program at My Learning Studio
- Riverside East Rotary Club at Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern
- Riverside Mission Belles at Victoria Presbyterian Church
- Riverside Open Mic Music Series at BACK TO THE GRIND
- Until Help Arrives Emergency Preparedness Training at Community Room Riverside Main Library
Thursday, April 23
- Very Hungry Caterpillar Painting Session at Marcy Library
- History on the Rocks! Presented by The Mission Inn Foundation at Mission Inn Foundation ($71.21)
- Riverside's Butterflies: A Natural History at Riverside Main Library
- Frozen: The Broadway Musical at Woodcrest Christian School Royals Pavilion ($15- $20)
- Raincross Gazette: Ward 2 Community Forum at UCR Alumni & Visitors Center
Friday, April 24
- R'Hours at the R'Garden at R'Garden
- Bioblitz at the LandUse Learning Center at LandUse Learning Center
- Courthouse, Murals and Heroes Walking Tour at Mission Inn Foundation ($23.18)
- Into the Breeches! by George Brant at Riverside Community Players at Riverside Community Players ($20- $22.24)
- Jose Maria Napoleon - Hasta Siempre. Tour de Despedida at Fox Performing Arts Center
- Murder Mystery Co. Dinner Theater Show at The Old Spaghetti Factory at The Old Spaghetti Factory ($69)
Saturday, April 25
- Riverside Insect Fair Celebrating Earth Day at Riverside Main Library
- 78th Annual Riverside Flower Show and Garden Tour at Riverside Elks Lodge (free - $10)
- Little LandUse Learners Spring/Summer Programming at LandUse Learning Center
- Habitat Garden Tours at Ryan Bonaminio Park
- Greatest American Cleanup at Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce
- Historic Churches of Downtown Riverside at Mission Inn Foundation ($21.20)
- Orange Terrace Library | Dungeons and Dragons at Orange Terrace Library
- Taylor Swift Poetry Writing at Marcy Library
- Black Veil Brides: North American Tour 2026 at Riverside Municipal Auditorium
- Tribute Bands (THE STROKES, ARCTIC MONKEYS & CAGE THE ELEPHANT) at The Hideaway Cafe & Lounge ($12.51)
Save the Date
- April 26: 78th Annual Riverside Flower Show and Garden Tour at Riverside Elks Lodge (free - $10)
- April 29: Raincross Gazette: Ward 4 Community Forum at Riverside Citrus State Park - Sunkist Center
- April 30: Raincross Gazette: Ward 6 Community Forum at Altura Credit Union (10725 Magnolia Ave.)
- May 3: "The Sound of Riverside" - The 2026 Riverside Arts Academy Gala at UCR University Theatre ($150- $325)
- May 6: Senior Conference at Janet Goeske Center
- May 13: Level Up Your Network: The Pick Group 2026 Membership Summit at Killer Queens Social House
- May 17: Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Social at Riverside's Heritage House
- Jun 1: REEF's 27th Annual Golf Tournament at Canyon Crest Country Club ($140- $175)
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