Another stunning view from Mount Rubidoux, showcasing why this landmark remains one of Riverside's most beloved natural spaces. (Luke López) Have a photo that captures the spirit of Riverside? Share it with us and help celebrate the beauty of our community!
Friday Gazette: November 21, 2025
Hello Riverside, and Happy Friday! We've all had that moment—hearing about an incredible event after it's already happened and wishing we'd known in time. That's why we're creating an End-of-Year Save the Dates guide for 2026, helping our community mark calendars now for the can't-miss events that make Riverside special.
Know of a must-attend annual tradition or beloved community gathering? Send your suggestions to newsroom@raincrossgazette.com so we can help neighbors connect with the moments that bring us together.
Jessica Qattawi Announces Bid for Ward 4 City Council Seat
2024 mayoral candidate and neighborhood organizer challenges incumbent Conder in three-way race.
Jessica Qattawi has announced her candidacy for Riverside City Council's Ward 4 seat in the upcoming 2026 election. (Courtesy of Jessica Qattawi for Riverside)
Jessica Qattawi is running for Ward 4 City Council, setting up a three-way race against incumbent Chuck Conder and businessman Rich Vandenberg in 2026.
Why it matters: Ward 4 residents — including those in Alessandro Heights, Mission Grove, Orangecrest and the Greenbelt — will choose between an eight-year incumbent and challengers promising stronger neighborhood representation.
Driving the news: Qattawi, an 18-year Ward 4 resident who ran citywide for mayor in 2024, announced her campaign this week. Conder has held the seat since 2017.
What she's promising:
More RPD presence on Alessandro Boulevard to enforce the no-big-rig ordinance
Stronger brush-management oversight through 311
A regular farmers market for Ward 4
Traffic solutions, possibly including Overlook Parkway completion
Her criticism: Qattawi says residents felt blindsided by recent warehouse proposals. "Residents were told it was a 'done deal,' but it clearly wasn't," she said. "That disconnect made people feel like their voices didn't matter."
Qattawi's background: She leads Riverside Neighborhood Partnership, serves on the Mission Grove Neighborhood Alliance board, and runs What's Up Inland Empire, an Instagram platform with 51,000+ followers.
What's next: The primary is June 2, 2026. If no one gets 50%, the top two advance to a November 3 runoff. The candidate filing deadline is early 2026.
Riverside History Walk Returns to Main Street After 13 Years in Storage
Commemorative stones marking city's defining moments will be rededicated Dec. 9.
The restored Riverside History Walk features 33 commemorative stones embedded in the sidewalk on Main Street between 10th and 12th streets near the historic courthouse. (Courtesy of Claudia Rodriguez)
After 13 years in storage, 33 bronze medallions marking Riverside's founding moments return to downtown Main Street next week.
Why it matters: The commemorative stones tell your city's story — from frontier settlement to the Mission Inn's golden age — and you can walk the timeline between 10th and 12th streets starting Dec. 9.
What's happening: Soroptimist International will rededicate the History Walk at 11 a.m. Monday at Main Street and University Avenue, exactly 49 years after the stones were first installed as a Bicentennial gift.
The backstory: The original 31 stones lived in front of Raincross Square from 1976 until the convention center renovation forced them into museum storage in 2012. Two new stones were added during July reinstallation — one for Riverside National Cemetery, another for California Baptist University.
What's new: QR codes on interpretive signs will link to detailed descriptions of each commemorated event. Council approved guidelines in November allowing future stones for post-1976 events, which will extend the walk south toward 14th Street.
By the numbers:23 organizations and individuals funded an endowment for long-term maintenance, led by Old Riverside Foundation and Uptown Kiwanis.
What's next: Organizations can propose new stones representing cultural, social, economic or political history. Proposals require $500 endowment contributions plus fabrication costs.
Bar Ni Modo Brings the "All Day Bar" Concept to Riverside
Mexican-inspired cocktail bar and restaurant now open seven days a week at Farm House Collective.
(Courtesy of Bar Ni Modo)
Bar Ni Modo expanded to seven-day service with an "all day bar" model — continuous service from 11 a.m. through dinner, bridging brunch, lunch and evening dining.
Why it matters: You can now get craft cocktails and elevated Mexican food at Farm House Collective any day of the week, starting at 11 a.m. — filling Riverside's gap for quality daytime dining options.
What's new: The restaurant opens at 11 a.m. daily and runs continuously through 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday (11 p.m. Friday-Saturday). Lower-ABV cocktails like the Fresita complement daytime menus, while evening service brings full table service and heavier dishes.
The daily flow:
11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Brunch/lunch with counter service — housemade tortillas, tortas, heart of palm ceviche
3-5 p.m.: Happy hour with $10 cocktails and snacks
5 p.m.-close: Full table service with reservations available — signature carnitas platter, beef cheek tacos, octopus tostadas
Staff picks: Heart of palm ceviche at lunch (so good people ask what fish is in the vegan dish), carnitas platter for dinner, weekend enfrijoladas or chilaquiles torta.
The backstory: Co-owners Stephen Hasemeyer and Shane Levario created the concept after struggling to find quality brunch in Riverside years ago. Everything's made from scratch — one kitchen staffer's sole job is making tortillas.
What's next: Arcade Coffee Roasters may add another coffee location in Orangecrest, possibly a smash burger or barbecue concept.
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.
Ho, Ho, Harmony! Sweet Harmony has tried everything she can think of to get noticed and adopted, even pretending to be a reindeer in the hopes that Santa might give her a home up north. Harmony has been waiting over three months for her new family. She'd prefer to be adopted by folks who will give her time to adjust to her new surroundings and who'll practice patience as she settles in. Offering encouragement and treats will get you off to a good start with this girl. Harmony is four years old, weighs 40 lbs., and would love to make it home for the holidays.
Come meet Harmony and all the adoptable pets at the Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center in person. Stop by any day except Tuesdays, from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., or learn more at petsadoption.org.
CORRECTION: Yesterday's story about the City's Gage Canal proxy authority misidentified the councilmember who asked about attending future Gage Canal meetings as Jim Perry instead of Clarissa Cervantes. The story also incompletely described the City's board representation: The City seats three official representatives and uses its 61 percent controlling stake to seat three to s
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