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.
See you on Sunday!
POLITICS
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 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.
Read and share the complete story...
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EVENTS
Riverside History Walk Returns to Main Street After 13 Years in Storage
Commemorative stones marking city's defining moments will be rededicated Dec. 9.
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 10th Street, 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.
Read and share the complete story... (2 min. read)
FOOD & DRINK
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.
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.
Read and share the complete story... (2 min. read)
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Adoptable Pet of the Week
Meet Harmony!
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.
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Noteworthy
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
This Weekend in Riverside
Friday
- Holiday Donation Drive for Homeless Pets at Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center
- Kind Moments Begin with You Giving Drive at RMC Charitable Foundation
- Savvy Chic Kids Winter Consignment Sale at Mission Grove Shopping Center - Former KMart (free- $18)
- Skate Park Community Design Workshops at Bobby Bonds Park
- The Living Nativity at Magnolia Church
- Marisela - Empoderada Tour at Fox Performing Arts Center
- Noche de Rock En Espanol w/ Tribute to Heroes Del Silencio at The Concert Lounge - Romano's Mission Grove
- Noche de Rock y 80s, Mana vs Rock en Español night! at The Hideaway Cafe & Lounge
- Silverstein: 25 Years Of Noise at Riverside Municipal Auditorium
Saturday
- Goeske Holiday Festival at Janet Goeske Center
- Woodcrest Market Collective at Woodcrest Public Library
- Holiday Pet Pictures with Santa or the Grinch at Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center ($40)
- Holiday Bazaar at Victoria Woods
- Holiday Cookie House Decorating Party at Marcy Library
- Evergreen Cemetery Tour at Evergreen Cemetery ($21.20)
- UC Riverside Highlanders Women's Basketball vs. Cal Poly Mustangs at UC Riverside Student Recreation Center ($61.57)
- Swan Lake by International Ballet Stars at Fox Performing Arts Center
- A Very Emo Christmas at The Hideaway Cafe & Lounge
- Tom Petty Tribute by Petty Party! at The Concert Lounge - Romano's Mission Grove
- Palm Springs Gay Men's Chorus at All Saints Riverside at All Saints' Episcopal Church
Sunday
- Santa Run at Farmhouse Collective
- Alternative Gift Fair at First United Methodist Church
- Breakfast with Santa at the Cactus Cantina
- Architectural Walking Tour of Downtown Riverside at Mission Inn Foundation & Visitor Center ($21.20)
- Mt. Rubidoux Walking Tour at Mt. Rubidoux Trailhead, a short walk from Ryan Bonaminio Park. ($21.20)
- Family First Sunday: Wishboxes & Winter Impression Cyanotypes at UCR ARTS
- Holidays at the Weber House at Peter J. Weber House
- RCC Wind Ensemble Concert at Riverside City College
- The Screwtape Letters at Fox Performing Arts Center
Save the Date
- December 13: Olivewood Memorial Park Historical Cemetery Tour at Olivewood Memorial Park ($20)
- December 13: Walk to the Peace Tower and Friendship Bridge on the 100th Anniversary at Mount Rubidoux
- December 13: Wreaths Across America at Evergreen Memorial Historic Cemetery
- December 14: Victorian Christmas Open House at Heritage House
- December 16: Passing on a Wealth of Wisdom - Family Legacy Workshop at
- December 20: Woodcrest Market Collective at Woodcrest Public Library
- December 24: Christmas Eve Celebration at First Congregational Church of Riverside
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