Wednesday Gazette: November 26, 2025
Hello Riverside, and Happy Wednesday! Tomorrow's Thanksgiving, and whether you're hosting, traveling, or keeping it simple, we hope your day is filled with good food and good company.
In today's edition, we've got our Shop Small guide to help you support local businesses this season, plus a quick and easy Thanksgiving punch recipe you can make ahead of time and customize as a mocktail or cocktail.
From all of us at The Raincross Gazette, happy Thanksgiving, Riverside.
-4 cups Apple cider
-¼ cup pure maple syrup
-1 sliced Gala apple
-1 sliced Granny Smith apple
-1 cup orange juice
-1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
-1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
-1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
-½ teaspoon ground ginger
-½ teaspoon ground allspice
-Ginger beer, for topping (You can also use sparkling water or seltzer if preferred)
-Add optional cup of whiskey or brandy
Instructions: Combine all ingredients, chill and serve over ice. Go above and beyond and garnish with fresh rosemary sprigs, sliced apples or pomegranate arils. Cheers!
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BUSINESS
Your Guide to Shopping Small This Holiday Season
From Main Street to neighborhood shops across the city, here's where to find unique gifts while supporting local businesses.
You might not be able to complete 100% of your holiday shopping at small businesses, but every local purchase makes a difference. We're highlighting more than 30 independently owned shops across Riverside where you can find everything from vintage clothing and handcrafted pottery to fresh-roasted coffee and artisan baked goods. Whether you're browsing the walkable Main Street Pedestrian Mall or discovering neighborhood gems, these retailers offer unique gifts you won't find anywhere else. Small businesses are the heart of our community, and supporting them helps keep Riverside vibrant and distinctive. From art galleries selling local work to thrift shops supporting worthy causes, there's something for everyone on your list. Click through to discover your new favorite local shop and make this holiday season a little more Riverside.
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Noteworthy
UC Riverside received $8 million from the Department of Defense to develop AI-driven network technology that adapts during disasters and battlefield scenarios, building on a 2020 research phase that engaged nearly 100 students.
RCC's Umoja Program received two statewide honors at the 2025 UMOJA Annual Conference—the Ma'at Impact Award as California's best Umoja program and recognition for producing the most STEM graduates of any Umoja program statewide.
La Sierra University launched the Home@LaSierra Endowment to provide debt-free college for foster youth, raising approximately $70,000 toward a $2 million goal at a November 13 fundraiser with a gala planned for October 14, 2026.
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What's Happening in Riverside
Wednesday, November 26
- Riverside East Rotary Club at Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern
- Blue Zones Project Riverside: Greeting Cards for a Cause at Blue Zones Project Office
- Bordwell Park Advisory Committee at Stratton Community Center
- Hungry Hounds on Thanksgiving Eve - A Dine Out Fundraiser at Riverside Area Restaurants
- Thanksgiving Eve Bar Crawl at Killer Queens Social House
- Paint n' Sip Event!! Friends-Giving!! at Riverside Food Lab
- Riverside Mission Belles at Victoria Presbyterian Church
- Riverside Open Mic Music Series at Back to the Grind
Thursday, November 27
- FREE Thanksgiving Dinner at Central Community Christian Fellowship
Friday, November 28
- Joe Moses: All Black Attire Affair at Proabition at ProAbition
- Live tribute to The Sisters of Mercy at The Hideaway Cafe & Lounge
- The Mars Volta at Riverside Municipal Auditorium
- Knobb Deep at Farmhouse Collective
Saturday, November 29
- Cars and Coffee at Harvest Church at Harvest Church
- Holiday Marketplace at Arcade Coffee Roasters - Tasting Room
- Little Land Use Learners (Topic: Changing Leaves and Trees) at Corona Resource Conservation District
- Abbey Road - Christmas with the Beatles at Fox Riverside Theatre ($19- $36)
- Noche de Cumbia at The Hideaway Cafe & Lounge
- The Red Pears at Riverside Municipal Auditorium
- Riverside Electric Light Parade Monthly Ride Experience at 4050 Main Street
Save The Date
- December 6: Goeske Holiday Festival at Janet Goeske Center
- 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
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