Friday Gazette: September 18, 2026
Hello Riverside, and Happy Friday! Welcome to the weekend. Don't forget to check out our community calendar for a wide variety of things to do around town.
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COMMUNITY
Nothing Mid About Midtown
A looping Midtown walk turns up thrift shops, murals, an ice cream break and a few old habits that refuse a new name.
I have trouble deciding where to park in Midtown. There are several possible routes I can take today; none of them can cover all Midtown has to offer. Choosing a place to park narrows my options. Which I guess I need. Every direction offers something, and I already suspect I've brought more curiosity than time.
I settle near San Simeon Way and Brockton Avenue, where uncomplicated free parking requires just a few extra steps to reach dozens of destinations. From here, I can buy shoes or have them repaired, get my hair and nails done, upgrade my car stereo, pick up pet supplies or satisfy a sweet tooth.
I don't need any of those things today, but just to be safe I start walking down Brockton away from the cookie shop. Where will my willpower take me next?
The Arcade's low storefronts and long overhangs keep its architectural bona fides intact while providing lots of helpful shade for shoppers. While not playing the role of consumer or travel guide, I have done plenty of that back when this area was called Magnolia Center. I imagine I'm not the only one. Rene's Artique and Little Green Onions — I miss you!
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CITY HALL
Council Creates Working Group to Develop Citywide AI Strategy
The temporary panel will examine AI's impact on city services, the workforce and data centers ahead of a policy proposal.
Riverside will spend the next 13 months crafting a citywide game plan for artificial intelligence.
Why it matters: Three councilmembers will decide how City Hall uses AI — and how it affects your privacy, cybersecurity and job security — before bringing recommendations back for a vote.
Driving the news: Council voted unanimously Tuesday to create the temporary, three-member panel and gave it 13 months to return with policy recommendations.
- Councilmembers Steven Robillard, Philip Falcone and Steve Hemenway will serve on the group.
The big picture: The group's scope reaches beyond city operations, covering Riverside's workforce, schools, businesses and the infrastructure AI demands.
- Chief Innovation Officer George Khalil compared AI's impact to "the steam engine, electricity and flight."
- Riverside already uses AI through Rivy, a chatbot launched last year to help residents navigate city services.
What they're saying: Robillard said Riverside shouldn't wait for AI's disruption to hit before preparing.
- "We should be intentional about how we prepare," he said.
- Falcone, who leads a related data center debate, joked the assignment is something he needs "like I need a hole in the head."
What's next: The group will hold public meetings under the Brown Act roughly once a month, then dissolve after submitting its final report.
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BUSINESS
Council Overturns Denial of Magnolia Avenue Wine and Spirits Shop
Planning and construction will start immediately at the former Allin Party Supply location.
Council overturned its Planning Commission and approved a wine shop and tasting room for a vacant Magnolia Avenue storefront.
Why it matters: Jazzy's brings a more than $11 million investment and up to 30 jobs to the long-vacant former Allin Party Supply site — but adds another liquor license to a Midtown census tract regulators already consider overconcentrated.
The backstory: The Planning Commission rejected the project 2-6 in April, citing existing liquor licenses and neighborhood compatibility concerns.
- Council voted 6-0 Tuesday to override that denial; Mayor Pro Tem Clarissa Cervantes abstained, saying she arrived late.
By the numbers: Census Tract 311 already has 9 off-sale liquor licenses where the state anticipates 2, and 28 on-sale licenses where it anticipates 5.
- The new license brings those totals to 10 and 29.
What they're saying: Councilmember Sean Mill backed the project despite overconcentration concerns.
- "Vacancy breeds vagrancy," Mill said.
- Resident Dave Lanham, the lone public opponent, disagreed: "You ought to be reducing them," he said.
What's next: Patel must start construction within a year and close nightly by 10 p.m.; three sustained disturbance complaints within 12 months could trigger revocation.
- Patel expects three to six months of city review before construction begins.
- "I'm putting my name on the building," said Patel, who plans to run it himself.
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Adoptable Pet of the Week
Meet Betty!
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.
What's Happening in Riverside
Friday, September 18
- Riverside Sunrise Rotary Club Meeting at Zacatecas Café
- Volunteer Interest Hour at Riverside Meals on Wheels
- Sight Unseen Reframed Exhibition at Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern
- Open Mic Night at Riverside Baha'i Center
- FOOS GONE WILD: The FOOS GONE WILD Tour 2026 at Riverside Municipal Auditorium
- FREE YOGA - The Evolution of Ashtanga with Kristin Varner at Community Yoga Center
- Gasolina ReggaetĂłn Party (18+) at Riverside Municipal Auditorium
- LAUGHTER ON THE 23RD FLOOR by Neil Simon at Riverside Community Players ($20- $25)
- Murder Mystery Co. Dinner Theater Show at The Old Spaghetti Factory ($69)
- Titus Andronicus presented by Full Circle Players at The Box Theater ($23- $30)
Saturday, September 19
- Low-Cost Vaccination Clinic at Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center's Spay-Neuter Clinic ($10- $28)
- Water Smarts 101 at Western Municipal Water District
- Adrián Uribe: 50 y Pico Tour at Fox Performing Arts Center
- Adult Ballet Class at Riverside Ballet Arts LLC
- Fold, Spindle, Mutilate at UCR ARTS
- FREE YOGA - The Art of Vinyasa with Catherine Murray at Community Yoga Center
- FREE YOGA - Yin Yoga with Kristin Varner at Community Yoga Center
- Goeske Bingo at Janet Goeske Center ($20- $100)
- Its A 2000's Party (18+) at Riverside Municipal Auditorium
- Magic Underground at Back to the Grind ($30- $45)
- Pirates of the Caribbean Movie and Craft at Marcy Library
- Songs Behind the Sun: Open Mic at Riverside Main Library
Sunday, September 20
- Gardening for Butterflies at UCR Botanic Gardens
- Prayers and Public Information Meeting at Riverside Baha'i Center
- Dancing for Fun at Janet Goeske Center
- Vision Beyond Sight: Tech and Accessibility in Action Panel Discussion at Civil Rights Institute Inland Southern California
- Juicy Talk Citrus From Ancient Times to California's Second Great Gold Rush at California Citrus State Historic Park
- Sevendust & Theory of a Deadman: The Dead / Seven Tour at Riverside Municipal Auditorium
- The Sixties Show at Fox Performing Arts Center
Save the Date
- Sep 21: FREE YOGA - Moody Mondays with Cherie Amour at Community Yoga Center
- Sep 21: FREE YOGA - The Evolution of Ashtanga with Kristin Varner at Community Yoga Center
- Sep 23: FREE Beginning Square Dance Lessons with Line Dancing at Cowtown Square Dance Center
- Sep 23: FREE YOGA - Seated Yoga with Kristin Varner at All Saints Episcopal Church
- Sep 24: Where are Riverside County's Ballots and How Secure Are Its Elections? at The Cheech Marin Center
- Sep 25: Moon Festival at Heritage House
- Sep 25: Riverside Sunrise Rotary Club Meeting at Zacatecas Café
- Sep 26: FREE YOGA - The Art of Vinyasa with Catherine Murray at Community Yoga Center
- Sep 26: FREE YOGA - Yin Yoga with Kristin Varner at Community Yoga Center
- Oct 3: Aquamotion Aquathon at Shamel Pool
- Oct 4: Riverside Historical Society Local History Book Fair at Villegas Community Center
- Oct 7: Fifty & Better Health Fair at Janet Goeske Center
- Oct 22: Experience RUSD, Riverside Unified State of the District at Riverside Municipal Airport
- Oct 24: Vintage Car and Warbird Show at Riverside Airport - Commemorative Air Force Hanger and Museum
- Nov 14: Riverside Veterans Parade - Downtown Riverside/Market St.
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