Sunday Gazette: February 23, 2025
Hello Riverside, and Happy Sunday!
Last week, we asked for your ideas of what a Riverside-based NBA team should be called, and our favorite came from Patricia Holub. I would happily sport a "Raincross Renegades" jersey when out and about town!
We'll see you tomorrow!
ART & ENTERTAINMENT
Reilly O’Neill Tells The Story of His Grandfather’s Iconic Watercolors on YouTube
Don O’Neill is a watercolor pioneer and a civic legend. His unique vision of our city is an enduring treasure.
The Raincross Gazette is launching a new series that explores Riverside’s rich history through curated YouTube videos and nostalgic storytelling. This project brings the city’s past to life by connecting historical moments with engaging online content.
Driving the news: A YouTube channel featuring watercolor paintings by the late Don O'Neill, a prominent figure in Riverside's downtown arts scene, has caught attention.
• O'Neill's grandson, Reilly, created the channel to showcase his grandfather's unique vision of Riverside.
Why it matters: Don O'Neill's work represents a bygone era of Riverside, capturing the city's essence in a distinctive watercolor style.
• His paintings push the boundaries of traditional watercolor techniques, presenting a more angular and bustling portrayal of urban life.
The big picture: Reilly O'Neill's efforts go beyond mere preservation, offering a personal perspective on his grandfather's artistic legacy.
• He balances academic rigor with personal admiration, creating compelling content for viewers.
What's next: As Riverside evolves, Don O'Neill's art may become an increasingly valuable historical record of the city's past.
• Reilly predicts his grandfather's work will represent a world vastly different from that of 2065.
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NEIGHBOR OF THE WEEK
Neighbor of the Week: Kristin Varner
Each week, we will introduce a new neighbor. This is not a who's who list. These are regular Riversiders doing exceptional things.
Kristin, a Riverside local, has dedicated her life to wellness through yoga and advocacy. After practicing yoga and law in Riverside for two decades, she co-founded the Community Yoga Initiative (CYI) in 2018 to expand affordable and inclusive yoga outreach. CYI offers over 500 free yoga opportunities each year, focusing on the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of yoga. In addition to her work with CYI, Kristin co-founded the Community Yoga Center (CYC), Riverside’s first non-profit yoga school, where she leads teacher training and meditation courses. Kristin also shares yoga with incarcerated men through the Prison Yoga Project and is an instructor for the U.S. Men’s Olympic Water Polo Team. She is part of the organizing committee for the Ananda Yoga Festival, Riverside’s first outdoor yoga festival.
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CREATIVE PROMPTS
Funny How
A prompt to encourage your practice of creativity this week from Riversider and local author Larry Burns.
This week, I challenged my writing collaborator, Gemini Advanced, to come up with a non-physical object for our creative focus. No surprise, it really thought outside the box (stardust, unicorn horns, mermaid scale…I believe my writing partner is ten years old and knows me well), but her suggestion of laughter really grabbed my attention. And no surprise, laughter is a big part of my life, especially in times of challenge or uncertainty.
I use laughter to point me towards what is true and useful; it releases stress; it can knit together a roomful of strangers; it's contagious - spreading like a refreshing breeze through a crowd, leaving a trail of smiles and good cheer in its wake.Laughter is a language app that transcends cultures and borders, uniting us in a shared experience. It comes pre-installed in every model; no special downloads are required to participate in this week's creative nudge.
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This Week in Riverside
Sunday, February 23
- Riverside Edition Monopoly Challenge at California Citrus State Historic Park ($30 - $145)
- The Riverside Dickens Festival 2025 at White Park ($0 - $45)
Monday, February 24
- Board of Public Utilities at Riverside City Hall
- Monday Carillon Recitals at UCR Bell Tower
- RCTC Programs and Projects at County Admin Center 4080 Lemon St. 1st
Tuesday, February 25
- Volunteer Interest Hour at Riverside Meals on Wheels, Inc
- Curbing Hunger: Bridging Gaps at Feeding America Warehouse
- Inland Empire Chorus Rehearsal at Temple Beth El Synagogue
- Seeking Justice: An Panel Discussion - Workers Rights at Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern
- Tuesday Karaoke at The Hideaway
Wednesday, February 26
- Certified Farmers Market at 10th & Lemon Streets
- Riverside East Rotary Club at Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern
- Stretch & Dance Class at Janet Goeske Senior Center
- Community Police Review Commission at Riverside City Hall
- Museum of Riverside Board at Riverside City Hall
- Baseball vs. Loyola Marymount at Riverside Sports Complex
- The Comedy Lobby is back! at The Lobby
- Unsung Heroes-Honoring Forgotten Voices at Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California
- Roman, an AI opera by Ian Dicke at UCR ARTS
- Walk with Her: Protest Art and Educational Justice at UCR Alumni & Visitors Center
Thursday, February 27
- Human Relations Commission at Riverside City Hall
- Planning Commission at Riverside City Hall
- Hawaii at UCR Highlanders Womens Basketball at SRC Arena
- UCR Public Service Job Fair at Alumni & Visitors Center
Friday, February 28
- Riverside Sunrise Rotary at Zacatecas Mexican Cafe
- Booker T. Washington - Frank A. Miller Tablet Dedication on Mt. Rubidoux at Mt. Rubidoux Summit
- Baseball at California Baptist
- The Book of Will at The Wallace Theatre at California Baptist University ($9 - $14)
- DOT by Colman Domingo at The Box Riverside ($22 - $25)
- The Emo Night Tour at Riverside Municipal Auditorium ($15 - $19)
- The Murder Mystery Co’s Dinner Theater Show at The Old Spaghetti Factory ($59)
- Charity Goth Dance Night at The Hideaway Cafe & Lounge
Saturday, March 1
- Downtown Certified Farmers Market at Main Street at 5th
- Tomato Time at Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District LandUse Learning Center
- Cars and Coffee at Harvest Church
- FA Awareness Week: Cash for College at Riverside City College
- Baseball vs. Utah at Riverside Sports Complex
- Utah Tech Trailblazers at California Baptist Lancers Womens Basketball at Fowler Events Center
- William H. Reynolds Memorial Carillon Recital at UCR Bell Tower
- Tiki Goth night at The Hideaway Cafe & Lounge
- Bravo the Bagchaser at Riverside Municipal Auditorium ($35)
- An Evening at the Fox at Fox Performing Arts Center
Save The Date
- March 2: Composing Women at Calvary Presbyterian Church ($10 - $15)
- March 2: DOT by Colman Domingo at The Box Riverside ($22 - $25)
- March 2: Plática at The Cheech – Amalia Mesa-Bains with Judy Baca at The Cheech Center for Chicano Art and Culture
- March 6: Palabra at The Cheech Center for Chicano Art and Culture
- March 7: Pardi Gras Pub Crawl 2025 at Loft 84 Wedding & Event Center ($35)
- April 4: World Premier Melodrama by Westmont Village Masquers Theatre Club at Westmont Village
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