Wednesday Gazette: January 22, 2025
Hello Riverside, and Happy Wednesday!
We were called out earlier this week for failing to report on Monday's presidential inauguration. Allow me to explain why: as a community news outlet, we cover Riverside—that's it. If the inauguration was held here, we would have reported on it. And, until someone from our city is elected president, we will report on all future inaugurations exactly the same way—we won't.
"Everything you are passionate about at the national level has a local analog that needs your attention."
–Charles Marohn, founder and president of Strong Towns
Countless newsrooms cover national events and policy, and several great newsrooms cover California well, but no one else is covering the city of Riverside. We live here, we love it here, and we're exclusively focused on covering what's happening here and why it matters.
"I’m ok that we don’t see everything the same. I still adore you," I read Tuesday in Facebook comments on a post about Monday's inauguration, "We both have the same love for our county and community."
Many of the divisions that so strongly define this modern era of national politics are diminished at the local level, where we exist as neighbors.
I'm often accused of naiveté because I have this dream that our relentless focus on the city of Riverside can draw out a spirit of neighborliness that pulls Riversiders together across those divisions. And perhaps our unity could, in turn, draw others together regionally, statewide, and nationally.
That's my dream, in the meantime we're staying relentless focused building a newsroom that gives Riverside the best community coverage of any city in the country.
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EVENTS
Riverside's Lunar Festival Returns with New Additions for Year of the Snake
Riverside’s Lunar Festival returns with carnival rides and a car exhibit, alongside traditional performances, food, and workshops.
Riverside's 13th annual Lunar Festival celebrates the Year of the Snake on January 25-26, expanding its offerings while maintaining cherished traditions. The free event transforms downtown with carnival rides, cultural performances, and a blend of traditional and modern attractions.
Driving the news: The festival committee has added carnival rides and a JDM car exhibit to complement traditional elements like lion dances and calligraphy workshops.
- The marketplace between Lime and Orange Streets will feature local artisans and food vendors offering both traditional and fusion cuisine.
Why it matters: The event showcases Riverside's commitment to cultural diversity and accessibility, offering free admission and a wide range of activities for all residents.
- Celebrations echo ancient customs, from red decorations symbolizing good fortune to lantern displays.
The bottom line: The Lunar Festival runs Saturday from 11 AM to 8 PM and Sunday from 11 AM to 7 PM, offering a unique blend of ancient traditions and modern entertainment in the heart of Riverside.
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NATURALLY RIVERSIDE
Pomelos: A Must-Have for Lunar New Year
Symbolizing good fortune, pomelos play a key role in Lunar New Year celebrations. Riverside’s 13th Annual Lunar Festival highlights this auspicious fruit and its cultural significance.
This year, the Chinese New Year is a fifteen-day celebration of the Year of the Snake. It starts on January 29, the first new moon of the solar year. In Riverside, we will celebrate more than just Chinese New Year with our 13th downtown Annual Lunar Festival on January 25 and 26th to acknowledge the many East and Southeast Asian cultures that enjoy Lunar Year festivities at the same time. These cultures include the Taiwanese, Vietnamese, Singaporean, Malaysian, Filipino, and Korean. East Asian Lunar New Year celebrations involve various activities to bring luck for the following year: gifts, displays, dances, and fireworks. Not least of these traditions are displaying and eating lucky foods.
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COMMUNITY
Pioneer Architect's Legacy Lives on in Downtown Riverside
The Riverside Art Museum, a 1929 Julia Morgan design, highlights her legacy in community-focused architecture.
Julia Morgan's architectural footprint can be found throughout California, from the grand Hearst Castle to modest community buildings. Here in Riverside, we're fortunate to house one of her masterworks – a striking Mediterranean Revival building that has evolved from its 1929 origins as a YWCA to become our cherished Riverside Art Museum.
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Noteworthy
UC Riverside philosopher John Fischer argues that massive tragedies like the Los Angeles fires are best understood by imagining one's own potential losses.
Frank Lemos, Jr., who started his postal career as a Riverside mail carrier, has been appointed as Riverside's new Postmaster, overseeing 421 employees and 215 delivery routes across four facilities.
What's Happening in Riverside
Today
- Certified Farmers Market at 10th & Lemon Streets
- Stretch & Dance Class at Janet Goeske Senior Center
- Riverside East Rotary Club at Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern
Tomorrow
- CBU Men’s Basketball Game at CBU ($6 - $16)
- Latino Network Membership Mixer & Board Installation 2025 at Zacatecas Cafe
- Paint n Sip Party-Riverside Love at Retro on Main
Save the Date
- January 28-29: The Book of Mormon at Fox Performing Arts Center
- February 1: Riverside Arts Academy: Rising Stars Gala at Coil School for the Arts ($125 - $175)
- February 19: Galentine's Day - Women's Health Event at Janet Goeske Center
- March 7: Pardi Gras Pub Crawl 2025 at Loft 84 ($35)
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