Things To Do in Reno
Bookstore
Available as paperback
and as e-book.
Reno Attractions
The Historic Reno Preservation Society (HRPS), P.O. Box 14003, Reno, NV 89533 (tel. 775/747-4478; www.historicreno.org), offers a series of architectural and historical walking tours. You can stroll through the city's ethnic neighborhoods or bike through some of Reno's historic zones, each loaded with many examples of classic American architectural styles. Check the website for dates and times.
The Truckee River winds through downtown Reno, and the Arts District (www.renoriver.org) that's sprung up along its banks is worth a stroll. A walk beginning at Wingfield Park will lead you over the bridge onto West Street Plaza, where concerts are held. Shops line First Street with cinemas, coffeehouses, and art galleries. Follow Virginia Street to find the Riverside Hotel Artist Lofts, and the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts. The third Saturday of each month the Downtown Merchants Association hosts Wine Walk on the Riverwalk from 2 to 5pm. For $20 participants get a commemorative glass and wine tastings at more than a dozen art galleries, specialty shops, restaurants, and theaters. The South end of the Truckee River Arts District, known as CalAve, is becoming a notable neighborhood with boutiques, restaurants and bars, and the formidable Nevada Museum of Art.
Reno Nightlife
Reno's big action is in the casinos, and the major resorts have enough showrooms, cabaret lounges, and intimate bars to keep you entertained all night long. If you're staying in one of the big ones, you can usually find all the entertainment you want without leaving the premises. The new Reno Events Center has brought in such A-list entertainers as the Black Eyed Peas, Brooks & Dunn, and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. The Reno Events Center is 1 block north of National Bowling Stadium, bounded by Fourth and Fifth streets, and Center and Lake streets in downtown Reno. Check the RSCVA website at www.visitrenotahoe.com for up-to-date information about what's playing at the casino hotels and at the Reno Events Center.
Performing Arts
The Theater Coalition (tel. 775/786-2278; www.theatercoalition.org) gathers information about area theater, ballet, opera, and musical performances and lists them on its website.
The Reno Philharmonic Orchestra, 925 Riverside Dr. (tel. 775/323-6393; www.renophilharmonic.com), presents a fall and winter concert season plus summer concerts in the park. On a smaller scale but no less talented is the Reno Chamber Orchestra, 925 Riverside Dr. (tel. 775/348-9413; www.renochamberorchestra.org), which presents concerts at various times during the year. The Pioneer Center, 100 S. Virginia St. (tel. 775/686-6610; www.pioneercenter.com), is the home for traveling Broadway companies, as well as the ballet and opera. The Nevada Shakespeare Company, 1 Booth St. (tel. 775/324-4198; www.nevada-shakespeare.org), presents modern renditions of the Bard's famous plays, as well as original works.
Club & Music Scene
The 24-hour Alturas Bar & Nightclub, 1044 E. 4th St. (tel. 775/324-5050), is the place for the blues and also features top R&B entertainment and pool tables. A slew of hip clubs and ultra lounges have emerged as part of Reno's urban renaissance. 210North, 210 N. Sierra St. (tel. 775/786-6210), the largest entry on the club scene, features two distinct dance floors, plus two VIP lounges, VIP beds, and several full-service bars to ensure every glass is always full. BuBinga Lounge, inside the Eldorado Hotel (tel. 775/786-5700), is an established favorite where DJs spin everything from electronica to rap and where the young and stylish congregate. Divine Ultra Lounge, 101 N. Sierra St. (tel. 775/329-8088), offers an upscale experience on a more intimate scale. Also burning up the late-night scene is Tonic, 231 W. 2nd St. (tel. 775/337-6868). A down-tempo lounge with an urban/chic decor, Tonic has lounge chairs and banquettes, local artists' work adorning the walls, and a large dance floor. It's a popular late-night spot with live jazz and DJs Thursday through Saturday, so expect the crowds on the weekends, particularly after 11pm.
Scruples Bar & Grill, 91 W. Plumb Lane (tel. 775/322-7171), features a huge menu with the best bar food in town available 24/7, indoor/outdoor dining, live music on the patio in the summer, and the requisite big-screen TV for watching sports.
Tronix, 303 Kietzke Lane (tel. 775/333-9696), caters mainly to the gay/lesbian community, while the 1099 Club, 1099 S. Virginia St. (tel. 775/329-1099), caters to Reno's drag set.
