SHOPPERS SQUARE: A REMNANT OF SOUTH RENO'S PAST

The corner of South Virginia Street and East Plumb Lane really doesn't feel like "South Reno."  In fact, it's technically at the southern end of Reno's Midtown District.  http://midtowndistrictreno.com/map.htmlHowever, when Shoppers Square opened in 1964, this location was considered the outskirts of town. Obviously, a lot has changed.  The huge, sleek and modern Summit shopping center is now on the far south end of Reno.  ...

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THE AWFUL AWFUL BURGER AT JOHN ASCUAGA'S NUGGET

I've seen Last Chance Joe many times, while attending events at Victorian Square in downtown Sparks, Nevada.  It's hard to miss this oversized, jovial miner who is said to personify the hospitality at John Ascuaga's Nugget, also known as The Nugget. But I never had a reason to "Do The Nugget" as the TV ads cajole.  A Christmas craft show this past weekend finally gave me the nudge to venture into this enormous casino and resort hotel...

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ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF RENO-SPARKS 2012 COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN

At Thanksgiving time — and all throughout the year — there are many outstanding organizations that help people in crisis.  I just received a mailer from the Assistance League of Reno-Sparks about its 2012 Community Campaign. I became well-acquainted with Assistance League when several friends and neighbors were active volunteers in suburban Seattle's Assistance League of the Eastside.  And as a journalist,  I wrote about Assistance...

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FREE PIPE ORGAN CONCERTS IN DOWNTOWN RENO

Music is such an integral part of the winter holiday season, which will be in full swing by the end of this week.  We all have our favorite Christmas pop tunes, along with classical and spiritual pieces of music which bring deep meaning to this time of year. This past spring, I discovered that the Trinity Episcopal Church in downtown Reno offers free "Pipes on the River" programs every Friday at noon.  http://www.trinityreno.org/These...

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CHICAGO-STYLE HOT DOGS IN SOUTH RENO

Relatives in the Midwest giggle when I grumble about the shortage of humble hot dog joints in the West.  Not in cities like Los Angeles, but certainly in the Pacific Northwest and here in Reno, too.  Neighborhood hot dog stands  — with delicious cheap eats — are everywhere in my hometown of Chicago. The late, great Little Eddy's Hot Dogs on Chicago's Southwest SideWhen my husband, kids and I moved to the Seattle metro area, we...

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HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE AT OLD STONE HOUSE IN SPARKS

A Holiday Open House was a good excuse for a Sunday afternoon trip to the Old Stone House Gift and Garden store, 3397 Pyramid Way in Sparks, Nevada.  No, I am not going to call Sparks a "day trip from South Reno," but if not for this special event, I probably wouldn't have made the drive. I'm glad I checked out the Old Stone House.  They have a lovely display of Christmas trees and decor, with themes ranging from feathered friends,...

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"ALL THINGS NEVADA" AT RENO'S NEVADA STORE

Christmas was not on my mind during yesterday's visit to The Nevada Store, 3368 Lakeside Ct., in Reno's Moana West Shopping Center.  Yet there it was, a Christmas wreath — and then it started to snow. I guess there's no getting around the new phenomenon of "Black Friday Creep," whereby retailers start pushing Christmas shopping on the day after Halloween.  And many mass marketers are making their employees work on Thanksgiving night,...

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NEW YORK PIZZA IN SOUTH RENO (PART 2)

My blog post from Nov. 7, 2012 — NEW YORK PIZZA IN SOUTH RENO (PART 1) — stated that I'm not an expert on New York pizza. I was born and raised in Chicago, so I don't know how New Yorkers would judge the quality or authenticity of two different New York pizza parlors in South Reno. Sheer curiosity motivated me to try NuYalk Pizza, 9780 S. Virginia St.  Hearing that this restaurant has been a Reno institution since 1978 (in a different location...

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NEW YORK PIZZA IN SOUTH RENO (PART 1)

As a proud native Chicagoan, I don't pretend to know good New York-style pizza from bad.  Still, the fact that there are two New York pizza joints vying for business in South Reno — just a few blocks away from one another — presented an intriguing challenge.  I wanted to know how they'd stack up against each other — not from the perspective of an "in-the-know" New Yorker, but just a South Reno newbie who enjoys pizza.My first stop was NuYalk...

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GETTING ICKY AT SOUTH RENO'S GREAT BASIN BREWING COMPANY

I'm more of a wine gal than a beer gal.  Yet back in the state of Washington, I was a fan of the Redhook Brewery in Woodinville.  http://redhook.com/breweries/woodinville-brewery/Redhook's attractive Forecasters Pub had good grub, especially the Tillamook Cheddar Cheeseburger.  And situated near the beautiful Sammamish River trail, Redhook offered gorgeous views on clear days when "the mountain was out."  That would be Mt. Rainier.Still,...

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