GALENA CREEK RECREATION AREA: A PEACEFUL RETREAT IN SOUTH RENO

What a difference a few days can make!  With today's snowfall and fierce winds on Mt. Rose — and wind and rain on South Reno's valley floor — it's probably not the best time to visit the Galena Creek Recreation Area.  But as of this past Friday, the weather was still glorious at this peaceful and picturesque nature retreat, just a 10-or-15 minute drive from The Summit shopping center. 

Galena Creek Recreation Area, adjacent to Galena Creek Regional Park, is situated within the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. The area offers places to hike, snowshoe, fish and learn about nature.  

There is ample outdoor signage about the history, geography and culture of the region, as well as a small but lovely museum-like building, the Galena Creek Visitor Center.  

Admission to the recreation area and to the Galena Creek Visitor Center is free; donations are welcome.  Be aware, however, that the visitor center is now on a winter schedule, open only Friday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Inside the visitor center, you'll find exhibits about mining, local plants and animals, including auditory and tactile features:  Push buttons to hear the sounds of footsteps crunching on a trail, rain pouring down, wind and thunder.  Feel animal pelts.  Learn the difference between native and invasive plant species. 

Great Basin Naturalists conduct kids' camps and all-ages programs such as bird-watching and astronomy, in and around the visitor center.  Schedules are posted in the building. 

Also at the visitor center, you can purchase books, greeting cards and calendars depicting local wildlife.  Plus, free maps and brochures are available,  to help you safely navigate the park. 

The Galena Creek Recreation Area and Galena Creek Visitor Center are located at 18250 Mt. Rose Highway in South Reno.  For more information, call (775) 849-4948 or visit 

http://www.galenacreekvisitorcenter.org/ .

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OCTOBER FUN AT RENO'S FERRARI FARMS

If you have young children, a trip to a pumpkin farm is an October "must."  My family's all-time favorite was Bengtson's Farm in Homer Glen, Illinois, http://www.pumpkinfarm.com/ .
This spacious, well-kept farm has lots of animals,  pony rides, hayrides, a corn maze, Haunted Barn, Fun Barn, Halloween shop and more. 

In South Reno, it pains me to see the fake pumpkin patch on South Virginia Street, across from Walmart.  Most of the year, the Toll House Pumpkin Patch is an empty lot.  They cart in some pumpkins, set up some bouncy houses and call it a pumpkin patch. 

It's good for kids to see where food comes from.  They develop respect for nature and for the hard-working people who plant and harvest the crops.  Ferrari Farms Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch, on Mill Street just East of Rock Boulevard in Reno, is a no-frills farm, not as grand as Bengtson's, but it is a real, working farm. 

This past beautiful Sunday afternoon, Ferrari Farms was packed with both kids and grown-ups, enjoying hayrides, a bouncy house, the corn maze and a few farm animals, but mostly just scurrying around, joyfully searching for perfect pumpkins and goofy gourds. 

What's nice about this farm is that parking is free, admission is free and there are only modest charges for the hayrides and bouncy house.  You can bring the kids to buy a pumpkin or two, show them pumpkins actually growing out of the ground and not spend a fortune. 

What I'd really like to see, at Ferrari Farms or any pumpkin farms that welcome the public during the month of October, is a true educational component. 

It would be great to see signs with fun facts such as how long it takes to grow a pumpkin, what kind of soil is best, how much water is needed, etc.  Information about the nutritional value of pumpkins, kid-friendly pumpkin recipes and pumpkin-carving safety tips would be interesting and useful, too.  If farm owners don't have the time or resources to present such exhibits, perhaps high school or college students could be given opportunities to volunteer and share their knowledge. 

Ferrari Farms does not have a Web site but you can call (775) 856-4962 for more information. 

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BLIND ONION PIZZA PUB: GREAT LUNCH AND GROOVY LOGO

I was born and raised in a serious pizza town.  Chicago has the best pizza in the U.S.  After living (and eating pizzas) in other regions — including  Dallas, Salt Lake City and Seattle — I've learned not to expect Chicago pizza elsewhere.  But in every location, I stubbornly seek pizza that is at least better-than-average.   It's a pleasant surprise when such "better-than-average" pizza offers good value, too.

The lunch deal at The Blind Onion, 6405 S. Virginia St. in South Reno, is outrageous — and guess what?  Pizza at The Blind Onion, although not equal to Chicago pizza, meets my approval for pizza in the Wild West.

On my first visit to this tiny pizza pub, at the busy corner of South Virginia and Neil Street, I ordered the "Soda and Slice" ($5).  This featured a one-topping pizza (extra toppings, 50 cents each) and a large, refillable soft drink.   I was shocked to see that the "slice" was large enough to be two slices.

My toppings were Italian sausage and mushroom.  The topping portions were adequate and very tasty and the crust won points for having a buttery flavor and a nice crunch at the bottom — at least in the middle of the pizza. The outer edges of the crust were "bready" for someone like me, who grew up on super-thin-crust Chicago pizza.  (Yes, you read that correctly.  It is a common misconception that all Chicago pizza is deep-dish or stuffed.  Not true.  There are three kinds of fabulous pizza in Chicago: thin-crust, deep-dish and stuffed.)

I'm not saying that the thick edges on The Blind Onion's pizza didn't taste good.  The overall flavor of the crust was really nice; I'm just not into a lot of bread.  I noticed there were jugs of honey on each table.   Perhaps some folks like to use that to make the excess crust into a dessert.  I was content to stick with shakers of Parmesan cheese and oregano, which made my pizza more zesty.

It was also weird to see that pizza at The Blind Onion is served with little cups of Ranch dressing. I've never seen that in my life.  It must be a Portland thing!  From what I read on the back of a take-out menu, The Blind Onion was born in Portland, Oregon and then branched out to Vancouver, Washington — two cool Pacific Northwest towns.  (Not as cool as Seattle, naturally.  Or Chicago.  "Just sayin'.")

As for atmosphere, the South Reno Blind Onion is dimly lit and very casual. The bar dominates the room and there are a few tables.

Two Blind Onion locations in nearby Sparks, Nevada are said to have party rooms.

But although the South Reno Blind Onion doesn't look that much like a kid-friendly place, their groovy logo summons smiles from kids of all ages. The Blind Onion's name is Fred.  

And along with official illustrations of Fred, children's drawings of The Blind Onion are plastered all over the walls of this pizza pub.  Irresistibly cute.

The take-out menu for The Blind Onion describes it as "Your Neighborhood Pizza Joint."  While I live much closer to Lamppost Pizza, near Damonte Ranch, I was sorely disappointed by the pizza there and would absolutely travel farther to The Blind Onion for better-than-average pizza and the great lunch special.

For more information about The Blind Onion, call (775) 351-2000 or visit

http://www.blindonion.com/ .

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NOTHING BUNDT CAKES: SWEET RETRO TREATS IN SOUTH RENO

In this day and age, one wouldn't expect to see a store that sells Bundt cakes exclusively.  Yet there is such a store in South Reno.  Nothing Bundt Cakes is located at 5051 S. McCarran Blvd., in the Smith Ridge shopping center, near the always-hopping Trader Joe's. 

Bundt cakes were all the rage in the 1970s — and then sort of disappeared.  Now I'm thinking of a scene from the 2002 romantic comedy "My Big Fat Greek Wedding."  When Ian Miller's very prim mother presented a Bundt cake at a Portokalos family gathering, Toula's ebullient Greek mom was confused by the sight of the cake "with a hole in it."  However, at Nothing Bundt Cakes, customers seem to get a mood lift from the retro desserts. 

The distinctively-shaped cakes, baked in pans that resemble old-fashioned jello molds, come in 10 flavors: Red Velvet, Chocolate Chocolate Chip, White Chocolate Raspberry, Lemon, Marble, Pecan Praline, Carrot, White White Chocolate and Cinnamon Swirl, plus a special Flavor of the Month.  

Frosting at Nothing Bundt Cakes is made with cream cheese and real butter. The Signature frosting is thicker.  Drizzle frosting is more lightly applied. 

The cakes can be customized with decorations for holidays, birthdays, weddings or other occasions. 

Sizes include 8 and 10-inch cakes ($18.50-$39.50 depending on whether they're just frosted or decorated); Bundlets (personal size, $3.99 each or also available in towers or bundles); Bundtinis (bite-sized, sold by the dozen at $16.50).  Tiered cakes are also available and you can mix and match flavors. 

I tried a Lemon Bundlet.  The moment I opened the box, the fresh lemon aroma was amazing.  The cake was incredibly moist and delicious and the frosting was great — indulgent, but not overly sweet. 

My family doesn't eat a lot of cake and we all have our own flavor preferences, so I could see Bundtlets as a good solution when we're in the mood for something sweet but not so much that it will just go to waste — or waist, ha ha. 

South Reno's Nothing Bundt Cakes is part of a chain that began in Las Vegas and now can be found throughout the U.S.  For more information, call (775) 827-5151 or visit 

http://www.nothingbundtcakes.com/ .

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RENO CELTIC CELEBRATION AT BARTLEY RANCH REGIONAL PARK

My hometown of Chicago celebrated St. Patrick's Day in a big way. The Chicago River was dyed green and there were two great parades — Downtown and South Side. 

The 22nd annual Reno Celtic Celebration was held Oct. 6-7 at South Reno's Bartley Ranch Regional Park.  At first, it didn't occur to me why this fest would take place in the fall. But according to the event program, the Celtic Celebration was launched by the now defunct Fitzgerald's Casino and Hotel to coincide with Samhain, the beginning of winter on the Celtic calendar.  Samhain was the equivalent of the Celtic New Year and the predecessor of what we now know as Halloween.  

I also learned that the Reno Celtic Celebration formerly operated at the Reno Livestock Events Center and then became part of Reno's July tradition of Artown.  The Celtic Celebration moved to Bartley Ranch in 2007.  It's a great location for this event, with lots of room for guests to roam and an excellent outdoor concert venue, the Robert Z. Hawkins Amphitheater. 

On Saturday's visit to the Celtic Celebration, we arrived just in time to watch and listen to a pipe band and a rousing set by Tempest, a very energetic, Oakland, California-based Celtic rock band.

Several Celtic dance schools performed on a smaller stage. 

Strolling around the grounds, it was fun to see many guests in historic costumes — some very impressive — as well as members of various clans wearing their families' tartans. 

Vendors sold Irish and Scottish goods.  It was unexpected to see a Teriyaki stand next to one selling fish and chips. 

Celtic animals and British cars were on display, as well. 

Admission to the Celtic Celebration was $10 per person for one day or $15 for a two-day pass.  For me, a few hours was long enough to check out some entertainment there, but I can see how groups of friends and relatives with ties to the British Isles could turn this into a two-day reunion.  

I also liked that Bartley Ranch is a clean, relaxing, attractive environment in which to hold an ethnic festival.  The Eldorado's Great Italian Festival was also underway this past weekend, in downtown Reno.  I went last year and was amused by a Frank Sinatra impersonator, but not enamored with the seedy surroundings. 

The Reno Celtic Celebration program noted that this non-profit cultural organization's mission is to "share the Celtic Heritage with the community through entertainment and education" and also described the event as "a community and family event that is suitable and safe for all ages and sensibilities."  I'll vote for that!

For more information, visit 

http://www.renoceltic.org/ .

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SOUTH RENO'S LA POSADA REAL: BETTER THE SECOND TIME AROUND

If you've moved around a lot  — as my family has — you know how great it feels to find just the right places to shop or dine, only to relocate again and hunt for new favorites.  It takes trial and error.  Tips from neighbors or co-workers aren't always helpful because they come from different backgrounds and have different expectations. 

Back in Washington state, our "go-to" spot for Mexican dining was Ixtapa in Duvall, a small town on Seattle's Eastside.  The food was as authentic and awesome as just about any we've had in the U.S., including San Diego. 

Our first foray into Mexican dining, here in South Reno, was at La Posada Real, 5270 Longley Ln.  Being "Ixtapa Snobs," we agreed it was pretty good, but didn't quite measure up to what we'd had before. 

Then we tried Murrieta's, on South Virginia Street near Patriot Boulevard.  Our first two experiences were positive, but the third was atrocious.  On that visit, service was very inattentive and my leathery chicken fajitas seemed to have been reheated, possibly more than once. 

As bad as that was, Serrano's at The Summit was worse.  The salsa and enchilada sauce looked and tasted like plain old ketchup.  Not even Heinz ketchup, but a watered-down bargain brand.  We didn't shed a tear when Serrano's closed soon afterward.  The spot is now occupied by The Tuscan Tomato, which we've not yet tried. 

Before revisiting La Posada Real, we also sampled Mexican food at Toucan Charlie's Buffet at Atlantis.  Their Mexican items were all right — not outstanding. The buffet, in general, was odd, with Mexican and Asian choices far outweighing American.  For instance, I ate a side of stir-fried Asian vegetables with a slice of prime rib because there weren't any plain options like broccoli or green beans near the carving station. 

However, let's get back to Mexican food and another trip to La Posada Real.  I'm not sure what changed in the past year but it was so much better the second time around.  Is the place under new management?  Have we just forgotten how much we loved Ixtapa in Duvall, Washington?   I don't know, but for now, I think La Posada Real might just be South Reno's best bet for Mexican food. 

Lunch combinations at La Posada Real are not inexpensive but the portions are dinner-sized and the quality is way above-average. 

One chile relleno with an enchilada (choice of cheese, chicken or beef) costs $11.25 and comes with rice, choice of beans (refried, whole or black) and lettuce and tomato.   Sour cream costs $1 extra. 

One tamal with choice of enchilada, rice and beans costs $10.25.  Larger or smaller combos are also available. 

Complimentary chips and salsa at La Posada Real are fresh and delicious.  It irks me when Mexican restaurants charge extra for this or use chips from a bag.  One thing I'd add — and yes, this goes back again to my love of Ixtapa in Duvall — is that it's nice to get two types of salsa, "hot" and "hotter," to alternate between the two.  La Posada Real's salsa is addictive but has a powerful kick. 

Service and decor at La Posada Real are pleasant.  The dining room has a sleek, modern look, the music isn't overly loud, etc. While the nice weather lasts, you can also sit outside in the shadow of Mount La Posada. (Okay, I don't know what that looming mountain is actually called, but Mount La Posada seems like a logical name.) 

Sometimes you "can't go home" to your favorite ethnic restaurants, but La Posada Real in South Reno could maybe be a home away from home. 

For more information, call (775) 852-1227 or visit  http://www.facebook.com/pages/La-Posada-Real/113644515337117 .

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SOUTH RENO'S SQUEEZE IN SERVES "BEST OMELETTES ON THE PLANET"

South Reno's Squeeze In, 25 Foothill Rd. #3, is easily my family's favorite spot in Northern Nevada for breakfast or brunch.  

Squeeze In is famous for more than 60 varieties of the "best omelettes on the planet" and impeccable service in a fun, funky atmosphere.

I recently chatted with Shila Morris, who co-owns the four Squeeze In locations (Truckee, Calif.; Northwest Reno, Nev.; South Reno, Nev. and Sparks, Nev.) with her husband Chad Morris and her parents Gary and Misty Young.  She shared some history and reasons for Squeeze In's success.

Shila Morris

I was already aware, from Squeeze In's Web site and their newsletters, that the restaurant was opened by a different family, in 1974, in Truckee.  The name came from the tiny space. Diners had to "squeeze in."  The Youngs had been longtime customers and purchased the restaurant in 2004, eager to preserve the popular menu and the playful vibe.

Morris noted, laughing, "The original 1974 menu said, 'Streakers eat free' and some people actually took them up on it.  That was definitely the spirit in 1974." 

I asked her how much of the current menu was true to the original menu.  "The original line-up is mostly on there," she said, gesturing to the current menu.  "There originally were 57 omelettes. We added nine and retired some that weren't really popular. Like there were several with chicken liver!  We don't have any with chicken liver anymore.  And we retired some with fruit, but still have one with fruit."

Some of the so-called "retired" omelettes can still be found on Squeeze In's Old School Menu.  They aim to please both returning and new customers.

"The Racy Tracy is one of the originals," Morris commented, referring to an omelette that was featured on Food Network's "Throwdown with Bobby Flay." It features bacon, avocado, mushrooms and Jack cheese. 

Omelettes at Squeeze In are typically served with "spudz" (sort of like home fries), your choice of toast (wheat, sourdough or rye) and choice of sauce (cheese, mushroom or tomato pesto).  The first time we visited Squeeze In, my family was baffled by the sauce. "Where is this supposed to go?"  We quickly discovered that the tomato pesto is delicious on both the omelettes and the spudz.  Refills of toast and sauce at Squeeze In are free.

If you're watching carbs or cholesterol, you can also order omelettes made with Egg Beaters and a different side such as salad, fruit, sliced tomatoes or cottage cheese.

All of the ingredients for Squeeze In omelettes are sauteed in a special white wine sauce. "And our omelettes are American style, more like an egg taco, wrapped around the fillings, rather than French style omelettes which are more cooked-in, more 'chef-y'," Morris explained.

Squeeze In is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., 363 days a year.  They only close on Christmas Day and Thanksgiving Day. Even at that, on Thanksgiving morning, the Squeeze In owners serve breakfast to their employees and their families.  "It's our way of giving back, to show appreciation for all of their hard work," said Morris.

Between the four locations, Squeeze In has just under 100 employees.  "Each has two front managers and two back managers and we also have regional managers who float around as needed," said Morris.  "As owners, our focus is on our associates, to help them with their guests.  I manage the managers.  We work really hard on training, make sure the associates know the business, our history, our culture, why we're passionate about what we do.  And we pool tips, so that any server in the restaurant is your server.  You're not going to be ignored when your server is busy."

That's something I can vouch for. At the South Reno Squeeze In, it's never a problem to get a drink refilled, or request more toast or anything else.  Cheerful servers are fast on their feet and always courteous.

In addition to their fame on Food Network, Squeeze In has won many awards and was recently mentioned in the New York Times, on a blog about the restaurant's finesse with social media.  I asked Morris if there's a dream TV show or magazine where she'd especially love to see a feature about Squeeze In.

"Any feature is a good feature," she replied, grinning. "I'd love to meet Bethenny Frankel. She's kind of a personal hero and she's also a chef, like a mentor chef.  And I love Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. If they ever want to interview me, I'll know I've made it."

Meanwhile, Morris added, Squeeze In loves to focus on the communities it serves and to contribute to local charities. Every issue of their newsletter lists fundraising drives and donations of gift baskets to people and organizations in need. 

"We really are a family," Morris concluded. Her sister, Kay Young, also works at Squeeze In and many of their associates are also related, such as mother-daughter and mother-son teams.

Not in the mood for an omelette?  Not a problem. Squeeze In's menu includes many other breakfast items, as well as soup, sandwiches, burgers, burritos and more.

For more information about the South Reno Squeeze In, call (775) 853-6090 or visit http://www.squeezein.com/squeeze3.html .

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