FIVE GUYS BURGERS NOW SERVES SOUTH RENO ... BUT RED ROBIN SAVES THE DAY

There's no shortage of places to eat in South Reno, but when a new restaurant comes to town, a stampede ensues.  Five Guys Burgers, a chain that grew out of Arlington, Virginia, recently opened shop at 6395 S. McCarran Blvd.

About 2 p.m. this past Sunday, every table at Five Guys was full and the line to order food was nearly out the door.  Not wanting to eat in our car, my family decided to return to Five Guys a few weeks from now.  Maybe by then, the dust will have cleared.

It didn’t take long for us to come up with Plan B for lunch. Across the street, at 4999 Kietzke Ln., is the South Reno location of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers.

Red Robin was founded in Seattle in 1969.  When my daughter attended University of Washington, we often dined at the original location at Furhrman Ave. E. and Eastlake Ave. E., near the University Bridge.

The building dated back to 1940 and was first known as Sam’s Tavern, then as Sam’s Red Robin (inspired by the tune “When the red, red robin comes bob, bob, bobbin’ along …”) and then simply as Red Robin.

That now-shuttered restaurant had a great view of Portage Bay, although the crazily sloped parking lot was a real problem when wet and slippery.  Even in ideal weather, when you opened your car door, you sort of fell sideways out of your car.  Adding to the funhouse atmosphere, the original Red Robin restaurant sported an image of the mascot holding something that resembled “weed.” This was long before the state of Washington legalized marijuana.  Who knew???

The menu and decor at the South Reno Red Robin are very similar to what you’d find at any current Red Robin location in the U.S. or Canada.

Unique to South Reno, however, are nods to Lake Tahoe and Virginia Street and a map of Nevada, with the Red Robin relishing regional activities such as skiing, rodeo-riding, Hot August Nights and The Great Reno Balloon Race.

Gourmet burgers and “bottomless” steak fries (unlimited refills on the fries and soft drinks) are the mainstays at Red Robin. 

We hardly need to look at our menus, as each person in my family has an old favorite: My husband loves the Guacamole Bacon Burger; my son is loyal to the Whiskey River BBQ Burger; I’m a fan of the Banzai Burger with pineapple and teriyaki sauce; and our daughter always asks for a Whiskey River BBQ Chicken Sandwich.  Oh, and you can order burgers at Red Robin with a turkey or veggie patty instead of beef or with a whole-grain bun. 

Other Red Robin sandwiches, including the Baja Turkey Club and  BLTA Croissant, are very good, too, as are the various salads.  My one-and-only Red Robin regret (back at the Seattle location) was ordering a salmon burger.  Ordinarily, seafood in Seattle is primo. But when a restaurant prides itself on its gourmet burgers, why mess with perfection?

Just as the food at Red Robin is consistently fresh and tasty, our servers at the South Reno location have always been pleasant and attentive.

How will Five Guys Burgers in South Reno measure up?  Checking it out is on our "to-do" list.

To view a Red Robin menu, or learn more about its history (as well as its focus on giving back to the community), visit http://www.redrobin.com/ .

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CLOTHES MENTOR AND PLATO'S CLOSET IN MIDTOWN RENO: CURRENT FASHIONS FOR LESS CASH

We’re about midway through summer and your clothes closet is probably pretty well-stocked for this season.  But if you’re like me — or most women, for that matter — you wouldn’t mind adding a few more things to wear if you could find cute, current fashions at hard-to-resist prices.

Right now,  Clothes Mentor, 1509 S. Virginia St. and Plato’s Closet, 1535 S.Virginia St., in Reno’s Midtown neighborhood, are offering secondhand but stylish summer clothing and accessories at a fraction of what you’ve pay for new.  And at the moment, their selections are likely more bountiful than what you’d find in most shops at the local malls, where summer clearance racks are “picked over.”

According to its Web site, Clothes Mentor is part of a chain of 85 stores located across 25 states that provides cash on the spot for attractive, gently used, ladies’ clothing and then resells it for someone else to enjoy.  Well-known brands are preferred and clothing must be fresh and in good condition — no rips or stains, no broken zippers or missing buttons.

Plato’s Closet has a similar business model, but sells clothing for both guys and girls in sizes and styles geared to teens and young adults.

On a quick visit this weekend, I was pleasantly surprised to see that Clothes Mentor

is a clean, well-organized store with merchandise neatly grouped by style, size and color.

Clothes Mentor, Midtown Reno

Clothes Mentor, Midtown Reno

Prices here were rather remarkable.  I saw nice, name-brand tops for $5-10 and even fancy dresses for less than $20.  Fellow shoppers or browsers at Clothes Mentor seemed to range in age from 30s to 70s and the merchandise included both playful and work-appropriate items.  

At nearby Plato’s Closet, there was a line for the fitting rooms, but female and male customers of high school and college age appeared to be having a positive experience.

Plato's Closet, Midtown Reno

I’ve seen really mixed reviews on Yelp, for both the local Clothes Mentor and Plato’s Closet locations.  That’s typical of Yelp, of course.  Each person’s expectations are different and much depends on the date and time of their visit, since even the best-run businesses can have “off" days or stressed-out staffers.  

In a nutshell, when shopping at a secondhand clothing store, be humble and remind yourself, as one Yelper put it, that “it’s not Nordstrom."  Maybe you'll strike gold.  If not, don't sweat it and  just move on!

And if you're deliberately seeking clothing that’s not currently in style — that is, retro, Bohemian or Burning Man attire — venture farther north in Reno’s Midtown neighborhood, to the fun, funky Junkee Clothing Exchange, 960 S. Virginia St.

For information about Clothes Mentor and Plato's Closet in Midtown Reno, visit: http://www.clothesmentor.com/reno#   and  http://www.platoscloset.com/locations/list/nv .

To learn more about Junkee Clothing Exchange, visit: http://www.junkeeclothingexchange.com/ .

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BEAT THE HEAT AT SOUTH RENO'S YOGURT BEACH

As the kids in my old neighborhood used to say, “It’s hotter than H-E-Double Hockey Sticks!”  (And by the way, how ‘bout those Chicago Blackhawks?)

The heat is definitely on in South Reno, with temps in the 100s expected for the next several days.  Most folks will wisely limit their time outdoors.  But if cabin fever creeps in and you’re craving a cold treat, a good place to visit is South Reno’s Yogurt Beach in the Village at Double Diamond, 748 S. Meadows Pkwy., Suite A-5 (around the corner from the Smith’s supermarket and facing the Renown South Meadows Medical Center).

Yogurt Beach sells refreshing frozen yogurt in non-fat and low-fat varieties, plus a few flavors of sorbet and vanilla or chocolate custard.  It’s a self-serve set-up.  You fill your cup with the flavors of your choice, as much or as little as you want of each.  Then stroll over to the topping bar, where you can garnish your fro-yo, custard or sorbet with fruit, nuts, candy or cookie bits.  Get your cold creation weighed — it costs 39 cents per ounce — then grab a spoon and enjoy, either inside the air-conditioned shop or when the weather is hospitable, at a table outside.

I love that Yogurt Beach offers healthy options and that I can control what goes into my cup.

Here, for example, is a mixture of non-fat Madagascar Vanilla and non-fat Oregon Blackberry frozen yogurt, topped with fresh blackberries and chopped almonds. Light, simple and satisfying.

My kind of treat at South Reno's Yogurt Beach

On another warm day, I bought a serving of gelato at the South Reno Whole Foods Market, 6139 S. Virginia St.

I ordered the White Chocolate Raspberry gelato, which was interesting and featured some big chunks of white chocolate at the bottom of the bowl.  I’m more of a fruit lover, though, and wished I could have tasted more raspberry instead.

Gelato at South Reno's Whole Foods Market

That’s why I’m more inclined to cool off at Yogurt Beach.  If I’m in the mood for berries, cherries, pineapple tidbits, etc., they’re available in the quantities that I desire.  For more information about Yogurt Beach, visit http://yogurtbeach.com/locations/ .

BONUS TRAVEL TIPS: 

If you’re lucky enough to visit Chicago this summer  — and I feel cooler just looking at this scene of Lake Michigan, overlooking the Chicago skyline and Navy Pier …

Sailing on Lake Michigan, overlooking Chicago

... there are a few iconic ice cream shops that I highly recommend.

• Gertie’s is a true Chicago institution, founded in 1901.  It’s the place to go for old-fashioned, decadent ice cream sundaes, milkshakes and floats.  In my youth, I’d hang out with friends and family at the former Gertie’s location on 59^th and Kedzie, next to the Colony Theatre.  Currently, Gertie’s shares real estate at various Chicago and suburban locations with Lindy’s Chili, a delicious and rib-sticking Windy City meal since 1924. To learn more about Gertie's and Lindy's, visit http://www.lindyschili.com/ .

• The Original Rainbow Cone was established in 1926 in Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood and still draws several generations of fans.  The namesake delicacy is a cone loaded with orange sherbet, pistachio ice cream, Palmer House ice cream (New York vanilla with cherries and walnuts) and then strawberry and chocolate ice creams.  Colorful and scrumptious!  Check out The Original Rainbow Cone at http://rainbowcone.com/ .

• Last but not least, there’s The Plush Horse, located in a cute little house in woodsy Palos Park, a Southwest suburban (Chicago) favorite since 1937.  Oodles of house-made ice cream flavors are available by the scoop, in a cone or in a sundae.  My no-fail flavor at The Plush Horse is their Fresh Peach.  Others in my family go wild for their Rum Raisin or Mint  Chocolate Chip.  Read about The Plush Horse at http://www.theplushhorse.com/ .

Savor your summer, here in South Reno or wherever the roads may lead you!

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DOWNTOWN RENO'S MAJESTIC THEATRE AND OTHERS FROM THE GOLDEN AGE OF MOVIES

While recently watching “That’s Entertainment III,” a delightful compilation of clips from classic MGM musicals, I pondered where Renoites might have gone to experience the original films— from the birth of  “the talkies” in the late 1920s through the 1930s, ‘40s, ‘50s and beyond.

Before the days of television, going to the movies was the great American pastime.  And what was unbelievably cool is that even people of modest means could enjoy a night (or afternoon) of wonderful entertainment for relatively little money.  It was not just the pictures on the silver screen that enchanted audiences and helped them to forget their troubles, even during the Great Depression and World War II.  The theatres themselves were like palaces, with plush seating, gorgeous art, dazzling chandeliers and more.

In the 1980s, I spent some time as the publicist at the Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet, Illinois, a historic landmark that started out as a vaudeville house, then was a movie house and now still thrives as a venue for live performances. The slogan then was “The Rialto Square Theatre: Where The Show Begins Before The Show Begins” and you could certainly understand why, when you saw this jaw-droppingly beautiful facility: http://www.rialtosquare.com/

I wasn’t around to witness the golden age of movies in Reno, but from what I can gather, the Majestic Theatre was probably the most significant and opulent movie theatre in The Biggest Little City’s history.  Through online research and research at the Nevada Historical Society, I learned that the Majestic was located on East First Street near South Virginia Street in downtown Reno, next to the famous but long-gone Mapes Hotel.

Here is how that part of downtown Reno looks today:

Once upon a time, Reno's famous Mapes Hotel and Majestic Theatre stood near this location in downtown Reno.

Here, courtesy of a Web site called Cinema Treasures, is how the exterior of the Majestic looked in the early 1900s: http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/19405

The Majestic opened in 1910 as a playhouse, filling the gap between large entertainment venues in Salt Lake City and San Francisco.

A 1974 story from the Nevada State Journal said that the first “talking picture” in Reno was shown at the Majestic, utilizing Thomas A. Edison’s kinetophone, a “combination talking machine with motion pictures,” operated with a crank and accompanied by a phonograph recording.  That event took place in 1913.

The Majestic was remodeled in the Moorish style by architect Frederick DeLongchamps and reopened with a grand gala in 1925.  According to a 2004 story in the Reno Gazette-Journal, the souvenir program from that event mentioned a “most inviting restroom for the ladies” and “a modern, forced-air furnace” as well as electric lights among its many attributes.   (A Wurlitzer theatre organ had also been installed at the Majestic in 1918.)

During the Majestic’s gala in 1925, a live program featured Tony (Peccetti) and His Melody Men and Rena Semenza and Ethel Lunsford in a skit called “Tea for Two,” as well as Master Brady billed as The Boy Caruso.

The film for that occasion was “Shore Leave” starring Richard Barthlemess and featuring Samuel Hines.

In 1928, the Majestic installed equipment to allow the showing of sound pictures.  “The Jazz Singer,” produced by Warner Brothers and starring Al Jolson, was shown in November 1928 at Reno’s Majestic Theatre.  This was the first feature-length film with spoken dialogue.

In 1941, 3-D films were introduced at the Majestic.  Cinemascope came about in the early 1950s and had glorious four-track sound.  (A big deal at that time!)

In 1955 and 1963, the Majestic was plagued by floods in downtown Reno and the latter disaster necessitated a temporary closure of the theatre. 

The marquee at the Majestic was turned off on the night of April 28, 1974.  The final movie shown there was “The Three Musketeers,” presumably the 1973 version which starred Oliver Reed, Raquel Welch, Richard Chamberlain and Michael York.  In 1921, the Majestic had shown the silent version of  “The Three Musketeers” with Douglas Fairbanks Sr.

A Nevada State Journal article from October 1974, headlined “Thunderous Roar Accompanied Majestic’s Biggest Performance,” described the throngs that assembled to watch the Majestic’s demolition.

It was a very sad day, I am sure, for the generations of movie fans who frequented and loved the Majestic.

My research at the Nevada Historical Society also yielded the following random facts:

The Wigwam Theatre at Second and Sierra in downtown Reno was replaced by the Nevada Theatre with new amenities in 1942 and became the Crest Theatre, showing 3-D movies in 1948.  The Crest was wrecked in 1978 to clear the way for the Moneytree Casino.

Downtown Reno’s Rialto Theatre on West First Street opened in 1915 and became the Granada in 1926.  In 1974, the Granada was divided into two theatres.  In 1983, it was one of the venues nationwide which drew big crowds with “The Return of the Jedi.”  The Granada closed in the early 1990s and was demolished in 1997.  The site is now occupied by a condo building, across the street from the modern-day Century Theatres, as seen here:

Long ago, Reno's Granada Theatre (formerly called the Rialto) stood near the scene of the modern-day Century Theatres in downtown Reno.

Another downtown Reno theatre, the Tower, on South Virginia Street near Liberty, was torn down in the early 1960s and replaced by a bank and offices. But before its demise, the Tower premiered the TV show “Bonanza” which was set in the Reno-Tahoe area. The stars of “Bonanza,” who were still unknowns then, attended the special event and “Bonanza” went on to become one of the most successful TV series of all time.

A 1943 edition of the Reno Gazette-Journal revealed that in April of that year, downtown Reno’s Majestic was showing “Lucky Jordan” with Alan Ladd and “Shadow of a Doubt” with Joseph Cotton.

The Granada showed “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” (a musical romance) and “Nightmare” with Brian Donlevy and Diana Barrymore in April 1943.

At the Nevada Theatre in April 1943, patrons could watch “Kings Row” with Ann Sheridan, Robert Cummings and Ronald Reagan.  (Yes, kids, the same guy who later became  President of the United States).

Meanwhile, the Tower in downtown Reno was showing “Belle Starr” with Gene Tierney and Randolph Scott, as well as “Charley’s Aunt” with Jack Benny and Kay Francis.

Another fun fact about downtown Reno’s Granada Theatre was that in 1979, midnight showings of “The Rocky Horror Picture show” attracted kids dressed in drag and carrying props, a practice which many older patrons found disgraceful.  R-rated movies at the Granada were also a problem in the 1970s, according to the Nevada State Journal. Tourists were dumping their youngsters off at the theatre while they went to nearby clubs and casinos.

Delving a bit into downtown Reno’s movie theatre past was interesting.  My thanks to the helpful staff at the Nevada Historical Society, located next to the University of Nevada, Reno, on North Virginia Street.

Photos of, or anecdotes about, Reno’s old-time movie theatres would be most welcome.  Please e-mail me at maryd89521@gmail.com if you have some gems to share.

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REDISCOVER CLASSIC MOVIES AT THE SUMMIT IN SOUTH RENO THIS SUMMER

Summer, when your favorite TV shows are on hiatus, is an ideal time to catch up on classic films you might never have seen or to revisit those that you wish you could see again — especially on a big screen, with big sound.

Did you know that the Century Theatres at The Summit in South Reno is among a few locations in Nevada which offers the Cinemark Classics movie series?

The Century Theatres at The Summit in South Reno

Last week, the theatre at The Summit shopping center presented a couple of showings of Steven Spielberg’s 1975 blockbuster “Jaws,” in a digitally restored version.

Continuing the Spielberg homage, The Summit and other participating Cinemark Theatres will show “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981), “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” (1982) and “Schindler’s List” (1993) this month.

One hundred percent of the proceeds from the screenings of “Schindler’s List” will be donated to the USC Shoah Foundation.  Based at the University of Southern California, the foundation was established in 1994 to preserve audio-visual histories of Holocaust survivors and witnesses.

Why pay to view old movies at the theatre when you can watch them on TV or DVD free of charge?  There is something magical about experiencing movies as they were originally meant to be seen and heard, free of the distractions you encounter at home.  This is especially true of award-winning films that have stood the test of time.  Maybe you fondly remember them from your childhood or young adulthood; maybe you’d like to introduce them to your children and grandkids.

The Cinemark Classic series has included such beloved music-and-dance films as “The Sound of Music” (1965) and “Saturday Night Fever” (1977) and dramas such as “The Graduate” (1967) and “Raging Bull” (1980).

The Summit theatres in South Reno also present Cinemark’s CineÁrts series of foreign films and concerts/special events ranging from The Metropolitan Opera to the Grateful Dead.

For bargain lovers, there’s a Kids' Summer Movie Clubhouse series of G-rated and PG-rated films for $1 per show, ticket discounts for seniors and active military personnel and Early Bird Matinees (first screenings of the day, 7 days a week) with ticket discounts for anyone.

To “make a day of it” at The Summit, without breaking the bank, there are fast-food restaurants such as Subway and Fatburger adjacent to the movie theatres.  The Summit features plenty of full-service dining options, too.  And there's abundant free parking at The Summit, overlooking the scenic Sierra range.  It's potentially a nice little get-away without straying too far, if you live in (or are visiting) the South Reno or Tahoe vicinities.

For more information about the Cinemark Classics series and other special promotions at the theatres at The Summit, visit http://www.cinemark.com/cinemark-classic-series .

The Summit shopping center is located on South Virginia Street at Mount Rose Highway in South Reno.  For general information, call (775) 853-7800 or visit http://www.thesummitonline.com/reno/ .

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FARMERS' MARKETS RETURN TO SOUTH RENO

June is bustin’ out all over — and so are farmers’ markets in South Reno.  

Sunday, June 2 was the first day of the seasonal market behind The Grove at South Creek, 95 Foothill Rd. (just off South Virginia Street, across the street from WinCo).

Last summer, I never got around to visiting this particular farmers’ market, which runs from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sundays through Sept. 15: https://www.facebook.com/SouthRenoFarmersMarket

But I believe that some weeks, it featured music and family activities along with rural Nevada and Northern California vendors of fresh fruit, vegetables, herbs, honey, condiments, baked goods, grass-fed beef and non-food items such as hats and yard decor.

Regular participation from both vendors and patrons undoubtedly makes or breaks a farmers’ market.  “The more the merrier,” all the way around!  A well-run market is a true community gathering place, enhanced by cooking demonstrations, entertainment and parades for kids and pets.  One of the best models I’ve ever seen is the long-running Redmond Saturday Market in Redmond, Washington:  http://experienceredmond.com/events/the-redmond-saturday-market/

As the summer unfolds, the farmers' market at The Grove at South Creek should pick up steam from its close proximity to the South Reno Squeeze In, an extremely busy spot for breakfast and lunch, especially on the weekends: http://www.squeezein.com/squeeze3.html

Other farmers’ markets in South Reno can be found as follows:

9 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesdays and Saturdays at The Summit shopping center, South Virignia Street and Mt. Rose Highway, through Sept. 28: http://www.thesummitonline.com/reno/?p=4425

8 a.m.-1 p.m. Fridays at Tamarack Junction Casino, 13101 S. Virginia St., through Sept. 27: http://tamarackjunction.com/events-promos/farmers-market

As your mom always said, "Eat your vegetables!" And support local farmers.

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SPRING FEVER REVIVAL 2013, A SNEAK PEEK AT HOT AUGUST NIGHTS IN DOWNTOWN RENO

Cool cars drew crowds to the 2013 Spring Fever Revival in Downtown Reno this past Friday and Saturday.

The event was a small-scale teaser for Hot August Nights, an annual extravaganza throughout Reno-Sparks and South Lake Tahoe, with hundreds of activities showcasing classic cars and rock and roll music from the 1950s, ‘60s and early ‘70s.

In fact, Spring Fever Revival married a previously-established Hot August Nights promotion called Spring Fever and a Silver Legacy Resort Casino promotion known as Rock-and-Roll Revival.

On Saturday afternoon, an energetic oldies cover band called 60’s Summer of Love took the stage on Fourth and South Virginia Streets (between the Eldorado and Silver Legacy Casinos). Guests sang and danced along to feel-good hits by the Beatles, Spencer Davis Group and more.

I’m always impressed by people who have the expertise and passion to restore and  maintain gorgeous cars from a bygone era.

By today’s standards, many of the cars you’ll see at shows like Spring Fever Revival and Hot August Nights are “gas guzzlers.”  They wouldn’t be practical for everyday use in modern society.

But it sure is fun to check them out — and they bring back a lot of memories for folks who lived through the days when Americans were crazy for cars, as well as younger spectators who wish they had been around for the wild ride.

The 2013 Hot August Nights festival kicks off with events in South Lake Tahoe Aug. 2-3, followed by a bevy of show-and-shines, concerts, auto auctions and more, in Reno and Sparks Aug. 6-11.  This year’s headlining entertainers include Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Tower of Power and The Temptations Review featuring Dennis Edwards.

For a full schedule of upcoming Hot August Nights events, visit http://www.hotaugustnights.net/ .

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