Best of - AltWeeklies.com

Transcription

page 15
RENO’S NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
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VOLUME 10, NO. 36
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OCTOBER 14-OCTOBER 20, 2004
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WWW.NEWSREVIEW.COM
It’s great to be the best
You are the reason this is the best “Best of” in Northern Nevada
By the readers and editors of the RN&R
Here it is folks, the moment we’ve all been waiting for: the results of the RN&R’s annual
readers’ poll to determine what people, places and things are the very best in Northern
Nevada.
This year seems especially symbolic, somehow. The Olympics in Athens, Greece,
reminded us of what it really means to be the “best.” It means to try harder, to make a
real effort to grab that unquantifiable—but recognizable—thing that allows one competitor to stand above all others. Being best is not just a category in an alt-weekly newspaper; it’s more than just the desire to have the highest quality customer service or tastiest drink or even smoothest putting green. It’s actually succeeding. It’s the desire, effort
and execution that help to make all of Northern Nevada a better place to live. In many
ways, topping the competition and always striving to put out a better effort than the ones
before are what make us human.
This is also an election year. Voting must be on people’s minds because our readers
sure stood up to be counted. Yes, there were those few who took the concept of a
secret ballot to extremes and failed to put a name and contact information in the place
provided, and there were those businesses who tried to illicitly tip the scales in their own
favor—but those ballots made it into a special file and didn’t impact the results. There’s
probably little reason to point out there were also businesses who honestly and in some
cases successfully lobbied their customers to vote in their favor—it’s called a campaign—a clear analogy to the election that’s coming up in just two weeks.
But the RN&R’s Best of Northern Nevada readers’ poll is more than just a popularity
contest. Many people keep it around to use as a resource throughout the year. Don’t
know where to take your car when the tick becomes a clunk? Got a Mexican-food-favoring friend coming to visit? Look in the Best of; chances are you’ll be pleased with the
results. After all, it’s your neighbors who voted. And if you find the readers’ choices
unsatisfying, check out the editors’ picks, you know we’re always going to have our take
on things.
Finally, congratulations to all the winners, and congratulations and thanks to you who
recognized greatness and took the time to fill out a ballot.
Ω
Goods & Services ..............17
Independents ....................21
Personalities......................23
Fun & Gaming..................27
Nightlife............................30
Outdoors ............................33
Food & Drink ..................35
Kids & Family..................37
Culture................................38
Ballot box stuffers ............41
BEST OF ILLUSTRATIONS BY RICK SEALOCK
BEST OF PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID ROBERTS
INSIDE | OPINION | NEWS | BEST OF NORTHERN NEVADA | ARTS&CULTURE | THEATER | THIS WEEK | MUSICBEAT | NIGHTCLUBS/CASINOS | FOODFINDS | FILM |
CLASSIFIEDS | MISCELLANY | OCTOBER 14, 2004 |
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Goods & Services
Editors’ choices
Best cultural experience
that’s really only shopping
Readers’ choices
FIVE DOG BOOKS
Best bookstore
906 Holcomb Ave., 322-1917
1. BARNES & NOBLE
BOOKSELLERS
Every day must be a great new day for Five Dog Books owner
Manuel Simpson. He owns what can only be called the coolest
lesser-known bookstore in town. The store—you almost have to
know where it is to find it—would be a star on the Unauthorized
Roadmap of Reno. For a mental image, picture wooden floors
with a Dickensian Curiosity Shop groove and books literally sagging the bookshelves. The house itself has quite a history. Built in
1900, it has two major claims to notoriety. On Dec. 20, 1978, an
infamous murder, perpetrated by Jack Mazzan, took place in the
apartment/garage behind the bookstore. Back even further, the
detective who investigated a 1911 Indian massacre lived in the
house. Check out Manuel sometime. Popular mythology says
he’s read every book in the place, and he may greet you with
such pieces of wisdom as, “They used to say that vertebrates
lived longer than any other creature, but did you know they
found a tubeworm in South America that lives 280 years? You
know why? No stress.”
5555 S. Virginia St., 826-8882
2. BORDERS,
4995 S. Virginia St., 448-9999
3. SUNDANCE BOOKS,
1155 W. Fourth St., 786-1188
Best place to buy a
musical instrument
1 . M AY TA N M U S I C
777 S. Center St., 323-5443
2 . B I Z A R R E G U I TA R ,
2677 Oddie Blvd., 331-1001
3 . M O D E R N G U I TA R ,
575 E. Moana Lane, 825-1982
Best place to make a friend
Best Gym
SPCA OF NORTHERN NEVADA
1. 24-HOUR FITNESS
840 E. Fifth St. (shelter), 324-7773;
various locations
903 E. Fourth St. (thrift store), 324-7776
2 . SPORTS WEST ATHLETIC CENTER,
Pets have a way of making you feel better even when you’re having one of those days when it seems the whole world wants to
shake you like an old rag. Pets always seem to be happy to see
you when you come home (especially if you forgot to feed them
before you left), and they usually don’t mind a quick snuggle. If
you don’t have a friend and are thinking of bringing one home,
stop by SPCA and meet some of the dogs and cats waiting for
adoption. The center is a no-kill shelter, so each animal will
remain there until the right person comes along to take it home.
All animals are spayed/neutered, vaccinated and given a
microchip ID. If you can’t afford a pet right now, you might find
something else at the SPCA’s thrift store to take home (perhaps
you can snuggle a used umbrella or an antique vanity). All sales
support its adoption center and other SPCA programs.
1575 S. Virginia St., 348-6666
3 . N E VA D A F I T N E S S ,
various locations
Best place to buy CDs
1 . S O U N D W AV E C D S
971 W. Moana Lane, 825-5044
2 . B E S T B U Y,
5575 S. Virginia St., 448-9797
3. TOWER RECORDS,
6450 S. Virginia St., 852-5559
Best place to rent DVDs
Best place for a patch and rotate
1. BLOCKBUSTER
various locations
ALL TIRE & WHEEL
2 . H O L LY W O O D V I D E O ,
2560 E. Fourth St., 329-1606
various locations
Ray Caron, the owner of All Tire & Wheel, will make you feel like
a member of the family when you come in for a set of tires. He’s
got the type of personality you wish everybody in the car-selling,
-repairing and -maintaining fields had—kinda like your favorite
uncle. Top-of-the-line and bottom-of-the-line tires at AT&W are
pretty inexpensive, as well. And, for the life of the tire/tires, Ray
will quickly invite you in if you call and let him know you need a
tire rotation or a flat repaired. These maintenance tasks are
always performed free of charge, quickly and with a smile. In a
town that’s sprouting up chain tire-repair stores faster than it
can build post-dated check-cashing stores, it’s nice to have a
logo
guy like Ray around to fix your flats.
3. VIDEO MANIACS,
900 W. Fifth St., 786-3444 and 3340 S.
McCarran Blvd., 827-4758
Best adult-themed store
1 . S U Z I E ’ S A D U LT
SUPERSTORE
195 Kietzke Lane, 786-8557
2 . R O M A N T I C S E N S AT I O N S ,
1065 S. Virginia St., 322-1884
3 . G S P O T,
138 West St., 333-6969
Best computer store
2 . M O T H E R L O D E B I C YC L E S ,
1. BEST BUY
3 . C O L L E G E C YC L E R Y,
5575 S. Virginia St., 448-9797
539 E. Prater Way, 355-6700
622 S. Virginia St., 323-1809
2. COMPUSA,
6407 S. Virginia St., 853-4222
3 . M O O N D O G M U LT I M E D I A ,
4896 S. Virginia St., 332-6666
Best place to buy
vintage clothes
1 . S AV E R S
2350 Oddie Blvd., Sparks, 359-4244
Best flower shop
1 . S PA R K S F L O R I S T
1001 Pyramid Way, Suite 100, Sparks,
358-8500; 5000 Smithridge Drive,
Suite C-3, 826-8500
2 . S T. I V E S F L O R I S T,
700 S. Wells Ave., 333-9190
3. LA FLEUR,
475 S. Arlington Ave., 322-8666
2 . RAD BET T Y’S CLOTHING CO.,
141 Vesta St., 322-3889
3 . C O R A L R O S E V I N TA G E ,
805 S. Virginia St., 324-1953
Best bicycle shop
Best beauty salon
1. METRO
250 W. First St., 786-7720
2 . G E N E S I S S A L O N & S PA ,
250 Crummer Lane, 828-9797
1. BICYCLE BANANAS
2005 Sierra Highlands Drive,
No. 115, 747-1413
G O O D S & S E RV I C E S
continued on page 18
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G O O D S & S E RV I C E S
continued from page 17
Soundwave CDs, pictured here with owner
Tim Shaffer, was voted best place to buy
CDs in both the Goods & Services and
Independent categories.
Best specialty
ice cream store
1. COLD STONE CREAMERY
2838 Vista Blvd., Sparks, 355-0668
2 . B E C ’ S F R O Z E N C U S TA R D
FA C T O R Y,
670 Mount Rose St., 322-9332
3. BEN & JERRY’S,
1495 E. Prater Way, Suite 111, Sparks,
355-1236.
3 . M A R B L E S L A B C R E A M E R Y,
2835 N. McCarran Blvd., Sparks,
358-5566
3. BLUE,
3. GREG’S GARAGE,
1170 S. Wells Ave., 329-4555
410 E. Sixth St., 324-0911
Best car dealership
1 . R E N O T O Y O TA
2 . S AT U R N O F R E N O ,
3. JONES WEST FORD,
Best place to
get a tattoo
1 . A C E S TAT T O O
2 . P I R AT E S TAT T O O ,
1039 S. Virginia St., 337-1153
855 E. Fourth St., Suite H, 337-0909
1. MOANA NURSERY
Best place to get pierced
1. BLACK HOLE
912 S. Virginia St., 329-6010
475 Gentry Way, 825-3527
2 . F O N D U E B O DY B O U T I Q U E ,
3. DRY CREEK GARDEN CO.,
416 Greenbrae Drive, Sparks, 359-1750
7250 S. Virginia St., 851-0353
3 . L O T U S B O DY P I E R C I N G ,
677 S. Virginia St., 323-6266
Best bank
3. PET TIN’ PL ACE,
1121 S. Wells Ave., 323-3348
Best skateboard store
1. OUT OF BOUNDS
BOARD SHOP
4084 Kietzke Lane, 825-5771; 3179 S.
Carson St., Carson City, 888-2010
2. WORLD OF TOYS,
various locations
3 . WINNER’S CORNER FULL SERVICE
CAR WASH,
3. US BANK,
2. BANK OF AMERICA,
various locations
Best pawn shop
1 . TA N A M E R A
1 . PA C I F I C
PA W N B R O K E R S
900 S. Meadows Parkway, 853-6563
various locations
2 . M O U N TA I N S H A D O W
A PA R T M E N T S ,
2 . M E T R O PAW N ,
695 E. Patriot Blvd., 851-2772
3 . S U P E R PAW N ,
225 Telegraph St., 322-7223
2 . S I LV E R S TAT E A U T O M O T I V E ,
580 Gentry Way, 827-5510
2004
various locations
3 . COPELAND’S SPORTS FITNESS SUPER
STORES,
1 . C O M PA C T C A R R E PA I R
14,
various locations
2. FRANKTOWN HAND CAR WASH
& E X P R E S S D E TA I L I N G ,
Best place to
get a car repaired
OCTOBER
1. PETCO
Meadowood Mall, 826-7816
2475 Robb Drive, 348-2400
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Best pet supply store
various locations
3 . M A N Z A N I TA G AT E
A PA R T M E N T S ,
S N&R
520 E. Prater Way, Sparks, 331-5500
1 . W E L L S FA R G O B A N K
Best apartment complex
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3. DISCOUNT PET FOOD & SUPPLIES,
6355 S. McCarran Blvd., 827-4222
7699 S Virginia St., 851-1361
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various locations
2 . P E T S M A R T,
2 . G A R D E N S H O P N U R S E R Y,
1 . M I S S I O N CA R WAS H
2 . P E T S M A R T,
681 S. Virginia St., 333-0915
Best garden nursery
Best car wash
1. PETCO
various locations
3 . C A F É TAT 2 ,
Moana Lane and Lakeside Drive,
825-0600; 11301 S. Virginia St., 853-1319
Best pet store
various locations
641 S. Rock Blvd., 331-4044
Best grocery store
1. RALEY’S SUPERMARKETS AND DRUG CENTERS
various locations
2. TRADER JOES,
5035 S. McCarran Blvd., 826-1621
3. ALBERTSONS,
various locations
Meadowood Mall, 829-1700
Best hotel for a
romantic getaway
1. A D V E N T U R E I N N &
WEDDING CHAPEL
3575 S. Virginia St., 828-9000
2. PEPPERMILL HOTEL CASINO,
2707 S. Virginia St., 826-2121
3 . H O T E L S PA C A S I N O ,
1 S. Lake St., 337-6260
Best wireless phone
service coverage
1 . AT&T W I R E L E S S
various locations
2. VERIZON,
various locations
3 . S P R I N T,
various locations
Independents
(non-chain stores)
Editors’ choices
Best place for caviar
OFISHAL AQUARIUM
3434 Lakeside Drive, 825-3434
The employees at Ofishal know their water creatures.
More than one person working at the shop has actually worked at an aquarium. They’ve got a handy fishfact-filled book that customers are encouraged to
peruse while making their fish selections. And the
range of freshwater, saltwater and brackish fish,
anemones, corals, clams, etc. feels surprisingly representative of all the world’s water sources. The
friendly and helpful staff won’t mind if you just want to
come in to look around. Any animal-curious child
aged 4 to 14 would probably be content spending an
hour or more just examining the wildlife—everything
from grown-up sharks to baby sharks still swimming
around inside their eggs to the genetically engineered
Glo-fish. Ofishal is also the only place in town to offer
a full range of fish-related trinkets and antiques. You
can buy a Charlie Tuna hand-held radio and a
snowflake eel in one quick stop.
The best little-known
Mexican restaurant
MI RANCHITO
500 Denslowe Drive, 337-8411
Sterling Village, between the university and the fairgrounds, was one of Reno’s first shopping centers,
surrounded by homes thrown up in the 1950s for
baby-boom families (some of them are flat-topped
houses, a short-lived fad of the postwar era). Today
Readers’ choices
Best independent
bookstore
1. SUNDANCE BOOKSTORE
1155 W. Fourth St., 786-1188
2. DHARMA BOOKS,
W. First St., 786-8667
3. BL ACK AND WHITE BOOKS,
Best independent
computer store
Best independent
hardware
1. MOONDOG MULTIMEDIA
1 . S H E L LY ’ S T R U E
VA LU E H A R DWA R E
4896 S. Virginia St., 332-6666
2. MAC-O-RAMA,
961 Matley Lane,
Suite 130, 626-7751
3 . C O M P U T E R G U Y,
550 E. Plumb Lane,
Suite 201, 829-2341
3378 Lakeside Court, 828-3445
Best independent
CD store
1 . S O U N D W AV E C D s
971 W. Moana Lane, 825-5044
2 . R E C YC L E D R E C O R D S ,
Best uncategorized sandwich
ROSE’S
725 S. Center St., 329-7673
Part of the reason we have this Best of Northern
Nevada contest every year is to remind folks of some
of the great things in Reno and Sparks that add a
pleasant esthetic touch to life. Unfortunately, there
aren’t enough pages in the paper to include a category for every group, business or individual that contributes something great to the Truckee Meadows
palette. While we didn’t have a category for Sandwich
Shop this year (we got tired of people voting for
chainstores like Subway and Port of Subs), there are
only a few places in town that would make the grade.
At the top would be the independent sandwich shop
Rose’s, whose friendly service, artistically named
and made sandwiches and kick-back décor encourage another sip of tea. This is simply the best
sandwich shop in Reno.
Jake Rorex provides Best-of-Northern-Nevadaquality service at Moondog Multimedia.
440 Greenbrae Drive,
Sparks, 358-1841
2. ACE HARDWARE,
1299 Baring Blvd.,
Sparks, 323-2750
3. WESTERN NEVADA SUPPLY CO.,
950 S. Rock Blvd., 359-5800
Best local Internet
service provider
1 . G R E AT B A S I N
INTERNET SERVICE
745 W. Moana Lane,
Suite 350, 348-7299
4930 S. Virginia St., 826-4119;
812 N. Virginia St., 322-4644
2. CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS,
3 . J . J . S E A R C A N DY,
3 . P Y R A M I D . N E T,
200 E. Winnie Lane,
Carson City, 885-8863
it’s mostly a line of those kinds of stores that change
every six months. But one of them is Mi Ranchito, a
terrific restaurant that caters mostly to the folks who
live in the neighborhood. It’s not fancy, but the food is
very tasty, and it’s served in a setting of friendliness
and courtesy. The huevos rancheros will knock your
calcetines off. Best of all, the store doesn’t have a
Chihuahua or talking taco or a corporate logo for a
spokesnoun.
9335 Prototype Drive, 850-8555
116 E. Seventh St.,
Suite 201, 884-3202
Best independent
grocery
1. BLUE BOUNTY
2. BUTCHER BOY
M E AT & D E L I ,
1073 N. Rock Blvd.,
Sparks, 359-7445
3 . I N T E R N AT I O N A L M A R K E T,
95 E. Grove St., 825-5258
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Personalities
Editors’ choices
The best weird personality
lore about Nevada this year
There’s something about this state. It generates some pretty off-the-wall situations—
like the cathouse madam who ran for the
Legislature (Beverly Harrell) and the legalization of bogus youth and anti-cancer
drugs (Laetrile). Here’s another one.
There’s a newspaper column in Chicago
called “The Straight Dope” that answers
people’s weird questions (“If all billion Chinese got up on chairs and all jumped off at
the same time, would the earth be thrown
out of orbit?”), and recently a North Carolina reader asked him what’s up with the
term Chevy Chase: “Who, or what, is Chevy
Chase? There is a Chevy Chase bank, city, a
bad comedic actor (except in Fletch),
numerous streets, lakes, etc. Why does this
person/thing get such attention and national recognition?” Who woulda thunk it? Nevada’s responsible. According to author Cecil
Adams, U.S. Sen. Francis Newlands of
Nevada went back to Washington and while
serving as our senator was also hustling
land development in the boonies outside
D.C. “Senator Newlands came to Washington, D.C., with the dream of building a
planned settlement outside of the nation’s
capital. Over several years, he purchased
more than 1,700 acres of land from Dupont
Circle to Jones Bridge Road, along what is
now Connecticut Avenue. He named the
area Chevy Chase after the Cheviot Hills,
his ancestral homeland.”
This is not to say that Newlands invented
the name—it existed in a ballad before
that—but that Newlands popularized it.
People most likely to take the
best care of your family when
you go outside to smoke
ROBERTO AND
MINDY GULIZIA
Mario’s Portofino Ristorante,
2740 S. Virginia St., 825-7779
What’d’ya mean they didn’t win best Italian
restaurant? I don’t know, Mike, sometimes
you gotta think maybe these readers are
voting for places they’ve heard of instead
of places they actually think are the best.
Obviously, Luciano’s and even La Vecchia
can be considered among the best Italian
restaurants in Reno, but Olive Garden?
These are the people who think the greatest cook in Reno is Chef Boyardee, and who
want their bread to “taste just like Boboli.”
Why don’t we step outside for a moment to
talk about it? Oh, Roberto and Mindy will
take care of them. Have ’em order some
tiramisu.
Mary Bennett, who acts primarily with
Brüka Theatre, has members of the Reno
community starstruck.
Readers’ choices
Best local TV news
1. KOLO CHANNEL 8
Best politician
1. U.S. SEN. HARRY REID
2 . A S S E M B LY W O M A N S H E I L A L E S L I E
3 . R E N O M AY O R B O B C A S H E L L
2. KRNV CHANNEL 4
3. KTVN CHANNEL 2
Best local radio DJ or DJ team
Best local columnist
1 . C O RY FA R L E Y
Reno Gazette-Journal
2. DEIDRE PIKE,
Reno News & Review
Best local TV anchor
1 . TA D D U N B A R
KOLO Channel 8
2 . W E N DY D A M O N T E ,
KTVN Channel 2
1 . B R U C E VA N DY K E
KTHX
2. NICK DANGER,
KDOT
3 . R O B , A R N I E & D AW N ,
KRZQ
Best local actress/actor
1. MARY BENNETT
2. JEANMARIE SIMPSON
3. SHANNYN SOSSAMON
3. SHELBY SHEEHAN,
KRNV Channel 4
PERSONALITIES
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PERSONALITIES
Our readers said Bruce Van Dyke is the
area’s best DJ, but he was lagging when it
came to best columnist.
Best-dressed bookseller
ANN MALSON
PAPERBACK EXCHANGE, 131 VESTA ST., 322-8822
Vesta Street seems to be experiencing a kind of Renaissance in business, and
at the head of this growth spurt is the Paperback Exchange. OK, maybe Paperback Exchange was at the head of the last Renaissance, too, 31-plus years ago
when it opened, but who keeps track of such things? Ann Malson didn’t arrive at
the store until it had been around for five years, but in the 26 intervening years,
she’s made up for lost time. As one of Reno’s most stylishly clad booksellers,
she’ll help seekers locate books in the store’s overflowing shelves, offer advice
about authors or even keep mental notes of the books her clients have purchased.
The clerk you always want but seldom get
CHRIS WILLIAMSON
Whenever dealing with a bureaucracy (public or private), a client/customer
always hopes to find that one friendly, helpful clerk, the one who makes life
easy and unsnarls problems. This is especially important in stores where
every clerk seems unfamiliar with the merchandise he or she is selling and
hostile toward inquiries. One of the good guys works at Albertson’s on Oddie
Boulevard. His name is Chris Williamson, and he has become famous throughout the neighborhood for his friendliness and willingness to help. When we
describe friendliness, we’re not talking about the aggressive Safeway-style
friendliness that generated lawsuits. We mean actual friendliness that comes
from within—not from an order by management. Williamson quickly solves
price checks without holding up lines, and he gets spills taken care of right
away. To put it succinctly, he deals with complaints with composure and complainants with respect. Shoppers get the feeling that if the world were going up
in smoke, Chris would keep everyone calm.
Radio jockey most likely to use the words
“Gettin’ it done”
MAT DIABLO
Also, most likely to use the words “butt rock,” which isn’t a nasty thing at all.
The host of Reno’s best 5 o’clock drive-time radio show, “Road Riot” on 100.9
FM, isn’t likely to pull out the latest news from the NPR Web site. Diablo may,
however, pull out the Sun Valley bell or the Carson City bell to salute his callers.
While Music Director Diablo shouldn’t be expected to lead up the KRZQ 5
o’clock news team, he can be expected to play the top requested songs of the
week. The tunes are apt to blow a conscientious driver’s ears off, and while it
might make them angry, it would be appropriate to call the feeling “road rage.”
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OCTOBER
14,
2004
Fun & Gaming
Editors’ choices
Best fast hangover cure
THE ATLANTIS’ OUTSIDE ELEVATOR
3702 S Virginia St., 825-4700
OK, it’s 11 a.m. on Saturday. Friday evening, night and
early Saturday morning are a blur—too many mojitos at Tonic. Your head- and body-aches are crippling. You might as well face it: You’ve got the mother
of all hangovers. Everyone knows the only true hangover cure is a hair of the dog, but even the slightest
sip of a Bloody Mary or a red beer can send weakened weekend warriors down the slippery slope of
another all-day runner. Here’s what you do. Drive
over to the Atlantis, have a nice greasy breakfast in
the coffee shop—maybe ham steak, eggs, hash
browns with a side of pancakes. Go to the elevators
on the north side of the casino and hop in the glass
one. Push the button for the highest floor. If you suffer from acrophobia at all, the combination of
heightened respirations, palpitations, ham molecules
and adrenaline will blast the pain away. Not that anybody over here has tried it or anything.
Best place to prep for the next World
Poker Tour at the Reno Hilton
YOUR FRIEND’S LIVING ROOM
After the popularity of Celebrity Poker Showdown
on the Bravo network and the World Poker Tour on
the Travel Channel, No-Limit Texas Hold’em poker
has become a popular game in some Reno circles.
If you want to get really good, your best bet is
wagering at a friend’s house, where the stakes
aren’t high and you can buy in for $5 or $10, rather
than the $5,000 required to buy into world tour
games like those at the Reno Hilton. Playing at home
also gives the peace of mind of knowing that your
losses aren’t going to a casino but instead to a guy
who’s got a wife and baby at home or maybe to a
guy who just needs to buy the latest Xbox game.
There’s no cocktail waitress bringing free drinks,
but a $6 12-pack of Pabst shared among friends is
worth a night’s worth of free Jack and Cokes.
FUN & GAMING
Readers’ choices
Best casino
1. PEPPERMILL HOTEL CASINO
2707 S. Virginia St., 826-2121
2. ELDORADO HOTEL CASINO,
345 N. Virginia St., 786-5700
3 . AT L A N T I S C A S I N O R E S O R T,
3800 S. Virginia St., 825-4700
Best sports book
1 . C L U B C A L- N E V A
40 North Virginia St., 323-1046
2 . R E N O H I LT O N ,
2500 E. Second St., 789-2285
2707 S. Virginia St., 826-2121
Best poker room
1. ELDORADO HOTEL CASINO
345 N. Virginia St., 786-5700
3800 S. Virginia St., 825-4700
3 . J O H N A S C U A G A’ S N U G G E T,
1100 Nugget Ave., Sparks, 356-3300
Best casino buffet
1 . AT L A N T I S C A S I N O R E S O R T
Best casino show
3800 S. Virginia St., 825-4700
1. ART OF ILLUSION WITH ELI KERR
2707 S. Virginia St., 826-2121
Golden Phoenix,
255 N Sierra St., 785-7100
2 . VA R I O U S S H O W S ,
345 N. Virginia St., 786-5700
Eldorado Hotel Casino,
345 N. Virginia St., 786-5700
Best non-casino thing
to do downtown
1 . WA L K A LO N G R I V E R
2 . K AYA K PA R K
3. CENTURY RIVERSIDE CINEMA,
11 N. Sierra St.
3 . VA R I O U S S H O W S ,
Harrah’s Reno,
219 N. Center St., 786-3232
Best casino customer service
Best casino carpet
2707 S. Virginia St., 826-2121
2707 S. Virginia St., 826-2121
345 N. Virginia St., 786-5700
2500 E. Second St., 789-2386
2500 E. Second St., 789-2386
3800 S. Virginia St., 825-4700
Dave Peyton has worked at
the voters’ favorite sports
book, the Club Cal-Neva, for
three years.
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FUN & GAMING
Best place to make a wish
FOUNTAIN OF FORTUNE
AT THE ELDORADO
HOTEL CASINO
345 N. Virginia St., 786-5700
It’s not surprising that casino resorts in
Nevada often choose classical and
Renaissance art to decorate their
buildings. Those artistic styles convey
beauty and grandeur. While no casino
could ever compare to the magnificence of the Roman Coliseum or the
Parthenon, that doesn’t stop casino
owners from trying to put themselves
on the level of these masterpieces.
Eldorado goes for a Greco-Roman look
with its indoor fountain, located in front
of its Roxy restaurant and right before
the casino meets the Silver Legacy.
The running water offers a soothing
element to all the bleeping slot
machines. Tourists even take pictures
of it, as if it were some ancient fountain
unearthed in the middle of a modern
casino. While you probably don’t pray
to those gods, it couldn’t hurt to toss a
coin and ask Fortune to reward you
with a jackpot. On the other hand, if
you’ve already left some cash on the
tables downstairs, you can consider
that your offering to Lady Luck.
The best tourist attraction
tourists seldom see
W.M. KECK EARTH
SCIENCE AND MINERAL
ENGINEERING MUSEUM
Folks who look for museums in Northern Nevada are often directed to the
Nevada Museum of Art, the National
Automobile Museum or the state museum, but in this mining state, the mining
museum gets overlooked. It’s on the
ground floor of the Mackay School of
Mines at UNR at the north end of the
campus quad. Not just a collection of
rocks—though those are certainly
there—it includes mining machinery,
historic photographs, maps and a
mock-up mining office. (The museum
once included a black-light booth in
which kids delighted in seeing minerals
that were not otherwise visible revealed
on the surface of rocks, but it broke
many years ago and for some reason
never got fixed.) This museum doesn’t
have the chrome/tile/glass personality
of some of the museums mentioned
here. The feel is of hardwood floors and
polished wood display cases, of the
warmth of light bulbs instead of the chill
of fluorescents. A decade ago, those
who love this museum worried that,
when the Mackay building was gutted
and rebuilt, the museum would be
updated and “improved” to the impersonality of modern museums. That did
not happen, and it remains as welcoming as ever.
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Nightlife
Editors’ choices
Best drink to put you in orbit
Readers’ choices
SATELLITE COCKTAIL LOUNGE
Best bar
188 California Ave., 786-3536
1 . S AT E L L I T E
There may be a U.S. embargo on Cuban products, but fortunately that doesn’t include mojitos. The drink has long been a
staple in bars in Miami, but only in the past few years has its
popularity expanded to trend-setting cities like New York City
and San Francisco. The trendy cocktail has finally hit Reno’s bar
scene, and one of the best places to indulge in this light-butstrong infusion is at that groovy little lounge, Satellite. Coowner/bartender Noel Judal crushes ice, limes and mint leaves
together and then adds a generous splash of light rum, syrup
and soda water. The result: a delicious, refreshing drink that
hits the spot on a sultry summer day. They’re so good, you’ll
probably order two, or three or four. But it’s probably best to
limit yourself to a few, as you may wake up with a headache and
a sore butt with a tattoo of Fidel Castro. Viva la revolución!
2 . B R E W B R O T H E R S AT
ELDORADO HOTEL CASINO,
345 N. Virginia St., 786-5700
3. TONIC,
231 W. Second St., 337-6868
Best dance club
1 . B U B I N G A L O U N G E AT
ELDORADO HOTEL CASINO
345 N. Virginia St., 786-5700
2 . PA C I F I C B E A C H C L U B ,
45 W. Second St., 329-1950
Best place to drink Vicodin Lemon Drops
3 . S AT E L L I T E ,
THE ALIBI LOUNGE
125 Casazza Drive, 323-0611
Feel like a mellow night but not the quiet, stay-at-home kind of
mellow night? The Alibi is just the place to take it easy with a
couple of friends in a dark-but-friendly, hole-in-the-wall bar.
Sometimes, the video poker machines will even pay off. Among
a group of three or four friends, someone could easily win a
couple sawbucks, enough to pay for a couple rounds of drinks,
since drinks are better than reasonably priced. Did we mention
the friendly and creative bartenders? One mellow mixologist
jokingly suggested that instead of using sugar to rim your shot
glass, you might try crushed Vicodin. Sure, it’d be fun, but who
wants to spend the evening clutching the john or explaining to
the E.R. doctor how you don’t have a problem, it’s really just an
isolated incident?
Best strip club
Best karaoke
Best place for live music
1 . F A N TA S Y G I R L S
1. WEST SECOND STREET BAR
1 . WA L D E N ’ S C O F F E E H O U S E
1095 E. Fourth St., 324-7877
118 W. Second St., 348-7976
3940 Mayberry Drive, 787-3307
2. THE MEN’S CLUB OF RENO,
2. NEW OASIS,
270 Lake St., 786-7800
2 . R U M B U L L I O N S I S L A N D B A R AT
T H E S I LV E R L E G A C Y,
2100 Victorian Ave., Sparks, 359-4020
3 . G R E AT B A S I N B R E W I N G
C O M PA N Y,
3. WILD ORCHID GENTLEMEN’S
CLUB,
407 N. Virginia St., 329-4777
515 S. Virginia St., 324-1010
Best sports bar
Best happy hour
Best club DJ
1. EJ DA DJ
2. DJ KLING
3. CHRISTOF
Best open mic night
1 . WA L D E N ’ S C O F F E E H O U S E
1. SILVER PEAK RESTAURANT
& BREWERY
124 Wonder St., 324-1864;
135 N. Sierra St., 284-3300
1 . B U L LY ’ S S P O R T S B A R
& GRILL
various locations
2 . S PA R K Y ’ S S P O R T S
BAR & GRILL,
various locations
2. OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE,
3. FLOWING TIDE PUB,
3645 S. Virginia St., 827-5050;
1805 E. Lincoln Way, Sparks, 358-2700
10580 N. McCarran Blvd., 747-7707;
465 S. Meadows Parkway, 284-7707
3 . F I R E S I D E L O U N G E AT T H E
PEPPERMILL HOTEL CASINO,
2707 S. Virginia St., 826-2121
2. ZEPHYR LOUNGE,
3 . S PA R K Y ’ S S P O R T S B A R &
GRILL,
Best place to watch
Monday Night Football
various locations
1 . BULLY’S SPORTS BAR & GRILL
1074 S. Virginia St., 337-6004
3 . GREAT BASIN BREWING COMPANY,
various locations
Best gay hangout
1 . T H E PAT I O
600 W. Fifth St., 323-6565
2 . T H E Q U E S T,
210 W. Commercial Row, 333-2808
Best microbrewery
2 . SPARKY’S SPORTS BAR & GRILL,
1. SILVER PEAK RESTAURANT
& BREWERY
3. HOME
various locations
124 Wonder St., 324-1864
2 . GREAT BASIN BREWING COMPANY,
3. VISIONS,
3 . B R E W B R OT H E R S AT E L D O R A D O
H OT E L C A S I N O ,
345 N. Virginia St., 786-5700
Most romantic bar
1 . F I R E S I D E LO U N G E AT
P E P P E R M I L L H OT E L CAS I N O
2707 S. Virginia St., 826-2121
2 . R O X Y ’ S B A R & L O U N G E AT
ELDORADO HOTEL CASINO,
345 N. Virginia St., 786-5700
Tyler DePetro mashes up mojito
mixings at the best bar in Reno,
Satellite.
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3 . S A P P H I R E L O U N G E AT
HARRAH’S RENO,
219 N. Center St., 786-3232
Outdoors
Editors’ choices
Best place to do the tube
Best place to get out
of the car and walk
TRUCKEE RIVER, ANYWHERE
FROM BEYOND THE CALIFORNIA
BORDER TO DOWNTOWN RENO
DOWNTOWN
So you’re rushing to work, carefully following the posted speed limits. You head east down Fourth Street,
thanking your lucky stars that the train trench doesn’t
go north and south when you hit Sierra, and you realize, “Damn, Street Vibrations or the Cattle Drive or
the Terra Cotta Fair or something has the right of way
on Virginia shut down.” Quickly you turn south (the
only way one-way Sierra goes), are stopped by a train
on the shoe-fly, turn right onto West Third Street and
encounter another detour forcing you to the north
and then east again on West Fourth Street, where you
are forced to turn south again because Virginia Street
is closed for the Foondocks Festival. Park your car at
one of the many nearby on-street parking spots and
walk to work. Don’t laugh. It could happen.
With the Truckee River Whitewater Park, sports other
than kayaking are also quickly becoming popular pastimes on the river. Wake-boarders were some of the
river rats to be seen, their lines tied to rocks while
they rode the rapids. Inner tubers also made a resurgence. Many warm summer evenings, teenagers could
be found riding their tube from the first rapid at the
whitewater park down to the last, then toting their
tubes back to the start. Downtown Reno, however,
isn’t the only ideal tubing location. Drive into California
and drop off in Farad, Floriston or farther upriver, and
you’re bound to have the tubing ride of your life.
Rapids can be on the slightly fierce side, and rocks
are plentiful, so wearing a helmet and a life vest is a
good idea.
Best dry kayak run
Our readers said the Rattlesnake Mountain
Skate Park is the best place to catch some air.
Skater Sean Pearson would probably concur.
TRUCKEE RIVER WHITEWATER
PARK, DOWNTOWN RENO ALONG
THE TRUCKEE RIVER
Head down to Wingfield Park, and you’ll wonder what
took so long for our city to build this whitewater park.
While the Century Riverside movie theater, art galleries and boutiques were attracting people to the
downtown arts and culture district, the whitewater
park appeared to be the missing link to bring the
sportspeople to the waiting arms of the casino district. The moment it opened, kayakers and sunbathers
dived in to take advantage of Reno’s best natural
resource, the Truckee River. On any given day, children could be found wading in the water, while kayakers navigated the park’s 11 drop pools. Although there
were some reported conflicts between swimmers and
kayakers over space, nobody drowned. Now that fall
is here, there aren’t as many people in the water, and
water flow has decreased due to the drought. The
park, however, was designed to accommodate lowwater flows and is open for use.
Readers’ choices
Best skiing
1 . M T. R O S E S K I TA H O E
2222 Mount Rose Highway, 849-0704
2 . S Q U AW VA L L E Y U S A ,
1960 Squaw Valley Road,
Olympic Valley, Calif., (530) 583-6955
3 . N O R T H S TA R - AT-TA H O E ,
Truckee, Calif., (530) 562-1010
Best place to ride
personal watercraft
1 . L A K E TA H O E
2. PYRAMID L AKE
3. BOCA RESERVOIR
Best snowboarding
1 . M T. R O S E S K I TA H O E
Best skate park
2. LAKERIDGE GOLF COURSE,
1 . R AT T L E S N A K E
M O U N TA I N / M I R A L O M A
3. MONTREUX GOLF AND
COUNTRY CLUB,
Mira Loma Drive at
South McCarran Boulevard
2 . I D L E W I L D PA R K ,
Truckee, Calif. (530) 562-1010
3 . B O R E A L M O U N TA I N R E S O R T,
Interstate 80, near Donner Summit,
Calif., (530) 583-6955
18077 Bordeaux Drive, 849-9496
805 IDLEWILD DRIVE
Best mountain biking
3 . B U R G E S S PA R K ,
1 . TA H O E R I M T R A I L
Pyramid Way between Greenbrae
Drive and Holman Way
2222 Mount Rose Highway, 849-0704
1200 Razor Back Road, 825-2200
Best golfing
Truckee, Calif., (530) 562-1010
1 . R E D H AW K G O L F C L U B
AT W I N G F I E L D S P R I N G S
Best spot to hike
1 . M T. R O S E
3 . TA H O E R I M T R A I L
Best spot to smooch
under the stars
1. WINDY HILL
off of Lakeside Drive
2. PYRAMID L AKE
6600 N. Wingfield Parkway,
Sparks, 626-6000
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Food & drink
Readers’ choices
Best Mexican
1. BETO’S MEXICAN FOOD
3 . K I M S O N R E S TA U R A N T
102 E. Second St., 322-2226
575 W. Fifth St., 324-0632
2 . B E R T H A M I R A N D A’ S ,
336 Mill St., 786-9697
Best sushi
3. MI CASA TOO,
1. SUSHI PIER
various locations
various locations
2. SUSHI CLUB,
Best Italian
294 E. Moana Lane, 828-7311
1 . LUCIANO’S
3. ALOHA SUSHI,
719 N. Virginia St., 322-7373;
6135 Lakeside Drive, Suite 145, 828-0400
2 . O L I V E G A R D E N I TA L I A N R E S TA U R A N T,
Best vegetarian
4900 S. Virginia St., 829-1500
1 . P N E U M AT I C D I N E R
2. L A VECCHIA RISTORANTE,
501 W. First St., 786-8888
3501 S. Virginia St., 825-1113
2. DANDELION DELI,
1170 S. Wells Ave., 322-6100
3. DEUX GROS NE Z,
Best Indian
1. INDIA GARDEN
1565 S. Virginia St., 337-8002
Best burger
2 . TA S T E O F I N D I A ,
1. AWFUL AWFUL AT THE
LITTLE NUGGET
315 E. Moana Lane, 825-3008
233 N. Virginia St., 323-0716
Best Japanese
2. JUICY’S GIANT HAMBURGER,
1 . K Y O T O R E S TA U R A N T
301 S. Wells Ave., 322-2600
915 W. Moana Lane, 825-9686
3 . I N ’ N ’ O U T,
2 . I C H I B A N J A PA N E S E S T E A K H O U S E
AND SUSHI BAR,
various locations
210 N. Sierra St., 323-5550
Editors’ choices
3 . B E N I H A N A J A PA N E S E S T E A K H O U S E ,
Best doughnuts/pastries
255 N. Sierra St., 785-7373
1. KRISPY KREME
5050 Keitzke Lane, 853-9111
Best pub grub
O’SKI’S PUB & GRILLE
Best Thai
2 . J O S E F ’ S V I E N N A B A K E R Y,
1. BANGKOK CUISINE
3 . J E L LY D O N U T,
933 W. Moana Lane, 825-0451
55 Mt. Rose St., 322-0299
There are some days when all you crave is pub grub—garlic fries, steak sandwiches
or the king of all pub grub, fish and chips. Now, not everyone can fly to England to
taste the real deal, but if it tastes half as good as what the friendly folks at the only
Irish-Polish bar in town, O’Ski’s, serve, then it might be time to book reservations.
O’Ski’s is one of the few places in Reno and Sparks where you actually get more fish
than batter in your serving. Add a splash of malt vinegar and a squeeze of lemon,
and you’ll be in fish-and-chips heaven. While the coleslaw and fries are a pleasant
bonus, the delectable nuggets of white, flaky cod are worth the price of admission
all by themselves.
Best place to find bottom cleavage
various locations
2 . TA S T E O F T H A I ,
3. CAFÉ DE THAI,
Best bakery
7499 Longley Lane, 829-8424
1 . JOSEF’S VIENNA BAKERY
933 W. Moana Lane, 825-0451
Best Chinese
2. FRANZ’S BACKSTUBE AUSTRIAN CAFE
C A K E S & PA S T R I E S ,
1 . PA L A I S D E J A D E
960 W. Moana Lane, 827-5233
3 . G R E AT H A R V E S T B R E A D C O . ,
2 . P. F. C H A N G ’ S C H I N A B I S T R O ,
530 W. Plumb Lane, 323-7733
3 . S H A N G H A I R E S TA U R A N T,
RENO’S INDIAN FOOD RESTAURANTS
You’ve seen it. You’ve probably done a double take. And if you’re a heterosexual
male, you probably thought, “Now why don’t women dress like that here?” Those
who’ve dined at Reno’s Indian food restaurants have surely caught a glimpse of that
special kind of cleavage that peeks out from below a woman’s very short shirt
rather than peeking out from above a low-cut top. The bizarre but artistic fabric
wall-hangings at local Indian food restaurants feature many women modeling the
above-the-waist version of hot pants. This fashion trend, though not perhaps prêt-àporter in contemporary India, surely enhances the Indian food dining experience,
which involves many hot and savory spices. Who knew Indian food could be so sexy?
Best coffee
1269 Baring Blvd., Sparks, 358-1122
1 . S TA R B U C K S
various locations
Best Vietnamese
2 . J AVA J U N G L E ,
1. PHO 777 VIETNAMESE
N O O D L E R E S TA U R A N T
246 W. First St., 329-4484
201 E. Second St., 323-7777
3. WALDEN’S COFFEEHOUSE,
2. GOLDEN FLOWER VIETNAMESE
R E S TA U R A N T,
205 W. Fifth St., 323-1628
E D I TO R S’ C H O I C E S
FO O D & D R I N K
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FO O D & D R I N K
Best seafood
1. RAPSCALLION SEAFOOD
HOUSE & BAR
1555 S. Wells Ave., 323-1211
3800 S. Virginia St., 825-4700
3 . O C E A N O AT P E P P E R M I L L
HOTEL CASINO,
2707 S. Virginia St., 826-2121
Best steak
1. OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE
3465 S. Virginia St., 827-5050; 1805 Lincoln Way, 358-2700
2. HARRAH’S STEAKHOUSE,
Harrah’s Reno, 219 N. Center St.,
786-3232
3. RUBY RIVER STEAKHOUSE,
2750 S. Virginia St., 827-4007
Best pizza
1 . J . J . ’ S P I E C O M PA N Y
55 W. Fifth St., 786-5555
2. BLUE MOON PIZZA,
3. BLIND ONION,
3605 Kings Row, 747-7744
Best breakfast
1. PEG’S GLORIFIED HAM & EGGS
420 S. Sierra St., 329-2600
2. HEIDI’S,
various locations
3 . P. J . & C O . R E S TA U R A N T,
1590 S. Wells Ave., 323-6366
Best Reno restaurant
1 . S I LV E R P E A K
R E S TA U R A N T & B R E W E R Y
124 Wonder St., 324-1864
2 . 4 T H S T. B I S T R O ,
3065 W. Fourth St., 323-3200
3. RAPSCALLION SEAFOOD
HOUSE & BAR,
2. BL ACK BEAR,
235 N. McCarran Blvd., 356-1138
Ashoo Thakore serves up the
voters’ favorite curry at India Garden.
3. OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE,
1805 Lincoln Way, 358-2700
Best Tahoe restaurant
1. JAKE’S ON THE LAKE
Boatworks Shopping Mall,
Tahoe City, Calif., (530) 583-0188
2 . L A S T R A D A AT T H E E L D O R A D O
HOTEL CASINO,
345 N. Virginia St., 786-5700
3 . R O X Y ’ S AT T H E E L D O R A D O
HOTEL CASINO,
345 N. Virginia St., 786-5700
2. GARWOODS GRILL & PIER,
5000 N. Lake Blvd., Carnelian Bay,
Calif., (530) 546-3366
Most romantic restaurant
3. JASON’S BEACHSIDE GRILLE
ON THE LAKE,
1 . WHITE ORCHID AT THE
PEPPERMILL HOTEL CASINO
8338 N. Lake Blvd., Kings Beach, Calif.,
(530) 546-3315
2707 S. Virginia St., 826-2121
Best casino restaurant
2707 S. Virginia St., 826-2121
1 . WHITE ORCHID AT THE
PEPPERMILL HOTEL CASINO
1470 S. Virginia St., 329-9979
2 . R O M A N Z A AT T H E P E P P E R M I L L
H OT E L C A S I N O ,
3 . L U L O U ’ S R E S TA U R A N T,
2707 S. Virginia St., 826-2121
1555 S. Wells Ave., 323-1211
Best Carson restaurant
1. ADELE’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE
1112 N. Carson St.,
2. REDS OLD 395 GRILL,
1055 S. Carson St.,
3. GARIBALDI’S,
301 N. Carson St.,
Best Sparks restaurant
1 . G R E AT B A S I N B R E W I N G
C O M PA N Y
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2004
E D I TO R S’ C H O I C E S
The best food court from which
to watch swans while you eat
THE OVERLOOK
If your memory of food at the UNR student union is of the snack bar that
has been little changed since God was a boy, a visit would be an eye
opener. This same facility, now called the Overlook, has been moved
upstairs into a hall that extends over Manzanita Lake. With floor-to-ceiling windows, the view is of swans, fountains, trees, an island, the lake’s
green opaque water (which, granted, was once clear blue), and, in the
distance, the city skyline. OK, the food is no great shakes, though it is
varied—Asian food, salads, sandwiches (none are pre-made, so allow
time), burgers and fries (pre-made), desserts. But the atmosphere
makes up for the pedestrian fare. If you have to eat in a cafeteria, this is
the one to pick.
Kids & family
Editors’ choice
Best place to teach your
teenager a lesson in speed
SLOT CAR WAREHOUSE
132 E. Plumb Lane, 448-9996
We’ve all been teenaged drivers, and we all probably
took a turn a little too fast before learning that a quick
turn leads to a spin-out, nearly side-swiping a car in
the oncoming lane or a holy-crap adrenaline rush that
makes us promise we’ll never again take a turn at
more than 15 miles an hour. For parents who want
their kids and teens to learn lessons about speed
before reaching driving age, the track at Park Lane
Mall is invaluable. It’ll teach yet-to-be drivers to speed
up on the straight-aways, slow down on the turns and
not drive too close to other cars. Ten bucks gets drivers an hour of drive time and a car rental, although
the truly fanatical can buy their own cars and spiff
them up however they like. Racing can be fun for
moms and dads, too, or just useful for earning mom
and dad an hour or so of alone time.
Best place to teach your children
about the birds and the bees
OXBOW PARK
Sure, there are lots of great things about school: art
(only not as much as there used to be), music (only
not as much as there used to be), SHARE (Sexuality,
Health and Responsibility Education, only not as much
as there used to be), math (OK, but only how to pass
the test for No Child Left Behind). But is school really
the place to learn about the birds and the bees? This
sort of thing can’t be taught in a classroom; can you
imagine the visual aids? Nope, the birds and the bees
should be left up to mom and dad, who can joyfully
take their children down to Oxbow Nature Study Area,
3100 Dickerson Road, where they can see real-life
examples of flora and ornithology. What do you mean,
sex? What did you think we were talking about? Oh.
That’s just sick.
Best place to score a hole in one
WILD ISLAND ADVENTURE PARK
250 Wild Island Court, Sparks, 359-2927
You don’t need to go to Disneyland to have quality
time with the kids. Since 1989, Wild Island Adventure
Park has been thrilling local kids and parents with its
water park, miniature golf course and Indy and sprint
car rides. In the summer, families can splash in the
park’s Montego Bay wave pool or try more daring
attractions such as The Scorpion, a half-pipe tube
ride, or its Red Viper and Black Widow water slides. If
getting wet isn’t your idea of having fun, then you and
the kids can play 18 or 36 holes of putt-putt at the
park’s miniature golf course. The park recently added
an indoor entertainment center, which includes its 20lane Coconut Bowl, a children’s play zone and a billiards area. When the kids tire of playing and their
tummies start to growl, head over to the Smokin’
Marlin; it’ll build up the stamina for another 18 holes.
Readers’ choices
Best park
Best toy store
1 . I D L E W I L D PA R K
1. TOYS ‘R’ US
2 . R A N C H O S A N R A FA E L R E G I O N A L PA R K ,
5000 Smithridge Drive, 827-8697
2. WORLD OF TOYS,
805 Idlewild Drive
1502 Washington St., 785-4319
3 . S PA R K S M A R I N A
5130 Meadowood Mall Circle, 825-3023
3. KB TOYS,
276 E. Plumb Lane, 825-2999;
2845 Northtowne Lane, 331-2929
Best arcade games
Best place to introduce kids to nature
1 . R A N C H O SA N R A FA E L
R E G I O N A L PA R K
1502 Washington St., 785-4319
2500 E. Second St., 789-2386
3 . O X B O W N AT U R E S T U DY A R E A ,
2. CIRCUS CIRCUS HOTEL & CASINO,
3100 Dickerson Road, 334-3808
1 . F U N Q U E S T AT T H E R E N O H I LT O N
500 N. Sierra St., 329-0711
3 . AT L A N T I S F U N C E N T E R ,
3800 S. Virginia St., 824-4435
Best youth sports program
1 . R E N O F A M I LY Y M C A
1300 Foster Drive, 329-1311
2. POP WARNER
F O O T B A L L /C H E E R L E A D I N G ,
Liberty Lynch swings for the camera at the
voters’ favorite park, Idlewild Park.
331-5003
3. AMERICAN YOUTH SOCCER
O R G A N I Z AT I O N ( AY S O ) ,
826-5425
RN&R
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37
Culture
Editors’ choices
The best solitary art
Readers’ choices
Best art gallery/museum
1 . NEVADA MUSEUM OF ART
160 W. Liberty St., 329-3333
“BAKARDADE”
2. THE CHAPTERHOUSE,
In the hills north and west of the intersection of McCarran Boulevard
and North Virginia Street, there’s a sculpture titled “Bakardade”
(“Solitude”). Created by Nestor Basterretxea, it has stood since
August of 1989 as a monument to the Basque sheepherders who
played a significant role in the history of the West. Basterretxea, a
Spaniard who was exiled to France after the Spanish civil war, has
specialized in works touching on the Basque experience. “Solitude” is
abstract without being inaccessible. The shepherd cradling a lamb in
his arms is quickly recognizable. From there, it is a site and a work
that—even with the sound of cars on McCarran—lends itself to quiet
thought and, well, solitude.
25 St. Lawrence St.,
www.chapterhousereno.com
Most family-friendly downtown
DOWNTOWN SPARKS
While the Truckee River Whitewater Park has done a lot to improve
downtown Reno, you can’t beat Sparks for providing a more familyfriendly downtown atmosphere. Sparks may not have the variety of
gaming and entertainment venues that Reno has, but it makes up for
that with its outdoor festivals. Downtown Sparks bustles with activity
during the summer thanks to events such as the Sparks Hometowne
Farmers’ Market, The Big Easy and the Best in the West Nugget Rib
Cook-Off. During quiet weeks, you can catch a movie at the Sparks
Century theaters, cool off at the outdoor fountain or head over to
Cantina Los Tres Hombres or Great Basin Brewing Co. for an afterwork drink with friends. The action dies down during the cooler
months, but events such as the Hometowne Christmas parade still
attract large crowds.
3 . S T R E M M E L G A L L E R Y,
1400 S. Virginia St., 786-0558
Best local band
1. SADDLE TRAMPS
2. DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR
3. SOL JIBE
Best local dance company
1 . A R E A- 51 DA N C E
T H E AT E R C O M PA N Y
2 . A S H A B E L LY D A N C E R S
Best local theater company
1 . B R Ü K A T H E AT R E
99 N. Virginia St., 323-3221
2 . NEVADA SHAKESPEARE
COMPANY,
1 Booth St., 324-4198
3 . R E N O L I T T L E T H E AT E R ,
246 E. Arroyo St., 329-0661
Best church
Best category to remove from the RN&R’s Best
of Northern Nevada readers’ poll: Best art
museum
NEVADA MUSEUM OF ART
There are categories where there are actually races for No. 1. Best
art museum is not one of them.
1 . S T. T H E R E S E T H E
LITTLE FLOWER CHURCH
875 E. Plumb Lane, 322-2255
2. CIRCLE’S EDGE SPIRITUAL CENTER,
Best grassroots
organization
Best local Web site
1 . PROGRESSIVE LEADERSHIP ALLIANCE OF NEVADA
2 . W W W.7 7 5 S H O W S . C O M
3 . TAT T O O S B Y G A R R E T T. C O M
1101 Riverside Drive, 348-7557
527 Lander St., 323-6289
2. A RAINBOW PL ACE,
2 . SPARKS CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP,
33 St. Lawrence Ave., 789-1780
510 Greenbrae Drive, Sparks,
331-2303
3 . N E W V O T E R S P R O J E C T,
www.newvotersproject.org
Best farmers’ market
1 . S PA R K S F A R M E R S ’
MARKET
Victorian Avenue, Sparks,
Thursday evenings.
2 . C A L I F O R N I A AV E N U E A N D
B O O T H S T R E E T O N S AT U R D AY
MORNINGS
Best dog park
1 . S PA R K S M A R I N A
2 . R A N C H O S A N R A FA E L
3. VIRGINIA LAKE
The Nevada Musuem of Art was voted best art
gallery/museum in Northern Nevada, probably
because it exhibits such fantastic shows as the
Wynn Collection (pictured here), featuring Picassos,
Monets, Van Goghs, Renoirs and more.
38
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R N&R
|
OCTOBER 14, 2004
1 . W W W. L I N G U S W E B . C O M
Best special event
in downtown Reno
1. ARTOWN
2. HOT AUGUST NIGHTS
3 . S T R E E T V I B R AT I O N S
Best special event
in downtown Sparks
1. BEST OF THE WEST
N U G G E T R I B C O O K- O F F
2. HOT AUGUST NIGHTS
3 . FA R M E R S ’ M A R K E T
Just the facts
Cheaters
never prosper
The analysis shows a very clean
election in our latest readers’ poll
Do you ever wonder how honest these “Best
of” contests are? You drive around town, and
you see restaurants proclaiming themselves
to be the “Best” someby D. Brian Burghart
thing, and all you can
[email protected]
think of is their last district health report, which talked about food
stored in the hallway, mouse feces and
employees not washing hands after leaving
the bathroom.
“Best what?” you ask yourself, “best place
to catch a cough?”
And then you read about places that sell
their “Best of” ballots, so that the business
or individual who buys the most ballots can
essentially win the contest.
Many observers also look at the winners
and wonder how big the sample is or how
sophisticated the voters are—after all, how
can some chain restaurant win “Best Mexican food” when Reno is filled with independent, authentic Mexican restaurants. Well,
that’s the answer in a nutshell. By definition,
there are a lot of stores involved in a restaurant chain. They’re popular, or they
wouldn’t exist. But popular doesn’t
mean best, and fortunately for us,
our readers seem to know that
McDonald’s doesn’t make the best
hamburger.
At any rate, this year we took
steps to eliminate as much of the ballot box
stuffing as possible while encouraging businesses to encourage their customers to
vote. To do this, we limited the number of ballots that would be accepted at once—online,
at the welcome window at our office, or in
the mail. Also, we reserved the right to throw
away ballots that were suspected of being a
concerted effort to skew the outcome.
One business took the rules and ran with
them. Regular as clockwork, they mailed in
ballots in packs of five—as long as each of
the ballots had a name, address and contact
phone number and all the categories were
completed in the same handwriting and ink,
we accepted it. The same was true with a
local rock band—a few submissions were
removed for having different handwriting and
ink within the same ballot, but there’s no way
to determine that it wasn’t another band trying to get Band A disqualified from the contest, so we just threw away the suspect ballots.
Finally, there was one business that tried
to bring in 105 ballots on deadline, at 4 p.m.
on the last day. We accepted five ballots and
returned the rest, even though there was no
reason to suspect that the other ballots were
in any way falsified. That was the whole point
of making the rules.
This year, we accepted 431 paper ballots.
We disqualified 47 paper ballots for reasons
including: came in after deadline, more than
one color of ink and/or handwriting, no name
or address, mailed in more than five ballots
in one envelope, completed fewer than 10
categories.
Compare that to last year, when 619
paper ballots came in and we disqualified
some 341 ballots.
This year, we received 620 ballots online.
Some 151 were kicked out because they failed
to click on the link to verify their e-mail
address. None of the e-mail-verified ballots
were disqualified.
That makes the grand total 384 paper ballots plus 469 online ballots, or 853 total good
ballots.
I don’t know how else to place this number in context, except to say that a few
weeks ago in the very important Assembly
District 24 Republican primary race of Jason
Geddes against Holcomb Brooks, only 2,798
people voted. Or how about this: In the primary election Ward 5 Reno City Council race,
Dave Aiazzi beat challenger Patty Melton by
only 25 votes.
Is 853 ballots a statistically valid sampling?
Hard to say. Time magazine’s Oct. 6 sample
of likely voters in the presidential race had
only 886 likely voters (and if they kicked anyone out for lying, they didn’t mention it).
Ω
R N&R
|
41

Best of - AltWeeklies.com

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