rnr-nightlife-guide-2019

a special supplement to the reno news & review

b ar s & club s

Guide 2019

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RN&R BaRs & CluBs Guide

03.07.19

A speciAl supplement to Reno news & Review

Best regards, Matt Bieker, special projects editor

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earlier in the night. Writer Pax Robinson lists some of Reno’s low-profile drinking spots on page 21.

To at least a few of our readers, though, having a drink might be secondary to simply socializing (or even unnecessary). If you’re looking for camaraderie without cocktails, I compiled a few dry options for a night out on page 22.

Finally, the centerpiece of our guide required the RN&R staff to put a little skin in the game. Recently, Associate Editor Jeri Chadwell, contributor Luka Starmer and I explored Reno’s reputation as a 24-hour town firsthand. In homage to a similar article published in this same guide nine years ago, we three writers went on a 24-hour bar crawl of our own design, putting our lives (well, at least our livers) on the line to find out where our readers can get a drink at every hour of the day and night. You can read about our exploits on page 10.

As a tourism town, Reno’s residents are spoiled in their accessibility to nightlife.

When I hear people talk about their wild nights in Reno (a collection of which can be found on page 5), I think about how everyone else has to save up for a weekend away to have the same amount of fun I do walking around the city’s bars, breweries, casinos and clubs. Hopefully this guide will inspire you to get out and try a new bar or drink you read about here. I know I’ll be out this weekend celebrating another successful RN&R publication, so hopefully I’ll see you at the bar.

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H

aving grown up in this town, I’ve always taken the glut of casinos, bars and other watering holes for granted, assuming every city prioritized it’s nightlife scene like we do. As I grew to legal drinking age—and maybe a little before—I began to see the differences.

In my college years, during visits with friends at out-of-state universities, I would often find myself asking questions like, “Why is the bartender ringing that bell?

It’s only 1 a.m.” or “Who cares if the liquor store closes soon? Why don’t we get the beer from 7/11?” Through our laws, general hospitality and culture of (maybe a little too much) indulgence, Reno is a haven for bar flies and party animals. That’s why this guide is intended to help citizens and strangers alike enjoy the liberties and libations the Biggest Little City has to offer.

To start, contributor (and mother) Jessica Santina consulted some of the other members of the Reno Mom’s Blog about how to have a night out when you’ve got kids waiting for you at home. Her ideas on how parents can party responsibly can be found on page 6.

Of course, when talking about the various ways Nevadans like to wet our whistles, we can’t ignore our neighbors to the south (even if we’d sometimes like to.)

Contributor Andrea Heerdt, a Las Vegas native who spent the last few years studying at the University of Nevada, Reno, breaks down what to expect from a night out in the two cities. Whether you’re used to looking at pine trees or palm trees, you can read her piece on page 19.

With so many bars in town, it’s easy to stroll right past some of the less-obvious ones without even realizing—especially if you hit a few of the more obvious ones

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bar talk Lindsay neLson Accountant

by Matt Bieker

What was your most memorable night in Reno? a s K e d at r u e b o u r b o n , 1 4 0 1 s . V i r g i n i a s t.

todd dubois Job seeker

debi destiny

eLizabeth rodrigue z

Magician

Nurse

I think we started at Piñon for a drink, and then we went—I don’t remember—but we ended up going to the Polo Lounge and dancing for forever, and then we went to the Point and did karaoke. It was all super spontaneous, and we were out until, like, 3 a.m. and it was the funnest night ever.

I can tell you about an evening at Shea’s [Tavern], where I ended up after a very long night after the Morrisey concert. I went to the bathroom and I thought, “OK I’m just going to go to the bathroom,” and apparently the bathroom is not to go to the bathroom, it’s to snort coke, apparently. I said, “Excuse me, I need to actually pee. I’m sorry to bother you, I see you have that line in front of you.” That was really interesting.

Also that night, we went out with Demi Moore’s half-brother. It was really weird.

How about I tell you about tonight? I started at Roxy, doing a gig for a family of 10 who were having a great time—a birthday party. I did magic. We had a smashing time. They loved it. I killed it.

There were cards appearing across the freaking room. It was dope. Now I’m just out having a good time.

I love every night out in Artown. It’s just a variety of events. And the people and the drinks and the fun and the nature and being outside for hours and dancing—I love everything! I like the bands that they bring from all over the country. I love Pink Martini. They didn’t have them last year but they’re coming this year.

shayne Moone y

tori neLson

PauL Kirst

Victor caMP

Teacher

My friends work for a non-profit, and they threw a tailgate for a UNR game.

UNR won. We all went out after. We went to Our Bar, [Sierra] Taphouse, Loving Cup, danced for like five hours and got crazy … Just the whole night was so smooth. And this is some Reno stuff—at the tailgate, me and my friends are having drinks—we’re Carson boys—we got a bunch of the older people to do beer bongs and just get crazy. Everyone was just on cloud nine having fun.

Emergency Medical Tech

I did chase a hobo trying to save a puppy once. I was a little sad with a breakup situation—we’re back together, everything’s great. Before that happened, though, I got wasted at his bar. We got in our friend’s car, and we took shots of Evan Williams. … I see this hobo, and he has a puppy and he’s walking behind where Bad Apple is, and he puts this puppy in a box. I’m like, “What the fuck, is nobody going to do anything?” … I remember thinking, “I’m going to get that hobo to give me his puppy, and I’m going to run.” [My friend] pulls me back into the car, and was like, “Sorry about my friend!”

And as we drive away, I roll down the window and I was like, “It’s not nice to put animals in

Freight broker

Self-employed

There was a band called 7 Seconds that was playing … They were an old-school band out of Reno. They were playing a show at Fixin’s in Sparks. There was another band that was playing in Reno, called the Voodoo Glow Skulls. They heard that 7 Seconds was playing, and they said, “Well, why are we playing at the same time?” They were like, “We’re going to postpone our show for a few hours. We’ll wait for 7 Seconds to finish, let everybody that went there into our show for free, and rip it until like 2 or 3 in the morning.” So, I did that whole thing, ended up having a wild night in Reno until, what? Eight or 9 the next morning?

03.07.19

We went to see Starship at Harrah’s, and then afterward we went to the Sapphire Lounge at Harrah’s, and we ran into Mickey Thomas and his wife and the rest of the band, and we partied with them for the rest of the night. They were the nicest guys. We just had a fun time, and that’s just the kind of thing that happens in this town.

RN&R BaRs & CluBs Guide

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by Jessica santina

Parents’ night out

A Reno mom’s take on hitting the town without the kids in tow

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ne day in early February, an email from an RN&R editor landed in my inbox: “Hey, Jessica! I wanted to get in touch because I’m looking for story ideas for the upcoming Nightlife Guide.”

I literally laughed out loud. I’m a self-employed writer who works at home and spends most of my time alone anyway. Between my own and my husband’s work schedules and the needs of our 9-year-old daughter, we had gone … let’s see … four weeks (!!) without a single night of adult socialization. I’m in my pajamas by 9 p.m. Me, a Nightlife Guide writer. Hilarious.

But the sheer absurdity of my situation raised a larger issue worth exploring. Census data says that roughly 38 percent of households in Reno contain married couples, and the average family size is 3.19 people. Roughly one-third of

A speciAl supplement to Reno news & Review

homes in Reno look a lot like mine — that is, a married couple with a child in tow. What constitutes “nightlife” in our minds looks more like game nights and shopping excursions than it does dance clubs and bars. That’s what I wanted to write about. Plus, selfishly, I was looking for ideas.

I hit up colleagues, fellow Reno Moms Blog contributors, friends who are parents and parents of my daughter’s friends. The responses I received reassured me, spurred me to make more plans with friends (a nudge I needed) and provided a zillion new ideas for the next time we get out of the house.

Seeking A SitteR When I posed the question to the Reno Moms Blog (RMB) contributors about what they did for a night out, Jessica Locke, a local mom who home schools her four children, said, “We love our nights out, but we’re almost always home by 9:30. We usually end every date with a trip to Target or Whole Foods because #parentlife. Our babysitters laugh at us all the time.”

Rachel Kingham, a local PR specialist and friend, and her husband, professional photographer Jamie Kingham, established a standing once-a-week agreement with a sitter. Sometimes this meant the couple had nice dinners out, saw shows and stayed out late—and sometimes it meant that they ran errands and came home early, to the sitter’s amusement. But the arrangement forced them to get out alone and enjoy each other’s company, sans children, on a regular basis. “We did do date nights every Friday,” she said, “and then reviewed our budget and decided to do once a month instead.”

The sitter dilemma is no joke. Babysitter rates vary wildly, but usually range anywhere from $7 to $15 an hour per kid. Sitters are reserved for special nights out that are worth the added expense, when you’ve exhausted the good will of friends and family members.

“We try to keep good relationships with teens that we know, and are constantly expanding our sitter base because eventually they get boyfriends and ditch the babysitting scene,” said Locke. “Adding new sitters all the time saves us. We have some family in the area and will do sleepovers every now and then so we have a full night.”

“I have friends who trade date nights and watch each other’s kids,” responded RMBer Danielle Sanford. “I also have used kids in our neighborhood. Nextdoor app constantly has parents mentioning their teenagers looking for sitter jobs. I also suggest tapping into the male babysitter market. I have a couple of super nice boys on my list who my kids love and are usually fairly available … I also say all this knowing babysitters are expensive and a luxury.”

Nextdoor is a mobile platform where neighbors can inform each other about the comings and goings in the neighborhood.

“When my kids were younger, I used caregivers from the daycare that both of my boys attended,” said Jennifer Duval Beller, a former RMBer. “I paid them

whatever their wage was at work, usually $10/hour. socialize in another. Or, like Sparks mom Jennie We all knew and trusted each other, so it was an Upham suggests, “My friends and I do family easy solution for everyone.” bowling night. Kids get a lane and we get a lane.”

Many parents suggested looking into parents’ Afternoon delight night out events at local rec centers, churches or their kids’ extracurricular activity locations. Martial For a lot of parents, nightlife doesn’t necessarily arts, gymnastics and dance studios and other such mean nighttime. locations around Reno-Sparks frequently offer RMBer Jamie Schnell said, “We also do a lot monthly opportunities for parents to drop kids off of lunch-type stuff. Afternoon stuff vs. night. We on weekend nights for a few hours, so the aren’t bar people ... We like to go to shows kids get social time and planned activiand plays and coffee.” ties, all at a reasonable fixed rate My friend, Sparks mom Tara that costs the same or less than a Madden, responded similarly.

We love our babysitter would. Recently, Alf Dropping her daughter off on nights out, Sorensen Community Center Saturday afternoons for a threebegan offering monthly Parents’ but we’re almost hour theater class gives Madden Night Off nights at a very low and her husband built-in afteralways home by rate; its February movie-andnoon dates each week, which 9:30. swimming event cost only $12, has allowed them to explore the or $10 for Sparks residents. (This hot new restaurants in midtown Jessica Locke list is not all-inclusive, I apologize or take shopping trips together. in advance for not mentioning your So let’s say you actually manage parents’ night out offering.) to get out of the house for some honestPlus, there’s the good old-fashioned kid to-God adult time. Now what? As my friend swap: You watch my kids, then I’ll watch yours.

Jessica Rosas, a mom of three, perfectly put it, But the dynamic in which most parents find “I’m a huge advocate of self-care and, up until ourselves is one where, out of necessity and converecently, that included going out ... but I recently nience, we end up socializing more often with discovered I can’t hang anymore.” parents of our kids’ friends. To parents, a night For those of you who wouldn’t be caught out might look more like a house party where kids dead going out on Saturday until at least 11 p.m., play in one part of the house while the grownups just know that we used to be you. Now, the

more mature adults among us simply can’t hang anymore. What nightclubs are hot? We literally have no idea. Do people go to nightclubs anymore?

We hear about great bars but have no idea what they’re like and most likely won’t go find out.

And I’m sorry if I’m yawning in your face at 9 p.m. Parents’ nights out involve different kinds of entertainment—like the spa day I recently took with some girlfriends. Or one of these ideas: “I have two dates booked in February,” responded RMB site manager Lynnette Bellin.

“Vino and Vinyasa and Couples Yin Yoga—both at Yoga Pod.” “For dates, we end up on a fair number of group outings,” said Sanford. “We go to the Glass Die a lot, which is a board game bar. We have also done a lot of puzzle rooms … And I haven’t been yet, but I want to go to Press Start [Bar & Arcade].”

“I like that they have the adult nights at the Discovery Museum,” Upham said, adding, “Couples’ paint nights are always fun.”

“I like the happy hour at Atlantis. I’m also a huge fan of casino bars,” said my friend Mandy Folchi-Oddeio, a Sparks mom and second-grade teacher. Then she added, “When do they want this article written by? Maybe you have to have a girls’ night out in the name of research.”

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RN&R BaRs & CluBs Guide

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A speciAl supplement to Reno news & Review

This publication was made possible by grant number CFDA 93.217 from Title X, and its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Office of Population Affairs.

03.07.19

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Three RN&R writers set out to prove Reno is a 24-hour town

Reno booze & review

by Matt Bieker, Jeri Chadwell and luka StarMer

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N

ine years ago, a relay team of three writers from this paper set out on a 24-hour bar crawl to sample Reno’s bar offerings morning and night (“24 bars in 24 hours,” Bars & Clubs, March 11, 2010).

But Reno’s nightlife scene has changed considerably in the past almost-decade, so, for this guide, another three-writer team—Matt Bieker, Jeri Chadwell and Luka Starmer—ventured out to drink from midnight to midnight with the goal of hitting 24 bars in 24 hours. Spoiler alert: We didn’t quite make our quota, but what follows is a true account of 24 hours of drinking in Reno.

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Midnight: Sierra Tap House, 253 W. First St.

I volunteered for the graveyard shift. On nights out, I’m notorious among my friends for being the first to suggest going home in the wee hours of the morning. This article, I thought, was the perfect chance to overcome my perennial wet blanket streak and see the side of Reno nightlife I’ve often traded for a few more hours of sleep.

I met my brother, Sean, and friends Steven and Jessica at the bar not long after midnight. Sierra Tap House is a cozy establishment on the river.

It makes up for how narrow the bar room is with a sizable game room that includes vintage arcade games and a shuffleboard table.

While the place is known for the impressive Sierra Nevada beer collection, I opted for a whiskey soda. My night was just getting started, and you know what they say: Liquor before beer, you’re in the clear; beer before liquor, never been sicker.

I spent the hour chatting with everyone around the bar. My compatriots were genuinely interested in my marathon crawl but made it clear to me none of them were sticking around for the full eight hours. I couldn’t blame them. We lost Sean on our way out, and he gave me a skeptical, “Good luck, dude,” as we left.

1 a.M.: Pignic Pub & Patio, 235 Flint St. We walked a few hundred yards to Pignic—my favorite bar that makes no apologies about basically being just a house. The outdoor fire pit was crowded with people huddled for warmth in the sub-freezing temperatures, holding cigarettes between shivering fingers.

I opted for my favorite cocktail, the Campfire Sour, a sweet whiskey sour with a burnt rosemary

(775) 324-4440

sprig that gives the drink its smoky namesake.

Steven chose a Maker’s Mark and soda and Jess picked a Golden Monkey Ale—one of dozens on the tap list.

We sat beneath a spinning disco ball in the Victorian-era parlor. The night’s music had wrapped up a little while before, and the musicians were in the process of dismantling the stage space.

We witnessed some incredibly earnest dance moves being interrupted by the replacement of a couch in the middle of the floor, but otherwise looked for an opportunity to join the throng of people around the fire pit. We never got the chance, though, and Jess bid us goodbye as Steve and I set off down the street.

2 a.M.: RedRock Bar, 241 S. Sierra St. A few blocks away, below a neon sign and through a narrow doorway is RedRock. The place is easily missed by people who don’t know it’s there, making it a bit of a hideaway. The modest wooden bar specializes in well drinks and a domestic tap selection—but we were interested in the downstairs room.

Down a narrow flight of stairs is a dimly lit basement that houses two pool tables and an oldtimey jukebox. While its existence is by no means a secret, it still has a way of feeling like a prohibition speakeasy—which, of course, called for more whiskey and some gambling.

I beat Steve for $10 on one table while talking with some recent college grads playing on the other. One young man wearing an authentic Russian Cossack hat—a gift, he told us—sang a few bars of the Russian national anthem, and Steve decided to call it a night. He

“reno booze & review” continued on page 14

www.MellowFellowPub.Com Downtown Reno 300 East 2nd St. Reno, NV (775) 657-8946 03.07.19

Truckee 10192 Donner Pass Rd. Truckee, CA (530) 214-8927

SUNDAY BRUNCH & TRIVIA 11am-1pm Bottomless mimosas & blody mary’s

RN&R BaRs & CluBs Guide

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Listings ADELE’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE 1112 North Carson St. Carson City, NV 89701 www.adelesrestarantandlounge.com

COPPERTOP BAR

B AR S & CLUB S

Guide 2019

Inside Grand Sierra Resort 2500 E. Second St. Reno, NV 89595 www.grandsierraresort.com 775-789-2000

CRYSTAL BAR Inside Grand Sierra Resort 2500 E. Second St. Reno, NV 89595 www.grandsierraresort.com 775-789-2000

FILTHY MCNASTY’S 1718 Holcomb Ave. Reno, NV 89502 775-622-3208

LAUGH FACTORY COMEDY CLUB Inside the Silver Legacy at THE ROW 407 N. Virginia St. Reno, NV 89501 www.silverlegacy.com 1-800-687-8733

LEX NIGHTCLUB & LEX LOUNGE Inside Grand Sierra Resort 2500 E. Second St. Reno, NV 89595 www.grandsierraresort.com 775-789-2000

RACE & SPORTS BAR Inside Grand Sierra Resort 2500 E. Second St. Reno, NV 89595 www.grandsierraresort.com 775-789-2000

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RENDEZVOUS BAR Inside Grand Sierra Resort 2500 E. Second St. Reno, NV 89595 www.grandsierraresort.com 775-789-2000

AURA ULTRA LOUNGE Inside the Silver Legacy at THE ROW 407 N. Virginia St. Reno, NV 89501 www.silverlegacyreno.com 775-325-7401

BAR CENTRO Inside the Eldorado at THE ROW 345 N. Virginia St. Reno, NV 89501 www.eldoradoreno.com 775-786-5700

BLENDER BAR Inside the Silver Legacy at THE ROW 407 N. Virginia St. Reno, NV 89501 www.silverlegacyreno.com 775-325-7401

CIN CIN Inside the Eldorado at THE ROW 345 N. Virginia St. Reno, NV 89501 www.eldoradoreno.com 775-786-5700

EL JEFE’S CANTINA Inside Circus Circus at THE ROW 500 N. Sierra St. Reno, NV 89503 www.circusreno.com 775-329-0711

“There cannot be good living where there is no good drinking.”

–BENjAMIN FR ANkLIN

DRINX

SILVER BARON LOUNGE

Inside the Silver Legacy at THE ROW 407 N. Virginia St. Reno, NV 89501 www.silverlegacyreno.com 775-325-7401

Inside the Silver Legacy at THE ROW 407 N. Virginia St. Reno, NV 89501 www.silverlegacyreno.com 775-325-7401

MILLIE’S 24 BAR

STADIUM BAR

Inside the Eldorado at THE ROW 345 N. Virginia St. Reno, NV 89501 www.eldoradoreno.com 775-786-5700

Inside the Eldorado at THE ROW 345 N. Virginia St. Reno, NV 89501 www.eldoradoreno.com 775-786-5700

NOVI Inside the Eldorado at THE ROW 345 N. Virginia St. Reno, NV 89501 www.eldoradoreno.com 775-786-5700

RACE & SPORTSBOOk BAR & LOUNGE Inside Circus Circus at THE ROW 500 N. Sierra St. Reno, NV 89503 www.circusreno.com 775-329-0711

ROXY’S BAR & LOUNGE Inside the Eldorado at THE ROW 345 N. Virginia St. Reno, NV 89501 www.eldoradoreno.com 775-786-5700

RUM BULLIONS Inside the Silver Legacy at THE ROW 407 N. Virginia St. Reno, NV 89501 www.silverlegacyreno.com 775-325-7401

VILLAGE BAR Inside Circus Circus at THE ROW 500 N. Sierra St. Reno, NV 89503 www.circusreno.com 775-329-0711

THE BREW BROTHERS Inside the Eldorado at THE ROW 345 N. Virginia St. Reno, NV 89501 www.eldoradoreno.com 775-786-5700

NOBLE PIE PARLOR 239 W. Second St. Reno, NV 89501 www.noblepieparlor.com 775-567-6649

NOBLE PIE PARLORMIDTOWN 777 S. Center St. Reno, NV 89509 www.noblepieparlor.com 775-323-1494

GREAT BASIN BREWING CO.

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846 Victorian Ave. Sparks, NV 89431 www.greatbasinbrewingco.com 775-355-7711 5525 S. Virginia St. Reno, NV 89511 775-284-7711

325 E. Nugget Ave. Sparks, NV 89431 www.newdreno.com 775-355-5500

MEN’S CLUB 270 Lake St. Reno, NV 89501 www.renomensclub.com 775-786-7800

DAVIDS ON’S DISTILLERY

ALPINE UNION BAR Inside Hard Rock Hotel Lake Tahoe 50 HWY 50 Stateline, NV www.hardrockcasinolaketahoe.com (844) 588-7625

CENTER BAR

OPAL ULTRA LOUNGE

Inside Hard Rock Hotel Lake Tahoe 50 HWY 50 Stateline, NV www.hardrockcasinolaketahoe.com (844) 588-7625

Inside Montbleu Resort 55 Hwy 50 Stateline, NV 89449 www.montbleuresort.com 775-588-3515

POOL BAR Located at Hard Rock Hotel Lake Tahoe 50 HWY 50 Stateline, NV www.hardrockcasinolaketahoe.com (844) 588-7625

THE ZONE SPORTS BOOk & PARTY PIT

275 E. Fourth St. Reno, NV 89501 775-324-1917

Inside Montbleu Resort 55 Hwy 50 Stateline, NV 89449 www.montbleuresort.com 775-588-3515

RESERVE WINE BAR

MONTBLEU SHOWROOM

Inside Grand Sierra Resort 2500 E. Second St. Reno, NV 89595 www.grandsierraresort.com 775-789-2322

55 Hwy 50 stateline, NV 89449 www.montbleuresort.com 775-588-3515

CHARLIE PALMER LOUNGE Inside Grand Sierra Resort 2500 E. Second St. Reno, NV 89595 www.grandsierraresort.com 775-789-2456

MELLOW FELLOW GASTROPUB 300 E. Second St. Reno, NV 89501 www.mellowfellowpub.com 775-657-8946 10192 Donner Pass Rd. Truckee, CA 96161 530-214-8927

THE 395 CRAFT BEER & SPIRITS 1075 North Hill Blvd, suite 220, 89506 Reno, Nevada 89506 WWW.395reno.com (775) 440-1893

STEAkHOUSE LOUNGE

WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BAR Inside Hard Rock Hotel Lake Tahoe 50 HWY 50 Stateline, NV www.hardrockcasinolaketahoe.com (844) 588-7625

PARk PRIME BAR Inside Hard Rock Hotel Lake Tahoe 50 HWY 50 Stateline, NV www.hardrockcasinolaketahoe.com (844) 588-7625

Inside Tamarack Junction 13101 S. Virginia St. Reno, NV 89511 www.tamarackjunction.com 775-852-3600

SULLY’S MAN CAVE Inside Tamarack Junction 13101 S. Virginia ST. Reno, NV 89511 www.tamarackjunction.com 775-852-3600

VINYL

SIZZLE PIE

Inside Hard Rock Hotel Lake Tahoe 50 HWY 50 Stateline, NV www.hardrockcasinolaketahoe.com (844) 588-7625

190 S. Center St. Reno, NV 89501 www.sizzlepie.com 775-525-7437

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“reno Booze & revIew” continued from page 11

walked me to the next destination before departing himself.

3 a.m.: The Stick, 95 N. Sierra St.

A double-decker sports bar wedged between the Riverside movie theater and Pizanos Pizza, The Stick is unique in that it still serves wings, fries and other bar classics until its 4 a.m. close. I didn’t partake, however, and sat down to a Jack and Coke at the bar with about a dozen other patrons.

I watched some of the previous day’s ESPN highlights on the multiple large TVs on the wall behind the bar. After a while, though, my tired eyes felt oppressed by the wall of blue light, and I felt like the drinks and hour hand were getting to me.

I wasn’t alone in feeling edgy. Two guys at the bar next to me had been having a heated discussion about something I didn’t catch, when one of them forcibly pushed his plate away before standing up and shouting, “I’m

every shape, color and age clamoring for Tang Bangs, AMF’s and Vodka Redbulls, or grinding relentlessly to the thumping dance music.

I hung out for a while, mostly just observing what Reno’s citizens were doing at this hour of the morning. Along with a few patrons openly napping in the bar’s long seating area, and some same-sex, multi-person makeout sessions, I also witnessed a lone man who looked to be in his 80s being admonished by a group of 20-something women for allegedly grabbing one of their butts.

I imbibed but a single Jager-bomb and hit the road for an icy walk down Second Street.

5 a.m.: Doc Holliday’s, 120 E. Second St.

I knew Doc Holliday’s by its reputation as a 24-hour bar, but I’d never visited it before. The musty, cheerfully lit barroom was a nice change of pace from the chaos of Tonic, but I noticed an equally diverse crowd around the pool table in the back of the room and playing video poker along the bar. I also noticed a real motorcycle

“By 10 a.m., it was apparent that breakfast was in order, lest I find myself mentally insolvent before noon.” -Jeri Chadwell done talking to you, Zach—this is bullshit!” As he stormed away, I felt it was time to find my second wind.

4 a.m.: Tonic Lounge, 231 W. 2nd St. Steven Carlson loses to Special Projects Editor Matt Bieker on RedRock’s pool tables.

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Walking through Tonic’s mirrored glass doors was a decidedly different scene. The place was packed. Through the cigarette smoke, strobe lights and anonymizing darkness, I could see people of

RN&R BaRs & CluBs Guide

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suspended from the ceiling, completely covered in discarded bras—some of which had been autographed.

I ordered a Rolling Rock and sat down at the bar to watch the 1960s Batman TV show and chat with the bartender. Doc Holliday’s is known as an industry bar, she told me, and many of the patrons were local casino workers or graveyard shifters just getting off work.

A speciAl supplement to Reno news & Review

It was here that I chose to use the bathroom, and as I pushed the door to leave, it collided with someone standing maybe six inches in front of it on the opposite side. I apologized to someone a lot bigger and drunker than me as I stepped past him, at which point he grabbed me by the lapel and slurred, “Hey … next time you come out … remember to slow down.”

I nodded, and he released me, but as I walked away, I saw the even bigger bouncer grab my new acquaintance and advise him against making trouble. “Always a bigger fish,” I thought.

6 a.m.: Joy Luck Noodle Bar, inside Harrah’s, 219 N. Center St. Here I suffered my first breakdown in the timeline of the night. After a longtime friend unexpectedly turned up in Doc’s after her bartending shift and bought us a round of tequila shots, I had stayed too long and left the bar at about 6:30.

As I left, the sky outside was a cool gray in the pre-dawn light, and the first signs of a pink glow were visible to the east.

Desperate to get back on track, I chose to explore what early morning offerings the casinos might have and stumbled into Harrah’s. Plopping myself into a chair at the Joy Luck Noodle Bar, bartender Shawn inquired about my night so far.

I sipped my gin and tonic and told him about my efforts—the drinks and lack of sleep were definitely affecting my cogency at this point.

When I asked him about his tolerance for working through the night, he replied simply, “I’m a night guy.”

7 a.m.: Shea’s Tavern, 715 S. Virginia St.

After talking with Shawn and another guest—a soldier on leave from Fallon airbase who told me unequivocally he was looking for “pussy”—I realized once again I was leaving late and decided to forgo looking for another casino bar. Instead, I set off in the quiet morning light through downtown on my final leg of the journey: walking to midtown to meet RN&R Associate Editor Jeri Chadwell at Shea’s Tavern.

The notorious punk rock venue and 24-hour bar was still packed with people from the night before when I arrived. I walked through the door as a guy my age with a busted lip was being forcibly escorted out. I ordered an Irish coffee replete with whipped cream and realized I was one bar short of my goal, since Jeri would spend her first hour at Shea’s as well.

Still, I wasn’t very familiar with Shea’s, so I was fascinated to see the dozens of people carrying on like it was 7 p.m., not a.m. I figured anyone still drinking at this hour was probably right here, and so I chalked it up to an authentic Reno night out. I sipped my coffee, now thoroughly tired of the taste of whiskey, until Jeri walked through the front door, regaling me with tales about how worried she was about me and how weird it was to listen to NPR’s morning show on her way to a bar. I passed off the notebook I had been using to record my notes—our symbolic baton between the three shifts—and gladly gave Jeri my seat at the bar before walking outside to wait for my Uber home.

meet RN&R contributor Luka Starmer to pass off the notebook totem. But I’d have to make one more stop before that if I wanted to meet my bar quota. I decided the Swiss Chalet would do. The bartender, a young man, carded me. I didn’t like it this time. I got the feeling some of the patrons were waiting to see if my I.D. was legit, and it felt weird. I ordered a rye whiskey, neat in a rocks glass.

I realized I was fairly sober in comparison to the woman sitting next to me when I pulled out my hair brush and she moseyed over with a slurred exclamation that I should brush hers too. I did.

Jeri: day shift

Associate Editor Jeri Chadwell tests the structural integrity of 10Torr’s walls after her shift.

8 a.m.: Shea’s Tavern, 715 S. Virginia St. I woke 20 minutes before my 6 a.m. alarm—worried about Matt Bieker. I’m a worrier by nature and thought to text him but reminded myself aloud as I measured ground coffee and started a pot, “You’re his boss, not his mom.” Showered and having walked the dog, I put in my headphones at 7:40 a.m. and listened to NPR’s Wait! Wait!

Don’t Tell Me! on the walk from my house to Shea’s Tavern.

Entering Shea’s stone cold sober at 8 a.m. was an experience unlike any I’ve had.

“Everyone I know is here,” I said beneath my breath, scanning the crowd for Bieker.

Indeed, more than a handful of my friends and acquaintances were there—glassy-eyed and most of them participating in an early morning ’80s dance party. I found Bieker, not dancing but seated on a bar stool near the door.

He turned as I called his name—smiling and wobbling like a weeble but managing not to fall down. We chatted briefly before he passed our notebook totem to me and departed.

I ordered a rye whiskey—and was purchased a second by a friend—and spent most of the remainder of my time at Shea’s standing outside of the back door, chatting quietly with yet another friend about love and relationships, divorce and remarriage.

9 a.m.: Lucke’s Saloon, 1455 S. Wells Ave.

Leaving Shea’s near 9 a.m. having had two drinks, I felt strangely conspicuous to passersby who were making their ways to midtown breakfast spots. I headed south toward Lucke’s Saloon on South Wells, a place I went on occasion back in college. The walk was longer—and colder—than I had anticipated in the brisk February morning air.

At Lucke’s, a few bar stools were already occupied. The bartender and I were the only women there—and, I’m sure, the only people under 65. She introduced herself as Barb and

carded me. I like it when that happens. The bar didn’t carry a rye whiskey.

“A Crown, I guess, sounds good,” I told Barb. “Neat, please, in a rocks glass.”

The music on the radio struck my funny bone. The first song to play was Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5.” I chuckled to myself when it ended and “Midnight at the Oasis” began. Would some rendition of the “Sheik of Araby” come next?

10 a.m.: Coach’s Grill & Sports Bar, 1573 S. Virginia St. By 10 a.m., it was apparent that breakfast was in order lest I find myself mentally insolvent before noon. PJ & Co. on South Wells—a go-to for me—was packed, and I was buzzing.

As a lone drunk, it seemed wrong to pack in next to families, so I walked instead to Coach’s, where I ordered a chicken-fried steak breakfast and a rye whiskey, neat in a rocks glass. The waitress, a woman named Charity, was quick with a joke and sweet. She asked, and I explained the day’s mission. The man who sat next to me had a New Zealand accent.

I realized before I left that he’s the father of my friend Rhys, a purveyor of booze at an establishment I frequented quite often in the months before and after my divorce.

“Say hi for me,” I said as I quaffed my whiskey and headed for the door.

11 a.m.: 40 Mile Saloon, 1495 S. Virginia St.

It was still cold and gray outside when I departed Coach’s. My whiskey intake at this point had given me a nice, warm feeling—a so-called “alcohol jacket”—but the wind cut quickly through it. Searching my mind for a nearby bar, I settled on 40 Mile Saloon. It’s not my social scene per se, but the people there are friendly, and I stop in on occasion. I ordered a rye whiskey, neat in a rocks glass.

NooN: Craft Wine and Beer, 22 Martin St.

The sun was peeking through the clouds as I began walking north. My fiancé, Christian, texted he was at Craft Wine and Beer.

This bar is definitely more his scene than mine. And don’t get me wrong. I like the atmosphere and the people. It’s just that beer makes me fat, and wine makes me crazy— seriously. Opting for the lesser of those two evils, I ordered a carbohydrate-laden beer, chatted briefly with Christian, said hi to talented Reno photographer Cesar Lopez and excused myself.

1 p.m.: A friend’s ostensibly mobile,

oblong, yellow home; somewhere in midtown I felt a bit maudlin leaving Craft—a symptom of booze intake. I decided to walk through the alley from Martin Street toward bars farther north. Along the way, I happened across another friend—well, actually, across the school bus he’s remodeling into a home. I decided to knock on the door.

“Want to smoke a joint?” I asked when he answered.

“Yeah,” he said.

I reasoned that if I also drank one of his beers, this stop would certainly count toward the bar crawl. I mean, everyone has a friend who lives in midtown, right? Afterward, we walked his two dogs through the alleys. On the way back, we heard a horn being honked repeatedly and came around a corner to find a dog in the front seat of a parked car, barking and bouncing madly on the horn—the kind of thing that happens in movies. It made my day.

2 p.m.: The Swiss Chalet, 501 Mill St.

From midtown, I knew I needed to make my way toward Wells Avenue, where I would 03.07.19

3 p.m.: Jub Jub’s Thirst Parlor, 71 S. Wells Ave. Skate Jam 6 was in full swing when I arrived at Jub Jub’s Thirst Parlor. Jub’s is a regular haunt of mine. When I went in, the bartender, my friend Salvatore, poured me my usual—rye whiskey, neat in a rocks glass.

I drunkenly stepped out onto the porch and seated myself to smoke a cigarette. Starmer was going to be a little late.

When he arrived, he ordered us each a beer—a domestic of some sort—and we sat down to chat about my experience and where he was headed. A drunk guy kept harassing us to pay the cover charge for Skate Jam, but I’d already tried to and was told that you didn’t have to pay—and couldn’t—unless you went into the adjoining showroom.

The guy got into Starmer’s face, saying, “I vouched for you guys!”

Confused, drunk and pissed off, I went to the ATM and pulled 40 bucks and then took it back to the door guy, “So what’s the deal? Do we actually need to pay? We’re journalists, and we’re not trying to get anything for free.”

“I told you, not unless you go to the other side,” he said, clearly exasperated.

“Well, then tell your dude over there that,” I said, pointing.

“That guy?” he asked.

Turns out, that guy wasn’t working or bouncing or anything for the bar. The door guy told him to cool his jets. I’d been pretty good all day, but—in retrospect—it’s clear that by then I wasn’t exactly reasonable.

Starmer suggested that, in lieu of having words with the drunk jerk, I head home, walking along the way with him to his next destination. He finished his own and drank the other domestic beer I’d left full. Outside of 10Torr on Mill Street, longtime RN&R arts writer Kris Vagner appeared as if by magic, parking as we walked up. She and her husband had come for a drink, but they’d give me a ride home first. I wondered if I looked as pie-eyed as my friends at Shea’s had that morning.

“reno booze & review” continued on page 17

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A speciAl supplement to Reno news & Review

“reno booze & review” continued from page 11

: a k u L ift sh t h g ni

beer was “refreshing.” I think my next one was an ice water.

Contributor Luka Starmer being escorted from Brew Brothers for snapping an unsanctioned photo.

4 p.m.: Jub Jub’s Thirst Parlor,

71 S. Wells Ave. It was some time between 4 and 5 p.m. by the time I finally arrived, and I’d definitely left Jeri hanging a little longer than I meant to. Jeri was swaying on a bench outside on the patio arguing with a guy over who would fare better in the zombie apocalypse.

The bar was buzzing because Skate Jam 6 was going on in the back showroom. I finished my beer (and Jeri’s), and we poked our heads in to see the ruckus of skaters catching air on the quarter pipe and grinding the rails.

I have a feeling skateboarding and punk music will survive the zombie apocalypse, too.

5 p.m.: 10Torr Distilling and Brewing, 490

Mill St. 10Torr is home of the 10-foot doors. You have to really want a drink if you’re going to try to pull those monolithic things open. The cocktail hour crowd was lively, and Nevada Wolf Pack basketball was on the television. I mentioned I was reviewing the spirits and bartender Cass Cervantes switched right into public relations mode as she poured me a Slap’n Basil—essentially a gin gimlet with basil.

“Everything here at 10Torr is in-housemade,” she said. “It’s vacuum distillation—cold distillation. No heat is used to make our liquor. The gin in your drink is juniper-based. The botanicals are beautiful because the heat doesn’t burn it off. It’s not so intimidating for a gin.”

It seemed too busy to ask for a tour back into the industrial-looking production room full of stainless tanks. I drained my drink and watched Caleb Martin drain one more free throw on the TV before moving on.

6 p.m.: Foxy Olive, 220 Mill St.

At the Foxy, I slid into a conversation with a group sitting at the bar talking about old friends who used to drink there. One guy

10 p.m.: Eldorado security, 345 N. Virginia St. Here’s where my night hit a proverbial pot hole: I was absolutely loving Larkin Poe, and I was psyched they were going to make their way into the story. I figured this would require an accompanying photo. I sidestepped the fan in front of me and leaned over the stage speaker to snap a photo of Megan Lovell’s slide on the strings of her guitar. I was promptly snagged by a security guard and brought out into the blinding lights of the Eldorado where I was informed that I was 86’d from the concert. I showed them my photo and tried to explain my assignment as a nightlife correspondent.

They weren’t having it.

“I ain’t drunk—just buzzed!” I protested as security guard Salahddine escorted me down the escalator back to Virginia Street.

I later heard back from Lovell about her experience in Reno: “It feels like the folks of Reno are big music lovers and open to supporting some roots American music— we can’t wait to come back,” she said. She said she didn’t mind me taking the photo, nor did she mind security doing their job.

That was that. I headed towards midtown.

11 p.m.: The Loving Cup,

told a story about a patron who volunteered to drink a pitcher of stale foam that collected from the taps over the course of a shift. I asked about the guy who used to give out the Donald Trump stickers that read “pee on me” that appeared in bathroom stalls all over town back in 2016. Best I can tell is sometimes that guy’s in town, and sometimes he isn’t. My beer was $2.

I knew my old friend Joe Ricker was bartending. He’s the kind of bartender who will lean a little closer while polishing a glass to finish a crude punch line. It was good to see him. It was after the dinner crowd, so we were the only ones at the bar. Joe said they have good happy hour deals. It wasn’t happy hour, so I asked what

188 California Ave. Feeling dejected, I headed toward the last bar of the night: The Loving Cup. Most of my nights out end at this bar, swirling in a blurry dance party until who knows when. This night, however, I sat glowering in the back booth below the glistening portrait of Elvis Presley. He shed a solemn tear for my misery.

An old sports coach of mine would repeatedly tell me that to play like a champion, one must have a short memory.

Clearly his memory was pretty short, given

“if you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.”- Mark twain

7 p.m.: Brasserie Saint James, 901 S. Center St. A group of friends picked me up on their way to a celebratory dinner at the Brasserie. We took over the end of a high top table and ordered from the bar menu. I needed food, and I really love the wings there. They come with another side of wing sauce, and there’s something about double dipping that’s twice as satisfying.

I know beer snobs who won’t stop talking about the Red Headed Stranger on tap, but I always drink their Mexi-beer, Santiago, and preferably out of their yellow can with the Mexican sugar skull design. (They don’t serve it in the can at Brasserie.)

8 p.m.: The Gas Lamp, 101 E. Pueblo St.

I had never been to the Gas Lamp, but

people normally drink there. He poured me a raspberry lemon drop, and we laughed.

9 p.m.: Brew Brothers, inside Eldorado,

345 N. Virginia St. Earlier at 10Torr, my friends Kris and Jerry dropped the tip that Larkin Poe was playing at Brew Brothers that night. They’re a roots rock and soul band led by two sisters, Rebecca and Megan Lovell. They sing killer harmonies, and Megan can slay the lap steel. It’s foot stompin’ and head boppin’ with a Southern twang. I don’t remember what I ordered at this point, but I wrote in my reporter’s notebook that my 03.07.19

the recurrence of this advice. But, for once, it worked. I saw a throng of people in ’80s costumes and obnoxious wigs boogying in past the bar towards my booth. It was a group of my pals fresh out of Roller Kingdom celebrating a going-away party for our friend. I flashed them the killer photo from Larkin Poe that got me kicked out earlier. They cheered, and that’s all I can remember. But like Mark Twain said, “if you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.” Ω

RN&R BaRs & CluBs Guide

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A speciAl supplement to Reno news & Review

by AndreA Heerdt

North versus South When it comes to Nevada’s drinking culture—it’s all about your latitude.

M

ost major cities have just about every type of bar you could ask for—dive bars, cocktail lounges, wine tasting rooms, breweries and so on. But each city has its own spin on a night out, and despite Las Vegas and Reno being in the same state, the drinking culture in Sin City is a world away from the Biggest Little City. Living in Las Vegas for over 13 years and then attending college in Reno, I’ve had the chance to get up close and personal with each city’s nightlife scene.

DistaNce Unless you’re heading to midtown, you can pretty much walk the distance of downtown Reno without getting severe blisters on your feet or spending exorbitant amounts of money on cabs or rideshare apps. Known for its Zombie, Santa and upcoming Leprechaun crawl, Reno’s bar crawls span just about a dozen city blocks, allowing you to hop from one bar to another by simply walking (or crawling). This allows you to squeeze in a variety of Reno’s decidedly different bars all in one night without having to put too much thought or effort into it.

If you think you’re going to walk the entire Las Vegas Strip in a night while stopping to drink along the way, I hope you’re joking. The Strip itself, the stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard that extends from Russell Road to Sahara Avenue, is 4.2 miles long, offering quite the endurance challenge for dedicated walkers. Keep in mind you’ll be tipsy and there are thousands of tourists clogging up the sidewalk, making it difficult to get anywhere fast.

Plus, there’s all of downtown Las Vegas just north of the Strip and the Fremont Street Experience after downtown. This is great in the sense that there are hundreds of new and exciting bars to try, but rather difficult to formulate a bar crawl unless you keep it confined to a certain area of town. In a city known all over the world for its drinking culture, it’s no wonder why it’s difficult to even cover a fraction of the bars Las Vegas has to offer while on foot.

DriNkiNg LaWs Photo/AndreA heerdt

Sorry, Reno, Vegas wins this one. In the City of Las Vegas, it is legal to consume alcoholic beverages in public if the drink is purchased in an open container. So if you buy a beer in a plastic cup at one bar, you can walk around on the street still drinking your beer without any issues, just as long 03.07.19

as it’s not in a glass container. Many tourists take advantage of this law by enjoying Vegas’ famous yard drinks, which usually contain frozen piña coladas, daiquiris or blended margaritas inside three-foot-long souvenir cups. If you are considering this option, just make sure you consider these special exceptions—drinking isn’t allowed within 1,000 feet of a church, synagogue, public or private school, hospital, withdrawal management facility or homeless shelter.

In Reno, walking around with an open container is much more restricted. It’s illegal and could lead to misdemeanor charges. This is why you’re asked to pour out your cups before heading outside on bar crawl nights. Renoites have an outstanding talent for chugging drinks before hitting the next bar, though.

Luckily there are laws statewide that both Las Vegas and Reno dwellers can enjoy, like being able to purchase alcohol 24 hours a day from convenience stores, supermarkets and liquor stores. Bars are also permitted to stay open as late as they want to since there is no legally mandated last call for alcohol in the state of Nevada.

LocaL speciaLties Yes, Reno has Lex Nightclub and Edge Nightclub, but the nightclub scene down south includes worldfamous DJs like Calvin Harris, Steve Aoki and Tiësto regularly performing at venues like Hakkasan Nightclub, a decadent five-floor space equipped with restaurants, DJ booths, dance floors and private seating areas.

However, you must be daring enough to wait in line with the masses of tourists, pay an expensive cover and dress up in order to gain entrance.

Reno’s comparative drink specialty? Craft beer. That’s not to say Las Vegas doesn’t do craft beer well.

There are plenty of tap rooms that’ll satisfy your craving for a refreshing beer when you need one, like Hop Nuts Brewing, for instance, but Reno just does it extra well. I mean, after a long day of skiing or hiking in gorgeous mountains, it only seems natural to grab a crisp craft beer. With places like The Depot Craft Brewery and Distillery, Lead Dog Brewing Co. and Great Basin Brewing Co. you’re bound to go through craft beer withdrawals when you move down south. Plus, jeans, t-shirts and baseball hats are always permitted on the premises—no dress code required. Ω RN&R BaRs & CluBs Guide

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RN&R BaRs & CluBs Guide

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A speciAl supplement to Reno news & Review

Beaten Reno’s bar scene holds hidden gems

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by Pax Robinson

I

t’s always fun to be in the know when it comes to secrets. Among Reno’s myriad bars are a few hideaways that fly under the radar, either because they are intentionally hidden or simply keep a low profile. What they all have in common is strong drinks, cozy atmospheres and dim lighting that will let you keep a few secrets of your own.

ThiRsTy’s Thirsty’s is a secret bar and a time machine all rolled into one. Located on the seventh floor of the downtown Plaza Hotel the original bar was only recently rediscovered after being closed and walled off in 1985. After a lot of dusting, the bar reopened in 2016, keeping a lot of the old vibes. The inside is 1980’s cozy with wood paneling, vintage photos and comfy leather chairs. Scott, the bartender, loves to make custom drinks and will probably ask, “What’s your favorite flavor in the world? Pepperoni pizza is an acceptable answer.” As such, you can swing by for a literal pepperoni martini. It’s open on Friday and Saturday nights at 5 p.m.

Happy Hour is from 5 to 6 p.m. A password is required for entry. Check out their Facebook page to get the secret info.

Revision TapRoom Perched on top of Pignic Pub & Patio is the new Revision Taproom. Turn right when you enter, head up the stairs and keep going until you hit the bar, which is made up of several connected rooms, courtesy of Pignic’s history as a Victorian-era home.

These rooms all have a different them, from French bordello to grandma’s attic—if grandma liked to hunt and play poker.

To encourage patrons to get settled, they have boards games, darts and a cozy living room with a TV. The taproom is a paradise for IPA lovers, but they also have a small selection of wine and artisanal cocktails available. Since it’s right upstairs, it’s a great oasis for the introverts when Pignic gets a bit rowdy. Its hours are Monday and

Tuesday, 3–10 p.m., Wednesday through Friday 3–11 p.m, and Saturday and Sunday 12 p.m.–1 a.m.

seven TRoughs speakeasy This cozy gem is hidden in the basement of the old post office building. Though you don’t need a password to get in, it does have an old-timey prohibition era feel with wooden barrels of booze, copper walls and a shadowy ambiance. As a craft distillery, you can try a sampler of the different boozes they make (including vodka, rum and good old-fashioned moonshine). They also have snacks to cushion the buzz, including a charcuterie board and sandwiches. The only downside is that, like the rest of the businesses there, they close early, so you have to be willing to play 1920s gangster pretty early in the evening. It’s open Wednesday through Friday from 2 to 6 p.m.,and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Royce In a town full of sports bars, Royce is a naturec-centric bar that often shows documentaries featuring toddling penguins and majestic lions. They also play kitschy movies like Jaws and The Breakfast Club, as well as melancholy country music—so there really is something for everyone.

To spot this quiet little bar, look for the red awning and white twinkly lights off Sierra St. (connected to Old Granite Street Eatery). Locally famous for their double patty Royce burgers, they also have several other tasty options like bacon bites, grilled cheese and deviled eggs. You can belly up to the bar or lounge on one of their antique couches, which are good for bigger groups and make-out sessions. The Royce bartenders are friendly, and the mellow atmosphere draws an eclectic crowd that’s usually up for a good conversation. Who wouldn’t want to talk about penguins?

Royce is open Mondaythrough Saturday from 4 to 11 p.m. Ω

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p u d e i Dr

by Matt Bieker

m a tt b @ n

e w s re vi e w

.c o m

Photos/Matt Bieker

“We want people to be comfortable and relaxed—kind of a homey vibe,” said Morales.

“We have people take off their shoes before they enter. We’ve got the yoga swings and nice music and the visuals.”

The elixirs, as they’re called, include a variety of different infusions and supplements, from traditional teas like chamomile and chai, to more exotic offerings like kratom. Made from the dried leaves of a tree native to Thailand, kratom is served as a fine powder and mixed with things like coconut milk or orange juice to cut its characteristic bitterness.

“It’s a nice pain reliever,” Morales said. “It mellows you out, but there’s also strains that energize you.”

“You kind of get, like, a little bit of like an endorphin rush,” said Carson Case, a tea lounge patron. “It’s kind of like after you have a big meal and you end up a food coma … I’d say the ultimate kind of chill.”

While he enjoys kratom, Case also said that, since he is under 21, he appreciates coming to the tea lounge as a place to socialize he wouldn’t otherwise have since he can’t enter a bar legally.

Aside from hot teas, the tea lounge also serves cold, carbonated CBD-infused kombucha—a drink made Patrons enjoy the from fermented tea containing yoga swings and floor a miniscule percentage of seating at the Studio alcohol—from local vendors. tea lounge.

hookava Where to go for a night on the town— without alcohol

W

hen it comes to nightlife, there’s an assumption among most that a night out might include a drink or two—or three or four.

This assumption is especially true in Reno, which in 2010 beat out Las Vegas and New Orleans for the title of second drunkest city in America, according to Men’s Health Magazine. With no state-mandated last call, laws allowing alcohol to be sold outside of liquor stores and a city culture centered around tourism and entertainment (as well as a thriving brewery sector), alcohol is omnipresent in Reno nightlife.

Even while the Biggest Little City remains especially lush, America’s taste for alcohol overall is declining. In 2018, the International

22

RN&R BaRs & CluBs Guide

Wine and Spirit Record, a London-based company that measures global alcohol consumption, found that, in total, Americans consumed less alcohol than they had the year before—continuing a three-year trend.

The IWSR blamed a lagging beer market for the slump, but also concluded that factors like the increased cultural emphasis on wellness could be turning people away from the hard stuff. The company also issued a press release at the end of February titled “Legal Cannabis Poses a Long-Term risk to All Beverage Alcohol Categories in the U.S.” For most of Reno’s night-going public, however, it might be hard to imagine a weekend night out without a drink or two, and many might equate the absence of alcohol with the absence of socialization completely. But for people looking to cut back on their alcohol consumption without being relegated to the house all the time, there are some unique local businesses serving alternatives to both the usual bar setting—and the libations one mind find there.

03.07.19

The STudio Tea Lounge During the week, The Studio Reno in midtown offers a full schedule of yoga classes, but every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evening it transforms into a late-night tea lounge offering a sober space and laid-back atmosphere.

“We have a lot of people who are, like, sober completely, or either just want to try something new and are weaning themselves off from alcohol but still want to come in and socialize,” said Yesenia Morales, a massage therapist with The Studio who also serves at the tea lounge. “It’s great because people come here as an alternative to drinking out at a bar, and so they come and drink one of our elixirs and have fun and interact and have good conversations with each other.”

Until 1 a.m., the large classroom space is fitted with low tables and cushions for reclining on the floor. Dim lighting, meditative music and psychedelic visuals courtesy of a wall projector create an ambiance decidedly different from the bars open at the same time.

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In some Middle Eastern cultures where drinking alcohol may be forbidden as a matter of faith, the smoking of sheesh (flavored and sweetened tobacco leaves) through a water filled pipe called a hookah is considered a social substitute. This is according to Batuhan Zadeh, owner of Hookava hookah lounge on Arlington Avenue, who proudly stated that all of his hookahs are imported directly from Egypt.

If you were in a restaurant, the hookah would be the plate and fork, and the sheesh would be the food,” Zadeh said. “The coconut coals heat up the sheesh, and then the heat transfers through the sheesh, through the pipe, gets filtered through the water and then gets cooled down in the hose and creates the smoke.”

Hookava is open from 3 p.m. to 5 a.m. every day, making it an ideal haunt for night owls. As a lounge, Zadeh said, the environment and culture behind smoking hookah is different than a traditional bar. Instead of milling around a packed bar, constantly running back and forth for drinks, patrons at Hookava are encouraged to pick a flavor of sheesh, which is then prepared by a staff member, and

Batuhan Zadeh smokes sheesh from a hookah at Hookava hookah lounge on Arlington Avenue.

to sit around intimate tables and booths for hours at a time. Individual plastic tips are used for smoking through the shared hose to maintain hygiene, and special add-ons like chilled mouthpieces are also available.

“The details of the lounge are meant for comfort,” Zadeh said. “Not just physical comfort ... but mental comfort. We don’t want anything straining.”

Of course, the reality is that smoking from a hookah isn’t necessarily safer when it comes to the health risks associated with tobacco, but anyone over 18 can legally choose to partake.

Zadeh said that at least a few of his customers are students and other young people who can’t yet enter the bars, but he gets just as many everyday patrons who come simply because they don’t drink for one reason or another.

bowl and is meant to be shared. While not considered an intoxicant, it produces a mild sedative effect in the drinker and is said to promote a good mood.

“It’s good for anxiety and it promotes socialization,” Dozoretz said. “You don’t get high, you get a little bit of numbness to your mouth and then it just kind of eases things.

I’ve been using kava since 2004.”

Drew Roy frequents West Street Market and started drinking kava when he decided to give up alcohol in the interest of losing weight.

The numbing effect (a byproduct of the plant’s chemical properties) is apparent, he said, but the overall effect is a pleasant sensation.

“You get really, really relaxed and just—it doesn’t really mess with your, you know, your coordination or anything,” Roy said. “Just that sense of relaxed-ness is crazy.”

West street Aside from the physiological effects of kava, Roy said that he’s equally interested in Market the camaradery found in sharing a bowl with West Street Market contains several different others in the market-place setting. bars and restaurants in its communal dining “There’s still that exploration aspect of room and stone courtyard, but one local eatery drinking that people kind of miss,” said Roy. also caters to non-alcohol “Like, I would go out and try drinkers looking to share a beers, try wines, you know, It’s great because so you get to go to different brew. The Pizza Collective, in addition to handmade, people come here places.” vegan pizza options, serves a Roy said he’s had fascinatas an alternative specialty drink called kava— ing conversations with total to the bar which remains available even strangers over a bowl of kava, after the pizza oven is shut off and the fact that it has no caloYesenia Morales for the night. ries means it’s conducive to his “Kava is a drink made weight loss goals. While the from the root of a pepper Pizza Collective will stay open late occasionplant,” said Frieda Dozoretz, who works at ally if there are enough customers, Roy said the Pizza Collective. “It’s native to the South he’s more than content to visit during the day Pacific, so Fiji, Tonga, Polynesia—anywhere when West Street will host live musicians or in the South Pacific this plant grows. And, other events in the common room. traditionally, humans have used it for “It’s about coming out to socialize and it thousands of years as a social and ceremonial does—I mean it really does put you in a mindbeverage.” set where you’re just, like, relaxed, and you’re Made from a fine powder mixed with plain open,” he said. Ω water, kava is served in a large communal 03.07.19

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