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100 Word Bias
by Thee Reverend Rory Dowd
10 A Probability of Words
September 2013 CONTENT
10 The Painter
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58
12 America Matters Media
12 New Local Radio Programs
14 Art
14 Photographer Tiffany K. Stout 16 Black Rock Desert Bonus
19 Community
19 The "Nevada Matters" Show
20 Cover Stories
20 Bassnectar @ The Reno Events Center 28 Johnny B Hicks - Dark Moment
44 Creative Coalition of Midtown 44 Adorning Your Body
48 DigitTips
48 Think before you post.
52 Events 52 54 56 58 62
Gran Fondo Charity Bicycle Event Reno Pirate Crawl 4th Year Reno Beer Crawl Bonus Roff Street Market Fashion Show Hair and Makeup Competition Bonus
64 Fashion
66 Features
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66 Firefighting Heroes 74 The Rides Bonus 76 Tiny Tini: Ready to Drink Cocktails
80 Film
80 Nowhere Nevada
88 Grace Notes
88 The Dying Swan 90 Gun Culture 92 Humor
80
94 Local Business
94 Natasha's World Jewelry
96 Movers
96 Draper Strategies & Communications
94 96
101 New Business 101 The Seed
102 Pez Sez
102 Rocky Horror Picture Show
104 Review
104 Synthesiz Her - Sun Damage
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107
101
107 108 112 114
Sean Cary Scene Skate NV Bonus The Light Factor
Editor/Publisher Oliver X Art Director Grae Warren Business Development Shelly Brown Design Associates Mike Robertson Kristine Toward Design on the Edge Paula Campbell Copy Editor Elisika Arango Contributing Writers Tina Mokuau Jenny Spencer John Clement Angela Watson Nellie Davis Thomas Lloyd Qualls Cody Doyle Rory Dowd Sean Cary Sean Savoy Gertie OK Elisika Arango Contributing Photographers Debbie McCarthy Clayton Beck Dana Nollsch Anicia Beckwith Digiman Studio Kyle Volland Joseph Dubon Kiley Sauer Amber Gutry-Solorzano Illustrator Lucido Sales 775-412-3767 Legal Counsel MATTHEW P. DIGESTI, ESQ. | THE DIGESTI LAW FIRM LLP" Submissions renotahoetonightrocks@gmail.com Website renotahoetonightmagazine.com All content, layout and design is the property of Reno Tahoe Tonight Magazine. Duplication or reproduction is prohibited without the expressed written consent of Reno Tahoe Tonight Magazine. Copyright 2012. Reno Tahoe Tonight is produced on 10% recycled American paper and is printed with all soy and vegetable inks.
Snapshot
Photographer Sally Hanrahan The Floyd live at Bodega Nightclub August 17, 2013
Editor's Letter
It’s been a while since I wrote an Editor’s Letter. So how the heck’s everyone doing? Fat and full of ribs and playa dust I hope. Let me start-off by giving HUGE props to Art Director Grae Warren and the entire Reno Tahoe Tonight crew of contributing writers, designers and photographers who are responsible for us winning recently in the 2013 RN&R’s Biggest Little Best of Northern Nevada Reader’s Poll. We won Best Publication! Thank you to all the readers who voted for us. It was great to see that so many of our ad clients were also top vote-getters in their categories. Congrats to Bizarre Guitar & Guns, Black Hole Body Piercing, Never Ender, Design on the Edge and many more for their excellence. Here’s to another outstanding year ahead for all of us! You’ll notice that we printed two mega 104-page issues this month, with two distinct covers. This was an experiment that I’d always wanted to do, and our marvelous print team--headed up by Sarah and Linda--did another stellar job bringing our vision to life. Special thanks go to phenomenal photographer Anicia Beckwith and her team, who collaborated with filmmaker Johnny B Hicks, to create a stunning conceptual shoot titled “Dark Moment.” Fast-rising fashion model Arriauna Kidd is breathtakingly gorgeous and fierce in her feature spread, and the cover shot we chose of the leggy and talented Miss Kidd is unbelievable. Our other cover comes courtesy of the folks at Fresh Bakin’. Renowned DJ/Producer Bassnectar and Fresh Bakin’s Steve Emmerich each gave great interviews and we are stoked to have them in our pages this month.
Oliver X
September’s bonus digital edition includes articles by our newest contributor Brytt Adamson; a piece by Andrea Tyrell--who now writes for the Sparks Tribune--and the inimitable Jenny PezDeSpencer. New Design Associate Kristine Toward joined the fold last month. Check out her layout for new contributing columnist Isha Casagrande’s Fashion 4 Ways. The makeup artistry of the lovely Tina Mokuau is featured in our print edition this month. She worked on Mike Draper, Tara Travato and Ashley Brune for the “Movers” piece, as well as on all the subjects in our “Film” piece featuring Nowhere Nevada. Tina is very gifted, and we went to press without giving her bylines in this issue for her labors. My fault Tina! Watch for a special Dia de los Muertos feature on Tina’s art next month in the October 2013 print edition. It’s both humbling and inspiring to know that new readers discover this publication every day. I want to thank you all for spreading the word far and wide about the little magazine that could. The stories we do on local art and culture help to honor the community we serve, and your continued support keeps us doing the work we love.
Never Be Bored! Text Oliver X Photo Debbie McCarthy
6 Reno Tahoe Tonight
100 Word Bias Thee Reverend Rory Dowd Kittenhead – Derby Girl
The Liver Scars – Meet the Liver Scars
Kittenhead screeches into Reno every few months, plays shows all weekend and sneaks out like a tornado, leaving behind only hangovers, broken hearts and six songs of kick-youin-the-face punk rock. While not as raucous and intense as their live show, Derby Girl is an estrogen-fueled adventure in righteousness. With a sound that could be the lovechild of Bikini Kill and The Gits, and smart lyrics that leave no room for doubt, Kittenhead straddles the gap between oldskool sensibility and nu-skool perspective. From the opening title track to the last sexy groove of “Tattoo”, Kittenhead proves that punk’s not dead yet.
Digital music may have killed packaging, but The Liver Scars are bringing it back. In the tradition of Kiss, Meet the Liver Scars comes with a freaking comic book introducing you to alter-egos of the five Reno music veterans. Arguably a local supergroup, the boys in the band have put out a growling, alcohol-soaked punk rock party album. There are no slow songs. They don’t know how to not be loud. They might even have problems with spelling and math! But they know anthemic refrains, grungy grooves, wailing leads and how to destroy your liver in eight songs or less.
Visit www.kittenheadla.com for upcoming Reno tour dates.
Get pissed with The Liver Scars at www.facebook. com/pages/The-Liver-Scars.
Kandinsky Effect – Synesthesia
The Die Ads – Eighty-Eight Feet High
You probably haven’t heard of this Paris/ NYC-based jazz trio yet, but two-thirds of the band are products of the UNR jazz program and Reno scene in the early 2000’s. (Remember The Electrosonics?) This mature offering for a trans-Atlantic audience is refined, moody, and energizing. Although each track is an emotional departure from the next, there is a cohesive thread of statement and purpose in each instrumental utterance. Mind you, I’m no jazz aficionado, but Synesthesia is a departure from traditional jazz. This is not snooty martinis and skinny ties jazz; this is stylish jazz for t-shirts, jeans and craft beers.
The Die Ads are a new band with serious experience and credentials among the four members. Distortion and clangy feedback meet mildly melancholy singing and introspective lyrics in this new noise-pop album. I particularly like how reminiscent it is of early-90’s college and indie rock. Despite the cultivated and layered sound, the songs on the CD have a catchy, minimalist quality about them--meant to be listened to really loud on plush headphones, possibly while smoking a joint. It’s been a while since I’ve heard a really good shoegazer album and Eighty-Eight Feet High is a solid entry in the category.
Check them out at www.thekandinskyeffect.com. 8 Reno Tahoe Tonight
Find them at https://www.facebook.com/ TheDieAds.
A Probability of Words
Text Thomas Lloyd Qualls Photo Kelly Peyton
the pa nter hgvjhgvjhgv To the painter, the only risk which existed was to stop painting. To stop trying to solve the riddle of light and dark.
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he painter folded back the heavy curtain, standing in the stream of light breaking through the damp thickness of the room. He paused, still holding the drape in his hand as he considered with suspicion that a world could exist outside the window. Then he reached for a stained cloth and tied back the opaque fabric. He returned to the easel, wading through the illuminated particles of air on his way. To paint one must forget everything else. Where you live, who you know, what you eat, when to sleep. The landscape of the canvas becomes your only reality. The planet you inhabit is a single plane of infinite dimensions, stretched like a guitar string, and standing before you like a concubine waiting for your command. The painter knew that color was not something you controlled but something you set free. He believed that color knew its way home. But he lived in a time and place that considered color suspect, blasphemous even. Those who worshiped color, who cavorted with it, who dared to practice its alchemy, were seen as witches. The respectable world would tolerate his kind to a point, for entertainment’s sake. So long as the painter could rein in color, make it behave. So long as he painted the world the way they wanted it to be. So long as he had no thoughts of his own. 10 Reno Tahoe Tonight
You might think of a thought as an invisible, innocuous little thing. Something that barely exists. But a thought is something hard to conceal. Hold a thought and it melts all over your hands. Touch something else and now you’ve left traces of it. Hide it under your shirt and it bleeds through. The painter was not afraid of thoughts though and did not consider thinking to be risky behavior. To the painter, the only risk which existed was to stop painting. To stop trying to solve the riddle of light and dark. Or to paint what someone else wanted him to see. To tell the colors to stand up straight, form a narrow line, eat their peas. That was death. The painter knew the mirror lied. And the canvas told the truth. A simple breakfast of beer, fried eggs and herring. These things you could trust. Words, whether written or spoken, were barely worth sitting still for, not worth repeating. In the end there is only light and dark. And the two are not so far apart. † excerpt from the novel, Waking Up at Rembrandt's, © 2009, 2012 Thomas Lloyd Qualls, all rights reserved.
America Matters Media
Host Dave Asher
New Local Radio Programs
Added Football, News, Buy Local This last month has brought some exciting developments to America Matters Media in our efforts to be “The Home of Community Radio” in northern Nevada. We’re working to bring important news and information to northern Nevada to help build our
Text Chip Evans
Photos courtesy of America Matters Media
community through radio and social media. These three new programs will hopefully help and bring delight to us all.
High School Football
Nevada First
What’s more “community” than local high school football? In association with Lee Adams, America Matters Media will be producing the season of games of the Reed High School Raiders football team. Broadcasts begin at 6:30PM Friday nights on KRNG 101.3 FM, with pre-game analysis hosted by Adams. The season includes home and away games involving other local teams and some from outside our area. We’re also set to broadcast the post-season as the Reed Raiders compete for a state championship. Hey, we’re not quite as fanatical as Texas, but high school sports are important to our community and we’re pleased at this new partnership to get so many of our local games aired on the radio.
Nevada’s champion for buying local, Dave Asher, returns to the airwaves Monday mornings at 9:30AM with a new program, Nevada First. Dave has been a powerful advocate for buying local so that we can all enjoy the extra jobs and financial rewards of utilizing our locally-owned businesses. He has extended his influence beyond just northern Nevada to the whole of our state. Guests include prominent local business owners and others able to speak to the opportunities and benefits to our community of supporting locally-owned businesses. In our region’s struggling economy, buying locally is a key strategy to creating jobs, lifting up our small business community and rebuilding the tax base that supports our vital public services. We are pleased to announce that we have recently become the leader in on-air hours of local programming in northern Nevada and perhaps in the state… got a little more research to do on that. To be clear, we air more hours of local radio programming than any other source or station in our region. At America Matters Media we are always looking to provide high-value programming that benefits our community. If you have ideas for shows, or want to come down and share some thoughts or information, give us a call and we can schedule some time just for you. You have the power to shape radio in your community!
Morning News We’ve kicked off a morning news program from 7AM to 8AM on KRNG FM. Special features of the program will include traffic updates from Trooper Chuck Allen, sports updates by Rick Parr, daily sports highlights courtesy of Scott Pritchard, business updates from Chip Evans and staff updates on weather and upcoming events. By the time this article appears we will have run a contest to name the show. It begins as the “Needs A Name News Show.” Clever huh? I’m quite sure our listeners will have some better ideas. We’ll do our best to keep this a straight news show without political comment, so everyone can start the day with the facts first. We have shows later in the day to analyze that news and offer comment and opinion. 12 Reno Tahoe Tonight
Chip Evans is General Manager of America Matters Media, mail to:Chip@AmericaMatters.us 775.827.8900 www.americamatters.us
live streamin
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Art
Special to Reno Tahoe Tonight
Childhood: Artist’s Reception for Photographer Tiffany K. Stout at Swill Coffee and Wine September 7, 2013 6pm. Musical guests Cori Lynn, Todd Ballowe and John Frederick
Tessellation: is the process of creating a two-dimensional plane using the repetition of a geometric shape with no overlaps and no gaps. "It is the result of the juxtaposition of contrasting colors." Text Tiffany Stout Photo Jennifer McAllister
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find that too often, people assuming that “art” is a world by itself. In my mind, that dismisses all of the organically occurring art in the world. We have things that take place every day that pull emotion from us--from our core --yet it is dismissed because an “artist” did not create it. This idea, to me, is not only dismissive, but a terrible injustice to the amazing beauty in this world. “Creators” create because passion moves them in one direction or another. The result is not artwork that moves, but instead something greater that infuses that same passion into others. In my mind, that is why we create; to spread the amazement in the world that we feel and share. Sometimes it is not pretty, sometimes it is not perfect, but doubting the creator’s motive would not be intuitive. From Escher, to Weston, to Warhol; the messages they are sending may all be different, but their ultimate goal is to share their vision. For my work, I have many goals. First is to show that everyday things can become art as well; when we do not stop to recognize that something as simple as childhood has amazing and beautiful individual experiences that mold us, we forget to see the wonder that we had in our youth. My series “Childhood” is a monument to my own experiences growing up that made my world unique. As children, there is still so much mystery to life the “why” questions are vast and full.
Tiffany K. Stout
14 Reno Tahoe Tonight
Though some of us carry that into adulthood, far fewer of us do it with the same vigor and thirst for knowledge as we did as children. Second is for my work to be interactive--a “handson” method of learning that many children need and want to grasp key concepts. The ability to move in and out of every piece, to have the ability to rotate it and make the experience an individual one allows the audience to control their own perspective. The once flat image suddenly becomes a singular image full of depth by stepping further away so that one is no longer looking at something as simple as a snail, but is transformed into a three dimensional design. The rotation aspect of the work enables people to get as interactive with the work as they choose. Finally, and the most intriguing to me, is the aspect that everyday common things can transform into art. A photograph of a pinball machine is no longer a pinball machine. After one step away from the work, the pinball machine suddenly looks like an intentional symmetrical design instead of the simple object that it is. Now, not only is there an element that sets illusion from far away, there is one up close. Turning the simple photographs into tessellations makes the photograph the subject but in a very visually broad way.
Black Rock Desert:A Legacy Desert: “Teach your children what you have been taught. The Earth is our mother. What befalls the Earthbefalls all the sons and daughters of the Earth.” - Chief Seattle, 1854
Text Brytt Adamson
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n my childhood my family camped in the Black Rock Desert, near where Burning Man was beginning to take root. My father always stopped at a special spot along the way, between Pyramid Lake and Gerlach, where a rock stood, bearing ancient petroglyphs depicting scenes of water, fish, and fisherman; carvings so old their stone edges were eroded by winds. They had stood the test of time, silent testament to a forgotten way of life, a gift from the Paiutes, who have occupied the vast areas of the Great Basin for thousands of years. As Burning Man grew, bringing new culture and countless people to the sleepy desert, my father began dreaming about the rock, eventually compelling him to return. Upon arrival, he saw that somebody had chiseled most of the ancient petroglyphs off and had carved their names in the middle of a surviving fish carving. Now a fence and “No Trespassing” signs protect what remains of this prehistoric site. The land is not our easel today, we have means of communication. Early civilizations used tools provided by the Earth to record events; the rock was canvas for primitive images as valuable as any DaVinci. People attempting to possess or overwrite this richly historic art rip a page from prehistory, where too much memory has already been lost. Once the floor of ancient Lake Lahontan, Black Rock Desert is now a region of alkali flats. A primary geological feature is tufa rock, porous formations formed underwater much like a coral reef, exemplified by the legendary Pyramid and 16 Reno Tahoe Tonight
Stone Mother. From that ancient body of water, only Walker and Pyramid Lake remain. The latter, a dazzling blue-green jewel surrounded by dull desert tones, connected to Lake Tahoe and fed by the Truckee River. The endangered Cui-ui fish can only be found in these alkaline waters. Great white pelicans nest on the tufa island wildlife reserve. Many of the Northern Paiute people live on tribal land surrounding Pyramid Lake. Desert ground serves as a river sink and, at times, is covered with shallow water. Evaporation leaves a desert floor of hardened clay topped with white saline matter, (britannica.com). Commonly known as the “Playa,” the desert has become synonymous with Burning Man, attracting people worldwide since 1990. Visitors surveying the arid desert may dismiss it as a wasteland. It is far from that. The Great Basin has a long history and a delicate ecosystem. It is home to many species, including deer, bighorn sheep, coyotes, mountain lions, jackrabbits, kangaroo rats, bats, snakes, and various birds and insects. Native plants include sagebrush, salt bushes, greasewood, rabbit brush, bitterbrush, and grasses, (rangers.org). The Paiutes call themselves Numu, or “The People.” Deeply connected to their environment, they believed that power (pooha) could reside in any natural ob¬ject including animals, plants, stones, water and geographical features, (travelnevada.com). It would be a better world if all people revered the environment as the Paiutes. Unfortunately, there are those who deface ancient rock, who leave graffiti, garbage, and broken glass as their legacy. Although these deviants are not necessarily
“Burners,” the festival brings so many people to the desert that there are bound to be some who are ignorant to the importance of environmental preservation. I spoke with Ben Aleck, a tribal member and collections manger at the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Museum and Visitors Center on the Reservation, regarding these issues. This is what he had to say: “Burning Man does a certain amount of supplying the big dumpsters (for festival trash). There are designated disposal sites along Route 447. Our tribal police will be out monitoring some of the sites along the reservation... what people have to be aware of are state and federal laws that pertain to sacred sites like petroglyphs.” “One thing that has occurred out here at Pyramid is that people have gone to the East side of the lake, (the pyramid) and, you can't say it was the Burning Man people... but we were having trouble with ... people tagging, spray painting, on the tufa rock. So the tribe closed it to the public. There is no access to the pyramid and non tribal members cannot go over there, mainly because of showing no respect, leaving trash, breaking bottles... [But] there are a lot of people who respect the lake and help clean up. We've had people from the Burning Man group do some of the cleanup, so we try to work closely with them.” “After the burn...people want to come and camp at the lake, swim, and relax. They have to follow all the rules and regulations that are established by the tribe when they get a permit. We try to welcome them here as they are coming to the reservation. They just have to be respectful.”
Mr. Aleck also mentions that the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Museum and Visitors Center hosts an annual arts and crafts show the weekend before Burning Man and invites all to visit anytime. Located at 709 State Street in Nixon, the facility is open year round, and contains a rich collection of artifacts and area tribal history. So as we discover the desert, party on the playa, and replenish at Pyramid Lake remember this land was cherished long before we arrived. Our duty is to preserve the legacy, to keep the environment as the Paiutes have since prehistoric times, to teach future generations these values. We cannot leave a legacy of garbage. Take only pictures (and the inevitable white dust!), leave but footprints in the clay. Remember the Paiutes lesson: every creature and natural feature of this land holds value. Respect the pooha that resides in each sacred windswept corner.
References http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/ topic/68217/Black-Rock-Desert http://www.rangers.org/rangers.v5/ Welcome.html Seattle, Chief; Susan Jeffers; Atha Tehen; Dial Books for Young Readers, New York: Dial Books, 1991 http://travelnevada.com/uploads/travel-guides/ pdf/Indian%20Territory%20Brochure.pdf Reno Tahoe Tonight 17
Community
The “Nevada Matters” Show
Local Radio’s Town Square Text Chip Evans “Nevada Matters”, the radio show, has a four-decade history of being a venue where people from the community come to talk. The current show airs from noon to 3PM and serves the community as a virtual on-air town square, inviting everyone to bring their soapbox and have their say.
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Chip Evans
Debbie McCarthy
n an effort to widen the circle of participants, hosting duties for Nevada Matters are being put on rotation among the core on-air staff of America Matters Media. The staff spans a breadth across the political spectrum, from libertarian to liberal, from Tea Party to Democratic Party.
Of course, much of the programming is focused on more local, nonpartisan issues as well as helping to educate the public about the many worthy charitable activities in our community. Monday’s show is hosted by Sean Cary, a former Republican political operative, political journalist and commentator. Sean grew up in Reno and has a rich understanding of the city’s evolution. The show features a review of local, national and international news. Tuesday’s host is Dennis Romeo, former head of the Reno and regional planning commissions and a former city council candidate. A registered Democrat, Dennis has a keen view of the issues affecting the development of our community. He’s also our resident car guy and covered Hot August Nights extensively. Wednesday’s show with host Debbie McCarthy, is a woman-focused version of our town square. Early topics included online dating, finding balance in life, volunteering, fashion, men who don’t wear their wedding rings, body image and self-esteem, dating tips, care giving and Alzheimer’s. Thursday’s version is branded as “America Matters,” a conservative show targeting a national audience and hosted by conservative founder Eddie Floyd, along with Steve Ause and Theresa Catalani. Guests have included local and national politicians and champions of various conservative causes.
Dennis Romeo
Eddie Floyd
Sean Cary
Friday’s Nevada Matters is led by liberal Chip Evans, former chair of the Washoe County Democratic Party and host of two business shows. Familiar topics include foreign affairs, economic development, politics and news. Special segments include “News of the Weird,” movie reviews with Ken Dog and upcoming events for the weekend. Chiming in on many of these shows is our engineer and co-host Craig Moss, and our frequent co-host Kelly Rush. An essential ingredient of “community radio” and all the versions of Nevada Matters is participation by more than our hosts and guests. We encourage people to come down to our open studio at the Reno Town Mall or call in to our local or toll free phone lines. We also encourage questions and comments over Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter during the shows. Our hope and plan for Nevada Matters is to provide programming that presents “a million points of thought” so everyone is more informed in making their own decisions on issues. We do this in the context of fulfilling our mission to Enthusiastically Entertain, Educate and Enlighten Everyone Everywhere. Listen to Nevada Matters live on KRNG 101.3FM noon to 3PM every weekday. You can also listen on the internet at www.renegaderadio.org or o your Smartphone using the TuneIn app. Be part of the conversation! Chip Evans is General Manager America Matters Media. Chip@AmericaMatters.us 855.790.TALK, 775.827.8900 www.americamatters.us Reno Tahoe Tonight 19
Cover Story
@ The Reno Events Center September 20, 2013
Text Oliver X Images courtesy of Fresh Bakin’
Perhaps no two personalities are more responsible for the development of northern Nevada’s EDM scene than the artist professionally known as Bassnectar, and our region’s premier promoter, Fresh Bakin’s Steve Emmerich. Over the decade that the two have been collaborating as artist and talent buyer, the multigenerational EDM scene has quite literally exploded here. The reasons are varied, but their impact is incontrovertible. From their first shows held at tiny venues in Lake Tahoe and Reno, to their bountiful present day circumstance of standing room only concert venues and packed arenas, the Fresh Bakin’/Bassnectar brands have shared a parallel trajectory, while exhibiting a commitment to the music and to the fans that are devoted to the concert experience they facilitate.
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had the privilege of interviewing both men recently (in person and via email respectively), as Emmerich and his stellar Fresh Bakin’ team get ready to host Bassnectar at their largest northern Nevada venue booking to date: The Reno Events Center Friday, September 20, 2013. RTT: You’re known for having a strong political point of view, but have avoided being labeled as another “preachy artist.” How do your convictions find their way into the music you make? What are some of the biggest issues you see affecting our world today? Bassnectar: I guess I am just naturally fascinated with life in general (what makes up perception and personality, how culture affects a person and vice versa, what is the meaning of life or the difference between the mind and the body, etc) and if you mix that fascination with empathy (sensitivity toward the experience of other people), it results in a strong desire to contribute to other people. As culture morphs and changes, so do the ways of affecting it or interacting with it. I sometimes find that a certain approach I may have taken years ago is not affective today as a new hybrid approach, and old ideas I may have had at one point are often not as relevant as new revised ideas. So it’s not really as literal as terms like “music” and “conviction”, it’s more about “personality” and “impact”. 20 Reno Tahoe Tonight
There are always a zillion issues affecting people, but one in particular which I am interested in is 'critical thinking'. I think it is important (and valuable) to engage the world with an interactive approach, which involves constantly being open to change and improvement. Education is a big part of this, as is access to information. So the whole "net neutrality" issue is vital. And of course with the "freedom of information" comes issues of privacy. Jon Barlow (founder of EFF.org) put it well when he said it's about "privacy for individuals, transparency for institutions." RTT: Though his name has fallen out of the daily news cycle, what are your feelings about Edward Snowden? Is he a patriot or provocateur? Bassnectar: In my opinion, it was most patriotic for him to risk his life in order to blow the whistle on government corruption. Anyone who misunderstands that is either siding with a military government’s right to secrecy, or is watching too much Fox News. RTT: Clearly the Reno-Tahoe EDM community has been informed and inspired by the region’s proximity to both Burning Man and Bay Area culture. But it still took a committed professional to actually build and nurture the scene here. What’s it been like for you as an artist to work over the years with a promoter who has the taste,
Reno Tahoe Tonight 21
Cover Story character and respect for the art form that Fresh Bakin’s Steve Emmerich possesses? What do you think separates Emmerich from the pack? Bassnectar: Steve has become one of my best friends over the past ten years, I cannot say enough about what a unique, creative, friendly nutcase he is :) RTT: You have one of the most intelligent, loyal and enthusiastic fan bases any artist could ask for. Describe the feeling you get from knowing your art has such an impact on the lives of people all over the world. Bassnectar: I am literally in “awe” of the response to Bassnectar, and it drives me to continue to explore even further the whole concept of making an impact on culture via music and art. I spoke with Steve Emmerich over some delicious pot pies at West Street Market’s Pies with a Purpose, about his promotion and artist relations philosophy and the northern Nevada scene he has been so instrumental in building. RTT: It’s been three years since you’ve appeared in our pages with a proper feature. Congratulations for the tremendous growth of Fresh Bakin’. You’ve clearly ascended to the top of your field as a promoter of dance music and EDM. But you also do plenty of major live concert acts. How would you describe your company’s niche? Steve Emmerich: We do everything. I think that’s something I’ve always had a vision of doing; incorporating all of my various musical influences. I like to bring cool, very high quality music with really good intention to my shows. I only wanna work with acts I believe in. So we’ve had Primus and Jane’s Addiction, March Fourth Marching Band, Chk Chk Chk--all these acts I really love and believe in. RTT: And you’ve been able to work effectively in all genres. Steve Emmerich: Yes! Even at the Bounce this year we had even more expansion into my personal favorites, hosting local bands like Whitney Myer, Buster Blue; My Flag is on Fire and Mojo Green. We constantly expanding, bringing more of my twisted musical styles into everyone else’s universe. The last time we did this, I’m not sure that my Community Outreach had been launched yet? 22 Reno Tahoe Tonight
RTT: No it hadn’t. Explain what that is. Steve Emmerich: It’s a major improvement, adding something more awesome to the venue services we provide for our audiences. Community Outreach can best be described as your best friend, when your best friend is not around. It’s a peer-based organization that is a direct outreach of Fresh Bakin’ and we have them there for every large all ages show. Our goals are to be a peer-based liaison between security, the venue, the artist, the promoter and medical. The purpose is to make people know there’s someone else there who’s looking out for their best interest. RTT: For example? Steve Emmerich: We see somebody who is leaning against the wall with their head down, or sitting on the ground by themselves. Acting in teams, we will go over there and ask them if they’re OK; give them some water if they need it. If it seems like it’s a more serious scenario, then we’ll go get security or medical. It’s important to work in teams, so that someone is always there with a person in crisis RTT: What inspired this? Did you observe a need? Steve Emmerich: One of the things that inspired this was that Bassnectar was asked to not play in the Grand Theater, because too many people were jumping up on the tables and breaking them! RTT: Like at 10-10-10? Steve Emmerich: Yes! We had people going to the hospital for things like dehydration. It was also because of the scenario where these shows used to be twenty-one and up, and now they’re all ages. We felt we needed to watch out for people, and make sure they didn’t go home with a $3,000 hospital or ambulance bill, or leave with a bad taste in their mouths from a Fresh Bakin’ concert experience. Parents are dropping their kids off at these shows. I have a lot of friends with kids who are going to concerts. I’ve been going to shows since I was twelve years old. Having a community connection is really important for what we’re trying to build. RTT: Your venue reach and regionality has been extended, but you’re known for being very particular about how your audiences are received by a venue. Besides the obvious things like capacity, what are your criteria for venue selection? Steve Emmerich: I started doing shows in San
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Cover Story Diego and we’re moving into Chico. We’re doing shows at the Senator Theater (run by JMAX), but they are our shows. As for criteria, I won’t go anywhere that has a track record of mistreating people. I wanna make sure that basic facilities are there like good bathrooms that aren’t gross. I want a good bar for the twenty-one year olds. I don’t mind a grimy room, but it still has to have amenities. The sound has to be good and if the sound isn’t good, the venue needs to know that I will bring in additional sound. Those are the basics. Places like GSR, The Knitting Factory, and Montbleu all have a history of treating the artists and their customers well. That’s really, really important. I would never want to go to a place where the security is heavyhanded. There have been times where we have not known what to expect at a new venue, and because of the behavior of the staff toward the artists and our audience, we have not gone back. RTT: You’re now dealing with mega superstars and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees. How has your artist relations standards been impacted by your higher profile clientele? Steve Emmerich: It comes down to the fact that you get a rider and a contract, and if you follow the rider, then artists end up being happy. If you don’t tell them you can’t follow the rider, then there’s a problem. It’s just them wanting to know they’re coming into a scenario where everyone is competent. It’s not easy for these artists to be on the road as much as they are, away from their homes and families. So they want a certain kind of drink, a certain kind of food and certain other amenities that help them feel more comfortable. They don’t know what they’re walking into when they come to these shows. It’s simple hospitality. RTT: What are you still learning? Steve Emmerich: That I still don’t know anything! [Laughter] I’ve learned that I’d rather drink whisky than eat bread. I’ve learned not to do ticketed shows in Reno and Tahoe in the summertime. [Laughter] Also, I used to do a show in Tahoe and a Reno show, back-to-back. Now I’m only gonna do one show per market. RTT: Why did you change your DJ name again and when are you playing next? Steve Emmerich: [Laughter] I like to change my DJ name. It’s now Craig’s List Hookup. I just played with The All Good Funk Alliance in Tahoe. 24 Reno Tahoe Tonight
I’m going to be playing at the GSR After Party as well from September 2nd through the 4th at my Great Depressurization Chamber. RTT: What’s the best thing about working with an artist like Bassnectar who has so much energy? Steve Emmerich: His sense of connection with his audience. I’ve always gravitated toward music and acts that have that interaction and give and take with their audience. Bassnectar feeds on that live show energy. It’s not like his sets are pre-programmed. He plays a different show in a different city almost every night, and he has the ability to adjust his sets on the fly. He’ll get his tracks together, but he can pull a song in based on the audience vibe. He’s amazing.
Fresh Bakin’s late summer, fall and winter schedule is sick. 9/3/13 Big Gigantic, Opio and Ill-esha; 9/7 After Burner 2: Rocket to Reno w/ Vibe Squad, Wick-It The Instigator, Coop da Loop, SubDocta and Zach Ohms closing @ ; 9/9/13 Jane’s Addiction @ GSR; 9/20 Bassnectar, plus two After Parties is Bro Safari ETC! ETC! & Hephay @ The Knit and @1UP it’s Boombox!; 10/3 The Polish Ambassador; 10/12 Disclosure from the UK; 10/16 Gris in NLT; 10/25 Halloween show with Minnesota and Brillz;10/30 Zed’s Dead and Paper Diamond; 11/10 Grammatik; 11/27 Pretty Lights in the Silver State Room @ GSR.
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Cover Story
Filmmaker Johnny B Hicks - Dark
Moment
Cover and feature photos Anicia Beckwith Model - Arriauna Kidd
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y Name is Johnny B. and for as long as I can remember, I’ve been passionate about shooting videos. Since my early childhood, I can recall “borrowing” my parent’s camcorder to fulfill my desire to capture anything and everything--no matter how random. One particular memory I have that highlights my interest, is the year that I went to Thailand and was blown away by the difference in culture. I could not resist filming the entire trip. I needed to document these exciting and new experiences, despite the difficulty of the VHS era. Arriving back home, I quickly set up shop and got to work. I remember sitting in front of the TV with three VCRs and a stereo for sound. I would sit there for hours on end, cutting, editing, and again re-editing the footage I had captured. This was the first time I realized I was a perfectionist. It seemed no matter how much time, or how much dedication I put toward the videos, something could always be improved. I quickly learned that my work’s completion was the one thing that brought me a sense of fulfillment. I know my work is truly complete when I can watch what I created and re-experience the tastes, smells, touch, sounds and any other sensations that ignite the experiences that are dear to me. I’ve had many opportunities to define just what it is I am looking for when shooting. One of the most significant opportunities I've had is the chance to work with Antonio Esteban and Inessa Shak. Antonio and Inessa are well-known fashion stylists and makeup artists, making a living in Los Angeles. Working with such amazing talent from LA truly inspires a lot of the styling looks in my videos. It’s truly been a driving force in pushing me artistically in my videos. “Dark Moment” was inspired by something we all deal with on a deep emotional level. We all experience different levels of judgment in our
Model Arriauna Kidd On the cover: Arriauna is wearing Michael Cinco Makeup - Edin Carpenter // MAC Hair (shaver) - James Owens Photographer - Anicia Beckwith // Pixella Productions Crew - PA - Aaron Loar - PA - Fielding Cathart
work, our style, our profession, etc.; whether it is our friends, our family, or our peers putting us into a box and telling us what we are capable of and what our struggles are. We wanted to take this judgment and turn it into something beautiful that speaks to our souls on a deep emotional level. After sharing similar feelings with the very talented Anicia Beckwith, she and I both agreed to create an artistic piece to somehow show this feeling of being judged and hurt. Anicia and I wanted to utilize high-end, worldrenowned designer clothing and show that Reno has the talent, resources, and ability to pull-off a shoot of this magnitude. We also wanted to show that even Reno feels the struggles of being placed in a box and judged. I believe the talent in this city deserves praise and recognition for its efforts. I recently helped produce LA Fashion Week with Style PR. When selecting our runway models, I pushed to have Arriauna Kidd, a local up-andcoming model, come down to Los Angeles and audition. She completely blew every other model out of the water with her amazing stature and walk. She was selected to wear the finale dress for Michael Cinco's Runway Show. After watching Arriauna shine on the Runway in Los Angeles, I knew she was the obvious selection for “dark moment." Finalizing this stellar line-up of talent, Anicia contacted Edin Carpenter, who broke away from her crazy schedule to come and not only do breathtaking makeup on Arriauna, but stayed and help build ideas for some of the looks. Edin brings in an amazing energy to every shoot and her work speaks for itself. In life, if we work from a level deep within, we can connect to others on this same level, and then nothing but greatness can come from it. This project did nothing but prove this to me and everyone involved. Thank you to everyone for making this project special. - Johnny b
Video - Johnny B // Johnnybfilms Crew - Second Camera - Silkin Corson Technical Direction - Troy Herrera // Cineflux Micro PA - Kade Rogers ALL DRESSES Provided by Style PR
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Cover Story Dark Moment
Roxanne Nikki - Marianna Harutunian earrings and cuff
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House of Devali - Marianna Harutunian cuff and ring - crown by House of Devali
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Seth Aaron
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House of Devali - Stephanie Herrera ring
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Cover Story Dark Moment
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Furne One - Marianna Harutunian cuff
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Cover Story Dark Moment
Sen Couture
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Cover Story Dark Moment
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House of Devali
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Furne One
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House of Devali
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Creative Coalition of Midtown
Adorning Your Body Long gone are the days of taboo tattoos, body piercings and other forms of body adornment. When I got my first tattoo I was not exactly sober. My (now ex) husband and I had discussed both of us getting one. We promised that together we would decide what and when. The year was 1993. We talked about it like it was a major decision; a life changing event. Tattoos were still kept covered for the most part, except for the elite scene of tattoo lovers, artists and tattooists themselves. So after a full day of drinking and debauchery in San Francisco, I got my first tattoo! A small purple rose on my right ankle; with my friend Melody getting the exact same one on her ankle -- a sign of support and solidarity. I was mortified the next morning! I had really done it; I had marked my body FOREVER! My three year old son kept bringing his friends over to show them his mommy’s ankle. Thinking back now, it’s rather funny. These days, without a tattoo or piercing, you could be considered the minority!
Nightmare Studios Tattoo 888 South Virginia Street
Owners of Nightmare Studios Tattoo, Brandon Collins and Mike Curatello are seasoned tattoo artists. Combined, they have been tattooing for over 20 years. Brandon and Mike met in New York, where Mike is from, and over beers decided Mike should move to Reno so they could open a shop. Nightmare Studios was opened in 2006 at a location on California Ave and only a short time later moved to their current Midtown location. The space is far more than a tattoo parlor; it’s almost a mini art gallery and most of the crew can be found working on drawings or paintings in between tattoo appointments. Nightmare Studios’ family, Brandon and Mike plus Mark Moots, Tony Medellin, Tayler Wooten, Gonzalo Delacruz and managers (and apprentices), Alex Blackwell and Justin Largent, are very popular with their clientele. I asked them what set them apart from the plethora of tattoo shops in Reno. The answer is obvious by their loyal customers, “They keep coming back, so we must be doing something right!” says Collins with sarcastic sincerity. “That and we are a pretty handsome group of guys.” They
The Creative Coalition of Midtown has some very talented members that specialize in tattoos, piercings and other forms of body art. Here are just a few of them that you should check out:
The workspace of Mike Curatello of Nightmare Studios Tattoo is covered with his collection of art and the shops collection of tattoo awards.
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Nightmare Studios Tattoo artist Tony Medellin.
Text Cody Doyle
Photos Kiley Sauer Photography
are a tight group and it is apparent in the way they work together, and support each other like family. Mike and Brandon say that due to the ever growing popularity of tattoos and tattoo shows, the demographic from the old days has expanded exponentially. Long gone are the stereotypical tattoo types; sailors, bikers, inmates, rebels and the like. Tattoos are main-stream, almost as common as ear piercings. The artists at Nightmare Studios Tattoo have adorned their creations upon the likes of soccer moms, clergy, cops, politicians, grandparents, college students, teachers…and the list goes on. They welcome all generations; from all walks of life. They no longer have a definitive demographic, which has made the tattoo profession an ever growing trend. Brandon made sure to let me know that along with tattoos, they offer free sarcasm and high-fives. Considering I love all of those things, I’m there! Check out their website at NightmareStudiosTattoo.com
Aces Tattoo
681 S Virginia St Originally named Aeros Tattoo, and later renamed, Aces Tattoo was started in 1995 by childhood friends, Kevin Cox and Rob Hiestand III. The shop was bred from their love of skateboarding, punk rock and a strong passion for art and tattoos. Jared Isenberg joined them from the beginning and all three of them are still at Aces Tattoo in the heart of Midtown, doing what they love! Aces Tattoo is a family, plain and simple. Ron Rash, another childhood friend of theirs, known for his quirky characters and drunken animal paintings, eventually translated his artwork into tattoos and joined the crew. He told me , “Friendships between the[tattooists] go back as far as 30+ years, and the fact that Aces has been run by the same three [artists] for 18 years is huge... it’s unheard of in the industry.” To round out the family, also on board is Jake Griffin, and Jon McCann, plus regular guest artist Elijah Cole.
Recent addition to the Aces Tattoo team, Jon McCann has been tattooing for 13 years.
proud of. Over the years, some of the industry’s best have spent time tattooing there; Chris Conn, Jason Freeman, Cory Lenherr, Lee Hannah, Grady Spades, Miguel "Uzi" Montgomery and many others. They have also been voted Reno’s Best Tattoo Parlor by Reno News and Review’s annual public poll for the past 11 years straight! Aces Tattoo’s number one priority is the client. Aces guarantees each tattoo is thought through (not a passing trend) and will last a lifetime. Each tattooist takes the time to help the client through the process; from traditions, ethics, placement and design -- to achieve the best possible outcome. The lower back tattoo, or “tramp stamp” is almost a thing of the past (except for those that have one), and more lettering and infinity symbols are in. Ron says Aces Tattoo promises solid tattoos, a few laughs, a fun time and rock ‘n’ roll music! Learn more about them at AcesTattooReno.com The back wall of Aces Tattoo is covered almost floor to ceiling with the shops collection of art.
Known industry-wide by some of the most respected and renowned tattooists, Aces Tattoo have a lot to be Reno Tahoe Tonight 45
Creative Coalition of Midtown
Blackhole Body Piercing 912 S Virginia St
As the name suggests, Black Hole Body Piercing offers exactly that -- everything from the standard ear, nose and naval to the more exotic piercings found under the clothes such as nipples and genitalia. With 20 years of experience behind her, owner Angela Watson has seen many of the trends come, go and stay! Ears are always going to be a popular form of body modification that people will have done. However, Watson told me, “I have witnessed the navel and tongue trend of the 1990’s, the lip and eyebrow trend of the 2000’s and the current trends this decade; nostrils, extreme ear projects and dermal anchors.” Dermal anchors are semi-permanent and offer an alternative to surface piercings, and provide less scarring when removed by a professional. Watson got her septum pierced in 1992, and training was offered to her – she was hooked and has been doing piercings ever since. Black Hole Body Piercing has also been voted “Reno’s Best Of…” in Reno News and Review’s annual poll for 18 years running. “We are proud of this because it is voted on by the public and we are the #1 choice every time.” declares Angela. Black Hole is widely known locally because of their constant presence in the community and by word of mouth, not to mention the large array of jewelry they carry – from the standard to the exotic. Black Hole Body Piercing’s clientele is a vast spectrum – ranging from doctors and judges to high school students and their moms. Health and safety is more of a concern than ever (my own ears were pierced in the ‘70’s using an ice cube, needle and a bar of soap); therefore, parents are utilizing piercing studios more instead of kiosks, malls and jewelry stores to get their children’s ears pierced. Black Hole Body Piercing offers all piercings that can be administered safely and with no health concerns for their customers. They take pride in the cleanliness and knowledgeable customer service the studio staff offers. “Ten years ago, we did maybe one to two [children’s ear piercings] a month, we now do several a week!” says Angela.
Just a small sampling of the beautiful jewelry you can find at Black Hole Body Piercing.
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Their piercing studio is neat and clean with a relaxing feel. The staff has over 35 years of combined experience, and they all specialize in giving the best customer service and an enjoyable experience. You need to stop in and see their immense selection of USA made jewelry, ask about their custom jewelry design and meet the friendly staff.
Definitely check their website at BlackHoleReno.com No matter how you choose to express yourself with adorning your body, it’s far less taboo than it used to be – although it is believed some of the earliest tattoos date back as far as 4,000 B.C. The word tattoo simply comes from the Tahitian “tatu” which means “to mark something.” The different forms, meanings, cultures and symbolism have evolved throughout thousands of years! Piercing had long been considered a sign of womanhood. That has changed in modern days, in fact the first documented USA tongue piercing was a male in 1983. However, body piercings date as far back as 700 A.D., the Mayan’s practiced ear, lip, cheek and nasal piercing (they did better with piercing than calendars apparently).
India Snyder, a Black Hole Body Piercing employee, shows her collection of piercings ranging from nose and septum to
Our bodies are our a surface piercing on her pinky finger. temples, ours and ONLY ours; it’s one thing in which we have complete control over. Our The Creative Coalition of Midtown has a lot of tattoos and piercings are personal to us. There is other fine members that do all types of body always a meaning for them at the time, although adornment, so be sure to look for them on our sometimes it may end up being a “what was I website at CreativeCoalitionReno.com thinking” moment later. Luckily, thus far I have no tattoos or piercings that I am not happy with. I still only have one hole in each ear, and have added one more tattoo – on my other ankle, the Celtic symbol for sister – and YES…my sister has a matching one on her ankle too. The next one I get, I’ve decided will be mine, and only mine – no one else will have the same one, after all I am as individual as they come. Reno Tahoe Tonight 47
DigiTips
Text Amber Howland Graphic and Photo Edward Howland
What Happens on Social Media,
Can Live on in Infamy It’s not uncommon for me to pull “social media Veto power” over my friends and family if I happen to be in a picture they were thinking of posting online. Sometimes they ask me why I’m so particular about it and I have to remind them that since I deal with social media for a living, I have a very profound understanding of the power it wields.
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couple of weeks ago, there was a Facebook post about a man who ran up a large bill at a local restaurant and left without paying. The staff took a picture of him before he was able to leave and posted it on Facebook with a plea to bring him to justice. After sharing his picture, other restaurants in the area saw the post and recognized him immediately as someone who had performed the same scam on them. As the post was shared further and picked up momentum, people started researching this individual with the intention of learning his true identity. Eventually, piece by piece, the collective swarm slowly disseminated not only his name, but his address, phone number and place of employment as well. The post went viral and was picked up by the RGJ, and even the national AP. Justice was served and Saul Zelanog was arrested for his crimes. This story made me laugh because not only did the power of Facebook bring justice for local restaurants that were being taken advantage of, but it also proved how easy it is to find someone online. Forever, Saul will be the guy who was brought to justice by Facebook. This story is a reminder of how when you’re using social media, be it for personal or professional reasons, you must be careful of how you are portrayed. Did you know that Facebook photos can be found even after your profile is deleted? If someone else commented or shared your images and posts, those are no longer only located on your page and can be accessed. Employers will often review a prospective employee’s social media pages to get a good feel for their habits and personality. Do they complain about their work? Are most of the photos of them drinking? Are there risqué photos? I continue to urge both professionals and students to be very careful of what they post online. You may not be able to control what
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people think of you or your business based on what they see online, but you can at least make sure that what you do put online paints you in the best possible light.
Think before you post. Amber Howland is General Manager of Dragonfly Media, based in Reno, Nevada. Dragonfly Media works with small to medium size businesses to increase their digital influence through SEO/ SEM, social media management, website/app development, and email marketing. www.dragonflymedia.net Dragonfly Media, 775)746-4690
Saul Zelanog
INTRODUCING
RENO’S RIVERWALK DISTRICT by Courtney Meredith & Christopher Meredith
Available at Reno Visitor Center, Barnes & Noble, & Amazon ISBN-13: 978-0-7385-9671-6 Retail price: $21.99
Event
Gran Fondo Charity Bicycle Event
September 21, 2013 Reno Cycling Club and Sierra Schools Foundation Partner to Raise Funds for Rural Schools The Reno Cycling Club has entered into a partnership with the Sierra Schools Foundation to help raise much needed funding for rural Sierra County schools through the first Sierra Valley Gran Fondo bicycle ride for charity on Sept. 21, centered at the Sierra Valley Event Center in Loyalton.
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ajor sponsors for the event are Reno Buick GMC Cadillac and Heritage Bank of Nevada. Stan Wilmoth, Heritage Bank president, and Ken Alexander, general manager at Reno Buick GMC Cadillac both hail from Loyalton and said they are grateful for the support that comes from this area and their home town. This is an exceptional opportunity for both businessmen to honor their roots. Reno Buick GMC Cadillac is a Reno business, committed to serving its employees, customers and extended community. Alexander said his dealership is proud to partner with Heritage Bank of Nevada to sponsor the Sierra Valley Gran Fondo, being held to benefit the Sierra Schools Foundation. Reno Buick GMC Cadillac’s motto is “Do the Right Thing. Be the Best” and is always striving to serve its community and give back whenever possible.
For decades cyclists from the northern California and northern Nevada area have utilized the hidden gem that is the Sierra Valley for both cycling recreation and competition. Until the formation of this partnership, little has been done to support the rural communities that cyclists frequent. The Sierra Valley Gran Fondo, a timed mass start event, offers four courses with the goal of encouraging riders of all ability levels to participate in what will be a unique cycling event.
• The Piccolo Fondo is a flat 33-mile route on the roads surrounding the community of Loyalton
• The Medio Fondo is a flat 66-mile route that takes riders around the Sierra Valley.
• The Gran Fondo is a challenging 96-mile route
with approximately 5,400 feet of climbing. This route takes riders up and over the Gold Lake Highway with some of the most stunning vistas in all of the Sierra Nevada.
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• The Mega Fondo, the monster ride reserved for only the most daring, is an ultrachallenging route with 160 miles and over 11,200 feet of climbing.
Each ride will begin in a mass start format and will require registered riders to check in at various points along the route. Upon completion, each rider will receive a finish time and certificate of completion. The top five finishers in age and gender category will receive additional awards and prizes. Full ride details can be found at www.svgf.org. Online registration will close at 12:00 am on Sept. 18, with registration prices increasing $20 on Aug. 22 and increasing an additional $10 on the day of the event. Additional details are available at svgf.org. The day of the event an outdoor Expo will be held at Loyalton City Park, centered around the Sierra Valley Event Center, with live music and food and other vendors. Those interested in selling food or products or offering services such as chair massage can participate in the Expo. A registration form is available online at www.svgf. org. All registrations for the Expo sent to Janet McHenry, P.O. Box 750, Loyalton, CA 96118, with checks payable for the event to the Sierra Schools Foundation. Spaces are $25 for each 10 ft. x 10 ft. space. Vendors need to provide their own awnings, tables and power. Additional sponsors of the event are Hammer Nutrition, Authentic Pathways, Shaheen Beauchamp Builders LLC, 509 Creative, Squeeze In, JP Coaching, TrainerRoad.com, Glacier Glove, Hub Coffee Roasters, Eclipse Pizza Co., Slack Country Clothing, Plumas Sanitation, Steven Alfren Professional Surveyor, Back to Balance, Nature’s Bakery, and Swill Coffee and Wine. Chad Morris, a 1999 Loyalton High School alumnus, and co-owner of the Squeeze In restaurants in Reno and Truckee, was happy to hear the event
was coming and immediately signed on to have his business help sponsor the event. Morris said, “Having grown up in the Sierra Valley, I am proud to have my business involved with this event. The Gran Fondo benefits kids like me who went to school in Sierra County, and I am proud to have Squeeze In as a sponsor.” The Reno Cycling Club hopes to raise additional funds through ride sponsorship opportunities, which provide a variety of benefits to sponsoring organizations or individuals, including discounted or free participation in the accompanying Gran Fondo Outdoor Expo, featuring area cycling shops, manufacturers and local retailers as well as food and beverage booths. Those desiring more information on sponsorships and participation in the Outdoor Expo can contact Jon Pettengill, Reno Cycling Club vice president, or Megan Meschery, Sierra Schools Foundation President, through the above website, which has an Expo registration form. Pettengill said that the event will draw upon the strengths and generosity of volunteers. Anyone interested in getting involved can access the Sierra Valley Gran Fondo Volunteer Network Meetup Page (http://www.meetup. com/Sierra-Valley-Gran-Fondo-VolunteerNetwork/). Formed in 2012 with more than 150 registered members, the Reno Cycling Club has experienced rapid growth. The club is partnered with Reno Cycling & Fitness, located at 5260 Longley Lane in Reno, which affords registered members benefits like discounts on merchandise and service, back in-store credit, weekly organized rides promoted on the club’s online Meetup group (meetup.com/Reno-CyclingClub/). It’s free to join the Meetup group, which now has 244 followers. Additionally, the club is partnered with Jon Pettengill, owner and manager of JP Coaching LLC and a Level II USA Cycling certified coach, who leads weekly skills clinics as well as other beginner courses.
Photo Jenna Holland Special to Reno Ta hoe Tonight The Sierra Schools Foundation is a local nonprofit organization that supports the public schools of Sierra County and the Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District by providing supplemental funds to address the inequities in the educational experience due to geographic isolation and limited local economic resources. Its mission is to enhance student learning; promote strong teaching; and strengthen academic, social and cultural programs. It seeks to accomplish its mission through its Roots & Boots Initiative. The Roots & Boots Initiative encourages students to explore, appreciate and preserve their rural “roots” and the landscape that shaped them, while also providing them with the “boots” – skills, training and experiences – to walk into their future prepared and inspired for what is ahead. Through its Roots focus area, the foundation funds experiences and programs in outdoor education, agriculture education, local history and environmental/field science. Through its Boots focus area, it funds experiences and programs in technology/computer science (21st century skills and STEM– science, technology, engineering and mathematics), arts and music, business and career development and college readiness. The proceeds of the Sierra Valley Gran Fondo will make a direct and meaningful impact on the educational experience and lives of hundreds of Sierra County school children. The financial support will further help to ensure that all school children in Sierra County have access to excellent public education that does not depend on geographic location, local economies or family income. For Reno Cycling Club contact Jon Pettengill at director@svgf.org or call 775.391.3225; for Sierra Schools Foundation contact Megan Meschery 530.414.3655.
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Event
Text Ed Adkins Photos courtesy of Reno Pirate Crawl
Pirate Crawl
Reno Pirate Crawl Sails Downtown for the 4th Year
Who doesn’t wish they were a pirate sometimes; swashbuckling their way across the globe; experiencing the salty taste of adventure on the high seas? Well, most of that stuff is illegal, and sharp swords are all fun and games until someone needs an eye patch. While you can’t become a real pirate, you can be one for a night during the Reno Pirate Crawl downtown on Saturday, September 14th.
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his year, participants can expect some changes on the crawl too, since Let’s Do Things, the organizers of the Reno Zombie Crawl, have taken over managing the crawl. Representatives say that the crawl will be organized in the same way as their Zombie, Superhero, Vampire and Leprechaun crawls--one main difference being that this year’s event only costs five dollars instead of ten in years’ past. For those who haven’t attended any previous crawls, organizers explain that they work in the following way: participants purchase
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commemorative cups and maps--either ahead of time at local businesses or on the event night at locations marked as “start bars.” Cups count as admission to the crawl, entitling crawlers to two and three dollar beer and drink specials, entrance into contests at each venue, and guaranteed no cover. Maps include a list of stops within walking distance and list drink specials and costume contests found at each location. This year’s crawl will start at Harrah’s plaza at 8pm and move on to about 12 additional stops, going into the wee hours. As usual, participants are encouraged to dress up in their favorite pirate gear, though costumes aren’t required, organizers say they do make the event way more fun. Cups and costumes can be purchased at Junkee Clothing Exchange at 960 South Virginia Street and at Harrah’s Plaza on the night of the crawl. Let’s Do Things is a Reno-based events production company who produces several costume-themed events aimed at entertaining locals, while increasing tourism and boosting the local economy. This year, the company has been focused on adding day-time events like fun runs to their annual calendar of bar crawls and parties. While bringing the Pirate Crawl back to downtown, Let’s Do Things is also currently working on their 6th annual Reno Zombie Crawl and the inaugural No-Brainer Humans vs. Zombies 5k Fun Run both to be held on October 26th. Information on all of these events can be found at www.letsdothings.com.
Event
Reno Beer Crawl
Text Andrea Tyrell Photos Courtesy of Design on the Edge
What should you give a five year old for their birthday? A glass of beer! Okay, before someone calls Child Protective Services, the five year old in question is the Reno Beer Crawl, who celebrates their fifth anniversary this year. While downtown Reno is heavy with the different alcohol-based tours--from the Wine Walk to the costumed crawls happening every couple of months--the Beer Crawl boasts a relaxed experience; one with no lines and plenty of different alcohols to try.
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“W
e’re here for the people who love beer,” said Jordan Slotnick, owner of the downtown bar, the Waterfall. Together with his business partner, West Muller, Slotnick organizes each crawl the fourth Saturday of every month. For those who haven’t been on a crawl, the rules of the Beer Crawl are simple: 1) Purchase your glass and pick your wristband and map at one of the starting points; 2) Walk to your favorite participating bars. The Beer Crawl features twenty-one downtown bars and restaurants to trek to, from the Slice of the Peak to Red Rock Bar. For $1 at each location, one can enjoy a six-ounce sample (which equals about a half a beer) before venturing off to the next spot. At the end of the crawl, head back to the Waterfall to enter into the raffle to win a $25 gift certificate from one of the locations.
“During the crawl, we’re not going to give you the cheap stuff you can buy on a regular basis,” said Slotnick. “We’re for the true beer connoisseurs. We make sure that you try something different, maybe something imported--a quality craft beer.” The first beer crawl event was held June 2008. Slotnick and his former business partner, who managed Amendment 21 in the building that now houses Scampi, thought about bringing a more relaxed alcohol tour to downtown Reno. From its early days, the Beer Crawl has seen steady expansion, growing with participants and locations. According to Slotnick, he comes from “a very entrepreneurial family,” graduating from UNR with a business degree. After school, he thought about either going back to school to get his MBA or start some sort of business. With his business partner, Slotnick decide to take a break from school and purchased the Foxy Olive. A few years later, the space that now houses the Waterfall became available for lease. Slotnick saw the possibilities with the space and rented it. In March, Slotnick and his partner bought each other’s bars out, resulting in Slotnick taking sole ownership of the Waterfall. Muller is originally from Lake Tahoe. Working his way up in the service industry--including a brief stint as a wedding coordinator assistant-Muller became the Waterfall’s head bartender within his first two months. Their relationship is light and friendly, an attitude that encompasses the crawl. “We like to have a fun place with smiles all around,” said Slotnick. “I own a friendly bar, a place where the staff here cares about you as our customer. We want to make sure that our customers are relaxed and having fun.” “The Beer Crawls are always amazing,” said Stephanie Base, a local artist and consistent crawler. “I was never really that much of a beer person--I’m really picky--but you can always get some good stuff wherever you go.” Describing herself as more of “pale ale kind of girl,” Base frequents most crawls with her brothers. “We totally make the Beer
Crawl a family event,” laughs Base. “We’re the kind of family that likes getting drunk together, stumbling around everywhere.” Compared to the other alcohol-based tours in the downtown area, the organizers support the chilled ambiance where families can come and enjoy themselves. “The Wine Walk is great, but what sets us apart is that we give more variety,” said Muller, “letting the customer choose what beer they want to drink.” “There isn’t a big race to get around,” said Slotnick. “People can just stay in one location and hang out, enjoy their beer.” “We’ve been so successful so far, which is great. My hope is within the next five year is just to grow, generate more business,” said Slotnick. “We’re not crazy profitable, but we have a have a good reputation and we’re something different.” Slotnick hopes to grow the crawl to about 800 to 1000 people participating in each crawl. The only way he feels that growth is possible is to keep providing an affordable crawl that serves delicious brews. He encourages anyone who loves a cold beer to come out to the next crawl. “If you haven’t heard about the Beer Crawl, check it out,” said Slotnick. “It’s always a good time.” For more information about the Reno Beer Crawl, visit renobeercrawl.com. Waterfall is located at 134 West Second Street. The next Beer Crawl event will be held September 28, from 2 to 6 p.m.
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Event
Roff Street Market
Fall Fashion Show September 21, 2013 1-6pm
Roff @ First Street Downtown Reno Nellie Davis, owner of the award-winning Outsiders Hair Studio, is spearheading an effort to celebrate fashion and style in our fair city, with an ambitious all-day event with a purpose. Enlisting the help of local property management professional Britton Griffith-Douglas from Arlington Tower, the two have created The Roff Street Market Fall Fashion Show, which will highlight the exceptional style trends and strides being made in northern Nevada by featuring local boutiques and designers, while benefitting the non-profit Cut it Out: Salons Against Domestic Abuse. I spoke with Davis about the event and the fashion scene here in Reno. RTT: The relationship between fashion and Reno has been seen as decidedly oxymoronic. Talk about how this event came together and what inspired you to buck trends and do an event of this nature? 58 Reno Tahoe Tonight
Text Oliver X Photos Bishop Bautista | Model Rachel Yost | Hair Nellie Davis Nellie Davis: After spending a lot of time collaborating with local designers and unique boutiques on shows and photo shoots, I realized that Reno is looked at as being low on the totem pole of fashion. Indie fashion does exist here in Reno, and there are so many folks that don’t get the recognition they deserve [in order] to shine. I planned to hold an event that served as an outlet to bring together some of the most prominent people in the industry locally, and really applaud them for working towards that effort to make Reno more well-rounded culturally. We have an up-and-coming foodie and craft beer scene. Even art and music is making its way up. But the fashion and beauty industry ultimately gets left behind. I wanted the designers not only to be able to showcase their upcoming styles, but also have the chance to sell in the market. Because our paths cross and go hand in hand, Outsiders wanted to have the opportunity to showcase our creative, offbeat take on beauty, and to prove that sometimes Reno’s grittiness belongs in places least expected. RTT: Who are some of the boutiques and designers involved in the fashion show? Nellie Davis: Right now we’ve confirmed Never Ender Boutique, The Nest, GRNR LVGS CO, Branch Clothing, Onward Kitty, Cicely Margo Jewelry, and J Totes. RTT: Good things are happening inside Arlington Towers’ retail spaces. Catch us up on what’s new on the property’s first floor.
from Campo; a night out from Whitney Peak Hotel, a tattoo from Triumph Tattoo, a beauty package from Outsiders Hair Studio and Flawless Skin by Nikki and shirts from Reno eNVy, to name a few. All proceeds of this event are going to benefit “Cut it Out” salons against domestic abuse. Outsiders works directly with Safe Embrace women’s shelter. Often times these women are stripped of their dignity, left with merely the clothes they have on when making the choice to leave their abuser. We offer our services in hopes that by feeling beautiful again, they can gain back their self confidence in order to move on with their life. A hair salon, as most people say, can be a place where you entrust your deepest secrets. It’s safe and secure, and it’s important for our staff to be equipped with the right information to be able to direct our clients to the right resources, if ever in time of need.
The event is sponsored by Reno Tahoe Tonight Magazine, Design on the Edge and RLC First LLC. Participating vendors include: Noble Mobile from Noble Pie Parlor, Mellow Yellow food truck, Funnel Cakes, Under the Rose Brewing Co, 1864 Tavern and Whisky; The Arlington Tower commercial with Flawless Skin by Nikki, The Reno Collective, Studio C art space and La Terre Verte, and Desert Diamonds Realty. Triumph Tattoo and several local artists showing. Food, music and art and free yoga classes all day. All the outfits, accessories, bags and jewelry in the Fall Fashion show will be up for sale.
Nellie Davis: Since RLC First LLC bought the commercial space in Arlington Tower in January, Outsiders Hair Studio and Reno Collective were the first to move in. The space is blowing up. Studio C is a place for art, Flawless Skin by Nikki just opened. She rocks for eyelash extensions and microdermabrasion. A nice addition to the hair studio. And Whisky is now under new management with Noble Pie Parlor. There’s only one open spot left and we’re looking for the right fit. RTT: What does the event itinerary consist of? Nellie Davis: Fashion show starts at 1:15 and will be ongoing all day in 30 minute intervals. Each show itself will be 15 minutes. Every hour from 2-4 there will be a live demonstration for fall hair and makeup trends and how to achieve it at home. We have some really great silent auction prizes from surrounding businesses, including dinner Reno Tahoe Tonight 59
Magazine
Event
RENO
HAIR&MAKEUP ARTISTOFTHEYEAR COMPETITION
The Hair and Makeup Artist of the Year Competition – Saturday, September 14, 2013 @ The Atlantis Casino Resort Spa
Soroptimist International of Washoe County (SIWC) will hold a unique fundraiser event on Saturday, September 14, 2013 at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa in Reno. The “Hair and Makeup Artist of the Year Competition” is the third annual event of its kind in Northern Nevada, with categories for both professional and amateur/student makeup and hair artists, ages 17 and older. All proceeds will benefit SIWC’s local projects that benefit women and children in the Washoe County community.
W
“
e are revamping and glamorizing our prior competitions by holding the event at the Atlantis and will again include categories for both hair and makeup, so hope to get many competitors in our area,” says Risa Lopez, one of the event organizers, “The competition will be held from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m., with the artists’ friends and family able to view the competition in progress. That evening, we will have a cocktail party and award’s event that will showcase local salons and artists, raffle prizes, and door prizes, as well as appetizers and cocktails.” With an entry fee of only $40.00 for each category (hair only, makeup only or Total Look) organizers expect to fill the limited number of entries for each category rather quickly. The prize for the overall winner, decided by a panel of judges, will be $1,000.00, with additional awards for category winners. The public is invited to attend the competition, as well as the evening event, at the cost of $40.00.!
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Some of the projects this fundraiser will help to support are local scho1arship awards, events for the Kid’s Kottage and “Totes for Kids,” which provides backpacks filled with emergency clothing and supplies for children who are removed from their homes. Founded in 2005, SIWC is one of 1,500 clubs that make up Soroptimist International of the Americas, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls, in local communities and throughout the world. Additional information about where to buy tickets and competition applications are available on the group’s website www.siwashoe.org.
Fashion
Fashion
4
Ways Isha Casagrande is a fashion stylist who has a p a s s i o n for fashion and a love for shopping. Isha’s attitude is that fashion is about confidence and confidence is about style. Welcome to her fashionable wor ld where labels do not matter but your self wor th does.
look #1
Leo Rising Studded Purse $59 Crystal Spike Bracelet, Stud Trio Bangles, Spike Trio Bangles, Lion Link Bracelet and Stud Cuff $18 each Leo Rising Necklace $59
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Do you ever get stuck in a fashion rut? Challenge yourself this fall by never wearing the same item the same way. Here is one stylish shirt and four fashionable ways to wear it. Whether your style is glamorous, country girl or a little rock and roll, you can take one piece and use it multiple ways. Don’t be shy about piling on the jewelry. Accessories are what makes an outfit fabulous!
Text Isha Casagrande LipstickLLC.com Photos Nick Schab Model Emma White Nails Kelli Mason at Lipstick Fashion Lounge & Salon
All fashions available at Lipstick Fashion Lounge 333 S. Arlington Ave. Reno, NV 89501
Pretty in Pearls
look #2
Olive Faux Leather Skirt $44 Green Spike Clutch $38 Pearl Necklaces $18 - $32 Each Pearl Bracelets, Stud Bangles and Bow Bracelet $18 Each
look #3
Glamour Girl Harem Pant $42 RH Studio Faux Fur Wrap $95 Saddle Bag Clutch $36 Oversized Crystal Necklace $59 Gold Cuff $18
Cowgirl Chic Fringe Bag $59 Spike Bow Belt $18 Stone Spike Bracelet, Leather Braid, Leather Cuff and Spike Trio $18 each Woman of Troy Key Bracelet $35 Brass Spike Necklaces $24 Each Wooden Bead Tooth Necklace $18
look #4 Reno Tahoe Tonight 65
Feature
2012 Reno Air Race Man of the Year – Tim Spencer: Tim was the incident commander during the tragic crash and was responsible for saving countless lives.
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Text Oliver X Photos Anicia Beckwith Pixella Productions
Firefighting Heroes
Washoe County’s smoke-filled air is a grim reminder that we’re deep into the fire season. To the men and women who risk their lives daily to save people, pets and property, RTT offers this stunning feature by photographer Anicia Beckwith, to remind us all to remember firefighters and volunteers in our prayers, and to thank them for their dedication and service. We had the pleasure of speaking with Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District Chief Charles Moore to find out about some of the difficulties our hardworking fire crews face, and to pick up on a few of the essential things citizens can do to reduce the risk of fire damage to their homes and properties. Reno Tahoe Tonight Magazine: Explain some of the unique challenges that fire fighting professionals face here during peak fire season
choices in fire resistive building materials will accomplish the measure of fire safety we all seek when Mother Nature is at her worst.
Chief Charles Moore: A great question! Living in our beautiful high desert landscape comes with some significant threats. One of the most difficult challenges we face are dry lightning storms. It is not uncommon for these storms to start simultaneous vegetation fires. I recall one hot summer evening last year (2012) when Truckee Meadows Fire District responded to about 15 fires in a 2 hour period of time. We had every fire truck in our inventory responding to one call or another. Fortunately, with the combined strength of our career and volunteer forces, and help from our mutual aid partners, all ended well.
We also often suppress fires that are human caused. The most common are fires from target shooting and campfires left unattended or smoldering. As dry as the environment is in summer, it does not take much for a spark to touch off a fire.
The second challenge Mother Nature throws at us is wind. When wind events propel fires, it can be nearly impossible to get out ahead of the fire. The fire will spread so quickly that we cannot put resources at every home that may be threatened. An essential strategy to defend communities from the risk of wildfire is defensible space, not necessarily more fire trucks or firefighters. Consider that California has the highest level of firefighting resources per capita in the nation, yet fires there still pose a tremendous threat to homes and communities. I believe a logical conclusion can be made that risk is not necessarily reduced by way of increasing expenditures for more fire engines and personnel. Doing the right things with respect to landscaping decisions, defensible space planning and good
Reno Tahoe Tonight Magazine: With the urban sprawl steadily encroaching on wild land habitat, what kinds of things can property owners do to create defensible space around their dwellings? Chief Charles Moore: Strategies in community risk reduction must include defensible space. A wind driven fire can throw fire embers a great distance causing a small fire to grow large in a very short amount of time. Defensible space directs the fire around a home and provides your property with an improved quality of fire resistance. There are abundant resources available to property owners to assist them in creating defensible space. I encourage all of your readers to log on to www.livingwithfire.info for more information. The staff at Truckee Meadows is also available to advise homeowners. Just give us a call to set up an appointment. The wrong plant materials are also a big problem. Junipers are a commonly used decorative landscaping material. They are attractive and green, but unfortunately very volatile when Reno Tahoe Tonight 67
Feature
Firefighting Heroes
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ignited. They burn with ferocity and release enough heat to ignite wood siding or other combustible construction. A good naturally fire resistive plant material are aspen trees. Aspens are difficult to ignite because of their high water content. Smart landscaping design and good choices in building and roof materials drive the survivability of your home in a wildfire more than fire department response times or how close you live to a fire station. Reno Tahoe Tonight Magazine: The recent tragic deaths of nineteen firefighters this past June in Arizona reminded many of us how deadly wildfires can be. Just how quickly can things change out there, and when do Hotshot crews know when to pull out of situations that could become traps? Chief Charles Moore: Our hearts go out to the families of those who lost loved ones in this terrible tragedy. We spend a great deal of time preparing ourselves to take on the risks of this job, yet despite our best efforts, things can go wrong. Predicating wildfire behavior is as much of an art as it is a science. Conditions can change in an instant which is what makes them so dangerous. We assess fuel type, weather and topography in planning fire attack strategies, but nothing is 100% certain. Mother Nature does what she wants to do and despite all of our training and safety precautions we cannot make the risk zero. Reno Tahoe Tonight Magazine: What kind of tangible support can civilians offer their local fire fighting agencies to honor their service? Chief Charles Moore: It is very thoughtful of people who take the time to thank us and we appreciate it deeply; but it means more to us to see people engaged in improving their own safety. We are thrilled when civilians pay close attention to safety measures they can accomplish at home - so they in effect, help us to help them. Nothing is more frustrating for fire service professionals to not be able to stop a fire or save a life. We will risk a lot, even our own lives to save a life. But we recognize that we must have effective partnerships with the community. This includes property owners who take steps to improve the quality of defensible space around their homes and ensure their homes have working smoke detectors on every level and outside of every bedroom.
Stoicism - William Winchester of the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District in full gear.
We also love it when kids come by the station to visit. It is a great way to influence the safety of their families. Kids will remind their parents to check smoke detectors and plan home evacuation drills. Reno Tahoe Tonight 69
Feature
Firefighting Heroes
Salvage – Chris Black of the Truckee Meadows Fire Protections District
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Reno Tahoe Tonight 71
Feature
Firefighting Heroes
Many Ways to Protect – City of Reno firefighters on duty at the 2012 Air Races.
Multi Agency Approach – The devastating Caughlin Fire of 2011 brought in members of many agencies.
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Tim Spencer – A true hero in our community.
The Remains – During Fire season very little escapes the grasp of the flames.
Reno Tahoe Tonight 73
Feature
THE RIDES
T
ypically the phrase supergroup evokes images of shriveled-up rockers rolling out rehashings of old hits (and tepid new tunes), in a cringe-inducing stroll down memory lane fueled by their own hubris. Not so with the new release Can’t Get Enough by Blues/Rock trio The Rides, a project that brings together two-time Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame inductee Stephen Stills, famed Chicago Rock/Blues keyboardist Barry Goldberg, and chart-topping Blues guitar ace Kenny Wayne Shepherd, in a historic multi-generational confluence of masterful chops and exceptional songwriting, that is pure sonic gold. The cohesiveness on this collaboration is amazing, and no listener would ever guess that the album was done inside of a fortnight, with just one or two takes per track! The mates get right into it, on an album that is all killer no filler from start to finish, featuring four stellar Stills/Shepherd/Goldberg penned tracks, commencing with my favorite cut on the album, the burner “Roadhouse,” a tonesetting, quasi-autobiographical tune based on a bluesman’s life on the road. Here Stills’ snarling
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Can’t Get Enough 429 Records
Text Oliver X Photo courtesy of 429 Records vocal lead is gritty and full of piss and vinegar as he belts, “Mississippi roadhouse where I began/Playing my music to a bunch of college kids.” Shepherd is in top form on this track, as his signature Stratocaster sent dirty leads down my delighted ear holes. “That’s A Pretty Good Love,” a jump tempo Big Maybelle cover, sees Shepherd’s vocal syncopation propelling a funky rug-cutter that’s accented expertly by Goldberg’s driving piano. Can’t Get Enough, recorded at East West Studios on the legendary Sunset Strip, is a great listen and all ten tracks have a distinctive identifying element from the collective’s platinum pasts. Other standout tracks include covers of the Neil Young and Iggy Pop classics “Keep on Rockin’ in the Free World” and “Search and Destroy” respectively. The thunderous rhythm section of bass player Kevin McCormick and drummer Chris Layton is killer throughout the record. I spoke with Stills, Goldberg and Shepherd by phone prior to their highly anticipated September live tour in support of their 429 Records debut Can’t Get Enough.
RTT: How did this project come to fruition? Stephen Stills: Barry suggested that we needed a really gunslinger guitar player and it turned out that I knew this kid named Kenny The Cool Guitar Player with the long hair who does all the Colts games with me. So somehow this turns into a conversation with me and [manger] Elliot Roberts that went something like, “So we found a great guitar player.’ And I went ‘Who is it?’ And Elliot says, ‘Kenny Wayne Shepherd.’ And I went ‘Who!?’[Laughter in the background]. See, I don’t pay much attention to the music scene and even though Kenny had several hits, to me he was the really nice kid who went to all the Colts games. Because we’re part of [Colts owner] Jim Irsay’s support group. We’re the only ones allowed in his inner domain, while he turns into a mad man watching the football game. So we played these jam sessions and I would have to go around close to hear what he was actually playing, and he sounded really great. But to me he was still Kenny the really nice young guitar player. I still didn’t know who this Kenny Wayne Shepherd was. The three names just really threw me, ya know. So all of us continue rehearsing, and one day I’m at this casino with the guys in a room standing in front of this two-story plate glass window. I’m facing the wall and I go, ‘Kenny Wayne Shepherd, who is that? I have no idea who you guys are talking about.’ And then I turn around, and outside in the parking lot is an eight-story marquee, and it said, ‘This Weekend Kenny Wayne Shepherd.’ And I went, ‘Oh!’ [Riotous laughter]… That’s the genesis of it. But in actuality we just started playing together and the songs just started falling out. We recorded an album in seven days and seven nights and it came out fabulous. RTT: The song selection on the album is exceptional and exciting for me as a fan of music. Besides jamming, did you consider yourselves a cohesive band unit prior to recording? Kenny Wayne Shepherd: No, we had never even played together until we met at Stephen’s house for the jam sessions. Stephen and I had jammed before several times at the Irsay parties and stuff. But we had never looked at each other and said, ‘Hey, let’s put a band together and make a record.’ We had just never thought about it. When they called me I was like, ‘Great, who wouldn’t want to do this?’ The original concept was not for us to create a band. We were just gonna go in and make a record that would kinda pay homage to the original Super
Sessions album that Stephen played on years ago. So we were gonna go in and make a Blues record using that album as inspiration. But the thing is, we started writing and the chemistry was there, and we worked so well together. When we started recording the album, it became apparent to all of us that this was not a vanity project. What was originally a cool idea, turned into something extremely special. We decided that this needed to be a band. RTT: How did you select the covers that found their way onto this album? Barry Goldberg: Kenny came in and said that he wanted to put some traditional Blues songs on the record. My whole background is Chicago Blues; that’s like my thing ya know. So I went, ‘Great!’ Kenny came up with the Elmore James song “Talk to Me Baby,” and the west side shuffle stuff and I said ‘Wow!’ I love playing that kind of style more than anything. And, of course Muddy, who I had the honor and privilege of playing with, and Otis Spann was sorta like my mentor…We did “Honey Bee” which was another just amazing, respectful version of that song, and Kenny Wayne just nailed it you know. I was happy with those two songs, and then Stephen had some songs he brought to the table and they were equally as cool. Our producer Jerry Harrison brought in this Iggy Pop song, and I wasn’t too familiar with it, and I don’t think Stephen was, with Iggy Pop and that particular genre of music. We were a little reluctant at first because I couldn’t figure out the changes and was sorta all over the place. But we put out stamp on it and it started to rock! RTT: The vocal performances are also top rate and really passionate on this album. Congratulations on that guys, you killed it. See you all at the show. The artists respond in unison: ‘Thanks!’ Catch The Rides, Stephen Stills, Barry Goldberg and Kenny Wayne Shepherd, with opener Beth Hart Friday, September 27 at GSR’s Grand Theater. http://grandsierraresort.com/deals/offer/the-ridesroom-show-package/preview
Check out the exclusive presale offer >> Reno Tahoe Tonight 75
Feature
Tiny Tini
Ready-to-Drink Vodka Cocktails
I
’m no calorie counter, but after a friend of mine recently gave me the off-handed compliment that I look “less pudgy” these days, I decided to try to watch my liquid calories more closely. Last month my close friend Shirley Larkins turned me on to her friends Jamie and Derek Asmis, owners of TinyTini, the original reduced calorie ready to drink line of vodka cocktails. The couple spoke with passion about their brand and I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to feature a new drink that was delicious and could impact my expanding waistline. So off I went to Total Wine & More and I picked up a bottle of the Pomegranate Tiny Tini. It was ready to go right from the bottle and was tasty and remarkably refreshing, with a clean finish-and no aftertaste! I interviewed the ambitious entrepreneurs at local neighborhood wine shop, Vino100, to get a sense of how the couple built their brand and where they’re going with Tiny Tini. Reno Tahoe Tonight Magazine: Talk a little about your professional backgrounds and how the idea came about for Tiny Tini?
Jamie and Derek: Neither one of us came from the alcohol business whatsoever. That doesn’t mean we don’t like to imbibe now and then though! Derek came from an IT background and then coowned a local coffee shop here in Reno, gaining a better understanding of the service industry. Jamie still maintains her fulltime position with an online retailer. TinyTini came about after tasting another ready to drink cocktail, yet we didn’t like the taste. The concept was what stuck and we decided that we should do this with flavored martinis. After a little research we quickly discovered there was nothing on the market like this and started work on it. Reno Tahoe Tonight Magazine: How did you develop your product line and flavor profiles? Jamie and Derek: Initially we did some online research into the most popular flavors of martinis. Lemon Drop, which is Jamie’s favorite, and Cosmo were high on the list, yet we felt it appropriate to go a little off of the mainstream and add unique flavors to our lineup. After several focus groups and numerous revisions our initial launch included 76 Reno Tahoe Tonight
four strong flavors: Pear, Pomegranate, Chocolate and Cotton Candy. It is worth noting that three of the flavors received medals from the Beverage Tasting Institute (BTI) in Chicago! Going back to Jamie’s favorite, we do have a Lemon Drop, but haven’t brought it to market yet. Soon though! Reno Tahoe Tonight Magazine: Who designed your packaging? Derek and Jamie: We really wanted to remain simple, yet have a memorable logo/brand and be portable. Going with a plastic PET was important to us because you could take it just about anywhere and places glass cannot go. The logo was created though a partnership with several designers. We wanted something original and artsy and we believe we nailed it!! Reno Tahoe Tonight Magazine: Who are your market competitors and why do you feel your product is superior in your market niche and category? Currently, we are the only brand with a full line of ready-to-drink, reduced calorie martinis. Other competitors in the RTD arena have other cocktails
Text Oliver X Photo Shannon Balazs such as margaritas, mojitos and cosmos. We formulated our drinks with 18% alcohol and a strong flavor profile combination because we want our customer to know they are drinking, but enjoy the benefit of being reduced calorie. With TinyTini all you have to do is simply chill or shake over ice and pour into your glass. We’ve done all the work for you, so that you get a consistent and amazing glass each and every time! Reno Tahoe Tonight Magazine: How are you getting the word out about the brand? Jamie and Derek: We’ve made some great alliances with local business like The Plush Life and now RTT! We also started a partnership recently with HotMixology (on the Cooking channel) to get the word out nationwide. We try to maintain a strong presence on Facebook and Twitter letting people know when and where we do free tastings, so that they can see for themselves what we have to offer. Reno Tahoe Tonight Magazine: Where can people try or buy Tiny Tini? Jamie and Derek: Right now in Nevada we are in Total Wine & More (in Reno and both Las Vegas
stores), Lee’s Discount Liquors and Vino100, with other venues on the immediate horizon. We are also in Illinois, Colorado and Connecticut, with a couple more states pending. Quick Tips: “All Tiny Tini flavors are great on their own, but if people choose to dress it up or mix them with something, they have a perfect foundation to start with. Try mixing Pomegranate with either champagne or Prosecco. This tends to cut the tartness of the fruit flavor and make a nice blend. For the Cotton Candy, adding a dash of cranberry/blueberry juice makes it a pungent fruit taste, while cutting the sweetness down. Chocolate can be used in many ways, like adding it to coffee, or throwing in a dash of fat-free Half and Half to make it a little creamier.” www.drinktinytini.com Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/ drinktinytini Twitter link: https://twitter.com/drinktinytini YouTube commercial: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=oNw6xcGUoh4 YouTube episode on Plush Life: http://www. youtube.com/watch?v=4IuTgjPNn4g Reno Tahoe Tonight 77
Film
Nowhere Nevada Marianarchy Productions presents a Brian L. Sutherland Film starring Jef Derderian and Lizz Cole
Text Oliver X Photos Chris Holloman Makeup Tina Mokuau
Pipe dreams often crash and burn around the ankles of delusional creatives who are out of touch with reality. So I had some trepidation about how the locally produced independent feature film Nowhere Nevada would play. It turns out that my concerns were ill-founded, as the recent summer screening at Sidelines Bar in Sparks was, by any reasonable account, outstanding. Standout performances by the cast leads—newcomers Jef Derderian and Lizz Cole--and local northern Nevada personalities were alternately hilarious, schticky, campy and at times transcendent. Nowhere Nevada is B-movie royalty destined to become a cult classic!
T
o get an idea of the tone, look and tenor of the film, think Brother From Another Planet meets the original Repo Man. Juli Green’s casting was remarkable. Mary Bennett is brilliant; Felix Polanski is a force of nature; Max Volume is menacing, and Andy Luna needs to get an agent immediately—he was that good!
on the DVD, Soundtrack, Media/Press Kit and other Marketing Materials. This is all being designed by Chris Holloman of Katipo Creative, who is just an amazingly talented photographer and digital artist. Upon submission to any major qualifying festival, we will then be given our official IMDB film page, as we’ll finally be validated as a real movie.
Here, Executive Producer Brian Sutherland talks about the film.
We’re submitting to the Sundance Film Festival. Knowing this, rules state we can be in two more [festivals] prior to this January 2014 event. So we need to choose these wisely, there will most likely be one in California, perhaps Las Vegas, and we’d also like to try Europe as well, as they are said to be a bit harder in nature, and would really appreciate this form of hardcore Western U.S. regional representation. We are allowed to contact international distributors directly during this time, trying to seek a country specific deal, which right now we don’t see as really necessary. But it really comes down to budget and timing. If we have not landed a distribution deal after these three film festivals, we will enter the ongoing festival circuit throughout 2014. If we still don’t have a distribution deal after that, we will begin to contact distributors directly until we do.
Shooting for Nowhere Nevada wrapped about four months ago. Describe the process that has taken place since that time, as you ready the film for festivals worldwide. Where and when will the general public be able to see the film? The first thing we wanted to do, upon its real completion, was share it with all of our people. The cast and crew showing was incredibly important to us and turned out absolutely amazing. We were very conscientious about the possibility we were far too close to it, and conceivably having a difficult time seeing it objectively. We put an enormous amount of stock into the feedback we were about to receive, which created a very emotionally charged event… our primary demographic for this film is very vocal and brutally honest. We knew, if they didn’t like it, they were going to tell us. We have one goal right now, and that’s finding the best distributor we can… it’s about having the right plan to get this movie the furthest reach possible. We are finishing packaging
So the most important question of all, when will people get to see it, is still a bit of a mystery. While I’d like to say as soon as humanly possible, I would guess around the middle/end of 2014. It’s completely predicated on finding the correct distributor and signing off on their plan. How confident are you about getting distribution and why? Reno Tahoe Tonight 81
Film
Nowhere Nevada
I’m incredibly confident. But again, we really don’t know until we see it happen. I truly feel this movie can stand on its own, as a serious contender, among other good new movies. When you combine that with the incredible backstory, the local buzz, an awesome soundtrack, a high level of regional representation and highlighting an entire communities largely unseen talent base, it gets really deep, really quickly. I just could not be more proud of everyone. 82 Reno Tahoe Tonight
The technical aspects of the film were impressive and exceeded my expectations both sonically and visually. Talk about your technical team. First, our production team is made of a lot of the best talent in Northern Nevada. Our Director of Photography, Tyler Bourns, is an incredibly talented young professional. So if you wanted to know why it looks so amazing, the quality
L-R Max Volume, Tom Gordon and Nick Ramirez
of filming, well, that would be Tyler and his team. If you wanted to know why it sounds so amazing, well, that would be Nick Ramirez, Tom Gordon and Alan Griffith. Nick is an amazingly gifted musician and movie sound strategist. Tom Gordon is a sound engineering legend, having already done one of my personal top 3 albums, Dr. Dre’s 2001 Chronic. Alan Burton added a fantastic touch doing all the sound effects.
But that wasn’t enough as they took it even further, integrating sound effects with music timing, and other sound manipulations and compressions I can’t even begin to understand. The script was amazing to begin with, that really helps, and had fantastic rewrites from Director David Richards. Juli Green and Nevada Casting deserve an enormous amount of credit. Not only did most of Reno Tahoe Tonight 83
Film
Nowhere Nevada the incredible talent come from the vast Nevada Casting database, but Juli Green has been a Producer on this project from day one. And God bless her for that. There is no way this movie would be what it is without every single one of these people, but Juli was the one person who had done this before at such a high level. Not only did she set the tone and daily expectations, she was incredibly valuable with proven methods of scheduling, logistics, budgeting, outgoing payments and so much more. For those who don’t know, what does the Executive Producer do exactly? It’s a combination of things. My job is very unquantifiable and fairly tricky to understand. Plus I’ve always felt that any concentration on me just detracts from the movie itself. I really only have one goal, and that’s to find proper distribution. So yes, while I did predominately pay for it, after early donations and fundraising efforts, that’s really not that important in the greater scheme of things. This production is largely not about me in any way, and I’m really proud to just be involved with it. You speak so highly of the secondary crew members. What is it they did that was so helpful, that makes you hold them in such high regard? First, none of these people really got paid. Yet they worked tirelessly, for so many 16 - 20 hour days in the baking desert heat for like a year. They were ready at the drop of a hat, to do whatever needed to be done, in as best a manner as possible. They did not complain and they didn’t take a day off. There are so many people to thank, deep from the bottom of my heart. The soundtrack is a marvel and it's already in my Top 5 all-time for indie films. What are your plans for releasing the soundtrack? The incredible Nowhere Nevada soundtrack developed by Nick Ramirez and Tom Gordon really begins to set us apart from other viable movies. Other than the movies Singles and Repo Man, I can’t think of another film that has a parallel soundtrack that’s just so amazing or regionally representative. On our main initial soundtrack, we have 19 hand-picked songs from the last decade. They are ALL Northern Nevada
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bands and artists. As the film is largely about the Reno underground music scene, it’s these incredible songs that really drive the movie. So what it means to me is a one-time chance to highlight so much good music that the nation doesn’t even really know exists. And that’s a shame because we have such an original, lively music scene with such amazing talent that people should know. Financially, this soundtrack is an incredible value addition to the cause, especially for those distributors who also have a separate music division. The quality of musicians mirrors the quality of the movie. Our soundtrack features such amazing bands/artists as The Atomiks, Los Pistoleros, Phat Couch, The Liver Scars, Gunshot Liquor, Max Volume, Matt Waage, The Madorians, Merkin, Del Mar, The Shames, Andy Luna, The Kanes, Gunner’s Daughter, Walk of Shame, Cranium, Stabby Unicorn, The Schizopolitans, Memory Motel, The Spark, Kate Cotter and Grace Hutchison. This is as good as it gets in Northern Nevada, the cream of the crop, true industry professionals. I see these bands consistently playing all over town. And it’s my pleasure to do everything I can to see they get the national attention they deserve. And do you have any remaining funding needs? Well, yes and no. Honestly, it wouldn’t hurt to have another $10,000-$20,000 to dedicate to proper distributor searches and film festivals. We are perfectly setup to do a really good job with what we have. Of course, more money would mean a more comprehensive job, and allow us to travel further, for longer. Submission to festivals is pretty inexpensive, averaging $50 - $70 each. Travel to these locations with the ability to create some buzz, and to bring some attention getters is not.
Brian L Sutherland and Juli Green
Reno Tahoe Tonight 85
INTRODUCING NORTHERN NEVADA’S NEWEST CONCERT VENUE!
THANK YOU NORTHERN NEVADA! WE COULDN’T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU
Grace Notes
Text L. Martina Young Photo Joseph A. Dubon Inarguably, the ‘swan’ is one of the most attended to images in the human imagination. Poets, choreographers, writers, and psychologists, philosophers, painters, sculptors, and scholars – all have written, danced, and mythologized the ubiquitous and complex matter of the swan. Within the ballet world, the mythopoetic image finds its most pointed likeness in the form of choreographer Mikhail Fokine’s 1905 The Dying Swan, a work made famous by Anna Pavlova. The dancing image of the swan has inspired a plethora of performances since, including dancer Lil Buck’s phenomenal jookin’ rendition with Yo-Yo Ma playing the Camille Saint-Saëns’s music from Carnival of the Animals. (Cf. Sierra Leone multidisciplinary artist Asadata Dafora’s exquisite 1932 Ostrich Dance).
“The Dying Swan is not about a woman impersonating a bird; it’s about the fragility of life – all life – and the passion with which we hold on to it.” ~ Allegra Kent, dancer, New York City Ballet
I
was 8 years old when I first witnessed the performance of prima ballerina assoluta Maya Plisetskaya in The Dying Swan. In the dark of the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium Theater, something familiar about this piece held me fixed and transfixed in my seat. Its power lay not only in the technical skill and grace that pierced the irises of my eyes, illuminating a profound capacity of the artist’s presence to render one of the most memorable of aesthetic experiences, but something far more elusive, curiously peripheral yet tapping something dead center aching at the very core of me. As I followed Plisetskaya’s every moment toward her descent, her timed and timely unraveling duet with gravity’s divine plot, her every quivering step d’ resistance at meeting the ground’s final edge, what was familiar—and remains so—was the looming weight 88 Reno Tahoe Tonight
of an insistent death: its gaping pull, its always reaching presence. Alas, the familiar and palpable lure was of my own knowing of death’s persistent and daily possibility. To be sure, every child wonders about death, though some are plagued by the wonderment of it all more than others. Death often seemed to stalk the days of my life: my sister who died abruptly at two weeks old; the friend my parents offered hospice to until she died of cancer; the little boy around the corner who died from pneumonia-(Anna Pavlova died of pneumonia at age 49); my second ballet teacher, Joan Lawrence, who, when I was eight, suggested to my parents that I be taken to the Soviet Union to audition for the Bolshoi, later committed suicide. And it would be years before my father told me
that the little ducklings he’d brought home— presumably for me as pets, then suddenly and mysteriously gone—became dinner when they had come of age! The daily wonderment at death and of ‘being dead’ was an overwhelmingly felt bodily experience of n o t b e i n g. The feeling of vacuousness in my torso—the hollow, the void—is as pervasive and palpable even now as I enter the thought. However, fifty years later, the terror that accompanied what seemed an almost unbearable weight of n o t b e i n g has somewhat tempered, softened. Centered on the single thought of not returning, not coming back—released from the rebirth-life-death cycle altogether—the thought of n o t b e i n g is less menacing and feels more like a remembered pleasure. At the time of this writing, August 6th, I learn that it is the birthday of lyric poet Alfred Lord Tennyson, whose poem The Dying Swan inspired Pavlova to ask Fokine to create the solo dance for her. Marking a revolutionary shift that reflected the new Russian art of the times, Fokine’s ultimate artistic goal was to make whole body movement that moved the soul, influenced, some scholars say, by the inspired work of moderns such as Isadora Duncan. August 6th also marks the inauspicious date of the 1945 atomic bombing over Hiroshima. Witnessing the catastrophic explosion that changed the world forever, Captain Robert Lewis wrote in his journal, “My god, what have we done?” “[With] an inner voice the river ran Adown it floated a dying swan And loudly did lament . . . [The] wild swan’s death-hymn took the soul Of that waste place with joy Hidden in sorrow . . ..” ~ Tennyson Death and creation—a formidable principle of human catachresis, experiences that break the backs of words—is always at play in the best of times and in the worst of times, from the reeling interior life to the outer realities of the world. Of the collateral collisions of poetic interiority—and of aesthetic life in general—striking head-on with an exterior and worldly gluttony for earthly garden delights, Massimiliano Gioni, 2013 artistic director of the Italian Biennial questions: “[How] do we give form to our interior images when we’re more and more besieged by artificial and external images?” As an artist, I respond to Gioni’s query this way: a human discipline, attended to over a lifetime, grows a malleable yet steadfast consciousness that embraces images harboring
the generative; a consciousness that provides an abgrund for images that struggle toward the grandest of joys and that in themselves are capable of lifting the individual spirit to its personal glory; a consciousness that abhors worldly malfeasance in all of its guises—the jealous attitude, the off-handed and diminishing commentator, the meager competitor, and the politically undermining, recognizing all as spiritually bereft, thoughtless, and meanstreaked—as the senseless destruction of the already challenged and fragile beauty of the living human soul. With respect to interiority, and of the interior soul, living from such a place requires a day-in-and-day-out discipline that acts as a counter-lever for being between matters of the world. Some may confuse what I am referring to as “aesthetic distancing.” No. What I am attempting to articulate is the self-disciplined rigor that keeps one’s finger on the pulse of the soul—one’s own and the anima mundi, the soul of the world—maintaining constant vigil for images that want to be seen with the unwavering and perceptive clarity of the eyes of the soul. From that in-between place—you know, that overlooked place occupied by those elusive grace notes I mentioned last November—Gioni’s hoped-for interior images present themselves, untainted and true blue, no less charismatically worldly and yet, somehow un-worldly too in their quietly un-glittered forms; images that chance to resurface with unexpected timeliness while the encircling external world—much in need of such images and an artist’s particular treatment of them—desperately invokes them, lest we all forget an other way of being. To be continued ~ ©2013 L. Martina Young All Rights Reserved. Postscript ~ Celebrating 25 years as a Nevada-based artist and 3 years since her total bilateral hip replacements, L. Martina Young presents her first full new work, “SWAN: a poetical inquiry in dance, text, and memoir,” October 18th & 19th, with LA-based electric violinist David Strother. Due to limited seating at The Lighthouse/Studio 5 O 2, this is an invitationonly performance event. Please contact Martina regarding interest and advanced paid reservation: www.theaestheticbody.com or 775.324.3441 Reno Tahoe Tonight 89
Gun Culture Text and photo courtesy of John Clement
Sig Sauer P290
This is Liberty and Security
U
sually I am not a huge fan of the ultra sub compact mini handguns--primarily because they are uncomfortable to hold and hard to shoot at anything other than at very close ranges. Also, many people find them difficult to control under recoil because of their small size. On the other hand, there are lots of folks who feel that these are the perfect gun for them and their lifestyle. These guns definitely have their followers.
length to contend with while carrying concealed. This gun is small. But it doesn’t feel small. It feels good and solid when a two-handed grip is established. It’s almost a pocket gun, but not quite. In the waistband it all but disappears. Use a good inside the waistband holster and the gun is secured and hidden. Little or no “printing” is noticed even when bending over. If you use a little caution bending, while carrying concealed, the gun is all but invisible.
Sig Sauer has just introduced a handgun that, for me, fills the gap between the ultra sub compact and sub compact. To be more definitive, an ultra sub compact would be like a Keltec P3AT or Ruger LCP. A sub compact would be like a Glock 26 or a Beretta Px4 SC.
The P290 trigger is DAO, or double action only. To a great many shooters the double action only trigger is junk. It’s long, frequently quite heavy, gritty and “stacks”. That is the trigger pull increases, or gets heavier, the farther it is pulled to the rear. The Sig’s trigger is light and smooth. No stacking and no grittiness. Just a clean, smooth pull. The trigger is a real pleasure.
This new entry is a Sig Sauer P290. It is in 9mm, not .380, so it has a lot more muzzle energy. When loaded with some of the newer, more efficient jacketed hollow point ammunition it can be a very effective concealed carry or home defense weapon. When we opened our very first sampling of the gun we were very pleasantly impressed with its small size. It fit the hand quite well and, with just the 6 round magazine in the average hand, fingers didn’t hang over. The gun comes with an extra 7 round magazine that adds a little more grip length so even larger than average hands feel comfortable with the grip. The barrel is just over 3 inches long so there is not a lot of 90 Reno Tahoe Tonight
With the DAO there is no need for a decocker or external safety. The lines are clean. There are no rough edges or sharp corners. This gun is made for concealed carry. Check one out when you can. They leave the shelves fast. John Clement is the Manager of Bizarre Guns in Reno. 775-658-4867
Humor Text and images courtesy of Gertie OK
I wrote a joke about Reno.
There are two kinds of people in Reno: people with herpes, and people who lie. This is usually followed by nervous laughter. And then uncomfortable silence. And then agonizing embarrassment. After a series of awkward encounters in the dating arena I realized how sorry the marketing department is for Herpes. How silly is it when a group of adults, at least one in six of which has herpes, can’t talk about it? We talk about all our other bizarre bodily functions: struggle with weight gain/loss, smoking habits, sunburns, as if these are somehow cooler than Herpes.
Re-introducing the greatest virus to hit humanity, for the emotionally and physically healthy ONLY. CATCH IT NOW! Herpes: the only virus designed and guaranteed to protect you from losers and users! See what some of our proud carriers have to say! I used to be a cheater, and then I got Herpes. And now--well, I can’t get away with it! Thank you, Herpes, you made me faithful again! I wanted to get married. I wanted a relationship. He said he did, too. We had sex. He left. My heart 92 Reno Tahoe Tonight
was broken. This was my pattern until I got the new Herpes! Thank you, Herpes! Now the onenight stand guys leave me alone! Our parents taught us to accept people regardless of what their skin looked like. White, black, brown, lesioned--it’s skin. Our parents taught us to love people regardless of their ailments. Flu, broken bones, bloody nose, outbreak--it’s an ailment. And still herpes really gets us riled-up and excited. EVERYBODY PANIC. Wouldn’t it be great if it was that deserving of attention? Where is it? Oh, that thing? And it’s only here for 4-10 days like once or twice a year? That’s less serious than menstruation, or pregnancy or pre-ejaculation. When the Herpes Club gets together they talk about music, parenting, cooking, sex, movies, careers. You know, normal stuff. If your
knowledge of herpes only comes from Google, you would assume that the Herpes Club shows up covered in full-length abayas, sobbing in pain, utterly mortified that they’re even alive. Instead of sobriety chips, the Herpes Club gets a chip for every unsuspecting victim they infected with their plague. Did you know herpes can be passed just from looking at someone? OMG! One in six people has it! THEY’RE ALL STARING AT YOU! RUN! SAVE YOURSELF! I used to be a hater. I mean, really, deep down I thought everyone was gross or weird or ugly. Then I found Herpes and learned that I just hated myself. As I’ve learned to love myself, I’ve found a new appreciation for everyone around me. Thank you, Herpes, you’re letting me love again! It’s discrimination. I came across an online discussion board in which StrongDad asked if he was being “shallow and a jerk” for not wanting to date a girl who told him she had herpes. Everyone on the board assured him that no, he was not being shallow or a jerk. And then dozens of messages later, the thread disintegrated into the dangers of kissing children. No, you’re not being shallow and you’re not being a jerk. You’re flat out discriminating against someone for something they cannot change. You might as well tell that girl to use a separate bathroom. And drinking faucet. And oh boy, she better ride in the back of the bus. The difference between a herpes-carrier and a non-herpes-carrier is as controversial as the difference between black and white. Seriously. Would the folks on the discussion board approve of your choice if you said, “Well, we finally met and there she was: black skin all over. I didn’t know what to do. She cried in my arms; we didn’t have sex. I don’t know what to do. I just don’t know if I can subject myself to that skin of hers.” Yikes. The thread probably would have been flagged and removed. Long term health risks? There are just as many long term health risks related to our different genetics and lifestyle choices as there are to herpes. The difference with herpes is that it forces carriers to take better care of their bodies NOW, which in turn, improves their long term health! Wow, talk about finally getting the motivation I needed to fix my diet and start exercising! I had tried EVERY diet but couldn’t stick to any of them for more than a few hours. Now with the new Herpes I finally have control over my body! I know what to eat and what to avoid. I have an immediate response when I take bad care of my body--or at least, I DID. Not anymore! Thank you, Herpes!
Ready to join the club? There are just a few easy steps to catching The New Herpes! Go to a bar, dating site, or other venue where people are looking for sex and relationships. 1.
Find someone of interest.
2.
Go on a date and drink so much alcohol your immune system is really struggling
3.
Bring the date back to your house; purposely forget the condoms.
4.
When she/he says, “No,” or, “I’m not ready,” or, “There’s something I need to tell you,” or, “... [pause]...” then it’s time to rub your naked body all over her/his naked body
5.
Look for any red, itchy spots or lesions--be sure to rub any of your sores, cuts or open wounds on these spots, repeatedly and with enthusiasm!
6.
Come.
7.
Leave and feel as guilty as possible on your way out the door.
8.
CONGRATULATIONS! Your welcome kit will be arriving on your body within the next few days! You’ll feel like crap for a few days, but then your initiation will be over and you’ll be cool like everyone else! Please note that not all welcome kits are visible upon arrival.
Have you received your Herpes welcome kit? Please tell us about your experience!
Gertie Ok likes to hit society’s collective head against a brick wall with her comedy—through writing and on the stage. She says that a date at the Gertie Ok shooting range is a good way to start the STD conversation. Visit GertieOk.com for upcoming comedy performances or to buy her book “How I Ate During the Recession: and Other Dating Advice.” Reno Tahoe Tonight 93
Local Business
Natasha’s World Jewelry Text Oliver X Photos Rudy Bayt
Tucked away in the corner of the Smithridge Plaza in south Reno right next to Trader Joe’s is one of Reno’s hidden treasures: Natasha’s World Jewelry.
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e represent jewelry from all over the world,” says vivacious jewelry store owner Natasha Bayt, who comes from a family of prolific artists. Her mother Kazue Kurebayashi, who was born and raised in Japan, has been a professional commercial and fine art photographer for over forty years, residing in Hawaii for thirty-five years. Natasha’s husband and business partner Rudy Bayt is an African djembe drummer who performs with the Ivory Coast group Gboze. Their nineteen year-old son Cooper is a guitar player in the band Lonely Planet Travel and is a talented fine artist in his own right. Bayt’s elder son Taylor is a prominent San Diego DJ who performs at clubs in the popular Gaslamp District.
Natasha's Ayla Bar
A true expert in her field, Bayt started her business thirty-five years ago in Honolulu, Hawaii selling puka shells on the beach. “From there I started travelling and meeting people and expanding my love and passion for jewelry,” she says. “Then we had a store up in South Lake Tahoe for eighteen years, and a shop in Carson City for 15 years.” Bayt carries a wide variety of traditional jewelry of all kinds in beautiful settings, but it’s the store’s commitment to international craft and fine art design that really distinguishes their selections. Bayt’s Firefly Collection is made from Swarovski crystals from Austria; beads from Japan and the Czech Republic--all hand-crafted in Guatemala. “The pieces are full of color and are stunning,” Bayt says. “The price for that collection ranges from $39-$300. The product line is affordable and people love to buy the pieces as gifts and collectibles.” Bayt has carefully built relationships with a handful of select international designers who use unique materials sourced worldwide. “Most of our inventory is owned by me, but I try to find things that are unique that I like that aren’t typically featured in Reno,” Bayt states. “I enjoy helping other artists. That’s what it’s all about.” 94 Reno Tahoe Tonight
Natasha's Black Isha Necklace
Each consigner has their own display case to showcase their art. Artist Isha Elafi, who hails from Bali, creates intricately woven one-of-akind nomadic knot work. She travels the world collecting semi-precious stones and when she gets back to Bali, she assembles them. Elafi’s weave patterns are akin to macramé and are stunningly original, with vibrant colors around bead, stone and silver settings. “I wear some of these pieces out to Burning Man,” notes Bayt. “The pieces are versatile and very resilient.” Jenny Byrne, one of Bayt’s featured artists from New Zealand, works with fossilized walrus tusks
Natasha Bayt Owner of Natasha's World Jewelry wearing Isha Elafi
from Alaska. The artist carves all the pieces by hand, making magical figurines of bees, mermaids, and sea life. “I have a local artist who is a beader [named] Christine Gill,” says Bayt. “Each piece she makes is just incredible; very artistic, big statement pieces.” Bayt features another local artist from Lake Tahoe who lives up in Homewood on the west shore. “Michou does really great mixed metals and works with silver and gold.” Michou’s display case exhibits some of the most remarkable jewelry designs and settings I have ever seen outside of a museum collection.
Natasha’s World Jewelry also specializes in gems, blue topaz, diamonds, wedding sets and custom work, and is equipped to fulfill most any design aesthetic a customer desires. People can order online at www.natashasworldjewelry.com, or stop by the store. Bayt also offers layaway plans. “We’re not a stuffy jewelry store,” notes Bayt. “We have a great staff that helps everybody and makes them feel comfortable.” Natasha’s World Jewelry is open Monday through Saturday 10-6pm. 5039 South McCarran Blvd. in Reno 89502. (775) 657-9144 Reno Tahoe Tonight 95
Movers
Draper Strategies & Communications
Text Oliver X Photos Chris Holloman Makeup Tina Mokuau
“Philosophically we look at ourselves as problem solvers.” - CEO Mike Draper of Draper Strategies and Communications
Powerhouse new public relations and marketing firm Draper Strategies & Communications launched this July with a full plate of summer programming to position for an A-list clientele, including the likes of the Grand Sierra Resort, Barrett-Jackson, Hot August Nights, the National Championship Air Races and the Great Balloon Race, to name just a few. The talented team of industry veterans, headed up by Mike Draper and Tara Trovato (formerly of R&R Partners), are joined by Ashley Brune, who most recently served as Senior Publicist for Atlantis Casino Resort Spa.
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n the company’s press materials Draper, a native Nevadan and CEO of DSC says, “It’s both exciting and rewarding to start a business that will allow me the opportunity to work with companies and organizations that make this such a great place to live, work and play.” The core team brings over 25 years of high-level marketing, public relations and advertising expertise as a statewide agency with aggressive plans to make an immediate market impact. RTT: I read a statement you made that said you’re “committed to setting the bar for communications and marketing…” What does that mean to you, and what does that entail? Mike Draper: PR has the reputation that we just write press releases. And that’s so far from what we do. We believe there needs to be a strategic point for everything we do. I’ve been doing this for fifteen years and have had the opportunity to work with a couple of great agencies, working with the smartest people in the business; I was able to learn a lot about different styles, having done a little bit of everything along the way. I’ve bought media; I’ve done PR; I’ve been a lobbyist and a copywriter. I think that through that [I’ve learned] to focus on building worthwhile, 96 Reno Tahoe Tonight
meaningful, strategic communications. I’m a huge relationship person, but at the same time we believe in strategy. Tara Trovato: The traditional PR component is messaging. You have to know who you’re talking to and what to say to that particular audience, and that’s really the key. And it’s not always through a press release; it’s not always through a billboard and it’s not always through Facebook. It could be a lunch, or a community round table. It’s getting to know people around the community and building coalitions. Ashley Brune: It’s an integrated approach. So we’re going to leverage every area a business has to offer to make sure they’re getting the most out of it. Mike Draper: Many times we’ve seen a business or, even another PR firm say, ‘We got in the New York Times.’ You know that’s great and it might make them feel good as business owners and they might put it on their wall proudly. But the reality is that it probably didn’t drive a single customer to that business. And while it’s easy from a PR standpoint to say, ‘We’re gonna go get media.’ But is that driving business? Is that helping you achieve your goals? Way too many times the answer to that is no. So the question is what is going to do that? Who are the right people who have the connections to make that happen? Tara Trovato: A big part of that though too is that you can’t do anything without understanding your client’s business. So, as an agency and as consultants, we have to understand our client’s business. That’s the most important thing. We don’t just walk into a meeting and ask, ‘What’s on the PR to-do list today?’ It’s asking the right questions. How was your business this weekend? Were you guys busy? Are there problems? Where are the problems? Where do we need to fix the problems? Are there places where we can create more of a buzz? What do you want to focus on? It’s essential to know your client’s business thoroughly in order to provide a strategic direction to deliver the right results. Mike Draper: Philosophically we look at ourselves as problem solvers. More than PR; more than advertising--we want to solve problems. So you as a business might think you need PR, but
Mike Draper
Ashley Brune
Tara Trovato
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Movers
Draper Strategies & Communications
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that might not be at all what you need. It might be traditional advertising. Maybe you need to go work with the city more closely. We’re problem solvers. So we all want the kind of relationships with our clients to be that if they get into trouble—and I’m not just talking about PR trouble—I mean life trouble, or legal trouble! We want them to feel comfortable calling us with the confidence in knowing that we are going to help them solve their problem, one way or another. RTT: Why is there a perception that Marketing and PR services are only for the big boys? Tara Trovato: Because people assume that it’s expensive and out of their reach. And, to be honest, at our old agency—it was expensive. We were a large agency with over eight offices around the United States. When you get to that level, it’s hard to help a small business because you can’t give it the kind of attention it needs. Small businesses need more of a focus. And now, being a small firm of just three people, we can focus on small businesses and really help. We are all part of this community. We live here, we work here, we play here and we want to make it a better place for everybody. Ashley Brune: Our recent work with Positively 4th Street really illustrates that. This was our first pro bono community client. For us, it’s really exciting to get on board from the ground up with a project we believe in, by helping a neighborhood build a good name in the community and impact perception over the long term. Mike Draper: And I think as information has evolved, it’s become fragmented and niche. It’s all geared toward relationships, and there’s a huge role for face-to-face interaction still. You’ve got to learn to connect with people, because that’s what marketing is about and that’s what small businesses are trying to do. Quite frankly, from a business standpoint, it’s a good thing because the cost of winning a new customer is much more affordable today. Now you no longer have to spend $500,000 dollars, or a quarter million dollars on television ads. You can go out and use your Facebook page and make connections. And in a small community like this, people talk and the word spreads. RTT: As a statewide organization, how do you build and maintain “intimacy” with a brand or client that’s 600 miles away? Mike Draper: I think that first of all it has to start with where we’ve been. I was the statewide
Government Affairs Director for the largest lobbying firm in the state. So, I’ve spent tons of time in Las Vegas and Tara’s background is in Vegas. Tara Trovato: I grew up in Vegas, but I also spent the first three years of my career after college in Vegas branding the destination. I worked on all the ‘What Happens Here, Stays Here’ Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority stuff. So you build relationships and that’s why relationship building is so important. We have a ton of media from different accounts that we’ve worked on [Mike and I] in our agency days. Ashley has all of her relationships with her prior positions before this. If you build a good enough relationship, it doesn’t matter where you are or what you’re working on, you can always call that person and talk to them. The thing about PR is that people are always trying to sell different ideas, but sometimes it’s good to just talk to a person and explain what you are trying to do. Mike Draper: To add to that, Tara and I have probably spent more time in rural Nevada doing PR and Marketing than maybe anybody around. I’ve spent time on a monthly basis in Elko, Winnemucca, Ely, and Eureka. Nevada’s a big state and we often focus on Vegas and Reno, but there’s some great stuff going on in the rural areas. We just signed a lithium mine (Western Lithium Corporation), and lithium is the key component in an electric car. Fifty pounds of lithium goes into an electric car battery. So if we’re gonna have green cars, then the United States needs a lithium deposit. The only significant lithium deposit in the world is located two hours away, just outside of Winnemucca. Tara Trovato: It’s the fifth largest located lithium deposit in the world. Mike Draper: This client needs lithium to become affordable to mine, and they need people to start buying electric cars. But more importantly, Nevada is a very community-orientated state, and they want to establish themselves as part of the community. And that helps their permitting; that helps their civic support and the entire process. So we’re implementing strategies as simple as community barbeques, and reaching out to officials, businesses and community leaders. We believe in the power of building coalitions. It’s exciting for us to see the results. https://www.facebook.com/DraperStratComm
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New Business
The Seed
Photo Tony Contini
Grand Opening Saturday September 14, 2013 – 5pm-9pm The Seed is a Raw Vegan Cafe and Juice Bar that serves all organic and mostly local food, juices and smoothies! The inspiration behind The Seed was the desire to provide our students from The Studio and our community with high-quality nutrient dense food at an affordable price Special to Reno Tahoe Tonight
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Rachelle Lanning Owner of The Seed
ur vision here is to provide the community with clean and nutritious food, without sacrificing the taste! The concept of eating food that is raw is based on eating food that is still alive, still containing the majority of its vital nutrients and not contaminated or compromised by bringing it above a certain temperature, where nutrients start being killed. We shop at the Co-op and at Lost City Farm weekly, and hope to be sourcing the majority of our goods locally, or at least within a 100-mile radius. As Midtown thrives and conscious activity is on the rise, The Seed hopes to establish itself as a hub for health, information and like-minded people to gather to share, while enjoying replenishing their mind and body with pure, whole foods. The Seed hopes to be a part of this health movement as people are waking up and creating a higher standard for what is acceptable fuel for the mind and body. Located directly under The Studio at 1085 South Virginia Street, we’re open Monday through Thursday from 7am-8:30pm; Friday from 7am-6:30pm, and Saturday from 9am-5pm. Our Grand Opening is Saturday, September 14th from 5-9pm, and we will have live music, local art and vendors-- plus delicious food and beverages. Anybody that wants to participate please contact us. Come by and check us out! Reno Tahoe Tonight 101
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Review
Synthesize Her – Sun Damage
Text Oliver X
Photos courtesy of the artists
Don’t get so down It is what you make it Tell me, can I cut off your feet? You don’t need to feel what’s beneath There’s no need to go anywhere You’re perfect going nowhere You lucky dog Haven’t got the eyes to see it Let me tear off your skin It’s better not feeling a thing Trust me, you’ll like it this way Feelers just get in the way You can pretend Or make it the real deal
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Synthesize Her - “Don’t Get So Down”
hey’re the dopest band you’ve never heard of. Imagine a flanged-out Joss Stone singing Mazzy Star’s “Fade Into You” if it was recorded in your bedroom and mixed by Starfucker… It gets better. 90’s dirty-basement Euro shoegazer synthrock with transcendent soul vocals written, arranged, recorded, produced and performed by ex-lovers-both named Alex. This is Synthesize Her, the popup band brainchild of multi-instrumentalist Alex Korostinsky and stunning vocalist/lyricist Alex Crow. You’re welcome. Reno Tahoe Tonight Magazine: How did this project come about? Alex Crow: After seeing the bands Girls and Unknown Mortal Orchestra play in 2012, I became truly inspired to create my own summer-album. The following day I called Alex K up, who I was dating at the time, and told him that just that afternoon I had cranked out three songs, and that I wanted to make a lo-fi, shoegaze rock’n’roll album. Totally on the same page, Alex replied “Fuck yes!” All of the songs were in my head, and Alex brought them to fruition in a way that only he could. No one else got it quite like he did. And so we created, on one wave length, our very own ideal shoegaze album--purely for self-satisfaction and for the enjoyment of others. The one condition was that the album be released in the summer for free. We wrote the songs and recorded them with an acoustic guitar on my iPhone last year, and then re-visited them the follow spring of 2013 to finish the album.
Alex Crow: The purpose of Synthesize Her has always been to primarily create a bad-ass, summery 90’s-inspired shoe-gaze album that we actually enjoy listening to. The live-show aspect has also been a huge part of the album; so really, it began as a one-off side project resulting in a sweet album and a psychotic one-time live show. But we’ve had really good feedback, and who knows. Alex K is a fucking genius and he is always going to be creating music, and I just create when I feel like it. I could see another album in the future, but it would have to come from a genuine place in another season, just like Sun Damage. Alex Korostinsky: Synthesize Her was made to really be somewhat of an art project. A project we could share with family and friends and for something constructive for us to enjoy on our own. We released the album online for free on Bandcamp and were pleasantly surprised to see that it did somewhat well internationally within the independent music world. We may or may not record or write anymore songs, but we definitely have been working hard at our first live show Experience Synthesize Her at The Holland Project September 6. Check out my favorite track off of Sun Damage http://synthesizeher.bandcamp.com/ track/dont-get-so-down
Reno Tahoe Tonight Magazine: Considering the unlikely buzz you’ve generated, what are your ambitions for Synthesize Her, or is this a one-off side project? 104 Reno Tahoe Tonight
Synthesize Her
[Our] Pride [Their] and Prejudice
Sean cary
A section of the Olympic Charter entitled Fundamental Principles of Olympism plainly states, “Every individual must have the possibility of practicing sport, without discrimination of any kind.” Frequently I look over the top of my eyeglasses and wonder if I have somehow slipped into a parallel universe. Nothing in our world is as it should be! In so many ways we aren’t advancing as a society but regressing, all the while hiding behind a thin veneer of political correctness. By far the stupidest example of this would be crucifixion of America’s butter queen, Paula Deen. In a revelation that surprised exactly no one, it came to light that the celebrity chef has made racially charged statements in the past. Since then, Deen has been tarred and feathered by everyone from the lowliest of Facebook trolls to the slick executives slithering in and out of Wal Mart’s boardrooms. Bring on the hypocrisy political correctness. Wal Mart was so appalled by Deen’s comments they yanked her items from their stores. Maybe I’m off base here, but don’t they still sell countless hip-hop albums filled with not only the N-word, but also references to drugs, crime and violence against women? Please. It wasn’t that Wal Mart/ QVC/Food Network/Caesars were reacting to Deen’s bad language; it was about the bad PR. Up is down, in is out, night is day and Russian vodka is English tea. While the Paula Deen kerfuffle was nothing more than an embarrassing joke, the human rights violations occurring in Russia are very real and America needs to stand up and take notice. As we gear up for the 2014 Sochi Olympics, it cannot be understated that Russia’s harsh crackdown on LGBT rights is not only wrong, it’s dangerous. I do not support a boycott of the Sochi Olympics, and America pulling out would be an abysmal, dreadful, no good, very bad idea. A boycott will not directly hit the Russians, and Putin and his ilk really wouldn’t care about the lost revenue and looking bad in the world press. No Americans competing would mean more medals for the Russians, which would have the opposite effect. Many believe that LGBT athletes, spectators support staff and journalists should proudly march into Sochi, rainbow flags a-waving. Standing on principle I support this wholeheartedly, however
Text Sean Cary Photos Andrew Chang
safety would be a very real concern. If Russia made good on their promise to incarcerate people for spreading “gay propaganda” it could easily escalate into a very serious and dangerous situation. A strongly worded statement from the International Olympic Committee would be completely worthless. Russia is a master at saber rattling as it is, and will do nothing but laugh at a letter from the IOC saying “Stop! Or I will be forced to say ‘Stop’ again!” Famous actor and Facebook megastar George Takei recently penned an excellent editorial calling for a change of location for the entire event. Logistically, this may not be feasible. I think it would be stellar if they could be moved, but alas it is probably too late. The solution is simple. The IOC should ban Russia from participating in their very own Olympics. I get it that the people who would suffer the most from this move would be the young Russian athletes who have trained their entire lives for the opportunity to represent their home country in the Olympics, but unfortunately that cannot be the most important thing. A section of the Olympic Charter entitled “Fundamental Principles of Olympism” plainly states, "Every individual must have the possibility of practicing sport, without discrimination of any kind." Russia’s new law against “gay propaganda” doesn’t just punish Russian athletes; it goes after everyone from the athletes themselves to the journalists, support staff, families and spectators. This cannot, and should not be tolerated. It is time to send a message the Kremlin simply cannot ignore—make them watch event after event and never once hear the Russian national anthem. Reno Tahoe Tonight 107
Scene
Never Ender Boutique SHARPSHIRTER
Text Cody Doyle Photos Kiley Sauer
Dedicated to creating products that revolve around the relationship between humans and animals, Dan Lachman, the creator of SharpShirter designs, took his hobby to a whole different realm. He was told by his father to put down the video games and do something productive. So, Dan turned his creative energy into a successful retail venture. Lachman’s degree in Psychology may play a part in the thought process regarding the interrelationships between man and beast… and from these thoughts his creations are born. One of his first t-shirt designs was the “Haymaker,” portraying a lumberjack performing a haymaker punch to a bear. As silly and nonsensical as this seems, it took off. So Dan refocused his direction for his line of clothing and accessories, and now he mainly creates animals and violence for his signature line; but in a fun and sarcastic manner. “We fit in with all the hipster kids and sarcastic/ ironic people that don’t mind poking fun at the world once in a while!” Dan declares. This year, his Slothzilla design and the Stripper Sloth are selling like hotcakes. “Sloths are hot right now,” he tells me. I believe him too. There certainly have been more sloth sightings recently than in the past. You can find almost anything “sloth” these days; a couple of years ago, not so much. It’s a phenomenon--the almost sudden intrigue with sloths. Who knew? Dan claims that his products are different because he was left alone too long as a child; a young boy left alone with a vivid imagination. He does his own unique form of research; most often the end result will come from collaboration between him, the Nature Channel, beer and an artist. Whatever causes his inspiration, he told me, “I’m really thankful to all the people that support my company. I wouldn’t be able to skip the 9-5 without them.” He also wouldn’t be doing what he loves, which is creating the interesting new SharpShirter designs. SharpShirter’s tees are printed on American made materials, either American Apparel or Next Level. They are definitely recognizable due to the quirky originality of the designs. 108 Reno Tahoe Tonight
To find his creations locally, go to Never Ender at 119 Thoma Street. Come see what is in stock now – like the brand new Shark Side of the Moon and the Stripper Sloth tees! Check our website neverenderreno.com or check SharpShirter’s website at sharpshirter.com for other fun items.
SKATENV Photo Kyle Volland Skater: Mitch Haight @ Hug High
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The Light Factor
Consciousness is Cosmic Information We need to be the change we wish to see in the world. That famous line or some variation of it has often been attributed to the Mahatma “Great Soul” Gandhi. Whether or not he actually said it is historically up for debate. But despite historical inaccuracies, the “Father” of India, who was an advocate and pioneer of nonviolent social protest and direct action known as Satyagraha, personified the misquote he has been forced to wear. He lived the message that change in the world begins with faith in humanity and in striving to see, as he put it, “the universal and all-pervading Spirit of Truth.” The following poem has been attributed to another great personage from India, Mother Teresa: People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway. If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway. What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway. Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway. In the final analysis, it is between you and God.
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It was never between you and them anyway.
he message of these advocates of love, harmony, and peace, as well as many other sages of times past, is clear: that it is only by example that we are able to be a light in the world, and only by being that light can we affect change. Accomplishing that is a matter between each person and the source of all things. Mystics throughout the ages have told us, and now science confirms, that everything thought of as physical is not really physical at all — that everything is energy — and that energy is controlled by a potential often referred to as “consciousness.”
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What is consciousness? What spiritual force or factor exists to convey intangible ideas, thoughts and impressions through consciousness to perceptible energy? That consciousness could be and function may well be considered a chimera by naturalists on the one hand and classical theists on the other; however, it is plausible to suggest that what informs energy is a higher intelligence not confined to matter or constricted by intellect. This is the consciousness that causes cells to divide, nuclear fusion to occur in stars and in the sun, and the incredible process of conception to bring forth life.
Text Sean Savoy Photo Andrew Chang The Greek philosopher Plato maintained that the world of ideas itself is just as real as the world of objects, and that it is through “ideas” that humanity attains consciousness of the absolute. In trying to explain the pre-existent, higher nature of consciousness, the Swiss psychologist Carl Jung wrote: “My thesis then, is as follows: in addition to our immediate consciousness, which is of a thoroughly personal nature and which we believe to be the only empirical psyche, there exists a second psychic system of a collective, universal, and impersonal nature which is identical in all individuals. This collective unconscious does not develop individually but is inherited. It consists of pre-existent forms, the archetypes....”
“You are an explorer, and you represent our species, and the greatest good you can do is to bring back a new idea, because our world is endangered by the absence of good ideas. Our world is in crisis because of the absence of consciousness.” – Terence McKenna
It is clear from these and other great thinkers that there is intelligence, information, consciousness — call it what you will — that is beyond space, whose origin is not dependent on the physical, but pre-exists it. Just as the contents of an e-mail, tweet or Facebook post are generated and sent in packets of energy-information over cyberspace to reach the recipient through a device, so cosmic information is transmitted in packets of spiritual energy through consciousness to inform the human experience. It is this cosmic information send-and-receive that is at the core of being the change we want to see in the world. It begins with each of us individually. Are we tuning in to get the messages being sent from consciousness? Are we, like a radio tower, emitting messages back to consciousness? When Jesus the Christ said (as paraphrased from John’s Gospel), anything I can do, you can do and more, he meant that it is possible to harmonize with the underlying principle of all things — to be in tune with the music, so to speak, that provides the soundtrack to the motion picture of life. If we can hear it, then we can experience it. If we can experience it, then we become part of it. And in that instance, we take on the role of actor living according to a script that was devised long before we came to be. It is through this play that we recapture our true identity, sending and receiving cosmic information, and regenerating the spirit by our very own direct action. In this way, we change from the inside out to, as Gandhi would likely attest, be a conscious light that will change our world.
THE LIGHT FACTOR is a featured column on spirituality, consciousness, science, energy and adventures into the unknown. Sean Savoy is a spiritual educator, ordained minister, radio personality, explorer, writer and public speaker who lectures in the United States and abroad. His next public lecture is October 5 at the University of Nevada, Reno. www.seansavoy.com Reno Tahoe Tonight 115