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letters ........................... 3 opinion/streetalk ........... 5 sheila leslie ................... 6 Brendan Trainor............. 7 News ............................. 8 Green ........................... 11 Feature ........................ 13 arts&culture ............... 16 art of the state ............ 19

Foodfinds .................... 20 Film............................. 22 Musicbeat ....................25 Nightclubs/casinos .......26 This Week .................... 31 advice Goddess .......... 32 Free Will astrology ...... 34 15 Minutes ....................35 Bruce Van Dyke ...........35

Top of The boTTom See News, page 8.

PePPermill lights UP the night with green bUlbs See Green, page 11.

shop local, buy art See Arts&Culture, page 16.

break a bad hobbiT See Film, page 22.

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December 19, 2013

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Welcome to this week’s Reno News & Review. It feels kind of weird to be on the leading edge of something, but having my electric car feels that way. You know me: I’m about as hip as your grandma. After I wrote about Harrah’s new charging stations, I got an email from Circus Circus that they are also adding charging stations. I doubt the two installations are related, but three incidents make a pattern. Krystal Pyatt, Circus Circus publicity person, tells me they’re adding four stations, 240 volt, on the ground floor of the north parking garage. Circus Circus has some restrictions. For example, it’s only for guests, but I’m not quite sure what their definition of guest is. According to Pyatt: “Guests will be allowed to charge for a maximum of four hours. To do so they will acquire a parking pass from the front desk. The whole process will be free as an added value to Circus Circus Reno customers.” While I think it’s great that Circus Circus is adding green amenities, I’m not sure about the logic of the restrictions. It’s free parking in the garage, right? I think the idea behind the free parking is that people who park there are more likely to eat and gamble in the casino— the idea behind all amenities casinos offer. But electric cars are mainly commuter cars. That suggests, the drivers are not coming from Sacramento or probably even Fallon. That means, it’s people from Reno who are using them, not people who are staying in the hotel. The majority of people using “outside” chargers are just using them for convenience when parking. I’m just trying to put myself in a gambler’s seat, but it seems to me if I’m at Circus Circus for four hours, and then I have to leave to move my car, I’d probably just leave. At any rate, that’s one of the exciting things with disruptive innovation, you don’t know how things will work out. One of these casinos in town will figure out the best practice, and then probably everyone will emulate it. All I know is that while I’m really pleased with my decision to go electric, I’ve still got a pretty long stretch before I’d call me hip.

Re “The showgirl must go on” (Feature story, Dec. 5): Vegas showgirl, burlesque, magician’s assistant, ballroom show dancer, Disney chorus dancer, cruise ship musical theater are all what I do. From Miami to Philly to Los Angeles, I’ve performed for corporate, industrial and private events. As an entertainer, you can not rest on what you already know. You need to change with the times and update your look and style to fit the current market. When there are lulls in shows for dancers, I work as a model and promotions girl and even go-go dance (when they are hiring actual dancers). While the classic showgirl has its place in Reno history, evolution is necessary to remain competitive in the entertainment market. The waves of style cycle through traditional showgirls, sexed-up Vegas, Cirque du Soliel (or their knock offs), burlesque (modern/traditional), amped up illusion and magic, comedy/improv/ impersonators, the occasional ice show and Broadway style. Even with Disney Entertainment, amazing shows come and go for budgetary reasons, but undoubtedly when revenue returns so do long running, high quality shows. What’s hot in a casino showroom is dictated by what’s bringing in the bucks. Marketing and a reasonable budget are the key to the success of any show on the casinos’ end. The producer must be creative, experienced, easy to work with and smart. It’s only wise, for these casino properties to be frugal with their entertainment budgets until there are discerning customers requiring top rate shows. With increase in showroom attendance the demand will be great once again. So thank you to all the local entertainment companies and casinos making the effort to stay in the game and regain the quality of Reno’s entertainment history with a modern and sophisticated twist. There are professional performers of all styles in town and willing to relocate here, if and when the show market picks back up. Jennifer Oropeza Reno

As I am writing this, the 4-year-olds in Congress (the Republicans) are still making threats: If you don’t do things the way we want, we are going to be bad! We are going to cause trouble, and we are going to shut things down! We are in the majority so we are in control, so you must do things our way! I have a solution: Throw out every tea party nutcase, and every other Republican, too. Vote the straight Democratic ticket. Brad MacKenzie Reno

Re “Winter guide” (Feature story, Dec. 12): There is a tie-in between the Winter Guide and the Art of the State feature about mining. The historic Longboard Ski Race Series at Johnsville, Calif., Plumas-Eureka State Park revives the colorful days when hardy pioneers braved the slopes on massive handmade skis. It is said that the first ski lift (or at least tow) was an ore bucket line rigged up outside on a hill. Downhillers used a single pole (to stop with) and greased their boards with “dope.” Check out this unique event this winter. Steve Klutter Sun Valley

Our Mission To publish great newspapers that are successful and enduring. To create a quality work environment that encourages people to grow professionally while respecting personal welfare. To have a positive impact on our communities and make them better places to live.

Buck up, big guy Re “Bad sport” (Notes from the Neon Babylon, Nov. 7): Bruce Van Dyke needs to buck up. He needs to use his political correct mentality when he has an exposed live wire. I’m compelled to comment after his rant concerning the Bowl Championship Series replacement panel. His words make him sound like a racist womanhater. Is he evolving into a tea party guy, one of the ones he has been educating us about for the past couple of years? John Whitaker Reno

Hide your shame Re “The doctor won’t see you now” (Feature story, Nov. 28): You should be ashamed of yourself for presenting such a sketchy article that involves two doctors and very little verifiable statistics. You want to scare a lot of old people. Shame, shame. John Bogdovitz Reno Editor’s note: This is the letter that got inadvertantly cut off in our Dec. 5 issue.

Editor/Publisher D. Brian Burghart News Editor Dennis Myers Arts Editor Brad Bynum Calendar Editor Kelley Lang Editorial Intern Sage Leehey Contributors Amy Alkon, Chanelle Bessette, Megan Berner, Mark Dunagan, Bob Grimm, Ashley Hennefer, Sheila Leslie, Dave Preston, Jessica Santina, K.J. Sullivan, Kris Vagner, Bruce Van Dyke, Allison Young

Creative Director Priscilla Garcia Art Director Hayley Doshay Junior Art Director Brian Breneman Design Vivian Liu, Serene Lusano, Marianne Mancina, Skyler Smith Advertising Consultants Meg Brown, Gina Odegard, Bev Savage Senior Classified Advertising Consultant Olla Ubay Office/Distribution Manager/ Ad Coordinator Karen Brooke Executive Assistant/Operations Coordinator Nanette Harker

—D. Brian Burghart

We see what you’re doing there Re “The high cost of safety” (Let Freedom Ring, Dec. 12): Brendan Trainor’s anti-regulation column was good as far as it went, but he could have mentioned the practical aspects. The bald eagle would even be more revered, because unregulated pesticides would have killed it off decades ago. Instead of trying to prevent Cuyahoga River fires, the volatiles should burn out naturally. Flames are very purging. Most importantly, unemployment would be much lower, especially in the higher risk, higher paying jobs. No workplace protections would mean more turnover and advancement opportunities. Fred Hinners Reno

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Editor’s note: Among the inaccuracies in your letter, the RN&R was not the perp’s last known occupation. Nobody at this newspaper should have been associated with Riggs’ brutal crimes, and I don’t feel any sense of guilt or contrition for something I had nothing to do with. You’re arguing both that we were his last occupation and that he couldn’t be fired because he didn’t work for us. I feel nothing but sympathy for the victims. Riggs got what he deserved.

More shame

Bank holidays

Re “Headlines” (Editor’s note, Dec. 12): Certainly we can all concede that the Reno News & Review is the real victim in all this tragedy. Not a demon? He not only raped two women but strangled them as well. Forty years is not a light sentence. Perhaps you should’ve used this space to be a little more contrite or sympathetic for the victims. Rape

Re “The high cost of safety” (Let Freedom Ring, Dec. 12): Deregulating the banks didn’t turn out so well (for most of us). Please check out the following article. http:// www.regblog.org/2013/04/03-lorbereconomic-growth-paper.html. John McTigue Sparks

Assistant Distribution Manager Ron Neill Distribution Drivers Sandra Chhina, Ron Large, Joe Medeiros, Jesse Pike, Martin Troye, Warren Tucker, Matthew Veach, Gary White, Joseph White, Sam White General Manager/Publisher John D. Murphy President/CEO Jeff vonKaenel Chief Operations Officer Deborah Redmond Human Resource Manager Tanja Poley Business Manager Grant Ronsenquist

Business Nicole Jackson, Tami Sandoval Systems Manager Jonathan Schultz Systems Support Specialist Joe Kakacek Web Developer/Support Specialist John Bisignano 708 North Center Street Reno, NV 89501 Phone (775) 324-4440 Fax (775) 324-4572 Classified Fax (916) 498-7940 Mail Classifieds & Talking Personals to N&R Classifieds, Reno Edition, 1015 20th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 or e-mail classifieds@ newsreview.com

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OPINION

victims get raped and then immediately go on trial themselves before their victim does (if he ever does). Was strangulation rape one of the “ethical violations” for which he was made redundant? Can you technically really fire a freelancer, since they do not really work for you? I think what you’re trying to say is that he was a dorky kid who wore glasses and thought he could rap, more likely it seemed to be caught peeping in windows late at night than brutally attacking two women. And that’s a key here—the attacks must have been brutal to have them go through such humiliation of a trial and for him to get 40 years in prison. As far as I know, it’s pretty standard AP style to list the perp’s last known occupation in the headline. I don’t think “Goofy Wannabe Rapper Sentenced to ...” would’ve been as accurate. You feel some sense of guilt and are really lousy at admitting it. You did a huge disservice to the real victims by putting your head in your hands and worrying about the sanctity of your newspaper. Shame! William Ashbless Fallon

Web site www.newsreview.com Printed by Paradise Post The RN&R is printed using recycled newsprint whenever available. Editorial Policies Opinions expressed in the RN&R are those of the authors and not of Chico Community Publishing, Inc. Contact the editor for permission to reprint articles, cartoons or other portions of the paper. The RN&R is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts. All letters received become the property of the publisher. We reserve the right to print letters in condensed form.

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December 19, 2013

by Dennis Myers

ThiS ModeRn WoRld

by tom tomorrow

A childhood memory? Asked at Java Jungle, 246 W. First St.

Brandon Pausa Veterans hospital aide

Probably the Christmas tree falling on me when I was about 3. It didn’t scare me off—we have a tree. I prefer real trees to fake ones.

Steven Edward Angius Student

Going sledding on the hill in front of McQueen High School when I was a kid. It was my first time I ever sledded. I fell backwards down the hill. It didn’t feel too good.

Laura Ann Kelley Realtor

Up with holiday trees On Dec. 7, a reader comment was posted on this newspaper’s website and run as a letter to the editor: “The city of Sparks had their Christmas Parade, and that’s great. But why do both the City of Sparks and the City of Reno have an official ‘Holiday Tree’ instead of a ‘Christmas Tree’? Reno’s designation to have a Holiday Tree ‘was decided upon through our elected officials and City Attorney’s office’ (based on a return email I received from [Reno city government]). Are the cities of Sparks and Reno observing some holiday other than Christmas that they have not told us about? If so, what are they observing? If not, why avoid the Christmas Tree designation?” There are a number of pieces of information relevant to this discussion: 1. Christianity did not invent the winter holiday. It piggybacked onto already existing ones. The same goes for the use of the tree in Christmas celebrations. Trees had been used for winter festivals long before Jesus was born. Christianity was jumping onto a bandwagon, not creating one. The notion that Christians have some special claim on holiday trees is not supported by history. 2. There was a time in the history of this continent when someone putting up a Christmas tree could have been arrested—by Christians. This was particularly true in New England in the 1600s. In Massachusetts, celebrating Christmas was a crime punishable by a fine of five shillings, a law enacted by Christians. It ill behooves some Christians now to claim primacy over winter traditions they once repudiated and criminalized. 3. According to Christmas historian Stephen Nissenbaum, Christians in this nation did not embrace OPINION

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The first time we came to Incline Village in 1969. The first snow and the first Christmas with my Mom. Beautiful, like being in heaven.

Christmas trees until relatively recently—in the 1830s, after German immigrants brought the practice to the United States and Christians—specifically, Unitarians— popularized it. Unitarian novelist Catharine Sedgwick was particularly influential in spreading the custom. And Unitarians disdain the notion that the holiday traditions of other faiths should be ignored or suppressed. 4. Our reader asks what holidays could be celebrated by holiday trees. Here’s a partial list: Advent, Chalica, Bodhi/Day of Enlightenment (Dec. 8), Dongzhi, Soyal, Yalda, Shabe Yalda or Shabe Chelle, Saturnalia, Pancha Ganapati, Dies Natalis Solis Invicti/birth of the sun (Dec. 25), the Twelve Days of Christmas (beginning Dec. 12), Yule, Christmas, Malkh (Dec. 25), Modraniht/ Mothers’ Night (Dec. 25 or 26), Boxing Day (Dec. 26), Kwanzaa (Dec. 26-Jan. 1), Saint Stephen’s Day (Dec. 26), Childermas, marking the slaughter of Jewish children by Herod’s soldiers (Dec. 28), Saint Sylvester’s Day, Watch Night, New Year’s Eve, Hogmanay (Dec. 31), and Winter Solstice and Hanukkah (whose dates float at this time of year). In the end, the real reason why official holiday trees— and the two trees our reader references are both installed by city governments on city properties—are not designated as Christmas trees is that it is not the business of government to put its imprimatur on one religion among many that celebrate festivals at this time of year. The United States Constitution and good sense both forbid it. And it might be useful to ask why some Christians (a) so frequently demand the assistance of government in protecting the faith, and (b) are so determined not to allow other faiths’ winter holidays to be recognized in the name of holiday trees. Ω |

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Barbara Kelley Retiree

When they gave me my first money to buy my own Christmas presents. My aunt [gave it to me]. Twenty-five cents. It was in the ’30s, and I bought five or six Christmas presents with that quarter.

Valerie Morasse Barista

I remember always going down to my grandma’s house in Carson City, and we would bake Christmas cookies all day long. She’d always let me lick the spoon and the mixing bowls, probably my favorite time.

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Workers work into poverty “As long as the problems of the poor are not radically resolved by rejecting the absolute autonomy of markets and financial speculation and by attacking the structural causes of inequality, no solution will be found for the world’s problems or, for that matter, to any problems. Inequality is by the root of social ills.” Sheila Leslie —Pope Francis, November 2013 It’s not just academics and activists who understand that the term “income inequality” conceals the harsh reality of the monumental gap between the rich and the poor. Even the Pope gets it. No one knows the issue better than your friendly fast-food server, living on minimum wage. That worker may have participated in a one-day strike in early December, in conjunction with other low-wage earners across the country, trying to bring attention to the difficulty they have making ends meet on $15,000 a year. The Alliance for a Just Society issued its 15th annual Job Gap Study

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on Dec. 3 highlighting several key data points. The report suggested that a minimum wage of $15 an hour would be more appropriate than the $7.25 hourly rate in most states. (In Nevada, if your employer doesn’t provide health insurance, the minimum wage is $8.25.) The report, released in Nevada in collaboration with the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, found there are seven people looking for every available job with an affordable wage of $15 or more. The report also documented an increasing share of low-wage jobs being created as the recession has waned. In 2009, 36.55 percent of American jobs paid below $15 an hour; by 2012, the low-wage jobs had increased to 39.45 percent of the economy. In fact, during that same time period, jobs with wages of $15 or more decreased by 4 million, but jobs with wages below $15 an hour increased by 3.6 million. More jobs, but less money for the worker. Less money to pay rent, buy groceries, and purchase goods,

paying sales tax that helps boost the local and state economy. The report recommends that Congress and state legislatures address the job gap head on, by raising the minimum wage while also repairing and strengthening the safety net of social service programs designed to assist low-income families. Nevada, naturally, followed the national trends to the extreme. As the state with the distinction of the highest unemployment rate during the recession, workers have suffered accordingly. The report estimates that over half of the Nevada jobs created during the recovery were low-wage jobs, primarily in the hospitality and food service industries, known for creating less than full-time jobs precisely to avoid having to pay benefits or provide job security. The reaction from the right to the national discussion about low wages has been brutal and lacking in both compassion and understanding. Pundits screeched about teenagers

needing those part-time fast food jobs to get started on a career path, forgetting that the majority of minimum wage workers are well past 20 and 28 percent of them support children of their own. Meanwhile, President Obama has proclaimed his support for a Senate bill to increase the federal minimum wage to $10.10 an hour. Five states and four local governments took action this year to raise the minimum wage above $7.25 an hour. In the town of Seatac, Wash., workers will earn a minimum of $15 an hour, the highest minimum wage in the country. Raising the minimum wage is not expected to be on Nevada’s 2014 ballot, but there is some good news for our lowest paid workers. Thanks to Gov. Brian Sandoval’s decision to allow the state to expand Medicaid with federal dollars through Obamacare, many of them will now qualify for health care coverage. Of course, the corporations won’t be picking up that bill. The rest of us will. Ω

Here’s a funny one on Fox News: http:// www.foxnews.com/ opinion/2013/12/04/ pope-francis-iscatholic-churchsobama-god-help-us/.

Some nukes is good nukes Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid exercised his “Nuclear Option” last month to change the Senate rules to end the filibuster in judicial nominations. Nevada Sen. Dean Heller claimed it was a “scary day for Nevada” because if the Republicans took over the Senate, they could use the nuclear by Brendan option to revive Yucca Mountain, Trainor turning Nevada back into the nation’s nuclear waste dump. Ever since the “Screw Nevada” law was passed creating the Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Suppository, er, Repository, Sen. Reid has hitched his political wagon to the star of opposition to the dump. He has managed to thwart the Congress through parliamentary moves of dubious legality that have tabled the project indefinitely. The federal courts are not happy and have issued rulings that the law must be obeyed. Still, they don’t command the army it would take to stop the powerful majority leader from imposing his will.

Strangely, Reid’s signature cause of blocking Yucca Mountain could be outflanked from the most unlikely of sources: The environmental left. Nuclear power originated from the military industrial complex. The A-bomb was its birth mother. Through subsidies and liability caps, the government created nuclear power before a free market would have. Nevada’s grassroots environmental groups, first Citizen Alert and now PLAN, have conflated nuclear power with nuclear war. They have succeeded in exaggerating the dangers of nuclear power and waste while minimizing the benefits. Pro-nuclear grassroots groups have never been able to excite Nevadans for nuclear power because the fight against Yucca Mountain has turned them against it. Within the green-energy wing, there is a growing rift between those who are committed to “renewables and efficiency gains” and the new environmentalists who are pro-nuclear power. These new environmentalists contend that

renewable energy is simply not reliable enough, or cheap enough, right now or in the near future to be a major energy supplier. Former NASA scientist James Hansen, a leading voice against catastrophic global warming, is calling for a national program to immediately build a nuclear-based national energy system because that alone can reduce greenhouse gases significantly enough to “save the planet.” There are also growing numbers of free-market environmentalists who are pro-nuclear. They are futurists who envision a new generation of non-water cooled nuclear plants that are even more efficient and safer than the aging plants online now. These new environmentalists challenge the old green ideology that no amount of radiation is safe, that nuclear power plants are dangerous and nuclear waste unmanageable. The number of fatalities, even including cancer increases, resulting from nuclear incidents such as Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, and Fukushima

are remarkably few. Even the toxic materials needed to produce solar panels can kill. There are enormous start-up costs to nuclear power, but once up and running, the energy is clean and almost free. Libertarians wish government had never gotten involved in energy production. The system is much less efficient and much more expensive because the progressive model of a government-regulated monopoly like NV Energy results in a single entity that produces 85 percent of the state’s energy. Without the state’s involvement, the markets would provide much more choice in who supplies our energy. Environmentalists and Indian tribes won a major victory when Gov. Brian Sandoval signed off on shutting down Nevada’s coal-powered plants. But heavily subsidized renewables are not the answer. Nevada’s energy future should lie in natural gas and nuclear. Time will tell if Harry Reid’s crusade against Yucca Mountain and nuclear power will actually produce the positive legacy he craves. Ω

Here’s a piece on CNN that former NASA scientist James Hansen wrote: www. cnn.com/2013/12/06/ opinion/hansenclimate-last-chance/

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Advertising ConsultAnt Do you know all the best places to eat or have a cocktail in Reno and Tahoe? Do you love to network and meet new people? Do you want to be on the inside of Reno’s most rockin’ paper? RN&R is now hiring a talented, experienced, selfmotivated, ambitious, and independent person for an advertising sales position. The ideal candidate must possess superior sales skills, a proven track record, and be a self-starter with the discipline to work in the field and in the office. You must have experience

with prospecting/lead generation, business-tobusiness cold calling, and superb closing skills. Successful reps will have a sincere desire to help our clients assess their needs and work together to create marketing campaigns that increase their business. Media sales experience in the Reno/Tahoe market as well as business relationships in the local hospitality/nightlife/restaurant industry preferred.

To read the full announcement and apply online, go to www.newsreview.com/jobs OPINION

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Economic development consultant Chuck Alvey read a survey that questioned opportunity in Nevada, but he had a somewhat different view.

Homestate boy makes good

• In education they examined preschool enrollment, high school graduation rates (and how many graduations happened on schedule), and number of adults with college degrees (associate degrees included).

Nevada state legislator Jim Wheeler placed first on the Rolling Stone list of the “50 Dumbest Things Right-Wingers Said in 2013” with his answer—“Yes, I would”—to the question of whether he would vote for slavery if his district constituents wanted him to do so. This was no small accomplishment, given the competition, such as “The best thing about the Earth is if you poke holes WHEELER in it oil and gas come out” from U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman (#50) or New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s “I think we disproportionately stop whites too much and minorities too little” (#12). Wheeler’s comments, captured on video, drew wide attention, and the Colbert Report even designed a red, white, and blue bumper strip for him. It read, “JIM WHEELER/YOU WANT SLAVES? YOU GOT ’EM!”

• Community was ranked by membership in civic groups, churches, sports leagues, plus the level of young people who were both without jobs and out of school (“adrift at society’s margins”), health care rankings, rates of volunteerism and violent crime.

Anti-union campaign planned Documents disclosed by the London Guardian show state political groups—including the Nevada Policy Research Institute (NPRI)—planning attack campaigns on education, unions, health and taxes. The documents originated with the State Policy Network, which funds conservative groups around the nation. They outline 40 proposals from 34 states. NPRI applied for $35,000 “to state a campaign informing union members of their right to leave their union. NPRI will research how and when union members can leave their union, then prepare materials to ease the process. NPRI additionally will create videos, publish op-eds, and send mail alerts promoting their material. Success will be determined by the number … who leave the union and the number that elect not to join the union.”

So, now what? It seems like only yesterday that Democrats were attacking Mitt Romney for taking advantage of private equity loopholes to pay only 14 percent of his income in taxes, with Nevada’s senior senator leading the charge (“Harry Reid’s hit on Romney,” RN&R, Sept. 6, 2012). Well, the Democrats won, but journalists are now pointing out that no reforms have resulted. “But a year later, the heated Democratic rhetoric of campaign season has fizzled,” the Boston Globe reported last week. “Concerted initiatives from the White House and Democrats in Congress to close the ’carried interest’ loophole for hedge fund and equity managers have failed to materialize.”

New kind of tactic Edward Hamilton, so far Brian Sandoval’s only opponent in the Republican primary for governor, is following an unusual campaign strategy—aiming his appeal at the least number of voters. Hamilton is attacking residents of Clark County, where most Nevadans—72.2 percent—live, to go after the 15.6 percent of the population in Washoe and the 12.2 percent of the population in the small counties. In a recent mailing, Hamilton wrote, “Sandoval is PANDERING to the multitude of NON-CITIZENS currently living in the Las Vegas area. He is throwing AMERICAN CITIZENS living up north under the bus by shifting $50 million to teach English to foreigners who have no business being here to begin with lacking proper immigration papers.”

—Dennis Myers

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Opportunity doesn’t knock Nevada ranks last on a survey of what states offer If a Nevadan wants the best opportunities for her or his children, it would be best to raise them somewhere else. by Aspiring businesspeople might also Dennis Myers look elsewhere for opportunity. Those, at any rate, are the implications of a survey of the states conducted jointly by the Social Science Research Council in Brooklyn and Opportunity Nation in Boston. The survey ranked states, the District of Columbia, and the United States generally by their economies, education, and civic engagement—the degree to which residents are involved in community activities.

“Each person has control over how they manage opportunities.” Chuck Alvey economic development consultant though it is difficult to navigate, there is a website with the results of the opportunity survey: http://opportunityindex.org

Nevada placed 52—dead last. The ranking is a setback to those promoting the state as a place to live and do business, and the study has received considerable attention, meaning Nevada’s place in it is getting exposure. For example, days after the study was released, New York Times

columnist Charles Blow mentioned it, and Washington Monthly magazine did a cover package of stories on the findings. On the overall opportunity index, Nevada ranked 37.9 compared to a national average of 50.9. On the strength of its economy, it ranked 44.99 compared to 49.4 nationally. Its education system scored 25.91 compared to a national figure of 49.3, and on its sense of community, it was at 42.81 compared to 54.1 nationally. Compared to its regional competitors, Nevada also did poorly. Arizona had an economy ranking of 46.3, education was 41.4, and community was 45.5. Utah is at 58.5 in its economy, 48.3 in education, 61.8 in community. In more local rankings, Washoe County scored 44.0 overall for opportunity, 50.4 in its economy, 39.1 in education and 42.4 in community. This is how the three indices were researched: • To determine the strength of state and local economies, the surveyors examined things like job market indicators, unemployment, income equity, housing affordability, poverty levels, and access to banking.

To some extent, the study’s findings are at war with themselves. They find U.S. residents less willing to move from place to place in search of better jobs, yet also find people unwilling to become rooted and involved in a community. The Washington Monthly, a publication favored by policy wonks, noted, “In some regions (the Northeast and the Upper Midwest), citizens are far more engaged in civic activities and connected with each other than in other areas (the Deep South and Nevada).” It also reported, “In recent years, the bursting of the housing bubble, which has left millions of American homeowners owing more on their mortgages than their houses are worth, has surely been a factor in depressing the number of people moving. Yet it turns out that the phenomenon of ‘housing lock’ has played surprisingly little role in driving down migration rates even during the worst years of the Great Recession. For example, rates of migration have fallen equally for homeowners and renters. And in the states with the worst housing markets, such as Nevada and Arizona, unemployed workers have been no more or less likely to move than in states with the best housing markets. Moreover, taking the longer view, rates of migration were falling year after year even when the housing boom was on and most home sellers could walk away from a settlement with a huge check.” Nevada state demographer Jeff Hardcastle said he does not have figures to either confirm or deny these findings. “In looking at net migration—ins less outs—Nevada lost some population towards the end of the decade and the start of this one, but it has been minimal,” he said. But he added that the research on the question is less than conclusive.

The other hand Former Economic Development of Western Nevada (EDAWN) director Chuck Alvey, now an executive coach with Vistage International, said he is skeptical of surveys like the opportunity index. “I used to do those in television research,” he said. Alvey is a former general manager of KOLO in Reno. “If you take this column out and that column in, you can make it say anything,” he said. Moreover, he believes, such surveys are not the kind of thing businesspeople turn to when they are deciding if and where to relocate. “If I’m a company exec looking to relocate somewhere, I’m not going to be looking at that stuff,” he said. At EDAWN, he found that such decisions were not based on what most people think. “Most of the time their decision was pretty personal—they relocated because they liked a place. They ran all the numbers and then the CEO went where he or she wanted to live.” He conceded of the opportunity index, “It’s objective,” but said its main use in economic development would be as ammunition for communities competing with each other. “If there’s another community that we’re in competition with, that’s the kind of stuff they will use against us,” he said. There was an exception.

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“ Nevada lost some population, but it has been minimal.” Jeff Hardcastle State Demographer “If I’m a teeny company, I might be willing to look at it.” Even when companies do look at statistics, they generally zero in on certain types of statistics, depending on what their needs are, he said. “If a business owner who pays low wages is looking at a market, he’s probably going to be spending a lot of time on the labor pool,” he said. “The opportunity index is another tool that people have, but one size does not usually fit all. Where it might be of greater use is to college students.” He summed up his reaction to the index: “This is a composite of people making their own opportunities in different places. Some places may seem to make achieving opportunities easier yet there are many successful people right here. Each person has control over how they manage the opportunities around them and the opportunities they find and/or create. Some miss or mess up good opportunities and others make much out of slim-to-great opportunities, wherever they live.” Ω

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Dean Parker with a new LED unit next to one of the old metal-halide bulbs.

Light ’em up Peppermill saves electricity by changing to LED lights With its own geothermal power plant on site powering all heat and space, the Peppermill Resort had already cut its energy bills down quite a bit— about $1.8 million a year. But they’re always looking for more ways to by Sage Leehey save, and they recently cut down their electricity bill by an estimated $130, 539 a year by switching their parking lot lights from 1,000-watt sage l@ metal-halides to 188-watt LEDs. newsreview.c om These savings come from switching both of the Peppermill properties—the Reno Peppermill Resort and the Western Village in Sparks—to LED-lighted parking lots. “In August of this year, we put in these new units. We’re already seeing about a 90 percent energy reduction at Western Village because they have meters that are dedicated to the lights,” said executive director of facilities at the Peppermill, Dean Parker. The project switched out 406 lights on the two properties combined and each new LED cost $775, totaling $314,650. It also received a rebate from NV Energy’s Sure Bet Incentive Program of $92,000. This rebate amount was determined by the reduction of energy use when Peppermill switched to the LED lighting units. Because of this and the expected savings, Parker said that Peppermill expects a return on their investment in 1.7 years. Sure Bet is an incentive program throughout the state that provides assistance to NV Energy commercial customers “to do energy retrofits to their existing commercial buildings and/or their commercial buildings that are in construction,” according to NV Energy’s program manager for energy efficiency and conservation, Adam Grant. The incentives are given out for a variety of different reasons in this program, one of which is for switching to LED lighting. This program is meant to help both the commercial customers and the environment. “We want customers to save energy,” Grant said. “We want them to learn to lower bills. We want them to be stewards to the environment. And it shows the customers opportunities to do this for their businesses.” For more information Parker did all of the research for the switch prior to going to the about the Peppermill owners of the Peppermill with feasibility worksheets that included all Resort’s green the data about each property’s energy usage and the costs and expected initiatives, visit www. savings of the LED lights. He said that it was a simple decision after peppermillreno.com/ about-us/goinglooking at the numbers, especially with how quickly they expected green. a return on the initial investment. Even without the rebate from NV Energy, the company would have expected a return on their investment in 2.5 years. And the company considers anything under three years a strong investment, according to Parker. Peppermill has done several things in the past that have helped reduce its overall costs as well as its environmental impact. The casino’s geothermal plant on site is huge. The Peppermill also uses artificial turf, saving over one million gallons of water a year. It has an Aqua Recycle System that recycles up to 83 percent of the laundry’s gray water, and it encourages guests to reuse towels and linens in the hotel. Ω

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Join Us for Christmas 3:00pm – Holy Eucharist for Children 5:00pm – Family Holy Eucharist 7:30pm – Musical Offering followed at 8:00pm – Festival Holy Eucharist (no incense) 10:30pm – Musical Offering followed at 11:00pm – Festival Holy Eucharist (with incense)

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December 19, 2013

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chrisTmas EvE * TuEsDay, DEcEmbEr 24

RENO’S INVISIBLE CHILDREN

A life of poverty can begin in childhood unless adults step up. STORY & PHOTOS BY CAMBRIA ROTH

had been volunteering with Pathfinders Children’s Ministry for a few months when I first met Alyssa Koster. (Like the other children in this story, her name has been changed.) We were at a Christmas festival a church in Truckee had organized for children who come from foster care, motels, homeless shelters and subsidized housing. It was an unknown place with new people, and it was her younger sister’s first time attending an event. Alyssa was standing to the side holding her sister Jules’ hand. Jules was crying. Jules was scared, and I could see the fear in her big eyes. Alyssa was staring longingly at all the other children who were being dressed up. She knew her responsibility was to take care of her sister, but it was obvious she wanted so badly to be a kid like everyone else. When I offered to take care of Jules, she smiled and ran to be dressed. To put it lightly, Alyssa is a fourth-grade, 9-year-old mother to her three siblings.

The Poverty Language

“Children in poverty are more inclined to use aggression to solve problems,” said James Carter-Hargrove, a therapist for Kids Kottage. “Kids raised in poverty are spoken to 650 words less an hour than middle class kids, and that ends up being millions of fewer words by the time they hit kindergarten. This means these kids aren’t able to use language to mediate their experience. When you come in devoid of a robust vocabulary, you can’t use words to solve problems so you use more primitive ways like pushing, shoving and yelling.” This lack of a vocabulary is one characteristic of the poverty culture. As crazy as it sounds, many of these children speak a different language. Chuck Grimm is the executive director of Pathfinders Children’s Ministry. This organization in Reno has about 170 children in grades K-12 who attend every Friday night. They are fed a meal, play games, sing, do a Bible study

Washoe County Department of Social Services says its first goals are to put children back with their parents and to intervene with unstable families. “Once kids are in our system, we look at issues around well-being and then provide services to the families to meet the child’s needs, keep them safe and try to make it so they can parent their children,” said Stacey Jones, supervisor of Child Care Services. While kids are waiting to be placed in an appropriate foster home, they live in Kids Kottage, which is an emergency shelter for children over 6 years old. There are anywhere from 50 to 60 children at the shelter at any given time, and bumping up against capacity isn’t rare. Alyssa lived here before she was placed in a foster home with her two sisters, but her brother was separated because of anger issues. OPINION

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“One time I had to change my brother’s diaper when I was in second grade because my mom fell asleep,” she said. Each sibling has a face full of freckles and bright blue eyes, but Alyssa stands out with her bright red hair. Every Friday I look forward to her running to me, arms outstretched as she screams “Cambria!” The Kosters grew up with two parents—a dad who couldn’t keep a job and a mom who tried, but who couldn’t make ends meet. The family, with four kids under the age of 8, moved from motel to motel in downtown Reno before social services stepped in and removed the children. Alyssa updates me each week as to when she will see her parents next. Sometimes she is happy and excited, but other times she is withdrawn as she says, “They messed up again.” Today, Alyssa pulls a picture of her parents out of her pocket and hands it to me. “Look, these are my parents,” She said. “I keep this picture with me everywhere I go, every day, and I look at it when I miss them.”

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and build personal relationships with volunteers. In his volunteering, Grimm has seen the many effects poverty has on a child. “You and I are speaking in an informal register, but they speak in a casual register,” Grimm said. “One example is in storytelling. If I were to tell you the story of Little Red Riding Hood, I would begin at the beginning and tell it until the end, but these kids start anywhere—the middle, highlights, and they jump all over the place.” In informal register, a person will speak anywhere from 1,200 to 1,800 words. However, a child speaking in a casual register will use only 400 to 800 words. Grimm said intelligence can’t be equated with living in the poverty culture. “Some of these kids are very bright, but they are stuck in this situation, and they have no control over it,” he said.

“RENO’s INVIsIBLE CHILDREN”

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continued on page 14

DECEMBER 19, 2013

RN&R

“rENO’s iNVisiBLE ChiLDrEN”

continued from page 13

The cycle begins

regularly by the age of 10 and then daily by 13. When they enter a peer group engaged in those behaviors, they can become engrossed in sexual behaviors that make them feel like someone wants them. “That creates another generation of poverty,” Carter-Hargrove said. “It is a group of people who do things to feel good, but don’t know how and have no interest in building a stable life.”

The Washoe County School District’s Children in Transition program reported there has been a 20 to 30 percent increase in homeless children since 2010. Last year, the program served 2,885 children in the school district, and those rates are expected to increase to about 3,000 this Impoverished parents school year. “We work with children experiencing homestop fighting lessness whether they’re living in a shelter, The first time Mary ran away, her parents called doubled up with another family, or motels,” Grimm to help find her. They were convinced said program coordinator Katie Morales. “We the 16-year-old had been taken by a pimp and want to make sure there aren’t any barriers to was being prostituted. She eventually returned to their education.” their motel, sat down This program and cried on Grimm’s provides children shoulder as she with financial “ Allie, there are two said, “Chuck, I just assistance in school can’t live this way settings through things you don’t know: anymore.” immunizations, She has no First, I was responsible school supplies and clothes, isn’t able transportation. for having you thrown to go to school on a Morales said that regular basis and is out of Pathfinders, and 75 percent of homea virtual prisoner in less children under the second thing you her home. the age of 5 have “Her parents at least one develdon’t know is that I’ve have an unnatural opmental delay. It obsession that she been praying for you may be from living will get tied up with in a motel and being every night for two a guy and become confined to a car pregnant,” Grimm seat, which inhibits years.” said. “They won’t motor skills, or allow her to leave at constantly changall other than to go ChuCk Grimm ing schools in the to school, and when Pathfinders Children’s district. she returns home she ministry “By the time isn’t allowed out of these kids are in the her room.” second grade they Mary is ordered have been to eight to take care of her 12-year-old brother. She is different schools,” Morales said. “If they had failing her first two periods in school because been in one school for two years like their she walks him to school, and it makes her late. peers, they would be at the same level, but they The second time she ran away Grimm suspects get behind because every time a child switches it was to be with a boyfriend. When she returned schools they lose six months of learning.” two weeks later it was only to take care of her Grimm said many of the parents have brother because she knew her parents wouldn’t. figured out the school system. The school Grimm said Child Protective Services (CPS) district is alerted only when a child doesn’t has been involved, but most parents in poverty come to school for 10 consecutive days. They are masters at dealing with the system. will keep the child home for nine days, take “Unless CPS witnesses something they can’t them to school for one and then begin the cycle do very much,” Grimm said. “Mary has figured over again. out she is being screwed by her parents, the “There is no real attention given to educasystem, by everything and at some point I think tion because it is an abstract term for the she is going to bolt and not go back.” parent so the kids suffer,” Grimm said. “I’ve Social Services said it aims to sit down seen instances where the parent wants the kid with these types of families, make a case plan, to stay home to keep them company or watch provide services to mitigate the reasons behind a their younger siblings and missing school child being in care and eventually put the child doesn’t matter.” back with the parent. Carter-Hargrove said another barrier is “I would say most parents really do want verbal skill acquisition. As a result of how their kids back,” Jones said. “I believe they do little these children are spoken to, they are a love their children, want their children, but they couple of years behind other kids so it gives don’t know how to keep them safe.” them a rocky start in an educational setting. Carter-Hargrove pointed out that parents These difficulties carry on throughout their focus on things that give them joy like drugs or schooling and future careers. alcohol, but become myopic and short-sighted “If every day you go to school, and it is about what may be contributing to their child’s an unpleasant experience, you start looking suffering. for things at school that make the experience “One thing that amazes me is that parents nicer,” Carter-Hargrove said. “You might stop lose their kids, start to fight to get them back, focusing on academics and focus on things that but get discouraged and tired, and feel as though will get you noticed socially, like being the social services doesn’t understand how hard tough aggressive kid.” their life is,” Carter-Hargrove said. “So they start Carter-Hargrove has seen kids as young rationalizing that they need to let go because as 8 years old smoking marijuana, using 14 | RN&R |

DECEMBER 19, 2013

their kids are better off, and step away as a way of resolving all of their dissidence internally.” A parent might justify why they need to stop fighting for a child, but often the child will never stop fighting for a parent. Children put in a foster home might thrive, and they might love their foster parents and respect them, but their true parents will always come first. “They will go back to them in a heartbeat and give up everything,” Grimm said. “There is a magnetism and attraction that defies description.”

‘Tomorrow’ isn’t in their vocabulary The poverty cycle consists of two types—situational and generational. Situational includes those families who are down on their luck with one parent or both losing a job. This type of poverty isn’t as common because these kids don’t discuss it in hopes it will get better. Generational is two or more generations that have been in poverty, and Grimm said there is a different attitude—a sense of entitlement. “A lot of these parents have a ‘you owe us’ mentality because they believe they have been duped by the system,” Grimm said. “They stay in poverty because they don’t know how to get out, and there is no incentive from their perspective. They don’t think about tomorrow, they only think about today and are in survival mode.” Grimm points to the concept of found money,

Chuck Grimm is executive director at Pathfinders Children’s Ministry.

which is something he often experiences. In this concept, if a person in the poverty culture is walking down the street, finds an envelope with $1,000, and it is the 30th of the month, they won’t take care of rent. “They will panic when rent is due and call around trying to get money,” Grimm said. “Part of it is how they were raised, where tomorrow isn’t on their radar screen because it is all about today.” Carter-Hargrove said parents spend a lot of time seeking out a living, and when they receive extra cash they believe their life is so hard they want to escape it by using that money to alter their awareness. “This keeps the cycle going because they live life from crisis to crisis,” Carter-Hargrove said. This translates into how the child in poverty thinks. Grimm said they think day-to-day because they don’t know where they will be next week, or even tomorrow. He personally verified this mentality when he did an experiment with fifth and sixth graders. He offered a candy bar to each child in his class, but said they could only have one if they took it in the present moment. However, if they waited until next week, they would receive four candy bars. “Only one child out of the 25 waited until the next week,” Grimm said. “What was going through their mind? I’m guessing it was ‘I might not be here next week,’ or ‘he might not keep his promise, so I better grab it while I can get it.’”

Children in poverty have no control over their situation. They are often the parent to not only their siblings, but they parent the parent who might be using drugs or alcohol. They live a life of instability, and they often don’t know where they will be living next, what they will eat or wear. Grimm said he and his wife would buy one young girl new outfits, and she would wear the outfit every day for 10 days to two weeks. “All of a sudden the outfit would disappear, and we would never see it again,” Grimm said.

“It took us about a year to see the pattern, and she would always make up excuses.” It wasn’t until he went to help her family move out of their motel room that he saw dirty clothing crammed under beds and filling the entire closet. “The reasoning is, ‘Why would I spend money on a Laundromat when I could use those quarters for a slot machine and get money back? If I put it in a washing machine, I won’t get anything,”” Grimm said. “It makes sense to them. Clothing in this culture is disposable, you

wear it until you can’t anymore and then put it aside and go for something else.”

Can these kids beat the odds? Allie grew up moving from homeless shelter to homeless shelter as her family made their way from California to Utah, and ended up stuck in Nevada. She has lived in almost every motel in Reno and Sparks, and her mother is addicted to meth. Allie met Grimm as an angry, lost 13-yearold. After she began fighting another girl at Pathfinders, and police were called, Grimm asked that she be permanently thrown out of the organization. “About a week later, I was in bed one night, and I had this overwhelming sense that I needed to pray for her,” Grimm said. “I prayed for her every night, and I never saw her.” Two years later, Allie and her younger siblings were removed from their mother for the third time. Grimm was asked to help the family and five minutes later, Allie walked into the room. “Her face was bright red, and her fists were clenched to the point where they were white down at her side,” Grimm said. “I recognized her instantly and I said, ‘Allie, do you know who I am?’ and she said, ‘Yeah, you are Chuck from Pathfinders,’ and I said, ‘Allie, there are two things you don’t know: First, I was responsible for having you thrown out of Pathfinders, and the second thing you don’t know is that I’ve been praying for you every night for two years.’” He said at that moment it was like sticking a pin in a balloon as she deflated, fell on him and

Children in poverty have no control over their situation. Pathfinders, where these chidren are pictured, meets on Friday nights.

cried. Chuck visited her at Kids Kottage three times a week before she was put in foster care. He watched as she was transformed from someone who hated school and rarely attended, to a student who made up three years of high school in a year and a half. Allie now has a 3.5 grade point average, has been pre-admitted to the University of Nevada, Reno with scholarships and will pursue a career as a pediatrician next year. “The way I grew up is not the way I want my kids to grow up,” Allie said. “When I do have kids, I don’t want them to ever have to see the things I’ve seen. I don’t want them to have to worry all the time about making rent or having money for food.” Carter-Hargrove said it takes a lot of external support for a child to break the cycle of poverty. “The ideal way to do it is to work at strengthening the family by helping the adults gain skills they don’t have and working at building housing stability, then shifting their focus to helping their children prepare to live their life properly,” Carter-Hargrove said. For Allie, all of her bad experiences have shaped her. She raised her sisters, watched her mother go in motel room bathrooms to do meth, and has spent many nights on a roll away bed in the living room of Kids Kottage. She said everything she has experienced has given her a headstrong attitude and has pushed her to never end up in a poverty lifestyle. “We have a whole community of what I call invisible children out there, and somebody has got to love these kids, be there to help them, and try to reach them,” Grimm said. Ω

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A roundup of locAl And hAndmAde gift ideAs for the holidAys

espite picture-perfect, Pinterest-worthy holiday decorations and gifts popular on the internet and on magazine covers, there’s a sense of minimalism dominating the holiday season for some of us this year. “Black Friday” was boycotted, with many favoring “Buy Nothing Day” and “Small Business Saturday” instead. The ailing economy has a way of refocusing priorities and expectations, and the “Buy Local” movement encourages consumers to spend money in their communities, supporting small businesses. But it’s important to note that buying local, while economically sustainable, doesn’t always equal environmentally sustainable. That comes more with buying items sourced, developed and produced by Reno artisans. According to Danielle Henderson, founder of Campfire Ceramics, buying handmade items is about quality. And quality is the key to drawing consumers away from big box stores toward custom gifts.

“Objects can have an intrinsic value because of the memories they spark,” she says. “When you buy from a local artist, there’s interaction with the person who gave you the present, and then there’s interaction with the maker, and then that develops into a connection to the item.” Henderson founded Campfire Ceramics in fall 2012. This is her second holiday season. She says the winter is a busy time for many artisans. Planning ahead to accommodate sales is vital for small business’s success. Prior to ceramics, Henderson had a small jewelrymaking business. She’s noticed an influx in American made products, a movement seeing mainstream traction through corporations like Martha Stewart and American Express supporting makers and entrepreneurs.

Henderson cites the trendy “bespoke” style currently popular—“bespoke” refers to clothing and items custom handmade for the buyer. (There’s also Bespoke, a boutique in Truckee, that sells handmade goods.) “I have a lot of hope that we will bring back American craftsmanship,” says Henderson. “Etsy and Big Cartel and websites like that have been huge for people making their own items.” Henderson says that most local artists gain customers through word of mouth, so having opportunities to share their work helps to show the community that buying local “can be accessible.” “There are some really good local shows here in town,” she says. “It’s a great outlet to sell and buy handmade goods. You get a chance to meet the artist, too, so you have that personal connection.”

BY ASHLEY HENNEFER

She notes that there’s a perception that buying local can be pricier and is only for “arts and crafts things.” “It can certainly be more expensive, but I’m willing to pay more for a story,” she says. “And you know someone has taken the time to make something custom just for you.” Although Pinterest can be a source of consumerism and lifestyle envy, there’s a phrase floating around the website that some have embraced as the guideline for holiday purchases: gifts must fall within “something you want / something you need / something to wear / something to read.” Kind of catchy, right? This little ditty can certainly be adapted for taste, and it served as a loose guideline for how we looked for places to shop locally at this season.

Photo/Ashley hennefer

16 | RN&R |

DECEMBER 19, 2013

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Something to decorate Few gifts say “thoughtful” like locally created custom art pieces. While it’s tempting to peruse Etsy for the perfect TARDIS dress or ironic cross-stitching, there’s plenty of handcrafted items to be found by talented craftsmen and women in this city. And several local artists—including Henderson—see online stores as a way to expand their business without leaving the Northern Nevada community. This year, the Buy Local efforts have become closely tied to the local art scene. Within the past few weeks, artists have organized several art shows dedicated to promoting and selling art work for holiday gifts. On Dec. 12, the University of Nevada, Reno Clay Club hosted a Christmas sale to fundraise for a trip to the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts. And the Holland Project held a holiday craft fair featuring more than 20 artists. But even if you missed out on these events, artists’ work can still be purchased by contacting the Clay Club (www.facebook.com/UNRCeramics) and the Holland Project (www.hollandreno.org). Through Dec. 30, Never Ender Reno (www.neverenderreno.com) will host the Cash & Carry Art Show and Sale, featuring work by more than 20 Reno-based artists. Throughout the year, Never Ender also sells clothing, jewelry and other wearables. Reno Art Works, open Mon.-Sat. from noon until 7 p.m., has displayable art pieces available for purchase (www.renoartworks.org).

Something to imbibe Instead of bringing a bottle of generic wine to a family gathering, locally sourced and brewed libations are a classier choice. There’s no shortage of coffee shops in town, but beans roasted in Nevada can be a bit harder to find. Hub Coffee Roasters (www.hubcoffeeroasters.com), Wood-Fire Roasted Coffee Company (www.woodfireroasted.com) and Kolika Coffee (www.kolikacoffee.e-beans.net) offer several selections of whole beans in various flavors and strengths. Bibo Coffee Company (www.bibocoffeecompany.com) sources direct and fair trade coffee. Booze options are aplenty through local breweries, and seasonal brews can be unique. Great Basin Brewing Company (www.greatbasinbrewingco. com) offers the 2013 Wassail, available for a limited time, as well as beerrelated accessories in its gift shop. New Fourth Street brewery Under the Rose Brewing Company (www.undertherosebrewing.com)–named for its proximity to Mt. Rose—features a special edition holiday beer available in its tasting room.

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The real indication of the holiday season is when jewelry commercials dominate the airwaves. There’s usually some cheesy narrative about a man proposing to his girlfriend featuring a sparkly diamond hanging from a Christmas tree or from the collar of a furry puppy. But instead of adding to the bigwigs in an industry rife with overvalued products, several local jewelers make custom items from scratch. D Street Designs (www.dstreetdesigns.com) owner Doug E. Moore creates unconventional alternatives to standard engagement and wedding rings, but will also work with people to create items based on their designs. Michael & Sons (michaelandsonsjewelers.com), aside from traditional jewelry options, can also craft specialized items from several metals and different gems and stones. Their store also offers traditional Native American art and jewelry. Beyond sparkly bling, clothing items make for excellent gifts for family members and friends of all ages. For the unique stylist, Atomic Ave Clothing Company (www.atomicaveclothing.com) makes specialty pin-up style dresses and accessories for women. And PolyEsther Boutique (www.polycostumes.com) has long been an outlet for experimental but high quality wearables for men, women and children.

Something for later If you’re still stuck on shopping for your loved ones, consider giving a gift card or gift certificate. It still supports local businesses while allowing for a fun, post-holiday shopping day. Besides stores, many restaurants, museums, and theaters offer gift certificates if activities are more your style. Ω OPINION

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Sage Ridge students participating in the creation and performance of a Nevada-based play: Oliver Page on the piano, with Noah Columbo, Jerry Baughman, Ben Newberg, Charlotte Page and David Newman.

Innocents abroad Battle Born? Nevada isn’t really just a lawless place overrun by gambling and prostitutes. And prepare to by get slapped if you pronounce it “Ne-vawGeorgia Fisher duh.” Silver State lore still precedes reality, though, and it’s the myths—from seedy infamy to bunk pronunciations—that Sage Ridge drama teacher Cameron Crain and his students hope to deflate. They’re doing so internationally, no less, at next summer’s Festival Fringe in Edinburgh, Scotland. Billed as the largest arts festival in the world, the Fringe is massively popular, with For more information, thousands of performers making the annual visit trek. Crain’s group will travel and perform www.sageridge.org. there thanks to the American High School Theatre Festival, which chooses just a sliver of its many applicants each year. A high-energy, politely handsome sort, Crain is also co-founder and president of the Nevada Shakespeare Company. Creating a historical comedy with his students has been “artistically … just as challenging and just as rewarding as anything I’ve done with Nevada Shakes,” he says.

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Dubbed Battle Born?— and yes, that question mark is intentional—the play’s genesis is as much a lesson in fundraising and PR as it is in writing, acting and design. The 16 young actors must work to cover production and travel costs, for starters, and they’ll need a hefty $100,000 to pull it off. Once in Edinburgh, they’ll don attentiongetting costumes, like that of an Area 51 alien or a showgirl, to snare an audience well before the show begins. Such gear must be portable, obviously. “And it can’t be too crazed, because everything’s got to go over in suitcases,” says parent Robin Monteith, who’s working with another drama mama, Teri Newman, to get the production off the ground. “I have visions of me stashing an alien head in an overhead compartment.” Extraterrestrials are one thing, but undisputed truths do hold court with myths and rumors in the working script, with plenty of local trivia to go around. A time machine helps, naturally. You’ve heard of Icky the prehistoric creature, right? He’ll probably rear his

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head. Prostitution and gambling can’t be ignored, and the mob is a likely topic, too, as is the Rat Pack’s time in Vegas and Mark Twain’s years in Nevada territory. Other Battle Born? trivia veers toward the political, including the fact that the state constitution—all 16,543 words of it—came to President Lincoln by telegram. Oliver Page, a senior, is the show’s host and resident musician. The teen has a sort of aw-shucks bearing at first, but is a talented and comfortable pianist who’s apt to pick catchy, thumping melodies out of the air, making them up as he goes along. He’s now working on a variation of the Ghostbusters theme for the play, which opens with a scene from an obscure,

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myth-debunking TV show (not to be confused with MythBusters, as the kids are learning about copyright law, too). “I’ve been trying to make all the [script’s] syllables fit in, so it’s not too cheesy,” says Page. “It’s just the right level of cheese.” He’ll work in some big-band stuff later, and Crain is also tasking him with a ragtime number and the Bonanza theme. Fundraising is well under way for the play, which will hit Sage Ridge’s stage in May, and likely make an appearance at Artown before crossing the pond in August. A handout will guide international viewers through any murky cultural references or inside jokes. Meanwhile, the cast has clout with Crain, who banters with them often and quickly works their suggestions into the ongoing script. “I’m treating them like professionals,” he says. “I’m expecting them to come up—counting on them to come up—and they’re responding.” Ω

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160 W. liberty st., 284-2921 With a passion in his voice and a glow from the aura of his culinary energy, Chef Josh Berreman can excite anyone by Dave Preston about this little bistro’s creative food. Berreman has a track record in this town. A product of the Glenn Hare Center at Reno High School, TMCC, Arrowcreek, Beaujolais Bistro, 4th Street Bistro, Brasserie St. James, then Mark Estee’s Campo before Chez Louie. (Estee owns Chez Louie.) Photo/Allison Young

CHESTER’S RENO HARLEY-DAVIDSON

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Chef Josh Berreman knows his gnocchi.

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Don’t let the name fool you, it’s a very imaginative menu with a petite French flair. A small, simple eatery with seating inside for 40 but adding the foyer of the Nevada Museum of Art, there’s room for another 80. They offer a small spirits bar and a small, but well thought out, wine and beer list. Chez also has a quartet of unique cocktails like French ’75 ($9): gin, lemon juice, Prosecco served over ice, or the Rue de la Liberte ($9) brandy, lemon juice, Elderberry liqueur, orange liqueur, sugar rim served up. Old Pal ($10) is bourbon, Campari, dry vermouth served up, and I decided to try the Ginger City ($9) vodka, ginger liqueur, lime juice, cranberry juice served up ($9). It was pink and tart with a little bite from the ginger and like the others, meant to be fun. The big thrust is lunch, and it’s tailored more toward a lot of flavors and textures, and not over-served portions. There are also a few starters ($9-$15), soups ($8), salads ($7-$14); a kids menu ($8) and the main courses ($10-$16), painting a mental picture

of tantalizing morsels with descriptive adjectives foodies will appreciate. The chef eagerly presented me with the Parisian gnocchi ($13), and the aroma alone was sublime before the first bite. Not the traditional potato pillows rather a puree of pumpkin and butternut squash-type pasta, poached and served atop some blanched, finely shaved Brussels sprouts, with fresh bacon bits, pumpkin seeds and some crisped Brussels sprout leaves surrounded by a Sherry gastrique. The savory from the gourd dumplings, the texture and flavor of the delicate vegetables accented with the bacon treated my palate to a creamy medley of hearty yet delicate tastes. The menu will change with the seasons, and specials are at the chef’s discretion and imagination. A special Berreman creation is an amazing duck confit set atop golden beets with shaved fennel, shaved apples, and arugula with lentil du pays (a type of bean). The duck had been in dry brine all night, and it’s the chef’s proprietary recipe. The crisp skin had a mild, herbaceous, saltiness but ever-soslight sweetness. This easily carried through to the moist meat without any greasiness, often a fault of duck. Again, it was not a huge portion, but remarkable flavor and completely satisfying … perfect for a lunch. The fennel added spice, the apple a bit of sweet, and the arugula was crunchy and subtly tart. The du pays was a nice distraction from the same-old, same-old starch and veggies and again, showcased the creativity of the chef. Choosing a wine from a simple list was easy; most are by-the-glass ($8-$12). The bottle list covers a spectrum ($31-$230). I went with the 2012 Domaine St. Rose RousanneMarsanne-Viognier white blend, all elegant grapes. These grapes from southern France were picked at night to protect the juice. The nose is white melon, pear drops and sweet vanilla. In your mouth good acidity and balance up front is followed by rich, caramel flavors and a lush, almost creamy mouth feel. When a chef is able to express himself artistically through his food like Berreman is doing, I know he’s trusting his instincts and staying true to his initial goal of expressing himself creatively. Try Chez Louie and see an artist at work. Ω

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Firebreathing drags on The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

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This is a review of the High Frame Rate version of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Perhaps my review would’ve been less harsh had I watched it in 2-D, but no such luck. I plunked down the big bucks for HFR, and, man, do I hate technology sometimes. Many more theaters are offering HFR this time around—only a small percentage had the by technology for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Bob Grimm Journey—so many of us now have the opportunity to see just how bad this looks with b g ri m m @ ne w s re v i e w . c o m hobbits. I am sure there are films in the future that will be a proper fit for the High Frame Rate presentation. Films that are primarily set outside, boast a leisurely pace, and not too much makeup, for instance.

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As for Peter Jackson’s decision to shoot his latest Tolkien trilogy in High Frame Rate 3-D, it’s a tragic, disastrous choice. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, like its predecessor, An Unexpected Journey, is a task to watch. The look of the movie simply doesn’t jibe with the technology, resulting in a visual nightmare. If The Hobbit were, say, a soap opera or reality show, this High Frame Rate thing might’ve worked. As it stands, it makes the movie unwatchable, even after your eyes “adjust” to the stunt. The whole thing looks like it is being presented on a TV that is overdoing it. As a middle chapter in The Hobbit saga, The Desolation of Smaug is guilty of the same flaws that marred the first film. It’s overstuffed, the dwarves are severely uninteresting, and the action scenes lack any kind of urgency. It’s just a big, boring stunt film with people looking silly in their getups. The film starts with a flashback where Gandalf (Ian McKellen) has his first meeting with moody dwarf Thorin (Richard

Armitage). Actually, it really starts with a very obvious cameo by Jackson, who makes no Hitchcockian effort to blend in. We then pop ahead to the end of the first movie, and the continuation of Bilbo Baggins and company’s long, extremely tedious journey. As Bilbo, Martin Freeman labors to make things interesting during action scenes that feel redundant. (Hey, it’s another giant icky spider attack!) He definitely stands out among a cast of bland actors playing bland dwarves. Oh Gimli, how you are missed! Jackson finds a way to bring back Orlando Bloom as Legolas. Bloom’s scenes are a bunch of sorry minutes that could be cut from the film’s running time. Jackson has also created a new character in Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly), an elf warrior and the apple of Legolas’s eye. Let it be known that Legolas and Tauriel were not present in the original Tolkien novel, and movie viewers everywhere would be better off if such were the case in this film. Too many scenes in this movie feel padded and bloated. With each passing minute, Jackson is doing further damage to his directing legacy. His original Lord of the Rings trilogy was a major triumph. These Hobbit films feel and look like parody. From the moment the Warner Brothers logo comes up, things just look weird. Movies aren’t supposed to be this crisp. Granted, the shots of mountain ranges are breathtaking, but every close up of an actor’s overly made-up face destroys that feeling that you are at a movie. Smaug the dragon (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch) finally shows up, and he is easily the best thing in the Hobbit films thus far. He should’ve arrived in the second half of the first film, and the whole damned thing should’ve been over in three hours. One movie would’ve been sufficient to cover this story. I know you’ve heard critics bitch about this for the last couple of years now, and I am joining the fray. These Hobbit movies are an overblown, messed-up slog. The movie ends abruptly with a big cliffhanger. Normally, that sort of thing might have me leaving the theater all huffy and disappointed. Not this time. I was happy when this movie was over. I loved the Lord of the Rings films. They consistently made my year’s best lists, and I enjoy revisiting them from time to time. Conversely, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is going to go down as one of the year’s worst films as far as I’m concerned. Ω

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Bad Grandpa

Johnny Knoxville has tried to parlay his Jackass fame into an acting career, and he hasn’t exactly been setting the world on fire. So, because huge paychecks are tempting, he has returned to the Jackass well numerous times with three official movies, and his body has paid a tremendous toll. The man has thrown himself into the path of buffalos and bulls to score good laughs and, oh man, has he gotten those good laughs. As big as those checks can be, internal bleeding and broken limbs lose their luster after a while. So now we get this, a sort of Jackass movie that has a narrative mixed into hidden camera stunts. It’s very much in the tradition of Borat. Knoxville gets to play one part for the film, that of Irving Zisman, an over-80 letch of an old man that has shown up in past Jackass skits. He’s taking his grandson (Jackson Nicoll) across country, leading to some funny stunts that manage to shock a few. The highlight would be Nicoll dressed in drag and dancing to “Cherry Pie” at a beauty pageant, a moment when he basically steals the movie from Knoxville. Not as outrageous as the other Jackass films, but a nice way to keep the franchise going without destroying Knoxville’s body.

Dallas Buyers Club

Matthew McConaughey continues his career resurgence in this film based on the life of Ron Woodroof, a man who tested HIV positive in the ’80s, and had to battle the FDA while smuggling non-approved drugs into the country for himself and fellow sufferers. McConaughey lost many pounds to look the part, and it’s a frightening transformation. He also delivers an incredible performance. This, combined with his work earlier this year in Mud, easily establishes 2013 as the best year of his career. Jared Leto does incredible work as Rayon, a cross-dresser who helps Woodroof distribute the drugs to those needing some sort of treatment. Director Jean-Marc Vallee does a good job of capturing a time where HIV was a death sentence, and the terror that surrounded those who were fighting for their lives. This is a very good movie with great performances.

Delivery Man

Frozen

Vince Vaughn battles to make this American remake of Starbuck (both directed by Ken Scott) something worthwhile, and he almost wins. He plays David, a meat deliveryman who finds out he’s fathered over 500 children due to sperm clinic donations, and some of those kids want to meet him. David finds out who some of the kids are, spies on them, and tries to serve them as some sort of guardian angel. The film, while containing some genuinely warm moments, lost me in the final stretch where it gets overwhelmed by its dopey plot. Vaughn gives a good performance, as do some of the supporting cast (good to see SNL’s Bobby Moynihan getting some lines), but the pieces don’t add up. The outrageous premise screams for something a little less conventional than what Scott serves up. It’s one of those movies where you can predict all of the choices the protagonist is going to make, which results in boredom.

I have to admit I was more into the strange Mickey Mouse short that precedes this musical adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson’s “The Snow Queen” than the actual feature. It features retro Mickey busting out of a black and white film and becoming 3-D as he battles a bad guy kidnapping Minnie. It’s worth the price of admission. As for the actual feature movie, Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel have wonderful voices, and the visuals are fun to behold in this middle-of-the-road Disney fare. It has a lot of music—some of it quite good, some of it, well, not—and a beautiful look to it. For recent Disney animation, my vote goes to Tangled for best, but that’s not to say this one is a letdown. It’s OK. Just OK. It’s about on par with Pixar’s latest, Monster’s University. It’s fun to watch, but not altogether memorable.

Homefront

Jason Statham and James Franco star in this piece of silliness from the pen of Sylvester Stallone. While I’m not giving it a good review, I can tell you that fans of Statham and Franco probably won’t be too disappointed with this in that both do pretty

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good jobs of presenting rather stupid material. Statham stars as Broker, a former DEA agent looking for a new life with his young daughter in a place that he so very obviously should’ve stayed away from. Franco stars as Gator, a small-time meth dealer looking to go bigger. When Broker’s daughter punches Gator’s nephew out on the school playground, Gator decides to get involved, and things go haywire. Statham is better than usual here, and Franco is actually kind of great as the bad guy. But Stallone’s screenplay is so routine you can guess the plot points 10 minutes before they happen. Still, it does have Kate Bosworth and Winona Ryder as meth heads, so you could do worse at the movie theaters.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Out of the Furnace

Thor: The Dark World

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After a sloppy start, The Hunger Games franchise kicks into high gear with this solid, darker chapter. Jennifer Lawrence, looking a little more haggard and embittered, makes for a far more convincing war-torn survivor this time out. Her performance is great, as are the contributions of a bunch of new cast members including Jena Malone, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Sam Claflin. The new look and feel of the series can mostly be attributed to new director Francis Lawrence and his cinematographer Jo Willems, who get rid of that dopey, baroque look of the first movie in favor of something darker. The plot involves Katniss and fellow survivor Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) being forced into another Hunger Games where former victors must compete against each other. This installment has a lot more meat on the bone, and the action is easier to follow thanks to a much less frantic editing style. Francis Lawrence will direct the final two Hunger Games movies, and that’s good news for fans.

Christian Bale is at his simmering best in Out of the Furnace, a dark, often scary, and desolate look at two brothers who get dealt numerous bad hands. Directed by Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart), this is not a film designed to send you home smiling this holiday season. Russell Baze (Bale) is a good spirited, quiet man working at the town mill, and looking out for his military vet brother, Rodney (Casey Affleck). Rodney is having trouble adjusting after multiple tours in Iraq that have left him physically and emotionally scarred. This makes Russell ultra-patient when it comes to his bro, paying off his gambling debts behind his back to a local bookie (Willem Dafoe, who somehow makes this sleazy character seem like a nice guy). Russell, after a brutal and costly mistake, goes to jail while his brother does another tour. When Russell is set free, he has lost his girlfriend (Zoe Saldana), and his brother is in bad shape. Rodney’s debts have gotten too big, and he starts bare-knuckle boxing. He eventually finds himself in a situation where he should be taking a dive for a nasty criminal (Woody Harrelson playing one of the year’s most memorable and lecherous movie villains). The performances are stellar, with Cooper maintaining a commitment to all things somber that you don’t normally see in a late year release. It tells a sad story of two brothers who love each other, the hardships they face, the bad hits they take, and their somewhat regrettable coping choices. It’s no party, but it is a showcase for three actors just nailing it.

This latest installment is a step back from Kenneth Branagh’s goofy and grand first franchise installment, Thor. While not likely to piss off superhero film fans, this sequel from director Alan Taylor is not going to blow many minds away, either. It’s a semi-efficient placeholder flick moving us towards the next Avengers movie, due in 2015. Chris Hemsworth returns as that incredibly handsome man with long hair, a big hammer and impossibly silly dialogue. The film takes place after The Avengers, with a dark ancient force threatening the universe, and only Thor and his imprisoned brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston, stealing the movie) can save us. The movie is OK, but somewhat of a comedown considering how fun the first Thor and The Avengers were. It’s merely a placeholder until Thor’s next appearance in an Avengers movie, with some decent action and special effects to tide us over until the next Marvel fix.

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Sweating bullets Megadeth Dave Mustaine has led the iconic thrash metal band Megadeth since 1983. The group recently completed a world by Brad Bynum tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of the 1992 double-platinum album bradb@ Countdown to Extinction. Megadeth newsre view.c om comes to the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno on Dec. 19.

So that was probably a memorable show? For him it was. He went to the hospital that night. He had never used those in-ear monitors before, and they were so loud that they pounded his brains out, and he got vertigo. He came back and I said, “Why’d you have to go to the hospital?” And he said, “I got vertigo.” And I said, “You pussy.” And he said, “It’s only my third show ever.” And I was like, “What did you just say?” If I’d known he’d only done two shows before that, I probably wouldn’t have hired him. But he was so good you would never think that. The portrayal of you in Some Kind of Monster from a few years ago makes you seem like you’re still really bitter about being removed from Metallica— [Woman’s voice: Hello? Hey, can we just keep to the record and tour, please?] OK. It’s a music related question. I was just going to ask what kind of terms he’s on with James and Lars [of Metallica] now, but if that’s a no-go area ... It’s not a no-go area. It’s just really tired. There’s so many great things I’d like to share. How are things with me and James? They’re fine. He wished me happy birthday. I wished him happy birthday. We’re fine.

You’ve been celebrating Countdown to Extinction’s 20-year anniversary. You did a tour playing it in its entirety. Can you tell me about revisiting it? It’s very interesting when you approach doing an entire record because you have to learn all the songs and sometimes there are songs on there that are very personal, so to relearn them, as crazy as this sounds, is like a bad tooth back into your head, to revisit some of that pain. It’s great to play the songs once you’ve learned them, but when you reintroduce yourself to all that, it’s like slipping back into a crashed car.

Guitarist and vocalist Dave Mustaine of metal icons Megadeth.

Megadeth performs with Fear Factory and Nonpoint at the Grand Sierra Resort, 2500 E. Second St. on Thursday, Dec. 19. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. For tickets or more information, visit www.grand sierraresort.com.

I understand getting frustrated by getting asked about the same things, but for me as an interviewer, it’s frustrating because I have things I’d like to talk you about, and now I’m like, am I going to get interrupted again? For you, is that frustrating? To have your interviews policed like that? Well, let me back up a little bit here. When we agree to do these interviews with people, basically what we do is we talk to them about the tour and the record and stuff like that. We try to stay away from politics, because no matter how I’m portrayed it just sucks. And we try to stay away from the Metallica questions because no matter how I’m portrayed it sucks. And if you want to take a chance at hurting me and putting a question about Metallica or politics, if that’s your bag, go ahead. But I thought we were going along in a great direction.

The tour coming to Reno is in support of the new album, Super Collider. This is going to be our last time playing in Reno until 2015. We’re going to be taking a break. We’ve got some dates lined up next year internationally. When those are done in August, we’re going to start working on our next record. But we want to have enough time between records to write something personal and important. The music is pretty fun and pretty easy. The lyrics are hard. I don’t want to just write some stupid crap.

For an extended version of this interview, visit www. newsreview.com.

I’m not out to vilify you. I can tell by the sound of your voice that you’re a nice cat. And it’s not that you’re being handcuffed. There’s just so many great things to talk about, and there’s just so many people out there, and it’s like, not another fucking Metallica question. We’re all good. Ω

You guys have played Reno a bunch ... [Drummer] Shawn Drover’s first show was in Reno, almost 10 years ago. We played a casino out there. OPINION

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125 W. Third St., (775) 323-5005

THE ALLEY 906 Victorian Ave., Sparks; (775) 358-8891

Youth Brigade Dec. 20, 8:30 p.m. The Alley 906 Victorian Ave. Sparks 358-8891

Suspect Zero, 9:30pm, no cover

Wiked Troopz, Shifty, Legitimate Cause, 8pm, $5

Youth Brigade, Swingin’ Utters, Machine Gun Mojo Green, Del Mar, 8pm, $7 Vendetta, Infecto Skeletons, 8:30pm, $15

Rhythm Rewind w/September, DJs RyOn, Rewind, 9pm, $7

Clyde Carson, Lil Debbie, 7pm, $15-$20

Pub Quiz Trivia Night, 8pm, no cover

Neil O’Kane, 9pm, no cover

Blarney Band, 9pm, no cover

Sonic Mass w/DJ Tigerbunny, 7pm, no cover

Good Friday with rotating DJs, 10pm, no cover

555 E. Fourth St., (775) 378-4507 538 S. Virginia St., (775) 329-5558

COMMA COFFEE

The Improv at Harveys Cabaret, Harveys Lake Tahoe, Stateline, (800) 553-1022: Will Durst, Ahmed Bharoocha, Th-F, Su, 9pm, $25; Sa, 8pm, 10pm, $30; Kivi Rogers, David Gee, W, 9pm, $25

CW and Mr. Spoons, noon, M, no cover

DAVIDSON’S DISTILLERY

Hellbilly Wally’s Open Mic Jam, 9:30pm, M, karaoke, 9:30pm, Tu, no cover

275 E. Fourth St., (775) 324-1917

EL CORTEZ LOUNGE 235 W. Second St., (775) 324-4255

Karaoke with Lisa Lisa, 9pm, no cover

FUEGO 170 S. Virginia St., (775) 322-1800

Karaoke with Lisa Lisa, 9pm, no cover

THE GRID BAR & GRILL HANGAR BAR

Karaoke Kat, 9pm, no cover

HARRY’S SPORTS BAR & GRILL HIMMEL HAUS

White Out Winter Solstice Party w/Jelly Bread, 3pm, no cover

3819 Saddle Rd., South Lake Tahoe; (530) 314-7665 My Acoustic Heart, Liam Kyle Cahill, Greg Belle, Jazz Davis, 8pm, $5

Awarded 2013 Greater Reno-Tahoe's 'Best Place to Work’

Satisfaction Associate (Customer Service) Sales and Customer Service Representative Logistics Associate Production Artist (Graphic Design)

Full time career opportunities with a progressive, growing company located in Reno, Nevada Could you be our next Inker?!? Apply online today at customink.com/jobs

RN&R

| DECEMBER 19, 2013

Recycle this paper

WE'RE HIRING! We seek friendly and reliable individuals to help WOW! our customers in the following roles:

Canyon Jam, 8pm, no cover

Open mic, 7pm, no cover

1100 E. Plumb Ln., (775) 828-7665

140 Vesta St., (775) 742-1858

Karaoke with Lisa Lisa, 9pm, M, Tu, W, no cover

Karaoke w/Andrew, 9pm, no cover

8545 N. Lake Blvd., Kings Beach; (530) 546-0300

THE HOLLAND PROJECT

Karaoke with Lisa Lisa, 9pm, no cover

Live flamenco guitar music, 5:30pm, no cover

10603 Stead Blvd., Stead; (775) 677-7088

• • • •

Traditional Irish Tune Session, 7pm, Tu, no cover

World Dance Open Floor Night, 8pm, no cover

312 S. Carson St., Carson City; (775) 883-2662

Catch a Rising Star, Silver Legacy, 407 N. Virginia St., 329-4777: Rick D’Elia, Th, 7:30pm, $15.95; F, 7:30pm, 9:30pm, $15.95; Sa, 7:30pm, 9:30pm, $17.95

DG Kicks, 9pm, Tu, no cover

Monday Night Open Mic, 8pm, M, no cover

BODEGA NIGHTCLUB

1099 S. Virginia St., (775) 324-2244

3rd Street, 125 W. Third St., 323-5005: Comedy Night & Improv w/Patrick Shillito, W, 9pm, no cover

Drinking with Clowns, 9pm, no cover

816 Highway 40 West, Verdi; (775) 351-3206

CHAPEL TAVERN

Comedy

Blues jam w/Blue Haven, 9:30pm, no cover

BAR-M-BAR

CEOL IRISH PUB

MONDAY-WEDNESDAY 12/23-12/25

Select Saturdays, 8pm, no cover

214 W. Commercial Row, (775) 329-9444

3RD STREET

SUNDAY 12/22

Victims of the Cave, We Came to Conquer, Mustakrakish, 7:30pm, $TBA

Open Mic Night, 9pm, M, no cover

THURSDAY 12/19

FRIDAY 12/20

SATURDAY 12/21

SUNDAY 12/22

JAVA JUNGLE

MONDAY-WEDNESDAY 12/23-12/25 Outspoken: Open Mic Night, 7pm, M, no cover

246 W. First St., (775) 329-4484

JAZZ, A LOUISIANA KITCHEN

First Take featuring Rick (SAX) Metz, 6pm, no cover

Erika Paul, 6pm, no cover

1180 Scheels Dr., Sparks; (775) 657-8659

JUB JUB’S THIRST PARLOR

Bill Davis, 6pm, no cover

DJ Kos, 9pm, $5

71 S. Wells Ave., (775) 384-1652

KNITTING FACTORY CONCERT HOUSE

Open mic, 9pm, M, no cover

Blood on the Dance Floor, The Relapse Symphony, Haley Rose, 8pm, $15-$30

211 N. Virginia St., (775) 323-5648

Blood on the Dance Floor

Toys for Tots drive w/Forrest Day, Giantis, Superfinos VTO, 9pm, $10

KNUCKLEHEADS BAR & GRILL

Dec. 20, 8 p.m. Knitting Factory 211 N. Virginia St. 323-5648

Open Mic/College Night, 8pm, Tu, no cover

405 Vine St., (775) 323-6500

THE POINT 3001 W. Fourth St., (775) 322-3001

Karaoke hosted by Gina Jones, 7pm, no cover

Karaoke hosted by Gina Jones, 9pm, no cover

POLO LOUNGE

Bobby G, 8:30pm, no cover

Gemini, 9pm, no cover

Jakes Garage 5*0, 9pm, no cover

1559 S. Virginia St., (775) 322-8864

RED DOG SALOON 76 N. C St., Virginia City; (775) 847-7474

RUBEN’S CANTINA

Karaoke, 8pm, no cover

1483 E. Fourth St., (775) 622-9424

RYAN’S SALOON

Daniel Tosh

Karaoke, 9pm, no cover

924 S. Wells Ave., (775) 323-4142

SIDELINES BAR & NIGHTCLUB

Beware of Darkness, 9pm, $5

1237 Baring Blvd., Sparks; (775) 355-1030

ST. JAMES INFIRMARY 445 California Ave., (775) 657-8484

Renegade, 9pm, no cover

Open Mic Night w/Tany Jane, 8pm, M, Black and Blues Jam, 8:30pm, Tu, no cover

Dance party, 9pm, no cover

Strange on the Range, 7pm, M, no cover Tuesday Night Trivia, 8pm, Tu, no cover

STUDIO ON 4TH

Dec. 21, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. MontBleu Resort 55 Highway 50 Stateline (800) 648-3353

Karaoke Night w/Koolwater Karaoke, 7pm, Tu, no cover

432 E. Fourth St., (775) 410-5993

TAP SHACK

Mark Castro Band, 8pm, no cover

112 Rice St., Carson City; (775) 884-4666

WILDFLOWER VILLAGE

Reno Music Project Open Mic, 6:30pm, no cover

4275-4395 W. Fourth St., (775) 787-3769

Wildflower Comedy Power Hour Open Mic, 8:30pm, no cover

WICKED WIC W ICKED ICK KE TR TROOP TROOPS OOP O OPS

Thursday, T Thu rsday, rsd ay, y December D Decem cember ber 19 9

W Legit W/ Legitimate itimat imate Cause, Shifty, Ill Trix, NBK NBK

YOUTH YOU UTH T BRIGADE BRIGAD BRI G E / SWINGIN' UTTERS UTTE ERS

Friday, F Fri day, da y December 20

Machine Ma ac ach ch hin iine ne n Gun Vendetta, Infecto Skeletons, Skeleton ns, Pig Farmers

MOJO GREEN

Saturday, December 21 The Halve Two + Friends

HELLBOUND GLORY

Thursday, December 26 W/ Last To Leave, Bonfire Set, Feather Mechants

SHE HAS A FASHION VICE

Friday, December 27

W/ Alpha Complex, Dennis Is Dead, Our Devices

SISTERS DOOM

Saturday, December 28

W/ We Predict A Riot, Anchors For Air Planes, Weight Of The Tide

NEW YEARS EVE BASH

Tuesday, December 31 W/ The Saddle Tramps + The Greg Golden Band!!

NEW YEARS EVE SHOW: THE SADDLE TRAMPS w/ GREG GOLDEN BAND & SPECIAL GUESTS

GET PRE-SALE TICKETS NOW: Youth Brigade + Swingin' Utters – Dec 20 Mojo Green + Del Mar – Dec 21 Hellbound Glory – Dec 26 Saddle Tramps + Greg Golden – Dec 31

TheAlleySparks.com (775) 358.8891 906 Victorian Ave, Sparks NV Facebook.TheAlleySparks.com

OPINION

NEWS

GREEN

FEATURE STORY

ARTS&CULTURE

IN ROTATION

ART OF THE STATE

FOODFINDS

FILM

| MUSICBEAT

NIGHTCLUBS/CASINOS

| THIS WEEK

MISCELLANY

DECEMBER 19, 2013

RN&R

ATLANTIS CASINO RESORT SPA 3800 S. Virginia St., (775) 825-4700 1) Grand Ballroom Stage 2) Cabaret

BOOMTOWN CASINO HOTEL

2100 Garson Rd., Verdi; (775) 345-6000 1) Event Center 2) Guitar Bar

THURSDAY 12/19

FRIDAY 12/20

SATURDAY 12/21

SUNDAY 12/22

MONDAY-WEDNESDAY 12/23-12/25

2) Kick, 8pm, no cover

2) Kick, 4pm, Cook Book, 10pm, no cover

2) Cook Book, 8pm, no cover

2) The Vegas Road Show, 8pm, M, Tu, W, no cover

2) Rock River, 6pm, no cover

2) Rock River, 4:30pm, Dan Parslow, 8pm, no cover

2) Rock River, 6pm, no cover

2) Mike Furlong, 6pm, M, Tu, W, no cover

2) Peter Joseph Burtt and the Kingtide, 10pm, no cover

2) Drop Theory, 10pm, no cover

1) Ice Fantasy, call for showtimes, $19.95-$24.95 2) Left of Centre, 10:30pm, no cover 4) Live piano, jazz, 4:30pm, no cover

1) Ice Fantasy, call for showtimes, $19.95-$24.95 2) Left of Centre, 10:30pm, no cover 3) Skyy High Fridays, 10pm, $10 4) Live piano, jazz, 4:30pm, no cover

1) Ice Fantasy, call for showtimes, $19.95-$24.95 2) Left of Centre, 10:30pm, no cover 3) Four Play Saturdays, 10pm, $10 4) Live piano, jazz, 4:30pm, no cover

1) Ice Fantasy, call for showtimes, $19.95-$24.95 2) Left of Centre, 10:30pm, no cover 4) Live piano, jazz, 4:30pm, no cover

1) Ice Fantasy, Tu, W, $19.95-$24.95 2) Live Band Karaoke, 10pm, M, DJ Chris English, 10pm, Tu, Audioboxx, 10:30pm, W, no cover 4) Live piano, jazz, 4:30pm, W, no cover

1) Megadeth, Fear Factory, Nonpoint, 7:30pm, $38.50-$40

1) The Peking Acrobats, 8pm, $10-$20

1) The Peking Acrobats, 8pm M, Tu, W, $10-$20

CRYSTAL BAY CLUB

Peter Joseph Burtt and the Kingtide Dec. 20, 10 p.m. Crystal Bay Club 14 Highway 28 Crystal Bay 833-6333

14 Hwy. 28, Crystal Bay; (775) 833-6333 1) Crown Room 2) Red Room

ELDORADO HOTEL CASINO

345 N. Virginia St., (775) 786-5700 1) Showroom 2) Brew Brothers 3) BuBinga Lounge 4) Roxy’s Bar & Lounge 5) Stadium Bar

GRAND SIERRA RESORT

2500 E. Second St., (775) 789-2000 1) Grand Theater 2) WET Ultra Lounge

Karaoke

HARRAH’S LAKE TAHOE

15 Hwy. 50, Stateline; (775) 588-6611 1) South Shore Room 2) Casino Center Stage 3) Peek Nightclub

3) DJ Keenan, 10:30pm, $20

1) Chubby Checker, 7:30pm, $55 3) Rick Gee, DJ SN1, 10pm, $20

Bottoms Up Saloon, 1923 Prater Way, Sparks, 359-3677: Th-Sa, 9pm, no cover

HARRAH’S RENO

1) Beatles vs. Stones w/Abbey Road and Jumping Jack Flash, 8pm, $25-$35 2) The Boys of Summer, 9pm, no cover 3) Club Sapphire w/DJ I, 9pm, no cover

1) Reno Dance Company’s The Nutcracker, 8pm, $26.95-$36.95 2) Steppen Stonz, 8pm, no cover 3) Tyler Stafford, 6pm, no cover

1) Reno Dance Company’s The Nutcracker, 1) Reno Dance Company’s 2pm, 8pm, $26.95-$36.95 The Nutcracker, 2pm, 7pm, 2) Steppen Stonz, 8pm, no cover $26.95-$36.95 3) Tyler Stafford, 6pm, no cover

Elbow Room Bar, 2002 Victorian Ave., Sparks, 359-3526: F, Tu, 7pm; Su, 2pm, no cover Celtic Knot Pub, 541 E. Moana Lane, 829-8886: J.P. and Super Fun Entertainment, Th, 8pm, no cover Flowing Tide Pub, 465 S. Meadows Pkwy., Ste. 5, 284-7707; 4690 Longley Lane, Ste. 30, (775) 284-7610: Karaoke, Sa, 9pm, no cover Sneakers Bar & Grill, 3923 S. McCarran Blvd., 829-8770: Karaoke w/Mark, Sa, 8:30pm, no cover Spiro’s Sports Bar & Grille, 1475 E. Prater Way, Sparks, 356-6000: Music & Karaoke, F, 9pm; Lovely Karaoke, Sa, 9pm, no cover Washoe Club, 112 S. C St., Virginia City, 847-4467: Gothic Productions Karaoke, Sa, Tu, 8pm, no cover

RN&R

| DECEMBER 19, 2013

1) Beatles vs. Stones w/Abbey Road 219 N. Center St., (775) 788-2900 and Jumping Jack Flash, 8pm, $25-$35 1) Sammy’s Showroom 2) The Zone 3) Sapphire Lounge 4) Plaza 5) Convention Center

JOHN ASCUAGA’S NUGGET

1100 Nugget Ave., Sparks; (775) 356-3300 1) Showroom 2) Cabaret 3) Orozko 4) Rose Ballroom 5) Trader Dick’s

2) Steppen Stonz, 7pm, no cover 3) Tyler Stafford, 5:30pm, no cover 5) Karaoke Night, 7pm, no cover

MONTBLEU RESORT

2707 S. Virginia St., (775) 826-2121 1) Tuscany Ballroom 2) Terrace Lounge 3) Edge 4) Capri Ballroom

SILVER LEGACY

1) Reno Dance Company’s The Nutcracker, 2pm, 7pm, M, $26.95-$36.95 2) Country at the Cabaret, 7pm, W, no cover 3) Rosendo, 5:30pm, W, no cover

1) Daniel Tosh, 7pm, 9:30pm, $55-$75 3) Boogie Nights, 8pm, no cover w/’70s-’80s attire

55 Hwy. 50, Stateline; (800) 648-3353 1) Theatre 2) Opal 3) Blu

PEPPERMILL RESORT SPA CASINO

1) Beatles vs. Stones w/Abbey Road and Jumping Jack Flash, 8pm, $25-$35

2) Singer-Songwriter Showcase w/Verbal Kint, 6pm, no cover 3) 3-D Thursdays w/DJs Max, Chris English, Kronyak, 10pm, $20

407 N. Virginia St., (775) 325-7401 3) Social Network Night, 9pm, no cover 1) Grand Exposition Hall 2) Rum Bullions Island Bar 4) Live music, 6:30pm, no cover 3) Aura Ultra Lounge 4) Silver Baron Lounge 5) Drinx Lounge

2) Ike & Martin, 8pm, no cover 3) Salsa dancing with BB of Salsa Reno, 2) Ike & Martin, 8pm, no cover 7:30pm, $10 after 8pm, DJ Chris English, 3) Rogue Saturdays, 10pm, $20 DJ ((Fredie)), 10pm, $20

2) Anderson Ackerson, 6pm, no cover

2) Anderson Ackerson, 6pm, M, Tu, W, no cover

2) Live music/DJ, 9pm, no cover 3) Fashion Friday, 7pm, no cover 4) Live music, 8:30pm, no cover

2) Recovery Sundays, 10pm, no cover 3) Midnight Mass, 9pm, no cover 4) Live music, 6:30pm, no cover

2) Gong Show Karaoke, 8pm, Tu, no cover 3) Step This Way (dubstep, house), 8pm, W, no cover

2) Live music/DJ, 9pm, no cover 3) Seduction Saturdays, 9pm, $5 4) Live music, 8:30pm, no cover

Barbara Gruenewald

Attorney At Law Practice Emphasizing Workers’ Compensation

Pianos * Keyboards * Guitars * Lessons

Phone 775-322-3366 * Fax 775-322-1755 www.barbaralawnv.com

Bring the appreciation and true enjoyment of music into your home with a new piano from northern Nevada’s oldest and most reliable music center. Carpenter’s Music World at 2700 S. Virginia (across from Peppermill) offers a fine selection for every budget. You can choose the perfect piano from northern Nevada’s largest inventory to fit your décor. They are exclusive authorized dealers for Yamaha pianos and Clavinova, featuring Baldwin, Steinway and Kawai pianos. When you want to introduce your family to a piano for the first time, you’ll like the “rent with option to buy” plan that Carpenter’s Music World offers. If your child should not want to continue, you’re not locked into a long-term commitment. If the child adapts, your rent can be applied to the purchase price. Carpenter’s Music World offers music lessons for all levels from university-trained teachers at Reno Music Academy. Once you and your children learn to play piano, it’s easier to learn any other instrument. Carpenter’s Music World has provided 46 years of service to the community. In celebration, very special Customer Loyalty discounts are being offered right now during the holiday season! In this Consumer Business Review, the editors are proud to, once again, recommend Carpenter’s Music World to our readers!

An accident in the workplace can happen to any working person. If you or someone you care about is involved in a work-related accident, you'll need the services of Barbara Gruenewald regarding your Workers' Compensation case. An accident at work is covered by Workers' Compensation insurance, no matter whose fault the accident was. Ms. Gruenewald can help. Her office is at 439 Marsh Avenue, in Reno. She will be glad to answer any questions you may have and explain the range of benefits available to you under the Workers' Compensation laws. Workers' Compensation can be a long and frustrating process. Ms. Gruenewald will do everything possible to obtain a prompt and fair settlement. The editors of this Consumer Business Review, for the 20th time, recommend you seek the assistance of Barbara Gruenewald. She cares about your problems, and invites you to visit her website at www.barbaralawnv.com and to call 775-322-3366 and make arrangements for a $45.00 initial consultation!

Call 775-852-7618

www.CarpentersMusic.com

Scott N. Tisevich, Esq. Master of Law in Taxation Educated in New Bankruptcy Laws IRS Problems * Foreclosures

Buying All Scrap Metal * Top Prices Paid Industrial Pick-Up & Containers Furnished Open To The Public * Drive Thru Service

Call: (775) 786-8926 www.debtandtaxesltd.com No one enjoys facing financial problems. However, we sometimes find ourselves in awkward situations, where professional legal assistance becomes a necessity. Many people appreciate the personal approach that Scott N. Tisevich takes in giving you the peace of mind that you, your group, family or business deserve regarding bankruptcy matters. Have you lost your job? Been divorced or injured? Stop creditors harassment, lawsuits, repossessions and foreclosure, or IRS seizures, wage garnishments or attachments. Don't let unpaid bills or judgments ruin your health, marriage or your job. Scott N. Tisevich cares about your problems, and invites you to visit him at 241 Ridge Street, Suite #300, in Reno, and call to make arrangements for a free initial consultation. Your case will be handled professionally, and confidentially. The editors of this Consumer Business Review urge our readers to contact Scott N. Tisevich to handle your bankruptcy matter quickly, efficiently, and economically. You'll be glad you have found an attorney you can depend on!

Call: (775) 358-8880

Buying of aluminum cans and scrap metals is the full time job of Western Metals Recycling. This established firm deals in all types, and pays top dollar for these commodities. Western Metals Recycling, at 1325 Hymer Avenue, in Sparks, will pay cash or check by the pound for recyclables of all types. They buy scrap metals including aluminum cans, copper, brass, steel insulated wire and more. By re-using these materials, we can prevent further dredging up of the Earth in order to obtain new raw materials and this is, of course, a big help to the ecology. You're doing a service to the ecology AND to your pocketbook when you make it a point to take all excess recyclables to Western Metals Recycling. They, in turn, sell materials to many places of business where they're converted back into useful products again. It's an excellent way to help the environment and the economy. If you have a business that discards a lot of scrap metals regularly, make the most of it by contacting Western Metals Recycling for regular pick-up. Visit them on the web at www.WMRecycling.com. The editors of this Consumer Business Review strongly recommend Western Metals Recycling for their significant contribution to the ecology. It’s Up To You!

$ 0DVWHU 0HFKDQLF Service You Can Depend On Licensed * Certified * Bonded Call: 775-358-6777 www.amastermechanic.com

Locally Owned & Operated Since 1972 * Open 7 Days a Week RV * Boat * Car (Covered or Enclosed) Tall & Wide Doors 16 Popular Sizes * 24-Hour Access

Call (775) 786-7850

A Master Mechanic features complete repairs on all makes of cars and trucks. A Master Mechanic is located at 2255 Glendale Avenue, in Reno. They have become known as a full-service auto repair center. Their technicians have had years of experience and use only the latest factory approved techniques. From a tune-up or a brake job to a complete overhaul, their knowledgeable staff will handle it. With their expertise and today’s technology, they will be able to add years to the life of your car. Today’s automobile is a major investment. Protect your investment by making sure only well-qualified people are entrusted with its care. From a simple oil change to a complete engine rebuild, A Master Mechanic has the equipment, parts and skill to repair or replace any part that may malfunction. With years of recommendations behind them, A Master Mechanic has established the type of reputation you can trust. So, when you need ANYTHING done to your car, see the best...first. The editors of this Consumer Business Review recommend you make an appointment with Jeff at A Master Mechanic. He’ll take good care of you at prices you can afford!

)21'8( %2'< %287,48( First Tattoo Shop Established In Sparks! New Tattoo Artist! Tattoos * Body Piercing * Over 30 Years Experience Huge Jewelry Selection * Ask About Special Orders Private Rooms * Custom Work * Clean * Safe

Call 775-359-1750

www.StorageReno.com

It seems like “Self-Storage” facilities are everywhere. But, who has the most convenient, clean and secure storage units in the Truckee Meadows? Stor-All Self-Storage at 777 Panther Dr., in Reno has the perfect size storage units for homeowners, military personnel, business people or anyone needing a clean, secure and weather tight storage unit. Rest easy, knowing your business files, equipment, car, RV, boat, household items and furniture are safely and securely stored away. Plenty of space is available to store your RV, car or boat and you can be sure your possessions are completely secure, with electronic gate access 24/7, digital video surveillance and fully fenced and lighted. The editors of this Consumer Business Review are pleased to recommend Stor-All Self-Storage to our readers as self-storage facility of the year.

If you are contemplating getting a tattoo, but are not sure where to get the best work for the money, contact Fondue Body Boutique, at 416 Greenbrae Drive, in Sparks. Fondue Body Boutique is the area’s expert in beautiful skin illustrations and body piercings. From their large selection of creative designs, they will help you select the perfect one for you. Choose an award-winning tattoo from their own creation. Fondue Body Boutique has received many awards for their work and are the recipients of the highest honors for displaying the most professional attitude and ethical practices. Fondue Body Boutique has a reputation for being the finest in design as well as realistic initial cost. Fondue Body Boutique uses the latest equipment and tools featuring auto clave sterilization, and will expertly create the design of your choosing. The editors of this Consumer Business Review once again recommend Fondue Body Boutique to all tattoo and body piercing enthusiasts. We know you'll like the safe, businesslike way you are treated.

RN&R

Mark A. Marsh, Esquire

20 Years Experience Personal Injury * Divorce * Workers’ Compensation

Call (775) 882-8880

Being in the wrong place at the wrong time can happen to anyone at anytime. If you or someone you care about is involved in an accident, you'll need the services of Mark A. Marsh, Esq. regarding your personal injury case. Many times, these accidents are caused by someone's negligence. That's when Mark can help. His office is at 777 E. William Street (corner of Roop & William), Suite 211, in Carson City. He will be glad to help you find answers to your questions and investigate your situation. If compensation is justified, Mr. Marsh will seek the best settlement possible. The worst things can happen to anyone. You should be aware of your legal rights. The editors of this Consumer Business Review recommend you seek the assistance of Mark A. Marsh, Esq. He cares about your problems, and invites you to call and make arrangements for a free initial consultation. You'll be glad you have found an attorney you can depend on!

The Links at Kiley Ranch is Now Offering Private Clubhouse and Course Rentals! * The Links is Also Proud to Sponsor any Charitable Event in the Reno/Sparks Area!! *

(775) 354-2100 * www.KileyRanchGolf.com The area’s best golfers agree that The Links at Kiley Ranch is just about the finest executive course around! The Links at Kiley Ranch at 5800 Kiley Links Drive, in Sparks, (off Sparks Boulevard between Los Altos and Pyramid), features EVERYTHING for making your game more rewarding and enjoyable. Call (775) 354-2100 for more information on memberships and other golf opportunities. Another reason for The Links at Kiley Ranch’s immense popularity is their Links style golf course, codesigned by Mark Miller and Patty Sheehan, a member of the LPGA Hall of Fame. Testimonials: Rich, who lives in Wingfield Springs, “I’ve played all the courses around and can’t believe I haven’t been here the whole time. This course is the coolest!” Brett and Laurie, “We love coming here! It’s nice to have a place like this that will cater to us like it’s our own little Country Club!” Warren Family, “Kiley Ranch is a hidden treasure! We, as a family, could not be happier! The course is challenging enough for us and our kids are more patient playing the 9 holes…” The editors of this Consumer Business Review urge all area golfers to play The Links at Kiley Ranch for family fun outside. Affordable fun for the entire family and open year round!

-·V 9: 9DQV Volkswagon & Audi Repairs * Specializing In VW Camper Vans * New Tire Machine & Tire Balance Machine New & Used Parts

775-323-4943

www.VWVansReno.com

Practice Emphasizing Criminal Defense Arrested? Get Help Now!

CALL: 775-786-4188 www.Houston-LawFirm.net

Would you represent yourself if you became the defendant in a criminal matter? No, of course not! You'd retain an attorney. But, it's difficult to know whom to call, unless you know someone. We'd like to help! Criminal defense is not something you should consider lightly. You could spend significant periods of incarceration and large fines & assessment fees should you lose your case. Your personal freedom and your financial well-being are at stake when you are accused of a crime. David R. Houston is engaged in the practice of criminal defense. His emphasis is in the areas of DUI, drug and sex offenses, crimes of violence, theft crimes and all other felonies and misdemeanors. He knows the laws and knows how to properly prepare your case. Call 775-786-4188 today for a confidential consultation. Mr. Houston’s office is located at 432 Court Street, in Reno and he is prepared to offer you aggressive & experienced legal representation which may make the difference in retaining your driver’s license, avoiding jail and large fines. The editors of this Consumer Business Review feel you owe it to yourself to have David R. Houston on your side and be on the winning team. We’re proud to recommend him to our readers for the 19th time!

+.8'4 6#6' 4/5 Buy * Sell * Trade

Call 827-0303

There are many firearms dealers to choose from. Northern Nevada’s leading firearms specialist is Silver State Arms at 3020 Kietzke Lane, in Reno (at Gentry). This well known shop features one of the best selections of guns in the region and they're known for the best value. Stop in and browse. You’ll see a fine assortment of famous name rifles, handguns and shotguns. Choose from well-known brands. Meet the staff, Dennis, Joe and Sharon. They’ll help you with your selection and answer your questions. Visit them on the web at www.SilverStateArms.com. There's ammunition, too, in all calibers. Silver State Arms features a full line of accessories and supplies for hunting. The editors of this Consumer Business Review are proud to recommend Silver State Arms to our readers for the 5th time! We know you will be pleased with their quality products and services.

What do you look for in a Volkswagon repair shop? Efficiency? Friendliness? Realistic prices? Well, J’s VW Vans offers all of this and more! Located at 545 Depaoli Street, off of 4th Street, in Reno, this firstrate VW and Audi repair shop can take care of your vehicle and save you money doing it! From oil changes to minor tune-ups to major engine overhauls to mounting tires and balancing, J’s VW Vans, with years of experience plus the right tools for the job are just a couple of the reasons that make doing business with J’s VW Vans such a pleasure. The personal touch is not forgotten either and J’s VW Vans wants every customer to know that their PERSONAL guarantee of satisfaction accompanies every job. J’s VW Vans can handle most any repair or general maintenance that your VW or Audi requires. The Consumer Business Review recommends that our many readers do themselves a favor and have J’s VW Vans service your VW or Audi! J’s VW Vans is an independent repair shop and is not affiliated with Volkswagon.

Think Free 30

RN&R |

December 19, 2013

For a complete listing of this week’s events, visit newsreview.com/reno

Ski resorts celebrate the holiday season Squaw Valley USA offers Holidays at Squaw featuring Santa Claus on the slopes and festive cheer in The Village at Squaw Valley USA, 1960 Squaw Valley Road, Olympic Valley. Visitors can also ski and snowboard, take the family snow tubing or grab a hot chocolate and find a warm spot by the fire pit while listening to holiday carolers. Events run through Jan. 1. Visit www.squaw.com. Northstar also offers holiday festivities including its Thursday evening Noel Nights, sleigh rides, appearances by Santa Claus, ice skating, holiday carolers and more. The celebration runs through Dec. 24 at The Village at Northstar California Resort, 5001 Northstar Drive, Truckee. Visit www.northstarcalifornia.com. Heavenly Ski Resort, 3860 Saddle Road, South Lake Tahoe, hosts Heavenly Holidays featuring professional ice skating shows, ice sculptors, carolers, local artists and a 16-foot interactive snow globe where kids can get their photos taken with Santa. The celebration begins Friday, Dec. 20, and ends Tuesday, Dec. 31. Visit www.skiheavenly.com.

Christmas Carol: An American Musical Ballet Nevada presents its musical production based on Charles Dickens’ classic tale but with “an American twist.” Performances are at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 20, and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21, at Galena High School’s theater, 3600 Butch Cassidy Drive. Call 329-2026 or visit www.balletnevada.com.

—Kelley Lang

Winter Solstice Celebration River School Farm marks the longest night of the year with a community potluck dinner beginning at 5:30pm on Saturday, Dec. 21. Guests are asked to bring a dish made from locally sourced ingredients. Following dinner there will be a circle ceremony, dancing and music by DJ Zephyr into the evening. Visitors can also stop by earlier in the day for a farm tour and bird walk starting at 3pm. The suggested donation for the potluck dinner and celebration is $5. River School Farm is at 7777 White Fir St. Call 747-2222 or visit www.riverschoolfarm.org.

Shitty Xmas Sweater/ Winter Solstice Party

Bah, humbug to all this holiday cheer! Head to Jub Jub’s Thirst Parlor for a night of metal mayhem presented by Born Dead Productions. Purification by Fire, Doomtrooper, Slut Fungus and Half A Tusk are just a few of the bands scheduled to perform on Saturday, Dec. 21, starting at 8 p.m. at Jub Jub’s, 71 S. Wells Ave. Tickets are $10. Call Jub Jub’s at 384-1652 or search for Bone Dead Productions’ Facebook page.

An Elegant Christmas Reno Little Theater presents this holiday show featuring Marc Anthony (and no, he’s not the Latin pop music star and former husband of Jennifer Lopez) at the organ and dancers from the Spiral Ballet. The two shows takes place at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21, at the RLT, 147 E. Pueblo St. Tickets are $15. A portion of the proceeds benefit The Wounded Warrior Project. Call 750-5645 or visit http://renolittletheater.org.

The Nutcracker Ballet The Reno Dance Company presents its production of Tchaikovsky’s beloved ballet. Performances are 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 20, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 22 and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. On Monday, Dec. 23. The show will be at the Celebrity Showroom inside John Ascuaga’s Nugget, 1100 Nugget Ave., Sparks. Tickets are $26.95-$36.95. Call the Nugget Showroom at 356-3300 or visit www.renodancecompany.com.

OPINION

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S T E K C I T N WI Just nominate a public figure for this year’s “People’s Choice Shaft Award”! Each year, we choose someone whose actions or words are deserving of the “shaft”. This could be an elected official, someone from a public agency or business or the organization itself. • Send your nomination (one nomination per entry, please) to contest@newsreview.com • Include your full name, birth date and day phone • Tell us - in 50 words or less - why your nominee deserves “the shaft” • DEADLINE TO ENTER is 11:59pm on Monday, December 30, 2013 The winning entry will receive two tickets to the Sheep Dip Show on Friday, January 17th. Winner will be notified by phone and e-mail on Tuesday, December 31, 2013

32 | RN&R |

MAY 9, 2013

Wimp daddy A woman wrote you about flirting relentlessly with a male classmate who seemed interested in her but may have been too timid to ask her out. You asked her, “If a man can’t endure a possible 10 seconds of rejection, is he the man you want with you when danger rears its head?” I think you’re being unfair to shy guys. You’re right that physical courage, willingness to risk physical pain, is different from emotional courage, a willingness to risk rejection or other social pain. But they’re more related than you think. Brain imaging research by UCLA’s Naomi Eisenberger and Matthew Lieberman finds that the same regions of the brain activated by physical pain are activated by social pain, and Eisenberger reports that “individuals who are more sensitive to one kind of pain are also more sensitive to the other.” Further pointing to a connection, what’s good for a sprained ankle seems good for a sprained ego. In research Eisenberger collaborated on, 500 milligrams of acetaminophen (like Tylenol) taken twice daily was actually found to diminish emotional pain. So, no, it isn’t a stretch to suspect that a guy who shrinks from social ouchies might respond to physical danger as if his spirit animal were the breadcrumb. There’s this notion that the shy guy approaches “the chase” like it’s the “lie there like cold salmon,” simply because he isn’t a people person. That actually describes an introvert—somebody energized by being alone and easily overstimulated in a crowd but who isn’t necessarily afraid to hit on a girl he’s interested in. But a shy person, instead

of having self-esteem, has “what other people think of me”-esteem. This means a woman’s rejection isn’t just a bummer. It’s a crushing confirmation of his worthlessness as anything more than a container of salable plasma. When a guy’s male role model appears to be grape jelly, it isn’t a woman’s cue to do all the work to make a relationship happen. This is dating, not a pet adoption. Besides, you get what you settle for. A guy desperate for approval is a guy a woman can never count on—to show her who he really is, to stand up for what he believes in, or, maybe, to even know what he believes (without sticking a wet finger in the air). A guy like this isn’t someone a woman can respect and admire. That’s essential, because real love involves having a crush on a person as a human being, not taking pity on him for his shortcomings. The shy guy to have is the one who’s worked on himself and come out the other side— who maybe still fears asking a woman out but manages to do it anyway. This tells her something about her—that he wants her more than he wants to avoid rejection—and something about him: that he has the qualities women look for in a man—courage and character, and not just the really basic stuff like a Y chromosome and an ability for pointand-shoot urination. Ω

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Recycle

by rob brezsny

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this paper

ARIES (March 21-April 19): “Life is best

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): The Italian

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Here’s a tale

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Between

organized as a series of daring ventures from a secure base,” wrote psychologist John Bowlby. Some of you Aries enjoy the “daring venture” part of that formula, but neglect the “secure base” aspect. That’s why your daring ventures may on occasion go awry. If you are that type of ram, the first half of 2014 will be an excellent time to correct your bad habit. Life will be offering you considerable help and inspiration in building a strong foundation. And if you already appreciate how important it is for your pursuit of excitement to be rooted in well-crafted stability, the coming months will be golden.

of three renowned Taurus brainiacs: Immanuel Kant, John Stuart Mill and Bertrand Russell. They all had IQs over 175 and all made major contributions to philosophy. Yet all three were physically inept. Kant had trouble keeping a sharp point on his writing instrument, the quill, because he was clumsy using a knife. Mill was so undexterous he found it a chore to tie a knot. Russell’s physical prowess was so limited he was incapable of brewing a pot of tea. Chances are that you are neither as brilliant nor as uncoordinated as these three men. And yet, like them, there is a disconnect between your mind and body—some glitch in the way the two of them communicate with each other. The coming year will be an excellent time to heal the disconnect and fix the glitch.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): A horticul-

tural company in the United Kingdom is selling TomTato plants to home gardeners. Each bush grows both cherry tomatoes and white potatoes. The magic was accomplished through handcrafted hybridization, not genetic engineering. I foresee a comparable marvel in your long-term future, Gemini. I’m not sure about the exact form it will take. Maybe you will create a product or situation that allows you to satisfy two different needs simultaneously. It’s possible you will find a way to express two of your talents in a single mode. Or perhaps you will be able to unite two sides of you that have previously been disbanded. Congratulations in advance!

CANCER (June 21-July 22): “To destroy

is always the first step in any creation,” said the poet e.e. cummings. Do you buy that idea, Cancerian? I hope so, because the cosmos has scheduled you to instigate some major creative action in 2014. In order to fulfill that potential, you will have to metaphorically smash, burn and dissolve any old structures that have been standing in the way of the future. You will have to eliminate as many of the “yes, buts” and “I can’ts” and “not nows” as you possibly can.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): When did you first

fall from grace? Do you remember? It has happened to most of us. We spend time being privileged or cared about or respected, and then, suddenly, we no longer are. We lose our innocence. Love disappears. Our status as a favorite comes to an end. That’s the bad news, Leo. The good news is that I think the months ahead may be time for you to climb back up to one of those high states of grace that you fell from once upon a time. The omens suggest that even now you’re making yourself ready to rise back up—and sooner than you think, there will be an invitation to do so.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Leonardo da

Vinci created the painting “St. Jerome in the Wilderness” around 1480. It now hangs in the Vatican Pinacoteca, a museum in Vatican City. For several centuries, though, the treasured work of art was missing. Legend tells us that in the early 19th century, Napoleon’s uncle found the lower half of the painting in a junk shop in Rome. Years later, he stumbled upon the top half in another back alley, where it was being used as a wedge in a shoemaker’s bench. I foresee the possibility of a comparable sequence unfolding for you in 2014, Virgo. You just may manage to restore a lost beauty to its proper place of honor, one step at a time.

painter Tintoretto (1518-1594) was a Libra. He worked with such vigor and passion that he was nicknamed Il Furioso—The Furious. One of his crowning achievements was his painting “Paradise,” which is 74 feet long and 30 feet tall—about the size of a tennis court. It adorns a huge wall in the Doge’s Palace, a landmark in Venice. I propose that Tintoretto serve as one of your inspirational role models in 2014. The coming months will be an excellent time for you to work hard at crafting your own personal version of paradise on Earth. You may not be so wildly robust to deserve the title “Il Furioso.” But then again, you might. 2002 and 2009, Buddhist monk Endo Mitsunaga spent 1,000 days meditating as he did a ceremonial walk around Mount Hiei in Japan. In 2006, English writer Dave Cornthwaite took 90 days to skateboard across the entire length of Australia, a distance of 3,618 miles. The first man’s intentions were spiritual, the second man’s adventurous. The coming months will be prime time for you to contemplate both kinds of journeys, Scorpio. The astrological omens suggest that you will generate extra good fortune for yourself by seeking out unfamiliar experiences on the open road. To get yourself in the mood, ruminate on the theme of pilgrimage.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):

Many farms in California’s Tulare County grow produce for supermarket chains. Here’s the problem: Those big stores only want fruits and vegetable that look perfect. So if there are brown spots on the apples or if the zucchinis grow crooked or if the carrots get too big, they are rejected. As a result, 30 percent of the crops go unharvested. That’s sad because a lot of poor people who live in Tulare don’t have enough to eat. Fortunately, some enterprising food activists have begun to work out arrangements with farmers to collect the wasted produce and distribute it to the hungry folks. I gather there’s a comparable situation in your life, Sagittarius: unplucked resources and ignored treasures. In 2014, I hope you take dramatic action to harvest and use them.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Derrick Brown has a poem titled “Pussycat Interstellar Naked Hotrod Mofo Ladybug Lustblaster!” I hope that at least once in 2014 you will get up the nerve to call someone you love by that name. Even if you can’t quite bring yourself to utter those actual words, it will be healing for you to get to the point where you feel wild enough to say them. Here’s what I’m driving at, Capricorn: In the coming months, you will be wise to shed any inhibitions that have interfered with you getting all of the free-flowing intimacy you’d love to have.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “Artists

who are content merely to hone their gifts eventually come to little,” said the Belgian writer Simon Leys. “The ones who truly leave their mark have the strength and the courage to explore and exploit their shortcomings.” I’d like to borrow that wisdom and provide it for you to use in 2014, Aquarius. Even if you’re not an artist, you will be able to achieve an interesting kind of success if you’re willing to make use of the raw materials and untapped potential of your so-called flaws and weaknesses. Whatever is unripe in you will be the key to your creativity.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In 2014, you

will have the mojo to escape a frustration that has drained you and pained you for a long time. I mean you can end its hold on you for good. The coming months will also provide you with the chance to activate and cultivate a labor of love that will last as long as you live. While this project may not bloom overnight, it will reveal its staying power in dramatic fashion. And you will be able to draw on the staunch faith you’ll need to devote yourself to it until its full blessings ripen.

Go to RealAstrology.com to check out Rob Brezsny’s expanded weekly audio horoscopes and daily text message horoscopes. The audio horoscopes are also available by phone at (877) 873-4888 or (900) 950-7700.

34 | RN&R |

DECEMBER 19, 2013

by Sage Leehey Photo/Sage Leehey

Lifelines

A lot of them don’t have a family, don’t come from a place where they’re going to get that solid ground that you and I had when we were growing up. Although I had my first child when I was 18, I was lucky I had a supportive family. Yes, my mom freaked out, and she thought about having me live elsewhere, but she came to her senses. … Sometimes we get aged-out foster kids and homeless women. This is really an important place for those girls and those young women because we help them where they might not have had the help.

April Gonzalez is the executive director of the Casa De Vida, which helps young pregnant and parenting women. They also have a boutique where those who are in need can shop free for baby necessities. It is located at 1290 Mill St. For more information, visit www.casadevidareno.org.

What is Casa De Vida? Casa De Vida is a residential home for young parenting and pregnant women. We accept women between the ages of 12 and 25. We give women who are pregnant or have young children that don’t have any place to go a place to live, and we feed them. We also have a plan put in place so that when they come in, we work with them on finding safe and affordable housing, continuing school—whether it be getting their high school diploma or GED or moving on to college—finding work, daycare for their babies, transportation is another big thing.

How many girls do you usually have at one time? Our main house, the maternity home, can house up to eight pregnant girls, so we have four bedrooms with two beds in each room. And then our House of Hope, which is right next door to us, is our transition home, and that’s for parenting girls. And we can take two girls with their babies or children in there.

With the holidays coming up, do you have any special needs?

’Tis the season … to go gaga for a guitar guy who’s been dead for 43 years? Well, hell, yeah, sure, why not? You know how it is when sometimes you just get goin’ again on somebody that you used to be into, and then forgot about? Forgot about for years? That happened to me recently with one of my lifetime main men, Jimi Hendrix. So I’ve spent the last few weeks just getting totally retorched by the guy, and finding that this re-torching process is every bit as enjoyable as getting lit up the first time around. And the second. And the third. So it goes. How the torch got re-lit is immaterial. It just did, resulting in a completely enjoyable immersion in albums, videos and biographies. The liner notes on the re-mixed CD of the first epic album, Are You Experienced, capture a perfect tone of both facetious hype and understated righteousness—“AYE is a key to the union of ancient and futuristic urges.” Totally, man! The same tonguein-cheek “but seriously” type of hype is there on the notes for album two, OPINION

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What do they do while they’re in the house?

Well, one of our biggest needs is, obviously, money. We can always use cash assistance. We have a budget—groceries, keep the lights on, to help pay for the therapist who comes in and helps the girls with their case management. We buy bus passes so they have transportation to their doctor’s offices and appointments they need to go to. So that is always, always a need with most non-profits. Another part of Casa De Vida is Wanda’s Closet. … It’s a boutique of clothes for children up to size five. There’s strollers, car seats, formula, diapers, that kind of stuff. We can always use—especially this time of year—jackets, blankets, warm socks, hats, gloves, shoes—winter shoes, that kind of stuff.

Getting back

Why is Casa De Vida important for the girls?

We have volunteers from the community come in. We have a doula, which is somebody who helps pregnant people before, during and after their childbirth. We have parenting classes. We have nurses coming in talking about taking care of a baby. … We have somebody come in that teaches them financial classes … cooking, cleaning. We have Social Services come in and talk to them about the possibility of their child being taken away if they don’t take the necessary steps to make sure their child is protected—just all sorts of different classes. We keep them pretty busy. CPR classes. Infant care. Anything and everything you can think of. Ω

∫y Bruce Van Dye Axis: Bold as Love. “Axis is the pivot which connects all music that ever was with all music that will ever be.” I’m down, dude! Preach on! In the very decent Jimi bio called Roomful of Mirrors (by Charles Cross, who also wrote a bio of Kurt Cobain), there’s a passage which will blow the minds of my fellow Baby Boomer electric music heads, meaning those of us who grew up in that grand Golden Age of Rock that occurred from about ’64 to ’76 (and then the punks showed up and peed in everybody’s beer). Cross recounts a night in January ’67, when the London grapevine was abuzz with gushing chatter about this new American who was simply extraordinary. So sitting there waiting to see the Jimi Hendrix Experience play in a little dive called the Bag O’ Nails were none other than John, Paul, and Ringo from the Beatles, Mick and Brian from the Stones, Pete Townshend and John Entwistle from the Who, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, and Donovan, plus all of the Animals, all of the Small Faces, and assorted other |

ARTS&CULTURE

ART OF THE STATE

lesser London lights. I mean, can you imagine, stumbling into that joint that night, looking around the room, and saying to yourself, “Uhhh—?” Had a bomb gone off that night in that joint, it’s safe to say that Rock ’n’ Roll as we know it would have been somewhat altered. As it turned out, a bomb did go off in the Bag that evening. A bomb named Jimi. He came out, announced they were gonna begin with “Wild Thing,” a popular chunk of trash at the time that impressed absolutely no one in the room. Jimi and band then promptly proceeded to absolutely destroy the place—and every wide-eyed skull in it. At one point, guitarist Terry Reid went to the john and bumped into Brian Jones, who said to Reid, “It’s all wet up front.” Reid, confused, asked what he meant. Maybe a lot of spilled drinks or something? Jones replied, “It’s wet from all the guitar players crying.” Ω FOODFINDS

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