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Winters creek lodge and the Slide Bowl are now open
EMAIL LETTERS TO RENOLETTERS@NEWSREVIEW.COM.
In the air Welcome to this week’s Reno News & Review. OK, first and foremost, since we’ve had a few of you ask, our annual 95word fiction contest will kick off next week. We’ll have all the contest rules and other details in next week’s paper, but if you want to start mulling over your perfect plot for microfiction, get to it. We go for a lot of walks around here. Our office is in a lower-income but family-friendly neighborhood, and we’re all, to one degree or another, prone to stepping out for a quick, brisk walk. In the newsroom, we half-jokingly call ’em spirit quests. We go on a lot of walking meetings, and I’m especially likely to go for a walk whenever we’re on deadline and I still have something to write, most likely this column, since it’s usually the last thing I work on every week. The function of this column is often housekeeping—like the paragraph above about the fiction contest—or to provide some additional editorial perspective on a story elsewhere in the paper. (There will be some of that later in the column.) Anyway, at about 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3, just before the sudden, precipitous sunset, I stepped outside to stretch my legs and quest my spirit. As I started walking, I noticed a large military cargo plane flying low in the sky and almost directly overhead. A minute later, I saw what looked to be the same plane flying over head again—like it was circling. And then, a minute later, I saw it again. And then again. Later, after I got back to the office, I asked my colleague Caleb Furlong, one of our advertising consultants and a much bigger gearhead than me, if he saw that “big, crazy military cargo plane.” “Oh yeah,” he said. “The AC-130? There were at least three of them. ... I love ’em.” Apparently it’s not that unusual to see ’em around here. But, for me, walking around the neighborhood, nodding hello to the kids and the moms out on the street, it looked like the same giant plane circling repeatedly overhead, and it made me feel paranoid. In unrelated news: enjoy this week’s feature story about cannabis!
—BRAD BYNUM bradb@ n ew s r ev i ew . com
Revelatory Revelations tells us the beast will rule for 1,260 days. The little calculator shows that from inauguration day to the end of 42 months is the Fourth of July 2020. Oops … Put on those Cosmic conspiracy caps kids! Craig Bergland Reno
Fake letter Dear Nancy, I know this is going to break your heart, but I have decided to resign as the President of the U.S. You and your fellow Democrats and their picky committees have worn me down with their insistence on honoring those silly constitutional statutes dealing with abuse of power, obstruction of justice, and foreign interference in elections, and probable violation of the emoluments rule. (HA!). So, I want to make you a deal. I will leave the White House quietly, if you stop all of the investigations of me and my family, freeze all subpoenas requiring my income tax returns, cease saying all those nasty things about me and Vladimir Putin, and, finally, please, no jail time for me. Please remember that I am a very smart genius, although my supporters have not fully confirmed my own observation. I did make a little mistake of withholding 400 million dollars from Ukraine to support their military defense against Russia. But, President Zelensky wouldn’t do a favor for me and say that his administration was investigating sleepy, old Joe Biden. I was really disappointed to be let down by the “loop,” which included Secretary of Defense Mike Pompeo, Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland, Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, Energy Secretary Rick Perry and my personal attorney Rudy Giuliani. They should have alerted me that it is illegal to bribe foreign leaders. It is so contrary to my life long mission to wipe out corruption wherever I find it. I am just tired of having to put up with the media reporting things like me telling over 13,435 lies during my presidency (Washington Post, Oct. 9, 2019) and failing to note my many accomplishments. What
Penrose, Jessica Santina, Todd South, Luka Starmer, Kris Vagner, Bruce Van Dyke, Allison Young Our Mission: To publish great newspapers that are successful and enduring. To create a quality work environment that encourages employees to grow professionally while respecting personal welfare. To have a positive impact on our communities and make them better places to live. Editor Brad Bynum Associate Editor Jeri Davis Special Projects Editor Matt Bieker Calendar Editor Kelley Lang Contributors Amy Alkon, Mark Earnest, Bob Grimm, Oliver Guinan, Andrea Heerdt, Holly Hutchings, Shelia Leslie, Eric Marks, Kelsey
Creative Services Manager Elisabeth Bayard Arthur Art Directors Maria Ratinova, Sarah Hansel Art of Information Director Serene Lusano Publications Designer Katelynn Mitrano Publications & Advertising Designer Nikki Exerjian Ad Designers Naisi Thomas, Cathy Arnold Office Manager Lisa Ryan Sales Manager Gina Odegard Advertising Consultant Caleb Furlong, Owen Bryant
DECEMBER 05, 2019 | VOL. 25, ISSUE 43
about my decision to lock refugees’ babies in cages, battering the U.S. agricultural economy through my trade policies, building at least 25 miles of my border wall by diverting military funds because Congress won’t fund it, supporting the gun lobby to prevent any type of gun control legislation, carving up the national parks, denying climate change and promoting a devastating anti-science culture, and, finally, withdrawing from treaties that have been mutually beneficial for us and our allies? America can stand alone just like me. The fake news organizations blame me for everything. It’s also not my fault that most of my inner circle, whom I hardly know, have had so many legal problems; namely, national security advisor Michael Flynn, campaign manager Paul Manafort, advisor Rick Gates, my long time lawyer Michael Cohen, and my ole bud Roger Stone, who have collectively been convicted for lying to the FBI and Congress, tax fraud, campaign violations, money laundering, etc. Then to top it off, Giuliani’s associates Lev and Igor go out and get arrested for making illegal campaign contributions. None of this would have happened if that crazy Robert Mueller hadn’t indicted over 34 people because of his investigations. Why do all of these people who have worked for me get into trouble with the law? But the final straw that put me over the edge was when Marie Yovanovitch didn’t put up my portrait in the American embassy in Ukraine. She had no idea of my sense of entitlement, so I got rid of her. I should have fired the rest of them when I had a chance: Acting Ambassador William Taylor, Deputy Assistant Secretary of European affairs George Kent, Ambassador Fiona Hill (I can’t tolerate uppity Ph.D.’s, especially women, who don’t know their place), Lt. Col. Vindman (decorated war veteran who played his immigrant status to the hilt), and that noisy David Holmes, American diplomat, who overheard my telephone conversations. They all spout that nonsense about the rule of law and protecting national interests that prevent me from wheeling and dealing, which I have to do to satisfy my political base as well as those naive Republican congressman
Distribution Director Greg Erwin Distribution Manager Bob Christensen Distribution Drivers Alex Barskyy, Corey Sigafoos, Gary White, Marty Troye, Timothy Fisher, Vicki Jewell, Olga Barska, Rosie Martinez, Adam Martinez, Duane Johnson, Andy Odegard President/CEO Jeff VonKaenel Director of Nuts & Bolts Deborah Redmond Director of People & Culture David Stogner Director of Dollars & Sense Debbie Mantoan Nuts & Bolts Ninja Norma Huerta Payroll/AP Wizard Miranda Hansen Account Jedi Jessica Kislanka Sweetdeals Coordinator Laura Anthony Developer John Bisignano
System Support Specialist Kalin Jenkins N&R Publications Editor Debbie Arrington N&R Publications Associate Editors Derek McDow, Thea Rood N&R Publications Editorial Team Anne Stokes, Nisa Smith Marketing & Publications Lead Consultant Elizabeth Morabito Marketing & Publications Consultants Joseph Engle, Sherri Heller, Celeste Worden, Rod Maloy, Julia Ballantyne, Laura Golino, Chris Cohen Cover design Sarah Hansel
and senators that I have duped. They make me sick throwing around all those fancy Latin terms like quid pro quo, quitclaim deed, quinoa, or whatever. Why don’t they use real English? One other thing, could you please let me have one more parade/rally where I can charge admittance, so I can recoup some of the money that I have lost while in office? You know, I have a lot of legal fees that I need to settle. It’s hard to keep lawyers who will be loyal to me, especially those that provide cover for all of my secrets. Well, they won’t have ole Donald to kick around any more. Please let me know about the parade. Bye, Donald Trump Dear Donald, Yes on the resignation. No on the deal. And no on the parade. Now, GET OUT OF TOWN! Bye, Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives John Sesney Carson City
CONTENTS
05 07 08 11 13 16 18 19 20 21 22 27 29 30 31
OPINION/STREETALK SHEILA LESLIE NEWS TAHOE FEATURE ARTS & CULTURE ART OF THE STATE FILM FOOD MUSICBEAT NIGHTCLUBS/CASINOS THIS WEEK ADVICE GODDESS FREE WILL ASTROLOGY 15 MINUTES/BRUCE VAN DYKE
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BY MATT BIEKER
Best way to use cannabis? ASKED AT SIERRA WELL, 1605 E. SECOND ST.
HERMAN ME YER Accounts manager
I dab. I find that it’s better for my lung health than smoking flower. It’s less labor intensive for me. For me, it’s a lot easier on my lungs.
DAISY HAWKINS Teacher
I like flowers—old school flowers. I think I like the motion of smoking it, too—rolling it up, Zig Zags, lighting it up. In Cali, in the Bay, it’s Jesus OG. I really like that [strain].
ANTONIO MURGA Biochemistry researcher
Dangerous assignment The Century Riverside 12, considered by many to be the “Well, dinner is going great, so let’s not rush it. We’ll last grownup local movie theater since Reno hasn’t really skip the next showing and catch the 9 o’clock instead.” had an arthouse in nearly two decades, recently joined Nope! Those days are over. You will be at the theater at ranks with all the mall-adjacent megaplexes to start doing the scheduled time and sit exactly where you’re told or no Star Wars for you. something abhorrent: selling assigned-seat tickets. Airline travel used to be a classy, enjoyable activity. It was probably only a matter of time. The Riverside, Now everybody hates it except for masochists with fantawhich opened to much hullabaloo 20 years ago, is now sies of being treated like cattle. It’s a necessary owned by mega-chain Cinemark—as are Century inconvenience. And little by little, going to the Park Lane and Century Summit Sierra and movies is headed that same way. more than 500 other theaters throughout Moviegoers Except that going to the movies isn’t the world. really necessary. Very few of us ever Selling assigned seats doesn’t serve should be able to actually need to go to the movies for customers. Moviegoers should be decide for themselves professional reasons. Going to the able to decide for themselves whether whether or not they movies is entertainment. It’s supposed or not they want to sit behind the to be fun. woman in the tall hat or next to the want to sit behind the And this is not a great time in 900-pound man who smells like he woman in the tall history for movie theaters to alienate just came from a fish-packing plant. hat. their audiences. Home TVs look amazing Instead, they have to have “Excuse me, and don’t cost much. And there’s so much sir, I believe you’re in my seat” conversagreat content on streaming services that rivals tions in theaters where the seat numbers are or even beats the stuff in the theaters. For example, barely visible to begin with. acclaimed director Martin Scorsese’s latest film is a Why are the theater owners and managers doing straight-to-Netflix offering. (See page 19 for our review.) this? Because it helps them. They want to force And if you really want to get out of the house for a fun moviegoers to buy their tickets months in advance so date night, you can skip the movies. Head out to the local that they can gauge interest and plan in advance how live theater productions instead. You can catch first-rate long to keep certain movies and how much—or, more shows and support a locally owned business instead of a accurately, how little—staffing they’ll need on any Texas-based mega-chain. Some of them even still seat their given night. So, get used to planning your dates three customers on a first-come, first-served basis. □ months ahead of time.
The best way for me is smoking with friends, and you absolutely have to have some food after. I use marijuana for relaxation purposes, especially after work … But sometimes I use it for social situations. … I like to go old-school, with the dry flower.
CHRISTINA DISETH Customer service representative
That’s a loaded question—it depends on my setting. If I’m at home, I choose flower in glass pieces. If I’m traveling, I use a vape pen. And if I’m going to be around people that I don’t want to necessarily know I’m using, I use edibles.
ROBERT MOK Warehouse worker
Personal preference, I would go with edibles, but I usually am a tree smoker. My lungs are very sensitive to smoke, so taking edibles is just a lot easier. The only problem with that is your tolerance becomes a lot higher, and it becomes a lot more money-driven.
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What Does “Shen Yun” Try to Tarnish?
Recently, the “Shen Yun Performing Arts” advertised by “Falun Gong” in New York has been strongly resisted by local Chinese. The local Chinese put up banners outside the performance theater that read “Say no to Shen Yun, say no to cult politics, and stay away from the Falun Gong cult!” “Shen Yun preaches the Falun Gong cult in the disguise of traditional culture.” “Shen Yun advertises the Falun Gong cult in the name of entertainment.” They expressed strong resentment at “Falun Gong” and “Shen Yun Performing Arts”. In fact, news about their encountering resistance is frequently reported, and the reasons are clear-cut!
“shen Yun” tarnishes the Chinese traditional culture
China, as one of the four ancient civilizations, has a long-standing traditional culture. Arguably the Chinese traditional culture crystallizes the essence of the 5,000-year Chinese civilization and represents the fundamental creativity of its achievements. It is the collective of moral heritages and diverse cultural thoughts and spiritual concepts that have developed over the historical course of the nation. For this reason, the deep and profound Chinese traditional culture has attracted more and more attention from more and more foreigners. The “Falun Gong” cultists know it so well. In order to attract foreigner who are deeply interested in the Chinese traditional culture, the “Shen Yun Performing Arts” created by “Falun Gong” has always upheld the banner of “promoting the Chinese traditional culture” and “showing the oriental charm”. The followers not only pay attention to external publicity, but also carefully design the show. The show is broadly divided into three sections: traditional Chinese cultural performances, performances that preaching the ‘Falun Gong” doctrine, and performances that try to tarnish the Chinese government for their “persecution” of “FalunGongers”. In order to cover up its attempt to take advantage of the Chinese culture, traditional cultural performances adapted from Chinese folk dances and music are intentionally put on in the first half of the show, but they are only an insignificant component. What follows is lengthy performances to propaganda the teachings of “Falun Gong”,deify its founder Li Hongzhi, and smear the Chinese government. The hypocritical “Shen Yun” show upsets viewers who expected to enjoy a traditional Chinese culture show and extremely disgusts them, who believe that the “Falun Gong” cult is actually trying to tarnish the Chinese traditional culture. On December 21, 2016, Visalia Times in California, USA, reported on its website (visaliatimesdelta. com) that the “Falun Gong” organization resorted to deceptive advertising about its “Shen Yun” gala, which was nothing but a “weird mix”.On December 23, 2016, Fresno Bee disclosed in a report on its website (Fresnobee.com) how the “Shen Yun Performing Arts”, which claims to represent the 5,000-year Chinese culture, actually disseminates political information instead. The report emphasized that “Shen Yun Performing Arts” is bitterly criticized by scholars and the media. According to the report, a representative of the 5,000-year Chinese cul-
ture as it claims, “Shen Yun Performing Arts” chooses to rely on flashy and dazzling marketing. Mainstream media in the world, such as Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, The New York Times, and The Telegraph all criticized the “Shen Yun Performing Arts” affiliated to the “Falun Gong” gang. The Evening Standard did a report named “‘Shen Yun’ tarnished Chinese culture” and commented that it “tarnishes the Chinese culture and disgusts viewers.”
“shen Yun” tarnishes art
“Falun Gong” cultists bragged “Shen Yun Performing Arts” as a very premium art show supported by a cast of “world-class artists”. The actors and actresses are all “prestigious” as winners in “world-class” competition. They exaggerate the show as “a world-class show”, “the No. 1 show in the world”, “a super show”, and “an unrivaled show”, etc. Is that true? A careful study on the profiles of the performers published on the website of “Falun Gong” sheds some light on the answer. The “Shen Yun Art Troupe” is boasted roughly in two ways. The first one is self-praise. For example, “Pianist” Li Yan boasted that he was admitted into “the Middle School Affiliated to the Tchaikovsky Central Conservatory of Music in Russia at the age of ten”, but this institution is non-existent in Russia;also, Bai Xue, a soloist in the art troupe, unreasonably claimed that she has developed into a “world-class” singer after only a few years of studying at the Shenyang Conservatory of Music; Zheng Mingjun, a “cellist”, claimed that he won a performance award in the First Full-age Cello Competition in China in 1988, which never happened, as revealed by investigation. In addition, the cultists also brag themselves by inventing competitions and taking all the awards in them. The “Falun Gong” organization has invented a number of socalled “world-class” competitions since 2007, and Li Bojian, Liu Xinyi, Wang Luyi, Zhou Xiao, Dong Meijing, Su Xianzhi, and Liang Shihua, who are currently active on the stage of “Shen Yun Performing Arts”, are precisely the winners. Su Xianzhi, for example, was the winner of the Silver Award for young women in the “Second World Competition of Chinese Dances” held by the “Falun Gong” organization. Imagine what a shame for a show performed by such a cast to be called art! Yelp and Tripadvisor are the most well-known review websites in Europe and America. Many foreign viewers who watched the Shen Yun gala left messages on the website, saying that the performance is inferior and is simply a blasphemy of art. “It is more like spending money on a show presented by neighbor’s daughter.”“The show itself is not wonderful and is certainly not worth the ticket.” “Generally speaking, the show is incoherent and disappointing, and the music is disappointing, too.” “The music and the dances in the show are not even matched. The dances are soulless. The erhu solo is not as good as the show in New York City Subway.” “The orchestra is very simple, and the projection technology is probably outdated for generations. The show is barely artistic.”
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BY SHEILA LESLIE
Last but not least Oh, Nevada. We’re 51st—again. Mental Health America released its 2020 State of Mental Health in America report, and Nevada is once again the state with the worst overall ranking in the country, just like in the 2019, 2018 and 2017 reports. For those keeping score, the first two years the report was issued in 2015 and 2016, Nevada was 49th. It’s depressing to see states like Alabama (40th) and Mississippi (34th) eclipse us. Even more discouraging is seeing Arizona, a state we used to battle for last place, rise steadily upward— now ranking 28th. What do they know that we don’t? It’s actually what Arizona is doing about the problem that is making the difference. Arizona has invested in crisis response centers which provide same-day access to psychiatric evaluation, medication management and ancillary services. Psychiatrists, nurses, social workers and peer support staff provide immediate crisis resolution services to everyone, regardless
of ability to pay. They worry about collecting from insurance companies later. Recognizing the need for safe and affordable housing options, Arizona’s Regional Behavioral Health Authorities offer a variety of housing opportunities and support services for those living with a severe mental illness. These include rent subsidies and supported housing programs, bridging subsidy housing assistance while clients are on wait lists for other housing, and private housing with in-home, wraparound behavioral health services. Arizona understands there’s no “one-size-fits-all” housing program that will meet everyone’s needs, so they also help with home repairs, provide move-in assistance and run eviction prevention programs to help clients maintain stable independent living situations. Nevada is moving in the same direction, but at a snail’s pace. We now have regional boards of community members who keep up with local behavioral health data and make recommendations to
improve care in their communities. Earlier this year, the Washoe Regional Behavioral Health Policy Board successfully sponsored a bill to create a framework for a Nevada version of crisis stabilization centers, but full implementation is probably years, maybe decades, away. No funding was allotted to subsidize the creation of these centers, and the limited funding available on a reimbursement basis from Medicaid and private insurance won’t cover start-up costs. And a multi-faceted housing program that has many different options to match up with a particular individual’s needs? Not even on the radar. Nevada should focus on a subset of the population everyone knows is not getting enough care, the mentally ill homeless. Ask any judge about the problem, and you’ll get an earful about the lack of resources and the frustration of sending people to jail for crimes directly linked to the status of their mental health. Ask any hospital discharge planner about the
difficulty of finding a place for those living on a pauper’s disability income of $800 a month when even the seedy motel rooms downtown are no longer an option. And what about indigent people experiencing dementia or people with intellectual disabilities and medical problems who cannot take care of themselves? The answer is housing with supportive services, a safe place to live monitored by trained personnel to help with the basic tasks of daily living and provide a sense of purpose. We need a safety net to catch folks when they go off their medications or wander back into the darkness where they’re often preyed upon by a criminal element. We should experiment with new models of engagement, such as a mobile van with psychiatric personnel to provide immediate access to medications and resources. When you’re last—by a lot—it’s going to take bold leadership and a major investment of public and private funds to move out of 51st place. Who’s going to step up? □
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BY JERI DAVIS
Small Business Saturday shoppers at 18 businesses got scavenger hunt cards and the chance to win a gift box of local goods.
TUBA TIME
PHOTO/JERI DAVIS
The Wilbur May Museum, 1595 N. Sierra St. hosts its annual Tuba Christmas concert on Dec. 7. The event is free and will feature holiday carols arranged in four-part harmony and performed by local tuba, baritone and euphonium players. Admission to the museum will also be free that day. According to museum staff, all area tuba, baritone and euphonium players are invited to participate in the concert. Musician registration begins at 12:30 p.m., and rehearsal begins at 1 p.m. The participant registration fee is $10.
SNOW GET IT Two feet of fresh snow fell at Sugar Bowl Resort in 24 hours between Dec. 1-2, allowing the resort to expand its open terrain—with more expected in the coming weeks. Now, the resort is gearing up to host a Toys for Tots donation day on Dec 14. And skiers and snowboarders who get in on it will benefit. By bringing an unwrapped toy, customers can get 50 percent off the window-rate ticket price for an all day pass at the resort. Be aware, the pass is only good for Dec. 14.
EVEN MORE SNOW Drivers were warned of possible freezing fog on the evening of Dec. 3, with a storm expected to roll into the region ahead of another that’s expected to arrive over the weekend. According to the National Weather Service, heavy snow is likely for the Sierra, with snow accumulations of between one and three feet above 7,000 feet with locally higher Depending on whether or not snow levels drop, elevations between 5,500-6,500 feet could see accumulations of between just a few inches all the way up to two feet. And winds may gust as high as 55 miles per hour.
WARREN RETURNS Elizabeth Warren is returning to Reno. She’ll be hosting a Town Hall at the Truckee Meadows Community College V. James Eardley Student Center, 7000 Dandini Blvd. The event is free, but an RSVP is recommended at ElizabethWarren.com. Doors open at 5 p.m., and the event will begin at 6:15 p.m.
—JERI DAVIS
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Small talk Merchants report mixed results after Small Business Saturday Nov. 30 was Small Business Saturday. The event, started by American Express in 2010, is intended as a counterpart to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which are centered around big-box retail and online shopping, respectively. The goal of Small Business Saturday is to encourage people to shop at small, local brick-and-mortar businesses. This year, Made in Nevada—a statewide organization that works to connect and promote Nevada businesses—organized a scavenger hunt event in the hopes of promoting Small Business Saturday in Reno. “Made in Nevada has been an American Express Small Business Saturday neighborhood champion for about five years now,” said Brad Scribner, Made in Nevada project manager. “Every year we get their marketing collateral that they send down and give it out to our members. But this was the first year that we decided to try to pull off some kind of
event. At first it was going to be, like, a small business crawl. But we decided to incentivize participants that we’d make it a scavenger hunt.” Eighteen businesses participated in the event by giving patrons scavenger hunt cards featuring four clues, each pointing to a business where they could go to receive a stamp on their cards. After solving the clues and obtaining all four stamps, shoppers could take their completed cards to Urban Market on Third Street to be entered into a raffle. “You had a chance to win a Made in Nevada basket, which were these cute, Nevada-shaped baskets full of all kinds of our members good that are made right here in the state,” Scribner said. “And we gave away 10 of those.” In total, just a little more than 20 people turned in a card. “I was actually out of town, so I couldn’t attend,” Scribner said. “I heard the weather was awful—and then
there’s all the construction in midtown. So, we were fighting some different challenges, but I think for a first one it went OK.” OK—with a few standouts to the good and bad—seemed to be the consensus among participating merchants, too. At Recycled Records, co-owner Eric Jacobson said the store had a good day, though slower than last year’s. But few people asked after the scavenger hunt cards in his store. “We had an excellent day,” he said. “And, I mean, I had a few people coming in talking about Small Business Saturday, and a few people told me they came specifically for it. … I remember last Black Friday and that weekend, it wasn’t like this. It was a lot better weather last year. We got hit. I mean, all of these businesses did.” At Crystal Cove across the street, the staff reported the day was flat for them, perhaps even slower than a usual Saturday, citing the weather as a possible culprit. But for Wildwood Trading Post, adjacently located, the experience was better for owner Cat Farotte—a transplant from Portland, where Small Business Saturday events are plentiful. She opened her store in Reno five months ago. “Yesterday was an awesome sales day for me,” she said. “I couldn’t have been happier. … And, honestly, the foot traffic yesterday was amazing. … And a lot of people were bartering and spending. What I thought was really cool, too, was that a lot of the businesses on the card were going together and tagging each other on Instagram. … It was this community-based effort of pulling together and trying to make it a good event.” Farotte hopes Small Business Saturday may have had the additional effect of dispelling myths about midtown traffic. “I think—and I’ve been trying to let people know—the perception that midtown is a mess with the construction isn’t true,” she said. “It’s not that bad right now. You can come down and find parking, and all of the stores are open. It’s not that bad. I feel like, hopefully, yesterday kind of spread the word a little bit.” Results of the day were also mixed among stores located away from construction on Virginia Street. At the
Glass Die on Holcomb Avenue those results who’s running it, is really fantastic. He’s a were good. go-getter.” “My unrealistic goal was to sell 100 Other merchants said they appreciated the board games, which is a lot of games in effort, too. one day—and we sold almost 90,” said “The little scavenger hunt thing helped owner Jeff Carter. “I would say even with a lot with the foot traffic,” said Allie the weather there were still more people all McReynolds, an associate at the Melting Pot around midtown, probably, that I noticed.” World Emporium. “A couple of people came At Mountain Music Parlor a few blocks with that thing and said, ‘Oh, I’ve never even west on Center Street, the day was been in here before.’ That was kind of fairly dismal, according to owner cool, that it brought people into a Renee Lauderback. business they’d never been to “Last year was really, before, and then they stayed “The perception really small,” she said. and kind of browsed.” that midtown “This year was small. “I’m really glad for … We barely sold a whoever put that on,” is a mess with the hundred dollars worth said Carter at the Glass construction isn’t true. of stuff.” Die. “I don’t even know It’s not that bad right Lauderback, like what nonprofit that is. others, acknowledged … It was really nice of now.” that the inclement them to even ask.” Cat Farotte weather and construcAccording to Scribner, Owner, Wildwood Trading Post tion were likely factors Made in Nevada will in the slow day but sees a likely be asking merchants lack of business diversity as to participate in something another challenge to doing retail in similar again. midtown. “It’s our first time, so there were defi“It’d be nice if midtown would get more nitely some kinks in the plan that we plan merchants that actually sell merchandise and to hammer out for the next time,” he said. not just food, booze and tattoos,” she said. “We hope to do something in the springtime, “That’s part of the problem, too, of midtown. maybe April or May.” □ There’s a lack of viable, family-friendly stores. Sippee’s is gone. Happy Happy Joy Joy’s gone. … But I really appreciate what Learn more about Made in Nevada by visiting madeinnevada.org. Made in Nevada tried to do. Brad [Scribner],
Fly like an eagle
A golden eagle winged through the Virginia Range north of Carson City on Nov. 11. Golden eagles are among the largest, fastest raptors in North America. Their wingspans tend to range from five-feet-11-inches to more than seven feet. PHOTO/JERI DAVIS
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Slide rules Avalanche training It’s avalanche season in Lake Tahoe, and the North American Ski Training Center (NASTC) wants to make sure skiers are prepared with avalanche training. The American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) has been developing standardized curriculum for avalanche training, for students ranging from recreational enthusiasts to ski resort professionals. NASTC offers courses in everything from novice skiing to rock climbing to back country and avalanche training, and starting this month, they’ll be offering AIARE Avalanche training Level 1 and Level 2. “Each year more skiers are venturing into the backcountry, lured by the opening up of resort boundary lines and the promise of pristine powder fields and underpopulated terrain,” reads a NASTC blog post. “However, with more access, the risk has never been greater, and the need to know basic safety protocols, rescue techniques, avalanche hazard awareness and management are essential to survival and having a great time out there.” In 2018, AIAIRE created both a recreational and professional path for avalanche education providers, which is how NASTC became partnered with the program. NASTC has been offering educational training for 15 years and was able to offer the two levels of AIARE training easily. Level 1 Avalanche training is based out of Truckee and is geared towards strong intermediate to expert skiers. The AIARE curriculum is a three-day seminar designed to give students an understanding of how avalanches are formed, hone observation skills, teach how to dig a snow pit, and more.
by Kelsey Penrose
There are three basic types of avalanches—dry slabs of snow, wet avalanches and powder avalanches. Dry slab avalanches typically travel 60 to 80 miles per hour. Wet avalanches usually travel much slower, around 20 miles per hour. Powder avalanches have been known to move at 190 miles per hour.
The course begins promptly at 8 a.m. at the Cedar House Sport Hotel—10918 Brockway Road, Truckee—with an indoor orientation and classroom work. The first two days will be spent in the classroom until lunch, and afternoons will be in the field. Day three will begin with one hour in the classroom and the rest of the day in the field. There will be a chance to change into warmer clothes before heading outdoors. The course runs each day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a break for lunch. The dates for Level 1 are Dec. 13-15; Jan. 18-20; Jan. 31-Feb. 2; Feb. 15-17. The price for Level 1 is $495. Level 2 Avalanche training is also based out of Truckee. The AIARE course is a three-day program that provides “avid backcountry skiers” the opportunity to enhance their avalanche preparedness. This is an advanced safety course for the general public. The focus for Level 2 is on analyzing snow stability and avalanche hazards. The book Snowpack, Weather and Avalanches: An Observational guideline is required reading for the course. The dates for Level 2 are Dec. 8-10 and March 8-10. The price for Level 2 training is also $495. NASTC also offers one-day avalanche rescue courses in Levels 1 and 2, which are standalone courses separate from the avalanche training courses and are meant to be retaken on a regular basis in order to keep up to date with the best industry practices, according to NASTC. New participants will learn the basics of rescue, and returning students will expand their skills with realistic scenario practices. Dates for the Level 1 and Level 2 Avalanche Rescue Day courses are Dec. 7 and March 7 for Level 1, and Dec. 8-10 and March 8-10 for Level 2. □ To learn more about avalanche training courses and NASTC, visit skinastc.com
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Cannabis-infused beverages hit the local market
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LIquID HAppINEss
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arlier this fall I received a direct message inviting me to a product release party for a cannabis something-or-other. They said they read my debaucherous article from the Reno Booze & Review Nightlife Guide, and that’s why they were putting me on the guest list. “If you’re looking to pitch a story about your product, forward it to my editor,” I wrote back. It was like 6 a.m., and I was in the airport not feeling interested in commercial solicitation. I’m not that into weed, either.
They said it wasn’t a pitch, just a cordial invitation. If you want the short version of this story, I went to the party and got pleasantly stoned. And here I am writing the story after all. The messages were from a brand called The Happiest Hour. They consider their products to be “craft cannabis beverages.” They’re flavored drinks with THC in them. They’re colorful apothecary bottles fashioned next to dainty-looking summery cocktails like margaritas and daiquiris. The labels are hipster vintage.
The company is run by three siblings: Tiffany English, Josh Damon and Aaron Damon. They describe themselves as seventhgeneration Nevadans and thirdgeneration cocktail experts. Their grandfather started what is now Damon Industries—a company that sells syrups and juice concentrates to bars and restaurants. The Sparks-based family business has been around since the mid-1900s. According to Josh, they’ve supplied the signature Bloody Mary mix to the Bucket of Blood in Virginia City for decades. “We’ve spent our life making spirits taste good, so we just applied that same knowledge to make cannabis taste good,” he said. Josh and Tiffany explained that they were eyeing the cannabis industry in Nevada since before the state allowed recreational use of the substance back in 2017. They designed an array of mixers typically made to help booze go down easy: add some sweetness or some sour, add some citrus and make it colorful. Then add THC. They developed seven weed-infused products in all. Except they don’t actually have anything to do with the weed part of their own product. The Happiest Hour simply mixes the yummy part and hands it off to Nevada Botanical Science, a Reno-based cannabis laboratory that handles all of their cultivation, production and packaging. Nevada Botanical also
distributes the final product to local dispensaries. Tiffany explained that since their company deals with alcohol distribution, too, that means they’re federally regulated. Because marijuana is still considered a Schedule-One narcotic, they don’t even want to touch the plants. The Happiest Hour doesn’t even promote a website, and they don’t deal with any of the sales to the consumer. They can avoid the risk of confrontation from the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency while still benefiting from an industry that generated $424.9 million in taxable sales in Nevada in 2018, according to a fact sheet generated by the Nevada Legislative Counsel Bureau.
For now, The Happiest Hour products are sold exclusively at three Reno dispensaries: Silver State Relief, Sierra Well and Green Cross Farmacy. They retail for $28 for a slender plastic bottle containing 100mg of THC. Shrink wrapped to the childproof cap is a one-ounce dosing capsule. The suggested serving size on the back of the bottle is 1.25 ounces, so you probably shouldn’t drink the whole thing, no matter how sugary it tastes. I like this self-dosing method, personally. Like I said earlier, I don’t do a bunch of weed. I feel like it takes away my dance moves and makes me forget the punch line to the longwinded joke I shouldn’t have started telling in the first place. But that’s me. This little cocktail lets anyone adjust their dose to their own tolerance. I should clarify. It’s not that I don’t partake. I’m just pretty light on consumption and relegate getting stoned to good existential conversations or deep Netflix binges. It’s not an everyday thing for me, but I get it. When I last went to a dispensary, I asked one of the budtenders if there were other cannabis cocktail products on the
“Drink and be Merry”
continued on page 14
Bartender Conor McCoy mixes up a “Silly Wabbit” terpine cocktail at 1864 Tavern. Photo/Luka Starmer
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“Drink and be Merry” continued from page 13 shelves. He said the closest thing was a tasteless odorless THC powder someone could mix into drinks. He said as far as he could tell, the majority of people weren’t interested in drinking their marijuana. But by contrast, the dispensary had a variety of edible weed products and candies to choose from. “In more developed markets like Denver and California, there’s always been cannabis drinks,” said Anthony Lee, a weed consultant known for his brand Reno As Fuck. “[In Nevada] the cannabis movement in drink form hasn’t really taken off yet, but it will.” Lee said that THC absorbs quicker as a liquid than as an edible, and it hits harder and lasts longer, giving people more bang for their buck. He doesn’t think that cannabis drinks will ever be the biggest category in the legal weed market, but it’s creating opportunities for brands like The Happiest Hour. The way Josh Damon tells it, drinkable cannabis might be a safe bet for out-oftowners wanting to get high while visiting. “People leave the airport, they go to a dispensary, they load up on legal recreational cannabis—then they have nowhere to consume it,” he said. “They can’t consume it on the street. They can’t consume it in the Uber. They can’t consume it in the hotel room, so where are they going to go?” Drinking it is subtler than smoking, and Tiffany reminded me that vaping weed is having a bad PR moment right
Also worth noting, the back of the bottle of blood orange margarita recipe recommends mixing the cocktail with tequila. That’s a surefire way to marble up a few psychotropic chemicals inside you at once.
Pass the Bar In the last year or so, the Reno News & Review, the Reno Gazette Journal and Edible Reno Tahoe all published stories about CBD-infused cocktails served at various bars and cafés in Reno. CBD is short for cannabidiol. It’s a hemp derivative that doesn’t cause intoxication, but it may improve mood. It could be anti-inflammatory, among a slew of other wellness promoting factors. I hope that every alleged positive health benefit of the stuff proves irrefutably true, but it remains federally banned in food and beverages by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 1864 Tavern on California Avenue is one watering hole that hopped on the CBD train. Owner and mixologist Dillon Evans saw an opportunity to add another element to their cocktail program. They mix CBD terpenes or aromatics into tequila or gin drinks called Silly Wabbit and the Lazy Dazey. According to Evans, they treat the terpenes like a bitters—no more than two dashes. It slightly changes the flavor profiles of the cocktail while offering the alleged medicinal benefits of CBD. You definitely don’t get high from these things,
It’s not surprising to see someone getting away with smoking a sneaky joint on the edge of the patio of a local bar. But it’s totally different when getting high is the whole point of the event. now, with countless news reports warning of vaping-related illnesses. Tiffany also sees her product as great for people at parties who don’t drink alcohol, but still want something more potent and flavorful than a La Croix. “Because when you don’t drink alcohol, people forget that other beverages exist, and they don’t know what to give you,” she said. “It’s fun to have something like this to offer people so they just feel like they’re part of the party and they’re not excluded.” 14
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but they’re fancy and complex. “It’s something we’re known for, and it’s still something that people come in and order daily,” he said. “We have a lot of people who come in here religiously who do CBD at home and they like CBD in their cocktail.” However, last spring the Washoe County Health District caught wind that non-dispensary establishments were selling CBD products, be it cocktails or chocolate and other stuff. They decided to take a stance, and that stance is to follow the precedent set forth by the FDA.
“Our goal is to protect the public in Washoe County from products that aren’t approved or aren’t proving to be safe,” said Amber English, environmental health specialist supervisor for the county (no relation to Tiffany English). “Once we have some guidelines that tell us whether or not it’s a safe product, we’d be much more comfortable to allow CBD.” To mitigate confusion and educate businesses into cooperating with county codes, English said the department sent out informational postcards, posted on social media, and updated their website to include a detailed FAQ sheet clarifying what’s legal in Washoe County. They also visited local businesses to inspect the CBD products. She said consequences for not complying could be as severe as issuing a citation or suspending a food and beverage permit for that establishment. At this time, the county has yet to issue any citations. Included in the gentle crackdown was 1864 Tavern. Evans said they visited and asked them to stop selling the CBD products until they could prove without a reasonable doubt that the products were FDA approved. “We lucked out because we get our terpenes from Portland,” said Evans. “The company that does our terpenes does other food items that aren’t CBD or THC related so they have an FDA person onsite,” he said. “It makes the whole umbrella FDA approved.” Within two weeks, they felt assured that they were compliant and began offering the CBD cocktails again. However, he said they took down the sign advertising them.
ClouDs of Change Over in California, things are starting to change. There’s some hype about a few places in West Hollywood where patrons can openly smoke pot, most notoriously a place called Lowells Café. “It’s super popular,” said Anthony Lee. “There’s a fat line out of the door.” He says it will likely be years before we see anything quite like this in Reno. Apparently guests can order pre-rolled joints and other marijuana products and paraphernalia to their table from a server. Rolling Stone Magazine calls the opening of these first consumption lounges “a moment in weed history.” “I definitely could see our products there,” said Tiffany. “Our lavender lemonade product—I definitely could see people sipping on that on a nice afternoon in Hollywood.” Tiffany and Josh are optimistic consumption lounges like Lowell’s Café will make their way into Nevada in the near future. In fact, a similar establishment already exists in the state. It’s called the
NuWu Cannabis Marketplace owned and operated by the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe. The place opened up in October, and according to the Las Vegas Sun, it’s selfregulated through the Las Vegas Paiute Cannabis Authority. This exempts it from oversight from the State of Nevada. Just like Lowell’s Café, customers can order bong rips and hang out. According to Brian Melendez, a member of the Reno Sparks Indian Colony and host of the podcast Coffee With An Indian, NuWu Cannabis has been interfacing with tribes in Northern Nevada. He explained that they recently included him in a meeting about the prospect of opening a location here. “They are talking about their strategies and insights in the Vegas market,” said Melendez. “I think they were presenting it to the people like, ‘Hey, we’re doing all these awesome things down there, maybe we can do awesome things up there, too.’” At this time, the Reno Sparks Indian Colony doesn’t have a cannabis dispensary. He said from what he can tell, tribal people still have mixed feelings about bringing a venture like that here, but he thinks it’s a good idea from a business standpoint. Unsurprisingly, politics are intermixed in the tribal cannabis dialogue, too. According to an August 2019 edition of the Camp News, the newsletter published by the Reno Sparks Indian Colony, Tribal Chairman Arlan Melendez is negotiating a cannabis agreement with the State of Nevada. According to Melendez’s letter to the office of the chairman, “Governor Sisolak has delegated the Nevada State Department of Taxation to negotiate with Tribes. The process has been extremely slow as the taxation department is involved in a lawsuit initiated by people who claim that the State did not issue cannabis licenses in a fair manner.”
Party time For now, public weed consumption is off limits in Nevada; we covered that. But there’s one solid loophole for allowing people to enjoy fancy weed cocktails in trendy establishments in Reno. To do this, Tiffany and her brothers reserved the whole bar and outdoor enclosure at The Jesse on Fourth Street for a private party. I needed to prove my name was on the guest list in order to get past the abnormally relaxed and light spirited bouncers at the door. Little trails of marijuana smoke lifted from the Jesse’s fashionable back patio. There were platters of joints and buds on display around newly stylized décor of the boutique hotel bar. Bartenders freely poured exact copies of the super appealing cocktails that I saw from the Instagram posts. There was a photo booth printing souvenir pics of the guests. Estella, the high-end taco joint attached to The Jesse, was slinging hearty tacos to hungry people. It had to be as hip and weed-friendly as anything going on in West Hollywood that night. Sure, it’s not surprising to see someone getting away with a smoking a sneaky joint on the edge of the patio of a local bar. But
it’s totally different when getting high is the whole point of the event. I ordered a margarita, hold the tequila. I asked the bartender to keep it light, maybe like three milligrams of THC, if he would. It was nice to not have to wait too long between sipping and feeling a slight twist on my perception. It seemed to work about as quickly as the early signs of an alcohol buzz where people begin agreeing with each other more enthusiastically. I know from past experimentation that edibles can stay dormant inside you just long enough to be suspicious that they’re not going to work. Then they surprise you with five hours of squinty-eyed absurdist laughing fits. I hung out at the party until I began getting amnesia during the good parts of my stories. (I wish that wasn’t my telltale indication of being stoned.) I made it home safely, eager to flip on Netflix. I’m all for drinking cannabis. Until it’s available in cool places, I’ll pop open something like The Happiest Hour for guests during my own happy hours in my kitchen. It’s like a THC condiment for your beverage. For now, it’s currently sitting in the door of my fridge, nicely nestled between two halffinished bottles of squeezable mustard. □
The Happiest Hour products are available in dispensaries. Photo/luka starmer
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National Novel Writing Month with author Gayle Brandeis
In the
write r By Sa ra h Ba ke
L
ocal author Gayle Brandeis contains multitudes. The proof is emblazoned right on her teal turtleneck, the famous Walt Whitman line handembroidered in white thread where a name tag or a brand logo might otherwise sit: I contain multitudes. Those three words remind the other writers in the room why we are here. We contain multitudes, too, and we’re gathered together on a chilly November evening in the middle of National Novel Writing Month to write those stories down. But multiplicity is not just part of Brandeis’ writing ethos. It is also central to NaNoWriMo, otherwise known as National Novel Writing Month, a yearly event held during the month of November that challenges veteran writers and aspiring novelists alike to churn out 50,000 words of a new
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novel in 30 days. Do the math, and that works out to an average 1,666 words per day—no small feat even for professional writers. Seven of us are tucked around a table laden with popcorn and wine and salted almonds at the back of Word After Word Books—10118 Donner Pass Road, Truckee— an independent bookstore that hosts a variety of readings and author events. We’re here for the Writing Series, held every other Wednesday in the store’s cozy back space, nestled among the colorful picture books lining the shelves the children’s section. This time, the event is focused on supporting writers who have committed to NaNoWriMo, offering prompts to help us reach our daily word count in addition to the opportunity for writerly solidarity and camaraderie. “I like to think of it as a writing marathon where you just run and run and run,” Brandeis said. “It feels a little breathless, which is exhausting but also exhilarating.” We wait with our notebooks open and our pens poised. Brandeis, who is leading this week’s event, sits at the head of the table and tells us about her own experience with the challenge.
It arrived at a fortuitous time in her life, after her first novel, The Book of Dead Birds, won Barbara Kingsolver’s Bellwether Prize (now known as the PEN/Bellwether prize for Socially Engaged Fiction) and she experienced serious writer’s block for the first time. The prize, judged by literary legends Toni Morrison and Maxine Hong Kingston in addition to Kingsolver, left Brandeis feeling like her next project might not live up to the expectations set by her last book. NaNoWriMo became a way to outrun her inner critic. Since that first year, the challenge has continued to be a generative force in Brandeis’s creative life. “I love feeling all that writerly energy buzzing around this month,” Brandeis said. Brandeis, who teaches both at Tahoe’s Sierra Nevada College and in Antioch University’s low-residency MFA program, has written eight books in just about every genre, from memoir and poetry to fiction and even a writing guide for women. She has participated in the challenge three times, which produced an e-book, an as-yet-unpublished YA novel, and the book that became her second published novel. That novel, Self-Storage, was drafted during NaNoWriMo, and though Brandeis crossed the 50,000 word finish line, she said that only between five and 10 thousand words of that initial draft made it into the final manuscript. Despite the fact that most of those words ended up on the cutting room floor, Brandeis said they were necessary. “They helped me get where I needed to go,” she said. “And I doubt I would’ve written this book any other way.” National Novel Writing Month was founded in 1999 by Chris Baty, a Bay Area writer who launched the challenge on a whim and roped his friends into trying it too. That first year, 21 people participated. Two decades later, hundreds of thousands of writers across the country take on the challenge each year, and NaNoWriMo has grown into a 501(c) (3) nonprofit that offers communitybuilding tools, online support for writers, and
even a Young Writers Program that provides K-12 curriculum for teachers who want to promote writing fluency and education in their classrooms. “I can safely say that everyone does not have a novel in them,” Baty writes in the revised and expanded edition of his book No Plot? No Problem!, a guide for writers who want to participate in the challenge. “Everyone has dozens of novels in them. And getting one of those stories written is even more fun and lifechanging than I had originally realized.” For many writers, creative constraints like NaNoWriMo can boost creativity, pushing them into territory they might not have explored on their own. “Constraint can be, maybe paradoxically, very freeing,” Brandeis said. “We can be pretty wild within whatever constraint we give ourselves, and it creates a frame for us to play within.” Mikaela Prestowitz, a Word After Word employee who is also participating in the challenge, agreed. “It’s really good at completely shutting down your inner editor,” Prestowitz said. “You don’t have time or mental resources to write and edit at the same time. I think that changes your creative process.” But despite the creative advantages the challenge can provide, the daunting daily word count means it’s easy to fall behind and give up altogether. “It’s really hard to maintain the momentum,” said Shelby Kassel, another employee. “You miss a couple days, and you feel overwhelmed.” “And then you’re 4,000 words behind,” Prestowitz added, “and you’re like, nevermind.” To beat the clock, veterans of the process know to follow one rule above all: no editing. “I have found myself going back and reading,” Prestowitz said, “but I always tell myself, if I go back to edit, it has to be to add stuff. If I delete stuff, then I’m just going to delete a whole bunch, and then I can’t stop.”
But for Brandeis and so many other writers who participate in NaNoWriMo, the event is not just a fun creative challenge. It is also a celebration of the power of stories to enrich our lives. “Novels really are empathy bombs,” Brandeis said. “They allow us to look deeply into the life of someone other than ourselves, and that can open our hearts and minds and help us feel more connected to humanity.” Her forthcoming book, Many Restless Concerns, a novel in poems told from the collective voice of the more than 600 women and girls killed
“Constraint can be, maybe paradoxically, very freeing,” Brandeis said. “We can be pretty wild within whatever constraint we give ourselves, and it creates a frame for us to play within.”
by the Hungarian Countess Elizabeth Bathory, is an exercise in this kind of sustained empathy. “Something about this story lodged in me, and I was thinking, ‘Who were all these girls and women she killed?’” Brandeis said. “There’s been a lot written about her but nothing that really centered her victims, and they just started talking to me in this choral, weird voice.” Brandeis hopes readers will walk away from this new book understanding “that justice is possible if we tell our stories.” The room is quiet as we write, and at the end of the night, we celebrate all the words we added to the pile: 900 for one person, 1,100 for another. On my way out the door, I snag a bookmark with the bookstore’s namesake quote printed across it, a line from Margaret Atwood that reminds me what I already know is true: “A word after a word after a word is power.” □
Gayle Brandeis’ novel Many Restless Concerns: The Victims of Countess Bathory Speak in Chorus will be released Feb. 14, 2020. Word After Word Books, 10118 Donner Pass Road, Truckee, hosts the Writing Series every second and fourth Wednesday of the month from 6:30 to 8 p.m. One session costs $15, or you can buy a four pack for $50. Writing Series participants also receive 10 percent off all in-store purchases.
Author Gayle Brandeis participates in NaNoWriMo every November.
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by JEssiCa santina
join our team rn&r is Hiring a Distribution Driver For more inFormation and to apply, go to www.newsreview.com/reno/jobs Chico Community Publishing, dba the Reno News & Review, is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge takes aim at one of the most earnest, goodhearted stories in the holiday canon.
Cheers and jeers Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge Was November’s 30-day social media gorge on gratitude too much to swallow? Are the thousands of saccharine sweet holiday movies— already on repeat since October—giving you heartburn? You could probably use something a bit saltier. Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge is just the ticket. In Binge, Good Luck Macbeth’s current production, playwright Christopher Durang, whose reputation has been built on parodying such unfunny plays as The Seagull and The Glass Menagerie, takes aim at one of the most earnest, goodhearted stories in the holiday canon, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. But don’t let the background handbells provided by Good Shepard Lutheran Church fool you: There’s not a warm fuzzy in sight. As the story’s past-present-future ghost (Annalize Sanders) explains, yes, we are about to go on a journey to reverse Ebenezer Scrooge’s bah-humbugging ways. But things don’t quite work out as planned. Scrooge (Kevin McCray) is as abusive as ever to his lowly assistant, Bob Cratchit (Robert Simpson). But Durang’s Bob is pathetic, stupidly cheerful and weak. When two gentlemen (played by Ryan Costello and Jasper Allen Unger IV) come calling, not to solicit donations for the poor but to convince Scrooge to purchase “energy units” in a sort of Enron-like pyramid scheme, Scrooge announces to Bob that henceforth, the poor man’s salary would be cut in half to free up funds for energy units. It’s just after this point where the story goes hilariously awry. Scrooge is visited by our ghost, whose time-travel abilities go kaplooey, and Scrooge’s story takes a backseat. Instead, we spend an inordinate amount of time with the Cratchits, whose house is a hot mess. Do-gooder Bob keeps bringing home stray children for the
Photo/EriC Marks
missus, Gladys Cratchit (Stacy Johnson), to care for, yet they can’t feed the 20-plus kids they already have. Then there’s Tiny Tim (Mackenzie Hamel), who relishes the opportunity to become even more pitiful. That’s it, Gladys says, I’m outta here. And off she goes to get drunk and throw herself off the London Bridge. Scrooge is oddly taken by Gladys, but the ghost’s repeated attempts to show him happier moments fail miserably with her malfunctioning wand, giving Durang the opportunity to skewer other sacred Christmas chestnuts, from “The Gift of the Magi” to It’s a Wonderful Life, even throwing more of Dickens’ fuel on the fire with Oliver Twist and The Old Curiosity Shop. We’re all just along for the ride as the scenes change at a frenetic pace. There’s no point trying to keep up. Just give in and enjoy the madness. Before long we’re dropped into references only audiences of a certain age will get, and the whole things starts feeling like a big inside joke. Leona Helmsley? Sure, why not. Johnson’s deadpan Gladys is brilliant and hilarious throughout, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t call out Ryan Costello and Amanda Alvey’s Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig as the funniest thing I’ve seen in months. The cast capably maneuvers their multiple roles—up to four each—and abrupt scene changes, all while keeping us happily amused, although Durang’s bizarre scripting frequently runs off the rails. Don’t expect a cohesive, family-friendly story, and for god’s sake don’t expect a moral. Put down that cup of Christmas cheer for a bit, and go do a shot with Mrs. Cratchit. □
Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge
12345 Good Luck Macbeth theatre Company, 124 W. taylor st., presents Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge by Christopher Durang with music by Michael Friedman, directed by Jamie Woodham, on Dec. 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21 at 7:30 p.m.; and Dec. 8, 15 at 2 p.m. tickets are $18 in advance, $20 at the door, and $30 for ViP Champagne seating. Purchase at www. goodluckmacbeth.org or by calling 322-3716.
by BoB Grimm
b g ri m m @ne w s re v i e w . c o m
SHORT TAKES
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“Alright, outta the way. We’re gonna show you how to do the Electric Slide for real.”
Original gangster After a lot of publicity surrounding the digital de-aging of Robert De Niro and Al Pacino for the project, Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman arrives on Netflix, and it’s a typically very good offering from the auteur. It has a few problems, but the opportunity to see the likes of De Niro, Pacino and Joe Pesci in a movie together under the Great One’s tutelage more than overrides the shortfalls. The film is based on the book about Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran (De Niro) called I Heard You Paint Houses (which is actually the title listed in the opening credits). Sheeran was a labor union official and occasional hitman who had ties to Jimmy Hoffa (Pacino). The film, like the book, claims that he was the actual triggerman in the assassination of Hoffa. The film covers a long timespan. We see Sheeran from his 30s up until shortly before his death in his 80s. All ages are played by De Niro, and the much ballyhooed digital de-aging of De Niro (along with Pacino and Pesci) is mostly a bust. There are moments where De Niro looks perhaps a tad younger than his 76 years (he might pass for 58), but it always looks like bad makeup, dye jobs and funky lighting rather than high-tech effects masterfully at work. Plus, these are old voices coming out of digitally enhanced, oddly smooth faces. Distracting effects aside, De Niro, Pacino and Pesci are priceless in their parts, no matter what age they depict. Scorsese has made a nice companion piece to his gangster epic Goodfellas—an ugly depiction of the loneliness and alienation that results from things like shooting your friends in the head. While Goodfellas had a rather likeable and unintentionally funny antihero in Ray Liotta’s Henry Hill, none of the main guys in this movie are likeable, especially Sheeran. De Niro depicts the guy as a meathead, a lackey who takes orders from the likes of
Pesci’s Russell Bufalino and Pacino’s Hoffa. Sheeran provides few excuses for even uncomfortable laughter. He’s quietly despicable and evil at his core. Pacino is the film’s most fun as a blustering, ice cream-obsessed Hoffa. He’s also the angriest guy in the movie, with Pacino sinking his teeth into many an opportunity to go from zero to 100 in mere seconds. Pacino shares a couple of scenes with Stephen Graham as Anthony Provenzano, one of the men suspected of participating in Hoffa’s eventual disappearance in ’75. Pacino and Graham square off in a way that goes right into the “Best Pacino Moments” time capsule. The film has an epic scope at over three-and-a-half hours. I suspect there will be a lot of pausing for bathroom and snack breaks in one’s household due to its presence on Netflix, and that’s too bad. I think Scorsese should’ve put an intermission in the middle, perhaps choosing his preferred moment for the viewer to gather themselves up for the finale—a fine finale at that. For Scorsese fans, seeing De Niro and Pesci sharing scenes again, talking Italian and dipping bread in wine is a holiday season cinematic gift like no other. This is De Niro’s best work in years, and Pesci gets a chance to play subdued in a Scorsese flick, which pays major dividends. He depicts Bufalino as a quiet, polite, extremely dangerous man, and it’s mesmerizing. With the decade coming to a close, The Wolf of Wall Street remains champ as Scorsese’s best effort in the last 10 years. That’s more high praise for Wolf than a putdown of The Irishman, which is a fine film in its own right, if something short of a masterpiece. It’s a movie that fits comfortably in the gangster genre, while perhaps firmly shutting the lid on it as far as Scorsese and De Niro are concerned. If it’s their last film together, they’re going out on a high note. □
The irishman
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A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Based on a real life friendship between Fred Rogers and journalist Tom Junod, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is a beautiful film. Whimsical, sweet, complicated and full of warmth, just like that polite guy who used to put on his cardigan and sneakers for little children for many years on PBS. Who plays Fred “Mister Rogers” Rogers in this movie? Why, Tom Hanks, of course. You don’t get more perfect casting than the world’s most likeable actor playing one of history’s most likeable guys. The recent revelation that Hanks is an actual sixth cousin of Rogers is no surprise. Hanks plays Rogers in an honorable way. He doesn’t impersonate the man so much as adapt some of his mannerisms, his winning smile and that slow, concerned cadence in his voice. The performance stands as a terrific homage to a wonderful person. But Fred Rogers is a supporting player—albeit an important one—in director Marielle Heller’s (Can You Ever Forgive Me?) heartfelt movie. The main protagonist is Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys of The Americans), a troubled journalist who grumbles upon getting an Esquire Magazine assignment to do a profile on the PBS icon—the guy with a “hokey” TV show. Heller brilliantly frames her film as an episode of the TV show, starting with Hanks delivering the infamous welcoming song, and then introducing Lloyd Vogel as a friend who needs help. As the characters travel between different cities, the cities are depicted like the train sets that on the TV show. It creates the impression of an episode of Neighborhood.
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Doctor Sleep
Stephen King fans know he hated Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining for trivializing Jack Torrance’s alcoholism and redirecting the evil powers of the Overlook Hotel. In essence, Doctor Sleep, his sequel to The Shining, almost seems to exist partly to right some of the wrongs that King perceived in Kubrick’s movie. Alas, Mike Flanagan, the man behind the excellent and creepy The Haunting of Hill House, makes the decision to incorporate Kubrick’s film into his own adaptation of Doctor Sleep. The results are a mixed bag of genuinely scary moments and passages that make the film too dependent on the glory of Kubrick. The film starts with Danny Torrance riding around the Overlook on his Big Wheels, and making that dreaded stop in room 237 where the old lady has stayed in the bathtub way too long. The film then jumps ahead to Dan as an adult, played by Ewan McGregor. Dan, like his daddy before him, drinks a lot. In some ways, which I won’t give away, King gets a chance for some do-overs, as some of the scenes and themes in Doctor Sleep reference parts of King’s original novel as well as the sequel book. King has long bemoaned the ending of the Kubrick’s film, and I can see why he might like the Doctor Sleep conclusion. As for me, I thought the movie was better when it wasn’t hanging around the Overlook Hotel. The moments in the Overlook, although visually impressive for sure, felt like little more than a stunt, with no real, viable reason for the protagonists to be running around in Kubrick’s nightmare.
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Ford v Ferrari
It’s the 1960s, and Henry Ford II (Tracy Letts) has had it up to here with Enzo Ferrari (Remo Girone) and his fast, flashy car ways. He and cronies such as Lee Iacocca (Jon Bernthal) and Leo Beebe (Josh Lucas) are chapped, and they want to send a message to the world that Ford isn’t just about family cars. Enter Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon), a former race car driver turned designer and salesman after a heart condition benches him. Ford hires Shelby to design and race a car that can beat Ferrari in races, mainly the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It’s a tall order, and it calls for a crazy guy behind the wheel and calling the shots in Ken Miles (Christian Bale), an English-born rule-breaker who can drive a car and instantly know what can be fixed on it to make the damn thing go faster. His lack of convention causes Ford to bristle, Shelby gets in the middle, and we have ourselves a gripping tale about racing technology, volatile friendships and corporate clashes. If you go to this film looking for glori-
ous depictions of high stakes auto racing, you will not be disappointed. Director James Mangold (Walk the Line) films Ford v Ferrari in a way where you feel every gear shift, every hairpin turn, and every moment when a car can skid off the tracks and cause grave injury. In this sense, the movie is simply at the top of the auto movie genre. If you go looking for powerhouse acting, you won’t be let down either. Damon and Bale are otherworldly good as two pals who have no problem punching each other in the face on occasion, but always strain to have each other’s backs.
4
Knives Out
3
Lady and the Tramp
3
Queen & Slim
Director Rian Johnson, maker of the divisive Star Wars: The Last Jedi, but also maker of the brilliant Looper, takes a crack at the whodunnit genre and comes up mostly aces. Daniel Craig stars as private investigator Benoit Blanc, mysteriously hired by somebody in a rich family after the strange, supposed suicide death of their patriarch, mystery author Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer still going strong). There’s something fishy about his death, and his personal nurse Marta (the awesome Ana de Armas) knows something the rest of the family doesn’t know. What transpires is a solid mystery with a fun set of characters featuring a stellar cast, including Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, LaKeith Stanfield and Chris Evans. Everybody has a blast, as does the audience, as Johnson takes the genre and twists it into an entertaining pretzel. Craig is especially good in a role that allows him to show his comic side, with Shannon and Johnson also impressive as a couple of paranoiacs. Above all, it gives the talented Armas a chance to really shine.
Disney+, the new Disney streaming service, has this available on day one, a sweet little live-action redo of the classic 1955 animated feature. This works primarily due to the casting of both the actual dogs and their voices. Justin Theroux, a notorious dog lover, is perfect for Tramp, a Schnauzer hybrid living the street life. The dog he provides the voice for is the spitting image of his animated counterpart. Tessa Thompson provides vocals for Lady, a cute-as-all-heck Cocker Spaniel. The live-action animal talking is well done, and more engaging than that recent remake of The Lion King. The plot remains simple: rich dog meets stray dog, rich dog becomes stray dog, dogs fall in love. There are some major changes—no “Siamese Cat Song”—but fans will find a lot to remind them of the original (spaghetti scene!). Your kids will love it, and if it’s any indicator of the upcoming quality of the new Disney+ streaming content, things are off to a decent enough start. (Streaming on Disney+.)
A movie about the worst Tinder date … ever. Daniel Kaluuya and Jodie Turner-Smith star as the title characters, two young people who meet in a diner for an online date that only goes so-so. On their way home, where the date will not be continuing, they are pulled over by a cop who racially profiles them and bad things happen. Queen and Slim go on the run, become social media celebrities, and yes, start liking each other a whole lot more. Director Melina Matsoukas isn’t giving us a very original movie here, but the atmospherics are solid, and the performances drive the film. Turner-Smith is terrific as a lawyer who finds herself on the wrong side of the law, while Kaluuya brings a sweet sadness to the teetotaling Slim. The film deals bluntly with its subject of police brutality, with both good and bad cops present in the movie. There’s no question why it’s being called the “black Bonnie & Clyde” in that the movie follows many of the same beats as the ’60s classic. It stands as a decent statement on many current civil rights issues, and a nice step forward for Matsoukas as a director to be reckoned with.
12.05.19
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by Todd SouTh
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Shanghai Bistro serves a Braised pork lion head, two gigantic, “fluffy” meatballs served with bok choy and a savory sauce.
Exotic taste Recently opened Shanghai Bistro’s menu has plenty of typical Chinese American dishes, though it’s strikingly devoid of noodles. The lone noodle dish (vermicelli with spicy minced pork for $13.95) is on the chef’s special menu of authentic Chinese dishes, many of which sounded exotic and enticing. With my friend and her twin boys in tow, we started with egg rolls ($5.95, four pieces), crab rangoon ($8.95, six pieces) and pot stickers ($8.95, six pieces). The egg rolls were average and a little on the small side. The rangoon’s pinched “crown” of wonton wrapper was overly crunchy, and there wasn’t any sense of crab in the pouch’s cream cheese filling. The potstickers were quite large, crispy and stuffed with plenty of meaty filling—definitely the most satisfying of the trio. Beef sizzling platter ($12.95) was the lone entree ordered from the non-special menu. A hot, cast iron platter was brought to the table and then piled with food and covered with a steel cloche. A few minutes later, our server came back to reveal the sizzling, steaming mix of strips of beef with bell pepper, onion and mushroom in a savory sauce. It was delicious and definitely my favorite part of the meal. Moving on to the chef’s menu, we tried a chilled jellyfish salad ($12.95)— strips of marinated jellyfish mantle tossed with chopped scallion and a sauce redolent with toasted sesame oil. Being a fan of pretty much every bit of seafood I’ve previously tasted, I really wanted to like it. Unfortunately, for me, the crunchy/ chewy/squishy texture was unpleasant, and the sharp, bitter sauce wasn’t helping. My friend wasn’t new to this dish and really enjoyed it, so it’s apparently an acquired taste. 20 | RN&R | 12.05.19
PHOTO/TOdd SOuTH
Sweet and sour pork ribs ($15.95) were unlike the Korean variety, or any other. Cross sectioned rounds of rib bones were covered in a sticky, viscous sauce and topped with sesame seeds and chopped scallion. The sauce wasn’t bad, but what meat was on the little bones was tough and difficult to chew off—definitely not my favorite treatment for ribs. A dish of Napa cabbage, pork and rice cake ($13.95) included sliced rice cake, mushroom, scallion and shoestring strips of pork, on a bed of cabbage. The savory sauce was good, and most of the ingredients were enjoyable. Apparently I just don’t dig on rice cake. Just as with Korean rice cake, I found it to be a weird mix of chewy and gummy and generally flavorless—starchy carbs without any discernible reward, at least to my palate. Braised pork lion head ($14.95) turned out to be two giant meatballs—said to resemble a lion’s head—ringed by baby bok choy and drenched in a sauce heavy with Chinese five spice blend (cinnamon, cloves, fennel, star anise and Szechuan peppercorn). Seriously, the pair were each the size of a baby’s head. The cabbages were perfect, the sauce was a bit overspiced, but it was the meat texture that threw me. Apparently a mix of fatty pork shoulder and belly is ground, marinated, and massaged into a paste. The end result is what I can only describe as “fluffy,” and I’ve never encountered anything similar. It’s definitely not your run-of-the-mill meatball. Service was excellent, and I’d really like to sample the selection of “hot pots,” wherein you cook a variety of ingredients at the table. Having seen a few folks enjoying it, I regretted not ordering one. □
Shanghai Bistro 2303 S. Virginia St., 622-3098
Shanghai Bistro is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
by MaRK EaRnEST
$
25 GIFT card
Young and loud Opposite Ends Most bands have a tough time describing themselves. That’s especially true in the big, broad churches like rock and metal. A new Reno-Sparks band called Opposite Ends, though, has a neat little elevator speech to peg themselves. “We make heavy music, but you can still read our logo,” said Jacob Rubin, the band’s bassist. Indeed, Opposite Ends is plenty aggressive, but there’s also a clarity musically and lyrically that helps them stand out. It’s a sound that’s pretty popular now: riff-laden hard rock and metal that veers between gruff vocals and cleaner melodies. Some of it could fit very easily on 21st century rock radio, but some of it is way too ugly—in a good way—for the mainstream. “We feel like we are pretty fluid with every song when we write it,” Rubin said. “Each one has a different sound. I like to say that we all fall under the metal umbrella, but I can’t say exactly where.” “I put in our bio that we are post-hardcore, because that’s the closest thing we can get to it,” guitarist Manning Gray said. Finding their niche is just one of the early steps for this band of deceptively seasoned players. Despite their ages, this isn’t the first metal rodeo for Opposite Ends, formed just seven months ago from the ashes of two other bands. Three of the bandmates are 17 years old: Rubin, vocalist Landon Gray and drummer Kevin Bryant. Manning Gray, 14, is Landon’s younger brother, and all agreed that it’s great having relatives in the band. “It’s definitely beneficial, because we always practice and write together,” Manning Gray said. “We think a lot alike, too, and have been through the same experiences, which is really the same
Opposite Ends take a break from crafting new tunes at their Sparks practice pad. They are, from left, Jacob Rubin, Landon Gray, Manning Gray and Kevin Bryant.
WITH You paY
$12.50!
Photo/Mark EarnEst
with everyone here,” Landon Gray added. “We can all relate.” Everyone also goes to Innovations High School, where the band has performed during assemblies. Opposite Ends is also considering recording at the school’s studio. For now, they have one song available called “Stalemate,” recorded at Dogwater Studios and featured in a video shot and edited by Rubin. Like their other songs, “Stalemate” has lyrics that speak to what they see as teens. Other songs cover subjects like toxic smartphone culture and alcohol and drug addiction. Landon Gray writes many of the lyrics, but everyone pitches in. “In the last band I was in, I played bass and just did a little bit of vocals, but I feel like I have a lot of build-up on emotions about things and opinions,” Landon Gray said. “For the most part, it’s all things that I’ve had in my mind that I put to paper, and then we put it to music.” “It’s not a given in music, and there’s not a guaranteed route to go to make it a success, but I know that we are all in it for the right reasons,” Manning Gray added. “We just want to get a message out now, not try to be famous.” Opposite Ends has been bringing that message to some diverse Reno audiences so far. They’ll play at Jub Jub’s Thirst Parlor twice in early December, and in the past they’ve been at The Holland Project. They agreed that opportunities are somewhat limited due to the lack of all-ages venues in town. “We’re more than happy to play 21-andup shows, and we do appreciate anyone coming out to see us, but we definitely want to play more all-ages shows,” Rubin said. “Thank god for The Holland Project, or else all of the younger local bands would be screwed.” □
opposite Ends plays as part of the reno Pyrate Punx and nV Death Metal community toy drive at 7 p.m. on Dec. 7 and opening for national band nonpoint at 7 p.m. on Dec. 13, both at Jub Jub’s thirst Parlor, 71 s. Wells ave. Learn more at facebook.com/oppositeendz.
Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Barre, all ages Handstands, cyr Wheel, contortion & Flexibility, acro Fit, and much more! adult and children’s classes offered sideby-side.
acro enso Get 50% off at acro enso and get in shape the fun way this Holiday season!
601 e 4th st, reno, nV 89512
purchase online or at the rn&r office* 760 Margrave drive suite 100 reno, nV 89502 (Mon-Fri 9-4:30) *exact change only, card also accepted
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HTTps://rnrsWeeTdeals.neWsreVIeW.coM 12.05.19
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THURSDAY 12/5 1UP
132 West St., (775) 499-5655
Karaoke, 9pm, no cover
ALIBI ALE WORKS (INCLINE)
ALIBI ALE WORKS (TRUCKEE) Dec. 5, 7 p.m. 10069 Bridge St., Truckee, (530) 536-5029 Jub Jub’s Thirst Parlor 71 S. Wells Ave. ALTURAS BAR 1044 E. Fourth St., (775) 324-5050 384-1652
THE BLUEBIRD
555 E. Fourth St., (775) 499-5549
Transcendance: Aviator, Anthony Fernandez, Vile Ant, 8pm, $5
538 S. Virginia St., (775) 329-5558
10142 Rue Hilltop Rd., Truckee, (530) 587-5711
275 E. Fourth St., (775) 324-1917
Trivia Night, 7pm, Tu, no cover Open Mic Night, 7pm, M, no cover Ike & Martin, 7pm, Tu, no cover
Arizona Jones, 9pm, no cover
Riot Ten, Yakz, Jessica Audiffred, 10pm, $20-$25
Buddy Wakefield, 7:30pm, Tu, $15-$30 Traditional Irish session, 7pm, Tu, Wed. Night Showcase, 7pm, W, no cover
Adam the Grey, 9pm, no cover
B. Parker, 9pm, no cover
VooDooDogz, 9pm, no cover
Hott Boxz, 9pm, no cover
The Nutcracker: Ben Annand, Chuck Tyler, Bridges, Vega, 9pm, $10
Ritual (goth, industrial): David Draven, Rusty, VJ Mike Roehr, 9pm, $3-$5
DEAD RINGER ANALOG BAR
More Fatter, Lumbercat, Phat Mark, 9pm, $5
FACES NV
Queens of Karaoke with Aspen Meadows, Fantasy Friday, 11:30pm, $TBA DJ Gina G, 9pm, no cover
235 W. Second St., (775) 470-8590
Trivia and drag show, 9pm, Tu, karaoke, 9pm, W, no cover
Ryan Taylor, 6:30pm, no cover
DAVIDSON’S DISTILLERY
434 E. Fourth St., (775) 409-4431
MON-WED 12/9-12/11
From the Ruins, Niviane, Weight of the Tide, Rage of War, 8pm, $10 Arizona Jones, 9pm, no cover
CEOL IRISH PUB
COTTONWOOD RESTAURANT
Post shows online by registerin g at www.newsr eview. com/reno. D eadline is the Frida y before public at cover n. Bluegrass jam, 6pm, noio
Dance party, 10pm, $5
We Were Giants, Next Door to Heaven, Hired Fun, 8pm, $7
10040 Donner Pass Rd., Truckee, (530) 587-2626
Carson Comedy Club, Carson Nugget, 507 N. Carson St., Carson City, (775) 8821626: Curtis Newingham, Fri-Sat, 8pm, $15 Laugh Factory, Silver Legacy Resort Casino, 407 N. Virginia St., (775) 3257401: Rick Gutierrez, Thu, Sun, 7:30pm, $21.95; Fri-Sat, 7:30pm, 9:30pm, $27.45; Butch Bradley, Tue-Wed, 7:30pm, $21.95 LEX at Grand Sierra Resort, 2500 E. Second St., (775) 789-5399: Dejan Tyler, Fri, 6:30pm, $10 The Library, 134 W. Second St., (775) 6833308: Sunday Night Comedy Open Mic, Sun, 8pm, no cover Pioneer Underground, 100 S. Virginia St., (775) 322-5233: Justin Rivera, Thu, 7:30pm, $7-$12; Fri, 9pm, $12-$17; Sat, 6:30pm, 9:30pm, $12-$17; Sat, 3pm, $12-$15 (all-ages show)
Dance party, 10pm, $5
Tim Bluhm, The Coffis Brothers, 9pm, no cover
BAR OF AMERICA
Comedy
SUNDAY 12/8
Pray for Snow Party with Under the Radar, 8:30pm, no cover
931 Tahoe Blvd., Incline Village, (775) 831-8300
Doll Skin
SATURDAY 12/7
ROSSY, Be:Razz, Twon, DJ 4Bang, 10pm, $TBA
214 W. Commercial Row, (775) 813-6689
5 STAR SALOON
FRIDAY 12/6
The Biggest Little City Welcomes The Biggest Little Circus
Looking for something fun and exciting to do this TiCkeTs sTarT winter? Winter Dreams show is coming to Reno and aT jusT $19 offers unforgettable magical experience for the whole kids under 5 get family! Hosted by the best Comedy Magician of 2017, the show will be filled with endless fun and laughter! Free entrance & a sweet mini GiFT Our Day Show offers included for each something special for all age groups. Both kids paid Day Show ticket! and adults will be amazed by performances of our world class acrobats, jugglers, comical clowns, magicians, and aerial dancers! And the little ones will definitely be impressed by clever and graceful acts of the furry dog artists!
December 6-22
Both Day and Evening shows will take place inside a cozy heated Big Top dome with a dazzling array of delectable food and drink.
www.magictheatercircus.com
Tickets are also available for purchase at Bazaar european Deli & Cafe 3652 s. Virginia st. suite C1, reno, NV 22
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Book your tickets NOW and save 10% by using RENOMAGIC promo code
THURSDAY 12/5 FAT CAT BAR & GRILL (MIDTOWN)
FRIDAY 12/6
SATURDAY 12/7
The hOLLAND PROjeCT 140 Vesta St., (775) 448-6500
71 S. Wells Ave., (775) 384-1652 1) Showroom 2) Bar Room
2) Doll Skin, Pink Awful, Ichthyosaur, Sell the Sun, 7pm, $5-$10
1) Haiti Babii, Capolow 304, 7:30pm, $20
2) Myke Read & The Damn Ole Band, Metalbilly Trucker, Vie, Post Humous, 7pm, $10 or unwrapped gift
Lisa Prank, Horse Champ, Unsupported and Proud, 7pm, $5
Dead Crown, Avoid, Convulsions, Sadist, 7:30pm, Tu, $5
1) Ouija Macc, Gizmo, Death Plus, 7:30pm, $20
2) Pig City, The Scattering, 7:30pm, M, $5 Graveyard Witch, Mezzoa, 8pm, W, $5
The LOVING CUP
Motown on Mondays, 9pm, M, no cover
188 California Ave., (775) 322-2480
MIDTOWN WINe BAR
Unplugged: Open Mic Thursdays, 7pm, no cover
Mo’z Motley Blues, 8pm, no cover
PIGNIC PUB & PATIO 235 Flint St., (775) 376-1948
LAF: Tom Vandenavond, Luke Hoffman, Bryan Daines, Kelly Proud, 8pm, $5
MagNicoSynth! First Friday Funk Fest, 9pm, no cover
The POLO LOUNGe
DJ Trivia, 7pm, no cover
’80s Night with DJ Bobby G, 8:30pm, no cover
RUe BOURBON
Adam Springob, 6pm, no cover
1527 S. Virginia St., (775) 800-1960
1559 S. Virginia St., (775) 322-8864
1401 S. Virginia St., (775) 384-6526
The SAINT
761 S. Virginia St., (775) 221-7451
The Emo Night Tour, 8pm, $8-$12
VIRGINIA STReeT BReWhOUSe
Blue Oyster Club, 8pm, $43
211 N. Virginia St., (775) 433-1090
Bingo w/T-N-Keys, 6:30pm, Tu, no cover Sundae & Mr. Goessl, 8pm, W, no cover
Biggest Little Band, 8pm, no cover
Riot Ten Dec. 6, 10 p.m. The BlueBird 555 E. Fourth St. 499-5549
Chad Price, Sammy Kay, Paul Luc, 8pm, $TBA Karaoke, 8pm, M, no cover Chris Costa, 7pm, W, no cover
Soul Kiss, DJ Bobby G, 8pm, no cover
Thursday Night Salsa—Santos de la Salsa, 7pm, no cover before 9:30pm
SheA’S TAVeRN
715 S. Virginia St., (775) 786-4774
MON-WED 12/9-12/11 First Take featuring Rick Metz, 7pm, Tu, no cover
Jamie Rollins, 8:30pm, no cover
432 E. Fourth St., (775) 453-2223
jUB jUB’S ThIRST PARLOR
SUNDAY 12/8
Wednesday Night Country, 6pm, W, no cover Travis “Cheap” Callahan’s Celebration of Heterophobia album release party Life: Los Pistoleros, VBB, 9:30pm, $10 with Blue Envy, The Juvinals, 9:30pm, $6
Trivia Night, 8pm, no cover
Lisa Prank Dec. 8, 7 p.m. The Holland Project 140 Vesta St. 448-6500
Adam Carolla, 8pm, $39
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3800 S. Virginia St., (775) 825-4700
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ATOMIKA: Thu, 12/5, Fri, 12/6, Sat, 12/7, 4pm,
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SANTA’S CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND: Thu, 12/5,
no cover
Sat, 12/7, 8pm, no cover
ESCALADE: Fri, 12/6, Sat, 12/7, 10pm, Sun, 12/8, 8pm, no cover
BIG RED DUO: Tue, 12/10, Wed, 12/11, 8pm, no cover
KICK: Mon, 12/9, Tue, 12/10, Wed, 12/11, 8pm, no cover
CIrCUs CIrCUs reno
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500 n. Sierra St., (775) 329-0711
2100 garSOn rOad, Verdi, (775) 345-6000
eL JeFe’S Cantina SKYY HIGH FRIDAY WITH DJ MO FUNK: Fri, 12/6,
gUitar bar
10pm, no cover
STEPHEN LORD: Thu, 12/5, Wed, 12/11, 6pm, no cover
Sat, 12/7, 10pm, no cover
THE STARLITERS: Fri, 12/6, Sat, 12/7, 5pm, no cover
THE LOOK: Fri, 12/6, Sat, 12/7, 9pm, no cover JAMIE ROLLINS: Sun, 12/8, 6pm, no cover TANDYMONIUM: Mon, 12/9, 6pm, no cover JASON KING: Tue, 12/10, 6pm, no cover
Carson nUGGeT tHe LOFt ADRENALINE: Fri, 12/6, Sat, 12/7, 9pm, no cover
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CrysTal Bay CasIno 14 HigHway 28, CryStaL bay, (775) 833-6333 red rOOM
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24
REVEL SATURDAYS WITH DJ CHRIS ENGLISH:
HOPE WAIDLEY: Thu, 12/5, 11pm, no cover FOXTRAILS: Fri, 12/6, 11pm, no cover SPENDTIME PALACE: Sat, 12/7, 11pm, no cover SEPIA TONIC: Sun, 12/8, 11pm, no cover
12.05.19
7pm, Fri, 12/6, Sat, 12/7, Sun, 12/8, 4pm & 7pm, Tue, 12/10, Wed, 12/11, 7pm, $30.95-$67.95
DJ BIRD & RIZZO: Fri, 12/6, Sat, 12/7, 10pm, no cover
brew brOtHerS STUDENT BODY THURSDAYS WITH VJ RIZZO: Thu, 12/5, 10pm, no cover
DJ BIRD & RIZZO: Fri, 12/6, Sat, 12/7, 10pm, no cover
DJ MARK TWYMAN: Sun, 12/8, 10pm, no cover LIVE BAND KARAOKE WITH ROCK U ENT.: Mon, 12/9, Wed, 12/11, 10pm, no cover
BREW CLUB TUESDAYS WITH DJ MARK TWYMAN & DJ JB: Tue, 12/10, 10pm, no cover
nOVi RED CUP FRIDAYS WITH DJ DUSTIN V & DJ RONI V: Fri, 12/6, 9pm, no cover
LINE DANCING: Sat, 12/7, 9pm, no cover
rOXy’S LiVe PianO bar LIVE PIANO: Thu, 12/5, Fri, 12/6, Sat, 12/7, Sun, 12/8, Mon, 12/9, Tue, 12/10, Wed, 12/11, 4:30pm, no cover
DJ OSCAR PEREZ: Fri, 12/6, 10pm, no cover DJ MO FUNK: Sat, 12/7, 10pm, no cover
DEC/5:
TAHOE FILM FEST
The fifth annual festival features a collection of new environmental films, American independent films, films from Latin America and a filmmaker tribute. The four-day event kicks off on Thursday, Dec. 5, with a screening of Marriage Story at Incline Village Cinema, 901 Tahoe Blvd., Incline Village, and Out of Bounds at the Crystal Bay Casino, 14 Highway 28, Crystal Bay. Screenings will take place at these locations, as well as the Village Cinemas at Northstar, 3001 Northstar Drive, Truckee, through Sunday, Dec. 8. There will also be after parties each night of the festival at the Crystal Bay Casino. Tickets to the festival are $12-$75. All ticket proceeds benefit environmental research and education at the University of California at Davis, Tahoe Environmental Research Center. Visit tahoefilmfest.com.
Post shows online by registering at www.newsreview.com/reno. Deadline is the Friday before publication.
Modest Mouse Dec. 8, 8 p.m. Grand Sierra Resort 2500 E. Second St. 789-2000
PEPPERMILL RESORT SPA CASINO
TAHOE BILTMORE 5 HIGHWAy 28, cRyStAL BAy, (775) 831-0660
2707 S. VIRGInIA St., (775) 826-2121
cASIno FLooR CHRIS COSTA: Fri, 12/6, Sat, 12/7, 8pm, no cover
EdGE LATIN DANCE SOCIAL WITH BB & KIKI OF SALSA RENO: Fri, 12/6, 7pm, $10-$20, no cover before 8pm
HARRAH’S LAKE TAHOE
DJ SPRYTE: Sat, 12/7, 10pm, $20
15 HIGHWAy 50, StAtELInE, (800) 427-7247
FUNK REVIVAL ORCHESTRA: Thu, 12/5, 7pm,
SoUtH SHoRE RooM MAT KEARNEY: Sat, 12/7, 7:30pm, $36.23
cASIno cEntER StAGE TUESDAY NIGHT BLUES WITH THE BUDDY EMMER BAND: Tue, 12/10, 8pm, no cover
GRAND SIERRA RESORT 2500 E. SEcond St., (775) 789-2000 GRAnd tHEAtRE SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE?: Fri, 12/6, 8pm, $39.50-$89.50
MODEST MOUSE: Sun, 12/8, 8pm, $35.32-$41.28
LEX nIGHtcLUB THROWBACK THURSDAY WITH DJ SWERVE-1: Thu, 12/5, 6pm, no cover
LEX FRIDAYS WITH JIMMY LITE: Fri, 12/6, 10pm, $10
BLACK LIGHT AND BODY PAINT PARTY WITH DJ LOS: Sat, 12/7, 10pm, $20
WILLIAM HILL RAcE And SPoRtS BAR COUNTRY MUSIC NIGHTS & DANCE LESSONS: Thu, 12/5, Fri, 12/6, Sat, 12/7, 10pm, no cover
HARD ROCK LAKE TAHOE 50 HIGHWAy 50, StAtELInE, (844) 588-7625 VInyL SHoWRooM THUNDER FROM DOWN UNDER: Thu, 12/5, 8pm, $25 AEROMYTH: Fri, 12/6, 9pm, $20
cEntER BAR DJ SET: Fri, 12/6, Sat, 12/7, 9pm, no cover
HARVEYS LAKE TAHOE 18 HIGHWAy 50, StAtELInE, (775) 588-6611 HARVEy’S cABAREt THE NEVADA SHOW: Fri, 12/6, 10pm, $26.83-$36.83
MONTBLEU RESORT, CASINO & SPA 55 HIGHWAy 50, StAtELInE, (800) 235-8259 MontBLEU SHoWRooM
tERRAcE LoUnGE Fri, 12/6, Sat, 12/7, 8pm, no cover
BOGG JAZZ ENSEMBLE: Sun, 12/8, Mon, 12/9, Tue, 12/10, Wed, 12/11, 6pm, no cover
karaoke
SANDS REGENCY 345 n. ARLInGton AVE., (775) 348-2200
Fat Cat Bar & Grill (Midtown District), 1401 S. Virginia St., (775) 453-2223: Karaoke with Chapin, Tue, 9pm, no cover
3Rd StREEt LoUnGE LINE DANCING WITH VAQUERA VIKKI: Thu, 12/5, Wed, 12/11, 6pm, no cover
SILVER LEGACY RESORT CASINO 407 n. VIRGInIA St., (775) 325-7401 DJ R3VOLVER: Fri, 12/6, Sat, 12/7, 9pm, no cover
SILVER BARon LoUnGE DJ MOFUNK: Thu, 12/5, Sun, 12/8, 9pm, no cover
Pizza Baron, 1155 W. Fourth St., Ste. 113, (775) 329-4481: Wacky Wednesday Karaoke with Steve Starr & DJ Hustler, 9pm, no cover The Point, 1601 S. Virginia St., (775) 3223001: Karaoke, Thu-Sat, 8:30pm, no cover Spiro’s Sports Bar & Grille, 1475 E. Prater Way, Ste. 103, Sparks, (775) 356-6000: Karaoke, Fri-Sat, 9pm, no cover West 2nd Street Bar, 118 W. Second St., (775) 348-7976: Karaoke, Mon-Sun, 9pm, no cover
THE 17TH ANNUAL TAHOE ADVENTURE FILM FESTIVAL: Sat, 12/7, 7:30pm, $28-$41
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FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 5, 2019 For a complete listing of this week’s events or to post events to our online calendar, visit www.newsreview.com. NOEL NIGHTS: The Village at Northstar transforms into a winter wonderland featuring horse-drawn sleigh rides, outdoor ice skating, pictures with Santa and s’mores and hot cocoa by the fire pits. Fri, 12/6, 5-8pm. Northstar California Resort, 5001 Northstar Drive, Truckee, www.northstarcalifornia.com.
NORTHERN LIGHTS: The monthlong holiday celebration features more than 30 events, including a tree-lighting ceremony, festivals and parties, concerts, theatrical productions and a bar crawl. Thu, 12/5-Wed, 12/11. Various locations in Crystal Bay and Incline Village, www.northernlightstahoe.com.
PARADE OF LIGHTS: The celebration starts
DEC/06
: SPARKS HOMETOWNE CHRISTMAS
The City of Sparks’ annual holiday event kicks off with a tree lighting ceremony at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6, in Victorian Square. The evening includes live music and a sing-along and hot cocoa for the kids. The festivities continue on Saturday, Dec. 7, with photos with Santa Claus at the Sparks Heritage Museum starting at 10:30 a.m. and a parade down Victorian Avenue featuring hundreds of parade entries, including floats, animals, marching bands, community groups and Santa Claus. This year’s theme will focus on how Christmas is celebrated around the world. The parade begins at 1 p.m. and will travel from east to west on Victorian Avenue from Pyramid Way to 16th Street in downtown Sparks. Admission is free. Visit cityofsparks.us/news/2019sparks-hometowne-christmas-parade.
in Gardnerville on Dec. 5 with the lighting of Heritage Park. On Dec. 6, the gazebo in Minden will be lit up for the holidays. The annual parade on Dec. 7 will feature floats, marching bands, color guard and a special guest from the North Pole. The parade travels along State Route 395 from Heritage Park to Minden Park. Thu, 12/5-Sat, 12/7. Free. Various locations in Gardnerville and Minden, visitcarsonvalley.org.
THE POLAR EXPRESS TRAIN RIDE: During this hour-long train ride, characters, entertainment and Santa Claus bring The Polar Express story to life. Rides depart at 5pm, 6:30pm and 8pm. Thu, 12/5-Sun, 12/8, 5pm. $17-$46. V&T Eastgate Depot, 4650 Eastgate Siding Road, Carson City, (877) 724-5007.
RENO WINTER LIGHT FESTIVAL: The two-
EVENTS 2019 SANTA TRAIN: Take a ride on the Santa Train featuring historic equipment from the Virginia & Truckee Railroad. Visit with Santa Claus and receive a candy cane aboard the train. Trains run every 30 minutes. Walk up tickets are available for every ride on event days. Sat, 12/7-Sun, 12/8, 10am-3pm. $5, free for children age 2 and younger sitting on lap. Nevada State Railroad Museum, Carson City, 2180 S. Carson St., Carson City, (775) 687-6953, nvculture.org/ nevadastaterailroadmuseumcarsoncity.
CANDY CANE EXPRESS: Enjoy the holiday season aboard vintage, heated coaches. The rides include hot chocolate, cider, candy canes and cookies. Departure times are at noon and 2pm. Reservations are recommended. Sat, 12/7-Sun, 12/8. $12-$23. Virginia City, 166 F St., Virginia City, virginiatruckee.com.
COMMUNITY HOLIDAY CELEBRATION: Enjoy crafts for kids, sleigh rides, live music, caroling and appearances by Penguin Pete and Santa and Mrs. Claus. Food, beverages and sleigh rides will be available for purchase. This event is part of the Northern Lights Festival, a monthlong celebration with a variety of fun events. Fri, 12/6, 4:30pm. Diamond Peak Ski Resort, 1210 Ski Way, Incline Village, northernlightstahoe.com.
FESTIVAL OF TREES AND LIGHTS: This multiday holiday event features lavishly decorated holiday trees, wreaths and decor, local entertainment, a kids’ craft area, photos with Santa Claus and a teddy bear hospital. Fri, 12/6, 10am-2pm, 5-9pm; Sun, 12/8, 10am-noon, 1-7pm. $5$35. Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, 15 Highway 50, Stateline, bartonhealth.org.
GENOA CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS: The town of Genoa celebrates the holidays with Christmas caroling, a tree-lighting ceremony and warm beverages. Fri, 12/6, 5:30pm. Free. Genoa Community Church, 182 Nixon St., Genoa, (775) 782-8696.
HEAVENLY HOLIDAYS FAMILY FESTIVAL: Heavenly Holidays Family Festival features a tree lighting, fireworks, live music, rail jams, train rides, special performances, ice sculptures, breakfast with Santa, ice skating performances starring Disney characters, a Ferris Wheel and more during the month of December. Thu, 12/5-Wed, 12/11. Heavenly Mountain, 4080 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, theshopsatheavenly.com.
HIGH DESERT ART+CRAFT HOLIDAY MARKET: The Holland Project’s holiday market celebrates the work of independent artists, crafters and makers from throughout the region. Sat, 12/7-Sun, 12/8, 10am. Free. The Holland Project, 140 Vesta St., (775) 448-6500.
weekend festival will kick off with the City of Reno Tree Lighting on Saturday, Dec. 7, at the City Plaza. There will be a makers fair, as well as food, beer and wine from Wandering Wyld Events from noon to 8pm. Santa Claus will be on site from 3-7pm for free photos with the kids. Sat, 12/7, noon-8pm. Free. City Plaza, 10 N. Virginia St., (775) 334-4636.
SILVER & SNOWFLAKES FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS: Carson City kicks off the holidays with a tree lighting, free sleigh rides, hot cocoa, an appearance by Santa Claus and more. Fri 12/6, 5:30pm. Free. Nevada State Capitol, 101 N. Carson St., Carson City, carsoncitychamber.com.
WINTERFEST: The festive holiday attraction features the Holiday Express Christmas train ride, a narrated journey through thousands of Christmas lights inside Greater Nevada Field, and photo opportunities with Santa Claus in Santa’s Village. Fri, 12/6, Sat, 12, 7, 5pm; Sun, 12/8, 4pm. $10-$15. Greater Nevada Field, 250 Evans Ave., www.facebook. com/WinterFestReno.
ONSTAGE A COMSTOCK CHRISTMAS CAROL: This play is the classic story by Charles Dickens, but with historical characters and set in 1860s Virginia City. Sun, 12/8, 1pm. $15$20, free for children age 4 and younger. Piper’s Opera House, 12 N. B St., Virginia City, (775) 847-0433.
APEX CONCERTS —YOUNG BEETHOVEN: The
MRS. BOB CRATCHIT’S WILD CHRISTMAS BINGE:
University of Nevada, Reno’s Apex Concerts begins early celebrations of the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth with a program featuring works from the early years of the master’s life. Thu, 12/5, 7:30pm. $5-$35, free for students ages 17 and younger. Hall Recital Hall, University Arts Building, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 N. Virginia St., (775) 784-4278.
BUTTCRACKER 9 —SON OF A BUTTCRACKER: What began as a Brüka Theatre parody of The Nutcracker has evolved into a regional cult classic, offering a different underbelly to the original ballet each year it is performed. This year’s theme explores “re-creation” with a wink to Mary Shelley and an observance of neologisms that dynamically flavor a new holiday conversation for the millennium. Thu, 12/5-Sat, 12/7, 7:30pm; Sun, 12/8, 2pm; Wed, 12/11, 7:30pm. $26$28, $10 on Artist Night, Dec. 11. Bruka Theatre, 99 N. Virginia St., (775) 323-3221.
CHRISTMAS IN THE SIERRA: David John and
Association’s early music instrumental and vocal ensemble, Consort Canzona, presents a celebration of early Christmas music with a modern twist. Fri, 12/6, 7pm; Sat, 12/7, 4pm. Free, donations welcome. Shepherd of Sierra Lutheran Church, 3680 US Highway 395 South, Carson City, (775) 883-4154.
SONGS OF COMFORT & JOY: The Tahoe Choir
presents its holiday concert. Fri, 12/6, 7pm; Sun, 12/8, 3pm. $12-$15, free for children age 12 and younger. St. Theresa Catholic Church, 1041 Lyons Ave., South Lake Tahoe, www.facebook.com/ TheTahoeChoir.
SPIRIT OF THE SEASON: The Reno Phil
DISNEY’S FROZEN, JR.: Wild Horse Children’s Theater presenting the musical play based on the 2018 Broadway musical that brings Elsa, Anna and the magical land of Arendelle to life onstage. Fri,
12/6, 7pm; Sat, 12/7, 2pm & 7pm; Sun, 12/8, 2pm. $10-$15, free for children age
and conductor Jason Altieri present the annual holiday celebration full of orchestral arrangements, jazzy numbers, traditional holiday tunes and carols. Fri, 12/6, 7pm; Sat, 12/7, 2pm & 7pm; Sun, 12/8, 2pm. $16-$70. Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, 100 S. Virginia St., (775) 323-6393.
SUNDAY JAZZ AT RLT: Reno Little Theater,
3 and younger. Brewery Arts Center Performance Hall, 511 W. King St., Carson City, (775) 583-8878.
GENOA’S COWBOY COUNTRY CHRISTMAS FEATURING JONI MORRIS: The concert features classic Christmas music and more by singer Joni Morris. Guests may purchase concert only tickets or a dinner and show package. Sat, 12/7, 5:30pm. $15-$35. Town of Genoa, 2289 Main St., Genoa, (775) 782-8696.
FTLOJ & KNCJ present a special holiday program featuring The Peanuts Gang Trio with special guests Ron Savage, Graham Marshall and Scot Marshall. Admission is pay-what-you-can with proceeds benefiting Reno Little Theater and For the Love of Jazz. Sun, 12/8, 7pm. Reno Little Theater, 147 E. Pueblo St., (775) 813-8900, renolittletheater.org.
TUBA CHRISTMAS CONCERT: This family-
HEARTS LIKE FISTS: Restless Artists Theatre
Orchestra and Chorus celebrates the Christmas season with a production of Handel’s Messiah along with seasonal carols. Sun, 12/8, 3pm. $0-$40. Trinity Lutheran Church, 1480 Douglas Ave., Gardnerville, (775) 298-6989.
Theater’s festival features local writers writing about our times—because they’re writing it overnight. The next day, actors and directors learn, rehearse and prepare for a performance that night. Sat, 12/7, 7:30pm. $5-$50. Reno Little Theater, 147 E. Pueblo St., (775) 813-8900, renolittletheater.org.
“Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer,” and his band present a benefit concert celebrating music and the season of giving. Fri, 12/6, 6:45pm. $25-$50. Mountain Music Parlor, 735 S. Center St., (775) 843-5500; the band will also perform in Carson City. Sun, 12/8, 4pm. $13-$20. Maizie Harris Jessie Black Box Theatre, Brewery Arts Center, 449 W. King St., Carson City, (775) 883-1976.
CONSORT CANZONA—SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW: Carson City Symphony
MESSIAH: TOCCATA–Tahoe Symphony
ONE DAY PLAY FESTIVAL: Reno Little
SOUTHWESTERN PILGRAMAGE FEATURING RANDY BROOKS: Brooks, the writer of
the Comstock Cowboys present their annual Christmas concert featuring special guests. Sat, 12/7, 6:30pm. $25. Piper’s Opera House, 12 N. B St., Virginia City, (775) 847-0433.
Company presents Adam Szymkowicz’s superhero noir comedy about the dangers of love. Fri, 12/6-Sat, 12/7, 7:30pm; Sun, 12/8, 2pm. $8-$15. Restless Artists Theatre Company, 295 20th Street, Sparks, (775) 525-3074.
Good Luck Macbeth Company presents Chris Durang’s parody of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Thu, 12/5-Sat, 12/7, 7:30pm; Sun, 12/8, 2pm. $18-$20. Good Luck Macbeth Theatre Company, 124 W. Taylor St., (775) 322-3716.
friendly event features holiday carols arranged in four-part harmony and performed by local tuba, baritone and euphonium players. The Wilbur D. May Museum will have festive decorations on display and offer free admission all day long. Sat, 12/7, 3pm. Free. Wilbur D. May Center, Rancho San Rafael Regional Park,, 1595 N. Sierra St., (775) 785-5961, www.facebook.com/WilburMayCenter.
WINTER DREAMS: Magic Theatre Circus presents this extravaganza of visual delights presented in the European tradition of cirque. Fri, 12/6, 4pm & 7pm,
Sat 12/7-Sun, 12/8, 1pm, 4pm & 7pm, Tue, 12/10-Wed, 12/11, 4pm & 7pm. $19-$69.
Sierra Market Place, 3600 S. Virginia St., magictheatercircus.com.
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BY AMY ALKON
Baby got backup I’ve been dating this really great woman for three months. She’s just decided that she needs to be single right now, despite our forming a pretty strong connection. She explained that she really, really likes me, but she’s never been single for very long and thinks it’s best for her at the moment. I can respect that. She also says we can keep sleeping together if I want. I want to do that, but I’m wondering: Could that ruin our chances of having a real relationship again in the future? There’s a good chance you’ve been demoted from boyfriend to emergency penis. Research by evolutionary psychologist Joshua Duntley suggests that we evolved to cultivate backup mates—plan B partners we can quickly pivot to in case a partner ditches us or dies in a freak accident. Many or most of us seem to have a backup mate or two—somebody we flirt with regularly or otherwise set up as our romantic fallback, though we aren’t always consciously aware of it. Maybe you’re all, “Hey, fine by me if she wants to keep me as her sexual service department while she’s shopping around.” Maybe you’re hoping she’ll find other dudes lame in comparison. Totally possible. But if what really matters to you is having a relationship with her, all that availability on your part is not a good look. The problem is “the scarcity principle.” Psychologist Robert Cialdini explains that we value what’s scarce or out of reach, fearing that we’ll lose access to it. In fact, the desirability of the very same person or thing often increases or decreases according to shifts in its perceived accessibility. Once your value is perceived to be low, there might not be much chance of rehabbing it. So it might pay to find other sex partners and give this woman a chance to miss you. It ultimately serves your purpose better than turning yourself into the man version of those freezedried food packs sold for earthquake or apocalypse prep kits: delicious like seasoned particle board but just the thing while you’re waiting for rescue in the remains of your office building with nothing to eat but your arm.
The truth fairy My boyfriend recently proposed to me. I’ve gotten to thinking that if I’d never worn braces, he wouldn’t have been interested in me. I had a terrible underbite. I always felt very unattractive in regard to my teeth, lip and jaw region until I eventually had this corrected years ago through braces. I constantly have the nagging thought that my boyfriend could do better—that is, find a woman who is more naturally beautiful, more on a par with his level of attractiveness. Basically, I feel that my braces led to a form of unnatural beauty, a kind of cheating, and I don’t deserve him. Though some men are put off by fake breasts, it’s unlikely that anybody will find corrective dental work a vile form of deception, like you’re the Bernie Madoff of the perfect smile. Research in “dental anthropology” by Peter Ungar, Rachel Sarig and others suggests the cause of your underbite could be genetic—or it could be environmental (perhaps deficiencies in maternal nutrition during pregnancy). Might you and your fiance have a kid with a funky bite? Sure. But unlike in ancestral human societies, we live in a world teeming with orthodontists. Just look for the “STR8TEETH” and “SMILEDOC” plates on cars that cost as much as a small, slightly used private jet. Allay your fears by being honest: Tell your fiance that you got braces to correct a really bad underbite. A dude who’s attracted to the way you look now is unlikely to dump you upon learning about your supposedly sordid orthodontic history. Looks are vital for attraction, but they’re just part of what matters. A massive cross-cultural survey by evolutionary psychologist David Buss finds that men, like women, prioritize kindness and intelligence in a partner. In fact, these are men’s and women’s top asks. And these are things that can’t be engineered with $7K in oral railroad tracks. □
ERIK HOLLAND
Got a problem? Write Amy Alkon, 171 Pier Ave., No. 280, Santa Monica, CA 90405, or email AdviceAmy@aol.com (www.advicegoddess.com).
12.05.19
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Free will astrology Call for a quote. (775) 324-4440 ext. 2 Phone hours: M-F 9am-5pm. Deadlines for print: Line ad deadline: Monday 4pm Display ad deadline: Friday 2pm All advertising is subject to the newspaper’s Standards of Acceptance. Further, the News & Review specifically reserves the right to edit, decline or properly classify any ad. Errors will be rectified by re-publication upon notification. The N&R is not responsible for error after the first publication. The N&R assumes no financial liability for errors or omission of copy. In any event, liability shall not exceed the cost of the space occupied by such an error or omission. The advertiser and not the newspaper assumes full responsibility for the truthful content of their advertising message. *Nominal fee for some upgrades. maintaining Java J2EE applications, Linux operating systems & hardware for web-centric application platforms & frameworks for gaming industry products using Apache, JBoss, AEM & Tomcat application softward including reviewing & revising DNS infrastructure; troubleshooting Linux server hardware, operating systems and application software and databases; completing configurations of development & QA environments using Puppet & CFEnging; supporting technology upgrades through PostgreSQL, Tomcat & Oracle migrations’ performing system tuning & providing technical documentation & system implementation support. The positiion is located in Reno, NV w/ 10% travel. Send resume to IGT, Attn: Sarah McDaniel, 9295 Prototype Dr., Reno, NV 89521. Please indicate USARNV in subject line.
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For the week oF December 5, 2019 ARIES (March 21-April 19): In composing this oracle,
s t f i g It’s not too early to start thinking about the holidays. Save more and spend less when you buy gift certificates through RN&R Sweetdeals!
sentimental poetry to offer you in this horoscope. It may be too mushy for a mentally crisp person like you. You may worry that I’ve fallen under the sway of sappy versions of love rather than the snappy versions I usually favor. But there is a method in my madness: I suspect you need an emotionally suggestive nudge to fully activate your urge to merge; you require a jolt of sweetness to inspire you to go in quest of the love mojo that’s potentially available to you in abundance. So please allow your heart to be moved by the following passage from poet Rabindranath Tagore: “My soul is alight with your infinitude of stars. Your world has broken upon me like a flood. The flowers of your garden blossom in my body.” notice how it feels: “For the next 17 days, I will make ingenious efforts to interpret my problems as interesting opportunities that offer me the chance to liberate myself from my suffering and transform myself into the person I aspire to become.” Now speak the following words and see what thoughts and sensations get triggered: “For the next 17 days, I will have fun imagining that my so-called flaws are signs of potential strengths and talents that I have not yet developed.”
songwriter Leonard Cohen if he needed to feel bothered and agitated to stimulate his creativity. Cohen said no. “When I get up in the morning,” he testified, “my real concern is to discover whether I’m in a state of grace.” Surprised, the interviewer then asked, “What do you mean by a state of grace?” Cohen described it as a knack for balance that he called on to ride the chaos around him. He knew he couldn’t fix or banish the chaos—and it would be arrogant to try. His state of grace was more like skiing skillfully down a hill, gliding along the contours of unpredictable terrain. I’m telling you about Cohen’s definition because I think that’s the state of grace you should cultivate right now. I bet it will stimulate your creativity in ways that surprise and delight you.
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strategy to make sure you’re not hiding any secrets from yourself. Now is a favorable time to practice this art.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In accordance with current
astrological omens, here’s your meditation, as articulated by the blogger named Riverselkie: “Let your life be guided by the things that produce the purest secret happiness, with no thought to what that may look like from the outside. Feed the absurd whims of your soul and create with no audience in mind but yourself. What is poignant to you is what others will be moved by, too. Embrace what you love about yourself and the right people will come.”
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “I swear I became a saint
from waiting,” wrote Scorpio poet Odysseus Elytis in his poem “Three Times the Truth.” According to my reading of the astrological omens, you may be in a similar situation. And you’ll be wise to welcome the break in the action and abide calmly in the motionless lull. You’ll experiment with the hypothesis that temporary postponement is best not just for you, but for all concerned.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “My greatest asset
is that I am constantly changing,” says Sagittarian actress and activist Jane Fonda. This description may not always be applicable to you, but I think it should be during the coming weeks. You’re primed to thrive on a robust commitment to self-transformation. As you proceed in your holy task, keep in mind this other advice from Fonda. 1. “One part of wisdom is knowing what you don’t need anymore and letting it go.” 2. “It is never too late to master your weaknesses.” 3. “If you allow yourself, you can become stronger in the very places that you’ve been broken.” 4. “The challenge is not to be perfect. It’s to be whole.” P.S. And what does it mean to be whole? Be respectful toward all your multiple facets, and welcome them into the conversation you have about how to live.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You can’t escape your past completely. You can’t loosen its hold on you so thoroughly that it will forever allow you to move with limitless freedom into the future. But you definitely have the power to release yourself from at least a part of your past’s grip. And the coming weeks will be an excellent time to do just that: to pay off a portion of your karmic debt and shed worn-out emotional baggage.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Aquarian playwright
August Strindberg didn’t have much interest in people who “regurgitate what they have learned from books.” He was bored by stories that have been told over and over again, and was impatient with propaganda disguised as information and by sentimental platitudes masquerading as sage insights. He craved to hear about the unprecedented secrets of each person’s life: the things they know and feel that no one else knows and feels. He was a student of “the natural history of the human heart.” I bring Strindberg’s perspective to your attention because now is a perfect time for you to fully embody it.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “It’s no fun being in love
with a shadow,” wrote Piscean poet Edna St. Vincent Millay. And yet she indulged profusely in that no-fun activity, and even capitalized on it to create a number of decent, if morose, poems. But in alignment with your astrological omens, I’m going to encourage you to fall out of love with shadows. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to channel your passions into solid realities: to focus your ardor and adoration on earthly pleasures and practical concerns and imperfect but interesting people.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Poet Juan Felipe Herrera
chat
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LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): An interviewer asked singer-
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things I never told you.” Famous make-up artist Alexandra Joseph wrote that message to a companion with whom she had a complicated relationship. Are you experiencing a similar sensation? If so, I invite you to do something about it! The coming weeks will be a good time to stop drowning. One option is to blurt out to your ally all the feelings and thoughts you’ve been withholding and hiding. A second option is to divulge just some of the feelings and thoughts you’ve been withholding and hiding—and then monitor the results of your partial revelation. A third option is to analyze why you’ve been withholding and hiding. Is it because your ally hasn’t been receptive, or because you’re afraid of being honest? Here’s what I suggest: Start with the third option, then move on to the second.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Try saying this, and
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I have called on the unruly wisdom of Vivienne Westwood. She’s the fashion designer who incorporated the punk esthetic into mainstream styles. Here are four quotes by her that will be especially suitable for your use in the coming weeks. 1. “I disagree with everything I used to say.” 2. “The only possible effect one can have on the world is through unpopular ideas.” 3. “Intelligence is composed mostly of imagination, insight, things that have nothing to do with reason.” 4. “I’m attracted to people who are really true to themselves and who are always trying to do something that makes their life more interesting.”
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “I’m drowning in the
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praises the value of making regular efforts to detox our cluttered minds. He says that one of the best methods for accomplishing this cleansing is to daydream. You give yourself permission to indulge in uncensored, unabashed fantasies. You feel no inhibition about envisioning scenes that you may or may not ever carry out in real life. You understand that this free-form play of images is a healing joy, a gift you give yourself. It’s a crafty
You can call Rob Brezsny for your Expanded Weekly Horoscope: (900) 950-7700. $1.99 per minute. Must be 18+. Touchtone phone required. Customer service (612) 373-9785. And don’t forget to check out Rob’s website at realastrology.com.
BY JERI DAVIS
Candidate
to serve the public. I joined the U.S. Army right out of high school, and I served as a paratrooper, a Nevada Guardsman for almost 11 years. And most of my missions were public service. They were humanitarian missions in Haiti, peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and Kosovo. … When I returned to Reno after my honorable discharge, I started serving on citizen advisory boards for the Regional Transportation Commission, the City of Reno and Washoe County. So, like him, I understand. He loves public service, and I love public service and helping others.
Scott Kelley is a public information officer for the Nevada Department of Corrections and the incumbent candidate for Washoe County School Board District A, running against 18-year-old Jack Heinemann. (See “New school,” A&C, Nov. 28. )
District A is not your first. You were District E, too, for years. I was the representative for District E from 2009 to 2012. And, at that time, the school board was very effective and very efficient. In fact, we won national awards for helping steer the school district through the recession—and avoiding teacher layoffs and school closures, while still seeing increases in our graduation rates and student test scores. … I was not on the school board when the board fired and rehired Pedro Martinez, which really hurt the school board’s relationship with the community. It was partly for that reason that I decided I wanted to run for reelection.
You returned due to the turmoil? Yes, yep.
What’s your interest in continuing to serve District A? Let’s consider school overcrowding. That was a big issue when I took office in 2017. And since then, I’ve pushed for the expansion of Damonte Ranch High School, the 2019 opening of Poulakidas Elementary School and the 2020 opening of Herz Middle School, all of which is relieving
and will continue to relieve overcrowding. And I also made sure all of my district schools received revitalization and safety upgrades. … I’m seeking reelection because I want to make sure southern Reno receives another elementary school. … Something that’s district-wide is the budget. So, in 2019, the school board passed a structurally balanced budget— the first time that WCSD had done that since the Great Recession in 2008. This years budget—it included a three percent raise for teachers and staff. It increased funding for special education. It covered the operating costs of all of our new schools, and it did not increase classroom sizes. I’m want to run for reelection because I have really extensive budgeting experience that’s conservative and fiscally responsible.
What do you make of having such a young opponent? Well, you know, I understand his desire
Anything else you’d like to say? It’s true that Nevada ranks last in a lot of academic metrics, but I want the citizens to know that Washoe places in the top 20 or 25 percentile compared to other similarly sized districts. And our staff works really hard to educate all of our students. Many of our students come from a background of poverty or English as a second language, but our staff finds ways to help them overcome those barriers and get a good education. … I’m also proud of Washoe County’s parents for advocating for their students at board meetings, … at the legislature. … And then, I think, for reelection, it’s important … to talk about some of the things I’d want to do in the future. … I want to make sure that our next superintendent really knows and really understands the challenges facing WCSD. And I want to empower him or her to expand on what’s working and to really look critically at what isn’t working. □
BY BRUCE VAN DYKE
Remember when? One of the many ironies that has bloomed here in the Age of Orange is that those of us who used to be casually slandered by Republicans in the ’70s and ’80s as “commie pinko fags” and totally degenerate flagburners and so forth have now seen our position on the political spectrum undergo a most unexpected 180. Now, it’s us CPFs who are—lo and behold— Defenders of The Red White And Blue! I mean … whaaaaaa? That’s exactly what has transpired. It’s us CPFs who are the friggin’ patriots now standing up for American Democracy (of all things!) in the face of relentless pressure placed upon various quasi-sacred institutions by Big Boss Vlad and his raving rabble of Dondonian lickspittles. I mean, Jesus, what would St. Ronnie Raygun say at the spectacle of all these ReTrumplicans in Washington blowing every Russian they can unzip?
What about gnarly old John McCain, T-Rex of the Senate? Would he approve of all this salacious Soviet schlong schlurping? • Oh, yes, you betcha I snatched up a copy of A Warning, the latest yummy blast of Trump Porn for us twitching members of the TDSWH club (Trump Derangement Syndrome—Woo Hoo!). After reading the first half of the book, it appears this Trump fellow is a bit of a poopstain. And not much of a reader! • I was watching a flick recently that touched upon that whole thing in the ’60s where we were gonna Love Everybody. Ah, yes, in the Age of Aquarius, we would just go ahead, get it over with, and Love Everybody (OK, maybe not that scruffy dude snorfling around in the dumpster). Well, 50 years later, it’s obvious—we shot
too high on that one—way too high. If we had just toned it down a little, to where the plan would have been to Like everybody? Might’ve helped. You know, let’s get real here. Liking Everybody would have been, in retrospect, just fine. Much more do-able. And a real good start! Hell, just tolerating everybody. Nothing wrong with that. Hindsight! • One of the truly great rock American rock bands was Little Feat. Their records from the ’70s, often overlooked, often unremembered, remain extremely terrific. Paul Barrere, the second guitarist in the band, recently passed away at age 71, due to liver cancer. Yes, I’m sure he gave his liver some serious exercise! So in October, he put on his Sailin’ Shoes … and moseyed on outta here. Adios, amigo. □
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