May 15, 2014

Letters ........................... 3 opinion/Streetalk ........... 5 Sheila Leslie ................... 6 Brendan Trainor............. 7 news ............................. 8 Green ........................... 11 Feature ........................ 13 Arts&Culture ............... 16 Art of the State ............ 19

Foodfinds .................... 20 Film............................. 22 Musicbeat ................... 23 nightclubs/Casinos ...... 24 This Week ....................27 Advice Goddess .......... 28 Free Will Astrology ...... 30 15 Minutes .................... 31 Bruce Van Dyke ........... 31

They work hard for The money See Left Foot Forward, page 6.

Don’t look for grounDwater See News, page 8.

Keep on Truckin’ See Arts&Culture, page 16.

The grass is greener See Film, page 22.

RENo’s NEws & ENtERtaiNmENt wEEkly

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Act FAST! A stroke occurs when a vessel that carries blood to the brain is blocked or ruptured. Since the blood flow is disrupted, the brain cells start to die, which can lead to brain damage. Now that you know what a stroke is, it’s important to learn the signs.

“The temptation is to wait it and d hope the symptoms will subside,” ubsid de,” says Jeff Wagner, MD, a neurologist ologiist and the ry Stroke medical director of the Prima Primary Center at Northern Nevada ada Medical M Center. “The problem is that iiff too much time passes, the treatment nt to reverse stroke afe to administer.” symptoms is no longer safe

Take Time to Learn the Signs

Excellence in Stroke Care

Knowing the signs of stroke and getting immediate help can be the difference between life and death, as well as minimize brain damage and disability. Here’s how to think F.A.S.T.:

The Joint Commission awarded d its Gold Seal of Approval for certification ificatio on as a Primary Stroke Center to Northern Northe ern Nevada Medical Center. The rapidapidresponse stroke team can initiate ate treatment right away in the ambulance. mbulance. Emergency physicians, a neurologist ologistt and other team members are ready and waiting to assess patients and begin immediate treatment.

Stroke is the third-leading cause of death in the United States, as well as the leading cause of adult disability.* But what is a stroke, really? It’s a “brain attack” that strikes very quickly.

F = FACE Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop? A = ARMS Ask the person to hold up both arms. Does one drift downward? S = SPEECH Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Does the speech sound slurred or strange?

Symptoms of Stroke? Get to a stroke center like NNMC!

T = TIME If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Jeffrey Wagner, MD, earned his medical degree at Oregon Health Sciences University, y, eurowhere he also completed his residency in neurology. He completed his fellowship in neurophysiology at the University of Utah. Dr. Wagner practices stroke neurology, and he is the medical director of the Primary Stroke Center at Northern Nevada Medical Center.

Board-Certified Neurologist | Medical Director, NNMC Primary Stroke Center

Learn more about the Primary Stroke Center at Northern Nevada Medical Center at nnmc.com

Exceptional People. Exceptional Quality. Experience the Difference.. 2375 East Prater Way | Sparks, NV | 775.331.7000 Information is provided for educational purposes only, and is not intended to constitute medical advice or to be relied upon for the treatment of any particular condition. If you have concerns or questions about specific symptoms that may affect your health, please contact your healthcare provider. *American Stroke Association

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Send letters to renoletters@newsreview.com

Down to the wire

Drones are dangerous

Welcome to this week’s Reno News & Review. Made it through another one. In some ways, this was not the toughest semester I ever had. I mean, last semester was a killer; between the two courses of study, I read about 24 books, and I’m not talking light reading, either. Dense, heavy information that left impressions on my brain, like the gouges left by dragging a refrigerator across a hardwood floor. I won’t remember everything I was supposed to learn, but I will always remember the books it came out of, if I ever need to look it up. Still, this semester was not the easiest semester I ever had, either, but since I liked it, it went by like turning a corner. At the university, my classes both depended a lot on the personalities in them. As usual, I felt a little awkward since I’m roughly twice as old as everyone but the professors, and I’m pretty sure I was older than them, too. I don’t care much about the age difference, but it does create a bit of a communication gap. Now that I mention it, I did feel my age, 52, more than I’ve ever felt it in the journalism class I teach. I think I’ve put my finger on it. These are the first kids I’ve taught, the majority of whom had smart phones through high school. They’ve created a whole new etiquette. Second interactions among their peers are now generally text or social media—not phone calls, which they consider intrusive. For example, if they were to meet someone in class, and they were interested in talking to them later, they’d text or Facebook. If there’s a communication hierarchy, it probably goes in-person, text, social media, email, phone call and then face-to-face. That creates an issue between young journalists and older sources. Older people, say 30 and up, don’t have the same etiquette. For example, I’d almost always prefer a phone call than a Facebook or a text. You can teach kids many things, but it’s hard to teach them to act in a way they consider aggressive or rude. It’s going to make for a different breed of reporter in coming decades.

Re “What Drones May Come” (Feature story, April 17): To compare drones, or as they now call them, “unmanned autonomous systems,” to the population that was afraid of the internet in the ’80s is ridiculous. Yes, you can play violent video games on the internet, and yes, the internet will always be an uncertain yet useful tool, but never has the internet been able to shoot someone across the globe. There are many reasons for people to feel unsure about something they haven’t seen before, so feeling hesitant about a completely new world in cyberspace is normal. But weaponized drones? We know what weapons are, this is not unfamiliar territory, the only difference is whether the human controlling this vehicle is behind the wheel, or sitting in an office chair flying an unmanned system across the world under our trusted military surveillance. These drones are already flying over our state, but where is the people’s information on what they are using these for, what their overall effect will be, and most of all who are the people in control of these drones? Jordan Petrilla Reno

No doubt On April 27, 2014, the Reno GazetteJournal devoted three full-page stories to launch an attack on our state’s schools and the public servants who teach there. To get the full effect, lay them out side by side. Start with page 1A. The huge headline says it all, “Every Student Will Achieve.” Oh! Well, our schools are doing just fine. Let’s just ignore the fact that Nevada ranks at the bottom of single-school performance statistics. On page 13A, the headline is even more dramatic: “Growing Cost of PERS Raises Worries” ... former teachers, are too … expensive. So if only we weren’t making our teachers so rich, we would have money to spend on schools. Huh? Finally on 1F, the photo is a testament to how deep the pockets go on the pants of those wishing to keep our children down. With a poor education comes the low wage employees

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

the big box stores and casinos need. The RG-J is just another high-priced, big corporation mouthpiece. They will wage a biased campaign against the Education Initiative. If you care about our children, or Nevada’s future, vote YES on Question 3. Doug Smithson Reno

Car owners own the roads Re “Put student safety first” (Editorial, May 1): Raising crosswalks to slow traffic on North Virginia Street at UNR? Sounds like the same forward thinking that is reducing four-lane roadways all over town to two lanes with bike lanes, causing the drivers misery, just to benefit a minority. Instead, why don’t the students (adults by and large) use their eyes and ears and actually pay attention to traffic and watch where they’re going instead, taking personal responsibility for their safety, rather than expect us to have to watch for them when they run across our roads? Like it or not, we are a car-based system, and our roads should benefit them first, and bikes and pedestrians shouldn’t be the priority. Tim Goble Reno

Canada kills fewer Re “Who Gets Killed?” (Feature story, April 10): I was just a passing tourist who picked up your paper and was curious as to the difference between Nevada’s statistics and those for Canada, from whence I come. My quick Google search revealed that between the years 2002 and 2006, Canada—with a population of 35 million—had 19 incidents where individuals died as a result of police shootings, whereas Nevada, with a population of 2.9 million had 70 deaths due to police shootings for the same period. Not to put too fine a point on it, but your state’s police shootings causing death rates are over 350 percent higher than my entire country. Certainly this is a part of the larger

Editor/Publisher D. Brian Burghart News Editor Dennis Myers Arts Editor Brad Bynum Calendar Editor Kelley Lang Staff writer Sage Leehey Contributors Amy Alkon, Woody Barlettani, Laura Davis, Bob Grimm, Ashley Hennefer, Sheila Leslie, Dave Preston, Jessica Santina, Todd South, Brendan Trainor, Bruce Van Dyke, Allison Young

Creative Director Priscilla Garcia Art Director Hayley Doshay Junior Art Director Brian Breneman Design Melissa Bernard, Serene Lusano, Kyle Shine, Skyler Smith Advertising Consultants Gina Odegard, Bev Savage Senior Classified Advertising Consultant Olla Ubay Office Manager/Ad Coordinator Karen Brooke Executive Assistant/Operations Coordinator Nanette Harker

—D. Brian Burghart

brianb@ ne wsreview . com

problem for your country when it comes to issues of gun control and your individual willingness to use guns as a solution to problems, regardless of what those problems are. Too bad the lobbying power of the NRA makes common sense solutions impossible for either your federal or state lawmakers to enact. As someone who spent 43 and a half years in the Canadian Military, of which 42 years was in the infantry, let me assure your readers I should not be considered a commie, pinko antigun nut, but as someone who has a far greater understanding of weapons, their characteristics, uses and effects than the vast majority of people in either Canada or the U.S. Stew Parkinson Sooke, British Columbia

Come together Independent voters are coming together in Nevada to play a role in the midterm elections, but it’s not the role we are usually cast in by the media as “swing voters.” Instead, at the first Western Regional Meeting [CB1] of independents on May 17, representatives from seven states will gather to develop our network and strategies for representing the concerns of independent voters. We’ll also bring the “Voting Rights are Primary” campaign to Nevada. Coordinated nationally by IndependentVoting.org, its purpose is to dramatize the ways independents are banned or restricted from voting in the primary phase of elections in nearly every state. Primary elections are a critical juncture in the democratic process. They are often the most competitive, but in Nevada independents (nonpartisans) are not allowed to vote. This is the independent’s plight: We are first class taxpayers when it comes to funding the administration of elections–but second class voters. As independents, we support alternative approaches to the current system of private party primaries. In a nonpartisan open primary, sometimes called Top Two, all the candidates, whatever their party affiliation (or nonaffiliation) are on a single ballot, and all voters participate in voting.

Distribution Director Greg Erwin Distribution Drivers Russ Dilley, Joe Medeiros, Ron Neill, Andy Odegard, Jesse Pike, Dylan Ross, Matt Veach, Gary White, Joseph White General Manager/Publisher John D. Murphy President/CEO Jeff vonKaenel Chief Operations Officer Deborah Redmond Human Resource Manager Tanja Poley Business Manager Grant Ronsenquist

The top two vote-getters go on to the general election. In California such a system has resulted in more competitive elections, less legislative gridlock and candidates being more attentive to their entire constituent base. A change is clearly needed – so that the voices of millions of independent voters who do not now have full voting rights can be heard. We hope to lead the way to a government less controlled by partisanship and more able to move ahead with the urgent business of the country. Catana Barnes Independent Voters of Nevada Reno

Cars come first Re “Put student safety first” (Editorial, May 1): They don’t put school zones around universities. I believe that is because the “big brains” are expected to be able to safely cross the street without assistance, like every other adult. Just a thought. I’m battle born and raised, and moving away because of a lack of support for the economy, arts (or at least local artists), and the general public’s apathy towards making a difference. Seriously—25 percent voter turnout? Jacob Schneck Reno

Corporate sponsors Re “Buy a candidate” (Editorial, June 8): I agree business affiliations and service club memberships do not make a good mayor for the people. Endorsements from other politicians are even worse. I have been in Reno over 25 years and have seen them come and go. We are living in 2014, and our local government leaders both present and some of the future hopefuls are still in the mindset of the 1980s. It is time to carefully research who the candidates are and their platforms and issues important to them, and see that they are for the people of this city and not some perk they might get down the road. Arthur Mason Reno

Business Nicole Jackson, Tami Sandoval Lead Technology Synthesist Jonathan Schultz Senior Support Tech Joe Kakacek Developer John Bisignano System Support Specialist Kalinn Jenkins 405 Marsh Ave., Third Floor Reno, NV 89509 Phone (775) 324-4440 Fax (775) 324-4572 Classified Fax (916) 498-7940 Mail Classifieds to classifieds@newsreview.com

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

Cover design: Priscilla Garcia

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MOONWALKER – THE REFLECTION OF MICHAEL Saturday, May 17

ELVIN BISHOP Saturday, May 24

BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY Saturday, May 31

NEIL SEDAKA Saturday, June 7

ERIC BURDON AND THE ANIMALS Saturday, June 14

UPCOMING SHOWS The Yardbirds Friday, June 20

Abbacadabra – The Ultimate ABBA Tribute Saturday, July 5

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT TICKETMASTER.COM OR SOUTHSHOREROOM.COM. #TahoeConcerts See box office for details and age restrictions. Shows subject to change or cancellation. Must be 21 or older to gamble. Know When To Stop Before You Start.® Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700. ©2014, Caesars License Company, LLC.

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5/8/14 8:18 AM

by Dennis Myers

ThIS ModeRN WoRld

by tom tomorrow

Who is Nevada’s lieutenant governor? Asked at the Reno main post office, 2000 Vassar St. Robert Spears Insurance agent

You know, I forgot his name. I’m not quite interested in him—I guess what he stands for. Sandoval’s OK.

Judy Knox Retiree

Good question. We’re not talking Sandoval? Basically, I’m not into politics.

Karen Russell Realtor

Water, water, nowhere

I don’t know. You don’t hear about the lieutenant governor that much, I think that’s probably why.

The news story this week (see page 8) raises a question we’ve been hearing a lot about from our neighbor to the west, but it’s like it’s within a cone of silence on this side of the Sierra. We’re seeing the beginnings of a drought, and judging from the dropping water tables, it’s got the potential to be a severe one. True, maybe we don’t hear as much in the media because we live in a desert, and we’re accustomed to always being a little short of the wet stuff, but this dry spell seems a little more than the usual thing. Nine Nevada counties have been declared federal disaster areas. We’re past the time we can expect the reservoirs to refill this year. The surface level of Lake Tahoe is already down. And with the levels of the aquifers also falling, we need to look a bit downstream about things that can be done before water restrictions start. First, we’ve asked this question before, and we’ve yet to see any sign that the University of Nevada, Reno is concerned: Why does every area that isn’t covered with blacktop or concrete have grass on it? UNR could become a jewel of xeriscaping, and yet, except for the lovely horizon, it looks like any small California university. The university should begin carving out sections and replacing the plants that require a lot of water with drought-tolerant foliage. It doesn’t have to be saguaro cacti, but there are many better options than grass. The Manzanita Bowl and the quad should be the rare exceptions to this plan. A few years ago, the Truckee Meadows Water Authority increased the days available for watering, under the assumption that people won’t overwater when

they’re paying by the gallon. Now, before the restrictions are reinstated, is the time for homeowners to begin putting in decomposed granite, drought-tolerant plants, and increasing the size of eaves and awnings. While grass naturally decreases the absorption of heat, there are other plants that can both cool ground temperatures and survive conditions that will turn a lawn to dirt. And for those who simply can’t live without a green carpet, there are new varieties of grass that require less than half what the typical red fescue or bluegrass lawn requires. There are other things homeowners can do to decrease water use. Many homes got low-flow toilets during the remodel boom of the last housing bubble, but this is still an option for many others. Also, remember that slogan “If it’s yellow, let it mellow; if it’s brown, flush it down” from one of the many droughts of years past? It rarely makes good ecologic sense to flush when there’s only urine in the toilet bowl. And not to be indelicate, but there are lots of good reasons to pee in the backyard, and not just because you’re toasted: http:// www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/8-reasons-why-youshould-pee-your-garden.html. Some cities in the West have ways to get water that hasn’t been treated to drinking standards. This saves energy and personnel hours. Perhaps there’s a way to take advantage of a program like this in Northern Nevada. All these ideas are likely to be projectiles as we quiver at a future of draconian water-saving measures. If we get started now, we might not have browner days ahead. Ω

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Brendan Trainor Newspaper columnist

Oh, gosh, I’m not sure of the name of the lieutenant governor. I know the two that want to run—Lowden and Hutchison— but I don’t know the name of the current one. Well, the lieutenant governor really is only supposed to do a couple of things, according to the constitution, and then they’ve self-appointed themselves as business czars. So those aren’t normally things that interest me. Loretta Tillman Student

Oh, I have no idea. I just moved here. That’s ridiculous. I should find out.

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The Education Initiative will bring jobs It always comes down to the money, doesn’t it? Big business vehemently protests any corporate tax in Nevada despite the fact they pay one in 47 other states. Legislators won’t support a broad-based business tax for fear of offending their “no new taxes ever” constituency, or worse, the corpora.by tions that fund their campaigns. Sheila Leslie Building and trades unions are afraid the subcontractors who employ their members really mean it when they say, “It’s the tax or your jobs,” so they now oppose it, despite years of advocating just such a tax. The past few weeks of hysteria and political machinations over The Education Initiative (TEI) would be quite entertaining if our children’s collective future were not at stake. With yet another report ranking Nevada at the bottom in education, the aggressive assault on the initiative petition continues to escalate. But Nevada’s reporters and columnists have been quick to find the fallacies and hypocrisy swirling like dust devils whenever the subject comes up. The Coalition to Defeat the

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Margin Tax Initiative sends forth its doomsday spokesperson with breathless “news” at every opportunity. It’s airing scary TV commercials promising seniors and struggling families their cost-of-living is going to skyrocket if TEI passes in November. Of course the ad doesn’t mention that the Legislature’s favorite alternative when the state is short of money is the sales tax, a tax that actually does raise the cost of living for everyone. The Coalition recently asked its hired economist, Jeremy Aguero, to underscore the “job-killing” claim it’s using to frighten Nevadans about adding to the unemployment rate should the initiative be approved. News 3’s Hugh Jackson in Las Vegas reviewed the new analysis of potential job loss and found something surprising. Aguero’s statement actually points out that if the money generated by the margin tax is “dedicated to hiring new teachers … the initiative would likely have a net positive employment impact.” Another political pundit, Jon Ralston, often explores the various

layers of TEI opposition and support on his television show, Ralston Reports. In a recent debate featuring Democratic candidates for Assembly District 10 in Las Vegas, Ralston skillfully ascertained the TEI position of the three candidates, all of whom insisted millions more are needed to adequately fund education in Nevada. One candidate refused to take a position, spouting caucus talking points designed to avoid taking a public stand on TEI. Another declined support, repeating shallow “facts” from the Coalition’s propaganda. But the third candidate proudly proclaimed his support, aligning himself with the Democratic base as he heads into a primary that will essentially decide the race. When the AFL-CIO passed a resolution against the initiative at its state convention, it was columnist Steve Sebelius of the Las Vegas ReviewJournal who provided an illuminating analysis of labor’s evolution on the issue. He compared today’s TEI opposition to the words of AFL-CIO chief, Danny Thompson, during the 2011

legislative session when Thompson explained why an initiative petition is needed: Because the “legislative process is an impossible one. … With the two-thirds requirement in the constitution, what in effect that does [is], it has the minority control the majority wishes. You cannot solve the problem at the Legislature alone without some help from the people.” Many education supporters were appalled that TEI wasn’t front and center at recent Democratic county conventions, despite the endorsement of the state party. Elected officials ignored the issue altogether, concentrating instead on building grassroots support for their own campaigns. Only one candidate, Erik Holland, running for mayor of Reno, declared his support. Don’t rely on a TV ad for “information” on TEI. Educate yourself, check out this column online and click on the links. Then decide if you want a better-funded educational system or if you’d rather give the corporations a free ride. Ω

Ever check out the Bureau of Labor Statistics current local area unemployment statistics? We’re No.2! http://www.bls.gov/ web/laus/lauhsthl.htm

Let’s talk about ending subsidies The Nevada Constitution forbids public money being spent on private business. Article 8, Section 9 reads, “The State shall not donate or loan money, or its credit, subscribe to or be, interested in the Stock of any company, association, or corporation, except corporations formed for by Brendan Trainor educational or charitable purposes.” Nevada voters three times turned down constitutional amendments to allow this practice. Gov. Brian Sandoval with the attorney general’s blessing used the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) to construct an end run around the constitution and the voters by creating the “Catalyst Fund.” This economic slush fund creates a phony “pass through” system whereby the state doesn’t spend the money directly but rather pipelines it to the counties who will spend the tax money collected by the state. Politicians believe that they can “invest” better than the market can. The actual track record proves otherwise. As Milton Friedman once

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explained, you are most careful with your own money, least careful with someone else’s money. Giving specific tax breaks has not produced the intended results, whether it be sports stadiums or movie production. The Catalyst Fund is worse because it takes money from competing businesses and gives it directly to their competition. Solar City, a solar panel company, has received a commitment from GOED for a $1.2 million taxpayer subsidy. There are several Las Vegas solar installers who have been paying state taxes, but now their taxes are paying for an out-of-state competitor to move to Las Vegas. One of them, Michael Little, with help from the Nevada Policy Research Institute, has filed suit asking the Nevada courts to enforce our Constitution and end the Catalyst Fund. The deal with Solar City smells with the stench created by cronyism. The company is under investigation by the Treasury Department for

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inflating prices in order to get—hold your hat—larger federal subsidies. It reported fourth quarter losses of over $3 million. The company is owned by Elon Musk, a big donor to the Democrat Party, who is also the owner of another alternative energy welfare child, Tesla Motors. Solar energy contracts often promise that if energy prices go up their rates will remain the same. Suppose a politically incorrect technology like fracking dramatically reduces rates? Solar contracts will not go down. This creates another incentive to subsidize. If your solar installation creates more energy than you use, the utilities have to pay retail prices instead of wholesale to buy back the energy. This subsidy is paid by Nevada Energy, but Nevada Energy is running out of rebate money. Europe is scaling back its “feed in tariff” schemes. Germany is now importing U.S. coal and is rebuilding nuclear plants because its solar and wind subsidies are draining its economy. The free

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market operating by the laws of supply and demand automatically sorts out these market fluctuations. Government operating by the laws of who knows what politician best provides only golden parachutes for crony capitalists. Many environmentalists are joining libertarians to put an end to subsidies for all energy sources. Unfortunately, many other large environmental groups continue to lobby for more government involvement in energy markets. If all subsidies are ended, if the Department of Energy is abolished, if competition is allowed instead of progressive era regulated utility monopolies, we could have a robust modern energy grid that creates clean affordable energy and is better able to withstand shocks without blackouts. To get there, liberals and conservatives alike will have to put aside their beliefs in government control and let consumers pick the real winners in a free market for energy. Ω

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Here’s the Catalyst Fund Overview from the guv’s office: http://www.diversifynevada.com/images/ uploads/Catalyst_ Fund_Overview.pdf.

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Photo/Dennis Myers

On the fourth day of spring, there were sandbars in the Truckee River as it left Lake Tahoe.

Tahoe plan headed back to court Environmental groups on May 7 appealed a recent ruling by federal District Judge John Mendez upholding a regional plan update adopted by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. The appeal, filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco, argues that Mendez “failed to analyze the RPU’s negative impacts on soil conservation, water quality and air quality,” according to a statement from the law firm Earthjustice. “On top of that flaw, TRPA made erroneous findings that the RPU would protect Lake Tahoe’s environment.” Earthjustice, a law firm with offices in nine states and Washington, D.C., that has handled many major environmental cases dealing with air quality, fracking, Arctic drilling and climate change., is handling the appeal for the Sierra Club and Friends of the West Shore. “The Agency’s strange strategy to protect Lake Tahoe and its surrounding landscape from the damage caused by excessive urbanization over past decades is to promote even more development,” said Earthjustice attorney Wendy Park. “We will continue our fight to protect the lake from the misguided actions of the agency charged with protecting and restoring its environment.” In a prepared EAST SHORE, LAKE TAHOE statement TRPA executive director Joanne Marchetta said the plan “authorizes less than half as much new development as the 1987 plan, maintains growth caps and urban boundary limits on all development and authorizes no new hotel accommodation units, continues some of the strongest scenic protections in the nation and assures no new high-rises can be built, supports greenhouse gas reductions and smart growth, proposes modest infill redevelopment in a handful of existing town centers.” The dispute has split the two green groups from some of its longtime allies, including U.S. Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada.

Highton pen slows After a quarter century, Sparks Tribune columnist Jake Highton is calling it quits. The journalism professor emeritus, for whom the term irascible was invented, sent a message to Trib editor Dan Eckles: “I cannot part from the Trib without thanking the paper for 25 years of amazing publication of my column. I say amazing because it was radical, leftist, atheistic and shouted my weekly outrage. Few other newspaper editors in America would have printed it because it was so far from the thinking of most of their readers. For its publication I will always owe a huge debt of gratitude to the Sparks Tribune.” Highton, an occasional RN&R contributor, is a former reporter for the Baltimore Sun, editorial writer for the Detroit News, copy editor at the Los Angeles Times, and author of numerous books, including Nevada Newspaper Days and the journalism textbook Reporter. Several collections of his Tribune columns, too, have been published in book form. He created the Highton Scholarship Endowment for journalism students at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Start voting now Just what the public needs—news of the election after next. A panel of the Democratic National Committee recommended that the 2016 presidential nominating process begin with the Iowa caucuses on Feb. 1, followed by the New Hampshire primary, then the Nevada caucuses and the South Carolina primary. The Nevada event could be held no earlier than Feb. 20.

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Snow covered? Drought impact sweeps the state “When you don’t get the recharge in the drought, you start to see wells drying up,” said Steve McKay of McKay by Drilling, Inc. Dennis Myers His firm is getting more business as a result. “There’s definitely some areas that are being affected by the drought, and we have to deepen the wells,” he said. “There’s been some wells drying up in the Callahan ranch area and Virginia Foothills. … There’s also been some issues in the north valleys, Red Rock and Golden Valley, those areas.” They’re having to “go deeper when you’re drilling down into the water table.”

“There’s been some wells drying up.” Steve McKay Well driller At Climate Central, a website for journalists who cover climate, Bobby Magill wrote, “The driest places today are the places that have been dry for two or three years or longer: California, northwest Nevada and the southern Great Plains of the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles, northeast New Mexico and along the ColoradoKansas border.” He called it a revival of the “dust bowl” template of the early 1930s. Nevada wildlife officials say rattlesnakes are likely to drift toward urban areas as the drought dries up

ground cover that serves as food for the snakes’ prey—field mice and rats—who will head for greener and wetter soil. “Because of the early spring, they’ve probably been out a little more than usual already,” said Nevada Wildlife Department spokesperson Chris Healy. “What has occurred is that because of the lack of green-up and the lack of moisture, the small rodents that are the snakes’ food base start heading for irrigation ditches, edges of town, and the snakes will follow. Urban residents will be more likely to have an experience with a rattlesnake.” Places like the Steamboat Ditch Trail and “all these trail areas that have been developed on the edge of town” are likely danger spots, Healy said, and dogs should be kept on leashes because they would be are great risk from snakes. “People are going to have to be aware,” he said. While the danger from snakes may be a nuisance, he said, the snakes “do a really valuable job keeping those rodents in check.” It just that the drought brings them closer. The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension warned that “opportunistic weeds” are expected to be a problem for “parks and recreational areas, public lands, ranches, farms and landscapes.” “Invasive weeds can out-compete native vegetation, crops and livestock forage,” said Extension specialist Kent McAdoo in a prepared statement. “They can also pose fire hazards, lead

to erosion and water quality issues, and impact wildlife habitat.” Bureau of Land Management officials are meeting this week with local advisers in Battle Mountain on the interrelated topics of sage-grouse mitigation, livestock grazing conditions and drought. The U.S. Drought Monitor in Lincoln, Nebraska, reported that the portion of Nevada experiencing extreme to exceptional drought during the four weeks ending April 29 rose from 34 to 39 percent That agency also reported that the Sierra snowpack—the water supply for the Truckee Meadows—is melting far more rapidly than usual. About half of the snowpack is already gone, yet because there was so little snow during the winter, which created only a small snowpack, downstream reservoirs have benefited very little from the melt. This is happening in a state whose Spanish name means snow covered. Just as local governments in Nevada are putting together local ordinances for medical marijuana dispensaries, the drought is putting together an unexpected obstacle for the water-hungry medicine. Availability of supply could be compromised. Farmers and ranchers in the state have already experienced two previous drought years for their more traditional crops like alfalfa. On May 6, the new National Climate Assessment—required by the Global Change Research Act of 1990—reported that climate change is a growing threat that has begun to affect people in their daily lives, as perhaps with the exhausting of wells in western Nevada. In the report, Nevada was placed in the “southwest” category, which it defined as Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah, an area seeing its highest temperature increases in 600 years. This section of the report had considerable information tailored to the Colorado Plateau and California, but not to the Great Basin. However, warnings that did apply to Nevada include health problems caused by heat, increased rangefires, reduced snowpack and stream flows, and threats to agriculture. While all this was going on, anti-science entities were doing their best to stir things up. Right wing websites—the kind that complain about the slanting of the news— characterized marijuana growers as exacerbating the drought, and others challenged the National Climate Assessment or faulted the federal government generally.

Photo/Dennis Myers

And more sandbars in the Truckee between Wadsworth and Pyramid.

Fox News on National Climate Assessment: “Alarmists offer untrue, unrelenting doom and gloom.” Newsmax: “Officials: Pot Growers Worsening California’s Drought.” Conservative Las Vegas columnist Thomas Mitchell: “Federal agencies using drought to deter ranchers.” The Heartland Institute, a political group funded in part by Exxon Mobil, sent a set of three quotes out by email for reporters to use in their stories on the Climate Assessment. Here’s a sample: “It would take a whole squadron of environmental activists years to come up with the whoppers told in this report. The report falsely asserts that global warming is causing more extreme weather events, more droughts, more record high temperatures, more wildfires, warmer winters, etc., when each and every one of these false assertions is contradicted

by objective, verifiable evidence. It reads like a press release from the Nature Conservancy and the Union of Concerned Scientists—probably because it essentially is a press release

“ Urban residents will be more likely to have an experience with a rattlesnake.” Chris Healy nevada Wildlife Department

from the Nature Conservancy and the Union of Concerned Scientists.” All three quotes attacked in that fashion, without saying specifically what was wrong with the science in the report. Ω

Changes Photo/Dennis Myers

A worker uses a pressure hose inside the downtown Sparks amphitheater. At a cost of $268,000, roof and ceiling are being enclosed and nesting sites removed to make it bird-proof. LED lighting will also be added to the 1989 structure.

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Urban Roots and volunteers helped plant the hops plants at main station field laboratory.

Get hoppy Research project to try to bring hops to Nevada agriculture Nevada agriculture doesn’t have much in the way of specialty crops, like hops, yet. But Urban Roots is collaborating with the University of Nevada, Reno Cooperative Extension to grow a one-acre experimental hop yard to try to make this a profitable crop in northern Nevada. by Sage Leehey Currently, Nevada brewers don’t have much choice in the variety of hops they get, but the High Desert Hops project aims to change that. s age l@ “The small guys—even a company as big as Great Basin, which is news review.c om Nevada’s biggest brewer—they don’t really have a lot of buying power when it comes to hops,” said Jeff Bryant, Urban Roots executive director. “They’re at the mercy of the market where you have your big, big companies who really determine what goes where. They get what they want first, and then all the small guys fight over what’s left basically.” The hops will be grown at the university’s Main Station Field Laboratory in east Reno, where Urban Roots will work on the project with university interns. “The big piece for Urban Roots was to give unique ag experience to university students or to give them an approach to agriculture that might be different from what we’ve done in Nevada for a long time,” Bryant said. The study will go on for five years, but Bryant hopes the university will be able to continue growing hops after the study ends. The project is funded by the Nevada Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Block Grant program. For more “In 2013, the government’s office of economic development, the information about agricultural sector, identified hops as priority crops to be introduced the high Desert hops into Nevada’s agriculture,” Bryant said. “And so with that knowledge, Project and urban we approached the Department of Agriculture about a grant to see if roots, visit we could experiment with them to see which varieties do well, which www.urgc.org. varieties don’t do well, and also try to work with the brewers to make sure they’re the right qualities that they’re looking for, not just grow something that nobody will want.” Before choosing which hops varieties to experiment with, a survey was sent to local brewers asking which varieties they would want to purchase locally. They ended up with 10 varieties and a total of about a thousand plants coming from Michigan, which were planted last Saturday, May 10. The project’s main goal is to get Nevada farmers growing hops so that hops can become a part of Nevada’s economy. This project will serve as a model for what farmers should and shouldn’t do when getting into the hops business. This is especially important because the plants take about three years to mature. “By using our hops as an example, they can grow the quality that brewers are looking for and the farmers will know that they have a market to sell to,” Bryant said. “It’s a big investment for them to go into, especially when they won’t see a full return for three years. So if we can come out and help set up the market and agreements ahead of time, it will be better for everyone.” Ω

For more information on our organic growing programs, visit www.sfntc.com

OPINION | NEWS | GREEN | FEATURE STORY | ARTS&CULTURE | ART OF THE STATE | FOODFINDS | Reno FILMNews | MUSICBEAT | NIGHTCLUBS/CASINOS | THIS WEEK | MISCELLANY | MAY 15, 2014 | and Review 05-15-14.indd 1

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special aDVeRTising secTion

special aDVeRTising secTion

!

It’s happen ing in

ACTIVITIES

ART ADVENTURES

SAM ADAMS BEER TASTING EVENT

Beer lovers are invited to attend The Sam Adams Beer Tasting event in the Cat’s Meow—includes new beers and a five-course meal!www.showclix.com/event/SamAdamsBeerTastingEvent F, 5/16, 6-9PM, $35 person. Bourbon Square Casino, 1040 Victorian Ave. (775) 997-7177

WELDING FOR BEGINNERS

Start a new artistic hobby with basic stick welding, oxy-acetylene welding and wire-feed welding of steel. Discover the types of welding equiPMent available for home... Tu, 5/20, 6-8PM, $200 plus $65 material fee. Sparks High School, 820 15th St. (775) 829-9010

7Th ANNUAL WALK FOR ANIMALS

Nevada Humane Society is asking animal lovers to gather donations for the care of homeless dogs and cats by participating in the Walk for Animals! Sa, 5/24, 8AM-1PM. Sparks Marina Park, 300 Howard Dr. (775) 353-2376

SALUTE TO WOMEN OF AChIEVEMENT

The 23rd annual Nevada Women’s Fund Salute to Women of Achievement Luncheon will feature keynote speaker Lucille O’Neal, author and motivational speaker and mother. Th, 5/29, 11:30AM-1:30PM, $125 per person or $1,250 a table. John Ascuaga’s Nugget, 1100 Nugget Ave. (775) 356-3300

LUCAS OIL OFF-ROAD RACES

A variety of motor sports industry vendors, food and activities. Last chance qualifiers from 5-7PM. Main races begin at 7:30. F, 5/30, 11AM and Sa, 5/31, 11AM, $25 general admission. Wild West Motorsports Park, 12005 East Interstate 80 (775) 323-2977

KIDS ACTING

Learn to act while gaining self-confidence and poise. W, through 5/28, 4-5PM. $45. Alf Sorensen Community Center, 1400 Baring Blvd. (775) 353-2385

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Watercolor, pastels, mixed media and more! Th, through 5/29, 4-5PM, $45. Alf Sorensen Community Center, 1400 Baring Blvd. (775) 353-2385

PAINT ThE MASTERS

Create masterpieces inspired by the art of master classic and modern painters. Th, through 5/29, 5:15-7:15PM, $85. Alf Sorensen Community Center, 1400 Baring Blvd. (775) 353-2385

CROChET CONNECTION

Learn to crochet or share tips with other crochet enthusiasts. Th, 4-5:45PM, free. Spanish Springs Library, 7100A Pyramid Lake Highway (775) 424-1800

CLICKETS KNITTING GROUP

This class is for knitters of all ages and levels. Yarn and needles are available. First and Third Su of every month, 1:30-3PM, free. Spanish Springs Library, 7100A Pyramid Lake Highway, Spanish Springs (775) 424-1800

LONG GONE TOO

BLACK AND BLUES JAM

RICK hAMMOND BLUES BAND

LIVE JAZZ

F, 5/16, 8PM, no cover. Great Basin Brewing Co., 846 Victorian Ave. (775) 355-7711 Sa, 5/24, 8PM, no cover. Great Basin Brewing Co., 846 Victorian Ave. (775) 355-7711

DANCE TO ThE MUSIC

Performed by the Reno Dance Company. Th, 5/22. $20. John Ascuaga’s Nugget, 1100 Nugget Ave. (775) 356-3300

DANNY BUTLEER WITh ThE BANDALARELS

Sa, 8PM, no cover. 50 Yard Line Bar & Grill, 400 S. Rock Blvd. (775) 358-8848

Thursdays, 6:30PM – 10PM, free. Bourbon Square Casino, 1040 Victorian Ave. (775) 997-7177

CONVERSATION CAFE

Open mic night every Monday at 8PM, hosted by Tany Jane. M, 8PM, no cover. Sidelines Bar & Nightclub, 1237 Baring Blvd. (775) 355-1030

COUNTRY NIGhT

LIVE MONDAYS WITh TANY JANE

The drop-in conversation program meets on the first Saturday of each month, 2-4PM, free. Sparks Library, 1125 12th St. (775) 352-3200

OPEN JAM WITh TAZER & FRIENDS

PERFORMANCE AND MUSIC

ERIKA PAUL

Sa, 5/17 8PM. $45. John Ascuaga’s Nugget, 1100 Nugget Ave. (775) 356-3300

Th-Sa, 9PM, no cover. Bottom’s Up Saloon, 1923 Prater Way (775) 359-3677

DJ BOBBY G

FOUR SEASONS BOOK CLUB

BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS FEATURING BO BICE

KARAOKE

Th, 7-10PM through 4/24, No cover Elbow Room Bar, 2002 Victorian Ave. (775) 356-9799

SChEELS RUNNING CLUB

The book club meets the first Saturday of each month. Call to find out each month’s book title. First Sa of every month, 1-2PM, free. Sparks Library, 1125 12th St. (775) 352-3200

Vocal and instrumental jazz from “The Great American Songbook”, performed by First Take featuring Rick (SAX) Metz. Fridays, 6PM, no cover. Jazz, A Louisiana Kitchen, 1180 Scheels Dr., Sparks, NV 89441 (775) 657-8659

Sa, 5/31, 8PM, no cover. Great Basin Brewing Co., 846 Victorian Ave. (775) 355-7711 DJ Bobby G rocks The Cat’s Meow at Bourbon Square Friday & Saturday nights! 8PM. No cover. Bourbon Square Casino, 1040 Victorian Ave. (775) 997-7177

Run with expert pacers and enjoy running in a group Tu, 6:30PM through 12/9, free. Scheels, 1200 Scheels Dr. (775) 331-2700

Tu, 8:30PM, no cover. Sidelines Bar & Nightclub, 1237 Baring Blvd. (775) 355-1030

W, 8PM, no cover. Sidelines Bar & Nightclub, 1237 Baring Blvd. (775) 355-1030 Enjoy Louisiana-style food and the soulful, breathtaking jazz sounds of Erika Paul on keyboards and vocals. No cover. Th, 6PM, no cover. Jazz, A Louisiana Kitchen, 1180 Scheels Dr. (775) 657-8659

On

the second floor of a Carson City casino, Nevada Day celebrants are crowding into a large ballroom. Most of the tables are full. A band is playing. And at the west end of the hall, Nevada’s lieutenant governor is dishing up chili. This is a modern tradition in Nevada. The Nevada Day chili feed was begun by Nevada Attorney General Richard Bryan in 1982. He held it every year as he rose to governor, then U.S. senator. When he retired from elective office, Brian Krolicki—then state treasurer and a Republican—asked Democrat Bryan if he could take it over. He continues the tradition today as lieutenant governor. (Bryan: “Brian Krolocki was a class act in asking my permission to take over the event. This will be the 32nd year.”) Krolicki is well known in the state after two terms as treasurer and two as lieutenant governor. But it’s fair to ask whether the public knows what he does in the state’s second highest

office besides check on the health of the governor and dish up chili. Of the state’s six executive branch jobs elected statewide, five have duties that are innate to them. The governor is chief executive. Secretary of state is a record keeper. Treasurer and controller are virtually defined by their functions—one takes in the state’s money, the other pays the state’s bills. And the attorney general has powers and functions that are granted at common law—even the Legislature cannot change them except by amending the state constitution. But the lieutenant governor? Other than succeeding to the governorship and presiding over the Nevada Senate every other year, not much comes to mind. It’s been a puzzle for as long as Nevada has existed. What should be done with the job? Nevada State Journal/March 17, 1899: “Nevada has about the same need for a Lieutenant Governor as for a Board of Harbor Commissioners.” During the British colonial period, lieutenant governors were important because governors were often absent in England for long periods. With independence, they declined in importance, though the examples of the colonial experience suggested models as states entered the union. A lieutenant governorship was usually provided for

in new state constitutions. An objection was raised at the first Nevada Constitutional Convention (“like the fifth wheel of a coach”), but it did not prevent the inclusion of the office. When that constitution was defeated by Nevada voters, the second convention included the office of lieutenant governor with no objection at all. It was common for the office to be invested with a legislative presidency, as in Nevada, a trend possibly influenced by the vice president’s U.S. senate role. In recent decades, as states have acted on reorganizations or other reforms, the trend has been in favor of creation of the office. States have occasionally abolished it, but then usually brought it back. But creation of duties for the office have been a distinct afterthought to the creation of the post itself. Except in the largest states, legislative presidencies are not full time. Nevada has seen early decades of a working lieutenant governor, followed by a decline in its status and functions, then—in 1983—a new role. From 1865 to 1873, the lieutenant governor served as warden of the Nevada Prison. After that experiment, the 1875 legislature put him—it was always men in those days—into the jobs of state librarian and Nevada adjutant general. This arrangement was

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“office poliTics”continued from page 13 more successful, or at least more lasting. The librarian job lasted until 1894 and adjutant general until 1926, which was an important function during two wars—the Spanish American and World War I. Thereafter, the notion of a working lieutenant governor languished for decades and the post became effectively part time. Over the course of those decades there were occasional disputes and episodes that showed limits on the office.

The courTs speak When Gov. John Jones died in April 1896, it generated two disputes that resulted in important court rulings. After Lt. Gov. Reinhold Sadler became chief executive, an election for the unexpired portion of his term as lieutenant governor and a dispute over his salary prompted two Nevada Supreme Court decisions. The court found that under the language of the state constitution, unlike the federal model, when a Nevada governor dies or resigns, the lieutenant governor does not become governor. Rather, the lieutenant governor remains lieutenant governor and acts as governor. The governorship stays vacant. To put it another way, the lieutenant governor assumes the duties but not the office of the governor. No new lieutenant governor can be appointed or elected because that job is still occupied. On two occasions, in 1912 and 1965, lieutenant governors usurped the powers of governors who were out of state. On the first occasion, with Gov. Tasker Oddie in Washington, D.C., the state attorney general died, and Lt. Gov. Gilbert Ross appointed a replacement without consulting the governor. Ross had chosen a politically well-connected replacement, so Oddie was in a delicate position. If, on returning to the state, he revoked the Ross appointment, he would probably have prevailed in court. But he could have offended all those political connections of the new attorney general, so he chose to let it go. That was not what happened in 1965. When Gov. Grant Sawyer went out of state for a speech in California, Lt. Gov. Paul Laxalt convened a grand jury to investigate Sawyer’s highway department. When Sawyer returned, he revoked the order, and the Nevada Supreme Court ruled in his favor. The court found that when the governor can be contacted, and there is no urgency, the lieutenant governor cannot use the governor’s powers for other than minor or administrative purposes. In 1977, a further controversy erupted over the office’s limited powers. There had long been questions about whether the lieutenant governor’s Nevada Senate tie breaking vote—which is granted by the state constitution—allows full fledged votes 14 | RN&R |

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on all matters, or is limited to minor matters. In the mid-1970s the Equal Rights Amendment made the issue critical. In 1975, legislative counsel (the legislature’s lawyer) Perry Burnett rendered an opinion that said the lieutenant governor (then Harry Reid) could vote on any tie. When that legislature ended, Burnett was fired by anti-ERA legislative leaders and a new counsel, Frank Daykin, was hired. A new opinion was requested, and Daykin ruled that the lieutenant governor could vote only on minor issues, not on legislation. In May 1983 Attorney General Brian McKay rendered an opinion overruling Daykin. There was, McKay found, a “legally sound, persuasive” case for the lieutenant governor to vote on all matters that tie before the senate. There the matter rests until the courts have reason to get involved.

Back To work Through the years of a part-time lieutenant governor, there was occasional discussion of what to do with the post. In 1974, the legislature ordered a staff study which surveyed all living Nevada lieutenant governors, reviewed the research, and outlined a variety of alternatives, but no changes resulted. Instead, change finally came as the result of the initiative of one incumbent. At the 1983 Nevada Legislature, Nevada got back into the business of a working lieutenant governor. The new governor, Richard Bryan, had proposed ambitious new plans for economic development and tourism to reduce the state economy’s dependence on gambling and construction. It was a remedy for the crippling impact of the recession through which the state had passed in 1981-82. A state that had believed its casinos made it “recession-proof” had learned otherwise.

casino industry declined under the impact of California tribal gambling. Sue Wagner, who was in the legislature when the office was beefed up and herself became lieutenant governor in 1991, said she was pleased with the changes Cashell had wrought in the office. “Those responsibilities were important to the office,” she said last week. “I was able to take trade missions to places like Mexico. I worked with agents and location people in Hollywood to build up our movie productions. We were able to let those people know there is more than roulette wheels to Nevada, and introduce them to the Sierra, mountains and lakes. … There was something substantial to do with the job.” That was the state of affairs until 2011, when Gov. Brian Sandoval convinced the lawmakers to strip the economic development chair from the job and make it appointive by the governor. In addition, the economic development function was moved into the governor’s office, resulting in a personalization of the function—the agency is now actually called the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. The lieutenant governor is now a member of a new board of economic development and still chairs the tourism commission, but the dynamic has changed.

aBoliTion? Oddly, the office of lieutenant governor is getting a lot more attention this year than usual because of two factors. One is that Democrats did not field a strong candidate for governor, so the next stop on the ballot that is seriously contested is lieutenant governor. The second is that the election of a Republican lieutenant governor would give Gov. Brian Sandoval the freedom to run for the U.S. Senate in 2016

Those duTies could Be handled By The secreTary of sTaTe. BoB cashell Former lieutenant governor The new lieutenant governor, Bob Cashell, lobbied the legislators to give him a role in this plan. They came through. Two new commissions were created, one for tourism promotion and the other for economic development. And the legislators provided for the lieutenant governor to chair both panels. It was a good match. In the next 28 years, six lieutenant governors held those posts. The economic development job was particularly important and became more so as the state’s

without turning the governorship over to a Democrat. So the office is getting more notice than usual, but it’s not always leading to any discussion of the office itself, partly because the two leading Republican candidates—Sue Lowden and Mark Hutchison—are mostly talking about each other, and not in friendly tones. That leaves Democrat Lucy Flores, the only major candidate in her primary, to talk about the job itself, which she has been doing (“Contender,” RN&R, April 10).

At an event at the Nevada State Archives, three lieutenant governors posed— Lonnie Hammergren (left), Sue Wagner and Bob Miller.

“There is so much more that can be done with this office,” she told Fox News Latino last month. “I think it has been under-utilized. And it provides a great opportunity for someone who has a vision, energy and of course, a different perspective.” Interestingly, Cashell is now calling for abolition of the office of lieutenant governor. It was a proposal he first embraced after he was elected to the job in 1982, but changed his mind upon winning the new duties from lawmakers. Now, with the economic development functions moved into the governor’s office and the lieutenant governor’s post less significant, Cashell is back to supporting abolition. “Those duties could be handled by the secretary of state or attorney general like in other states,” he said. (For a time there was a trend, particularly in Western states, of combining the jobs of lieutenant governor and secretary of state. That trend has receded, though New Jersey recently created the job of lieutenant governor for the first time, with responsibilities of a secretary of state.) Cashell said that under the new arrangement, he has encountered corporate executives who were impressed that Nevada’s governor, Sandoval, met with them personally when they were looking for new sites. He said this suggests to him that moving the operation into the governor’s office has worked. But Richard Bryan as governor got the same reaction from corporate executives with Cashell himself as economic development chair, because the governor got involved in meeting with them then, too. Neither the removal of the lieutenant governor or change in the organizational structure were necessary for Sandoval

to be personally involved in luring new business. After all, under the previous system, while the economic development chair of the commission (which set policy) was the lieutenant governor, the economic development director, who ran the agency, was appointed by the governor. Wagner believes abolishing the lieutenant governor’s office would be a mistake, and she has reservations about the reduction in its responsibilities. She said incumbent Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki—who is term-limited out of office this year—has done a good job in economic development, building on his business experience and his two terms as state treasurer before becoming lieutenant governor. She said even losing the economic development responsibilities did not keep him from continuing to work on bringing new business to the state. “Brian Krolicki has actually done something despite the changes in economic development,” she said.

opTions The National Conference of Lieutenant Governors once identified four forms the job has taken in various states. • Under the executive plan, the lieutenant governor serves principally as an executive branch official, usually as a clear subordinate of the governor and in a state in which the chief executive is a legally strong governor. • The legislative plan refers to a system under which the lieutenant governor is a member of the executive branch only in the sense of succession and otherwise is a fully functioning member of the legislature. This approach is used in one party states with constitutionally weak governors—that is, in several Southern

states. In those states the lieutenant governor is quite powerful in the legislature. • The administrative plan offers a lieutenant governor who is a strong, independently elected officer who heads a sector in the executive branch, similar to the state treasurer or secretary of state. As noted earlier, several small Western states (Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming) at one point moved in the direction of either giving the lieutenant governor the duties of the secretary of state, or making the secretary of state successor to the governor. • The traditional plan provides for a lieutenant governor whose legislative duties are relatively minor and who otherwise performs numerous ceremonial tasks. Another policy choice involving the lieutenant governor’s office is whether or not to have team elections—governor and lieutenant governor candidates running on tickets together. The idea has been proposed

in the Nevada Legislature, though there hasn’t been much appetite for it. The model of the president and vice president running together was developed to remedy a specific problem— the original plan of the runner-up in the presidential race becoming vice president caused unhealthy mischief. Nevada has no similar problem needing solution. One possibility for change is amending the state constitution to make the lieutenant governor a member of all the boards and commissions on which the governor serves. This change would provide generalized duties that meet tests both of constitutional endurance and of executive familiarization to prepare lieutenant governors in case they should be called on to become chief executive. Such a proposal has been made by the National Conference of Lieutenant Governors (now the National Lieutenant Governors Association) and was offered as an option in the 1974 Nevada legislative staff study on

the lieutenant governorship. With such a constitutional assignment of duties as the basis for a working lieutenant governorship, other duties could be added by statute if needed. There is a final problem involved in giving new duties to Nevada’s lieutenant governor. There is good reason for the acting governor’s status, to keep the governor’s office vacant and his powers safe from usurpation during a temporary absence or disability. But a situation involving a death or resignation—that is, a permanent end to the governor’s service—is another matter. If the office of lieutenant governor is invested with serious and full-time duties, then succession under the current constitutional provisions would present a legal dilemma and a serious problem in the operation of state government. While the lieutenant governor served as acting governor, the duties of the lieutenant governor would go undone. Whatever decisions are taken on the lieutenant governorship, it would be nice if they were given more serious consideration than has been the case in the past. For most of a century, the job has been affected more by happenstance than by serious and considered lawmaking, and could again drift into that pattern. Ω

T here was someThing subsTanTial To do wiTh The job.

Governor-elect Brian Sandoval chatted with Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki shortly after the 2010 election.

sue wagner Former lieutenant governor

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Lt. Gov. Bob Cashell broke his office out of its status as the lost child of Nevada government by getting state lawmakers to give it serious new duties. Here he lobbied Clark County Assemblymember Ed Kovacs on May 22, 1983.

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One Of Our resTauranT reviewers recOmmends sOme Of his favOriTes amOng renO’s many fOOd Trucks

T

he current food truck boom has its roots in the Great Recession of the past few years. Far cheaper than opening a brick and mortar restaurant, gourmet comestibles have supplanted the “roach coach” reputation and humble roots of your father’s lunch shack, and Reno has some of the best. Here’s a few you can find operating in a parking lot near you.

GourMelt Grilled Cheese truCk GourMelt’s signature gooey, crispy delicious sandwiches ($5.50-$8.75) range from the simplicity of the “Grade Schooler”—American cheese grilled on white bread, crusts on or off—to the “Bumble Brie” (sliced green apples, ham, honey and melted brie on cinnamon apple bread). Of course, I just couldn’t refuse the “Italian” (mozzarella, Italian sausage, grilled onions, roasted red peppers, and grilled mushrooms on sourdough with a garlic Parmesan crust) paired with exceptionally yummy garlic fries and basil aioli. Named Reno’s “Best Food Truck” for three years running, and with a new brunch restaurant 16 | RN&R |

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opening in Midtown later this year, these hard-working queens of toasted cheese definitely know their way around a grill.

BurGer Me truCk The food truck version of the Burger Me restaurants in northwest Reno and Truckee, California serves a simplified menu featuring the all-natural and locally-sourced ingredients the parent company is known for. My wife ordered the gyro burger ($10), consisting of a one-thirdpound lamb patty topped with mixed greens, feta cheese and tzatziki sauce all on a white or wheat bun (she chose white). A side of sweet potato fries completed the meal, which was pretty darn tasty. I’m not a huge fan of sweet potato anything, but as non-potato fries go these were pretty good. The sandwich itself was very flavorful, and my wife said it was very satisfying. I barely got a bite before the rest disappeared.

Battle Born Food truCk Operated by the organizers of the South Reno Food Truck Fest, the Battle Born Food Truck has been serving up “Nevada Style” tri-tip sandwiches, Sloppy Joes, chili and grilled chicken for about three years. For large events they haul along a trailer-sized, wood-fired grill to keep up with demand, and for good

reason. I ordered the “Half & Half & Half” ($11) which is two halves of your choice of tri-tip, Sloppy Joe or chicken sandwich, plus a half order of fries. I ordered the tri-tip and sloppy joe. The tri-tip included mild jalapeno chilies, roasted garlic, lettuce, tomato, and garlic mayo, resulting in a pretty tasty combination. The Sloppy Joe turned out to actually be a tri-tip chili sandwich, including shredded cheddar cheese and chopped white onion, served on a hoagie roll. It wasn’t bad, but the other sandwich was better. The fries are made from hand peeled and sliced potatoes, fried “Basque-Style” with garlic and special seasonings. I believe every word of that description, because they were among the best fries I’ve had in recent memory.

Mount MoGrit GourMet Food truCk eleCtriC Blue elephant Food truCk Serving creative vegan and vegetarian creations, this cute little truck made my wife pretty happy. Though she’s a meat eater, she’s also watching her nutrition and calorie count, which makes a diet high in vegetables very attractive. There are those of us who are confused by cooking without animal products, and then there are those that are clearly practicing black magic in the guise of healthy cooking. How else to explain the super flavorful (and surprisingly satisfying) “Z Macro Bowl” ($7) my wife ordered, featuring brown rice cooked with coconut and turmeric, steamed greens, mushrooms? The potion that pulled this together was a knock-out lemon garlic tahini sauce slathered all over the dish, which even my steak-loving self had to admit was beyond delicious. If they all cook like that, vegans may indeed take over the world. Or at least your lunch hour.

they were among the best fries i’ve had in recent memory

There are grits (polenta), and then there are mogrits. The difference? Mogrits have mo’ going on, such as the jalapeno jack polenta grits I sampled ($3). Other varieties are available, such as mushroom cheddar, spinach mozzarella, and so on. I’ve never loved grits (a corn porridge made from hominy), but in the hands of this food truck family I could easily change my mind. They serve burgers, but I ordered a teriyaki chicken wrap (with mayo, lettuce and tomato, $5.95) to take with me for a hungry friend. He said the chicken was really juicy and tasty and he wished he’d asked for two wraps. Apparently known for their desserts, I ordered the day’s special, an enormous slice of creamy-yet-not-gooey cheesecake finished with a tartly-sweet topping homemade with Montana huckleberries ($6). My wife tossed her diet plan right out the door for this slice of heaven, though she did share it with me and our dining companions.

hot doG rod There’s an old joke that goes like this: A zen buddhist walks up to a hot dog cart, looks peacefully at the vendor and says, “Make me one with everything.” It’s OK, the owner of the Hot Dog Rod didn’t laugh,

Ph ot o/ Al lis

on Yo un g

‘Being Horacio’s Big Brother has made me a better person, which makes me the luckiest man in the world.’

DAN MATA AND HIS HOT DOG ROD AT THE SOUTH RENO FOOD TRUCK FEST ON MAY 9.

either. Easily the most eye-catching food operation at any gathering, this hot dog cart was custom-built over a two-year period by the same man wearing a white chef’s jacket as he grilled my foot-long and covered it in grilled bacon, onion, jalapeno, bell pepper, topped with fresh pico de gallo ($4.50). Yes, I said grilled. Unlike traditional hot dogs carts that use a kettle of hot water for the dogs and a steamer for the buns, this hot rod has a flat-top grill, and the man knows how to use it. He offers items other than dogs depending on the day, including carne asada tacos and cheeseburgers with grilled pineapple and bacon. I don’t often eat hot dogs these days (or other heavily-processed meats), but I’ll make an exception any time I see this cart.

Still Rollin’ Food tRuck In business for about eight months, this truck is on a roll. OK, enough with the bad jokes. The sign says, “Eggrolls with a Twist!”, and they’re not kidding around. My Reuben egg roll (fresh corned beef, Swiss cheese, fresh sauerkraut, homemade Thousand Island dressing, choice of salad or fries, $8.50) was really tasty, although I didn’t care for the dressing included as a dip. Not a problem, as my wife stole the dip for her fries, and I was happy using the black garlic aioli provided with both the roll and truffle fries. The fries were skinny with a OPINION

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soft rather than crispy texture, but the flavors of potato, salt, and truffle oil were fine with or without the aioli. My friend ordered the “Full Monte Cristo,” being a fan of the classic fried sandwich of turkey, ham and Swiss. The roll was served in the traditional manner, sprinkled with powdered sugar and served with homemade strawberry preserves. I didn’t hear him complain, and it was gone before I could steal a bite.

Join us for the Annual

lazy Sundae tRuck Definitely not your run-of-the-mill ice cream truck, Lazy Sundae is a onewoman operation (with a little help from family) serving up hand-scooped strawberry, chocolate, caramel butter pecan, vanilla bean, and birthday cake ice cream for the past three years. Whether choosing a sundae ($4) or banana split ($6), you have your choice of homemade butterscotch, strawberry, and chocolate toppings. Gourmet ice cream sandwiches more your thing? Select a flavor of ice cream to place between your choice of homemade chocolate chip or peanut butter cookies and you’re all set ($3.75). Waffle cones ($2.50) and root beer floats ($3.50) are also available. My sundae and my wife’s sandwich were a perfect capper to our evening food truck event. Ω

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ART OF THE STATE

Old Southwest Street Fair

Ron (Big) and Horacio (Little) are about to celebrate their third match anniversary, and love to enjoy the simple things life has to offer together: hiking, reading, running errands, and watching baseball.

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Photo/Brad Bynum

Gig is up

“All art is intertwined,” says Rock City Posters owner Scotty Roller.

Rock City Posters For many music lovers, when recollecting their favorite albums, thoughts of the music are by often accompanied by images of the album Brad Bynum cover. And sometimes memories of favorite concerts are accompanied by memories bradb@ news review.c om of gig posters—or the wall-mounted gig poster is a reminder of a great concert experience. A new, soon-to-open Reno business will explore the connection between music and visual art. It’s called Rock City Posters, a store and gallery featuring origirock City Posters nal screen-printed concert posters. is at1286 S. Virginia “This is an alliance that has gone from St. the grand openthe very beginning,” said Scotty Roller, ing will be may 31, the proprietor of Rock City Posters. with acoustic sets by “Bands have friendships with fine artists Kevin Seconds and the Saddle tramps and illustrators. … I think even at a local and a dJ set by level, artists that are up-and-coming, make Keyser Soze’s Jammal friends with fine artists. Find ones you like tarkington. For more and hire them up. It’s a strong friendship information, visit www.facebook.com/ that needs to keep budding. People need to rockcityposters. remind themselves that all art is somehow intertwined. When you find an artist you want to work with, it makes your band stronger and it makes that artist stronger.”

Roller is known around the community as a musician, the guitarist and vocalist in the Saddle tramps and Them Sonsabitches, and for Scotty Roller Designs, his company that makes original screen print posters like the ones he’ll sell in the new shop. He has made original posters form local and national venues and bands. Scotty Roller Designs will now be based in Rock City Posters, but the shop will be stocked with hundreds of posters by dozens of artists from all over the world. “It’s not just regional American advertising art anymore,” said Roller. “There are posters from all over the UK, Germany. We’ve got stuff coming from Mexico. I have it coming from everywhere.” He buys posters directly from the artists themselves, which helps keep down prices and ensure authenticity in a business often corrupted by bootleggers. In addition to the posters, Roller plans to sell some rock concert photos, including some by former RN&R staff photographer David Robert. There will also be listening stations sporting records by acts featured

in nearby posters. The shop will feature a small lounge and gallery type area, and offer framing services. But the focus will be on the gig posters, most of which will be in the $20 to $70 range. Although the word “rock” is in the name of the business, the shop will sell posters by artists from many different genres. The shop already has posters from Snoop Dogg, Slayer and many others. Roller said he can also help customers track down specific gig posters from specific concerts. “At that point we’re like art detectives, trying to figure out who did it, how many there were, how valuable it is,” he said.

The store will be on Virginia Street, central in Midtown, next door to the Chocolate Walrus, across the street from the Antique Mall, not far from Junkee Clothing Exchange, Nevada Fine Arts and Recycled Records. It’s an ideal location for a business that stands to benefit from window-gazing foot traffic. What does Roller think makes a good gig poster? “Well, art is subjective, so there’s no right or wrong answer, but I think ultimately first and foremost is craftsmanship,” he said. “Whatever the imagery, it should be done well. Secondly, the concept of the gig poster should illustrate the band or a theme that the band portrays themselves.” For example, one poster in Rock City depicts a long braid, a cowboy hat with a Texas Ranger star and a marijuana leaf. Even without the name on the poster, it recognizably represents country icon Willie Nelson. Ω

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Season of the sandwich Vonz Diner 155 Glendale Ave, Sparks, 355-9155 Is it just me, or is our neck of the woods particularly good at generating “hidden gems”? I’m starting to wonder how by Todd South many other prizes I’ll find in the industrial parts of town. Tucked into a business block in the industrial area of east Glendale, Vonz Diner is not just another greasy spoon. For one thing, it’s a lot bigger inside than you’d guess from the street-facing facade, with a large restaurant out Photo/AlliSon YounG

Tasha Lynn Willet is ready to bite into a Reno Cuda Fat Sandwich.

Vonz Diner is open Monday through thursday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Friday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sat, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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MAY 15, 2014

front and an even bigger back room featuring a stage, several classic automobiles in working condition, and shelves full of memorabilia. The walls are also covered in kitsch— with a '50s and '60s hot rod/pop culture theme—and signs indicating that nearly everything in the joint is available for sale. The menu includes all the classic breakfast goodies you’d expect, with enough variety you could start half a year’s Saturdays there and never order the same thing twice. Lunch options include soups, salads, burgers, hot dogs, chicken wings and tenders, classic sides, fish and chips, and a long list of hot and cold sandwiches. However, one menu category makes Vonz Diner stand apart: fat sandwiches ($10.50). Although you can find “fat sandwiches” elsewhere, Vonz’s creations have a certain “mad scientist” vibe. How else to explain the Reno Cuda, which includes cheese steak, chicken fried steak, Italian sausage, scrambled egg, avocado, deep-fried mozzarella

sticks, lettuce, peppered mayo, all of which is then stuffed into a foot-long french roll and topped with crinkle-cut french fries, which you can eat as part of the sandwich. When I asked if those were options I was told, “It’s all in there, and I’ll tell you how to eat it.” The trick is to cut it into thirds with a steak knife, which makes it almost manageable to pick up and eat without looking like a crazy person. Almost. Although I felt the sausage overpowered the other flavors a bit, the overall effect was stupefyingly delicious. That crazy combination of ingredients tasted great together, and just trying to eat the thing made it more event than meal. The next time we visit, I’ll try either the Firebird (grilled chicken, bacon, deep-fried chicken tenders and mozzarella sticks, sausage, Swiss cheese, ranch dressing, barbecue sauce, hot sauce), or the Diamond T (pepperoni, cheese steak, deep-fried chicken tenders and mozzarella sticks, grilled peppers and onions, tzatziki sauce, mayo, ketchup). My wife was in a breakfast mood and ordered biscuits and gravy with eggs ($9.75), which proved to be on the “just like Mama used to make” level of blue collar cuisine. The biscuits were big and fluffy, served swimming in a sea of really tasty, peppery sausage gravy. Two perfectlyprepared eggs (over medium) and crispy bacon shared the plate, along with potato squares (possibly deepfried) that were really crispy on the outside, with a fluffy almost mashedpotato interior. Some of our recent breakfast outings have been a mixed bag, but my wife was extremely satisfied by this above-average plate of comfort food. We both ordered coffee ($2) and were pleasantly surprised. Some diner coffee can be pretty wretched, but this brew had an interesting floral note I wasn’t expecting. It wasn’t as strong as I make at home, but the flavor was decent and the refills were plentiful. Even though I should have been beyond dessert, I ordered a strawberry milkshake for us to share ($3.99). It was more than enough for two people, featuring the creamy, thick texture you only get with real ice cream that has been hand-blended. It perhaps could have had more strawberries, but was otherwise just dandy. Vonz has got it goin’ on. Ω

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Frat trap

2

Neighbors Here’s a shocker: Old School, that funny frat comedy starring Will Ferrell and Vince Vaughn, a frat comedy that proudly stands alongside Animal House as a genre best, is already 11 years old. Eleven … years … old. So, yes, the world is plenty ripe for a new, high quality frat comedy, and it gets a good, and often great, entry with the new Seth Rogen by offering, Neighbors. Bob Grimm Mac and Kelly (Rogen and Rose Byrne), are happily adjusting to their new roles as bgrimm@ newsre view.c om parents to a baby daughter in a quiet suburban neighborhood. While in the midst of adjusting to their new sleep and sex schedules, a fraternity moves in next door. They don’t panic, figuring they are still cool enough to get along with college kids. An initial meeting with frat president Teddy (Zac Efron) goes well, and they even wind up

4

The joint gets bigger every time he tells the story.

1 Poor

2 Fair

3 Good

4 Very Good

joining the fray, baby monitor in hand, for a drugged-out, booze-drenched party, further establishing them as those possibly cool neighbors who just might be able to handle a party house next door. Mac and Teddy develop a brotherly camaraderie, suggesting that if Mac were just a few years younger, he might’ve been a worthy frat brother. They even talk about getting walkietalkies to communicate between their houses. They bond. The honeymoon doesn’t last for long. When a weeknight party keeps the baby up, Mac and Kelly transform from party happy neighbors into sleep-deprived malcontents, and they call the cops. Teddy takes this as a stab in the back from his new friends, and all out war is waged. There will be no walkie-talkies for Mac and Teddy.

5 excellent

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MAY 15, 2014

I doubt moviegoers will have much difficulty with the thin plot. The movie concentrates on delivering rapid-fire jokes, and most of them hit the mark, often with shockingly raunchy results. Nobody goes to a movie like this yearning for gravitas. They just want to see what happens when a toddler puts a discarded condom in her mouth. (It’s a jaw dropping punch line, for sure. Efron, who took a shot at broad comedy earlier this year with the awful That Awkward Moment after a string of dramatic misfires, creates a hilariously odd person in Teddy. Teddy has issues underneath his Abercrombie model physique. Teddy is an extreme example of frat boy earnestness, that sometimes tragic need to be accepted that places partying as the number one priority over cracking a book. When Mac turns on him, Teddy goes into annihilation mode, but you can see the hurt of being rejected behind his beautiful eyes. Coming out of nowhere with amazing comic chops would be Byrne, who earns some of the film’s biggest laughs (an uncomfortable joke involving breast feeding not withstanding). Wisely, director Nicholas Stoller finds a way to allow Byrne to use her Australian accent—she was an exchange student who met Mac at college—and she gives a commanding performance. From her inability to deliver the words “Keep it down!” in a cool way, to her scheming “Hos before Bros” technique used to take down the fraternity, Byrne brings some atomic estrogen to this bro-fest. Neighbors isn’t your typical “neighbor” comedy, like Dennis the Menace, where the neighbors are far apart in age and sensibilities. The thing that makes Neighbors unique is that Mac and Kelly are almost envious of the fun going on in the loud house next door. It’s the sort of mayhem they were into just a few years ago. Meanwhile, Teddy seems perhaps slightly aware that he’s just a few years removed from being the annoyed guy next to loud neighbors. It makes for a very strange dynamic. While that strange dynamic might fuel the emotional tensions in the movie, Neighbors is really all about moments like Mac unsuspectingly deploying an airbag rigged into his office chair and funny dildo jokes. Hey, it’s hard to make a funny dildo joke these days. They’ve been done to death. Neighbors is one of those movies that makes done-to-death jokes funny again. Ω

The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Director Marc Webb mucks it up big time with this, his second go-round featuring Andrew Garfield in spandex, cracking wise and shooting webs. While Webb proves himself adept at drama and romance—Garfield and Emma Stone as Gwen Stacey are kind of adorable—he botches the action elements and tries to juggle too many villains. This movie features a goofy villain called Electro (Jamie Foxx), the Green Goblin (Dane Dehaan) and the robotic Rhino (Paul Giamatti). Electro gets the majority of the villain screen time, an unfortunate circumstance given that his baddie is the least interesting of the three. DeHaan, an actor I can safely say I can’t stand, makes one really, really miss James Franco as Harry Osborn. DeHaan always speaks as if he just digs his own voice, even if it sounds like he has a sinus infection. His generally annoying presence isn’t the total blame for this film’s mishandling of the Green Goblin. The blame mostly lies with Webb and his makeup folks, who come up with something tragically bad for Goblin’s looks. He basically has oily hair that looks like he hasn’t showered in a while and a horrific combination skin problem. Too many villains, hackneyed action, and DeHaan make this a pretty bad time for comic book fans.

4

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Like Thor 2 and Iron Man 3, this movie shows us how an Avenger deals with life after saving New York City from an alien attack. Cap (an endearing Chris Evans) is just trying to catch up on modern culture now. His list of things to do includes watching Star Wars and Star Trek, trying Thai food and listening to Nirvana. He’s attempting to settle into a world after being frozen for 50 years. Of course, he’s not going to be able to just kick back and relax because evil still exists below America’s shimmering surface, and governmental wrongdoings are going to challenge Cap’s ability to remain loyal to the country he’s named after. After an attempt on the life of Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson just Samuel L. Jacksoning it as only Samuel L. Jackson can!), attention is called to the likes of somebody called the Winter Soldier, a fighting machine with powers similar to Cap and identity that won’t be revealed in this review. Cap’s mission eventually leads him to the discovery of HYDRA, an evil movement controlling members of the government, started back in the Nazi days. With Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Falcon (a well cast Anthony Mackie) at this side, Cap looks to take down HYDRA, kick the Winter Soldier’s ass, and possibly work in a date somewhere during the whole mess. The film packs a solid action punch, and some decent dramatics to boot.

1

Devil’s Knot

Atom Egoyan, an inconsistent but sometimes brilliant director (The Sweet Hereafter, Exotica), delivers his very worst film with the misguided botch job that is Devil’s Knot. The film is a dramatic representation of the child murders that were the subject of four documentaries (the Paradise Lost films and the Peter Jackson produced West of Memphis). Egoyan casts Oscar winners Reese Witherspoon and Colin Firth in major roles, and everybody just seems lost in a film that feels truncated with no sense of direction. The story of the three little boys murdered in Arkansas, and the witch-hunt that followed and resulted in the wrongful incarceration of three men for nearly two decades, is a powerful one. Even though the story has been told in the documentaries, it could’ve made for the subject of an amazing film. What Egoyan delivers is a standard courtroom drama and a stilted, confused performance from Witherspoon as Pam Hobbs, mother of one of the murdered boys. Witherspoon’s approach to Hobbs is muted and dull. She captures none of Hobbs’s personality. The casting of the actual West Memphis Three (Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley, Jr.) is uninspired, and the characters barely factor in the film. Instead, the movie spends most of its time with Firth as Ron Lax, a private investigator who doesn’t do much in this film other than act mildly appalled. This story is a crazy, sad, tragic mess. The movie feels like a madefor-TV effort that the producers decided

to make R-rated at the last minute. Echols himself has publicly decried the movie. He couldn’t be more right. (Available for rent on iTunes, Amazon.com and VOD during a limited theatrical run.)

3

Draft Day

5

The Grand Budapest Hotel

3

Hateship Loveship

In a film that feels more befitting a TV series than a theatrical release, Kevin Costner plays Sonny, general manager of the Cleveland Browns. It’s draft day, and Sonny has some big decisions to make after he trades away his future for the number one pick, much to the dismay of his head coach (Denis Leary). This is all happening after finding out he’s having a baby with a member of his staff (Jennifer Garner) and shortly after the death of his dad. Directed by Ivan Reitman, who usually helms straight comedies, this is a more dramatic offering from the guy who gave us Ghostbusters. If there’s a big problem here, it is that we watch Sonny go through all of this stuff on draft day, and never get to see the fruits of his labors. The film ends after the draft day is finished, and we never get to see the team play. I’m doubting there will be a Draft Day 2, so I’m thinking this would’ve worked better as an HBO series or something like that. Still, Costner is good in the role, and Reitman has constructed something that is entertaining, while not altogether groundbreaking.

Writer-director Wes Anderson does it again with another wholly unique, beautiful, quirky movie that could’ve only been made by him. In a performance that must be remembered come awards time, Ralph Fiennes is magically hilarious as M. Gustave, the concierge at the infamous fictional hotel named in the film’s title. Gustave has a penchant for older woman, much older woman, and his life takes a drastic turn when he is suspected in the murder of an elderly lover (Tilda Swinton in super heavy makeup). Stolen art, scary train rides and a high speed chase on skis ensue, with Anderson even employing stop motion animation at times, as he did with Fantastic Mr. Fox. Supporting performances by Jeff Goldblum, Adrien Brody, Jude Law, F. Murray Abraham, Willem Dafoe, Harvey Keitel, Saoirse Ronan and many more make this a can’t miss film. There’s something so joyous and fun about the way Anderson makes movies. This is a remarkable, tremendously enjoyable achievement.

Hateship Loveship is a strange movie. Due to its crazy subject matter, it’s just a hair away from being a terrible film during its entire running time, and yet, thanks to some great performances and solid direction by Liza Johnson, the people behind this one pull off an impressive high wire act. In one of her best performances to date, Kristen Wiig plays Johanna Perry, a lonely caregiver who winds up working for Mr. McCauley (Nick Nolte), an older gentleman taking care of his granddaughter Sabitha (Hailee Stetnfeld) after her mother has died. Sabitha doesn’t like having Johanna around, so she and a friend (Sami Gayle) tease her in a very peculiar way. They pretend to be Sabitha’s addict father, Ken (Guy Pearce) and write love letters to a completely convinced Johanna. In fact, Johanna is so convinced that Ken loves her, she moves into his abandoned hotel without him even knowing. How this incredibly awkward situation is handled is what makes this a very good, heartwarming movie instead of an ugly, unbearably uncomfortable one. Much credit goes to Johnson and screenwriter Mark Poirier (who also wrote Goats and Smart People) for finding sweetness in what could’ve been a very sour affair. Wiig, who has taken some great risks since leaving Saturday Night Live, is showing that she’s an actress willing to gamble rather than follow the typical post-SNL route. (Available for rent on iTunes, Amazon.com and VOD during a limited theatrical run.)

On the prowl City Wolves Movement is life. We’re all in a state of constant momentum, yet there is tension involved in the flow. As soon as we by Kent Irwin get used to where we are, the scenery has changed. “I’m sorry everything can’t be easy!” shouts Forest Molina behind his drumset. “Hey man, don’t complain,” says singer Brigdon Markward. “I’m singing into a sock.”

Photo/Kent IrwIn

City Wolves’ lineup sometimes includes a cellist and a violist, Caroline Hart and Christian McNamara, who also perform in the UNR Symphony Orchestra. Guitarists Greist and Markwad, and bassist Watson Meyer, also play with an eleven-member outfit from Grass Valley called Loose Cannon Mariachi. For this dance-oriented project, Markward stays behind the guitar, but Griest switches to alto saxophone. When Greist, Markwad, and Meyer moved to Reno, they started writing new music together, collaboratively creating each song. Although Markwad was elected lead vocalist, all three original members contribute to writing lyrics. This means Markwad often finds himself singing the words of his band mates’ personal experiences and feelings. The lyrics for their song “Two Cigars,” for instance, revolve around a girl Watson dated back in Grass Valley. Markwad may not be able to relate to the specific emotions of his friend’s relationship, but he feels the song works with themes central to City Wolves’ music. Moving on. Adapting to change. City Wolves has a sound that is alternately pensive and punchy, often moving from reverb-laden musing to exciting punk stomp. A deep well of influences are involved, from punk to shoegaze to chamber pop. Greist tinkers with his acoustic-electric guitar and effects board, taking a more wizardly approach to the instrument. Markwad’s guitar is the cavalry, a loud and brash attack. Drummer Molina lays low during the softer moments, then ambushes with heavy beats, then retreats again to let the song breathe. Hart’s cello weaves disparate melodic elements together by providing a haunting echo of the guitar and vocal work. An aspect of uncertainty and longing pervades Markwad’s baritone voice, supplying the emotional clench to the intricate instrumentation. Starting a band in a new town can be trying, but City Wolves members aren’t letting it get them down. They’re working on a new tape that will include their most polished material for Reno to sink its teeth into. Ω

He pulls the sock over his microphone, then fixes it to a stand, which is a broomstick duct-taped to a box. I ask him if it’s at least a microphone box. “No, we’re not even that consistent,” says Molina. Many of the rotating members of indie-rock band City Wolves hail from Nevada City and Grass Valley. Recently, they decided to make the move to Reno for college. For all the difficulty involved in the transition, the young musicians have been able to draw some inspiration from this chapter of their lives. The name City Wolves refers to their personal adjustment from life in the forested foothills to here in the city. “We had a list of band names, but this one felt right,” says guitarist Dylan Greist. But, as is common when starting a new project, commitment to a band name can prove disappointing. Soon they discovered the existence of a now disbanded fixture of the Reno hardcore/metal scene, Wolf City. In spite of their tough-guy image, Brigdon recalls an encouraging experience with the similarly named band. “A few of them came to one of our shows,” he says. “They were like, ‘No, it’s a great band name, roll with it!”

Dylan Greist, Forest Molina and Brigdon Markwad are core pack members of City Wolves.

For more information, visit www.facebook. com/citieswolve

OPINION

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NEWS

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GREEN

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FEATURE STORY

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ARTS&CULTURE

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ART OF THE STATE

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FOODFINDS

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FILM

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MUSICBEAT

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NIGHTCLUBS/CASINOS

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THIS WEEK

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MISCELLANY

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MAY 15, 2014

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RN&R

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THURSDAY 5/15 3RD STREET

FRIDAY 5/16

SATURDAY 5/17

SUNDAY 5/18

MONDAY-WEDNESDAY 5/19-5/21

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

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

5 STAR SALOON

Karaoke, 10pm, no cover

DJ Boogi, 10pm, no cover before 10pm, $5 after

DJ Boogi, 10pm, no cover before 10pm, $5 after

Open Mic w/Steve Elegant, 7pm, Tu, karaoke, 10pm, Tu, W, no cover

Keeping Hip Hop Alive, 8:30pm, no cover

Something About Machines, Abandoned Minds, Pushing Back, 7:30pm, $5

Rigorous Proof, Bazooka Zoo, deFABulators, Man Downstream, 8:30pm, $5-$7

Music Trivia, 9pm, Tu, no cover Powerman 5000, 7pm, W, $15-$17

132 West St., (775) 329-2878

THE ALLEY

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

DG Kicks, 9pm, Tu, no cover

BAR-M-BAR

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

Keyser Soze May 17, 8 p.m. Peppermill 2707 S. Virginia St. 826-2121

CEOL IRISH PUB

Pub Quiz Trivia Night, 8pm, no cover

The Clarke Brothers, 9pm, no cover

CHAPEL TAVERN

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

Good Friday with rotating DJs, 10pm, no cover

538 S. Virginia St., (775) 329-5558 1099 S. Virginia St., (775) 324-2244

COMMA COFFEE

World Dance Open Floor Night, 8pm, no cover

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

COTTONWOOD RESTAURANT & BAR 10142 Rue Hilltop, Truckee; (530) 587-5711

Comedy

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

Catch a Rising Star, Silver Legacy, 407 N. Virginia St., 329-4777: Daryl Wright, Th, Su, 7:30pm, $15.95; F, 7:30pm, 10pm, $15.95; Sa, 7:30pm, 10pm, $17.95; Rich Aronovich, Tu-W, 7:30pm, $15.95 The Improv at Harveys Cabaret, Harveys Lake Tahoe, Stateline, (800) 553-1022: Vince Morris, Michael Palascak, Th, Th-F, Su, 9pm, $25; Sa, 8pm, 10pm, $30, John Melendez, Don Barnhart, W, 9pm, $25 Reno-Tahoe Comedy at Pioneer Underground, 100 S. Virginia St., 686-6600: Robert Hawkins, F, 8:30pm; Sa, 6:30pm, 9:30pm, $8, $10

EL CORTEZ LOUNGE

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

Karaoke with Lisa Lisa, 9pm, no cover

FUEGO

Parslow Vibe, 9:30pm, no cover

Amtakk The Hellbound, 9:30pm, no cover

Karaoke with Lisa Lisa, 9pm, no cover

Turnt to the Max Saturdays w/Guda Mac, DJ Van Gloryus, 9pm, no cover

Karaoke w/Nitesong Productions, 9pm, Tu, Open Mic/Ladies Night, 8:30pm, W, no cover Karaoke with Lisa Lisa, 9pm, no cover

THE GOLDEN ROSE CAFE AT WILDFLOWER VILLAGE 4395 W. Fourth St., (775) 747-8848

The Writer’s Block Open Mic, 6:30pm, no cover

GREAT BASIN BREWING CO.

846 Victorian Ave., Sparks; (775) 355-7711

Reno Music Project Open Mic, 6:30pm, no cover Long Gone Too, 8pm, no cover

THE GRID BAR & GRILL

Karaoke w/Andrew, 9pm, no cover

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

HACIENDA RESTAURANT AND BAR 10580 N. McCarran Blvd., (775) 746-2228

HARRY’S SPORTS BAR & GRILL 1100 E. Plumb Ln., (775) 828-7665

Open mic, 7pm, no cover Open Mic Night, 9pm, M, no cover Trivia Night, 9pm, W, no cover

RYAN’S

Come for the food, Stay for the Show! TYLER STAFFORD

JUNE 13 | 7:00PM | NO COVER TH

THE RN&R HAS MOVED! 24

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RN&R

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Bass Heavy, 9pm, W, $TBA

Jason King Band, 9pm, $10

3819 Saddle Rd., South Lake Tahoe; (530) 314-7665

MAY 17 | 8:00PM | NO COVER

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

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

HIMMEL HAUS

TH

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

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

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

JASON KING BLUES BAND

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

A Thousand Years at Sea, 6pm, no cover Green Weather, 6pm, no cover

DAVIDSON’S DISTILLERY

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

The Grups, 9pm, no cover

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

Post show s online by registering at www.newsr eview.com /reno. Dea dline is the Friday befo re publication .

SALOON

& BROILER Saturday, May 17

786-2228 | haciendareno.com

After 18 yeArs At 708 North CeNter street, the reNo News & review hAs moved iNto A New spACe:

405 Marsh avenue reno, nv 89509 our phone, fax and e-mail information remains the same.

THE SMOKIN’ RATS 9PM-1AM

Rock-A-Billy • Rock WEDS THURS FRI SUN

Jazz BINGO Karaoke Breakfast

7:30pm 7pm 9pm 9:30am

with $5 BLOODY MARY'S

RYAN’S SALOON AND BROILER 924 S. Wells Ave. Reno • 323-4142

www.RyansSaloon.com

THURSDAY 5/15 THE HOLLAND PROJECT

FRIDAY 5/16

SATURDAY 5/17

SUNDAY 5/18

MONDAY-WEDNESDAY 5/19-5/21

David Dondero, Up Is the Down Is The, Southnorth, 8pm, $5-$7

140 Vesta St., (775) 742-1858

Lower, Spitting Image, Plastic Caves, 8pm, Tu, $5

JAVA JUNGLE

Outspoken: Open Mic Night, 7pm, M, no cover

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

JAZZ, A LOUISIANA KITCHEN

First Take featuring Rick Metz, 6pm, no cover

Bill Davis, 6pm, no cover

71 S. Wells Ave., (775) 384-1652 1) Showroom 2) Bar Room

1) Marianarchy X, 3pm, donations

1) Marianarchy X, 2pm, donations

KNITTING FACTORY CONCERT HOUSE

J Boog, Hot Rain, Nes, DJ Kentot, 8pm, $20

Led Zeppelin Experience w/No Quarter, 8:30pm, $12-$30

Erika Paul, 6pm, no cover

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

JUB JUB’S THIRST PARLOR

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

MOODY’S BISTRO BAR & BEATS

Jenni Charles & Jesse Dunn, 8:30pm, no cover

The Bootleg Honeys, 8:30pm, no cover

THE POINT NITE CLUB

Karaoke w/Gina Jones & Haas, 9pm, no cover

Karaoke w/Gina Jones & Haas, 9pm, no cover

Karaoke w/Gina Jones & Haas, 9pm, no cover

Gemini, 9pm, no cover

Gemini, 9pm, no cover

10007 Bridge St., Truckee; (530) 587-8688 1601 S. Virginia St., (775) 322-3001

POLO LOUNGE

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

1) Blazin Mics!, 10pm, M, no cover, Dirty Kid Discount, The Deadly Gallows, 8:30pm, Tu, $7 Hed P.E., Soil, Sunflower Dead, 7pm, $16-$30

Hellogoodbye, Vacationer, Heavenly Beat, 7:30pm, M, $15-$35

Hellogoodbye May 19, 7:30 p.m. Knitting Factory 211 N. Virginia St. 323-5648

Corky Bennett, 8pm, W, no cover

RED DOG SALOON

Open Mic Night, 7pm, W, no cover

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

RYAN’S SALOON

Karaoke Friday, 9pm, no cover

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

SE7EN TEAHOUSE/BAR

The Smokin’ Rats, 8:30pm, no cover

Live jazz, 7:30pm, W, no cover

Powerman 5000

Bluegrass/Americana Open Performance Jam, 7pm, no cover

148 West St., (775) 284-3363

SIDELINES BAR & NIGHTCLUB

Open Jam with Tazer and Friends, 8pm, W, no cover

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

ST. JAMES INFIRMARY

Dance party, 9pm, no cover

445 California Ave., (775) 657-8484

STUDIO ON 4TH

Jerry Bowden and The Soul Rockers, 8pm, no cover

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

Craig Prather, CRVSH, Lizzie Cates, 8pm, $5-$10

VASSAR LOUNGE

Tuesday Night Trivia, 8pm, Tu, no cover

Gore, Horror and Hardcore w/DJs Chi Gu Kom, TV1, Mener, others, 8pm, $5 Jokers Wild Blues Band, 6pm, Karaoke w/Rock N’J Entertainment, 8pm, no cover

1545 Vassar St., (775) 348-7197

May 21, 7 p.m. The Alley 906 Victorian Ave. Sparks 358-8891

WILD RIVER GRILLE

Koolwater Karaoke, 7pm, W, no cover Sunday Jazz, 2pm, no cover

17 S. Virginia St., (775) 284-7455

Reggae After Party w/SpEcial guESt (tBa) DooRS opEN at 10pm 21+

Saturday May 17th

Platform

cultuRE/ muSic/DaNcE/FaShioN/ aRt/ EatS DooRS opEN at 9pm | 18+

May 31st

Songwriters in the Round

Recycle this paper

Friday May 16th

”iNDi/Folk/Rock” FEatuRiNg JoNiE BliNmaN, hEathER comBS, chRiS puREka aND k.p. SpEcial guESt local SiNgER SoNgwRitER, gRacE hayES. DooRS opEN at 8pm. tickEtS caN BE puRchaSED at aRt DogS, REcyclED REcoRDS, mEltiNg pot oR BoDEgalivE.Bpt.mE

555 East 4th St, Reno • BodegaNights555@gmail.com OPINION

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NEWS

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GREEN

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FEATURE STORY

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ARTS&CULTURE

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IN ROTATION

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ART OF THE STATE

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FOODFINDS

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FILM

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MUSICBEAT

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NIGHTCLUBS/CASINOS

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THIS WEEK

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MISCELLANY

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MAY 15, 2014

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RN&R

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

THURSDAY 5/15

FRIDAY 5/16

SATURDAY 5/17

SUNDAY 5/18

MONDAY-WEDNESDAY 5/19-5/21

2) Atomika, 8pm, no cover

2) Atomika, 4pm, Palmore Brothers, 10pm, no cover

2) Atomika, 4pm, Palmore Brothers, 10pm, no cover

2) Palmore Brothers, 8pm, no cover

2) Kick, 8pm, M, Tu, W, no cover

DJ Bobby G, 8pm, no cover

DJ Bobby G, 8pm, no cover

2) Vegas Road Show, 8pm, no cover

2) Vegas Road Show, 8pm, no cover

2) Brian Andrews, 6pm, no cover

2) Brian Andrews, 6pm, M, Tu, W, no cover

2) Reverend Billy C. Wirtz, 10pm, no cover

2) Pert Near Sandstone, 10pm, no cover

1) Dance Inferno, 7pm, $25.95-$39.95 2) Audioboxx, 10:30pm, no cover 3) Live piano, jazz, 4:30pm, no cover 4) Tany Jane, 10pm, no cover

1) Dance Inferno, 7pm,9:30pm, $25.95-$39.95 1) Dance Inferno, 7pm, $25.95-$39.95 2) Audioboxx, 10:30pm, no cover 2) Audioboxx, 10:30pm, no cover 3) Live piano, jazz, 4:30pm, no cover 3) Live piano, jazz, 4:30pm, no cover 4) Tany Jane, 10pm, no cover

BOURBON SQUARE CASINO

1040 Victorian Ave., Sparks; (775) 997-7177

Reverend Billy C. Wirtz May 16, 10 p.m. Crystal Bay Club 14 Highway 28 Crystal Bay 833-6333

CARSON VALLEY INN

1627 Hwy. 395, Minden; (775) 782-9711 1) Ballroom 2) Cabaret Lounge 3) TJ’s Corral

2) Vegas Road Show, 7pm, no cover 3) The Oak Ridge Boys, 7pm, $30-$40

CRYSTAL BAY CLUB

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

ELDORADO RESORT CASINO

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

GRAND SIERRA RESORT

Karaoke

2500 E. Second St., (775) 789-2000 1) Grand Theater 2) WET Ultra Lounge 3) Sports Book 4) Cantina

Elbow Room Bar, 2002 Victorian Ave., Sparks, 359-3526: Th, 7pm, no cover

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

Hangar Bar, 10603 Stead Blvd., Stead, 677-7088: Karaoke Kat, Sa, 9pm, no cover Murphy’s Law Irish Pub, 180 W. Peckham Lane, Ste. 1070, 823-9977: Steve Starr Karaoke, F, 9pm, no cover Ponderosa Saloon, 106 South C St., Virginia City, 847-7210: Steel Rockin’ Karaoke, F, 7:30pm, no cover West Second Street Bar, 118 W. Second St., 384-7976: Daily, 8pm, no cover

1) Dance Inferno, 7pm, $25.95-$39.95 2) Audioboxx, 10:30pm, no cover 3) Live piano, jazz, 4:30pm, no cover

2) Biggest Little Local Celebrity Contest, 2) DJ Rick Gee, 10pm, no cover 10pm, no cover 3) Honky Tonk Thursday, 3) Boots and Daisy Dukes w/DJ Jamie G, 10:30pm, no cover 4) Senoritas and 10pm, no cover Margaritas w/DJ XM Fredie, 9pm, no cover

HARRAH’S LAKE TAHOE

1) Dirk Arthur’s Wild Magic, 219 N. Center St., (775) 788-2900 8pm, $17.20-$47.20 1) Sammy’s Showroom 2) The Zone 3) Sapphire Lounge 4) Plaza 5) Convention Center

2) Ike & Martin, 7pm, no cover

345 N. Arlington Ave., (775) 348-2200 1) 3rd Street Lounge 2) Poolside

SILVER LEGACY

2) Bonzai Thursdays w/DJ Trivia,

407 N. Virginia St., (775) 325-7401 8pm, no cover 1) Grand Exposition Hall 2) Rum Bullions Island Bar 3) University of Aura, 9pm, no cover 3) Aura Ultra Lounge 4) Silver Baron Lounge

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RN&R

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MAY 15, 2014

1) Dirk Arthur’s Wild Magic, 8pm, $17.20-$47.20 2) DJ I, 8pm, no cover 3) Chicken & Dumpling, 8pm, no cover

1) Dirk Arthur’s Wild Magic, 8pm, $17.20-$47.20

1) Dirk Arthur’s Wild Magic, 8pm, M, $17.20-$47.20

2) Kyle Rea, 6pm, no cover

2) Kyle Rea, 6pm, M, Tu, W, no cover

1) Blood Sweat & Tears featuring Bo Bice, 8pm, $45

1100 Nugget Ave., Sparks, (775) 356-3300 1) Celebrity Ballroom 2) Rose Ballroom

SANDS REGENCY CASINO HOTEL

26

1) Dirk Arthur’s Wild Magic, 8pm, $17.20-$47.20 2) DJ I, 8pm, no cover 3) Chicken & Dumpling, 8pm, no cover

JOHN ASCUAGA’S NUGGET

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

1) James Blunt, 8pm, $25-$65 2) DJ R-Boogie, 9pm, no cover 3) Red Cup Saturdays w/DJ Jamie G and Bob Richards, 10pm, no cover 1) Moonwalker—The Reflection of Michael, 7:30pm, $49.50 2) DJ Rick Gee, DJ SN1, 10pm, $20

HARRAH’S RENO

PEPPERMILL RESORT SPA CASINO

1) Dance Inferno, 7pm, Tu, W, $25.95-$39.95 2) Live Band Karaoke, 10pm, M, DJ Chris English, 10pm, Tu, Atomika, 10:30pm, W, no cover 3) Live piano, 4:30pm W, no cover

2) Ike & Martin, 7pm, no cover 2) Keyser Soze, 8pm, no cover 3) Salsa dancing, 7:30pm, $10 after 8pm, 3) Suits and Sneakers Grad Party DJ Chris English, DJ ((Fredie)), 10pm, $20 w/DJ Medina, 10pm, $20 1) David Hayes Lounge Act, 8pm, no cover

1) David Hayes Lounge Act, 8pm, no cover

2) Apple Z, 8pm, no cover 3) Fashion Friday, 9pm, no cover

2) Apple Z, 8pm, no cover 3) Seduction Saturdays, 9pm, $5

1) Blue Haven, 7pm, W, no cover

2) Recovery Sundays, 10pm, no cover 3) Industry Night, 9pm, no cover

2) Gong Show Karaoke, 8pm, Tu, Country-Rock Bingo w/Jeff Gregg, 9pm, W, no cover

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

The Work of ArT: ArToWn This KNPB documentary film is a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to create one of America’s largest arts and culture events. The 90-minute film details how Reno’s arts festival Artown comes together each July and explores the history and impact it has had on the community since its founding in 1996. Representatives from Reno Art Works, The Potentialist Workshop, Sierra Arts, the MidTown Art Walk and Artown will share their stories and contributions to the arts festival and the Reno art community during the broadcast. There will be a free TV viewing party at the Oxbow Café & Bistro, 2365 Dickerson Road, on Thursday, May 15, at 7:30 p.m. The film’s producer Jeremy Dunn, will be in attendance, as well as several local artists, Artown representatives and local art administrators. The full-length program debuts on KNPB Channel 5 at 8 p.m. on May 15. For details, call 391-0278 or visit www.facebook.com/RenoArtWorks.

A WAlk Through lucidiTy Nine artists will take visitors on a journey through their creativity. The event will explore the creative process of each artist by turning the participants into the art. Everyone will become a piece of the paintings. Doors open at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 16, with an explanation of exactly what will happen during the show. The show starts at 8 p.m. at The Generator, 1240 Icehouse Ave., Sparks. The works that each artist creates that night will be auctioned off as they are created. All proceeds will go directly to funding Embrace, a large-scale art installation to be built at this year’s Burning Man festival. Two tickets are available: a $40 ticket and a $60 ticket that includes wine and beer. Call (775) 232-5013 or visit www.facebook.com/TheGeneratorArtSpace.

MAriAnArchy X The 10th annual music festival and benefit show celebrates its 10th year with two days of live music and entertainment this weekend. The event, which has expanded to a spring show and winter show, was organized by local musician Nick Ramirez as a way to honor his late partner, Mariane Psota, who died in 2004. Psota was a big supporter of local music and had booked many shows at local venues, including the Zephyr Bar and the former Blue Lamp. The show’s lineup features 32 acts, including Postwar, The Vague Choir, Candyshoppe and Nick Ramirez on Friday, May 16, and The Liver Scars, Betty Rocker, Reno, We Have A Problem, Slut Fungus and Shatterbox on Saturday, May 17. This year’s event will benefit Keeley Davis and Emily Fay Reese. The music gets started at 3 p.m. on Friday and 2 p.m. on Saturday in both rooms at Jub Jub’s Thirst Parlor, 71 S. Wells Ave. Call 384-1652 or visit www.facebook.com/marianarchyreno.

old SouThWeST STreeT fAir 2014 The second annual fair at the corner of California Avenue and Plumas Street features jewelry artisans, craft vendors, clothing makers, baked goods, food, balloon animals for the kids, henna tattoos, steampunk accessories, garden art and more. The free event takes place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 17. Call 322-2225 or visit www.renobeadshop.com.

ual its eighth ann s st o h t c je Pro he Reno Bike pen its doors e store will o h T . d e fe e k a e To Work, panc celebrate Bik to g in rn o m day, early Friday to 10am on Fri m a 6 m ro F . Week on and School & Fun ancakes, bac p p u e rv se ill the shop. May 16, RBP w r her bike to o is h s e d ri o cyclist wh obikeproject. coffee to any ook.com/ren b ce a .f w w w May or visit kicked off on h ic h Call 323-4488 w , k e e nW ce. Go , School & Fu Bicycle Allian s Bike to Work w o d a e M e ed by Trucke e event. 10, is organiz more about th —Kelley Lang rn a le to rg .o a to bikenevad

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coMedy TonighT WiTh The reno PoPS orcheSTrA The Pops will showcase the musical humor of Garrison Keillor, Victor Borge and Peter Schickele. The program features the sportscaster version of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, Smetana’s “Dance of the Comedians” and Garrison Keillor and Randall Davidson’s “Young Lutheran’s Guide to the Orchestra,” as well as other music depicting clowns, comedy and fun. Reno Pops 2013 Concerto Festival winner, violinist Paran Amirinazari, will perform Vieuxtemps’ Concerto No. 5 in A Minor. The free concert begins at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, at the Nightingale Concert Hall in the Church Fine Arts Building, 1335 N. Virginia St., at the University of Nevada, Reno. Call 673-1234 or visit www.renopops.org.

3 MinuTe filM coMPeTiTion Join Holland, KNPB Channel 5 and the Nevada Museum of Art for the screening of the sixth annual film competition. The short film showcase features entries in various categories, including narrative, documentary, music video, experimental shorts, horror and suspense and animation, that have been shot either on professional equipment or with something as common as an iPhone. The screening begins at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21, at the Nevada Museum of Art, 160 W. Liberty St. Admission is $5. Call 329-3333 or visit www.nevadaart.org.

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MAY 15, 2014

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27

Think Free

Bad harem day

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28 | RN&R |

MAY 15, 2014

I’m 30, and I’ve been married to my sweet, beautiful wife for three years. I am a bartender at a club and have numerous opportunities to cheat dangled in front of me. After coming close on several occasions, I finally told my wife I wasn’t happy, and we separated three months ago as a prelude to divorce. I moved in with a friend and started taking advantage of my new single life. However, it’s already getting old. I miss my wife and her intelligence and our connection. How do I start the conversation with her about getting back together? Even couples who keep having sex almost never have it as hot—or as regularly—as they did at the start. Part of the problem is the way we view monogamy—as the inevitable next step after falling in love. It’s just assumed that a couple will be sexually faithful for a lifetime. There’s typically no discussion of how, exactly, they’ll accomplish that or even of whether they can. Of course, for many people—women especially—there is no acceptable alternative to monogamy. “Open marriage, honey?” Right. You may as well suggest, “You know, we should spend the afternoon disemboweling squirrels.” Also, many people mistakenly believe that a happy and loving marriage is a magical fidelity wand that wards off the temptation to wander. Infidelity researcher Shirley Glass, in Not ‘Just Friends,’ calls this a “misconception … not supported by any research,” though it is commonly cited on TV and in self-help books as a way to “affair-proof your marriage.”

Additionally, some people seem to have a biological and psychological profile that makes them more prone to long for the sexual variety pack. One factor in this is being high in what psychologist Marvin Zuckerman calls “sensation seeking”—craving novel, varied and intense sensations and experiences and being willing to take risks to get them. Sensation seeking has repeatedly been associated with high testosterone, and men with high testosterone tend to divorce more often and have more sex partners. This isn’t to say these factors are an excuse for cheating. (“Biology made me do it!”) You ultimately have the ability to make choices—difficult as that may be in the moment when you’re feeling very much like a penis-controlled robot. Sure, you miss your wife now, but if you get her back, will you start pining for the parade of bar floozies? Testosterone does decline significantly with age, as does sensation seeking, so you may find monogamy more doable at 40 than you do at 30. Assuming your wife, like most women, requires monogamy, what you owe her is honesty about the trouble you have with it so she can decide whether she’s willing to put herself in harm’s way. If you do get back together, talk about what you both need to do to avoid temptation (like, for you, maybe finding a job where you aren’t surrounded by hot drunk girls flashing you their thong for free drinks). Ω

Got a problem? Write Amy Alkon, 171 Pier Ave., No. 280, Santa Monica,CA 90405, or email AdviceAmy@aol.com (www.advicegoddess.com).

by rob brezsny

ARIES (March 21-April 19): When the path

ahead divides in two, Aries, I am hoping you can work some magic that will allow you to take both ways at once. If you do master this riddle, if you can creatively figure out how to split yourself without doing any harm, I have a strong suspicion that the two paths will once again come together no later than August 1, possibly before. But due to a curious quirk in the laws of life, the two forks will never again converge if you follow just one of them now.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): I see you as

having more in common with a marathon runner than a speed racer. Your best qualities tend to emerge when you’re committed to a process that takes a while to unfold. Learning to pace yourself is a crucial life lesson. That’s how you get attuned to your body’s signals and master the art of caring for your physical needs. That’s also how you come to understand that it’s important not to compare yourself constantly to the progress other people are making. Having said all that, Taurus, I want to recommend a temporary exception to the rule. Just for now, it may make sense for you to run fast for a short time.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): If you fling

handfuls of zucchini seeds on the ground of a vacant lot today, you shouldn’t expect neat rows of ripe cucumbers to be growing in your backyard in a couple of weeks. Even if you fling zucchini seeds in your backyard today, you shouldn’t expect straight rows of cucumbers to be growing there by June 1. Let’s get even more precise here. If you carefully plant zucchini seeds in neat rows in your backyard today, you should not expect ripe cucumbers to sprout by August. But here’s the kicker: If you carefully plant cucumber seeds in your backyard today, and weed them and water them as they grow, you can indeed expect ripe cucumbers by August.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): “If we want

the rewards of being loved,” says cartoonist Tim Kreider, “we have to submit to the mortifying ordeal of being known.” How are you doing with this trade-off, Cancerian? Being a crab myself, I know we are sometimes inclined to hide who we really are. We have mixed feelings about becoming vulnerable and available enough to be fully known by others. We might even choose to live without the love we crave so as to prop up the illusion of strength that comes from being mysterious, from concealing our depths. The coming weeks will be a good time for you to revisit this conundrum.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): There’s a piece of art on the moon: a ceramic disk inscribed with six drawings by noted American artists. It was carried on the landing module of the Apollo 12 mission, which delivered two astronauts to the lunar surface in November 1969. One of the artists, Leo maverick Andy Warhol, drew the image of a stylized penis, similar to what you might see on the wall of a public restroom. “He was being the terrible bad boy,” the project’s organizer said about Warhol’s contribution. You know me, Leo. I usually love playful acts of rebellion. But in the coming weeks, I advise against taking Warhol’s approach. If you’re called on to add your self-expression to a big undertaking, tilt in the direction of sincerity and reverence and dignity.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The planet

90 Auto Center Dr.

we live on is in constant transformation. Nothing ever stays the same. To succeed, let alone survive, we need to acclimate ourselves to the relentless forward motion. “He not busy being born is busy dying,” was Bob Dylan’s way of framing our challenge. How are you doing with this aspect of life, Virgo? Do you hate it but deal with it grudgingly? Tolerate it and aspire to be a master of it someday? Whatever your current attitude is, I’m here to tell you that in the coming months you could become much more comfortable with the ceaseless flow—and even learn to enjoy it. Are you ready to begin?

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “It isn’t that

I don’t like sweet disorder,” said English author Vita Sackville-West, “but it has to be judiciously arranged.” That’s your theme for the week, Libra. Please respect how precise a formulation this is. Plain-old ordinary disorder will not provide you with the epiphanies and breakthroughs you deserve and need. The disorder must be sweet. If it doesn’t make you feel at least a little excited and more in love with life, avoid it. The disorder must also be judiciously arranged. What that means is that it can’t be loud or vulgar or profane. Rather, it must have wit and style and a hint of crazy wisdom.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): I have three

sets of questions for you, Scorpio. First, are you anyone’s muse? Is there a person who draws inspiration from the way you live? Here’s my second query: Are you strong medicine for anyone? Are you the source of riddles that confound and intrigue them, compelling them to outgrow their narrow perspectives? Here’s my third inquiry: Are you anyone’s teacher? Are you an influence that educates someone about the meaning of life? If you do play any of these roles, Scorpio, they are about to heat up and transform. If you don’t currently serve at least one of these functions, there’s a good chance you will start to soon.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):

According to my reading of the astrological omens, you should draw inspiration from this Chinese proverb: “Never do anything standing that you can do sitting, or anything sitting that you can do lying down.” In other words, Sagittarius, you need extra downtime. So please say no to any influence that says, “Do it now! Be maniacally efficient! Multitask as if your life depended on it! The more active you are, the more successful you will be!” Instead, give yourself ample opportunity to play and daydream and ruminate.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In Ray-

mond Chandler’s pulp-fiction novel Farewell, My Lovely, his main character is detective Philip Marlowe. At one point Marlowe says, “I needed a drink, I needed a lot of life insurance, I needed a vacation, I needed a home in the country. What I had was a coat, a hat and a gun.” In accordance with your astrological omens, Capricorn, I’m asking you to figure out how you might be like Marlowe. Are there differences between what you think you need and what you actually have? If so, now is an excellent time to launch initiatives to fix the discrepancies.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): There’s a

slightly better chance than usual that you will have a whirlwind affair with a Bollywood movie star who’s on vacation. The odds are also higher than normal that you will receive a tempting invitation from a secret admirer, or meet the soul twin you didn’t even know you were searching for, or get an accidental text message from a stranger who turns out to be the reincarnation of your beloved from a previous lifetime. But the likelihood of all those scenarios pales in comparison to the possibility that you will learn big secrets about how to make yourself even more lovable than you already are.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Author Eva

Dane defines writer’s block as what happens “when your imaginary friends stop talking to you.” I suspect that something like this has been happening for you lately, Pisces—even if you’re not a writer. What I mean is that some of the most reliable and sympathetic voices in your head have grown quiet: ancestors, dear friends who are no longer in your life, ex-lovers you still have feelings for, former teachers who have remained a strong presence in your imagination, animals you once cared for who have departed, and maybe even some good old-fashioned spirits and angels. Where did they go? What happened to them? I suspect they are merely taking a break. They may have thought it wise to let you fend for yourself for a while. But don’t worry. They will be back soon.

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

30 | RN&R |

MAY 15, 2014

by Sage Leehey Photo/Sage Leehey

Dog lady Landess Witmer July 20 is the 14th annual Art Paws event. It’s tailored to people with pets and is a dog-friendly Artown event. Landess Witmer is the host and has recently added two Underdog Grants to her event. All proceeds from the event are split between the beneficiaries of these two grants and the people’s choice award. The application can be found at www.artpawsreno.com and is due by May 20.

You’ve been doing Art Paws for a while now? Yes, yes. This will be our 14th year, and it is set for Sunday, July 20. We’re very excited because in our 15th year we have a goal of $15,000 to give back to the community. So that’s going to be a big goal. So we’re trying to rev up to it next year.

What’s your favorite part of Art Paws? Probably the people’s choice. I think we’re the only event that I know of that you can vote, and your vote helps determine who gets the money. And I think that’s really cool. We’ve done that for many years, and this is the first year that we’ve decided that we’ll award one people’s choice grant from the popular votes at our event and we would award two needy, what we call the Underdog Grant to non-profits that apply online. … I thought it was interesting because I wanted to name this the

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How are you determining who gets the grants? We’re really looking at need. We’re looking at how they’ll actually use the money. And we also have one of our grading categories as which one do you feel the most for, which I think is really cool because they may not be able to put things in words as well as somebody else, but they will be given points on having a great idea and doing good things with their money. Also, one of the things that’s important is do they use volunteers? … Volunteers are extremely valuable, and the more you use, the more your cause or event can grow. So I’d like to remind people that you’re not alone. There’s a lot of good people out there who want to help you. … We’re really looking at new groups, too. It doesn’t have to be a group that’s been doing it for years. Ω

What prompted that change? Well, I guess just knowing some really great little groups and wanting to help them but not knowing how to. I am not on the grant committee. Neither is Michelle, our event coordinator. No one that’s affiliated [is], not even one of our volunteers. We have a separate group that’s being set up just for the grant committee. But yeah, I did have some non-profits in mind when I was making this, and I’ve made sure that they get to apply. And it’s the first year. Next

Potato notes In the early ’90s, Bruce Springsteen had a popular song, “57 Channels.” Well, that ain’t how it is no mo’. There’s about 964 channels, and there’s a lot of good stuff on there. If you like comedies, there are a couple that are now on the Neon Babylon DVR list. I’m talking Amy and Louis, as in Schumer and C.K. Jesus, Amy is a star. Yes, she’s bawdy, badass and bodacious. And funny as hell. If you haven’t done so, check her out and see if she is your cup of tea. I find every one of her shows to have at least one great LOL moment. Louis is a force of his own and quite brilliant at times. Also funny, big time funny in his own special way. And it’s amazing what his network, FX, is letting him get away with. In the opening show of the new season, some guy drops a full 10-letter C bomb. Impressive. I guess the fundamentalists have given up hassling the FCC. Thank God. They must be spending all their time these days complaining to school boards about evolution or some damned thing. C.K.’s envelope-pushing reminded me of an episode at the LA airport last

year we’ll promote it more and give them more time to do it. But we wanted to not skip this year. It was that important.

Underdog Grant, but underdog means different things to different people. If you look it up, it has many different meanings, and one of them is perfect to somebody who is almost disenfranchised. And what we thought is that the people’s choice went for bigger groups, and there are lots of little groups that are doing amazing things. So now two-thirds of all the money from Art Paws will go to the little groups. It will go to two different groups within a 75-mile radius of Reno that help animals, and then we’ll still have the people’s choice.

∫y Bruce Van Dye year. I was at a sports bar, waiting for a flight, and a basketball playoff game was on. The ref made a lame call, and the guy next to me, who’d been there a while and had a couple of snorts in him, semi-yelled, “That’s a fuckin’ bullshit call, ref!” The bartender, an older gal, at least 65, maybe 70, immediately snapped at him. “Hey, watch it, pal! There are ladies present!” Well, the guy looks at the two girls sitting nearby, two women in the 25-35 range, and both of them had a look that said, “Shit, we don’t give a fuck.” And in that moment, a microcosmic metaphor for the way it used to be and the way it now is. For the record, I’m completely fine with this. Why the hell should us boys have all the fun dropping juicy expletives? The girls have jumped into the deep end of the cussin’ pool, and it’s a better place for it. Equality in salary—and profanity. In other TV notes, not only am I catching Amy and Louis every week, I’m also completely sucked into the Wacky World of Westeros. GoT, baby! Yes, Game of Thrones is total soap opera trash, but dayam, it is trash

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on a grand and glorious and high budget level. I haven’t had this good of a time watching awesome top quality TV trash since I got sucked into Walter White’s Bad-ass mess in New Methico. Speaking of Walter, I’ve now finally found the flick that’s gonna get me into the new IMAX theaters there at Legend’s Sparks. Of course, I’m talkin’ about the greatest lizard of them all, The Big G. And here in this new remake, you’ve got Zilla taking on— Walter White! Mano a mano, fire breath versus Heisenberg! Epic showdown time? Or muy hyped sequel poop? I’m gonna find out at the IMAX, where they’ve got a wine bar and a draft beer selection that rivals the best pubs. Plus, they’ve got some nasty brats available, which is excellent. Just please, chew with your mouth closed. I mean, what are you, some kind of fuckin’ vulgarian? Dayam. Ω |

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LUCKY BEAVER BAR & BURGER

Job Fair in Reno Join Our Team

Looking for career oriented, energetic happy people. You must have a passion for people, guest service and enjoy a very busy environment. Wednesday May 21st 10am-4pm Thursday May 22nd 3pm-8pm Friday May 23rd 10am-4m 3655 S. Virginia Street (formerly Foley’s Irish Pub across from Atlantis)

If you want to join a great restaurant and be a part of our amazing team see you at our JOB FAIR!

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