Reno-Tahoe

Burning Man has once again taken over the Black Rock Desert north of Reno. The annual countercultural celebration of art, music and free expression attracts nearly 50,000 attendees from all over the world. Here are some photos from the 2009 celebration (theme: evolution). For more information check out Burning Man online.


Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

Have you ever attended “Burning Man,” the wildly original annual art event that attracts more than 50,000 people to a remote area of northern Nevada on the Black Rock Desert?

Described as an “experiment in community, radical self-expression and radical self-reliance,” it’s really out there, both artistically and geographically.

Many friends make the annual trek to this destination. After getting to Reno, it requires a three car ride through ascetically beautiful desert and small but not forgotten towns.

Now, thanks to the wonders of technology, you can get a sense of the place without leaving home.

All you have to do is watch the live stream from “Burning Man,” which gets its name from the ritualized, Saturday night burning of the colossal male timber figure.

The Great Reno Balloon Race is a beloved event, which has decorated the Reno sky for 28 years. The early hours are all worth it once 100 balloons ascend into the early morning sky for a spectacular show of bright colors and fun shapes.

To make this year’s event an easy and worry free experience, follow some of these simple tips provided by the event organizers:

Stay in your pajamas on Saturday, Sept. 12 for The World’s Largest Pajama Party, sponsored by momslikeme.com and Farmers Insurance! Hang out in the pajama party tent and get your photo taken by the Pajamarazzi. Come in your best (or worst) bed-head to enter in the Bed-Head competition. Register at www.renoballoon.com.

• September mornings tend to be a little chilly and the weather can be unpredictable, so be sure to dress in layers.
• Please leave your pets at home. Large of crowds of people, strange surroundings and weird noises may scare them and make them act out of character.
• Smoking is prohibited on the launch field. Dry grass, propane and sparks do not mix.
• Bring a camera with you so you can capture every moment of this incredible event.
• Admission is free, but make sure you bring money for tethered rides, souvenirs or food and drink from a variety of vendors.
• Parking is limited at the event so make sure to arrive early. You can also use RTC RIDE, which will have both pick-up and drop-off at three different locations: CITICENTER in Downtown Reno, Reed High School and Meadowood Mall. Also, many local hotel sponsors provide transportation, so be sure to ask when you check in.

For more information about this year’s Great Reno Balloon Race and a complete schedule of events, visit www.renoballoon.com.

- Provided by the Great Reno Balloon Race

The Great Reno Balloon Race returns for its 28th year Sept. 11, 12 and 13 to Rancho San Rafael Regional Park in northwest Reno, showcasing more than 100 hot-air balloons from all over the world. This year’s event will include the World’s Largest Pajama Party on Saturday, Sept. 12. So stay in your PJs and don’t be afraid to show off that bed-head in the hilarious Bed- Head Competition.

Crowd favorites return this year with the Wells Fargo-sponsored bumble bees and stagecoach- shaped balloon. The Energizer Bunny keeps going and going as it makes yet another appearance this year, with ears as tall as the presidents’ faces on Mount Rushmore! Smokey the Bear returns to the Balloon Race thanks to Sierra Front Wildfire Cooperators. The Mayflower balloon will make its third event appearance this year thanks to Sierra Moving Systems.

A new shape will make its debut at the Balloon Race this year thanks to the Wilbur D. May Foundation.  Pandy the Panda Bear, standing at 100-feet tall, will provide tethered rides to children after Mass Ascension each day. Lastly, Tony the Tiger will appear, standing nearly nine stories tall!

It’s worth the wake to see these gentle giants ascend into the early morning sky for a spectacular show of bright colors and fun shapes. For a full event schedule, travel resources and parking information, visit www.renoballoon.com or call (775) 826-1181.

Every year, the shore of Sand Harbor in Incline Village transforms into a playground for the arts, as the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival takes center stage with beautiful Lake Tahoe and perfect “Mid-summer night” sunsets to make it all the more magical.

We had occasion on July 29 to take in a performance of “Much Ado About Nothing,” a Shakespearian love story with all of the twists, turns and bumbling characters typical of the Bard’s work. In addition to unique portrayals, including modern references and musical interludes, the troupe nailed their timing and didn’t hesitate to bring the audience into the production on occasion.

Although the atmosphere is casual – a laid-back amphitheatre setting with concessions – there is no sacrifice made for quality. Theater buffs will be pleasantly surprised as characters like Beatrice and Benedick, Don Pedro and Claudio, and of course the lovely Hero, come to life. Borachio and Conrade provide frequent comic relief as clumsy Mafiosos.

This year’s Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival runs through Aug. 23, with performances of “Much Ado About Nothing” and “Measure for Measure,” as well as the Urban Village Music Series on Monday nights. Tickets are reasonable, guests are encouraged to bring picnics … and where else can you put your toes in the sand while watching Shakespeare?

For more information, log on to the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival Web site. Don’t miss one of Reno Tahoe’s great annual events.

Each Thursday vendors set up their tents, bands tune up on stage and the local pubs roll out the kegs for the biggest weekly party in the region at the Sparks Hometown Farmer’s Market.

The market runs throughout the summer, offering visitors a taste of Northern Nevada fun at Victorian Square in downtown Sparks.

In addition to traditional farmer’s market fare, there’s music on three stages, demonstrations, dance and plenty of partying. Check out this video to get a taste of one of Sparks’ signature events.

Celebrate the vibrant cultures of the Pacific Rim during the 11th Annual Pacific Island Festival of Reno, July 24-26. Opening Ceremonies kick off Friday, July 24 at 3 p.m. and the festival continues Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. All festivities will be on the Downtown Plaza on 4th and Virginia Street and inside the Reno Ballroom.

Part of Reno’s Artown Celebration, this free event is presented by Pacific Exchange Productions and Silver Legacy Resort Casino. The Opening Ceremony features the blowing of the conch shell and a performance by Tahitian dance ensemble ‘Ote’a ‘Api to the roaring sounds of Toere and Pahu, Tahitian drums. Entertainment, dancing, contests and great food will be served all weekend long.

For more information about the Pacific Island Festival of Reno, call 1-800-687-8733 or visit online at www.silverlegacy.com.

A new kayak tour is bringing Tahoe’s rich history and boundless recreational opportunities together on the North Shore.

Tahoe Adventure Company introduced a kayak tour that has groups launching at Sand Harbor State Park (in Incline Village), with a stop at Thunderbird Lodge, to enjoy a walking tour of the 1930s estate and learn the story of George Whittell, the eccentric man who built it, followed by a fantastic deli spread lunch on the shores of Lake Tahoe.

If you’d rather hoof it, try the Tahoe City guided walking tour put on by the North Lake Tahoe Historical Society. Participants start at the Gatekeeper’s Museum and make their way to Watson Cabin, which turns 100 this year.

History is king on the West Shore as well. Head down the 1-mile, steep trail to visit Lake Tahoe’s only castle. Vikingsholm offers a sandy beach perfect for a picnic and a quick dip in the region’s clear blue waters. Tours are available. Also on the West Shore is the 1903 Ehrman Mansion, the opulent summer home of a San Francisco businessman.

For event details, along with deals on lodging, activities and entertainment, click to www.GoTahoeNorth.com.

File it under “Only in Reno.” It’s a Michael Jackson tribute, by an Elvis impersonator singing karaoke at Club Cal Neva. That’s like four great things all mixed together.

An exhibit showcasing the amazing adventure of a 22-year-old from Hackensack, N.J., who became the first woman to drive across the United States in 1909, is open at the National Automobile Museum, The Harrah Collection, in downtown Reno. “On the Road with Alice Ramsey: 100 Years Ago” will fill the Changing Exhibits Gallery at the National Automobile Museum, 10 S. Lake St. through Jan. 11, 2010.

Challenged by a sales manager for Maxwell-Briscoe Company, Ramsey drove a 1909 Maxwell Model DA – 30 horsepower Touring Car right out of a New York City showroom and into history.
The company sponsored and publicized the trip to persuade Americans that cars were here to stay. The automobile had recently been invented.

There weren’t a lot of roads at the time, and those that existed were often in questionable condition. Ramsey and her three female companions carried a block and tackle, which they used often.
Ramsey changed tires often and cleaned and tested spark plugs when necessary. When she felt a “skip” in the engine she would hold a hammer against each plug and shorting it against the cylinder jackets to find the problem one. Then she would disassemble it, clean it with fine sand paper and reassemble it.

Alice Ramsey would later be the first woman inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame.

The National Automobile Museum at 10 S. Lake Street in downtown Reno is open Mon. – Sat. from 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., and Sun. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $4 for children 6 to 18 years. Children age 5 and younger are free. Parking is free. For more information, call (775) 333-9300 or visit www.automuseum.org.