The crack of the bat, a hotdog and a cool beer under the warm sun in Reno-Tahoe … the first season for the Reno Aces is finally under way with a new ballpark on the banks of the Truckee River in downtown Reno.

Triple A baseball’s newest team will take to the field tonight with a home opener that promises to be a spectacle for both locals and visitors. And it’s a long time coming. Residents, investors and fans of the sport have long pursued the dream of building a world-class baseball stadium in the Reno-Sparks region, to take advantage of the region’s growing population, great weather and tourism base. The stadium, located in the heart of downtown Reno’s redevelopment district, offers another reason to head downtown – the Aces will offer 73 home games, playing in the exciting Pacific Coast League.

The stadium is just another in a long line of improvements to the visitor experience in Reno. The city’s “Renaissance” has included construction of a riverwalk district complete with boutiques, pubs, coffee shops, restaurants, a movie complex and public areas, including an outdoor amphitheater. Within the last couple years, train tracks through downtown Reno were rerouted through a trench to create a more pedestrian-friendly atmosphere, while part of the trench was covered, allowing for a new public space, a boon for the many special events held throughout the spring, summer and fall months.

Last fall saw the opening of the West Street Market, a rehabilitated commercial area that now houses a wine bar, a teahouse, coffee shops and stores. It also plays host to farmers and craft markets, as well as live performances.

Several city-style condominium projects in downtown have also enlivened the culture of the area, creating a new market for everything for everything from the arts to commerce. Downtown hotel-casinos have also undergone first-class remodels.

If you haven’t planned to attend a Reno Aces game yet, log on and get your tickets. Baseball is finally here and you’re going to love it.

Images provided by City of Reno

Reno’s new “West Street Market,” located between First and Second streets, in the downtown redevelopment corridor, will officially open for business in July, according to city officials, with outdoor businesses. Indoor businesses will open in October.

Potential tenants
Brickhouse Bakery, Wine Bar, Great Basin Community Co-op (produce), Mikonos, Se7en Tea House & Bar, La Marenda, Downtown Marketplace & Deli, Great Basin Basket CSA, Nevada EcoNet, Sundance Books, Silver Trends Jewelry and Jada’s Jewels.

The market is designed to operate as a pedestrian center and gathering point in downtown Reno, with a focus on homemade, fresh and local.

Events
Wednesdays: Evening “Eco Market” produced by Nevada EcoNet
Fridays: Evening “Artist Market,” with programs designed by the Holland Project
Saturdays: A morning farmer’s market

In addition to regularly scheduled events, the market is expected to play host to special events, concerts, demonstrations and festivals.

Downtown Reno is in the midst of an urban renaissance that includes public works projects like the Truckee River Whitewater Park, renovation of the Reno Post Office into a retail plaza, and construction of a train trench cover that will create a pedestrian center.

Downtown Makeover, a local blog about all things downtown, chronicles many of the projects with artists renderings and interviews with the principals involved in the developments. Check it out, and get a peak into the changing face of downtown Reno.

-Jim Scripps

Though there are some hart core paddlers who get out in the at night in the dead of winter storms, the good stuff is coming this spring. The above average snow pack and full reservoirs up-stream are going to make for an awesome Kayaking season. Maybe this will be the year I finally get into it.

This video from X-Terra Planet should get your blood moving as the days get longer and and the snow starts melting…

-MTB

Downtown Reno was a killer place to celebrate Warren Miller’s movie, Playground, the beginning of winter and the Make a Wish Foundation, Northern Nevada Chapter with warm temps and sunny skies… WAIT!?!?!? Reno ain’t no sissy Caribbean cruise town! We want freezing temps and gobs of fresh powder! Well, precip is on the forecast, and SKIERS ARE FALLING OUT OF THE SKY!!!

The first EVER urban skiBASE jump: Shane McConkey, Miles Daisher, JT Holmes, and Jesse Hall hit the jump @ the top of the Silver Legacy casino in Reno and plummeted then glided down to land in the Eldorado parking lot to a crowd of 1000 whooping spectators.The video above was professionally shot and edited by world renowned adventure videographer Dan Dominy, with music from Reno’s coolest local band, Sol Jibe.Stay tuned! More pics and vids to come…MTB