Visitreno

BC Dave · Site Admin Joined: 18 Dec 2005 Posts: 1595

I discovered a while back - and I see it hasn't yet changed, that if you stand right under the Reno Arch in "Google Street View" you see Fitzgerald's still open with the Rainbow bridge et al. http://goo.gl/maps/UjfbY Move another few feet south on Virginia and you'll see it's closed for "RENO VATIONS".

john · Site Admin Joined: 17 Dec 2005 Posts: 1181

Yes, the Internet is truly a magical place. How the heck did you find that, Dave?

stan_allen · Joined: 19 Dec 2005 Posts: 1129

Is that a variant of "Reno Street Vibrations"? Somehow, "Reno Vations" doesn't have quite the same flair...

Good ol' Google maps - the good ol' days are never far away!

BC Dave · Site Admin Joined: 18 Dec 2005 Posts: 1595

John, I probably walk around virtual Reno more than often than is psychologically healthy. But the price is right - not to mention the ease of getting there. I have even been out front of your place but the damn program won't let me come in to see Charlie and Higgins.

Stan, Google Earth lets you go back a few years in history. Harold's Club and a few other gems are visible using this feature, but they're pretty grainy black and white aerial images

Shooty · Joined: 22 Jan 2006 Posts: 182

BC Dave · Site Admin Joined: 18 Dec 2005 Posts: 1595

Shooty, thanks for the soothing words about our compulsion.

I have to confess I've only been in one Reno drinking establishment that didn't, at least, have video poker - and that's - well yeah, you guessed it - Shooter's! Of course just going in there is something of a gamble.

Do some of these other establishments, you mention, have video poker at the bar? If so - can you qualify for free drinks?

Has Shooty been to Shooter's? (I had to ask that sooner or later.)

http://goo.gl/1bl5YA

stan_allen · Joined: 19 Dec 2005 Posts: 1129

Those drinking establishments sure sound like a good way to slake one's thirst while also watching one's wallet, since, if there's no machines at all, your bankroll will shrink at a slower rate!

Please do indeed sample as many as you can 'em, and tie 'em into a big, juicy trip report.

Looks as though your Googling research will pay off; as you become increasingly intoxicated, your usual decay of directional capabilities will be offset by all that subliminal preparation you've done with the mapping.

Now, if only those maps would let us virtually stroll through the casinos themselves!

BC Dave · Site Admin Joined: 18 Dec 2005 Posts: 1595

Shooty · Joined: 22 Jan 2006 Posts: 182

Yeah, I've been to Shooter's a few times. The first was probably the best, the pole was put to good use.

I think Reno really benefits from both Burning Man and UNR. Burning Man of course brings in a lot of creative weirdos, and I think more than a few have made lives in Reno.

That whole area around California Ave. south of the river has a lot of interesting shops and clubs now. And UNR keeps a steady stream of young people and their ideas passing through.

I've heard people say "Keep Austin Weird" and "Keep Portland Weird". If Reno's economy could just improve a little more and the criminal element get priced out a little, I think it's poised to become a really cool community, worth keeping weird.

remano · Joined: 20 Dec 2005 Posts: 717

Shooty,

Although "walking distance" is a subjective quality (didn't MG once post about walking from GSR to Asquaga's Nugget?) I think your choices are all within walking distance of downtown except Jub Jub's (on Wells about a half block south of the intersection with E 2nd St.). Shea's is probably on the edge of comfortable walking distance, about 9 or 10 blocks from your base of operations.

Along the lines of the bars you mentioned you might also investigate:

Waterfall, a small place on W. 2nd, a block and a half from Virginia;

Imperial Lounge, on Arlington between 1st and 2nd;

Public House, on St. Lawrence, a half block from Shea's;

Z Bar, about 4 blocks past Shea's on the other side of Virginia. When it was the Zephyr Lounge it was basically a rock music dive bar. Since becoming Z it's upgraded the physical amenities and ambiance including some "signature" recipe cocktails;

Chapel Tavern, about 3 more blocks south, back on the west (Shea's) side of Virginia.

In addition, the area has 3 pretty good micro breweries if you're into that: Silver Peak at 1st and Sienna was the first and is the closest to downtown; Brewer's Cabinet at S. Arlington and California and Brasserie St. James on S. Center St. (same general area, a block east of Virginia). The beers are all good, Brasserie is probably my favorite because of a more interesting (but a little more expensive) food menu. There's also word of a new micro brewery opening on E. 4th a few blocks down from Davidson's but I don't know if it's open yet. Maybe you could be one of the first to check it out?

BC - maybe half of these places DON'T have bar top VP. As for comps at non-casino bars, it's pretty much hit or miss. I have gotten comps at some places, not at others and at others you have to buy food off the menu in addition to gambling for comp drinks. No way to predict it, I guess.