Artown’s At The Illusionist’s Table features magic from Scott Silven and culinary delights from Mark Estee.

WRITTEN BY KYLE YOUNG

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ARTOWN

July is just around the corner, and with it comes Artown, the month-long summer arts festival in Reno. This year, about 500 events by more than 100 organizations at nearly 100 locations citywide will be part of the festivities. Most events are free or inexpensive to attend. One event not to be missed is At The Illusionist’s Table, where food and magic will come alive at Liberty Food & Wine Exchange. Scott Silven, world-renowned Scottish mentalist, has partnered with chef and restaurateur Mark Estee to deliver an evening full of illusion, mentalism, storytelling, a gourmet three-course meal, as well as a wine and scotch pairing.
A meal prepared by Chef Mark Estee is sure to please

How Yelp’s Home Away from Home comfort-food block party supports guests of the Reno Ronald McDonald House.

WRITTEN BY RACHEL GATTUSO AND CAMIE YOKOTE

Rhondda Saunders’ first priority was her daughter, Ajia. The Bishop, Calif., teenager was involved in a car accident that resulted in a traumatic brain injury, requiring her to stay in the Renown Children’s Hospital ICU.

Rhondda didn’t have time to process the details of where she would stay and what she would eat and how the bills would get sorted. In what felt like minutes, she found herself in Reno with her critically injured daughter. Rhondda and Ajia’s story is a common one at Ronald McDonald House Charities Northern Nevada: a family with a medical tragedy who just needs a place to stay in order to tend to a child.

These stories are the reason behind Yelp’s Home Away from Home, a foodie block party at Toll Brothers Regency at Damonte Ranch on June 27 that features culinary treasures for attendees to discover while they make their way through the luxury model home park. Now in its second year, event organizers expect to welcome even more attendees than in 2017, thanks to a robust field of culinary partners and libation purveyors. Proceeds from the event support the charity’s work to keep families close during their children’s hospitalizations. But the best part is that the generosity of those involved makes this 21-and-older event free to attend. Organizers simply encourage a $20 donation be made at the door to help families who need the Reno Ronald McDonald House.

Tim Meevasin prepares paella at the Reno Ronald McDonald House for families

WRITTEN BY CLAIRE CUDAHY

Growing season is in full swing in Northern Nevada, and there is nothing quite like the connection you feel to your home state when you cook a meal made with fresh, seasonal produce pulled right from its dirt. 

It’s June, which means beautiful plump peas are in season, so skip the freezer aisle and head straight for your neighborhood farmers’ market to find the good stuff.

Spring and early summer in Northern Nevada is when you’ll find delicious fresh peas at the market

PLEASE NOTE: This blog post features an event that has already passed. Visit The Nugget Casino Resort's website for future events.

WRITTEN BY RANDY KENNEDY

The Nugget Casino Resort announced the launch of a new community, all-things-culinary event. The three-day Cuisine, Corks & Crafts Festival will be the taste of the town this coming Memorial Day weekend, May 25-27, 2018. The festival is free to the public and includes a daily expo with a variety of culinary vendors, arts and crafts, mixologists, free cooking demonstrations, farm-to-table presentations, live entertainment, and more. Plus, tickets are available now for three Celebrity Chef Showcases, Battle Born Chefs Competition/Brunch, and two Wine & Spirits Walks. Individual tickets and multishow discount packages are available online in advance or at the door.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY SUZIE DUNDAS

To say that attending a pop-up dinner at Stella is “going to a restaurant” is a bit like saying “Lake Tahoe has nice views.” It’s not incorrect, but it hardly paints a full picture of the experience. And while it’s true you certainly won’t leave hungry (in fact, you’ll probably leave exceptionally full), attending a pop-up event is more than just going out to dinner. It’s socializing, tasting, and learning … and listening, when that dinner involves live music paired with each course, as it did at Stella’s recent Taste and Listen pop-up dinner to benefit Tahoe Trails & Vistas.

Guests mingle before dinner begins

PLEASE NOTE: This blog post features an event that has already passed. Visit Granlibakken's website for future events.

WRITTEN BY ANNORA McGARRY

PHOTOS BY ANNORA McGARRY AND SJ MARKETING

At the Restorative Arts and Yoga Festival at Granlibakken Tahoe, Ashley Aarti Cooper will be leading a forest-bathing, or shinrin-yoku, hike through the abundant forests that surround Granlibakken Tahoe in North Lake Tahoe.

When you walk into the forest, do you see a city of trees? Or do you see an ecosystem teeming with life both observable and microscopic? What you might not recognize immediately is the healing power of the forest — as a place to foster deeper connections with your sense of self, the world at large, and Mother Earth to arrive at a harmonious state of physical and mental well-being.

WRITTEN BY CLAIRE CUDAHY

Roundabout Grill inside the Whitney Peak Hotel hosts a four-course brunch on Mother’s Day with creative menu items such as the Hawaiian French toast.

She gave birth to you, raised you, fed and clothed you … the least you can do is take Mom to brunch this Mother’s Day. Fortunately, these 10 Reno-Tahoe spots are serving up something special just for the occasion:

WRITTEN BY KYLE YOUNG

Earth Day is quickly approaching, and edible Reno-Tahoe has the scoop on how Northern Nevadans can celebrate our pale blue dot at three different events.

• North Lake Tahoe–Truckee: April 21
• Reno: April 22
• South Lake Tahoe: April 28

Each event is free to the public, nonprofit and volunteer-run, and open to festival goers of all ages.

Photo courtesy of South Lake Tahoe Earth Day Committee

WRITTEN BY WENDY FIRESTONE 

Where local chefs show off and guests reap the benefits

You could be one of the lucky guests at Big Brothers Big Sisters’ biggest fundraiser of the year, Big Chefs Big Gala. This year’s event will be held on Saturday, April 21 at the Grand Sierra Resort and will feature top culinary talent from Reno, Sparks, and Carson City. Tickets are available at Bbbsnn.org.

Big Chefs Big Gala in the Grand Ballroom at the Grand Sierra Resort. Photo by Tom Snedes

WRITTEN BY CHRISTINA NELLEMANN 

Tips from Sierra Feed and Saddlery.

Many people interested in raising chickens are looking for a way to have fresh eggs available right out their back door. What they may not expect is how quickly they will fall in love with the friendly birds.

“We have a lot of people who come in here wanting their own organic eggs, but quite a few come in looking for new friends,” says Sam Todhunter, an employee with Sierra Feed and Saddlery. “A lot of our older customers do this or families with kids. It’s the children’s duty to take care of them and feed them. A lot of the kids just like to hang out in their chickens’ pen.”