Visitreno

[mjames1229]

On May 18th, I get to Reno for my shot at the USBC Open Championship at the National Bowling Stadium.

I can't wait. I'm as giddy as a school girl, even though this will be my 6th trip since the Stadium was built in 1995. And as much as I have tried not to over plan (like I did prior to last year's tournament in Las Vegas) I've got the following already lined up...

* Reno Aces game the afternoon I land. I've got about 75 minutes to get off the plane, pick up the rental car and have my buddies drop me off at the ball park.

* Private bowling lesson at the Stadium pro shop with PBA Champion and current coaching guru Mike Jasnau on Wednesday

* Our Team event is Wednesday evening.

* Thursday morning poker tournament at Harrah's

* Thursday afternoon surprise birthday dinner at Ruby River Steakhouse for one of the guys (whose actual 50th birthday went completely unhearalded. One of our teammates has terminal cancer and had just gotten the word. We forgot all about Joe's big day. He'd better be surprised with 16 people at his four-month belated birthday dinner).

* Thursday night Singles and Double event at the Stadium

* Friday trip to Lake Tahoe which should (a) get my dying buddy to cross one thing off of his bucket list, and (b) get us out of the casinos for a couple of hours.

We are mostly staying at Harrah's and Silver Legacy. I was looking for rates a couple of months ago, went to Harrah's TR site and entered my number. I had an "offer" waiting for me... three comp weeknights and the Friday for $45. I swear, I haven't used my TR card since the last time in Reno in 2007, and I have never stayed at their property. A couple of other guys got the comp, others didn't... but we all last used our TR card three years ago. Strange, but I am not turning down "free".

OK, I'm babbling on here, but as I've said in other posts in this forum that I kind of grown attached to Reno, for reasons I can't understand. I've done most of the touristy stuff (Virginia City, Tahoe lake cruises, Ponderosa Ranch, etc) and I don't golf or ski, yet I can't wait to get back. It may be because of all the fun I've had, and the memories created with my buddies over the past 15 years.

5 weeks, baby!

[remano]

Best wishes for a great trip. Here are a few random thoughts on your itinerary:

Aces game - good choice. They were very successful last year and sold out their season opener last night (winners in extra innings). The new stadium is very nice. The new Freight House District entertainment complex next to the ballpark will add a lot. Two of the venues are open now (the sports bar and ale house), the cabaret/lounge is supposed to be open next week and the Mexican restaurant is scheduled to open sometime in mid-May, so at least 3 and maybe all 4 options will be available to you after the game. The ballpark is easy walking distance from all the downtown casinos. Also, many of the bars and casinos have pre- and post-game specials for the fans. Here's a partial run down:

http://reno.metromix.com/bars-and-clubs/roundup/bars-pitch-in-aces/1099222/content

Lake Tahoe - sorry to hear about your friend's illness, but you're right, seeing the lake is something for anyone's bucket list. If you want to spend a little extra money, take the Heavenly gondola up the mountain for some great views, and be sure to go up to Emerald Bay.

Ponderosa Ranch - is closed. I guess the younger generation, being anybody younger than 55, just doesn't remember the Cartwrights.

Ruby River - I've heard good reviews for this steak house but never eaten there myself. Mostly it's a little out of our price range, I guess. Have a good time, and after dinner you can just walk across the street to the Peppermill if you have the urge to gamble.

Don't golf or ski - it will be a little late for skiing, but right now if you were in Reno you could ski in the morning and golf in the afternoon. Reno is one of the few places in the country where that can be done.

Have a great trip, and knock 'em down on the lanes.

[stan_allen]

You are clearly well-organized, and have a full plate - don't forget to include some of what my dad calls "Unstructured time" - a little spontaneity doesn't hurt in a town like Reno!

A private lesson with Mike Jasnau??? That rocks! Okay, I'm being a tad facetious, as I've never heard of him, but if he's a PBA champion, he's clearly the top of the line!

Enjoy, and make sure to write a trip report detailing all those itinerary items you've scheduled!

[mjames1229]

Remano - my wife and I have been to Tahoe on two of my previous visits. My buddy gets hypnotized in casino towns, and I've never gotten him to go along. With his illness, he sees that there is a lot of life he hasn't gotten to live, and I am kinda honored (and scared) to fill in some of those pieces.

Went to the Ponderosa ranch in May 2004 (its last season) not knowing it was going to close. I know the ranch was sold and the new owners closed it, though I don't know if it was because it wasn't profitable or because they had development ideas that have since fallen through. I am lucky to have been able to get there, but disappointed that I can't share that with others.

Does Heavenly run rides after May 1? Once my wife and I tried to go to take a ride but they were closed.

[CaSwede]

"Does Heavenly run rides after May 1? Once my wife and I tried to go to take a ride but they were closed."

It will probably be closed on May 1st. They usually close the gondola down at the end of ski season, and then open back up for Memorial Day weekend. They do operate during the summer though.

[mjames1229]

5 weeks has become 5 days, and I am still itchin' to get there.

Was watching CSI last week and their case took them to Reno to pick-up a potential bad guy. Their establishing shot of Reno was a gorgeous daytime view... Harrah's in the foreground, the National Bowling Stadium just off to the right, Circus Circus near the top of the screen. For all the Vegas shots that are to be had on shows set in Vegas, it was nice to see an aerial view of Reno.

Kinda got a hankerin' for an Awful Awful.....

[hawk]

Offul offul, hunh? I saw some of that on the roadway this a.m.
You know that stuff'll kill ya.

But, yeah, I guess it is a nice thought. An offul offul would go down good right now.

Reminds me. I just inhaled about three 1917 donuts. The Army of Salvation was frying them up and serving them on the sidewalk today in honor of WW I vets. They were exquisitely delicious. And greasy - wow- were they dripping grease from the lard. Did I say exquisite??? Yummy..

So enjoy your offul, EJames.

[Shooty]

[hawk]

I'll enlighten you later but don't have time now. I found their info. interesting - history of the donut, etc. Thanks for the comments.

And yes those vets can never get enough respect for what they went through to put this nation where it is today. A very tough war.

[hawk]

---and more about donuts.
The SA has a donut day on the first Fri/Sat in Jun so maybe yours is yet to occur. Here on the left coast we are often "ahead of the curve". It was established in 1938 to raise SA funds ant as a tribute to Army "lassies" who made and served donuts to troops during WWI. The donut has been a trademark of the SA.

In France, Aug, 1917, after 36 days of rain, The SA "Lassies" first made doughnuts by filling a refuge pail with oil, etc., and used a wine bottle as a rolling pin. They fried 7 at a time in soldiers helmets. After the water soaked tent collapsed and was put back up, it became the first 24 hour donut shop producing 9,000 per day.

The returning soldiers demanded donuts in the U.S. and the rest is history.
So, yes, it is a tribute to both the soldiers who served so valiantly and to the ladies who served them.

And that is the abbreviated version.

[remano]

"---and more about donuts."

I would observe it's a well rounded meal but that would be too obvious.

[hawk]

You would be correct. I think I liked the fact that they cooked with (how we now dread the word) LARD. They added 3/4 cup lard to the doughnuts but they fried them in FIVE POUNDS of lard.
A buncha sugar and flour in there too. But only 8 eggs in 250 doughnuts.18 teaspoons of baking powder and 8 teaspoons of nutmeg.
this part my wife loved: 7 1/2 teaspoons of salt.

Later on, they used shell cases, in two sizes to cut out the donuts.
The S.A. ladies did a good job cooking for our troops under very difficult conditions.