Week of May 3, 2023

From the editor’s desk

Music man Matt Bieker explores local tribute bands, a crucial yet sometimes overlooked part of any town’s music scene. You’ve seen them in barrooms, at backyard barbecues, and on some of the biggest stages in town—but regardless of who’s holding the instruments, you know the music before the band even begins to tune up.

Gerlach residents recently convinced the Washoe County Commission to pull a preliminary drilling permit for a geothermal complex proposed at the edge of their tiny town. But the energy company is prepared to spend millions on the project—and while the residents won a skirmish, a bigger battle lies ahead.

It was snowing in Reno early this morning, but the blooms popping on the trees and flowers poking their heads up in residents’ gardens attest that winter is doomed to die. Beer writer Marc Tiar takes a look at upcoming warmer-weather brew fests across Northern Nevada. Foodie Maude Ballinger, in our Taste of the Town column, zeros in on local farmer’s markets, Mothers’ Day brunches and other culinary happenings this month.

There’s more to Mom’s Day than food: a plant sale, train rides and other activities are listed in our roundup.

Bob Grimm reports that author Judy Blume’s 1970 novel, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, finally gets a screen adaptation—and it perfectly encapsulates both its time and the challenges of pre-teen life that Blume so eloquently captured in some of her best works. Our movie reviewer also gives high marks to Beau Is Afraid, which he says is a “horror-comedy of sorts, but the laughs are far from carefree.”

Publisher Jimmy Boegle gives readers the inside scoop on the triumphs and tribulations of the RN&R’s first year back in print—and what’s needed to keep what may be Northern Nevada’s largest print newspaper on the stands.

Star-gazer Robert Victor, meanwhile, alerts readers to the May’s music of the spheres and the dance of the planets as winter stars make room for their spring and summer counterparts.

Keep your eyes peeled for these stories and more in our May print edition, now on newsstands across Northern Nevada.

I’ll see you in the funny papers.

Take care,

—Frank X. Mullen, Editor