Taxi vs. Sedan

While living among an urban city with abundant taxis on the roadways, it is easier to assume that taxi transportation is the most affordable option compared to a more ‘sophisticated’ choice, such as a chauffeured sedan.  To compare these two options on a well-travelled route from Reno to Lake Tahoe, you will be surprised to know that the amount for the taxi and the sedan are roughly the same.


By no means are taxis less superior to a chauffeured sedan, but being transported after a long flight from the Reno Airport to the Lake Tahoe area could be more comfortable than the taxis that run patrons from one side of Reno to the other.  Albeit, taxis are more readily available at the airport, and can be hailed on the city streets, but a quick phone call to Bell Limo could reserve a sedan and then quickly sent out to pick you up at your location.  So next time you need a ride from point A to point B, remember that Bell Limo, and its sister companies Whittlesea Taxi and Airport Mini-Bus, have affordable options for your transportation needs.

Reno Has A Lot To Offer

When visiting or touring another town, most of us Reno natives have experienced the reaction of East coast, mid-Western, or Southern residents responding with,  “Is Reno near Las Vegas?”, or “Do you gamble a lot?”

Yes, Las Vegas is a great city that generates a substantial cash flow for the State of Nevada, and offers spectacular entertainment and accommodations that can easily compete with any other playground like New Jersey’s Atlantic City; and yes, Reno also offers gambling and entertainment in its own Downtown area, but Reno really does have so much more to offer than adult entertainment.

Reno happens to be perfectly, centrally located among great cities such as Sparks, Carson City, Virginia City, and Lake Tahoe that boast rich culture, beautiful scenic views, and a wide variety of outdoor activities no more than 45 minutes away.  Kayaking down the Truckee River, skiing and snowboarding on the numerous ski mountains, taking in the gold and silver mining history, or participating in the arts community is just a few of the tourist attractions that Northern Nevada possesses.

Not only is Reno the perfect location for the everyday outdoorsman, but Reno is responsible for assembling some of the West coast’s most attended events.  Hot August Nights, Street Vibrations, Reno Air Races, Burning Man, and the Great Reno Balloon Race attracts people not only from neighboring states such as California, Idaho, and Oregon, but it is not uncommon for tourists to travel from across the United States or even from other countries.

No doubt, Reno is a great place for an adult weekend getaway of casinos, bars, and entertainment, but next time you visit Reno, stretch out your legs in gorgeous Lake Tahoe, have a drink at the famous Bucket of Blood Saloon in Virginia City, visit Mark Twain’s house in Carson City, view the remarkable art installations at Burning Man, or take in the beautiful sights while skiing down Mt. Rose or Northstar Ski Resort.  Bottom line, Reno truly is the Biggest Little City in the World!

Raise Your Glass

This is your advanced notice, get rest now. This weekend is a must experience, unless you want to wait months for another opportunity to dress inappropriately, hobble downtown with drink in hand…oh yeah, and not stand out. 

Hosted by none other than the Santa Crawl people, the Superhero Crawl combines Renoites’ love for drinking and dressing up. Anything goes for costumes, creativity is actually more preferred than; say an authentic Green Lantern outfit.  Brush out your wigs and throw on your cape for an evening downtown that is sure to include costumes that demand second glances and moments that can’t be duplicated.

 $5 gets you a map to over 15 participating bars and a ‘special’ cup that entitles you with $2-3 drink specials.  Kickoff is at 7:30pm this Saturday, at the Biggest Little City Club.

Yes, it is the third Saturday of the month this weekend, which can only mean one thing…Wine Walk. This month the proceeds benefit VSA arts. If you have yet to experience a wine walk (shame on those who haven’t), this is how it works: show up downtown to any of the participating shops to pay $20 for a wine glass and a map.  Take that glass to any and all of the 25 vendors for free samples of wine, including The Waterfall, Java Jungle, and Sierra Tap House. This extremely social event allows you to mob downtown with your posse in tow…don’t miss out. 

Artown is Taking Over

It is the time of year in Reno where arts abound and take over not just downtown, but the city.  Whether you find yourself by the river or beyond…we found a couple hotspots to enjoy that continue the July tradition of music and arts.

• ‘Movies in the Park’ at Wingfield Park features Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade this Friday night at 9pm.  Bring a blanket, bring friends, and bring some coffee: the show will go on until 11pm.

• Art in the Garden benefits Friends of Washoe County Library, and offers a unique garden setting with local artists selling their works. Saturday at 9am on Monroe St.

• Pawspective Art Show Opening keeps the trend of ‘visual artown’ with animal themed art and proceeds going to the Nevada Humane Society. The show begins at 4pm this Saturday at the Nevada Humane Society on Longley.

• Don’t miss ‘Twelfth Night’ at the Good Luck Macbeth Theater Saturday night at 7:30pm. End the evening with a live romantic comedy.

• The Americana Music Festival will take you through a music and dance experience in Virginia City. Seven different locations with the city, and free shuttles. The experience begins at noon this Sunday.

• If you find yourself in Reno around 11am on Sunday, Midtown is having a BBQ to benefit Artown. Beer, music, themed costumes, tents, and of course great cooking.

• The weekend caps off with a 7pm showing of Opera in Blue Jeans. The Wingfield Park features an evening of favorite songs from operas and Broadway musicals.

The month long calendar of events can be found on RGJ.com at http://www.rgj.com/assets/pdf/J7176278630.PDF.  Trying to escape the crowds of Artown? Continue the musical tradition with Joel Ackerson at the Outlets at Legends. They are hosting a free concert this Saturday from 4-6pm by the tower, offering great family entertainment and a casual atmosphere.

The best places to go dancing in Reno

Never Enough BallroomType: Ballroom

Whether you know how to ballroom dance or have never done it before, NEB is a fun place to go with friends. People will come ask you to dance and if you don’t know the steps they will show you. It’s a great time, easy to meet people and easy to learn new tricks! Make sure you bring comfortable shoes because you’ll be twirling all around the dance floor.

5-Star SaloonType: Club

5-Star is great because it’s a hidden spot with high energy. You don’t have to worry about someone trying to crowd your dance space you because there’s usually plenty of room on the dance floor.  No need to “dress to impress” either, it’s just an impromptu place to get your groove on. There’s access to song  requests and plenty of nice people. Keep in mind that 5-star is a gay bar, so if a guy comes up to you and starts talking, he literally may just want to “talk.”

“Mustangs” at The Grand Sierra Resort Type: Swing/Line Dancing

This is the dance floor area that’s near Johnny Rockets inside the Grand Sierra. It opens at 9        pm on Wednesdays and continues through the weekend. It always looks like a lot of fun every          time I’ve been there. I’ve never actually danced there, but the wooden dance floor, live music and huge crowd always tempt me. Wear your cowboy boots and keep in mind you’ll probably be dancing with the 30 to 50 year old crowd but who cares, it’s awesome.

Edge Nightclub at The Peppermill 

Type: Salsa

Normally Edge is all-club-dancing-all-the-time but on Friday nights they do Salsa Dancing. It’s extremely popular which makes trying to salsa dance look a lot less embarrassing since there’s a crowd around you. It’s fun and non-threatening so if you’re looking to have a good time with friends and shake your hips, this is your spot.

A Reno Tour of Hoppy Delights

We love beer. But then again who doesn’t? Being the eclectic and off-beat town that it is, Reno’s beer scene is not only rapidly expanding, but it’s pretty darn quality. Breweries are opening, distribution is constantly improving, and bar tap handles are housing some of the best and/or unique brews Reno’s ever seen.

For those of you who demand more depth than the typical domestics, we’ve put together another little list of places around town where you’ll find some hoppy gems.

One of our favorite places to kick back and grab a beer is Ole Bridge Pub. Perfectly set along the Truckee River, Ole Bridge is a Euro-style pub with shuffle board, outdoor seating, a selection of sports games playing, and of course, beers galore. Our favorite beer is a little “fruity”, but delightfully crisp and refreshing. Samuel Smith’s organic fruit brews come in 18 ounce bottles, pour like fruit juice, and are perfect for any lady date you’re trying to impress. Away from that, the selection continues to please pallets, and features several brews from De Molen, Grand Teton, Mikkeller, Rouge, and Stone. Bottled or draft, this is one fine place to enjoy the sunshine, downtown, and a delicious beer in a quite enchanting atmosphere.

If you’re going to call yourself a “west coaster” then you’ve got to have several things down and implemented into your lifestyle- one of those being an unsurpassed love and loyalty towards Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. And anyone who’s got that part down is well aware that the selection of brews offered by Sierra goes for miles, and covers ground on every style of beer that exists, from your strong imperials to the classic pale ale. And there’s one bar in Reno that houses an exclusive selection of these delightful beers. Sierra Tap House is tucked into the back of the same building Java Jungle and Jungle Vino call home. Its outside seating is a mere 2 feet from the Truckee and just across the bridge from Wingfield Park’s stage (by far the most convenient bar to pour into after downtown events such as the Reno River Festival, the Tour De Nez, or Artown) and inside it’s got that Cheers feeling of a neighborhood basement bar, where anyone and everyone are always welcome. You won’t find a place in Reno that only features one brewery’s beer yet holds so much dynamic in doing just that.

Take a stroll down Virginia and you’ll eventually land at Chapel Tavern. Now this is a bar we recommend you all become accustomed with and frequent. From the outside looks, you automatically picture a dive inside. But with a fresh renovation only a few years in, Chapel is top quality. Bar stools, comfy couches, and one random pole that will make your imagination wander with possibilities, Chapel beckons for fun. There’s always cool artwork rotating in display as well. But we’re here to talk beer. Chapel’s finest quality is their selection of European brews, particularly the Belgium imports. The diverse catalogue of brews Chapel houses has not been surpassed in Reno in our opinion. Beer snobs, this is your hot spot. Become a regular and make it point to get friendly with bartender Dave. He’ll take good care of you!

Much like Chapel, St James Infirmary on California & Arlington is a beer lovers haven. We’ve never been let down by their beer specials, which almost always include a few American and a few European craft brews from the tap, most of which fall under the $8 range (anyone who knows good beer knows it’s not cheap). Whether you’re in the mood for a nice Rouge Amber or a Blanche De Chambly, St. James hip but non-pretentious ambience is perfect for beers, good conversation, and a chance to try out one of the best jukeboxes in Reno.

Our final beer sanctuary is home to what we consider the best selection and prices in the area. First off, every beer is stored in a walk-in cooler that patrons can wander around and choose their brews from. The selection is divided between regions and includes beers from America, Europe, New Zealand, and Japan. If you can’t find what you’re looking for in here, then it probably can’t be found in Nevada at all. We’ve noticed that Craft’s foreign selection is unsurpassed by any place we’ve found in the area- Cantillon's, Panil, Mikkeller, de Struisse, and so, so much more. Best part? The staff is knowledgeable beyond belief, and not cocky in the slightest. They’re friendly, you can take the beer to go or drink it there, and the prices more inexpensive than most liquor and grocery stores around Reno-Tahoe. We wish this place the best of luck, as they’ve brought an awesome, innovative concept to Reno and provided all the beer lovers a place to call their second home.      

"Dive" into Reno

Reno is infamous for having a little something for everybody. Upscale, casual, or downright dirty, Reno is home to an eclectic mix of restaurants, bars, and general entertainment options. But when it comes to planning a night of seedy underground traveling, where are the best dive spots to hit? Where has cheap drinks, a jukebox to blow up, and a bartender with stories that would make Charlie Sheen fall off of his bar stool?

Despite having a reputation for class and sophistication, we would be lying if we said there haven’t been a few nights where we tore up the town on a tour of Reno’s more undemanding bars. Here are just a few of our favorites.

*Side note: We know that this varies from person to person, but we must warn that some of these places allow smoking inside. Some might not find that to their liking

·         The Hideout: Located off Ryland just before Wells, The Hideout is an infamous Reno watering hole. This is your quintessential dive bar. You walk in to two pools tables, a jukebox ready to engulf, and a long stretch of bar. This is the kind of place where the bartender can out-drink you. There’s not a ton of beer selection, particularly when it comes to their tap choices, but they’ve got plenty of whiskey to keep you happy and warm. Rumor has it that the infamous Ke$ha made a pit stop here while performing in Reno. Good enough for her? Well, the Hideout will always be good enough for us.

·         Shea’s Tavern: Shea’s is right in the center of things, located just a few blocks south from downtown right on Virginia St. It often scares ladies and small children walking their dogs, who are near blown away by the raw punk and metal music blasting from inside on any given occasion. But don’t let that put you off. Its unrefined approach posts no dress code and no inhibitions. With great drink specials and possibly some of the most wide open hours in the city, Shea’s lives up to its reputation of never letting a patron go thirsty.

·         Abby’s Highway 40: The classic Reno dive bar. Think: 4^th street. Relaxed. Everyone’s welcome, everyone’s friendly. And they’ve really got all the necessities for a dive bar. On any given day, one can catch live music, spend a warm night in their massive backyard/beer garden, or enjoy the comfortable, no-frills-needed atmosphere inside the bar. One thing is for sure- you’ll walk away with stories you would have never otherwise heard. And that’s a good thing.

·         Wonder Bar: The classic 70’s sign, the perfect spot for Wells Ave bar crawling, or just place to come feel at home- the Wonder Bar is your prime dive bar pit stop. You walk in and it’s relatively simple: a bar, some video poker, darts board, jukebox, and a few feet of moving room. But while you’re intrigued with simplicity, remember that the jukebox is meant to be played, and the few feet of room is meant for any kind of dancing; the darts games lead to new best friends and the bar is lined with interesting characters. This is a place that looks ordinary at first, but show up on the right night/day, and you’ll find yourself in the middle of the most comfortable, anything goes kind of party. Oh, and if you smell something good coming from the back patio, be sure not to pass it by.

So there you have it! While there are more we’d love to include, these are really what we consider to the highest quality of keeping it real. Unbutton your collar, or maybe the whole shirt after a few, and crawl around to the “dark side” of Reno. We think you’ll find yourself redefining the term “diamond in the rough”.

2 Ideas for Date Night

Let’s face it, your love life is getting a little dull. So instead of doing the whole Chinese-take-out-thing this Friday night, surprise your significant other and take them on a fancy date. Here are 2 options that are both guaranteed to provide excitement.

Splurge: The Ritz-Carlton at Northstar is definitely on the pricy side but the food, view and service simply cannot be compared. We recommend The Manzanita which serves French-inspired California cuisine. Don’t worry about what that means, just know it’s delicious. Since we just got a bit of snow up in Tahoe, Northstar is going to be beautiful. Take a Bell Limo if you don’t want to drive for an added bonus. You’re going to want to plan on spending around 40 dollars a person and falling in love again (and again when the dessert comes).

Wallet-friendly: If you want to surprise your significant other with something special but can’t quite afford to splurge, try Bite on for size. Bite Restaurant & Bar located in Incline Village has a cozy, fun atmosphere and decadent food. The owner calls the restaurant an “experimentation and sampling of exotic gourmet cuisine. All Menu items are served on small plates, so you can create your own meal.” Seriously, what could be more fun? Plan on spending around 20 dollars a person and of course eating off each others plates.  

Party Refined Style

You’re never too “old” to have a good time in Reno. It’s crawling with the young, hip party goers, but is also a fantastic social outlet for those who just need to unwind outside of that delicious bottle of chardonnay and American Idol or Glee nights.

We’re always getting asked where and what’s going on in Reno that’s a good ‘ol time, but outside of club lines, spilled Bud Light, and 30 minute drink waits. We feel everyone deserves a good time; after all, that’s why we exist! So we’ve put together a little rundown of hot spots that don’t require your college ID.

• The Grill on McCarran Blvd. has always been a well-known staple for Reno’s more refined ladies and gentleman to enjoy a glass of wine from an impeccable selection, a nice meal, and meet similar folks without feeling like they’re in a meat market. A little off the beaten path of downtown, but perfect for those who live in the south end of town.
• Roxy’s inside the Eldorado is one of our favorite dancing spots in Reno. Placed on the “border” of the El Dorado and Silver Legacy, Roxy’s is the quintessential example of sophistication meets play; known for their grand martini selection, award-winning plethora of wines, and a lounge act that’ll get your great grandma out of her chair, Roxy’s brings fine dining, exquisite drinking, and a night of “living it up” to downtown in the classiest of ways.
• Keeping outside of downtown in mind, but not excluding casinos, we must recommend the Reserve win bar inside the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino. Reserve is unique in that there’s no bartender; it’s all self serve. Over 80 wine bottles are kept in cases, assuring temperature and freshness are right on the money. Upon entering, you buy a credit card sized wine card, load it up with cash (in any increment you’d like), grab a wine glass, and go to town. A lounge atmosphere accompanies the experience, so once you’ve chosen your poison (you can also control the amount of wine you get from each selection), you’re free to sit down, chat, drink, refill whenever suits you, and never have to fight to grab the bartenders attention. Sounds pretty dreamy to us.
• For those who just want a casual drink, meal, and socializing, the newest hot spot is Napa-Sonoma at Plumgate Center. Its unique atmosphere combines all the enticing aspects of your neighborhood wine bar but doesn’t call for a formal dress code or casino dealings. Located in the heart of Old Southwest, Napa-Sonoma offers lunch and dinner, specializing in scrumptious Panini’s and Italian inspired appetizers, and a wine selection capable of making any wine connoisseur melt. One can purchase wine to-go, make gift baskets and Napa-Sonoma offers special events, including live jazz every Tuesday. Keep it business casual and unbutton that collar with a glass of vino and treat yourself to their signature carrot cake…you deserve it.

The Freight House

The Freight House is a relatively new addition to ‘places to go’ in Reno nightlife, and definitely welcome. They filled the hot-spot niche that incorporated sports, live music and food. I have been to the Freight House on several occasions, and each time it was for a completely different occasion.
• A date, we ended up taking part in the outside ambiance and enjoyed the night with drinks from the outside bar and played ping pong and sand bags (I think that is the name of the game?)
• A large birthday party, Joe ended up reserving all of Bugsy’s Sports Bar for an intimate and large celebration. Bugsy’s was an ideal venue, offering drinks, appetizers and enough room to socialize.
• Meeting for drinks, before an “interesting” night of Burlesque, I met up with friends for some appetizers and drinks at Duffy’s Ale House.
• An Aces game, the balcony offers great views of the field and a relaxed atmosphere where there is no need to crawl over people to grab another beer and pretzel.

Tequila anyone? Visit the Arroyo Mexican Grill on the bottom floor and partake in one or maybe two of their 100 tequila choices while noshing on fine Mexican food. The 250 Lounge has a more industrial feel with live music and views of downtown Reno.

If you have yet to check out the four establishments at the Freight House District, I suggest you make it a must on your summer to-do list. A heads up if you visit during a game, there is a small cover charge to get in, if you don’t have a game ticket…with a ticket you can freely pass in between the Freight House and the ballpark.

Great Weekend for Reno

Although Friday's weather ended up being windier than expected, the weekend events had a great turnout.
Before heading over to the sold-out Aces game, I walked along the river and stopped in at Urban Beets for their grand opening. I enjoyed crostinis with creamy artichoke dip and live jazz in the background. Side note: the Mark Sexton Band made an appearance to a standing room only crowd at Urban Beets on Sunday, disappointed I missed that.
I made my way over to the Aces, along with much of Reno, and after a 30 minute wait for beer, I have to say it was all worth while. Good company with friends and a sense of belonging in our seats, I am happy to have baseball season back.
The wine walk welcomed over 1,000 people this Saturday! And Buckbean Brewery celebrated their 3rd anniversary with a special bourbon barrel beer.
With the Autism Run/Walk starting off the running season this Sunday, we couldn't have asked for better weather.
If you missed some of the great outside events this weekend, I hope you still soaked up the sun with a hike or walk near the river. This is just the beginning...

Living it Up Outside

If you are planning on a date this weekend, plan to be outside and change it up from the usual dinner date or casual meet for drinks. It finally feels like spring has arrived, so take advantage.
The anticipated baseball season begins in Reno this Friday. I cannot think of a better casual and fun date than watching the opening game with a couple beers and a couple hot dogs. Game begins at 7:05, but the gates open at 5:35, leaving a lot of time for people watching and small talk. If you didn’t get tickets, don’t kick yourself, the season has just begun and there are other options.
The weekend should bring sunshine and warm temperatures for the Wine Walk downtown. If you have yet to participate in this local event, it is a Reno must and benefits a charity. $20 gets you a wine glass and map, wine for three hours, and an excuse to walk downtown with your date. This happens every third Saturday of the month, so this Saturday from 2-5p.m.
Still trying to hang on to the little bit of winter we have left? Spend the day on the slopes and take advantage of the spring season at Mt. Rose or Alpine or Squaw. Take a scenic drive up in our limo, exhaust yourself on the slopes and have a romantic and relaxing drive back to the city for dinner.
If you plan on being inside this weekend, you will be missing out. If you have other outside date ideas for this weekend, I want to hear about them.

Drive me to the nearest coffee shop

Tradition dictates that limousines are used for elaborate events like a wedding or prom, but why limit the reasons. This week I witnessed a group of three being dropped off at a Starbucks in one. Okay, that seems like too casual of a situation, but the point is…think of all the possibilities! So many celebrations that warrant a night of chauffeuring and 'movie star' treatment that we probably do not take advantage of.
• Bachelor/ette parties
• Anniversary
• Birthdays
• Concerts
• Or a night with all the friends, just because.
There are numerous times in the recent past that I wish I had thought of a limousine instead of volunteering to be the designated driver. Don't get me wrong, I have a great time with my friends, but they were having better times (not being the DD). And it isn't just about being free from responsibility, but that in a limo the celebration is always on! A couple people living it up all night in one ride is unforgettable, think of the stories from eight friends in one ride.
The next time you think of how you could make an experience better or more memorable, Bell Limo will be here to make that happen.
We would love to hear what unusual reasons you have taken a limo.

Bachelor Party Itinerary

When I inadvertently attended a bachelor party, I found what some men really look for in a party. As a non-stripper female participant in a bachelor party, I felt honored that I could partake in the festivities that celebrate the last moments of bachelorhood. The following hot spots for a bachelor party are not all those that I hit on that very memorable night (that is another story).
If your bachelor chooses to keep it in Reno, and do the traditional ‘guy bonding’ jaunt, this list is something you should read. Start the night out at Fuego, the tapas restaurant on Virginia. If their motto (It’s social, it’s spicy, it’s saucey, it’s hot.) is a premonition of the night to follow, then you should be well on your way. Following the tapas and wine, drive walk to El Dorado where you can get some gambling action in, and some beer at Brew Brothers. You still have a long night of fun ahead, so walk over to Ole Bridge Pub, where you will find an old style pub with great tap and a low-key atmosphere. When you’ve finished bantering, and find yourself ready for some dancing, call us (yes, our blog, our plug) at 323.3727, and we will take you to the hot night life at The Edge. Whether or not you feel like you should can dance, there is a great social atmosphere to enjoy. Grab a VIP table or just enjoy the yourself, until you are ready for us to escort you to The Men’s Club. A classy and traditional way to conclude a bachelor party. And there, you have concluded and hopefully will remember the unforgettable night that just happened with your closest guy friends.

St. Patrick's Celebration

St. Patrick’s Day is a week away, and unless you plan on celebrating at home watching Boondock Saints (the first one of course), you may decide that Virginia and Wells are the place to be.

Are you ready to roll out the green carpet and party on St. Patty’s Day? You betcha! How about a luxury limo to whisk you and seven of your friends between all the green beer filled parties in town? Bell Limo can help. For only $40 a person you can party in style this St. Patty’s Day. Our St. Patty’s Day package includes a luxury limo, party hats and of course the luck of the Irish. Tag us in your pictures on Facebook and you could win a free limo ride. Visit Bell-Limo.com for more information or give us a call at 786-3700.

Mackenzie meets Whittlesea

Mackenzie Warren, from Channel 4, reports on Bell Limo's new cab program. Whittlesea Checker Taxi was awarded a grant that discounts low income households cab rides that are related to work, child care or education. Once qualified, riders receive 25% off the fare. Watch the video, much more exciting than my words...