November is traditionally part of the shoulder season here in Reno, the breathing space between the summer when tourists flock here for the outdoor recreation, the gaming and the entertainment, and the winter when tourists flock here for the outdoor recreation, the gaming and the entertainment. In October and November, they usually have to make do with, you know, the gaming and the entertainment. The year 2020 has kind of thrown a monkey wrench into things, and a lot of the big-name performers have had to reschedule their concerts for next year, but there are still a lot of community events coming up in the next few weeks that are worth your time and attention. Photo at left: Pixabay, Heung Soon.
If you’re like me, you’re getting about live-streamed out, but the Reno Philharmonic has a pair of concert presentations coming up on November 7 and 8 that will entice me back to the computer screen again. It’s called Dare We Dance, and the Reno Phil will be joined by dancer Martina Young for The Swan by Saint-Saens. Principal Cellist is Reno native Peter Lenz, a member of the local Lenz family musical dynasty, and Principal Harpist is UNR instructor Marina Roznitovsky Oster for Dbussy’s Sacred and Profane Dances. The logistics of this concert are that online tickets run $20, and that will stream the performance to one device in your household. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 7 and at 4 p.m. on Sunday, November 8, with a concert preview Inside the Music beginning a half-hour prior to each performance. Check out the orchestra’s website for more info and tickets. Photo at right: Facebook, Reno Phil.
The following Saturday, November 14, is going to be a busy one. For one thing, it’s the Hands ON! Second Saturday at the Nevada Museum of Art with free admission and family activities such as hands-on art projects and storytelling. If you haven’t been in a while, please note that there is a change from the pre-COVID times in that advance registration is absolutely required for the specific time-slot that you want to attend. Learn more about the Estelle J. Kelsey Foundation Hands ON! Second Saturdays program on the Museum’s website. Photo at left: Facebook, Nevada Museum of Art.
For another, it’s Science Saturday at the National Automobile Museum. The Nevada Space Center hosts activities designed for kids ages 8 to 12, and this month, look for a presentation on how astronauts eat in space. Your ticket to the Science Saturday program also includes admission to the auto museum, but advance registration is required and usually closes a couple of days prior to the event. More info and registration are available on the web.
And heading into the back half of the month is the big Sky Tavern Ski Swap, a can’t-miss event for those looking forward to getting back out on the slopes this season. It’s going to take place Friday and Saturday, November 20 and 21, on Kietzke Lane in the location where the Sports Authority used to be. If you’re selling your old gear, you can check it in on Thursday afternoon or on Friday during the day. The swap opens to the public at 5 p.m. on Friday and runs through 3 p.m. on Saturday. (Be sure to pick up any unsold gear on Sunday, or it’s considered to be donated to the Sky Tavern.) There will be local merchants with new equipment for sale too, and on Friday night, look for food trucks and a bounce house for the kids. Photo at right: Facebook, Sky Tavern.
In other words, bring it on, November. Let the wind blow and the snow fly, ‘cuz we’re ready for you.
About the Author Keith Rugg
R. Keith Rugg has worked on staff for a number of local publications, including Lake Tahoe Action Magazine, the Tahoe Daily Tribune and the Reno Gazette-Journal.
