Keep Reno Rad: Denver's Choppers Keep Legacy Going

The owner of Denver’s Choppers Mondo Porrras started building custom bikes in San Bernardino in 1967 with the late Denver Mullins, manufacturing their distinct style of long down tube stretch frames.

Student reporters James Moore and Amico Fondi caught with him recently at his Reno shop on Airway Drive.

His bikes were featured in dozens of magazines, earning him awards along the way such as “Best Custom Fabricated Bike Builder of the Year” and a spot in the chopper Hall of Fame.

“I’ve been dong this for almost 55 years,” he said. “When I got into building bikes with Denver, it was only real bikers [who] had choppers and bikes. You know it wasn’t your accountant or banker or anything else, it was more blue collar guys [who] were real bikers, with the bike clubs and so on and so forth. It was a culture onto itself.”

With the weather changing, late fall and winter is the prime time to get to work on motorcycle upgrades for aesthetic and performance enhancements.

“To do this and to do it right, you first need to have the desire and the heart to do it, then I recommend taking a machine shop class and a welding class,” Porras concluded.

Reporting and photos by James Moore and Amico Fondi shared with Our Town Reno

Where's Your Happy Place: Reno’s Plastic Scale Modelers Share their Passion

For many years, plastic model kits from toy stores, hobby shops, and antique vendors have provided children with hours of fun. However, these kits are not merely toys to be played with and forgotten. 

For members of the Reno chapter of the International Plastic Modelers Society, scale modeling is a serious art form and hobby that honors the past, educates in the present, and provides a method of relaxation. This small club dedicated to scale modeling boasts about sixty members and meets on the second Friday of every month at a fire station on Mae Anne in Reno. 

Seventy-three-year-old John Herdener—a retired mechanic, teacher, and veteran—first joined the Reno IPMS club—nicknamed the High-Rollers—in 2001;

“Well, I was teaching at Hug High School; and they were doing their meetings there; and I stopped in at the hobby store that happened to be open at the time. It’s now long gone; the owner passed away,” said Herdener,  “But he had one of the fliers on the table; and I, you know, picked it up and looked. ‘Oh, there’s a club?!’ And I saw that they met at Hug High School, and I’m like, ‘Oh, this makes it too easy.’”

Since then, and even with the change of the club’s location, Herdener has rarely missed any of their meetings. 

Herdener, who was first inspired to build scale models during his childhood when he watched his father construct ship models, owns over one thousand kits today.

His current project is a 1/72 scale P-51 Mustang – a storied World War II-era fighter plane; but his favorite build to date is a replica of the Honda 750 motorcycle he used to ride before an accident led him to give up on biking.

Describing the incident, Herdener said that he was “coming into Carson, fifty-five mile-an-hour speed limit—I’m doing about fifty. I’m on the inside lane, and I needed to move over. So, I looked over; and there’s a car; and I look up; and the lady had turned in front of me. I was about fifteen feet away from her. Impact speed was forty-five miles-an-hour. It should have killed me.”

His model Honda, now a memento of his riding days, was featured in the pages of a magazine.

Fellow modeler Phil Schenfeld (in top photo, with a landing craft he made above) is, like Herdener, a retired veteran and club member; 

Schenfeld has been involved with the Reno IPMS “High-Rollers” for about twenty-five years now.

In keeping with the club’s 2024 D-Day theme, he built a model landing craft—a project which took him eight months to complete. 

Inside? Thirty-six different figures—each detailed.

“Some of the figures are pretty much stock out of the box,” stated Schenfeld, “but most of them have been modified to the point that they tell a story. That’s my whole thing, tell a story.”

For Schenfeld, the modeling hobby not only pulls him away from the stress of current events and politics, but it also serves an educational purpose—providing him with greater knowledge about the past.

“It maintains my dexterity. I do a lot of research,” he said. “When w–When I started this [landing craft] project, I knew about this much [little] about Operation Overlord. I could write a book about it right now—about just Utah Beach, which is where this particular thing is dedicated to. So, I love doing the research.”

Kody Kuczynski, another member of the Reno IPMS club and a student at Truckee Meadows Community College, sees the hobby as an instrument that develops the researching skills of its participants. 

He also thinks the hobby provides its participants with an education in fine motor skills, in paint chemistry, and in photography, too.

Kuczynski (in photo above), who began modeling as a child, loves to build armor. Though he originally used cans of spray paint to color his models, he has since embraced airbrushing.

He says that “there are days where it’s like, I just wanna come home, sit at the workbench, and just be tuned out—have my headphones on, listen to an audiobook, podcast, or just music and just head down, working alone.”

Like many modelers, Kuczynski utilizes a diverse set of materials to finish his works. On diorama bases, he incorporates ordinary items like dirt and small sticks to replicate natural elements in a miniature setting. 

Phil Schenfeld, who does some of his work in a modeling room at his home in north Reno, uses household products to finish certain of his model airplanes.

Using pieces of tin foil and a mixture of floor polish and Mod Podge, Schenfeld can give a model a metallic coloring without paint.

For those interested in trying their own hand at modeling, Herdener says to be patient. 

“Seek the advice of other modelers; but, you know, don’t get discouraged if your first few models don’t turn out too great,” he said. “It’s—it’s a learning experience, and it’s meant to be fun. If it’s not fun, you’re doing something wrong.”

Audio feature, photos and reporting by Ariel Van Cleve

Raquelle Anne Nemedez, From a Family Suggestion to Thriving as a Lash Tech

“I was convinced by my sister in law and her sister to go to beauty school because I used to like to do nails for fun,” Raquelle Anne Nemedez says, explaining that originally she wasn’t planning to be a lash tech.  

The 32-year-old Reno native now owns her own lash business called Lashed by Raq, located in South Reno, near the new DMV located on Diamond Pkwy. 

When Nemedez first started out, she prioritized the relationships with her clients and a majority of the new ones were sorority girls. The Gen Z generation likes the ‘put together look’ without doing a full face of makeup, she says.

Nemedez enrolled into the Redken International Academy of Style located on Market St. in Reno. For nine months, while she practiced lashing on her cousin “to make sure I was doing the right thing cause if I didn't like it, I wasn't going to continue doing it. I haven't stopped since,” she said.

 In school people always discussed “you can work for someone or you can work for yourself.” And “ I wanted to work for myself,” she said.

After graduating from beauty school, she says it wasn't hard to get her own business started in Reno.

After making business cards and creating social media content, she started out with half a dozen clients. Word of mouth then kept her business going at a time the lash field was just getting bigger.

As her own boss, she found out she could have more control over which hours she was in the salon.

The most important thing Nemedez found out was “relationships are everything for me in my business, and it's not about new clients all the time.. It's about retaining clients by getting to know them on a personal level and having someone you're comfortable with,” she said.

December will mark her sixth year as an independent lash tech and a successful business woman.

Reporting by Grace Kaplan shared with Our Town Reno

Artists at Generator Pursue Awe Inspiring Work Year-Round

The Generator Maker Space located off of Oddie Boulevard is home to many local artists. It’s a place for metal working, textile work, sculptures, a gymnastic area, van renovation, 3d printing and more. As Aaron Arao reports in this audio feature it has life beyond Burning Man the rest of the year.

A handful of metal workers are in a corner of the maker space in Sparks, Nevada, right near the border with Reno. 

The Generator is always in motion. It’s your typical commercial warehouse, but lined with various sculptures, textures, fabrics, paints, desks, privacy tarps, and more. 

The room held 27 Burning Man pieces this year alone. Some sculptures built here have surpassed the typical two story home when fully assembled. 

Front desk administrator and social media coordinator, Lain Snyder, is one of seven people that help keep this nonprofit going, year round, and not just for the Burning Man production months.

“I love all the different art I get to see made. I think it’s incredible to watch people come in here for the first time and see that all of this is made by a person. That is just such an endlessly delightful thing for me,” Snyder said.

Right after the entrance, underneath a towering bronze sculpture of a crowned snake, makers are making their own halloween themed mini golf course for this month's upcoming events.

While busiest in the run up to the end of August start of Burning Man, the Generator is a year-round space. 

Despite the small team Snyder loves the people she works with. They are her best friends, she says. She loves the community and interactions she has everyday.

A 55-year-old Mongolian Burning Man artist, who goes by Sturo, entered the Generator three years ago after moving to Nevada from California. 

He had his hesitations about moving here, but the people and community at Burning Man and the Generator called him to stay.

Sturo has made two spiritual inspired pieces for Burning Man 2023 and 2024 described as “larger than life.”

Sturo says he’s motivated and inspired by the vibrations of the universe. 

“It’s not only my project, we're just collaborating together,” he said. “A lot of the different professionals were involved in my project. That's why I’m kinda happy and blessed to meet beautiful people.”

He firmly believes that the world’s best artists today are those that work together. 

Woodworker and Research Technician at the Desert Research Institute, Eric Lundin, has different motivations for his art. He does it for no other reason than he simply enjoys it. He used to sell jewelry made with the rocks and crystals he found in his research, but now focuses on making his own teardrop trailer for camping.

“Just nonprofits in general are kind of like a great place that brings people together,” he said. “Like, I kind of got started with the nonprofit sector in, like, the 2020 election, when there was felt like a lot of division.Whatever lines get drawn on social media platforms or, hell, even in school. When    you come to a place like this where people are just nerding out on whatever they're nerds about. Those lines kind of disappear. Yeah, it’s nice.”

Snyder the receptionist says interested artists or volunteers can find workshops and opportunities through the Generator’s website. They can also come with an idea and find a team to make it a reality.

Audio, Photos and Reporting by Aaron Arao shared with Our Town Reno

Kristen Snow, Telling Us All About the Traffic in Northern Nevada

With the worsening traffic in our region aren't we thankful for our amazing traffic reporters? Here's a feature in her own words on one of the best, working with Cumulus Media:

“We have lots of slow going in and out of the spaghetti bowl... We've got construction and lane merges to look out for some hiccups and some backups in our usual trouble areas. We're also seeing a jackknife semi that has collided with the passenger truck I 80 East near USA Parkway and some congestion both direction on one of our busiest daily driver highways…..

Thankfully, this is not an actual traffic report in real time. But these are the kinds of traffic reports you can and will hear in real time.

I'm Kristen Snow, a native of Northern Nevada. I graduated from UNR in 1992 emphasizing in broadcast journalism along with a minor in public relations.

I'm very much a people person and a talker, if you will.

I think journalism is a very diverse field, mass communications and community. I absolutely love.

I originally thought I wanted to do field reporting and quickly changed things a little bit, moved into radio. I've worked all formats in the radio business over the years and have recently dipped my toes in news and traffic reporting and I'm loving it very much.

Effective traffic reporting is in theory very simple yet complex in a way that you want to stay on top of current situations including accidents and incidents such as a motorists assist... debris in the road, an actual traffic accident, breaking news that affects traffic situations within that breaking news, such as road closures.

I use the highway patrol highway site for up to the minute issues and traffic cameras, Google Maps and Waze for road travel info, Nevada 511 for incidents, construction, accidents, special events, weather related closures, doing my best to keep you informed on any situation as quickly as it becomes available to me to keep our travelers moving along on area roads in the best way possible, especially during peak drive times, morning, afternoon, and evening.

#workersofreno reporting by Joseph Azar

Keep Reno Rad: Thania's Juice Bar, Combining Wellness and Latin Heritage

Thania Medina, the owner of Thania’s Juice Bar, has turned her revamped business into a hidden gem. A mix of flavors and authenticity located at The Basement in downtown Reno, her colorful juice bar is blending culture and health in a refreshing way. 

 “I wanted to show a bit of my culture in a different way,” she says. 

Combining her Mexican-American heritage and her passion for wellness, Thania’s Juice Bar offers freshly made health conscious options, including house made pumpkin seed, almond milks, gluten-free and nut free items.

Medina was determined to create something authentic. It’s been a process to find the right line between originality and success. At first, she began with only Mexican specialties, but as soon as she realized it wasn’t working as well as she hoped for, she began to listen to her customers and what they wanted more of, while also still keeping her culture in the mix. 

From there, she added what she is most proud of which is the health aspect of her business. Her dedication to making everything in-house from milk to granola sets her apart from other juice bars.

Thania recalls one of her former loyal customers fondly. “She beat cancer one time,” she remembers.

Fruits and vegetables in Thania’s juices contain most of the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that can help one stay healthy. Even though the customer was from the Bay Area she says she made it a monthly trip to visit Thania’s Juice Bar in downtown Reno. 

Sadly, she passed away but Thania thinks about her every day. These connections are Thania’s favorite part of owning a business. 

During my visit, I ordered a matcha smoothie and a cilantro avocado bagel. Who knew something so simple could be so flavorful. Both the bagel and juice did not disappoint. All were under $15 for a refreshing, and fulfilling meal that has me wanting to go back. 

As a local small business owner with two locations, one inside The Basement and the other in Incline Village, Medina enjoys meeting all her customers and hopes to help spread healthy living. 

Keep Reno Rad reporting by Genevy Machuca 

Reno Aces Fans Attend Regular Season Finale with Dogs and Fond Memories

Even though the Reno Aces lost in their home regular season finale yesterday 7-6 at Greater Nevada Field, many fans, who came with their dogs, as it was also Dog Day, reminisced on another great season, which will take our Triple-A team to the playoffs.

Players, meanwhile, immediately hit the road to start the Pacific Coast League playoffs in Sugar Land, Texas, against the Space Cowboys Tuesday.

“The dog day has been great,” Jacob in first photo from top left said of Sunday's regular season finale game. “The dogs love it they’re out here hanging out in the sun enjoying a good game and having fun with all the dollar hot dogs.This season's been great to come out, and we’re having a blast.”

“I normally come to all the Reno Aces games with my mom, Colleen Cardger. I’m actually wearing a jersey from the first game the Aces ever played,” Kelsey Adams in top medium photo said. “It's our first dog day. We’re loving dog day. It's hard with an anxious great dane to bring, but we're into supporting locally as much as possible, because we're from Tahoe so we want to make sure we do what we can. We love the games, we love when they get the crowd involved. My mom’s favorite is the YMCA, just getting everybody dancing. Coming from Tahoe, we obviously don't have baseball, but we should have hockey soon which is great, more of a snow experience. But for the most part supporting locally as much as we can. Everybody who turns out is so enthusiastic. I'm wearing a pride hat, I love that we have pride nights, and dog nights, and Veteran nights. It's definitely been a great season.”

“My name’s Bruce Cherry and I come to every last game of the season. I think the Reno Aces are great for a Triple A team. I'm happy to come to their big stadium and enjoy the sights and sounds,” Bruce Cherry in right top photo said.

“I think this ball field is a great way to bring our community together,” Kristen Campbell, on left in middle column said. “ It just feels like our small town in our biggest little city, so it's amazing.”

“Dog days at the Aces are our favorite days because our dog gets to enjoy it with us. He’s a lab pitbull mix, and he loves the dollar hot-dogs too,” Nancy Falcon, from Reno, in middle photo said.

“My experience today is awesome, it's a nice crowd, beautiful weather, “ Dan in middle right photo said.

“We’re season ticket holders, so we’ve had a great season and just wanted to enjoy the last regular season game of the year. Very glad [for the playoffs] and very excited to see them in 1st place!” Jennifer Bascom in bottom left photo, from Sparks said.

“Love this whole 2024 season for the Aces, getting ready for the playoffs,” DJ Rachese in bottom middle photo, from Reno said.

“It’s been a great season, hopefully we can continue it next year, and there can’t be a more perfect day to be out here,” Brian on right of bottom right photo said. “I love to see all the interactive experiences for the fans and to come out here to eat some cheap hot dogs and [drink] some beer. So we’ll keep coming,” Phil Egan (left) said.

Photos and reporting by Dan Mariani

Rat Race Records Kicks Off New House Concert Venue with Summerween Bash

New up and coming local music label Rat Race Records held a “Summer-ween” concert this weekend in the backyard of a house near UNR with bands Mom Cars, FKA Fingers, and Unexplainable Cattle Mutilations.

Attendees sported Halloween costumes in honor of the last day before the Fall Equinox.

The Summerween concert was the first concert to take place in this new location. The house is occupied by three roommates who met while working at the Holland Project.

Many volunteers arrived to assist in the concert’s set-up with tasks like setting up the sound system and helping with ticket sales at the backyard’s entrance.

There were also tables set up where local vendors merchandised their art. This included handmade jewelry, screen printed tee-shirts, and crochet succulents.

Mom Cars came all the way from Grass Valley to play in front of this enthusiastic house party crowd. While on stage, their lead singer Brendan Le told the crowd Reno is one of the best cities to perform in.

After this successful kickoff, Rat Race is set to hold another concert at this location with Shauna Dean Cokeland, Orrral Fixation and again Unexplainable Cattle Mutilations.

Reporting and Photos by Kade Collins for Our Town Reno

Eco-Art Serves as a Warmup Act for a Dinner for the Revolution at Reno Food Systems

Ahead of final preparations for the Women on Fire Reno organized Dinner for the Revolution with Reno Food Systems on October 5th, Pax Robinson, a poet, teacher and barista has been holding weekly 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday eco-drawing classes.

During a recent edition, visitors were able to pick up some colored markers, fresh flowers and make their own eco-related art while relaxing in the organic surroundings of the non-profit’s farm at 3295 Mayberry Drive. 

Drawings from past editions had already been used to make up the flyer for the 5 to 10 p.m. October extravaganza, which will include a tour of the farm, a community-building workshop, a farm-to-table dinner, and an eco-themed variety show. Included in the musical line-up is rising Reno indie band, Doolittle Ladybug.

“I’ve been to a lot of rubber chicken dinners where you buy raffle tickets for prizes that you don’t really want,” Melissa Gilbert, who does community outreach for Reno Food Systems said of an approach her organization wanted to avoid.  

Tickets for the Dinner for the Revolution are priced at $100, but lower-income attendees may purchase their tickets for $50. There are also options for attendees to purchase $200 tickets in order to sponsor lower-income attendees.

”I only want to cook for the revolution,” said Gilbert, who is also the so-called Kitchen Mama at Reno Food Systems, coordinating the preparation of healthy donated food on a weekly basis.

Women on Fire recently hosted the “She’s on Fire” festival with a line-up of mainly female performers at Abby’s Highway 40 on 4th street, with its values aligning with Reno Food Systems.  

“I wanted to create an event that elevated women,” Robinson the founder of Women on Fire said, not wanting to perpetuate the vibe of “rough masculine entertainment venues.”  

Already looking for collaborators and assistance with Reno Food Systems events, Gilbert found Women on Fire to be an ideal match as both organizations pursue their growth and positive impact on the community. 

Our Town Reno photos and reporting by Kade Collins

Marliena Landeros: Smiles Make a Difference at Pangolin Cafe

“You have to be a hard worker.  You have to be willing to come to work on the hard days, and put a smiling face on for everybody,” Marliena Landeros says “of staying strong for everyone else, and working harder than anyone else,” when detailing her duties as the manager of the Pangolin Cafe on 955 S Virginia Street.

She’s been in that position for the past year, after working in other roles here, and a decade in the coffee industry with previous experience on the East Coast.

Pangolin Cafe is known for its quality variety of offerings from Turkish coffee to Cuban espresso to Matcha latte.  

“I had the Fall Fog and it was perfect nostalgic goodness. Probably the single best tea latte I have ever had. I love that it was not loud sweetness but just a gentle afterthought allowing the pumpkin spice flavors to be the center of attention to the palette. Best coffee experience I have had in a long time,” a recent visitor wrote on Yelp wrote. 

Landeros says community and service are prized at Pangolin Cafe.  

“What sets us apart is our service. I think more than coffee what we provide is community and a friendly face. We like to connect with everybody. It’s a big honor to serve this community and the people that come in here,” she said.  

“When I was a kid I loved coffee, I’ve been drinking coffee since I was two,“ Landeros says remembering how in middle school she thought baristas were cool.  

“One of the favorite things about working here is we’ve seen a lot of babies be born, and this year was the first I saw a kid go from infant to starting kindergarten and it’s been wild to see her grow,” she said.  

Future plans include partnering with UNR for its 150th anniversary next month and expanding for more people to enjoy the Pangolin Cafe experience.

Reporting and photo by Emily Hess shared with Our Town Reno

Film Trailblazer Sebiya Charukh Eagerly Awaits Results from 48 Hour Film Project

Sebiya Charukh waits anxiously for others on her filmmaking team to return as she’s trying to transfer materials. It’s late August and it’s the second day of Reno’s 48 hour film project competition, with minutes counting down towards the final deadline.

What was supposed to be a refueling pizza run is now a catastrophic time cost. “When they scanned the card, they saw it was a different person, and held him there,” Sebiya said of an ill-planned Costco run, and its tighter than hoped for membership security.

The 48 Hour Film Project is an annual competition, held in cities across the world, where teams are tasked with creating films from concept to finished production within two days.

The competition, which debuted in Reno in 2022, offers opportunities for aspiring artists, with the ultimate prize being a film screening at the Cannes Film Festival Short Film Corner. Sebiya has competed the past couple years locally, but this year took it a step further, creating her own production company Bluebird Films Production, and assembling a team of 30 talented team members before the big production event. 

In her first year in the competition, Sebiya served as just a writer and actress. This year, she added producer and director to her film roles. Not only did she juggle several responsibilities, but she felt the odds were stacked against her. “We were going up against professional teams that produce big movies,” she said of the competition. 

However, she discovered some professional talent of her own. “It was amazing I got Tomm Dauenhauer… he was working on famous TV shows like American Idol.” Sebiya praised his dedication, sharing how Dauenhauer stayed until two in the morning the first competition night, even though he had a two hour commute home. 

Although she successfully assembled her team of 30, this wasn’t a guarantee until a week before the competition began. “One week away I was missing people and without them I couldn’t complete it… it’s a small town,” she explained. Furthermore, there aren’t any incentives to offer, just camaraderie and trying to create the best possible film as a team.

 “You have to make a movie on 0 budget,” Sebiya explained.  

At the start of the competition, teams draw a random genre amongst other story elements. Sebiya drew her team’s genre over zoom, as her team anxiously waited for the direction they would need to go. 

“We drew comedy… then [we] were on the way to the writing desk,” she said.

To manage her large team, Sebiya delegated responsibilities to different groups, and this also allowed for more creative freedom. “I wanted to not only bring people together but give them creative freedom so they can use all their potential… I think that worked perfectly,” Sebiya said. 

However, in the final hours of editing, problems escalated, with the sound suddenly being messed up.  “We submitted it five minutes before [the] deadline. It was very intense,” she shared. 

Other challenges included having to change the shooting location last minute due to an UNR tailgate, and the need to call on the help of her friend, Galina Ohanian, the director of the Golden Domes dance ensemble. Not only did Galina provide her house as an alternate location after the tailgate snafu, she came to the rescue with another important element- costumes.

“During our brainstorm at 11 p.m. I called and asked if we could use clown costumes [she had]. Her husband was a clown in Reno for 40 years and I had to confirm, as he’s passed,” Sebiya said. Galina didn’t hesitate- “She was wonderful and said of course, of course!” 

Sebiya is confident in their finished production titled, “Next Clown Up” ahead of the awards ceremony in a few days.  

 “I think we should do well, we created a very good movie, and I feel like it could get some awards but as a team we already won,” she said.

All in all, the friends she made along the way and the creative release during the decisive two days made the month and a half she spent planning for the competition all worth it.

“Networking is a big part of the experience. You learn from each other, it’s a lot of fun. It’s an amazing experience to let all this creativity out… you just kind of like go on autopilot, [and] some kind of switch flips in your head…maybe it’s like a connection with the gods,” Sebiya shared with a laugh.

“I Know What You See” is a longer term film she’s finishing up where again she’s wearing many hats as director, actress, and producer. Filmed in Reno, Sebiya said “it’s a drama with a very sensitive story about a mother and daughter’s relationship… [about] how far a parent is willing to go for their child out of love. It’s a deeply emotional story, and I think it will resonate with the audience in a very different way.”

Local businesses supported the project, such as Reno Rescue, and locations such as the UNR Medical School provided a set. The film is currently in post-production and will be featured in film festivals both domestic and abroad soon. 

When Sebiya first moved to Reno close to nine years ago from Uzbekistan, she says the film opportunities weren’t as abundant. 

“Recently everything started to change… Hollywood [has] started to come to Reno,”  she joked. For aspiring filmmakers, Sebiya named the High Sierra Writers Group as a good community film resource in Reno, in addition to competitions like the 48 Hour Film Project. 

To get into filmmaking, Sebiya recommends to “learn from anywhere and anyone” and to “never stop” in the pursuit of learning and production opportunities, and you never know what might happen. 

A short film she made last year “Rudy Where Are You”(poster above) ended up getting an honorable mention at the Influx Film Awards, and was played at festivals in California. Sebiya used this as an example of why you should be relentless in pursuit of opportunity.

 “It was just an experiment… but you see you never know,” she said of its success.   

Final awards for the 48 Hour Film Project will be given at the Galaxy Theaters Legends in Sparks on September 14th.  

“I’m so grateful for my team… I really want to highlight everyone… It’s amazing how people with all this passion under this time pressure can produce so much,” Sebiya concluded, considering the experience was already a win whatever the result.  

Our Town Reno reporting by Dan Mariani, September 2024

Runners of Reno: Omar Gomez, Can’t Stop Running, Won’t Stop Running

After being done with community college classes at TMCC for the day, many of them in science, 19-year-old Omar Gomez laces up his running shoes, sets his watch, and hits the road with a new personal record in mind.

“I’ve always done sports when I was younger, and cardio has always been a part of playing, but it wasn’t until this May that I started taking it seriously,” he said.

When Omar first started to get into running, people would always ask him what he was training for.

Jokingly, he would respond with “Life training.”

Now on day 53, Omar realizes this small challenge has blossomed into more than he originally planned.

“This July I wanted to challenge myself, so every day I have tried to run, walk, or hike, and that has helped me to keep going,” he said.

Gomez is now preparing for his first-ever competitive race, as he will be competing in a 10-mile run this Sunday — the ‘Reno 10 Miler And Relay’ hosted by the Reno Running Company.

After this race, Omar hopes it will help prepare him for his next big goal, competing in the half marathon portion of the ‘Rock Reno Half Marathon, Relay & 5K’ on October 6th.

“I love to perform, but I am excited to complete it no matter what. I would love to complete it between an hour, and an hour and a half. If I have to push my limits to reach that goal I will, but my mindset will mainly be to pace myself,” he said.

Omar confesses that his mindset wasn’t always to pace himself.

“When I first started running, my mindset was to distract myself to channel my energy or anger, but now I would say it has become more of a love,” he said.

Reporting and photo by Matthew Means

Julia Flippo, a Reno Artist Regaining Control of Bunnies

Julia Flippo, 29, is a local artist who has been compiling a collection of her own renditions of various Playboy “bunnies.”

Whether they be rough sketches, stitch work, or detailed drawings and paintings, she has been churning out these bunnies for several years with the goal of bringing them all together for an eventual exhibit.

Each one of her bunnies is meant to depict an alternate perspective from those we are used to in Hugh Hefner’s iconic magazine. Flippo grants the control back to the women

Flippo wants her bunnies to “betray” their viewers and make them “uncomfortable” forcing them to rethink the ways in which they perceive women and their bodies.

She does this by highlighting the particular “desperation or sadness” in the bunnies she designs.

She’ll also exaggerate certain features of the women, often times their hands, adding an element of bodily horror to her work to further defy the perception of women as “objects of desire.”

On once having a pet bunny rabbit, Flippo says, “They’re not proper for the designation that we want them to be in. They’re skittish and they’re afraid, and while they’re so fluffy and cute, they’ll just poop anywhere.”

Meanwhile, the real-life Playboy Bunnies (who were also often referred to as pets) appear trapped into this role as display pieces.

Eventually, the bunnies will all be together as part of a larger exhibition. Until then, Flippo will continue to expand her ever-growing collection with her harsh, yet playful, defiance towards the sexualization and objectifications of women.

Our Town Reno reporting and photos by Cody Courtois

Food Truck Friday, the quintessential summer outing in Reno, Perseveres Despite Inflation Challenges

It’s been an up and down cycle for food truck vendors who saw huge popularity growth in recent years, but then inflationary pressures on them and their customers have created difficulties this summer.

Reporters Aimee Arellano-Adame, Camille Flye, Derek Raridon and Tony Yun look at the local cycle of food trucks through the popular arc of Food Truck Fridays.

Fifteen years ago, there were only a half a dozen food trucks dishing up food on a daily basis in northern Nevada, and incentives were meager to do so.

In 2011, Steve Schroder, an events manager and business marketer at the time, was hired by a company who had recently purchased a food truck. When that company was handed their ordinance from the city on how they could utilize the truck, it found that the ordinance was very restrictive. The company wound up scraping the idea of bringing their food out to the public due to this.

Through all of this turmoil, though, a light was sparked in Schroder, who now had the idea to bring a food truck culture like those in Portland, San Antonio and the Bay Area to the city of Reno. In that journey, Schroder said he had three goals in mind: to give locals a place to hang out on a Friday night, to make a place for families to have fun with their friends and to grow the food truck industry in Reno as a whole.

Schroder, now the owner of Reno Street Eats, has grown the food truck population from six trucks to over 200 and organizes over 8,000 people coming down to Idlewild Park every Friday during the summer to eat together, sit down, relax, and enjoy music, while vendors make money and offer delicious specialties.

“I’m just grateful this is happening,” Schroder said. “I love doing this every Friday, and I love seeing friends and family smiling and eating food. Food can transcend language, culture and religion. You see somebody with food and you ask them ‘where did you get that?’ It can turn into sitting together and having a conversation that you would never have before,” he said.

It’s a summer institution now in Reno, but Schroeder’s preparation for the festivities actually begin in January when the application to participate as a vendor becomes available for 30 days. In mid- February, he then files through the applicants to find the fifty best food trucks that offer the greatest variety of options. This year, one hundred food trucks applied, forcing competitors to prove their worth.

By March, they send out agreements, while April and May are dedicated to collaboration with REMSA, Reno PD, Washoe County Health and ten other city organizations to get the necessary permissions to run the event. Finally, after six months, Steve and his team see the fruits of their labor in June, as they begin to run Food Truck Friday from then until the end of August.

Weekly maintenance is required as well. The fifty food trucks require guidance on where to go, and at what time. To do this, Steve has a miniature model of Idlewild park which he uses to organize the food trucks for the week. Every Friday, his team goes out at 1 p.m. to mark all the spots with chalk, and within a couple hours, the designated food trucks will be in their proper places getting ready to serve the attendees for the evening.

Unlike most large-scale events, which typically last two days, Food Truck Friday operates on a nine-hour time frame. Despite the crunch, each week, they create a consistently well-run experience for Reno locals to enjoy every Friday every summer.

Challenges now also include rampant inflation, both for the vendors and customers.

Since the pandemic began, eateries have felt pressure to adapt to an evolving dining culture while food prices continue to climb, including at Food Truck Friday.

Vendors have had to get creative and persevere, and consumers have had to pick and choose more carefully where they want to spend their money.

“We’re trying to accommodate to the public and everybody the best way we can,” Kim Daniels, the owner of the Bone Appetit Shrimp said. “It’s a balance, you know, it’s very difficult with the price of goods and all that, but we’re making it work.”

Daniels said that her shrimp skewers priced at $20 a pop still sell through the roof every Friday. Due to sell-out successes such as this, Daniels says that they’re able to mitigate the prices of other menu items by running different specials, such as their $5 meal deal which includes a pulled pork slider and a drink, or their $25 meat lovers’ combo.

When asked how she felt about the increase in menu prices possibly resulting in fewer customers supporting her business, Daniels didn’t seem too troubled.

“People eat no matter what, that’s what we’ve discovered,” she said. “So, you know, whenever people complain about the prices, I challenge you to go to the grocery store and cook a meal and you’ll see that we’re right in line with everybody else.”

Throughout its 13 years of operation, Food Truck Fridays have become synonymous with the Reno community, both in the event itself and the vendors that attend. A vendor one might recognize at Food Truck Friday is “Crazy D’s”, locally owned by Daniil Fedunov. There are currently three locations scattered across the city, with two more on the way soon.

Fedunov opened the local chicken restaurant right before the COVID pandemic. While the shutdown might have caused some rethinking of business strategies, it did not stop the growth of the business as a whole.

Fedunov has been a part of Food Truck Friday for the last two summers. He says being involved in this type of event allows the franchise to become more known by the community and also allows them to have more exposure to individuals that might not go out of their way to stop by one of their current locations.

A regular attendee of Food Truck Friday is Tonya Flores, a Reno resident for over 10 years. She said that the weekly event is one of her favorite summer activities to partake in, as she loves to head down to Idlewild on Fridays with her family and try food from new places.

Although prices have seen an increase as of late and the lines are still long, Flores doesn’t mind either of the inconveniences, she says “usually if it’s long it will attract me, it must be that good if there’s a huge line”. She usually will order smaller things from the vendors she finds interesting and share it with her family, enjoying the time with her kids while being able to try all of the places that pique her taste buds.

Reporting by Aimee Arellano-Adame, Camille Flye, Derek Raridon and Tony Yun shared with Our Town Reno

Katarina Jackson, A Local Entrepreneur and Super Mom on the Go

With two kids and two businesses she owns and runs, Katarina Jackson, who came to Reno to study psychology at UNR in 2013, is seemingly always on the go.

"I've been here since 2013, so this is really home now. I love Reno.

Personally, I've lived in a lot of different places, but it's very diverse here. And there's a lot of things to do. Proximity to Tahoe, you can't really beat. We were just in Carson earlier today.

It's really easy to get from one place to another.

I own Lullaby Nursery out in Cold Springs, a preschool child care center.

And then I also own Paint Nevada, which is an arts and crafts studio towards North McCarran.

Once I had kids, I really wanted to be able to still make money and support my kiddos, while being with them.

I've also just generally always worked with children, so I knew that I would end up working with kids in one way or another. And that's my general main goal for the future is just to keep creating safe places for children, that's what I'm really passionate about.

With running a business, everything is just getting so expensive. I think that’s everybody’s challenge at this point. So, two businesses, two kids. It’s a lot at times, but we get through it.”

Photo and interview by Isaac Cancoby shared with Our Town Reno

Will Paris Be Special for Our Very Own Perris?

Another local 2024 Olympian will be Perris Benegas who got her start in freestyle BMX growing up in Reno and riding with her older brother Tyler and friends.

The 28-year-old Reed High alum finished 4th in the sport's Olympic debut at the most recent Tokyo games and recently qualified to get another shot for an Olympic medal.

Benegas got a score of 91.92 points, finishing second in the Women’s BMX Freestyle Final at an Olympic Qualifier Series event in Budapest in June, just behind now U.S. Olympic teammate Hannah Roberts.

Her qualification marked one year to the day after she got operated on her torn ACL, capping a remarkable recovery.

“I woke up and it was the most excruciating pain I’ve ever been in. I asked to go back to the hospital because I couldn’t control the pain. I had no idea where I’d be a year from now,” Perris said of the initial stages of her difficult comeback.

“Every day was a hurdle and hard work. I couldn’t have done it without the support of my girlfriend and close friends and family. It takes a village and I didn’t get here on my own. I’m pretty emotional. I’m so grateful. It’s an amazing opportunity. This is a huge one and I can’t wait.”

Perris got her first name after Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry, and could give it new meaning in the French capital soon.

Women’s qualifying in BMX freestyle begins July 30th, with the final the next day at the iconic La Concorde venue.

Our Town Reno reporting, July 2024

Who is ShotbyTrevor?

When Trevor Castillo, now 21, was about seven or eight years old, his grandparents bought him a Cannon point and shoot camera. This was his first time experimenting with a creative medium and he became overjoyed with photographing anything and everything he could. His passion even led to him showcasing his work in art competitions at his elementary school. 

As Trevor grew older, so did his love for photography, evolving alongside new technology at his fingertips. With the gift of his first smartphone, he frequently experimented with different angles and compositions which led him to taking landscape photos. He also taught himself how to use different editing techniques to further enhance his work. “I made super bad over saturated photos for a while,” Trevor reminisces with a laugh. 

Through this period of exploration and learning, a friend took notice of his love for photography and recommended that he meet the photography teacher at their school. His friend, already in the class, encouraged him to enroll during his second year of high school. Embracing the opportunity, Trevor enrolled, marking the beginning of a journey that would shape his future in profound ways.

Guided by the wisdom and mentorship of his teacher, Trevor took the leap into buying his first  DSLR camera for his photography, finding solace and expression in the art of portraiture. "I think that was kind of my first creative outlet that I had because I've never been able to draw or play music…" reflects Trevor, acknowledging the significance of photography in shaping his identity and channeling his creativity.

For years, portraits remained Trevor's specialty, each frame evolving his skills and artistic visions. However, it wasn't until 2022 that his journey took an unexpected turn, throwing him into the heart of Reno's music scene.

It all began with a simple inquiry from a local music artist seeking a photographer for an upcoming concert. Despite having never experienced a local show before, Trevor seized the opportunity and found himself at The Holland Project, a local venue located in Midtown. 

A photo of Noah Linker at the Holland Project.

“That made me feel really cool and I really enjoyed taking the photos, even though it really wasn’t a show that I would go to normally” says Trevor after the music artist graciously thanked him for his photos. 

Intrigued by the music community and the joy of capturing moments in time, Trevor found himself drawn back to The Holland Project, this time not just as a photographer, but as a volunteer eager to immerse himself in new experiences that would help him improve and adapt his skills. 

For the next three months, Trevor frequented The Holland Project, attending every single show the venue announced. Armed with his camera and fueled by his passion for music and photography, he captured memories and moments unfolding on stage.

As Trevor's presence at The Holland Project became recurrent, he began to form deeper connections with the local music community, befriending musicians and bands who sought his creative eye. What started as a simple inquiry from a music artist blossomed into a symbiotic relationship, with Trevor becoming an integral part of Reno's vibrant music scene.

Through the friendships he made he gained new opportunities to travel outside of Reno and explore other music scenes, bands, and experiences. He toured with the local band, Charity Kiss, as well as others and took photos that would help launch him into another new opportunity, photographing music festivals. 

Photos of Charity Kiss.

“Getting to travel for it is really cool and getting to tour and meet other people and other photographers in other scenes is just…it's an awesome time and something I’ve really enjoyed doing these past couple of years” Trevor says. 

His journey reached a pivotal moment in May of 2023, when he attended his first music festival as a photographer. Entranced by the environment and sounds, Trevor knew he had found his calling. Eager to continue his newfound pursuit, he set his sights on photographing more festivals, beginning with Sacramento's Aftershock.

“I figured that one was close enough. It was an easy drive” says Trevor as he immediately began looking for smaller music artists he could photograph in the small fonts that were posted in Aftershock flyers. He first read over the names, in search for one that sounded familiar when he stumbled upon a band from Colorado named Fox Lake. 

Surf Curse band.

He enjoyed listening to their music and had discovered them only a few months prior. Motivated to fulfill his goal of photographing another music festival he found their Instagram and sent them a direct message asking if they needed a photographer for their upcoming gig. Sure enough, they did, and Trevor drove two hours to Sacramento to get his “artists pass.” This pass would give him access to the smaller stages at Aftershock as well as the opportunity to photograph multiple live bands. However, he wondered if his pass could get him into the bigger photo pits. 

“I felt like I was going to try to push those boundaries a little bit” he said as he anxiously tried to think of a way to convince security to let him in. His main concern was having to push past thousands of people waiting to see bigger bands in order to get to the very front. However, Trevor got lucky and with only ten minutes until showtime he found a spot next to the barrier and waited there. Security saw his artists pass and allowed him to enter the designated media area. 

Photos of local clothing entrepreneur Bella McMinn.

There, he got to work alongside other experienced photographers and capture breathtaking moments only ten ft away from some of his favorite bands. One of those bands being Turnstile. He was grateful that his luck allowed him to push the boundaries of his media pass and gave him the opportunity to expand on his skills. Trevor says that’s what you have to do, push the limits and chase after your aspirations. 

When he first started sharing his work with the community he created the Instagram username, shotbytrevor which was inspired by his friend who was also a photographer at the time. He says the social media account initially started as a way to post his pictures and tag them for potential clients to see. “It’s something that’s sort of turned into a brand” Trevor says with a shocked expression.

He never would have imagined that his username would become a title of recognition around Reno. Trevor says that people may not know him directly, but once someone mentions his Instagram handle, it sparks recognition in the community because so many people are familiar with his hard work. 

“I think it’s really cool that people can recognize my work outside of recognizing me,” Trevor says. He says that Reno has been a real home to him. It has fostered him throughout his passion and allowed him to grow into the photographer he is today. While many people are eager to leave Reno in pursuit of bigger cities such as New York, or Los Angeles, to help grow their art, Trevor says that he is more than happy to stay in the Biggest Little City.

Dog Dog

This is because Trevor believes that there is a lot of untapped creativity in the local community. He says that there is an abundance of creative and talented people who, if they worked together, could eventually put Reno on the map as a space that can produce incredible music, photos, digital art, really any creative medium you can think of.

Reno has significantly influenced his creativity because of the unique art style the city holds. “There’s no pressure and there’s no real style to where we’re at” Trevor says. He further explains how you can tell if an art piece is from Los Angeles or a bigger art city but Reno is far more eccentric. Trevor says that a lot of people in Reno do their own thing. Meaning they create art that’s individual to them leading to an undefined art style in the community. Therefore allowing a breath of fresh air for anyone seeking inspiration for new and creative masterpieces.

Trevor’s photos can be different from others but still appreciated for that very reason. When he first began his photography journey he didn’t pull a certain influence or style from anyone around him. He experimented and created until he found a style unique to him and his visions.

Trevor has also started more and more work in video, including working on music videos for Worm Shot, helping produce a vibrant pink-themed video for the band’s new hit song, “Dream Girl.”

He expresses that videography is very different from photography but nonetheless he wanted to give it a try.

It’s been a super big transition from photos to film Trevor shares, but he says teaming up with talented and experienced people certainly helped. 

As far as other local bands go, Trevor says he owes a big thanks to Charity Kiss for being some of his first real friends in the band scene as well as Wyatt Ziegler from the band, Dog Dog, who is also an audio engineer. “We’re not in it for the money, but for the passion of it” Trevor says. Which is why Trevor is happy to be a part of Free The Youth. A D.I.Y. music collective that aims to give smaller music artists a chance at sharing their talent to the world. 

Behind the scenes of a Worm Shot music video.

The collective originally started in California. Specifically in Santa Cruz and Los Angeles but it reached Trevor’s radar about two years ago. He met the guys who ran it because they had booked a show for Charity Kiss. Trevor was intrigued and said that he really liked what they stood for as well as their D.I.Y. approach to music as a whole. He started collaborating with them and began making “tiny desk concerts.” 

Essentially, videos of live music in places you wouldn’t typically expect to see a band perform. This gave viewers and fans a more intimate one on one experience with the band they were viewing. However, Trevor eventually grew bored of this idea and pitched something new and refreshing. He talked to the band Mom Cars, who agreed to play music on the side of the highway. Initially Trevor wasn’t sure if this idea would pan out, but he says it came out a million times better than anyone could have ever imagined. 

He shares this story with pride as he is happy to help Free The Youth’s mission statement of helping small bands, such as Mom Cars, with 20.9k monthly listeners on Spotify and 59.8k followers on Instagram, share their music and personalities with new people and music scenes. 

Trevor encourages anyone who is curious or interested in getting involved in the photography scene to just do it. Go shoot pictures and videos of anything and everything. Bring any camera you have access to, whether that’s your phone camera, a disposable camera or a more professional one, and have fun. He also says that local shows are a great place to adapt your skills. Just remember to be respectful of the band that's playing and the people that are there.

When immersing yourself in local shows Trevor also recommends talking to the people around you. Approach other’s with a camera and ask for advice. Really take advantage of the resources the biggest little city has to offer. “It’s a very welcoming community, I've found out. Even though it seems a little intimidating and standoffish, I promise it’s not” says Trevor who shares that the community is always welcoming new people who want to create the same art that they do.

Reporting by Saurabh Chawla with writing by Lauren Juillerat and photos by Trevor Castillo

Danny Lopez, Documenting Reno's Emerging Musicians with his Camera

At just 19, Daniel Lopez is already creating buzz in the world of photography, but his journey into this art form began long before he even realized it. Born and raised in Reno, Daniel's passion for capturing moments started at a young age, nurtured by the influence of his father and surrounded by the creative energy of his relatives.

Growing up, Daniel remembers his father with a camera bag slung over his shoulder, ready to capture important family memories. This constant exposure to photography instilled in Daniel a deep appreciation for photos and sparked his curiosity to explore it further. 

It wasn't until high school, however, that Daniel took his first step into photography. Encouraged by a photo class offered at his school, he decided to give it a try. To his surprise he enjoyed the class far more than he had anticipated and when his aunt gave him a red Nikon D5300 camera, he took the opportunity to pursue his newfound love.

Daniel found inspiration in one of his favorite films, Spider-Man 2, whenever he lost his spark. “I grew up watching Spider-Man and I just loved seeing Peter Parker take pictures as a kid,” Daniel says.

He’s now also started videography. While he acknowledges that photography and video work are very different mediums, he can’t help but combine the two when it comes to his innovative ideas. “I just like movies, where if you pause it at any moment, it’s still a beautiful frame” similar to a photo, says Daniel.

He says that movies such as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse motivate him as well. “With Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, I know for a fact that, the creators of that film mentioned that, oh if you pause the movie at any frame it will look like a comic book panel, and I just always found that so inspirational,” Daniel says.

A breakthrough for him and his creative work happened when he got an in into the Reno band scene through a close highs chool friend, Nico Villalobos, the bassist in the local band Faded Shawties.

Through Nico he heard about the show Silly Fest, which was a free event that was hosted at West Street Market in September of 2023.

This show was his very first, and Daniel brought along his beloved red camera and decided to give live music photography a shot. With an assignment due in a couple of days for his photography class, this event provided the perfect atmosphere to try out his skills.

“It was very fun, and I think it inspired me because at the time, I was taking a break from music as well…I never really found my stepping in music, so when I went to Silly Fest it just brought something out of me,” Daniel says. 

He says that in both worlds, music and photography, this event reignited his passion for capturing candid moments. After taking a lot of photos, and being shocked at just how much he enjoyed it, he decided that the Reno music scene would become something he’d capture more frequently. 

One challenge when it comes to documenting the live music scene is lighting.

“I don’t take a lot of photos with my flash on, because I don’t like to disturb the artist that's playing at the time. I try to stand still and take those pictures” says Daniel.

Despite these challenges, Daniel says that live music photography is one of his favorite mediums. “I always like the look of candid photos, that’s where I get a lot of my candid photos from,” he says. 

Daniel also believes that candid photos are more interesting to look at. They capture the vibrant moment in a way that is almost as vivid as the experience itself. He also says that people love pictures of themselves, friends, or surroundings so it brings forth a positive community as well as positive feedback when he posts his photos online. 

His absolute favorite location in terms of venues is West Street Market. When it comes to his favorite collection of images, he makes reference to The Holland Project’s 2023 Halloween show. 

Daniel had recently bought a 35 mm lens at the time of the festive event, which he claimed truly lent life to the genuine moments he captured on film. Although he has not yet published these photos, he intends to edit and do so in the future.

Daniel says one aspect he likes to bring to his photos is the saturation of hues and colors. He says that he alway tries to add more life to his photos which help differentiate his style from others. “That’s a big part for me. I always try to differentiate my photos from other photographers…especially recently, because there are more photographers in the scene I’ve noticed,” Daniel says. 

With most of the shows in the music scene being later at night, Daniel says he prefers to edit his photos immediately after the event while the adrenaline and music are still vivid in his mind.

A normal night of work for Daniel typically spans from 8:30 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. “I want to get the photos done now. So I’ll sit at my desk until like four in the morning and edit them. Then I'll have the google doc done and everything and then I can sleep. I fall asleep at my desk sometimes,” Daniel says with a laugh.

After he’s done he sends his work to the bands he photographed before he falls asleep. He also posts his work on his Instagram account aethenee.

Daniel says that he is very grateful for the audience he has built up so far on his Instagram photography account. He also appreciates the support and welcoming nature of the Reno music scene.

He says this support is especially meaningful because there are times where he lets his inner critic get the best of him. “Any artist can relate to this. It doesn’t matter if you take photos, make music, or you draw, you are your worst critic. You're always going to see the flaws in the photos you take. Someone might say, ‘oh this is one of the best photos I’ve ever seen in my entire life!’ and you can see the little flaws,” Daniel says.

Despite this challenge, he says that he owes a thank you to the local scene for allowing him to step out of his comfort zone. He encourages anyone who is interested in the local Reno scene to get involved. No matter what gear you have, just go for it, he says.

Daniel says that he has seen people take photos with old film cameras, point and shoots, phone cameras and more. As far as his own future, Lopez hopes to keep taking pictures of those around him, bringing their stories, experiences, and music to life as Reno’s friendly local concert photographer. 

Our Town Reno reporting by Lauren Juillerat

The Growth of Charity Kiss, Still Reno-Based and Recommitting to the Dream

It’s been two years since Our Town Reno met with Charity Kiss to learn about their music, their story, and their perspectives on the Reno music scene.

Since then a lot has changed. Nate Drum, Charity Kiss’s drummer and Patrick Hansen, the bands vocalist and rhythm guitarist, spoke to music reporter, Lauren Juillerat, about the differences two years make.

Charity Kiss first formed in 2021 and by 2022 was composed of five members: Hansen, Noah Linker, Drum, Cole Hendriks, and Wyatt Ziegler. Since then, Patrick Hansen and Nate Drum recruited Cooper Conway as a bassist and welcomed back Cole Hendriks as their lead guitarist. Hendriks had been pursuing an education in Montreal, having Ziegler fill in for him during his absences. James Pizzo from the local band, Flamingos In The Tree had also filled in for Hendriks when needed. 

With Hendriks back from college, Ziegler left Charity Kiss to pursue his own band called Dog Dog. Meanwhile, Linker said his goodbyes as he left to follow his own passions. The band now faced a new challenge. Readapting to Hendriks return and dedicating time to teach Conway songs they’d been creating and performing for years.

Hansen and Drum had known Conway since high school but it wasn’t until they saw him perform with his band, Spiteful Mourning, that they approached him with an offer to join their band. Significant amounts of time were dedicated to teaching Conway their melodies and with his fast learning, and the other three’s patience and commitment, Charity Kiss was reborn.

From there, Hendriks, Hansen, Drum, and Conway began creating new music. When reflecting on their progress, Drum says that they have significantly developed their songwriting process. “Before it was a lot faster, kinda. I feel like we spend more time on each song now.” regarding song structures and dynamics, Drum says. 

Hansen agreed saying that prior to 2022 they would write songs and think they were good but now they aim on being more deliberate with their music. “In the past we thought our ideas were good but now we want them to be great,” says Hansen.

A huge contribution to their faster songwriting process in the beginning was credited to the fear of being known as a cover band. They eagerly wanted some original songs to showcase their talent and creative minds. So, writing songs became a frequent practice and covers soon dwindled out of the band's set lists. Eventually songwriting became easier than recording and distributing their songs onto streaming platforms. “We didn’t have a studio, we didn’t have anybody. It was like Noah and Wyatt for a bit, it was just like circumstantial recording,” Hansen said. 

Photo with permission to use from Madison Taylor Photography.

With time they did find an audio engineer and Drum and Hansen shared some fun memories from some of their more recent recording adventures. From their 2023 album, Victor Riley’s a Coward, one of their songs, Destination Double Bridge, features the sound of a dog barking during one of the “la, la, la, la” sequences in the song. 

“We all got in a big circle, we got our recording engineer’s mom, and girlfriend, and all that, all in one circle while we’re yelling ‘la, la, la’s’ and the dog did not enjoy that” Hansen says. Whether Cane, the dog that often hung out around the studio, disliked the singing or simply wanted to join in on it, will never be clear.

However it is clear that the barks only added to the depth of the song. Bringing forth a more collage like sound that encapsulates the listener in a world of nostalgia. The album, Victor Riley’s a Coward, was actually recorded in a matter of three days Hansen shares. The band had been on a big tour but regardless, they pushed through and recorded every song in just 72 hours. 

You would think that after a big tour and three days of nonstop recording that Charity Kiss would take a break. However, you'd be very wrong. The four men jumped straight into a new gig after just barely finishing their new album. 

Touring has become an important part of the band’s life. In the beginning of their touring, the band would often go over the hill to San Francisco or Sacramento. Since then, they have started touring for extended periods of time, making Costco their go to spot on the road, where they typically eat two to three meals a day. 

In the fall of 2023, they embarked on a multi-state tour of the Pacific Northwest that included five cities in California, four cities in Oregon, as well as Boise, Idaho and Salt Lake City, Utah. “It started off with quick runs through California. Now, the last one we did was 20 something days and it was through five states,” Hansen says. 

Just recently Charity Kiss performed three shows in Oregon and Washington April 19th-21st which have become beloved touring spots. Drum says that Davis, California, has become one of his favorite places to perform because of the crowd's vibrant energy. Whereas Hansen has found a fond place in his heart for Vista, California. This is owed to the memorable venue Charity Kiss played at. A cliffside stage that overlooked the mesmerizing orange, pink, and yellow hues of the sun setting against the iconic desert rock music Charity Kiss plays so well.

A recent favorite has been the city of Corvallis, Oregon. Hansen says that when he feels discouraged or loses motivation he reminds himself and the other members of their dream; an important reminder that they are actively pursuing their passions. “This past weekend when we were in Oregon, we had people show up to that show and say they remembered us from last time, and wanted to see us again,” says Drum with a smile. 

Being in a band that is constantly touring, creating, recording, and performing music is no easy task. Burnout can be inevitable. “Re-committing to the dream, it’s a lot,” says Hansen. However Hansen, Drum, Conway, and Hendriks could not be more grateful to pursue their passions and be so welcomed by other music scenes across the United States. “Understanding that, at least for me, that this is the dream. We are currently living the dream,” Hansen says with a grateful smile. 

Drum and Hansen shared how surreal it was to hear people singing their lyrics and packing out venues just to see them perform a couple weekends ago in Oregon.

“It’s hard to measure if you've done anything, but to have people show up and be like ‘yes you have,’ and to be so excited to see us…I mean that’s a really big achievement,” says Hansen.

The last two years have certainly yielded big changes for the band. From new members, to new opportunities, tours, and new music, lifestyle changes have also been a huge challenge as well. Especially for Hansen who recently got married and had his first child. “So that I think really changed my commitment to it. It’s put a lot more pressure on me, but it's also made the payoff more rewarding,” Hansen says. 

Hansen now has to balance his family life with his work life and music life. It can be very time consuming and adapting to these changes hasn’t been easy. “I’m sacrificing time with my family and honestly a better life you know? Because I take jobs so I can play music. They don’t pay the best so that’s rough but I’d say that’s been a drastic change,” Hansen says. Despite how difficult all of these things can be on their own, let alone together, Hansen smiles throughout. A sense of pride and gratefulness is definitely present with the hard working father, husband, vocalist, and rhythm guitarist. 

With new changes comes growth. The band feels that their understanding of the music world has changed a lot since their start nearly three years ago. Drum says that initially they went about music from a more innocent point of view. They had thought if you were good at what you did, that’s all you’d need but that unfortunately was not the case.

After years of experience, as well as trial and error, they realized a few crucial points that make all the difference in the music world. Touring taught them the ideal venue spots allowing them to reach more fans and new listeners. “What I really love is the West Coast. I feel like we understand what the happening spots are. So now we know, oh we're trying to get into so and so; whereas before I was like, Google maps, live music, and then we’d get a weird ass bar,” Hansen says. 

Another crucial point Charity Kiss emphasizes is being persistent with your passions. Hansen recalls people thinking that there was some sort of magic trick to the band getting gigs at venues in the Sacramento area. In reality, Hansen had to send over 40 emails just to get one response back.

While the band tours constantly, they stay based in Reno, Nevada. Two years ago past Charity Kiss members Noah Linker and Wyatt Ziegler expressed their hopes to relocate to Los Angeles, California, expressing that the Reno music scene was too small and they wanted to reach more people.

Upon asking Drum and Hansen if they too think Reno is too small to thrive in, they disagreed with the past statement saying, “I would say the idea of moving for success is overrated and outdated. Especially with social media,” said Hansen. 

It appears that Charity Kiss isn’t planning on relocating from the Biggest Little City anytime soon. Hansen shares how shocked he is at how big the Reno music has become in just a few years. Hansen and Drum started playing music in high school and can only recall a handful of bands that were active in the scene back then, whereas now it’s hard to keep track of how many new bands are being created.

To those hoping to form a band, or to those already in a newer band, Drum and Hansen recommend playing any shows you can, which has become much easier to do in the Reno music scene. There are currently more than a half a dozen local venues offering places for bands to play, including The Holland Project, West Street Market, Cypress, Fort Ralston, The Empire, Station 9, The Cellar Stage, Pignic Pub & Patio and The Bluebird. “Don’t limit your experience. Don’t let your fears or doubts limit where you play, how you play or what you play,” says Hansen.

While Charity Kiss loves a variety of cities all across the United States they still say that Reno has been one of their favorites. Hansen says Reno was his preferred scene back when they were super active in it. “The Reno scene, we have toured all over, a lot of these bands and I think a lot of people in Reno shit talk Reno. But Reno’s badass. It is in the perfect place to start a band,” Hansen says. 

This is because the city is so close to other popular music spots, such as Utah, Colorado, Arizona, Sacramento and San Francisco. “You’re in a central spot for the West Coast. There’s great D.I.Y. venues. The Reno music scene is about to explode I think,” Hansen says. 

Our Town Reno reporting by Lauren Juillerat

An Authentic Taste of Balanced and Savory Korean Cuisine in Sparks

The unctuous aroma of rich broths fills the air and sizzling rice crackles in stone bowls at Step Korean Bistro in Sparks on McCarran Blvd.

“I really want to introduce Korean food to the local people,” said owner Jeonju Lee better known as Jay Jay. “Korean food is a good balance of everything.”

Reno has many greasy, cheap, and lackluster-tasting Asian options. Step Korean Bistro offers the exact opposite, delivering authentic and delicious home-cooked meals that don’t sacrifice quality or integrity.

“I was twenty years old when I started learning cooking skills in a Korean casual restaurant,” Lee, a native of South Korea, says. “Then I went into the army and that’s when I really wanted to learn more professional things about food.”

Lee went to a culinary school in South Korea, focusing on French techniques. Even though he was learning to cook in Western ways, his love for Korean cuisine remained.

“I usually worked at non-Korean restaurants but in my mind, I always knew I wanted to cook Korean food,” says Lee. “So when I had time, I tried a lot of Korean dishes and tried to make them myself.”

Lee then continued to work as a chef in hotels and restaurants, in both Korea and America.

In 2016, Lee opened his first offering of Korean food to Reno, with Bab Cafe located in the city’s downtown.

“When I opened Bab Cafe I realized a lot of local people didn’t know that much about Korean food but I kept explaining and selling it,” said Lee. “Then when they tried it, they really liked it.”

Bab Cafe focuses primarily on the classic Korean dish of Bibimbap, which translates to mixing rice. Vegetables, meats, and sauces are served on top of warm rice.

With the success of Bab, Lee had now opened up Reno’s taste buds to more Korean food. He wanted to further this, knowing his next business venture had to be different.

“A lot of people are moving here from California and the population is going up, so now these people already know Korean food,” Lee explains. “I knew this time I had to open a more traditional restaurant.”

“Step specializes in JJIM (dishes made by steaming or boiling meat, chicken, fish, or shellfish which have been marinated in a sauce or soup) which encompasses both stews and braised meats, featuring a diverse range of popular Korean dishes,” explains a sign inside the restaurant.

Step Korean Bistro has only been open for about several months now but is quickly finding its footing.

“We’ve had a good amount of business come through. It was very slow at first because not many people know that we’re open,” employee Lydia Doan said at the time of this reporting. “Technically we haven’t done a lot of advertising yet nor have we done a true grand opening with a grand opening sign outside. But as word of mouth has been spreading, we’ve slowly been getting busier and busier.”

Doan said they look at Yelp and Google reviews closely, and take any complaints or suggestions they receive seriously, all the while remaining true to their mission.

“We do want to become a staple for Korean food here since the things that have been popping up are more fusion and less traditional. We definitely want to bring those traditional flavors from Korea,” Doan explains.

Reporting by Elijah Dulay for Reynolds on the Record shared with Our Town Reno