The Biggest Little City In The World

Reno, Nevada... When I first found out that this was going to be my first work assignment, I couldn't help but think about the Reno 911 inappropriately dressed police officers sporting aviator sunglasses, mustaches, and excessively short trousers. Yup... this is where I'd be living for the next 7 weeks.

Reno's population is roughly 220,000 and there is a saying that, "Reno is so close to hell, you can see sparks." Not far from the truth since there is another small city called Sparks, NV that is just 3 miles east of Reno and lives up to it's hellish connotation.

Reno's downtown sports the architecture and design of 1970s casinos that are packed full of welfare check gamblers, senior citizens burning the last of their social security checks, and failed Vegas dancers trying to keep any hint of limelight they can. This small 6- block area of downtown Reno are also strewn about with the washed up filth of social disgraces, crack whores, and wanna-be hipsters that are attempting to be like their San Francisco and Portland counterparts.

But there's Lake Tahoe, right? Indeed, but it's suffice to say that the only good part about Lake Tahoe is shared with California. It's about a 45 minute drive from downtown Reno to Lake Tahoe and despite Lake Tahoe being a world class resort, the better skiing is still on the California side. Call me a Colorado snob, but I grew up skiing on the back bowls of Breckenridge, bombing down runs at Keystone, and skiing pow at A-Basin. Nothing quite compares to the light fluffiness and utter elation that Colorado powder brings.

It's like Reno is the bastard child of a California/Nevada/Colorado threesome, but no one really knows who this kid is supposed to belong to! It's trying to be a big city, gambling town, and ski resort all rolled into one cohesive package and failing miserably.

Reno's motto is "The Biggest Little City In The World." I think that it should be changed to, "The Little City That Never Was."

Nice try, Reno. Nice try.