Choose your own adventure with one of our Artown avatars.

There are about 1,300 Artown events throughout the 31 days of July. We’ve chosen 10 each for five different types of people, thinking you might relate to one of them and therefore not miss out on something tailor-made for you. They’re not listed in chronological order and not ranked. You may notice there are some glaring omissions. That’s because we figure nearly everyone will enjoy something at the following events: Artown’s opening and closing nights, Food for the Soul, Rollin’ on the River, Dancing in the Park, and Movies in the Park. So you’ll still need that Little Book of Artown floating around town now through July for a complete listing of events. But this should get you headed in the right direction.

MEET IAN.

He’s 17-years old and on the lookout for all-ages things to do. But Reno’s attempts at entertaining anyone younger than, say, 40, tend to fall flat for him. He wishes the bands that go to and from Portland would stop in Reno more often. He wishes the bands he does want to see here weren’t stowed away in 21-and-over bars. He wants to be excited by something, but Rush and Michael Buble just aren’t going to cut it for him. Me might not admit it, but he cares about his community, his friends, and making things better. He’s looking for new ideas, new inspiration; something fearless and fresh and wryly funny without being too full of itself. He thinks Artown is all right. He hardly remembers a summer without it. What the hell? Might as well check something out.

Ian’s top 10 things to do at Artown

1) Teen art shows. There are quite a few in July. From the 5th Annual Future Artist Competition for grades K-12 at the Circus Circus, to Spanish Springs Library’s Teen Art Contest “Metamorphosis.” Political art by students from Washoe and Rainshadow charter high schools is also showing in the First United Methodist Church downtown all month.

2) Fleischmann’s Planetarium is projecting Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon, in full-color animation onto its dome at 8 p.m. every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

3) Artown After Dark Series. These all-ages performances of popular local bands like The Saddle Tramps, Keyser Soze, Element, Who Cares, Kate Cotter and Seth Horan take place every Friday from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at Fitzgerald’s casino.

4) The Great Basin Film Society screens films that are a little bizarre or old or foreign or artsy or all of the above at Studio on 4th every Monday from 7 p.m.-10 p.m.

5) The River Plays. A bunch of teen bands are playing at the River School on July 12 at 8 p.m.

6) Reno Idol 2008. Ian might go to this at the Eldorado on July 14, maybe just to make fun of people.

7) Youth: PLAN to ROCK is made for Ian. Music, art, teen percussive group Edge. It’s hosted by Holland Project, YAW, PLAN, eNVision Performing Arts and members of the Youth City Council on July 20 from 3 p.m.-10 p.m. at City Plaza.

8) Art of Noise. Another Holland Project special with a dance troupe, a hip-hop showcase, an original punk-rock composition and a screening of Project Moonshine’s Sonic Youth documentary Sleeping Nights Awake. July 27 from 5 p.m.-10 p.m. at Wingfield Park.

9) Washoe County Student Art/Music Fest is going from 10 a.m.- 9 p.m. at on July 18 from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. and July 19 from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. at McKinley Arts & Culture Center.

10) The Nigerian Spam Scam Scam. The dude who played Chainsaw in that 1980s flick Summer School—and other stuff—had a long correspondence with a Nigerian spam scammer and wrote a play about it. The writer, Dean Cameron, will perform it July 30 at Laxalt Theater at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

MEET EMILY.
Emily is 29 years old. She left Reno after high school and moved to the Bay Area and, later, to Seattle. She got used to the easy availability of good bands, museums, food and bars in those places, but she missed Nevada and returned. She was surprised to discover how far it’d come culturally since she’d left. She’d like to see it go even further. She works for a nonprofit arts organization, enjoys a cocktail after work and an occasional night out dancing. She considered herself edgy in her younger years—stumbling in at 6 a.m. after a night of club hopping—and has the leftover tattoos to remind her of it. But she’s found herself mellowing slightly, taking an interest in things like gardening, global culture and a more relaxed scene, but she’s still open to the occasional crazy night out. I guess you could call her a young professional.

Emily’s top 10 things to do at Artown

1) First Thursday at the Nevada Museum of Art is a fun, albeit schmoozy, place to find like-minded art lovers, live performances and complimentary beer and wine. Oh, and to check out the exhibits. This month: Frank Lloyd Wright, Mark Ruwedel, and architecture-that-never-was in Reno. July 3 at 5 p.m.

2) Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival. Emily likes Shakespeare, but she’s especially interested this year in Cambio. It takes The Hunchback of Notre Dame and sets it to music in modern day Havana, Cuba. Que rico. It shows Tuesday nights at Sand Harbor State Park.

3) The “mature audience” productions: And “mature” doesn’t mean “old” here: Cloud Nine is what Brüka Theatre is calling “a gender-bender” for “mature audiences.” It shows nearly every weekend. Check the Little Book for details. Then there’s A.V.A. Theater’s Vortex rock ballet on July 11-12 from 8:30 p.m.-10 p.m. at Bartley Ranch.

4) Andrew Bird. Emily was so excited to hear the Chicago-based singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist-but mostly-violin guy was coming to town. She loves his insightful, modern … what? folk? rock? … good music. Grand Sierra Resort on July 16.

5) Compression! Controlled Burn will spin and dance and play with fire from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. at City Plaza on July 19.

6) Sustainable Design for Home Gardens. This walk and talk by landscape architect Tom Stille is what Emily needs as she tries to figure out how to be a better and eco-conscious gardener. July 20 from 3 p.m.-5 p.m. at the River School.

7) Sara Juli’s The Money Conversations. Brooklyn-based Sara Juli was having money problems so she gave away all of her savings. It’s a subject near and dear to Emily’s heart but taking actions she can’t fathom. Juli performs the solo piece at Redfield Theater. July 22-26, 8 p.m.-10 p.m.

8) Urban Market Sampler. Fresh, locally grown food and “Uncorked,” some kind of wine event, on Friday nights from 5 p.m.-9 p.m. She’s there.

9) Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. The world renowned, innovative dance troupe is coming to the Pioneer Center July 26 at 8 p.m.

10) The Nigerian Spam Scam. Emily’s received Nigerian spam/scam letters, and she’d like to see how the writer/performer of this play, Dean Cameron, managed to mess with one spammer’s mind for nine months. July 30, Laxalt Theater at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

MEET SONIA, ROB, LILIA AND DEVON.
Sonia and Rob have always been interested in the arts. Now in their 30s and parents, they want their kids to be exposed to art as much as possible. They know hands-on is the best way to engage them. Devon is 7-years-old, and Lilia is 4. They both have lots of energy, so events where they can be active are better than a quiet gallery setting. And events where the kids can be in bed between 8 and 9 p.m. are best for the whole family.

The young family’s top 10 things to do at Artown

1) Discover the Arts. This series is for kids ages 7-12. In it they will sing, play pioneer games, make recycled art, bang on drums, paint, learn about bluegrass, puppets, acting and more for free every weekday from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at various places.

2) Kid-friendly theater: Goldilocks on Trial (July 6), A Midsummer Night-MARE (July 8-9), Broadway Bits (July 14), and Missoula Children Theatre’s The Little Mermaid (July 26) are all imaginative, fun productions geared toward kids.

3) Family Series: Giant puppets performing Peter and the Wolf, an opera called Brundibar originally sung by children in World War II’s holocaust, a colorful living poem called Mudfire and vibrant regional dances of Mexico performed by the International Folkloric Ballet are some events in this free series, which occurs every Monday at 7 p.m. in Wingfield Park.

4) Summer art camps and classes: VSA Arts in Reno and the Alf Sorensen Community Center in Sparks are holding various, multi-day arts classes and camps for kids, including VSA’s Mommy (or Daddy) and Me Art for children 3-5 years old. Times and cost vary.

5) Make a Joyful Noise. Babies to 4-year-olds make music, drum and dance with Kathryn Hill, M.A. who teaches the program “Music Together” at the River School, July 12 from 10 a.m.-11:15 a.m. followed by a tour of River School’s farm.

6) Urban Market Samplers. Two especially kid-friendly samplers are in July. At the Hakuna Matata Market on July 18 from 5 p.m.-9 p.m., kids can get their faces painted to look like African animals before the Movies in the Park screening of The Lion King. Then, July 21 and 28 is Jamberry, a celebration of the children’s book Jamberry by Bruce Degen and of berry season. Kids make their own PB&J sandwiches. 6 p.m.-7 p.m.

7) Children’s Vocal Performing Arts Workshop. Kids learn to sing the gospel with Word of Life Ministries from 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., July 15-17.

8) Northwest Reno Kid’s Kite Festival. Go fly a kite with your kiddo at Northgate Park in Somersett from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. on July 19.

9) ToddlerFEST on the River. It’s freakin’ called ToddlerFEST. So. There will be games, chickens—yep, chickens—roasted marshmallows, music and whatnot at the River School from 4-9 p.m. on July 20.

10) SuperBOWL Sundae. Ice cream in a ceramic bowl made by local artists that the children can keep with kids activities and music at Somersett Town Square on July 20.

MEET CLARISSA AND GEORGE.
They are retired and between the ages of 60 and 70. She enjoys art, flowers, gardening, crafts, classical and some popular music. George is a moderate arts fan and enjoys a good tune, especially jazz. He’s also a history buff and is interested in how things are made. They both love to travel and are interested in the food, music and art of other cultures.

Clarissa and George’s top 10 things to do at Artown

1) Ageless Repertory Theater productions. From “On Golden Pond” to “The Cemetery Club” this local gray-haired group of dramatists presents six plays throughout July at First United Methodist Church and Sparks Library. Check the Little Book of Artown for details.

2) Historic Preservation Society Tours. History experts walk participants all over Reno’s historic places, from the Old Southwest to Fourth Street. Tours are July 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. and July 6, 12, 19, and 26 from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Various locations.

3) Music. It would take this entire list to name all the musical groups that appeal to Clarissa and George. They expect to be regulars at the Sweet Vibrations series, which features old-timey music, from ragtime to folk to Afro-Cuban jazz nearly every Tuesday and Thursday from 7-8 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church. Then there are Toccata’s performances at Trinity Episcopal Church on Tuesdays at 7 p.m., as well as the Monday Night Music series offerings of classical, jazz and ragtime at Robert Z. Hawkins Amphitheater at 7:30 p.m. They rarely miss the annual Pops on the River event, which is July 12. Then there’s the Nevada Chamber Music Festival on July 13, the Brass Choir Concert on July 17, and Argenta Trio performances on July 29 and 31. Whew. Check the book.

4) Global culture festivals. From Basque to Russian, Native American and the “Aloha” festival, the month is packed with them. Check the book.

5) Jazz at Lincoln Center with Wynton Marsalis. July 5 at 8 p.m. at Grand Sierra Resort. Enough said.

6) Art on the Lawn. Clarissa and George like to buy local art. They also love the purple pastures in bloom at Lavender Ridge during the summer. Those things are combined on July 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

7) Greater Reno Stamp and Cover Show. Clarissa might go elsewhere, but George is a fan. This giant show of self-professed stamp geeks takes over the National Bowling Stadium from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on July 12-13.

8) Flowers in Fruit: Wine and Roses. While George is at the stamp show, Clarissa’s taking this floral design class at Sparks Florist on July 12 from 11 a.m. to noon or on July 17 from 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m.

9) Cour d’Alene auction. They say it’s the biggest wildlife, Western and sporting art auction in the country. Opens July 25 with a preview and cocktails. Auction is July 26 from 11 a.m.- 3 p.m.

10) National Automobile Museum. The museum is showing the 1908 New York to Paris Auto Race Exhibit, the Art of Robert Cinkel, and, on July 30 from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. is “Victory Celebration, A Night to Remember”, a French-food filled celebration of the New York to Paris race victory. MEET KYLE. Kyle is in his mid-40s. He’s an artist himself and is very loyal to local art, be it visual or performance. He’s annoyed at how, come July, the local artists barely stand a chance when competing for attention with all of these national productions everyone’s in such a tizzy about. Sure, Artown has lots of options featuring local artists, but it seems they’re often sharing the same time slot as some big event in Wingfield Park or the Pioneer Center. So he makes a point of patronizing—in more ways than one, he likes to joke—the local talent.

The top 10 things to do at Artown for an Anti-Artowner

1) Local theater. Reno Little Theater is producing Selkie about a girl and a seal. Brüka has Cloud Nine. A Life Worth Living from TruthSeeker Productions, true stories of Nevadans with HIV/AIDs, looks really good. Nevada Repertory Theater is putting on Henceforward, Brown Eyes Theater is producing Day of the Dead in English and Spanish, and The Ageless Repertory Theater has a bunch of plays going this month. Kyle will try his best to catch as many as he can.

3) yART sale. This one-day sale of regional artists’ works is at 1420 Mt. Rose St. on July 12 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Proceeds go to VSA Arts of Nevada.

4) Rockin’ Docs Music Fest. The docs are trying to raise money for Healing Arts Foundation at Renown, Student Outreach Clinic at UNR and for Artown with this show of five live local musical acts, including Sol Jibe. July 12, 6 p.m.-10 p.m. at Wolf Run Gold Club.

5) Studio on 4th offerings: Open Act, is an open-mic for actors every Wednesday. Old Goat Cabaret Club on Thursdays and Fridays promises variety show song, dance and comedy. And Great Basin Film Society is screening all sorts of crazy shit every Monday. All events are from 7 p.m.-10 p.m.

6) Sweet Vibrations. It warms Kyle’s heart a bit to go to these Tuesday and Thursday musical offerings at First United Methodist Church at 7 p.m.

7) Less-traveled music festivals: Lazy 5 (Mondays, 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m.), North Valleys Regional Park (Thursdays, 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m.), and Summit Sierra Mall (Thursdays, 7 p.m.-9 p.m.) are all hosting a music series featuring local bands.

8) Compression! Local fire spinners. Inspired by Burning Man, Kyle actually thought of joining this group, Controlled Burn. He’ll find their flame at City Plaza on July 19 from 5 p.m.-11 p.m.

9) Literary Reno: Writing from the “Underbelly.” A look beyond Walter Van Tilburg Clark to other worthy writers inspired by Reno, including Willy Vlautin and Bernie Schopen. July 22, Riverside Artists Lofts, 6 p.m.-8 p.m

10) Local visual arts shows: Sierra Arts’ various galleries around town, Stremmel Art Gallery, The Printmakers Conspiracy at TMCC, Dada Insurgency at Digital Mixed Media, the Art Access Gallery at Lake Mansion, the Silver Sage Artists’ exhibit Sticks & Stones, Fire & Paint will all get a look from Kyle. These are his people.