Culture

Editors’ choice

Band names don’t usually fit the group as perfectly as Spitting Image’s name fits the band’s arty punk sound. These guys take risks rarely attempted in Reno’s generally conservative music scene. Vocalist Austin Pratt alternates between Patti Smith-like poetical incantations and an adenoidal caterwaul. Bassist Jack Scribner and drummer Casey Conrad lay down fractured, fragmented rhythms that are as exciting as they are unpredictable. And guitarist Julian Jacobs plays spacious melodic figures that explode into noisy shards of sound. The seem as pleasantly out-of-place at local basement shows as they do in Reno bars, so make an effort to catch them while you can before they inevitably decide to move to Portland.

Readers’ choices

Best 4th of July fireworks

1. John Ascuaga's Nugget

1100 Nugget Avenue, Sparks, 356-3300

2. Lake Tahoe

3. Reno Aces Stadium

250 Evans Ave., 334-4700

Best animal shelter

1. SPCA of Northern Nevada

4950 Spectrum Blvd., 324-7773

2. Nevada Humane Society

2825 Longley Lane, 856-2000

3. Boxers & Buddies

P.O. Box 895, Virginia City, 342-5789

Best art gallery

1. Nevada Museum of Art

160 W. Liberty St., 329-3333

2. Stremmel Gallery

1400 S. Virginia St., 786-0558

3. The Holland Project

160 West Liberty St., 329-3333

Best charity race or walk

1. Moms on the Run

2. Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure

3. Reno-Tahoe Odyssey

Best church

1. Living Stones

445 S. Virginia St., 622-9772

2. Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Northern Nevada

780 Del Monte Lane, 851-7100

3. Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church

1138 Wright St, 323-6894

Best dance instructor

1. Gina Hernandez

Dance Unlimited, 73 W. Plumb Lane, 250-7924

2. BB Flanders

Salsa Reno, 2920 Mill St., 813-1143

3. Lesa Dusich

Reno Dance Company, 2540 Sutro St., 378-6208

Best day trip

1. Lake Tahoe

2. Virginia City

3. Truckee, Calif.

Best dog park

1. Rancho San Rafael Regional Park

1595 N. Sierra St., 785-4512

2. Sparks Marina Park

300 Howard Drive, Sparks, 353-2376

3. Link Piazzo Dog Park

Hidden Valley Regional Park, 4740 Parkway Drive, 823-6501

Best drag queen

1. Ginger Devine

2. Ashlee Stone

3. Chanel

Best gay pride event

1. Reno Rainbow Festival

2. Reno Gay Pride Festival

Best independent art gallery

1. Stremmel Gallery

1400 S. Virginia St.; 786-0558

2. The Holland Project

160 West Liberty St., 329-3333

3. Never Ender Boutique & Art Gallery

26 Cheney St., 348-9440

Best Kept Secret

1. Won't tell

2. Awful Awful at The Nugget

233 N. Virginia St., 323-0716

3. Caliber Salon & Spa

141 E. Pueblo St., 284-8620

Best local band

1. Whitney Myer Band

2. Moondog Matinee

3. Elephant Rifle

Best local band album

1. No Dress Code by Jelly Bread

2. Teenage Lover by Elephant Rifle

3. Vacancy at the Wonder Lodge by Moondog Matinee

Best local dance company

1. Salsa Reno

2. Controlled Burn

3. AVA Ballet Theatre

Best local theater company

1. Brüka Theatre

99 N. Virginia St., 323-3221

2. Good Luck Macbeth

119 N. Virginia St., 322-3716

3. Reno Little Theater

246 E. Arroyo St., 329-0661

Best local website

1. Downtown Reno Midtown, www.downtownmakeover.com

2. Reno Gazette-Journal, www.rgj.com

3. Reno News & Review, www.newsreview.com/reno

Best monthly event

1. Wine Walk

2. Food Truck Fridays

3. First Thursdays at the Nevada Museum of Art

Best neighborhood

1. Old Southwest Reno

2. Midtown

3. Northwest Reno

Best non-casino thing to do downtown

1. Float/play/walk by the Truckee River

2. Wine Walk

3. Reno Aces game

Best place to meet gay singles

1. 5 Star Saloon

132 West St., 329-2878

2. Tronix

303 Kietzke Lane, 333-9696

3. The Patio

600 W. Fifth St., 323-6565

Best place to meet straight singles

1. Imperial Bar and Lounge

150 N. Arlington Ave., 324-6399

2. St. James Infirmary

445 California Ave., 657-8484

3. Shea's Tavern

715 South Virginia St., 786-7447

Best place to people watch

1. Wingfield Park/by the Truckee River

2. Downtown Reno

3. Reno-Tahoe International Airport

3. Meadowood Mall

Best radio station

1. The X 100.1

2. Rock 104.5

3. Alice 96.5

Best talk show host

1. Bill & Connie, Alice Alice 96.5

2. Rob, Arnie & Dawn, Rock 104.5

3. Chris Payne, KRZQ 100.9

Best scandal

1. Harvey Whittemore

2. Kitty Jung

3. Food Truck Friday vs. Reno Street Food

Best reason to live in Reno

1. The weather

2. Proximity to Lake Tahoe

3. Outdoor recreation

Best Special Event in Downtown Reno

1. Artown

2. Hot August Nights

3. Reno River Festival

Best special event in downtown Sparks

1. The Best-in-the-West Nugget Rib Cook-off

2. Farmers’ Markets

3. Hot August Nights