Cover story

“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon,” Henry James wrote. “To me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.”

It’s one of those thoughts that have come to all minds in childhood, and it’s nice to have it validated. There are, of course, few original thoughts, but some people express them better than others. Chekov, for instance, told us, “People don’t notice whether it’s winter or summer when they’re happy.” Perhaps, but I’ll bet that the time will come when the actual season will be an important part of the memory of that happiness.

It would also be nice to think that summer exists not just in nature but also within us. Summers should be languid and lazy and exciting, which then brings Walt Whitman to mind:

Press close, bare-bosomed Night!

Each summer gets stored in our memory, and we then set to work trying to top it the next year. Summer in Reno for this writer was once a huge backyard with giant elms and great apple climbing trees, a strawberry bed in the side yard to feed me snacks, and the cat from whom I first heard a purr. “Mommy, she has a motor in her!” I called out.

May all our readers have a summer that makes such great memories.

—Dennis Myers

Summer reading
When you’re stretched out on that beach towel, put your mind to work.

Sounds of summer
Summertime music: When the nightlife wakes up a little early and goes outside to play.

Farmers’ Market
There’s grocery store produce, and then there’s real produce

Nature hikes
How to get in touch with the local flora and fauna.

Tea time
Summer comes with its own drink and an array of choices.

Doing Peavine
Hiking on Peavine Mountain.

Snow report
There is such a thing as mountain sledding and skiing in summer.

Mission: Mediocre
We take a look at the summer’s movies.

Summer calendar
Looking for something to do this summer? Here’s your list of all the things to do in Reno when you’re alive.