Culture

Best art class

Laika Press

1717 S. Wells Ave.

There are paint-and-sip classes, which don’t require much planning—just show up, and the materials and ideas are already there for you. And there are college-level classes, which involve a high level of commitment, maybe to a whole degree program, or at least a 10-week semester. Then there’s Laika Press, a printmaking studio that opened on Wells Avenue in 2017 under the steerage of University of Nevada, Reno printmaking grad Nathaniel Benjamin. This small, storefront studio strikes a great balance between accessibility and professional-level skill development, offering medium-commitment arrangements such as a six-session membership. Workshops in specific techniques include letterpress, relief printing and collograph.

Best nonprofit group

The Holland Project

140 Vesta St., 742-1858

To understand the Holland Project, and the love and devotion it inspires among many corners of our community, you’ve got to look back at life in Reno before Holland existed. For locals growing up here in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s, there was often a feeling of disconnection—as if there were amazing things happening out there in the wider world, but none of them ever reached Northern Nevada. Back then, the casinos had a stranglehold on local entertainment—and almost none of it was geared toward folks too young to gamble. For young people looking to get more out of life than roller skating rinks, blockbuster movies and high school football games, there was only one thing to do: Move away. So, they did. Fortunately, some of them came back. And they built the place they wished they’d had: a place where young people can experience first-rate concerts, workshops and gallery exhibitions—without having to drive three-and-a-half hours to San Francisco.

Readers’ Choices

Best 4th of July fireworks

1. Lake Tahoe

2. Star Spangled Sparks

3. Greater Nevada Field

Best album by a local band

1. Hunk by Elephant Rifle

2. Rock ‘N’ Roll Is Dead by Silver

3. Moon Ripper by Drag Me Under

Best animal shelter

1. Nevada Humane Society

2825 Longley Lane, 856-2000

2. SPCA Of Northern Nevada

4950 Spectrum Blvd., 324-7773

3. Canine Rehabilitation Center and Sanctuary

555 U.S. 395 North, New Washoe City, 800-1906

Best art class

1. Picasso & Wine

148 Vassar St., 453-1168

2. Pinot’s Palette

5110 Mae Anne Ave., 624-6155

3. Copper Cat Studio

300 Kresge Lane, Sparks, 453-0753

Best art gallery

1. Nevada Museum of Art

160 W. Liberty St., 329-3333

2. Holland Project

140 Vesta St., 742-1858

3. Lasting Dose Tattoo & Art Collective

888 S. Virginia St., 324-0666

Best art studio

1. Picasso & Wine

148 Vassar St., 453-1168

2. The Clay Canvas

550 Plumb Lane, 828-4118

3. Pinot’s Palette

5110 Mae Anne Ave., 624-6155

Best church

1. Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church

1138 Wright St., 323-6894

2. Living Stones

445 S. Virginia St., 622-9772

3. Grace Church

1220 Robb Drive, 747-9000

Best day trip

1. Lake Tahoe

2. Virginia City

3. Truckee, California

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

4740 Parkway Drive

Best kept secret

1. Won’t tell

2. Dickerson Road

2. The Glass Die

675 Holcomb Ave., 384-1456

Best local band

1. Elephant Rifle

2. Jelly Bread

3. The Novelists

Best local dance company

1. Reno Dance Company

2. Sierra Nevada Ballet

3. The Reno Empire

Best local Instagram account

1. Reno is Rad

@renoisrad

2. TravelNevada

@travelnevada

3. Pet Play House

@petplayhouse

Best local podcast

1. Worst Little Podcast

www.worstlittlepodcast.com

2. Women Of No Certain Age

player.fm/series/2300142

3. Van Sounds

filcorbitt.com/van-sounds

Best local theater company

1. Bruka Theatre

99 N. Virginia St., 323-3221

2. Reno Little Theater

147 E. Pueblo St., 813-8900

3. Good Luck Macbeth Theatre Company

124 W. Taylor St., 322-3716

Best local TV news

1. Channel 2 KTVN

2. Channel 8 KOLO

3. Channel 4 KRNV

Best monthly event

1. First Thursdays at the Nevada Museum of Art

160 W. Liberty St., 329-3333

2. Art Walk Reno

2. Wine Walk

Best movie theater

1. Galaxy Luxury + IMAX

1170 Scheels Drive, Sparks, (888) 407-9874

2. Century Riverside Theatres

11 N. Sierra St., Reno, 786-1743

3. Cinemark Reno Summit Sierra

13965 S. Virginia St., 851-4635

Best non-casino thing to do downtown

1. Reno Aces baseball

2. Artown

3. Downtown Riverwalk

Best non-profit group

1. SPCA Of Northern Nevada

4950 Spectrum Blvd., 324-7773

2. Our Center

1745 S. Wells Ave., 624-3720

3. Access to Healthcare Network

4001 S. Virginia St., (877) 385-2345

Best open mic

1. Pignic Pub & Patio

235 Flint St., 376-1948

2. The Jungle

248 W. First St., 329-4484

3. The Library Tap House & Hookah Lounge

134 W. Second St., 683-3308

Best place to people watch

1. Reno Riverwalk

2. Downtown Reno

3. Midtown

Best public art

1. Space Whale

Reno City Plaza, 10 N. Virginia St.

2. Playa Art Park

520 N. Virginia St.

3. Believe sculpture

Reno City Plaza, 10 N. Virginia St.

Best radio station

1. 100.1 KTHX

2. 98.1 KBUL

3. 104.5 KDOT

Best reason to live in Reno

1. The outdoors

2. The people

3. The weather

Best special event at Lake Tahoe

1. Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival

2. 4th of July Fireworks

3. Valhalla Renaissance Faire

Best special event in downtown Reno

1. Artown

2. Hot August Nights

3. The Great Eldorado BBQ, Brews & Blues Festival

Best special event in downtown Sparks

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

2. Farmers’ Markets

3. Hot August Nights

Best special event in Virginia City

1. International Camel & Ostrich Races

2. World Championship Outhouse Races

3. Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry

Best talk show host

1. Connie Wray

2. Sam Shad

3. Arnie States

Most environmentally conscious company

1. Great Basin Community Food Co-Op

240 Court St., 324-6133

2. Patagonia

130 S. Center St., 746-6878

3. Western Nevada Supply

950 S. Rock Blvd., Sparks, 359-5800