Culture

Best place to people-watch

1. Downtown by the river

2. Downtown casino area

3. Wingfield Park

Best reason to live in Reno

1. Weather/Climate

2. 24-hour lifestyle (booze and gambling)

3. Recreation opportunities

Best day trip

1. Lake Tahoe

2. Virginia City

3. San Francisco

Best neighborhood

1. Old Southwest Reno

2. Northwest Reno

3. Southwest Reno

Best place to meet singles, gay

1. Tronix
303 Kietzke Lane, 333-9696

2. Five Star Saloon
132 West St., 329-2878

3. The Patio
600 W. Fifth St., 323-6565

Best place to meet singles, straight

1. Imperial Bar and Lounge
150 N. Arlington Ave., 324-6399

2. 210 North
210 N. Sierra St., 786-6210

3. Atlantis Casino Resort
3800 S. Virginia St., 825-4700

Best art gallery/museum

1. Nevada Museum of Art
160 W. Liberty St., 329-3333

2. La Bussola
20 Cheney St., 348-8858

3. Stremmel Gallery
1400 S. Virginia St., 786-0558

Best local band

1. Sol Jibe

2. The Stops

3. Dirty Pretty

Best local band CD

1. Kate Cotter August

2. Sol Jibe, New Day

3. Sol Jibe, Marinero

3. Saddle Tramps, Don’t Laugh, It’s Prayed For

Best local dance company

1. Controlled Burn

2. Black Rock Dance Company

3. Sierra Nevada Ballet

Best local theater company

1. Brüka Theatre
99 N. Virginia St., 323-3221

2. Truckee Meadows Community College
Redfield Performing Arts Center, 505 Keystone Ave., 789-5671

3. Reno Little Theater
246 E. Arroyo St., 329-0661

Best church

1. First United Methodist Church of Reno
209 W. First St., 322-4564

2. Buddhist Temple
820 Plumas St., 348-6603

Best grassroots organization

1. Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada
821 Riverside Dr., 348-7557

2. Great Basin Food Coop
271 Wonder St., 324-6133

3. Holland Project
742-1858

Best farmers’ market

1. Sparks Farmers’ Market
Victorian Avenue, Sparks, Thursday evenings.

2. California Avenue and Booth Street on Saturday mornings

3. Downtown Reno, in front of City Hall, Friday evenings

Best dog park

1. Sparks Marina

2. Rancho San Rafael

3. Virginia Lake

Best local Web site

1. www.rgj.com

2. www.newsreview.com

Best special event in downtown Reno

1. Hot August Nights

2. Street Vibrations

3. Italian Festival

Best special event in downtown Sparks

1. Best of the West Nugget Rib Cook-off

2. Farmers’ Market

3. Hot August Nights

Best radio station

1. KRZQ, 100.9

2. KZTQ, 97.3

3. KTHX, 100.1

Best non-casino thing to do downtown

1. River walk

2. Water park

3. People watch

Best scandal

1. Darren Mack hoopla

2. Kathy Augustine’s death

2. Jim Gibbons’ scandals

Best free wifi access point

1. Java Jungle
246 W. First St., 329-4484

2. Starbuck’s Coffee
various locations

3. Dreamer’s Coffeehouse & Deli
17 S. Virginia St., 322-8040