Mixed bag

Welcome to this week’s Reno News & Review.

Man, I can’t believe it’s already July. As full of horrors as this year has been, it’s flying by at a ridiculous pace. July, of course, is a big month here in Reno because of Artown, the city-wide month-long celebration of broadly, blandly accessible arts offerings. Plenty of art, theater and music events all around town—many of them free, a lot of them down at Wingfield Park, and most of it stuff you wouldn’t mind taking your grandmother to see.

And don’t let a little snark fool you—I’m all for the event. I look and live like a cartoon dad, so I certainly have no problem with a little family-friendly fare. And the RN&R is a player in the Artown League. Our concert series Rollin’ on the River is back this year every Friday night in Wingfield starting at 5:30 p.m. I wasn’t directly involved with the booking this year, but I know our sales manager, Emily Litt, and her team have been working hard on it, with some input from the fine folks over at KTHX, and this year has an intriguing lineup—a nice mix of familiar locals and up-and-coming touring acts. The first event, on July 6, features headliner Mt. Joy, with friends-of-the-RN&R the Umpires opening up. There’s more information in our Artown guide, which was published last week, so hopefully you’ve already read it, but, if not, it’s on our website.

Also, voting has begun in the second round of our Best of Northern Nevada readers’ poll. Head over to bestofnorthernnevada.com now.

And last but not least, condolences to the friends, families and colleagues of the people murdered in the Capital Gazette newsroom in Annapolis, Maryland. A heartbreaking incident. I’ve said it before, and hope to never say it again: Mass shootings are not normal. This shit has to end.