Nightlife

Best place to get a drink that’s bigger than your own head

Trader Dicks inside John Ascuaga’s Nugget
1100 Nugget Ave.
Sparks
356-3300

Weekend DJ-hosted disco dance parties. Nickel slots right outside the bar. Cocktails that serve five people or one very thirsty party monster. What more could a person ask of a decent nightlife scene? This trio of night-on-the-town rudiments can be found at Trader Dicks inside Ascuaga’s Nugget—one of the few places in town that impresses tourists and locals with its gritty, exaggerated Reno vibe (even though it’s actually located in Sparks) exemplified by films such as Hard Eight, Waking up in Reno, Kingpin and the new cop spoof Reno 911!. You’ll never get tired if you make the rounds from bar to slots to dance floor. It’s a great place to meet men who got out of prison earlier that morning along with young hipster guys and gals back from college for the weekend. A perfect choice for people who want to stay away from downtown and still have the rocking-est night of their lives.

Best place to watch the Perseid meteor shower

Go toward Sutcliffe at Pyramid Lake. Cruise past the town, driving until the road ends, driving, driving, driving along, you will come to a stand of willows on the lakeshore. At the leading edge of the copse of willows, there’s a campsite at the center of a clearing. When the August meteor shower comes around, check out the calendar for the night of the new moon. Bring a sleeping bag, possibly two, and a Therm-a-Rest, possibly two. Arrive early enough in the evening to set up camp, drink a bottle, possibly two, of wine and take a nap. Set your travel alarm clock for about 3:45 a.m. You’ll be in the right place.