SOUTH RENO SALAD SEARCH

I discovered chopped salads years ago while working in downtown Chicago.  About once a week, some gal pals and I would mosey over from our office in the Wacker-Randolph Building to what was then known as the Chicago Apparel Center.  A small deli there served the most amazing salads with greens, meats, cheeses, carrots and other veggies chopped into the most itty-bitty pieces — so you'd get a forkful of wonderful flavors and textures in every bite.  The name of that deli escapes me and the building is now known just as 350 North Orleans.  But isn't it funny how some of our favorite foods can evoke such vivid memories? 

Here in South Reno, I haven't seen chopped salads on a lot of menus, so I decided to make a return to Yosh's Unique Deli (85 Foothill Rd., #8), which was covered in my blog on Sept. 28, 2012. 

Whereas I'd only tried —and loved — soup and a sandwich here before, I was intrigued by Yelp reviews praising the salads at Yosh's.  Those people knew what they were talking about! 

The Italian Chop Salad ($7.99) at Yosh's is as delectable as it is prettily presented.  

I would have liked the leafy greens and cucumbers to be chopped smaller, but this outstanding mound of salad also featured a satisfying mix of salami, provolone cheese, roasted red peppers, tomatoes, kalamata olives and chickpeas, with a perfect basil vinegarette dressing.  This was one of the best restaurant salads I have found in a long time. 

If you're cost-conscious and/or in a hurry,  Subway (with various South Reno locations including one on South Meadows Parkway, one on Steamboat Parkway and another at The Summit) has also added chopped salads to its menu.  For a cheaper ($5-6) fast-food version of a chopped salad, it's quite good. 

While it is not listed as a chopped salad, I have also enjoyed the Santa Fe Salad with Blackened Salmon at BJ's Brewery and Restaurant, 13999 S. Virginia St., in The Summit shopping center.  

This large salad at BJ's  (sorry, I don't remember the price and it's not listed online), includes Romaine lettuce, red onions, roasted peppers, Jack and cheddar cheeses, avocado, corn, tomatoes and tortilla strips.  It has lots of colors and flavors going on simultaneously, topped with a spicy dressing.  You can also get this salad with blackened chicken, Cajun shrimp or flame-broiled chicken. 

Note: Both Yosh's and BJ's offer take-out, too.

For more info on Yosh's Unique Deli, call (775) 853-YOSH (9674) or visit  http://yoshsdeli.com/ .

The phone number for BJ's in South Reno is (775) 853-7575 or visit  http://www.bjsbrewhouse.com/ .

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BEAUTIFUL FALL COLORS IN SOUTH RENO

Every part of the United States of America has its own weather patterns and hazards — and its own beauty.  Today, I am so sad to see the hardships on the East Coast of the USA, with regard to Hurricane Sandy.

In all the places I have lived throughout the years, I've experienced everything from severe thunderstorms and tornadoes to blizzards, ice storms, wind storms, floods, mudslides, earthquakes, wildfires, etc.  Nature can be both terrifying and mesmerizing.  You have to appreciate the moments or days when "all is well" and you have the very special privilege of being able to witness amazing scenery.

Today, here in South Reno, I took a walk and snapped these fabulous photos of colorful foliage, against the dramatic backgrounds of the Sierra Mountain Range and a brilliantly blue sky.

God bless the USA!

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CAR WASH COMPARISONS IN SOUTH RENO

A trip to a car wash is not high on my list of fun things to do, but sometimes it's a necessary evil.  Especially because we have hard water — and because putting soapy water into storm drains is bad for the environment — my family does the right thing and uses commercial car washes. 

Since moving to South Reno, we have mostly relied on Squeaky's Car Wash, 550 S. Meadows Pkwy., to keep our vehicles' exteriors clean, while vacuuming the interiors ourselves.  

Squeaky's uses high water pressure to blast the dirt and crud off your vehicle.  Instead of your car being dragged along on a conveyer belt, it sits inside the washing bay while the water-pressure contraptions move back and forth.  The same machines apply a bit of wax.  When the washing and waxing have commenced, you pull forward slowly through a giant blower drawer.  It's quick, efficient and cheap.  A basic wash with light wax usually costs $6 or 7. 

But then I found a coupon, in one of those ValPack mailers, for a free basic wash at Hutch's Mission Car Wash, 6355 S. McCarran Blvd. in South Reno.  (It's behind Bank of The West, at the corner of McCarran and Kietzke.) 

The coupon made it seem like this would be an upscale car wash, perhaps along the lines of the fantastic Rose Hill Car Wash in Kirkland, Washington.  http://rosehillcarwash.com/

Around Seattle, Rose Hill Car Wash was known as "The Nordstrom of Car Washes," and deseverdly so.  You could select from a number of car wash packages, with a basic exterior wash priced at $8.95.  I was always pleased with Rose Hill's Gold Wash package ($21.95). This was an interior/exterior package with tire and rim cleaning, Blue Coral Treatment and air freshener.  It was a thorough wash with soft brushes, waxing, hand drying and some detailing.  The waiting room at Rose Hill also had a gift and snack shop with funny greeting cards and hard-to-find candies such as Chunky bars. 

So, off I went to Hutch's Mission Car Wash.  

I learned that Hutch's basic exterior wash-and-dry stuff was done by hand and that there was a very quick wipedown of the dashboard, too, for $9.99.  I didn't have to wait long for my car to be ready and the results were pretty good.  I also was amused to see that the gift and snack shop at Hutch's featured opportunities for staredowns with giant animal heads. 

However, when I asked at the counter for a list of other car wash packages (meaning with interior and exterior cleaning and waxing), the cashier said she didn't have one and that I could find that info online.  I noticed a sign outside of Hutch's that said a wash and wax package costs $49.  Yikes, that's not cheap.  And when I looked online, I did not find a Web site for Hutch's but found a number of negative reviews from people who'd splurged on the $49 package and wished they had not. 

Unless I can find South Reno's answer to "The Nordstrom of Car Washes," I will probably stick with using Squeaky's Car Wash and my own trusty vacuum cleaner. 

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HAPPY HUNTING AT JUNKEE IN MIDTOWN RENO

Will you be "dressed to impress" for Halloween?  With the spooky holiday coming up fast, you could run to one of those temporary costume stores like Halloween Express or Spirit, but I wouldn't recommend it. That is, unless you like overpriced, tacky costumes. 

Where would I send you to find a great costume?  My choice would be Junkee Clothing Exchange, 960 S. Virginia St. in Reno's Midtown neighborhood.  Junkee is not a costume shop, per se, but it has a huge selection of used and vintage clothing, shoes and accessories, as well as some commercially-made Halloween outfits and props. 

On a recent weekend, lots of folks appeared to be having a blast at Junkee, cobbling together crazy costumes or just looking for cool, retro fashions.  

Want to look like a lounge lizard?  There's a section for that.  Want to look like a hippie?  Ditto.  There's a lot of stuff that would work for the Steampunk look. There's even a section devoted to "ugly Christmas sweaters."  Attention, Mark Darcy's mother!

Another large, separate wing at Junkee offers antique home furnishings, art and jewelry. 

Junkee is a member of the MidTown District, a diverse group of local retailers, restaurants, service providers and arts organizations striving to regentrify the Midtown neighborhood, which is south of downtown Reno.  Or for those who balk at the word "regentrify," they're aiming to make the district a more vibrant area that will be a big draw for both Reno locals and tourists.  

I applaud their efforts, but feel they have some obstacles.  Some nearby establishments — porn shops — don't exactly scream the word "classy."  These businesses are not members of the MidTown District alliance, but seeing them next to, or across the street from participating merchants is an eyesore.

Finding parking in Midtown is also a problem.

But Junkee is on the right track, presenting clothing that is different in a fun way, at reasonable prices and in a cheerful atmosphere.  When Halloween is long gone, they'll still be there!  And you can think of them as being part of the "green" movement, too.  Recycling interesting clothing helps the environment and makes people happy.

For more information about Junkee, call (775) 322-5865 or visit http://www.junkeeclothingexchange.com/ .

To learn more about the MidTown District members, visit  http://www.midtowndistrictreno.com/ .

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DAY TRIP FROM SOUTH RENO: ADORABLE TRUCKEE, CA

The cute little town of Truckee, California is a great spot for a day trip, if you're bored with Reno and want a change of pace.  Less than an hour's drive from South Reno (off I-80 West), Truckee has a quaint, clean downtown with an eclectic array of places to eat and shop. 

My most recent trek to Truckee was last weekend — perfect timing, weather-wise!  It was cool but sunny, whereas just yesterday (and again, today), schools in that area were closed due to snow.  

Heading up to Truckee with my husband and daughter, we looked forward to lunch at  Martha's Kitchen, a Mexican restaurant on Donner Lake Road, which had high marks from Yelp reviewers.  Upon locating Martha's, we were bummed to find out that it's closed until June. 

But all was not lost.  We instead tried El Toro Bravo, on Donner Pass Road in downtown Truckee:  http://www.eltorobravotruckee.com/ .

Our combo meals were awesome, our waitress was delightful — and we even heard someone singing in the kitchen.  Smiles all around! 

Truckee on Dwellable

Strolling through downtown, we got a kick out of Truckee Variety, an old-fashioned toy and crafts store which — as an added bonus — sells some wacky items from Seattle's Archie McPhee, a store our kids really dug when they were younger.   See: http://www.mcphee.com/shop/ .

On past trips to Truckee, we've tasted some decadent fudge at the Sweets candy shop.  There's actually another Sweets in South Reno, near Cost Plus World Market and Bed Bath and Beyond, if we ever hanker for Sweets fudge but aren't inclined to drive up to Truckee. 

The original location of the fabulous Squeeze In is in downtown Truckee.  The Bar of America, which was very lively on Saturday afternoon, looks like it could be interesting, too.

To learn more about the unique shops in historic downtown Truckee, visit http://www.historictruckee.com/shop.php .


The Truckee.com Web site is another good resource for newbies or return visitors to Truckee.  It has lists of where to play, stay, dine and find deals or special events.  Upcoming kid stuff in Truckee includes trick-or-treating on Oct. 26 and a Big Truck Day on Oct. 27.  There will also be food-and-wine and all-ages holiday events in November.

For more information, visit http://www.truckee.com/ .

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GALENA CREEK RECREATION AREA: A PEACEFUL RETREAT IN SOUTH RENO

What a difference a few days can make!  With today's snowfall and fierce winds on Mt. Rose — and wind and rain on South Reno's valley floor — it's probably not the best time to visit the Galena Creek Recreation Area.  But as of this past Friday, the weather was still glorious at this peaceful and picturesque nature retreat, just a 10-or-15 minute drive from The Summit shopping center. 

Galena Creek Recreation Area, adjacent to Galena Creek Regional Park, is situated within the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. The area offers places to hike, snowshoe, fish and learn about nature.  

There is ample outdoor signage about the history, geography and culture of the region, as well as a small but lovely museum-like building, the Galena Creek Visitor Center.  

Admission to the recreation area and to the Galena Creek Visitor Center is free; donations are welcome.  Be aware, however, that the visitor center is now on a winter schedule, open only Friday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Inside the visitor center, you'll find exhibits about mining, local plants and animals, including auditory and tactile features:  Push buttons to hear the sounds of footsteps crunching on a trail, rain pouring down, wind and thunder.  Feel animal pelts.  Learn the difference between native and invasive plant species. 

Great Basin Naturalists conduct kids' camps and all-ages programs such as bird-watching and astronomy, in and around the visitor center.  Schedules are posted in the building. 

Also at the visitor center, you can purchase books, greeting cards and calendars depicting local wildlife.  Plus, free maps and brochures are available,  to help you safely navigate the park. 

The Galena Creek Recreation Area and Galena Creek Visitor Center are located at 18250 Mt. Rose Highway in South Reno.  For more information, call (775) 849-4948 or visit 

http://www.galenacreekvisitorcenter.org/ .

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OCTOBER FUN AT RENO'S FERRARI FARMS

If you have young children, a trip to a pumpkin farm is an October "must."  My family's all-time favorite was Bengtson's Farm in Homer Glen, Illinois, http://www.pumpkinfarm.com/ .
This spacious, well-kept farm has lots of animals,  pony rides, hayrides, a corn maze, Haunted Barn, Fun Barn, Halloween shop and more. 

In South Reno, it pains me to see the fake pumpkin patch on South Virginia Street, across from Walmart.  Most of the year, the Toll House Pumpkin Patch is an empty lot.  They cart in some pumpkins, set up some bouncy houses and call it a pumpkin patch. 

It's good for kids to see where food comes from.  They develop respect for nature and for the hard-working people who plant and harvest the crops.  Ferrari Farms Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch, on Mill Street just East of Rock Boulevard in Reno, is a no-frills farm, not as grand as Bengtson's, but it is a real, working farm. 

This past beautiful Sunday afternoon, Ferrari Farms was packed with both kids and grown-ups, enjoying hayrides, a bouncy house, the corn maze and a few farm animals, but mostly just scurrying around, joyfully searching for perfect pumpkins and goofy gourds. 

What's nice about this farm is that parking is free, admission is free and there are only modest charges for the hayrides and bouncy house.  You can bring the kids to buy a pumpkin or two, show them pumpkins actually growing out of the ground and not spend a fortune. 

What I'd really like to see, at Ferrari Farms or any pumpkin farms that welcome the public during the month of October, is a true educational component. 

It would be great to see signs with fun facts such as how long it takes to grow a pumpkin, what kind of soil is best, how much water is needed, etc.  Information about the nutritional value of pumpkins, kid-friendly pumpkin recipes and pumpkin-carving safety tips would be interesting and useful, too.  If farm owners don't have the time or resources to present such exhibits, perhaps high school or college students could be given opportunities to volunteer and share their knowledge. 

Ferrari Farms does not have a Web site but you can call (775) 856-4962 for more information. 

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