Out and About while Staying In

Staying home this weekend gave me a chance to do a couple of things.

I've been told for a year now about (and strongly encouraged to attend) the walking tours presented by the Historic Reno Preservation Society, and I've strongly regretted that my work schedule precluded my participation.  Saturday morning I gave it a go - totally worth it.

These tours are presented every Saturday morning at 10:AM, and every Tuesday evening at 6:PM; this weekend's theme was "Prohibition in Reno."  Of course most of the historical sites mentioned are long gone, but a few remain.  We started our trek at the Amtrak station on Commercial Row; I had been in there as a wee one, and it's a really neat building (described as Mediterranean Revival-style), but not since the addition was built during the RETRAC project.  There are a number of nice displays on the top floor chronicling RETRAC and a number of historical artifacts unearthed during the excavation.  The lower level, however, displays a good number of historic photographs and the old city drinking fountain, presented by the Women's Christian Temperance Union.  The fountain has been restored, much to my chagrin - it has been painted over to resemble weathered bronze, but in the process now almost looks fake.  Even so, it is still a priceless Reno treasure.  It includes an insignia for the 1st Nevada Cavalry, honoring their participation in the Spanish-American war, which is not only æsthetically pleasing but also adds a certain touch of class.

We stopped by the old, original Masonic Hall (later the Reno Mercantile) one of, if not the oldest remaining building in town (alas! we couldn't go inside), and from there walked by the Methodist Church, across the river to Trinity Episcopal, then down to the Riverside Hotel where the events concluded.  The information presented was spectacular and I highly recommend one of these tours when the opportunity presents itself. 

This morning a friend of my called me up and asked me to go out to Pyramid Lake, where he and a few other friends were camping, to jam for a little bit.  So I went and although I've been less than diligent with my cornet practicing lately we played for .  Still, I played slightly better and my chops held out slightly longer than I expected.  Three of the four of us help make up a small brass band that usually only comes out of hibernation for summer parades.  We've played many 4th of Julys in Virginia City, once in Austin, and every year in Goldfield for Goldfield Days.  So many a pelican was treated to the musical stylings of bygone eras.

And thus ended the Nevada-related musings for The Nevada Traveler, more or less, for this weekend.  The key take-away in this?  Participation in the Historic Reno Preservation Society's history walks is strongly encouraged and I play old-timey brass music on occasion.  Best wishes for a great week ahead to everyone!