Following on the success of the Truckee River Whitewater Park in downtown Reno, the City of Sparks has broken ground – or river – on its own kayak park, adding another attraction for whitewater athletes and recreation seekers in the Reno-Sparks area.

The site – located at Rock Park at 1515 Rock Boulevard – will be closed to the public until early 2009, with the whitewater attraction planned for a summer 2009 opening.

“The whitewater feature at Rock Park will raise the bar for recreation in the Truckee Meadows and bring visitors to Sparks from near and far,” said Sparks Mayor Geno Martini.  It will include five drops similar in appearance to the Truckee River Whitewater Park. “The project will be a wonderful use of the Truckee River, and something our citizens can enjoy for years to come.”

Along with pools for kayaking, tubing and rafting for all skill levels, the improvements include improved riverbank landscaping, shade structures, and play structures, parking and better access for people with disabilities. The river trail system will also be rerouted and improved. The nearly $900,000 contract is being fulfilled by Reno Tahoe Construction, Inc.

In addition to serving as the focal point for redevelopment in downtown Reno, the Truckee River Whitewater Park is also home to the annual Reno River Festival, one of the country’s premier kayaking competitions.

Hot August Nights is Reno and Sparks’ salute to the golden era of automobiles, where enthusiasts from around the globe come to our little corner of the Sierra Nevada to show off their hot rod handywork, check out other cars or just enjoy some good entertainment under the sun.

More than 800,000 spectators are expected for the 2008 showing. This year’s event runs from Aug. 1-10, with events, cruises, concerts and vendors every day. Some hightlights include:

• Aug. 1: $500 customer choice show n’ shine, 4-9 p.m. at the Summit Sierra Mall, 13925 S. Virginia Street
• Aug. 2: Hot August Nights River Wine Walk, 3-6 p.m. in Downtown Reno
• Aug. 3: Pre-kick-off party and show n’ shine, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. in Downtown Reno
• Aug. 4: Sparks pre-kick-off party and open cruise in Downtown Sparks
• Aug. 5: Guinness Book of World Records Hula Hoop contest, 6-8 p.m. at the Atlantis Casino Resort
• Aug. 6: Classic Hot Rod Showcase, 8-8:30 p.m., Peppermill Hotel Casino
• Aug. 7: Johnny Barron and the Bel Aires live, 7-9:45 p.m. , Peppermill Hotel Casino
• Aug. 8: Ftizgerald’s Show n’ Shine, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fitzgerald’s Reno
• Aug. 9: Drag racing and burnouts, 6 p.m.-1 a.m., Reno-Fernley Raceway
• Aug. 10: Car Awards Presentation and Parade of Champions, 8:30 a.m., Downtown Reno

For a complete list of the dozens of Hot August Nights events, click here (pdf).

Reno’s newest redevelopment achievement, the West Street Market, has added another dimension to the culture of downtown, with a rotating farmers market, outdoor space for vendors and indoor space – currently under development – for local food, drink and retail businesses.

From its inception, the market has been developed to provide customers and sightseers a place to “Buy Fresh, Buy Local” foods and goods, stimulate an entrepreneurial town center, and create a venue for entertainment and educational events. The ambitious goals of the development are already becoming reality – it has already attracted A-list vendors and retailers, and the events are bringing good crowds.

Check out these great events:

• Saturday Farmers and Chefs Market
• Wednesday Eco-Market hosted by Nevada EcoNet
• Friday night Artisan Market hosted by the Holland Project
• Edible Landscape Demonstration Garden

The Indoor Market will open in October, with 15-18 permanent prepared food and fresh food vendors, artists, demonstrations, entertainment and education. The roofed indoor market features 8,494 square feet in three buildings, according to the City of Reno.

To see photos from the Holland Project, click here.

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One of the privileges that comes with living in the Reno-Tahoe area is the easy access to great events at great places.

Every summer The Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival offers the best of the Bard in a surreal setting - a stage at Incline Village’s Sand Harbor with the lake as a backdrop. This year, through Aug. 17, the festival offers two of Shakespeare’s most beloved works, “Richard III” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Also check out “Cambio” the musical based on the Victor Hugo novel “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.”

Every year locals and visitors take the short drive to Sand Harbor to enjoy a glass of wine, a picnic and a perfect Tahoe summer breeze while taking in the show. Come check it out if you can make it - the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival is a great tradition that only gets better every year.

For a complete schedule of show times, seating and ticket information, check out www.laketahoeshakespeare.com.

- Jim Scripps

Recently I was able to visit the Artists Reception for Art Slaves 2008, a display of “anything goes” artwork, including; paintings, sculptures, mixed medium, fashion, photography and performance art.

The art and conversation was thought provoking, and meeting the artists was a blessing.  I always enjoy talking to the artists to see what they were thinking when the created the pieces, and then comparing that to how I see them.

If you are interested in art, or want to see what several local artists have presented, please visit the Montage Gallery at 155 West Second Street in Reno, Nevada.

The MasterCraft  Pro Wakeboard Tour is coming to Sparks for the final stop of the 2008 season July 11-13. The sport’s top pros have one more chance at the podium before the final awards ceremony at John Ascuaga’s Nugget on the 13th.

The action will be held at the Sparks Marina, with athletes from more than 20 states and seven nations.

Event schedule:
Friday, July 11

• 10 am: Jr. Men Quarterfinals
• Noon-4 pm: Pro Men Qualifying

Saturday, July 12

• 8:30 am: Pro Women QualifyingS
• 10:30 am: Jr. Men Semifinals
• 12:30 pm: Pro Women Semifinals
• 1:30pm-4:30 pm: Pro Men Round of 30

Sunday, July 13

• 10 am: Pro Men Quarterfinals
• Noon: Jr. Men Finals
• 1 pm: Pro Men Semifinals
• 2 pm: Pro Women Finals
• 3-3:30 pm: Pro Men Finals
• TBA: Awards Ceremony

* Schedule is subject to change

Among the awards being presented at the Nugget is the Indmar Performance Award, a $10,000 cash bonus to the top points earner in the Pro Men’s Division and a $5,000 prize for the Pro Women’s Division winner.

Rookie of the Year honors for the Pro Men’s Division will also be presented during the ceremony.

Artown, one of the premier arts festivals in the west, is on its way to a banner year with great opening acts at the beginning of July, with more than 300 performances, many of them free, planned throughout the month.

Preservation Hall Jazz Band brought the flavor of New Orleans to Wingfield Park on July 2 with a free concert that had the crowd dancing, clapping and be-bopping along. The smoky skies cleared out just long enough to let the Northern Nevada sun shine down on the venue, while the band played some new stuff along with the jazz standards for which Preservation Hall is famous.

Every day for the duration of the Artown festival, there are options for every taste, from dance and art, to music and theater. Check online to see a full schedule of events, and if you haven’t experienced Reno during Artown, come and find out what you have been missing.

Reno-Tahoe turns red, white and blue in July, with Fourth of July events for the whole family.

Come hang out at Star-Spangled Sparks for a taste of hometown patriotism with a milk carton boat regatta, a fun run, a kite-flying contest, and food and drink at the Sparks Marina. The event is capped off with a spectacular evening fireworks display at Victorian Square.

Reno shows its true colors with a Fourth of July parade followed by the Reno Celebrates America fireworks show at Rancho San Rafael Park.

Other Fourth of July festivities:

• Incline Village: Red, White, and Tahoe Blue with the Reno Philharmonic
• Tahoe City: 62nd Annual Fourth of July Fireworks at Commons Beach
• South Lake Tahoe: Star Spangled Fourth - Lights on the Lake

It was a clear blue Sunday morning and the temperature was supposed to reach the low 90s. My boyfriend and I were off to spend Father’s Day rafting down the Truckee River with our two friends and their daughter.

We packed up our cheap rafts, oars, water and sunscreen and headed to Dorostkar River Park, off of Mayberry Drive in Reno. We piled out of the truck, got creative and used an air mattress pump to pump up our rafts.

After we got the rafts pumped up and into the Truckee River, we slid (none-too-gracefully) into them and started our almost five-mile trek from Dorostkar Park to Wingfield Park in downtown Reno.

Within 10 minutes, the bottom of our raft was already flat. As we hit rapids, trees and rocks, we had to lift our entire body off of the raft and lie straight in order for our bodies to survive the abuse.

Within the first 15 minutes, our raft was filled with water. Not because it was leaking (we had a hole but it wasn’t affecting us) but because the rapids and the jarring against rocks would splash water into our boat.

As my boyfriend tried to paddle us to safety, I was cupping my hands and trying to bail water out. As you might be able to guess, it didn’t work too well.

I gave up using my hands and dumped out the water in our only water bottle and tried to use the bottle to get some of the water out. The rapids were getting too crazy and there was more water splashing into our boat than there was getting out.

Somewhere between us swimming in our raft, getting our bodies bashed against rocks and running into a cove of trees, we decided that we really did buy a cheap boat.

Rafters, beware. Somewhere near Idlewild Park, there is a drop-off. By drop-off, I mean we would have fallen out of our boats and be swimming had we attempted the drop-off with our flat rafts. However, there were some brave folks who attempted the drop-off and made it through alive and OK. Stay to the far left when you approach it. If not, you will be going over rocks and those hurt a little bit more.

About four hours later, we finally floated into Wingfield Park. As soon as we hit the last rapid, I was swept out of the raft and gasping for air as I grappled for my boyfriend’s arm. I survived but I can’t say the same for our air mattress pump, water bottle, oar, bag of Wheat Thins and my shirt.

Despite the bruises I had, the killer sunburns the men got and the $30 worth of things floating down the Truckee River, we all had a blast. I’m sure we will do it again soon, hopefully this time with a more sturdy raft.

By Heather Lara, Nevada Commission on Tourism

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A world away from the ordinary, the Eldorado Hotel Casino’s hit show FloorPlay puts a twist on the art of traditional dance. From ballroom, waltz, tango, cha-cha, lindy, salsa, jive to Latin, FloorPlay presents two hours of provocative, nonstop dancing with 21st century flair.

The Eldorado Showroom comes to life with 20 international performers. Fans of America’s hit TV shows “Dancing with the Stars” and “So You Think You Can Dance” will enjoy seeing familiar faces in the spotlight. From across the globe, Australian ballroom dancing champions, World Latin American champions and dancers from Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Asia, Holland and Slovakia join this award-winning troupe.

Locals and visitors alike will savor this evening of excitement. And if the elaborate costumes, heart-pounding music, and beautiful dancers aren’t enough to satisfy your appetite, opt for the dinner and show package and indulge in the Eldorado’s Chefs’ Buffet to complete your night downtown.

For more information on FloorPlay, click here.

Reviewed by Erin Zelenski