Friends, Farmers, Food, Fun – “F”s have never sounded so good. Start your weekends early this summer at the 19^th annual Sparks Whole Foods Hometowne Farmer’s Market every Thursday from 4-8 p.m. in downtown Sparks Victorian Square Plaza, across from John Ascuaga’s Nugget. Fill your evenings, and your stomach, with a wide variety of seasonal items, produce, live musical performances, art/crafts and more.

With all of the mouthwatering food and treats offered, you might want to undo the top button of your pants to make room. But please, don’t take it any further. To complement the abundance of fresh seasonal items, a number of local vendors are joining the market with customer favorites.  At BJ’s Nevada Barbeque Co., indulge in some of the best barbeque in the county with their famous finger lickin’ ribs and barbeque pork and brisket sandwiches. We know you’ll get thirsty walking around on a warm summer night, so quench your thirst with iced, fresh squeezed lemonade from Goodie’s. Or, If you really want to cool down, stop by Sierra Swirl to satisfy your sweet tooth with a bubbly ice-cream float or decadent sundae to share (or not!). No matter what flavors you fancy, you’ll find them at the market.

Want to know where your food is coming from? Meet the growers:

Amber Oaks Raspberries

D&K Ranch

Dwelley Farms

Fruit Factory

Hidden Valley Honey

K& J Orchards

Lattin Farms

Minton Family Farms

Paine Orchards

Rodriquez Farms

V & M Farms

Workman Farms

Where the Truckee River meets Reno in the Eastern Sierra, water isn’t the only thing that flows. Here, a lively community of breweries and pubs has sprung up, offering visitors to the gateway to the Nevada desert a place to quench their thirst with microbrew beers, listen to a few tunes and get a taste of fun.

For years, downtown Reno has been enjoying the handcrafted goodness of the beers at Silver Peak Brewery, where at any given time there beer aficionados will find brews like Red Roadster, XXX Blonde, Baileywheat Hefeweizen, Peavine Porter and Silver Peak IPA while enjoying a great dinner menu as well as kicked back social scene.

Down the road in Sparks at Victorian Square, the brewers at Great Basin Brewing Co. are busy with batches of the famous “Icky” IPA (Ichthyosaur IPA, which seems to be the favorite among locals and visitors alike), or any one of a dozen or so craft beers with names like Jackpot Porter, Katie’s Cream Ale, Mollie’s Irish Stout, Nevada Gold, Old Fitz Bourbon Stout, Risky Biscuit Barley Wine, Rock Mai Bock, Stone Mother Marzen, Truckee River Red, Wheeler Peak Wheat and Whoop-Ass Witbier.

Nevada’s oldest and most decorated brewery serves it all with a hearty helping of live music, great pub-house fare and local flavor.

The area’s newest brewery, Buckbean, has quickly gained a following, as much for the tastiness of their signature beers like Orange Blossom Ale and Black Noddy, to their unique packaging – tall (16 ounce) cans. Or visitors are welcome to step into the brewery’s tasting room to get it straight from the tap.

Dozens of bars, nightclubs and restaurants support Nevada’s homegrown beers. So if you’re in town, hit up the favorites – Silver Peak, Great Basin, Brew Brothers, BJs – or just order something local. Your tastebuds will thank you.

Resources:

• Silver Peak
• Great Basin Brewing Company
• Buckbean
• Brew Brothers
• BJs
• Fifty Fifty

Reno-Tahoe knows how to throw a party, and one of the biggest excuses of the year is Halloween. Here’s a breakdown of some the region’s Halloween events. If you know of an event not listed here, please submit in the comment section:

• Magic Underground: Through Oct. 31 Famous magician couple Kalin and Jinger will present a special Halloween show at the Magic Underground in Reno.
• Halloween Hallow: Downtown Reno merchants put on this annual event, with fun for the kids, candy and entertainment.
• Ghost Night: Bring the kids to historic Virginia City for “Ghost Night,” with a parade, costume contests and other haunted happenings.
• Trick or Treat in the Streets: Oct. 31 from 5-8 p.m. at the National Automobile Museum in downtown Reno.
• Trick or Treat Street: Oct. 31 from 4-7 p.m. at Circus Circus in Reno.
• The Reno Zombie Crawl: Bring your best zombie outfit and hit several downtown Reno hot spots the evening of Oct. 31.
• Halloween Skin and Scare Ball: Oct. 31- Nov. 1 at Edge nightclub, or hit Cal Neva, Gold Dust West, Harrah’s Reno or the Peppermill Reno for one of several local parties.
• Halloween Monster Mash: Oct. 31 at Pearl Champagne Lounge at the Grand Sierra Resort.
• 11th Annual Freakers’ Ball: Oct. 31 at Bruka Theatre in Downtown Reno.
• Freaks of Fashion – Circus of Wonders: Oct. 31, 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. – features live music by Keyser Soze, fashion by Haute Trash, drink specials and a costume contest.
• Night at the Mansion: Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at 10 p.m. at BuBinga Lounge at the Eldorado Hotel Casino.

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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