Happenings
The 42nd Annual Great Italian Festival takes place Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 12 and 13, at The ROW in downtown Reno, celebrating Italian cultures and traditions with a sauce-cooking contest, an Italian farmers’ market, food booths and live entertainment. This year, celebrity chef Buddy V from the A&E shows Cake Dynasty and Legends of the Fork will be in attendance. For more information, head to www.caesars.com/the-row-reno/events/great-italian-festival.
The 34th Annual Chocolate and Wine Festival is from 6 to 10 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 19 at the Hyatt Regency Grand Ballroom in Incline Village, at 111 Country Club Drive. The event begins with chocolate- and wine-tasting, is followed by an auction, and ends with live music and dancing. The evening benefits the Sierra Community House, which provides hunger relief, victim support and violence-prevention education in the North Tahoe/Truckee area. For tickets, which cost $200, and more information, head to sierracommunityhouse.org.
The 10th Annual Grand Sierra Beer & Chili Festival is from 1 to 6 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Grand Sierra Resort, at 2500 E. Second St., in Reno. Guests can enjoy beer tastings from a variety of local, regional and national craft-beer favorites alongside chili samples, to be voted on for the People’s Choice prize. Unlimited tasting packages are available for $50 to $60, and a portion of proceeds will benefit the Reno Rodeo Foundation. For tickets, head to www.grandsierraresort.com/grand-sierra-beer-and-chili-festival.
The Reno Zombie Crawl starts at 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 19, and this year spans downtown and the Brewery District on East Fourth Street. With more than 40 participating bars and 150 drink and food specials, the Reno Zombie Crawl is one of the largest bar crawls in the world. For more information and to purchase cups online (currently for $13), visit crawlreno.com/event/zombiecrawl.
Openings
The Reno Public Market’s food hall, at 299 E. Plumb Lane, in Reno, will see the addition of a poke bowl concept and a salad bar, as well as the expansion of Honey Bar to offer more tequila and wine options. “The continued evolution of the food hall means that there’s always new options for the community and visitors to enjoy when they stop by Reno Public Market,” said Mike Mac Millan, general manager of the food hall at Reno Public Market, in a news release. To learn more, visit www.renopublicmarket.com.
Champagne & Chocolate has opened at 550 W. Plumb Lane, Suite E, in Reno. The second location of the South Lake Tahoe concept features a full bar, a build-your-own candy bar station with more than 30 ingredients to choose from, and exclusive brunch offers Friday through Sunday. Learn more at champagnechocolate.shop/pages/location-reno.
Squeeze In has opened a new location in Fernley, in the Fernley Village Marketplace at 1420 U.S. 95 ALT, Suite 1. Opened by Fernley residents Troy Blake and Jim Gurnea, the new location will feature Squeeze In classics like omelets, eggs benedicts and award-winning Bloody Marys. Get more information at squeezein.com.
The Oyster Bar has opened in the Legends Bay Casino, at 100 Legends Bay Drive, in Sparks. Menu items include oysters on the half-shell, pan roasts, gumbo and Maine lobster rolls. “The Oyster Bar will showcase the freshest seafood selections and offer a modern twist on seafood classics,” said Ryan Walker, general manager of Legends Bay Casino, in a news release. “We’re committed to sourcing the highest quality ingredients with a menu that reflects our passion for seafood excellence, providing guests with an unforgettable dining experience.” Find out more at legendsbaycasino.com/eat-drink/oyster-bar.
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