Reno Santa Crawl 2009
Experience Date: 12/10 – 12/12/2009
Stars: 5+
2009’s Reno Santa Crawl wasn’t just a Saturday night of pub crawling for my friends and I, but truly a Friday through Sunday experience (dubbed the Reindeer Games by some, we’ll see if that catches on). Thursday through Sunday if you count the costume-making get together we had before the weekend really even started.
Friday: Santa Crawl Pajama Ball
At The National Bowling Stadium
Santa Crawl Pajama Ball
This charity fund raising event was held at the National Bowling Stadium downtown (and I thought I’d never get to bowl there!) Two games and shoes for $15, with proceeds going to Hashimoto Widows and Orphans’ Fund for families of fallen police officers in the Reno/Sparks area, was a fantastic deal. If that wasn’t reason enough, it was Holly’s 27th birthday and this was the perfect setting for her celebration. We honestly arrived first, literally had bells on, and I think somewhat scared the less-than-organized volunteer staffers with our enthusiasm. Our group was even interviewed by Channel 4 News (would love to get my hands on the segment) and had a blast bowling and of course taking about a gazillion photos. I hope this event comes back in ’10.
Saturday: Santa Pub Crawl
Jingle Ballers
Foregoing the Mt. Rose Santa Crawl skiing extravaganza for another commitment (Reno Passport photo shoot), our group headed downtown around 7 to get settled in to our rooms at the CalNeva (thanks again for the $10 room offer to crawlers!) and avoid getting stuck somewhere along the way in the snowstorm. When dressed, ready and flared to the max, we opted for the classic Reno budget dinner of Awful Awful and then began our night.
The crawl took us all over downtown Reno on Saturday night; the snow and slush did not stop us! Santa Crawl 2009 brought out a whole new breed of creativity with costumes ranging from the giant gingerbread man, to a polar bear and a myriad of Dick-In-A-Box dudes. Crawlers amassed at the arch at midnight and the night went on and on and on from there.
Sunday: We Don’t Stop
Sunday Morning Angels
Having had the CalNeva hotel rooms, we woke up downtown Sunday morning pretty much still in full crawl gear. My little sis was in town visiting, and in true Blahnik vacationer spirit, she had a cocktail in hand within 15 minutes of opening her eyes. I followed suit, as did the rest of the team by the time we reached our morning breakfast spot at the Eldorado casino. We decided during breakfast that the crawl was not over and proceeded to march around downtown Reno for the rest of the morning, hitting the ice skating rink, one of the many fine liquor stores and finally finishing at Sierra Tap House (on Patrick’s dime, thanks bud).
All in all, there was a wonderfully positive energy this year at the Reno Santa Crawl, and in keeping with most all other things we do…we tore it up nonstop with grins from ear to ear.
La Tomatina en Reno 2009
Experience Date: 8/29/09
Stars: 5+
Yep, I made the front page of the CalNeva blog
My interest in La Tomatina en Reno was instant and intense. CalNeva began promoting the event on Facebook early in the summer…it was to be an August afternoon tomato fight in the middle of downtown Reno, sponsored by the CalNeva and benefitting the American Cancer Society. $10 to get you in to huck 25 tons of tomatoes at your best friends, worst enemies and other random Renonians. I immediately started forwarding the info and updates to my core Reno peeps and kept it going over the next several weeks. After the amazing fun we had a Run Amuck earlier this summer, we HAD to participate.
Kitty assisted with costume prep
Saturday morning Holly and I got up bright and early, inspired by the quest to find the perfect costume for La Tomatina en Reno. This is Reno, land of themed downtown events and since 2008, I’ve bowled in formal-wear, combat gear, and as part of a human rainbow; crawled downtown as a zombie, Mrs. Claus and SuperCop, run amuck as a chola from Wingfield to Idelwild and back… La Tomatina was going to be no different. We were in it to bling it.
2 Wal-marts, Winco, CVS and a party store later we were back at the pad decorating shirts, wristguards and snorkeling masks for ourselves and our noble male friends (who lets be honest were much more interested in throwing tomatoes than the costume making pre-party). We were able to thoroughly entertain ourselves from 9am to 4:30pm solely based on La Tomatina. It was great. Oh yes, and the event kicked ass. Sorry again, City of Reno, for that shower we took in the Truckee Riverwalk fountain…
BEFORE
Food fight!
AFTER
...and the shower, haha!
Be ready for 2010, Reno.
