El Cortez Awning Now Removed - And It Looks Amazing

The El Cortez's cheesy awning is now completely removed. Check it out, looks great!

Downtown Sculpture Being Relocated to Park

This morning, crews began moving the Portal of Evolution sculpture from City Hall Plaza to its new location on the east end of Bicentennial Park.

El Cortez's Awning Comes Down, Exposes Beautiful Work Underneath

El Cortez's hideous awning that doesn't match the building at all, is coming down, much to the delight of Noble Pie Parlor owners Trevor Leppek and Ryan 'Pie Face' Goldhammer.

Public Input for Virginia Street Corridor Project

RTC will be holding two upcoming community meetings to review and discuss plans to make Virginia Street in MidTown more pedestrian-friendly, and expand RAPID Transit north to UNR.

Siegel Weighing Two Options for Awnings at El Cortez

So the word on the street is Siegel Group is demolishing the current awnings over the retail businesses on the first floor, and is looking at two options moving forward.

I also can't wait to see what they come up with for window options, since the Historical Resources Commission recommended they come up with window replacements that have a bit more of a historical feel than 1970s style slider windows.

Photo Tour of 50 South Virginia

Check out a photo tour of the extremely cool 50 South Virginia Project, which is the former U.S. Post Office in downtown Reno on the river. Amazing plans are in place already, so check out the photos and read on!

A Day of Sneak Peeks Part 3: Plans for the Virginian

A Day of Sneak Peeks Part 3: Plans for the Virginian.

The Virginian is the long-closed hotel casino located on Virginia Street just north of City Hall and First Street, on the east side of Virginia Street. On the same day I was checking out Ross Apartments and the Shelter, Downtownmakeover fan Matt Orchowski went on a tour of the Virginian, snapped some photos, and learned some surprising facts about the building.

A Day of Sneak Peeks Part 2: Ross Apartments

A Day of Sneak Peeks Part 2: Ross Apartments. Check out Ross Manor's renovations of their 1 bedroom units, along with a name change to Ross Apartments.

A Day of Sneak Peeks Part 1: The Shelter

I have a trio of sneak peaks for you today! Let's start with the Shelter, a new bar/entertainment venue downtown that will be opening to the public next Thursday, March 26.

New Venues Headed to 1st and West

A couple of quick announcements:

1)      The old Beaujolais location 130 West Street has been rented out to a new business called “Crafted Palette”. This will be a high-end specialty coffee shop with light breakfasts’ in addition to a paint and sip venue in the late afternoon and evenings. Like them on Facebook here.

2)      123 W. First Street (Old Bugsy’s Bar Location); one side has been leased  to a business called “Derby Supply Company”.  This will be a 1930’s style barbershop. They are offering cocktails while one might be getting a true straight razor shave and haircut. Look for build-out to begin late Spring, early Summer.

Scultpure-Fest Coming to Downtown Reno

Reno Sculpture Fest will take place between the Whitney Peak and El Dorado on the ReTrac Plaza from May 8th-10th. The festival will feature over fifteen talented local artists including eight new commissioned sculptures for the event. The new pieces will be human sized or larger, up to 14 feet tall.

City To Discuss Closing Virginia Street for Pedestrian Mall

There are several interesting tidbits coming up in next Wednesday's council meeting, including discussing closing Virginia Street from the Truckee River to 4th Street to create a pedestrian mall.