What's Good, Reno (3/4)

Happy Tuesday, Reno. You know the drill – grab your coffee (or whatever you sip in the morning), kick back, and let The Reno Current serve up this week’s What’s Good Edition featuring five things that’ll help you live better, stay ahead, stress less, and enjoy more ☕️

In this week’s edition:

• Get shamrocked ☘️

• A lot o’ free stuff 📑

• Healthier eats 🥕

• Friendly reminder 📋️

• Spring tune-ups 🏠️

Let’s get to it.

☘️ St. Paddy’s shenanigans

March 14th kicks things off at Midnight Coffee Roasting with some good old fashioned comedy from Matty Redhead, Lonza Beacham, and Justin Hudson. Same day, you can also check out Kilts & Kegs, the launch party of a new Irish stout at The Brewers Cabinet (it’s family friendly and supports local Celtic non-profits).

Slieve Brewing is throwing a bash the same day, too with authentic food, live music, and Irish beer releases.

If none of those strike your fancy, there’s a Shrek rave going down at the Virginia Street Brewhouse. It’s not really for the holiday, but he is green at least.

About 30 minutes away in Virginia City, the St. Patrick’s Day parade will be rolling down C Street starting at noon on Saturday, March 15th.

The city also has numerous adult and family-friendly celebrations throughout the day, including the Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry, the St. Paddy Made Me Do It Saloon Crawl (where you’ll get to vote for the best cocktail, sweet treats, and more), and the Luck of the Irish Murder Mystery Train. 

If your idea of celebrating involves a sea of green-clad strangers and questionable decision-making, Reno’s got not one but two major pub crawls happening March 15.

The Reno Leprechaun Crawl is the local flavor and includes over 27 bars, $4 drink specials, DJs, arcade games, and a new Brewery Irish Entertainment District. The Lucky’s St. Patrick’s Day Crawl is hosted by Crawl with US, a nationwide company that throws them all over the country. It has different start times and other perks.

Got a doggo who wants to celebrate to? Stop by any Your Local Pet Station locations on March 15th for a Pawrock shake, pet paw print crafts, and special prizes.

If you want more, the Leprechaun Race is Sunday, the 16th at 8:30 am — it’s too late to register, but you can cheer on this year’s runners for free.

On St. Paddy’s Day itself (the 17th), Jeepers are invited to meet up at Shenanigan’s.

📚 Your library card has secret super powers

Your Washoe County library card might be the most underutilized tool in your wallet. Don’t have one? You should get one! It’s free for residents →

Beyond free books (which is a huge win already if we’re being honest), our libraries have evolved into community resource centers with benefits that make premium subscriptions jealous.

From documentaries, newspapers, and free online courses to audio books, eBooks, tv shows, movies, and music, your card gives you immediate access to a whole lot of stuff.

On top of that, you can check out museum passes and park passes, use the 3D printing machine for free, and more.

Each branch offers free programs for understanding the tech in your pocket, story times for families, family engagement activities, teen hangouts, craft circles, LEGO club, game nights, free educational lectures, free tax preparation, and more.

If you’ve been waiting for a sign to check out your neighborhood library, this is it →

🥗 A quick tip to healthier eating around town

Finding quick & nutritious food can feel like hunting for a unicorn. The secret weapon? Establishing a rotation of healthy local spots for those "I can't even" days.

It’s not always easy to find places with transparent ingredients and balanced meals featuring actual vegetables. But when you find one, make a mental note, start a list in your notes app, or write it down on paper.

This way, you always have a go-to when you don’t want to think about lunch or dinner.

I started my own list a few weeks ago and let me tell you… it’s a whole lot easier to make smart choices amidst the chaos.

Top of my list? Great Full Gardens — there are locations in Midtown, down south, east, and west. Not only is it convenient, it’s also so tasty you’ll have to remind yourself it’s healthy. Their sandwiches and desserts are my favorite things on the menu.

📝 You have 42 days to file your taxes

This is your friendly reminder that April 15th will be here before you know it. Whether you DIY it with TurboTax, keep it old school with pen, paper, and snail mail, or leave it to the pros (we like Harger & Excelsis), it’s just as important to get all your tax ducks in a row as soon as possible.

If you need extra assistance, AARP Foundation volunteers will be at various locations (including Neil Road Rec Center, South Valleys Library, and Northwest Reno Library) on different days at different times until April 15th to help you for free.

No matter your age or income, they’ll answer all your questions and hep you cross “tax panic” off your to do list →

🏠 Spring tune-ups for homeowners

As we shake off the last of winter, it’s time for some spring maintenance around the house. Start by inspecting your roof for sagging, deterioration, and visible damage, and checking screens before bug season kicks in. If your home has gutters, you should also make sure they’re in working order. Hit up Reno Tahoe Cleaning if you prefer relaxing instead of getting up on a ladder.

Your foundation and siding are other areas that require special scrutiny. Look for obvious signs of wear, cracks, and deterioration that can lead to expensive problems later.

While you're outside, check for drainage issues and trim any plants that are getting too cozy with your foundation (Cory’s Lawn Service is great if you don’t want to deal with outdoor cleanup yourself). You may also want to consider giving your deck and siding a proper power wash to rinse away dust, dirt, and grime – just be gentle with those pressure settings.

Inside, make sure your air conditioner is ready for the high desert heat. If you need a tune-up, repair, or replacement, we like Paul’s and Ross Heating & Air.

Rebuilding Together Northern Nevada offers a neighborhood renewal program for qualified residents.

🧩 Extra fun & games

This week’s word search features the most fun, festive, unique, or Reno-esque words from this edition.

See ya Friday (with a fresh batch of 20+ things going on next week)!

P.S. Know of any good things around Reno we should spotlight or want to ask a question? Feel free to reply (or email us) any time.