It’s already dark when we get to the outskirts of Reno and try to find the old Lincoln Highway route into town.
Thanks to a brusk Asian cop in a gas station, we get onto Prater Way, turn left, and after a while, it becomes Fourth Street in Reno. For a while, we start to see high-rise casinos off to our left, and we appear to be heading in a wrong direction, but then Fourth Street swings around, and soon we’re in the midst of dancing neon and high stakes rollers, competing casinos, and the famous arch over Virginia Street proclaiming this “The Biggest Little City In The World.”
We shoot everything. I’m driving. Bob and Jarrett are hanging out the windows, all cameras blazing away! We sing a little Johnny Cash. This Reno is certainly lively looking, more Vegas-y than Ely-esque.
We find rooms in a medium-sized casino called the Sienna near where an older RENO arch has been re-created or re-installed or something. It’s tasteful and reserved compared to the main one today.
After we get the equipment to the rooms, we go in search of dinner. A nearby, interesting looking Italian place is already closed. It’s 10:05 pm. We walk toward Harrah’s, one of the big casinos, pausing on the sidewalk long enough for me to adlib a quick “stand-up” for Jarrett to shoot and use on one of his video postcards for this blog. Watch it.
Then we find an open eatery in Harrah’s.
Bob and Jarrett both have halibut and I take the Ukrainian waitress’s suggestion and try something Chinese. They fare better than I.
By the end of my lo mein, I’m zonked. No blackjack for me tonight. Bob says he may take a walk.
We agree to meet for breakfast at 8 am, as usual. At the casino’s coffee shop.