Submitted by Karl Breckenridge
I love this town. And comin’ from one of the most ill-regarded curmudgeons in our valley, that statement speaks volumes. We’ve been hit with probably the hardest and most undeserved event in our history, and I’m going back to seven weeks after I was born – Pearl Harbor.
The effects are still habits to be broken – goin’ to the gym this Sunday morning after I write this. Whoops, Sports West is closed. I asked Tom Cook if they were making their weekly trek to dinner after church on Saturday night – whoops – no church. And Johnny’s is closed. To Chris Wassenberg: “Let’s get a beer at Shenanigan’s.” Nope. Let’s watch NASCAR. Nope.
To my grandkids in San Mateo on the phone: “How’s school?” “Grandpaaaa….” (Extra “a”s added to show disdain.) My grandson, normally in Pullman at WSU – now home in San Francisco. And not going to any Giants baseball games, neither….
And so it goes – my coffee group guys, and I hope yours, burning up the phone lines – How are ya? How’s your bride? One sees some of these reprobates for 50 years or so every morning to get caught up, do a little business and start another rumor – then abruptly cut it off – it hurts. Red Kittell – 50+ years we’ve been hanging out – no Red. I emailed John O’Looney, chief bear at the Black Bear Diner – home, reading. John? Home? Reading? Wowee…
Gettin’ out of the manse yesterday, I heard a cheery voice that I recognized after 35 years – Roslyn Zimmerman, one of Reno’s premier Realtors, walking with her family and pooch in front of my home on the new concrete sidewalk that Norman Dianda and Bret Goff placed a couple months ago (that’s for you, Don Vetter!). Roz was walking with her kids and we yakked, then some folks I didn’t even know took her place talking. I think it took me ten great minutes to get to my car, with a half-dozen new friends made in the process.
I earlier had spoken with Judy Ashton at Zozo’s restaurant (wait, what? Oh; “Ristorante”) who said that the ten days preceding The Shutdown were ten of her best since she bought it as Pane Vino in 2000. “People just want to be together.” Someday I’ll run a story of her days shortly following 9-11, the Twin Towers’ redemption and her service to the stranded businessmen following 9-11. Nice lady…
We’re a friendlier town.
Take a walk around Virginia Lake as I did yesterday (if you can find a parking place!). The walkway was packed with people – some old friends, some new, but all enjoying the sun and each other’s company from six feet apart. One friendly ol’ golden lab got a scratch from children of all ages. But all had a greeting or a nod as they strolled, got out of each other’s way, laughed and smiled. No strangers at Virginia Lake yesterday, or probably today.
Many spoke of the Wednesday nights when Tink and the Reno Muni Band played the lake’s park (in July; the Quad at the University – not “UNR” – in August). And Tink (or later my classmate Glenn Little) would close the night by marching the kids around the park while the band played “Stars and Stripes Forever.” Good days, good nights, several spoke of it yesterday. Go to the lake this afternoon; I’ll bet you’ll see and hear what I mean.
Next stop on my outing saw Raley’s Mayberry – more of the same. Busy, not packed, but all happy to help (I busted a hip and am still wobbly – use a cane and a grimace to get around). “Can I help you, Sir?” – “May I carry that to your car?” Prior to yesterday, ‘Sir’ was usually preceded only by “May I see your driver’s license and vehicle registration?”
Since you’re all at Virginia Lake and not reading this anyway, I’ll sneak in a little plug for Hailee and the Raley’s eCart service (she’s at the old Scolari’s atop Caughlin Parkway). This is the best-kept secret and boon to an ol’ crip like me since Raley’s started selling sliced bread.
So – away we go on a Sunday morning, and I thank Bob Conrad of This is Reno and Kristen Hackbarth, who will get this in a few minutes on her Sunday and have to turn it into passable English, for the opportunity to write these columns during this dark period in Reno’s history. See ya back here tomorrow and we’ll kick off another week. Be safe, huh?
Karl Breckenridge
Karl Breckenridge was slowly going nuts. So he decided to help out This is Reno by writing a daily out-of-his-mind column for the duration of the coronavirus shutdown. Now that it’s over he’s back to his usual antics, drinking coffee with the boys at the Bear and, well, we’re not sure what else. But he loved sharing his daily musings with you, so he’s back, albeit a little less often, to keep on sharing. Karl grew up in the valley and has stories from the area going back to 1945. He’s been writing for 32 years locally.
Read more from Karl Breckenridge
Cheers 4 – the Lear steam bus
The latest news on the Lear Theater has Karl remembering some of the Lear’s other projects, including a steam-powered bus.
Cheers 3 – the groceries II
Karl did not limit his column to ten items or less, so get out of the express line to read this history of Reno grocery markets.
Cheers 2 – the groceries I
Karl got a little distracted this week, starting off with a list of Reno’s great groceries of yesterday then slipping on some ice.
Cheers 1 – Of wine and Little Italy
Karl is back, making us all wonder why we didn’t spend more time during stay-at-home orders pressing grapes into homemade wine.
Day 75 – Karl’s retired to the Bear
From the get-go our pal Karl said he’d write “a short squib on a daily basis – nothing political, nothing controversial,” well, except for that one column.
Day 74 – the Truckee’s picturesque islands (updated)
Karl’s pal Jody shares the rich history of bootlegging, decorating, and engineering within the confines of the Truckee River’s banks and its picturesque islands.
Day 72 – Hobos, tigers and leprechauns
Karl recollects the series of eateries that drew diners to the corner of Virginia Street and Gentry Way for several decades.
Day 70 & 71 – in Flanders Fields
Karl shares a poem by John McCrae to mark Memorial Day.
Day 69 – The Nugget shark: John meets Jaws
Karl was talking about baby shark, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, long before the kids these days had ever been born.
Day 67 – What I like about Reno High
Karl, er, Carmine Ghia, writes an end-of-school-year essay to turn in to Mrs. Lehners about everything he likes about Reno High School.
Day 67 – 25 Bret Harte
Karl saddles up and heads to Newlands Manor where Western movies star Reno Browne grew up, and Lash Larue paid a visit or two.
Day 66 – Out for dinner we go
Karl goes out to eat at the El Tavern Motel, a truck stop outside the Reno city limits on the Lincoln Highway.
Day 65 – Dawn Bunker
Karl is back in action with a fresh story of which students of Mrs. Bunker’s class at Jessie Beck Elementary School still won’t spill the beans.
Day 64 – abducted
Karl Breckenridge called in to This Is Reno editors this morning with a hands-in-the-air, what-can-I-do sense of resignation.
Day 63 – Wedding chapels
Karl’s enjoying coffee with pals at the Bear, so today Jody stands at the altar to share the history of Reno’s wedding chapel industry.
Day 62 – the mansion at 2301 Lakeside Drive
Karl’s 7-year-old alter ego rides his bike down to Virginia Lake to explore the Hancock Mansion, a nifty home complete with a bomb shelter, sunroof and doll collection.
Day 61 – Basque hotels
Karl wanders back in time to 1960, a time when multiple Basque hotels served up minestrone soup, English lessons, banking, and accommodations.
Day 60 – the bygone Greyhound terminal
Karl’s synapses are firing today after hearing mention of Reno’s Greyhound bus terminal on Stevenson Street, now razed.
Day 59 – Don’t tell Mom
Karl rewinds to Mother’s Day to share a story from the archive about Grandpas without a Clue and another ragtop adventure, by reader demand.
Day 58 – School stuff
Karl considers the value of a school name as the WCSD moves to rename one of the area’s older remaining schools and open a new one.
Day 57 – Pedalin’ around Vine Street
Karl rides his bike through history, remembering some of the places and people that helped to build Reno into the city it is today.
Submitted opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of This Is Reno. Have something to say? Submit an opinion article or letter to the editor here.
