What a strange and scary few months it’s been. Quarantine. Masks, gloves, disinfectant. Social distancing. No hugs or handshakes. Virtual happy hour with friends and family members. Food and product shortages. Slow and cautious reopening of restaurants, bars, and other businesses. Finally relishing dining and drinking at my favorite local haunts and seeing others enjoying themselves. Distance does make the heart grow fonder. How I missed our friends and all of the wonderful experiences I enjoy outside my home.
One of the good aspects to come out of the lockdown is, in staring at my walls and yard, I realized a serious need for sprucing up my home and garden. Because I was forced to be homebound, like a lot of you, I poured efforts into fixing and beautifying my sanctuary. Projects included deep cleaning, reorganizing, repairing roof tiles, fixing the pergola and fence, and planting native, bird- and butterfly-friendly, and edible bushes.
This year, locals flocked to farmers and garden nurseries to buy flowers, trees, and shrubs to improve their landscapes and grow edible delights. We’re all looking for garden inspiration. So, in this issue, we bring you three stories on the topic. Get a look at a Reno man’s glorious garden filled with rare treats, and check out the edible landscape at the Patagonia Distribution Center. You’ll also meet a few locals tending backyard vineyards.
To help you with your projects, we created a home section in this issue. It’s packed with local resources, from a handyman, roofer, and kitchen cabinet installer to real estate agents to help you find your dream home (interest rates are at an all-time low).
At the peak of our cabin fever, when we just couldn’t cook anymore, we stepped out for a burger to go. We realized that our research would be a great service to our readers, so we are sharing our finds. Read about the burgers we discovered around the region. This is by no means a comprehensive list; it’s just a few (15) favorites. I hope you enjoy our picks.
For 11 years, we’ve celebrated local food, drink, and other businesses through stories and advertisements. I’ve touted the importance of supporting our community. Now it’s more important than ever. Local businesses need your help to survive. Please consider spending your money in our area as much as possible. Help your neighbors, friends, and family members maintain their jobs; help business owners keep their doors open; and stimulate our economy.
Now get outside and enjoy the sunshine!
Amanda
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About the Cover The Revision Beer Cheese Burger at Old Granite Street Eatery in Reno. Photo by Asa Gilmore
This issue is dedicated to Chili (April 23, 2005 – May 13, 2020)
