When most people hear the word “Reno,” they think of one of two things: gambling or divorce. While both are an integral part of the Nevada city’s history and identity, neither would seem to make for a particularly enjoyable family vacation.But, it’s been 50 years since Reno began altering its reputation as America’s divorce capital and at least as long since locals started exploring Reno life beyond the gaming floor. During the past decade alone, development of downtown Reno has seen a shift from sprawling gaming complexes to smaller, mostly independent restaurants, shops and art houses. While gambling remains a key draw for visitors and natives, it’s far from the only show in town. Take a spin around downtown instead of on the roulette wheel. Here are some ideas.1. Get wet: The Truckee River, which runs along First Street, has emerged as one of Reno’s greatest resources. The Truckee River Whitewater Park (First Street and Arlington Avenue) features 2,600 feet of class 2 and 3 rapids suitable for kayaks, canoes, inner tubes and other small watercraft. Wingfield Park, which encompasses the whitewater park as well as four other sites along the river, offers picnic shelters, barbecues, basketball courts, an amphitheater, pathways and swimming access. Some nearby shops such as Sierra Adventures) (254 W. First St.) rent and sell water gear and other equipment. Many restaurants and shops also line the so-called riverwalk.2. Drink some coffee: Downtown Reno has quietly become home to more specialty coffee shops than the average piazza (square) in Italy! These include Dreamer’s Coffee House (17 S. Virginia St.), Se7en Teahouse and Bar (100 N. Arlington Ave.), Tahoe Roasting Co. (616 W. Fourth St.), Bibo Coffee Company (680 Mount Rose St. and 50 W. Liberty St.). The Java Jungle (246 W. First St.), and Pneumatic Diner (501 W. First St.)3. Go to a concert: While downtown has been a notoriously tough area for small music venues, bars such as Se7en, the Satellite Cocktail Lounge, (188 California Ave.) and Tonic Lounge (231 W. Second St.) frequently host live music. Several small clubs have managed to hang on near the east end of Fourth Street, too. Most casinos also host live music that ranges from lounge crooners on the gaming floor to national acts in large show rooms. Also, the Reno Events Center (400 N. Center St.) and Lawlor Events Center (1500 N. Virginia St.,) host a variety of concerts and other shows.4. Watch a game: The Reno Events Center is home to the Reno Bighorns, a National Basketball Association Development League team. Other local teams include the University of Nevada Wolf Pack and the Battle Born Derby Demons, a women’s roller derby team. Reno also is home to the National Bowling Stadium, which hosts the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships every three years, and is in the process of building a Triple-A baseball stadium (sierranevadastadium.com).5. Have a drink: Among the scores of neighborhood bars, pubs and dives, several downtown Reno watering holes distinguish themselves. The Sierra Tap House(252 W. First St.) offers riverside seating and a wide selection of Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. products in a Chicago-style setting. Jungle Vino (adjoined to the Java Jungle, see No. 2 above) proffers wines and elaborate mixed drinks in a wine bar setting. And the Silver Peak Brewery (124 Wonder St. and 135 N. Sierra St.) makes arguably the best beer in the state.6. Bring something home: The new West Street Market (West Street is situated between First and Second streets) features several farmers markets and festivals, as well as a permanent bakery, wine bar, gift shops and restaurants. The Chocolate Bar (475 S. Arlington Ave.) sells high-end chocolates, truffles and beverages, as well as “small-plate” meals. Also, general souvenir shops are commonplace on West Street and in casinos, especially near the Reno Arch (Virginia Street between Second and Third streets).7. Learn something: In addition to being a work of art in its own right, the Nevada Museum of Art (160 W. Liberty Street) features rotating and permanent exhibits in many media. The Wilbur D. May Center (1595 N. Sierra St.) houses a museum of stuffed, exotic animals and artifacts, an arboretum, and Great Basin Adventure – a semi-educational, semi-recreational amusement park. Nearby, the University of Nevada, Reno, (1664 N. Virginia St.) recently opened a stunning new student union and a multimillion-dollar library.8. Read something: The Reno Gazette-Journal newspaper is available throughout downtown, but visitors should keep an eye out for the Reno News and Review, a free weekly publication with extensive listings of local events and activities. Sundance Bookstore (1155 W. Fourth St.), Dharma Books (11 N. Sierra St.) and the University of Nevada bookstore all offer books of local and national interest.9. Take in a performance: The Bruka Theatre (99 N. Virginia St.) and the Pioneer Center (100 S. Virginia St) feature live performances ranging from children’s plays to existential drama and opera. The Nevada Museum of Art (see No. 7 above) sometimes hosts live performances as well. And the Century Riverside 12 (11 N. Sierra St., the same building as Dharma Books) is a standard movie theater that occasionally offers independent movies along with the blockbusters.10. Take a walk: Though it is certainly possible to find ugly settings in Reno (visitors are advised not to wander too far east of downtown without a destination in mind), the riverfront is quite an attractive place to walk year-round. In the summer, children splash in the river while their parents lounge in one of the many parks or sip coffee on cafe patios. In the winter, glittering lights are strung from bridges and trees and people crowd the Rink on the River (near First and Virginia streets; varies seasonally). Annual events such as Hot August Nights and Street Vibrations routinely attract thousands of people from across the country.Simply stated, today’s Reno is a far cry from the divorce ranches and smoke-filled gambling parlors of old.
Buying Modern Furniture in a Modern World
More and more businesses are transitioning to e-commerce every day and the furniture industry is no different. By selling top of the line furniture on the internet they are able to cut down overall overhead costs. Instead of having employees and show pieces, a furniture retailer only needs a warehouse and people to deliver the items. There are several areas to consider when choosing to buy furniture before making that final purchase.Direct From the ManufacturerWhenever possible, it is best to order your modern furniture online directly from the manufacturer. Consumers often leap right to their favorite distributor instead of considering the possible savings from the manufacturer. Depending on the style of furniture you would like, there may be additional deals and discounts available to you for the purchase. The prices are typically less when modern furniture is purchased directly from the manufacturer.Discount StoresThere are two types of surplus outlets that offer discount furniture. The first is what many people call a “scratch and dent” store. This name means exactly that, the products being offered have been previous showroom pieces or may have experienced minor damage during shipment. Buying scratch and dent furniture is the best way to save money on your furniture purchase. Overall, the damage is usually subtle or unnoticeable, but because there is a slight knick here or a snag in the fabric there, the item will be drastically reduced in price.The other option when purchasing furniture from a discount outlet is an online surplus store. These facilities are able to get miscellaneous pieces of furniture directly from the manufacturers, which have been overproduced, at a discount rate. The downfall of this is that sometimes it is hard to find matching modern furniture online and the stock is regularly changing. Retail outlets purchase specific numbers of furniture items, when a company produces 107 of something they only needed 100 of, those 7 other pieces are sold to surplus furniture stores. Finding discounted prices for something in mint condition is a steal when buying modern furniture online.Furniture RetailersThere are consumers who wish to skip the hassles of navigating the manufacturer website and discount stores and simply want to purchase furniture from a store that they trust. When you choose to buy modern furniture online it is best to select a retailer that specializes in furniture. While there is much appeal to choosing furniture online through a retailer because the selection is usually the same, there are often payment programs available and the quality is brand new; consumers will still be forced to pay high shipping rates and a higher price for their modern furniture online purchase. Retailers often offer free delivery and set up during sale times as well.The right method of purchasing modern furniture online varies based on consumer preference and budget. There are many ways to save money and get a quality product if you are a smart and savvy shopper. No matter which way your purchase modern furniture online, you will enjoy the pleasures of shopping from the comfort of your own home.
Is It Possible To Get A Payday Loan Refund?
Payday loans offer quick financial fixes to individuals who do not want to go through long processes of getting loans. They are quickly processed and therefore come in handy even in situations that seem urgent. However, if you are not careful with where you get these loans, you could end up being charged very high interest rates which can eventually put you into more debt.In recent times there have been an increase in the number of people complaining about the payday loans. A good number of people on realizing irregularities are taking action to get compensation. It may seem impossible, but there are a number of ways you can qualify to make a complaint and actually enjoy payday loan refunds.1. Fraudulent loans – They are some of the most common among complainants seeking refunds. It is possible for the payday loans to be taken out in your name fraudulently. It is the responsibility of lender to verify identity of customer before approving the loans, but most are not that careful hence the many cases around this issue. If you start getting harassed for a loan, you have no idea about, you have every right to look into the matter. You can try to settle things with the lender or you can directly deal with the financial ombudsman service to get the assistance you need.2. Unclear repayment – Repayment defaulting can get serious because your debt just keeps on piling in terms of interests and any other charges attracted by the failure to pay. As an applicant, you should get very clear terms of how to pay back the loan including the fees and timeframe. Before you take up the loans you should know the exact total you need to pay back and within what time. When such important information is hidden from you, you can make a complaint to have the extra charges refunded or unreasonable debts taken off your payday loan.3. Recurring payments – Payday loan providers collect their payment through bank requests. Most use continuous payment authority and you should ensure that you are aware of what this is and you can cancel it. A good lender should also notify you before taking the money out of your bank. There are lenders who keep trying to get access to the funds throughout the day and this translates into huge bank charges for you at the end of the day. You can lay claim of such to have some of the charges offset by the lender.4. Financial situation – You may be in need of the loan, but it is really up to the lender to determine how qualified you are in terms of repaying the loan on time. Your income, employment, mental health, age, credit history and identity are some of the serious checks the lender should check before approving the payday loans. In case you are unable to repay and the lender overlooked all details with regard to your financial situation, you may actually qualify for a refund.5. Higher interest rates – Most people when taking out payday loans rarely pay attention to the interest rates. A desperate financial situation can make you ignore such hence end up being charged interest rates that are unfairly high making it harder for you to repay the loan. Lenders are limited to cost cap of around 0.8% of the total about borrowed. This should be inclusive of interest and any other fees applicable to the payday loan. If you are a keen borrower, you will be able to tell when the interests are excessive as well as the fees and this way you can claim for a refund from your lender.