Happy Tuesday, Reno. In today’s edition: Grassroots relief erases medical bills, breakfast with Santa, Reno Cowboy Christmas, and more.

Let’s get to it — Cait Baker

📰 In the news

Troubled site makeover proposed: The Reno Redevelopment Agency approved a tax increment financing plan on Dec. 3 for a 200-unit housing project at Commercial Row and Sutro, with reimbursements only if completed — get all the details.

Improvements ahead for downtown: Downtown Reno’s Arlington Street bridge hit a milestone, finishing in-river work and back on schedule as crews shift to the south span, with completion expected late spring or early summer — get all the details.

Grassroots relief erases medical bills: Somos Votantes and Undue Medical Debt wiped out $133 million in medical debt for 128,475 Nevadans, mostly in Clark County. Recipients were notified Nov. 24, highlighting rising healthcare cost burdens — read the full story.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Identity theft is up 25%: Last year, Americans lost $12.5 billion to ID theft & fraud, and the stories behind those numbers are brutal. My friend just told me his dad’s on his fourth replacement credit card. Other folks have woken up to empty bank accounts or their personal info dumped online after a breach. Aura catches these kinds of attacks early by monitoring for new accounts, weird money movements, leaked data, and other red flags so you’re alerted before things blow up — learn more about it here.

Highlights this week

• Experience Santa photos and a drone show
• Dance, shop, and meet Cowboy Santa
• Join the world-famous Reno Santa Crawl
• Santa crowns the North Pole’s top talent
• Experience The Nutcracker with Reno Philharmonic
• This pet insurance plan reimburses up to 90%
• A tiny hearing aid is taking the US by storm

🫶 We got your back

New safety-first collection system: Nevada is rolling out a statewide lithium battery recycling program in early 2026. Redwood Materials, Washoe County, and Nevada Tech Hub will install 20 smart drop-off bins (up to 10 in county buildings) that detect heat and encase batteries, no bagging needed, to cut fire risks and keep them out of landfills. Locations coming soon. Get all the details.

Holiday savings on public lands: Looking to deck the halls and the hearth on a budget? The BLM is offering free Christmas tree and firewood permits in five of Nevada’s six districts through Jan. 31. The move aims to save families money while reducing hazardous fuels. Get permits online or at district offices. Southern Nevada isn’t included. See how to get permits.

Cozy, malty sips: The Brewer’s Cabinet pours winter warmers with ease. Settle into a Dirty Wookie imperial brown ale for that post-mountain thaw, then check the pilot brewery upstairs for fresh seasonal experiments. Local comfort that pairs with flannel, friends, and slow evenings.

Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I decided to take Hers’ online quiz. They recommended a Biotin + Minoxidil green-apple gummy for regrowth and overall hair health. The whole thing was surprisingly easy: just verify who you are and a licensed provider signs off. Here’s the quiz if you want to check it out.

Makeup that actually works: My sister and I were talking the other day about how the makeup we used in our 20s… just doesn’t work now that we’re in our 30s and 40s. Laura Geller’s entire makeup line addresses this shift, with formulas that smooth, brighten, and actually stay put. If you’re in the same boat, their curated kits are worth a look.

📆 Around town this week

All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.

This week

🎶 Small Wonder Wednesday: Music Together @ The Discovery | Wednesday (12/10) at 9:00am – Kick off your morning with a musical playdate that’s all about wiggles, giggles, and family jam time. Music Together brings their signature blend of singing, dancing, and instrument fun to spark little ones’ curiosity and confidence. It’s a hands-on hour that taps into kids’ natural musicality—and might just awaken yours too. Perfect for tiny movers, big imaginations, and caregivers who don’t mind a little morning boogie.

🎬 Mountainfilm on Tour @ Nevada Museum of Art | Thursday (12/11) at 6:00pm – Craving adventure without the blisters? Mountainfilm on Tour brings a curated slate of Telluride’s best documentary shorts to town, culturally rich, gutsy, and gorgeous. Settle in, travel the world between popcorn refills, and support Sierra Forever.

❄️ Winter Wonderland @ Atlantis Casino Resort Spa | Thursday (12/11) at 6:00pm – Black and white glamour, seasonal cocktails, and local bites, all battling for bragging rights to benefit the Nevada Diabetes Association. Dress sharp, sip smarter, and if the cocktails hit, there is a $79 room rate so you can, you know, take the elevator home.

🤠 Reno Cowboy Christmas @ Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center | Friday (12/12) at 4:00pm – Dust off your boots and swing by the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center for a free, two-day hit of Western holiday cheer, Cowboy Santa photos, and line dancing. The kids bounce, you shop vendors, sample food trucks, and leave the mechanical bull to the brave.

🛍️ Generator Holiday Market @ The Generator | Friday (12/12) at 5:00pm – The Generator is turning into a holiday bazaar with over 75 local artists and makers, so skip the mall and enjoy gift hunting. Grab a slice from Silver State Pie Co, sip Main Vein coffee, and wander the December gallery exhibit, and enjoy a cozy wander.

This weekend

🎅 Breakfast with Santa @ Veterans of Foreign Wars | Saturday (12/13) at 11:00am – Swing by the VFW hall for pancakes, crafts, and a photo op with the big guy in red. It’s the kind of small-town morning that keeps the sugar high politely manageable, the coffee hot, and the grandkids smiling long enough for one decent picture.

🎁 Deck The Halls: A Holiday Shopping Event @ Reno Public Market | Saturday (12/13) at 11:00am – Holiday season at RPM means shopping that pairs nicely with a drink. Hit the Vendor Village for actually good gifts, snag Santa photos while the kids craft, then linger for live tunes, seasonal bites, and the kind of cheerful chaos you choose, not endure.

🍰 You’ll Never Escape the Fruitcake @ National Automobile Museum | Saturday (12/13) at 2:00pm – Local historians David and Gayle Woodruff are unwrapping the weird, the wonderful, and the suspiciously immortal fruitcake in a 55-minute history romp through Christmas traditions. Smart, funny, and nostalgic, it is holiday storytelling you actually sit through. Bring cheer, curiosity, and a few family tales.

🕯️ The Candlelit Sessions – Whitney Myer Arroyo + Friends @ Sierra Arts Riverside Gallery | Saturday (12/13) at 8:00pm – If you’ve been craving music that doesn’t scream over your drink, slide into the Sierra Arts Riverside Gallery downtown. Whitney Myer Arroyo + Friends up close, candlelit glow, real vocals, real goosebumps. Space is tight, tickets are $25, $20 for members.

🎤 Kat Heart @ Lead Dog Brewing | Sunday (12/14) at 3:00pm – Whether you gig or just nod on the twos and fours, the Reno Blues Society’s jam with Kat Heart and Erick Graham keeps Sunday afternoons easy. Drums, bass amp, and mics are set, so bring your axe, voice, or dancing shoes, and settle in.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 12/9 Traditional Irish Session @ Ceol Irish Pub – 7 pm
• 12/10 Jackson and the Janks @ 40 Mile Saloon – 8 pm
• 12/13 N2N @ Dead Ringer – 8 pm
• 12/13 Danny Horton Trio and more @ Cypress – 8:30 pm
• 12/13 Jeff Dye @ Silver Legacy Resort – 9:30 pm
• 12/14 Christmas Carols on Strings @ Celebrity Showroom – 6:30 pm
• 12/19 Karrie O’Neill @ Reno Bar – 8 pm

🏠️ This house is wild

Listed by: Kylie Keenan (Dickson Realty – Caughlin)

Two in one multigenerational luxury in Upper Caughlin Ranch, on a quiet cul de sac with mountain views. The lower level is its own home with private entrance, kitchen suite minus oven, three bedrooms plus bunk room, three baths, laundry, and separate HVAC. Upstairs, a chef’s kitchen revolves around a 94 by 123 inch island with hidden play nook, dual ovens, six burner range, pebble ice, and a butler’s pantry.

Spa level primary suite, Control4 automation with Lutron shades, and a California Closets garage. Patio and fire pit yard, half mile to shops and top schools.

Take a peek inside →