Sparks Correspondence – May 2018

This month is all about concerts, comics, cuisine, comedy, and craft beers in Sparks. Now that the flowers are starting to bloom and the sun is shining more often, hit the town and check out these fun events coming up.

May kicks off with a free comic book day at Omega Frog Comics on May 5. Located at the Outlets at Legends across from the IMAX theater, Omega Frog is giving away more than 7,000 free comic books from all of the top publishers and will also be hosting a costume contest with over a thousand dollars of prizes.   

Then on May 12, rock band REO Speedwagon is playing at the Nugget. Since 1972 REO Speedwagon has been rocking small gigs until their name got out and then bands like STYX, Cheap Trick, and Kansas followed in their footsteps. Now REO Speedwagon is practically a household name, due to their ever-growing popularity and historic past. Catch the band still playing radio hits such as “Ridin’ The Storm Out” at the Nugget.

It’s been one year since Revision Brewing Company opened its beer-making business on 380 South Rock Boulevard, so they’re holding a party to celebrate! On May 19, hops lovers may enjoy live music throughout the day from 10am-12am including Kronik, Rainbow Girls, Forever the Weekend, and Lizano. Plus, Revision is releasing a Great First Year clear beer and the State of Haze. A free photo booth and food trucks will also be available all day long!

After enjoying a couple of beers at Revision, head over to watch the famous red-headed comedian accurately nicknamed Carrot Top at the Nugget. For more than 30 years Carrot Top has been making people laugh ever since being discovered on Star Search. Using around 200 props to augment his show and making fun of what is going on in current events, people are unlikely to see the same act twice.

 

Towards the end of the month, the Nugget is hosting a Cuisine, Corks & Crafts Festival May 25-27. For three days people can check out cooking demonstrations, tastings, farm-to-table fare, enjoy live music, and more. A paid ticket gets you special access to the Battle Born Chef Competition, Celebrity Chef Showcase, and Wine and Spirits Walks.

Around lunchtime on a Wednesday, I dipped into a simple deli-style Italian joint called Del Italy on 185 E. Glendale Avenue (close to McCarran) for some much needed fuel. It was recommended by City Councilman Donald Abbott and is located just minutes away from many Sparks businesses. Walking in, I could tell that it is a working man’s deli. Featuring cannoli, lasagna, pastas, sandwiches, and pizzas on the menu, a lot of the items are listed with homemade sauces and sides.

I ordered the lunch special, a cannelloni and garlic bread combo. I had never had a cannelloni before, but it was absolutely delicious (it’s comprised of spinach, ricotta, and ham stuffing rolled into a pasta shell and topped with marinara and parmesan cheese). The tomato sauce was rich and it tasted authentic; the whole meal was filling but not too heavy. This is a great spot to stop at for a quick meal.

I hope you get a chance to get out and enjoy the sunshine in between all of these Sparks events.

— Kayla Anderson