Rotary Club Mardi Gras 2019 was an amazing event. The people, the decoration, the music and the food was spectacular. Gave us Yelp Elite a chance to meet up, and try samples from different local businesses. Great wine tasting as well. The raffle and the auctions had such a variety, from puppy stuff all the way to a spa, or get away trip. Among my favorites we had Indian Kabab, Bibo gelato, and the Glory Cloud with an amazing tangerine tea. I thank Michael for the opportunity. I look forward to participate in many more events. read more

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Rotary Club of Reno is a local organization that we had the privilege of participating in their annual Reno Rotary Mardi Gras charity event this year while supporting their numerous great causes. We were lucky enough to secure two tickets courtesy of Yelp - thank you!! (Here are a list of what the event supported this year and see my picture too: Community Service; Vocational Service; Youth Service and Global Service Projects - https://renorotary.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/RenoMardiGras2018/WHATRENOMARDIGRASSUPPORTS/tabid/937726/Default.aspx) Upon our arrival to the Reno Mardi Gras even we were greeted immediately by a volunteer that was donned in a festive mask that gave us instructions on where to pick up our tickets, coat check-in and how to navigate the event. The volunteers throughout the event continued to be helpful by making each guest feel special and/or assist you as you enjoyed the night.  The ballroom felt open with plenty of space to roam around whilst taking in the amazing silent auction items (this was done via online with an account that you set up), festive decorations, live marching band and entertainment of stilt walkers and hula hoop dancers plus a DJ with dance floor to shake your feathers about. The wine, spirits and samplings of various local bites from area restaurants and casinos were amazing and definitely had us rolling out of there straight in into Fat Tuesday lol.   We had the opportunity of indulging in to some fabulous culinary creations that had us bookmarking in our trusty Yelp app to visit them in the new future. Bibo Coffee Company (the gelato - TOO DIE FOR!!), India Kabob & Curry, Men Wielding Fire and The Original Sushi Pier, Verdi Distillery (thanks for the PERFECT drink) and what a treat to see Nothing Bundt Cake cruising around the ballroom with bite-size samples of their yummilicious cakes as they passed you by. Plus Bourbon Street with various bourbons and of course the local breweries plus a plethora of wines as far as the eye could see. Harrah's, El Dorado and Silver Legacy definitely had some spreads too from charcuterie to jambalaya and grits - oh LAWD!! Rotary Club of Reno pulled off their largest party of the year, so we could put on our favorite carnival masks, colorful beads all while celebrating with friends and new friends for a FUN, festive evening of donating to a worthy cause. Congratulations to the Rotary Club of Reno on a successful event!!  Looking forward to next year!! read more

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This is a review for the 2018 Reno Rotary Mardi Gras. It appeared to have gotten off to a slower start than last year when I arrived but quickly moved to full throttle as the night progressed. The Reno Rotary partnered with Silver Legacy, El Dorado, and Circus Circus this year. Local distilleries were there. Lots of wine, beer, and bourbons. I was very fortunate this year to have won tickets by entering a fun Facebook game sponsored by Edible Reno Tahoe. Last year I volunteered. Kudos to The Reno Rotary Club, a friendly bunch with a philanthropic soul that gives to local and global projects. The food was outstanding this year, Men Wielding Fire brought their amazing tacos, India Kabob and Curry always does an amazing job, Bibo Ice Cream, Harrahs, Sushi Pier. Lots of variety. The DJ played some old 80's tunes and for a minute I thought I had time traveled back to when I was in my 20's. It was fun dancing to these old tunes and even the "youngsters" looked like they were having fun dancing to tunes played even before they were born. Loved the costumes and the ladies on stilts. Loved the entertainment. Had a blast. Look forward to next year's party! read more

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If you live in Reno, or are visiting from Sacramento (insert Michalangelo here), this should be a Fat Tuesday tradition!! This fabulous Rotary fund raiser is all about celebrating!! The entire event center is full of food, wine, other spirits, and auction tables. Thanks to Yelp I scored a pair of general admission tickets, Michalangelo was a blast to roam the event with. There were 25 Reno restaurants and caterers and uncountable wineries represented. For several hours you just roamed, drank and nibbled. Trying delights like bourbon caramel ice cream, tender roast beef, mushroom raviolis, and raclette. Once around the vast room, then back tracking to hit a couple of favorites, I was easily stuffed. The prize tables were incredible. So many cool choices ranging from affordable to quite high end. There were two wheel barrows full of wine that were raffled. Huge bummer didn't win either. The Rotary has obviously been doing this event for years and have down pat. The spacing and use of the center was perfect. No huge crowds or lines, plenty of space to move around in and check out all the vendors. I'll be returning next year. I believe next year I'll sign up as a volunteer. read more

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Don't Let "Magic Bullet Hangover Cure" Drive Your Entertainment Choices! (He's A Mischievous Lil Guy!) SITREP ...because Magic Bullet Hangover Cure is a hard to keep up with! https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/reno-rotary-mardi-gras-reno?select=KZYaiv2OoEhSUGHRc5YcxQ That is ONE HARD PARTYING LITTLE DUDE! THE SETUP Thanks to my lovely friend, fellow Elite Yelper - AND the Yelp Queen of Reno - Ms. Donna S.! She shanghaied me from my usual Sacramento Tuesday doldrums and kidnapped me to Reno for the happening madness of the Reno Rotary Mardi Gras at the Reno Events Center! https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/reno-rotary-mardi-gras-reno?select=yYhLSYLSR7cMRRslTB0JBA And there we met up with other nefarious Yelpers (because you will never find a more notorious hive of scum & villainy!) https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/reno-rotary-mardi-gras-reno?select=yWIfEWij_96vi61GJQXIZA LE MENU! Oh, but wait! Did I mention yet that there was tons of delicious food, and barrels of refreshing, tasty wine?!? (Because how else would you want to have copious amounts of food & drink referred to than in "tons" and "barrels", right? Okay........I'll grant you that there is NOTHING unappealing to hear wine referred to in barrels. In fact, it's rather attractive, isn't it?) *WINE So many wines....reds, whites, roses (when I mixed them in my glass - I actually didn't SEE a rose of note). And I'm IMMEDIATELY attracted to any varietal that has the word "SHACK" in it... https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/reno-rotary-mardi-gras-reno?select=KyFIIYiedQBicSbBP_KG9w *ROOT BEER! Yes! You read correctly! There was a special root beer here by and it was so deLISH! (And the melted wax made me think immediately of Mickey Rourke & Kim Basinger, though I'm sure that was not it's intent, at least when the bottle was sealed 9 1/2 Weeks ago... *cough*) https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/reno-rotary-mardi-gras-reno?select=eafBAd2R8UUzWHL6t0AMag *MEATBALLS THE BEAUTY! The decor and the costumes and the masques and the vibe was just exquisite and a wonderful celebration of all things Mardi Gras! *BEAUTIFUL COURTESANS I love the ladies & gentlemen who walked throughout the event site, all festooned in a colorful pageantry of costumes and mask! Whenever I got a chance I snapped a shot of these lovely regal denizons of this "event center court". Even got my peeps in the shots: https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/reno-rotary-mardi-gras-reno?select=POAoa1XFnFbdI4-IKCc_WQ MAGIC BULLET HANGOVER CURE This guy RAWKS! He's a cute little orange'ish bullet (with an orange'ish flavor) and had his support staff of two lovely ladies and Tory (a promotions manager of some sort - if not the owner, I really didn't remember). Anyways, definitely my favorite booth and site of the most ...uh...FUN pictures taken. ;) KUDOS A shout out to the Reno Rotary Club for setting up this Mardi Gras Celebration! Your staff, the young ROTC ladies & gents, the volunteers, etc., all made for a well-functioning & safely executed event. Kudos to all my Reno Elite peeps who came down to Sacramento a few weeks back and setup some awesome UYEs for the "Reno-To-SacTown Train Weekend" of fun that we enjoy together, and who were also here THIS night for me to enjoy their company again! And a tip-o-the-hat to Yelp Community Manager (CM) Michael T. for connecting Reno Yelp with this event and getting us Yelpers to enjoy the many wonderful facets of this celebration for Mardi Gras! THE LOWDOWN Best way to spend Mardi Gras on the West Coast! read more

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Now that I'm finally well, I can tell ya about this awesome event! Reno Rotary is a wonderful group! The Mardi Gras is a wonderful celebration! Put these two together and you have a paaartay! As soon as I arrived I felt the excitement flowing throughout the building! We wondered around a bit, then found the VIP table! Next to the music, and the festivities! It was wonderful meeting new Yelp friends! I wandered around some more and had some wonderful bites! Since I wasn't really feeling that well, I had a few sips of the local draft beer from The Depot. I think my favorite stop was eating the cake bites from "nothing Bundt cake". Unfortunately, due to the way I was feeling, I left a little early. From the pictures I have seen, I missed a few of my other friends that showed up that I never saw! Thank you Reno Rotary club, Yelp, and Michael T for allowing me to enjoy this wonderful event! I didn't win anything, but, there's always next year! read more

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I went a few years ago as a volunteer in a booth. This year my wife took me as her plus one! It seems that this party has really raised their game since the first year I went. Lot's of space to mingle and lots of things to try....but not too many. Just the right amount of food and so many great wines to choose from. We were lucky to get some VIP tickets which got us in the door as early as 4:00. We actually arrived at about 4:30 because of work. Because of this, we didn't really have any problem getting in the door and we were able to go around to most of the booths...some weren't open yet, so we just went back when they were. My favorite food item was probably the Oxbow's prime rib. I also really enjoyed "Bourbon St" where they had lots of great whisky to sample. Kudos to whoever is running this great event. I wonder if next year they might figure out a way to get the Balcony in the Reno Event center put to the Mardi Gras style good use. I look forward to going to this event next year! read more

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I was lucky enough to get to attend this event and brought my hubby along too! It was crowded but not insane, great music, and the entertainment (stilt walkers, live band) was great. They had more wine than you could ever try, some food choices (I'm glad we ate beforehand), 4 breweries, and some hard alcohol choices. We definitely got our fair share to drink! The food was ok, my favorite was the sushi and gelato! The auction was neat in that you bid on your phone and we even won a painting. The crowd was definitely older and you could tell we just didn't have to $$$$ to keep up with the people in the room but we had a great time and hope to support the Rotary again! read more

Reno Rotary Mardi Gras - Festivals Near Me - Reno, Nevada

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What comes to mind when I mention beads, masks, costumes, carnival performers, food and alcohol? If you said Carnival or Mardi Gras you would be correct. The Reno Events Center was turned into a huge party Mardi Gras center replete with a variety of bites from sweet to savory. It reminded me of a Dr. Suess quote "From There To Here From Here To There Fun Things Are Everywhere". Everywhere you looked there was some tasty bite or well developed wine, brandy or some other libation to be had. Not to mention the wide array of auction items to bid on. The bidding used new technology and if you were out bid it sent you a message. Super interesting. The items up for auction were numerous such a vacation packages, spa packages, golf packages, fruit baskets, barrel of wine etc. Exciting to watch to see if you won the auction. My favorites and places to try around town were Liberty Food and Wine with a salami and cheese toothpick bite, Oxbow Cafe and Bistro with prime rib with a horseradish sauce, Be Sweet 2 Each Other with their lemon cake, Kronenbourg Blanc a light tasting beer from France, Verdi Local Distillery with an Apple Cinnamon Gin (oh my this tasted like apple pie) this was super yummy. I have a new list of different businesses to try out. What a wonderful event!! read more

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Had a great time this year 2019 at the Mardi Gras event. It was all decorated up so cool, lots of Mardi Gras colors and tons of beads and feathers. All the food was fabulous, and what a great selection of first class wines. Hope to go again next year. How nice to also have it on Fat Tuesday!! Thank you Yelp and Michael T!!! read more

Reno Rotary Mardi Gras - Festivals Near Me - Reno, Nevada

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"I ate too much." Me, thirty minutes after we stormed into the ballroom (you think a couple of puny ROTC kids at the front doors could stop a flood of hungry, thirsty people?) "I drank too much." My friend Cathy, thirty minutes into the event. Everyone has their priorities. You arrive, you get a wrist band declaring you're at least 21 years old (I offered my ID, but no one cared), you get a wine glass, and then you head to the Yelp Wheel of Fortune to claim your Yelp schwag, and then you roam the perimeter of the ballroom and try samples from the 20+ different restaurants. I ate an entire bundt cake sneakily, in about 12 different toothpicked samples. I raved about the mushroom ravioli from the Silver Legacy. The mango pulled pork from Whole Foods was putrid. Someone offered a spicy cocktail shrimp - they pretended not to notice that I came by 5 times in 45 seconds. Loved the date wrapped in bacon, not so fond of the lump of mac and cheese on top of a crostini - it fell off. Just to make sure, I tried another one. Yep, still fell off. (PS. The mac and cheese that Dale made from scratch at the homeless feed looked better and probably tasted better.) I don't drink really, so I had a tiny little sip of someone's Pinot Grigio and drank bottled water the rest of the night. Attire: Come drenched in mardi gras beads, jester hats and crazy feather eyeglasses. It was like an offshoot of Burning Man, just less dusty and more upscale. (By the way, Burning Man has less MOOP than this crowd!) Hung out at a Yelper table with the likes of Rain, Amanda, Lori, Nathan, Sabrina and her wife; met newbie Jodi D and waved to Ashley. Robert and Ly were helping out at the Yelp schwa desk and of course, Michael T was there. Another five star Yelp night - thank you! read more

Reno Rotary Mardi Gras - The Yelp wheel of goodies manned by Ly - Festivals Near Me - Reno, Nevada

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What an amazing event. I first want to thank the Rotary for putting this on. It was so spectacular. Walking in you are just overwhelmed with how big this event truly is. There are so many different wineries, distilleries and, food vendors. You are handed an empty wine glass upon walking in the door which you can use to go up to different wineries or distilleries and try their products. I have to say out of all of the different ones I tried St. Mayhem was probably my favorite. The flavors of their craft wines were fantastic. It was layered with flavor and very well balanced. And best of all it came in a can. Which at first I wasn't sure I wanted to try but I am very glad I did. It was fantastic. Bently Heritage Distillery was also a definite must try. They brought their vodka and their gin. Both are made with the ingredients from their property. Everything is sourced onsite. The flavors of both the vodka and gin were very distinct. I am not a gin fan at all and I actually really enjoyed the gin. It wasn't overpowering, it was well balanced and didn't burn going down. At this event you were not wanting for food. There was plenty of different vendors from Mari Chuy's, Bibo Freddo, Gas Lamp and, the different casinos. All of the food was great. The gelato from Bibo was so tasty and light. It wasn't heavy like some ice cream can be. The ceviche and the tostada from Mari Chuy's tasted fantastic. The flavor of the meat was so tender and with the hot sauce was perfect. Anything you tried from any of the vendors was great. This event is awesome. It goes back into helping the community and it is just a good time. Definitely something I will be looking forward to going to next year. read more

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2019 Mardi Gras event was phenomenal! Happened to win a ticket from Yelp, so I decided to buy my fiance a ticket as well, which cost I believe $80. Let me tell you, I had such a great night that I wanted to relive it all. We didn't even think we were going to stay the whole night, but we actually ended up staying until the whole event was over. Good thing we got a room at Harrah's because of the food, wine, and liquor we consumed provided by some of the best local vendors in town. As soon as we got there, we were welcomed by staff in costumes and masks. That's when I started getting excited, I knew I was ready for one hell of an exciting night! After coat check and check-in, we walked into the ballroom and grabbed a map, some bead necklaces, and empty wine glasses. We started off on the right and made our way around the area. There were countless of amazing items out for auction. So we decided to set up an online account so we were able to participate in the silent auction. Out of the 4 items we bidded on, we only won one: the Bully's basket. My man was so excited about his first auction win. Not only were we able to help out Reno Rotary, but we also scored on a great basket and an eventful night! I could not get enough of some of the food provided there, such as Chuy's Mexican food and Indian Kabab. They were above and beyond, along with all the friendly staff involved! The photobooth was also such a blast, we did a before and after pictures for the night. The decorations were so cute, plus the performers that were there. A1! Thank you so much Yelp, Michael, and Reno Rotary Club for letting us be a part of such fun night! I am so grateful for all the things I experience because of Yelp. We can't wait for next year's fabulous event. read more

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What an amazing night! This was a perfectly done event from the check in to the item pick up at the end. When you walked in there was someone to direct you to check in and coat check. Inside there was someone to help you get registered for the silent auction. There were over 100 wines represented and liquor of every type including Whistle Pig rye. There was also every wound of food from the Eldorado's mushroom ravioli to curry from Indian Kabob and Curry. The silent auction items were fun and there were a large variety. I love bidding on my phone but I got outbid on two things I really wanted at the last second by someone with much quicker fingers than I! I was able to out bid on a couple of things and left a winner. Whoever did the decorations really did an amazing job transforming the convention center to Bourbon Street. (See pics) It was a great night, a lot of fun and those planning and executing this night should be super proud of themselves because all the work they put into the event really showed. read more

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This event was amazing. I love the details throughout. The food and drinks were on point. I loved that there was king Cake offered. The ravioli from The Row was is amazing. Bibo had some great gelato flavors. I can honestly see how this event keeps on increasing in attendance. It's a definite must to attend at least once, but once you do you'll want to come back for more. read more

Reno Rotary Mardi Gras - Festivals Near Me - Reno, Nevada

Ok... This is event was nothing short of AMAZING!!! I'm completely blown away! I was gifted a ticket from Yelp, but let me tell you, I will gladly purchase my ticket next year. $75 is totally worth it. The amount of food, and wine, and entertainment floored me! The set up was perfect. The room flowed well, and food and wine were both spread out, so I didn't feel like I had to be at one end of the room for food and all the way to the other end for drinks. The lines for food and wine were not long at all, and they all moved really quickly. That's a big deal for me with these types of events. How long do I have to wait in line? It's never fun to stand there while everyone else is out socializing. That was not the case with this event. The costumes, can we talk about how people go ALL OUT for this?? It's amazing. One of the best parties I've been to in Reno. The Rotary sure knows how to throw a good party. Man!!! read more

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What a blast. My Fitbit told me that I walked alot that night. I arrived at 5pm, did a quick run around, then went to work. From 5:30pm to 7pm I sold raffle tickets for the chance to win a wheelbarrow full of wine. I really thought it would be a hard sell, tickets were 20 each a 6 for 100.00. Most everyone was receptive to buying tickets, there were people there that wanted to just drink and eat, and that is cool. There was quite a few silent auction tables with wonderful items to bid on. The food was fantastic as was the wine and beer. Thanks Michael and Reno Rotary, I had a memorable night. read more

Reno Rotary Mardi Gras - Mardi gras - Festivals Near Me - Reno, Nevada

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This event was nothing short of amazing! A full line of vendors for food and drinks, and tons of opportunities for social gatherings give this event five stars. Even before you walk in, there were cosplay contemporary dressed characters representing old fashioned Big Easy ready for photos. Registration was easy and done by first letter of your last name. Upon walking in to the main event center, I felt like I had walked into a mix between a dream-like world and high school prom. Low lighting and vendor booths with free drinks and food every square inch of the wall made for a very intimate type of gathering. I got to chat with a vendor pouring a French imported beer named 1664, whose name was Marie. She was a fine representation of all the vendors there: pleasant personality, jovial, and eager to serve. Additionally, this was a fundraiser, and the tables featuring the silent auction gifts lined the center of the room. I didn't understand at first how to bid on items, as there was no clear signage, but learned from a friend that the bidding system is all digital and done by an app on the smartphone. Thus could have been a bit clearer, as I might have participated, has I known how to do so. There was also a raffle to win a wheelbarrow full of wine, but the tickets were $25 each and I didn't participate. I arrived at 6 and stayed until about 9. The event was still going at that time. There was so much available that you couldn't possibly eat or drink your way through it all. Overall, this was an exquisite, well planned event, worthy of five stars. read more

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A.M.A.Z.I.N.G event let me tell you! Everyone was extremely friendly and attending and honestly I was having such a good time that I literally smiled and laughed all throughout the night (I blame it on the wine). There were so many great restaurants and breweries and wineries that came and it was a joyous and lush event. The music was great and everyone were in costumes and dancing. Loved the decorations and My favorite food station was definitely the Harrahs steakhouse because that well done meat was so soft and melted in my mouth right quick that I'm planning to eat there on my next date. Thank you so much to the community manager Michael for inviting me to this event. It was such a great honor. Thank you to the rotary club and all the awesome businesses that helped make this event happen! Also thank you to everyone that donated for auction items! Will be attending another one like this in the future. read more

Reno Rotary Mardi Gras - Festivals Near Me - Reno, Nevada

Great event! Great times! Great Friends! AMAZING CAUSE! I did not get my tickets via the Yelp giveaway. This event is well worth paying for! Held at the Reno Event Center, the event from start to finish was amazing. Registration and coat check was a.breeze. Once inside, I got a glass and beads and it was time to celebrate FAT TUESDAY--Mardi Gras. Food and wine was amazing. The Silent Auction had some amazing prizes but I didn't have time to register in advance and didn't find the people doing it on-site --not their fault it could've been the wine and good food goggles. Beside wine -- there was beer and A LOT of Bourbon. Jugglers, hula hoopers, and masqueraded hosts mingled with the revelers for photo ops and entertainment. It was great running into friends -- not just Yelper all enjoying their finally hooray before Lent. Can't wait to go in 2018! read more

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Reno Rotary Mardi Gras 2017 was as festive and fun as can be! I can't praise this event enough. This event was literally the best: from the vendors to the decorations to the food and everything in between. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with extremely friendly people at will call, and got my tickets promptly. As I proceeded inside, I was given hefty Mardi Gras beads as well as my own wine glass. Let me tell you this right now, this event was pretty overwhelming, but in a good way. There were so many vendors that I didn't even know where to start. So we picked a corner and slowly made it through each wall. All of the vendors we interacted with were charming, friendly, and exceptionally knowledgeable about their craft, especially the wine, beer, and bourbon vendors. I would recommend going early to this event for two reasons: to avoid waiting in line for food and to avoid food from running out. Lines were not too bad actually, since vendors moved quickly and served food right away. And most vendors still had food late into the night, but some vendors ran out. So if you want to try everything, be sure to get there early! The decorations were amazing! I really liked the lights that were up all around the event center; I liked the addition of the sign posts; I liked the beads, the masks, the festive colors, everything! It was a perfect venue! The music was really good too! I was a little confused with the remixed 80s pop songs. I love 80s pop, but remixed? Later on in the night, the music did turn to jazz, which made the event more authentic and realistic. It was as if I was in a mini New Orleans! As for the food, it was all delicious! My favorites were the beef from SoDo, the lemon cupcakes from Mix Cupcake Co., the prime rib from Oxbow, and the salted caramel bourbon ice cream from Winey Moneys! The meats were so flavorful and tender, while the desserts were rich, decadent, and refreshing. The beers and wines were my favorite part though. I tried so many different wines that I don't even remember which types I tried. They were all exceptional though. And all of the wine vendors knew what they were talking about. The beers were even better in my opinion. I think I tried the Voyager from The Depot, and it was one of the best IPA's I've ever had. There wasn't that much of a hop flavor to it. Maybe because it was masked by the intense/pronounced flavor of grapefruit and pomegranate. My favorite beer though was the toasted marshmallow hard soda from Indian Wells. You just have to try it. They even gave me an entire bottle for free at the end of the night. So nice! Overall, this was a really amazing event! 11/10 would definitely recommend. Finally, thank you Yelp and CM Michael T. for the tickets! And thank you to Reno Rotary for hosting such a fabulous event! Expect me to be back next year! read more

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Thank you, Rotarians, for helping to eliminate polio from the face of the Earth...oh, and thank you for the Mardi Gras party in Reno! If you are reading this and you missed the party, mark your calendar for February 13, 2018 - this will be the next one. Well organized and well executed - wine tasting and bites in the outer ring. A large beer garden and bourbon tasting venue in the center (a lot of bourbon from around the world!). And if that wasn't enough, more food and wine in the center, and live entertainment / dancing around the place all evening. And...a huge silent auction. All of this helps the Reno Rotary's charitable endeavors. Learn more here: http://renorotary.org/ So much bourbon... Yes, that dude that rode up on a bike...that was me. Dear Reno Events Center, install more bike racks! Next year! Don't miss it... read more

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Had a blast!!! So many samples of food and drinks to try! Everyone is in a fun mood and ready to meet new people. Could be because of all the flowing booze. I got to try so many places I've never been and bottles I've never tasted. Great experience! read more

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Awesome Fat Tuesday!! The food, the wine, the costumes, the company....it was all an A +. We did not know what to expect when we went to this event, now we will never miss another one! Held in the Reno Ballroom downtown, I could not believe how many people were in attendance. We were greeted at the door with Jazz music, beads, and a wine glass (if only this happened everywhere we went). The entire place was packed with wineries, caterers, and restaurants from Nevada and California. The food was all wonderful as was the wine! We sat with fellow Yelpers and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it! If you are wondering if you should attend next year, my advice would be Don't Miss It! read more

I scored a couple free tickets through a YELP drawing. This Rotary event is nothing short of phenomenal. Parking was a breeze just across the street (we got there right before 6pm) My tickets were waiting for me with the wonderful, friendly volunteers up front. There were people in very intricate, amazing costumes out front taking pictures with people, and once inside it was truly a celebration of senses. A well-planned, organized, and beautiful celebration. We were greeted with beads, a wine glass, and plenty of smiles! Fun music and entertainers doing their thing. The guests were dressed to the nines, and I loved that so many people really joined in the spirit of Fat Tuesday. We headed for some wine, and made our way around, and there were 100's of wines. Far too many to taste, so we narrowed it town to our favorite 10 or so ;-) We picked up prime rib at Oxbow, and I'll be dropping in for dinner soon! OMG the melty cheese! We also had Cafe de Thai (yum), and the Indian Kabob food was my favorite. The gelato was so delicious. The people serving food & wine were welcoming, and the wine vendors were helpful and informative. I found some new favorites to buy and found out where they are distributed. There was a picture booth, and the silent auction tables were gorgeous, and the prizes were unusual and fun. The things I appreciated that everyone might not think about 1) the space was perfectly planned out 2) tables throughout, both standing and with chairs 3) Plenty of employees on hand to clear tables & assist with questions, security throughout, and such excellent customer service on the part of those employees. I loved, loved, loved it! I hope to attend again next year, and hopefully I can volunteer so I can see some of the behind the scenes planning. read more

I felt very fortunate to have been awarded a ticket by YELP to this event. It was very similar to the Reno Barrels and Bites Benefit for the Boys and Girls Club. Absolutely an outrageous venue. Too many wineries represented. You have to be selective on what you would like to taste. It is absolutely insane for me to give you an approximation of how many wineries were represented. There were also beer booths and hard liquor tastings. My favorite was the whiskey and bourbons that were represented including the local distilleries. The food was really great and many local establishments were there giving away samples of food, desserts and ice cream. The venue was very well organized with tables (yea) to sit down and enjoy your food or drink. Judging by the crowd, it was a smashing success the venue is bigger than you can imagine. I had a great time, thanks to the organizers, the donors, and the army of volunteers that made this happen. An amazing silent auction was also held with an array of merchandise to bid on. Simply amazing, one of a kind venue for Reno. Do not miss it next year. read more

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Such a Fat Tuesday it was. This was an amazing event for such a great cause. Bryan's mom and I drank the night away in wine. Somehow I won free tickets from the Reno Rotary Club. Thank you, Reno Rotary. I was so excited to win and to go to this event. The Reno Event Center was the perfect place to have this event at. It was just the right size to have all of the people and booths in one place. One downfall was the parking. The parking garage was already full at 6 pm and we had to walk over from the Silver Legacy. We were registered and picked up our tickets fairly quickly at will call. We were greeted by beads and wine glasses. We pursued the silent auction prizes. I would have loved to win one of the vacation packages. It seemed a bit confusing to register for the packages so we went straight for the alcohol and food. Another downfall is that the food wasn't organized at all. All of the dessert was mixed in. I really loved the mushroom raviolis from Eldorado, cajun shrimp from Gas Lamp, sushi roll from Sushi Pier, and bananas fosters gelato from the Bibo cart. There were SOOOOOOO many wines to drink and to choose from. We tasted about 8 different ones. Other than wine, there were 3 beer tents and so many bourbon tables and tasters. I really loved seeing how festive people got. Lots of people dressed up in costumes. There were jugglers, people hula hooping, and masqueraded hosts. I love that they always have the photo booth at these events. Can't wait to come back again next year. read more

Reno Rotary Mardi Gras - Beads and bling. It's a Mardi Gras thing. We had such a good time. Thanks Reno Rotary. - Festivals Near Me - Reno, Nevada

What a wonderful event! If you enjoy auctions, good food and drinks, and good people then this is definitely an event that you will enjoy! Even with all of the people in the place, we were lucky enough to run into several Yelp friends, some we haven't seen in months! Anyway, there were free pictures being taken and the terrific people that were in character performing for our entertainment had wonderful costumes! The music selection, was very up beat and enjoyable, though at times it was a bit loud (wow I'm getting old.) The best entree, for me, had to be from Sodo (trip tip and salad), though the prime rib from oxbow cafe was cooked perfectly medium rare and was a very close second. It seems like there were far too many meatballs this year, but I guess that they are something easy to make in bulk. The only setbacks to this kind of event are places to sit, or even tables to place your food down so that you can eat, and the water tends to run out early!. Thankfully, yelp had a table for us to sit down out! Thank you to yelp, the rotary club, the food and drink vendors and to all of the wonderful people that volunteer for this event read more

Reno Rotary Mardi Gras - Festivals Near Me - Reno, Nevada

Very nice affair in downtown Reno. Great decorations and people dressed for Mardi Gras, stilt walkers, performers hanging frim the ceiling. Lots of wine and spirits and beer from many participants! Interesting silent auction prizes, I even won an auction, just waiting for them to contact me. Great assortment of food from mushroom raviolis to finger foods, a hit from India Kabab and Curry Restaurant with their chicken curry and chutneys, my only wish is restaurants stop using white meat chicken and start using dark meat instead. White meat chicken is one step higher than cardboard, it has no distinct flavor and needs something to make it edible, enough of my rant, I just wish restaurants stop deferring to that horrible white meat chicken. I met some wonderful yelpers while we taste tested the various foods and desserts. This was a fantastic event to raise money and enjoy the mardi gras celebration. I've never attended a Rotary Club event in the US but have been to some in Sydney Australia. read more

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Charity event at its best. Great food and wine hosted by the best service organization s in the world. With Rotary clubs in more countries than are represented at the UN its a good feeling to be apart of such a great event. As a Past Assistant District Governor of District 7550 (West Virginia) I give huge props to all the people who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to pull off this event. Congrats...you done good!!!! read more

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This was a great experience with lots of friendly faces and all for a great cause. The silent auction items were great and the vendors were super friendly. A lot of new places I haven't been to but with some of them being here now I would love to try Verdi Local Distillery, Nomnivore, and especially the gelato from Bibo Freddo. All in all a wonderful experience and I'm glad I was able to be a part of it all! read more

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What a great evening! The food was fabulous, and the wine.... Well let me just say there was a wine for every taste. The people were great and beads were plentiful . No one should have left hungry. I'm grateful to have been able to attend this event. Fat Tuesday? CHECK! Rotary... Well done! You did not miss a thing. The best of the best were here sharing their... Well... BEST! I can't wait to go downtown and check out some of the new venues I was completely unaware of. read more

What a blast this was! I was lucky enough to win VIP tickets to this event, and so glad I did! There were so many amazing food and drinks to try along with about a million different wines! There was music and dancing, costumes and so many cool things up for auction. Thanks to yelp for introducing me to such a cool event! read more

Reno Rotary Mardi Gras - Festivals Near Me - Reno, Nevada

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So much fun! Great silent auction, food, drinks, costumes! The acrobats and stilts walkers were amazing. The food and drink were plentiful and varied... many different locations donated, like Harrah's, Gas Lamp, Chuy's, Eldorado... There were so many great things to try! I love supporting Reno Rotary because they do so many great things for our community. Thanks to Yelp as well for the great night! read more

Reno Rotary Mardi Gras - Festivals Near Me - Reno, Nevada

What an event! I came with my Yelp friends and was SO SO SO glad I showed up to be one of the first in line to many of the food vendors. All of the food was awesome and the drinks were good as well. All of the vendors were having a lot of fun with the event and you could tell they were happy to be there. I LOVED that they had tables to sit and eat at- if you attended Barrels and Bites this year you would know that they did not have such tables and it was very frustrating for a lot of people. Overall a great event- the reason for the 4 stars instead of 5 is as follows: - it was very confusing in the beginning- no one knew where to check in or what to do before the doors were opened - the silent auction items were so/so- nothing really stood out to me as needing to bid a bunch of money on (but I did walk away with a campo gift card!!) - when I went to pay for my campo silent auction item the long was SO long. Overall great event and I will attend next year! read more

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This was our first time attending Reno Mardi Gras...what a treat! Lots of wines, beers, and bourbons to sample from different places! Great variety and something for everyone. Food, food, and more food. Again a huge variety. My personal favorite was the Indian food. Harrah's had great desserts, my favorite was the small tiramasu desserts in the little edible chocolate cups. I checked in, and was supposed to have gotten a free raffle ticket for a bottle of wine drawing, but none of the organizers seemed to know what this was for. A woman took my name and phone number but never got back with me. Nonetheless we had a great time, thanks to all the organizers and participants for a great event! read more

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Reno knows how to party, and the Reno Rotary Club threw them a FAT one! This was my first time to this event, so I didn't know what to expect. I just knew it's going to be Mardi Gras theme, and that was enough to pique my curiosity. Check in was a breeze. The coat check came in VERY handy so very thankful for that. As soon as we went in, we were handed a map and a commemorative wine glass for wine tasting. Ok, any event that requires a map is bound to be HUGE, and this was exactly that. I'm glad I wore flats. We wanted to get a drink first before hitting the food booths, but man, there were soooooo many to choose from! It was actually quite overwhelming. In the end, I just picked the closest one. With wine in hand, we sort of followed the food route, tasting all the bites from the various restaurants and businesses along the way. There was no shortage of delectable bites from Indian food, prime rib, sushi, meatballs, ravioli, cheese, ice cream, cupcakes, pastries, and wine. Lots and lots of wine, and beer, and vodka, and rum, and i'm sure some other spirits that I forgot to mention. No, I did not sample all of them. I wish! But I drove to the event, and had to work the next day. Boooo. This was a fundraising event and there were many incredible items/packages for auction. I probably was not paying attention, but I didn't find out how to bid until later. I wished this bit of information was given right at check in. But, like I said, it must've been just me. This was a great cause and I hope they raised the maximum amount that evening. My favorite part of the night was all the amazing costumes! Some people went all out. It makes for a very festive atmosphere. if I make it to this event next year, I wouldn't mind going in a costume myself. Ha! Overall, it was an amazing event for a first timer like me. Thanks to Yelp for hooking me up with the ticket. We would've loved to stay longer, but after over an hour of walking and standing around, our feet got tired and there were no places to sit and rest for a little bit. But now that I know what to expect, I will definitely be more prepared next year. read more

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This was an amazing and FUN NIGHT. Tons of yummy food (the sushi, bbq, gelato, and that pork with sweet potato-y'all ) and tons of wines, beers, and whiskey with full pours!! The mobile carts from The Depot and Nothing but Bundt cakes were a super cool touch too! I loved the performers and band! It made us feel like we were down in New Orleans for real! Wonderful event for a wonderful cause and I can't wait until next years. Thanks for the opportunity Yelp! read more

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This was my first time going to the Rotary Mardi Gras event in Downtown Reno hosted by the Rotary Club of Reno . Every aspect of this event was excellent and the best part about it is all the proceeds go to support Rotary Club of Reno's community and global service projects. It felt like the booths were endless as I walked around having the opportunity to sample some of Reno's restaurant's signature samplings. Personally, I really enjoyed Winey Munkies wine ice cream they were serving. I also enjoyed all the local breweries beers. Most all the booths had fantastic energy when engaging with each one for samples and short conversation about the product they were serving. The booths were all decorated according to the Mardi Gras theme. It was a great event and like I said in the beginning, I will probably never miss another one going forward. 5 STARS!!!! read more

The Reno Rotary Mardis Gras is so much fun! Local restaurants bring a sample of their best dishes and loads of winery show up to pour wine there's craft beers loads of bourbons and it's just a great time all night. In addition, they have Ariel artists and performers doing cool circus acts. Not to mention that most people dress up in Mardis Gras attire so, it's great people watching as well! read more

Reno Rotary Mardi Gras - Don your face masks and join the fun! - Festivals Near Me - Reno, Nevada